Transcript Highlights:

• This committee has the authority to close these gaps.
• Okay, Assemblywoman, would you like to close?
• Okay, Assemblywoman, would you like to close?
• Call, would you like to close?
• Call, would you like to close?

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Follow the agenda that closely anyway. >> Well, there was, Mr.
• So I would propose that we only drop owner-occupied primary homes, um, at with eight months. >> Mr.
• </c> uh primary residences. uh primary residences.
• </c> and except for a subclass of primary and except for a subclass of primary residences,<00:17:57.360
• </c> being the primary being the primary point<01:12:53.199><c> in</c><01:12:53.440><c> a</c><01:12:53.679

Committee: Joint Revenue

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know that the good member from the 45th kind of just talked on an amendment just really close to
• be your county prosecuting attorney, for the power to really have a huge impact on your life, and a close
• together or if they're being located too close to schools.
• lot of the words from the good member from the 30th District, and I don't think I could even come close
• and actually did very well in the primary and won the primary.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2219 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2343 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB2574 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2179 , HB2203 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2464 , HB2495 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2636 , HB2192 , HB2251 , HB2262 , HB2266 , HB2298 , HB2320 , HB2323 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2405 , HB2442 , HB2523 , HB2593 , HB2632 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2095 , HB2157 , HB2225 , HB2274 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2333 , HB2476 , HB2508 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1634 , HB1707 , HB1906 , HB1909 , HB2196 , HB2244 , HB2339 , HB2361 , HB2384 , HB2389 , HB2410 , HB2468 , HB2475 , HB2521 , HB2548 , HB2619 , HB2637 , HB2720

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House first took up House Bill 2156, which would expand the Attorney General’s investigative authority, especially for organized retail crime and related economic and financial crimes. Members debated a series of amendments on training standards, background checks, warrant service, scope limits, and definitions. Some amendments were adopted, including provisions clarifying electronic service of search warrants, background-check expectations, decertification standards, and a definition of economic and financial crimes; others were rejected or ruled out of scope. The bill was then amended, advanced, and passed 54-43. The House then considered several other measures. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2219 on child care operational efficiency passed overwhelmingly after amendments addressing opioid-related safety standards in licensed child care settings. House Bill 2124, adjusting the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2266, dealing with permanent supportive housing, traditional housing, and indoor emergency shelters, was amended to add local notice, transparency, community meeting, and siting protections, then passed 56-40. The chamber also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1784, which updates certified medical assistant supervision rules for diagnostic radiologic procedures, by 96-0. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2523, codifying the Community Reinvestment Program, passed 88-9 after amendments adding accountability and local-government provisions. House Bill 2113, clarifying supervision authority for diagnostic radiologic procedures in rural hospitals, passed 97-0. House Bill 2632, modernizing statutory terminology by replacing “alien” with “non-citizen,” passed 58-39. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476, expanding theater seating rules for venues serving alcohol, passed 81-50. The House then began House Bill 2320 on regulating firearms manufacturing involving 3D printing and CNC milling; several narrowing amendments were rejected, a striking amendment was adopted, and debate continued with supporters citing ghost-gun risks and opponents raising constitutional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I guess at what point do those projects are closed?
• It can take 12 to 13 years to close some major disasters. OK, wow. OK.
• Threats to life these days are endless, and we, it's a primary focus for our DPS special agents.
• Uh, Attorney General Paxton has had one of his, uh, primary concerns, uh, the border security.
• They can move missions around, close missions.

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We did a number of those things with that ARPA funding toward the primary goal of supporting child care
• goal of supporting toward the primary goal of supporting child<00:20:55.919><c> care</c><00:20:56.320
• Once we sort out exactly how much unallocated TANF funding we have, and we're very close to that point
• to funding we have and we're very close to that<00:27:25.120><c> point</c><00:27:25.360><c> because<
• Those are three of the primary errors, if you will, that show up in our error rate.

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 21 January, 2026; 3:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We closed 10 or 12 during that period of time.
• It was a good debate back and forth with all of the primary stakeholders.
• </c><00:46:23.119><c> uh</c> uh all of the uh the primary uh uh all of the uh the primary uh stakeholders
• So, uh, with that, I'm going to close the public hearing on House Bill 696.
• </c> and I know that one of our primary and I know that one of our primary investment<01:19:37.920><c

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to close. Yes, sir.
• And in closing, I think our vets are worth half a million dollars. Okay.
• This thing was created behind closed doors. We weren't even here when it was tasked out.
• Anything you'd like to close, or have you already closed?
• Yes, close to the original fiscal note.

Bills: HB165 , HB175 , HB198 , HB272 , HB457 , HB488 , HB566 , HB603 , HB763 , HB902 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• I think he just won the California primary. It was quite the news at the time.
• So in closing, as this committee continues It's important work.
• We would work very closely with you to make sure that we do that.
• So your primary response to something like that?
• Dillon close us out. Yes, sir. Um, well, my name is Dillon cider.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “Yes, they would be the primary responding officer.”
• With that, I'm going to close the hearing on HB 153.
• <01:26:20.560><c> the</c> close the close the hearing<01:26:22.920><c> seeing</c><01:26:23.360><c> none
• I'm going to close the hearing on uh I'm going to close the hearing on uh hb13<01:26:50.080><c> and</
• We license about close to 7,000 dogs every year.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training through the police standards system. Representative Barbara Coma, the sponsor, said the bill was prompted by problems in animal cruelty cases, especially in rural areas without animal control officers, and she described it as a limited training measure. She said an amendment was forthcoming that would add an eight-hour approved course and a two-hour refresher every three years, and she emphasized that the trained officers would serve as resources rather than being required to take action themselves. Members asked about cost, due process, overlap with animal control officers, how trained officers would be identified and notified, and whether veterinarians could fill the role. Coma responded that the bill would not be a heavy financial lift, would not interfere with animal control officers, would apply to livestock as well as companion animals, and would still require law enforcement involvement because veterinarians cannot lawfully remove animals from property. She also said the training could improve due process by helping officers better understand when animal removal is appropriate and how cases should proceed. Sheriff William Wright, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, testified in opposition. He said training itself was acceptable, but the bill went beyond training by creating an obligation for sheriffs and state police to respond to and potentially investigate animal cruelty cases, which he argued would be ambiguous, unfunded, and burdensome for staffing and resources. He said some sheriff’s offices do not have investigative deputies and that the bill could create liability and uncertainty about who would lead investigations. In response to questions, he said the association would likely have no objection if the bill were limited to training, but it opposed the assistance/investigation mandate as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• This is a division vote. nation for our presidential primary but nation for our presidential primary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And my primary witness could not be here, unfortunately, Madam Chair.
• Closing remarks? Yes. I want to thank. Any wrap-up? Closing remarks? Yes.
• I’ll adopt that as my closing. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
• Would you like to close? Just respectfully ask for your aye vote. Would you like to close?
• I'll have been closed. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also, in closing here, Mr.
• We would have more primary care, at least trying to stay in practice, specifically in our... ...primary
• It's because nobody will accept new patients who works in primary care because we don't have enough primary
• I've been working really closely with them.
• I've been working really closely with them.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2681 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SB5863 , SB5892 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , HB2711 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:43.000><c> care</c> family practice or primary care family practice or primary care physicians
• So the more practitioners in all of our professions, from vets to dentistry to primary care, we need
• You know, the primary driver of this is, would be, a dental practitioner that would be working for a
• uh the uh primary feature of that<00:29:37.480><c> Park</c><00:29:38.279><c> uh</c><00:29:38.480><c>
• comments thank you then I have closing comments thank you Mr<01:15:35.320><c> chair</c><01:15:36.000

Bills: HF1833 , HF148 , HF1127 , HF1227 , HF1681 , HF1974 , HF1106 , HF1016 , HF2197

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: sales tax, education funding, construction, Aitkin Public Schools, tax exemption, refundable credit, HF148, use of force training, deadly force, peace officer training, police training, law enforcement, POST Board, Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, scenario-based training, de-escalation, defensive tactics, force-on-force training, stress management, officer wellness

