Transcript Highlights:

• I'm State Senator Jason Lewis. I'm State Senator Jason Lewis.
• Between, if you look at it, it's either 43 or 44 states have updated their state laws over the last decade
• We need the state help. Our community is built around getting this aid from the state.
• States with regard to recovery from the pandemic, and yet we're one of two states that had the most to
• tech directors and other ed tech leaders. ...the professional organization that supports K-12 tech directors

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education opened a hybrid public hearing on a large slate of bills related to school buildings, school finance, technology, data privacy, safety, and related education issues. Chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlined procedures for the hearing, including two-minute testimony limits and the plan to group similar bills together. Several bills drew no testimony and were closed without further discussion, while others drew extensive testimony from legislators, school officials, parents, advocates, and educators. A major theme was school safety and student well-being. Lori Al-Hadeth testified in support of bills on alert systems in public schools, describing the loss of her daughter in the Parkland shooting and urging adoption of Alyssa’s Law-style panic alert technology. Representative Gallagher and disability advocates also supported a bill authorizing, but not requiring, airway clearance devices in schools, arguing they could save lives in choking emergencies and provide an option for people who cannot use the Heimlich maneuver. Another bill on reducing cafeteria waste drew support from a legislator and a Lexington sustainability official, who said installing dishwashers during construction would reduce waste and long-term costs. Much of the hearing focused on Chapter 70 school funding and the inflation cap. Senator Pavel Payano, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Senna, and multiple local officials and school committee members from Bridgewater, Chelsea, Groton-Dunstable, and other districts argued that the 4.5% cap on inflation adjustments has left schools underfunded during years of high inflation, forcing layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs and student supports. They urged bills to eliminate the cap, restore lost funding, increase the Commonwealth’s share of the foundation budget, or create commissions to study reforms. Testimony also highlighted the impact on special education, English learners, and low-income students, with Chelsea witnesses saying the cap has cost their district about $7 million annually. School construction and MSBA reform were the other major topic. AIA Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools, Lynn officials, and AFT Massachusetts described aging facilities, overcrowding, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of financing new schools under current reimbursement rules. Boston officials said the district has many pre-World War II buildings and has only built a handful of new schools in decades, while Lynn leaders said reimbursement rates have fallen well below the statutory 80% because of caps and ineligible costs. Witnesses urged modernization of the MSBA program, higher reimbursement rates, and more resources for school construction. The committee also heard support for a bill to study the adequacy and equity of the school building program, and chairs indicated some bills would be closed after no one signed up to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• We think this law, the last call which most states have, has served our state and our communities well
• State your name and position.
• State your name and position, please.
• Additionally, public state-owned land owned by the state does not generate any tax revenue and requires
• Additionally, public state-owned land owned by the state does not generate any tax revenue and requires

