Transcript Highlights:

• and then and deliver drugs you claim and then and then<01:30:43.480><c> the</c><01:30:43.880><c> the
• I I didn't know I didn't know you claim I I didn't know I didn't know you know<01:30:52.600><c> I</c
• Innocent but we represent the claiming Innocent but we represent the defendant<01:37:33.880><c> in</
• least as as to the claims against the state<02:47:16.960><c> as</c><02:47:17.120><c> opposed</c><02:
• because they were relying on the claims because they were relying on the Discovery<02:51:25.520><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 148, which would allow classification by biological sex in limited circumstances such as multi-use bathrooms, certain athletic events, and involuntary commitment facilities. Supporters argued the bill was needed to protect privacy and safety, especially for women and girls, and said it was consistent with recent federal actions and prior legislation. Opponents said the bill lacked a clear definition of biological sex, could create confusion and discrimination, and was unnecessary because existing law and sports rules already address the issues raised. After debate, the committee voted 10-8 to recommend ought to pass on HB 148. The chair asked for a majority report and noted that a minority report would likely be filed. The committee then considered HB 254, a bill related to end-of-life medical decision-making. Supporters framed it as a matter of liberty and relief from suffering for terminally ill patients, while opponents raised moral objections, concerns about suicide being normalized, and worries about deceptive wording and death-certificate reporting. HB 254 was approved on an 11-7 vote for ought to pass, with the chair indicating he would write the majority report and Representative Perez the minority report. The committee then moved to HB 611 with Amendment 2025-0638, a replace-all amendment restoring prior law on recoupment of appointed-counsel costs from indigent criminal defendants and juveniles. The chair explained the amendment as reversing 2020 changes that had limited cost recovery, and the discussion focused on financial affidavits and the Office of Cost Containment’s ability to review indigency claims. The transcript cuts off before the committee vote on HB 611.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we are very proud to have the Canton High School boys hockey team who claimed the M.I. ...to have
• the Canton High School boys hockey team who claimed the MIAA Division II state title, edging out Tewksbury
• The shot was knocked down in the state... to have the Canton High School boys hockey team who claimed

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conviction integrity unit while it reinvestigates a case of a previously convicted person to review a claim
• While it reinvestigates a case of a previously convicted person to review a claim of innocence.
• It's an optional division for the state attorney that allows him to review plausible claims of innocence

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee considered four bills and reported all of them favorably. HB 373, by Rep. Duggins, tolls the statute of limitations for the offense of knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected child abuse until law enforcement or another outside agency learns of the violation. Members raised concerns about fairness if the underlying abuse is time-barred while the reporter still faces prosecution, and the sponsor said he would discuss possible changes with his state attorney, but the bill was not amended and passed 13-0. HB 359, by Rep. Anderson, extends the deadline for forensic examination of seized computers and electronic devices from 45 days to 365 days. Supporters from the Florida Prosecutors Association and state attorneys said modern devices are difficult and time-consuming to unlock and analyze, creating repeated requests to extend search deadlines and slowing investigations in cases involving child exploitation, homicide, and other crimes. The bill passed 13-0. HB 703, by Rep. Gentry, preserves a public records exemption for information generated by a state attorney’s conviction integrity unit during reinvestigation of a claim of innocence, with supporters saying disclosure could reveal sensitive information such as alternate suspects, witnesses, or evidence and compromise the review. It passed 12-0. HB 4001, by Rep. Tant, caps inmate health care compensation in Jefferson County at 110% of the Medicare reimbursement rate to encourage preexisting provider contracts and prevent overbilling; it also passed 13-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• make sure they are alive and requires department commerce to share information related to fraudulent claims
• a required assessment employment assessment that was and that was attached to these unemployment claims
• I would I would claim the office and say we're the best in the nation and the reason you have we shouldn't

Transcript Highlights:

• be required to dismiss the suit unless the information in the affidavit is adequate to support the claim
• By providing a streamlined ex parte approach will help rightful property owners clear fraudulent claims
• Property owners can often face expensive legal fees just to clear these fraudulent claims.

Bills: SB 302 , SB 1335 , SB 1734 , SB 1760 , SB 1975 , SB 2127

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a contract for services related to processing our unemployment claims.
• I'm just curious about the amount of claims or issues you have with this structure, or is that...?
• The number of claims we have per year probably ranges from 100 to 150. Okay, thank you.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it's flooding because of something as simple as cleaning a culvert.
• I mean, it's flooding because of something as simple as cleaning a culvert.
• Where do we draw the line where we come out and can clean these culverts and do some work versus, hey
• And if they're not, we can figure out a path forward, because obviously it does us no good to clean a
• Is that something that the state would come in and clean these culverts for? Property.

Summary: The committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or other action items. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black gave an update on the department’s transformation efforts, focusing on faster project delivery, improved construction administration, and new technology. They said monthly contractor payment approvals have been reduced from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, change orders from about 40-45 days to around five days, and that DOTD delivered 86% of its advertised projects in the last fiscal year. They also described new tools such as Headlight for field inspections, Smart PM for schedule tracking, Hall Hub for e-ticketing and work-zone mapping, and a pilot using advanced sensors on district vehicles to identify potholes, guardrail damage, and other asset issues. The department also outlined a district reorganization that replaces the area engineer model with dedicated district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, with no increase in total staff. Members raised concerns about local maintenance issues, especially mowing, drainage, culverts, potholes, and communication with district offices. Several members asked for clearer coordination on jurisdictional questions, more frequent meetings with district administrators, and better public updates on long-running projects. LaD said DOTD would schedule follow-up meetings, use the coming customer service portal to track complaints, and improve public communication through project information officers, social media, and other outreach. Questions also covered contractor accountability, utility relocations, road transfer maps on the DOTD website, and whether maintenance work adjacent to capital projects should be handled by district crews or through new IDIQ contracts. The secretary also reviewed the Highway Priority Program process, saying DOTD will work between June and September to review projects not included in the prior program, explain why, and refine a five-year fiscally constrained plan before the fall road show. He said the department is using IDIQ authority to award bridge maintenance and other task-order work, and that this should help address a two-year bridge repair backlog. Members discussed whether current funding levels are enough to reduce the statewide backlog, and DOTD said the current program likely maintains rather than eliminates it absent new revenue. The hearing ended with a project-specific update that a barge struck the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge that morning, causing significant damage; DOTD said divers and staff would inspect it and determine emergency repairs. After DOTD’s presentation, Archie Chesson of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction gave a brief update on that office’s first year, describing its use of consultant pools, master service agreements, a public GIS map, and a data tool to prioritize rural road and bridge projects, with several early projects already completed or under construction.

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunities that we've created here in the Commonwealth in health care, advanced manufacturing, clean
• opportunities that we've created here in the Commonwealth in health care, advanced manufacturing, clean
• We're a manufacturer of industrial cleaning products located in Stoughton, Massachusetts, since 1969.
• We have aging infrastructure, ambitious clean energy goals, and a retiring generation of skilled workers
• But it takes a... ...systems, and the clean energy future of the Commonwealth.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development heard testimony on several workforce-related bills, with most of the hearing focused on ESOL and apprenticeship legislation, followed by testimony on a four-day workweek pilot and paid prenatal leave. On ESOL, witnesses including the Boston Foundation, Skillworks, MassINC, MIRA, JVS Boston, Eastern Bank, immigrant advocates, employers, and legislators supported H.2080/S.1326, arguing that Massachusetts has a large backlog of limited-English-proficiency residents waiting for classes, that ESOL is essential to economic mobility and immigrant integration, and that the state needs a coordinated, statewide strategy with more vocational and workplace-focused English instruction. Testifiers cited long waitlists, fragmented delivery across agencies, labor shortages, and examples of workplace English programs helping immigrants gain jobs, advance careers, and support businesses. Committee members asked questions about how vocational ESOL differs from standard classes, and witnesses explained that it focuses on job-specific language and workplace scenarios. The committee also heard strong support for H.2085/S.1303, which would require more use of registered apprentices on public construction projects over $1 million. Labor leaders from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and Massachusetts Building Trades, along with electricians and apprentices, said the bill would help apprentices complete training by ensuring enough job-site hours, expand access to good union careers, and strengthen the construction workforce for housing, infrastructure, and clean energy work. Several witnesses defended existing apprenticeship ratios and electrical licensing standards, warning against deregulation and emphasizing safety. Committee members asked about project thresholds and apprenticeship ratios, and witnesses said the bill’s phased apprentice-hour requirement was intended to cover most public projects under current cost conditions. The committee then heard testimony on S.1330, a four-day workweek pilot program. Senator Dillon Fernandez and Representative Shirley Arriaga described the proposal as a response to burnout, affordability pressures, and changing workplace norms, arguing that a pilot would let Massachusetts study whether shorter workweeks improve productivity, retention, and worker well-being. Witnesses said the model could help families balance caregiving and commuting while maintaining or improving output. Finally, the committee took testimony on S.1361, establishing paid prenatal leave. Parents, health advocates, March of Dimes, and others said paid leave would help pregnant workers attend critical prenatal appointments, reduce missed care, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Several speakers shared personal stories about high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy loss, and the financial strain of taking unpaid time off. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked a limited number of questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• but from the real-life challenges that people in the San Joaquin Valley face every day to breathe clean
• Our board members are champions of so many of the zero-emission programs like the Clean Cars for All
• So, for example, as I mentioned before, the Clean Cars for All program is not just about getting people
• Do you have any examples of something where you gave that outside of the Clean Cars for All program?
• And it has to be co-equal because without a clean and healthy estuary, we cannot have a reliable water

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've brought a bill through you guys a few years ago to clean it up.
• So that's just to give us time to come back to the legislature and clean the language up so that we can
• We're just cleaning up the language that's there. And I'd be happy to answer any questions.
• Lieutenant Marcus Smith, Louisiana State Police, as he said, we're just basically trying to clean up
• things that are a little confusing the way it's written, and that's all we're trying to do is just clean

Bills: HB75 , SB134 , SB201 , SB258 , SB288 , SB313 , SB320 , SB321 , SB325 , SB339 , SB345 , SB393 , SB422 , SB440 , SB470 , SB487 , SB523

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: HB75, Act 963, gaming, casino gaming, promotional play, promotional wagers, slot machine proceeds, net gaming proceeds, gross revenue, taxable revenue, gaming operators, gaming tax, Louisiana gaming, gaming revenue deduction, casino tax, gaming promotion, revenue cap, pilot program, child sexual abuse materials, sexting

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris McHaley, on behalf of Silicon Valley Clean Energy.
• Alicia Priago, on behalf of San Jose Clean Energy, also align our comments with the prior CCA comments
• Chair. ...San Jose Clean Energy also align our comments with the prior CCA comments and look forward
• Chair, Mark Fenstermaker, for Peninsula Clean Energy, the CCA for San Mateo County and Los Banos, align
• Chris Rosa, on behalf of Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy, Home Energy Analytics, Habitable Designs

Summary: The committee heard a series of housing and wildfire-recovery bills, with members repeatedly framing the package as a response to the Los Angeles fires and the state’s broader housing affordability crisis. AB 306, by Assembly Member Schultz, would place a six-year moratorium on new residential building-code updates and local code modifications except for health-and-safety emergencies. Supporters argued it would reduce costs and provide certainty for rebuilding and new housing production, while opponents from environmental, clean-energy, and labor groups warned it would freeze beneficial code improvements, delay innovation, and limit local control. Despite those concerns, several members said they would support the bill while seeking amendments, and the committee voted it out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 301, which would require state agencies to follow shot-clock style deadlines for reviewing building permits, and AB 253, which would allow licensed third-party professionals to conduct certain post-entitlement permit reviews if local departments take more than 30 days. Supporters said both bills would reduce delays, lower costs, and speed rebuilding and housing production; some members emphasized that safety reviews must remain intact. AB 301 passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations, and AB 253 passed 8-0 to Local Government. AB 462, by Assembly Member Lowenthal, would exempt accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles County’s coastal zone from coastal development permit requirements, with the goal of speeding ADU construction for disaster recovery and housing supply. Supporters said ADUs are a proven tool and that the bill would help displaced residents and future coastal disaster areas; one member of the public opposed the bill, arguing ADU proliferation can change neighborhood conditions. The committee sent AB 462 to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote. The final bill discussed, AB 299, would let disaster-displaced families stay in hotels, motels, and short-term rentals for more than 30 days without triggering landlord-tenant rules, mirroring an earlier homelessness-related law; the transcript ended as the author began presenting the bill and its support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The trucking company will pay the cargo claim and not make a claim, and then they have liability only
• This would be a contract issue or it would be a quantum meruit claim. It's not a tort claim.
• And magically, they pay attention to a claim that I wasn't able to get even somebody to return my phone
• I don't understand this claim. We have the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
• If you've got a dispute about your vehicle being towed, you can file a claim, post a cash bond equal

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on Senate Bill 1408, which would allow Missouri to raise the maximum speed limit on rural interstates from 70 to 75 miles per hour. Senator Berger, the bill sponsor, argued the change would better match neighboring states, improve traffic flow, and reflect modern vehicle safety technology. Several members supported the idea as a practical adjustment, while others questioned whether the time savings were worth the safety tradeoff, raised concerns about driver behavior, truck speed governors, road design, fuel use, and the possibility that higher posted limits would lead to even faster driving. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including a motorist advocate and some committee members, said 75 mph is common in surrounding states and worldwide, that most crashes are caused by inattention rather than speed alone, and that MoDOT should be able to set limits based on engineering and traffic conditions. Opponents included a Hazelwood police lieutenant, AAA, the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger. They argued that higher speeds increase crash severity and fatalities, that Missouri’s roads and traffic volumes differ from flatter neighboring states, and that the bill could disproportionately affect young and older drivers as well as roadside workers. MoDOT said its data shows speed is a major factor in fatal crashes and cited fatality increases in Arkansas and Kansas after those states raised rural interstate limits. Committee members also debated whether the bill actually mandates 75 mph or merely authorizes MoDOT to set it where appropriate. MoDOT and AAA said any increase should be tied to engineering studies and roadway-specific analysis, while supporters argued the department already has that discretion and that the bill simply removes an outdated cap. No vote was taken in the excerpt. After closing the hearing on SB 1408, the committee moved on to House Bill 3447, a towing and recovery bill that would require more insurance for large commercial vehicles, improve notice and dispute procedures, and address abandoned vehicles; testimony on that bill began with the sponsor and representatives from the towing and trucking industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• He later claimed he was targeting me because he believed I didn't deserve the life I had and he wanted
• He later claimed he was targeting me because he believed I didn't deserve the life I had and he wanted
• There is someone who has claimed to be able to get around that, and that would be covered.
• There is someone who has claimed to be able to get around that, and that would be covered Someone who
• has claimed to be able to get around that, and that would be covered by this bill.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is simply no data whatsoever to support this claim.
• There is simply no data whatsoever to support this claim.
• Secondly, the timing of these claims does not line up.
• In the following panel, you will also hear stakeholders claim that if rents drop, they will stop building
• They have promoted individuals who own properties that would be exempt from this law and claim that they

Bills: H5008

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: rent control, housing stability, tenants rights, affordability crisis, consumer protection

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-21, House Bill 508, an act to protect tenants by limiting rent increases. The chair explained the ballot process under Article 48 and outlined the hearing structure. The first witness, a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies researcher, described Massachusetts’ worsening rental affordability, explained how rent regulation policies are typically designed, and reviewed research suggesting rent regulation can slow rent growth and improve tenant stability, while also noting concerns about reduced supply, quality, and implementation details. She compared the proposal to other state and local rent-stabilization laws and said the measure would cap increases at the lower of CPI or 5%, exempt certain housing types, and apply to new tenants as well as current tenants because it would not allow vacancy decontrol. Supporters of the petition argued that rent stabilization is needed to address displacement and immediate affordability pressures while broader housing production continues. The proponent from Homes for All Massachusetts said the policy is a grassroots response to corporate rent hikes and cited examples of tenants facing steep increases. A tenant from Arlington described a long dispute after a building was purchased by an investment firm and rents were raised sharply, saying the experience showed how rent increases can function as eviction. A union leader said high rents are forcing workers out of the communities they serve, and two experts testified that rent stabilization can reduce displacement and provide broad, immediate benefits. Committee members asked about the proposal’s exemptions, the 10-year new-construction carveout, vacancy decontrol, and whether the policy could discourage development; supporters said the bill targets large landlords, preserves room for small owners, and should be viewed as a complement to new housing production. Opponents, including small property owners, a chamber of commerce representative, a union official, and a landlord, argued the measure would hurt small landlords, reduce investment, and slow housing production. They said operating costs such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance rise faster than the proposed cap, and warned that capping rents would lower property values and tax revenues. Several opponents emphasized that many housing providers are not large corporations but local “mom-and-pop” owners, and one said the proposal would discourage pension funds and other investors from financing new projects. Committee members pressed opponents on what alternatives they would support for affordability, and opponents pointed to increased housing production and other housing policies instead of rent control. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, a health insurance survey found that 18% of adults experienced a wrongfully denied claim.
• Millions of wrongful deaths go unaddressed because health insurance companies make appealing a claim
• These companies deny valid health care claims for necessary care like prescription drugs or emergency
• It was about denying their claims. And health care is about affordability.
• It was about denying their claims.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How would some parents would take claims to the attorney general's office and present them to him?
• >> H—I wonder how that would work. >> If I'm—uh, uh, uh, what claims are you saying?
• </c><00:35:02.640><c> to</c><00:35:02.800><c> the</c> &gt;&gt; parents would take claims to the &gt;&
• </c><00:35:17.359><c> Explain</c> what what claims are you saying?
• Explain what what claims are you saying? Explain that. that. that.

Bills: HB161 , HB161

Committee: Senate Children and Youth Health

Keywords: building codes, standardization, commercial construction, architectural services, energy conservation, federal compliance, local governance, consumer protection, app store, age verification, parental consent, data protection, minors, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, well, I'll just tell you, I'm sure I've never brought an unfair trade practice claim in my
• Subsection D, proof of the claim involving the manufacturer, marketing, distributing, sale, or offering
• Placed on such a claim by the Unfair Practices Act.
• An individual can bring that claim in the absence of the Attorney General.
• So if you're for a $10,000 claim and taking attorney's fees and so forth, I don't think it's going to

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Small claims online dispute resolution allows those without attorneys to initiate small claims cases
• Small claims online dispute resolution allows those without attorneys to initiate small claims cases
• Small claims online dispute resolution allows those without attorneys to initiate small claims cases
• Small claims online dispute resolution allows those without attorneys to initiate small claims cases

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Judiciary heard the Judiciary’s budget presentation from Brandon Kimura and other court administrators. The Judiciary outlined its mission and access-to-justice programs, including specialty courts, self-help centers, online small claims dispute resolution, and e-reminders. It requested an operating budget of $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027, along with 17 permanent and one temporary position, and described a series of staffing and program requests tied to specialty courts, district court operations, technology, and public guardianship. Major program requests included making women’s court permanent by converting seven temporary positions to permanent and adding a substance use counselor; expanding truancy court and the Early Education Intervention Program on Oahu; and making the driving while impaired court permanent. The Judiciary also sought staffing and funding for the new Wahiawa District Court, including security, janitorial, IT, clerical, bailiff, and social worker support, plus an additional district court judge and staff in Kona. Technology requests included cybersecurity tools and a cybersecurity unit, enhanced email protection, and replacement of aging network switches. Other operating requests included continued funding for the Criminal Justice Research Institute, restoration of 12 positions cut during the pandemic, and added support for the Office of the Public Guardian. For capital improvement projects, the Judiciary’s top priorities were $4 million to design a new South Kohala District Court, $900,000 to replace an aging AC chiller on Kauai, and $5 million for lump-sum facility preservation work. Members asked questions about purchase-of-service contract rates, implementation of court-appointed fee increases, federal grant dependence, specialty court effectiveness, truancy court outcomes, and the condition of the Ewa District Court site. Judiciary witnesses said they were working to raise provider rates through contracts and a separate bill, cited low recidivism and reduced petitions as evidence that specialty courts and truancy efforts are working, and said the Ewa site has significant foundation issues that may require further assessment or a different location.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, would did bill will clean that up.
• </c> builders that are members of Clean builders that are members of Clean Energy<00:51:49.040><c> New
• Um director of Clean Air New Hampshire.
• </c><03:13:56.000><c> So,</c> have the potential to clean up. So, have the potential to clean up.
• </c> is if there are fragrance-free cleaning is if there are fragrance-free cleaning products<04:25:01.199

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The column inches have come from false claims that the complainants themselves have put in the media
• I mean this this overblown false claims.
• </c><00:25:10.960><c> that</c> inches have come from false claims that inches have come from false claims
• </c><00:54:00.000><c> Um</c><00:54:00.720><c> the</c> names or those false claims.
• Um the names or those false claims.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The commission heard argument on a renewed motion to compel discovery and related sanctions in an ethics case. Enforcement counsel said the respondent had provided incomplete and inconsistent discovery responses, including no authenticated medical records, and asked the commission to compel full interrogatory answers, bar the respondent from relying on unsupported medical claims at hearing, allow subpoenas for medical records and an LRC report, and continue the December 2 hearing. Respondent’s counsel replied that the defense had complied with discovery, that medical records were being withheld for reasons previously discussed, and that no outstanding discovery remained. The next matter was enforcement counsel’s motion in limine, which sought to exclude a wide range of evidence as irrelevant to the three ethics charges already found to have probable cause. Counsel argued the hearing should focus only on whether the respondent intimidated Fox’s, offered a favor in exchange for a donation, and engaged in inappropriate conduct while intoxicated in his office, and not on complainants’ motives, media coverage, bullying, religious discrimination claims, LRC policies, or other legislators’ conduct. He also argued that any claim of mental or physical condition should be excluded absent supporting medical proof. Respondent’s counsel opposed the motion, saying the excluded topics went to witness credibility, bias, motive, and context, and that LRC materials and testimony from additional witnesses were important to the defense. Commission members questioned both sides about the breadth of the motion in limine and whether any topics could be agreed to as irrelevant. Counsel for the respondent maintained that some challenged topics, including Lexington media coverage and broader legislative practices, were relevant to credibility and context. Enforcement counsel responded that even if such conduct were common, it would not excuse a violation of the ethics code. No final ruling or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.