Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; Right. Any questions for sponsor? &gt;&gt; Right. Any questions for sponsor?
• Is that right?
• All right. Thanks, sir.
• All right. Thanks, sir. We'll Okay. All right. Thanks, sir.
• Is that<00:48:19.760><c> right?

Bills: SB62 , HB361 , HB244 , HB377 , HB411 , HB422 , HB423 , HB425 , SB16 , HB452 , HB354 , SB62 , HB361 , HB244 , HB377 , HB411 , HB422 , HB423 , HB425 , SB16 , HB452 , HB354

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: SB62, Alabama, conservation and natural resources, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife heritage license, license identification, government-issued ID, residency determination, in-state residency, student residency, tuition classification, public higher education, domicile, resident status, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, Section 9-11-32, Section 9-11-33, Section 16-64-3

Transcript Highlights:

• People are hurting right now.
• People are hurting right now.
• right.
• All right. Come on, W. Jax. You Haitian. Is Haitian Heritage Month? All right.
• All right. If he doesn't want to. All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right. Good.
• These are permits, right?
• All right. if it's the if it's a study. All right.
• Um right, rules are a great plans? Um right, rules are a great place,<01:14:33.679><c> right?
• right now.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• All right. Thank you, sir. Next &gt;&gt; It does. All right. Thank you, sir.
• All<00:19:29.360><c> right.
• </c><00:20:09.120><c> the</c> right, not only the right, the right, not only the right, the obligation
• </c> the right ones. the right ones.
• </c> address the Medicaid budget right now. address the Medicaid budget right now.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, thank you, Senator.
• All right. Any other comments? All right, thank you very much. And any testifiers? No testifiers.
• All right, well, thank you, Senator.
• </c><00:52:57.599><c> any</c><00:52:57.760><c> other</c> all right any other all right any other comments
• </c> uh helps schools that need it all right uh helps schools that need it all right well<00:53:13.319

Bills: HF827 , HF1258 , HF2387 , HF2388 , HF2534 , HF2016

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Right, right, sorry. Yes, this was newly created last...
• All right, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Joy.
• All right, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• All right.
• We're not building new roads as in here's a brand new right of way, nothing but pasture right now. ..

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Right?
• Right?
• Right?
• Right?
• </c> approximately 6 and a half% right approximately 6 and a half% right now<00:47:32.400><c> so</c><

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> right. So, um, I look forward to it. right. So, um, I look forward to it.
• All right. We'll move that.
• Right.
• All right. My apologies. We're on the Leeling A1. All right. No comments hearing.
• All right. My apologies. We're on the Leeling A1. All right. No comments hearing.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So it'll be right here. Oh, there's one hanging by the door. Was that Betsy's? All right.
• So it'll be right here. out there. So it'll be right here.
• All right. So yeah, Was that Bets's? All right.
• It's been a hard work, right? closure. It's been a hard work, right?
• And I think that's it then, right?<01:37:25.440><c> So</c> right? So right?

Transcript Highlights:

• You just heard Jess highlight that data point, right?
• But it's important, right?
• All right.
• All right.
• And I said it cannot be right.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held an introductory informational hearing for the new session, with Chairs Marjorie Decker and Senator Michael Driscoll outlining the committee’s scope and emphasizing the impact of the federal landscape on Massachusetts public health. They noted the hearing would focus on testimony from agencies and advocates, with short testimony limits due to the hybrid format. No votes were taken; the meeting was for briefing and discussion of priorities. Commissioner Robbie Goldstein of the Department of Public Health described the department’s budget and federal funding, warning that recent CDC grant terminations could cut nearly $100 million and affect lab testing, surveillance, vaccines, and community engagement. He highlighted DPH priorities including racial equity, maternal health, substance use and child welfare coordination, emergency preparedness, data transparency, and public hospital quality. MassHealth Assistant Secretary Michael Levine discussed MassHealth’s role covering about 2 million residents and its priorities in health equity, behavioral health, primary care, member independence, and customer service, while noting the agency relies heavily on federal Medicaid dollars and would face major strain from federal cuts. Several advocacy and provider groups focused on reproductive health and maternal health. Planned Parenthood warned of threats to Title X, 340B savings, and other federal funding, and supported a bill to eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass for abortion care for young people. Reproductive Equity Now urged stronger shield-law protections and changes to Massachusetts’ later-abortion framework. Dr. Indyamaka Anugaka called for full implementation of the maternal health law, better reimbursement for doulas and midwives, stronger data collection, and support for full-spectrum pregnancy care coverage. The Health Policy Commission said new maternal health and primary care task forces would begin work soon. Mental health and health system access were also major themes. The Mass Medical Society urged action on vaccine hesitancy, removal of non-medical school vaccine exemptions, and primary care reform. The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health and the Children’s Mental Health Campaign opposed proposed cuts to DMH and substance use services, called for more school-based supports, and raised concerns about inpatient capacity, including a unit serving LGBTQ youth. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and 1199 SEIU warned that staffing shortages, low wages, workplace violence, hospital closures, and possible Medicaid cuts threaten patient care and the health care workforce. The Betsy Lehman Center also urged investment in automated patient-safety monitoring to reduce harm and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:40.240><c> now</c><00:20:40.360><c> are</c> applications right now are applications right
• And right next to that link is the reporting UI fraud.
• </c> don't don't think it's it's it's right don't don't think it's it's it's right for<01:02:59.079><
• I couldn't agree more, right?
• </c><01:32:36.000><c> here</c> um oh you had I have my own right here um oh you had I have my own right

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disability determination. disability determination.
• I'm here disability and elderly motans.
• </c> way that we just don't have to do right way that we just don't have to do right now.<00:54:28.319
• </c> We're arguing about this right here. We're arguing about this right here.
• But I think we got to put right now.

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the sub health supplemental budget bill, and moved it to the Ways and Means Committee after a walkthrough of the fiscal spreadsheet and the DE1 amendment. Nonpartisan staff explained that the bill produces general fund savings of about $2.4 million in FY27 for the 2026-27 biennium and about $97.7 million in the next biennium, with most savings tied to HR1-related Medical Assistance changes affecting adults without children. The Department of Health provisions were described as largely cost-neutral, with some increases for implementation, data, and IT work. Staff then reviewed the DE1, which combines several bills into four articles. The bill includes health licensing board changes, Department of Health provisions such as all-payer claims database fees, newborn screening fee exceptions, loan forgiveness and scholarship program extensions, workforce shortage grant changes, and reciprocal licensure and mortuary science provisions. The federal conformity article makes changes related to MA work and community engagement requirements, six-month renewals, retroactive eligibility limits, contact information updates, cost sharing for MA expansion enrollees, and related provider tax and disability-notice provisions. Article 4 and Article 5 were described as forecast adjustments for DHS and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Public testimony focused largely on the federal conformity and eligibility provisions. Legal aid testified that the work requirements and retroactive eligibility changes would be confusing, could expand requirements beyond intended groups, and would increase uncompensated care. The Minnesota Hospital Association said shortening retroactive eligibility would increase uncompensated care and strain hospital finances, and Unidos Minnesota criticized the immigrant eligibility changes as harmful to lawfully present immigrants and Native communities. Blood Cancer United supported the all-payer claims database provisions and urged attention to fertility coverage. Representative Elkins offered an amendment to add $55,000 for the Department of Health to include denied-claims data in the all-payer claims database; Department of Health staff said the idea was useful and provided a one-time setup cost, but the amendment was not acted on in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the right services.
• to the right services.
• </c> got him service connected 100% disabled got him service connected 100% disabled and<00:20:22.000
• Or a mental health court, right?
• So or a mental health court, right?

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview of Kentucky’s specialty courts from Audrey Collins of the Department of Specialty Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts, along with testimony from Christian County District Judge Foster Cutoff. Collins described the mission and structure of drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, emphasizing therapeutic jurisprudence, individualized treatment, judicial oversight, and multidisciplinary teams. She said Kentucky currently has about 2,991 active participants across the three court types, with drug courts in all 120 counties, mental health courts in 17 counties, and veterans treatment courts in eight counties. She also highlighted reported outcomes such as 7,658 entrants and 4,384 successful completions from 2020 to 2024, a five-year average completion rate of 57%, and lower recidivism among graduates than the statewide average. Collins also reviewed funding and costs, saying the department’s fiscal year 2025 budget was $18.6 million, with most of it from general funds, plus restricted and federal funds. She noted spending on personnel, treatment services, and drug testing, and said specialty courts allow participants to remain employed and meet obligations such as child support and restitution. She said participants paid more than $5.4 million in child support, restitution, and other court-related obligations over five years, and that a statewide evaluation by Morehead State University is underway. In response to questions, she said a dip in 2024 collections may have been affected by a case management system overhaul, and that court costs can be waived in some indigent cases while restitution is still required. Judge Cutoff described veterans treatment court and mental health court in Christian County, saying the programs are especially important because of the nearby Fort Campbell military community and because they help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, and related issues. He said the courts rely heavily on staff, treatment providers, and the VA, which helps connect participants to benefits and therapy. He also said mental health court participants receive housing, benefits, and medication support, and that the programs can keep people out of jail and help them stabilize. Committee members asked about the legal basis and history of the courts, and Collins explained that Kentucky’s specialty courts began as pilot programs in the mid-1990s, shifted from federal support to state funding around 2008-2009, and are now largely state funded. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know, right? right? right?
• That's That's That's right. right. right.
• Go right. I don't rather than right. Go right. I don't rather than right. Go right.
• All right. All right. And Yes, ma'am. All right. All right. And Yes, ma'am. All right. All right.
• That's right. That's right. Okay. Now, I come right. That's right. Okay. Now, I come right.

Bills: HB 1500 , HJR 7 , HJR 112 , HB 34 , HB 133 , HB 112 , HB 119 , HB 128 , HB 130 , HB 132 , HB 2756 , HB 166 , HB 406 , HB 186 , HB 271 , HB 331 , HB 380 , HB 1583 , HB 1584 , HB 1819 , HB 621 , HB 303 , HB 552 , HB 366 , HB 463 , HB 1211 , HB 1327 , HB 1461 , HB 923 , HB 1760 , HB 2043 , HB 2467 , HB 5333 , HB 5265 , HB 1592 , HB 1576 , HB 1552 , HB 2018 , HB 3511 , HB 1781 , HB 2013 , HB 2340 , HB 2349 , HB 2508 , HB 2970 , HB 2520 , HB 865 , HB 2851 , HB 3385 , HB 3336 , HB 3529 , HB 3309 , HB 1127 , HB 1232 , HB 1397 , HB 4236 , HB 1804 , HB 1926 , HB 4041 , HB 1965 , HB 1964 , HB 2679 , HB 2730 , HB 3698 , HB 3699 , HCR 77 , HB 3354 , HB 163 , HB 201 , HB 272 , HB 333 , HB 405 , HB 519 , HB 569 , HB 654 , HB 694 , HB 791 , HB 1006 , HB 1136 , HB 1240 , HB 1266 , HB 1275 , HB 1437 , HB 1532 , HB 1675 , HB 1842 , HB 1868 , HB 1888 , HB 1894 , HB 1943 , HB 1990 , HB 2029 , HB 2061 , HB 2286 , HB 2523 , HB 2622 , HB 2626 , HB 2652 , HB 2692 , HB 2842 , HB 2885 , HB 2914 , HB 3016 , HB 3096 , HB 3129 , HB 3248 , HB 3251 , HB 3255 , HB 3479 , HB 3611 , HB 3623 , HB 3701 , HB 3724 , HB 3803 , HB 3804 , HB 3805 , HB 3806 , HB 3810 , HB 3816 , HB 3832 , HB 3887 , HB 4127 , HB 4129 , HB 4130 , HB 4131 , HB 4163 , HB 4187 , HB 4229 , HB 4238 , HB 4454 , HB 4588 , HB 4643 , HB 4736 , HB 4738 , HB 4739 , HB 4945 , HB 5015 , HB 5616 , SB 767 , SB 1619 , SB 1738 , HJR 5 , HJR 2 , HB 1399 , HB 388 , HB 114 , HB 205 , HB 2789 , HB 2791 , HB 499 , HB 2960 , HB 3163 , HB 3135 , HB 2427 , HB 1672 , HB 1722 , HB 2618 , HB 879 , HB 1126 , HB 4134 , HB 3513 , HB 1445 , HB 1893 , HB 1734 , HB 3229 , HB 3306 , HB 1276 , HB 3516 , HB 4145 , HB 1585 , HB 4810 , HB 2558 , HB 2742 , HB 1695 , HB 33 , HB 144 , HB 109 , HB 103 , HB 148 , HB 3809 , HB 2217 , HB 220 , HB 2421 , HB 2363 , HB 421 , HB 2455 , HB 3711 , HB 2559 , HB 2775 , HB 3126 , HB 3666 , HB 3595 , HB 3260 , HB 3376 , HB 3826 , HB 3770 , HB 1831 , HB 2614 , HB 3113 , HB 322 , HB 431 , HB 869 , HB 1203 , HB 1244 , HB 1875 , HB 1950 , HB 2152 , HB 2341 , HB 2809 , HB 2856 , HB 3012 , SB 1415 , SB 1058 , SB 487 , SB 1499 , SB 513 , SB 1697 , SB 1197 , SB 1437 , SB 1809 , SB 836 , SB 1879 , SB 1145 , SB 963 , SB 1038 , SB 1147 , SB 914 , SB 711 , SB 1409 , HB 3707 , HB 589 , HB 1360 , HB 2337 , HB 2391 , HB 718 , HB 23 , HB 2436 , HB 1500 , HJR 7 , HJR 112 , HB 34 , HB 133 , HB 112 , HB 119 , HB 128 , HB 130 , HB 132 , HB 2756 , HB 166 , HB 406 , HB 186 , HB 271 , HB 331 , HB 380 , HB 1583 , HB 1584 , HB 1819 , HB 621 , HB 303 , HB 552 , HB 366 , HB 463 , HB 1211 , HB 1327 , HB 1461 , HB 923 , HB 1760 , HB 2043 , HB 2467 , HB 5333 , HB 5265 , HB 1592 , HB 1576 , HB 1552 , HB 2018 , HB 3511 , HB 1781 , HB 2013 , HB 2340 , HB 2349 , HB 2508 , HB 2970 , HB 2520 , HB 865 , HB 2851 , HB 3385 , HB 3336 , HB 3529 , HB 3309 , HB 1127 , HB 1232 , HB 1397 , HB 4236 , HB 1804 , HB 1926 , HB 4041 , HB 1965 , HB 1964 , HB 2679 , HB 2730 , HB 3698 , HB 3699 , HB 3354 , HB 163 , HB 201 , HB 272 , HB 333 , HB 405 , HB 519 , HB 569 , HB 654 , HB 694 , HB 791 , HB 1006 , HB 1136 , HB 1240 , HB 1266 , HB 1275 , HB 1437 , HB 1532 , HB 1675 , HB 1842 , HB 1868 , HB 1888 , HB 1894 , HB 1943 , HB 1990 , HB 2029 , HB 2061 , HB 2286 , HB 2523 , HB 2622 , HB 2626 , HB 2652 , HB 2692 , HB 2842 , HB 2885 , HB 2914 , HB 3016 , HB 3096 , HB 3129 , HB 3248 , HB 3251 , HB 3255 , HB 3479 , HB 3611 , HB 3623 , HB 3701 , HB 3724 , HB 3803 , HB 3804 , HB 3805 , HB 3806 , HB 3810 , HB 3816 , HB 3832 , HB 3887 , HB 4127 , HB 4129 , HB 4130 , HB 4131 , HB 4163 , HB 4187 , HB 4229 , HB 4238 , HB 4454 , HB 4588 , HB 4643 , HB 4736 , HB 4738 , HB 4739 , HB 4945 , HB 5015 , HB 5616 , SB 767 , SB 1619 , SB 1738 , HCR 77

Transcript Highlights:

