Video & Transcript Research : 'Texas Property Code'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Feb 4th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , Governor of the State of Texas, pursuant to Article 3, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution, and by
  • tax system and providing relief for Texas property taxpayers.
  • , and the state of Texas.
  • It's also the home to Texas A&M University of McAllen Higher Education Center, South Texas College, the
  • As we know, West Texas is best Texas.
Summary: The Texas Senate convened with a quorum, heard the governor’s emergency message outlining priority issues for the session, including property tax relief, water supply and infrastructure funding, universal education savings accounts, teacher pay, career and technical education, creation of a Texas Cyber Command, and bail reform. The governor also submitted a State of the State message and several appointment nominations for Senate confirmation. The chamber then took up a series of ceremonial resolutions and recognitions for McAllen Day, UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day, Wise County Day, and Houston East End Chamber of Commerce East End Day, along with visits from the Houston Realty Business Coalition, Cedar Creek Chamber of Commerce, Webb County/Laredo delegates, UT Dallas McDermott Scholars, Andrews County officials, and occupational therapy professionals and students. Several senators spoke in support of the recognitions, highlighting local economic development, higher education, public health, and regional history. McAllen was praised for its growth, business climate, and cultural significance; Laredo and Webb County were recognized for trade, the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, and cross-border ties; UTSA and UT Health were commended for research, cybersecurity, and health science work; and UT Dallas scholars were recognized for academic achievement and public service. Wise County, the East End of Houston, and Andrews County were also described in terms of their economic contributions and community heritage. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 27 for McAllen Day and Senate Resolution 32 for UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day without objection. It also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, which granted permission for either house to adjourn for more than three days between February 5 and February 11, by a recorded vote of 30 ayes and 0 nays. Additional resolutions listed on the calendar were adopted without objection, and the Senate recessed until noon on Wednesday, February 5.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session Mar 21st, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Natural Resources, HP 3316 by Harris, the redesignation of the State Water Implementation Fund, the Texas
  • Advisory Committee of the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee, the abolish the Texas Infrastructure
  • Fund and the advisory Committee and the composition of the functions of the Texas Water Advisory Fund
  • Property and casualty self-insurance pool of certain religious institutions authorizing fees were for
  • HB 3335 by Cole relates to the authority of the county to dispose of surplus and salvage property of
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session Feb 4th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And now our Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to.
  • , Governor of the state of Texas, pursuant to Article 4, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution, do hereby
  • Legislation reforming the property tax system and providing relief for Texas property taxpayers.
  • Without each and every one of you, Texas just wouldn't be Texas.
  • all across the state of Texas.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think I saw Texas—this is on record, so I need to be really careful about Texas—Arizona, and I saw
  • I just wanted to clarify: is this only addressing MWRA properties, or the NWI watershed?
  • to deal with DEP on this issue, we have a plumbing board right in Massachusetts with the plumbing code
  • University just did their new science lab over in Austin, and if you ever go by there, the whole property
  • The secondary contact standard, the old coding standard, is about just a little bit below your shins
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing with testimony on a range of environmental bills. Early testimony focused on H. 1018, which would update management of the Commonwealth’s water resources and limit new conditions on historic water registrations. Water officials from Wellesley and the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission supported the bill, arguing that drought-related restrictions on registered withdrawals are difficult to administer, create customer confusion, and can undermine utility revenue needed for infrastructure upgrades. A Massachusetts Waterworks Association representative also backed the bill, saying registered systems have long operated within their allocations and should not have those withdrawals conditioned by regulation. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 1040, which would ban tire-derived materials on playgrounds and playing fields. The bill’s petitioner, environmental advocates, and an environmental chemist testified that crumb rubber and other tire-derived infill can release chemicals into soil and water and may pose risks to aquatic life and public health. Committee members asked about alternatives and costs; witnesses said natural grass and some organic infills are available, though more research is needed on some substitutes. Rep. Schwartz also testified on CSO-related bills, describing combined sewer overflows as a public health and environmental problem and saying the bills set deadlines but leave implementation methods to local and regional officials. Rep. Chacolo supported H. 909, a grant program for low-noise, low-emission landscape equipment, citing worker health, noise, and emissions concerns, and Sen. Cyr testified for bills addressing coastal and environmental acidification and nutrient pollution. The hearing also included extensive testimony on H. 4040, which would prevent discharge of radioactive materials from the Pilgrim decommissioning process. Speakers including a Sierra Club representative, a physician, and the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association opposed Holtec’s plan to dispose of radioactive wastewater through evaporation or discharge, citing public health, transparency, and economic risks to fisheries and coastal communities. Another large block of testimony addressed CSO legislation, especially H. 1046 and related bills for the MWRA service area. Environmental groups, residents, and river users described sewage overflows into the Charles, Mystic, and Alewife Brook, impacts on health and recreation, and the need for a timeline to eliminate or sharply reduce overflows. Industry representatives opposed the CSO and waste bills, arguing they would be costly, duplicative, and disruptive, while waste facility operators said they already use continuous emissions monitoring and comply with existing regulations. No votes were taken during the hearing.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ,<00:19:55.440> and saved countless lives, properties, and saved countless lives, properties
  • Why don't they start with the billionaires writing their own tax breaks into the tax code?
  • And I just bought another property in Texas for $123 million that was valued at $11 million.
  • And I just bought another<06:01:22.878> property<06:01:23.200> in<06:01:23.520> Texas
  • <06:01:24.400> for<06:01:24.798> $123 another property in Texas for $123 another property
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Press Conference: Lt. Governor Dan Patrick Dec 9th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the last several years, the average Texas homeowner has saved $2,000. on their property taxes by homestead
  • have local property taxes.
  • to get rid of all school property taxes?
  • A lot of properties have to leave. sure. Sure.
  • And so their property taxes have gone down as well.
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
VA

Virginia 2026 Regular Session

Courts Of Justice Mar 6th, 2026

Courts of Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • in those code books.
  • I'm looking forward to using the entire code. ...of what I do can be found in those code books.
  • I have never heard somebody say they were excited to be able to use the entire code.
  • And managing partner is just code word for HR.
  • And so I had to have this absurd Texas accent, which I’m sure my friends from Texas would be horrified
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Jan 14th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • Florida's been leading the way on that as well with a few other states, Texas and Georgia, and we have
  • that routes directly to a public safety answering point, and allows a victim to create a numerical code
  • You would have a special code to put in, and the police would know to immediately come, and they would
  • I want to talk about the bill with getting a code for a phone so that there be no doubt.
  • I'm asking you to help these women with a code on the phone so that they can get the help that they need
Bills: S0054, S0156, S0296, S0298
Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 public safety budget, which totals about $8.2 billion within a $117.4 billion overall state budget. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget outlined funding and reductions across the public safety silo, including the Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, FDLE, Legal Affairs, the courts, and related entities. Agency heads then presented their requests, with FDLE seeking funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert system upgrades, alcohol testing equipment, officer mental health, criminal alien detection, and statutory staffing needs; DJJ requesting money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential contract rate increases, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requesting major funding for correctional officer pay increases, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications and security technology, offender information system modernization, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members discussed staffing shortages, prison conditions, immigration enforcement, public records burdens, mental health and substance use treatment, and the need for continued investment in corrections. A member of the public also testified about poor conditions in some prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and maintenance issues. The committee then considered and passed CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would clarify that a person may not resist a law enforcement officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties and would increase penalties in cases involving violence against officers. The bill sponsor described the case of Officer Jason Rayner and said the measure was intended to prevent defendants from using claims about unlawful detention or arrest to justify violence. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after support was noted from several law enforcement and municipal groups. Next, the committee passed CS/SB 54, which addresses use of substances affecting cognitive function. An amendment narrowed the medical-records language to records relevant to investigations of violent offenders and clarified privacy protections. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also passed CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from survivors and advocates emphasized the danger victims face when trying to leave abusive situations. Finally, the committee passed CS/SB 298, the public-records companion bill, which extends confidentiality protections for participants in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating violence victims as well. All three bills were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after no further business.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Feb 4th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And now our Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag.
  • I Greg Abbott governor of the state of Texas pursuant to article 4 section 9 of the Texas Constitution
  • Legislation reforming the property tax system and providing relief for Texas property taxpayers.
  • Without each and every one of you Texas just wouldn't be Texas.
  • all across the state of Texas.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce May 11th, 2026

Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yeah, so Texas is in ERCOT. It's a different market.
  • My concerns are that we don't end up like Texas, and I have a lot of real estate in Texas, and I do a
  • lot of things in Texas, and Texas started their spiral effect, and now they're almost 22% reliable on
  • Texas by any means.
  • I'll tell you, working with the Texas commissioners, part of the challenge in Texas is that ERCOT doesn't
Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and took up a series of Senate bills, a resolution, and one House bill. The committee reported favorably Senate Bill 79 to recreate Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 to establish the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, Senate Bill 375 on firefighting foam with amendments clarifying use in declared emergencies, Senate Bill 398 moving manufactured and modular housing oversight under the Contractors Licensing Board with technical and substantive amendments, Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing with an amendment providing for federal preemption if Congress enacts a national licensing regime, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks with consumer-protection provisions and technical amendments. The committee also reported favorably House Resolution 197, as amended, urging the Public Service Commission to study distributed energy generation and storage resources with LSU involvement, and Senate Bill 54, which would allow estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services; that bill drew extensive testimony from supporters and opponents in the cosmetology and aesthetics industries before being reported favorably. Several bills prompted detailed discussion and testimony. On Senate Bill 398, the sponsor and Contractors Licensing Board representatives said the change would improve enforcement and consumer safety for manufactured-home installation, especially tie-downs, leveling, and foundation blocking, while not affecting HUD-regulated construction. On the virtual currency bills, OFI said it currently licenses 37 virtual currency businesses with 33 pending applications, and supporters described the kiosk bill as a response to fraud complaints by requiring clearer disclosures, refund procedures, live customer support, and reporting to OFI. For House Resolution 197, the sponsor, PSC officials, and energy stakeholders said the study would examine the value of distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar and battery storage, in light of rising demand and grid reliability concerns; PSC staff and LSU energy experts described the study as focused on market value and avoided-cost benefits. House Bill 744, which would have shifted regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the PSC, generated discussion about constitutional history, rate impacts, and utility consolidation. PSC officials and the sponsor said the current city-council regulation is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921, and they argued that PSC regulation could reduce costs and simplify oversight, but the sponsor ultimately moved to defer the bill rather than force a floor fight, and the committee agreed. The committee then began consideration of Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, adopting technical amendments and then a larger amendment package that revised definitions and compliance provisions; the transcript ends while that bill’s amendment process is still underway, with no final action shown in the excerpt.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And now our Texas flag honor the Texas flag.
  • I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
  • That has always been the mark of a functioning Texas House.
  • authorized to impose property taxes.
  • , Texas for the Committee on Ways and Means.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 30th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • These agencies are the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Lottery Commission, and the Texas
  • For example, just 4 Texas charter schools sent over $51 million of Texas taxpayer money to private out
  • with Texas students.
  • So Terry Hall with Texas Turf, Texas for Toll-free Highways, and We the People of Liberty in Action,
  • Yeah, I think the real models in Texas are the high-performing Texas.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 11th, 2026 at 05:14 pm

Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • They are Texas, Nebraska, Florida, and Delaware.
  • This is all laid out by the code. I mean, not the code, I'm sorry, by their rules.
  • People are better to other states like Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona.
  • In fact, probably 15, 20 years ago, Texas changed to a percentage return.
  • Texas probably offers a game of that type.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session-Day 12, February 23, 2026-PM

Wyoming House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , are protected because of federal code, are protected because of federal code, all<00:49:31.200>
  • or maybe just to visit family in Texas. or maybe just to visit family in Texas.
  • Fifth Amendment rights to property Fifth Amendment rights to property without<01:25:18.280> a
  • United States bankruptcy code. Um and United States bankruptcy code.
  • They to pay the cost of the property.
Keywords: 916, all
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance. (2-18-26)

Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • They don't know building codes.
  • They don't know building codes.
  • They don't know building codes.
  • They don't know building codes.
  • behalf of a property and casualty claim. behalf of a property and casualty claim.
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 527, a cleanup bill related to insurance matters and the Strengthen Kentucky Homes program. The committee substitute removed language that would have repealed the workers’ compensation deductible range, added a one-time grant/reimbursement provision for contractor fortified-roofing certifications, and added an emergency clause. The Department of Insurance said the bill also updates licensing language, addresses issues with unlicensed pharmacy benefit managers, and supports contractor training tied to the roof grant program. The commissioner noted the program is set to go live March 1 and asked members to inform constituents about possible roof grants of up to $10,000. House Bill 527 received a favorable report after the committee adopted the substitute and title amendment by voice vote and then approved the bill on a roll call vote. The committee then heard House Bill 627, a PIP reform bill. The sponsor and State Farm’s legislative agent said the substitute clarified language so the Attorney General can prosecute insurance fraud and reflected negotiations with hospitals, the Kentucky Hospital Association, the Kentucky Justice Association, chiropractors, and physical therapists. The bill would apply the workers’ comp fee schedule to most PIP claims, require bills within 180 days, prohibit balance billing and credit impairment, raise funeral benefits to $5,000 and weekly wage benefits to $500, require an annual fraud report, and give the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction over insurance fraud cases. A physician testifying in opposition argued the bill would cut reimbursement for non-hospital providers, shift costs to hospitals and other payers, reduce access to care, and create an uneven playing field that favors hospitals. Committee members asked about the lack of a PIP fee schedule and the effect of the workers’ comp schedule relative to Medicare and commercial insurance. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and then passed House Bill 627 with favorable expression on a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also considered House Bill 355 on real estate appraisers. The sponsor said the bill would restore an independent board, allow evaluations under federal guidelines, and move Kentucky from a voluntary to a mandatory appraisal state. Testimony from insurance and appraisal representatives said the bill would require licensure for real property damage appraisers, exempt insurance agents and claims adjusters licensed under the insurance code, and create clearer standards and oversight. Members asked about the cost of an executive director and whether the board could sustain itself through fees; the sponsor said the board had historically been self-sustaining. The committee adopted the substitute and then gave House Bill 355 a favorable report by roll call vote. Finally, the committee began House Bill 568, which would prohibit new public adjuster licenses while allowing current licensees to renew. The sponsor said the bill responds to ongoing complaints and investigations in the industry and noted that most licensed public adjusters in Kentucky are not residents of the state. The transcript cuts off as the bill’s presentation was beginning.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Committee on Housing (01/28/2025)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • able to be there and be a property able to be there and be a property taxpayer<00:48:08.800>
  • houses and and if it's their property houses and and if it's their property they<01:25:51.639>
  • owner and 73% of rental small property owner and 73% of rental properties<01:32:57.920> in<01
  • condition in a way that that property condition in a way that that meets<04:36:10.561> code<04
  • property, and then sells the property to get their tax money back.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-03-24 - 1:12PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • building energy codes. building energy codes.
  • have energy codes. have energy codes.
  • Energy codes are a subset of building codes.
  • codes are a subset of building codes. codes. codes.
  • codes? codes?
Keywords: 926, house, all
Summary: The House first suspended the rules briefly to make announcements, including welcoming former representative Doug Gage to the gallery. It then returned to House Bill 211 on data brokers and personal information, where the Appropriations Committee explained a $50,000 appropriation to the Secretary of State for a consultant-led study on an accessible deletion mechanism for consumers to delete personal data held by data brokers, with interim and final reports due in 2027 and 2028. The committee reported a 9-0-2 vote in favor, and the House agreed to the Commerce and Economic Development Committee’s amendment and ordered third reading. Floor debate on H. 211 focused heavily on the bill’s deletion and exemption framework. Supporters argued the bill is needed to give Vermonters meaningful control over their data and to prevent data brokers from commingling information for unrelated uses. Opponents warned the bill could conflict with existing federal frameworks such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and could make credit, banking, insurance, fraud prevention, and identity verification harder. In response, the sponsor said the bill uses use-case-based exemptions rather than broad entity-level exemptions, noted testimony from banks, insurers, a data broker, a former data broker employee, and the Attorney General, and said no constitutional concerns were raised. The House ultimately adopted the amendment and advanced the bill. After H. 211, the House moved to House Bill 577, establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program. Committee reports from Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations were read into the record, and the Colchester member described the bill as a way to lower prescription drug costs by joining the multi-state Array Rx program. The bill would let any Vermont resident obtain a free discount card for FDA-approved prescription drugs, with claimed savings up to 80% on generics and 20% on brand-name drugs. The House then proceeded to second reading on H. 577.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Health and Welfare May 13th, 2026

Health & Welfare

Transcript Highlights:
  • Their deaths were classified under ICD-9, diagnosis code 632, missed abortion.
  • I later called the office to learn that, you know, that's exactly what medical coding is.
  • I later called the office to learn that, you know, that's exactly what medical coding is.
  • Well, because the CPT codes are federally designated, we couldn't do that.
  • Let's do what our dear friends in Texas are doing and bring it up to 150.
Keywords: 974, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 971, which would equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; supporters said independent clinics are disadvantaged by a large payment disparity, and the bill was reported favorable without objection. The committee also recognized visiting Alpha Phi Alpha members and other guests during personal privilege remarks. Members then considered HB 414, which would bar hiring certain health care workers and direct support professionals with serious disqualifying convictions from other states and address background-check issues for therapeutic group homes. After adopting three amendment sets, the bill was reported as amended. HB 740, creating an independent review process for Medicaid behavioral health claim disputes in the coordinated system of care, was amended to clarify applicability and CSOC definitions and then reported as amended. HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation, drew emotional testimony from affected parents and advocates; the committee reported it favorable. The committee also advanced several more bills: HB 405, updating the name of the national acupuncture certifying body, was reported favorable; HB 786, prohibiting extrapolation in certain managed-care claims recoupments, was reported favorable; HB 1095, allowing alternative backup power sources for nursing homes, was reported favorable; HB 403, raising the cottage food gross-sales cap, was amended from $50,000 to $150,000 and then reported favorable; HB 930, modernizing cosmetic-product regulation and creating a small-producer exemption, was reported favorable; HB 557, defining long-term pharmacies for policy purposes, was reported favorable; HB 779, on expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, was reported favorable; HB 915, setting utilization-management timelines and standards, was reported favorable; HB 546, expanding criteria for peace officers to take someone into protective custody during a mental health crisis, was reported favorable; HB 796, creating a chiropractic preceptorship program, was reported favorable; and HB 933, authorizing commemorative birth certificates, was reported favorable. The final major item was HB 1041, a “no-mandate” bill barring discrimination based on medical intervention status. The sponsor and Surgeon General said it was aimed at healthy, asymptomatic individuals and not at public health quarantine powers, but Senator Boudreaux objected to exemptions for schools and hospitals and offered an amendment to restore broader coverage. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote, and the bill remained under discussion as the transcript ended, with no final committee disposition shown in the excerpt.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Culture, Recreation & Tourism Apr 3rd, 2025

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • , monitored by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
  • Texas is a big state.
  • This bill will protect Texas wildlife and provide Texas with a voice on appropriate siting for wind energy
  • But, but Texas Parks and Wildlife, they, any regulatory agency like that, US Fish and Wife, Texas Parks
  • Yeah, to your last point, um, you know, most of the wind development in Texas is out in West Texas in
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:
  • Pro-eating-disorder content creators speak in code words that fly under the radar of restrictions.
  • So Vermont recently enacted an age-appropriate design code that actually a portion of that law now is
  • design code goes a bit further to... ...age-appropriate design code, but the Vermont age-appropriate
  • We're never going to look at their code.
  • Property owners lose reliable tenants, and communities lose their economic anchors.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.