Transcript Highlights:

• I practice in- San Antonio.
• I'm a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist. in private practice in Dallas, Texas.
• I do concur with that assessment.
• I practiced before that. I am an officer of the court.
• I want to practice my speciality and I want to start my family.

Bills: HB44 , HB2200 , HB1612 , HB2747 , HB2038 , HB3717 , HB1431 , HB3800 , HB3801 , HB3560 , HB3246 , HB44

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• The practice of sequestering it, Food products for a very long time.
• Same practice, underground injection control.
• We have also been following a similar practice for Class 5s as well.
• We currently do that as our practice. This would just essentially modify it.
• And in practice, you are doing this anyway. And I think, to Rep.

Summary: The committee took up public comment on a package of similar local-option bills related to carbon capture and sequestration, including House Bills 5, 6, 497, 498, 501, and 504. The bills would let parishes, or in some cases specific parishes such as Rapides and Livingston, decide by local vote whether Class VI wells, CO2 sequestration, and related pipeline infrastructure could be permitted. The chair grouped the bills together for testimony, adopted a three-minute public comment rule, and noted that the bills were not yet under consideration for a vote during the public-comment portion. Supporters, including Speaker Pro Tem Mike Johnson, parish officials, local activists, and residents, argued that communities affected by carbon capture projects should have a direct voice through local option elections. They said the bills were about self-determination, local control, and allowing residents to decide whether the risks are worth the benefits. Several speakers said their parishes had passed resolutions opposing carbon capture or asking for local choice, while others emphasized concerns about eminent domain, aquifer protection, lack of public understanding, and the need for more information about project impacts and financial benefits. Some supporters also said a local vote would force industry to engage more directly with communities and could improve transparency. Opponents, including representatives of the Department of Conservation and Energy, the Louisiana Chemistry Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, warned that the bills would create uncertainty, undermine Louisiana’s primacy over Class VI permitting, and invite litigation under federal preemption and the Supremacy Clause. They said the state already has a strict permitting process with public input and technical review, and that allowing parish-by-parish approval could delay or block billions of dollars in investment, jobs, and export-related projects. The department testified that if the state adopted a local-option referendum system, EPA could determine Louisiana was not implementing the program consistently and could move to remove primacy. No committee vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Price optimization is a shady practice.
• Price optimization is a shady practice that companies use to determine the highest price you can sustain
• Last year's statewide assessment estimated that needed dam improvements would cost at least $1 billion
• The people that we represent expect us to learn from past failures and take practical steps to prevent
• The Civil Rights Act was pivotal on paper, yet in practice, it was incomplete.

Keywords: 983, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, Sarah Deleski, Oregon Transportation Commission, Donald Shanklin
• And then these positions often go on to not only represent areas, but they assess fees that are going
• As superintendent in Coos Bay, he's been focusing on equitable practices, best practices, and delivering
• Our presentation yesterday in Senate Ed highlighted that Oregon does not yet fully employ best practices
• fundamental errors in the QEM, but it did identify several areas of misalignment with methodological best practices

Summary: The Senate convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Senator Starr, followed by several courtesies recognizing Pride Month, a staff birthday, and later a retirement and a community celebration. Senator Robinson then used remonstrances to warn against expanding surveillance through school bus camera systems, arguing that leaked plans from a vendor could create commercial databases of drivers’ movements and erode privacy. The main business was confirmation of numerous gubernatorial appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions. Senators debated the process at length, with several minority members objecting that the volume of nominees, limited hearing time, and lack of transparency made meaningful advice-and-consent review difficult. Supporters responded that the nominees were qualified public servants and that the Senate should work with the Governor’s office on reforms. The Senate first confirmed a large block of appointments, then confirmed two Sustainability Board appointees, and later confirmed three Quality Education Commission appointees after extended debate. The Quality Education Commission nominations drew the most substantive policy discussion. Opponents argued the commission needs more technical research expertise and broader representation, while supporters emphasized the nominees’ education experience and direct knowledge of Oregon schools. Several senators described Oregon’s education system as in crisis, citing low reading and math proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and the need for urgent reform of the Quality Education Model and school funding. The Senate also received a proposed rule amendment creating an official Senate seal, which was distributed and held on the table, and the chamber adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reviewing a veteran's confidential records, advising on how to present a case, or assessing likelihood
• We believe that a consumer-protection-type bill that goes after those bad practices while still maintaining
• We believe that a consumer-protection-type bill that goes after those bad practices while still maintaining
• Please. actors and bad practices.
• We believe that a consumer protection type bill that goes after those bad practices while still maintaining

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs met as a subcommittee because a quorum was initially lacking, and heard six bills. AB 81 by Assemblymember Ta would require CalVet to study the mental health needs of women veterans; supporters from county veterans service officers, veterans organizations, and behavioral health groups said women veterans face higher rates of military sexual trauma, PTSD, depression, and suicide, while no opposition appeared. The bill was later passed 7-0 and re-referred to Appropriations. AB 826 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would prohibit unaccredited individuals or businesses from charging veterans fees to file or assist with VA benefits claims, impose a civil penalty, and direct penalty revenue to veterans services and district attorneys. Supporters argued the bill would curb predatory “claim sharks” and protect veterans from exploitation, while opponents from private claims consulting firms and several veterans said the measure could restrict access to legitimate help and should be narrowed to target bad actors instead of banning paid assistance broadly. After extensive testimony and discussion about federal law, accreditation, and possible amendments, the committee passed the bill 8-0 and re-referred it to Judiciary. AB 556 by Assemblymember Patterson would clarify that campus-level mandatory fees are covered under the CalVet fee waiver for dependents of certain veterans and Medal of Honor recipients. Supporters said the bill would fulfill the state’s promise to veterans’ families, while concerns were raised about fiscal impacts on CSU campuses and the need for more precise cost estimates. The bill was passed 6-0 and sent to Appropriations. The committee also adopted its rules 7-0 and approved the consent calendar, which included AB 264, AB 1508, and AB 1509, all re-referred to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The venue shall be assessed a base fine of $50,000.
• The venue shall be assessed a base fine of $50,000.
• As far as the practical effects, this will help improve compliance during events.
• It is common practice that these events just don't arise out of nowhere.
• It is common practice that these events just don't arise out of nowhere.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And while you're at it, continue to ignore my recommendation that we do some fundamental assessment of
• And while you're at it, continue to ignore my recommendation that we do some fundamental assessment of
• , AB 177 is a bill that requires the Department of Finance to present to the Legislature options assessing
• The proposals that we have before us represent practical and necessary steps to preserve federal funding
• I appreciate you answering my questions as a senator, but also someone who still practices in the health

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a structured system-wide assessment of fiscal risk and institutional performance.
• Regular updates could help the Legislature in continuing to conduct oversight and assess whether further
• course correcting might be warranted. ...in continuing to conduct oversight and assess whether further
• of the things that I think will be really beneficial in this process is the ability to share best practices
• things that I think will be really beneficial in this process is the ability then to share best practices

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or, under current practice, even though the IRS audits at the entity level, in Idaho we're still auditing
• regarding revenue collections, without this legislation, Idaho, like many states, lacks the authority to assess
• It updates a statute and reflects the current practice. The 60-40 split.
• It updates a statute and reflects the current practices.
• live in a safe and healthy environment, freedom from abuse, access to timely medical and forensic assessments

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a college educator and psychotherapist with over 30 years of academic and practice experience combined
• And, secondly, the cost assessment of courses, it provides for an avenue. I heard Mr.
• It is a practical necessity and the cornerstone of faculty's training of students so that they are competitive
• job is to teach them how to navigate conversations about contentious topics, and we do this by practicing
• breakdown of those rankings, the US News and World Report states that 20% of that rank comes from peer assessment

Bills: SB 37

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• have a distribution of the appropriation to be 75% on a per capita basis, 25% using the inverse assessed
• valuation. inverse assessed valuation.
• And it's that 75% for the per capita, and then the 25% by the inverse assessed valuation factor.
• define how it's intended to work and make, I guess, more transparent how that process would work in practice
• So, 75% generally around population, 25% around the inverse of assessed valuation.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• resiliency proceeding to strengthen public safety, improve compliance from service providers, and assess
• We are assessing the data elements that providers are submitting to make sure they continue to be compliant
• Once we get our final proposal approved by the federal government, we are absolutely going to be assessing
• the eligible federal locations... ...we're hoping that we get all of them, but we have to wait to assess
• Well, I know this is common practice and partially a result of our statute.

Summary: The Communications and Conveyance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), focused on telecommunications, broadband deployment, resiliency, and the California Teleconnect Fund. Chair Tasha Boerner said the hearing was intended to examine structural issues at the CPUC, including whether telecommunications oversight should remain within the commission, while also reviewing major programs such as Last Mile, BEAD, carrier of last resort, and emergency preparedness. CPUC President John Reynolds and Deputy Executive Director Anna Maria Johnson described the commission’s work on public safety, universal service, broadband grants, Lifeline modernization, and network resiliency, including the 72-hour backup power requirement and merger review. Members questioned CPUC officials about the pace and metrics for Last Mile and BEAD projects, the relationship between middle-mile and last-mile buildout, and how the commission balances carrier obligations with the risk of driving providers out of high-cost areas. They also pressed the CPUC on the California Lifeline home broadband pilot, asking when enrollment would be available, which providers were participating, how much of the state would be covered, and what the surcharge impact would be. CPUC said 15 providers had been approved, one was already serving customers, and the rest were still onboarding, and it committed to provide follow-up information on timelines, coverage, and costs. A major portion of the hearing centered on the California Teleconnect Fund and proposed changes to how schools would access the program. Superintendent Tony Thurmond argued strongly against shifting administration from county offices of education and districts to individual schools, saying it would add burden, worsen inequities, and risk underuse of a valuable broadband subsidy. Committee members echoed concerns that smaller schools and districts may lack the staff to manage direct applications and reporting. In public comment, the Los Angeles County Office of Education supported the CDE’s position and urged changes that would align the program more closely with E-Rate and reduce administrative burdens. No formal vote was taken, and Chair Boerner closed by saying she remained committed to pursuing reforms to the CPUC and referenced her bills AB 2289 and ACA 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• What are the best practices for partial deregulation of their utilities?
• So there should be something here that allows for an assessment and not just right now it just says PC
• be something here that allows<00:23:51.440><c> for</c><00:23:51.760><c> an</c><00:23:52.080><c> assessment
• </c><00:23:52.640><c> and</c><00:23:52.960><c> not</c><00:23:53.120><c> just</c> allows for an assessment
• and not just allows for an assessment and not just right<00:23:53.919><c> right</c><00:23:54.240><c>

Bills: SB99 , SB585 , SB2060 , SB2069 , SB2110 , SB2115 , SB2152 , SB2211 , SB2259 , SB2315 , SB2342 , SB2382 , SB2442 , SB2446 , SB2485 , SB2544 , SB2577 , SB2580 , SB2861 , SB2919 , SB3326

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: SB99, Hawaii, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, retirant, retiree rehiring, reemployment after retirement, retirement benefits, benefit suspension, school resource officer, SRO, public school safety, Department of Law Enforcement, DLE, labor shortage, difficult-to-fill position, teacher shortage, charter school, mentor teacher, vacancy rate

