Transcript Highlights:

• Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut Act, EDF has over $250 billion in lending
• EDF is also currently lending up to a billion and a half dollars to restart the Holtec Palisades reactor
• And EDF is also currently lending a billion dollars to Constellation to restart Crane, formerly known
• As I mentioned, we have over $250 billion in lending authority available through Title 17, and those

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Summary: The committee met to hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear economics, workforce, community impacts, and financing. Nucleon Energy’s William Bridge presented a report estimating the economic impacts of hypothetical 200-megawatt and 600-megawatt SMRs, including construction and operating jobs, local spending, tax revenue, and the private-sector conditions needed to attract investment. He said the report used nth-of-a-kind cost assumptions, discussed security and water siting considerations, and argued that early community engagement and permitting work should be timed to when projects are closer to being economic. Committee members questioned cost assumptions, security staffing, transmission and water siting, and whether large reactors or SMRs are more likely to be financed in the near term. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning. She described declining labor-force demographics, the need for hundreds of thousands of new energy workers by 2050, and six workforce priorities: career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and non-traditional pipelines. She highlighted the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, robotics, and when training should begin relative to future plant construction; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers broadly and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. Red Wing, Minnesota Mayor Gary Yako described hosting the Prairie Island nuclear generating facility. He said the plant provides a large share of the city’s property tax base, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to local emergency preparedness, and is a strong community partner through donations and employee involvement. He said the city supports relicensing, has regular emergency drills, and has had no issues with dry cask storage. The committee also heard from NEI’s Benton Arnett, who reviewed the current financing landscape, including federal tax credits, DOE loan authority, offtake agreements, and the shift toward project developers and special-purpose vehicles. He said early projects face high first-of-a-kind costs, but federal support and long-term power purchase agreements are helping make projects financeable. Finally, DOE’s Julie Kazeraki described the Office of Energy Dominance Financing and its role in supporting new nuclear, restarts, uprates, and supply chain investments, emphasizing that federal loan and tax-credit tools are intended to reduce upfront risk and improve project affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut Act, EDF has over $250 billion in lending
• EDF is also currently lending up to a billion and a half dollars to restart the Holtec Palisades reactor
• And EDF is also currently lending a billion dollars to Constellation to restart Crane, formerly known
• As I mentioned, we have over $250 billion in lending authority available through Title 17, and those

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• consumers, from cruel puppy-selling meals to deceptive sales tactics to sick puppy sales and predatory lending
• tactics to sick puppy sales and sales tactics to sick puppy sales and predatory<00:22:09.159><c> lending
• c><00:22:10.159><c> allowing</c><00:22:10.640><c> existing</c><00:22:11.080><c> Pet</c> predatory lending
• allowing existing Pet predatory lending allowing existing Pet Shops<00:22:11.559><c> to</c><00:22:11.720

Bills: HF2543 , HF2566 , HF2627

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings levy, bank levy, execution, judgment debtor, judgment creditor, exemption notice, exempt property, bank account freeze, financial institution levy, employer disclosure, garnishee, writ of execution, debt collection, consumer debt, collections, bankruptcy exemptions, public benefits, means-tested benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• that would cover some, and then we would also have, um, to her point, access to, uh, low-interest lending
• have various funding sources as a cooperative, which are the FEMA reimbursements and the low-cost lending
• :44:16.839><c> interest</c> access to uh low interest interest access to uh low interest interest lending
• have various funding sources as a cooperative, which are the FEMA reimbursements and the low-cost lending

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on HB 982 HD1, a wildfire-related measure aimed at creating a wildfire recovery fund and a financing structure to address future catastrophic wildfire liability. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and the Public Utilities Commission submitted comments and were available for questions. Supporters included IBW Local 1260, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric, Par Hawaii, and others, while Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed or raised concerns. Life of the Land supported the bill but urged changes to the definition of a catastrophic wildfire and noted concerns about prudency review language. IBW Local 1260 asked to restore language from the original draft, and Charter warned the bill could impair existing contract and indemnity rights unless amended. A major focus of the hearing was Hawaiian Electric’s position on the HD1 version. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the original bill but objected to the HD1 requirement for an additional $500 million shareholder contribution, arguing it was not feasible and could delay or prevent the fund from operating. The company said the bill would help protect customers and improve credit ratings by creating a dedicated revenue stream and a bankruptcy-remote financing structure, which it said would lower borrowing costs over time. Members questioned how the $1 billion securitization amount was chosen, whether credit rating agencies had indicated it was sufficient, and how the bill would work in bankruptcy; Hawaiian Electric said the amount was a balance among interests, not based on a specific agency directive, and that it would follow up on bankruptcy questions. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about liability caps, the new claims process, and unclear language on damages above the fund’s limits. The Hawaii Association for Justice argued the bill limits victims’ remedies and gives too much authority to the new entity without clear guardrails. Committee members also pressed Hawaiian Electric on comparisons to California, the feasibility of the shareholder contribution, and whether alternative capital-raising or divestiture options had been considered. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; testimony and questioning continued with follow-up information requested from Hawaiian Electric and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't technically name facilities, but they're part of that process, so they would certainly lend
• :43:33.599><c> they</c><00:43:33.720><c> would</c><00:43:33.880><c> certainly</c><00:43:34.240><c> lend
• c><00:43:35.240><c> and</c><00:43:35.359><c> be</c><00:43:35.480><c> a</c> so they would certainly lend
• um and be a so they would certainly lend um and be a resource<00:43:36.240><c> right</c><00:43:36.359

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: The committee opened its first hearing of 2025 and announced that all measures heard that day would be deferred to the next committee hearing for decision-making on Thursday, January 30. The agenda centered largely on procurement and government-operations bills, with testimony generally split between state agencies and local governments. On procurement measures, SB 254 and SB 383 would raise small-purchase thresholds; the State Procurement Office opposed both, while county officials, the City and County of Honolulu, the state librarian, and others supported them. SB 382, which would bar disclosure of a competing offeror’s proposal or evaluation score, and SB 462, which would require performance incentive contracts to specify pricing bases, goals, and formulas, drew mostly written comments and some support from agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Department of Education. SB 615, which would treat certain large change orders as new contracts, received opposition from the Comptroller and engineering interests. The committee also heard several bills on vacancies, appointments, and legislative oversight. SB 5 on state legislative vacancies had one supporting testifier, while SB 300 on deadlines for filling certain Senate vacancies drew opposition from several individuals and support from one late testifier. SB 1081, which would create a legislative budget office to provide fiscal analysis and reports on bills, received broad support from advocacy groups, civic organizations, and individuals. SB 711, requiring Senate advice and consent for certain executive-branch appointments, drew written opposition from the Governor’s Office and support from one individual. SB 375, establishing a select commission on government restructuring, had one written supporter. SB 418, which would require the Attorney General’s office to review a portion of administrative rules each year, prompted extended discussion about outdated rules, the difficulty of repealing or amending rules, and whether the bill should be refined; the AG’s office indicated the process is burdensome and could be streamlined. The committee then took up transparency and access measures. SB 55, requiring agency rules to be posted online in a digitally accessible format, received support from several advocacy and civic groups and written comment from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. SB 870 would direct the comptroller to identify state office buildings that could provide equitable telecom access for remote participation in hearings, especially for residents with disabilities; the Comptroller supported the concept, and members discussed using libraries, DAGS facilities, county facilities, and other public buildings, with concerns raised about staffing, bandwidth, and competing public use. SB 270, a sunshine-law measure allowing board members to attend informational meetings and presentations, drew opposition from the Public First Law Center, which argued it would create a broad loophole and should be narrowed to existing county-council provisions. SB 45, concerning neighborhood board meetings and third-party presentations, prompted discussion about whether it actually addressed neighborhood boards’ Sunshine Law concerns; the committee was told it was not the right vehicle for that issue. SB 406, which would cap copying fees for government records at 5 cents per page with exceptions, drew support from media and transparency groups but opposition from DAGS, which said its actual per-page cost is much higher; members discussed possible electronic-copy alternatives and asked for more cost information before the next hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each of these agencies plays an important role in lending stability to the Commonwealth's economy by
• Third question is about predatory lending, and this is for, I don't know, DTC.
• What is happening today for all of these energy suppliers and consumers around predatory, I said lending
• We thought you were talking about lending. I meant suppliers. Predatory suppliers of electricity.
• as well as additional support to lower mortgage rates for all homebuyers eligible for MassHousing lending

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• But we're facing a new challenge with Minnesota Housing pausing its mortgage lending due to liquidity
• But we're facing a new challenge with Minnesota Housing pausing its mortgage lending due to liquidity
• But we're facing a new challenge with Minnesota Housing pausing its mortgage lending due to liquidity
• But we're facing a new challenge with Minnesota Housing pausing its mortgage lending due to liquidity
• But we're facing a new challenge with Minnesota Housing pausing its mortgage lending due to liquidity

Bills: HF1143 , HF1548 , HF1340 , HF2549 , HF2559 , HF1673 , HF2740 , HF2507 , HF2461 , HF2381 , HF2695

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: education funding, unemployment aid, special education, Minnesota statutes, appropriations, housing, redevelopment, local government, trust funds, community development, HF1340, housing infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, affordable housing, supportive housing, permanent housing, adaptive reuse, area median income, AMI

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative roles here, and I think we would be very thoughtful on how we did that and how we were lending
• and uh<00:36:55.280><c> how</c><00:36:55.440><c> we</c><00:36:55.560><c> were</c><00:36:55.720><c> lending
• the</c><00:36:56.200><c> money</c><00:36:56.599><c> out</c><00:36:57.000><c> you</c> uh how we were lending
• the money out you uh how we were lending the money out you know<00:36:57.280><c> we</c><00:36:57.680
• So we usually put in half the money, and then we usually have a co-lending partner.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with HB 934 on broadband and digital equity. Testifiers from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, the Office of Enterprise and Technology Services, DCCA, the University system, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and others generally supported the measure and emphasized the need to coordinate broadband efforts, fund operations, and expand access to high-speed internet, devices, and digital navigation services. The Chamber of Commerce and West Coast Comprehensive Health Center supported the bill but objected to HD1 language excluding broadband infrastructure for retail service, warning it could create unintended consequences and limit community-led or rural projects. The Lieutenant Governor explained the state expects roughly $400 million to $500 million in federal broadband funding, described the bill as consolidating efforts under a broadband office attached to the CIO, and said the office would focus on infrastructure, devices, and training. No vote was taken on HB 934 in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 97 on travel insurance. The Insurance Division said it had no major problem with the product but requested technical changes to align with licensing requirements and noted the bill largely codifies practices already used in the industry. Industry witnesses from Allianz and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association said the measure would create a consistent framework, add consumer protections, and align Hawaii with the NAIC model adopted in many other states. Members questioned whether there was a specific problem the bill was solving, and the division responded that it was mainly a framework and form-review measure rather than a response to a known enforcement issue. The bill was discussed but no final action was reported in the excerpt. HB 448 on technology enablement drew broad support from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Food Industry Association, and other business representatives. Supporters said the measure would help businesses use technology such as digital platforms, e-commerce, robotics, and AR/VR to improve competitiveness, especially in tourism and other sectors. Committee members pressed for clearer scope, cost estimates, and assurances that local companies would be used; the agency said it would prioritize local-first contracting, use federal NIST-related support where possible, and estimated an initial request of about $200,000, though it could not give a firm total. Members expressed concern that the plan was still too undefined. The committee then began HB 455 on small business loans, where the Attorney General suggested explaining why a special fund is needed, and a witness from H Collaborative said the bill would help startup businesses that struggle most to access capital.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, the lending does not extend credit to its customers.

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Summary: The State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a public hearing on July 10 at 8:30 a.m. regarding a proposed amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact between the Lummi Nation and the Washington State Gambling Commission. Director Tina Griffin and Tribal Relations Advisor Johnny Bray presented the state’s overview of the compact process under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, explaining that the parties had reached tentative agreement and that the commission would later vote on whether to forward the amendment to the governor or send it back for further negotiations. Lummi Nation Vice Chair Terence Adams and Councilperson Vindeen Washington then described the amendment as the tribe’s sixth compact amendment and said it would support tribal government revenue and expanded gaming opportunities. The main changes discussed were authorization for electronic table games, extension of credit to customers, higher wagering limits, and the possibility of a second gaming facility. Committee members asked several questions about how electronic table games work, whether online gaming was included, how credit limits would be set, and how integrity and testing would be ensured. Witnesses explained that online gaming is not authorized, that credit limits would be developed later under internal controls and federal banking rules, and that electronic table games would require independent lab certification, state testing, and ongoing tribal oversight. The Gambling Commission noted that similar electronic table game and credit-limit provisions have already been approved for other tribes, and that the higher-limit tables would be capped and clearly marked. Lummi representatives said they wanted to implement the changes responsibly and that the second-facility language would only allow, not require, future expansion. No vote was taken by the committee at the hearing; the matter was scheduled to go before the Gambling Commission later that morning for a formal vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, the lending does not extend credit to its customers.

Summary: The State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a public hearing on July 10 at 8:30 a.m. on a proposed amendment to the Lummi Nation’s tribal-state gaming compact. Washington State Gambling Commission Director Tina Griffin and Tribal Relations Advisor Johnny Bray outlined the compact process under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and explained that the amendment had reached tentative agreement after negotiations with the Lummi Nation. Lummi Vice Chair Terence Adams and Councilperson Vindeen Washington described the amendment as the tribe’s sixth compact amendment and said it would expand gaming opportunities while supporting tribal governmental services, infrastructure, and jobs. The main changes discussed were authorization for electronic table games, extension of credit to customers, higher wagering limits, and the possibility of a second gaming facility. Committee members asked several questions about how credit limits would be set, how electronic table games work, whether online gaming was included, and how the systems would be tested and monitored. Witnesses said online gaming is not authorized by this amendment, that electronic table games must be certified by an independent lab and tested under state-tribal procedures, and that higher-limit tables could go up to $5,000 with no more than 25% of tables at those limits. Lummi representatives said credit policies would be developed responsibly after approval and that the tribe already uses strong internal controls. The Gambling Commission said seven tribes currently operate electronic table games and 13 tribes have adopted the limitations appendix related to credit and wager limits. The hearing was informational and part of the required public review before the commission’s later vote that morning on whether to forward the amendment to the governor or send it back for further negotiations. No vote was taken by the committee during this hearing, and the chair closed the meeting after thanking the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for lending her to the people of California, to other tribes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:41:14.159><c> uh</c><01:41:14.800><c> that</c><01:41:15.520><c> create</c> that lend uh that
• It's multiplied, and it's another lending avenue that's available to partner through partnership with
• </c> multiplied and it's another lending multiplied and it's another lending avenue<02:05:58.960><c>
• Like Laramie has bigger lending capacity than Matiti. might want to look at how we maybe might want to
• </c><02:12:56.000><c> Um</c> lending capacity than Matiti. Um lending capacity than Matiti.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So, recently signed was Act 183, which establishes the Hawaii micro-lending credit enhancement program
• It is a brand-new loan program for us, which establishes a micro-lending, excuse me, to grow the micro-lending
• at maybe more substantial we're looking at maybe more substantial institutional<00:17:48.799><c> lending
• c><00:17:49.679><c> expertise</c><00:17:50.720><c> to</c><00:17:51.039><c> help</c> institutional lending
• expertise to help institutional lending expertise to help uh<00:17:51.600><c> leverage</c><00:17:52.559

Transcript Highlights:

• > Of appraisers who are providing valuation opinions to banks so that they can make very informed lending
• Tampa, Florida, and Augusta, Georgia, and any other place so that a person who is underwriting and lending
• 26.480><c> and</c> so that a person who is underwriting and so that a person who is underwriting and lending
• 42:27.920><c> and</c><00:42:28.040><c> that</c><00:42:28.160><c> loan</c><00:42:28.400><c> is</c> lending
• money on this and that loan is lending money on this and that loan is sold<00:42:28.800><c> to</c><00

Bills: HF2335 , HF2400 , HF2401 , HF2522

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So the California Workforce Development Board has that expertise that they'll be lending as CSAC is looking
• does not include any funding for the California Library Services Act, which is the major loaning and lending
• Workforce Pell implementation should include guardrails like tuition controls, screening for predatory lending
• Workforce Pell implementation should include guardrails like tuition controls, screening for predatory lending
• Workforce Pell implementation should include guardrails like tuition controls, screening for predatory lending

Transcript Highlights:

• testify on SF 750 as amended and also to briefly explain the intersection of mortgage banking, mortgage lending
• Some of the stakeholders who are here today may have asked if mortgage lending and mortgage banking would
• here today uh may have asked if who are here today uh may have asked if mortgage<00:51:30.559><c> lending
• and</c><00:51:31.040><c> mortgage</c><00:51:31.359><c> banking</c><00:51:32.240><c> uh</c> mortgage lending
• and mortgage banking uh mortgage lending and mortgage banking uh would<00:51:32.559><c> be</c><00:51

Transcript Highlights:

• typically for working adults, but sometimes younger working adults who need an opportunity that doesn't lend
• > adults who need an opportunity that adults who need an opportunity that doesn't<01:09:30.440><c> lend
• 31.759><c> or</c><01:09:31.960><c> 3</c><01:09:32.279><c> years</c><01:09:32.560><c> of</c> doesn't lend
• itself to two or 3 years of doesn't lend itself to two or 3 years of Education<01:09:33.359><c> and<
• ways</c><01:21:47.960><c> of</c> We still need ways of supporting students whose lives just don't lend

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• that is a challenge that the banking industry has, is that there are certain things that they can lend
• we view it and we analyze it in no different way than the bank does, but the bank is not allowed to lend
• Bank probably would lend on it if they could, but their regulations and their insurance companies and

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• is an outdated version of what guidance counselors got in the 1970s, and unfortunately that doesn't lend
• I am here to lend my support for Asian bodywork therapy being able to achieve professional state licensure
• I'm here to lend my support for Asian bodywork therapy being able to achieve professional state licensure

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and reviewed a broad agenda including credit card fees, event ticketing, music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, CPA pathways, school mental health licensure, and a bill regulating alternative healing therapies. The chairs explained hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and submission of written testimony, and noted that more than 70 people had signed up to testify. Legislators and advocates were heard out of order throughout the day. A major portion of the hearing focused on credit card surcharge and interchange legislation. Restaurant owners, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, NFIB, and other small-business witnesses supported bills allowing merchants to add convenience fees and, in one proposal, preventing card companies from charging fees on tax and tip portions of transactions. They argued that swipe fees are a major and growing cost, especially for restaurants, and that Massachusetts is one of only two states that bars surcharges. Opponents from the Cooperative Credit Union Association, the Electronic Payment Coalition, and the Electronic Transactions Association warned that the proposals would create compliance burdens, fragment the payment system, raise legal preemption issues, and disrupt a system they described as efficient and secure. The committee also heard competing testimony on ticket transferability and ticket resale. Supporters, including the National Consumers League and Sports Fans Coalition, said bills on ticket transferability would protect consumers who cannot attend events and would increase competition and savings in the secondary market. Opponents, including United Musicians and Allied Workers and theater owners, argued that mandatory transferability would weaken artists’ and venues’ ability to prevent scalping and predatory resale, and that some ticket sellers should be exempt from the broader ticketing regulations. Separate testimony supported music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, and new CPA education pathways, with witnesses saying these measures would expand access to care and strengthen the workforce while maintaining professional standards. The hearing also drew extensive opposition to S.261 on alternative healing therapies, with practitioners and clients arguing it would overregulate spiritual and holistic practices and was not an effective response to human trafficking concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• have been asked to analyze this and sort of—we could administer it through our existing mortgage lending
• Okay, and Madam Chair, um, and if I can ask Robin, you all aren't in the business of lending money to
• build a ask Robin, you all aren't in the business of lending money to build a I'm curious though, and

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee