Transcript Highlights:

• Due to this uncertainty, we decided to be conservative in our approach for the first year and budgeted
• Because of the process that was created in that first year of implementation, a portion of that excess
• The reason for that imbalance in favor of transportation is that the last two budgets have seen more
• education and transportation sectors, we will build off the work we have done in the last several budget
• Furthermore, I acknowledge that this bill before us is only one piece of the budget funding that we will

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two ceremonial resolutions: one commemorating the dedication of the Woburn Battle Road Memorial as part of the Massachusetts 250th celebration, and another recognizing May 1-7 as Elks National Youth Week. The chamber then took up House Bill 4005, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill using FY24 Fair Share surtax surplus funds, and ordered it to a third reading before later considering it for passage to be engrossed. During debate on the bill, the House heard a lengthy presentation in support of the proposal, which would direct about $828 million to transportation and $353 million to education. The transportation spending was described as primarily supporting the MBTA, including workforce and safety funding, reserve replenishment, station and infrastructure improvements, reduced fares, and reimbursement for tunnel closure costs, along with smaller amounts for regional transit authorities and unpaved roads. The education side included additional special education circuit breaker funding, vocational school capital, early education workforce supports, early literacy, universal school meals, higher education endowment matches, Green School Works, and ESOL waitlist reduction, with the Inspector General directed to review circuit breaker cost controls. Members then debated several amendments. One amendment related to a school athletics policy was modified by a further amendment calling for DESE analysis before implementation; both the further amendment and the underlying amendment as amended were adopted. A transportation amendment to shift $50 million from MBTA funding to Chapter 90 municipal roads was supported by members emphasizing rural road needs but was rejected on a roll call, 25-120. Another transportation amendment adding at least $300,000 for Route 93 mitigation costs in Medford was adopted, 133-20. The bill itself then passed to be engrossed on a roll call, 140-14. The House also observed moments of silence for former First Lady Kitty Dukakis and for victims of the Santo Domingo nightclub collapse, and later adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning in memory of former Representative Philip W. Johnston.

Transcript Highlights:

• to um basically help balance the budget to um basically help balance the budget that<00:19:29.760
• It's only in the future budget that a future legislature may decide or not decide to implement. >> That's
• tax cut but was impacted by the budget tax cut but was impacted by the budget cuts<01:15:31.840>
• They cannot do budgets. make decisions. They cannot do budgets.
• implementing it. implementing it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would the governor be supportive of us implementing a TAT onto that industry?
• Would the governor be supportive of us implementing a TAT onto that industry?
• industries do, as well as we're considering implementing a dynamic pricing model.
• on to implement a our land board on to implement a seasonal<01:02:53.039> surge<01:02:53.599>
• You mentioned that this is something that you can already implement. What was that?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism and Water and Land was held on March 20, 2025, on SB 1396 SD3 HD1, which would raise transient accommodations tax revenues beginning in 2027, impose a $20 per-night tax on stays booked through loyalty or rewards points, and dedicate funds to DLNR for natural resource protection, management, and restoration. The Office of the Governor, DLNR, DBEDT, the Hawaii State Energy Office, Tax Department, Hawaiian Home Lands, HI-EMA, the Climate Advisory Team, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HCDA, the Hawaii Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resource Legacy Fund, KUA, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority all testified in support or with comments, generally emphasizing the need for dedicated funding for environmental stewardship, resilience, wildfire and climate preparedness, and community-based projects. Several supporters cited polling showing broad visitor willingness to pay additional fees to protect Hawaiʻi’s resources, and DLNR and the Attorney General noted the bill aligns with broader state land-management and fire-safety priorities. Opposition came from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, which argued the bill unnecessarily raises the TAT, places more burden on visitors and visitor-dependent businesses, and could harm Maui’s still-recovering economy. The Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi initially marked opposition but then said it had misunderstood the bill’s relationship to another measure and asked to resend testimony. Expedia Group did not oppose the TAT increase itself but raised operational concerns about the new tax on loyalty-point redemptions, calling it novel and difficult to administer. The American Hotel Lodging Association and Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance were listed as having no comments present. Testifiers also suggested amendments, including dedicating the revenues to a special fund, ensuring community grants, and clarifying administrative provisions. One testifier urged the bill be used to fund hurricane shelters and stronger building standards, while another emphasized that the measure should support people and disaster resilience as well as environmental protection. During questions, members asked for the polling methodology and for a breakdown of current TAT allocations; staff indicated they could share the survey memo and began identifying existing statutory remittances. No vote or final committee action was taken during the excerpted portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we see instead of doing what the people of Minnesota and their family budgets and their business
• Um, we see instead of doing what the people of Minnesota and their family budgets and their business
• family budgets, and their business<00:33:16.320> budgets,<00:33:17.799> um,<00:33:18.799
• , um, have to do, and business budgets, um, have to do, and that<00:33:20.080> is<00:33:20.240
• direction as to how they're to implement direction as to how they're to implement those<01:13:36.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the facilitator for those convenings, and these regional convenings oversee the development, implementation
• last session to the Mental Health program and the increased funding for this program, including the budget
• We know that while there were some funds left over because y'all infused money in the budget last session
• amounts weren't matching in order to get enough money out the door to meet the amount y'all put in the budget
• Senate Bill 2615 authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt these rules for implementation

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• >> THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON SENATE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS IN HOUSE JUSTICE BUDGET
• YES WE DO, WE ARE PLEASED TO PROVIDE YOU THE HOUSE'S FIRST COUNTER OFFER ON THE BUDGET, THE PROVISO LANGUAGE
• , BACK OF THE BILL LANGUAGE AND IMPLEMENTING BILL LANGUAGE AND THE CONFORMING BILL LANGUAGE RELATED TO

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't mean the state budget.
• So not the state budgets. So two separate things. So thank you.
• I didn't mean the state budget.
• So not the state budgets. So two separate things. So thank you.
• Illinois implemented dealer certification and inspection requirements in 2019.

Summary: The House convened with Girl State participants presiding for part of the session, including introductions of the student leadership and a unanimous voice vote passing House Concurrent Resolution 152 honoring the young women participating in Delaware Girl State. The chamber also welcomed congressional interns and other guests, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and observed a moment of silence for Nathan Cynix and Kara Feeley before prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes for Representative Ron Gray, who was recognized for his 14 years of service and his work on issues such as bond bills, dredging, bike paths, small business, constituent service, and agriculture-related funding. Multiple members from both parties praised his humor, honesty, mentorship, and dedication to the House and his district. Gray responded with extended remarks reflecting on his family legacy, legislative service, and appreciation for colleagues and staff, and the chamber later sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at his request. The House then received communications, including Senate messages returning several bills and informing the chamber of Senate passage of additional measures. Members were also told that the FY27 bond bill, House Bill 500, had been placed on desks as a gift for review. The House read in Consent Agenda S, which included House Bill 476, House Joint Resolution 13, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 168, Senate Bill 297, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319, and Senate Joint Resolution 21, and began a roll call vote on the consent agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Assembly Budget Committee.
• and 2024 budget acts.
• , as well as at the Governor's budget.
• deficits in the state budget.
• The total Medi-Cal budget.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on SB 100/AB 100, the early action budget bills, with a focus on Medi-Cal funding, wildfire recovery, and several smaller budget adjustments. The Department of Finance explained that the bill would add $2.8 billion General Fund and $8.3 billion federal funds for Medi-Cal, along with other items including wildfire-related local assistance for Los Angeles County, property tax backfills for fire-damaged local agencies, Cal OES wildfire monitoring authority, nonprofit security grants, the Property Tax Postponement Fund, FARMER and Clean Cars for All funding, foster family home insurance claims, Proposition 98 technical assistance for LA wildfire-impacted schools, teacher credentialing authority, and Proposition 4 climate bond appropriations for wildfire and forest resilience projects. Much of the member discussion centered on rising Medi-Cal costs, the recent $3.4 billion cash-flow loan, and whether the new appropriation would cover payments through June. Finance said the new funds were for program costs and cash flow, not repayment of the loan, and that no additional loan authority remained. Members also debated the causes of higher Medi-Cal spending, including expanded eligibility, higher enrollment, pharmacy costs, and federal policy changes. The LAO noted that forecasting errors are not unusual but that current revisions are somewhat higher than typical, though not unprecedented. Several members emphasized that Medi-Cal supports access to care and hospital stability, while others raised concerns about sustainability and future federal cuts. Public commenters largely supported the bill, especially the Medi-Cal funding and wildfire-related provisions. Health and labor advocates argued that the program is functioning as intended by covering more low-income Californians and preventing uncompensated care. Representatives of special districts and the Altadena Library District supported the property tax backfill provisions tied to the Eaton fire. The hearing ended without a vote, with the chair noting that the committee would adjourn for floor session and that the Assembly would vote on one of the early action bills later that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been working with staff on trying to ensure that the budget riders consider a COLA every budget
• that the budget will be part of the COLA conversation every budget cycle.
• It would basically be a requirement that the budget riders look at the need for a COLA every cycle.
• But it keeps the COLA bill before the budget riders every session, so we don't lose sight of that.
• And, uh, it just strikes me that this is a budget problem, because as long as this budget problem exists

