Transcript Highlights:

• It says the property tax dollar equivalent yield at $9,401, the income dollar equivalent yield at 12,960
• What we did in order to meet the Senate in their really substantial narrowing of allowing this scholarship

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Departments that have already provided equivalent benefits...
• inclusion of that in the bill. in the interest of retired state employees who've not received a substantial
• I don't know that the prudent investment standard is equivalent to a legal term for a preponderance of

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has a goal of substantial uniformity of rules for business transactions, excluding real property.
• uniformity of rules for substantial uniformity of rules for business The remainder of the bill deals
• to the reserve account well equivalence to the reserve account well that<02:05:44.679> wouldn't
• The language you have here was substantially taken from a Connecticut bill.
• taken from um a substantially taken from um a Connecticut<02:20:09.280> bill<02:20:09.680>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 167, a PFAS-related measure to add ski, snowboard, and boat wax to the state’s list of banned consumer products containing PFAS. The sponsor said the product is already banned in many other places, alternatives exist, and the concern is that these products go directly into water rather than landfills. She cited high PFAS levels in several New Hampshire lakes and argued the bill would help stop further contamination. A member of the public also described personal experience with ski wax products disappearing from the market, suggesting PFAS may have been the reason. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 167. The committee next opened a hearing on House Bill 312, dealing with college athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. Representative Moffett explained the bill was prompted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s NCAA v. Alston decision and was modeled on New Jersey law. He said the bill would prevent colleges from restricting NIL compensation, require athletes to use licensed attorneys or registered sports agents, and limit certain endorsements involving addictive drugs, adult entertainment, firearms, and weapons. He framed the measure as a proactive response to a changing college sports landscape and noted possible future conflicts involving schools, agents, and endorsements. Committee members raised several concerns and suggested changes. One member questioned the bill’s exclusion of two-year institutions, another objected to the weapons restriction, and others asked how the bill would affect scholarships. The sponsor said the intent was to protect scholarships, especially athletic scholarships, and clarified that need-based scholarships were not meant to be affected. He also acknowledged discomfort with the endorsement restrictions and said the committee might want to broaden or revise the language. The hearing remained open for further consideration, with no vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's<00:25:16.400> obviously<00:25:16.799> a<00:25:17.039> substantial<00:
• 25:17.600> part<00:25:17.840> of that's obviously a substantial part of that's obviously
• They added two full-time equivalent positions, the grant management office, to manage the outstanding
• two full-time equivalent added two full-time equivalent positions.<01:13:12.400> the<01:13:12.560
• special rec one full-time equivalent special rec one full-time equivalent FTEE<01:24:55.280>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For PFML, they can decide either to make contributions to the state plan or provide the equivalent or
• During these hours, my work does not look substantially different from other STEM workers in our state
• we move forward in time from now to 2070, and I think fixing that problem is going to be a very substantial
• But it's about the equivalent of like four to eight weeks, and, you know, it's been a huge lifeline for
• The benefit for leave for medical and maternity leave is about equivalent to four to eight weeks, and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing with about 43 witnesses and a 1:00 p.m. hard stop, and the chair repeatedly asked speakers to keep testimony to three minutes. Much of the hearing focused on S. 747/H. 1336, which would extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Supporters included legislators, union leaders, graduate workers from MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, UMass Lowell, and others, and legal advocates. They argued graduate workers perform full-time teaching and research work, pay taxes, and should not be excluded from basic safety-net benefits; several witnesses described personal hardships involving childbirth, serious illness, mental health crises, funding cuts, or fear of losing income. Testifiers also said the change would be revenue-neutral or revenue-generating and would not create major administrative burdens for universities, which already provide similar benefits to other employees. The committee also heard testimony on insurance-related bills. Christopher Stock of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported H. 1113 on public adjusters and H. 1345/S. 753 on flood-zone notifications for homebuyers, but opposed H. 4112, which would add a $2 surcharge on home insurance policies to fund fire cistern programs. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strongly supported H. 1345, saying flood disclosure is needed because Massachusetts lacks statewide flood-notification requirements and flooding risks are increasing. Karen Alvarado supported H. 4352 on travel insurance, and John Fielding supported H. 1186 on pet insurance; both said the bills would create uniform regulatory frameworks and consumer protections. Rep. LeBoeuf testified for H. 4061 on workers’ compensation premium fraud, describing the bill as a transparency measure to combat fraud in construction by creating a public certificate-of-insurance database and QR-code verification system. Joe Bright of the carpenters’ union also supported H. 4061, citing fraud, misclassification, and the harm to injured workers. The hearing also included testimony on H. 4112, a bill to create a statewide fire suppression water resource fund and cistern program. Rep. Hogan and a Stowe fire chief described drought, brush fires, and the need for dedicated cisterns in communities without municipal water systems, saying the tanks provide reliable water for firefighting and are relatively low-tech once installed. Committee members asked questions about tank capacity, siting, maintenance, and funding. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no equivalent per se, but maybe there's been some similarities.
• That's almost equivalent to the 5% that's being proposed in this Governor's budget.
• That's almost equivalent to the 5% that's being proposed.
• Francisco State who stated, and I want to just acknowledge that the demand for her program was pretty substantial
• our campuses to change close to 700 additional community college courses with phase one was a substantially

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that the parent will not have the same level of expertise to have an equivalent training as the
• You know, it says an equivalent. What does equivalency mean, right?
• And getting the parents to help is like pulling teeth, and I don't know of any way to show equivalency
• show equivalency. show equivalency. Thank<00:40:54.720> you. Thank you. Thank you.
• <04:15:39.520> vehicle, it's still um a substantial vehicle, it's still um a substantial vehicle

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if a transaction is avoidable for merely being the result of a transfer for less than reasonably equivalent
• if a transaction is avoidable for merely being the result of a transfer for less than recently equivalent
• And as Attorney Murray pointed out, those transfers include transfers made for lack of reasonably equivalent
• canvasses: assets greater than liabilities, balance-sheet insolvency, transfer for less than reasonably equivalent
• are well below the market value, leaving the families extinguished of their property rights and a substantial

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on a wide range of state, probate, and family bills, with chairs Edwards and Day outlining strict testimony limits and accepting written testimony. Early testimony focused on H. 1911/S. 1138, which would clarify that a durable power of attorney may create a trust if that authority is expressly granted; sponsors and elder law advocates said the bill would resolve uncertainty created by the Barbetti decision and align Massachusetts with other states. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1102, a proposal to establish medical panels in Probate and Family Court. Supporters, including attorneys, parents, physicians, and advocates, said neutral three-doctor panels would help judges resolve disputed medical issues in guardianship and custody cases involving children, elders, and people with disabilities. Testifiers described cases where medical treatment was blocked or contested by one parent or guardian, arguing the panels would provide impartial expertise and protect vulnerable people. The committee also heard support for bills addressing disability discrimination in family court, military parents’ custody rights, and a shared parenting bill, H. 1710, which drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and others who said a 50-50 presumption could harm survivors and children. The committee also took testimony on several probate and court-administration measures. Senator Lovely supported a bill on nominee trust partition, and Senator Comerford and probate officials backed legislation to codify additional registry staff positions and modernize registry operations. Other bills discussed included foster care liability insurance, with providers warning that rising premiums and loss of coverage could force program closures; health care proxy storage and activation; access to decedents’ email accounts; uniform trust decanting; the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act; heirs’ property partition protections; a constitutional right to health care; alimony-related reforms; child-centered family law; and a right of disposition for funeral arrangements. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• He says the school district and community face substantial economic challenges, including a decline in
• He says the district stands to lose about 40 percent of its tax base, or the equivalent of around $5
• <00:20:51.840> economic<00:20:52.240> challenges substantial economic challenges substantial
• <00:21:03.760> of base about 40% or the equivalent of base about 40% or the equivalent of
• state and local tax revenue substantial state and local tax revenue from<00:41:58.720> data<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:52.880> higher<00:16:53.160> price substantially higher price substantially higher
• This is equivalent to multiple teachers on our staff.
• c><00:40:28.440> that<00:40:29.440> this<00:40:29.560> is<00:40:29.720> equivalent
• <00:40:30.119> to 75,000 of that this is equivalent to 75,000 of that this is equivalent to
• <00:41:41.200> lead that already provide substantial lead that already provide substantial

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we all know, education can substantially change the trajectory of a young life.
• five, and the American Council on Education has recommended that a score of three or higher is equivalent
• So that would mean requiring a four or a five would be the equivalent of requiring an A or a B to pass
• meal three times a week, the district cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 49,000 pounds—the equivalent
• three on an AP exam tend to do just as well or better in college courses than students who took the equivalent

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its first hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including hunger-free campuses, FAFSA completion, early college/college-in-high-school programs, banning legacy preferences, AP credit consistency, and tuition equity for the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Committee leaders opened by outlining the hearing process and noting the three-minute testimony limit. Legislators and advocates generally framed the bills as equity and access measures aimed at improving college affordability, student success, and workforce development. Representative Vargas testified for H. 1466 and H. 1467, arguing that hunger-free campus should be codified because many public college and community college students face food insecurity, and that FAFSA completion should be improved through individualized outreach and an opt-out or completion requirement. Senator Lovely, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and other advocates supported the hunger-free campus bill, citing data that 44% of public university and community college students experienced food insecurity in 2023 and that food insecurity harms graduation rates. Femi Stoltz and Shanti Lopez Toro backed the FAFSA bill, saying many students miss out on Pell grants and need direct support; they pointed to state examples such as Louisiana and to recent state action requiring FAFSA awareness. Committee members asked about the federal FAFSA rollout, regional equity in food access, and the need for long-term funding and data collection. A large panel supported H. 1455 on college and high school/early college, including former Chair Roy, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, a student graduate, MBAE, and Tripp Jones. They described early college as a proven model that helps low-income and first-generation students, improves degree attainment, and supports workforce needs; witnesses said the goal is to scale from about 9,000 students and 55 partnerships toward 22,000 to 25,000 students by 2030, with possible future growth beyond that. Members raised questions about funding, public-private partnerships, parental involvement, faculty development, and whether the bill should include data review and more standardized policies across institutions. Representative Garcia also testified for H. 1432 on AP credit, saying students should receive consistent credit for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5. Senator Edwards and James Murphy testified for the legacy preference ban, arguing it is unfair and rooted in exclusionary history; they said some states have already banned legacy preferences in public and private institutions. Finally, UMass Dean Michael Fox, alumnus Dan Mayer, and student Jake Rasmussen supported S. 920 to include Stockbridge associate degree programs in MassEducate, saying tuition equity would help enrollment and support Massachusetts agriculture and green-industry jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• reported it lacks a practical method for identifying all instances of true non-compliance because substantial
• The board's backlog of open, unresolved complaints has also increased substantially since our April 2024
• applicants; and taking consistent and progressive enforcement action against licensees to address substantiated
• As of September 2025, the department had nearly 8,000 filled full-time equivalent positions and nearly
• Arizonans and vulnerable adults as of September 2025 the department had nearly 8,000 filled full-time equivalent

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee conducted sunset reviews for the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Nursing, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. The Auditor General’s reports praised each board for timely licensing in some areas but identified recurring problems with complaint investigations, public safety oversight, fee analysis, records/documentation, and internal controls. For Pharmacy, the main concerns were weak enforcement of controlled substances prescription monitoring program (CSPMP) requirements and slow complaint resolution; the board said it had implemented some recommendations, was pursuing a new database vendor, and supported legislation to strengthen CSPMP enforcement. For Nursing, the audit found a large and growing backlog of complaints and repeated delays in resolving cases; the executive director said the board was under-resourced and requested 28 additional investigative positions, while nursing stakeholders supported process reforms and cited a bill to improve timelines and fairness. For Occupational Therapy, the audit focused on missing or poorly documented fingerprint clearance card checks, delayed action on a serious criminal-charge disclosure, and other compliance issues; the board said it had accepted and was implementing all recommendations, including new procedures and rulemaking. For Physician Assistants, the audit found weak oversight by the executive director, extensive delays in complaint handling, and an incentive-pay system that did not align with key performance goals; the board said it had already made structural changes, was improving tracking and IT systems, and planned to continue implementing recommendations. After discussion and testimony from board officials, public members, and nursing stakeholders, the committee voted to continue the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy for six years until July 1, 2032, the State Board of Nursing for four years until July 1, 2031, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners for four years until July 1, 2030, and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants for a continued term with statutory changes (the transcript includes the board review and related discussion, but the final motion text for the physician assistants board is not fully captured in the excerpt). The votes on the first three continuations were approved by roll call, with members generally supporting continuation while expressing concern about complaint backlogs and the need for reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• get service to people on the Cape, shouldn't we be helping to subsidize Starlink access, or its equivalent
• get service to people on the Cape, shouldn't we be helping to subsidize Starlink access, or its equivalent
• We’re a five-state regional trade association representing substantially all private cable broadband
• subsidized broadband programs to enable low-income consumers to purchase broadband services at substantially

