Video & Transcript Research : 'benchmark testing'
Page 163 of 433
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/09/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- I've heard from many providers that their wait times for this testing are over a year long.
- <01:23:08.440>
are their wait times for this testing are their wait times for this testing - and inadvertent delays in services that have been created through lack of access to these testings,
- Secondly, to the psychological testing Secondly, to the psychological testing needs,<01:25:33.240
- codes to at least 100% of testing codes to at least 100% of Medicare<01:25:40.120>
will <01:25
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- just start discussing that it seems almost undemocratic, that it seems like it doesn't pass the smell test
- 05:27.840>
a <00:05:28.000>sudden <00:05:28.960>um <00:05:29.039>you're test - that all of a sudden um you're test that all of a sudden um you're supposed<00:05:29.520>
to < - lot of those surveys, you know, to test lot of those surveys, you know, to test market<00:35:55.359
- group. the all of the factors that test group. the all of the factors that test the<00:36:28.000
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/7/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- services that are so desperately testing services that are so desperately needed<00:51:51.040>
by - Um, because oftentimes, you know, no one knows until you have to test them. that products are illegal
- MPCA has been testing products that they bought from Walmart, CVS, some of them online, and then also
- Because oftentimes, you know, no one knows until you have to test them.
- :58:26.880>
they <00:58:27.040>bought been testing products that they bought been testing
Keywords:
health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- your labors have now been fairly tested your labors have now been fairly tested by their fruits the
- increased testing capabilities testing increased testing capabilities testing increased testing capabilities
- scores are through the roof their test scores are through the roof their test scores are through the
- and they ago after they finished testing and they ago after they finished testing and they had a a little
- week ain't nobody going this is testing week ain't nobody going this is testing week ain't nobody going
Keywords:
property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- I just want to flag first regarding the nexus test.
- test.
- meet the nexus test, the constitutional test.<01:52:10.960>
we <01:52:11.280>could <01: - <04:36:58.561>
So, >> It hasn't been tested in court. - So, >> It hasn't been tested in court.
Summary:
The committee heard public testimony on HB 1065, a housing bill that would clarify when multifamily and mixed-use housing may be allowed on commercially zoned land, define infrastructure standards, and preserve municipal discretion over where such development can occur. Prime sponsor Representative David Priest said the bill is intended to help address the housing shortage by using already developed commercial areas without overriding local planning. The New Hampshire Municipal Association, through Brody Dees, said it supports the bill and views it as a priority, but noted it is still discussing related language with stakeholders and wants clearer definitions for multifamily development, infrastructure, and adaptive reuse while preserving local control over commercial land use.
Testimony was mixed. Ivy Van, a certified planner, opposed the bill because she said the infrastructure language is too restrictive and could exclude properties served by private utilities or septic systems. Chris Freeman, a housing provider, was generally supportive but recommended technical changes, arguing the infrastructure definition may be too broad and that the adaptive reuse language could unintentionally block useful building modifications. He said the bill should be clarified so it does not discourage reuse projects.
The committee then moved to discussion of an accessory dwelling unit bill, with Representative Turkot describing changes that would shift some ADU approvals from a matter of right to conditional use or special exception, allow municipalities more control over attached versus detached units, set parking standards tied to single-family dwellings, and adjust size limits. He argued the bill would restore local discretion and prevent ADUs from becoming primarily rental units. Representative Reed pushed back, saying detached ADUs can help meet housing needs and provide opportunities for small landlords, while other members questioned how the bill would affect existing detached structures and breezeways. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair also noted a recess and time limits for later testimony.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:38:08.000>
Pollock, test I do have a testifier, Mr. - Pollock, test I do have a testifier, Mr.
- <01:29:27.199>
for pregnant person being tested for pregnant person being tested for toxicology - <01:29:30.400>
for and then a newborn being tested for and then a newborn being tested for - aren't even all the and the drug tests aren't even all that<01:29:57.679>
accurate.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/20/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- We also call, like, uh, test fire Michael Lindreen and Michael Stury.
- We also call, like, uh, test fire Michael Lindreen and Michael Stury.
- I stores tested high levels of mercury.
