Transcript Highlights:

• Share something that you hope to get. Out of your experience working on interim committees.
• And so that's my hope for this committee, this session again. Thank you.
• I'm excited to be a part of this committee, and I hope to, what I can get from this committee is seeing
• Um, so what I hope to get out of the interim committees, one, I'm already um traveling the state and
• And so I hope that we get, you know, one of my opening remarks when we first started committee today

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I wish it could go back to that, and I hope that someday it will, and I hope it's today.
• I don't know how I want to vote on This, but I sure hope my colleagues in this committee that we can
• that is going through an abusive situation, who can't speak, and is just hoping, hoping beyond all hope
• I'll be voting green on this bill, and I hope we can get This to conference committee where you're going
• This committee has been so much fun—the Children and Families Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, committee members. My name is Ty Menser. Good afternoon, committee members.
• Good afternoon, committee members.
• Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of the committee. I'm Jeff Mitchell, staff to the committee.
• Questions from the committee? Thank you. Questions from the committee?
• Chair, members of the committee.

Summary: The committee first heard a briefing on the proposed Senate capital budget, Substitute Senate Bill 6003, which would spend about $723 million total using debt-limit bonds, Climate Commitment Act funds, and other cash resources. Staff described major investments in housing and homelessness, human services, local infrastructure, flood response, water conservation and clean energy, K-12 school modernization and seismic work, and higher education projects. Members then took public testimony from a wide range of advocates and project sponsors, most of whom urged the Senate to preserve or increase funding for specific projects in the final budget, including affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, child care facilities, food banks, behavioral health and substance use treatment centers, tribal courthouse relocation, school modernization, community colleges, university projects, floodplain restoration, community forests, and local civic or cultural facilities. Several witnesses also asked the Senate to match or approach House funding levels on items such as the Housing Trust Fund, permanent supportive housing, the Community Forest Program, Floodplains by Design, and CCA-supported clean energy and water projects. The chair noted that amendments to the capital budget were due the next day at noon. The committee then received a briefing on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which would restructure Climate Commitment Act accounts by repealing three existing accounts and replacing them with two new accounts: a CCA operating account and a CCA capital account. Staff explained that the bill would preserve most existing uses while changing revenue distribution formulas, capping Ecology administrative costs, expanding allowable uses for EV-related costs, housing, and carbon capture/sequestration, and changing reporting and tribal consultation provisions. The bill also shifts some reporting from annual to biannual and modifies the thresholds for tribal-supported and overburdened-community investments. The fiscal note was described as relatively small, with the main impact being the revised revenue allocation structure. Public testimony on the CCA bill was mixed. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, said the restructuring better aligns spending with the intent of the CCA and could improve investments for tribes and overburdened communities. Critics, including the Washington Policy Center, argued the bill still lacks strong requirements to ensure CCA spending is effective and objected to reducing the frequency of the state’s climate-spending report. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the committee. the committee. Thank<00:04:43.199><c> you.
• </c><00:41:47.599><c> Chairman</c> committee. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman committee.
• </c><00:41:49.200><c> I'm</c> and members of the committee. I'm and members of the committee.
• </c> hope that you would vote this to pass. hope that you would vote this to pass.
• on the committee willing to say, 'Yes, I'll introduce it to the committee on the floor.'

Committee: House Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• who was also a member of this committee and the members of the environment committee.
• uh and the members of the committee uh and the members of the environment<00:00:58.920><c> committee
• I was hoping, Mr.
• c> members and I would hope I I would hope members and I would hope I I would hope and<00:57:06.640><
• in</c> this uh committee OC committee and in this uh committee OC committee and in November<01:07:14.240

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I move the committee amendments. Shall the committee amendments be agreed to?
• I move the committee substitute. Shall the committee substitute be agreed to?
• I move the committee substitute. Shall the committee substitute be agreed to?
• I move the committee substitute. Shall the committee substitute be agreed to?
• I move the committee amendment. Shall the committee amendment be agreed to?