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the primary reasons for this decision is the inclusion of new provisions addressing lithium-ion
• As the board considered adoption of the 2024 codes, we focused on three primary objectives: to preserve
• Touchstone, if you'd like to come back up, I don't know if you have any closing remarks or... Mr.
• Chairman, committee, I don't have any additional closing remarks, but I'd stand for any questions the

Summary: The committee first approved the January 29, 2026 minutes without objection. It then considered three RS drafts: RS 33116 on land use planning and short-term rentals, which Senator Harris said was intended to balance local control, property rights, and regulation of short-term rentals, including limits on business licensing requirements for smaller operators; RS 33133 on insurer investments, which Senator Guthrie said would give insurance companies more flexibility in making investments; and RS 33190 on PERSI reemployment rules, which Senator Lakey said would treat certain appointed officials filling vacancies the same as elected officials for retirement benefit purposes. All three RSs were moved to print and the motions carried. The committee also heard several gubernatorial reappointments. Kevin Settles was reappointed to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board and described his long service and focus on efficient administration. Todd Lakey was reappointed to the State Insurance Fund Board and spoke about the board’s customer-service improvements and ongoing changes. Representative John Weber was reappointed to the State Insurance Fund Board, and Robert Cuio was reappointed to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board; both were moved to the Senate floor with recommendations for confirmation, and those motions carried. The remainder of the meeting focused on three rule dockets from DOPL and the Idaho Building Code Board. Two dockets made temporary fee reductions permanent for factory-built structures and building permits, with no public comments and no impact on the general fund. The final docket adopted Idaho-specific updates based on the 2024 building, residential, and energy codes, including provisions on taller wood-frame buildings, mass timber, lithium-ion battery safety in garages, and an alternative prescriptive path to replace blower-door testing. Testimony from building officials and home builders strongly supported the changes as more flexible, affordable, and practical, and the committee approved all three dockets before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the primary reasons for this decision is the inclusion of new provisions addressing lithium-ion
• As the board considered adoption of the 2024 codes, we focused on three primary objectives: to preserve
• Touchstone, if you'd like to come back up, I don't know if you have any closing remarks or... Mr.
• Chairman, committee, I don't have any additional closing remarks, but I'd stand for any questions the

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work very closely with our Office of Inspector General.
• We work closely with our CMS partners, with our HHS OIG partners.
• We work closely with our CMS partners, with our HHS OIG partners.
• We work closely with our CMS partners, with our HHS OIG partners.
• </c><00:37:43.800><c> Care</c> anywhere from Physicians to Primary Care anywhere from Physicians to Primary

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the Department for Medicaid Services’ program integrity work. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Program Integrity Director Jennifer Dudinsky outlined Kentucky Medicaid’s structure, funding, enrollment, and spending, including FMAP rates, the size of the Medicaid and KCHIP populations, the number of providers, and 2024 expenditures. They also described the managed care and fee-for-service populations, noting that managed care serves most members while fee-for-service is concentrated in long-term care and waiver populations. Most of the discussion focused on fraud, waste, abuse prevention, and provider oversight. The department described its provider enrollment and certification checks, revalidation requirements, site reviews, fingerprinting for some high-risk providers, and termination grounds such as false application information, Medicare actions, unreported ownership changes, and abandonment of a provider number. Members asked about nonprofit ownership reporting, MCO fraud oversight, and how the department tracks unusual CPT code utilization, especially in behavioral health. The department said it uses data analytics, audits, policy review, and collaboration with behavioral health staff to monitor those trends. Dudinsky explained the division’s four branches: provider licensing and certification, audits and compliance, recovery, and third-party liability/estate recovery. She described prepayment and postpayment audits, referrals of credible fraud allegations to the Attorney General, monthly meetings with the AG’s office, and coordination with the Office of Inspector General, CMS, HHS OIG, MCOs, and other partners. She also explained payment suspensions, stand-downs during law enforcement investigations, and recovery efforts for overpayments, provider/member fraud, and third-party liability. The department said its recovery and avoidance efforts produced more than $251 million in savings so far in 2025. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Facebook's policy, their own policy, reminds users to close Instagram every day from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m
• So that's the primary purpose of this amendment. Thank you.
• So that's the primary purposes of this amendment. Thank you. Question comes to adoption amendment.
• So I'm going to close just by saying, I hope we will not...
• So I'm going to close and say today I'm going to vote yes because I think that we're doing the best we

