Transcript Highlights:

• statewide policies on facial coverings, identification standards, and civil immigration-related procedures
• statewide policies on facial coverings, identification standards, and civil immigration-related procedures
• statewide policies on facial coverings, identification standards, and civil immigration-related procedures
• immigration-related procedures immigration-related procedures to<01:23:23.960> the<01:23:
• So, I respectfully urge that we defer even this very, um... procedures to ensure accurate procedures

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just had a quick procedural question to ask. Um, and yes, this is the change that we have.
• It depends on what an attorney would argue, what those words meant compared to what the procedure was
• 17.440> the those words meant compared to what the those words meant compared to what the procedure
• 18.638> what<05:14:18.878> the<05:14:19.040> the<05:14:19.520> strict procedure
• was and what the the strict procedure was and what the the strict letter<05:14:20.320> and<05

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate. The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough. Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later. The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also makes some changes in the procedures that help us control noxious weeds and in how we administer
• The bill also makes some changes in the procedures that help us control noxious weeds and in how we administer
• allows local governments to finance thermal energy systems as infrastructure, modernizes township procedures
• 06.000> township infrastructure, modernizes township infrastructure, modernizes township procedures
• procedures for the Hennepin<02:23:36.360> County<02:23:36.600> Medical<02:23:36.960>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then lastly, decentralization of rules has resulted in different policies, procedures, rules for
• And those rules, procedures, and policies could depend on where you live, who operates your benefit,
• , rules for the policies, procedures, rules for the person<00:08:34.880> receiving<00:08:35.360
• And those rules, procedures, and state.
• And those rules, procedures, and policies<00:08:39.200> could<00:08:39.320> depend<00:08

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pursuant to RSA 541A, not later than one year after the effective date of this paragraph to establish procedures
• pursuant to RSA 541A, not later than one year after the effective date of this paragraph to establish procedures
• c><00:04:12.000> to<00:04:12.319> obtain<00:04:12.799> landowner establish procedures
• to obtain landowner establish procedures to obtain landowner permission<00:04:14.159> for<00:
• works across state borders, which is very common in New England, has to have a different set of procedures

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative N. then said he had texted the clerk of the House with a procedural question: if there
• um texted the clerk of the House<01:36:22.159> um<01:36:22.239> a<01:36:22.480> procedural
• <01:36:23.920> I<01:36:24.159> said, House um a procedural question.
• I said, House um a procedural question.
• Would that be the proper procedure? procedure? procedure? >> No<01:46:39.360> idea.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To make the audit credible and useful, procedures should do four things: use random selection as the
• Put procedural development with the county clerk's association and align it with U.S.
• make the audit credible<01:29:44.159> and<01:29:44.400> useful,<01:29:45.199> procedures
• <01:29:45.840> should credible and useful, procedures should credible and useful, procedures
• <01:30:17.760> with<01:30:18.000> the put procedural development with the put procedural

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every time we have an invasive species, we are very tangled up in policy procedure.
• Every time we have an invasive species, we are very tangled up in policy procedure.
• Every time we have an invasive species, we are very tangled up in policy procedure.
• Every time we have an invasive species, we are very tangled up in policy procedure.
• are very tangled up in policy procedure. are very tangled up in policy procedure.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing from the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment focused on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s update on Hawaii’s biosecurity framework, especially implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Chairs Corey Chun and Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing the briefing as an update on investments to fight invasive species and improve statewide evaluation and coordination. Department leaders Sharon Her and Richard Kim described historic legislative and executive investments that have allowed the department to rebuild and modernize biosecurity infrastructure to better prevent, detect, control, and eradicate invasive species. The presentation emphasized the importance of biosecurity to Hawaii’s agriculture, economy, environment, and public well-being, citing threats such as rapid ohia death, little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, brown tree snake, and red imported fire ant. Staff explained the state’s layered approach—pre-border, border, and post-border—and compared it to New Zealand’s model, stressing that Hawaii must act as a “net, not a wall” and that prevention before entry is far more cost-effective than response after establishment. They also outlined agency roles across the system, including agriculture, natural resources, health, transportation, enforcement, and university partners, and noted that Act 231 strengthened authority over high-risk imports, offshore treatment, compliance agreements, and pest management plans, while Act 236 renamed the department and clarified statewide biosecurity coordination. Jonathan Ho then walked through specific program areas and progress. He said pre-border risk analysis is being supported by Act 231 funding and a university contract, while offshore compliance and treatment efforts have improved substantially, including Christmas tree inspections from Oregon and Washington and airline declaration systems that provide advance passenger information. For border work, he highlighted inspections, surveillance, detector dogs, and port monitoring. For post-border response and readiness, he discussed the invasive pest hotline and dashboard, trace-forward/trace-back and diagnostics, preparedness for future threats, and the need to build stronger internal capacity. He also described a developing transitional facilities program authorized by Act 236, modeled on New Zealand’s certified facilities system, and said the department has already begun outreach to industry groups such as the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 2617 gets at some immediate challenges around interpretive guidance and operating procedures
• interpretive guidance<01:08:03.920> and<01:08:04.160> operating<01:08:04.640> procedures
• <01:08:05.440> and guidance and operating procedures and guidance and operating procedures
• the first thing when I was reading this bill the other day was we don't have standard operating procedure
• <01:28:36.159> for have standard operating procedure for have standard operating procedure

Bills: HF1918, HF2305, HF897, HF2191, HF2617, HF2551, HF2137

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Transcript Highlights:

• We should be um keeping up our policies and our procedures should be keeping up with the technology and
• We should be um keeping up our policies and our procedures should be keeping up with the technology and
• We should be um keeping up our policies and our procedures should be keeping up with the technology and
• We should be keeping up our policies and our procedures should be keeping up with the technology and
• <01:04:14.799> behind the uh in the dark of procedures behind the uh in the dark of procedures

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be a very similar application procedure that restaurants, for instance, would have to go through
• It would be a very similar application procedure that restaurants, for instance, would have to go through
• It would be a very similar application procedure that restaurants, for instance, would have to go through
• <00:54:33.960> that<00:54:34.160> restaurants application procedure that restaurants
• application procedure that restaurants uh<00:54:35.200> for<00:54:35.359> instance<00:

Bills: HF1262, HF1741, HF472, HF1668, HF2055, HF1786, HF1876, HF1089, HF1121, HF509, HF1545, HF2027, HF642

Keywords: food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license

Transcript Highlights:

• Referring this bill to Judiciary Committee is not just a procedural decision; it is an acknowledgement
• Referring this bill to Judiciary Committee is not just a procedural decision; it is an acknowledgement
• Referring this bill to Judiciary Committee is not just a procedural decision; it is an acknowledgement
• Referring this bill to Judiciary Committee is not just a procedural decision; it is an acknowledgement
• It's not an invasive medical procedure.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Parliamentary procedure: the passing table would still allow the sponsor of this bill to come back in
• c> parliamentary bill in the first place parliamentary bill in the first place parliamentary procedure
• passing<01:35:20.760> table<01:35:21.520> would<01:35:21.760> still procedure
• the passing table would still procedure the passing table would still allow<01:35:22.679> the
• that's all covered in other procedures that's all covered in other procedures so<01:50:32.760>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just have a quick procedural question: are we planning to lay this over, or are we voting on the bill
• c><01:16:29.639> have<01:16:29.760> a<01:16:29.880> quick<01:16:30.120> procedural
• table I just have a quick procedural table I just have a quick procedural question<01:16:31.280>
• In some cases, I even also asked what are the protocols or procedures that you make a decision about
• that you make a what you or procedures that you make a what you make<01:32:52.159> a<01:32:52.320

