Transcript Highlights:

• And what it does is it makes it so that if you have a nonprofit that bails people out of jail, If you
• Tell me what you meant, that part about nonprofits. Thank you. Tell me what you meant.
• That part about nonprofits. I missed what you were saying there. Thank you for the question.
• And furthermore, the nonprofits in many cases have received taxpayer dollars.
• I absolutely do believe that it has worked, and if a nonprofit or other entity wants to engage in that

Bills: SB1288 , SB1705 , SB1878 , SB2019 , SB2118

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard several bills related to local government finance, liability, bail, and jail operations. Senate Bill 1288, by Senator Gillespie, would require the state and political subdivisions to equally share FEMA-related matching costs for federally declared disasters; supporters said it would codify long-standing practice and provide certainty for local governments, with an estimated fiscal impact of just under $4.9 million. After questions about future appropriations and delayed reimbursements, the bill advanced on a 9-0 vote. Senate Bill 2019, by Senator Logan, would create a political subdivision liability insurance guarantee program and fund to help local governments and shared insurance pools manage large federal civil rights judgments. Members questioned the bill’s scope and whether it applied to catastrophic events or civil rights cases; the author said it was intended to spread the burden of large judgments over time and reduce pressure on property taxpayers. The committee adopted a title-off motion and advanced the bill 7-2. Chair Hamilton presented Senate Bills 1705, 1878, and 2118. SB 1705 would bar nonprofits from bailing people out of jail if they receive public funds, with supporters citing public safety and opponents raising concerns about impacts on nonprofit and church-based assistance; it passed 7-2. SB 1878 would establish a uniform bail schedule, limit personal recognizance release for certain repeat or higher-risk offenders, and require court approval to lower certain bonds; it also passed 7-2. SB 2118 would clarify how county sheriffs may use commissary funds for jail-related purposes such as training, equipment, inmate care, and operations; it passed 7-2. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Individuals who are provided health benefits by the nonprofit agricultural organization.
• A nonprofit... 1975, section 11.
• A nonprofit agriculture organization may not impose or amend any annual or lifetime benefit limitation
• or cap in any plan for health benefits unless the nonprofit... benefits unless the nonprofit agriculture
• agricultural... care, the nonprofit agricultural organization shall pay the out-of-network provider

Bills: HB441

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• One of those reasons is that nonprofit grassroots organizations are trusted messengers.
• Furthermore, nonprofit grassroots organizations have access to hard-to-count Furthermore, nonprofit grassroots
• Lastly, nonprofit organizations such as grassroots organizations have direct impact on the count and
• The Census Equity Fund made about $1.5 million in grants to nonprofits.
• But the nonprofits, and, you know, being a former leader of a nonprofit, I understand the challenges

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:

• Third, eligible nonprofit builders would be able to use money from the fund...
• Third, eligible nonprofit builders would be able to use money from the fund for the development costs
• And of course, going to a traditional lender, it's just not the best for a nonprofit developer.
• And so we need support like this for the future. ...a nonprofit developer.
• I helped manage a nonprofit in Bryan College Station for a number of years. ...a nonprofit in Bryan College

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide any earmarks to nonprofits.
• Uh we have made earmarks for nonprofits.
• </c><00:29:29.200><c> that</c> government functions to nonprofits that government functions to nonprofits
• </c> direct appropriations to nonprofit direct appropriations to nonprofit entities<00:30:12.080><c>
• </c> is a direct appropriation to a nonprofit is a direct appropriation to a nonprofit there's<00:37:

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• would be a choice if LHSAA wanted to do that or not, or whether there's another organization, a nonprofit
• , that nonprofit shall be subject to public records.
• CEA between the department and a nonprofit, that they have the ability to do so. They can opt in.
• There would be no CEA with a nonprofit organization such as LHSAA. No, sir.
• It would be a smaller percentage, obviously, than if you took it over completely, because that nonprofit

Summary: The special legislative study committee met with seven members present, adopted minutes from prior meetings, and then heard public testimony from Terrell Butler and his father about a transfer-eligibility dispute involving Leesville High School and Anacoco High School. They described a family decision to move schools for broader educational and personal reasons, but said the student was ruled ineligible for varsity athletics despite strong grades and a desire to play basketball. Several members responded that the rule seemed to punish students for adult decisions and for transfers within the same parish, and they urged the family to keep working hard while the committee considered broader policy changes. The committee then reviewed a draft report containing factual findings about LHSAA and discussed recommendations. Members expressed concern about inconsistent enforcement, lack of transparency, limited accountability, and LHSAA’s repeated absence from committee meetings. The committee adopted findings for the report and approved three recommendations: creating a structured student-transfer eligibility process allowing one transfer through junior year; making the House and Senate representatives on the LHSAA executive committee voting members; and adding a governor-appointed voting member to the executive committee. Speaker Pro Tem Johnson then outlined broader options for legislative action. One proposal, adopted as the committee’s recommendation, would create a cooperative endeavor agreement framework between the Department of Education/BESE and a nonprofit to administer high school athletics, with public-records coverage subject to existing privacy exceptions and an option for nonpublic schools to participate. A second, more expansive proposal would create a state Office of Sanctioned Athletics within the Department of Education; the committee agreed to include that concept in the report for future discussion but not as a recommendation. The committee also authorized staff to finalize the report, incorporate the adopted findings and recommendations, make technical edits, and send the report to the House and Senate education committees and LHSAA. The meeting ended with closing remarks thanking staff and members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are nonprofit non regulatory Professional association. We are not a government agency.
• Our active members consist of water and wastewater systems were public private nonprofit.
• The structure established as a nonprofit is a functioning mechanism that does work.
• But with our nonprofit, the intent of that nonprofit was to be governed by their members.
• If that nonprofit does not follow their proper procedures.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that part of the data is probably being collected by the nonprofits and by IHFA.
• On top of that, nonprofits are audited every year by professional accountants. You know that.
• and subjects where different nonprofits receive funding from the federal government.
• Nonprofits are really sensitive to this audit because it takes hours of time.
• But nonprofits are really sensitive to this audit because it takes hours of time.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• It is limited to nonprofits. Now they're 100-some years old and needing to come down.
• It is limited to nonprofits. 50,000 and under. It is limited to nonprofits.
• It's a nonprofit corporation that—should have emphasized that—it’s a nonprofit.
• If the goal is to create housing options in rural areas, why would we keep it to nonprofits?
• Yeah, by the nonprofit. I believe so.

Committees: House Economic Development , House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, the capability of nonprofits, which were mentioned several times, their ability, Of course
• You've had such tremendous successes over the years, bringing so many nonprofits up, and really want
• Understand that there is an opportunity to support those nonprofits, those trusted nonprofits, those.
• Understand that there is an opportunity to support those nonprofits, those trusted nonprofits, those
• nonprofits that are on the ground doing the work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill further creates a process for a nonprofit utility that does not meet the requirements to be
• We are a nonprofit, non-regulatory professional association. We are not a government agency.
• It creates language in the statute to govern that description of a non-qualifying nonprofit status.
• The structure established as a nonprofit is a functioning mechanism that does work.
• , the intent of that nonprofit was to be governed by their members, and there are procedures in place

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The committee took up several bills and reported each favorably after brief debate and roll call votes. SB 578 would allow wine to be sold in recyclable containers, aligning wine with beer container rules; it had support from Americans for Prosperity. SB 606 clarified when nonpaying guests may be removed from public lodging establishments, updated notice and checkout provisions, and removed a mandatory arrest requirement, with support from Florida Realtors, the Asian American Hotel Association, and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. SB 202 addressed a long-running dispute between Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach over a water utility surcharge, requiring the utility to charge residents in the city where the plant sits the same rate as its own residents; supporters argued it was a fairness issue, while North Miami Beach opposed it as a burden on its residents. All three bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 570, which updates and clarifies the scope of work for swimming pool and spa contractors, and CS/SB 928, which targets non-approved disposable nicotine devices by restricting advertising and display visible to minors, increasing inspections and penalties, and adopting an amendment to clarify the bill does not cover fully unlawful products and to add a 500-foot school buffer for smoke shops. SB 346, dealing with state preemption of local regulation of hoisting equipment, was reported favorably after testimony about the St. Petersburg crane collapse during Hurricane Milton; supporters said local governments need authority to address hurricane-related crane safety, while builders and contractors warned against patchwork regulation and urged a more targeted approach. The committee then considered SB 652, creating Veterinary Professional Associates to perform certain tasks under veterinarian supervision, including limited surgical procedures after an amendment clarified those procedures are limited to spay/neuter and non-cavity surgeries. Supporters said the bill would expand access to veterinary care and help shelters, while some veterinarians expressed concern about training and safety; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up SB 354 on the Public Service Commission, adopting a substitute amendment that would expand the commission, require stronger financial expertise and more detailed rate justifications, set rate-filing schedules, tighten storm-hardening review, and add transparency rules for nonprofit water and wastewater utilities; the bill drew support from consumer advocates and AARP, while Florida Rural Water warned of unintended consequences for nonprofit systems. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 354 is still underway, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Putting this $50 million aside to serve our nonprofit community was important for us during this session
• Putting this $50 million aside to serve our nonprofit community was important for us during this session
• Putting this $50 million aside to serve our nonprofit community was important for us during this session
• If not, any objections or reservations to the list of nonprofits and awards as read being adopted?
• awarded among of nonprofits and awarded among in<00:21:12.400><c> the</c><00:21:12.559><c> list</c><

Summary: The hearing was an informational briefing on Act 310, which set aside $50 million to support Hawaii nonprofits facing uncertainty, including organizations affected by federal funding disruptions. The chair and Senate co-chair thanked Aloha United Way for handling applications, as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, legislative leadership, and House and Senate members for helping craft the measure and review the needs statewide. They noted the process drew more than 200 applications totaling over $150 million, showing demand far exceeded available funds, and encouraged unsuccessful applicants to apply again through the regular grant-and-aid process in January. The Senate co-chair explained that the committee prioritized organizations serving healthcare, human services, education, the arts, food distribution, and at-risk populations, especially amid concerns about SNAP, WIC, federal employees, and possible future disruptions. The co-chair then read a long list of recommended awardees and funding amounts, including major allocations to groups such as Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island, Child and Family Service, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Bank, The Food Basket, West Hawaii Community Health Center, and several YWCA and YMCA organizations, among many others. After the awards list was read, the chair asked for discussion or objections. Hearing none, the list of nonprofit awards was adopted, and the informational briefing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• um came up with a for nonprofits um came up with a language<00:31:58.360><c> to</c><00:31:58.480><c>
• </c><00:32:26.120><c> and</c> Revenue Service as a 501c3 nonprofit and Revenue Service as a 501c3 nonprofit
• </c> clear that it's a for a nonprofit clear that it's a for a nonprofit corporation<00:37:02.079><c>
• </c> New Hampshire Center for nonprofits New Hampshire Center for nonprofits around<00:43:41.559><c>
• </c><00:43:46.880><c> Child</c> of the experiences that nonprofit Child of the experiences that nonprofit

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Kristen Goodell and I serve as executive director of LifeKY, a nonprofit life sciences lab, an innovation
• So with LifeKY, what we're doing, this is structured as a nonprofit innovation facility with our systems
• innovation facility with our nonprofit innovation facility with our systems<00:07:53.120><c> and</c>
• The nonprofit 501c3 approach operations.
• different nonprofit missions, but you<00:19:38.000><c> can</c><00:19:38.160><c> just</c><00:19:38.559

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, so it began with an informational presentation from Dr. Kristen Goodell, executive director of LifeKY, about innovation infrastructure and a proposed grant program to support life sciences and other startup facilities. She argued that Kentucky’s research investments only translate into jobs and companies if startups have access to physical lab and equipment space, and said shared facilities can serve many companies over time. Goodell described LifeKY’s Northern Kentucky facility as a proof of concept, noting it has attracted companies from other states and Japan, secured a Thermo Fisher Scientific partnership, and could be replicated elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Members asked about university pipelines, local talent development, sustainability, and how the grant program would measure return on investment; Goodell emphasized public-private partnerships, earned revenue, philanthropy, internships, and STEM programming as part of the model. The committee then took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Bledsoe, which would limit school board occupational license tax increases by raising the population threshold for such increases from 300,000 to 500,000. Bledsoe said the bill was intended to respond to Fayette County’s recent tax controversy, restore public trust, and provide stability for employees, employers, and the school system. He argued that occupational taxes affect many commuters who work in Fayette County but live elsewhere, and said the measure would give time for community buy-in before any future increase. Supportive comments came from Senator Nunn and others, while Senator Boswell asked about the tax rate and cautioned against local tax increases offsetting state income tax reductions. After discussion, the committee called the roll on SB 76. The bill advanced on a roll-call vote, with Senator Armstrong explaining a no vote because he did not want to take tools away from local government and preferred local control. The transcript indicates the measure moved forward from committee after the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• RS-33609 is about a district hospital that, in my opinion, was accidentally conveyed to a nonprofit.
• This hospital was able to, using the code, change form and transform to a nonprofit.
• trying to do now is just gain a little bit of transparency on a public asset that has now become a nonprofit
• So now we've got some idea about who's running the nonprofit.
• line 32... ...or as you can see on page two, starting in line 32, they would cease to have been a nonprofit

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• And we support over 16,000 varied nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.
• I respectfully... ...nonprofits. It also impacts people like me.
• So it has an impact in our city and also multiple nonprofits that our city supports.
• I'm CEO of Thrive, the Alliance of Nonprofits for all of San Mateo County.
• Nonprofits are already stretched thin.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an item on the vehicle license fee backfill for counties, focused largely on San Mateo County and the related excess ERAF calculation. Department of Finance staff said the administration does not propose the requested $119 million backfill, arguing the payment is discretionary and that the existing statutory formula should continue to operate as written. Senators and public witnesses, including Senator Becker and former Senator Jackie Speier, argued the state has a longstanding obligation to local governments and that San Mateo County faces severe service cuts without the funds; they also discussed whether the issue could be solved through local school district boundary changes or other structural fixes. The chair held the item open after testimony. The committee then reviewed Secretary of State budget proposals. The department presented SB 851 implementation funding of $1.1 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $807,000 ongoing for four positions and software to track election-related litigation, update voting system standards, and expand vendor notice requirements. Members asked about election security, the impact of recent federal court decisions, the end of federal HAVA funds in 2027-28, and the staffing and timeline needed to implement the law. The committee also heard a $11.8 million General Fund request for the Cal Access Replacement System, intended to replace the outdated campaign finance and lobbying disclosure platform; staff said the project is on track for a November 2026 go-live with a stabilization period afterward. A separate item sought $9.795 million Business Fees Fund for the Notary Automation Program replacement, with the department explaining delays were due to more planning, a 2025 special election, and the need to secure a contractor, with go-live now projected for 2029. All three items were held open. The Department of Veterans Affairs presented its overall status and then its Yountville skilled nursing facility project. CalVet described progress on veterans homes, home loans, housing programs, and mental health initiatives, while noting higher-acuity needs among older veterans and continued support for underserved groups. For Yountville, the department said the new 240-bed skilled nursing facility is nearing completion and will replace the aging Holderman Hospital building, though some functions will remain in the old building and other campus projects, including roof and steam system work, are still underway. Members also raised concerns about retroactive tax liabilities for employees whose housing fringe benefits had not been reported, and CalVet said it has corrected the reporting, retrained staff, and is working with employees on repayment and lease adjustments. The committee also discussed a proposal to eliminate vacant positions under Control Section 4.12; CalVet said the positions were long vacant and could be given back without harming operations, while the LAO noted the Legislature had not concurred and keeping them would increase General Fund costs. The item was held open. Finally, the California Arts Council gave an informational update on its work and the cultural districts program. The director described the council’s grantmaking, technical assistance, and support for 24 cultural districts statewide, while members emphasized the economic and preservation value of arts funding and urged more investment, including a proposed $50 million General Fund augmentation and a $10 million carve-out for cultural districts. Staff explained that the original cultural district funding was reduced and that the program is currently unfunded and lacks dedicated staff, limiting its ability to expand beyond a small share of applications. Members from different regions noted that many parts of the state still lack cultural district designations and pressed the council to broaden access beyond major urban areas. The item was informational only, with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• economy, supporting more than 385,000 jobs, with 4,200 nonprofits requiring annual audits.
• economy, supporting more than 385,000 jobs, with 4,200 nonprofits requiring annual audits.
• sector our largest practice nonprofit sector our largest practice area<00:31:40.960><c> in</c><00:31
• requiring annual audits 4,200 nonprofits requiring annual audits the<00:31:52.440><c> CPA</c><00:31:
• across the state who are nonprofits across the state who are looking<00:36:23.720><c> for</c><00:36:

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And other nonprofits that are organizations that deal in the advocacy world also?
• I think we would include super PACs, 501(c)(5)s, corporations, and other nonprofits, yes.
• And I do not... ...unions, as are nonprofit organizations that advocate.
• In 2024 alone, dark money groups, nonprofits, and shell companies spent more than $1.9 billion in federal
• In 2024 alone, dark money groups, nonprofits, and shell companies spent more than $1.9 billion in federal

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say my amazing staff, who always keep me on track, reminded me that you are a nonprofit.
• I will say my amazing staff, who always keep me on track, reminded me that you are a nonprofit.
• I didn't realize they were nonprofit.
• I will say my amazing staff, who always keep me on track, reminded me that you are a nonprofit.
• I didn't realize they were nonprofit.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard two bills. AB 1159 by Assemblymember Addis would update California student data privacy law to extend protections to college students, limit how ed tech companies can collect and use student information, and add restrictions around sensitive data and generative AI use. Supporters, including Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, CFT, labor, civil rights, and education groups, said students and educators need stronger safeguards against invasive data collection and misuse. Opponents, including College Board, TechNet, CalChamber, and ACT Education, argued the bill was overly broad, could interfere with legitimate educational services and AI development, and raised concerns about a private right of action and impacts on adult students and recruitment opportunities. AB 883 by Assemblymember Lowenthal would expedite deletion of personal information for elected and appointed officials under California’s data broker deletion system by having state agencies provide official lists to the privacy agency and requiring brokers to delete the information within five days. Supporters said the measure responds to rising threats, harassment, and violence against public officials and would help reduce exposure of their personal data. TechNet and TechC.A. opposed unless amended, citing concerns about exemptions for lawful data sharing, the five-day timeline, and litigation risk, while the author emphasized the bill does not create a new right but streamlines access to an existing deletion process. Both bills were advanced after committee discussion and roll calls. AB 1159 passed 11-2 and was sent to the Judiciary Committee. AB 883 passed 14-0 and was sent to the Appropriations Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't believe that my community is represented by the nonprofit organizations.
• to deliver funds to other nonprofits.
• This new nonprofit can just exist on its...
• It would place nonprofits in the position of...
• I've never a nonprofit organization.