Transcript Highlights:

• They to the Committee on Appropriations.
• ,</c><00:09:23.080><c> uh</c> many smiles in the final, we hope, uh many smiles in the final, we hope
• </c> the committee. the committee.
• </c> will speak for that committee. will speak for that committee.
• </c> hope to have your support. hope to have your support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to our Assembly Budget Committee hearing.
• So that has been a focus for this committee as well.
• And I think your prior journey of chairing other committees and serving on other committees and now the
• Bernie Arrozco with the Assembly Budget Committee.
• Thank you, Chair, Committee members, and staff.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Report of the Committee: The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred the petition accompanied
• Brady, for the committee. The Committee reports recommending that the same ought to pass.
• Brady, for the committee.
• He got it out of committee early.
• President, I hope the amendment is adopted.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee. For the record, Kate Henry, staff to this committee.
• The committee is at ease. By 1 p.m., the committee is at ease.
• Hoping the committee will move this bill along, predictable payments is important in our health care
• The committee is at ease. The committee is at ease.
• the committee Representative Marshall is getting a little softer as time goes on, and I hope the committee

Bills: HB2689 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB5877

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee, committee, committee. Uh, as soon as everyone takes their seats, we'll proceed.
• </c> hearing for House Bill 44 in the hopes hearing for House Bill 44 in the hopes of<00:03:08.480><c
• </c> representative there's also a committee representative there's also a committee sub<00:13:33.320
• </c><00:26:58.840><c> I'm</c><00:26:59.039><c> hope</c><00:26:59.200><c> I</c> teacher okay I think hope
• I'm hope I teacher okay I think hope I'm hope I hope hope hope I<00:27:01.240><c> kind</c><00:27:01.360

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 44, “Landon’s Law,” sponsored by Rep. Candy Massaroni. The bill would allow schools to keep anti-choking devices such as LifeVac on hand while limiting liability. Testimony from Equal First Aid and LifeVac emphasized that choking is a leading cause of death for children, that the devices are noninvasive and FDA-registered, and that updated Red Cross guidance allows their use when standard rescue protocols fail or are not feasible. Lauren McCubbins, Landon McCubbin’s mother, gave emotional testimony about her 8-year-old son’s death from choking at school and urged the committee to give schools an added rescue option. Members asked questions about how the device works, whether the Heimlich maneuver remains part of the protocol, and whether the bill is limited to LifeVac or applies to similar devices. The bill was reported favorably, with a roll call vote showing unanimous support from members present. The committee then heard a bill sponsored by Rep. J. Baker aimed at reducing administrative burdens in schools and supporting teacher recruitment and retention. The measure would lengthen the required evaluation cycle for tenured teachers from every three years to every five years, provide teachers a copy of their employment contract upon request, streamline professional development provisions, update continuous school improvement plan filing requirements, restore schools’ ability to use Title II funds for certain programs after an unintended consequence of prior legislation, and require KDE to review reporting requirements and eliminate those not required by law. Rep. Baker said the bill was developed with teachers and administrators through a working group and is intended to reduce “check-the-box” tasks so educators can focus on instruction. Amanda Butler of Spencer County Schools and other educators testified that the changes would save time, preserve funding for mentor and induction programs, and reduce repetitive paperwork. Rep. Fleming asked for clarification on the longer evaluation cycle, and an educator witness explained that each evaluation involves pre-observation, observation, and post-observation time and that districts would still retain flexibility to evaluate more often if needed. No final vote on this bill was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's hope.
• hope there's hope and too and there's hope there's hope and possib<00:01:30.000><c> ability</c><00:01
• And when I joined the ag committee, she said that's a great committee.
• And when I joined the ag committee, she said that's a great committee.
• And when I joined the ag committee, she said that's a great committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• For helping everyone run a very efficient committee hearing.
• It is my hope that It is my hope that we can build a sentencing scheme in a criminal justice system that
• Good morning, Chair, members of the committee.
• Good morning, Chair, members of the committee.
• Thank you for the committee for letting me go and testify on my bill in the K-12 committee.

Summary: The Law and Justice Committee first heard testimony on four gubernatorial appointments to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Kristen Ferreira, a Chelan County Superior Court judge, said she would bring a rural court perspective; Lisa Mannion, the King County Prosecuting Attorney, emphasized fairness, equity, victim input, and modernization of sentencing grids, and answered a question about her gun responsibility advocacy by saying responsible gun ownership and Second Amendment rights can coexist. Kate Bedward, an appellate public defender with experience in tribal and other defense systems, said she wanted to help evaluate whether the sentencing scheme is meeting Washington’s goals. Rochelle Cleland, seeking renewal in the survivor/lived-experience seat, stressed the importance of survivor and victim voices and criticized the commission for leaving the victim advocate seat vacant and for how it handled a recent vote. The chair said the committee would take executive action on the appointments the following Tuesday. In executive session, the committee reviewed and amended several bills. SB 5906, concerning data and personal safety protections in public accommodations, was amended with a substitute and an amendment requiring notification of union representatives when certain early learning or school employees are subject to immigration enforcement; it received a due pass recommendation. SJM 8014, requesting an investigation into the killing of Aishanor Eski Aege, was amended for more neutral language and also received a due pass recommendation, with members noting the emotionally charged nature of the memorial. SB 6087, expanding liability protections for donations of baby items, and SB 5890, reclassifying certain high-speed driving conduct as negligent driving in the first degree, both advanced after substitutes/amendments were adopted. SB 6017, addressing victim- and witness-centered court procedures, advanced after the sponsor withdrew a proposed amendment for later floor work; members discussed trauma-informed protections and funding concerns. The committee also advanced SB 5520 on compensation for wrongly convicted persons after rejecting amendments that would have removed civil detention language and advance-payment provisions, with members debating the scope and fiscal impact of the bill. SB 6239, concerning arbitration for older tort claims, moved forward after extensive discussion about balancing survivor access to compensation with state and local fiscal concerns and sovereign immunity. SB 5886, expanding personality rights to forged digital likenesses, was advanced with a substitute combining it with related subject matter. Finally, SB 6190 on critical infrastructure protection and scrap metal records was amended to require photographs and database reporting for certain transactions and then received a due pass recommendation. The committee adjourned after sending the bills to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we hope for your support. Hello, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• Okay, so now we'll turn to the committee. Committee, do you have any questions?
• Madam Chair, members of the committee, the reason this memorial is important to me and what I would hope
• Madam Chair and members of the committee, this memorial is important to me, and what I hope to get out
• I hope I didn't repeat. I hope I made sense. I hope that was clear, concise. Thank you.

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I hope you feel supported. I hope that everyone who is involved feels appreciated.
• And so that is my hope. I hope to, once confirmed, give my 30-day notice. Mr.
• And so that is my hope. I hope to, once confirmed, give my 30-day notice and begin.
• I'm moving past this committee.
• I'm moving past this committee.

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee held confirmation hearings for Don Walters as New Mexico’s first State Child Advocate and for two New Mexico Highlands University regents, Elaine Luna and Grace Margaret Herrera. For Walters, the sponsor and selection committee chair described her extensive child welfare background, including work as a guardian ad litem, CYFD attorney, and director of CYFD’s Office of Advocacy. Multiple supporters testified, including former colleagues, a foster parent, and CYFD Acting Secretary Valerie Sandoval, all praising her integrity, child advocacy experience, and commitment to collaboration and transparency. Committee members focused heavily on the new Office of the Child Advocate’s startup needs, especially staffing, access to CYFD records, and funding. Walters said she expected the office to need roughly $4.5 million to $5 million to launch and envisioned about 26 to 27 staff, with regional presence across the state. Members urged the legislature to fund the office through House Bill 2 and discussed possible legislation to ensure timely access to records. The committee then voted unanimously to advance Walters to the full Senate. For New Mexico Highlands University, Senator Campos introduced Elaine Luna for reappointment, highlighting her background in social work, hospital administration, and community service. Luna said she would focus on student support, basic needs, and mental health, and the university president testified in support. The committee asked about campus safety and student issues, including how the board would respond if students were affected by ICE actions. The committee voted to advance Luna unanimously. The final confirmation was Grace Margaret Herrera, presented as a student regent candidate for Highlands. Supporters described her as a former foster youth, small business owner, and current student success center employee who mentors students and brings lived experience to the role. Members praised her resilience and connection to students, and the committee unanimously advanced her to the full Senate as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• What do you hope the committee focuses on in 2026?
• What do you hope the Policy Committee.
• What do you hope the committee<00:01:38.560><c> focuses</c><00:01:38.960><c> on</c><00:01:39.119><c>
• </c> committee focuses on in 2026? committee focuses on in 2026?
• </c> a it's a pretty budgeheavy committee. a it's a pretty budgeheavy committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I hope that we can pass this out of committee today to keep it moving, to have a conversation on
• can pass this out of committee that we can pass this out of committee today<00:06:01.199><c> to</c><
• Um and I hope that we and in the house. Um and I hope that we do<00:06:10.800><c> something.
• And we have one last one. pass committee sub. All in favor say I. pass committee sub.
• And it is a committee<00:13:23.440><c> sub.</c> committee sub. committee sub. &gt;&gt; Sub.

Committee: Joint Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• The report of the committee. The report of the committee.
• Paper, report of the committee. The order is adopted. Paper, report of the committee.
• Report of a committee.
• Lovely for the committee.
• Report of the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee.
• from the... ...committee.
• At the first meeting of the HDFC Executive Committee in May, the committee adopted a mission statement
• So, again, I think the regs, as adopted, I hope and expect, by the executive committee in December, sort
• to hear about the progress and I am hopeful, cautiously optimistic, but really hopeful.

Summary: The committee held an outcome review hearing on AB 519, focused on streamlining California’s affordable housing finance system. State housing officials described the work group process and the resulting report, which calls for a consolidated application and coordinated review process across HCD, CalHFA, TCAC, and CDLAC, while preserving a separate direct path for projects that do not need state subsidy. They said the goal is to reduce duplication, align timelines, and get projects to construction faster, with implementation now being carried forward through the new Housing Development Finance Committee (HDFC) and related reorganization changes. Officials from HCD, CalHFA, and HDFC said the new committee launched July 1 and is developing regulations, a unified application workbook, and review procedures, with public comment and hearings planned before final adoption. They emphasized a two-track system: one for projects needing state subsidy and one for tax credits/bonds only. Members also discussed the transition period in 2027, the need to clear existing pipeline projects first, and the possibility of construction financing tools. Committee members raised concerns about transparency, stakeholder feedback, and whether additional statutory changes would be needed; staff said current authority appears sufficient. Affordable housing developers and advocates generally supported the reforms but said the work must go beyond a single application. They urged fully funding projects, simplifying post-award functions, modernizing asset management, preserving a direct path for locally funded and rehab projects, and improving geographic equity, especially for rural and farmworker housing. Several witnesses stressed that the system also needs stable funding, including general fund support and the proposed housing bond, and that the state should continue engaging stakeholders as the new process rolls out. Public comment echoed those themes and included a veteran describing the difficulty of navigating housing and VA-related systems, reinforcing the hearing’s focus on simplifying access to housing resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also hopeful this committee will consider including funding for the new state patrol headquarters
• c> committee</c><00:08:38.080><c> will</c> We're also hopeful this committee will We're also hopeful
• We hope this committee will add rulemaking authority for the ignition interlock program into the bill
• Um, and I would hope but I am hopeful.
• And we'll see, and we hope that that committee can do good work.

Bills: HF2438

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school