Transcript Highlights:

• With consent of the House, the Rules Committee is relieved of the following bills, and the bills are
• Fifth order of business, committee reports.
• With consent of the House, the rules listed on today's committee reports under the fifth order of business
• will be referred to the committees so designated.
• With the consent of the House, the rules listed on today's committee reports under the fifth order of

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The House convened, approved the previous day’s minutes, and adopted several honorary resolutions, including measures honoring Natalie Naomi Phelps, Navy personnel, Dr. Bernal Baca, the Iranian American community in Washington, and Billy Frank Jr. The chamber also received multiple messages from the Senate announcing passage of several bills, including Substitute Senate Bill 6603 and engrossed substitute Senate Bills 6, 6003, and 5998. The House handled routine procedural business by referring bills, memorials, and resolutions from the introduction sheet to the designated committees, and by moving House Bill 2711 on Transportation Resources and Senate Bill 6278 on Teacher and Principal Programs from the Rules Committee to the second reading calendar. Committee reports were also processed and referred as designated. The House additionally placed bills from the supplemental introduction sheet on the second reading calendar under suspension of the rules. No contested votes were recorded; actions were taken by unanimous consent. The House then adjourned until 9:00 a.m. Saturday, February 28th.

Transcript Highlights:

• With consent of the House, the Rules Committee is relieved of the following bills, and the bills are
• Fifth order of business, committee reports.
• With consent of the House, the rules listed on today's committee reports under the fifth order of business
• will be referred to the committees so designated.
• With the consent of the House, the rules listed on today's committee reports under the fifth order of

Summary: The House opened by approving the previous day’s minutes and adopting several honorary resolutions, including measures honoring Natalie Naomi Phelps, Navy personnel, Dr. Bernal Baca, the Iranian American Community in Washington, and Billy Frank Jr. The chamber also received multiple messages from the Senate announcing passage of substitute or engrossed substitute bills, including Senate Bill 6603 and Senate Bill 5998, and a second engrossed substitute House bill. Members agreed to treat bills, memorials, and resolutions on the day’s introduction and supplemental introduction sheets as first reading items and refer them to the appropriate committees. The House also relieved the Rules Committee of House Bill 2711, concerning Transportation Resources, and Senate Bill 6278, concerning Teacher and Principal Programs, placing them on the second reading calendar. Committee reports were received and referred as designated. No objections were raised to the various consent actions, and the House adjourned until 9:00 a.m. Saturday, February 28th, the 48th legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at the time, I thought it was a personal reason, but that same no vote came out of the Rules Committee
• Speaker, out of your Committee on Commerce 9 to 0 and Rules also 10 to 0.
• It came through your committee on rules administrative with an 11 to 0 vote.
• I will say that...” “...we did not have one person come to the committee meetings or committee hearings
• And it was voted do pass by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 11 to 0.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Require board proceedings to be subject to the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure and the Kentucky Rules
• Require board proceedings to be subject to the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure and the Kentucky Rules
• </c><00:24:54.320><c> is</c> the majority part of this committee is the majority part of this committee
• </c><00:27:02.320><c> hearing</c> believe there was a committee hearing believe there was a committee
• The next committee meetingly scheduled The next committee meetingly scheduled for<00:31:48.159><c> June

Keywords: 0:16 – CALL TO ORDER 0:20 – ROLL CALL 0:56 – ELECTION OF CO-CHAIRS 1:54 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2:10 – OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 3:28 – PERSONNEL BOARD 4:30 – EDUCATION AND LABOR CABINET, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 5:18 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, OFFICE OF CLAIMS & APPEALS 12:03 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL 12:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR MEDICAID SERVICES 14:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES 31:44 – NEXT MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT/ADJOURNMENT, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met to reorganize its leadership for the new term, renewing Representative Derek Lewis as House co-chair and Senator Steven West as Senate co-chair. The committee then approved the minutes and moved through a series of agency regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection. Among the regulations reviewed were an Attorney General rule changing how a commission reviews and distributes funds and how grant reporting is handled; Personnel Board changes abolishing and renaming certain job classifications and adjusting probationary periods; an Education and Labor Cabinet rule removing references to local board of education members; several Public Protection Cabinet rules covering Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation procedures; an Alcoholic Beverage Control rule on direct-to-consumer shipping forms; and a Medicaid Services emergency regulation establishing the Kentucky Trauma Hospital Rate Improvement Program for rural hospitals serving many Medicaid patients. The committee also heard that the Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation regulations included both staff and, in one case, an agency amendment, which were approved. The most extended discussion came on the Department for Community Based Services’ regulation increasing per diem rates for private child-placing therapeutic foster care levels 2 and 3. Committee members questioned the estimated $10 million biennial cost, the source of the funding, and why the cabinet had not yet filed regulations implementing Senate Bill 151 on kinship care. DCBS staff said the rate increase was discretionary and intended to address placement crises for children with high needs, while acknowledging they could not personally explain the budget decisions. A kinship caregiver testified in support of the rate increase but urged the cabinet to also implement SB 151 and expand support for kinship families. The committee expressed frustration over the lack of SB 151 implementation but stated the rate increase itself was appropriate and allowed the regulation to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are just waiting for a committee report down from Rules, and we have introductions up on the table
• Committee**.
• with some kind of unique rules to our committee, and we'll spend some time discussing Those rules to
• the committee.
• , it's not in the rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have read and approved
• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have printed House
• In the Senate, Senate Bill 1232 is amended by the Judiciary and Rules Committee.
• Senate Bill 1232 is amended by the Judiciary and Rules Committee.
• Senate Bill 15, by the Judiciary and Rules Committee, is an act relating to records exempt from disclosure

