Transcript Highlights:

• And the third part I would say is that, overarching all of this, a major change in the global economy
• And the third part I would say is that, overarching all of this, a major change in the global economy
• And the other part is the major policy provisions, so the work requirement, for example, don't go into
• And I know we'll hear from Director Palfrey as well, but I think as we navigate these major concerns
• You saw use of reserves, you saw increases in taxes, and you saw major cuts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• providing the state Transportation commission with bonding authority to the tune of $1.5 billion for major
• The, I think there was a, a question earlier that one of the major drivers of, uh, the Declines in our
• Uh, so the map of the, the, the map of New Mexico and the two major interstates, I-40, I-10.
• We started, uh, we started shifting to the purchase of, uh, major supplies like steel and aluminum to
• So you, we, to answer your question, we are absolutely ensuring that those major freight corridors are

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority leader Aguiar-Curry moves and Mr.
• Thank you, Madam Majority Leader. Members, we are going to vote twice here.
• Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized for your motion.
• Majority leader is asking for an aye vote.
• Madam Majority Leader moves and Ms. Macedo seconds.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I move the adoption of the majority report for the 2025-2026 session.
• report and a generally a majority report and a minority<00:14:36.959> report.
• majority report and a minority report. majority report and a minority report.
• /c><00:37:29.200> minority<00:37:29.839> in the majority and the minority in the majority
• > report,<00:57:00.720> please adopting the majority report, please adopting the majority

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:24:30.500> [snorts] having some major construction [snorts] having some major construction
• a a major a a major hard<00:25:12.080> time<00:25:12.440> trying<00:25:12.760>
• So, it's a major thing, and with the fact that the city of St.
• This would be elevated to a major This would be elevated to a major concern,<00:26:04.080> which
• So, it's a major thing and wanted to.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• order of House of January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority
• between the parties, with time equally allotted between the parties and each member other than the majority
• COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE, INVESTING IN MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
• This is consistent with what we've seen from the Republican majority. Mr.
• This is consistent with what we've seen from the Republican majority. Mr.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• um 83% of our sworn staff the majority um 83% of our sworn staff the majority of<00:23:36.880>
• Commander which is our currently major Commander which is our currently major Brendan<00:23:44.080
• overseen by the bureau Commander Major overseen by the bureau Commander Major Bill<00:33:27.519>
• <00:58:27.799> question three years ago that's a major question three years ago that's a major
• <02:28:13.880> of will probably see that the majority of will probably see that the majority

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met for an opening/orientation session in which members introduced themselves and explained their interest in the committee. Several members noted backgrounds in trucking, piloting, boating, motorcycles, road safety, or constituent concerns about transportation issues. The chair also noted several absent members and said the committee would first hear agency presentations before covering committee procedures. The Department of Safety gave the main presentation, outlining its seven divisions and how they relate to transportation policy and the Highway Fund. The assistant commissioner emphasized that Highway Fund revenue supports both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety, with collections coming largely from the road toll/gas tax, DMV fees, and the new electric vehicle surcharge. He also noted that 12% of Highway Fund revenues go to local road repair through the DOT Betterment Fund, and warned that the fund has had a structural deficit for several biennia, requiring General Fund transfers that may be uncertain this session. He said the department aims to provide data and fiscal context on legislation and fiscal notes. State Police then provided a detailed overview of its structure and operations, including the Operations Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, and Justice Information Bureau. Testimony highlighted Troop G’s role in vehicle inspections, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, fraud investigations, and consumer complaint handling, as well as statewide staffing shortages. The division reported rising calls for service, motor vehicle stops, DWI arrests, and other arrests despite a vacancy rate of about 17%. It also described aviation, K-9, bomb squad, special events response, SWAT, narcotics, major crime, forensic laboratory, and other specialized units, with statistics on drug seizures, investigations, and lab workload. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recognizing the Deputy Majority Leader. Has everyone recorded their presence?
• Recognizing the Majority Leader. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Recognizing the majority leader. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Recognizing the<00:29:37.600> majority<00:29:38.080> leader.
• the majority leader. the majority leader.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 9, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, established a quorum, and approved the previous day’s journal. The main formal action was the reading and adoption of a House resolution honoring the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for their World War II service, with remarks emphasizing their role in clearing a massive mail backlog, supporting troop morale, and breaking barriers for African American women in the military. The resolution was read in full and presented on March 9, 2026. The chamber then handled introductory legislation and Senate messages on consent calendars. House Bills 1632 through 1642 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives 62 through 65 were referred to Appropriations. Senate Bill 439 was introduced in the House and referred to Economic Matters, and Senate Bill 69 was introduced and referred to Government, Labor, and Elections. No objections or recorded votes were noted on these referrals. The remainder of the meeting consisted largely of caucus and guest announcements. Members announced upcoming caucus meetings, a high school shadow day, an Iftar dinner hosted by the Muslim and Women’s Caucuses, a Women’s Caucus election with in-person and remote voting times, and other constituent and guest recognitions, including District nights and visits from AFSCME Maryland Council 3, the Junior League of Annapolis, foster youth participants, and student pages. The House then adjourned on motion of the Majority Leader until Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the major lines that go down.
• The major thoroughfares that deliver power to than 8 to the neighborhoods.
• We had Debbie Alina noting Alina known being, you know, major Hurricanes.
• during these 3 major storms.
• The majority of our customers were actually restart already.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, yes, Madam Majority Leader.
• Thank you, Madam Majority Leader. All right. Uh, let's move.
• Oh, yes, Madam Majority<00:15:16.720> Lead. Majority Lead. Majority Lead.
• Thank you, Madam Majority<00:16:03.759> Leader.
• in session recognizing the majority in session recognizing the majority leader. leader. leader.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Majority Leader Nisa. um representative Nisa or Majority um representative Nisa or Majority
• <00:21:17.760> in testimony the approach the majority in testimony the approach the majority
• The decision made a major change in that office.
• the case the decision made a major the case the decision made a major change<00:36:18.240> in
• Sorry, Majority Leader Nisa...

