Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my hearing my testimony.
• I agree with the testimony Association.
• <00:47:56.720> that um, haven't we heard testimony that um, haven't we heard testimony that
• Uh did not get uh testimony to it. Okay.
• Nobody testimony that says we need it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Testimony and member discussions must adhere to the contents of the bill.
• Please begin your testimony. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's so good to be back here.
• Chair, uh, Kelsey, thank you for your testimony.
• I think I, first of all, thank you for your testimony.
• Caroline Palmer: Oh, I'm actually not offering testimony.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
• testimony, will discuss. testimony, will discuss.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:05:05.880> of um and you heard testimony of um and you heard testimony of of<01:05:07.760
• I know it's always better to have in-person testimony.
• So, with that, I will entertain any public testimony here.
• And again, I appreciate your testimony.
• Kudos to Director Shannon and appreciate your testimony. Thank you.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know that the testimony is limited to three minutes.
• You can always send written testimony to us, and I also want to just acknowledge and thank my committee
• So I recently provided written testimony in support of those bills.
• Next, we're going to switch over to virtual testimony from Dr. Miriam Kamaromi.
• Chair, I first just wanted to thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held an introductory informational hearing for the new session, with Chairs Marjorie Decker and Senator Michael Driscoll outlining the committee’s scope and emphasizing the impact of the federal landscape on Massachusetts public health. They noted the hearing would focus on testimony from agencies and advocates, with short testimony limits due to the hybrid format. No votes were taken; the meeting was for briefing and discussion of priorities. Commissioner Robbie Goldstein of the Department of Public Health described the department’s budget and federal funding, warning that recent CDC grant terminations could cut nearly $100 million and affect lab testing, surveillance, vaccines, and community engagement. He highlighted DPH priorities including racial equity, maternal health, substance use and child welfare coordination, emergency preparedness, data transparency, and public hospital quality. MassHealth Assistant Secretary Michael Levine discussed MassHealth’s role covering about 2 million residents and its priorities in health equity, behavioral health, primary care, member independence, and customer service, while noting the agency relies heavily on federal Medicaid dollars and would face major strain from federal cuts. Several advocacy and provider groups focused on reproductive health and maternal health. Planned Parenthood warned of threats to Title X, 340B savings, and other federal funding, and supported a bill to eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass for abortion care for young people. Reproductive Equity Now urged stronger shield-law protections and changes to Massachusetts’ later-abortion framework. Dr. Indyamaka Anugaka called for full implementation of the maternal health law, better reimbursement for doulas and midwives, stronger data collection, and support for full-spectrum pregnancy care coverage. The Health Policy Commission said new maternal health and primary care task forces would begin work soon. Mental health and health system access were also major themes. The Mass Medical Society urged action on vaccine hesitancy, removal of non-medical school vaccine exemptions, and primary care reform. The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health and the Children’s Mental Health Campaign opposed proposed cuts to DMH and substance use services, called for more school-based supports, and raised concerns about inpatient capacity, including a unit serving LGBTQ youth. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and 1199 SEIU warned that staffing shortages, low wages, workplace violence, hospital closures, and possible Medicaid cuts threaten patient care and the health care workforce. The Betsy Lehman Center also urged investment in automated patient-safety monitoring to reduce harm and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee heard testimony from AP of Vermont.
• The committee did hear testimony from the sole crypto kiosk operator in Vermont.
• <00:17:50.720> from The committee did hear testimony from The committee did hear testimony
• <00:54:19.680> This<00:54:19.920> amendment, to take testimony.
• This amendment, to take testimony.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reading by Theo Novak, a student and Vermont Poetry Out Loud finalist, followed by several announcements, including a welcome for the guest speaker and a reminder about a freshman legislator gathering and the day’s corporate cup road closures. The House then postponed action for one legislative day on Senate Bill 208, relating to law enforcement identification; Senate Bill 212, relating to portable water supply and wastewater system connections; and House Bill 639, relating to genetic data privacy. The main floor action centered on House Bill 648, banking, insurance, and securities. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee presented Senate amendments and its own further amendments, including clarifications to consumer reinvestment reporting and a proposal to extend and then effectively end the moratorium on new cryptocurrency kiosks in Vermont. The committee described extensive testimony and data on crypto kiosk fraud, money laundering, and consumer losses, and also added a new licensing framework for merchant cash advance providers. Ways and Means reported the fiscal impact would be very small. After a brief question about the $1 million exemption threshold for commercial financing, the House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment with further amendment thereto. The House also passed Senate Bill 243, distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project, in concurrence with proposal of amendment. It then took up Senate Bill 198, regulating tobacco products and tobacco substitutes. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee described updates to the definition of tobacco substitutes, creation of a wholesale licensing system under the Department of Liquor and Lottery, tighter controls on online sales, and bans on deceptive products that resemble school supplies, food, smartphones, inhalers, or video games. The committee heard testimony from health, enforcement, industry, and advocacy witnesses and voted 11-0 in favor. Human Services then proposed a strike-all amendment to the committee report, with further consideration to continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tart, please introduce yourself for the tape and proceed with your testimony. consideration.
• Tart, please introduce yourself for the tape and proceed with your testimony. Okay.
• . testimony. testimony.
• <00:31:57.880> of<00:31:58.000> our testimony might answer some of our testimony might
• Did I take your testimony correct? Did I take your testimony correct? Mr. Radovich.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. And I commend you, young man. Thank you for your testimony.
• I just rewatched the testimony that you had here last year.
• Madam Chair, sure, and I appreciate the testimony.
• So my testimony today is not about any particular C-TED.
• Have they been acknowledged in testimony?