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator DeMoss offers Senate Bill 1090, a bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Senate Bill 1090, a bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure. Second reading of the bill.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, pledge, attendance, and a series of recesses and caucus calls. The chamber also recognized the retirement of Larry Horn of the Michigan Senate Police Department and later honored departing staff members Macy Maine, Maddie Cutler, and Julia Schmidt. Senator Geiss delivered a statement marking the 62nd anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, emphasizing its legacy and the need to protect and strengthen civil rights protections. The Senate received House messages on Senate Bills 870 and 878, with SB 878 sent to conference. It also introduced several new measures, including Senate Joint Resolution L and Senate Bills 1085 through 1091, plus House Bills 4833, 5152, 5153, and 5727, referring them to the appropriate committees. The chamber discharged multiple committees from further consideration of bills and suspended rules several times to move legislation onto the General Orders calendar and to allow committee meetings during session. On the floor, the Senate passed House Bill 4072 and Senate Bills 792, 793, 1013, and 947. SB 1013, dealing with the Insurance Code and price optimization, included a failed Tice amendment and passed 34-3. SB 947, concerning dam safety under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, drew supportive remarks from Senator McMorrow and a strong no-vote explanation from Senator McBroom before passing 22-15. The Senate also adopted a McMorrow substitute for SB 947 and later considered a large group of bills in Committee of the Whole, reporting many with amendments and others without amendment for third reading. The session ended with the Senate adjourning until Friday, July 3rd at 12:15 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• officers as equal, with the same training and post-certification standards and adherence to criminal procedural
• to hold everybody to the same standards for training and adherence to certification and criminal procedure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public safety and public sector employees, with most of the discussion focused on expanding occupational presumptions and retirement protections for police, firefighters, correction officers, court officers, and other public employees. Testifiers from the Legislature, police and fire unions, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, PERAC, and the AFL-CIO generally supported bills covering cancer presumptions, contagious disease presumptions, Parkinson’s disease for firefighters, PTSD-related disability and death, and equity for post-certified police officers under the Heart Law. Several speakers emphasized that these conditions are linked to long-term occupational exposure, that current law leaves out agencies such as UMass police, Environmental Police, DMH police, and other state or campus police, and that the bills would correct gaps in existing benefits and presumptions. Representative Colleen Garry and Senator Joan Lovely spoke in support of expanding the Heart Law and cancer presumption protections, while Representative and Senator sponsors for the firefighter and PTSD bills described the health risks faced by first responders and urged favorable reports. PFFM and MassCOP representatives argued that firefighters and police officers face toxic exposures, infectious disease risks, and chronic stress, and cited studies and other states’ laws in support of the measures. PERAC testified that the PTSD accidental disability bill would clarify confusing case law and update filing requirements so traumatic incidents can be used in applications even when PTSD develops later, while still requiring medical review and retirement board approval. Additional testimony came from correction officers and trial court officers seeking comparable disability and pension protections, including a bill to extend a 100% disability pension to correction officers injured in violent attacks and a bill to treat court officers more like police and firefighters when injured in the line of duty. The committee asked a few clarifying questions, including about whether the PTSD bill would address post-retirement claims and about the impact of excluding “forgotten” police agencies. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee ultimately adjourned after hearing all scheduled testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Keenan, notification procedures. Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
• Keenan, policy and procedure, recording. Question comes on adoption of the amendment.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a comprehensive immigration-related bill, the Protect Act (House No. 5316), with extensive debate focused on limiting civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations and protecting immigrants, victims, workers, and public institutions. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fear in schools, hospitals, courts, child care settings, and other community spaces, while preserving criminal law enforcement and public safety cooperation. Several senators also emphasized the economic and community contributions of immigrants, and some spoke from personal or district experience about fear, school enrollment declines, and impacts on health care and daily life. A number of amendments were debated. Amendment 6, offered by Senator Kennedy, was adopted to extend protections to DDS facilities and disability-related care settings, with supporters stressing the importance of protecting immigrant caregivers and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Other adopted amendments included Amendment 7 on effective dates, Amendment 34 adding residential schools/programs as safe spaces, Amendment 10 on courthouse curtilage, Amendment 13 protecting health care workers from retaliation, Amendment 20 establishing an immigration commission with minority-party representation, and Amendment 69 as a corrective/technical amendment. Many other amendments, largely offered by Senator Tarr and others, were rejected, including proposals concerning 287G agreements, detainers, civil arrests, court authority, and legal defense funding; several amendments were also withdrawn. The chamber took multiple roll-call votes on contested amendments. Amendment 59 on 287G funds was defeated 5-34, Amendment 63 on status information tied to criminal offenses was defeated 7-32, Amendment 67 on felony detainers was defeated 10-29, and Amendment 75 on state-funded legal defense programs was defeated 5-34. After amendments were completed, the Senate adopted the Ways and Means recommendation, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed by a 37-3 vote. The Senate later rejected a House amendment, appointed a conference committee, and adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another one would be unlawful procedure, something that's unsupported by substantial evidence, certainly
• on target, ...comports with what school committees do, and was within the framework of the legal procedures

