Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they are not participating in this particular legislation. So, I'm here on my own behalf.
• So, I'm here on my own legislation.
• I will have to get back to you on that with the legal analysis. >> Okay. Thank you.
• ><00:14:05.839> with<00:14:06.000> the<00:14:06.240> legal<00:14:06.480> analysis
• to you on that with the legal analysis. to you on that with the legal analysis.

Bills: SB2004, SB2039, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2132

Keywords: outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle. The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure. SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• cycle to the next legislative cycle.
• cycle to the next legislative cycle to the next legislative<00:24:18.120> cycle<00:24:19.120>
• An analysis that looks at the short term is shortsighted.
• <00:58:08.760> debate have spent decades on analysis debate have spent decades on analysis
• I respectfully ask you to find SB 295 inexpedient to legislate.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Key, and I'm the legislative assistant for this committee. fiscal an research and fiscal analysis
• <01:09:44.040> about reclassification bonus legislation about reclassification bonus legislation
• I'm the American Legion Department of Minnesota legislative chair.
• <01:31:50.639> for And federal level for legislation for CVSOs.
• so some of our we have our legislative so some of our we have our legislative platform<01:33:41.159

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee held its first hearing of the session and began with introductions from members and staff, many of whom shared personal or family connections to military service. The chair emphasized that the committee would work respectfully and invited members to raise concerns directly. No votes or formal actions were taken during the opening portion of the meeting. The main substantive item was an overview presentation from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Commissioner Brad Lindsay described the agency’s mission, statewide footprint, and strategic goals, noting Minnesota has more than 286,000 veterans and that MDVA serves veterans in all 87 counties. He outlined the department’s structure, including eight veterans homes, four state veterans cemeteries, tribal and campus outreach, and the agency’s focus on seamless support, awareness of programs, stewardship of resources, and workforce retention. Deputy Commissioner Ben Johnson then detailed the Programs and Services Division, including federal VA claims assistance, veterans employment and education support, state veterans cemeteries and memorial affairs, the State Soldiers Assistance Program, homelessness prevention, tribal veteran service officers, women veterans services, the Minnesota GI Bill, licensing and certification assistance, the state approving agency, veterans preference, emergency assistance, the LinkVet line, and the Minnesota Service Core partnership with Lutheran Social Services. He also noted the agency’s work on food insecurity and burial services. The presentation was informational only, with no committee action reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the other legislators log in, we'll make sure to recognize them.
• And that concerns all of us here as legislators.
• Beal, and my own legislators, Rep.
• Worrell and my own legislators, Rep.
• This legislation addresses three of these main barriers.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing with testimony on several health care bills, with most of the discussion focused on primary care access, community health center reimbursement, midwifery and birth centers, telehealth, hospital-at-home, direct primary care, and trans-inclusive health care access. Chair Feeney and Chair Murphy opened by noting the large number of signups and asking testifiers to keep remarks brief because of time constraints. Legislators and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that Massachusetts’ primary care system is under strain and that federal policy changes and reimbursement gaps are worsening financial pressure on providers. On community health centers, Representative Blay, Senator Lovely, Michael Curry, Bethany Keeley, Jag Deep Trevetti, Sean Cahill, and Christina Severin all supported H. 1096/S. 711, which would require commercial insurers to pay federally qualified health centers at least the MassHealth prospective payment system rate. They argued that commercial plans currently reimburse health centers below Medicaid rates, threatening sustainability, staffing, and access, especially as federal cuts and coverage losses could increase uncompensated care. Testifiers said the bill would stabilize health centers, protect primary care access, and not cost the state money. A second major topic was H. 1117/S. 784 on sustaining birth centers and the midwifery workforce. Senator Lovely, Senator Miranda, Emily Anesta, Rebecca Orden, Catherine Rushworth, Nishira Burrill, Joel Sutherland, Rachel Blessington, Joelle Ward, and others described the 2024 maternal health omnibus as an important first step, but said birth centers and midwives still face low reimbursement, workforce shortages, and financial instability. They urged reimbursement parity, a workforce development fund, and support for freestanding birth centers, citing improved outcomes, lower C-section rates, better patient experience, and racial equity in maternal health. Several speakers shared personal birth stories and said the bill would help preserve and expand birth options in communities like Roxbury, Worcester, and the North Shore. The committee also heard support for H. 1343 on direct primary care from Dr. Garofalo, Dr. Altman, Dr. Nair, Stephanie Cameron, Dr. Haley Moke-Blessed, and others, who said current insurance rules force patients to use a separate in-network primary care doctor for referrals and sometimes prevent physicians from dispensing medications. They argued the bill would reduce delays, administrative burden, and costs while improving continuity of care. In addition, Dr. Miklides and Sue Stempeck supported H. 1141 on hospital-at-home parity, saying the model has strong outcomes and should be reimbursed at the same rate as brick-and-mortar hospital care. Heather Myers and Katrina Cook testified on telehealth and digital health equity, urging broader coverage for asynchronous care, remote monitoring, interpreter services, and digital literacy supports. SEIU Local 509 supported H. 1188/S. 681 on trans-inclusive health care access, saying it would remove arbitrary insurance barriers to gender-affirming care. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're doing a complete analysis to determine the viability of that program moving forward.
• My name is Mark Montoya, and I serve as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Legislative Education Study
• State funding sources include direct legislative appropriations, Public School Capital Outlay Council
• The legislative asks on the bottom of the page indicate that something needs to be done.
• I do not have that information, but I can work with the legislative staff to try and find it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lena Conklin with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Did we do a study on the cost analysis benefit?
• I am KJ Curtis with the Legislative Budget Board.
• John Posey with the Legislative Budget Board.
• This was established by legislation in 2013.