Bills: HB2093, HB2370, HB2376, HB2380, HB2381, HB2383, HB2423, HB2481, HB2621, HB2895, HB4005, HB4043, HB4109

Keywords: mental health, school curriculum, education policy, instruction requirements, statute repeal, charter schools, education, weapons detection, public safety, school administration, school districts, real estate transactions, school property, bond issuance, land use approval, capital improvements, school governance, board meetings, education funding, parental notification

Transcript Highlights:

• Center, please proceed with your testimony.
• Continue testimony. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• >> You have any additional testimony or >> You have any additional testimony or summation
• So that's all. testimony was on this morning. Uh was testimony was on this morning.
• parts of the testimony I'm not comfortable with.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed preferred administrative regulations and, hearing no concerns, considered them reviewed. It then took up House Bill 388, described as a Casper cleanup bill. The sponsor said it would exempt charitable health care providers from e-prescribing requirements, allow Casper data sharing with certain federal entities, update references to hydrocodone’s schedule status, clean up drafting errors, and clarify practitioner registration with Casper. The bill passed 9-0 and was then approved for consent. Next, House Bill 134 was presented as a follow-up to a prior study on shortages of sexual assault nurse examiners and SANE-ready hospitals. The sponsor and a representative from the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs said the bill would create a statewide SANE coordinator. The committee adopted a substitute, then passed the bill unanimously and sent it to consent. Senate Bill 147 was then heard as an administrative update to vital records, modernizing certified-copy requests, adjusting fees, and requiring the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to send the annual death report to the State Board of Elections by July 1 each year. It passed unanimously and was also moved to consent. House Bill 280, a Kentucky Board of Nursing cleanup bill, would let the board investigate out-of-state nurses applying for Kentucky licenses, clarify licensing language, and update school rescue medication provisions, including inhalers, nebulizers, glucagon, Solu-Cortef, and nasal epinephrine. A committee substitute narrowed the bill to glucagon updates, and one senator asked whether the bill also covered child care centers; the sponsor said it addressed school medications only but was open to further discussion. The bill passed 10-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, Senate Bill 77 drew extended testimony. The sponsor and supporters argued that ibogaine research and treatment could help address addiction, PTSD, and depression, citing studies, personal recovery stories, and a proposed public-private partnership funded through opioid settlement money. The committee substitute removed the bill’s appropriation request and emergency clause, and members asked questions about whether PTSD is an addiction, whether smoking was included, whether the bill was authorizing research rather than funding, and how the treatment works. The sponsor said the substitute was only creating a structure for research, not appropriating money, and supporters described ibogaine as a one-time, medically supervised treatment. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Senate Bill 77 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• your testimony. your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Next we have Dalton Danielson. Welcome.
• interesting that there was testimony interesting that there was testimony that<00:21:38.120>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Once we have completed our invited testimony for the day, we will open up the hearing for public testimony
• Um, Doctor, you mentioned these, um, at the beginning of your testimony.
• Moving on to public testimony. So we do have.
• Thank you for your testimony. Yes.
• Tomorrow we will consider testimony on the remaining Article 8 agencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this, according to the testimony, is going to cost between $1 and $5 million. Yeah.
• Um, and when I reviewed the testimony, I didn't see any statistical evidence that it, you know, where
• ><00:03:16.319> I<00:03:16.560> reviewed<00:03:16.959> the<00:03:17.200> testimony
• ,<00:03:18.400> I and when I reviewed the testimony, I and when I reviewed the testimony,

