Transcript Highlights:

• are representatives from the Korean United Methodist Church of New Haven, as well as the Korean American
• We are, as a proud Irish American, whose father emigrated to the United States from County Donegal and
• AS IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. >> SENATOR KAVANAGH.
• WE ARE AS A PROUD IRISH AMERICAN, WHOSE FATHER EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM COUNTY DONEGAL AND
• This is also Irish History Month, so it is important to recognize also the many Irish American women

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 13, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, received a message discharging Assembly Bill 2330 from committee and substituting identical Senate Bill 5843, and welcomed visiting delegations from Connecticut. The chamber also adopted privileged resolution J.1753, honoring Saint Patrick and Irish Americans and memorializing the Governor to proclaim March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month. Senators Kavanagh and Fahy spoke in support, emphasizing Irish heritage, immigration, public service, and the St. Patrick’s Day tradition; the resolution was adopted and opened for co-sponsorship. The Senate then acted on a series of bills on the calendar. Measures passed included bills by Senators Hinchey, Comrie, Skoufis, Stavisky, Sanders, Kavanagh, Gianaris, Cleare, and others, with several receiving unanimous support and a few drawing recorded negative votes. Senator Fernandez’s education bill related to placing opioid antagonists with AEDs and first aid kits in schools passed 60-1 after supportive remarks from Senators Oberacker and Fernandez. A bill authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires also passed unanimously, with Senators Borrello and Weik explaining affirmative votes while urging caution about electric bus mandates. The most debated item was Calendar 446, Senator May’s bill directing the Department of Economic Development to move the Central New York Welcome Center from Destiny USA to the Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn. Senator Walczyk questioned the move’s cost, location, visitor traffic, and local support, arguing Destiny USA was the better site; Senator May responded that the state had built the Auburn facility and should provide sustainable operating support. The bill passed 47-15. The Senate then completed the controversial calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the governor for the Minnesota chapter of the American College of Physicians, and ACP, or the American
• Academy of Pediatrics of the American Academy of Pediatrics I've<00:07:36.960> treated<00:07:
• :45.040> of and ACP or the American College of and ACP or the American College of Physicians<00
• I'm also an American Dental Association Wellness Ambassador, a program they began in 2022.
• Dental Association I'm also uh American Dental Association I'm also uh American Dental<00:13:37.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• secret War they uh saved American secret War they uh saved American soldiers<00:48:28.920> my
• Chairman, I'm Tim Angstrom with Bloomington American Legion Post 550.
• Christy Jano, and I'm the American Legion Department of Minnesota legislative chair.
• The Enoa American Legion Post 102 is another.
• Jano, American Legion Department of Minnesota, I just want to add to that...

Bills: HF169, HF195, HF194, HF1756, HF2133

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• They help American businesses, large and small, create jobs and economic opportunities, and enable that
• can work towards bipartisan legislation as we have in the past that will deliver results for the American
• We all want to deliver transportation benefits faster and save money for American taxpayers.
• Last week, I attended the unveiling of the American Society of Civil Engineers 2025 infrastructure report
• So we have a whole American build out. American jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, it would be great.

Keywords: surface transportation, infrastructure reauthorization, bipartisan collaboration, safety, federal programs, funding challenges, bureaucracy, transportation needs, critical projects, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the development of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. Discussions centered around key principles aimed at improving the safety and reliability of the transportation network, reforming federal programs for efficiency, and addressing the diverse transportation needs across various states. Members emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration to streamline processes, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and ensure timely funding for critical infrastructure projects. There were also notable conversations about specific projects and funding challenges, reflecting the urgency for action and commitment to modernizing America's infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, in support. Thank you so much.
• Kesa Bruce with the American...
• Kesa Bruce, with the American Lung Association.
• Hi, Judith Gutierrez with the American Heart Association. I'm here aligning with my colleagues.
• and American Lung Association, and I'll see this bill again in B&P. ...and American Lung Association

