Transcript Highlights:

• <00:58:17.119> um community um community um helpers<00:58:19.359> we<00:58:19.520> are
• community community if<00:58:26.920> there<00:58:27.039> is<00:58:27.280> one<00
• <01:09:44.480> with violence in our communities with violence in our communities with increased
• <01:13:54.520> and continue to Target our communities and continue to Target our communities
• <01:24:04.600> across<01:24:04.960> the our communities across the our communities

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities are still rebuilding.
• communities together.
• Assaults on our LGBTQ communities, our immigrant communities, our Muslim communities.
• community.
• They are communities of color voting for the election.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item No. 4, Senate Communications. Mr. Clerk, are there any Senate Communications?
• Item No. 5, miscellaneous communications. Mr. Clerk, are there any miscellaneous communications?
• Communications yes Madam speaker we are Communications yes Madam speaker we are in<00:25:09.200> receipt
• number 101 petitioning the Communication number 101 petitioning the house<00:25:12.600> to<00
• Some of these individuals include community members of the figure skating community returning from a

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Household 845 higher education community >> Household 845 higher education community
• <00:12:27.040> input activity to require community input activity to require community input
• <00:41:52.400> and hands and their community and hands and their community and maintaining
• maintaining the community is very maintaining the community is very important<00:41:53.920> to
• working-class communities of people working-class communities of people working,<00:41:58.960>

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in Annapolis with 107 members present and proceeded through the journal and a series of Appropriations Committee reports. Several bills were advanced on favorable reports without amendment, including measures on constitutional officers’ salaries, correctional officer retirement systems for Dorchester and Allegany counties, Carroll and Calvert County public facilities bonds, higher education financial assistance for incarcerated individuals, and a bill on community college promise scholarship eligibility for Delmar High School graduates. Other bills received amendments before being ordered for third reading, including measures on community college trustee membership, Frederick Community College board meeting and training requirements, Howard County school funding disclosures, courts administrative judges’ stipends, correctional officers retirement membership clarifications, the Children’s Cabinet Fund, and a law enforcement pension bill limiting military service credit eligibility to helicopter pilots in state aviation units. The chamber also considered HB 1581 on horse racing facility ownership, development, licensing, and operations. Amendments expanded the bill to include additional economic development provisions for the Prince George’s County Blue Line corridor, Pimlico-related funding and community input requirements, a larger lottery-fund distribution for the racing community development financing fund, and changes to the bus rapid transit grant program. The bill’s favorable report as amended was adopted, and it was ordered for third reading. During debate on a separate amendment to HB 894, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, members argued over project labor agreements: opponents said PLA requirements raise costs and limit competition, while supporters said the provision was optional, supported stability and predictability, and was part of a broader compromise. The amendment was rejected after discussion, and the bill remained amended. The House also took up HB 1430 on charter school facilities funding, adopting amendments that reduced the per-pupil amount and narrowed eligibility for certain districts, then advancing the bill as amended. In addition, HB 1248 was amended to convert a part-time state employment pilot program into a work group, and HB 680 was amended to adjust future appropriations for local management boards. Across the session, most actions were routine committee report adoptions and amendment votes, with no recorded roll-call counts in the excerpt except the initial quorum call.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:32.560> services on the 2026 2027 community services on the 2026 2027 community services
• department for community based services. department for community based services.
• community services block grant. Yeah. community services block grant. Yeah.
• In some communities, it's Head Start.
• 38.640> communities<01:09:39.040> to for communities and local communities to for communities

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:02.480> Wildfire implementing their Community Wildfire implementing their Community
• <00:42:26.200> I'm departments my local communities I'm departments my local communities I'm
• Our Indigenous communities easily come to mind, but also many immigrant communities have long traditions
• shanab community and Dakota Community<01:32:39.080> to<01:32:39.239> be<01:32:39.400><
• <01:52:54.480> that did come from uh the communities that did come from uh the communities

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:00:49.719> First file 8:15 which is the Community First file 8:15 which is the Community
• Community service providers.
• <00:19:24.240> provide provided in the community provide provided in the community provide
• <00:25:16.039> Hospitals the pressure faceb Community Hospitals the pressure faceb Community
• Can you all share a... options in the community from 8 to 11: options in the community from 8 to 11:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Real communities, especially rural and low-income communities, being left behind.
• <00:37:51.280> Her the needs of her community. Her the needs of her community.
• I yield back. their communities. As a leader, he their communities.
• <05:57:30.480> His community and his country. His community and his country.
• Thank you for your community.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the community deserves a voice.
• people of a community decide whether they supported these carbon sequestration projects in their community
• If they want to put this through into a community, they have to go into that community and they have
• to sell that community on this.
• Louisiana has long trusted Communities.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• had local leaders in our own community had local leaders in our own community in<00:56:48.799>
• Minnesota communities. And so, um, in Minnesota communities.
• Paul say we know better than you do in your local community. community support that they come here community
• did think that we failed the community did think that we failed the community of<01:08:15.520>
• Senator Grunhagen, with that we are adjourned. community members who sound more like community members

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• including urban indigenous communities including urban indigenous communities<00:26:15.200> as
• health, or participating in community health, or participating in community health<00:28:21.760>
• their communities. their communities.
• . communities. communities.
• grades 5 through 12 courses community grades 5 through 12 courses community centered<00:48:46.079