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy opened its hearing with testimony on several broadband, towing, and rideshare-related bills. The first major issue was H. 3470/S. 2259, which would add data privacy and integrity protections for transportation network driver information. Rideshare drivers and labor advocates strongly opposed the bill, saying it would delay implementation of Question 3, which Massachusetts voters approved to give rideshare drivers a path to unionize. Drivers described low pay, deactivations, harassment, safety risks, and the need for a union to negotiate fairer working conditions. Legal and labor experts testified that the bill was largely duplicative of existing law and regulations and would unnecessarily postpone drivers’ organizing rights. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on broadband affordability and access bills, including S. 2318/H. 3527 and related measures. Supporters, including legislators, digital equity advocates, senior advocates, and service providers, said low-income households need a permanent affordable broadband option after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ended. They argued that internet access is now essential for jobs, school, health care, housing, and daily life, and supported a flat-rate low-income plan around $15 per month with protections such as no installation fees or termination fees. Opponents from cable and wireless industry groups argued the bills would impose artificial price mandates, discourage investment, and reduce consumer choice, noting that providers already offer discounted programs. The committee also heard support for broadband deployment and pole-attachment streamlining bills, with providers and municipal broadband advocates saying permitting delays and pole access bottlenecks slow expansion and raise costs. Additional testimony covered H. 3566, which would exempt municipal broadband projects from surety bond requirements, and towing-related bills including S. 2235, H. 3507, H. 3516, and H. 3482. Insurance and anti-fraud witnesses supported stronger towing protections, saying some towers charge excessive fees and hold vehicles hostage, while one witness urged broader consumer safeguards. The hearing ended after the chairs shortened testimony to fit the room schedule, asked for final comments on remaining bills, and then adjourned by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the top figure on page 4 shows, the number of campuses increased substantially from the 1950s to the
• This support was substantial.
• vulnerable buildings at the Berkeley campus is Evans Hall, which also has the highest what's called equivalent
• think the only thing I would add is that the university bonds today effectively function as the equivalent

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And some people are reading it that you have to prove substantial harm.
• Basically the bottom line is, listen of it create substantial harm in.
• Explain your thoughts on substantial harm us to prove it how it works because?
• As we mentioned, substantial harm develop.
• But we need to define those more, especially with regards to the substantial harm.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• he had not had any conversations about this specifically because they were not dealing with any substantial
• That’s equivalent to what the current law is.
• That’s equivalent to what the current law is.
• That's equivalent<00:30:04.840> to<00:30:04.920> what<00:30:05.040> the<00:30:05.120
• equivalent to what the current law is. equivalent to what the current law is.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Compared to PPOs, substantially cheaper insurance.
• You're not, it's not going to be substantially different.
• So would you say substantial? Yes. Okay.
• So would you say substantial? Yes. Okay.
• But if we could change the law, I could do an equivalent of an EpiPen for $5.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Replicating this calculation work on a larger scale would have required more substantial resources and
• And that essentially, correct me if I'm wrong, Sean, but this essentially comes down to... ...the equivalent
• Correct me if I'm wrong, Sean, but this essentially comes down to the equivalent of you're using scientific

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:

• ... tax on heated tobacco products at a rate of 0.017 per single-use consumable unit, which is substantially
• I know last year, if I recall, we agreed to move this legislation based on the tax being equivalent to
• tobacco because the... equivalent to tobacco because the concerns were mentioned earlier about the master

Bills: HB30, HB263, HB357, HB359, SB60, SB102, HB30

Keywords: elections, post-election audit, election audit, risk-limiting audit, ballot audit, election integrity, voter confidence, Secretary of State, judge of probate, canvassing board, poll watchers, ballot containers, manual tally, recount, county election, statewide election, general election, absentee ballots, provisional ballots, election transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• entire<00:37:10.840> elementary is equivalent to an entire elementary is equivalent to
• > uh<01:10:09.360> and we're undergoing substantial uh and we're undergoing substantial
• Again, netting substantially positive.
• <01:14:20.520> positive uh we are netting substantially positive uh we are netting substantially
• netting substantially positive. netting substantially positive.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held a hearing on the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Testifiers described broad effects on cities, small businesses, workers, and schools, and several speakers voiced support for House File 4477, which would create a targeted state relief program for affected businesses and communities. Metro Cities said member cities reported unexpected burdens on public safety, public works, emergency management, and other local services, and its board adopted a policy supporting state assistance for those costs. Northstar Policy Action presented data arguing the operation contributed to higher unemployment, reduced hours, lost wages, and business losses, including a reported $106 million in lost wages from reduced hours and an estimated $18 million per week in taxpayer costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the city incurred nearly $1 million in direct costs and estimated small businesses lost about $16 million per week, with major drops in foot traffic and sales, especially among immigrant-owned neighborhood businesses. Other testimony emphasized impacts outside the metro area and on specific communities. Georgia Gallardo of Kerkhoven Cattle Butcher said rural small businesses also suffered, citing reduced sales and weekend traffic. The Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs reported that Latino-owned businesses support thousands of jobs and have seen sales declines of 40% to 90%, while WomenVenture and the Minnesota CDFI Coalition said CDFIs were seeing urgent demand for flexible relief and described businesses delaying hiring, reducing hours, or pausing expansion. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruly said federal agents’ conduct during the surge undermined trust, created public safety concerns, and led to overtime and other local costs, while also noting he supports federal immigration enforcement in principle. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the district lost 112 students since December, still had 72 not returned, and had to rapidly create a virtual learning option for students who did not feel safe attending in person. Across the hearing, witnesses argued the disruption was statewide, not limited to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and that state relief was needed to prevent business closures, job losses, and longer-term damage to communities.