Transcript Highlights:

• That brings me to safety.
• That brings me a safety. Our streets where our family That brings me a safety.
• Electrical Contractors Association.
• Meanwhile, the national average is $135.
• The National Endowment for the Arts and U.S.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Governor Healey’s economic development proposal, H. 5386, also referred to as the Mass Winds Act, focused on global investment, talent, innovation, housing, and business competitiveness. Governor Healey, Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz described the bill as a response to federal uncertainty and global competition, building on the 2024 Mass Leads Act. They highlighted proposed investments in a Global Mass initiative, including a $50 million innovation access fund and $20 million for sites to help international companies locate or expand in Massachusetts, along with support for AI, quantum, robotics, defense innovation, climate tech, downtown revitalization, and creative/cultural economy projects. They also emphasized measures to lower business costs, including reducing the LLC filing fee, expanding the small business energy tax exemption, and streamlining housing and development rules. Committee members questioned the administration about non-compete reform, AI and data-center infrastructure, housing affordability, and whether the bill would help retain workers and companies in Massachusetts. The governor and secretaries argued that the non-compete changes would restore the original compromise by requiring any alternative to garden leave to be negotiated at separation, and they said the bill’s housing and workforce provisions are intended to help young workers stay in the state. They also said Massachusetts is already investing in AI training, an AI hub, and energy-related planning, while acknowledging that data-center growth will require careful attention to water, electricity, and ratepayer impacts. Several witnesses testified on specific sections. Northeastern University supported the internship tax credit, saying experiential learning helps students gain jobs and remain in Massachusetts. The Latino Empowerment Advisory Council supported the waiver of redundant English testing for internationally trained nurses, saying it would speed entry into the workforce without lowering clinical standards. Russell Beck opposed the non-compete changes, arguing they would undermine the 2018 compromise and could reduce other forms of employee compensation. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office opposed the LLC fee reduction, citing revenue loss and fraud concerns. Municipal and regional groups, including the MMA and the Metro Mayors Coalition, supported site plan review codification and downtown/arts investments, while urging continued municipal input. The AFL-CIO asked for trigger language to preserve labor protections if federal law changes, and business and industry witnesses generally supported the bill’s competitiveness and global investment provisions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with written testimony invited after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The election code actually has mirrored what is called UOCAVA.
• Traffic control safety costs will increase with increased commuters.
• So I ask for you to consider our health and our safety in this decision. Thank you.
• So with four days, it required more fuel and electricity increasing pollution.
• How can we afford an electric car, especially if we're coming in four days?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have James Abraham, associate general counsel for Hawaiʻi Electric.
• We have James Abraham, associate general counsel for Hawaiʻi Electric.
• I'm testifying on behalf of Hawaiʻi Electric in support of House Bill 1064.
• Question from Senator Dort. to the current building codes in place to the current building codes in place
• <00:12:18.600> and<00:12:18.760> Military Safety and Military Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on House Bill 1064, which would implement recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Maui wildfire report, clarify the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriate funds. Testimony was generally supportive from DLNR, the Climate Advisory Team, the State Fire Council, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Attorney General’s office, the Honu Fire Department, AARP, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council, and others. Governor Green’s office said it supported the bill but wanted the office of the State Fire Marshal placed under the Department of Defense rather than the governor’s office, citing constitutional and administrative concerns. Members also questioned the State Fire Council about the selection process for the fire marshal and about defensible space and wildfire resilience in different communities. After discussion, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1064 to Friday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 225 for the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, with the same recommendation from the other committee. The hearing then moved to House Bill 697, which would expand who may review automated speed enforcement images. HDOT supported the bill but said it would prefer funding from the Highway Special Fund or the automated speed enforcement special fund rather than general revenues. Opposition testimony from the ACLU raised privacy concerns, argued the bill blurs the line between law enforcement and infrastructure management, and said DOT staff lack the mandate and expertise for the task. Judiciary said it would need additional capacity to process citations and hearings, and noted the program’s likely workload and costs were still uncertain. The committees then took up House Bill 277 on vehicular pursuit policy. The Attorney General and the Law Enforcement Standards Board urged the committees to defer the bill and let the board develop policy first, while Hawaii County Police opposed the measure as unnecessary, confusing, and too restrictive of officer discretion. Honolulu Police Department and the Policing Project supported the bill, arguing that clearer statewide standards and transparency are needed because pursuits can cause serious injuries or deaths and existing policies are inconsistent or not public. The Policing Project said the bill could be improved with amendments on serious crimes, but supported legislative action to set statewide standards while still involving the board. No final vote or action on HB 277 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• California has always led the nation in both innovation and worker protection.
• Right now, our safety net is sprayed and broken.
• We have not done that in the California Labor Code and shouldn't do it here.
• finding demonstrating that existing construction safety standards are inadequate.
• some of the strongest labor and safety protections in the nation.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Maggard, you are recognized to explain our code 603,987. Rep.
• It takes care of things like if you don't turn the electricity on for a year.
• Tuck, you are recognized to explain our code 556,269. Rep. Tuck: Thank you Madam Chair.
• Many of them are small local businesses, some are national chains.
• And all those things we as a nation accumulate.

Transcript Highlights:

• this is a follow-up cleanup bill to some significant reforms that were made to this area of the tax code
• clause on there, then it's effective, it's in statute, and it would comply with this change in the code
• And if the Department of Revenue is issuing forms, those forms need to be consistent with the tax code
• So yes, I think to your original question, public safety could be at risk if we do this.
• And there is a safety valve for the cities.

Bills: HB2780, HB4029, HB4030, HCR2052

Keywords: judicial foreclosure, tax lien, redemption rights, excess proceeds, property auction, income tax, federal tax conformity, revenue analysis, legislative session, tax reporting, municipal fees, county fees, utility rates, moratorium, tax classification, local government, inflation, economic stability, tax increases, cost-of-living protection

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the CEO of Winter Park National Bank.
• We have Chris Chaney waiving in support from Tampa Electric.
• Since then, I've become a national and statewide advocate, serving as a 2023 National Foster Youth Institute
• Let's take up the late-filed Amendment bar code 9, 3, 4, 9, 8, 2, by Senator Simon.
• We will take up Substitute Amendment bar code 7, 9, 7, 5, 9, 2, by Senator Simon.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the demand for electricity going up and up and up, we have the same challenges in electricity that
• What was the rationale behind backfilling $47 million for dam safety?
• These impacts threaten public health and safety.
• It's a safety risk and it costs...
• Interested in Prop 4 and dam safety issues that we are faced with.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:36.959> electric<00:12:37.360> vehicle for the national electric vehicle for
• the national electric vehicle infrastructure<00:12:38.399> program.
• safety advisory council. safety advisory council.
• the electric vehicle searchcharge. the electric vehicle searchcharge.
• mechanism to replace the electrical mechanism to replace the electrical vehic<01:02:18.720> electric

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That actually promotes public safety.
• Regarding safety, AB 1646 preserves probation's discretion to limit contact when a significant safety
• In order to ensure the safety of national by the damages caused by these harmful material deposits.
• In order to ensure the safety of national environments, we must bolster protective measures relating
• That is not safety; that is fear.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Witt, members, House Bill 2389 permits a utility to replace an existing electrical generating plant
• House Bill 2389 permits a utility to replace an existing electrical generating plant or to construct
• Three years when you're dealing with public safety is a long time, so this changes it to a quarterly
• that prevents a serious threat to public health or safety.
• Military, National Guard, or Reserve Unit in Arizona from admission fees for all Arizona national parks

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules. Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements. No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• , that plumbing, HVAC, and electrical, that plumbing, HVAC, and electrical, because<00:03:17.239>
• code enforcement.
• building code inspections. building code inspections. >> Mhm. >> Mhm.
• <00:17:46.280> inspectors, as electrical inspectors, as electrical inspectors, one<00:17:47.680
• is during times of national disasters. is during times of national disasters. >> Mhm.

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:32 Approval of Minutes 01:46 Public Protection Cabinet 19:05 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet 33:14 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee met without a quorum at first, then approved the minutes once a quorum was reached. The first presentation was from the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction within the Public Protection Cabinet. Commissioner Max Fuller and Deputy Commissioner David Moore reviewed the department’s licensing structure, noting about 50 license types and roughly 42,000 active licenses, with most tied to plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work. They compared Kentucky’s fees and requirements with neighboring states and said Kentucky is generally in line or slightly below surrounding states when local and contractor licensing requirements elsewhere are considered. The department also described staffing and inspection pressures. Officials said boiler inspections have a measurable backlog, with about 18% of state-jurisdiction boilers and pressure vessels past due statewide and a higher percentage in Jefferson County. They said building code plan review turnaround has risen from about 30 days to roughly 33–35 days, and that some areas are struggling to maintain same-day plumbing inspections and three-day HVAC inspections. Members asked whether the agency could handle increased housing construction, especially in rural areas; the department said it had requested additional plumbing staff and a plan reviewer, particularly for the Bowling Green/Warren County area, and noted that electrical inspectors are stretched across the state and are also pulled into disaster response work. The committee then heard from Kentucky Venues and the Kentucky State Fair Board on the Kentucky Exposition Center renovation and related operations. David Beck, board chairman David Williams, CFO Tony Shrek, and others said the project is progressing ahead of schedule, with keys to the new building expected in December and the facility already booked for future events. They reported strong tourism and economic impact, including record activity at the Exposition Center and downtown convention center, and said the Farm Machinery Show and other events continue to drive demand. Members asked about budget status, and the presenters said inflation, delayed access to funds due to the RFP/design process, and added costs have left them short of money to finish all planned work. They identified phase three funding needs, including food and beverage service improvements and completion of Freedom Hall seating, and said they are considering bringing food and beverage operations back under their control to improve efficiency and revenue. The meeting ended with no formal votes on the presentations and an announcement that the committee would meet again the following Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Safety.
• So I looked at it from a standpoint of safety, and only a standpoint of safety.
• So I looked at it from a standpoint of safety, and only a standpoint of safety.
• It's been modernized in public safety, transportation, electrical, and beyond.
• That's six... ...modernized in public safety, transportation, electrical, and beyond.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills covering motor vehicle sales, registration, title processing, dealer regulation, and several local matters. Chair Cyrro noted that Senate Bill 2414 had been postponed at the sponsor’s request, though public testimony would still be accepted. The hearing then heard testimony on measures including S. 2367, which would make an insurer primary for losses caused by an insured driver in a rental car; H. 3698 and related bills on codifying registration of 25-year-old imported Japanese kei vehicles; H. 3701 on requiring lienholders to release titles within seven days; H. 3690 on capping dealer documentation fees; and H. 3641 on requiring education for class two motor vehicle dealers. Testimony also addressed e-titling and e-signatures, peer-to-peer car sharing, temporary license plates, duplicate plates, general registration plates for motor vehicle distributors, and a bill to ban tinted license plate covers. Supporters of the rental-car insurance bill argued Massachusetts is an outlier compared with 47 other states and said the change would improve fairness, competition, and consumer understanding without raising premiums. Dealers and industry groups generally supported e-titling/e-signature modernization and the inspection-related bill, but urged safeguards to preserve title, registration, and insurance verification. The Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Association opposed the doc-fee cap, saying documentation fees are a disclosed cost-recovery tool that varies by dealership. Representatives and advocates for kei vehicles said the RMV’s 2024 reversal showed the need to codify the rules in law, while opponents of the RMV’s approach described it as arbitrary and harmful to owners and importers. Supporters of the dealer-education bill said it would curb unregulated “curbstoning” and help ensure proper title handling and consumer protection. Several local and specialty bills also drew testimony. Hatfield officials supported a local bill allowing golf carts on certain town roads under strict safety rules, and Representative Ayers testified for a bill banning tinted license plate covers to aid toll collection, law enforcement, and vehicle identification. Senator Lovely and other advocates supported the “Easy ID” license plate proposal, saying it would improve vehicle recognition in crime and child-abduction investigations. The committee took no votes during the hearing and adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Coast Guard requires states to have a recreational boating safety program.
• Now we've got the ferries, I assume, moving to electric.
• Is it because the ferries are moving from diesel to electric?
• Is it because the ferries are moving from diesel to electric?
• This all limits its ability to ensure patient safety.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fire Protection Association code.
• Speaker, as I was saying, Senate Bill 564 references a section of the National Fire Code, which the state
• for the provision of electrical for the provision of electrical generation.
• She said, "We are a nation of nations, and therein lies our greatest strength."
• She said, "We are a nation of nations, and therein lies our greatest strength."

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Power output has been reduced to 30 to 45% of available electricity today and ever shrinking.
• Currently, there's a conflict with the transportation code and the government code.
• This is a smart, safety first investment in our future.
• It's important for citizens, uh, to move with speed and urgency to get to safety.
• Currently, public safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• And our nation.
• We have two national labs: Los Alamos National Laboratory... With the Air Force Research Lab.
• We have two national labs, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory.
• national player of the year awards, All-American awards, and all-region recognition. ...earning national
• approach as a model for the nation.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Worker safety matters, refinery safety matters, community safety matters, but California has to start
• Of electricity, of food.
• Safety for the security guards, safety for the individual who's in crisis, and safety for the public
• It matters because it's about safety.
• It matters because it's about safety.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For safety reasons, are not allowed.
• ,<01:11:05.679> trust, grounded in values of safety, trust, grounded in values of safety,
• code name, Project<01:31:23.440> Bigfoot.
• In other states, big our electric bills.
• through higher electric bills. through higher electric bills.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• staff is here to do the reporting, but she asked me to say a few words about where we are in this nation
• Traffic control safety costs will increase with increased commuters.
• So with four days, it required more fuel and electricity, increasing pollution.
• We don't even make that much money, so we'll scale electric cars for California.
• How can we afford electric cars, especially coming four days a week?

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 heard updates from the Secretary of State, EDD, the State Controller’s Office, CalHR, and DGS on a range of budget proposals and federal policy impacts. Secretary of State Shirley Weber opened with remarks about California’s election system, emphasizing its safety, transparency, high voter registration and vote-by-mail participation, and the office’s response to bomb threats and other election threats. Her staff then presented funding requests for the Cal-Access Replacement System (CARS) and Help America Vote Act/VoteCal activities, describing them as needed to modernize campaign finance and lobbying disclosure systems and maintain election security and voter services. A major portion of the hearing focused on federal election policy, especially the potential effects of a presidential executive order and the SAVE Act. Secretary of State staff said California would face significant, potentially unquantifiable costs if forced to comply, including new burdens on county recorders, county election offices, and the Secretary of State’s office, and warned of voter disenfranchisement, especially for students, seniors, disabled voters, military and overseas voters, rural residents, and people with limited transportation. Members and public commenters strongly opposed the federal proposals and argued California’s current system is functioning well. The committee also heard that federal HAVA funds were not expected to be at risk because the state draws them down into an interest-bearing account. EDD reported on paid family leave, explaining that recent delays were tied to a system transition and increased claim volume, and said it was simplifying applications and adding staff and automation. Public testimony supported expanding paid family leave to chosen family. EDD also said it is prepared for possible unemployment spikes, citing a recession plan, a command center, and recent hiring. The State Controller’s Office requested funding to continue the Fiscal migration project, which would move the state’s accounting book of record to the new system by July 1, 2026; Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee expressed support for the project’s progress. CalHR presented a proposal for a statewide recruitment, outreach, and education paid media campaign under AB 1511, saying its current advertising budget is too small to reach diverse communities effectively. The final item addressed Governor Newsom’s executive order requiring a return to office on a four-day schedule. CalHR and DGS said they were working department-by-department to assess space, parking, transit, and other logistics, but had not completed a statewide cost analysis. Members and many public commenters criticized the order, arguing it was rushed, costly, harmful to telework benefits, and potentially disruptive to workers, especially those with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or long commutes. No votes were taken during the hearing.