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate resumed debate on Senate No. 2696, An Act Regarding Free Expression, a bill addressing challenges to books and other library materials in school and public libraries. Senators supporting the bill argued it protects free expression and gives students, parents, guardians, and others a court path to challenge removals, while opponents raised concerns about parental rights, school control, and the scope and timing of the review process. Several speakers also emphasized the broader context of book bans and the impact on authors, librarians, and students. A number of amendments were considered. Amendment 4, offered by Senator Creem, was adopted and extended standing to authors and creators to challenge removals of their works, including in municipal libraries. Amendment 5, by Senator DiDomenico, was adopted and limited who may initiate challenges to those connected to the school community. Amendment 6, by Senator Comerford, was adopted to require that challenged materials be considered in their entirety. Amendment 8, by Senator Tarr, proposing parental notification of challenges, was rejected after a roll call. Subsequent Tarr amendments on parental opt-out, reporting, public process, and written policy were also rejected, while Amendment 19, requiring written reasons when librarians remove outdated or successor materials, was rejected as well. Amendment 7, a Ways and Means amendment, was adopted. The Senate then ordered the bill to a third reading and passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 35 in favor and 3 against. The chamber also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The documented procedure manual does not always tie activities across teams or procedural silos.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the accuracy and reliability of OSPI’s school apportionment system. Auditors said the system, which calculates and distributes K-12 funding using multiple feeder systems and a core apportionment engine, is outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of failure. They reported weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and staffing, and said OSPI relies heavily on manual workarounds, a few knowledgeable staff, and vendor support. In limited testing of three districts, the auditors found the system calculated funding correctly for the 2023-24 school year, but they identified nine small input discrepancies tied to differences between budget materials and state law, which they said could compound into larger dollar amounts. The auditors recommended replacing or modernizing the system and noted that delays in doing so prolong risk. OSPI largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said it has been working toward a new system for years. Agency officials clarified that the Legislature requested a feasibility study in 2022, that the study found the system at risk of catastrophic failure, and that funding for a replacement is now in the state IT pool subject to OCIO/OFM gate reviews. OSPI disputed the audit’s characterization of the rounding and budget-law discrepancies, saying the issue was an agency rule and implementation choice, not an error that caused under- or over-allocation. Officials also said the current system is too old to easily absorb future formula changes, but that the planned replacement should be flexible enough to handle a new funding model if the Legislature adopts one. Committee members asked about the amount and timing of the $16 million project funding, whether smaller districts face greater risk, how many times data is entered, and whether the funding formula should be simplified. Auditors and OSPI both emphasized that formula simplification is a policy question for the Legislature, not the audit. Public testimony came from one online witness, who urged full implementation of the audit recommendations and modernization of the system. The subcommittee took no formal vote and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we have, you know, medical debt from life-saving procedures that gets reported to credit.
• But, but— Medical debt from life-saving procedures that gets reported to credit.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Judiciary B met on May 21 with a quorum present, approved the May 14 minutes, and then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions. It first reported Senate Resolution 125 favorably, which urged the Navy to expedite funding and implementation of medium-unmanned surface vessels, citing jobs and private investment tied to Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City. The committee then heard House Bill 1253, the Gracie Claire Rushing Act, from Chairwoman Butler and Crystal Romero, who described the painful history of Gracie’s death, exhumation, and discovery that her heart had not been returned after autopsy; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee also reported favorably House Bill 89, a local retirement health insurance measure for the Third and 30th Judicial Districts; House Bill 1257, barring elected officials and immediate family members from owning interests in electronic monitoring companies; House Bill 1029, as amended, creating a moratorium on alcohol beverage licenses in House District 3 until 2027; House Bill 1011, making a juror-per-diem donation program for CASA permissive statewide; House Bill 1064, creating a domestic violence intervention court pilot in East Baton Rouge Parish with support from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and YWCA; House Bill 816, prohibiting foreign adversaries from buying land near military installations; and House Bill 940, creating a counter-unmanned aircraft system task force to coordinate law enforcement response to drone threats. The committee then heard House Bill 1247, which addresses the shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners by creating a statewide SANE coordinator in the Attorney General’s office and a response standards subcommittee; after adopting a technical amendment set, it was reported favorably with amendments. House Bill 335, expanding public-benefit eligibility verification to entities administering benefits and adding legislative auditor oversight, was also amended after concerns from food banks and disaster-response nonprofits, with members agreeing to work on additional floor amendments to protect essential services during emergencies. House Bill 623, a tobacco-related deadline fix, was voluntarily deferred to allow more time for drafting. The committee also reported favorably HCR 64, extending a report deadline for the Supreme Court drug and specialty court office. Later, the committee reported favorably House Bill 243, changing recusal procedures so cases go first to the Attorney General rather than a private lawyer; House Bill 451, allowing hearing notices to be sent more than 30 days in advance and electronically; House Bill 1251, reducing permit costs for very small in-state distillers; House Bill 1053, allowing salons, barbers, and boutiques to offer limited complimentary wine or champagne without a permit; House Bill 153, barring criminal-justice debt from being reported to credit agencies; House Bill 59, authorizing East Baton Rouge Parish to transfer funds to the public defender’s office; HCR 50, a task force request; HCR 102, continuing the Senior Task Force on Fraud Prevention; and House Bill 1098, part of the aerospace package addressing liability related to sonic booms. The meeting ended with adjournment after a brief exchange about LSU and McNeese football.