Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:34:26.639><c> after</c> Local Government and Housing after Local Government and Housing after
• </c><00:34:37.760><c> After</c> Government and Housing. After Government and Housing.
• House Bill 1035 by consent calendar.
• </c><00:56:17.359><c> Bill</c> please read the title to House Bill please read the title to House Bill
• order to take up House Bill 1064.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, I move that we adopt the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2330.
• I now make a motion to vote do pass House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2330.
• You've failed to pass House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2330.
• for House Bill 1817.
• You voted do pass House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1817.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, today we're here to talk about affordable housing in Minnesota, and the Minnesota Housing just put
• in Minnesota and the affordable housing in Minnesota and the Minnesota<00:21:05.760><c> Housing</c><
• ,</c><00:22:56.159><c> the</c> happening in the supply of housing, the happening in the supply of housing
• Why is housing get getting more is why? Why is housing get getting more expensive?
• We need to have stable housing life.

Transcript Highlights:

• You 10 11 12 13 The house will come to order. Members please register. Merry Christmas!
• I move that the House grant permission for all committees and subcommittees to meet while the House is
• Welcome him to his Texas house.
• House Resolution 495. Members you've heard the motion is there any objection?
• The House stands adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very helpful to those who are not able to come to the State House who want to testify.
• And I want to thank Chair Decker for leading this effort in the House.
• Our organization urges you to vote favorably on House 2444.
• Our organization urges you to vote favorably on House 2444.
• And offer compassion to parents of infants with House Bill 2436.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of public health bills, with much of the testimony focused on two major themes: expanding access to care and stabilizing health-related workforces and services. On House 2364, an act relative to medical health and fitness facilities, representatives from Dedham Health and Athletic Club argued for a pilot program recognizing supervised exercise as medicine, saying it could improve outcomes for chronic disease, fall prevention, and mental health while reducing costs. On House/Senate bills concerning community health workers (H. 359/S. 251), multiple witnesses from MACHW, Health Care for All, MHA, Cambridge Health Alliance, Mass General Brigham, Boston Children’s Hospital, Asian Women for Health, and the City of Somerville described CHWs as essential for navigation, trust-building, language access, and addressing social needs, and urged reimbursement by MassHealth, the GIC, and private insurers, along with workforce development measures. One pediatric neurologist also told the committee that losing grant-funded CHW support led to more avoidable ER visits and threatened clinic operations. The committee also heard extensive testimony on hospital closures and essential services. Witnesses including Dr. Alan Sager, MNA President Katie Murphy, nurses from Brockton Hospital and Providence Behavioral Health, and local officials and legislators from Norwood described the loss of hospitals and service lines, especially maternity, pediatric, and behavioral health care, and argued current closure processes are too weak to protect communities. They supported bills such as H. 2460/S. 1503 and H. 2534/S. 1574, which would require earlier notice, community input, stronger state oversight, possible receivership, and limits on reopening or expanding after closures. Testimony emphasized the impact of Steward’s bankruptcy, the closures of Carney and Neshoba Valley, and the need to preserve access to essential services in underserved areas. Several end-of-life and professional regulation bills were also discussed. On H. 2436, Representative Omar Gomez and funeral industry witnesses supported eliminating Office of the Chief Medical Examiner fees for the removal of a child’s body in cases involving children five and under, describing the bill as a small but important relief for grieving families. On H. 2444 and related Senate bills, cemetery and consumer advocates supported legalizing alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction as environmentally friendly after-death options, while cemetery representatives opposed H. 2360, which would allow funeral establishments to operate crematories, arguing cemeteries should retain that role. The committee also heard support for H. 2382, which would exempt dentists and oral surgeons from a new office-based surgical center framework, and for H. 2461, which would create hospital efficiency standards; employers and retailers backed that bill as a way to address rising health care costs. Finally, the committee heard testimony on autism services and hospital governance. On S. 1414, behavior analysts and school representatives said Massachusetts already licenses assistant-level ABA providers but MassHealth does not reimburse them, causing long waitlists and limiting school and family access; an actuary testified that a three-tier ABA reimbursement model could reduce MassHealth costs by up to 6% per child served. Senator Lovely also testified in support of S. 1572, which would require at least one registered nurse on each acute care hospital governing board, arguing nurses’ frontline perspective would improve quality and retention. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpt, but many witnesses urged favorable reports on their respective bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• to afford market-rate housing in many parts of the state.
• but can't afford market-rate housing where they live.
• gap between housing need and housing provision.
• Tisha Watts with the California Housing Partnership.
• The bill is a potential way to increase rental housing supply and moderate housing supply, so that's

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Heather Scott, District 2, and today before you is House Bill 750.
• Is there anybody wishing to testify on House Bill 585?
• House Bill... House Bill 545 is up next. Senator Adams, welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Chair, Senator, from what I understand, that's how it came out of the House, was that the House committee
• House Bill 545 helps them meet veterans where they are.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary, record the action, notify the House. Okay, good.
• SB 383, school districts; leases; housing development.
• SB 383, school districts; leases; housing development.
• The action: transmit the bill to the House.
• Secretary, record the action and transmit the bill to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today to present House Bill 145.
• We are ready for House Bill 247 when you are, Mr. Chair.
• But House Bill two four... then they'll be handed out. I guess.
• The LFC also laid the groundwork, excuse me, in House Bill 2, which is reflected in House Bill 2 in preparation
• Just the context that I want to add: I'm on House Ag and Water.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 103, which would prevent a homeowner from losing the 3% valuation cap solely because of a zoning change. The sponsor and supporters, including the New Mexico Business Coalition, Realtors, and the City of Albuquerque, said the bill would protect homeowners from unexpected tax increases when the property’s use has not changed. There was no opposition, and the committee approved HB 103 with a due pass recommendation by voice vote. The committee then considered House Bill 145, which extends the high-wage job tax credit sunset from 2026 to 2036. The sponsor and the Economic Development Secretary said the credit has been effective in attracting and retaining higher-wage jobs, especially because employers need long-term certainty. Business and economic development groups testified in support, while no one spoke in opposition. Members discussed the wage thresholds, the value of keeping a sunset for review, and the bill’s fiscal impact. The committee passed HB 145 on a 7-2 roll call vote. House Bill 247, a major capital outlay modernization bill, generated the most extensive discussion. The sponsor described the bill as a response to billions in unspent capital outlay balances and repeated reauthorizations, and proposed amendments to require ICIP inclusion for larger appropriations, limit reauthorizations, and change how water projects are handled. Public testimony was mixed: some rural and tribal representatives supported modernization but warned that the water provisions could harm small communities, fire suppression systems, flood-control dams, and other local projects. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment striking the water-related Section 2, then later passed the bill as twice amended with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have three bills to hear today, and we will start with House Bill 2426.
• I will suspend the hearing on House Bill 2426 and open the hearing on House Bill 2416 because I see Representative
• I haven't given up on House Bill 1903.
• But that said, we very much support House Bill 1903.
• One of the root causes of energy burden is inefficient housing.

Bills: HB2426 , HB2373 , HB2416

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, electric utility, energy assistance, low-income households, monthly bill assistance, energy equity, waste management, energy, climate action, environmental regulations, fair treatment, renewable energy, sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, we'll suspend the hearing for now on House Bill 1652 and open the hearing on House Bill 2367
• We're in support of House Bill 2284.
• We support House Bill 2284.
• hearing on House Bill 1652.
• Okay, that will conclude testimony and the hearing on House Bill 1652, and we will open House Bill 2421

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three main bills. House Bill 2284 on reducing litter would remove a scheduled increase in plastic bag thickness, preserve the existing penalty on thicker bags, and create a litter solutions task force to use existing data and recommend further actions. Supporters from business, retail, agriculture, food industry, and the Department of Ecology said the bill takes a data-driven approach and could help reduce litter without imposing a full bag ban, while Ecology noted it already has a statewide litter study underway and raised cost and membership concerns. Opponents and other commenters generally favored the bill’s direction but emphasized the need for more study and careful implementation. No vote was taken. House Bill 1652 would require certain ocean-going vessels in Washington waters to use fuel with no more than 0.1% sulfur, with recordkeeping, Ecology oversight, penalties, and a substitute clarifying vessel coverage and exemptions. The prime sponsor and environmental and public health advocates said the bill would reduce air and water pollution from scrubbers and protect the Salish Sea, orcas, salmon, and nearby communities. Ports, shipping interests, and industry groups raised concerns that the bill could effectively discourage scrubbers, create burdens for irregular callers and cargo traffic, and affect port competitiveness, while some said the bill should be narrowed or further stakeholdered. The hearing also included discussion of a proposed substitute and possible impacts on vessels and port operations. House Bill 2367 would end special coal-related exemptions by limiting the cap-and-invest exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas regulation for the coal plant, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. Supporters said the bill would align state law with the planned closure of the Centralia coal plant, reinforce Washington’s climate policies, and remove outdated carve-outs. Business and petroleum representatives warned that if the plant were brought back into the cap-and-invest program, the allowance market could be affected and Ecology might need flexibility to adjust the program. The committee heard extensive testimony on all three bills but took no recorded votes or final action in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that House Bill 2115 and House Bill 1876 be voted do pass. Any discussion?
• I now move that the House Committee substitute for House Bill 2776 be voted do pass.
• Yes, and so this is House Bill 1698 and House Bill 2120.
• House Bill 2120.
• oh, I'm sorry, I said it wrong—House Bill 2230 and House Bill 2978.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee first took up a combined substitute for House Bills 2115 and 1876, which would encourage cursive instruction and add a future cursive assessment. Members discussed that the substitute removed an immediate fifth-grade test and instead would phase in an assessment later, with no penalty for failure. Some members raised concerns about teacher training, costs, and added demands on elementary classrooms, while supporters said the measure was only a recommendation and could be improved on the floor. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed the House Committee Substitute for both bills on a roll call vote of 13-9, with several members present or absent. The committee then heard House Bill 2776, as amended and substituted, a teacher-certification bill aimed at addressing Missouri’s teacher shortage through a tiered associate certification system for pre-K and elementary grades. Sponsors explained that Tier 1 and Tier 2 certificates would be temporary and nonrenewable, with mentoring, literacy training, and a minimum salary floor, and that Tier 3 would lead to full certification and retirement-system participation. Members questioned the pay differential, the effect on teacher quality, the role of literacy training, and how the bill would treat leaves or incomplete years of service. After adopting an amendment and rolling it into a new substitute, the committee passed the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2776 by a vote of 12-5 with one present. In open session, the committee heard House Bills 1698 and 2120 together, both anti-bullying measures that would strengthen reporting, parent notification, school-board awareness, and immunity protections for good-faith reporting. The sponsors described the bills as responses to a student bullying case that ended in suicide, and witnesses from the family gave emotional testimony urging immediate reporting and stronger accountability. Committee members raised questions about definitions of bullying, off-campus conduct, mandatory reporting to law enforcement, and the need to avoid sweeping in protected speech or sincerely held religious beliefs. No vote was taken on those bills in the portion provided. The committee then began testimony on House Bills 2230 and 2978, the Hands-on Learning Restoration Act, which would limit screen time and one-to-one device use in K-5 classrooms and emphasize books, paper, pencils, and cursive. Sponsors and supporters argued that heavy reliance on Chromebooks and other devices has harmed literacy, attention, and child development, citing low NAEP scores and research on handwriting and screen exposure. Teachers, physicians, and parents testified in support, while some members noted the bill may be too prescriptive and would need work on implementation, testing, and local flexibility. The hearing continued with additional testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the house apart on some things.
• Um, I can turn house and in the senate.
• Uh so I'm counting on house at times.
• </c><00:20:17.919><c> leadership</c> uh Senate and House leadership uh Senate and House leadership bipartisanly
• The House about your education budget?

Transcript Highlights:

• To ensure people with pets find stable housing during California's housing crisis, supporting pet owners
• access to rental housing for people with pets.
• This means fewer wasted applications, Viable housing options before applying.
• It takes longer, and we were out of our house for a year and a quarter, and it was just our house.
• You mean even if your next-door neighbor says, 'I'll buy your house for $500,000'?

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused on health care planning, mental health, housing, homeowners associations, groundwater enforcement, pet-friendly rental disclosures, and post-disaster property protections. SB 1088 would modernize POLST and DNR forms by renaming POLST to “portable orders for life-sustaining treatment,” allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign, clarifying that the forms are voluntary, recognizing out-of-state forms, and permitting electronic signatures. It drew support from the Coalition for Compassionate Care and related groups and no opposition was presented. SB 1242 would allow family members who originally petitioned in CARE Court to continue participating for care coordination and information-sharing, subject to judicial discretion; supporters said it would improve treatment coordination, while Disability Rights California opposed it as coercive and a threat to confidentiality. The committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 1242, and it was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1007, which would require more HOA transparency, including clearer budget comparisons and disclosure of evidence for violations, and would lower the threshold for regular assessment increases without a homeowner vote. Supporters argued it would curb steep fee hikes and improve accountability, while HOA industry groups warned it could undermine funding for insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs. Members raised concerns about the cap on assessments, but the bill advanced on a 6-1 vote and was placed on call. SB 1364, as amended, would bar custody or visitation rights for a person who impregnated a survivor through sexual assault, using a clear-and-convincing evidence standard rather than requiring a criminal conviction; supporters said it protects survivors and may increase federal funding, while opponents argued it could deny children a relationship with a parent. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Additional measures included SB 997, which would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to enforce fees and sustainability rules; it had support from local water, farm, and county representatives and passed 9-0. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies up front in applications, ads, and websites and allow application-fee refunds if disclosure was not made before payment; supporters said it would reduce wasted fees and pet relinquishment, while rental housing groups raised concerns about signage, ADA language, and vaccination disclosures. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1090 would prohibit large property owners from making unsolicited purchase offers for five years in wildfire disaster areas, aiming to curb post-disaster speculation; supporters described aggressive investor pressure after the Eaton and Palisades fires, while real estate and title groups raised implementation and enforcement concerns. The committee was still discussing the bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so we will take up House Bill...
• , House Bill 880 is voluntarily deferred.
• We decided to create a database in-house.
• Vote yes is to report House Bill 1221 favorably.
• leaves us Representative Lyons, House Bill 869.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• We are testifying here today on House Bill 2389.
• I'm testifying in strong opposition to House Bill 2389.
• I strongly oppose House Bill 2389, and here is why.
• I strongly oppose House Bill 2389, and here is why.
• I am here today in strong support of House Bill 2389.

Bills: HB2389 , HB2456

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: juvenile justice, youth sentencing, juvenile rehabilitation, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, community supervision, community transition services, suspended disposition, less restrictive alternative, sentencing grid, juvenile confinement, juvenile prison, rehabilitation, recidivism, mental health treatment, substance use disorder, chemical dependency, trauma-informed care, racial disparities, equity

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to House Bill 2209 for the theft-related offenses, Turning to House Bill 2209, for the theft-related
• House Bill 2526 concerns prostitution.
• We will hold the hearing on House Bill 2526 open.
• So we're not going to turn to House Bill 2403.
• I'm here today to strongly support House Bill 2209.

Bills: HB1591 , HB2209 , HB2403 , HB2526

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, survivor protections, legal remedies, defendants, theft, robbery, sentencing enhancements, criminal justice, property crimes, failure to register, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, prostitution, public health, criminal justice reform, community safety

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2926, housing contracts bonds taxes — Government.
• House Concurrent Resolution 264, Barbara Leff, the resolution.
• House Concurrent Resolution 264 is signed in open session.
• Placed on the third reading of bills: House Bill 4115.
• SCR 1023 is expected to pass to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• 753</c><00:04:23.840><c> returns</c> House communication number 753 returns House communication number
• </c> the House to Senator. Sorry. the House to Senator. Sorry.
• > referenced</c><00:04:51.040><c> in</c><00:04:51.199><c> House</c> Resolution 192 referenced in House
• </c> he was also my house representative. he was also my house representative.
• The House amendments are President.

Summary: The Senate convened with all 25 members present, approved the prior day’s journal, and heard several introductions, including visiting staff, guests, and Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, who was recognized for her work with the food bank and noted as acting governor that week. The chamber also received House communications returning several Senate concurrent resolutions adopted unamended, and one House-amended resolution, SCR 192, was taken up. Senator Wakai moved to disagree with the House amendments to SCR 192, the motion was seconded and carried, with conferees to be named later. Standing committee reports were then taken up, including reports 1931 to 1939 for one-day notice and report 1940 for adoption, which was adopted without objection. The Senate then considered a series of advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with education-related appointments. Senators spoke in support of nominees to the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board, the State Board of Education, and the School Facilities Authority Board, while Senator Awa and others raised objections to several nominees, arguing that campaign donations by some appointees created the appearance of “pay to play.” Despite those objections, the nominations were ultimately confirmed. The chamber also confirmed Dwight Takamini as chair of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board after strong support from multiple senators who cited his labor, legislative, and public service background. The Senate next confirmed Christine Sakuda as chief information officer for the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, with supporters emphasizing her IT leadership and public service and noting she is the first female and Native Hawaiian to hold the post. The chamber also confirmed Kahuanoi AD Jackson as judge of the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit and Sonia H. Toma as judge of the District Family Court of the Second Circuit, with senators highlighting their prosecutorial and public service experience and the favorable testimony received in committee. After these confirmations, senators introduced the new appointees and their families in the gallery. Later, the Senate adopted additional standing committee reports on House concurrent resolutions and passed SB 849 HD2 on final reading, relating to wildlife conservation, by unanimous consent. The body also reconsidered and reversed earlier disagreement on House amendments to SB 116 and SB 946, agreeing that the amendments were technical and giving one-day notice for final reading. The meeting concluded with a late introduction of the Honokaʻa Jazz Band, which was praised for its national recognition and community service, and senators invited members to a later concert in the rotunda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, I bring House Bill 2361.
• You will have, per the rules, 24 hours in advance for House Committee sub, if there is a House Committee
• I believe we're hearing House Bill 2817, correct? We're going to do House Bill 2817 and 2961.
• I present to you this evening House Bill 1717. I present to you this evening House Bill 1717.
• So now, here I am today advocating for House Bill 1717 and House Bill 1643 for veterans such as myself

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted do pass on House Bill 3037, House Bill 2760, House Bill 1778, and House Bill 2830, each by recorded roll call. HB 3037, HB 2760, and HB 1778 all passed 8-4, while HB 2830 passed unanimously 12-0. The committee also said it would not take up HB 1746 and HB 1769 yet, because more work was needed on an amendment. The public hearing began with House Bill 3005, sponsored by Representative Justice, which would require public and school libraries to adopt and post reconsideration policies for challenged materials, limit requests to local residents or parents/guardians, extend the process to digital materials, and prohibit tracking or retaining personalized user data from digital library resources. Justice said the bill was developed with the Secretary of State’s office and library groups and was intended to add transparency, local control, and privacy protections. Testimony from EBSCO Information Services and the Missouri Library Association supported the bill as a codification of existing library practices and a way to create clearer procedures. The committee then heard a group of similar bills on AI-generated or digitally altered depictions, including measures by Representatives Lucas, Farnan, Gallick, Schmidt, Williams, Houseman, and Dolan. The sponsors described the bills as closing loopholes in child pornography, revenge-porn, and digital impersonation laws, creating civil remedies, criminal penalties, and in some versions platform takedown requirements for nonconsensual altered images. Members raised questions about how to combine the bills, whether sunsets should be included, and how the proposals relate to existing revenge-porn law. No votes were taken on these bills during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard House Bills 2817 and 2961 on ibogaine research for veterans and other trauma-affected populations, followed by House Bills 1717 and 1643 on psilocybin and other alternative therapies. Supporters, including veterans, first responders, clinicians, and family members, described severe PTSD, TBI, addiction, and suicide crises and said these treatments had helped them when conventional care had not. Opponents, including the Missouri State Medical Association, said they did not support non-FDA-approved drugs. Members questioned the cost and structure of the proposed studies, the role of the FDA, and whether similar research is already underway. The hearing ended without a vote on these bills.