Transcript Highlights:

• With permission of the primary sponsor, I move to be added as co-sponsor of Senate Bills 13, 26, 42,
• &gt;&gt; With permission of the primary sponsor, &gt;&gt; With permission of the primary sponsor, I<00
• &gt;&gt; With<00:19:19.280><c> permission,</c><00:19:19.600><c> the</c><00:19:19.760><c> primary</c><
• With permission of the primary sponsor, I'd move to be added as a co-sponsor to Senate Bill 101.
• </c> &gt;&gt; With the permission of the primary &gt;&gt; With the permission of the primary sponsor,

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work closely with DOT on the invasives along the highway right-of-ways.
• </c><00:17:27.760><c> with</c> more a coordinator we work closely with more a coordinator we work closely
• Yes, Representative Evil... disorder as a primary diagnose and uh disorder as a primary diagnose and
• We work pretty closely with the county attorneys.
• included but we want to get as close to included but we want to get as close to Perfection<06:44:40.398

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, we'll close the public hearing and open the next one in just a minute.
• Its primary function...
• Its primary function...
• We are currently working very closely with the Department of Transportation as they are getting close
• </c><01:10:13.760><c> public</c> in and with that we will close public in and with that we will close

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please close the machine.
• </c> Please close the machine. Please close the machine.
• We need to get primary care. We can't do everything for everyone.
• Please close the machine.
• </c> CRS $6,252 shall be from the primary CRS $6,252 shall be from the primary care<05:24:43.040><c>

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I'll make closing comments. Yes, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Speaker, closing statement.
• Representative Colleton, closing? Representative Collinin, closing comments? Yes, thank you, Mr.
• Marathon, Phillips, Phillips 66, and Valero is closing its refinery.
• Representative Carter, any closing comments? No, sir. Perfect.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a memorial adoption of HCR 2064 honoring former legislator Barbara Leff, which was unanimously adopted and sent to the Senate. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Eladio Pereira, and numerous student and constituent guests in the gallery. After routine desk business and bill referrals, the House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of measures. Several bills were amended and advanced with do pass recommendations. HB 2170 was narrowed to restrict state purchases of certain electronic and information technology from China/Chinese-controlled entities and to address third-party resellers. HB 2375 dealt with middle housing in historic districts, with amendments limiting demolition of historic structures unless necessary for health and safety and preserving local discretion. HB 2380 focused on school district transparency and meeting location rules, requiring governing board materials online and keeping meetings within district boundaries, with debate over local control and comparisons to legislative caucus retreats. HB 2617, HB 2621, and HB 2671 also moved forward after amendments; HB 2621’s discussion centered on certificates of educational convenience and ensuring special education access for children in unorganized territory and DCS placements. The committee also advanced HB 2720 on anti-human trafficking and prostitution-related reforms, including sealed records for sex trafficking survivors and an anti-human trafficking grant fund; HB 2772, allowing a DNR designation on driver’s licenses, prompted extended questions about emergency care and liability; HB 2784, dealing with school district excess cash refunds, was amended to phase in implementation; HB 2902, affirming support for the Electoral College, drew the most ideological debate, with supporters citing constitutional structure and opponents arguing for a national popular vote; and HB 2950, concerning a tourism/hospitality district, saw a failed attempt to make participation voluntary. The House also considered HB 4025, a study bill on the feasibility of building an oil refinery in Arizona, which sparked extensive debate over fuel prices, refinery capacity, environmental impacts, and whether a study was necessary, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:44:46.319><c> the</c> And with that, the chair will close the And with that, the chair will close
• </c><00:50:44.000><c> the</c> And with that, the chair will close the And with that, the chair will close
• </c><01:00:24.799><c> the</c> with that, the chair will close the with that, the chair will close the
• </c><01:32:19.840><c> the</c> with that, the chair will close the with that, the chair will close the
• </c><01:47:56.320><c> the</c> with that, the chair will close the with that, the chair will close the