Summary: The Senate took up several local and special bills for final passage, including measures on culverts and dams in Town Line Brook and Lindenbrook, alcohol license conversions and additions in Milford, Salem, and Bridgewater, and special legislation allowing William Pilarie to take a firefighter civil service exam in Arlington despite the age limit. All five bills were passed to be enacted. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to bills on alcohol licenses in Bolton and conservation restrictions in Hanson, and adopted a resolution commending the National Safety Council and recognizing June as National Safety Month. The chamber then considered Ways and Means reports and orders for House bills on improving Massachusetts home care and requiring health care employers to prevent workplace violence. Both bills were amended with new Senate text and ordered to second reading on July 16, 2026, with the new text pending and further amendment procedures specified. The Senate also advanced several House bills passed to be engrossed, including land transfers in Norton, transportation bond terms, and Watertown property tax classifications, each being ordered to a third reading. The main debate centered on Senate No. 30, a bill to protect children from addictive social media feeds, which was taken up with a Ways and Means substitute draft, Senate No. 3164. Senators supporting the bill argued it targets addictive design features such as algorithmic feeds, autoplay, infinite scroll, and overnight notifications while preserving access to social media, privacy, and First Amendment rights; opponents and some supporters raised concerns about parental authority and the role of the state. The Senate adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the definition of user, stronger limits on minors’ nighttime notifications, parental consent and privacy protections for location sharing and age verification, exemptions for nonprofits and open-source platforms, age-signal clarifications, dark-pattern restrictions, and data-security/reporting provisions, while rejecting several other amendments. The debate remained ongoing at the end of the transcript, with additional amendments and discussion still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our CP team collaborated with her primary care provider to resolve the issue efficiently.
• Our CP team collaborated with her primary care provider to resolve the issue efficiently.
• Alternatives like CHAMP or HUD have closed or have years-long waiting lists.
• We integrate behavioral health, we coordinate across primary and preventive services, and we connect
• If we do not win our appeal for our new five-year grant, SSS will close its doors by August 2026.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing focused heavily on the FY27 state budget and related funding priorities across health care, housing, education, disability services, and public higher education. Multiple witnesses urged restoration or increases in funding for MassHealth Community Partners and complex care management for homeless and medically complex patients, the DMH rental subsidy program, the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, the DeafBlind Community Access Network, and the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Testimony also highlighted the need for fair pay and wage equity for community college faculty and staff, as well as support for early childhood vouchers, cash assistance, and nutrition education programs affected by federal cuts. Several witnesses described how funding gaps affect real people: nurses and care managers said patients with homelessness and severe medical needs lose coordinated care, leading to missed treatment and hospitalizations; early childhood educators said long voucher waitlists leave families without child care; community college staff said low salaries and increased workloads from MassEducate leave workers struggling to afford housing and basic expenses; and housing advocates said cuts to rental subsidies and vouchers push vulnerable people toward shelters or more expensive crisis systems. DeafBlind advocates asked for restored funding, more interpreter access, and better provider support, while a witness also supported hearing-aid coverage legislation. Education funding was another major theme. Boston, Framingham, Triton, and other districts described Chapter 70 and other formula-driven aid as failing to keep up with inflation and actual costs, forcing layoffs, program cuts, and local overrides. Speakers also called for fully funded charter reimbursements, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, school building investments, and relief tied to enrollment declines driven by federal immigration enforcement. Committee members asked several clarifying questions about program status, funding mechanics, and the meaning of terms like “death by housing,” but no votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said they deposit close to a million dollars and that their current appropriation is $369,9?
• This came about afterwards, as we were talking about the primary and sort of implications to that.
• There's actually a man who ran as a Democrat in 2024, and he is now running against her in the primary
• Senator Gowan, do you have any closing comments? Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members.
• Any closing comments, Senator? Okay, see on none.