- >
these <01:07:31.200>homes <01:07:31.599>tested homes and many of these homes tested - <01:07:51.280>
more organization and FDA have tested more organization and FDA have tested
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 106 Apr 30th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- , really the reason for my no vote is that, um, as this kind of experience of getting this kind of test
- <01:00:25.520>
data <01:00:26.240>that that we're talking about test data that that - House Bill 1193 by Representatives Martinez and Lindsay and Senator Wallace, concerning vision tests
- tests for pre kindergarten<01:40:17.600>
students. - Uh, members, here in Colorado, current law requires that school districts test the vision of students
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received committee and House messages before moving into third reading and final passage on several bills. Early action included passage of House Bill 1318, which concerns traffic safety near schools; Senator Cutter offered and the chamber adopted a third-reading amendment naming it the Liam Stewart School Zone Act in honor of a child killed in a traffic accident near a school. The bill then passed 33-1. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 134 on payment card network fees, and laid over Senate Bill 17 until April 30.
The Senate then considered Senate Bill 45 on workforce development opportunities in Colorado’s nuclear sector, Senate Bill 91 on excluding certain printed news deliverers from employee definitions under labor law, Senate Bill 114 on spirituous liquor manufacturer sales rooms, Senate Bill 162 on releasing healthcare test results to patients, Senate Bill 23 on school finance, Senate Bill 93 on workers’ compensation coverage compliance, Senate Bill 155 on homeowners insurance availability, Senate Bill 146 on restricting single-use food service ware, and Senate Bill 156 on State Workforce Development Council practices. Most of these bills passed, with recorded opposition on several measures: SB 91 passed 26-8, SB 114 passed 31-3, SB 162 passed 29-5, SB 93 passed 19-15, SB 155 passed 22-12, SB 146 passed 20-14, and SB 156 passed 32-2. SB 23, the school finance act, drew broad support and passed 34-0 after multiple senators emphasized education funding priorities and constitutional obligations.
During debate, senators highlighted policy rationales and personal stories. On SB 162, Senator Weissman explained his no vote as a patient-autonomy concern despite acknowledging the bill’s earnest intent. On SB 23, supporters said the bill preserved and strengthened K-12 funding, while one senator argued schools should do better on safety and teacher pay. On SB 155, supporters said the homeowners insurance bill could help change market direction and improve affordability. On SB 156, Senator Marchman described the bill’s focus on out-of-school youth and the need to connect young people who are not in education, employment, or training with workforce supports. The Senate also began special-order second reading of consent-calendar bills, adopted the committee reports, and advanced House Bill 1313 on affordable housing fund requirements with amendments related to Prop 123 implementation and stakeholder processes.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, when it comes to testing or other educational things, that's a different story.
- Currently, a private school can opt out of taking the state test.
- Currently, a private school can opt out of taking the state test.
- Required testing. This is where we have the scanning tools.
- So the testing is there. Consultation and evaluation.
Bills:
HB1623
Keywords:
HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action.
The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session.
Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- , that testing includes fentanyl.
- Now, Senate Bill 1234 does not expand when courts can order drug testing.
- It simply ensures that when testing has already been ordered, fentanyl is included in that panel.
- SB 1234 ensures that fentanyl is included in drug testing when it is already required.
- And without testing for it, a serious risk can be missed.
Summary:
The committee adopted the consent calendar and then heard several bills on child care, aging, child welfare, food access, and youth services. SB 1200 by Sen. Menjivar would redefine infant and toddler age categories in child care licensing to allow providers to serve children beginning at 18 months in the toddler category, with supporters saying it would increase capacity and help family child care businesses stay open; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 971 by Sen. Choi would authorize counties to offer optional adult education and technology training programs for adults 55 and older through local partnerships; supporters said it would reduce isolation and improve digital literacy, and it passed 4-0 to the floor. SB 1234 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil would require fentanyl to be included in court-ordered drug testing in dependency cases, with testimony from an angel family and law enforcement about child deaths and exposure risks; it passed 4-0 to the floor.
The committee also heard SB 1109 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil, which would require additional state review for short-term residential therapeutic programs in very small rural counties or facilities with repeated serious citations. The author and county officials from Alpine County argued that rural counties lack the hospitals, schools, and 24-hour emergency response needed to safely support these placements, while providers opposed the bill as overly broad and potentially destabilizing to STRTP capacity. After the author accepted committee amendments, members voted 4-0 to send the bill to Appropriations as amended. SB 961 by Sen. Ashby would require students applying for financial aid to be notified that they may also be eligible for CalFresh; student and advocacy witnesses described widespread food insecurity on campuses, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations.
The committee then heard SB 1099 by Sen. Gomez Reyes, which clarifies local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA-related exemptions; supporters said it would reduce legal uncertainty for local safety-net services, and the bill was voted 2-0 with the remaining members absent, leaving it on call. SB 1190 by Sen. Grove would create a licensing and regulatory framework for youth transport companies that move minors to out-of-state residential facilities; survivors testified about traumatic transports, supporters called for basic guardrails, and the bill passed 4-0 to Public Safety. Finally, SB 1325 by Sen. Jones would create a narrow pathway for Feeding San Diego to participate in CalFood, with supporters saying it would expand hunger relief in San Diego County and opponents warning it could divert limited food bank resources; the discussion focused on broader funding concerns, and no final vote was recorded in the excerpt.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 20th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- With regard to reducing leaks, we initiated a test program earlier this year that utilizes satellite
- We put this to the test in both Truth or Consequences (TRC) and Cloudcroft, and in both situations, we
- We've gone beyond the test phase.
- We analyzed about 300 constituents in the collected 23 water samples, which involved field tests.
- That's one of the reasons why, with emerging contaminants, the EPA is now having communities test for
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Apr 22nd, 2025
Business and Professions
Transcript Highlights:
- would align the currently bifurcated hemp and cannabis markets, and most importantly create tax and testing
- 66% were marketed to children using cartoon imagery and mimicking candy and soda brands 52% had no testing
- This ensures consistent testing, taxation, packaging, age verification, and enforcement, regardless of
- That means testing, age-gating, taxation, and safety standards, the same ones that cannabis licensees
- currently have at the board, which is that the board will act to investigate when a doctor fails a drug test
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House environment panel considers HF3007 4/3/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Water efficiency measures should be mandatory, not optional, and aquifer testing must be required in
- Water efficiency measures should be mandatory, not optional, and aquifer testing must be required in
- Water efficiency measures should be mandatory, not optional, and aquifer testing must be required in
- Water efficiency measures should be mandatory, not optional, and aquifer testing must be required in
- Water efficiency measures should be mandatory, not optional, and aquifer testing must be required in
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Governmental Oversight and Accountability Mar 18th, 2025
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- There are actually three that don't require standardized tests for admissions in the state of Florida
- They have to have a standardized admission test.
- From my understanding, what would be a standardized test for a trade school? Thank you, Mr.
- or not required to take the test at all.
- take the test at all.
Summary:
The committee first confirmed Heather L. Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service, with the motion adopted and the confirmation recommended favorably. Members then took up SPB 7022, which sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2025, updates rates to address unfunded actuarial liability, and allows certain elected officers to elect a DROP accumulation; a technical title amendment was adopted, the bill was submitted as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill.
The committee then heard extensive debate and public testimony on SB 1710, which would restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion-related policies, trainings, and activities in state agencies, state-funded contractors and grantees, and medical institutions of higher education. Sponsor Senator DiCeglie said the bill is intended to prevent state agencies and contractors from using state funds for DEI programs and to limit state agencies from adopting DEI-related official positions; he also said the medical-school portion would likely be amended out later. Senator Polsky and others questioned the bill’s breadth and how it would affect health-related grants, public universities, historically Black institutions, recruitment, and contractor training. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill would harm health care, education, access, and inclusion; a few supporters said DEI is ideological, can undermine merit, and should not be used by state agencies or publicly funded institutions.
After debate, Senator Polsky argued the bill was confusing, overbroad, and harmful to serving diverse communities, while Senator Arrington said it was an overreach into private business and could have significant fiscal impacts. Chair Fine closed by saying DEI is political ideology and that the bill is meant to ensure government focuses on talent rather than identity. SB 1710 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote, with Senator Arrington voting no and the remaining members voting yes. The committee then began SB 1678, relating to entities that boycott Israel, and heard the sponsor’s explanation of a delete-all amendment that would expand and clarify state restrictions on dealings with entities engaged in boycotts of Israel, including certain nonprofits, foreign educational institutions, and grants; the amendment was adopted, and the sponsor and a witness began answering questions when the transcript cuts off.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Banking & Insurance (2-19-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- This means that while Medicaid pays for essential services like strep and flu testing, tobacco cessation
- 24:25.360>
flu essential services like strep and flu essential services like strep and flu testing - <00:24:26.840>
tobacco <00:24:27.399>cessation <00:24:27.919>counseling testing - tobacco cessation counseling testing tobacco cessation counseling and<00:24:29.360>
chronic <00 - Many pharmacies offer Board of Pharmacy authorized protocols, which allow them to do flu and strep tests
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00
Roll Call: 00:13
HB423 Discussion: 01:38
HB423 Vote: 12:30
HB415 Discussion: 13:50
HB415 Vote: 15:13
HB390 Discussion: 16:30
HB390 Vote: 21:48
HB3 For Discussion Only: 23:15, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 423, a prior authorization reform measure sponsored by Representative Kim Moser. A committee substitute was adopted to clarify that the bill’s prior authorization exemption program does not apply to Medicaid. Supporters, including the Kentucky Medical Association, said the bill would reduce red tape, improve transparency, and let providers spend more time on patient care. The bill would create a framework for insurers to establish a gold carding or waiver program for certain health services, exclude prescription drugs, prohibit retrospective reviews based solely on an exemption, and require annual reporting by the Department of Insurance and the Department for Medicaid Services. After questions about how exemptions would work and whether the bill addressed repeat prior authorizations, the committee voted to pass HB 423 with favorable expression.
The committee then considered House Bill 415, sponsored by Representative Pollock and supported by AFLAC representatives. The bill was described as clarifying that health insurance coverage mandates are generally intended to apply only to primary major medical policies. With no substantive opposition or questions, the committee voted to pass HB 415 with favorable expression.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 390 from Chair Meredith, presented with support from multiple insurance industry representatives and the Department of Insurance. The bill would move motor vehicle insurance verification data from the old system to the CAVIS database and shorten the reporting turnaround from 30 days to a ceiling of seven days, with the possibility of a shorter period by regulation. After brief discussion and no objections, the committee voted to pass HB 390 with favorable expression. The committee also heard House Bill 3 for discussion only, sponsored by Representative Neighbors and supported by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. The bill would require Kentucky Medicaid to reimburse pharmacists for covered clinical services they already provide, aligning Medicaid with existing commercial insurance policy. Supporters argued it would improve access, especially in underserved areas, and could reduce emergency room use and improve outcomes; the bill was not voted on during this meeting.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 4, 2025 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, if you take a test, you should kind of, if it's computer-based, you get the results back right
- With progress monitoring, students take that test at the beginning, middle, and end of the year.
- With progress monitoring, students take that test at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, and
- Those are college entry tests, the SAT, and ACT.
- They're passing the reading test. They're passing the algebra test.
Summary:
The subcommittee first heard an overview from Department of Education Chancellor Paul Burns on Florida’s K-12 governance structure and major divisions, including early learning, public schools, safe schools, school choice, and accountability. He highlighted school readiness and VPK, teacher preparation and licensure, school safety functions, scholarship and virtual/home education programs, and FAST progress monitoring. Burns also cited statewide gains such as higher mid-year reading performance, a record graduation rate of 89.7%, and record CTE enrollment, while members questioned the meaning of Florida’s “number one” education rankings, teacher pay, post-COVID learning loss, vacancies, and chronic absenteeism.
St. Lucie County Superintendent John Prince then described the scale and responsibilities of a mid-sized district, emphasizing student safety, transportation, meals, hurricane shelter operations, career and technical education, teacher recruitment and retention, progress monitoring, remediation, and mental health supports. Members asked about school shelter construction standards, remediation funding, late school start times, attendance, and concordance scores; Prince argued for more flexibility for CTE pathways and noted that local districts use a mix of state and federal funds to support remediation and staffing.
The committee then moved to an early warning systems panel. Burns explained that Florida law requires districts to use attendance, behavior/suspensions, course performance, FAST results, and other academic indicators to identify students needing support, with districts and families developing intervention plans. Superintendents from Putnam, St. Johns, and St. Lucie counties said chronic absenteeism is tied to achievement and NAEP decline, but causes vary by district, including poverty, transportation, daycare, family instability, travel, and student athletics. They described MTSS, PBIS, home visits, attendance letters, and community partnerships as responses. Members also discussed VPK access, full-day VPK funding, excused versus unexcused absences, and the need for earlier intervention in pre-K and K-2.
Finally, Vice Chancellor Darren Norris outlined Florida’s post-Parkland school safety measures, including armed school officers, anonymous reporting, behavioral threat assessment teams, mental health training, panic alert systems, emergency drills, active assailant response policies, and firearm detection canines. Superintendents said compliance is costly and often requires shifting local funds, but they praised state grants for mental health, hardening, and mapping. They noted ongoing challenges with new mandates, capital costs, manual reporting burdens, and the need to balance safety requirements with classroom resources.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 04/01/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- labs that are able to test cannabis products, and then a technical fix to allow tinctures to be legal
- labs that are able to test cannabis products, and then a technical fix to allow tinctures to be legal
- labs that are able to test cannabis products, and then a technical fix to allow tinctures to be legal
- the enrollment status or a positive test the enrollment status or a positive test and<00:53:01.040
- <00:54:05.839>
U action based off of a positive test U action based off of a positive test
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/24/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- And I thought that this fund was to help those students pay for those tests.
- And I thought that this fund was to help those students pay for those tests.
- And I thought that this fund was to help those students pay for those tests.
- And I thought that this fund was to help those students pay for those tests.
- That this fund was to help those students pay for those tests.
Summary:
The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law.
Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Testing has shown that many foods contain levels that could produce human blood concentrations greatly
- My organization, Save Massachusetts Wildlife, has helped fund necropsies and liver panel testing for
- State and national studies confirm that more than 80 to 90 percent of tested raptors in Massachusetts
- Have you worked with anyone who can do testing on the water where the turtles are coming from to see
- Marine Murray at Tufts Wildlife did some testing years ago and published a study that said that there
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills focused on pesticides, pollinators, rodenticides, mosquito control, invasive species, and local authority over pesticide regulation. Chair Becca Rausch set strict two-minute testimony limits due to the very large number of speakers. Early testimony from Senator Moore and Representative Hawkins strongly supported a bill to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, citing harms to wildlife, pets, and public health, and noting that California has already adopted a similar model. Testimony also supported a Lowell home rule petition to allow the city to prohibit or restrict these rodenticides, with local officials describing documented raptor poisonings and municipal efforts to phase out use on city property.
A major portion of the hearing focused on pollinator protection and neonicotinoid-treated seeds. Witnesses from environmental groups, conservation organizations, academics, and beekeepers argued that neonics harm bees and other beneficial insects, contaminate soil and water, and provide little or no economic benefit in most corn and soybean fields. Several speakers pointed to New York, Vermont, and Quebec as models for restricting treated seeds, and one panel cited research showing only a small percentage of fields benefit economically from the treatments. Support was also voiced for a bill establishing an ecologically based mosquito management program, with advocates criticizing aerial and truck spraying and urging non-chemical, locally tailored approaches.
Other testimony supported bills to reform the pesticide board and pesticide regulation process, to give vulnerable municipalities more local control over pesticide use, to protect schoolchildren from pesticides on school grounds, and to respond to invasive species through a centralized state office, coordinator, strategic plan, and trust fund. Many speakers, including representatives from Mass Audubon, MSPCA, the Xerces Society, the Sierra Club, watershed groups, and local wildlife rehabilitators, described impacts on hawks, owls, pets, fish, and broader ecosystems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and committee members generally asked few questions, with the hearing remaining in testimony mode throughout.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (02/17/2026)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- , I think that in a matter of election integrity and making sure that, again, the eye and the acid test
- <01:04:02.240>
Um <01:04:02.720>there in the acid test of identity. - Um there in the acid test of identity.
- <01:04:35.119>
is <01:04:35.520>completed eye and the acid test is completed eye and - , the citizenship, it the acid test, the citizenship, it provides<01:15:32.560>
a <01:15:32.800