• All right.
• All right. Thank you. Is there debate on the amendment? All right.
• All right.
• Right.
• All right.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, 11 are filled.
• </c><00:04:14.079><c> 11</c> facilities Authority is appr Right 11 facilities Authority is appr Right
• </c><00:05:45.400><c> now</c> that's why there's confusion right now that's why there's confusion right
• </c><00:10:48.680><c> you</c> right now on school property right you right now on school property right
• </c><00:11:12.680><c> now</c><00:11:12.920><c> right</c> It's unclear right now.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• All right.
• All right. Thank you.
• All right. Is there anyone wishing to provide me-too testimony in opposition? See none. All right.
• All right, there we go.
• All right. And we will... 17. All right, and we will leave the roll open for Mr. Chen. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, then later established quorum and heard several measures. The main policy bills discussed were SB 24, which would restrict investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds for political advertising, lobbying, and efforts against municipal utilities, and SB 283, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, which would strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage facilities after the Moss Landing fire. The consent calendar also included SB 80, SB 491, SB 593, SB 804, and SCR 25, which were taken up without debate. SB 24 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates, who argued that ratepayer money should not be used for political or promotional activity and that current rules lack meaningful consequences. Opponents from the utilities and business community said the bill was too broad, could interfere with shareholder-funded advocacy and legal work, and might unintentionally affect public service communications and expert consulting. Several committee members shared support for the bill’s goal but raised concerns about its breadth, especially around legal fees and communications; the author said he was willing to work on amendments, including on consultant fees, and accepted committee amendments. SB 283 received broad support from firefighters, local governments, utilities, labor, and business groups. Supporters said the bill would improve fire safety, require fire authority consultation and inspections, and prevent battery storage from being sited in unsafe indoor combustible facilities. The author described the Moss Landing fire and said the bill would add standards based on NFPA guidance while preserving local governments’ ability to adopt stricter rules. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee voted SB 283 out 16-0, and SB 24 was also approved after a roll was held open and later closed, ultimately passing 11-1. The consent calendar passed 16-0, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> All<01:17:21.040><c> right.</c> All right. All right.
• </c> community, right? community, right?
• </c> rights are. rights are.
• </c> rights including their Miranda rights. rights including their Miranda rights.
• </c> states' rights. states' rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disability benefits or somewhere else. disability benefits or somewhere else.
• So then incorporating the right amount of training at the right time to the right people.
• Isn't there right now we're headed—we have an error rate above the 6%; is that right?
• <01:15:12.239><c> All</c><01:15:12.320><c> right.
• All right. At this point, we're motions? All right.

Summary: The work session was limited to House Bill 1750, a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Health and Human Services’ SNAP administration. Before testimony, Representative Terski distributed a written statement from Representative Priest for the record. Department officials Karen Heert and Nathan White then walked the committee through a chart showing SNAP participation, federal benefit dollars, and state administrative costs, emphasizing that the benefits themselves do not flow through the state budget. They explained that the reported administrative cost includes overhead and cost-allocation methods used to maximize federal reimbursement, and that the current participant count is about 75,000 with the trend steady in recent years. Members questioned whether the reported costs were stable, how much of the administrative expense was directly tied to SNAP, and whether reducing overhead would lower the need for the appropriation. The department said the cost per participant and per dollar distributed would be lower if SNAP were isolated, but that the broader allocation system also supports federal claiming across multiple programs. Officials said SNAP eligibility is redetermined every six months, that the department processes nearly 50 eligibility programs with about 250 field staff, roughly 70 unfunded positions, and a vacancy rate around 25%. They also said most errors in the program are unintentional and can come from either staff or participant mistakes, and that the department reviews errors to identify systemic fixes. The committee discussed the fiscal impact of the bill and related budget issues. DHHS said the current adjusted authorization for 2026 is about $31 million, but actual spending is expected to be closer to $25–26 million because of vacancies and unfilled positions. Members asked whether the $4.4 million shortfall identified in the fiscal note would come from the rainy day fund; staff said it would not be taken directly from that fund, but would reduce the amount available to flow into it at the end of the biennium. The committee also reviewed Senate Bill 603 FN, which was described as an alternative approach that would require DHHS to transfer funds within its existing budget rather than provide new money; officials said it would simply codify an option the department already has. No vote or final action on House Bill 1750 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, that's right. Secretary Westcott, not Gary. Right, right, right. So sorry. I'm...
• What's right? What's right? 429. Didn't I say? Oh, oh, that's Jacob Landry. Whoops.
• What's right? What's right? 429. Didn't I say? Oh, oh, that's Jacob Landry. Whoops.
• and that we are preserving constitutional rights and to make sure that we are directing this to the right
• I know she's a big victims' rights advocate as well.

Committee: Senate Judiciary C