Transcript Highlights:

• generation needs to do more and step up, because we cannot allow them to return us back to the worst chapters
• I'm glad I can inspire the next chapter, the next generation of wordsmithing with our names.
• And if you read Chapter 61, to protect children.
• And if you read Chapter 61, which is the divorce chapter, and if you read the chapters on child abuse

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Chester Clem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum confirmation. Members then adopted the special order report for the day and approved a Rules and Ethics Committee report amending House Rule 15.3 to allow fundraising under certain circumstances during extended or special sessions. The chamber then took up several bills. HB 1405 on a statewide project for missing persons with special needs passed unanimously. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, passed 94-10 after debate focused on conservation land surplus procedures and agricultural use of state lands. CS/CS/CS/HB 905, the “Fire Act” on foreign influence, foreign gifts, critical infrastructure, sister city agreements, and related restrictions, passed 80-20 after the House adopted an amendment adding a prohibition on certain surrogacy contracts involving citizens or residents of foreign countries of concern. CS/CS/HB 1197, dealing with information technology procurement and contracting, passed 109-0. HB 1103 on local administration of vessel restrictions passed unanimously. The House also debated CS/CS/CS/HB 399 on land use and development regulations. Supporters said it would limit development fees, standardize compatibility rules, allow manufactured homes in RV parks, and lower voting thresholds for comprehensive plan changes to address housing affordability; opponents argued it would preempt local control, weaken voter-approved urban boundary protections, and risk conservation lands. An amendment to preserve Orange County’s boundary rules failed, while a technical amendment on manufactured homes passed. The bill then passed 71-38. The House also passed several local bills, including measures for the Pace Fire Rescue District, Avalon Beach/Mulat Fire Protection District, East Point Water and Sewer District, Fellsmere Water Control District, and Headwaters Water Control District, with votes ranging from 83-27 to unanimous approval. The transcript also included farewell remarks from Representative Angie Nixon before the House returned to remaining business.

Transcript Highlights:

• is here to explain where we are with the funding and whether we need to define the 10% or use the chapter
• 10% or use whether we need to define the 10% or use the<00:09:34.680><c> uh</c><00:09:34.760><c> chapter
• 144G language, and so I see here under that line that a provider with a temporary license under the chapter
• </c><00:13:48.480><c> is</c><00:13:48.560><c> not</c> license under the chapter is not license under
• the chapter is not eligible<00:13:49.200><c> to</c><00:13:49.360><c> apply.

Bills: HF3526 , HF3375 , HF3469

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: home care, licensing, fines, advisory council, grant program, client safety, healthcare regulation, HF3375, Minnesota disability waiver, waiver rate system, human services, individualized home supports, individualized home supports with training, individualized home supports with family training, positive support services, employment support services, employment development services, employment exploration services, billing limits, service authorization year

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, what we're doing is we're copying and pasting a paragraph that is already existing in Title 9, Chapter
• 3, Article 4 of the regular Wyoming peace officers retirement to Title 9, Chapter 3, Article 6.
• 3, Article 4 of the regular Wyoming peace officers retirement to Title 9, Chapter 3, Article 6.
• That is already existing in Title 9, Chapter 3, Article 4 of the regular Wyoming peace officers retirement
• to Title 9, Chapter 3, Article 6.

Bills: HB0098 , HB0075 , HB0041 , HB0101

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, next we had written testimony and support from NYC chapter Children's Justice Centers and one individual
• Thank you very much. >> We also had written testimony all in support from the Hawaii State Chapter of
• And for this one, I would like to defer the date and then also change references to chapter 584 instead
• to chapter 584A, since we repealed 584 last year and 584A was added as a current ...
• Would like to defer the date and then also change references to chapter 584 instead to chapter 584A,

Bills: HB1546

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• removal, reservation system, allotment, assimilation, and termination eras are documented painful chapters
• assimilation and termination errors are documented<01:11:51.280><c> painful</c><01:11:51.760><c> chapters
• </c><01:11:52.159><c> in</c><01:11:52.400><c> US</c> documented painful chapters in US documented painful
• chapters in US history.<01:11:53.760><c> The</c><01:11:54.000><c> community's</c><01:11:54.480><c> mental
• Paul, and I am the president of the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Birth Centers.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• it with meets the criteria to be on the registry, but also proposed two additional amendments to Chapter
• </c><00:48:34.400><c> E6</c><00:48:35.400><c> uh</c><00:48:35.559><c> 6E</c> amendments to uh chapter
• E6 uh 6E amendments to uh chapter E6 uh 6E 42.2<00:48:37.760><c> uh</c><00:48:37.880><c> which</c><00
• named in the original legislation, Act 306, that created the island burial councils by amending HRS chapter
• HRS chapter 6E, sections 43, 43.5, and 43.6, in the 1990 legislature.

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 13, 2025, and first announced that SB 1456 would be deferred to the end of the agenda and ultimately worked on later, with the chair indicating the bill would be deferred and revisited in a future measure. The committee then heard SB 841 on marine life conservation districts. DLNR supported the bill, saying it would fund carrying capacity studies to inform rules and policies. Testimony noted a pilot study already underway at the Puka Marine Life Conservation District and another nearing completion at the old Kona Airport MLCD. Members discussed costs, with DLNR estimating about $300,000 per year for one user-experience study, potentially more for ecological analysis, and also discussed possible funding from the Mālama Kai special fund. DLNR said it had no objection to consulting current operators and other users, and explained the program would be a new, ongoing adaptive-management tool. The committee next heard SB 411 on capital improvement projects at small boat harbors. DLNR supported the intent, saying the bill would help expedite use of special funds for CIP work, while the Department of Budget and Finance opposed it, arguing the draft could conflict with constitutional limits on appropriations. Public testimony from an industry representative supported the bill and urged more collaboration with commercial operators, while committee discussion focused on whether DLNR could already use special funds for repairs, how much engineering and bidding work is required before projects go out to bid, and whether the current process creates bottlenecks when bids exceed initial estimates. DLNR said it can do some repairs and maintenance within existing authority and funding ceilings, but that the bill as drafted could be too broad. The committee also heard SB 5 on historic preservation, where DLNR supported the measure and NAOP Hawaii opposed it, saying the bill’s broader definition could expand the scope beyond the stated goal of narrowing reviews and reducing backlog. The committee then took up SB 1462 on the state historic preservation income tax credit. The Department of Taxation said the revenue estimate assumes the cap would be reached each year the credit is available, and DLNR supported the bill. SHPD said the prior credit had sunset, outreach had previously been done in targeted communities such as Chinatown, and owners of eligible historic properties are notified during review. Finally, the committee heard SB 268 on island burial councils. DLNR supported the bill, and OHA strongly supported it, saying the councils have struggled with quorum and expertise and that the measure would restore the original intent of having lineal descendants and cultural practitioners as decision makers, while still allowing landowners and developers to testify and participate. OHA also said it would help provide technical support and urged continued involvement from SHPD and the Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a series of questions here, but one quick process question: I do see that the bill amends Chapter
• I would just say, I mean, again, this is, I think it's even House rules that any bills that amend Chapter
• I have a series of questions here, but one quick process question: I do see that the bill amends Chapter
• I have a series of questions here, but one quick process question: I do see that the bill amends Chapter
• I would just say, I mean, again, this is, I think it's even House rules that any bills that amend Chapter

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• 28.440><c> in</c><00:09:28.800><c> 52</c><00:09:29.480><c> 9</c><00:09:29.800><c> 6</c> forget what chapter
• they're in 52 9 6 forget what chapter they're in 52 9 6 something<00:09:30.600><c> like</c><00:09:30.760
• The county is committed to transparency in local government, and as we look to improve chapter 13, we
• the delete-all amendment removes the language that would have modified the definition of records in chapter
• The language that would have modified the definition of records in chapter 138 would have created an

Bills: HF25 , HF1 , HF428

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices

Transcript Highlights:

• know, the Wetland Conservation Act is a component of one of those statutes that Miss Fish showed, Chapter
• that Miss fish one of those statutes that Miss fish showed<01:12:12.000><c> uh</c><01:12:12.159><c> chapter
• </c><01:12:12.440><c> 103g</c><01:12:13.600><c> primarily</c><01:12:14.600><c> and</c> showed uh chapter
• 103g primarily and showed uh chapter 103g primarily and that<01:12:15.040><c> protection</c><01:12:15.480
• <01:13:23.800><c> statute</c><01:13:24.280><c> which</c><01:13:24.400><c> is</c><01:13:24.560><c> chapter

