Transcript Highlights:

• but we feel discriminated against because we're the only judges that cannot carry a gun in the courthouse
• prosecutor were killed by a person, and we would like to have. the ability to carry a gun in the courthouse
• I don't take it to the courthouse because I can't take it to the courthouse. Thank you, Your Honor.
• Large construction contracts sometimes include third-party liability clauses and these are designed to

Bills: SB28 , SB687 , SJR34 , SCR9 , SB523 , SB62 , SB847 , SB706 , SB869 , SB890 , SB992 , SB 28

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts

Summary: The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, my question is this: won't it take effect until we've got a lot of construction going on already
• lot of construction going on already. Are we going to have to back up and change things?
• Basically, it's got to be new construction, or you have to have a total demolition job of at least $500,000
• I'm sitting here thinking about like Madison County, which wants to build a new courthouse.
• Well, when they build a new courthouse, this should be included. New courthouse.

Bills: SB1 , SB83 , SB159 , SB160 , SB1

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: workers' compensation, public education, employee injury, insurance trust fund, on-the-job injury, administrative procedures, adult-size changing table, changing station, accessible restroom, public bathroom, public building, public entity, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility, restroom renovation, new construction, grant program, state grant, local government facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• We protect our courthouses.
• Last year, federal agents made at least 614 arrests in our courthouses—614.
• And some courthouse arrests tripled.
• When people fear the courthouses, the entire justice system breaks down.
• One being: What is the purpose of this individual's presence in the courthouse?

Transcript Highlights:

• We protect our courthouses.
• Last year, federal agents made at least 614 arrests in our courthouses—614.
• And some courthouse arrests tripled.
• Because right now, in Massachusetts, people are afraid to walk into a courthouse.
• When people fear the courthouses, the entire justice system breaks down.

Summary: The House first handled several routine matters, including adoption of a birthday resolution honoring Caroline San Martino Moran and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition involving the City of Waltham and the Veterans Memorial Rink. It also advanced two local bills: one authorizing DCAMM to release a sewer line easement in West Roxbury, and another relative to the town administrator of Carlisle. Both bills were amended by Ways and Means and ordered to third reading or engrossed as amended. The chamber also passed a memorial-marker bill for fallen law enforcement officers in Milton and Canton. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 5305, the “Protect Act,” which was presented as a measure to limit state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement, restrict ICE access in courthouses and other sensitive locations, strengthen notice and language-access protections for detainees and workers, and expedite U and T visa certifications. Supporters, including members of the Black and Latino Caucus and other legislators, argued the bill would protect due process, encourage victims and witnesses to come forward, preserve public trust, and keep local police focused on criminal matters. They cited courthouse arrests, fear in immigrant communities, and the need for clearer boundaries between state and federal authority. Several amendments were offered and voted on during consideration of H.5305. An amendment to strike Section 4 was rejected, as were amendments seeking to alter the courthouse enforcement provisions and to recognize immigration judge warrants. Other amendments were adopted, including one clarifying sheriff-related provisions, one expanding language around release dates, one adding protections related to school settings, and one expediting U visa certification for family members aging out. A roll call was taken on the bill and on multiple amendments, with the House ultimately adopting the amendments described and continuing consideration of the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not sure if a lawyer is the best person to answer financial and or construction questions.
• the project, we won't completely wrap up all of the construction costs.
• The courthouse program has been very successful.
• The Weiss and Taylor courthouses have just recently reopened.
• Also, within your packet, you'll be getting one on the courthouse programs. That's wonderful.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• We protect our courthouses.
• Last year, federal agents made at least 614 arrests in our courthouses—614.
• And some courthouse arrests tripled.
• Because right now, in Massachusetts, people are afraid to walk into a courthouse.
• When people fear the courthouses, the entire justice system breaks down.

Summary: The House first handled several routine matters, including adoption of a resolution honoring Caroline San Martino Moran on her 80th birthday and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition involving the City of Waltham and the Veterans Memorial Rink. It then advanced a bill authorizing DCAMM to release a sewer line easement in West Roxbury, adopting the Ways and Means amendment and ordering the bill to a third reading. The chamber also took up and advanced another bill, Promoting Rule of Law, Oversight, Trust, and Equal Constitutional Treatment (the “Protect Act”), after a brief recess and a quorum call. Most of the transcript focused on House Bill 5305, the Protect Act, which was described by supporters as a measure to separate state and local law enforcement from civil immigration enforcement, prohibit ICE arrests in courthouses without a judicial warrant, limit cooperation with ICE on civil matters, strengthen notice and language-access protections for detainees and workers, expedite U and T visa certifications, and create rules for sensitive spaces and enforcement by the Attorney General. Supporters from both parties and several caucuses argued the bill would protect due process, encourage victims and witnesses to come forward, and preserve public safety by maintaining trust in courts, schools, and communities. Several members also spoke from personal experience as immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, or law enforcement professionals. The House considered and voted on a series of amendments to H.5305. Amendment 6 to strike Section 4 failed; Amendment 7, which would have required ICE civil warrants to be presented to a court and reviewed for impact on justice, failed; Amendment 2, adding immigration judges to the bill’s definition of government, failed; Amendment 3, concerning 287(g) agreements and federal reimbursement, was withdrawn; Amendment 13, expediting U visa certifications when a family member is aging out, was adopted by roll call 150-3; Amendment 10, clarifying the definition of law enforcement agency/officer to include sheriffs’ correctional roles, was adopted 127-25; Amendment 5, expanding a release-date provision, was adopted 154-0; and Amendment 14, addressing school-related protections and ICE presence, was adopted 135-18. The bill itself was still under consideration at the end of the transcript, with debate continuing after the adopted amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:48.880><c> period,</c> knowledge of construction period, knowledge of construction period,
• <c> I'm</c><00:10:23.839><c> not</c> construction industry, and I'm not construction industry, and I'm
• </c><00:19:35.120><c> would</c> um, those found in construction would um, those found in construction
• </c><00:20:30.480><c> related</c> behalf of other construction related behalf of other construction related
• </c> everyone involved in the construction everyone involved in the construction process.<00:21:05.200

Bills: SB88 , SB337 , SB88 , SB337 , HB623

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: expungement, criminal records, courts, victim rights, rehabilitation, Alabama law, SB337, Montgomery County, probate judge, judge of probate, county officer compensation, salary increase, circuit judge parity, local legislation, county commission, general fund, public official pay, judicial compensation, Montgomery County Legislation, construction management

Transcript Highlights:

• We were looking at inflation, excuse me, since COVID, construction costs have gone up.
• Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund and uses funds already within the New Mexico Irrigation Works Construction
• New Mexico Irrigation Works Construction Fund. It does not create a new tax or fee.

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• The last category was the construction and operation of SMR facilities.
• We call this construction work in progress. It's been a very bad thing for ratepayers...
• We call this construction work in progress.
• Nuclear is a much bigger cost and a much longer construction period.
• So these would have, you know, 10-plus-year construction schedules.

Bills: SB5821 , SB6004 , SB6010 , SB5941

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: nuclear energy, energy strategy, advanced technology, sustainability, state policy, renewable energy, public entities, electric generation, contracting, SB 6010, Washington energy siting, EFSEC, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, tribal consultation, government-to-government consultation, federally recognized tribes, energy facility siting, RCW, clean energy, alternative energy

Bills: HB3944 , HB3486

Keywords: appropriations, military construction, veterans affairs, VA funding, USDA, agriculture appropriations, legislative branch appropriations, fiscal year 2026, omnibus, spending bill, rural development, rural housing, broadband, SNAP, WIC, school lunch, food safety, FDA user fees, veterans health care, toxic exposure

Transcript Highlights:

• Fred would become a major factor in getting that memorial constructed.
• , the Department of Veterans construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs,<02:29:40.960><c> and</
• </c> the Military Construction, Veterans the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs<02:36:14.640><c>
• It includes two facility construction.
• Speaker, I reserve. the Military Construction, Veteran the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs,<03

Bills: HR519 , HR538 , HR530 , HR537

Keywords: Minnesota lawmakers, political violence, domestic terrorism, assassination attempt, state legislators, Melissa Hortman, John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman, Mark Hortman, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, public safety, law enforcement response, civil discourse, democracy, gun violence, elected officials, House resolution, condemnation, bipartisan unity

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional funding for state road construction and the Blatnik Bridge will result in a greatly improved
• I understand you might have an amendment later that would address road construction materials.
• I understand you might have an amendment later that would address road construction materials.
• We appreciate matching the governor's recommendations on state road construction on page six.
• The county will deliver the project design and construction right away.

Bills: HF2438

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh then for state road construction<00:08:41.919><c> or</c><00:08:42.159><c> sorry,</c><00:08:42.560>
• <c> state</c><00:08:42.880><c> radio</c> construction or sorry, state radio construction or sorry, state
• material. types of aggre or construction material.
• </c><01:04:07.280><c> materials</c><01:04:07.760><c> if</c><01:04:08.000><c> I</c> was for construction
• materials if I was for construction materials if I remember<01:04:08.480><c> that</c><01:04:08.880><

Bills: HF2438

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Bills: HF770 , HF857 , HF38 , HF1500 , HF43

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we have professional offices in the courthouse, and they have the ability to offer this service
• One of the days I was there is they had something happened on the construction site.
• And so I really, if people have not been in the construction field, you know everything can go wrong.
• So under new construction, we have better turnouts, but it's still not zero.
• .. ...there is still a tremendous amount of construction that happens around it.

Committees: House Local Government , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• Of our 254 counties, only eight lack historic county courthouses.
• Ended with the construction and operation of the Bullock Museum in the 2000s.
• Construction with ingress and egress and so hopefully with the construction being completed before this
• I have a question regarding the construction. Can you go in a little more detail about that?
• So construction began prior to the fair last year.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought I saw it. courthouse renovations. We've got $25 million.
• I talked a minute ago about the courthouse program.
• You all did a great job in preserving some of the old courthouses, historical courthouses.
• It was one of the first courthouses I ever went to.
• You all did a great job in preserving some of the old courthouses, historical courthouses.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we have professional offices in the courthouse, and they have the ability to offer this service
• One of the days I was there is they had something happen on the construction site.
• And so I really, if people have not been in the construction field, you know everything can go wrong.
• So under new construction, we have better turnouts, but it's still not zero.
• That is part of it and what has been noted previously as well in terms of construction.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted House Bill 1867 do pass by a 15-1 roll call. It then considered House Bill 2394, where a committee amendment changing “get” to “obtain” was adopted and rolled into a substitute. Testimony focused on efforts to work with plumbers and pipefitters on the bill’s scope, but the committee proceeded with the substitute, which passed do pass by a 10-7 vote. House Bill 2600 was then amended with clarifying language about petition signatures tied to the most recent gubernatorial election in the district, rolled into a substitute, and passed unanimously 17-0. The committee then held public hearings. House Bill 1906, sponsored by Rep. McGaugh, would remove township counties from a restriction so they can offer installment property tax payments like other counties. Support came from county collectors and a collector-treasurer, who said taxpayers want the option; one member suggested adding monthly payments as well. No opposition testified. House Bill 3003, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeyer, would require regular inspection and qualified testing of fire, smoke, and combination dampers under statewide standards, with documentation, reporting, and penalties for noncompliance. The sponsor and several witnesses from the fire protection and sheet metal industries said the bill would improve public safety and accountability; one opponent argued the certification standard was too broad, the penalties too steep, and the fiscal impact too high. The hearing also included discussion of hospital inspection cycles, local code variation, and the need for qualified inspectors. Finally, House Bill 2898 was heard. Rep. Owens described it as a revival of the land bank legislation previously enacted but struck down because of an unrelated amendment; the bill would restore land bank authority, expand eligibility beyond the original cities, and adjust St. Louis County appointment language to align with the county charter. Supporters from realtors, St. Louis County, municipal groups, and Springfield said it would help clear title, repurpose vacant properties, and return land to productive use, while one opponent argued the bill could weaken tax-delinquency protections and raise costs. No committee vote was taken on the public hearing bills, and the committee adjourned after closing the hearing on House Bill 2898.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have this beautiful courthouse in Kona.
• </c> coordinated construction of facilities. coordinated construction of facilities.
• this beautiful courthouse in in in<01:52:34.800><c> Kona.
• </c><01:52:58.800><c> they</c> gets released from the courthouse they gets released from the courthouse
• </c><01:53:17.920><c> would</c> located right at the courthouse would located right at the courthouse

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held an informational briefing on violent crime clearance rates and what resources law enforcement and prosecutors need to improve them. Chair and members noted there would be no public testimony. The briefing was led by Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, with later participation expected from state and county law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Clement argued that solving violent crime is a systemwide issue, not just a local police function, and said clearance rates have declined nationally over decades for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. He said Hawaii’s reported data, limited to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, shows overall violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have been relatively flat with a pandemic-era spike followed by declines in 2023 and 2024. He reported that Hawaii’s overall violent crime solve rate fell from about 52% in 2014 to about 40% in 2024, with 2024 rates of 50% for homicides, 48% for aggravated assaults, and 26% each for rapes and robberies. He also estimated unsolved cases over the past three years at about 17 homicides, 3,300 aggravated assaults, 1,200 rapes, and 1,700 robberies. Members asked about victim and witness support, staffing shortages, the Denver example, whether clearance rates include cases not prosecuted, and whether HPD’s size or structure might affect solve rates. Clement said support can include victim-witness programs and coordinators that help maintain cooperation and trust, especially where clearance rates are low. He said resources, training, technology, and detective caseloads matter, citing Boston, Denver, and Omaha as cities that improved solve rates through relatively low-cost operational changes; he highlighted Denver’s increase in non-fatal shooting clearance from 39% to 65% in seven months after dedicating more resources. He said he had no research showing that breaking up a large department would improve solve rates, and noted that clearance data can include exceptional clearances such as victim noncooperation, prosecutorial declination, or a suspect’s death. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Construction projects related to the Gowen Field, occasionally money comes in military-wise, and they
• need to spend it to do some construction projects, and we don't want that to be an issue.
• But I think one that I look back on is my little county in Bear Lake that needed a courthouse.
• It was a two-story courthouse, and the way to get up there was a little narrow staircase.
• And the county had tried and tried and tried to pass a bond to get a new courthouse.

Committee: Senate State Affairs