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on alcohol licensing, nonprofit funding, tribal grants, public transparency, and tobacco policy. AB 342 (Haney) would allow local governments to create hospitality zones with extended last-call hours on certain days; supporters argued it would boost tourism, nightlife, and major-event readiness, while opponents warned of alcohol-related harms and public safety risks. AB 684 (Patel) would subject the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools to open-meeting requirements, with supporters saying admissions-related changes should be more transparent and allow schools time to adjust. AB 1008 (Addis) would authorize up to 10 new on-sale general licenses in San Luis Obispo County to meet tourism demand, and AB 1039 (Hart) would require state agencies to offer advance payments on new nonprofit grants and contracts, which supporters said would help cash-strapped nonprofits deliver services. AB 221 (Ramos) would revise the Tribal Nation Grant Fund to provide more predictable annual distributions to eligible non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes, and it drew broad support from tribal representatives and others. AB 795 (Jeff Gonzalez) would create a California commission for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, with supporters describing it as a privately funded, nonpartisan planning body. AB 828/AB 28 (Mark Gonzalez, as referenced in the transcript) would expand neighborhood-restricted liquor licenses in Los Angeles County to reduce costs and support restaurant recovery, and AB 1246 (Hoover) would increase craft distillers’ direct sales limits and address barrel-storage rules; both were supported as small-business measures. AB 1428 (Ta) would require reporting of all surplus and underutilized state land, and AB 957 (Ortega) would prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies, with strong public health support. Several bills were voted out on motions to Appropriations, some with amendments, while others were held or left on call until quorum was established; the committee also adopted a consent calendar and left rolls open for absent members on multiple measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• trademark registered with the state. trademark registered with the state.
• An American pump company was purchased by a Chinese state enterprise in 2018.
• in the state of New Hampshire.
• director of the same entity. director of the same entity.
• But I think the state expenses.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed a budget-related issue involving liquor commission enforcement staff and tobacco enforcement funding. A member explained that proposed cuts to “group two” enforcement positions at the liquor commission could jeopardize the tobacco enforcement money that flows to Health and Human Services, and expressed confidence that the enforcement division would ultimately be preserved. The main hearing was on Senate Bill 19, which would modernize hotel and motel statutes by repealing outdated requirements. The sponsor and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association said the bill would remove obsolete rules such as the old guest book/card system and antiquated posting requirements for room rates and motel signs. Members questioned whether the bill would eliminate the requirement to record guest departure dates or affect inspection rights, and the witnesses said the intent was only to remove the book-and-card reference while leaving the rest of the recordkeeping requirement in place. Supporters argued the rate-posting rules are widely ignored, hard to enforce, and outdated in an era of digital reservations and variable pricing; the committee also discussed whether any consumer-protection purpose remained. The public hearing on SB 19 was then closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 280FN, which would require food delivery services to have an agreement with a restaurant or food retail store before offering delivery from that business. The sponsor said the bill restores a prior law that had sunset and was intended to prevent third-party platforms from listing restaurants without consent. Restaurant industry testimony strongly supported the bill, describing problems with unauthorized listings, delayed deliveries, and reimbursement disputes, and saying the agreement requirement protects restaurant brands and consumer expectations. Members shared examples of delivery problems and voiced support for reinstating the safeguard.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the state Okay. And in the state thank<00:05:05.000> you.
• It's not just our state. Every state, um, it's a complicated area.
• <00:21:29.679> Every<00:21:29.919> state just our state.
• Every state just our state.
• to serve our community and our state. to serve our community and our state.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes. The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge. Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not to the state. Not to the state, but to those individuals involved.
• Jimmy, state your name and who you represent.
• The Cody Harris, the state rep, he's one of my state reps. He is from Powell, Palestine.
• Ryan, go ahead and state your name.
• State your name. Sir, Mr.

Bills: SB467, SB325, SB867, SB994, SB1052, SB1237, SB1449, SB1531, SB2063, SB2172, SB2173, SB2520, SB2529, SB2538, SB2541, SJR46, SJR84

Keywords: SB 467, Texas property tax, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, fire damage, house fire, destroyed home, temporary tax relief, appraisal district, chief appraiser, local taxing unit, tax rollback, tax refund, Tax Code Chapter 11, prorated exemption, homestead improvement, disaster relief, property tax exemption, residential property

Transcript Highlights:

• they also have state income tax wages they also have state income tax that<00:38:35.520> take
• state legislator only four states state legislator only four states require<02:02:58.040> additional
• the recovery purchased Mador purchased the recovery purchased the<02:25:46.479> recovered<02:
• Thirteen of them are based out of state. Greg didn't live out of state.
• state Greg didn't live out of state state Greg didn't live out of state we<02:58:19.120> are<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not just talking about blue states or even red states. Exclusively.
• I know that because we have these discriminatory practices today in this state and other states.
• utilization was in each state.
• Um, there are now states coming back.
• I serve as a public policy director for NAMI, Texas, a state affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental

Transcript Highlights:

• in 1,750 in-state firms.
• of out-of-state surveyors.
• in-state opportunities.
• I am the program director for Native American education for the state of Oklahoma.
• I'm the new executive director of the State Board of Examiners and Optometry.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Rod Welch, Executive Director for the State Preservation Board. 275 Thank you, we're
• Stephen Volbrecht, Executive Director for the State Office of Risk Management. Thank you.
• The State Risk Manager for Texas, and in that capacity I serve as the Executive Director of the State
• State Director, I just want to say we were very happy that we received this grant. at to be able to have
• Hi everyone, I'm Tara Tucker, Texas State Director for Alliance for Safety and Justice.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Director Chapmancy? Thank you. Director Chapmancy? Excused as well. Senator Conway? Aye.
• the State Treasurer.
• Now, kind of looking at the State Investment Board and State Treasurer, they have some duties related
• So the State Investment Board The State Investment Board is responsible for investing the funds in the
• The other thing is we've stated—you stated this before—a seven-year smoothing period.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy approved its minutes by roll call vote, then postponed an OSA annual update due to a family emergency. The committee received an Open Public Meetings Act refresher from Assistant Attorney General Kate Adams, who reviewed key compliance points including quorum and serial meetings, notice and agenda rules, executive session limits, public comment requirements, and the consequences of violations. She also noted a litigation hold notice sent to members and provided resources for further guidance. Staff then briefed the committee on E2 Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which restates and terminates LEOFF 1 on June 30, 2029, creates a restated LEOFF 1 funded by transferred assets, and places excess assets into a pension surplus holding account that could later be used by the state. The bill requires DRS to seek IRS guidance, directs OSA to calculate the transfer amount and assess any future unfunded liability, assigns implementation duties to DRS, OSA, the Pension Funding Council, the State Investment Board, and the Treasurer, and requires two SCPP studies on LEOFF 1 medical benefits and policy oversight. OSA’s actuary estimated the transfer to the surplus holding account at about $3.9 billion under current assumptions and said the bill increases the modeled chance of future state contributions if the restated plan falls below 100% funded; members asked about IRS timing, the 2029 transfer date, and whether the 110% buffer is sufficient. The committee also received an update on the LEOFF 1 medical benefits study required by the bill. Staff said the study will examine the administration of pension boards and medical liabilities, likely focusing on medical benefits, and will gather anonymized data from local boards, cities, counties, and related agencies over the next three years. Members and public commenters discussed the number and structure of local boards, whether spouses receive medical benefits, and the possibility of regionalizing or consolidating administration. No action was taken, but staff said they would return with milestones and further updates. Finally, staff outlined a possible Plan 3 study, prompted by DRS, to evaluate whether the original goals of Plan 3 have been met after 30 years. The proposed study would review historical context, member choice outcomes, policy questions, and possible recommendations over a two-year period. The committee also heard an update on new correspondence procedures, including a new online web form, a correspondence log in meeting packets, and removal of correspondence from the public website. During public comment, retiree groups urged the committee to pursue an ongoing COLA for PERS and TRS Plan 1, with interim ad hoc COLAs until then, while LEOFF 1 retirees urged caution about changing the current board structure and emphasized the complexity of medical benefit administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the state board that regulates them.
• We're a pro-worker state.
• In the short-term stabilization, the state could lend the fund money. The state could put money in.
• The state could put Horizon money in.
• pricing happening in the state of New Jersey?

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the state economic blueprint, this document...
• You can invest yourselves, which we've seen the state do.
• the state.
• The state also supports this through two different programs.
• That council is co-chaired by the director of GoBiz, Director D.D.

Summary: The committee held an information hearing on California’s economy and household affordability, with the first panel focusing on inflation, housing, energy, wages, and the likely effects of new federal tariff policy. PPIC’s Sarah Bone said Californians remain deeply pessimistic about the economy, with inflation the main driver of concern; she noted prices are still about 23% higher than in January 2020, with especially large increases in food, energy, and housing costs. LAO’s Brian Euler emphasized that housing is the largest household expense and pointed to insurance, electricity, gasoline, and health care as other major cost pressures, urging the Legislature to review whether existing policies are actually reducing costs and to consider studies of why recent housing laws have not produced more units. UC Davis economist Catherine Russ warned that tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico, and potentially broader imports could raise consumer prices, disrupt supply chains, and hurt California exporters, farmers, and small businesses; she suggested monitoring prices, strengthening food assistance, and preparing transition support for affected workers and producers. Members pressed the panelists for concrete, near-term policy ideas, especially on housing and tariffs. Questions centered on whether accessory dwelling units are making a meaningful dent in affordability, how to improve implementation of pro-housing laws at the local level, and how to measure the impact of tariffs on consumers, health care, and agriculture. Panelists said ADUs help but are limited, that state laws can be undermined by local implementation and litigation, and that tariff effects may show up quickly in prices and later in hiring and investment. Several members stressed that the tariff issue is not a minor disruption for constituents and asked for more data on consumer impacts, food aid needs, and crop-specific farm losses. The second panel shifted to regional economic development and small business support. Go-Biz’s Derek Kirk described California Jobs First and the state economic blueprint as a first-in-decades, regionally informed strategy to create good-paying jobs, support key sectors, and align workforce and business development across 13 regions. The California Association for Local Economic Development’s Gerbach Sahota argued that local governments need practical tools, stable policy, and stronger partnerships with the state, while warning that prosperity is not always perceived as shared and that rural communities can be left behind. He urged the Legislature to use hearings, local input, and existing funding streams more effectively, including for recovery and infrastructure. David Fitzgerald of the Small Business Development Centers said California’s SBDC network serves hundreds of thousands of clients, many of them women and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, and has generated billions in economic impact, capital access, revenue, and jobs. He said the biggest gaps are outreach to the state’s many self-employed businesses with no employees, better labor data on those workers, and more flexible support for direct services. Committee members then asked what small businesses need most in the face of inflation and tariff shocks, including lower licensing costs and other relief, and the discussion continued on how to better target state support to businesses and households under pressure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does state it was proposed that...
• And even in the future, if they don't want state aid, they can do They don't want state aid, they can
• do it without state aid.
• It's only if they want state aid and want to apply for state aid that they need to first notify the secretary
• Of course, the state... State aid program.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen in Washington State.
• Right now, the state budget includes some of those costs, and that's in the state budget.
• I'm the Senior Associate State Director of Advocacy for AARP New Jersey, and I thank you for...
• I'm the State Director of Advocacy for AARP New Jersey, and I thank you for the opportunity to testify
• I'm the New Jersey State Director for Clean Water Action.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or other states.
• or other states.
• For the record, I'm Henry Litman, State Medicaid Director. Good morning. My name is Melissa Hardy.
• , Henry Litman, the state Medicaid director.
• , Henry Litman, the state Medicaid director.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of State. Thank you. of State. Thank you.
• against the state or owes the state against the state or owes the state money,<02:12:39.320>
• the state.
• <02:32:53.760> Um state law. Um state law.
• > or<02:59:34.800> something our state state dollars or something our state state dollars

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional costs for the state.
• And it was stated that it would have just gone out of state or out of the nation even during that time
• But I mean, can the state—Charles wants to answer this—can the state set some of these qualifications
• State.
• Thank you, Director Salih.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That money leaves our state and is never reinvested into our state.
• That's not true in a lot of states; as soon as they retire, they move out to another state.
• Thank you, Director.
• Back to the state each year.
• This would allow a member who entered a uniformed service in the states for any amount of time to purchase

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System.
• Uh, now if you've looked at the executive director Led... Blaha, your state auditor.
• Members, I am Julie Blaha, your state auditor, and I'm joined by OSA Pension Director Rose Hennessy Allen
• Chair, Rose Hennessy Allen, pension director at the Office of the State Auditor.
• Chair, uh, Rose Hennessy Allen, pension director at the Office of the State Auditor.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• States economic issues are important States economic issues are important issues<00:08:13.919> for
• <00:15:15.519> of certificates issued in the state of certificates issued in the state of
• in other states we recognize that state in other states we recognize that state of<00:16:09.759>
• own Hydro wind and solar is purchased own Hydro wind and solar is purchased power<01:02:46.119><
• > thirdparty purchased from other thirdparty purchased from other thirdparty developers<01:03:

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset, 1183, house