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a series of bills focused on behavioral health, cancer screening, provider reimbursement, research funding, workforce licensing, and tobacco regulation. SB 16 would require counties to maintain procedures for designating and training professionals authorized to perform 5150 evaluations and initiate involuntary holds; supporters said it would expand the pool of qualified clinicians and reduce reliance on law enforcement, while opponents raised concerns about local control and implementation. SB 1124 would require CDPH to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco point-of-sale locations; supporters emphasized low screening awareness and early detection, and the bill was advanced with amendments. SB 28, a CARE Court cleanup bill, proposed an ombudsperson, reporting, electronic petitions, remote participation, and other changes to improve accountability and access; it drew both strong support and significant opposition over concerns about coercion, scope, and whether the program is working as intended, but it passed the committee as amended to Judiciary. The committee also heard SB 874, which would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, including background checks for providers and a stakeholder workgroup to develop standards; it passed to Public Safety. SB 1049 would let providers resubmit corrected claims within 90 days after a plan’s denial or recoupment action when the original claim had a correctable technical defect; supporters described delayed and withheld payments harming practices, while insurers argued the bill could duplicate existing dispute processes. The bill passed to Appropriations on call. SB 1224 would create a state framework to compete for federal ARPA-H funding for emerging therapies research, with testimony from a UC Davis psychiatrist and veterans’ advocates supporting expanded research into treatments for PTSD, depression, and other conditions; it passed to Military and Veterans Affairs. Later, SB 1057 would change how the Department of Public Health evaluates conviction history for certified nurse assistants and home health aides, shifting from automatic denial toward individualized assessment based on the offense, time elapsed, and rehabilitation; it passed to Appropriations with some no votes. Finally, SB 1314, a tobacco-related bill, sought to create a 600-foot buffer around schools and day care centers for certain tobacco retailers and address related issues such as cigar lounge definitions and nitrous oxide sales; several local government and public safety groups supported it, while health organizations and business groups opposed it unless amended. The chair announced that committee amendments were being set aside for now and the bill would move forward to Business and Professions with a commitment to continue working on the language; it passed out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas the 2025 Spirit of the ADA award winners are American Meadows, August 1st, AA's Home Care
• And whereas the 2025 Spirit of the ADA award winners are American Meadows, August 1st, AA's Home Care
• And whereas the 2025 Spirit of the ADA award winners are American Meadows, August 1st, AA's Home Care
• Civil Rights Guarantees of the Americans Civil Rights Guarantees of the Americans with<00:20:35.200
• Lewis lived much of her early Americans.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance, then introduced several bills. H.896 would create a New England Oregon bank specialty license plate and was referred to Transportation. H.897 would prohibit social media use by children and was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. H.898, a committee bill on transitions from copper-based to fiber-based telecommunications networks and consumer protections, was read and placed on the notice calendar. H.899 would finance multi-unit housing through the Vermont Economic Development Authority and was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. The chamber also referred H.635, eliminating Department of Corrections supervisory fees, to Ways and Means because it affects state revenue. The House adopted JRS 40, a joint resolution setting weekend adjournment for February 13, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 17, 2026. It also concurred in HCR 181 congratulating the 2025 Spirit of the ADA award winners and HCR 189 designating February 11, 2026, as Disability Advocacy Day at the State House. HCR 181 recognized a long list of employers for inclusive hiring and accommodations, while HCR 189 highlighted disability rights history, the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, and ongoing barriers faced by Vermonters with disabilities. The House then took up HCR 192, recognizing February 11, 2026, as National 211 Day in Vermont and celebrating Vermont 211’s statewide referral and crisis-support role. The resolution noted more than 61,000 contacts and over 22,000 referrals in 2025, along with its emergency and after-hours support functions. Members also made announcements recognizing Recovery Day, the Spirit of the ADA award recipients, Disability Advocacy Day, National 211 Day, and other guests and events in the chamber. On the action calendar, the House considered the conference committee report on S.23, concerning the use of synthetic media in elections. The committee reported a strike-all compromise on definitions, disclosure requirements, exemptions, and penalties. The report defined deceptive synthetic media, required a disclosure for certain synthetic media distributed within 90 days of an election, provided exemptions for some broadcasters and parody, and set civil penalties for violations. The House was asked to adopt the conference report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, as a part of American Heart Association.
• American Heart Association Association has set forward a goal to double the survival rate by cardiac
• Joining us in the gallery today are... ...the advocates from American Heart Association who are here
• The Asian American Pacific Islander community is a vital and growing part of Texas. Texas.
• American Business Association, and some API business leaders from all over Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer courses to our Texas high school students in African American studies and Mexican American studies
• Have access to Mexican American studies and African American studies.
• There's more African Americans in Texas than any other state.
• This is un-American. We're all in this together.
• We're promoting these values and it's not only for Mexican Americans and African Americans.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the gambling manager for Bloomington American Legion Post 550, but I'm also the communications director
• for the American Legion Department of Minnesota.
• <00:04:11.519> Legion manager for Bloomington American Legion manager for Bloomington American
• <00:04:16.479> Legion director for the American Legion director for the American Legion Department
• Legion but also important for American Legion but also important for like<00:06:25.880> they<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Both of these commanders face an increasingly complex set of actors who seek to harm Americans and undermine
• Not to be outdone, Iran continues to try to kill Americans on our own soil.
• It is clear that the American people do believe that border security is national security.
• Americans would think it doesn't show a lot of common sense.
• There are American citizens on those bases and just outside those bases.

