Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony here today.
• Thank you so much for your testimony today.
• Thank you very much for your testimony today.
• Thank you for your testimony here today.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public FY27 budget hearing at Barnstable Town Hall, with opening remarks emphasizing the Cape and Islands’ seasonal infrastructure, housing, transportation, workforce, and digital needs. The hearing began with testimony from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s budget priorities for job training, apprenticeship, youth employment, reentry programs, and unemployment insurance modernization. The secretary highlighted proposed funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, YouthWorks, reentry workforce development, and services for young adults with disabilities, along with a proposal to streamline youth work permits. Members also discussed the unemployment trust fund, the COVID assessment on employers, rising unemployment, and the need to improve DUA customer service and claims processing. Committee members asked about job seeker barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, and out-migration of young workers, as well as how to keep Cape Cod graduates and seasonal workers in the region. The administration said its strategy is to pair training with broader affordability investments and to expose students to career pathways earlier, including through middle school, early childhood STEM, YouthWorks, pre-apprenticeships, and Building Pathways. Senators and representatives also raised concerns about regional funding disparities, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, and the administration said it is reviewing MassHire funding and service equity through a policy committee and statewide workforce board. On unemployment assistance, officials reported major improvements in wait times and claims processing, but said they are still working through backlogs and staffing challenges while maintaining program integrity. The committee then heard testimony from the Executive Office of Economic Development. The secretary described House 2 as a fiscally restrained budget with no new taxes or fees, while preserving core programs and using the Mass Leads Act tools to support competitiveness. EOED’s proposal included funding for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, social enterprise operating grants, regional economic development organizations, the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, Community Workforce Partnerships, Pathmaker, advanced manufacturing training, life sciences, innovation vouchers, AI initiatives, small business assistance, and tourism and live theater support. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also testified on its FY27 request, focusing on consumer protection, licensing, banking, insurance, and public safety regulation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, members, as you'll hear from the testimony that we have today, the program is working and is alive
• Well, members, as you'll hear from<00:02:51.440> the<00:02:51.599> testimony<00:02:51.920
• that we have today, from the testimony that we have today, the<00:02:53.200> program<00:02:53.440
• <00:24:31.440> and think if we could go to testimony and think if we could go to testimony
• we get through testimony.

Bills: HF3902, HF3895

Keywords: housing tax credit, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, qualified projects, taxpayer contributions, greater Minnesota, zoning, housing, local government, multifamily development, affordable housing, land use, urban development, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard testimony, and over the years, at least the five years I've been here, have heard testimony
• I we heard I mean, we heard testimony I we heard I mean, we heard testimony and<01:01:50.480> we
• It was in the testimony and in the hearing report. I so we have a motion of pass.
• And there's also testimony comfortable.
• It was in the testimony and in the hearing report. I so we have a motion of pass.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, thank you, Miss Ford, for your testimony. And I'm sorry if you answered this in your testimony.
• So, um, I thank you for your testimony.
• Next up, we have student testimony.
• Uh, thank you so much for your testimony.
• Uh thank you so much for your testimony. Uh thank you so much for your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Julie Eisenard, and if you can please state your name for the record and begin your testimony.
• If you can please state your name for the record and begin your testimony. Good morning.
• Introduce yourself and proceed with your testimony.
• like to move to their testifi testimony like to move to their testifi testimony to<00:26:50.320>
• Good morning your testimony. Thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please introduce yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. Hello, Mr.
• Thank you for taking the time to hear this testimony.
• Please introduce yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. Hello, Mr.
• Thank you for taking the time to hear this testimony.
• well-being there are direct testimonials well-being there are direct testimonials from<01:38:05.239

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're pleased to have your testimony. Could you identify yourself for the record?
• We're pleased to have your testimony. Could you identify yourself for the record?
• <01:27:30.560> could pleased to have your testimony could pleased to have your testimony could
• Okay, and there are testimonials also in your packets. Any further discussion?
• Thank you very much for your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then if they could kind of go through their testimony, stick around.
• So, if any testimony, stick around.
• <01:02:39.760> So,<01:02:40.000> be testimony cut in about half.
• So, be testimony cut in about half. So, be working<01:02:40.400> on<01:02:40.559> that.
• And with that we will get into testimony to House File 3816, the Witte bill.

Bills: HF3127, HF3816, HF3814, HF3815, HF3817

Keywords: taxation, pass-through entity, qualifying owner, partnership, S corporation, tax return, corporate franchise tax, individual income tax, research expenditures, federal compliance, Minnesota Statutes, income tax, corporate tax, section 179, federal conformity, HF3815, Minnesota taxes, tax conformity, Internal Revenue Code, IRC conformity

Transcript Highlights:

• And do you have testimony that you can turn in? >> Yes, sir. I already uploaded. >> Okay.
• Anyways, thank you very much for your testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you for your testimony. testimony. testimony. >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely.
• I submitted testimony that has a link to that page 129.
• > some<01:30:35.199> language provided my testimony in some language provided my testimony

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Irwin's testimony. I agree with everything that he has put in front of you.
• Thank you, and please identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony.
• Okay, please identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony. Yeah.
• Director Toell, if you could just identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony.
• McFresh was asked to identify himself for the record and begin testimony.

Bills: HF1672, HF1877, HF1735, HF1734, HF1271, HF1634, HF1615

Keywords: 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, cannabis flower, cannabis products, dispensary, cannabis retail endorsement, patient protections

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I went back last night and looked at my testimony from Ways and Means a year ago.
• And so my testimony today is we're ready to move forward.
• And I think, to Mitch's testimony, this guy's the newest elected parish president in the state.
• today. from Lafourche Parish for coming and providing testimony today.
• I think your testimony carries a lot of weight. And so I want to try to be quick with this.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wish to give testimony, we have cards.
• and legally by the defense and by counsel, that information, once it's completed in that courtroom testimony
• The confusion in my testimony was that I lost the thread on the previous version of this bill as it related
• So with that in the amendments, I'm going to stick this testimony to a lot of the questions I think that
• Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Riley, you want to come on up? Mr.

Summary: The committee first deferred Senate Bill 49, which would remove the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the list of offices subject to closed party primary elections, after the sponsor said additional amendments were being prepared. It then took up House Bill 1247, which creates a statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator within the Department of Justice to improve access, evidence collection, and coordination for sexual assault survivors. Members adopted a committee amendment package that clarified the coordinating structure, geographic response considerations, reimbursement language, and related public records issues, and the bill was reported favorably as amended with support from health care and law enforcement-related groups. House Bill 1245, also dealing with public records, was amended to protect certain personal identifying information in criminal history records of criminal justice agency employees who serve as witnesses in criminal proceedings. The discussion focused on limiting release of Social Security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth while preserving disclosure required for court proceedings and impeachment-related purposes. The committee adopted a further amendment narrowing the protection to those PII items in records held by the clerk of court, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1011, allowing jurors to donate per diem compensation to CASA, and House Bill 1186, which standardizes construction code and inspector licensing records while protecting inspectors’ personal information, were also reported favorably. Senate Bill 425, which implements the constitutional mandate for removal by suit of certain elected officials for felony conviction, malfeasance, or gross misconduct, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it creates a civil process to address serious misconduct when criminal prosecution is unavailable or incomplete, while opponents warned it could be abused for political targeting, duplicate existing remedies, and rely on vague standards. After amendments clarifying the process and standards, the committee voted 10-5 to report the bill favorably as amended. The committee also adopted amendments and reported favorably House Bill 1057, extending absentee-by-mail eligibility for overseas service members from one year to two years, and began discussion of House Bill 709, which would create a rulemaking notification system, a 10-year sunset for certain rules, and an Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the governor’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, Madam Speaker, at my committee hearing, we heard and received opposing, even contradictory testimony
• /c><00:52:24.800> like<00:52:24.960> to<00:52:25.080> note<00:52:25.360> testimony
• And I would just like to note testimony And I would just like to note testimony from<00:52:26.120
• And also, we heard testimony um or um in support um >> Yes, second time in opposition.
• And also, we heard testimony<00:54:19.800> um<00:54:20.160> or<00:54:20.800> um<

Bills: SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343

Keywords: electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, for my part, I appreciate it and appreciate all the testimony.
• Some of the testimony was about the old model of the group homes.
• I just want to say, you know, we've had a lot of powerful testimonies today, and this was incredibly
• So before she even realized what was happening to her, she was on a plane, and the horrific testimony
• And the horrific testimony that you hear from a lot of these victims is that there was no choice.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Director Bailey, please introduce yourself for the record and present your testimony. >> Well, thank
• Director Bailey, please introduce yourself for the record and present your testimony.
• Please state your name for the record and present your testimony. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, members.
• Please state your name for the record and present your testimony.
• Please state your name for the record and present your testimony. Thanks so much. Good morning.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you're ready, please proceed with your testimony.
• Parks, as always, for your work and for the testimony.
• Do you agree with the testimony that you just gave?
• Appreciate the testimony and the answers that you've given.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. We'll save questions until all three go.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard an audit on the Department of Cannabis Control’s oversight of cannabis packaging and labeling, focused on whether products attractive to children are being kept out of the legal market. The auditor said the department’s rules are often vague or subjective, leading to inconsistent enforcement, and that the state relies heavily on licensees to self-police because there is no upfront review before products reach the market. The audit cited examples involving cartoon-like images, bright colors, flavor references, candy-like imagery, strain names, and beverage packaging, and recommended clearer statutory standards, possible pre-approval of packaging, better enforcement tools, and stronger tracking of repeat violators. Assemblymembers and senators largely agreed that child safety is the priority, but differed on the best policy response. Some members argued for clearer legislative limits and even plain packaging, saying products like root beer, cherry pie, and cereal-like designs are plainly appealing to children. Department officials said they had already begun reforms, including a centralized label-review team, a rubric, improved databases, and more attention to repeat violations, while also emphasizing that the illicit and intoxicating hemp markets are major sources of youth exposure and that resource constraints limit inspections. They said they are open to working with the Legislature on more specific standards and additional funding. Public witnesses split between public health and industry perspectives. A pediatrician and public health advocate urged stronger restrictions, including plain packaging, limits on flavors and potency, and a pre-market review system, arguing that vague rules have failed children. Industry representatives said they support youth protections but want bright-line, objective standards so compliant businesses can know what is allowed; they argued that most youth-targeted packaging is in the illicit market and that the legal market needs clearer rules rather than broader bans. No formal vote or committee action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, the committee will be receiving testimony in two work sessions, which I hope will be very instructive
• We're going to receive testimony from some of the leading legislative policy think tanks and policy shops
• So a lot of the testimony will be remote because people will be testifying from different time zones.
• We'll hear overlapping testimony from many experts as well.
• So we will begin now with testimony from Adam Gelb from the Council of Criminal Justice.

Summary: The House Committee on Community Safety held a December 4, 2025 work session focused first on crime trends and then on policing effectiveness. Adam Gelb of the Council on Criminal Justice reviewed long-term national data showing major declines in reported crime and victimization since the early 1990s, a pandemic-era spike in homicide and some violent crime, and a recent drop back toward pre-pandemic levels. He also highlighted a sharp decline in juvenile arrests and incarceration, a substantial reduction in racial disparities in imprisonment, and noted that much of the disparity reduction appears tied to changes in arrest patterns. James McMahon of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs then presented Washington’s 2024 crime report, saying total crime fell 8.4% from 2023, with decreases in violent crime, property crime, murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, hate crimes, and vehicle theft, while crimes against society rose. He emphasized that domestic violence makes up about half of crimes against persons, that Washington remains above its 2019 levels in several categories, and that underreporting affects the data. Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments Justice Center added that Washington remains one of the states still above 2019 violent-crime levels, with homicide and juvenile victimization especially concerning, and noted wide variation in juvenile arrests and violent-crime trends across cities and counties. Jeff Asher of the Real Time Crime Index said his near-real-time data through September 2025 suggests continued national and Washington declines in murder, violent crime, and property crime, with Washington’s murder trend likely continuing downward into 2025. The second half of the work session shifted to policing methods and clearance rates. Richard Hahn of the Niskanen Center argued that disorder and neighborhood conditions affect public safety perceptions, that environmental design and street lighting can reduce crime, and that police agencies need better deployment, investigative capacity, and clearance rates, especially amid staffing shortages. Mark Kropanski of Arnold Ventures summarized research finding that police staffing matters, hotspots and problem-oriented policing reduce crime, and better investigations increase deterrence and trust; he stressed that homicide clearance rates remain only around 60% in Washington and that property-crime clearance is much lower. Marshall Clement returned to focus on Washington’s solve rates, saying only 44% of violent crimes reported to police are solved, with 62% of homicides, 51% of aggravated assaults, 25% of rapes, and 31% of robberies cleared in 2024, and that large numbers of serious crimes remain unsolved over a three-year period. He urged state leaders to set goals, improve data collection, strengthen investigative resources, and support victims and witnesses. No votes or formal actions were taken; the session was informational and included extensive member questions about juvenile crime, domestic violence, underreporting, detective staffing, and how to improve clearance rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will allow this after The testimony and the public comments for the support and the opposition for
• And I'm incredibly heartened, I said it at the very top of my testimony, and grateful that the chairs
• Thank you I want to appreciate the authors the both the testimony from proponents and most importantly
• the testimony from the opposition and the tweeners in this in this moment in time.
• And I hear the opposition's testimony about the fear that is not written on this page, that is not in

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have testimony that this is a serious problem in Texas. It's a rising threat.
• Senator, we had testimony before the State Affairs Committee.
• So, yes, there's been testimony that large institutional investors have been treated poorly by these
• Was there any testimony regarding the reasons why? There's been none.
• There was no testimony regarding a policy basis for this gap in the Transportation Code. Code?

Bills: HJR98, HJR99, HB29, HB136, HB142, HB166, HB353, HB1399, HB2000, SJR59, SCR19, SB128, SB261, SB317, SB383, SB393, SB397, SB466, SB517, SB571, SB612, SB705, SB715, SB731, SB748, SB801, SB867, SB913, SB945, SB946, SB986, SB1013, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1117, SB1181, SB1250, SB1263, SB1285, SB1444, SB1483, SB1528, SB1553, SB1556, SB1608, SB1723, SB1858, SB1946, SB1957, SB1986, SB1999, SB2043, SB2056, SB2082, SB2105, SB2133, SB2138, SB2177, SB2203, SB2221, SB2311, SB2334, SB2337, SB2340, SB2373, SB2417, SB2446, SB2452, SB2477, SB2532, SB2565, SB2587, SB2615, SB2622, SB2633, SB2637, SB2681, SB2713, SB2717, SB2781, SB2782, SB2835, SB2841, SB2857, SB2891, SB2943, SB2994, SB2995, SB3016, SB3047, SB3057, SB3059, SJR3, SB5, SB72, SB509, SB616, SB963, SB985, SB1143, SB1172, SB1267, SB1271, SB1273, SB1759, SB1786, SB2361, SB1025, SB1080, SB1245, SB1355, SB1422, SB1, SB260, SB1506, SB1637, HJR98, HJR99, HJR2, HJR1, HB1109, HB1392, HB22, HB3093, HB517, HB1130, HB142, HB1689, HB2018, HB136, HB2884, HB1393, HB2730, HB1399, HB1244, HB467, HB331, HB2559, HB29, HB26, HB166, HB353, HB2000, HB2756, HB3248, HB3513, HB3204, HB3135, HB3012, HB2763, HB2523, HB2457, HB2415, HB2198, HB2143, HB1708, HB1672, HB767, HB1327, HB2723, HB451, HB140, HB109, HB3096, HCR6, HCR12, HCR29, HCR50, HCR55, HCR56, HCR58, HCR70, HCR71, HCR74, HCR78, HCR80, HCR107, HCR116, HCR117, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SJR59, SCR12, SCR39, SCR48, SCR19, SB2023, SB1957, SB2615, SB2138, SB3016, SB1999, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB517, SB1200, SB1845, SB2681, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB1013, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB715, SB1640, SB2538, SB1449, SB1181, SB1359, SB410, SB1234, SB2926, SB2972, SB2841, SB1856, SB1528, SB1373, SB672, SB2891, SB1854, SB317, SB2539, SB2532, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB1285, SB1454, SB2520, SB1237, SB1586, SB2819, SB629, SB2342, SB2903, SB2477, SB3029, SB375, SB777, SB2367, SB2703, SB2608, SB2965, SB2521, SB2165, SB2501, SB2452, SB2835, SB1602, SB1704, SB1723, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2177, SB2460, SB2785, SB2373, SB867, SB1608, SB640, SB1698, SB383, SB705, SB748, SB1117, SB2340, SB2680, SB2994, SB2747, SB1950, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB3059, SB2782, SB2781, SB2637, SB2633, SB2337, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB946, SB945, SB2857, SB128, SB571, SB1263, SB3058, SB612, SB2221, SB2587, SB2044, SB2363, SB2713, SB2311, SB1986, SB2565, SB2943, SB1888, SB2417, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SB3036, SB3057, SB3056, SB3043, SB3037, SB3050, SB3063, SB3047, SB3035, SB2446, SB466, SB2611, SB2794, SB2105, SB2017, SB1790, SB1778, SB1730, SB2995, SB2847, SB205, SB2619, SB1903, SB203, SB3061, SB1581, SB2600, SB2799, SB2790, SB2688, SB2515, SB1230, SB876, SB2522, SB2639, SB2137, SB2519, SB2403, SB2459, SB3051, SB2655, SB2251, SB2764, SB2878, SB1884, SB111, SB582, SB2617, SB1835, SB2751, SB2959, HB206, HB1238, HB1089, HB2890, HB9, HB2081, HB4215, HB2970, SB2063, SB1400, SB2058, SB2260, SB2928, SB1310

Keywords: Article V, federal government, fiscal restraints, constitutional amendment, term limits, animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so this is a bill, you know, based on testimony I thought was largely unnecessary.
• The other thing is, when I did ask the question, based on the testimony from the prime sponsor, he was
• from<00:19:37.360> the<00:19:37.600> prime<00:19:37.919> sponsor on the testimony
• from the prime sponsor on the testimony from the prime sponsor um<00:19:39.280> he<00:19:39.520
• It is clear to me from the testimony that if some communities are struggling with staffing, what we heard

Keywords: 1191, senate, all