Transcript Highlights:

• Um, first of all, I mean, Kas County is highly dependent on the timber industry in Berlin.
• Um, first of all, I mean, Kas County is highly dependent on the timber industry in Berlin.
• on the timber industry in dependent on the timber industry in Berlin.<00:29:41.279> We're<00:
• Yeah, Senator Rosenval, uh, it depends on the owner on what, you know, they decide to do with the land
• And we depend on our and ship it out.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nobody depended hardly, only a handful of people depended on these utilities.
• Nobody depended hardly only a deal.
• > depended<02:00:03.760> on<02:00:04.000> these handful of people depended on these
• ><02:00:06.159> depends<02:00:06.480> on<02:00:06.719> them utilities.
• Now everyone depends on them utilities.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:32:24.159> on<01:32:24.320> whether It would, but it would depend on whether It
• The witness responded that it depends on the nature of the claim.
• He added that it would depend on the case-by-case basis.
• <01:34:38.080> And depends on the nature of the claim.
• And depends on the nature of the claim.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's like depending on who comes to us first, we rotate that way.
• Depending on who comes to us first, we rotate that way.
• So, it depends on page 100. It depends on the type of contract.
• <03:26:03.240> It<03:26:03.320> depends So, it depends on Page 100.
• It depends So, it depends on Page 100.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that system is depending on advancements that we made.
• And that system is depending on advancements that we make in this Legislature to continue to be able

Summary: The Florida Senate convened in special session with an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then administered the oath of office to newly elected Senator Brian Nathan of District 14, who was welcomed by the chamber. The Secretary read the governor’s amended special-session proclamation, which expanded the call beyond congressional redistricting and related litigation funding to include legislation on artificial intelligence protections, an AI Bill of Rights, public records exemptions tied to AI investigations, and medical freedom/vaccine-related issues. The Senate then took up SB 2D, the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, and SB 4D, the related public records bill. Supporters said the AI bill was a first step to protect children, parents, privacy, and Floridians from deceptive or harmful AI practices, while opponents argued it was too weak, overly permissive, and could create a false sense of protection without meaningful remedies. Senators also raised concerns about balancing child safety with innovation and school technology use. SB 2D passed 37-1. SB 4D, described as the public records exemption accompanying the AI bill, passed 33-4 after brief discussion about which investigative files would be exempt while Department of Legal Affairs investigations are pending. The Rules Chair announced a committee meeting later that day, said SB 6D on medical freedom would be temporarily postponed in Rules, and the chamber set SB 8D on congressional districts for special order on Wednesday, April 29. The Senate then adjourned until 10 a.m. on April 29.

Transcript Highlights:

• I suspect we'll be going into joint budget this afternoon, but it depends when the House recesses and
• It depends when the House recesses and if they've reached an agreement on any amendments to some of the