Keywords: national security, China, Russia, cybersecurity, border security, military deployment, transnational crime, defense modernization, military strategy

Summary: In this meeting, key topics included national security concerns with an emphasis on threats from China, Russia, and transnational criminal organizations. Senior military officials provided testimony on the evolving risks posed by these adversaries, particularly focusing on cybersecurity and advancements in weaponry. The discussion highlighted the importance of a cohesive strategy among government departments to effectively respond to the challenges presented by these threats, emphasizing the need for modernization in defense capabilities. Committee members grilled the witnesses on border security and the implications of deploying military resources in domestic operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• but enduring patriotism and a civic skill and American ideal that students deserve to learn.
• s victories, our Founders, and the American Revolution.
• We're here all as Americans. We're here as Minnesota residents.
• We're here all as Americans. We're here as Minnesota residents.
• We're here all as Americans. We're here as Minnesota residents.

Bills: HF29, HF921, HF922, HF1048, HF1049

Keywords: railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• We are one of the premier campuses, not just for Latin American studies, but for Afro-Latin American
• I teach American literature with specializations in Mexican-American literature, Dr.
• Keith McNeil: teaching American students, as an American citizen, and I adore my UH students in particular
• I'm Israeli, I'm American.
• I mean, you know, would you consider a course on African American studies or Mexican American studies

Bills: SB 37

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• He's African American. And he had complained to Representative Simmons.
• This is the subcontract between American Equity and Equity in Education.
• Here are all of the deliverables that we as American Equity have.
• Or I am Representative Simmons, the employee at American Equity.
• First of all, American Equity was his idea.” “First of all, American Equity was his idea.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The hearing concerned a Legislative Ethics Board complaint against Representative Tara Simmons in Washington State OAH Docket 401-645. The judge outlined the process, the two issues on appeal—whether Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070, and, if so, what penalty should apply—and admitted a number of exhibits by stipulation or prior ruling, while taking one exhibit under advisement pending an offer of proof. The board also moved to sequester witnesses, which was granted, and the judge deferred ruling on a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after hearing the board staff’s case. Opening statements followed, with staff alleging Simmons used her position to benefit an outside organization and to secure special privileges, and the defense arguing the conduct was lawful, technical in nature, and consistent with prior ethics guidance. Board staff then called Kimberly Gordon, an attorney and founding board member/treasurer of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), as its first witness. Gordon testified that AEJG used data dashboards to make justice-system data more accessible, received state proviso funding sponsored by Simmons, and also received two donations from Simmons—$10,000 and $40,000. She said the first donation was intended to help hire Antoine Coleman, whom Simmons had recommended and who was later identified as Simmons’s romantic partner, and that AEJG returned the $10,000 and declined the $40,000 after concluding there was a potential conflict of interest. Gordon also testified that AEJG believed Simmons’s involvement in the organization and her communications about Coleman created ethical concerns. Gordon further testified about a second proviso intended to expand AEJG’s work into education data and its subcontract with Equity in Education Coalition (EEC). She said EEC did not perform the expected deliverables, prompting repeated communications with the Administrative Office of the Courts and a meeting involving Chris Stanley, where AEJG raised concerns that EEC was not complying and that Simmons had intervened in the dispute. According to Gordon, Stanley ultimately directed the parties to rewrite the subcontract and continue, but AEJG later moved forward largely without EEC’s assistance. The board staff introduced AEJG’s complaint and related timeline exhibits during her testimony. After direct examination, the hearing recessed for lunch, and cross-examination by Simmons’s counsel began when the hearing resumed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolutions commending the Greater Boston Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals on
• its recognition of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and Occupational Safety and Health
• Welcome to our guests from the American Association of Safety Professionals.
• Whereas the Greater Boston Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals will recognize May
• And whereas the American Society of Safety Professionals, members, the Occupational Safety and Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution commending the Greater Boston Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals for recognizing North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day. Senators welcomed guests from the chapter, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote. The chamber also briefly recessed for a photo with the guests. The Senate then received a message from the Governor filing the Ride Safe Act, which would enhance the safe use of micromobility devices such as mopeds, electric scooters, and bikes. The message noted the bill’s connection to the Mass Leads Act and a special commission on micromobility regulation. The matter was referred to the Committee on Transportation. The Senate next took up and passed to be engrossed House No. 5245, establishing a sick leave bank for Courtney Cochran, an employee of the Department of Children and Families. The Senate also adopted an order setting its next formal session for Thursday at 11 a.m. and later considered an order governing filing deadlines for amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and scheduling its second reading on May 19, 2026. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Chinese Americans.
• All the American labor is 100%. The supply chain is 96% American and 4% European.
• And I say Japanese Americans because two Japanese Americans.
• And I say Japanese Americans because two-thirds of them were American-born citizens.
• Notice I don't say Chinese American. I say Asian American because this will affect us all.