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the oil, the majority of oil and gas in the state, we get a whole lot of attacks, so we need
• The vast majority of work. formed by the district is done by consultants.
• The vast majority of our fleet is closer. to the 25-year mark. We found one boat that was 10 years.
• We've had 12 major, major attacks that we found, but we found it because an employee accidentally did
• They are the ones awarding the majority of the contracts. And they are slow. We all know that.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader, yes, Mr. Speaker.
• Majority Leader. Yes, Mr.
• Majority Leader. Yes, Mr.
• Majority Leader Carbone: Yes, Mr.
• Majority Leader. Yes, Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Guests of Majority Leader Duran. Please join us for the pledge of allegiance.
• Thank you. >> Thank you, Assistant Majority Leader Bacon and Representative Hartzook.
• Thank you, Assistant Majority you.
• [Applause] Thank you, Madam Majority Leader. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Okay, it's okay, Madam Majority Leader. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Having said that, I am certainly open to the idea of a majority opinion and a minority opinion, or more
• <00:05:48.880> uh<00:05:49.039> OB3<00:05:49.600> made<00:05:49.840> major
• <00:05:50.160> changes put together. uh OB3 made major changes put together. uh OB3 made major
• opinion and a the idea of a majority opinion and a minority<00:07:42.160> opinion<00:07:43.599
• Those responses having been received, I agree with the majority report. Thank you.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Committee to Study Long-Term Managed Care met to approve the prior minutes and then focused on its final report. The chair reviewed the committee’s earlier options—maintaining the status quo, adopting DNIP, adopting an HCBS carveout model, or moving fully to managed care for the aging population—and noted that ABD and developmental disabilities had already been excluded from consideration. He proposed a final recommendation that New Hampshire consider adopting DNIP as a voluntary option to better coordinate Medicare and Medicaid for dual eligibles, reduce duplication, and create a possible pathway toward future managed care, while acknowledging that a majority and minority report could be issued if needed. Members generally supported the draft recommendation and asked questions about whether federal budget changes would incentivize states to move in that direction, how the proposal would align with current department efforts, and whether the program would remain voluntary. Director Henry Litman said he did not see a specific federal mandate in OB3, but noted incentives in rural health transformation funding and said the proposal aligned with existing managed care contract direction. He and others emphasized that DNIP should be voluntary and that implementation timing would need to account for federal deadlines and broader changes facing the department. Members also discussed PACE, with one member saying it appeared feasible mainly in more populous areas and expressing neutrality, while another raised concerns about county risk and the need to preserve patient choice and maintain three MCOs. After discussion, members indicated agreement with the majority report approach and no further changes were proposed. The committee then moved to accept the draft language as presented and issue it as its report; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we are keeping track of it now, and the majority is still not Hike Safe card holders, but the majority
• Uh, we are keeping track of it now, and the majority is still not Hike Safe card holders, but the majority
• <01:05:47.839> is track of it now and the majority is track of it now and the majority is
• I the majority are not reckless either.
• Uh thank you, uh Major Mr. Chairman.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A majority of who we have are within that four-year time frame.
• A majority of who we have are within that four-year time frame.
• Moving forward, we will outline the major areas of increased funding.
• So the vast majority, though, are National Guard. National Guard.
• So the vast majority, though, are National Guard. National Guard.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:50.160> sources our funding we have four major sources our funding we have four major
• We have served in major initiatives that the U.S. government has taken.
• So we have had a major impact, and we hope to continue making this major impact.
• So we have had a major impact, and we hope to continue making this major impact.
• <00:43:22.280> Impact and uh so we have had a uh Major Impact and uh so we have had a uh Major

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry moves and Mr.
• Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized for For your procedural motions. Good morning.
• The majority leader, members, the majority leader moves and Assemblymember Garcia seconds her motion.
• Majority leader is asking for an aye vote. Mr. Flora is asking for a no vote.
• Madam Majority Leader, you may continue.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader Rodriguez. >> Thank you, Mr. President.
• Majority Leader Rodriguez. >> Thank you, Mr. President.
• Majority Leader Rodriguez. >> Thank you, Mr. President.
• Majority Leader. Thank you.
• Majority Leader. Thank >> Very good. Mr. Majority Leader.

Keywords: 981, all