Transcript Highlights:

• The revenue generated will allow the state to maintain healthy reserves, which is critical given the

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I THINK HEALTHY SKEPTICISM IS IMPORTANT PART OF THE SCIENTIFIC DIALOGUE.

Transcript Highlights:

• PENSION FUND IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE CURRENT FUNDED RATIO OF 80.7 PERCENT THAT IS CONSIDERED A HEALTHY

Transcript Highlights:

• As we all know, employees who have access to health care are healthy employees that come to work.

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the home to the Recreation Department, Council on Aging, and Veteran Services.
• It is an aging institution.
• My area is all about age, and I need to protect my elders, my parents, my aunts, my uncles.
• attorneys are aging and they're going to be retiring.
• I know the goal was to try to do a same-same transfer from the AG to us.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s FY27 H-2 budget proposal, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard testimony from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who described the $1.72 billion budget as a 4% increase over FY26 and emphasized readiness, local partnerships, and support for core operations rather than expansion. She highlighted ongoing work on firearms-law implementation, State Police academy reforms, DOC’s new strategic plan, disaster response, hate-crime prevention, and planning for major 2026 events including the World Cup, Marathon, and America’s 250th anniversary. Members also raised concerns about State Police capacity, DNA backlog reporting, academy boxing/training reforms after a trooper’s death, ICE coordination, diversity in public safety leadership, the disaster relief fund, crime lab funding, reentry programming, and whether OEMS should move from DPH to EOPSS; Kwan said she would keep an open mind on some issues but was not ready to commit to an OEMS transfer. The committee then questioned EOPSS officials and the State Police colonel on several operational matters. The colonel said the academy boxing program remains suspended and likely will not return in its prior form, pending an IACP review, and that future training will likely emphasize jujitsu-style control techniques. He also said the State Police uses the civil service exam, with current advancement scores ranging from 83.72 to 98.78 for the most recent class, and acknowledged the need to improve recruitment, preparation, and diversity. On the DNA and sexual assault kit backlog, EOPSS said it supports extending the statute of limitations and is working with the courts and crime lab to identify and collect lawfully owed DNA. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, is currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, and should be designed to respond flexibly to different regional needs. They also said the crime lab increase is largely to cover core operations and a structural deficiency rather than expansion. Several members focused on public safety coordination and staffing. Questions from legislators from Bristol, Plymouth, Cape Cod, and elsewhere stressed the need for State Police to absorb additional forensic work if county resources shift, and to maintain strong communication with local chiefs and federal partners. Rep. Holmes pressed EOPSS on racial and gender diversity in the department and State Police; Kwan and Colonel Noble said diversity has improved but will take time to show up in senior leadership, and they pointed to internships and hiring practices as ways to broaden the pipeline. The hearing also included discussion of the World Cup security plan, with Kwan saying planning has been underway for about 18 months through 14 working groups and that current staffing and overtime resources appear sufficient for now. After EOPSS concluded, the committee recessed briefly and then began testimony from district attorneys, led by Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden, who said prosecutors are seeking a 10% budget increase to address staffing and salary pressures, especially the widening pay gap between assistant district attorneys and newly hired public defenders after recent CPCS funding increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we have about 158,000 state aging that we have about 158,000 jobs<00:26:29.039><c> that</c><00:
• It is usually very healthy, and so I'm happy to give that.
• So I don't hope that's not a comment on my age, Mr. Chair.
• So I don't hope that's not a comment on my age, Mr. Chair.
• </c> not a comment on my age, Mr. Chair. not a comment on my age, Mr. Chair.

Bills: HF3432 , HF3411

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, it specifies where and how those types of housing will be built while maintaining a healthy
• Our social mission at AARP is to empower people to choose how they live as they age, and that includes
• </c><00:20:57.640><c> physical</c> accommodate people of all ages physical accommodate people of all
• ages physical abilities<00:20:58.720><c> and</c><00:20:58.919><c> life</c><00:20:59.200><c> stages</c
• are looking for and families of all ages are looking for this<00:34:54.200><c> type</c><00:34:54.359

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• read in the newspaper, you'll read about there were 27 kids that were injured at Annunciation from ages
• at there were 27 kids that were injured at Annunciation<02:58:04.319><c> from</c><02:58:04.640><c> ages
• </c> Annunciation from ages, I think 6 to 18. Annunciation from ages, I think 6 to 18.
• </c> particularly those of school-aged particularly those of school-aged parents<03:22:40.239><c> who
• </c><04:27:59.920><c> not</c><04:28:00.080><c> believe</c> In 2016, I can't imagine having my pre-K-age

Transcript Highlights:

• from the state of Minnesota throughout the past half-century, we've been able to maintain a pretty healthy
• meaningful to our property taxpayers as we, as a city and as a school district, continue to invest in our aging
• meaningful to our property taxpayers as we, as a city and as a school district, continue to invest in our aging
• meaningful to our property taxpayers as we, as a city and as a school district, continue to invest in our aging

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> emancipation age is 18, I believe. emancipation age is 18, I believe.
• So is 21 years of age but continuing in their IEP program beyond the age of 21.
• Oh, age 22. age. You want 22? Oh, age 22.
• &gt;&gt; Just<03:43:50.640><c> their</c><03:43:50.880><c> age.</c> &gt;&gt; Just their age.
• &gt;&gt; Just their age.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for example, to qualify for MA as a parent, you must live with your child who is under age 19.
• So, for example, to qualify for MA as a parent, you must live with your child who is under age 19.
• </c> who is under age 19. who is under age 19.
• These are not aged. They are not elderly. They are able-bodied people that could work.
• They are not aged. They are children. They are not aged. They are not<01:50:47.040><c> elderly.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• First off is healthy competition, right?
• And we have to have hospitals that Queens and HPH that it's going to remain healthy here in Hawaii.
• </c><01:26:31.440><c> here</c><01:26:31.840><c> here</c> it's going to remain healthy here here it's
• going to remain healthy here here in<01:26:32.120><c> Hawaii.
• </c> Uh, I think this—if you guys want to move to the front two chairs, it's healthy lifestyle to get

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the home to the Recreation Department, Council on Aging, and Veteran Services.
• It is an aging institution.
• That's longer than the age of some of the members of this committee. It's a good long while.
• We have panels in which attorneys are aging and they're going to be retiring.
• I know the goal was to try to do a same-same transfer from the AG to us.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply ensures that special education transition evaluations occur closer to age 16, aligning with
• </c><01:03:35.799><c> the</c> about the changes to transition age the about the changes to transition
• age the transition<01:03:36.559><c> from</c><01:03:36.760><c> youth</c><01:03:37.039><c> to</c><01:03
• Further delaying transition planning until age 16 does not allow enough time to ensure students with
• 16 does not allow planning until age 16 does not allow enough<01:07:24.480><c> time</c><01:07:24.680

Bills: HF1124 , HF1457 , HF1803

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the age to own firearms from 18 to 21. the age to own firearms from 18 to 21.
• Mayor Molly Cen passed away this November at the age of 71.
• He earned at the age of 12 years old.
• At age Bonita, who passed away in 2023.
• Harry Humeson, who turns the vibrant age of 100 this December.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I wish for you that you do not suppress any of your negative feelings, but that you find healthy
• but<00:10:27.040><c> that</c><00:10:27.240><c> you</c><00:10:27.360><c> find</c><00:10:27.840><c> healthy
• </c> but that you find healthy but that you find healthy [clears throat]<00:10:28.280><c> ways</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• And let's all be healthy. Thank you. Okay, I'm not even gonna go there.
• And let's all be healthy.<01:54:21.920><c> Thank</c><01:54:22.080><c> you.
• :23.520><c> Okay,</c><01:54:24.639><c> I'm</c><01:54:24.880><c> not</c><01:54:25.119><c> even</c> healthy
• Okay, I'm not even healthy. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we can compare the same low-risk, healthy women in both populations, the financial difference between
• <01:29:49.360><c> the</c><01:29:49.679><c> same</c><01:29:50.320><c> lowrisk</c><01:29:51.120><c> healthy
• </c> we can compare the same lowrisk healthy we can compare the same lowrisk healthy women<01:29:51.840

Bills: HB0003 , HB0004

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We will begin to have to make choices, choices that make people less healthy, not more.
• Choices that make<00:37:24.560><c> people</c><00:37:24.880><c> less</c><00:37:25.280><c> healthy,</c>
• </c><00:37:27.520><c> So,</c> make people less healthy, not more.
• So, make people less healthy, not more.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• m the executive director of Clean Elections Minnesota, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to build a healthy
• 57.280><c> a</c> nonpartisan nonprofit working to build a nonpartisan nonprofit working to build a healthy
• c> inclusive</c><00:04:58.479><c> democracy</c><00:04:59.479><c> and</c><00:04:59.720><c> I'm</c> healthy
• and inclusive democracy and I'm healthy and inclusive democracy and I'm here<00:05:00.000><c> today<

Committee: Senate Elections