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, committee.
• Appreciate you being in committee. Yes. Next committee.
• Chairman and committee. I'll do it again. Welcome to committee. Thank you, Mr.
• Welcome to committee. Just introduce yourself. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee.
• Welcome to committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This does need to go to Rules, so the motion will be to Rules.
• So the motion will be to Rules. Representative Johnson, the motion will be to go to Rules.
• Representative Johnson moves House File 4 be sent to the Rules Committee, but I want members to have
• We had a conversation in committee about it needing to go to Ways and Means and Rules.
• Wednesday's tax committee—that'll be tomorrow—we have a committee.

Bills: HF4 , HF173

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this committee and the ethics committee this committee and the ethics committee and<00:33:06.880
• >> There have been 11 in the past year and two months, opinions and rulings issued by the committee about
• What you're asking about is someone asking the ethics committee for a specific ruling on their specific
• </c> &gt;&gt; in interpretive rulings. &gt;&gt; in interpretive rulings.
• </c><00:59:03.520><c> on</c><00:59:03.839><c> their</c> committee for a specific ruling on their committee

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee.
• In the Senate committee, it went to education.
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• I'm happy to review our rules and regulations.
• We've heard the bill here in committee.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on Senate Bill 123, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a legislative process for removing judges for cause. Senator Morris said the bill was needed because of uncertainty in the current Constitution about whether impeachment applies to judges, given the Judiciary Commission’s role in judicial discipline. He argued the measure would provide a clearer, higher-threshold accountability mechanism, and the committee adopted a technical amendment renumbering provisions and later clarified that the bill uses a majority vote in the House and two-thirds in the Senate, consistent with impeachment-style thresholds. Much of the hearing centered on testimony from Anna Carter and her family, who supported the bill after the murder of Jacob Carter in New Orleans. They described his death and other cases they said showed judges releasing dangerous offenders despite repeated violations, missed electronic-monitoring check-ins, and other warning signs. They argued the bill would create a last-resort accountability tool when judicial decisions or supervision failures lead to preventable harm. Several committee members expressed sympathy and said the testimony highlighted serious problems in the justice system, though some also suggested the bill should address district attorneys, electronic-monitoring oversight, or broader systemic issues. Opposition came from members who warned the proposal was overly broad, could become a political tool, and might conflict with existing constitutional provisions governing impeachment and judicial discipline. They argued the Judiciary Commission and Supreme Court already provide a disciplinary framework and that the bill could chill judicial independence or create due-process concerns. The ACLU’s Sarah Whittington also opposed the bill, noting technical inconsistencies in the draft, questioning why impeachment had not been tried first, and arguing the measure singled out judicial discretion while leaving other elected officials’ discretion untouched. The committee took no final vote on the bill during the hearing, but did adopt the technical amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• and committee members.
• Bring it back to committee. The committee has no questions or comments.
• The rule that is imposed here, two witnesses, two minutes each, is a court rule, not a state rule.
• The members of the committee are either sitting in different committees, The members of the committee
• We'll bring it back to committee. Questions by committee members?

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary McGrane, always good to see you in committee. Always good to see you in committee.
• Secretary McGrane, always good to see you in committee. Always good to see you in committee.
• rules are for PACs, candidates know what the rules are for candidates.
• Welcome to committee. Your name and who you represent. Good morning, Senators committee.
• Thank you for being in committee. Thank you. Alexis Matron: Welcome to committee.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the March 16 and March 17, 2026 minutes. It then introduced RS 33798, a proposal related to cooperative and group discount purchasing in the Department of Administration procurement division, and sent it for printing. The main policy item was Senate Bill 1422, a major rewrite of Idaho campaign finance law. Senator Harris and Secretary of State Phil McGrane said the bill would move the laws into Title 74, reorganize reporting rules, prohibit foreign contributions, require new disclosures for signature-gathering and independent expenditures, add pre-primary and pre-general reports, increase contribution limits modestly, and create a graduated fine structure. Questions focused on reporting thresholds, commercial recordkeeping, and the distinction between reporting violations and other violations. The committee voted to send SB 1422 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 889, a broad update to the State Procurement Act. Representative Britt Raibolt said the bill clarifies procurement definitions, best-and-final-offer procedures, use of subject-matter experts, multiple-award contracts, bid scoring, prior performance, federal CMS approval timing, confidentiality of technical information, debarment, cooling-off periods, protest bonds, and disclosure of procurement-related spending. He said the goal was to improve consistency, transparency, and efficiency in large state procurements. After brief questions about the need for the overhaul and the definition of frivolous protests, the committee voted to send HB 889 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 890, also presented by Raibolt, would repeal a surplus-property carve-out used in the ITD building sale and return disposal of surplus administrative property to the regular process under the State Board of Land Commissioners. The committee also advanced HB 900, which sets procedures for private insurance claims over $100,000 involving state property damage, requires appraisal opportunities, public notice of settlement offers, and a public hearing plus legislative notice if an agency relocates services or sells property after such a claim. Both bills received due pass recommendations. The longest discussion was on House Bill 898, which would move the State Historic Preservation Office from the Idaho State Historical Society into the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination. Senator Den Hartog said the move would improve coordination on federal permitting and preserve SHPO’s functions, while opponents argued the current placement supports preservation work, grants, archives, and Section 106 review, and that moving SHPO into an office focused on energy and minerals could create conflicts of interest and weaken preservation outcomes. Testimony came from historians, preservation professionals, local commission members, utility and water industry representatives, and a youth witness, with supporters emphasizing streamlined permitting and opponents emphasizing mission alignment and public trust. The sponsor closed by saying the bill complies with federal law and that federal law allows states flexibility in where to house the office; the transcript ends before any final committee action on HB 898.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, your committee... Mr.
• Speaker, with your permission, the Rules Committee will be meeting today immediately after floor.
• The Committee of Committee... Chairlady Pingerelli. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
• Pursuant to House Rule 9E, committees are granted permission to continue meeting business on the Speaker's
• The bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, with your permission, the Rules Committee will be meeting tomorrow immediately after floor.
• The Committee of Committee... Chairlady Pingerelli. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
• Pursuant to House Rule 9(e), committees are granted permission to continue meeting business on the Speaker's
• Reports of standing committees.
• The bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and a series of guest introductions and personal privilege remarks recognizing visitors, health care advocates, short-term rental representatives, firefighters, and a Guatemalan ambassador, along with a proclamation affirming Arizona’s bilateral relationship with Guatemala. Members also announced committee meetings, and the chamber later recessed and reconvened before adjournment. The main floor action came in Committee of the Whole, where the House considered and gave do pass recommendations to HB 2029 (water grant application details), HB 2045 (addressing drive-by shootings), HB 2062 (Buffalo Soldiers monument), HB 2126 as amended (with a floor amendment after discussion with the ACO Association), and HB 2131 (criminal justice-related, described briefly as targeting “bad guys”). The Committee of the Whole report was adopted and those bills were sent to engrossing. The House then took up HB 2792, an emergency measure on property tax exemptions for veterans, and passed it 57-0, with members from both parties praising the bill as veteran tax relief and a cleanup of prior budget language. The chamber also adopted HCR 2043, which applies to Congress to call an Article V convention for a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress; it passed 33-24 after extended debate, with supporters arguing for term limits and opponents warning about the risks of a constitutional convention and urging Arizona to impose term limits on itself first.

Transcript Highlights:

• Report of the Committee: The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred the petition accompanied
• Brady, for the committee. The Committee reports recommending that the same ought to pass.
• Brady, for the committee.
• to their several committees.
• committees.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized several guests in the chamber, and adopted a resolution congratulating Coleman-Nee on election as National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans. It also took up several local and personnel matters, including a sick leave bank for Emily Cullick and later Paul Stavarski, and local bills affecting the town of Weston and a Dorchester housing/library procurement exemption; those measures were advanced to third reading or engrossment as appropriate. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees. The main business was Senate No. 2516, the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which came before the Senate on a Ways and Means substitute (Senate Document 2608). Senators Creem, Moore, Charles, Feingold, Keenan, and others spoke in support, describing the bill as a comprehensive consumer privacy measure with data minimization rules, limits on sensitive data, protections for minors, and strong Attorney General enforcement. Several amendments were debated, with many rejected or withdrawn, while some were adopted, including provisions on geolocation data protections, opting out of targeted advertising, affiliate and merger/acquisition protections, internal operations exemptions, parental access to child data, and a Ways and Means amendment. A number of other amendments on employee data, union data, loyalty programs, AI training, reporting, and related issues were either not adopted or held/withdrawn. After the amendment process, the Senate adopted the amended Ways and Means substitute and ordered the bill to a third reading. The bill was then passed to be engrossed on a roll call vote of 40-0. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. The session adjourned in memory of Darrow Logan Alexander of South Boston.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules reports recommending the following resolutions ought to be adopted.
• Chair, I now move suspension of the rules. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay.
• Michlewitz of Boston moves suspension of the rules. All those in favor say aye.
• Michlewitz of Boston moves suspension of the rules. All those in favor say aye.
• Rules are suspended. Mr.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House adopted several resolutions under suspension of the rules, including honors for Dr. Russell D. Johnston, congratulations to Sean Keity on earning Eagle Scout, recognition of the 14th Dalai Lama, and a resolution marking Pepperell’s 250th anniversary. The chamber also welcomed guests of Representative Chan from Los Angeles. The House then considered House Bill 4182, establishing a sick leave bank for Jado Catalan, a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee. The emergency preamble was adopted by a recorded vote of 5-0, and the bill was later passed to be enacted. The House also received Senate Bill 2543, described as strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth. On motion of Mr. Michlewitz, the House suspended the rules and referred the Senate bill to the Committee on Ways and Means. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn and stood adjourned to meet Monday at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both expansion of the program and the home rule petition are before the committee.
• I do want to point out, as the approach that Senate rules—and they do govern this committee when ...and
• they do govern this committee when it's chaired by a senator, provide that a meeting of a committee
• committee on finance, this committee as well as the climate the climate bank bill before the joint committee
• , and Green Newton's Building Standards Committee.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several climate and utility-related bills, especially H. 3449/S. 2292 to expand the municipal fossil fuel-free building demonstration program from 10 to 20 communities and related home rule petitions for Somerville and other municipalities. Witnesses from Somerville, Salem, Worcester, Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, Wellesley, Watertown, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association argued that local governments should be allowed to opt into fossil fuel-free or net-zero building standards, citing climate goals, environmental justice concerns, housing production, and data showing all-electric construction can cost about the same as or less than mixed-fuel construction. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses for cost data and asked for written follow-up, while also discussing whether strong environmental standards affect housing supply; witnesses responded that the main housing constraints are financing and that they would provide more data from local projects and state studies. A second major topic was H. 3564, which would require gas companies to provide municipalities with detailed multi-year pipe replacement plans, allow local review and objections, and limit reimbursement for projects not previously disclosed except in emergencies. Municipal leaders and advocates said the bill would improve coordination of street work, reduce disruption and costs, and help cities plan for electrification, network geothermal, and non-pipeline alternatives. Testimony from Wellesley, Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, and others emphasized repeated problems with last-minute gas main work, the need for advance notice, and the value of municipal participation in planning gas system retirement and alternatives. The committee also heard testimony on the “tactical transition” bills, S. 2249/H. 3539, aimed at managing the gas-to-clean-energy transition. Supporters from Gas Transition Allies, Rewiring America, and 350 Mass said the bills would require joint gas-electric planning, create an advisory council, eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups, shift investment toward repairs and clean alternatives, protect workers through retraining, and make utility plans more transparent. They argued these changes would reduce ratepayer costs, avoid stranded gas assets, and support orderly decarbonization. In addition, HEET testified on H. 3541, which would update greenhouse gas accounting to better reflect methane’s short-term climate impact, and H. 3543, which would establish a framework for managing shared thermal resources and thermal energy networks; committee members asked several questions about the meaning, ownership, and consumer-cost implications of the proposed “thermal commons.” No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• rules are for PACs, candidates know what the rules are for candidates.
• Welcome to committee. Your name and who you represent. Good morning, Senators, committee.
• Chair, members of the committee.
• Thank you for being in committee. Thank you. Alexis Matron. Welcome to committee.
• Chairman and committee members.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• referred to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House Rule 35A.
• to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House Rule 35A.
• to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House Rule 35A.
• referred to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House Rule 35A.
• referred to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House Rule 35A.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As chair of the committee and in accordance with Senate rules, this committee is authorized to meet in
• As chair of the committee and in accordance with Senate rules, this committee is authorized to meet in
• Please vote House Bill 233 out of committee.
• So I respectfully ask the committee to reject this bill as it's written and keep it in committee.
• Please release it from committee. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached. Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.