Transcript Highlights:

• our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• Questions may be directed to Patrick Fitzgerald, Chief Counsel to the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee
• We are going to be recognizing the retirement of a long time legislative staff member, dedicated a member
• He always considered the impact of any legislation to the taxpayer.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A petition of Michael O'More for legislation to establish compliance with federal education reporting
• A petition of Michael O'More for legislation to establish compliance with federal education reporting
• A petition of Michael O'More for legislation relative to applied behavioral analysis reimbursement rates
• The House bill to authorize the mayor of the City of Haverhill to submit special legislation to increase
• An act to authorize the mayor of the City of Haverhill to submit special legislation to increase the

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters. It adopted a Rules Committee report extending the reporting deadline for the Committee on Aging and Independence to December 3, 2025. The House also concurred in Senate referrals and suspended Joint Rule 12 on multiple petitions, including a proposal on education reporting for out-of-home placement students, a petition on applied behavioral analysis reimbursement rates, seasonal communities and housing-related petitions, and a witness intimidation petition. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then reported a slate of local bills for consideration, including measures on South Boston park and field space, memorial markers for fallen officers in Milton and Canton, sustainable water resource funds, charter changes for Millis and Cambridge, a Hanson local licensing matter, a Haverhill Board of Health membership increase, and the Cambridge Employment and Job Training Trust. The House suspended Rule 7A, took second readings, and ordered these bills to a third reading. Later, the House considered and passed to be engrossed three bills on third reading: a Melrose senior citizen property tax exemption, a new charter for the City of Cambridge, and a Maynard alcohol license bill. The session concluded with adoption of an adjournment order setting the next meeting for Thursday at 11 a.m., and the House adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pleased to be the sponsor and in support of this legislation.
• Most disturbing of all is the legislative priority this bill represents.
• . ...provisions in SB 988, as well as the NCOIL model legislation.
• It has taken a few years for this model legislation.
• Finally, it's also important to know what this legislation doesn't do.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide policy research and analysis.
• They're here for their legislative days.
• But the underlying legislation that is at question here is complete garbage.
• Why do we entertain legislation that seeks to do just that?
• And what was the legislative path last year? How did it get out of committee?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by roll call vote, 117-1. Members then spent much of the morning recognizing guests and groups in the chamber, including students, local officials, fraternity and sorority members, banking and county association representatives, and other visitors. The Speaker also suspended business several times to sign enrolled bills, including House Bill 2641, House Bill 2934, and Senate substitutes for House Bills 261 and 2423. The main floor debate centered on House Concurrent Resolution 48, which urges Congress to pass the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Supporters argued it would protect election integrity and prevent non-citizens from voting, while opponents said it would create burdensome documentation requirements, function like a poll tax, and disenfranchise eligible voters, especially women, rural residents, the elderly, students, military members, and people with limited access to records. After extended debate and a successful previous-question motion, the House passed HCR 48 by a vote of 92-43. The House then took up House Concurrent Resolution 23, which calls on Congress to reaffirm state authority over elections under the Constitution’s Elections Clause. It was presented as a federalism measure, and members discussed the tension between state control and federal election standards. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, 137-0. The chamber also perfected and printed House Bill 2855, which adjusts workers’ compensation fund tax increments from 0.5% steps to 0.1% steps and included an amendment allowing replacement of attorneys in long-running permanent total cases; and House Bill 1906, which lets township counties offer annual, semi-annual, or quarterly property tax payment options. The House then recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• WITH THE REMAINING 1.7 CONTINGENT UPON LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL. THAT IS THE BILL.
• TO THAT POINT, THIS LEGISLATION I THINK IN MY OPINION A COUPLE'S WELL WITH SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT WE
• WHAT I AM SAYING IS A LEGISLATION DOESN'T SHOW CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT'S THE CASE.
• WE KNOWINGLY CREATE LEGISLATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
• THIS IS HARMFUL AND WILL CREATE CHAOS WHEN THE LEGISLATION GOES THROUGH HERE THANK YOU.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Foster legislate together.
• Foster legislate together.
• Foster legislate together.
• reintroducing this important legislation reintroducing this important legislation I<03:21:04.359
• <03:21:34.040> hr1 legislation hr1 legislation hr1 1350<03:21:36.720> the<03:21:36.920>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we stand in strong support of this legislation.
• And I'm just strongly in support of this legislation. Thank you. Okay.
• They had legislative authority to do what we were asking them to do.
• And should not be blurred in legislative findings.
• Whether it's a request for a report from an individual legislator or multiple legislators or a memorial

