Transcript Highlights:

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

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:55.039><c> to</c> leaders and the minority whip limited to leaders and the minority whip limited
• They run on congressional Democrats.
• It’s a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
• It’s a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
• It’s a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Transcript Highlights:

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

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1233 by Representative Coates is an act to amend Title 38 relative to the contract limit for
• House Bill 1233, relative to the contract limit for hospital service districts. Senator Wheat.
• is to call House Bill 1098 by Representative McFarlane, which is an act of Title IX, relative to limitation
• Relative to limitation of liability for aerospace flight entities and aerospace activities from the Committee

Bills: SR130 , SR131 , SR132 , SR133 , SCR74 , SCR12 , HB582 , HB221 , HCR74 , HCR58 , HB71 , HB79 , HB158 , HB160 , HB169 , HB227 , HB251 , HB289 , HB330 , HB394 , HB410 , HB429 , HB769 , HB1017 , HB1234 , HB712 , SCR3 , SB54 , SB72 , SB129 , SB164 , SB232 , SB287 , SB322 , SB374 , SB375 , SB386 , SB409 , SB447 , SB458 , SB78 , SB112 , SB124 , SB125 , SB174 , SB190 , SB201 , SB208 , SB236 , SB273 , SB307 , SB347 , SB357 , SB385 , SB387 , SB393 , SB401 , SB415 , SB426 , SB435 , SB487 , SB488 , SB523 , SB222 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB480 , SB514 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR31 , HCR47 , HB362 , HB363 , HB368 , HB377 , HB380 , HB382 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB431 , HB441 , HB466 , HB503 , HB533 , HB559 , HB575 , HB590 , HB593 , HB618 , HB655 , HB664 , HB685 , HB692 , HB707 , HB715 , HB732 , HB738 , HB741 , HB748 , HB776 , HB807 , HB822 , HB856 , HB860 , HB868 , HB887 , HB888 , HB905 , HB908 , HB961 , HB980 , HB990 , HB992 , HB999 , HB1000 , HB1010 , HB1146 , HB1157 , HB1233 , HB1243 , HB54 , HB137 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB321 , HB396 , HB512 , HB552 , HB578 , HB638 , HB663 , HB708 , HB717 , HB718 , HB1009 , HB1082 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1198 , HB1246 , HB27 , HB143 , HB205 , HB259 , HB267 , HB288 , HB308 , HB403 , HB405 , HB414 , HB417 , HB478 , HB546 , HB548 , HB555 , HB557 , HB609 , HB670 , HB672 , HB740 , HB779 , HB786 , HB796 , HB812 , HB848 , HB915 , HB917 , HB921 , HB930 , HB933 , HB1095 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1129 , HB1154 , HB1166 , HB1187 , HB1195 , HB1230 , HB316 , HB511 , HB514 , HB799 , HB1039 , HB17 , HB36 , HB41 , HB47 , HB73 , HB126 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB166 , HB211 , HB226 , HB271 , HB324 , HB337 , HB351 , HB399 , HB571 , HB723 , HB726 , HB750 , HB759 , HB844 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1036 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB217 , SB274 , SB300 , SB379 , SB382 , SB441 , SB449 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782 , SB149

Keywords: E. Joseph Savoie, Dr. Savoie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, UL Lafayette, higher education, Louisiana Board of Regents, commissioner of higher education, president emeritus, Carnegie R1, research university, student financial aid, needs-based aid, community and technical college system, teacher education, hurricane Katrina, hurricane Rita, retirement resolution, commendation, senate resolution, public service

Transcript Highlights:

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

Bills: SB5877 , SB5904 , SB5988

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

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

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

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

Transcript Highlights:

• congressionally authorized future interstate.
• <00:15:22.160><c> authorization,</c> congressional authorization, congressional authorization, underscoring
• Center without congressional approval. Center without congressional approval.
• </c> terms of location, there's no committee. terms of location, there's no committee.
• </c><07:10:57.600><c> District,</c> New Jerseys 10th Congressional District, New Jerseys 10th Congressional

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> worked on my first congressional worked on my first congressional campaign.<00:21:23.760><c> So,
• </c> constituents of the Fort Congressional constituents of the Fort Congressional District,<00:24:13.360
• </c> congressional district in the country. congressional district in the country.
• </c><02:44:36.640><c> information</c> little there is very limited information little there is very limited
• </c> We also don't know about the long-term We also don't know about the long-term mental<02:45:30.319

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:33.799><c> by</c><00:03:33.959><c> its</c><00:03:34.200><c> tax</c> limited by its tax limited
• </c><00:03:58.239><c> chartered</c> nonprofits congressionally chartered nonprofits congressionally chartered
• We move around every couple of years, and it's a time-limited career.
• We move around every couple of years, and it's a time-limited career.
• </c><00:49:58.559><c> prickly</c> the term prickly the term prickly grass<00:50:01.040><c> and</c> grass

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
• We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
• We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
• We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
• We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill limits the investment in the Idle Moneys Fund to 7.5%. Utah's limit is 10%.
• This bill addresses that issue in a very limited and balanced way.
• This bill establishes, again, a minimum statewide allowance, not a maximum limit.
• This bill addresses that issue in a very limited and balanced way.
• This bill establishes again a minimum statewide allowance, not a maximum limit.

Transcript Highlights:

• On trade in President Trump's first term.
• We need to balance our short-term profitability with long-term stability.
• term.
• uncertainty with the benefit of long-term gain.
• the U.S. and the nation's trade agenda for his second term.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee