Transcript Highlights:

• </c> So, at this time, the chair will open So, at this time, the chair will open the<00:13:31.519><c>
• </c> primaries, two state general elections. primaries, two state general elections.
• </c><01:21:31.840><c> the</c> At this time, the chair will open the At this time, the chair will open
• </c><02:16:56.479><c> the</c> At this time, the chair will open the At this time, the chair will open
• </c> school choice nor an open enrollment. school choice nor an open enrollment.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did open bids this summer.
• We have the ditch open, we're putting pipe in the ground.
• So it's kind of hard to quantify because we have open application.
• , There has to be a little bit of openness to look at some of these large, different projects.
• And we've been fairly transparent with everybody and having open conversations. standards.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have they chimed in that they would be open to absorbing that?
• These doors opened up, and it roared back.
• Make sure people understand that the doors are still open.
• We'll leave it open, of course, for members to add on.
• We'll keep it open.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was very eye-opening to me. All right.
• So with that, I'll just open myself up to questions.
• This would, your bill, would it open it up?
• And I'm open to an amendment. Sure. Sure.
• I think we're all open to discussion on this.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. the hours the polls are open the titles the hours the polls are open the titles the<00:36:
• excuse me on second reading still open excuse me on second reading and<00:47:07.240><c> open</c><00:
• </c><01:05:49.240><c> for</c> still on second reading and open for still on second reading and open for
• </c> bill is still on second reading and open bill is still on second reading and open for<01:12:00.280
• </c><02:38:30.359><c> for</c> is on second reading and open for is on second reading and open for further

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will open the machine for roll call. Members, vote to the machine.
• The House will be open in prayer by Representative Egan. Please rise, members.
• So let us close our eyes to things that are not of you and open our ears to hear your voice.
• It opened the door to Western expansion, and it set the stage for America's rise.
• House Bill 534 by Representative Boyard, dates of bond and tax elections; primary elections.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received and accepted multiple resignation notices from members representing Districts 37, 39, 60, 69, 97, and 100, and then recognized the election and qualification of the members-elect who filled those vacancies: Doyle Boudreau, Reese Broussard, Chasity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray. Each member-elect was sworn in, and the House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session. The chamber then handled a large number of procedural actions related to prefiled legislation. By motion and without objection, the House suspended rules to refer prefile bills to committee and introduced a broad slate of House bills and resolutions. Topics included the state budget and appropriations, retirement system changes, carbon capture and sequestration, criminal justice and bail, public safety, education, health care, local government matters, transportation, and several memorial or commemorative resolutions. Several resolutions and bills were noted as lying over, and some prefiled bills were withdrawn from the files. The House also received a Senate message that SCR 1 had been adopted, and the resolution was taken up without objection. The chamber then recessed for a joint session with the Senate to hear the governor’s address and a presentation honoring Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In his remarks, Governor Jeff Landry highlighted his administration’s priorities, including education, tax reform, workforce development, health and nutrition, insurance reform, transportation infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and criminal justice reform, while urging support for his agenda and several related bills and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural, agricultural, conservation, open space, mixed use, industrial, or commercial use; applications
• And certainly my door is always open.
• If you're asking me if I'm open to adding windows and doors, the answer is yes. Okay, thank you.
• But that being said, the door is open.
• But that being said, the door is open.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• concern of our traffic flow a primary concern of our safety<00:37:09.359><c> of</c><00:37:09.599><c>
• This investment also aligns with Minnesota's statewide goals to expand access to parks and open spaces
• Second, there is openness to regional collaboration if it's voluntary.
• ><c> regional</c> there is openness to regional there is openness to regional collaboration<01:03:05.119
• </c> don't want to take, you know, primary don't want to take, you know, primary resources<01:26:56.239

Bills: HF3700 , HF3982 , HF3927 , HF3933 , HF3949 , HF4238 , HF4275 , HF4476 , HF4504

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: Duluth, Lake Superior Zoo, capital improvements, funding, bonds, appropriations, capital investment, port development, grant caps, state assistance, navigation facilities, Dakota County, state bonds, park improvements, infrastructure, transportation, safety, congestion, water infrastructure, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• uh role in looking at um animal primary uh role in looking at um animal abuse<00:09:15.640><c> or</c
• All right, so let's open the work session on...
• All right, so let's open the work session on House Bill 246, FNA.
• Yes, that you—we did do some other things, but not to the extent of those three primary line items.
• Yes, Representative Evil... disorder as a primary diagnose and uh disorder as a primary diagnose and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• Very simply, this bill would allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary election if their birthday is before
• It really restricts them of their ability to pick their chosen candidate in a primary.
• Whereas in the primary process, you actually have a very competitive race where sometimes the nominee
• It really restricts them of their ability to pick their chosen candidate in a primary.
• Whereas in the primary process, you actually have a very competitive race where sometimes the nominee

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House Committee on Election Laws, chaired by Dan Hunt and co-chaired by Senator Keenan, held a hearing on 27 bills with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker. The main policy theme was expanding youth participation in elections. Senator O'Connor testified in support of Senate Bill 526 and House Bill 854, which would allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they turn 18 before the general election. Lawan Allen of Vote 16 USA also supported bills to lower the voting age, arguing that youth voting becomes habitual, can increase turnout more broadly, and is already in place in several cities and states. Robin Chen, the lead petitioner for S. 508 and H. 814, gave extended testimony in favor of children's right to vote, saying children are affected by government decisions and should have a voice. Representative Sousa raised concerns about misinformation and the vulnerability of younger voters, but Chen responded that misinformation affects adults too and pointed to historical civil rights activism by children. Several local election-law measures were also discussed. Cynthia Hogan, Brockton’s elections director, supported a bill requiring candidates for local office to have lived in the city for a year, saying people have sometimes used business addresses or other questionable claims of residency to run for office. Representative Suzy testified in favor of H. 872, a Pembroke home-rule petition to reduce the signature threshold for a recall petition from 20% to 10% of registered voters, describing the change as a response to low-turnout local elections and not aimed at any current official. Representative Gallagher supported two Bridgewater home-rule petitions: one establishing a recall process for elected officials and another creating term limits for town councilors, both of which had been approved by the town council and would still require voter ratification in Bridgewater if adopted by the legislature. The hearing concluded without any bill votes or committee actions beyond accepting testimony. The chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted until action is taken on the bills, and the committee adjourned after no further witnesses came forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Roll call is open for your vote. >> Mr.
• Roll call is open of the rules vote I.
• Roll call is open for your vote.
• And the roll call machine is open for your voting.
• And the roll call machine is open for your voting.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All debate having ceased, clerk will open the roll. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Clerk will open the roll in the consent calendar. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Though they may not know Rod personally, his legacy will live on as the name of San Jose's primary train

Summary: The California Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a reflection and pledge. The body handled routine procedural business, including dispensing with the journal reading, suspending rules for guest introductions and adjournment memories, and re-referring several bills to different committees. Members also introduced guests, including district staff, the Citrus Heights leadership class, and Rosie Rios, chair of America 250. The main floor debate centered on AB 2180 by Assembly Member Ward, a local government finance measure related to water rates and Proposition 218. Ward argued the bill would provide clearer legal standards for proportional water rates, reduce litigation, and prevent low-use customers from subsidizing high-use users. Assembly Member DeMaio opposed the bill, saying it would weaken taxpayer protections and allow overcharging. After debate, the Assembly passed AB 2180 on a roll call vote of 41-17. The Assembly then adopted the second-day consent calendar, with AB 1853 and several other bills and resolutions passing 52-0. The chamber also held adjournment-in-memory tributes for former Santa Clara County Supervisor Rod Diridon Sr., praising his public service and transit advocacy. The session ended with announcements and adjournment until Monday, April 13 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• All debate having ceased, clerk will open the roll. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Clerk will open the roll in the consent calendar. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Though they may not know Rod personally, his legacy will live on as the name of San Jose's primary train

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting of the Oklahoma 911 Management Authority has been convened in accordance with the Oklahoma Open
• We wanted to ensure that 911 funding was protected and that 911 funding would remain the primary use
• Title off basically saying, hey, we're open to changes if you want to change it.

Summary: The Oklahoma 911 Management Authority held a special meeting with a quorum present to discuss House Bill 2710, the Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act. Staff and the legislative liaison explained that the bill had already changed and was expected to change again before floor consideration. As described, the original draft would have created a new Office of Emergency Communications and moved 911-related functions and funding into it, but the revised direction would instead remove the office language, strip out sections affecting the 911 Management Authority, and place a new Emergency Communications Authority under the Department of Public Safety. The new authority would oversee radio infrastructure and public-safety communications procurement, while 911 funds would remain in Emergency Management. The only direct tie to the 911 Management Authority would be a seat for the state 911 coordinator or designee on the new authority. Members discussed concerns about mission creep, funding, and whether the authority should be involved in radio-related functions, with staff emphasizing that the board’s mission is 911 and dispatch rather than radio operations. They also noted that no additional funding was expected for the radio side and that the bill could still change multiple times as it moved through the House, Senate, and governor’s office. Several members asked whether the board could remain neutral while still allowing the legislative liaison and legislative committee to stay engaged and respond quickly to changes. A motion was made and seconded to keep the board neutral on the bill for now, while authorizing the legislative liaison and legislative committee to continue working with Representative Ford and other legislators, monitor revisions, and speak for or against changes as needed to protect the authority’s mission. The board also agreed that updates could be provided at regular meetings or by email as needed. The motion passed by roll call vote, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we can have some people behind me that might be able to better answer that, but I would be open
• So we're open to amending the bill, if necessary, and totally good with that. Thank you.
• basically in order for you to have that stopgap measure before you need to go to your PCP, or your primary

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their education is a bit different, but they both have the ability to be primary care providers in North
• to reconsider our action. ...to reconsider our actions on that bill draft from December so we can open
• But by the time I opened my mail a while ago today, the answer is not there yet concerning the physical

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Health Care Task Force reconvened to hear reports from its divisions. The Appropriations Division reviewed a draft bill appropriating $198 million in federal grant funds for the current year and another $198 million for the next grant year, authorizing DHS to transfer funds within its budget, allowing OMB to adjust federal fund authority for related grants, speeding procurement and bulk purchasing, requiring grant recipients to acknowledge the temporary nature of the funding, and mandating periodic reporting. After questions were answered to the division’s satisfaction, the committee voted to forward the appropriations bill draft to Legislative Management. The Policy Division then reviewed four bills. One would require the presidential physical fitness test to be included in high school physical education; another would require physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle; a third would add physician assistants to the interstate licensure compact framework; and a fourth would authorize limited pharmacist prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Members generally supported the first three measures and noted that the pharmacist bill had been amended in discussion but was left in its current form so stakeholders could comment before the special session. The division also discussed that all four policy bills were tied to the federal grant funding and that failure to pass them, or changing them in a way that reduced CMS scoring, could reduce or eliminate funding. Department officials confirmed that if any of the bills failed or were altered in a way that lowered the score, the state could lose money and could not make up the points elsewhere. Members raised concerns about the physical fitness bill, including possible exemptions for students with severe illnesses or physical limitations, and noted the need for DPI input. Leadership indicated the special session hearings would likely begin Wednesday morning. The committee then approved a motion for Legislative Council to prepare a committee report for Legislative Management and adjourned, noting the task force may need to remain available during the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• printed and referred to the Senate Conservation Committee, then to the Senate Finance Committee. primary
• House Bill 1 with emergency clause has been read in full and signed by the officers of the House. in open
• and I'd like to announce to the members of the body that the officers of the Senate have signed in open

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is it just open?
• So we'll open it up to questions for the entire panel from members of the committee. Chair Freeman.
• Okay, but you're open to it though? Yes. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Senator Leader.
• And despite an open discussion on the concept, the mechanism here should also give us pause.
• I'm going to open it up for questions of the committee.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-03, House Bill 5000, which would allow single-family homes on small lots in areas with adequate infrastructure. Committee chairs outlined the Article 48 process and the hearing format, then heard first from two subject-matter experts. Under Secretary Chris Clutchman of Housing and Livable Communities explained that the proposal would amend Chapter 40A’s Section 3 (the Dover Amendment) to require most municipalities, except Boston, to allow single-family homes on residentially zoned lots of at least 5,000 square feet with 50 feet of frontage and access to public water and sewer, while still allowing reasonable local regulations on setbacks, height, bulk, and short-term rentals. He distinguished the proposal from Chapter 40Y starter-home zoning, said implementation would likely require regulations to address issues such as wetlands, infrastructure capacity, and nonconforming lots, and answered committee questions about lot subdivision, MBTA Communities, and the relationship to existing zoning tools. Attorney Susan Murphy testified that the petition would significantly override local zoning and could create conflicts with existing statutes, including Chapter 40A Section 6 protections for certain nonconforming lots, subdivision control law, and other residential zoning districts. She raised concerns about how “access” to water and sewer would be defined, whether the measure could apply in business or industrial districts where residential uses are allowed, and whether the proposal could allow large homes on small lots without any affordability limits. She also warned that the measure could have significant infrastructure impacts and argued that the Legislature should consider broader, more comprehensive housing legislation rather than expanding exceptions to the zoning framework. Committee members asked both experts about frontage, lot size, infrastructure capacity, and how the proposal would interact with 40Y and MBTA Communities. The proponents, led by Andrew McCulla of the Legalized Starter Homes Coalition, argued that Massachusetts faces a severe housing shortage and affordability crisis, citing high home prices, high rents, declining listings, and outmigration of younger residents. They said the measure would legalize modest single-family homes on smaller lots, increase housing supply, and help first-time buyers and downsizing seniors, while leaving most other local rules in place. Other proponents, including representatives from Abundant Housing Massachusetts, the Charles River Regional Chamber, and individual residents, emphasized workforce retention, the need for more starter homes, and the view that large minimum lot sizes are a major barrier to production. Committee members pressed the panel on the lack of any home-size or affordability requirement, possible effects on 40B compliance, the number of new lots and homes that might result, and the fact that the ballot initiative would not be amendable by the Legislature. The hearing then turned to opponents from the Massachusetts Municipal Association, who urged the committee to take no action. MMA leaders said zoning should remain a local decision made by residents and elected local officials, and argued that the proposal would preempt local control with a one-size-fits-all mandate. They also said the measure is impractical because many communities with water and sewer are already at or near capacity, so infrastructure availability does not necessarily mean development capacity. The hearing ended during the MMA’s testimony, with no vote or final committee action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The primary end goal of sport is to win.
• The clerk will ring the bell and open the board. Will everyone voted?
• It opens a door to all kinds of problems. I urge the body to vote no.
• The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.
• The clerk will ring the bell and open the board. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hey, I'm always open for...
• And again, I'm open. We've discussed this.
• And I'm open to an amendment.
• I think we're all open to discussion on this.
• We're all open to discussion on this.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee met with 13 members present and first went into executive session on House Bill 1730, which was voted due pass by a 10-3 roll call. It then considered House Bill 2504, where a committee amendment was adopted to let school districts optionally require a mental-health professional letter for school protection officers, the amendment was rolled into a committee substitute, and the substitute was voted due pass 11-0 with two present. After that, the committee moved to public hearing on House Bills 2481, 2468, and 1974. The three public bills focused on restrictions and verification for public assistance programs. HB 1974 would restrict TANF cash assistance use, including prohibiting ATM cash withdrawals and certain purchases, with a three-strikes style penalty structure; sponsors said it was intended to prevent misuse of taxpayer funds, while opponents argued TANF is a small cash-assistance program for very poor families and that cash access is necessary for rent, laundry, childcare, and other basic needs. HB 2468 would tighten SNAP and Medicaid eligibility verification by requiring documentary proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status, using federal verification systems, and counting ineligible household members’ income; sponsors said it aligns Missouri with federal law and new federal accountability rules, while opponents warned it would add red tape, delay benefits, and increase error rates and costs. HB 2481, along with related SNAP language discussed in HB 174, would implement the governor’s SNAP waiver to restrict purchases of soda and junk food and place those restrictions into statute. Sponsors said the goal was to steer benefits toward healthier foods and reduce waste, while witnesses from industry and advocacy groups said the waiver process was already underway, the definitions were too broad, and the bills could be hard for retailers to implement and could burden eligible recipients, especially in rural areas and among children and vulnerable adults. No final committee action was taken on the three public hearing bills during the portion provided.