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, testimony is closed.
• Seeing none, testimony is closed.
• Seeing none, testimony is closed. Seeing none, testimony is closed.
• move on to inperson testimony. move on to inperson testimony.
• With no other testimony, the testimony section is now closed.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, I hereby close the public hearing. for your testimony so anyone Reon to for your testimony
• It's in the written testimony.
• past I don't need to read that testimony past I don't need to read that testimony but<03:55:07.720
• remember the last time but his testimony remember the last time but his testimony went<05:42:26.440
• like that. testimony for you and I also have some testimony for you and I also have some some<05:58:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Vice Chair Sparks moves to limit public testimony in today's hearing to two minutes.
• general guidelines of five to six minutes for their testimony.
• On your page 4, because I heard the testimony, you said 7 out of...
• Anyway, thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for that testimony, Senator Kochhorst.

Summary: During the meeting, legislative members discussed the practice of municipalities diverting water and sewer revenues to their general funds, which impacts infrastructure maintenance and project delays. Vice Chair Sparks proposed limiting public testimony to two minutes, which was adopted without objection. The committee heard from various witnesses, including Perry Fowler from the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, who emphasized that utility revenues should primarily support water services and that transfers should be transparent and justified. He noted that many utilities face financial pressures that could hinder infrastructure projects. Larry French from the Texas Public Policy Foundation highlighted the significant financial impact of water loss and general fund transfers, estimating the annual loss at $1.5 billion. He argued that these transfers can create disincentives for municipalities to address water loss issues. Brian Butcher, Assistant City Manager of Sugar Land, defended the city's cost allocation model for general fund transfers, asserting that they are necessary for equitable service provision and operational efficiency. The committee also discussed the implications of rising construction costs and the need for better procurement processes to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars. The second part of the meeting focused on the New World Screwworm and the state's preparedness to manage potential infestations. Dudley Hoskins from the USDA outlined the federal response efforts and the importance of collaboration with state agencies. He emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance and the production of sterile flies to combat the pest. Dr. Philip Kaufman from Texas A&M discussed the historical context of the screwworm and the challenges posed by its potential reintroduction, urging proactive management strategies among livestock producers. The committee acknowledged the need for increased resources and research to effectively address the threat of the screwworm.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, she really wants to see testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. All right.
• Any member testimony. All right.
• Uh good morning chairs testimony? Yes.
• <01:25:38.560> All your testimony? Kathy Wheeland. Yep. All your testimony?

Bills: HF604, HF1972, HF578, HF1951, HF629, HF864, HF874, HF1155, HF884, HF2365, HF643, HF234, HF2655, HF2637, HF2535, HF2530, HF2344, HF584, HF524

Keywords: airport funding, bonds, transportation, capital investment, Karlstad, community center, Breckenridge, state bonds, economic development, HF578, Faribault, River Bend Nature Center, bonding bill, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR grant, nature center, visitor center, environmental education, multicultural center

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony.
• thank you very much for your testimony thank you very much for your testimony uh<01:47:52.920>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We encourage the public to provide written testimony by visiting the committee website.
• I believe we have opposition witness testimony. Good afternoon.
• There has been opposition registered for testimony on this bill. You may come forward.
• But if I may, on our expert testimony, if you may speak to some of the— Our expert testimony, if you
• We do have opposition witness testimony. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met first as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later obtained a quorum and took up several bills. The committee heard SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of Clean Truck Check testing for low-use heavy-duty vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural agricultural businesses, while clean air advocates opposed it as weakening an important emissions program. The bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1174, which would give Caltrans bid preferences to construction firms with employee stock ownership plans; supporters argued it would build worker wealth and improve project quality, while contractor groups opposed it as likely to raise costs and reduce competition. That bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The consent calendar items SB 607, SB 962, and SB 990 were also approved. The committee then heard SB 1279, which would allow Long Beach to place additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach officials and several safety and advocacy groups supported the bill, citing high fatality rates and repeated pedestrian crashes on that corridor, while some members raised concerns about fines, affordability, and whether cameras would address pedestrian-related collisions. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transportation Act, would require more price transparency for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck incentives and direct agencies to explore alternative financing tools; supporters said it would improve affordability and competition, while one manufacturer and the trucking association raised implementation concerns. It passed to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader use by limiting retention to 30 days, requiring audits and training, and restricting access and hot list use. Privacy advocates supported the bill as overdue accountability, while law enforcement groups argued the retention limit would hinder investigations and that some technical definitions needed work. The bill passed to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1315, dealing with advanced driver assistance systems, would prevent automakers from disabling a consumer’s ability to drive their own vehicle through software updates and would encourage DMV testing questions about ADAS responsibilities; after amendments, industry opposition softened and the bill passed to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Finally, SB 1246, on autonomous vehicle emergency response, would require U.S.-based remote drivers, quicker on-scene response, and better coordination with local agencies; first responders and labor groups supported it, while AV industry groups remained opposed unless amended. The bill passed to the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. The transcript ended as the committee began hearing SB 1250, a planning bill to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation asset management, with the sponsor and supporters explaining it would improve safety and habitat planning without mandating specific projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• We encourage the public to provide written testimony by visiting the committee website.
• Thank you so much for your testimony. Thank you for your time. Thank you.
• I believe we have opposition witness testimony.
• But if I may, on our expert testimony, if you may speak to some of the...
• We do have opposition witness testimony.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wish to give testimony, please fill out a witness card completely and legibly.
• Your signature is an affirmation that the testimony you give is true. Please be aware.
• To our Sergeant-at-Arms, your signature is an affirmation that the testimony you give is true.
• We heard testimony on this last year, last year, last year. House Bill 190.
• The amendment also expressly requires expert testimony.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary A Committee met on May 5, 2026, with five members present and adopted the April 28 minutes. The committee then heard and favorably reported several measures, including HCR 31, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to study replacing or clarifying the term “foreign” in state law; HB 263, allowing the 14th JDC magistrate judge to handle certain specialty court felony matters; HB 299, clarifying paper filing rules for jury bonds and related payment issues; HB 535, simplifying hospital-based acknowledgments of paternity by removing the two-witness requirement while keeping notarization; HB 571, codifying the 19th JDC’s complex litigation section program; and HB 538, increasing the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court fee cap from $15 to $75 to help offset court costs. The committee also reported HB 215, raising the small succession affidavit threshold from $125,000 to $200,000, and HB 226, adding a 10.1 conference requirement before requests for admissions are deemed admitted, with discussion about discovery fairness and default judgment exceptions. The committee also took up HB 324, which makes judicial stipend increases permanent and adds a 2.7% salary increase for judges effective July 1, 2027; an amendment restoring the second year of the COLA was adopted, and the bill was reported with amendments. HB 1043, raising the jurisdictional amount in Jefferson Parish first and second parish courts, was amended to increase the amount from $35,000 to $50,000 and then reported with amendments. HCR 6, directing the Law Institute to study forced heirship and disinherison issues, was amended to add reporting language and related Civil Code references and then reported with amendments. HB 1006, changing summary judgment deadlines to give opponents more time to respond, was amended and reported by a 3-2 vote after roll call. Two more substantive bills drew extended debate. HB 1239 would strengthen the presumption that parents share physical custody equally unless a court finds that arrangement infeasible or not in the child’s best interest; supporters framed it as a parental-rights measure, while an attorney in opposition warned it would increase litigation, reduce stability for children, and be used as leverage in child support disputes. Despite the opposition, the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 190, as amended, would create a duty of reasonable care for certain software/app providers toward minors and require expert testimony, while excluding manufacturers; supporters said it was aimed at protecting children from harmful platform design, but opponents argued the proposal was unnecessary because existing tort law already covers negligence and warned it could create new causes of action and uncertainty over whether software is a “product.” The committee heard testimony from the Louisiana State Law Institute, the sponsor, and outside witnesses, but the transcript ends before final action on HB 190 is shown.