Transcript Highlights:

• All right, I will close the public hearing and we have a few minutes before we can have the hearing on
• Representative Scitec hearing.
• Chair: Glad to hear.
• You can hear me? Yes. Okay.”
• </c> hearing and go into executive session. hearing and go into executive session.

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 254, which Senator David Roford described as a technical correction to controlled substance inventory law for pharmacies. He said the bill would remove outdated language requiring inventories to be done in an odd-numbered year, while keeping the existing requirement that pharmacies conduct a full controlled substance inventory every two years in line with federal law. Members asked several clarifying questions about whether the requirement is pharmacy-by-pharmacy, whether new pharmacies would be affected, and whether the change would alter scope or compliance; the sponsor and a representative of the New Hampshire Pharmacist Association said it would not, and that it mainly provides clarity for pharmacies and inspectors. The public hearing on SB 254 was then closed, and the committee also heard support from a representative of the pharmacist community, who said the association supports the bill. The committee then discussed a non-germane amendment to SB 254 dealing with FBI background checks for educational surrogate parents under the Department of Education. Representative Leyon explained that the amendment was requested by the Department of Education after the FBI rejected prior statutory language, and that the goal was to allow people serving as educational surrogate parents to complete FBI fingerprint-based background checks so they can perform their duties. Department of Education and Department of Safety staff testified that the amendment mirrors language that has worked in other education-related background check statutes, including provisions with specific disqualifying offenses tied to child safety, and that the FBI requires precise statutory language and direct transmission of records through the Department of Safety. Members questioned why the FBI’s approval was needed, whether individuals could simply provide their own records, and whether changing federal leadership could require future changes; witnesses said the state needs both state and national records, that records must come directly from the FBI through the Department of Safety, and that the language is intended to satisfy current federal requirements. During the discussion, some members expressed skepticism about the need for the amendment and about placing it on a bill about controlled substance inventories, but no vote was taken during the portion of the transcript provided. The committee also briefly discussed a separate bill on physician assistants/physician associates, with members noting that the proposed name change would not alter scope of practice and that some outside groups had raised concerns about transparency, but that discussion was interrupted and not concluded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome to the public hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional
• My name is Jack Patrick Lewis, House Chair, and I'll be presiding over today's hearing.
• Can you hear me now? Yes, we can hear you, yes. Okay, sorry. No worries at all.
• I will entertain a motion to close this hearing. Is there a second? All those in favor?
• This hearing now stands adjourned. Thank you.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a public hearing on several local bills affecting Plymouth, Dunstable/Groton-Dunstable, Shrewsbury, Danvers, and the Town of Berry. Committee chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, livestreaming, and written testimony submission, and noted members joining in person and online. No votes were taken on the bills themselves during the hearing. Representative Michelle Badger testified in support of H.5497 for Plymouth, which would let the town move its annual spring town meeting and local elections to a later date so budget decisions can be made with more complete information about the state budget and state aid. Lacey McCabe and Dunstable Town Administrator Jason Silva supported S.3118/H.5542, which would address an election error that left a Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee seat off the ballot and allow the vacancy to be filled for the full three-year term rather than only a one-year appointment. Kevin Mizikar supported H.5512 for Shrewsbury, which would allow digital postings to serve as official legal notices for procurement instead of requiring newspaper publication. Senator Lovely, Danvers Town Manager Jill Cahill, and Representative Kearns testified for H.5571, describing it as an update to Danvers’ town meeting act with precinct changes, moderator-election provisions, and other governance revisions approved locally. Kearns said the bill followed a year-long review and included largely housekeeping and modernization changes. John Chase testified against H.5577 for the Town of Berry, arguing that eliminating the DPW board would reduce oversight and concentrate too much power, though he noted the highway superintendent now has a signed MOU. The hearing ended after the chair asked for and received a motion to adjourn, which was approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear us, Ron? Apologies, it's a great thing. All right. Can you hear us, Ron?
• Can you hear us? Yes, we can hear you. So thank you for joining us. If you'll go ahead.
• An agricultural short plat is exempt from public hearing requirements, so it's essentially just a decision
• I think maybe requiring counties to hold an administrative process, or maybe not a public hearing process
• Good to hear your voice.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, well, I'm going to, because I'll never hear No, he was just here a minute ago.
• Yeah, well, I'm going to, because I'll never hear the end of it.
• SB 1146, DCS periodic review hearings report. SB 1149, DCS periodic review hearings.
• SB 1221, tax laws interpretation application hearing.
• SB 1242, mental health hearings video audio visual technology; Health and Human Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is a hearing. And this is a hearing of the Senate Committee on the Census.
• Can you hear me now? That's pretty clear, yeah.
• So I hear you saying SNAP, WIC... ...slide, thank you.
• All those in favor, the hearing is adjourned. Thank you.
• All those in favor, the hearing is adjourned. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The hearing focused on census data privacy, administrative data sharing, and the role of state and local governments in improving census accuracy, especially for the 2030 census. Dr. Philip Rocco testified first, arguing that the census is increasingly intergovernmental and that state and local investments in address list work, outreach, and complete count commissions can materially improve self-response and reduce undercounts. He emphasized that hard-to-count communities are most affected when states delay planning, politicize census work, or lack capacity, and he pointed to examples such as LUCA participation, outreach funding, and group quarters review as important tools. He also warned that recent federal actions and a broader climate of distrust could threaten 2030 operations, and urged Massachusetts to begin readiness planning now. Members then questioned Dr. Rocco about the use of administrative data such as DMV, TANF, SNAP, and WIC records, and about group quarters enumeration. He explained that those data-sharing efforts were voluntary agreements with the Census Bureau, unlike group quarters data, which are often provided by facility administrators and sometimes state agencies. He said the Trump-era effort to use DMV and other records was tied to Executive Order 13880 and was widely resisted because states had confidentiality and legal concerns, and because the stated purpose appeared to shift toward citizenship-related uses. On group quarters, he described e-response, paper response, in-person enumeration, and administrator-provided directory information, noting that privacy issues arise mainly from FERPA limits on university data and from missing demographic details in administrative records. A second panel, Beth Giroz and Amy O'Hara, then explained how administrative data are used by the Census Bureau and why data quality and privacy concerns matter. They described administrative data as records collected for operational purposes, useful for frame-building, nonresponse follow-up, enumeration, and post-enumeration evaluation, but often incomplete or mismatched on key census variables such as race, ethnicity, household relationships, and residence timing. They highlighted that some sources, like IRS, Medicare, USPS, SSA, and Bureau of Prisons records, are especially valuable, while others such as SNAP, TANF, WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, foster care, and driver’s license data vary in completeness and sharing. They stressed that privacy means collecting only what is needed, and that the Bureau typically uses limited header or roster data rather than full records. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee recessed briefly before continuing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why I'm actually excited to actually have a hearing.
• We haven't had a hearing on this bill in 13 months. So.
• This is why I'm actually excited to actually have a hearing.
• They've gone through 16 Planning Commission hearings.
• We look forward to hearing both of our witnesses.

Summary: The committee heard AB 736, the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, which would place a $10 billion housing bond on the ballot to fund multifamily housing, supportive housing, homeownership, preservation of deed-restricted units, acquisition/rehabilitation of naturally affordable housing, farmworker housing, and tribal housing. The author and supporters said the bond is needed because existing housing bond funds are exhausted and California still faces a severe affordability and homelessness crisis. Support was broad, with many local governments, housing groups, labor, and business organizations testifying in favor; Habitat for Humanity opposed unless 10% of proceeds were reserved for CalHome. Committee members raised the CalHome issue and other priorities, but the bill passed on a do-pass motion to Senate Appropriations with a roll-call vote, with some members voting aye and the measure held on call for absent members. The committee then took up SB 1361, which would limit how SB 79 transit-oriented housing rules can be used to interfere with planned transit stops and routes. The author and supporters from L.A. Metro and the building trades argued the bill would prevent local governments from stalling transit projects out of concern that future density requirements could apply, while preserving existing housing standards. Several groups that had initially opposed or had concerns, including the League of California Cities, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved as amended to Senate Local Government and placed on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating a pro-housing infrastructure financing program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, requiring local agencies to provide early good-faith estimates and itemized lists of on-site and off-site improvements so projects are not hit with late surprise costs. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, and other groups, with limited opposition or concerns from some cities about implementation details. Each measure received a do-pass-as-amended motion to Senate Appropriations and was held on call. The committee also heard SB 908 on window replacement streamlining, which would ease permitting for energy-efficient residential window replacements statewide and limit certain new-construction provisions to San Francisco; it passed as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would require park owners who intend to sell to give residents or their representatives an opportunity to make a competitive bid to buy the park, with supporters citing wildfire losses and the need to preserve unsubsidized affordable housing; opponents argued it would devalue property and create litigation risk. SB 1093 would require clearer communication, access, and compensation protections for residents after disasters, and would require owners to consider rebuilding versus closure. Supporters emphasized the uncertainty faced by displaced residents in the Palisades and other fire areas, while opponents said the bill could impose onerous obligations, liability, and valuation requirements. Both bills were moved do pass as amended to Appropriations and held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:30.160><c> Again,</c> single hearing we've had here.
• Again, single hearing we've had here.
• As I'm sure we will hear in individuals.
• I think the veterans would like hearing.
• </c> hearing three bills. hearing three bills.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We have right at 40 bills, or a little over 40 bills left to hear.
• their bills the opportunity to hear their bills prior to hearing any of the deferred bills.
• After this hearing, you can read it for yourself. It's all there.
• I'd just like to hear where their take is on this bill.
• Can y'all hear me? We have the microphones working.

Bills: HB241 , HB267 , HB467 , HB673 , HB744 , HB798 , HB1026 , HB1027 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1212 , HB1230

Committee: House Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going into a public session today and hearing House Bill 3375, sponsored by Representative Koslow
• If you'd like to comment, I'm more than willing to hear it. Yeah, there was a lot there.
• We continue to hear frustration from landowners.
• I hear a lot of promises and I hear a lot of, oh, we'd really had our discussion then and we're right
• I hear a lot of promises and I hear a lot of, oh, we'd really have to work with people, and I hear from

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• It's hard for us to hear the questions and answers.
• I guess I hear what you're saying.
• a hearing?
• To hear that committee's agenda, and Natural Resources will meet at 9 a.m. in Committee Room 4 to hear
• To hear that committee's agenda, and Natural Resources will meet at 9 a.m. in Committee Room 4 to hear

Bills: HR58 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HCR32 , HB43 , HB447 , HB573 , HB1000 , HB1001 , HB1002 , HB1003 , HB1004 , HB1005 , HR46 , HR48 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , SB128 , SB149 , SB174 , SB191 , SB205 , SB213 , SB218 , SB220 , SB229 , SB238 , SB243 , SB375 , SB379 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB781 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB171 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB351 , HB400 , HB413 , HB469 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB149 , HB733 , HB875 , HB868 , HB901

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened in prayer, and received official notice from the Secretary of State certifying Dana Henry and Paul Sawyer to fill vacancies in the chamber. Both members were sworn in. The House also received Senate messages on several concurrent resolutions and a large slate of Senate bills, and it adopted a number of House resolutions recognizing groups and individuals, including agriculture, athletic trainers, GoFar Louisiana, homeschooling families, veterans, and several community honorees. Committee reports and bill referrals were also announced throughout the morning hour. A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to floor action on House bills, many of them memorial highway designations and policy measures. The House gave final passage to bills naming roadways and bridges for Officer Trevor Abney, Dr. Harry Blake Sr., Virginia Green Evans, and American Legion Post No. 14, and it also passed bills extending Tax Commission assessment fees, creating a transfer-on-death securities registration act, increasing lender origination fees, expanding assessor certification committee membership, and strengthening protections for eligible adults against financial exploitation. Other bills passed included measures on teacher certification appeals, removing Evangeline Parish from a juvenile justice district, re-creating the Department of Education, and repealing a $25 impaired-driving fine. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly or unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on House Bill 68, which would create a new offense for disturbing worship services and impose a mandatory 30-day jail term for certain misdemeanor conduct, with higher penalties for related offenses. Supporters argued the bill was intended to deter disruptions and reduce the risk of escalation in houses of worship, citing heightened security concerns and incidents in churches nationwide. Opponents questioned the bill’s vagueness, the mandatory minimum sentence, the distinction between misdemeanor and felony treatment, and whether existing law already covered the conduct. The bill remained under discussion as members continued to raise constitutional, enforcement, and policy concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me, OK? Okay.
• And so I'm a little sad to hear you tell me now that that's not necessarily the case.
• But what I hear you saying is that the work will be the same.
• Thank you for hearing this very, very important bill.
• We hear some stories of hard work from really brave individuals across the board.

Bills: HF3454 , HF3917 , HF2906 , HF3832 , HF3769

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you for hearing this wonderful bill.
• Please note this was written before hearing the amendment.
• We need to hear from you because it's you that this bill will impact.
• You did an amazing job conducting this hearing to my colleagues.
• You did an amazing job conducting this hearing to my colleagues.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the motion prevails and the spreadsheet is adopted.
• Hearing none, the motion opposed?
• Next, Hearing none, the motion prevails.
• Hearing none, the motion prevails and that A101 is adopted.
• Hearing none, the I. I. Any opposed?

Transcript Highlights:

• And I thank you for the hearing, and I yield for questions. Thank you, Senator Hughes. Does.
• And thank you for the hearing, and I yield for questions. Thank you, Senator Hughes.
• Currently in the depository, I hear you had $380 million. Yes, sir. Okay.
• And I'm happy to hear from you as well, Senator Hughes, on this if that applies.
• The constitutional concerns were raised in my... ...House hearing on this legislation.

Bills: SB524 , SB782 , HB42 , HB 1056 , HB2894 , HB3033 , HB3474 , HB3594 , HB4738 , HB5246 , HB42

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee heard Senator Flores lay out the committee substitute for HB 2894, which would expand state reimbursement eligibility for local governments disproportionately affected by the disabled veterans homestead exemption. Flores said the bill would add certain municipalities in Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas counties if lost ad valorem tax revenue equals or exceeds 10% of general revenue, while existing recipients would remain under the current 2% threshold. Lampasas and Bell County officials and the City of Killeen testified in support, describing significant revenue losses and urging adequate funding. One witness, Howard Avery, argued any reimbursement should be counted as property tax revenue for voter-approval rate purposes to avoid a windfall. The committee later adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably, with one nay. The committee also heard SB 782, which would create a temporary severance tax exemption for restimulated inactive oil and gas wells, intended to encourage investment in mature wells. The Comptroller explained the revised fiscal note as effectively zero because the wells are currently marginal and not generating meaningful tax revenue, while industry witnesses said the bill could extend well life, support local economies, and reduce orphan-well liabilities. Public testimony was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Members then heard HB 3033, a DPS-related grant program funded by voluntary $3 donations on driver’s license and ID applications to support nonprofits aiding injured or fallen DPS officers and their families, including memorial highway signs. The DPS Officers Association supported the bill, citing existing foundation assistance and the need for a steady funding stream. The committee later reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 524, which would permanently extend the franchise tax and fee exemption for qualifying veteran-owned businesses for their first five years; testimony from a veteran business owner and veterans advocates supported the measure, and the committee adopted the substitute and reported it favorably. Additional measures were laid out and left pending or voted out: HB 3594, a local San Antonio retiree health care fund bill with agreed changes for contributions, spouse benefits, and remarriage rules, was supported by stakeholders and reported favorably; HB 4738 would repeal small administrative fees tied to certain loans and was reported favorably; HB 42 on HEAF funding and HB 5246 on the Texas Space Commission were heard and left pending. The committee also reported HB 3474, a cleanup bill for the Pension Review Board’s investment performance review schedule, and HB 2802, the Austin firefighter retirement fund bill, both favorably. Finally, the committee took up HB 1056, which would allow gold and silver held in the Texas Bullion Depository to function as legal tender through debit-card transactions. Supporters framed it as a way to use hard assets and expand financial options, while bankers and some senators raised major operational, consumer-protection, tax, and constitutional questions; the bill remained under discussion as testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me okay? Okay.
• We will be recommending rejecting the three proposals we're hearing today.
• Just to add, hearing your question, I love your questions. Thank you.
• We will hear the budget proposal to augment the program's resources.
• With that, our hearing is adjourned. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• This honorable body gave the Attorney General's office Administrative Hearings and Child Support from
• In addition to the Administrative Hearings and Child Support, last session this honorable body passed
• But I just want you to hear the same thing I did.
• So I will yield her and let her speak just briefly so you can hear her own story.
• So I will yield her and let her speak just briefly so you can hear her own story.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and considered four bills. Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Bledsoe, would create a Right of Publicity Act to prohibit unauthorized commercial use of a person’s unclothed likeness, including for living and deceased individuals, while carving out exemptions for artistic and news-related uses. Bledsoe said the bill is intended to address privacy, dignity, and AI-generated image misuse, and noted she may offer a floor amendment to address concerns from broadband and internet providers. Sen. Thomas supported the bill but questioned the 10-year duration, and Bledsoe said that timeframe was somewhat arbitrary. The committee voted 8-0 to pass SB 7 with favorable expression to the floor. Senate Bill 130, presented by Sen. Maiden, addressed gift card scams and theft of redemption information. A committee substitute was adopted, and Maiden described the bill as a response to organized retail crime, citing major gift card scams in Louisville and Lexington and explaining how tampered cards are returned to shelves and later drained after purchase. He said the substitute would create clear criminal penalties, make gift card tampering a felony, and add gift card fraud to the credit card fraud statute. Members shared personal experiences with compromised gift cards, and the committee approved SB 130 8-0 with favorable expression. Senate Bill 244, a reorganization cleanup bill presented by Sen. Howell and Attorney General’s office counsel Will Schroer, would complete name and structural changes following the transfer of Administrative Hearings and Child Support from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the Attorney General’s office and align the bill with prior data privacy legislation. The committee voted 9-0 to send SB 244 to the floor with favorable expression. Senate Bill 236, sponsored by Sen. Smith, drew extended discussion about a veteran’s case involving an old misdemeanor/DUI matter and a later warrant or failure-to-appear issue. The witness described being arrested years later despite having rebuilt her life, and senators debated whether the bill’s proposed time limit could create loopholes or affect court procedures; members emphasized that the underlying charge would remain and that the bill was aimed at unserved failure-to-appear warrants. The committee ultimately voted to advance SB 236 with favorable expression, with several members explaining their support while noting concerns about possible future language changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would love to hear from DVS on how many appointments are available as of today.
• I would love to hear from DVS on how many appointments are available as of today.
• I would love to hear from DVS on how many appointments are available as of today.
• I would love to hear from DVS on how many appointments are available as of today.
• </c> you yeah thank you and before we uh hear you yeah thank you and before we uh hear that<00:24:35.240

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that I've been hearing back from a lot of the employers... ...hearing back from a lot
• What we had in Mobile was a divorce hearing.
• Many of some judges will not even hear the case or even offer a hearing. ...hear the case or even offer
• a hearing when immunity is at issue.
• I rarely hear of a prosecutor getting sued.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want Minnesotans to know that I hear their concerns.
• </c> um and so I I'm I'm so happy to hear um and so I I'm I'm so happy to hear that<00:10:12.320><c>
• </c> topic you know what do they need to hear topic you know what do they need to hear from<00:10:23.000
• You know, again, going back to the residents that you hear, they're upset hearing what's going on with
• uh they're upset residents that you hear uh they're upset uh<00:13:20.240><c> hearing</c><00:13:20.519

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> been waiting on hearing from the house. been waiting on hearing from the house.
• a lot about tomorrow we're going to hear a lot about tomorrow morning. morning. morning.
• I honestly don't remember hearing any concerns about the fee increase.
• Did I hear that? We do know who they are.
• >> I hear you. >> Senator from Chittenden. >> If I might, Mr.