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association Code of
• President of the American Nurses Association, and Jay Prosser. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you.
• My name is Silde Mello, and I am the President of the American Nurses Association, Massachusetts.
• ANA Mass is a constituent of the American Nurses Association, Massachusetts.
• Amy Mager, Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts and American Society of Acupuncturists.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hybrid hearing on a wide range of bills focused on patient safety, workforce development, health equity, and access to care. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 2362/S. 1491, which would require health care providers to offer trained chaperones for sensitive exams. Sponsors and supporters said the bill is a common-sense safeguard prompted by cases of physician sexual abuse, and survivors gave emotional testimony describing grooming, isolation, and abuse during exams when no chaperone was present. Support also came from a health services researcher, a physician, and a RAINN representative, all arguing that trained chaperones and clearer documentation would improve transparency and protect patients. Committee members asked about clarifying who may serve as a chaperone and whether the bill would apply to other clinicians such as PTs and OTs. The committee also heard testimony on H. 2401/S. 1485, which would require explicit informed consent for certain educational exams performed on unconscious patients. The bill’s supporters said patients should know in advance if students or physicians will conduct non-medically necessary exams while they are under anesthesia, and that the measure would protect survivors from retraumatization. The hearing then moved to H. 2537, a primary care access bill. Health Care for All, the Massachusetts Medical Society, pediatric and internal medicine physicians, and a patient advocate described long waits, provider shortages, and difficulty finding primary care, especially for low-income people and people of color. They supported the bill’s proposed primary care spending target, payment reforms, Medicaid graduate medical education funding, and a commercial payment floor for health centers. Another set of bills addressed workforce and safety issues. H. 2397/S. 1593 would establish a nursing workforce center; nursing leaders said Massachusetts should make the current workforce council permanent to support data collection, apprenticeships, and long-term planning for the state’s largest health care workforce. H. 2396/S. 1535 would require safe patient handling and mobility programs in health facilities; nurses described serious injuries from lifting patients and said better equipment and programs would reduce staff injuries and improve patient outcomes. H. 2501/S. 1505 on LGBTQ+ health disparities drew support from a medical student and Doctors for America, who urged collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data to improve care and school outcomes. Finally, H. 2448/S. 1522 on patient safety and equitable access to care drew strong support from nursing organizations and individual nurses who described unsafe staffing, burnout, and patient harm, while the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems opposed the bill as redundant for psychiatric facilities already regulated by the Department of Mental Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues and guests, it's my distinct honor as an Armenian-American. but also the chair of the Armenian
• survivors found refuge in this country. their descendants formed the backbone of their Armenian American
• 103 feet atop the city's highest peak, this monument was transferred to the Council of Armenian American
• Today, as some in the United States look to ignore, deny. rewrite chapters in American history, it's
• colleagues here with our Armenian-American friends and neighbors and I'm truly privileged to represent

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, it will be July the 4th at the American Village there in Montevallo.
• So, it'll be at the American Village. You can't trip me anymore; I've learned.
• The African-American doctors were not allowed to eat in the hospital cafeteria.
• I thought, you know, he’s an American hero.
• President, I give you a real American hero.

Bills: SJR 2, SB 4, SJR 36, SJR 2, SB 4, SR 42, SR 74, SR 76, HCR 5, SB 710, SB 710

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• > are<00:03:33.200> concerned whopping 81% of Americans are concerned whopping 81% of Americans
• our politics where 80% of Americans our politics where 80% of Americans agree<00:03:43.840> on
• <00:07:32.000> who United or join 80% of Americans who United or join 80% of Americans who
• I heard you that's a right of Americans.
• Um, so American to be able to do that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:52:53.440> Heart probably strike American Heart probably strike American Heart Association
• The American Heart was state specific.
• I I think the American Heart I hear you.
• <01:54:16.080> Heart ask Nancy Vaughn from the American Heart ask Nancy Vaughn from the American
• , outside of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, other organizations in New Hampshire

Keywords: 1191, senate, all