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1078, which would require courts reviewing public-records disputes to apply de novo review rather than deferring to an agency’s decision to withhold records. Senator Kavanaugh and a Goldwater Institute witness argued the bill would restore transparency and independent judicial review. The committee recommended the bill do pass on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1184, which would add military division flags approved by the Department of Defense to the list of flags that HOAs and planned communities may not prohibit. Kavanaugh said the bill responds to HOA restrictions on veterans displaying unit flags. Members discussed whether the bill should also cover other flags, including LGBTQ flags, but no amendment was adopted. The bill passed 7-0. SB 1586 followed, requiring Arizona agencies to post federal guidance they create, adopt, or receive. Supporters said it would improve transparency; an opposing member said agencies already post such material and the bill was unnecessary. It passed 4-3. SB 1665, a state agency hiring reform bill, would require standardized hiring scores, interview panel grades, overall grades, and an appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. The State Personnel Board supported it as a merit-based reform, while ADOA opposed it as costly and burdensome, estimating more than $3 million in compliance costs and warning it could slow hiring. After extended testimony, the committee recommended it do pass 4-3. The committee also approved SCR 1024, which would require legislative candidates to reside in their district for one year and, if affiliated, be members of their party for one year before the election; it passed 6-1 after discussion about residency rules and ballot-measure concerns. Later, the committee heard SB 1135, which increases workers’ compensation burial expenses for fallen first responders from $5,000 to $10,000. Family members and first responders testified in support, describing the financial strain after line-of-duty deaths. The bill passed 6-1 with one member present. SB 1136, which allows surviving spouses of first responders to keep death benefits even if they remarry, also drew emotional testimony from widows and supporters and passed 5-2. The committee then took up SB 1435, expanding the existing prohibition on exposing minors to sexually explicit material to public libraries and making violations a class 6 felony; supporters framed it as child protection, while opponents warned it could chill library access and criminalize librarians. The bill passed 4-3. Finally, SB 1567 was introduced as another expansion of the same underlying law, prohibiting government entities and contractors from exposing minors to sexually explicit materials and from using public facilities for filming or facilitating sexually explicit acts; the sponsor described it as part of a broader effort to protect children, and the committee began discussion of the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• with 500 or fewer students spent the most per student on almost every matrix resource line and spent close
• Looking at district-level findings, charter districts spent close to four times more per student than
• This was made up 32%, and I'll also note, as a kind of caveat to that, the 11 districts were the primary
• But I'm not sure if I've answered what you were— Yeah, that's close. That's close.
• Yeah, that's close.

Summary: The joint education committee continued its adequacy study with a detailed Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, covering how Arkansas school districts and charters spend foundation and other funds on matrix and non-matrix items. Staff explained the methodology for mapping expenditures, the district and school categories used in the analysis, and key findings showing that districts spend more per student from all fund sources than the foundation amount alone. The presentation highlighted that classroom teachers account for the largest share of matrix spending, while operations and maintenance, student support staff, nurses, and other lines also drew significant attention. Members asked for additional breakdowns by district type, size, rural/urban status, and trend data, and several questions focused on how waivers affect funding and spending, especially for library media specialists and other positions. The committee then discussed non-matrix spending, including instructional aids, non-technology-related facilities, school safety, mental health services, dyslexia support, food service, gifted and talented, career and technical education, and other items not explicitly defined in the matrix. Staff reported that non-matrix spending exceeded $2 billion in 2025, with most of it coming from other fund sources, and that the top superintendent-identified unmet needs over recent surveys were mental health services, school safety, and dyslexia support. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, possible over-identification, and whether some support costs are being coded in ways that obscure the true spending picture. There was also discussion of facilities funding, the building fund, and the Department of Education’s partnership program for school construction and maintenance, with staff agreeing to provide more information and potentially bring department officials back for a future meeting. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly requested more granular data and clarifications, including waiver counts and funding impacts, trend lines for superintendent-reported needs, district-by-district spending spreadsheets, and definitions for certain matrix and accounting terms such as salary enhancement, LEA indebtedness, and other employee health insurance. The chair noted that the committee would continue the adequacy process over the coming months and use the worksheet in the binder to develop recommendations for the next biennium. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; instead, the committee received the report, asked for follow-up data, and agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings.