Transcript Highlights:

• We work at the nexus of art and disability.
• And we partner with 67 disability agencies.
• And we partner with 67 disability agents. ...injuries week in and week out, and we partner with 67 disability
• I'm also a mostly disabled artist myself.
• But also disabling deficits from autism.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing focused on accessibility-related legislation, with the chairs emphasizing ASL and CART accessibility and asking testifiers to speak slowly and clearly. The committee heard testimony first on H.223/S.130, a bill to establish a livable wage for community-based human service workers by reducing the pay gap with state employees. Providers’ Council, Communities for People, the Key Program, and BAMSI all supported the bill, describing persistent wage disparities, high vacancy and turnover rates, and the impact on continuity of care for children, youth, and families. Witnesses said the bill would help recruitment and retention and stabilize services across the Commonwealth. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H.224/S.160, the ACE Act, which would create a dedicated funding source to improve accessibility in the creative economy. Arts organizations and advocates, including Community Access to the Arts, Abilities Dance Boston, Jacob’s Pillow, the Multicultural Arts Center, Northampton Community Music Center, Mass Creative, Open Door Arts, and Monkey House, described barriers such as inaccessible buildings, lack of ASL interpretation and captioning, inadequate lifts and backstage access, and the high cost of renovations. Testifiers said the bill would help smaller and historic institutions make physical and programmatic improvements and allow people with disabilities to participate as artists, workers, and audiences. The committee also heard testimony on H.4180, which would require DDS to consider neuropsychological evaluations when determining eligibility for intellectual disability services. Parents and advocates argued that IQ cutoffs alone can miss significant functional needs, especially for autistic adults and others with complex developmental profiles, and urged broader access to DDS supports. Additional testimony supported S.101 on closed captioning and telecommunications in public areas, and S.158 on requiring restaurants to have some chairs with arms to better accommodate physically disabled and older patrons. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after hearing from the scheduled witnesses and noting a few signups that were not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're blocking traffic, you're blocking entrances, but they really do their best to accommodate the
• The legislature keeps asking more of us, and we just don't have the bandwidth to accommodate it.
• So, with the Americans with Disabilities It really has resulted in an opening of doors for people who
• Is there a particular age when you think that is the appropriate accommodation? How young?
• What does the district pay to the School for the Blind for accommodations and IEPs?

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:08:44.319> HP1685 with disabilities. HP1685 with disabilities.
• help with disabilities?
• people with disabilities.
• people with disabilities.
• people with disabilities.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• November on a record 140,000 ISD exemption across the state and an additional $60,000 for over 65 and disabled
• Women are expected to surrender their safety and their peace of mind to accommodate men pretending to
• They were also concerned... ...I would ask, could the exclusion of broader accommodations conflict with
• existing federal disability organizations?
• What we don't want and what we accommodated for here is that a woman fleeing family violence, if she

Bills: SB15, SB9, SB7, SB1, SB2, SB67, SB15, SB9, SB7

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap

Transcript Highlights:

• With the right support and accommodation, I graduated from St.
• My disability is very visible. However, I also sit before you.
• This is why disability and real ability This is why disability and reliability of these workers is so
• And Elizabeth Watts, people with disabilities.
• .sought accommodations through pupil appraisal, but have not found adequate therapies and accommodations

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to best serve everyone, we have requested people share any accommodations if you need it.
• Our clients are primarily students of color with disabilities, an intersectionality that makes them the
• A student went on an IEP due to a history of trauma and an emotional..." "...disability.
• Sometimes it's due to a misunderstanding of their disability, as was mentioned before in regard to the
• disabled kids that are being traumatized by a lot of issues in the schools.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on two bills: H.5171, an act relative to safer schools, and H.3895, an act expanding career and technical education opportunities for Lynn students. The hearing focused primarily on H.5171, which would limit school resource officers’ role to serious criminal or delinquent conduct, encourage de-escalation and anti-bias training, and create grants for alternative school safety approaches such as restorative justice. Witnesses from the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and the Committee for Public Counsel Services supported the bill, arguing that police involvement in routine school discipline can escalate situations, especially for students with disabilities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They described examples of student encounters with SROs that led to fear, arrest, or other harmful outcomes. Committee members raised concerns about school safety, including gang activity and weapons in schools, and asked whether the bill would remove SROs entirely. Testimony clarified that the bill would not eliminate SROs or their role in responding to actual criminal activity, but would narrow their involvement in discipline and encourage better training. One witness, Joey Ford of Parent Data Force, was neutral on H.5171, saying problems often stem from broader district discipline practices, restraint and seclusion, and inconsistent DESE standards rather than SROs alone. For H.3895, Ford testified in strong support, saying career and technical education had been valuable in his own schooling and helped him develop useful skills and stay engaged in school. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses remained, the committee closed testimony on both bills and adjourned without taking a vote on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The access courses and students with disabilities may also differ.
• That includes graduation rate for students with disabilities dropout rate for students with disabilities
• We are very excited about what's going on for children with Intel little disabilities.
• We have over 440,000 students in the state of Florida with disabilities.
• I don't know the specific answer for students without disabilities have. >> Dr on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cheyenne has a learning disability and an IEP.
• When someone brings up accommodations for disability in response to a conversation about racial and systemic
• I absolutely believe we should support people with disabilities or anyone needing additional accommodations
• Accommodations are offered.
• Accommodations are important, but they don't fix a biased system.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• under the cdcs option in the disability under the cdcs option in the disability waivers<00:04:02.640
• :25.160> the<01:03:25.319> disabled services for the disabled services for the disabled
• <01:14:50.520> process this disability determination process this disability determination
• with disabilities.
• with disabilities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And support the institutions that want to help kids with disabilities and their families with disabilities
• , and you know, we know that research has shown us that children with disabilities who participate in
• Um, we do work with students with disabilities.
• Testifying on behalf of Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.
• I'm a senior Ponzi for attended condo for Developmental disability.

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:

• In short, just giving people with disabilities the right to live their lives.
• They're the 800-pound gorilla that's crushing people with disability.
• As a person with a disability, it is my right to have a service animal.
• Thomas Murphy from the Disability Law Center. Thomas, have you joined? Yes. Good morning.
• I'm a managing attorney with the Disability Law Center.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with the co-chairs introducing House and Senate members and explaining the hybrid format, three-minute testimony guidance, and the deadline for written testimony. The committee then heard extensive testimony on S. 2665, which would require employers to post notice to employees when an I-9 audit or similar federal immigration inspection is underway. Supporters, including immigration attorneys, a pediatrician, a labor leader, and an affected family member, argued the bill would protect privacy, give workers time to gather documents and consult counsel, and reduce fear and wrongful arrests. One witness from Illinois described a similar law there and said it had not caused the problems employers feared, while others said recent ICE enforcement has made notice especially important. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1360, a bill affecting collective bargaining rights for State Police, with the State Police Association arguing that a statutory gap lets departmental rules override their contract and that the bill would restore intended bargaining protections. A separate labor bill, S. 1305, was also briefly supported by the AFL-CIO as part of broader worker-classification protections for app-based delivery drivers. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 2066, which would impose fines on transportation network drivers who refuse rides to people with disabilities using service animals. Testimony from blind and disabled riders, service dog users, advocates, and the Disability Law Center described repeated ride cancellations, drivers pulling away after seeing a service animal, and the difficulty of enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws through MCAD or other agencies. Witnesses said the current system leaves riders without practical recourse because drivers are hard to identify and complaints can take years, and they argued that fines on individual drivers would create a real deterrent. Several witnesses also described the impact on employment, medical appointments, and daily independence. Committee members asked about service-animal verification, whether refusals are ever appropriate, and whether penalties should target drivers or companies; witnesses said legitimate refusals are limited to misbehaving or unsafe animals and that companies already have policies and some training, but enforcement remains weak. The committee also heard from a witness supporting a related bill on rideshare accessibility and from advocates describing broader transportation discrimination issues. One witness discussed a separate proposal to study service-animal denial, and others noted that Uber’s self-identification feature and company policies have not solved the problem. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting ended after the final witnesses on the service-animal bill and a brief organizational discussion about related legislation and committee business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Act and Hawaii statute 489, the public accommodation statute.
• <00:15:46.319> in Council developmental disabilities in Council developmental disabilities
• <00:15:53.160> and Council developmental disabilities and Council developmental disabilities
• > statute 489 uh the public accommodation statute 489 uh the public accommodation statute but<
• I do a lot of advocacy for individuals with disabilities.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Housing and Health and Human Services hearing began with Senate Bill 878, which would extend the sunset date for the state rent supplement program for kupuna to June 30, 2028. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and others. Catholic Charities described a waitlist of seniors at imminent risk of homelessness and said the program helps seniors retain housing or secure units with landlord support. Members asked whether the bill would expand the number of households served; staff said the contract allows up to 127 households and that additional pending households could be funded, but applicants must still go through the program process. Both committees voted to pass SB 878 unamended. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1610 on Ohana Zones. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions supported the measure so long as it did not supplant existing funding, and described the funding as supporting homelessness services and wraparound supports. The Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments, with DHS suggesting a definition of “kali” be added for clarity. The committee chair said the bill would receive technical amendments for clarity and consistency and accepted proposed amendments related to including “tales” in the program; the measure was advanced with amendments, with members voting in favor in both committees. In the joint Health and Human Services and Labor and Technology hearing, Senate Bill 1496 on civil rights and website accessibility drew support from disability advocates and organizations, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the National Federation of the Blind, the Deaf and Blind Task Force, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. Testimony emphasized the need for stronger state protections amid concerns about federal enforcement, while one testifier raised concerns about jurisdiction, minimum contacts, the use of WCAG 2.1 standards, and the bill’s immediate effective date. The committees decided to pass SB 1496 with technical amendments, including adding a defective date to allow further work before conference, and the recommendation was adopted in both committees. Later, the joint Health, Human Services, and Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing took up Senate Bill 404 on service animals. The Attorney General’s office raised a possible constitutional issue and the lack of an enforcement mechanism, while DHS deferred to other agencies. DCAB supported the bill but recommended amendments to identify an enforcement agency and require notices from professionals and sellers of service-animal or emotional-support-animal paraphernalia. Several advocacy and real estate-related groups testified in support. After discussion, the chair recommended deferring SB 404 for further work because of the Attorney General’s concerns, and the hearing adjourned without a vote on the measure. The final joint Transportation, Culture and the Arts, and Health and Human Services agenda heard SB 1526 on a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory and SB 1492 on mobility management; both measures were advanced with amendments or as-is, with SB 1526 sent forward with technical amendments and SB 1492 moved ahead after members noted blank dollar amounts and requested the Department of Transportation provide figures.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we can prevent them from becoming disabling, we should.
• Thank you so much disabling, we should.
• In fact, it's disability and suicide.
• the fourth leading cause of disability the fourth leading cause of disability in<00:08:50.880>
• <00:14:58.639> continued<00:14:59.120> case that accommodates continued case that accommodates

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• discrimination and protections for individuals living with a disability.
• methods and choices for access to accommodation upon request.
• I am a special education and disability justice advocate, but I'm here today also as a parent.
• :54:34.320> but<04:54:34.480> I'm disability justice advocate, but I'm disability justice
• I lost my early childhood to autism discrimination and denial of accommodations.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:58.160> the uh enrollment, accommodating the uh enrollment, accommodating the interest
• I'm doing our best to accommodate every family we can to the extent possible.
• <00:31:16.440> more Middle has space to accommodate more Middle has space to accommodate more
• We have Hawaii Disability Rights Center offering testimony in support.
• > Rights<01:05:51.200> Center We have Hawaii Disability Rights Center We have Hawaii Disability

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education resolutions, beginning with HCR 11 and HR 14, which ask the Board of Education and the State Public Charter School Commission to report on improving access to stable, suitable, and affordable facilities for public charter schools. The Charter School Commission supported the measure, and OHA also supported it while noting long-standing facility challenges, the lack of a dedicated facilities appropriation, and the strain on charter schools that have had to use operating funds for buildings and temporary structures. Kealakehe Academy, Hawaii Technology Academy, and several individuals also testified in support. The committee then took up HCR 181 and HR 171, which seek a shared decision-making committee to develop an action plan for a K-12 Ka Waihona School in Kapolei. The Department of Education said it has already developed a strategic plan for Kaipuni education, has expanded immersion programs over the past decade, and is addressing growth through interim guidance and a new priority placement process. Community witnesses, including representatives of Ke Alo Ever, strongly supported the resolutions, emphasizing the need for a K-12 pathway, the importance of Hawaiian language and culture, and the role of community voice in planning. They argued that teacher shortages, especially for licensed Hawaiian immersion teachers, remain a major barrier and proposed a kumu recruitment and retention program tied to community, UH, and DOE partnerships. The committee also heard HCR 187 and HR 177, which urge the Department of Education to begin initiatives to address teacher retention statewide. DOE and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education said teacher retention is already being addressed through the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee, a five-year plan focused on building capacity, improving satisfaction, and compensation, and a new DOE human resources plan. In response to questions, DOE said it is seeking better school-level data on why teachers leave, is preparing for contract negotiations, and is working with the standards board and DLIR on an apprenticeship-related grant. TECC representatives said the group has been working since the pandemic era, may narrow its focus to retention as the most actionable area, and expects to provide more concrete recommendations in its annual report. The transcript ends as the committee moves on to the next item, HCR 47 and HR 43, without showing any votes or final actions on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would strand disabled Texan voters without a ride to the polls.
• The Chair calls Molly Broadway with Disability Rights Texas.
• To be very quick, Disability Rights Texas supports this bill.
• injury, Kathy Hagler: but we accommodate the disabled because they want to vote in person with curbside
• not treat people with disabilities differently than everybody else simply because they have a disability

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:51:02.640> us would you be able to uh accommodate us would you be able to uh accommodate
• I think if we can borrow from the American Disabilities Act, we're trying to do reasonable accommodations
• disability disability um and<02:22:18.319> so<02:22:18.800> I<02:22:19.120> I'll
• register in person due to a disability register in person due to a disability so<02:22:44.479>
• need to be made, make accommodations, but then also make sure that those accommodations are sufficient

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• whether they have a disability or not. whether they have a disability or not.
• disability? disability?
• are disabilities or without disabilities are disabilities or without disabilities are in<01:32
• kids that have an IEP or a disability. kids that have an IEP or a disability.
• of an identified disability. of an identified disability.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, in terms of have there been any issues with students not receiving a reasonable accommodation, there
• <00:30:39.520> Um um a medical or temporary disability.
• Um um a medical or temporary disability.
• , receiving a reasonable accommodation, receiving a reasonable accommodation, there<00:32:13.120>
• modifications and accommodations. modifications and accommodations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:11.560> in and developmental disabilities in and developmental disabilities in 1946
• greatly benefit the disability community.
• accommodations—barriers that limit opportunities and independence.
• housing and public accommodations housing and public accommodations barriers<00:02:55.360> that
• discrimination against disabled discrimination against disabled individuals<00:03:30.000> is<

Keywords: 1183, house