Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1912 by Eckhardt relating to contracting with companies that boycott certain energy companies
• Senate Bill 1975 by Bettencourt relating to venue and certain actions involving a contract for an improvement
• Senate Bill 2032 by Paxton relating to certain requirements regarding a contract between a single source
• Senate Bill 2033 by Paxton relating to contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum
• SGR 4 by Schwertner proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the maximum amount of money allowable

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean has been at their contract amounts or their expenses, whichever is lower.
• They would continue to receive their contracted amounts as they have.
• They're funded based on their maximum contract, regardless of enrollment.
• So if their enrollment goes up next year, they're still receiving their maximum contract.
• Okay, is there any impacts of the proposed funding levels to the collective bargaining contracts?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a set of amendments, which is Amendment Set 3835, which I'll offer up for consideration.
• Seeing no objection, amendment set 3824 is adopted. Amendment set 3824 is adopted.
• Do we have further amendments? Okay, we have no further amendments.
• And there is an amendment.
• So this is Amendment Set 3830? Does anybody have any questions on the amendments?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Judiciary B met on May 14, established a quorum, approved the May 5 minutes, and then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions. The committee first heard House Bill 1252, which would expand and modernize local court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish by enlarging the Marksville and Bunkie city courts, adding small claims, misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil jurisdiction, and allowing online payments and virtual appearances. Supporters said it would keep justice local and reduce pressure on district court, while opponents urged more study and warned about impacts on existing courts and funding. The committee adopted Amendment Set 3835 and reported HB 1252 with amendments. It also reported HB 167, requiring state prisons to provide release documentation to inmates; HB 1038, after amendments and continued negotiation with marshals and constables; HB 1077, allowing microbreweries to sell at certain special events; HB 1204, changing administration of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program to the Office of Juvenile Justice; HB 492, placing the Governor’s Impaired Driving Task Force into statute; HB 175, dedicating $500,000 in lottery proceeds annually to a veterans service grant fund; HCR 41, directing ATC to allow electronic beer rebates; HB 833, creating a Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force; HB 656, creating a pilot program for inmate-administered services; HB 978, raising the population threshold for mayor’s courts to remit indigent defender fees; and HB 969, updating and expanding the crime victim compensation program. The committee also approved HB 985, which adds QR codes to sex offender identification cards, after adopting Amendment Set 3861, and HB 579, updating the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, after adopting Amendment Set 3830. Several bills drew notable opposition or requests for further work. HB 968, which creates a framework for electronic monitoring providers to notify courts before removing ankle monitors for nonpayment, drew objections from the ACLU and a vendor representative who argued it would turn criminal courts into debt-collection forums and could lead to jail for inability to pay; the author said the bill was intended as a public-safety framework, not debt collection. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 968 favorably and agreed to move a 10-day-to-15-day notice change on the floor. HB 525, requiring DOC to publish more incarceration data, especially from local facilities, was opposed by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, which said the bill would impose substantial new reporting burdens; DOC said it was already posting most of the data and would continue updating it. The committee ultimately deferred HB 525, with members encouraging further work. HB 1005, a cleanup-and-restructuring bill for the Office of the State Public Defender, was reported favorably after the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about substantive changes, including removal of board approval for the state public defender and changes to district defender protections; Vice Chair Harris said he would work with stakeholders on those issues. HB 1029, a local alcohol-permit moratorium bill for House District 3, was voluntarily deferred to next week so the author could address concerns about the length of the moratorium. The meeting ended after all scheduled business was completed, with the committee agreeing to revisit the deferred items later.

Transcript Highlights:

• What do your contracts with insurance companies, what do they reimburse you?
• The contracted rate that you can that you can put in front of the jury, OK, the reason it's contracted
• Um, I had discussed some constitutional amendments, um.
• They get paid their contracted rate, and then that lien gets filed on their cases.
• My range of Contracted rates is 96% to 134% of Medicare, with the largest payer being 96%.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment prevails. The clerk will report the amendment. The amendment is coded A-10.
• The second engrossment has amended the amendment, which is coded A11.
• Moves to amend House Amendment House Number 2432, the second engrossment as amended.
• and this applying to a set of amendments, but not all amendments.
• The clerk will report the amendment to amend House File 2432, the second engrossment as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, in a contracted situation, surely in an uncontracted situation there's no contract with the uncontracted
• situation I mean in a non-contracted situation I mean in a contracted<05:02:57.240> situation
• I'm like, 'Nah, sorry, we have a contract for 188. This is what it's going to be.'
• I'm like, 'Nah, sorry, we have a contract for 188. This is what it's going to be.'
• I'm like, 'Nah, sorry, we have a contract for 188. This is what it's going to be.'

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 310, sponsored by Representative Keith Ammon, which would create a study commission to develop a legal framework for stable tokens and tokenized real-world assets. Ammon described stable tokens as blockchain-based digital tokens backed by U.S. dollars or treasuries, and tokenized real-world assets as representations of ownership in items such as gold, real estate, or artwork. He said the bill is intended to help New Hampshire get ahead of emerging financial markets while waiting to see how federal legislation develops. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, the difference between this proposal and Bitcoin, whether state regulation could be preempted by federal law, and whether the commission could be balanced and avoid becoming a vehicle for fraud or money laundering. Ammon said the proposal is blockchain-agnostic, could apply to multiple networks, and is meant to regulate asset-backed tokens rather than create a state-issued coin. He emphasized that the state would not be guaranteeing the underlying assets, but would set rules requiring audits, proof of reserves, and honest representation of backing, with the Secretary of State’s securities office involved in oversight. Several members raised concerns about the risks of stablecoins, including money laundering, tax evasion, and possible harm to the dollar or confusion about whether the state was endorsing a new currency. Ammon responded that the bill would not undermine the dollar and argued that tokenization could actually expand demand for U.S. currency by making it easier to use globally. He also said the state would not be in the business of weighing assets or directly valuing them, only ensuring a valid audit trail and one-to-one backing. The discussion ended with general agreement that the subject is complex and that a commission could help develop future legislation, but no vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And secondly, we work under a contract, so anything that was agreed upon by mutual parties, both the
• House 4173, enact amending special legislation establishing the Acton Memorial Library, and House 4174
• Regarding H. 4173, which amends the Acton Memorial Library... community today.
• Regarding H4173, which it amends the Act in Memorial Library, the establishment of the Acton Memorial
• are adhered to, and ensure that taxpayers get what they are paying for under the contract.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened its hearing with procedural remarks, including a strict three-minute testimony limit, livestream instructions, and a July 1 deadline for written testimony. Chairs Lewis and Rauch then heard testimony on a wide range of municipal home rule petitions and related bills, with many local officials and advocates being taken out of order because of the large turnout. A major topic was firefighter residency. Representatives of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and Sen. Keenan supported H. 2260/S. 1449, which would replace the current 15-mile residency rule for non-civil-service fire departments with a negotiable standard, generally allowing residency within 15 miles and permitting expansion through collective bargaining. Supporters said the change would improve recruitment and retention amid the housing crisis and create parity with civil-service departments. Acton Fire Chief Anita Arnhum and Sen. Senna also backed H. 4168 for Acton, making similar arguments about recruitment, paramedics, and the need for local flexibility. The committee also heard strong support for charter overhaul petitions for Somerville and Lynn. Somerville officials, including Rep. Barber, Mayor Ballantyne, Councilor Jake Wilson, and charter committee member Beverly Schwartz, described a years-long public process to replace an 1890s-era charter with a modern document emphasizing transparency, public participation, clearer governance, and a possible change to the mayor’s term length. Lynn Mayor Nicholson similarly supported a charter update to modernize city operations and financial procedures. Cambridge-related charter and procurement reforms were also briefly endorsed by Rep. Cabral. Other bills discussed included a proposal by Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Scarsdale to create a state grant program for municipal sustainability directors, and regional school finance bills supported by Rep. Lanatra and Jason Frazier to expand special education reserve funds and create a regional school assessment reserve fund. Acton witnesses also supported library governance changes and a checkout bag charge proposal. The committee heard sharply divided testimony on Quincy’s H. 3897, a 50-year lease extension for Quarry Hills/Granite Links: Quincy officials and business supporters praised the public-private partnership and future investment potential, while residents argued the lease was too long, should be competitively bid, and deserved more oversight and auditing. The hearing also included testimony on Boston trash truck noise restrictions and a PEG access/cable funds bill supported by Mass Access, as well as a Southwick petition to elect part of the Conservation Commission, which one select board member opposed as contrary to current law and good governance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendments submitted by Newton. OK, Representative, you are recognized to explain your amendment.
• We need to adopt the amendment, so the amendment will be adopted without objection.
• Representative Newton, you're recognized if it has an amendment to explain the amendment.
• Does it have an amendment? I do not have an amendment.
• Staff, please read the Committee amended as amended. Submitted by Representative Newton. Mr.

Bills: SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3

Keywords: water infrastructure, wastewater, investment program, loans, local government, SB1509, groundwater, water wells, well spacing, water rights, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, OWRB, basin, subbasin, maximum annual yield, aquifer management, water allocation, water permits, temporary permits, irrigation

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment? amendment? >> Thank<01:11:49.360> you,<01:11:49.679> Mr.
• also<01:12:06.800> a The amendment here is also a The amendment here is also a recommendation
• amendment, Representative Carol. amendment, Representative Carol.
• I would move the A3 amendment.
• Representative Schumacher moves Amendment A2. Does everybody have a copy of that amendment?

Bills: HF1925

Keywords: nurse licensure, multistate license, healthcare, public safety, interstate compact, nursing regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you also contracted by the utilities, or will be contracted by utilities, to create what they're
• Less than what they originally expected, they are required to pay for at least 80% of their contract
• If they want to terminate the contract for whatever reason, And give at least two years' notice to do
• We've started to bake them into our longer-term forecasts, and they've signed contracts.
• They've put financial skin in the game, and they've signed a contract to it.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are in favor of continuing with the contract and moving to men.
• And they're using a kind of contract company called Sasaki Associates.
• So we said, hey, let’s, can we do an amended delegation?”
• So we said, hey, let's, can we do an amended delegation?
• So we said, hey, let's, can we do an amended delegation?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and amendment. and amendment.
• . amendment. amendment.
• amendment? amendment?
• amendment? amendment?
• . amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I had an amendment to it. It was a committee amendment. Oh, it's a sub. Okay.
• I have an amendment. Clerk, see the amendment.
• Speaker, we have a floor amendment. >> Mr. Speaker, we have a floor amendment.
• The amendment is adopted. >> Mr. Speaker, I ask for final passage as substituted and amended.
• Speaker, I withdraw the amendment. >> The amendment is withdrawn.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• providing comments and propose amendment providing comments and propose amendment thank<00:08:47.320
• <00:09:28.800> with and Rehabilitation has contracted with and Rehabilitation has contracted
• measure is pass with amendments uh we'll measure is pass with amendments uh we'll be<00:25:16.279>
• > incorporate<00:25:17.480> some be amending the bill to incorporate some be amending the
• recommendation passing with amendments recommendation passing with amendments chair<00:26:12.279

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened by outlining testimony procedures and then heard SB 376 on tax credits, which would create a home fire safety improvement tax credit. Testimony from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi urged that the concept would be better handled as a subsidy program and raised drafting concerns about unclear definitions and eligibility. Later, the committees agreed to pass SB 376 with amendments, including making the credit nonrefundable, clarifying third-party certification, deleting recapture-related language, and making technical changes. Members then heard SB 417, which would make unlicensed contractor work during or within five years after an emergency or disaster a class B felony. The Contractors License Board was listed for comments, and the Subcontractors Association supported the measure. The committees ultimately recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and an adjusted effective date, and the measure was adopted. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 782, which would require free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated people and prohibit state agencies from profiting from those services, while also directing the PUC to set standards and providing funding for the SAVIN victim notification program. Supporters, including the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Worth Rises, and others, argued the bill would reduce costs for families, improve reentry, and align adult corrections with the juvenile system. Opponents, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, and SAVIN-related witnesses, warned that changing the funding structure could weaken victim notification and safety services. The committees deferred SB 782. The committee also heard SB 999 on fireworks, which would repeal permissible consumer fireworks uses, impose civil penalties and forfeiture remedies, and create a forfeiture special fund for safety education. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, while fireworks industry representatives and others opposed it, arguing prohibition would be ineffective and urging stronger enforcement and education instead. The committees deferred SB 999 for further consideration, and SB 1136 on insurance was also deferred after insurers and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed it. In the later joint session with the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, SB 744 on condominium loans was heard with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and banking groups, while one testifier raised concerns that the program could function like C-PACE financing and add risky debt to condominium associations; testimony and discussion continued on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I chose to add some contract information because that can become a contract. all the way back and you'll
• that we make and the laws that we amend that we make and the laws that we amend and<03:03:13.960
• the biggest thing that this amendment the biggest thing that this amendment<03:59:27.159> is<
• to speak on the bill not the amendment to speak on the bill not the amendment okay<03:59:32.680>
• the wrist this way this is the amendment the wrist this way this is the amendment to to to hb10<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Children and Family Law Committee opened its February 4, 2025 hearing with a business item on House Bill 553, appointing a subcommittee chaired by Representative Greg and including several named members. The committee then took up House Bill 486, which would revise New Hampshire’s grandparents’ visitation law. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to address gaps in current law, especially in situations involving divorce, separation, kinship care, and parental substance use, so that children can maintain important relationships with grandparents or other kin caregivers. He emphasized that the proposal was meant to supplement existing law rather than replace it, and said the language was modeled on statutes from other states. Several witnesses testified in support of HB 486, describing painful family separations and arguing that current law can be interpreted too narrowly. One grandmother said the existing statute had been used to dismiss her visitation case because she was restricted while the parents were separated, and she asked for language changes so courts could still order visitation in similar circumstances. Another witness, testifying online, urged passage of the bill as being in the best interest of children. A third witness described a family living arrangement in which grandparents had been a consistent presence in their grandchildren’s lives but were later cut off during a contentious separation, and said the bill would help repair those relationships. Committee members asked about the six-month timeframe in the bill, whether the proposed language would affect cases where a grandparent does not live with the child but is still a regular caregiver, and whether the sponsor had written amendment language; the sponsor said the six-month language was taken from other states’ statutes and that the new language would not change existing visitation rights but would add to them. After hearing the testimony, the chair said the committee would hold HB 486 aside for a week or two while awaiting additional information before voting. The hearing then moved to House Bill 320, an act relative to enforcement of marital property settlements. The sponsor explained that the bill would require courts to enforce final property decrees and would clarify the difference between enforcement and contempt, arguing that courts should have clear authority to fashion remedies and that litigants, especially self-represented parties, need clearer statutory guidance. Committee members questioned the legal distinctions the sponsor drew, including whether the bill was aimed at enforcement rather than contempt and how the proposed language would operate in practice. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 320.

Transcript Highlights:

• hope that if there's a consensus or negotiations or compromise made that they could put in a floor amendment
• lobbyist<00:11:20.520> for<00:11:20.640> River<00:11:20.880> Metals contract
• lobbyist for River Metals contract lobbyist for River Metals Recycling<00:11:21.920> and<00:11
• in<00:23:35.080> our Seeing none, we will need a motion to adopt the resolution as amended
• amended by the House sub. amended by the House sub.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill Number 925 by Senator Kavanaugh: An act to amend the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law in
• Bill Number 1461 by Senator Kavanaugh: An act to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York
• As it stands now, that amendment could take place, and our codes can take no action at all.
• So it's not, and those amendments could... ...time getting the codes right.
• So it's not, and those amendments could, it's true that those amendments could make things more difficult

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met with quorum present and considered a full agenda of housing, code enforcement, and rent regulation bills, many of which had passed the Senate in prior years. Early measures included a statewide residential rental registry (S.912), penalties and reporting for vacant and abandoned properties (S.925), and extending tenant response time for major capital improvement rent increase applications (S.1461). The committee also advanced several code-enforcement and fire/building-code bills, including measures to expand remedies for Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code violations (S.3406), increase the Secretary of State’s code enforcement powers (S.4165 and S.4534), and authorize investigations into code administration and enforcement (S.4535). Members raised concerns about local fiscal impacts, the scope of state authority, contractor use, and whether the bills adequately define or limit “imminent threat” and related enforcement powers. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on S.4852, which would require the Codes Council to review and act on updates to international model codes within 18 months. Senators debated whether the bill would speed up code adoption or, as some feared, weaken economic reasonableness considerations by striking the word “economically” from the statutory standard. Supporters said the bill was intended to ensure prompt review of widely used model codes and noted other statutory safeguards remain in place; opponents worried about reduced attention to cost and practical impacts, especially amid housing and utility capacity constraints. The committee also discussed S.6368A, requiring complainants to receive copies of compliance orders issued after code complaints, and S.6600B, mandating inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings in New York City. Additional bills advanced included standards for all-gender bathroom design and construction (S.7131A), compensation for required code-enforcement personnel training (S.7159), and audits of individual apartment improvements in rent-regulated units (S.8046A). Several measures were reported to Finance, while others were reported to the floor. Throughout the meeting, votes were largely along expected lines, with some members voting negative or “without recommendation” on the more expansive code-enforcement bills. No bill was defeated, and all items on the agenda were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be accepting the committee's amendments.
• Even with the amendments, the bill undermines parent choice.
• I do have a due pass as amended recommendation today.
• Opposed unless amended. Thank you.
• I want to start by accepting the committee amendments. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of committees will be deemed read, and amendments deemed adopted.
• The amendment is adopted.
• On reconsideration, which is filed, Amendments will be deemed adopted.
• Assembly Bill 1809 by Assembly Member Fong and act relating to public contracts. Mr.
• Job order contracting is one of several alternative methods for awarding construction-related contracts

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we have before us House Bill 246 as amended by House Committee Substitute One.
• Uh, we have before us House Bill 246 as amended by House Committee Substitute One.
• Uh, we have before us House Bill 246 as amended by House Committee Substitute One.
• Uh, we have before us House Bill 246 as amended by House Committee Substitute One.
• expression that the bill as amended expression that the bill as amended should<00:16:14.480>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:04 Roll Call 00:00:23 HB 246 Discussion 00:02:47 HB 246 Vote 00:15:15 HB 613 Discussion 00:17:04 HB 613 Vote 00:29:09 Adjournment 00:30:37, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government met with a quorum present and briefly introduced a guest before taking up two bills. House Bill 246, as amended by House Committee Substitute 1, would require animal control officers to complete training on recognizing child abuse and neglect. The sponsor and a young advocate testified that animal control officers often encounter warning signs in homes, cited data linking animal abuse and child abuse, and said the training would be free, brief, and housed by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. The committee substitute was explained as addressing local government liability concerns by allowing counties to opt out, tying the bill to existing reporting statutes, and clarifying that the training creates no investigative duty. Members asked about whether the training was one-time, how opt-outs would be tracked, and whether the information would be public; the sponsor and witness said participation would be tracked and the training/evaluation would be available through the organization. The committee approved HB 246 with favorable expression to pass on the House floor. The committee then considered House Bill 613, which would give Chapter 75 fire districts a process to seek a tax increase above the current 10-cent cap through public hearings and voter recall, while preserving local control. The sponsor and fire service representatives said the bill responds to modern fire district costs, including higher equipment prices, staffing shortages, declining volunteer numbers, and the shift to all-hazards service. They emphasized that any increase would be subject to notice, public comment, and a voter recall mechanism, and said the cap would remain in place unless the district used the new process. Members questioned the fiscal impact language, the meaning of the cap, and whether the bill effectively removed the cap; the sponsor clarified that the cap stays but districts could go up to two cents above it through the process, with voters able to recall the increase. One member passed on the vote due to concern about the indeterminable fiscal impact, but the committee still reported HB 613 favorably to the House floor. The meeting then adjourned.