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh finally, we would just note that this particular change uh we think is a smart legislative approach
• approach to a is a smart legislative approach to a timebound<00:04:56.320> problem.
• of analysis, which is the testing form. of analysis, which is the testing form.
• do, which is in the um 2024 legislative do, which is in the um 2024 legislative session,<00:14:59.199
• to me and asked uh for this legislation to me and asked uh for this legislation so<00:30:07.600>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a good program for people to get into, but also legislatively you enacted legislation to provide
• legislatively you enacted um legislation legislatively you enacted um legislation to<00:40:11.760
• <01:04:18.960> thank consideration of this legislation thank consideration of this legislation
• <01:23:14.920> any<01:23:15.080> other legislatively any other legislatively any other
• <01:50:27.719> knowing started some of that analysis knowing started some of that analysis

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Markwart, Commissioner of the Department of Revenue, joined here at the table by Joanna Bears, Legislative
• And the analysis says that less than 10% of all the households will use legal services, so let's just
• says that less 90 so and the analysis says that less than<00:33:09.799> 10%<00:33:10.799>
• In 2014, the legislature created what is known as the County AIS Prevention Aid, and this legislation
• <00:54:12.040> has aid this um and this legislation has aid this um and this legislation has

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the right legislative approach.
• And the result of the legislation is that we now have almost 10 insurance companies.
• The legislation that we passed in 2022 unfortunately prevents that.
• analysis.
• The legislation we passed was good legislation.

Summary: The committee met to hear five banking and insurance-related bills. HB 1549, an Office of Financial Regulation agency bill to help more efficiently regulate financial institutions, was amended to match Senate companion language and then passed unanimously. HB 1231 would extend physician payment and prior-authorization protections similar to a prior dental law, including limits on virtual credit card payments as the sole payment method; physicians and medical groups supported it as a way to reduce fees and retroactive denials, while insurers were not heard in opposition, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee then heard HB 999, which would make gold and silver legal tender and allow transactions in bullion through electronic debit mechanisms. The sponsor and several proponents framed it as an inflation hedge and economic freedom measure, while questions focused on definitions, transaction costs, and vendor participation. The bill passed on a mostly party-line vote, with one member voting no. The committee also approved HM 4363, a memorial urging Congress to establish a sovereign wealth fund; the sponsor described it as a way to steward national wealth, and the memorial passed with one dissenting vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 1551, which would create a prevailing-party attorney fee framework in insurance contract disputes. The sponsor argued it would restore balance, deter meritless litigation, and help consumers with valid claims recover fees, while insurers, business groups, and defense attorneys warned it would revive one-way fee shifting, increase litigation, and raise premiums. Consumer advocates and some members supported it as necessary to give policyholders meaningful recourse. After debate, the bill passed favorably, with one member voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that all legislators should pass that information out.
• of legislation has traveled, we've gone back and forth.
• I am speaking as a legislator. Excuse me. I am speaking as a legislator.
• It is time for the legislators to speak.
• Kind of treat them the same way in the same piece of legislation.

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the sunrise analysis, however, needs to be done by concurrent resolution, and we intend to do that
• Uh the<02:18:43.679> sunrise<02:18:44.240> analysis<02:18:44.800> however<02:18:
• 45.200> needs<02:18:45.439> to<02:18:45.599> be the sunrise analysis however needs
• to be the sunrise analysis however needs to be done<02:18:45.920> by<02:18:46.479> um<
• And I will assure the sunrise analysis.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was part of the negotiation when we first did the hands-free legislation way back when.
• I was part of the negotiation when we first did the hands-free legislation way back when.
• Fiscal analysis estimates that the state would need 1,288 additional voting locations, costing nearly
• We did a bunch of analysis last year on the same bill, although the threshold was different.
• Natalia Sells from All Voting Is Local Action, an organization that advocates for policies and legislative

Bills: HB2006, HB2085, HB2109, HB2167, HB2205, HB2410, HCR2016

Keywords: sample ballots, elections, primary election, general election, mailing deadline, ballot mailing, county election officials, board of supervisors, secretary of state, early voting list, election administration, voter information, postal service, USPS processing center, city elections, town elections, special district elections, Arizona election law, ballot proofing, party chair