Transcript Highlights:

• As of 2003, we believe that number has dropped to 23.
• and its grant program for districts opting out.
• and its grant program for districts opting out.
• I'm the program support coordinator at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
• But test scores and literacy rates have dropped nationwide. Learning feels shallower overall.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bounty program ended, but the killing did not.
• I'm senior program manager of animal research issues at Humane World for Animals.
• I'm the Wildlife Trafficking Program Director at Humane World for Animals.
• Temperatures dropped to seven degrees. There were discarded bodies of dead coyotes.
• The program is peer reviewed by PACO.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of animal, wildlife, hunting, and environmental bills. Early testimony focused on deer management, with Rep. Markey urging creation of a deer commission to address crop damage, vehicle collisions, and Lyme disease, and Sen. Durant supporting bills to allow Sunday bow hunting, expand crossbow use, and reduce the 500-foot dwelling restriction for archery hunting. Supporters framed these measures as practical wildlife-management tools, while questions centered on how they would differ from existing Fish and Wildlife authority and whether they would allow hunting closer to residences. Later, Rep. Sena also spoke in support of a bill to increase protected wildlife management areas and another to require non-lead ammunition, arguing both would benefit biodiversity and reduce environmental harm. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed animal welfare and commerce. Multiple witnesses supported bills to ban or phase out the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops, arguing that pet stores rely on puppy mills and obscure the source of animals, while opponents said the bills would hurt responsible breeders, small businesses, and consumer choice. The committee also heard strong testimony for bills to ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops, with supporters citing sick animals, consumer deception, and the need to cut off the puppy mill supply chain. In a separate animal-testing segment, witnesses backed bills requiring non-animal testing methods for cosmetics and household products, saying alternatives are more accurate and humane; biomedical research representatives opposed those bills and a related research-animal measure, warning of unintended restrictions on research institutions and arguing animal models remain necessary for many studies. The committee also heard testimony on horseshoe crab conservation, with supporters of H. 898 urging an end to taking horseshoe crabs for bait because of population declines, shorebird impacts, and the species’ importance to biomedical science. On wildlife trafficking, witnesses backed bills to ban intrastate sales of ivory and rhino horn, saying Massachusetts should close loopholes that aid poaching and align with federal law and other states; one antique dealer testified in support, saying he avoids such items and still sees them in the marketplace. Additional testimony supported bans on fur products from factory farms and on force-feeding birds for foie gras, with advocates emphasizing cruelty, public health, and environmental concerns. The hearing was lengthy and heavily attended, with the chairs repeatedly limiting testimony to three minutes and inviting written submissions; no committee votes or final actions were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, including fingerprinting... ...changes to the school safety program, including fingerprinting
• administration of the program.
• It does not specify just a single program.
• It does not specify just a single program.
• It does not specify just a single program.

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if they gave me a jumbo parking spot, my pay is going to drop.
• A really large one is called the 340B drug discount program.
• Those of you familiar with these programs know there are challenges.
• And we had a couple of programs, 100% results.
• But people started dropping down, but they didn't want to follow that. but people started dropping down

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• got a program.
• Let's keep the program got a program.
• um have people drop off of our<02:47:40.960> program<02:47:41.720> because<02:47:42.720
• public health programs? public health programs?
• program. Not encouraged at all. program. Not encouraged at all.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So then we're going to be my programs.
• five years like we see super mega drops five years like we see super mega drops in<01:05:04.640>
• And so we have wait lists across the state for these kinds of programs.
• for program before it becomes<01:10:36.080> unsafe.
• Um, I had a a conversation of programs.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Seclusion Working Group approved the minutes from its November 5, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from Jessica Heiser and Aaron Sansmark of Solutions Not Suspensions and the Minnesota Disability Law Center on the misuse and illegal use of seclusion in schools. They described illegal seclusion as including use outside emergencies, for discipline or noncompliance, beyond the emergency period, in unregistered rooms, without parent notice, without required observation or documentation, for students outside the grade-limit rules, when meals/restroom/water are withheld, or when staff are not properly trained. They emphasized that Minnesota lacks a single reliable data source for identifying illegal seclusion and that families often learn about incidents late, if at all, making complaints and legal action difficult because of barriers such as time, cost, language, and access to advocates. The presenters summarized Minnesota Disability Law Center records, saying they receive about one seclusion-related case per month during the school year, statewide, and that in the cases reviewed over the last year the children were all boys with disabilities, including autism, ADHD, developmental delay, or emotional disabilities; three were white and two were children of color, and four of the five were age 10 or younger. They said all of those families pulled their children from school afterward, and that five of five cases potentially had valid illegal-seclusion claims, though only three pursued legal action. They also noted PACER reports many discipline and behavior calls involving seclusion but does not keep hard records. The presenters proposed better statewide data collection, including identifying school buildings, staff, or students involved, reporting incident duration, and adding a checkbox on MDE complaints to flag restraint/seclusion allegations. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on disproportionality. The presenters cited national research showing students with disabilities and students of color, especially Black boys, are disproportionately restrained or secluded, while acknowledging Minnesota does not have a single statewide racial aggregate for seclusion. Members discussed whether banning seclusion would reduce misuse and disproportionality, whether it could increase physical holds or injuries, and whether the issue should be viewed in the broader context of emergency interventions. Heiser argued Minnesota is moving in the same direction as federal actions and other states that have restricted or banned seclusion, and noted that the current birth-through-third-grade ban has reportedly reduced seclusion by 40%. Other members agreed disproportionality is a serious systemwide problem, but emphasized the need to keep the conversation focused on seclusion and emergency use. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> We have JRH 10, a joint resolution authorizing the Green Mountain State Girls State Education Program
• JRH 10, joint resolution authorizing the 2026 Green Mountain Girls State Educational Program to use the
• Computer programming.
• We merely raise the money, and so we can't just arbitrarily drop those.
• ><00:57:00.200> just and so we can't just and so we can't just arbitrarily<00:57:02.600> drop

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Miller raped, stabbed, and dropped a sofa on the mutilated face of a 67-year-old landlord in her home
• This bill would help expand that to one year, giving time to get into programs.
• rehabilitative program that is approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
• Certainly, the... ...to be able to get into those programs.
• And I think that this certainly makes sure that we are getting the programs.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I might be stealing my program.
• And again, if if I the bar program.
• Not just another program.
• programming for students, etc. programming for students, etc.
• We have jobs for people to do in the... programs. This puts local boards in a programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• assistance program the state's Medicaid<00:30:01.120> Program<00:30:02.120> but<00:30:
• <00:36:09.359> at Medica Medicaid entitlement programs at Medica Medicaid entitlement programs
• in Medicare those are important programs in Medicare those are important programs for<01:27:36.880
• state budget and some of the programs state budget and some of the programs and<01:49:29.119>
• <01:52:11.040> that sustainable we have a program that sustainable we have a program that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An undocumented grad student in a STEM program at UC Davis shared with us that having access to on-campus
• once of many stakeholders this is an author-sponsored bill this was part of my ought to be a law program
• AB 2783 also extends a pilot program authorizing remote court reporting in specified counties.
• She was forced to drop out of community college and to work full-time just to survive.
• She was forced to drop out of community college and to work full-time just to survive.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires that individuals complete an approved anaphylaxis training program and submit proof of that
• House 5441 adds congenital CMV to our existing newborn screening program through a simple, non-invasive
• While this demonstrates how simple this bill is to implement, codifying this program would allow it to
• Codifying the program would also guarantee that the blue envelopes are available at all RMV locations
• in Massachusetts, including increasing access and use of the program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several Senate and House bills, mostly under suspension of the rules, and advanced a number of measures to third reading or engrossment. Early in the session, the House dealt with a Senate bill on student learning and mental health by insisting on its position and appointing a committee of conference. It also referred a Senate petition on alleviating poverty to the Committee on Children and Families after the House declined to concur with a Judiciary referral. The chamber then considered and advanced multiple Ways and Means bills, including legislation on police interactions with people with autism spectrum disorder, honoring Blue Star families, land conveyance in Bolton, newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus, affordable housing and cultural space in Brighton, increasing access to epinephrine, and civil rights and technology. Several bills drew extended floor debate. Supporters of the epinephrine bill emphasized its life-saving purpose and described the death of Michael Brown as a catalyst for the measure; the House adopted the bill after a roll call vote of 149-0. The newborn CMV screening bill also prompted substantial testimony in favor from public health advocates and parents, who argued that universal screening would enable earlier treatment and reduce long-term harm; an amendment to add other rare diseases was withdrawn, and a later amendment creating a broad opt-out was defeated 1-153 before the bill passed 154-1. The civil rights and technology bill focused on banning weaponized drones and robotic devices, restricting misuse, and preserving law enforcement and civil liberties; it passed 154-1. The Blue Star families bill, creating commemorative plates for families of fallen law enforcement officers, passed 156-0 after emotional remarks from members and supporters. The House also passed without recorded opposition a bill facilitating better interactions between police and people with autism, and it approved a Bolton land conveyance bill and the Brighton affordable housing/cultural space bill. The chamber observed moments of silence for former Congressman Barney Frank and State Trooper Kevin Traynor, welcomed several guest groups, and concluded by adopting an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill would be partially implemented through the Motor Vehicle Division through its dealer licensing program
• I'm the Transportation Program Director for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a nonprofit working
• They are employers, sponsors of school programs, supporters of community events, and one of the few sources
• I think it's time that New Mexico get with the program and get with the rest of the country and pass
• Four million is, you know, my district is a drop in the bucket.

Bills: SB22, SB310

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• impact of light pollution on the Hawaiian birds, the petrel and the shearwater, whose numbers have dropped
• impact of light pollution on the Hawaiian birds, the petrel and the shearwater, whose numbers have dropped
• of Transportation to convene a working group to develop and recommend a federal, state, and county program
• 00:31:42.960> state,<00:31:43.200> and<00:31:43.360> county<00:31:43.679> program
• federal, state, and county program federal, state, and county program subsidizing<00:31:44.559><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Transportation and Culture heard a series of resolutions covering cultural preservation, civic education, dark-sky protection, Taiwan relations, aviation safety reporting, waterborne cargo subsidies, and Maui transportation planning. Testimony on the Hawaii Theatre resolutions (SCR 131/SR 110) came from the Hawaii Theatre Center in support, with a question about whether acquisition funding was in the current budget; the witness said he was not aware of any such funding. The state archivist strongly supported SCR 169/SR 138 on expanding public outreach and civic engagement, and a student testifier supported the measure while urging stronger language to include Indigenous culture and closer work with Native communities. On STR 12/SR 8 recognizing International Dark Sky Week, testimony emphasized light pollution’s effects on birds, marine life, human health, and astronomy, and suggested stronger lighting ordinances and possible dark-sky reserve efforts. STR 31/SR 17 on Taiwan received support from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, while STR 180/SR 150 on aviation safety reporting drew support from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters but opposition from the Department of Transportation, which said much of the requested information falls under FAA jurisdiction and would be voluntary at the state level. STR 150 on waterborne cargo subsidies was supported by DOT, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, with DOT asking that the working group be smaller to speed a report to the 2026 session. STR 37/SR 21 and STR 38/SR 22 on Kihei road planning drew support from the Kihei Community Association, which described severe congestion and safety concerns in South Maui. In decision-making, the committee advanced SCR 131/SR 110 on the Hawaii Theatre as introduced. SCR 169/SR 138 was advanced with amendments to address comments about Indigenous culture. STR 12/SR 8 on International Dark Sky Week was deferred for further discussion until the following Tuesday. STR 31/SR 17 on Taiwan was advanced with technical, non-substantive amendments. STR 180/SR 150 and STR 150 were both deferred to the same later decision-making date to allow further work on possible amendments and jurisdictional issues. STR 37/SR 21 was passed as introduced, and STR 38/SR 22 was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. In each vote taken, the measures were adopted without recorded opposition from the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a drop in the bucket.
• And I just want to add also that this was a program that we developed.
• I'm here representing the Horizons faith-based program.
• This faith-based program is based in dorm rooms that are not air conditioned.
• I'm here representing the Horizons faith-based program.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard an update from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on staffing, overtime, capital needs, and inmate population growth. Dixon said the prison population has risen by about 8,000 since January 2021 while staffing has not kept pace, forcing the agency to open 53 housing units without funded positions and rely heavily on overtime and National Guard support. He cited a $189 million deficit tied to salaries and overtime, noted that most staff have less than three years of experience, and argued the solution is to fully fund posts for operational housing units. He also reviewed the department’s fixed capital outlay projects, including repairs, new housing construction, and medical modular units intended to reduce outside hospital transports, and gave an update on the VINE victim notification system and its expansion. The committee then heard from Florida clerks of court representatives Jason Welty and Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who described clerks’ court-related and county duties and said clerk budgets have not kept pace with the broader justice system. They requested reimbursements for injunctions for protection ($3.3 million), Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator cases ($2.5 million), and juror management ($4.8 million), and said future funding for new judges should include the full courtroom system, not judges alone. Fernandez-Barquin also raised concerns about unfunded mandates, rising retirement and health costs, low court-side pay, and the need to revisit filing fees and trust fund allocations. Members asked about collections, payment plans, license suspensions, and whether some fees or trust fund distributions could be redirected; the governor’s budget had already picked up the $2.5 million request for Baker/Marchman/SVP cases. During public testimony, speakers urged broader criminal justice reforms and additional funding priorities. A prosecutor emphasized that adding judges requires funding for prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks as well. Other speakers called for parole or long-term sentencing reform to reduce prison populations and costs, criticized staffing and conditions in prisons, and raised concerns about inexperienced correctional officers, visitation delays, and lack of air conditioning in some facilities. The committee took no substantive votes on the items discussed and adjourned after hearing the presentations and public comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• heard and discussed within the House, and then this version that ultimately passed into law was air-dropped
• /c><00:01:44.040> into<00:01:44.240> a<00:01:44.360> conference law was aird dropped
• into a conference law was aird dropped into a conference committee<00:01:45.119> report<00:01
• We mentioned that there was a drop-off nearby for Joe that was 25 feet.
• um we we mentioned that there was a drop um we we mentioned that there was a drop off<01:26:10.679

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

Transcript Highlights:

• And Minnesota's turkey laser program.
• Members, we also created a brand new program, an LFPA program, which is a duplicate of a federal program
• ,<00:12:42.079> which for the cottage foods uh program, which for the cottage foods uh program
• <00:42:28.560> drops next two years. and then it drops drops next two years. and then it drops
• missing and endangered persons program. missing and endangered persons program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is they do more than just programming. is they do more than just programming.
• We can talk programming later. Period. We can talk programming later.
• <00:30:36.720> Um, these programs. Um, these programs.
• and provide programming. and provide programming.
• > in<01:05:56.400> terms program programming they want in terms program programming they want

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That program was established as a statewide program in September of 2021.
• Program, a different program built on that program that you did last year. This is long overdue.
• programs moving forward?
• programs.
• food shelter program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a new tax, and it has not changed the structure of the program.
• The Transbay Program is a state-mandated and transformative transit investment.
• You know, routes would get dropped.
• You know, brouts would get dropped.
• The bill before you strengthens the affordable program known as the density bonus law.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several local government-related bills. AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson would require elected local and state officials to take anti-hate speech training through existing sexual harassment training. Supporters said hate rhetoric can embolden prejudice and officials should be accountable for their words; opponents argued the bill lacks a legal definition of hate speech and could chill protected speech. The chair indicated support, but no quorum was present at that point, so no vote was taken. AB 2083, also by Assembly Member Jackson, would authorize creation of a regional child care special district for Moreno Valley and Paris to expand child care programs and facilities. The author said the district would help underserved communities and support families with nontraditional work hours. The California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions opposed the bill’s mechanism, though it said it supported the goal and had been working with the author. The bill was discussed without a final vote in the excerpt. AB 1783 by Assembly Member DeMaio would prohibit state and local mileage taxes and block state agencies from studying or advancing them. The author argued Californians already pay too much in gas and car taxes and that mileage taxes would burden drivers. Opponents, including the State Building and Construction Trades Council, Transportation California, NRDC, and others, said the state needs to study road user charges as a fairer replacement for declining gas tax revenue. After quorum was established, the committee voted 3-2 to pass and re-refer the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee, with the roll left open. The committee also advanced AB 1693 by Assembly Member Suber, which would streamline retail tenant improvement permits by allowing qualified professionals to certify plans and imposing review deadlines on local building departments. Support came from retail, business, property, and chamber groups, and there was no opposition. The committee voted 5-0 to pass and re-refer the bill to the Business and Professions Committee. AB 1679 by Assembly Member Gonzales would create a temporary commercial activation permit for pop-up businesses in vacant storefronts; supporters said it would help revive downtowns and reduce barriers for small businesses, while local government groups had no position. The committee approved it 7-0 and re-referred it to the Health Committee. AB 2418 by Assembly Member Gonzales would set timelines for nonresidential plan checks and allow private plan checkers after delays; business groups supported it, local government associations had no position, and the committee passed it 7-0 to the Judiciary Committee. The committee also heard AB 1820 by Assembly Member Schiavo, which would cap EV charger permit fees and allow higher fees only with written findings; supporters said it would reduce barriers to charger deployment, while cities and counties argued current fees reflect actual costs and that the bill would shift costs to local governments. The discussion was extensive, but no vote is shown in the excerpt.