Summary: The Committee on Ways and Means met for decision-making only and adopted recommendations on a long list of Senate bills, with no oral testimony taken. Early actions included SB 99 to pass unamended, SB 585 to pass with a date correction to 2015, SB 2060 to pass with amendments involving public project lists, legislative approval for fund transfers, and removal of certain appropriations, and SB 2069 to pass with amendments extending a sunset date and requiring transit-oriented development zoning. The committee also advanced several other measures, including SB 2110, SB 215, SB 2259, SB 2382, SB 2442, and SB 2485 unamended, while SB 2152, SB 2315, SB 2446, SB 2919, SB 2577, SB 2580, and SB 2861 were moved with various amendments, mostly date changes, appropriation blanks, or technical clarifications. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 2211, where Department of Human Services officials explained how the department was covering costs by using restricted funds and shifting Med-QUEST funding, and noted a need for $14 million plus support for $16.5 million in ACA enhanced tax credit subsidies. The chair indicated the bill would move forward with amendments, including blanking the appropriation pending more information on lapses, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2544 was also amended to remove a specific appropriation and replace it with a blank cap on funds from DUR, and SB 2342 was amended to require projects to be in transit-oriented development zones and to reflect prior committee concurrence. The most extended debate was on SB 3326, which would address utility restructuring. One senator opposed the bill, arguing it could raise rates, worsen reliability issues, and disrupt an existing utility without a clear plan, especially given island-specific conditions. Supporters argued the bill would separate generation from transmission and distribution, create competition, protect union jobs, and respond to aging infrastructure and financial weakness in the utility sector. After recesses and discussion of the Public Utilities Commission’s role, the chair changed the recommendation from pass unamended to pass with amendments requiring the PUC to conduct a study, provide an interim report before the next session, and a final report the following session. That amended recommendation was adopted, and the meeting then adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• My rate regulation branch is completing its first-ever bottom-up organizational assessment to better
• Survivors reported severe health symptoms, conflicting experts' assessments, unsafe living conditions
• establish science-based standards for smoke testing and restoration, create uniform claims handling practices
• governing committee meetings, requires an annual report with key metrics, requires a climate risk assessment
• We've had to get catastrophic insurance and suffered multiple $1,000 assessments and had to expand our

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing a detailed update on implementation after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Lara said the strategy has helped stabilize the market, speed claims payments, and keep insurers in California, citing $22.4 billion paid to wildfire survivors, 94% of 4,121 claims paid fully or partially, $210 million returned through department investigations, and a 27% reduction in claim closure time. He said major insurers, including Mercury, CSAA, USAA companies, Pacific Specialty, and California Casualty, have filed under SIS, with several more filings pending, and that approvals have generally been completed within 100 days of public notice. He also discussed modernization of rate review, a new data reconciliation tool, a planned regulation to require rate reviews within 60 days plus a possible 30-day extension, and ongoing work on Fair Plan oversight, wildfire risk modeling, and mitigation standards such as Zone Zero. Committee members focused on wildfire survivor non-renewals, Fair Plan growth, claim handling timelines, and whether new legislative proposals could help or hinder market stability. Lara said visible consumer relief should begin in 12 to 24 months, with broader market stabilization expected over three to five years, and emphasized that mitigation, faster rate review, and insurer participation are key to reducing reliance on the Fair Plan. He also highlighted his 22-bill package, including SB 876 on disaster claims handling, AB 1795 on smoke damage standards, AB 1680 on Fair Plan accountability, and reforms to the intervener process. Members raised concerns about balancing consumer protections with insurer participation, and Lara said the Legislature should weigh those tradeoffs through the committee process. Public commenters were divided but generally acknowledged the importance of the issue. Consumer and survivor advocates argued that insurers still delay or underpay claims and that more protections are needed, while industry representatives praised the department’s work and urged caution so the new system is not undermined. Several speakers stressed the need for mitigation, Zone Zero rules, and adequate rates, while others warned that wildfire and liability insurance problems are affecting foster care providers, commercial coverage, and utility wildfire costs. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beach officer pulls someone over for speeding, notes that they were on their cell phone and wanted to assess
• If it's not practical, it's not going to be enforced.
• that can work together and get the intel so they'll be able to use the most current technologies to assess
• that can work together and get the intel so they'll be able to use the most current technologies to assess
• misdirected it, or to just direct it to land in a safe area where law enforcement can move in and assess

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Crime and Public Safety first heard House Bill 397, a companion to HB 1882, which would create a youth police initiative tax credit to support the Youth Police Initiative program. Representative Tiffany Price and supporters described the program as a way to build trust between at-risk youth and law enforcement through a week-long, relationship-based experience. Testifying in support were a youth participant, Kansas City Police Department Commander Kari Thompson, and others who said the program improved behavior, mentorship, and community trust. Members raised questions about the tax credit structure, eligible entities, and how the program would operate, but no opposition testified. The committee then heard House Bill 2055, which would fix a language issue in Missouri’s hands-free cell phone law so municipalities can enforce mirror ordinances in their own municipal courts. Representative Jeff Vernetti and several law enforcement witnesses said the current statute prevents local enforcement and forces cases into overburdened county or state systems. Supporters argued the change would improve efficiency and roadway safety while preserving the law as a secondary offense. No one testified in opposition. House Bill 2587, sponsored by Representative Jones, followed and would update Missouri law on unmanned aircraft to address drone threats near critical infrastructure and large public gatherings, including upcoming World Cup events in Kansas City. The sponsor and law enforcement supporters said the bill would allow trained officers to detect, track, and mitigate dangerous drone activity using federally authorized tools, while protecting lawful recreational drone use. Some members and the Missouri Chamber raised concerns about the scope of “mitigation,” possible use of force, and the need to avoid conflict with federal rules, but supporters said the bill includes guardrails and notice requirements. After the hearings, the committee adopted a committee substitute combining HB 1882 and HB 3097 and voted the combined substitute do pass by a 16-0 roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to point out the latest United Nations report on the life cycle assessment, and you have to
• House Bill 2090 offers a practical path forward for meeting Washington's clean energy goals while ensuring
• It is beyond belief that any reasonable assessment of the cost and societal risk could be completed with
• technical credibility, given the immaturity of this technology, based on an economic well-being assessment
• We'd basically be basing things on Economic well-being assessment, that we'd basically be basing things

Bills: HB2090 , HB2215 , HB2245 , HB2272

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, energy strategy, sustainable development, state energy policy, climate change, fuel regulations, compliance obligations, sustainability, environmental policy, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes

Transcript Highlights:

• was adequate support for law enforcement and police departments and others to go in and do the assessment
• and as soon as those assessments took place and there was no threat to anyone, our folks went right
• trust fund would support maintenance and operations vendor, data analysis consultants, security assessment
• So, DGS's role in this is primarily to help those departments as they implement telework to assess what
• We have filed an unfair practice charge with the Public Employment Relations Board.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also a practicing defense attorney appearing before courts across the Commonwealth.
• Two: how will the process protect victims from retaliation or practice?
• It ensures that legal representation is provided based on recognized best practices.
• Decriminalization simply aligns our laws with the reality of our practice in Massachusetts.
• It also establishes a coalition to assess and expand services across the state.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil rights, immigration, hate crimes, and reparations bills. Chair Edwards and Chair Day opened with strict testimony rules, including two-minute limits, written testimony options, and decorum requirements. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell testified in strong support of S. 1126/H. 1920, the Combating Hate in the Commonwealth bill, saying Massachusetts needs stronger tools to address rising hate and bias incidents. Her Civil Rights Division chief explained that the bill would give the division civil investigative demand/subpoena power, expand civil rights enforcement, close loopholes in the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, add protected classes to the hate crimes law, and require better hate-crime data reporting. The committee also heard support for H. 1954 on access to counsel in immigration proceedings, H. 4684 on law enforcement identification and public trust, and H. 1927 to exonerate individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Several bills focused on discrimination and civil rights enforcement. Supporters of S. 1248 on organizational standing said fair housing nonprofits need explicit authority to bring discrimination complaints in their own names, especially as federal protections are under attack. On H. 1246, advocates urged adding sex and gender as protected classes in the hate crimes statute, arguing women are not protected under current state law. H. 1820 drew testimony for protections against height and weight discrimination. H. 1995 would regularize sentencing for hate crimes by requiring diversity awareness training for both convictions and continuances without a finding, and H. 1056/H. 1589 would broaden hate-crime victim standing and require restitution to be used to repair harm. H. 1886 would clarify that defense-based social service staff are exempt from mandated reporter obligations when working under attorney-client privilege. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1889/S. 1064, a bill to eliminate disparate impact. Environmental justice advocates, fair housing attorneys, and community members argued that neutral policies can still produce discriminatory outcomes and that Massachusetts should allow state-court claims and a private right of action to address them. Committee members raised concerns about litigation floodgates, punitive damages, and the scope of protected classes, while supporters said the bill would mainly target systemic harms and injunctive relief. Additional testimony supported H. 1922/S. 119, the Fair Investment Act, which would create civil rights protections in venture capital and other investment settings for founders and investors, especially women and minority entrepreneurs. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1683, the Sex Trade Survivor Act, which would expand vacatur and expungement relief for trafficking survivors, remove archaic offenses from the code, and create an interagency commission; supporters emphasized reducing barriers to housing, employment, and reentry. Finally, the committee heard extensive support for H. 1753/S. 1181, establishing a commission to study reparations in Massachusetts. Testifiers described the state’s history of slavery, redlining, and ongoing racial disparities, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:33.200><c> and</c><00:23:33.440><c> pay</c> says the agent shall be assessed and pay says
• Um, issues associated with this practice include the risks of ferret spreading diseases and parasites
• And then you would assess the &gt;&gt; followup.
• that fair assessment.
• . assessment. assessment.

Committee: House Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• now in Excelencia's two-year journey, a national program that transforms culture, teaching, and practice
• At USPyre, we witness how the practice of transcript withholding... ...hinders students’ mobility.
• These practices harm students by placing them in limbo from which they can’t continue their education
• This practice is also counterintuitive in that it inhibits a student’s ability to actually pay off the
• The practice also presses the Massachusetts economy in that it prevents our graduates from being able

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills touching student access, campus safety, and institutional support. Early testimony focused on H. 4544, which would create a state Hispanic-serving institution designation to replace a lost federal designation and potentially allow future funding. Representative Kushmerek and Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge described Fitchburg’s growing Latino student population, the university’s local commitments such as the Fitchburg Promise, and argued the bill would help the institution better serve its community. Committee members asked about how the tuition-free local program is financed, and the bill was described as having no immediate funding request but allowing for future appropriations. The committee also heard support for H. 1421, a proposed John F. Kennedy Service Scholarship Program for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Commonwealth Corps alumni, with Representative Arena DeRosa arguing that student debt discourages service and that the program would help make citizen service more accessible to lower- and moderate-income students. Members raised questions about cost, take-up, and whether the program should be capped. H. 1449, dealing with transcript withholding, drew support from Representative LeBoeuf and USPyre’s Demi Stoltz, who said withholding transcripts over small balances or non-academic fees traps students and harms workforce participation; members discussed how schools could still collect debts without blocking transcripts. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to improve study-abroad safety reporting, with Carrie Pascarello urging a centralized data system after multiple student deaths and serious incidents abroad, and members asking about how other states handle similar transparency measures. Another major topic was H. 4113 on higher education sexual misconduct. Laura G. and Ashley Freeman supported a proposal aimed at preventing “passing the harasser” by requiring disclosure of substantiated findings or departures during open investigations in hiring processes. They said the bill would improve transparency and campus safety while preserving due process, and noted Washington State has a similar law. Members discussed whether the bill should be expanded to K-12 settings and asked about the Washington model’s effectiveness. The committee also heard from Mike Canavan of AFT Massachusetts in support of a bill to create a grant program for librarians to earn a master’s in library science, noting the credential is required for the profession but is not offered by any public institution in Massachusetts. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified.