Transcript Highlights:

• We can have all folks join us.
• We can have all folks join us.
• Thank you all for inviting us here today and giving us an opportunity to share a little bit about what
• Thank you again so much for being with us today and providing us a little bit more information and making
• us smart on the PDC process.

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• The unaffordability issues are a real problem for us.
• The unaffordability issues are a real problem for us.
• And so we use these.
• So there are, it is a limitedly used tool.
• We have Substitute House Bill 2428 before us.

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Hiding data center water use by blending it with domestic water use disguises the actual water use and
• </c> today or ready for use for a premium. today or ready for use for a premium.
• with regard to CPU use.
• </c> much water and power you use? much water and power you use? Well<00:36:43.280><c> Mr.
• Thank you for having us today.

Bills: HF2928 , HF2912 , HF2297

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> gives us a lot of time. gives us a lot of time.
• </c> that I think a lot of us agree with. that I think a lot of us agree with.
• , begging us, pleading with us to do something.
• us begging us, pleading who are asking us begging us, pleading with<01:02:27.640><c> us</c><01:02:27.920
• </c> with us to do something. with us to do something.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is bad faith to us.
• or pushing us to achieve that metric.
• Or, geez, we're still using generators that are using so much diesel, and they're creating so much, then
• And then the Legislature can determine, okay, do we use liquid fuels? Do we use gaseous fuels?
• So with your permission, can we use a prop?

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• It hasn't been used.
• Tell us that line number again, please.
• Tell us that line number again, please.
• Federal funds be used for.
• So that's going to wrap us up for this.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And this session has shown us what's possible when we choose progress And this session has shown us what's
• You're presenting this to us with.
• You just answered that for us.
• And I can use my example. Sometimes you have to use the word disability.
• Hopefully, we never use this.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman on Democratic priorities and introductions of military leaders and an intern. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with many bills substituted to House companions, amended, and passed, while several others were temporarily postponed. Major measures approved included the dangerous dogs/Pam Rock Act (SB 572/HB 593), which tightened penalties and procedures for dog attacks and passed 36-0; local government land regulation (SB 1080), which was amended to remove agricultural enclave language and passed 26-8; vessel/freedom-related legislation (SB 1388/HB 1137), which passed 35-0; blood clot screening and treatment (SB 890/HB 1421), which added registry and training provisions and passed 36-0; fleeing or eluding law enforcement (SB 468/HB 113), which increased offense levels and passed 36-0; concealed carry/licensing for certain officers and service members (SB 490/HB 383), which passed 33-3; timeshare management (SB 496/HB 897), which clarified governance and annual meeting requirements and passed 36-0; background screening education (SB 614/HB 531), which created a public webpage and passed 36-0; utility service restrictions (SB 1002/HB 1137), which preempted local energy-source restrictions and passed 36-0; Medicaid oversight (SB 1060), which created a joint oversight committee and passed 35-0; health facilities authorities (SB 68), amended to make fentanyl urine screening more discretionary, and passed 36-0; and veterans’ nursing home beds (SB 78/HB 797), which authorized veteran- and spouse-designated beds and passed 36-0. The chamber also passed disability history and awareness instruction (SB 540/HB 447), a highly personal bill honoring Evan Hartzell that drew extended debate about disability language, inclusion, and education; it passed 35-0 after 35 co-sponsors were added. Manufacturing policy bills SB 600 and SB 602 were approved after amendments to add reporting, ranking metrics, and fee-use restrictions, both passing 35-0. Educational opportunities for military children (SB 1528) passed 36-0 after testimony from student sponsors and senators praising the bill’s origin. Several other bills, including Medicaid oversight, mammograms, Parkinson’s disease, condominium/cooperative associations, waste management, human trafficking, and Bright Futures, were postponed or not taken up during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:59.039><c> that'd</c><00:01:59.200><c> be</c><00:01:59.360><c> great</c> us that'd be great us
• Chair, but I just appreciate the chance to have this bill before us.
• The statutory change made last year took us backwards.
• The statutory change made last year took us backwards.
• The statutory change made last year took us backwards.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Doctors did not want to talk to us, claimed they didn't have the time to talk to us, and we would get
• Doctors did not want to talk to us, claimed they didn't have the time to talk to us, and we would get
• It is about all that, but to us as a legislative body, the policy before us is: do we cede power to the
• Where does it give us the right to bring us back into session? Um, we would be convened by him.
• Where does it give us the right to bring us back into session? Um, we would be convened by him.

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll use the mic.
• I'll go ahead and kick us off.
• been used.
• And just want to kind of have us all— Rep. Sylvia: And just want to kind of have us all step back.
• formulated using a land use and zoning law approach.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The committee hearing covered several bills related to environmental, natural resources, and maritime issues. Representative Markey testified in support of H. 1000, which would create a commission to study financing wastewater infrastructure, especially in southeastern Massachusetts and the South Shore, citing combined sewer overflows and impacts on aquaculture. Members agreed the core challenge is finding long-term financing for wastewater solutions. The committee also heard testimony on H. 902 to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation, with supporters describing its role in expanding access, supporting underrepresented communities, and helping grow the outdoor economy. Related testimony also supported H. 986, which would codify the Division of Ecological Restoration and the Office of Fishing and Boating Access within the Department of Fish and Game, with witnesses emphasizing habitat restoration, flood reduction, public access, and boating/fishing opportunities. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 901/S. 597, “An Act Providing Nature for All,” which would dedicate existing sporting goods sales tax revenue to a new conservation fund. Supporters from Mass Audubon, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Appalachian Mountain Club, Trust for Public Land, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, and conservation groups argued the bill would provide a sustainable revenue stream for land conservation, parks, trails, wetlands, water protection, and climate resilience, while also advancing environmental justice and outdoor recreation. They said the state needs roughly $300 million more per year to meet land conservation goals and that the bill could generate about $100 million annually without raising taxes. Committee members asked about balancing conservation with housing and development, and witnesses said the goals are compatible and that the bill includes safeguards. Witnesses also noted similar funding models in other states. The hearing also included H. 1053, a bill to create a Merrimack River Collaborative. Regional planning and watershed advocates said the river faces bacterial contamination, heavy metals, combined sewer overflows, and other pollution, and that a formal collaborative would help coordinate municipalities, state agencies, and nonprofits across the watershed and possibly across state lines. Another bill, H. 4109, would relocate harbor lines in New Bedford Harbor to allow reconstruction of deteriorating bulkheads at a waterfront industrial site; the New Bedford Port Authority, engineers, and the property owner said the change is needed for permitting and would support port modernization and jobs. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on S. 641 regarding marine pilotage in New Bedford. Supporters argued the bill would remove a District 3 pilotage restriction and improve port flexibility and offshore wind operations, while opponents warned it would undermine the state’s compulsory pilotage system, weaken safety, and allow ship owners to shop for pilots. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Aaron George on with us online? Dr. George, you're joining us virtually? You there?
• Is Doug Goodhiel with us?
• Is Doug Goodhiel with us?
• This bill would give us vital data that can help us address health inequities, create sustainability
• Zev Colson, are you on with us? Okay, Zev, we see you online. If you can hear us, it's okay.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The committee held a public hearing with testimony on several health care bills, with most of the discussion focused on primary care access, community health center reimbursement, midwifery and birth centers, telehealth, hospital-at-home, direct primary care, and trans-inclusive health care access. Chair Feeney and Chair Murphy opened by noting the large number of signups and asking testifiers to keep remarks brief because of time constraints. Legislators and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that Massachusetts’ primary care system is under strain and that federal policy changes and reimbursement gaps are worsening financial pressure on providers. On community health centers, Representative Blay, Senator Lovely, Michael Curry, Bethany Keeley, Jag Deep Trevetti, Sean Cahill, and Christina Severin all supported H. 1096/S. 711, which would require commercial insurers to pay federally qualified health centers at least the MassHealth prospective payment system rate. They argued that commercial plans currently reimburse health centers below Medicaid rates, threatening sustainability, staffing, and access, especially as federal cuts and coverage losses could increase uncompensated care. Testifiers said the bill would stabilize health centers, protect primary care access, and not cost the state money. A second major topic was H. 1117/S. 784 on sustaining birth centers and the midwifery workforce. Senator Lovely, Senator Miranda, Emily Anesta, Rebecca Orden, Catherine Rushworth, Nishira Burrill, Joel Sutherland, Rachel Blessington, Joelle Ward, and others described the 2024 maternal health omnibus as an important first step, but said birth centers and midwives still face low reimbursement, workforce shortages, and financial instability. They urged reimbursement parity, a workforce development fund, and support for freestanding birth centers, citing improved outcomes, lower C-section rates, better patient experience, and racial equity in maternal health. Several speakers shared personal birth stories and said the bill would help preserve and expand birth options in communities like Roxbury, Worcester, and the North Shore. The committee also heard support for H. 1343 on direct primary care from Dr. Garofalo, Dr. Altman, Dr. Nair, Stephanie Cameron, Dr. Haley Moke-Blessed, and others, who said current insurance rules force patients to use a separate in-network primary care doctor for referrals and sometimes prevent physicians from dispensing medications. They argued the bill would reduce delays, administrative burden, and costs while improving continuity of care. In addition, Dr. Miklides and Sue Stempeck supported H. 1141 on hospital-at-home parity, saying the model has strong outcomes and should be reimbursed at the same rate as brick-and-mortar hospital care. Heather Myers and Katrina Cook testified on telehealth and digital health equity, urging broader coverage for asynchronous care, remote monitoring, interpreter services, and digital literacy supports. SEIU Local 509 supported H. 1188/S. 681 on trans-inclusive health care access, saying it would remove arbitrary insurance barriers to gender-affirming care. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• If schools can't use biological sex to determine who gets on the boys... ...can't use biological sex
• crying out, please help us.
• They are there to serve us. Others in front. They are there to serve us.
• They are there to serve us. Others in front. They are there to serve us.
• They have gotten us to not be overworked by providing us, to not be overwork by providing us. to not

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And died to give us the freedom we enjoy today.
• crying out, please help us.
• They are there to serve us. They are there to serve us.
• They have gotten us to not be overworked by providing us a work schedule that is favorable to families
• Your folks help us focus on what really matters. Your folks help us focus on what really matters.

Transcript Highlights:

• you have never left us nor forsaken us, and for that, Lord, we say thank you.
• Counting on us nonetheless.
• us all.
• Constitution governs us all, and religious liberty belongs to us all.
• It doesn't get us, it doesn't bring us back to where we were before.

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several guest recognitions before moving to the special order calendar. The chamber first took up a series of claims and relief bills, including SB 6 for L.E. against DCF, SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata, and later other measures such as child welfare, public records, and professional licensing bills. Most of these bills were explained by sponsors as targeted fixes or relief measures, and several were substituted with identical House bills before final passage. Votes were overwhelmingly favorable on these items, including unanimous or near-unanimous approvals on the claims bills and education-related measures. A major floor debate centered on CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a new framework for large-scale planned developments on at least 15,000 acres with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a structured path for long-term growth and development, while opponents from both parties warned it was too vague, could undermine local control, and lacked enough specificity on conservation, infrastructure, and land-use protections. After extensive debate, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 21 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 556 on Special Olympics as a PE substitute for students with disabilities, SB 688 on naturopathic medicine, SB 758 on the Justice Administrative Commission, SB 830 creating public-records exemptions for certain local officials and their families, SB 878 on clinical laboratory personnel, SB 914 on dry needling by occupational therapists, and SB 1002 on child welfare and parental drug abuse. Another lengthy and contentious discussion involved CS/CS/SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles, which included provisions on foreign law, domestic terrorist designations, and restrictions on public support for designated organizations. Senators debated an amendment to remove references to Sharia law; that amendment failed. A second amendment with broader revisions and notice procedures was then taken up, with questions focused on notice, appeal rights, and the designation process. The transcript ends during that amendment discussion, before final disposition is shown. Throughout the session, many bills were substituted with identical House companions and then passed by recorded vote, often with strong bipartisan support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually don't use it.
• Is Chandler with us today? Apparently, Chandler is not with us? So, Mr.
• We appreciate the Transportation Commission's proactive approach to hearing from us, including us in
• For us, this isn't an inconvenience.
• For us, this isn't an inconvenience.

Summary: The committee first held an executive session on several transportation measures heard earlier in the session, including bills on rounding cash transactions to eliminate pennies, vehicle title transfers to insurers, a memorial bridge naming, BAT lane access for private employer transportation services, oil tanker escort requirements, Traffic Safety Commission authority, fifth-wheel trailer length, electric vehicle sales and funding, and vehicle loads on public highways. Most of the measures were advanced with due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee, and the committee adopted amendments on the penny-rounding bill, the EV funding bill, and the vehicle-loads bill. Members noted some opposition or reservations on a few items, including the penny-rounding proposal and the vehicle-loads amendment, but the motions carried. The committee then returned to public hearing on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2323 would create a blue envelope program for neurodiverse drivers to help communicate with law enforcement during traffic stops; the Department of Licensing and State Patrol fiscal notes were described, and the bill drew strong support in signed-in testimony. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2588 would expand county ferry district authority to include vehicle ferries and require voter approval for new taxes after the effective date; testimony was mixed, with Whatcom County officials and ferry users supporting the bill as a funding tool, while one opponent criticized the tax and timing provisions. The committee also heard public testimony on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2172, which would change the route jurisdiction transfer and abandonment process for state highways by requiring agreements or legislative review for longer abandonments or bridge transfers; cities, counties, the Transportation Commission, and the TIB supported the bill as a more transparent process. Additional public hearings covered Substitute House Bill 2203, creating reckless interference with emergency operations for drivers who bypass emergency road closures; a defense-lawyer witness opposed the mandatory license suspension, while the sponsor described the bill as a response to flood and fire rescues. Substitute House Bill 2410 would create a Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council and raise the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32 per vehicle; the trucking industry and business groups supported it as a safety and training investment. The committee also heard a staff briefing and sponsor testimony on Second Substitute House Bill 1923, the Mosquito Fleet Act, which would expand passenger-only ferry district options and was presented as a local tool to improve ferry access and relieve Washington State Ferries congestion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know I've more than used my time.
• That is a population that is known to us.
• the data that is available to us.
• So again, the nutrition incentive program for us is the largest one because it can only be used for California-grown
• It’s still money that they can use. And perhaps using our procurement...

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on food insecurity in California and how state and federal nutrition programs, agricultural production, and food distribution systems intersect. Assemblymembers emphasized that many Californians, including farmworkers, seniors, children, and communities of color, remain food insecure despite California’s agricultural abundance. Panelists and members discussed CalFresh, WIC, school meals, Sun Bucks, food banks, and the impact of federal policy changes, including possible nutrition cuts, tariffs, and immigration enforcement, on access to food and the agricultural workforce. Secretary Karen Ross described CDFA programs aimed at improving access to fresh food and supporting local agriculture, including the senior farmers’ market program, California Nutrition Incentive Program, Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, Community Food Hubs, Farm to School, urban agriculture, and a proposed tribal food sovereignty program. She said these efforts help connect local producers to consumers, expand healthy food access, and build infrastructure such as refrigeration, mobile markets, and aggregation hubs. Department of Social Services Deputy Director Alexis Fernandez Garcia outlined CalFresh, CFAP, Sun Bucks, CACFP, emergency food programs, and tribal nutrition assistance, noting that CalFresh and related programs significantly reduce poverty and food insecurity, but participation gaps remain for non-English speakers, some Asian American communities, and undocumented households. PPIC researcher Tess Thorman presented data showing that 13% of California households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and Latino, Black, and other households. She said nutrition programs reduce poverty and food hardship, but federal rules, income thresholds, immigration restrictions, and high living costs limit their reach. Members asked about simplifying applications, improving call center access, increasing outreach in multiple languages, and adjusting benefits for inflation. Officials said the state has used available federal options to streamline enrollment, improve customer service, and target outreach, but many core rules and benefit levels are set federally. The second panel shifted to food production and market access. A farmer, a UC food systems leader, and a produce distributor described efforts to connect small and medium farms with food banks, schools, universities, and Medi-Cal food-as-medicine programs. They highlighted programs such as Farms Together, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Farm to School, food hubs, and climate-smart infrastructure grants as ways to create stable markets for local growers while improving food access. Speakers also raised concerns about land tenure, consolidation, regulatory burdens, labor constraints, and the loss of federal funding, and members discussed whether state investments and Prop. 4 funds could help sustain and expand these efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• In return for those subsidies, the development must enter a land use restriction agreement. with us for
• And so they take that equity, they use it to build the apartment complex and the bank uses the tax money
• They will notify us.
• that the state has imposed upon us. or requires of us will require either more resources from the state
• Positive open dialogue between all the SDs and us. So I think it's working out for us right now.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• For us to interact with providers, absolutely.
• give us the time to save up for a brick.
• Yeah, and one of the things I used to operate, I used to operate convenience stores.
• . us.
• That is a typical scenario is the data reveals. something to us that strikes us as an anomaly, something

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:18.040><c> uh</c> that that comes up it's been used uh that that comes up it's been used uh
• </c> this puts a new level of stress on us this puts a new level of stress on us farmers<00:21:34.760
• </c><00:45:50.839><c> even</c><00:45:51.200><c> glass</c> using fiber instead of using even glass using
• Or what’s the end use of this little bottle? The primary end use would be to recycle it.
• not use a single use myself that I would not use a single use beverage<01:15:24.320><c> plastic</c><01

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• The state sales and use tax rate is 6.5%.
• I'm here to talk about us talking again about property taxes.
• I'm here to talk about us talking again about property taxes.
• These uses, pre-uses, triggered the loss of the exemption.
• These uses, pre-uses, triggered the loss of the exemption.

Summary: House Finance held public hearings on several tax and property-related bills. HB 2584 would create a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying farm machinery and equipment purchased by eligible farmers, with supporters arguing it would ease financial pressure on farmers, encourage investment in more efficient and environmentally friendly equipment, and help rural economies. County officials opposed extending the exemption to local sales taxes, warning of cumulative revenue losses for local governments. HB 2376 would consolidate the state school property tax levy and expand property tax relief for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans by raising income thresholds, increasing exemption amounts, and simplifying the income calculation; county assessors and local officials supported the bill as a way to help residents age in place, while opponents argued it would raise taxes for others and weaken the 1% cap. HB 2610 would broaden the nonprofit homeownership development property tax exemption to allow limited interim rental or community use without losing the exemption, and testimony from affordable housing groups supported the change as a practical way to keep projects moving and reduce costs. HB 2615 would codify the Department of Revenue’s voluntary disclosure program and create a temporary tax amnesty period for certain unpaid business taxes; supporters said it would bring businesses into compliance and generate revenue, while one sponsor noted technical issues still needed to be resolved. In executive session, the committee advanced four bills. HB 2194, allowing a county and city within it to concurrently impose a cultural access program sales tax, passed 10-5. Substitute HB 2257, a broad tax code cleanup and technical changes bill, passed unanimously 15-0 after members said it clarified ambiguities from prior legislation. HB 2528, which would remove voter-approval requirements for certain cities to impose a local real estate excise tax, passed 11-4 despite objections that it reduced voter control over tax increases. HB 2175, exempting certain nonprofit providers of free durable medical equipment from sales tax on repair parts, also passed unanimously 15-0. The chair announced that HB 2584, HB 2610, and HB 2615 would be scheduled for executive action the following day, with no amendments allowed.