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I also think it depends on what your local rules of procedures are.
• It really depends.
• Winchester has dependent upon the town.
• <02:25:44.000> upon body, the city council, depending upon body, the city council, depending
• So I would say that's dependent on what school they attend.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee convened for a day of public hearings on nine bills, with plans to later execute several early bills and possibly additional measures under House Rule 44. Chair Diane Pauer outlined time limits for sponsors and testimony, announced a lunch break around noon, and noted substitute members would be arriving later. The first hearing was on House Bill 1107, which would allow municipal budget committees to have one to three alternate members. Representative Valon, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to help towns like Epping deal with quorum problems during the compressed budget season and noted that alternates are common on other local boards. The New Hampshire Municipal Association testified in support, saying the bill would increase flexibility and help fill seats. Committee members raised concerns about whether alternates should be elected, how they would be selected, whether they would be sufficiently informed to vote, and whether the bill’s one-year term language and rescission provisions were clear. The sponsor and NHMA said the process would be consistent with other local boards, that alternates would typically be appointed after elections, and that they would follow up on possible statutory clarification. The hearing closed with six remote supporters, one paper supporter, and no opposition reported. The committee then heard House Bill 1118, sponsored by Representative Colby, which would raise the daily amount municipal employees may hold before remitting funds to the treasurer from the current $1,500 limit to $3,500. Colby said the existing thresholds are outdated, have not been updated in about 20 years, and create burdens for smaller towns that must make frequent bank deposits, sometimes far from town offices. She said the bill would improve efficiency and allow staff to focus more on serving residents, while still allowing municipalities to keep lower limits if they choose. Members asked about how the remittance process works in practice, what amounts municipalities typically collect, and whether the change reflected a broader trend of updating cash-handling thresholds. The sponsor explained that the bill only changes the dollar thresholds in the relevant statutes and does not require municipalities to adopt the higher limit. The transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1118 is reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, to the extent that expansions will still be allowed depending on the circumstance, even for an
• Well, to the extent that expansions will still be allowed depending on the circumstance, even for an
• Well, to the extent that expansions will still be allowed depending on the circumstance, even for an
• <03:19:43.080> on the range of 20 to $30,000 depending on the range of 20 to $30,000 depending
• would have created disparity depending would have created disparity depending on<04:35:46.480>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 187, which would allow parents or guardians to seek restraining orders on behalf of a minor child even when the alleged perpetrator is not a family or household member. Tracy Sirles testified that the bill was prompted by her family’s experience after being told by state police to seek a restraining order, only to learn the current law did not allow it because the offender was the child’s best friend’s father. Members agreed the change was straightforward, noted the fiscal note reflected only a small indeterminate cost to the judicial branch, and moved House Bill 187 ought to pass; the motion was approved unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 66, a Right-to-Know bill that removes “citizen” language in favor of “person” in some provisions and allows certain New Hampshire-connected requesters to seek records electronically if the records already exist in that format. Members reviewed concerns about defining “member of the media,” the scope of electronic requests, and a sentence stating appeals would have no filing fee or search charge. After debate, the committee voted to amend the bill by removing that fee-waiver sentence, then recommended House Bill 66 ought to pass as amended. The vote was 6-3. Next, the committee heard from the Environment and Agriculture chair about several solid-waste-related bills being folded into trailer bill language, including House Bill 215 and House Bill 171, with discussion of a possible three-year landfill moratorium and the need to address DEES staffing and funding concerns. DEES later clarified that the revised approach would not require new positions or create a fiscal impact because the new solid waste commission would be self-funded through filing fees. The committee voted unanimously to retain House Bill 215. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 566, which requires landfill permit applications to include a detailed leachate management plan and more information about disposal contracts. The sponsor said the bill was developed with DEES to address leachate problems and improve safety oversight. DEES testified that the bill largely reflects current practice and would have no specific fiscal impact, with existing staff able to absorb any review workload. The committee moved House Bill 566 ought to pass, and the motion was approved unanimously. The committee also briefly discussed House Bill 624, a grant program for local river management advisory committees, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is actually, I think, the very last page, so depending on how long we go today, we'll get to that.
• on how long we go today um so depending on how long we go today we'll<01:19:50.000> get<01:19
• <02:48:26.520> locally<02:48:27.319> um really that really depends locally um really
• It depends on district by district, but overall there was excess funding, and then that lapses back to
• It depends on district by district, but overall there was excess funding, and then that lapses back to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it depends on that.
• I mean, it depends on that.
• I think it depends on where you're at, but I think it depends on the size of load that you're looking
• I think it depends on where you're at, but I think it depends on the size of load that you're looking
• I think it depends on where you're at, but I think it depends on the size of load that you're looking

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He asked whether that would further our dependence, but then said the question is not relevant to the
• It depends on the price, obviously.
• about whether carbon pric works it about whether carbon pric works it depends<01:13:56.719> on
• on the price obviously if you depends on the price obviously if you know<01:13:59.320> Reggie
• But depending on what’s uncovered, that would inform the commission to recommend legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the project that on a it's depending on the project it's<00:18:59.120> a<00:18:59.200>
• on um where where those depending on um where where those reductions<00:20:59.400> are<00:20:
• And, you know, depending on what the reductions look like, we, you know, there are some things that we
• Depending on which studies they choose to do, there's sort of an initial kick-the-tires study.
• <04:21:32.680> on do the study work um and depending on do the study work um and depending

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that system is depending on advancements that we made.
• And that system is depending on advancements that we make in this legislature to continue to be able

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then administered the oath of office to newly elected Senator Brian Nathan of District 14, who was welcomed by the chamber. The Secretary read the governor’s amended special session proclamation, which expanded the call to include legislation on artificial intelligence protections, an AI Bill of Rights, related public records exemptions, and medical freedom, in addition to congressional redistricting and related litigation funding. The chamber then read the bills filed within the call: SB 2D (Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights), SB 4D (public records), SB 60 (medical freedom), and SB 8D (congressional districts). The Rules Chair moved SB 2D and SB 4D forward, and the Senate took up SB 2D first. On SB 2D, the sponsor said the bill was intended to protect parents and children from deceptive AI practices, safeguard personal information and image rights, and ensure technology serves rather than deceives Floridians. Senator Grall opposed the bill, arguing it weakened protections and gave parents a false sense of security, while Senator Busillo supported it as a necessary but imperfect first step that should be implemented carefully. After debate, the Senate passed SB 2D by a vote of 37 yeas and 1 nay. The Senate then passed SB 4D, the companion public records exemption bill, after brief discussion about which investigative files would be exempt during enforcement proceedings; the vote was 33 yeas and 4 nays. The Rules Chair announced committee scheduling, noted SB 60 (medical freedom) would be temporarily postponed in Rules, and the Senate also set SB 8D for special order on Wednesday, April 29. The chamber adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29.

Transcript Highlights:

• caused me to be hospitalized 15 times with more than $500,000 in health care costs and a daily dependence
• I'm healthier, fully engaged in my community and with my family, and I'm no longer dependent or reliant

Transcript Highlights:

• And depending on your answer, then I may have more questions.
• I would say it's dependent.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE DEATHS SINCE WE ARE EITHER FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD IN THE NATION FOR THOSE DEPENDING
• AND ALSO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SYSTEMS AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AND IT DEPENDS UPON WHETHER IT IS AN URBAN

Transcript Highlights:

• Three queuing does not emphasize phonics-based learning and causes students to be overly dependent on
• Because right now, not every student has access to that, depending on what high school they go to. ..

Bills: HB9, HB102, HB9

Keywords: three-cueing system, reading instruction, K-12 education, structured literacy, scientific strategies, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• half billion over three years, you would be paying for that, say, over a 10- or 15-year period, depending
• Our Commonwealth's rising energy bills are driven by three things: our region's dependence on costly
• Our region's dependence on costly imported fossil fuels, expensive investments, Our region's dependence
• collectively ask our residents and businesses to pay for the critical local services on which we all depend
• The other thing is that the interconnection is not dependent on federal funding.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes. Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs. Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described. Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.

Transcript Highlights:

• > program that you add to the current use program that you add to the current use program depending
• upon what it produces means depending upon what it produces means that<00:52:02.480> it's<00:
• They receive between 25 cents and 1.25, depending on the job that they are doing.
• They receive between 25 cents<01:06:45.839> and<01:06:46.480> 1.25<01:06:47.599> depending
• on the job that cents and 1.25 depending on the job that they<01:06:49.599> are<01:06:49.920>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and depending on which direction the intention is, it has different impacts.
• Um,<00:08:36.800> and<00:08:37.120> depending<00:08:37.360> on<00:08:37.599>
• which<00:08:37.839> direction<00:08:38.240> the Um, and depending on which direction
• the Um, and depending on which direction the intention<00:08:38.880> is,<00:08:39.200> it<
• Kind of depends on the timeline.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all