Transcript Highlights:

• Our public testimony will be limited to three minutes per testifier because we have a lot of things to
• I think it's very intuitive if you look at the vote-by-mail request for Congressional District 1.
• So there's a very large military and overseas ballot contingency in Congressional District 1.
• This also occurred in Congressional District 6 with the resignation of Congressman Waltz. We see...
• And that's in Congressional District 1.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about retaliatory behavior in terms of the arts.
• We don't have long-term resources to sort of fall back on.
• Obviously, this loss of funding really limits our ability to continue to do our work.
• Obviously, this loss of funding really limits our ability to continue to do our work.
• When we limit spaces of dialogue and imagination, ...collective future at risk.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and creative industries in California. Chair Ben Allen, Vice Chair Chris Ward, and other members described the moment as a crisis, citing proposed or implemented cuts to the NEA, NEH, and IMLS, grant terminations, leadership removals, and budget proposals to zero out major cultural agencies. Members emphasized that arts and humanities are both culturally essential and economically significant, and they framed the hearing as a chance to hear impacts on the ground and consider state and federal responses. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA highlighted the scale of the problem. Harky said federal rescissions and policy changes are causing immediate financial harm, forcing hiring freezes, program cancellations, and emergency fundraising, while disproportionately hurting rural, immigrant, elder, and small community organizations. She noted California’s creative economy generates hundreds of billions of dollars and urged support for restoring state arts funding, museum grants, and legislation such as SB 456 and AB 3149, along with federal measures like the Charitable Act and Performing Arts Tax Parity Act. Fisher focused on film and television production, saying runaway production, outdated tax rules, and weak federal IP protections are harming workers and local businesses; she urged federal production incentives, tax parity for performers, and stronger protections against AI misuse of artists’ voices and likenesses. State agency leaders Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council described direct impacts from federal funding disruptions. Noguchi said California Humanities lost NEH support immediately, putting grants and documentary projects at risk and prompting possible litigation and appeals. Lucas said the State Library initially faced a major IMLS funding loss but has since had part of the money restored, though still with a reduced amount that will limit local assistance. Purcell said the California Arts Council is assessing terminated grants and fielding urgent calls from grantees, while continuing to distribute state arts funds and track the damage. Members asked about bipartisan support, business coalition-building, economic measurement, AI threats to creative work, and the implications of federal leadership changes; no votes were taken, but the hearing ended with calls for continued advocacy, legal action, and possible state investment to stabilize the sector.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank our congressional delegation who have been diligent in fighting for this issue.
• , talk about the congressional delegation securing almost $600 million.
• And what is the long-term chronic health effect of long-term exposure to, not just hydrogen sulfide?
• I am deeply concerned about the potential short-term and long-term health effects of working in these
• , but really think of the long term.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental Quality/Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials informational hearing focused on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is long-running, cross-border, and severe enough to require federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as an environmental and public health emergency affecting beaches, air and water quality, marine life, tourism, and residents’ quality of life in South Bay communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Senator Padilla said the issue is underappreciated because of where it occurs but has major public health, economic, and educational consequences. Congressman Mike Levin’s office reported more than $650 million in federal funding secured for infrastructure and cleanup, along with federal legislation and requests for CDC and EPA involvement. Supervisor Paloma Aguirre gave a detailed overview of county efforts and the scope of the crisis, citing decades of sewage flows from Tijuana, nearly four years of beach closures, and the county’s expanded water-quality monitoring. She said the county is pursuing warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, an epidemiological study, soil testing, an economic impact study, and a feasibility analysis to remove the “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard, which she described as a key local source of airborne pollution. She also pointed to binational funding for treatment plant upgrades and said the county is seeking state support, including from Proposition 4 cross-border river funds, to expand relief and mitigation efforts. Scripps researchers Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented scientific findings on water and air transport. Giddings described a high-resolution forecast model that predicts wastewater movement and beach closure risk up to five days ahead, using real-time observations and showing about 72% accuracy against county measurements. Prather said the main exposure route is through air, not just water, and reported that turbulence at the river hot spot aerosolizes pollutants, with hydrogen sulfide and other gases spiking at night and dropping when river flow is diverted. She said the team has identified thousands of gases and linked measurements closely to odor complaints, while also noting that air purifiers can reduce indoor exposure but are not a permanent solution. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados added that community health surveys and CDC assessments show widespread symptoms, sleep disruption, anxiety, and daily life impacts, especially during nighttime odor events. She said her team has found more than 900 contaminants in river water and 106 chemicals uniquely associated with the Saturn Boulevard hot spot, with passive air sampling showing similar chemical fingerprints in nearby homes. The panel discussion ended with questions about standards and accountability, and witnesses and legislators agreed that the crisis requires updated air-quality standards, more health research, and continued coordination to reduce exposure and address the source of pollution.

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask members to limit their opening statements to six minutes.
• Just this past Monday, the Congressional Budget Office reported that federal spending rose 15% in the
• And that is what they're talking about in terms of this so-called Schedule F.
• And jeopardize patient access in rural areas to long-term care.
• I rely on IGs for a lot of my help in Congressional oversight.

Committee: Senate Senate Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And in terms of, again, the Congressional Budget Office, the head of the Congressional Budget Office,
• And in terms of uh supposed to run.
• And in terms of uh again<02:52:12.240><c> the</c><02:52:12.800><c> Congressional</c><02:52:13.279><c>
• </c> talk about limited federal government. talk about limited federal government.
• </c> percentage terms. percentage terms.

Transcript Highlights:

• As your written testimony has been made part of the record, the committee asks that you limit your oral
• During President Trump's first term, our nation's economy was the envy of the world.
• Do congressional mandates take primacy if they're there as the abiding law?
• Higher order than executive orders, in terms of what you must obey?
• And it was stretched to its limit.

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support

Summary: The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our funding is limited.
• Number four, short-term funding cannot replace long-term revenue.
• limits... okay, now...
• And now that we’ve got term limits, okay, now you’ve finally educated a few of us, and we’ll be gone.
• And now that we've got term limits, okay, now you've finally educated a few of us, and we'll be gone.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a long-term, ongoing effort, and I think many of us...
• And that's one of my long-term goals. ...to serve their students, and that's one of my long-term goals
• of the fan base, which I am one, but in terms of the economic benefits that those schools bring, this
• , to limit the use of programmable money, to provide remedies, and to establish provisions regarding
• We have limited bandwidth.

Transcript Highlights:

• > funding</c> congressionally mandated formula funding congressionally mandated formula funding to<00
• </c> see is that um through uh IMLS's term see is that um through uh IMLS's term that<01:14:44.400><c
• I’m going to try to limit myself to the five.
• terms into for<01:55:42.400><c> instance</c><01:55:42.639><c> terms</c><01:55:42.960><c> and</c><01:
• </c> we're the US isn't a minority in terms we're the US isn't a minority in terms of<01:58:01.440><c

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• vision of integrated services to improve outcomes for youth and their families, including but not limited
• to issues relating to child poverty. ...for youth and their families, including, but not limited to,
• Representative of Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District, where he served proudly from 1981 to
• Michael Harrington, who represented Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District.
• In 1980, Barney ran for Congress and was elected to serve Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District

Summary: The Senate took up House No. 4646, an act enhancing child welfare protections, and considered a series of amendments focused on child welfare, school discipline, truancy, foster care transparency, and related services. Several amendments were withdrawn, including Senator DiDomenico’s proposal to create a Massachusetts children’s cabinet and Senator Tarr’s amendments on timeout and isolation standards, the best-interest-of-the-child standard, and mandated reporter definitions. Other amendments were adopted, including Senator Rauch’s amendments on student transfers and reasonableness, Senator Tarr’s amendment on information management integrity and youth engagement in the Office of the Child Advocate, and the Senate Ways and Means amendment. Amendments on school compliance before CRA filings, probation certification before accepting a child requiring assistance petition, and statewide truancy and engagement standards were rejected. After the amendments were resolved, the Senate ordered the bill to a third reading and then passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 39 in the affirmative and none in the negative. The chamber also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of John Edwards and Hadley Boucher, with moments of silence held for each. Later, the Senate also adjourned in memory of former U.S. Representative Barney Frank, with remarks highlighting his civil rights work, his role in financial reform, and his historic service as the first openly gay member of Congress. Before adjournment, the Senate took up a House amendment to the Senate bill establishing the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, voted not to concur, and requested a committee of conference. The chair appointed Senators Creem, Finegold, and O’Connor to the conference committee. The Senate then adopted an order to reconvene on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar, and finally adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, that the current congressional map, based on then-current census data, was approved in 2010. .
• You know what the numbers look like in terms of the 2020 census?
• Control Congress at the expense of minority congressional districts here in our state.
• This plan seeks to discriminate against people of color and steal congressional seats.
• The changes we're witnessing are fundamentally altering the makeup of congressional districts.