Summary: The Executive Committee approved the April minutes by roll call vote, with members present voting aye and the minutes adopted. The committee then received an Attorney General update on several pension-related cases. Counsel discussed the newly filed Dawson class action, which seeks to invalidate Gross Second Substitute House Bill 2034 on federal and state constitutional grounds; she said the pleadings were unclear, the committee’s involvement was uncertain, and the case would need monitoring. She also reported that the Dolan case appears concluded after the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s ruling on constructive payment of attorney fees, and that the Fowler case remains pending after an oral ruling for plaintiffs on retroactive interest and possible disgorgement of state gains, with a written ruling still awaited. The actuarial update said June would include the preliminary 2025 valuation results and contribution-rate discussion, along with commentary on the demographic experience study, and staff noted actuarial resources were limited for additional items until later in the summer or fall. The committee then discussed the interim work plan and correspondence, including letters supporting a Plan 1 COLA recommendation, retiree organization comments, and a request from Senator Robinson to study whether certain animal control technicians should be included in PERS. Members emphasized the need to keep working on an ad hoc COLA for Plan 1 retirees while also exploring a longer-term COLA mechanism, including possible budget proviso language to require COLA consideration each budget cycle. Staff also explained changes to correspondence handling: materials will no longer be posted publicly on the website, but will still be available through public records requests and distributed securely to members by email or form submission. The committee agreed to add a June briefing on the PERS animal control technician issue and an introductory discussion of Plan 3, and to bring back COLA proposals in July for further executive committee review. The agenda was approved as amended, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Inclines may go to the pilot and returned to the I budget waiver program if they choose.
• that are not standard on the I budget?
• that they would the I budget then would have to provide those services.
• for an individual to receive I budget waiver services.
• But that money that was identified in the budget for the Senate, the 15 million azure.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the state would be comparatively modest when viewed in the context of the overall Massachusetts budget
• to the state would be comparatively modest when viewed in the context of the overall Massachusetts budget
• So, for example, when the Durbin Amendment was implemented, the banks adapted by increasing checking
• They help small businesses access card networks, manage payment costs, implement fraud controls, and
• So while Keeley and Deb have spoken to some of the practical and implementation components, and obviously

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've spent a lot of time on thinking about implementation and really being pushed by city groups
• very hard to think about if this does pass, can it be implemented?
• Um, and relying on existing implemented?
• Lightoot, welcome to the committee. enacting and implementing meaningful enacting and implementing meaningful
• in implementation. in implementation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We receive about, all the cancer centers receive 85% of all the extramural budget of the NCI.
• We have a budget of $16.6 million, Health 6340 linked from state appropriation, and 1.6 million from
• I mean, I was trying to follow all the different budget things that, you know, the communities helped
• I don't know how we persuade an increase in RLD's budget to do enforcement.
• I guess we'll worry about how that budget money comes out, but obviously we need to invest more into

Transcript Highlights:

• I know it's going to be a tough budget year; however, this is a really important issue for our state
• <00:12:53.279> the that in the past two Bal budgets the that in the past two Bal budgets the
• You know, we know this will be a tough budget year, but this is the exact type of investment that we
• You know, we know this will be a tough budget year, but this is the exact type of investment that we
• Other factors here: cost, time, enactment, implementation of this.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That training will cover fiduciary duties, accreditation and academic quality, budgeting and finance,
• They can change, and we could learn new things, and they could implement it more promptly.
• They can change, and we could learn new things, and they could implement it more promptly.
• They're tasked to analyze and implement reclassification of inmates to utilize existing spaces at Kulani
• they're tasked to analyze and implement they're tasked to analyze and implement reclassification

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:25.760> of energy shall defer the implementation of energy shall defer the implementation
• <00:42:25.280> Uh,<00:42:25.520> I'm budget in this one small area?
• Uh, I'm budget in this one small area? Uh, I'm not<00:42:25.839> aware.<00:42:26.240> No.
• about such implementation. about such implementation.
• to implement what the legislature<01:35:28.639> directs.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's because we're in the budget session and we're trying to move anything that's budget-related as
• budget related as quickly as possible. budget related as quickly as possible.
• Uh so that's and the previous budget.
• . budget. budget.
• Once we've got a building, we need to take care of it. uh budget request book you can find the uh budget

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state's perinatal quality collaborative, working on a multidisciplinary committee to develop and implement
• And, since we do our budgets so early and do so much purchasing, our contracts for next year are set.
• Well, I totally understand where you're coming from regarding budgets, and I am committed to the concept
• If it can save 10 lives or even one life, why not go ahead and implement it quickly?

Bills: SB87, HB491, SB43, SB101

Keywords: midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, HB491, public schools, K-12, school nutrition, school lunch, cafeteria, artificial dyes, food additives, food coloring, synthetic dyes, Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:11:26.640> which districts to plan their budgets, which districts to plan their budgets
• Right now, school districts across Minnesota are making difficult budget adjustments.
• Right now, school districts across Minnesota are making difficult budget adjustments.
• Boards are right budget adjustments.
• When bargaining, the district comes to the table and says, “This is your budget.”

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this unit, with an annual budget of about $5 million, has won over $53 million in civil penalties
• The budgeted size was 32. Now, based on the size of our state Medicaid budget, it's 41.
• <00:52:33.440> Last<00:52:33.839> session, implementing improvements.
• Last session, implementing improvements.
• And depending on the size of the budget, sometimes a federal single audit is required, too.

Bills: HF2354, HF1672, HF2389, HF2870, HF2743, HF1918, HF2551, HF1671

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, medical cannabis, medical marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoids, hemp, marijuana registry, patient registry, visiting patient, Tribal cannabis, Tribal medical cannabis program, Tribal sovereignty, Office of Cannabis Management, designated caregiver, home cultivation, adult-use cannabis