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We are empowered with certain powers and authorities through state statute, particularly Chapter 469,
• We are empowered with certain powers and authorities through state statute, particularly Chapter 469,
• So the law that went, Chapter 469, went into effect in 1974.
• so the law counties or by special law so the law that<00:02:52.159><c> went</c><00:02:52.599><c> chapter
• 469 went into effect that went chapter 469 went into effect in in in 1974<00:02:56.120><c> a</c><00:

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the provisions related to child protection are found in Minnesota statutes, chapters 260E, which
• is the Maltreatment of Minors Act, and chapter 260C, which is more about children in need of protection
• Reporting of maltreatment of minors is found in chapter 260E.
• These terms are individually defined in statute in this chapter as well.
• Chair and members, so the DHS background studies, I would recommend looking at chapter 245C in statute

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Retirement Board denied the request, arguing that judicial retirement allowances under General Law Chapter

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 20th hearing of the 194th General Court to consider late-filed bills, with testimony limited to three minutes and written testimony accepted by email or mail. The committee heard several retirement-related bills and requests for creditable service or retirement adjustments, including H5246 for Jason Mitrecy, who sought credit for prior Vermont correctional service toward his Massachusetts Probation Service retirement, and a Beverly police chief retirement bill supported by Rep. Hannah Bowman and Chief John Lachillard, who asked to remain in service a bit longer and noted the bill had been updated to include age and health-exam language. The committee also heard from Danny DeLorati, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Judges Conference, in support of H5359/S3800, which would allow judges to receive military creditable service under the same terms as other state employees. He explained that the State Retirement Board had previously denied such credit to judges under existing law, and argued the change would correct an inequity for veteran judges. Committee members generally expressed support, emphasizing the need to get the language right and noting the bill’s broad veteran coverage. Finally, Alex Seminello testified about a dispute with the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System over buying back eight years of Rhode Island service after MTRS had initially approved the transaction and accepted more than $100,000 in transferred funds. He said he retired based on that approval, later learned the credit would not be honored, and was left with a much lower pension than expected. Senator Montigny then spoke in strong support of the petition. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned the meeting at the end.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the lumber and building materials industry were recognized through his presidency of the Boston chapter

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed several local bills, including a measure authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the town of Randolph. The sponsor spoke in support, describing the bill as a home rule petition intended to improve access, civic participation, and voter turnout for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population. The bill was read a third time and passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed a bill authorizing the Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It received a Ways and Means report on House No. 4683, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, recommending amendment by substitution of the text in Senate document No. 2924; the chamber suspended the rules to consider the order forthwith and adopted it. The Senate further suspended rules to process several Senate petitions and local matters, and then enacted bills amending the Provincetown charter, establishing the appointed town clerk position in Avon, and authorizing Westwood to reissue and grant certain alcohol licenses. Later, the Senate referred a House petition concerning retirement benefits for Valeria Dorazio to the Committee on Public Service after suspending Joint Rule 12. It then adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for a Plymouth bill, changing it to validate and confirm certain acts and proceedings of Plymouth officials, and passed the bill to be engrossed. The session also included remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and upcoming facility move, followed by a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan, which was adopted after a moment of silence. The Senate adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ordered, that by the authority of Article 4, Section 2 of Chapter 1 of the Constitution, the Senate declares

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted an order declaring the First Middlesex District seat vacant following the death of Edward J. Kennedy, with a precept issued for a special election on March 3, 2026. The chamber also adopted a resolution congratulating the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on its 50th anniversary and observed a moment of silence in memory of Mary O'Connor Blancher, with remarks honoring her service as an educator and longtime Sturbridge public servant. The Senate then advanced several local and special legislation items, generally by unanimous consent and voice vote. These included bills on residency limits for Wells police and fire personnel, a Boston police age waiver for Antonio Perez, additional liquor licenses for Palmer, cemetery-related and treasurer-payment matters in Norton, increasing the Lanesborough select board, bond-related legislation, and a Quincy telecommunications revenue bonds bill that was amended with a new draft before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Massachusetts Water Resources Authority service bills for parcels in Sharon, adopting emergency preambles and passing them to engrossment, and a bill removing Hull from regional commissions on the status of women. The Rules Committee reported several matters for immediate consideration, including suspensions of rules and Joint Rule 12 for certain Senate petitions. The Senate also adopted a special order governing future consideration of House No. 4615, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, setting deadlines and procedures for amendments and requiring immediate third reading and engrossment after amendment. The session closed with remarks recognizing Diwali and wishing the clerk a happy birthday, followed by adjournment to meet again on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in formal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• properties eligible for a homestead exemption and clarifying that such actions are consistent with Chapter

Transcript Highlights:

• in relation to establishing the Natural Carbon Sequestration Research Program, to amend Part W of Chapter

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, met to consider a series of energy, utility, housing, and labor-related bills. The committee discussed Senator Parker’s clean hydrogen bill authorizing NYSERDA to administer programs to fund clean hydrogen projects, with members debating how it would be financed through NYSERDA’s system benefit charge and RGGI funds and whether there should be a fiscal estimate. Despite concerns from some members about cost transparency and the use of ratepayer-supported funds, the bill advanced to the Finance Committee with three without-recommendation votes. The committee also advanced Senator Parker’s bill directing NYSERDA to study hydrogen feasibility, Senator Gonzalez’s Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Program bill, Senator Hinchey’s natural carbon sequestration research program bill, Senator Gineris’s bill increasing penalties for utility annual report failures, Senator Comrie’s EV charging fee transparency bill, and Senator Parker’s battery energy storage workforce and labor standards bill. Senator Comrie’s outage hotline bill moved to third reading, while Senator Parker’s renewable hydrogen center program bill advanced despite a technical objection that a deadline in the bill had already passed, and the battery storage bill was referred to the Labor Committee. Several bills drew specific concerns. On the outage hotline bill, members questioned whether small municipal electric and water systems should be exempted rather than required to petition for an exemption, and one member said they would not support the bill without a carve-out. On the annual report penalty bill, members asked about the lack of documentation for the penalty increase and whether municipal utilities would be affected; the sponsor explained the penalty was updated from a 1900-era statute to reflect inflation and that municipal utilities file with the PSC. On the EV charging transparency bill, a member suggested the bill should also require credit card payment options, not just prohibit mobile-device-only payment. On the battery storage labor bill, members asked whether remote operations would count as on-site work and whether out-of-state remote monitoring would be covered; the sponsor said that was the intent and would follow up with labor counsel on residency questions. The committee concluded by adjourning after moving the listed bills forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the chapter. I mean, if you were to look through the bill, the, you know, the...

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• McDonald's operators have raised more than $1.3 million for local RMHC chapters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24 through 25.

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, voter registration, voter eligibility, felony disenfranchisement, restoration of voting rights, formerly incarcerated, reentry, parole, probation, supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds the same definition of public building used earlier in the same chapter and makes it change the

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee held an open hearing on House Bill 3006, which would create a state coordinator position to identify and recover federal funds appropriated to Missouri but never disbursed. The sponsor said the bill is aimed at broadband and other federal programs that failed to deliver promised money, arguing the state should have a mechanism to pursue those funds and that the expected recoveries would far exceed the cost of the new position. Members asked about the coordinator’s authority, the role of the Attorney General, and whether the bill would apply to pass-through funds or individual claims; the sponsor said it was intended for funds owed to the state, not for local or individual pass-through disputes. No testimony in favor or opposition was recorded, and the hearing concluded without a vote on HB 3006. The committee then moved into executive session and took up several bills. House Bill 2288 was brought up for a do pass vote and failed on a roll call vote of 5 ayes and 7 noes. House Bill 3000 was then considered and passed unanimously, 12 ayes and 0 noes. The committee next considered House Bill 313. A substitute was adopted after a brief explanation that it added a definition of “public building” used elsewhere in the chapter and made a grammatical change. The House Committee Substitute for HB 313 then received a do pass recommendation by a vote of 11 ayes and 1 no, and the meeting adjourned.