Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to all the women at the Capitol, especially our union tradeswomen in construction.
• Thank you to all the women at the Capitol, especially our union tradeswomen in construction.
• For too long, opportunities for women in construction have felt out of reach.
• In union construction, that gap disappears entirely.
• Colleagues in the gallery, I'd like to introduce women in construction.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When a violation is found, the state building inspectors do have jurisdiction in the construction of
• My son's school called, so I left and I came back and heard the last piece.
• teams, and it will assist with compensation as well as equipment purchases with those teams.
• It'll assist with training with those teams, and it will assist with compensation as well as equipment
• But it’s all about the older buildings, because new construction has to have these.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Public Safety and Homeland Security Joint Committee heard testimony on several bills focused on accessibility, fire safety, and transportation safety. House 2569, expanding adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors, drew broad support from Rep. Christine Barber, disability advocates, and members of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. Witnesses said the bill would close gaps in the Architectural Access Board’s authority, require more adaptable housing in rehabs and older conversions, and extend accessibility requirements to employee-only work areas. They emphasized the shortage and cost of accessible housing, the benefits for aging in place, and the risk of institutionalization when accessible units are unavailable. The committee also heard strong support for House 2577, which would allow local fire departments to inspect and enforce fire code compliance in state-owned buildings. Rep. Robert Cataldo and Boston Fire Chief Pat Ellis described this as closing a long-standing loophole that leaves state properties outside local fire-code enforcement, despite the hazards posed by aging state buildings and life-safety systems. Fire service representatives also supported bills to create a statewide technical rescue system under the Department of Fire Services, standardizing training, equipment, funding, and coordination across regional rescue teams, and they backed related fire-safety measures including sprinkler-related legislation and professionalism measures. Rep. James O’Day testified for House 2676, which would require window screens to prevent child falls, arguing it is a common-sense safety measure and noting recent fatal incidents. Ann Shuey and John Kalura testified for House 2601, which would require motor coach passengers to wear seat belts, citing a family tragedy, low seat-belt use, and research showing signage can improve compliance. Steven Poglisi of NAGE supported House 2568, requiring carbon monoxide alarms in public buildings, describing a past CO exposure incident involving a union member. The committee took no votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• districts in the Tachinite school districts in the Tachinite assistance<00:23:48.799><c> area</c><00
• There is not a school in the state of Minnesota, public school or charter school, that's not in layoffs
• There is not a school in the state of Minnesota, public school or charter school, that's not in layoffs
• There is not a school in the state of Minnesota, public school or charter school, that's not in layoffs
• Recognizing this urgent need, our health fund recently retained a new employee assistance program, offering

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> coordinated construction of facilities. coordinated construction of facilities.
• , you know, after-school program, child care, substance abuse treatment, um, a safe meeting place to
• </c><01:54:03.679><c> program,</c><01:54:04.080><c> child</c><01:54:04.400><c> care,</c> after school
• program, child care, after school program, child care, substance<01:54:05.199><c> abuse</c><01:54:05.599
• Okay, we have one law school, the... Okay, we have one law school, the Richardson School of Law.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held an informational briefing on violent crime clearance rates and what resources law enforcement and prosecutors need to improve them. Chair and members noted there would be no public testimony. The briefing was led by Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, with later participation expected from state and county law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Clement argued that solving violent crime is a systemwide issue, not just a local police function, and said clearance rates have declined nationally over decades for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. He said Hawaii’s reported data, limited to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, shows overall violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have been relatively flat with a pandemic-era spike followed by declines in 2023 and 2024. He reported that Hawaii’s overall violent crime solve rate fell from about 52% in 2014 to about 40% in 2024, with 2024 rates of 50% for homicides, 48% for aggravated assaults, and 26% each for rapes and robberies. He also estimated unsolved cases over the past three years at about 17 homicides, 3,300 aggravated assaults, 1,200 rapes, and 1,700 robberies. Members asked about victim and witness support, staffing shortages, the Denver example, whether clearance rates include cases not prosecuted, and whether HPD’s size or structure might affect solve rates. Clement said support can include victim-witness programs and coordinators that help maintain cooperation and trust, especially where clearance rates are low. He said resources, training, technology, and detective caseloads matter, citing Boston, Denver, and Omaha as cities that improved solve rates through relatively low-cost operational changes; he highlighted Denver’s increase in non-fatal shooting clearance from 39% to 65% in seven months after dedicating more resources. He said he had no research showing that breaking up a large department would improve solve rates, and noted that clearance data can include exceptional clearances such as victim noncooperation, prosecutorial declination, or a suspect’s death. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO STUDY HOW TO GET CELL PHONES OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS THIS CREATES A PILOT PROGRAM
• GROUNDS OR WHILE ENGAGED IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS DURING THE DAY.
• AUTHORIZES A PRIVATE SCHOOL TO CONSTRUCTIVE FACILITIES ON LAND OWNED BY A CHURCH, LIBRARY, THEATER OR
• EVERY INTENT WAS PRIVATE SCHOOLS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FACILITY ON THE LAND WITHOUT HAVING
• Simon: THE DELETE ALL AMENDMENT ADDS CHARTER SCHOOLS TO THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ENDS IN THE GRANT PROGRAM

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The cap-and-trade. trade program is a tax and spend program.
• Healthy Air Plumbing and Efficiency Program, the CalShade Program, to the Emergency Low Reduction Program
• CRC program.
• TURCIP program and the LCTOP program.
• Thank you. program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• time programs.
• They need a full-day program, a school day, 30 hours.
• The school routinely suspended him.
• Our schools have too many kids like this who are excluded from school precisely when care and learning
• Our schools have too many kids like this who are excluded from school precisely when care and learning

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its sixth public hearing and took testimony on a large slate of bills, with the chair moving H. 542/S. 341 on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care to the top of the agenda so young constituents would not have to wait. Witnesses from labor, community organizations, and FFN providers strongly supported the bill, saying FFN care fills critical gaps for families working nonstandard hours, especially in low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC communities. Testimony emphasized that FFN providers are currently underpaid, often receive only about $24 per child per day, and should be guaranteed at least the state minimum wage. Witnesses also backed changes to the voucher system to allow families to combine formal and FFN care more flexibly, and they supported creating an FFN advisory council. Committee members asked about the difference between FFN and center-based care, registration requirements, fingerprinting/background checks, EEC’s ongoing study group, and the fiscal impact; witnesses said the current annual cost is about $1.8 million and could rise to about $6 million if all current FFN providers were paid minimum wage, still under 1% of the EEC budget. The committee then closed testimony on that bill. The committee next heard testimony on several preschool and universal pre-K bills, including H. 707 on public preschool facilities, H. 687/S. 339 on universal pre-K and mixed delivery, and related bills such as H. 606, H. 523, H. 618, H. 522, H. 510, and H. 615, many of which were later closed without additional witnesses. A Lowell school official testified that space and facilities funding are major barriers to expanding preschool and that the city has hundreds of children on voucher waitlists. Other witnesses and organizations, including the Early Care and Education Consortium and AFT Massachusetts, supported mixed-delivery universal pre-K and warned that public-school expansion should not undermine community-based providers, whose preschool tuition helps subsidize infant and toddler care. Several witnesses also urged stronger standards for preschool teachers, better staffing ratios, and more integrated special education and support services. The committee accepted written testimony on some bills and closed testimony on the others when no one else came forward. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 541/S. 373, which would ban school exclusion in pre-K through third grade. Advocates from Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Mass Appleseed, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, AFT Massachusetts, and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee argued that suspensions and expulsions at young ages harm learning, worsen inequities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They cited data showing disproportionate impacts on Black and Latinx students, students with disabilities, and low-income children, and described personal stories of children whose behavior improved when schools kept them in class and addressed underlying needs. Committee members asked for updated data on the number of students and districts affected, and witnesses said they would provide more detailed written information. After testimony on this and a few other bills, including S. 372, S. 357, and H. 275/S. 133, the committee closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registry or testifying, please let my committee clerk know.
• years to try to get into that one program.
• Testifying on behalf of Goddard School.
• Most centers, um, unlike mine, don't have a partnership with the school district.
• So we are not able to help parents get diagnostic assistance.

Bills: HB74, HB175

Keywords: environmental project, public money, political subdivision, greenhouse gas emissions, federal law compliance, renewable energy, water conservation, retroactive child support, child conception, paternity, family law, health care expenses

Transcript Highlights:

• nor within a quar mile of any program nor within a quar mile of any existing<00:46:00.720><c> assisted
• and both an existing residential program serving six or fewer people and an existing assisted living
• I'm the state executive operations manager for the Assisted Living Program, also over the engineering
• I'm the state executive operations manager for the Assisted Living Program, also over the engineering
• Daphne Ponds: ...manager for the Assisted Living Program, also over the engineering department that has

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Savings are redirected towards road construction, maintenance, and common sense transportation programs
• bridge program.
• </c> electric assisted bicycles. electric assisted bicycles.
• programs.
• programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 6, sorry, on line 16, not page 16, line 16, the Air Service Assistance Program, that's a very
• On page six, sorry, on line 16, not page 16, line 16, the Air Service Assistance Program, that's a very
• The air service assistance program — is that for local airports? So, Mr.
• Item number 155 to the Health Care Authority is for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education
• Oh, so sorry, one on line 58 for the University of New Mexico for a psychedelic-assisted research program

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Income Household Water Assistance Program, providing the needed relief for Californians struggling to
• The California Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, or CA LIHWAP, is a targeted measure that
• The Department of Community Services administers several low-income energy needs assistance programs
• of water, as well as the expiration of the COVID-19 era. assistance programs that many of which Andrea
• I think it is a good thing to look at ways of assisting schools with safety managing these vape pens.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's really to address new construction.
• Several changes to the program, mostly clarifying definitions, increasing access to the program for
• eligible entities, assistance for disadvantaged areas and communities, increased assistance, I mean.
• projects in the program.
• or other DEP program.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard two informational presentations. First, the Department of Environmental Protection gave an overview of Florida’s water quality framework, explaining how numeric nutrient criteria, monitoring, TMDLs, and Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) are used to address impaired waters. DEP described recent changes intended to increase accountability, including five-year milestones in BMAPs, requirements for advanced wastewater treatment by 2033 in certain cases, limits on new conventional septic systems where sewer is available, enhanced nutrient-reducing septic requirements where sewer is not available, and a new agricultural regional water quality improvement element. The department also highlighted the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program, which has received nearly $1.4 billion over four years and funded more than 300 projects, as well as a public dashboard showing funded projects and a forthcoming trend-analysis dashboard for monitoring data. Members asked about enforcement of BMAP milestones, septic-to-sewer coordination with local governments, PFAS and microplastics monitoring, septic system performance standards, wastewater facility compliance, and how many facilities remain below advanced wastewater treatment standards. DEP said it can enforce BMAP obligations through administrative orders, consent orders, court action, fines, and permit conditions, and that it inspects and verifies wastewater facilities while relying on reporting and site inspections for sewer infrastructure. The department also said nutrient-reducing septic systems must achieve a 65 percent reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus, with verification required when projects seek BMAP credit. The committee then heard from the chief resilience officer on the Resilient Florida program, created in 2021 to address sea-level rise and coastal flooding. The presentation reviewed planning grants, vulnerability assessments, and the statewide critical-asset assessment, noting that all counties and most municipalities are expected to complete assessments by the end of 2026 and that vulnerability is now an eligibility requirement for future project funding. The program reported major statewide outcomes, including stormwater storage, miles of infrastructure and roadway protection, acres restored, and coastal protection projects, and highlighted examples such as breakwater improvements and lift-station elevation. Members asked about project delays, funding totals, overlap with other funding sources, and project prioritization; the program said delays often stem from design and permitting after award, that its reported totals reflect only grants it administers, and that projects are scored under the same criteria rather than being prioritized by asset type. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• INTO SUCH ORDINANCE MAY NOT REQUIRE THAT THE OWNER OF THE PARCEL OF WHICH THE DWELLING UNIT IS CONSTRUCTED
• BUT I THINK BACK TO WHERE I WENT TO GRADUATE SCHOOL OR FRANKLY WHERE I AM ABOUT TO BUY A PLACE NOW.
• IN FACT, I CAN THINK OF ONE WHERE THE GRADUATE SCHOOL WHERE IT IS NOT IN FLORIDA.
• PROGRAMS.
• PROGRAMS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school communities.
• Senate Bill 2177 proposes the creation of a state-administered grant program designed to assist law enforcement
• Senate Bill 2177, relating to the creation of a grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies
• Senate Bill 2177, relating to the creation of a grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies
• Senate Bill 2177, relating to the creation of a grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Tedrick Woods, followed by routine chamber actions including excusing Senator Gutierrez and receiving House messages that the House had passed HB 21 and HB 49. Senators also recognized advocates visiting the gallery on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis awareness and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including HCR 66, by voice vote. The Senate then took up and passed a series of measures, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Among the bills finally passed were HJR 2, which would prohibit state death taxes; HB 206, limiting counties from requiring cash bonds for pipeline construction; HB 517, barring property owners associations from fining homeowners for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions; HB 2756, requiring TDCJ correctional officers to receive de-escalation and behavioral health training; HB 451, expanding screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk among children in DFPS and TJJD custody; SB 705, cleaning up the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board; SB 2017, creating an offense for burnouts and wheelies; SB 1858, expanding body armor grant eligibility to ISDs; SB 1400, directing a study on transfer-student outcomes for community college funding; SB 2764, requiring notice to manufactured home buyers about converting homes to real property; SB 748, a licensing cleanup bill on laser hair removal; SB 2519, restricting certain ad valorem tax uses and bonds after amendment; SB 2878, the courts bill with amendments on Brazoria County courts and youth diversion provisions; SB 466, allowing families to request fetal death certificates at any gestational age; SB 1608, requiring timely physical exams for inpatient mental health admissions; SB 1730, limiting civil damages claims arising from certain uses of force or deadly force; SB 2417, clarifying Attorney General antitrust investigation work product and discovery rules; and SB 1946, creating a family violence, criminal homicide prevention task force. The Senate also passed HB 3204, renaming and updating the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, and SB 1986, requiring opioid warning labels. Several bills drew brief debate or amendments. Senators discussed broader HOA reform while considering HB 517, and SB 2203 on TCEQ discovery procedures was amended to require party motions, set a 15-day expiration for certified issues, and limit hearing abatement. SB 2017 was amended to change the mens rea language from knowingly to intentional. SB 2519 was narrowed by amendment to a forward-looking policy statement separating maintenance-and-operation taxes from debt-service taxes. SB 2878 also received amendments to reduce the number of new Brazoria County courts and add youth diversion and crisis-response provisions. SB 466 prompted a floor debate over whether fetal death certificates are appropriate for pre-20-week losses, with supporters emphasizing family closure and opponents arguing the document has no estate-related purpose. SB 1730 also prompted questions about the relationship between criminal findings and civil liability in self-defense cases. The session concluded with additional House and Senate measures being signed in the presence of the Senate and continued consideration of SB 2177, a grant program to help local law enforcement solve violent and sexual offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, which provides support for construction projects
• Trial court construction projects were originally fully supported by the State Court Facilities Construction
• This includes the state court facilities construction fund which provides support for construction projects
• permanently shifted support for new construction programs or projects, excuse me, away from the State
• It's called tilt-up construction.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused on courthouse facility funding and the Governor’s budget proposals for the judicial branch. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the state’s courthouse funding structure, including the Trial Court Facilities Act, the main facility funds, the fixed county facility payment, and the heavy reliance on General Fund backfill. LAO also explained that the state’s construction funds were depleted after large transfers and declining fine-and-fee revenue, leaving a backlog of roughly 80 construction projects and more than 22,000 deferred maintenance projects statewide. Members and witnesses discussed the long timelines for capital projects, the need for reassessments, and the impact of inflation, CEQA, and site acquisition delays. Judicial branch representatives, including Justice Hill, Judge Moorman, and Judge Tapia, testified that courthouses across the state face serious seismic, ADA, security, and maintenance problems. They described cost-cutting efforts in design and construction, but emphasized that many facilities are aging and unsafe, with examples from Los Angeles, Compton, Ukiah, and other courts involving flooding, elevator failures, asbestos issues, and closures that disrupted thousands of cases. Judge Moorman highlighted the Ukiah courthouse replacement as an example of a project that is on time and on budget and would improve access, safety, and community services. Judge Tapia stressed that deferred maintenance in Los Angeles County alone exceeds $1.4 billion and argued that preventive maintenance is fiscally prudent because emergency repairs and closures are more costly. Committee members pressed the panel on how priorities are set, whether caseload and population growth are adequately reflected, how quickly projects can be accelerated, and what level of funding would actually meet statewide needs. The Department of Finance and Judicial Council staff explained that the county contribution is fixed and not inflation-adjusted, that acquisitions require willing sellers and can be delayed by CEQA and market conditions, and that the Judicial Council’s prioritization process was based on 2019 criteria that may need updating. LAO cautioned that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other state priorities and suggested the Legislature decide what level of funding it is willing to support. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for courthouse facilities, which include backfill for the construction fund, selected new construction and judgeship-related projects, and major facility modifications such as the Orange County Central Justice Center and relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to all the women at the Capitol, especially our union tradeswomen in construction.
• For too long, opportunities for women in construction have felt out of reach.
• In union construction, that gap disappears entirely.
• Colleagues in the gallery, I'd like to introduce women in construction.
• Thank you to the Sacramento Regional Builders... ...to introduce women in construction.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer and pledge, and then handled routine procedural business, including dispensing with the journal reading, re-referring AB 2022, and rescinding prior action on SCR 112. Several bills on the second reading file and concurrence file were passed and retained, while reconsideration items were continued. The chamber then moved to third reading items and consent calendar business. The main substantive item was ACR 145, by Assemblymember Koloza, declaring March 1-7, 2026 as National Women in Construction Week. Koloza, Davies, Bauer-Kahan, and Arambula spoke in support, emphasizing the need to expand opportunities for women in the trades, improve apprenticeship pipelines, address barriers such as childcare, transportation, safety, and restroom access, and support women-owned construction businesses. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 67 co-authors were added. On the second-day consent calendar, ACR 135 on School Breakfast Week was also taken up for co-authors, with 66 added, and the consent calendar passed 65-0, including ACR 135, ACR 144, and SCR 122. The Assembly also observed an adjournment in memory for Eileen Hubb, and the house adjourned until Monday, March 9 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Explainable just in that most two-year schools are commuter schools.
• on this campus are in CTE programs, but we're not a tech school.
• When we talk about the degreed programs, it's one facet of how we work together with the science school
• We are at capacity in most of our programs and starting new programs.
• at that school.

Summary: The committee met at North Dakota State College of Science for a presentation from President Flanagan and campus leaders on the college’s mission, enrollment growth, workforce programs, facilities needs, and industry partnerships. Flanagan highlighted student success in national competitions, strong placement and retention, the college’s strategic plan, and new or expanding programs such as aviation maintenance, fire science, dental hygiene, community health worker, surgical technology, HVAC/plumbing, and precision agriculture. He also described the need for a new dorm and a remodel of the library into academic and allied health space, including a simulation center, to address capacity limits and support growth. Several committee members asked about program demand, faculty recruitment, pay competitiveness, and how the college shifts resources from lower-demand programs to high-demand ones. Industry partner Jim Albright of Comdell testified that the college has been essential to the local manufacturing workforce and that many employees and interns come from NDSCS. A major topic was dual credit. Flanagan said dual credit is important but financially challenging, noting that only a small share of dual credit students ultimately matriculate to NDSCS and that the college’s dual credit model is close to break-even. He explained that many dual credit credits are general education rather than CTE, and that the college pays instructors, supports high schools, and absorbs indirect costs. Williston State College President Bernal Herning added that his institution loses money on the front end but has shifted toward helping students complete associate degrees before high school graduation because many go directly to work after high school. Committee members questioned how dual credit is delivered, how instructors are qualified, and whether students are truly doing college-level work. The committee then received a University System presentation from Jamie Wilkie on the cost of delivering dual credit statewide. Wilkie explained the methodology used to allocate direct and overhead costs and said the analysis shows dual credit is not profitable at several institutions once tuition, instructor payments, and overhead are included. Members asked how much of the cost is borne by students, families, and the state, and whether K-12 funding should also be considered. Discussion also covered the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized dual credit, payments to high school teachers or schools, and the possibility of waiving tuition in the future. No votes were taken, and the committee mainly gathered information for the ongoing dual credit cost study.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Sarah Horne, and I'm the Assistant State Director at NFIB Texas.
• I'm an assistant city manager. I'm not an outlaw. Our city...
• I have worked in the pipeline construction industry myself.
• The E-Verify program ensures that these criteria have been met.
• I'm the executive director of the Texas Building and Construction Trades, representing 35,000 construction

Bills: SB324, SB1978, SB2139, SB2401, SB2587, SB2610, SB2858, SB3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, ERCOT, Texas electric grid, interconnection, Public Utility Commission, PUC, Public convenience and necessity, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, electric utility, transmission, generation facilities, grid reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, SERC

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> deed built out a review portal to assist deed built out a review portal to assist us<00:09:01.480
• </c><00:12:37.880><c> now</c> things at NDC all of our programs now things at NDC all of our programs
• Can we only assist?
• program and the grants program have Loan program and the grants program have been<01:04:51.760><c> excellent
• Some funds remain in the program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all