Bills: SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB4 , HB1 , HB3 , HB20 , HB22 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , HB4 , SB2 , SB5

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel like there are limitations to what that type of person can ultimately do.
• So what did that delay mean in terms of impact on the ground, in terms of being able to actually reach
• Citizenship is one of the few short-term protections available.
• I want to say that I'm very proud of the work that we did on the ground with very limited funding.
• So the same resources are not, in terms of people's time, just not equal across the state.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held an early planning hearing on how Massachusetts can maximize participation in the 2030 census, with Chair Will Brownsberger and Vice Chair Rebecca Rausch emphasizing the need to start well in advance. The first panel, made up of leaders from the Massachusetts Voter Table, MassVOTE, MIRA, and MESA, stressed that grassroots community organizations are trusted messengers and should be funded early to do multilingual outreach, training, and direct assistance in hard-to-count communities. They described lessons from 2020, including the shift to internet response, reduced federal census infrastructure, the importance of coordinated statewide networks, and the need to begin messaging several years before Census Day because building trust and staffing outreach takes time. Panelists repeatedly warned that immigrant communities are facing heightened fear because of federal immigration enforcement and the possibility of a citizenship question or other federal changes, making census participation more difficult. They said 2020 funding arrived too late to fully staff and train outreach teams before the pandemic, and argued that future resources should be deployed earlier and more flexibly. In response to committee questions, they estimated Massachusetts should invest roughly $8 million to $10 million or more in state census outreach, with one proposed model of about $3 million to $5 million at the start, additional funding in the middle years, and a larger final push closer to 2030. They also suggested that funding should support communications infrastructure, translation, social media and ethnic media outreach, and possibly a permanent complete count structure or trust fund to preserve institutional knowledge. A second panel from Common Cause Massachusetts and the ACLU of Massachusetts echoed the call for stronger, earlier investment and stronger privacy protections. They urged the legislature to expand existing census line items, consider a trust fund or other dedicated funding stream, and coordinate census outreach with other state programs that already work through trusted community messengers. The ACLU testimony focused on racial inequities in census counts and warned that federal efforts to exclude non-citizens or add a citizenship question would deepen distrust and undercount immigrant communities. Committee members asked about the 2020 overcount/undercount results, funding levels, timing of grant distribution, and whether census outreach should be routed through the Secretary of the Commonwealth or other state mechanisms; no votes were taken, and the hearing moved on to a later panel on immigrant-community outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• elections, as well as all special or other congressional elections prior to the adoption of a new congressional
• elections, as well as all special or other congressional elections special or other congressional elections
• But let's go to Congressional District 2. To Congressional District 2. What's the percentage?
• >> It drew seven congressional districts...
• And in our congressional races, well, congressional offices, well over 200 have served, and only six

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:23:28.480><c> Iowa</c><00:23:28.880><c> House</c> three terms as an Iowa House three terms as an
• </c> importantly Ohio's 13th congressional importantly Ohio's 13th congressional district.<01:09:36.159
• ><c> authorization</c> There is no congressional authorization There is no congressional authorization
• I'd like to congressional district.
• </c><05:29:15.440><c> of</c> are now totally in limbo in terms of are now totally in limbo in terms of

Transcript Highlights:

• And we use other terms as well.
• So that's the last term.
• So, taxpayers that are entitled to take that deduction are limited under this piece limitation.
• So, limiting the deduction was done in 2017.
• So that increases the limit.

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• vision of integrated services to improve outcomes for youth and their families, including but not limited
• to issues relating to child Popper. for youth and their families, including, but not limited to, issues
• Representative for Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District, where he served proudly from 1981 to
• Representative Michael Harrington, who represented Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District.
• In 1980, Barney ran for Congress and was elected to serve Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District

Summary: The Senate began with several adjournment motions in memory of John Edwards and Hadley Boucher, each adopted by voice vote, followed later by a unanimous adjournment motion in memory of Barney Frank. The chamber also observed moments of silence for the deceased. In between, the Senate considered a child welfare bill, House No. 4646, with multiple amendments offered on issues including a Massachusetts Children’s Cabinet, student transfers, reasonableness in statutory language, electronic backpack records transfer, Office of the Child Advocate information integrity, timeout and isolation standards, best-interest-of-the-child standards, CRA filing prerequisites, probation petition standards, truancy and engagement standards, and mandated reporter definitions. Several amendments were withdrawn; others were adopted or rejected. Notably, amendments on student transfers, reasonableness, electronic backpacks, information management integrity, and the Senate Ways and Means draft were adopted, while several Tarr amendments were not adopted. After amendment consideration, the Senate ordered the bill to a third reading and then passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 39 in favor and none opposed. The transcript indicates the bill was then sent forward after engrossment. Separately, the Senate took up the House’s amendment to the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, voted not to concur, and requested a committee of conference, appointing Senators Creem, Finegold, and O’Connor. The Senate also adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I guess I'm thinking of it in terms of the woman that is out actively seeking the abortion.
• I believe in terms of payment that is this the state of Oklahoma directs the healthcare authority to
• I understand that within city limits, cities have covenants and other things that require properties
• So, I understand that city limits cities and inside city limits are covenants and city you know thousands
• But there are already limitations.

Bills: SB1983 , SB444 , SB1503 , SB1561 , SB592 , SB1501 , SB1946 , SB1567 , SB1833 , SB2026 , SB904 , SB2178 , SB1651 , SB1558 , SB1565 , SB1553 , SB1257 , SB65 , SB1749 , SB1242 , SB1642 , SB640 , SB667 , SB1436 , SB1484 , SB1562 , SB1794 , SB1644 , SB1533 , SB933 , SB1555

Committee: House Health and Human Services Oversight

Keywords: SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention, private child-placing agency, Title 10A, Oklahoma

Transcript Highlights:

• Preston Hody, place 18th at Louisville, and We don't use the term 'stockman' nearly as much anymore as
• wondering why on earth Would the minority leader feel the necessity to call out some random second-term
• Speaker, there's probably a lot of us who are grateful that we have term limits on our governor's office
• There must be short-term memory loss because just last year this body passed a path to 0% income tax.
• I know that we've limited voting days, and so this won't be a separate election, but do you know what

Bills: HR1051 , HR1048 , SB2074 , SJR39 , SJR47 , SB1983 , SB444 , SB1503 , SB1561 , SB592 , SB1501 , SB1946 , SB1567 , SB1833 , SB2026 , SB904 , SB2178 , SB1651 , SB1558 , SB1565 , SB1553 , SB1257 , SB65 , SB1749 , SB1242 , SB1642 , SB640 , SB667 , SB1436 , SB1484 , SB1562 , SB1794 , SB1644 , SB1533 , SB933 , SB1555

Keywords: livestock, judging, Oklahoma State University, championship, agriculture, military children, recognition, community support, military families, April 15, pharmacy benefits managers, reimbursement, healthcare, prescription drugs, cost regulation, property valuation, tax limit, homestead, income threshold, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• a clinical experience may practice under supervision in specific clinical settings if they hold a limited
• Can you give an idea of some of the criteria you will utilize to limit in those counties that you have
• The program has, in fact, grown, but that growth reflects congressional-mandated expansions, a shift
• She's unable to work and her income is extremely limited.
• And I think some of our hospitals may be willing to purchase these if we take some of the limitations

Bills: SB5877 , SB5904 , SB5988

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations, nursing titles, licensure, healthcare professionals, patient safety, professional standards, opioid treatment, accreditation, health department, fee authority, substance abuse

Transcript Highlights:

• Our funding is limited.
• Here's what the exclusion means in practical terms.
• Number four, short-term funding cannot replace long-term revenue.
• And now that we've got term limits, okay, now...
• And now that we've got term limits, okay, now you've finally educated a few of us, and we'll be gone.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.