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026, to act on a series of bills. Early in the meeting, members agreed that they could consult the online submission summaries rather than have changing submission counts read aloud. The committee then took up House Bill 1386, which would have allowed citizens in a municipality to vote to require a financial audit of a local school district. Members opposing the bill argued that school districts already have audit authority and reporting requirements under existing law, and that the proposal was unnecessary and potentially burdensome. The committee voted 17-0 to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate, placing it on the consent calendar. The committee next considered House Bill 1181FN on public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals. Members who opposed the bill said newspaper publication provides independent third-party verification and archival value, and that removing that requirement would weaken public notice. The committee voted 17-0 ITL and sent the bill to the consent calendar. It also voted 17-0 ITL on House Bill 1327, concerning the definition of commercially zoned land, largely because the sponsor was absent and members said they could not do due diligence without hearing from the sponsor. The committee then acted on House Bill 1473FN, concerning the use of agricultural fairground property, and House Bill 1147, concerning the use of capital reserve funds. In both cases, members cited the sponsor’s absence and the need for more information as reasons to recommend inexpedient to legislate; both votes were 17-0 and both bills were placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 1220, which would have allowed municipal governing bodies to review and approve school budgets, was also recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after members raised concerns about local control, legal conflicts between separate entities, and technical drafting problems. The committee recommended ought to pass on House Bill 118, which raises the amount of money municipal treasurers may hold before depositing it in the bank, with supporters saying the higher threshold would reduce unnecessary trips to the bank and improve efficiency. It also recommended ought to pass on House Bill 1151, a housekeeping bill correcting statutory references related to conservation commission appropriations, and it approved House Bill 1309 as amended after adopting Amendment 2026-0411H to clarify town meeting warrant language. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1385, prohibiting negative property tax rates in certain municipalities, and recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after testimony indicated the practice at issue had already ended and that a blanket prohibition could create problems for municipalities with excess revenues. The committee also began work on House Bill 1369, relating to posting warrants for special town meetings, and discussed an amendment to preserve newspaper notice while also allowing website posting where available.

Transcript Highlights:

• focus in managing some of those primary focus in managing some of those lands.<00:16:02.639><c> Is</
• </c><00:21:48.880><c> a</c><00:21:49.120><c> parcel,</c> land commissioners may close a parcel, land
• "You're close. [laughter]" "Other questions, committee?" "Okay, thank you both. Appreciate it.
• &gt;&gt; You're<01:37:53.840><c> close.
• Um, with that, we'll close public testimony. Um, committee, where do we want to take this one?

Committee: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are two primary avenues by which the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit communicates with the MCOs,
• </c> member hires a family member or a close member hires a family member or a close friend<00:09:43.440
• </c><00:52:40.480><c> with</c> committee worked very closely with committee worked very closely with
• We're getting close to the end. Finding 10. >> I'm sorry. I've got to ask something. >> Yes.
• We are making referrals to primary care for people who did not have primary care.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board reconvened and heard a presentation from the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control unit. AG staff described the unit’s structure and work: it investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud, and also handles abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in facility settings when asked to assist. They said the office has prosecutors, detectives, auditors, and support staff, works with federal partners, Commonwealth’s attorneys, CHFS, DMS, OIG, and MCOs, and uses a hotline and referral line for complaints. They also explained the MCO referral process, including monthly meetings, stand-down lists, and review of referrals for a “credible allegation of fraud” before the AG office decides whether to open a criminal or civil investigation. The presentation focused heavily on current fraud trends. Staff said behavioral health is a major concern, along with participant-directed waiver services, medically assisted treatment, cash billing for services, controlled-substance billing, and vision and dental fraud. They gave examples such as duplicate time sheets for family caregivers, questionable Suboxone counseling and urine drug screening practices, and a prior optometry case involving false claims for children’s glasses. They also discussed CMS’s estimate that about 5% of Medicaid payments are improper, noted that most improper payments are at the fee-for-service level, and said there is no reliable overall fraud-rate estimate. They highlighted a sharp shift in behavioral health billing after the cabinet’s November 1, 2024 policy changes, saying individual psychotherapy spending dropped while group billing increased, suggesting providers may have moved billing to different codes. Members asked about the scale and timing of cases, how MCO referrals are screened, and whether the data reflected more people being served or just higher spending. The AG office said investigations can take years, with some federal cases still awaiting sentencing from 2018 and 2019 matters, and that they currently had nine individuals awaiting sentencing in federal court. They also reported 58 hotline reports during the referenced period, six cases opened from MCO referrals, and four additional MCO referrals not accepted for active cases. Several members raised concerns about home-based services and the risk of abuse or fraud when family members are reimbursed, and asked whether the process could be streamlined; the AG office said it had no immediate recommendations but would be willing to return with suggestions after further review.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:16.200><c> that</c><00:30:16.399><c> door</c> to so this amendment closes that door to so
• </c><00:54:16.400><c> job</c><00:54:16.760><c> is</c> through that unit whose primary job is through
• that unit whose primary job is to<00:54:17.079><c> do</c><00:54:17.559><c> education</c><00:54:18.079
• I will just close with: any amount of assistance would be helpful to local governments.
• I will just close with: any amount of assistance would be helpful to local governments.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, hearing no negative, debate is closed.
• Hearing none, hearing no negative, debate is closed.
• Hearing none, hearing no negative, debate is closed.
• And so this would close that loophole.
• Hearing none, hearing no debate, the debate is closed.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The primary promise of consolidation is to lower tax burdens.
• Their primary role as say the least.
• I'm lucky enough to work in a role where my primary job is to develop people.
• So, I'm getting close to her time here.
• <01:20:00.560><c> to</c><01:20:00.800><c> $13,000</c> close to $13,000 close to $13,000 and<01:20:03.600

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on school governance and a proposed shift in responsibilities related to SAU consolidation, with committee members first discussing how school board members and other local officials would be selected for future testimony. The main presentation came from the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, whose executive director Brady Belair and several principals argued that mandatory statewide administrative consolidation should be approached cautiously and that any consolidation should be voluntary and locally driven. They said anticipated savings may not materialize, citing possible higher personnel, transportation, and technology costs, and warned that forcing changes could create disruption without improving student outcomes. Principals testified that their jobs are already broad and demanding, centered on instructional leadership, student safety, staff supervision, family communication, and day-to-day crisis response. Kathleen Murphy of Amherst described working 60 to 70 hours a week and said principals spend substantial time coaching teachers, handling student issues, and supporting school climate; she said adding more administrative duties would compromise student learning and teacher growth. Adam Osborne of Bow Memorial School similarly described principals as daily problem-solvers who set school-level direction and create conditions for schools to thrive. The witnesses also emphasized that principals, superintendents, school boards, and business administrators have different training and responsibilities, and that specialized tasks such as special education compliance, FERPA/HIPAA issues, and labor matters require appropriate expertise. Committee members questioned the witnesses about overlap between superintendent and principal duties, the completeness of statutory responsibility lists, and whether some functions such as curriculum, discipline, hiring, and evaluation are shared. The principals acknowledged some overlap and collaboration, but said superintendents typically handle broader system-level, legal, and central-office responsibilities while principals focus on building-level leadership and teacher support. One member raised the earlier expectation that districts might move to a principal-plus-business-manager model, but the witnesses said that model did not develop as expected and that district structures vary widely. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that failing to close the broader racial disparities has cost the national economy. failing to close
• Closing the racial wealth gap is essential to closing health racial gaps.
• Closing the racial wealth gap is essential to closing health, racial health gaps.
• If we are serious about closing racial health gaps in Massachusetts, we must also be serious about closing
• Thank you for closing that question for each of us.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held a hearing on the impact of federal policy on the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts, the fourth in a series on federal impacts on racial equity. Chair Bud Williams and Chair Miranda opened by emphasizing that no bills were being heard and that the committee would instead take testimony from invited witnesses; public written testimony was also accepted. The chairs and witnesses repeatedly cited long-standing wealth disparities affecting Black and brown communities, including homeownership, wages, business ownership, and access to capital, and linked those disparities to federal policy changes, housing, education, health care, and workforce development. Administration officials testified first. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones described persistent labor market disparities, including higher unemployment for Black and Latino residents, lower median hourly wages, and underemployment among degree holders, and highlighted state efforts such as ESOL-for-work funding, workforce training grants, MassHire career centers, skills-based hiring, and the state equity dashboards. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiami Mahania argued that poverty drives poor health, not the reverse, and said wealth gaps contribute to chronic disease, maternal health inequities, medical debt, and shorter life expectancy; she pointed to the Advancing Health Equity Massachusetts initiative, a health care affordability working group, and the governor’s push to bar medical debt from credit reporting. Assistant Secretary Juan Vega of EOED focused on entrepreneurship and procurement, citing technical assistance grants, founder support programs, place-based investment, the Business Front Door, and the need to broaden access to contracts, capital, and business growth opportunities. Committee members pressed the panel on the effects of the federal “big beautiful bill” on households, especially single-parent and Black women-led households, and on whether the state could develop more timely data systems instead of relying on federal numbers. Officials said the impacts were still being monitored, but warned that Medicaid and SNAP changes would likely hit lower-income households and community institutions hard. Members also asked about unions and apprenticeships, microbusiness definitions, supplier diversity, pay equity, and degree inflation; the administration said registered apprenticeships and skills-based hiring are key tools, and noted that wage equity reporting is still in its early stages. Later testimony from BECMA’s Nicole O’Bean stressed that tariffs, DEI rollbacks, immigration enforcement, capital gaps, and federal funding cuts are constraining Black-owned businesses and inclusive procurement, while Gastón Institute researchers described severe Latino homeownership and rent burdens, educational inequities, and the need for housing, labor, and education policy changes to close the wealth gap.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will close.
• I suppose we're getting close to closing here, but I will just say it bears repeating.
• I will close.
• I suppose we're getting close to closing here, but I will just say it bears repeating.
• I'm prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time. >> Time expired.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any closing comments, thoughts?
• Any other questions, comments, any closing statements?
• Any other questions, comments, any closing statements?
• Any other questions, comments, any closing statements?
• Any other questions, comments, any closing statements?

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh that closed best to use these funds.
• It's close. mispronounce anyone's name. It's close.
• We grounded Y primary we have there.
• </c> to a close. to a close.
• It costs close to a million forest.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Debt Collection Licensing Act was enacted to regulate businesses whose primary purpose is collecting
• Seeing no additional questions from the committee, Assembly Member Rubio, would you like to close?
• Seeing no additional questions from the committee, Assembly Member Rubio, would you like to close?
• Crowell, would you like to close? I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met with a quorum, took up its consent calendar, and passed SB 946 and SB 700 on a do-pass motion to the next committee. The committee then heard SB 546 by Senator Grayson, presented by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, which would clarify that third-party billing administrators are not debt collectors when they are only performing administrative billing services. Supporters from Conservis Utility Billing Management and the California Apartment Association said the bill reflects the original intent of the Debt Collection Licensing Act, would reduce compliance uncertainty, and still preserves consumer protections by barring coercive collection practices. There was no opposition, and the bill passed on a unanimous roll call to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 505 by Senator Richardson, presented by Assembly Member Maggie Krell, which would require digital wallet providers and money transmitters operating in California to use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for logins. Support came from the National Consumer Law Center, while TechNet said it was currently opposed but working with the author on amendments. Members discussed balancing security with convenience for trusted devices and users. The bill passed unanimously on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Appropriations, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• sectors that receive public funding, we realize that in this industry we have not been able to track as closely
• We have not been able to track as closely.
• Senator, do you have any primary witnesses in support today? Not today. Okay, well, thank you.
• So with that, happy to be very supportive of the bill here today and invite you to close.

Summary: The committee heard SB 756, authored by Senator Skinner, which would expand reporting and accountability for California’s film and television tax credit program. The senator said the bill is intended to improve equity and transparency by requiring the California Film Commission to collect better demographic and geographic data, including workers’ zip codes and veteran status, using existing payroll and third-party systems without adding new mandates. Supporters said the information is needed to evaluate whether the state’s film incentive benefits California workers and communities, especially in areas like South Los Angeles. Public testimony was limited. Dylan Hoffman, on behalf of California Arts Advocates, testified in support. No opposition testimony was presented. Committee members, including Assembly Member Quirk-Silva and Assembly Member McKinnor, voiced support and emphasized the need for standardized data collection and stronger oversight of the tax credit program. The author also noted recent staffing increases at the Film Commission to help monitor the program. The committee moved the bill on a motion and second, and SB 756 passed out of committee with a due pass recommendation to the Appropriations Committee. The roll call was recorded as 8-0, with one member not present in voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll simply close by saying I appreciate the work.
• So as AB 379 closes the loophole, and it's now updated.
• Clerk will close the roll. There are 66 co-authors added.
• Would you like to close? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Clerk will close the roll, tally the votes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also closes that loophole.
• The bill also closes that loophole.
• </c><01:52:39.280><c> reasons</c> this bill, one of the primary reasons this bill, one of the primary
• L67 is lost to the bill. we're already trying to close the we're already trying to close the loopholes
• c> primary option with alternatives primary option with alternatives available. available. available.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or would you like to have any closing comments, Representative Scheris? Thank you, Chairman.
• Primary goals through the strategic plan are allocating funds in the most targeted manner to accomplish
• export corridors for wheat in the world, and a significant share of Idaho grain moves through it to primary

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The House Ag Affairs Committee approved the minutes from its March 16, 2026 meeting and then took up House Bill 879, which Representative John Scheris described as a pared-down version of an earlier industrial hemp bill. He said the measure would bring retail hemp product establishments under the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s oversight to address loopholes involving the sale of THC products such as Delta-8 and Delta-9, while avoiding overregulation of hemp seed, powder, and other legitimate products. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, saying it reflected stakeholder work and would help ensure retail products comply with state law. Representative McCann moved to send HB 879 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and to place it on second reading, and the committee agreed. The committee then received an update from Laura Wilder of the Idaho Barley Commission. She reviewed the commission’s funding, goals, and programs, and reported that Idaho remained the nation’s leading barley producer, growing 39% of the U.S. crop in 2025 on about 490,000 harvested acres. She highlighted research, market development, and education efforts, including work that has improved yields over time, reduced unnecessary input costs, and supported domestic and foreign market development. Wilder also noted current market softness, including expected declines in malt barley acres and flat prices, but said long-term demand remains promising because of brewing, feed, and food applications. Maya Landa of the Idaho Grain Producers Association followed with a broader overview of the grain economy. She said growers are facing low commodity prices, rising input costs, weather and water risks, trade uncertainty, and policy changes, while noting that wheat and barley remain major Idaho crops and that exports are critical to profitability. She discussed the importance of federal programs, the Farm Bill, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, water infrastructure, workforce issues, and commodity commissions. Committee members asked about dam breaching concerns affecting the Columbia-Snake river system and about the stalled Farm Workforce Modernization Act; Landa emphasized the need for continued engagement on those issues. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.