Bills: HF3489, HF3550

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• Coming from a<00:59:54.160> small<00:59:54.520> community, a small community, a small community
• communications folks as well. communications folks as well.
• center rests within the local community. center rests within the local community.
• those other communities. those other communities.
• . communications. communications.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• were from my community.
• were from my community.
• were from my community.
• were from my community.
• were from my community.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:34.440> and that's focused on culture community and that's focused on culture community
• <00:20:19.960> and transition back to the community and transition back to the community and
• I went to a community hearing on this, and the community hearing came about because this was a group
• hearing on this and the to a community hearing on this and the community<00:45:03.839> hearing
• It was a shock to the community because, you know, this was going right in a residential community.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• community is also doing have Community community is also doing have Community consultations<00:33
• trying to figure it out, who can partner with you guys and the community to find out what the community
• things for like Urban housing community things for like Urban housing community they<00:38:35.920
• <00:43:09.319> development weight list this community development weight list this community
• some point you have to connect to commun some point you have to connect to commun college<02:30:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Hawaiian Affairs committee heard a budget presentation from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on its biennium requests for critical projects, repairs and maintenance, and operations. DHHL described its role in administering the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust, noted the large beneficiary wait list, and said prior funding, including Act 279, has helped the department accelerate land development and reduce vacancies. Officials said they have about 47,219 applications involving 29,548 Native Hawaiians, roughly 28 projects underway, and that about $471 million of a $600 million appropriation has been encumbered, with the remaining lapse-fix funds expected to be resolved before the June 30, 2026 deadline. DHHL emphasized that its current request would support additional lot development and could help produce roughly 6,000 units from the existing project pipeline, with another phase of requests potentially adding about 2,000 more units. The department said it is prioritizing shovel-ready projects, accelerating lease awards and orientations, and using a mix of approaches including paper leases, rental-with-option-to-purchase, owner-builder, and loan programs. Officials also discussed a shift toward denser urban development, citing projects in West Oahu and Honolulu, and said the department is working to reduce its vacancy rate and move beneficiaries onto the land more quickly. Members questioned why Oahu, despite having the largest wait list, was receiving comparatively lower amounts, and DHHL responded that land availability and cost drive those decisions, with Oahu having limited developable land and very high acquisition costs. The department pointed to land acquisition on Kauai and other islands, and to urban high-rise projects that can yield far more units on small parcels. Members also raised long-term maintenance and wildfire risk, asking whether current acquisition and development choices account for future infrastructure costs; DHHL said maintenance is a growing concern, especially on large unused or isolated lands, and that it is pursuing Firewise planning, federal funds, and partnerships to reduce risk. The discussion also touched on mixed-use and community-led development, with DHHL explaining that it leases land to nonprofit homestead associations under general leases with milestones, business-plan requirements, and land-use restrictions to support local services and community goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Black and brown communities, including those I represent in the Fifth Suffolk, are bearing the heaviest
• For Black and brown communities, it means a chance to close the racial wealth gap by increasing access
• For the Commonwealth as a whole, it means stronger, healthier, more sustainable communities.
• They are often in disrepair, off the market, and generating zero revenue for our communities.
• We are fostering community revitalization, stimulating economic growth, We are fostering community revitalization

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, communicate the action of the Senate to the House.
• Clerk, communicate the action of the Senate to the House.
• Clerk, communicate the action of the Senate to the House.
• Clerk, communicate the action of the Senate to the House.
• Clerk will communicate the action to the House.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Communications and reports from state officers. Motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris.
• And see now, for many young men, specifically Black and brown men in urban communities, they saw this
• It helps students discover their strengths, find ways to serve their communities, and become leaders
• That value runs through everything these students do: service to their communities, service to the land
• I'm really inspired by the way FFA students engage with their communities, how they educate others about

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior Journal, and then handled several introductions and resolutions. Senator Bailey introduced Jayson Fefami, described as the Bronx-based creator of the “quarter zip” trend, and the chamber welcomed him with applause. Senator Cooney presented a privileged resolution memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim July 1, 2026, as Canada Day in New York, emphasizing the state’s economic, cultural, and border ties with Canada; the resolution was adopted. Senator Hinchey also spoke on a previously adopted resolution designating February 21-28, 2026, as National FFA Organization Week, with Senator Helming and visiting FFA students and advisers offering remarks in support of agricultural education and youth leadership. The Senate then took up the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures related to a fiscal task force, environmental conservation, urban development, education, workers’ compensation, elder law, real property, general business, state finance, insurance, tenant protection, and public health. Several bills passed unanimously, while others drew limited opposition; for example, the Environmental Conservation and Education measures had a handful of negative votes, and the real property bill drew more substantial opposition. Senator Webb explained her vote on a bill addressing college student food insecurity by exempting certain meal-share donations from sales tax, saying students should not have to choose between class and hunger. Senator Palumbo also explained his vote on the kratom labeling bill, supporting the measure while urging future action on the synthetic opioid 7-OH. The chamber also discharged several identical Assembly bills from Rules and substituted Senate versions earlier in the day, and later passed those measures on the floor. At the end of the session, the Senate completed the calendar, reported no further business, and adjourned until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a pastor and a community<00:36:56.840> leader, community leader, community leader, I<00:36:
• community together with our bare hands. community together with our bare hands.
• our beloved community. our beloved community.
• Not just within our district in the community of West Side, a proud immigrant community known as the
• He piggybacked into the community.

Bills: HF3415

Keywords: child care, day care, licensed child care center, license-exempt child care, immigration enforcement, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, judicial warrant, facility access, sensitive locations, immigrant families, Minnesota Statutes chapter 142B, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:17:04.000> gather, communities where veterans live, gather, communities where veterans
• care alone and include community care alone and include community connection,<00:18:40.160> economic
• Together, this work is communities.
• Updating this program is so it reflects Many live in rural communities with Many live in rural communities
• proactive as a community. proactive as a community.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.