Transcript Highlights:

• of Conservation and Recreation.
• The second new program is the unpaved roadways program.
• Snow and ice program is a year-round program for us.
• And that's the future of... ...the future of manufacturing. We want these jobs to be here.
• RFR for that program.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The hearing opened with welcomes from the co-chairs and local legislators, followed by remarks from UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, who highlighted the university’s research, sustainability, transportation, and workforce contributions and thanked the administration and legislature for support of public higher education. MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, along with agency leaders, presented the administration’s transportation budget package. They described a combined funding plan through House 2, a Fair Share supplemental budget, and a Chapter 90 bill, emphasizing investments in MassDOT operations, snow and ice response, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, bridge and pavement repair, housing-related transportation improvements, sustainable aviation fuel, microtransit, and local road programs. Officials also highlighted record highway construction activity, safety initiatives such as work zone speed cameras and pedestrian protections, RMV service and equity improvements, airport and drone technology programs, and MBTA gains in reliability, accessibility, ridership, and service expansion. Committee members asked about Western Massachusetts priorities, especially Chapter 90 funding for rural road mileage, bridge repairs, and the Compass Rail/West-East Rail program. MassDOT officials said pending federal grants were moving forward, with some awards recently obligated and others expected as federal processes advance, and they said Palmer Station remains part of the long-term rail plan. Members also raised the Cape Cod bridges and the need for multi-year Chapter 90 funding. Officials said the Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, with construction targeted for 2027, and reiterated that transportation investments support jobs, local economies, and municipal infrastructure statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and assessing what we want to do in the future.
• What's the track record for the existing program?
• This program is being penalized for agency inaction, not for any failure of the program itself.
• So, a couple of decades of the program.
• Is the Attorney General aware of this program?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And while there is value in having set aside programs for distinct areas, uh, the number of programs
• Fleet program.
• Uh, memorialize that in the programs that we want TCQ to have programs that address both.
• What this bill proposes to do that with 4 additional programs under the Clean Fleet program.
• programs.

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, PACs called Patriots for American Leadership and Campaign for a Conservative Majority used a
• 00.200><c> a</c> American Leadership and Campaign for a American Leadership and Campaign for a Conservative
• Majority used a clip of Conservative Majority used a clip of President<00:05:03.000><c> Trump's</c><
• With that, Senate File 1851 is laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and I'll hand
• omnibus bill and I'll hand the future omnibus bill and I'll hand the gavel<00:34:56.200><c> back</c>

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and and others regarding conservation and and others regarding conservation and natural resources on
• and different programs and different programs and different places around the state or set different
• that the need to be in those programs that the need to be in those programs that the numeracy ACT is
• and and others regarding conservation and and others regarding conservation and natural resources BR
• expanded because I think you're programs expanded because I think you're programs expanded because I

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So maybe a state program. Do you know? Not the federal program anyway, so maybe a state program.
• insurance program, to the private flood insurance and the availability of that.
• Both of these programs and entities are supported by Washington DNR's community resilience programs,
• Both of these programs and entities are supported by Washington D&R's community resilience programs,
• And then lastly, back to the voluntary grant program.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills and then moved into a work session on insurance-related topics. House Bill 2428 would require life insurers to send advance written notice of an impending lapse or cancellation, including notice to a designated third party, and to provide proof of delivery; it would also require applicants to be told they may designate such a third party. The prime sponsor and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill as a consumer protection measure for older or vulnerable policyholders, while the life insurance industry supported the concept but requested a delayed implementation date and a small technical amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 2399, which would prohibit post-loss assignments of benefits in property insurance. Staff and the prime sponsor described the practice as allowing contractors to step into the policyholder’s shoes and potentially take control of claims, litigation, and settlement, often to the consumer’s detriment. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Washington State Association for Justice, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau all supported the bill, emphasizing consumer vulnerability after disasters and the risk of fraud or inflated claims. Members asked about steering by adjusters, alternative ways for homeowners to authorize others to help with claims, and the $50,000 per-violation penalty, which would go to the general fund. House Bill 2087 would enact a Washington Travel Insurance Act based on the NAIC model, creating a more detailed statutory framework for travel insurance licensing, travel retailers, travel administrators, disclosures, and prohibited sales practices. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would expand consumer choice and standardize rules, while the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the compromise language but raised a remaining concern about claims being adjusted by unlicensed adjusters. The Attorney General’s Office testified that the bill should not be read to supersede Washington’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws, and the sponsor said amendments were being worked on to address that concern. In the work session, OIC and Department of Natural Resources staff presented the wildfire mitigation and resiliency work group report. They said the group reached consensus on several areas, including the importance of community-level mitigation, better data sharing, improved transparency around wildfire-related nonrenewals and cancellations, and a voluntary grant program to help homeowners retrofit to IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. Members asked about leadership for the recommendations, overlap with existing programs, privacy concerns in data sharing, and how the proposals would fit with broader statewide wildfire planning. The committee also received a briefing on flood insurance markets and claims after the December atmospheric flooding event, with staff noting that private flood policies generally offer broader coverage than the federal NFIP, and that Washington had seen about 700 federal claims and roughly $18 million paid out so far.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Research and Conservation Committee will come to order.
• concerned that advanced hunting technology may lead to a decrease in hunting opportunities in the future
• Chairman, members of the... ...to preserving Idaho's hunting opportunities for future generations.
• We have to address this at some point in the near future.
• But I do think that's an issue that needs to be addressed at some point in the future. Thank you.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in the future? in the future?
• </c><00:47:49.200><c> firearm</c> any impediments to future firearm any impediments to future firearm
• Um we to prevent this in the future.
• member and leader of the conservative member and leader of the conservative<03:45:48.160><c> wing</c
• </c> conservative wing of the Supreme Court. conservative wing of the Supreme Court. uh<03:45:51.439>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> trunk highway so therefore the program trunk highway so therefore the program or<00:20:53.159><c
• </c> In order to evaluate the entire program.
• </c><00:25:26.760><c> that</c> a stip or a tip um to program that a stip or a tip um to program that
• </c><00:38:23.960><c> emissions</c> changes in what those future emissions changes in what those future
• Also troubling is how this program is being implemented.

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:27.839><c> and</c> culturally sensitive programming and culturally sensitive programming and
• </c> work that has been done and the future work that has been done and the future focus<00:24:56.120
• Uh, House File 1166 is laid over for possible inclusion in future bills.
• Uh, House File 1166 is laid over for possible inclusion in future bills.
• </c> 501c3 nonprofit that provides programs 501c3 nonprofit that provides programs and<00:41:10.760><

Bills: HF1380 , HF1166 , HF487 , HF1553 , HF1472 , HF258 , HF1911

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: psychiatric treatment, human services, mental health funding, per diem rate, Clay County, disability services, assistive technology, remote support, advocacy, training programs, HF487, Wellness in the Woods, Minnesota human services, grant funding, general fund appropriation, peer support, substance use recovery, addiction recovery, reentry services, reentry after incarceration

Transcript Highlights:

• It's gonna be a recurring because the FTEs required to keep the program going.
• President Roosevelt went to a senator from Tennessee and discussed the need for building a nuclear program
• The conservation commission gave us a fiscal anticipated of 1.5 million.
• So I do know that we have funded in the past the conservation commission to do some of those sorts of
• And kind of maybe have some of these programs and Software has been implemented in their classrooms.

Bills: HB1782 , HB2293 , HB3176 , HB3544 , HB3546 , HB3619 , HB4358

Committee: Senate Technology and Telecommunications

Keywords: artificial intelligence, education reform, innovation, funding, advisory council, broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• chamber always be a place where every community sees itself reflected in the laws we pass and the future
• It is a story of perseverance through hardship, of families building a future in the face of exclusion
• These future leaders have demonstrated diligence.
• When we invest in them, we are investing in the future of California.
• I rise in support of AB 446 and want to commend the author for his work on the discount programs.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 35 recognizing May as AAPI Heritage Month, with extensive floor remarks from caucus leaders and members highlighting AAPI history, contributions, and solidarity with other communities. The chamber then honored 14 AAPI honorees from across the state, including public servants, advocates, artists, health professionals, and community leaders, before moving to the regular file. On the floor, the Assembly passed a series of bills on social media harms to minors, labor privilege, foster care family-finding, low-impact camping areas, student body association governance, drink-spiking prevention at music festivals, behavioral health access, greenhouse gas recapture, physical therapy access, housing enforcement, insurance licensing, density bonus clarification, water district proxy voting, park district updates, secured transactions, and property tax relief during emergencies. Most measures passed with broad or unanimous support; notable votes included AB 2 on social media platform accountability passing 59-0, AB 1109 on union communications privilege passing 45-4, AB 409 on student body association open meetings passing 55-6, AB 518 on low-impact camping passing 55-0, AB 668 on drink-spiking protections passing 72-0, AB 348 on behavioral health access passing 69-0, AB 663 on HFC recapture passing 71-0, AB 574 on physical therapy access passing 68-0, AB 712 on housing enforcement passing 57-1, AB 943 on insurance pre-licensing reform passing 63-0, AB 87 on density bonus law clarification passing 63-0, AB 523 on Metropolitan Water District proxy voting passing 62-1, AB 769 on park district code cleanup passing 68-0, AB 771 on secured transactions passing 69-0, and AB 1416 on property tax installment deferrals passing 66-0. The Assembly also took up AB 446, the Surveillance Pricing Protection Act, which would prohibit businesses from using personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service. Supporters described the practice as predatory and discriminatory, while noting ongoing concerns about preserving legitimate discounts and loyalty programs. The bill was presented as a consumer protection measure aimed at preventing hidden price discrimination and reducing cost-of-living pressures. The transcript ends amid repeated and partially duplicated readings of AB 446, without a final vote shown for that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• what is going on right now, what we predict or fear might be coming for the industry in the near future
• Visit California operates with a mission to develop global programs that inspire travel to and within
• Visit California's marketing program is focused on consumers in the other 49 states and visitors from
• Their programs help me increase my budget to be able to piggyback off of many of their programs.
• So they may not be seeing the demand right now, but they will in the future.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism held an informational hearing on the state of California tourism amid declining international visitation and broader economic and political headwinds. Visit California CEO Caroline Betetta said the industry remains a major economic driver, with 2024 visitor spending of $157 billion, 1.2 million jobs supported, and $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue, but warned that 2025 forecasts show the first post-pandemic decline in visitation, driven largely by a projected 9.2% drop in international travel. She cited concerns about the strong dollar, visa wait times, border and immigration rhetoric, and a proposed federal visa integrity fee, while emphasizing Visit California’s marketing campaigns and the importance of upcoming mega-events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. A second panel of destination leaders described local impacts and strategies. Visit Sacramento’s Mike Testa said the city has diversified beyond conventions into music festivals, sports, and food events, but noted that international apprehension is affecting events like Terra Madre Americas and that California should do more to incentivize major festivals to stay in-state. Santa Monica Travel and Tourism’s Lauren Salisbury said the city is seeing lower international visitation, especially from Canada, Australia, and Europe, and that wildfire coverage and later federal troop presence in Los Angeles hurt local sentiment and caused cancellations. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau’s Rhonda Salisbury reported steep drops in international visitation to the gateway region, ongoing concerns about wildfire, reservations, insurance costs, and park access, and praised a new federal requirement for quarterly meetings between national parks and gateway communities. San Diego Tourism Authority COO Carrie Verbeck-Cappich said tourism is the region’s second-largest sector, but 2025 is softer than 2024, with spending down despite modest visitation growth. She pointed to weaker Canadian and Asian travel, government-related meeting cancellations, and the need for more support to bid on and host major events; she also highlighted border-crossing delays, insufficient federal staffing at ports of entry, and the Tijuana River sewage crisis as major regional issues. Committee members discussed the effects of federal rhetoric, infrastructure, and cross-border conditions on tourism, and several witnesses urged continued support for Visit California, Brand USA, event incentives, and efforts to present California as welcoming and open. Public comment then opened, beginning with testimony from the California Attractions and Parks Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're framing this program to all the direct investment going into students.
• It's in a specific program, for example, the college reach out program and which we're changing the college
• It creates Type one diabetes early detection program.
• But this is a big step in preventing this from happening in the future.
• Pet insurance was programs. Senator Deciglie.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Programs like this are so... >> Important because they empower young people to engage in the policymaking
• THE HARLEM ISLAMIC CULTURAL Commemorating the past, present, and future of the Senegalese community will
• And so, we need to understand the stories of our past to inform the vision of our future.
• And so, we need to understand the stories of our past to inform the vision of our future.
• Imagine being a young person, pursuing your education and building your future when suddenly your body

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and adopted a resolution calendar with several exceptions before taking up a series of ceremonial resolutions and bills. Members welcomed student visitors from the YWCA of White Plains’ Voices Unfiltered Policy Program, then adopted resolutions honoring Senegalese independence and the Senegalese community, MWBE Advocacy Day, John Coltrane’s 100th birthday, the Sing Sing Prison Museum, I Love My Park Day, Animal Advocacy Day, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month, and Denim Day. Speakers emphasized cultural recognition, public service, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, rare disease awareness, and support for survivors of sexual violence; each resolution was adopted. The chamber then moved through the regular calendar, passing a number of bills on broad roll-call votes. Among the measures approved were bills amending the Penal Law, Executive Law, Public Housing Law, Retirement and Social Security Law, Social Services Law, Environmental Conservation Law, General Municipal Law, Railroad Law, Election Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills passed unanimously or nearly so, while a few drew notable opposition, including a public health measure that passed 39-19 and the labor-related bill on ghost job postings that passed 39-19 after extended debate. The most detailed floor debate centered on the Labor Law bill addressing “ghost jobs,” requiring employers with 100 or more employees to disclose whether postings are for current vacancies, expected future openings, or general resume collection, with Department of Labor enforcement and civil penalties. Supporters argued it would protect job seekers from deceptive postings; opponents said it was unnecessary, burdensome, and could invite litigation or penalties disproportionate to the problem. The Senate also debated and passed a bill expanding election-language assistance under the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act to Haitian Creole and Middle Eastern and North African communities, with supporters citing growing language-access needs and opponents raising concerns about scope and local costs. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are an unfunded delegated program from the state of Minnesota, and frequently some of the funding
• just isn't getting to us as programs.
• It shows programs in the state that Minnesota supports family child care with a number of the actions
• It shows programs in the state that Minnesota supports family child care with a number of the actions
• easement and we if it's a conservation easement and we can<00:15:33.120><c> go</c><00:15:33.319><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And we make sure it's a voluntary program.
• It's two basic programs: the GI Bill, which is the oldest scholarship program in the United States, and
• Part of the deal for Chapter 35, which is our biggest program, is that to receive that program, you have
• Obviously, the state is offering a variety of different programs. scholarship programs, so the incentive
• and establishes a partial claim program.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:14.480><c> uh</c> actually prepare them for the future uh actually prepare them for the future
• </c> impact of the direct admissions program impact of the direct admissions program on<01:09:38.799>
• It's a very exciting program.
• </c><01:36:45.560><c> up</c> their day um to set this program up their day um to set this program up
• </c><01:37:10.760><c> would</c> options are but this um program would options are but this um program

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the director of the PEBB and SEBB programs at the Health Care Authority.
• So the agency has enough claims experience now, five years into the program.
• By redirecting the fees back into the program, it will support efficient implementation, reduce future
• within each agency and subprogram within each program.
• In Washington State, we refer to our Medicaid program as Apple Health.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be on the ground and the better ground dealing with criminal law and implementing and training future
• Rob has been a valuable resource for lawmakers and future prosecutors at the University of Texas School
• Members, please welcome future IRS agents and current students from La Vega High School, and program
• They're critical for conserving Texas's natural resources.
• I appreciate the comment, and I'd be happy to talk about that in the future.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, messages from the House, and several recognitions, including county day delegations from Fayette, LaSalle, Jim Hogg, Austin, and others, as well as a recognition of Rob Keppel for his career with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 429 designating October 2025 as RET Syndrome Awareness Month and SR 432 honoring Rob Keppel. A doctor-of-the-day introduction and a public announcement about free skin checks were also made. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1152, creating the offense of continuous manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, passed after suspension of the rules. SB 1868, regulating kratom and related substances, was amended to prohibit smokeable kratom products and kratom pills and to clarify THC variants such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, then passed. SB 1349, creating offenses for transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law, drew debate over a failed amendment that would have added election misinformation and foreign meddling; the bill ultimately passed unanimously. SB 2037, expediting review of LNG environmental permits, passed after amendments clarifying fees and deadlines, with opposition focused on its energy-policy implications. SB 1164, addressing emergency detention and court-ordered inpatient mental health treatment, passed after a drafting-error correction and discussion of the bill’s basis in recommendations from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The Senate also advanced SB 2743 on prosecution of certain election offenses, which would allow a court process to disqualify a local prosecutor who repeatedly refuses to prosecute election cases and appoint the Attorney General; it passed to engrossment amid questions about evidence and local discretion. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit members, supporters, volunteers, and donors from disclosure by public agencies, passed unanimously. SB 2349, exempting certain short-term leases and temporary tenancies from floodplain notice requirements, passed unanimously. SB 2788, adding PSAT and pre-ACT scores for Texas Success Initiative exemptions and clarifying dual-credit eligibility, passed unanimously after amendment. SB 843, creating a TEA database of school district bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects and adding charter schools, passed after amendments on funding and scope. Finally, SB 1832, allowing parents to transfer a student who was victimized by a public school employee to another campus, passed to engrossment after extended debate over whether the bill should also cover private schools and how it would interact with school choice and ESA policy. SB 39, revising the admission rule in commercial motor vehicle collision cases, was laid out and debated over its effect on negligent entrustment and related evidence, with the author emphasizing that the bill preserves the bifurcated trial structure and does not alter other admissibility rules.