Transcript Highlights:

• The remaining 11% covers postage, office supplies, the typical sort of things that you would for any
• The remaining 11% covers postage, office supplies, the typical sort of things that you would for any
• The remaining 11% covers postage, office supplies, the typical sort of things that you would for any
• The remaining 11% covers postage, office supplies, the typical sort of things that you would for any
• The remaining 11% covers postage, office supplies, the typical sort of things that you would for any

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so proud that we were But I'm so proud that we were able to come together to boost the housing supply
• for chemical abortions, women are being Chemical abortions, women are being harmed, and our water supply
• Stop running around as Republicans saying supply side, supply side.
• I'm for supply side. I want to cut taxes, but stop spending.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Laura Engles, that's where the kids went to school, and the monies to pay for the teacher and the supplies
• <00:08:50.800><c> teacher</c><00:08:51.040><c> and</c><00:08:51.200><c> the</c><00:08:51.360><c> supplies
• </c><00:08:51.680><c> at</c><00:08:51.920><c> the</c> the teacher and the supplies at the the teacher
• and the supplies at the school<00:08:52.320><c> came</c><00:08:52.560><c> from</c><00:08:53.360><c>
• 21:41.919><c> of</c><00:21:42.080><c> this,</c> Inflation and tariffs and all of this, how school supplies

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• currently receive subsidized care, and expanding family child care is one of the fastest ways to increase supply
• It reduces overall supply and choice for families, often removing...
• It reduces overall supply and choice for families, often removing the flexibility and specialized care
• It reduced overall supply and choice for families, often removing, It reduced overall supply and choice

Summary: The hearing was a joint budget discussion focused first on California preschool and child care, then on universal transitional kindergarten (TK), with later movement toward a reading-difficulties screener item. Members emphasized the need for a coordinated early childhood system that better serves families’ real schedules and needs, rather than forcing families to fit existing program structures. The preschool panel reviewed access, quality, workforce, facilities, and information systems, with repeated concern about whether current funding and program design are sufficient for infants, toddlers, three-year-olds, and full-day/full-year care. Witnesses from the Learning Policy Institute, CDSS, CDE, and community providers described major growth in preschool and child care enrollment, especially for two- and three-year-olds, but also noted persistent gaps, waitlists, workforce shortages, low reimbursement rates, and the need for more stable funding. Several witnesses urged expansion or permanence of two-year-old eligibility in CSPP, more support for mixed-delivery systems, facility conversion and renovation grants, better statewide enrollment and referral systems, and continued funding for one-time grants such as UPK coordinators and planning/implementation supports. Provider and parent testimony stressed that rate reform, enrollment-based reimbursement, and continued hold-harmless protections are needed to keep programs open and accessible. The TK panel reviewed the Governor’s budget proposal for full implementation of universal TK, including Proposition 98 funding for expansion and lower adult-to-child ratios, plus a multilingual learner screening implementation budget change proposal. LPI and CDE reported that TK enrollment has grown rapidly but uptake is now a little over half of eligible four-year-olds, with families citing lack of awareness, preference for other care, and logistical barriers such as location and hours. CDE and providers said the UPK planning and implementation grant, mixed-delivery planning grants, and UPK coordinators have been critical, but these one-time funds are set to sunset. Members pressed for more information on eligible population projections, full-day/full-year demand, teacher credential data, and how administrative credential programs are preparing leaders for early childhood settings. The committee held the issues open and requested follow-up data from the departments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It supplies over 22,000 jobs. How about $795 million just in boat, motor, and trailer sales alone?
• And then you need to compare that to your prey supply.
• So you look at the total production; that gives you the supply relative to the demand.
• And they make it speak to the supply side of that from the stock assessment.
• In terms of the predator demand, that's an unknown, and how it sits relative to the supply, that's an

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That operations supplement was provided for things such as utilities, diesel, insurance, cleaning supplies
• Because it’s hard to argue that we all haven’t faced increases in insurance costs and cleaning supply
• Small increase is that 2.8% in supplies, and then you'll see acquisitions and major repairs make about
• infrastructure carried forward into 26, no longer needed for 27, $256,188 for classroom and facility supplies
• , as well as human resource system. $56,188 for classroom and facility supplies, as well as human resource

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee met on March 17 to review the FY27 budgets for the Department of Education and several special schools and commissions. Fiscal staff outlined the Department of Education’s roughly $6.4 billion budget, noting that most funding goes to the Minimum Foundation Program and subgrantee assistance. Major changes discussed included the removal of one-time teacher pay stipends, increases for the LA GATOR scholarship program, and projected adjustments in early childhood funding. Members also reviewed the constitutional amendment proposal tied to using about $2 billion to pay down teacher retirement obligations and provide future teacher pay raises. Dr. Cade Brumley testified that Louisiana’s education outcomes have improved and answered questions on math performance, charter school funding, the LA GATOR scholarship, and the special education Choice program. Members pressed the department on the sustainability and balance of funding between LA GATOR and Choice, the number of applicants and current recipients, and outreach efforts. Brumley said charter schools are funded through the MFP like other public schools, that LA GATOR currently serves about 5,500 students with applications recently reaching about 17,000, and that the Choice program serves about 500 students with a waiting list of about 700 applicants. He also said the department would implement whatever funding levels the legislature approves. The committee then heard the special schools and commissions budget, including the Special School District, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Thrive Academy, École Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and BESE. Testimony focused on facility needs, enrollment, and program outcomes. LSU? No—LSM leaders described urgent roof and ceiling repairs estimated at about $800,000, while Thrive Academy highlighted student achievement, community service requirements, and economic impact. LPB said it is facing a federal funding loss of about $2.5 million and is responding with higher Passport fees, underwriting, and private fundraising. BESE’s small staff and administrative role were also explained, with members asking about board operations and the use of statutory dedication funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• We support harmonized regional standards to ensure cohesion and not chaos in the food supply.
• In the food supply, and just last month, FDA launched a comprehensive reassessment of butylated hydroxyanisole
• Without any deference to FDA's ongoing post-market assessment of existing ingredients in the food supply
• I think these are additives that merit removal from our food supply, and I would defer to the legislature
• whether or not there are other additives that you think are worth removing from West Virginia's food supply

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school, participate in activities, and obtain transportation and service transportation, meals, and supplies
• school, participate in activities, and obtain transportation and service transportation, meals, and supplies
• 37.839><c> and</c> and s service transportation, meals, and and s service transportation, meals, and supplies
• 39.280><c> essential</c><01:01:39.680><c> if</c><01:01:39.920><c> they</c><01:01:40.079><c> are</c> supplies
• that are essential if they are supplies that are essential if they are to<01:01:40.559><c> participate

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2185, which would add protections for sports officials. The Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, HSTA, HGA, school administrators, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Hawaii State Basketball Officials Association, and several individuals testified in support. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and recommended amendments, especially on the bill’s civil-action provisions and criminal language, saying the measure should be made more consistent and narrowed to clarify who is covered. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the increased criminal penalties but said its concerns were limited to that portion of the bill. The chair repeatedly noted the committee’s education-policy focus and limited discussion of legal issues. The committee then took up HB 2621 on student misconduct. The Department of Education testified and answered questions about its student discipline data, explaining that much of the information is kept in the department’s internal Infinite Campus system and is not public, but that some additional information could be added to the annual report while still protecting student privacy. Members discussed whether the department tracks incidents consistently across schools and whether more public reporting would help identify where violence or discipline issues are occurring. The department said it was not seeing an increase in suspensions in the data it had, though it acknowledged internal data showed more detail than the annual report. HB 2179, concerning DOE and e-pipes, drew comments from the Department of Education, support from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Bicycling League, and other individuals. The committee then heard HB 2534, which would recognize robotics in schools as an interscholastic sport. The Department of Education offered comments, the State Public Charter School Commission supported the bill, and multiple students and robotics participants testified in strong support, arguing that robotics provides STEM opportunities, competition, and career pathways, and that formal recognition and funding would help sustain teams and compensate mentors. No votes or final actions were taken on the bills in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forests north of the Tehachapi Mountains provide up to 60% of the water supply.
• Forests north of the Tehachapi Mountains provide up to 60% of the water supply for California.
• Our forests provide that high-quality, sustainable timber supply, a critical resource for California,
• communities where it is, but also significantly impacts our ability to provide clear, clean, adequate supplies
• We literally lose the supply of timber because we're destroying it or severely damaging it through high-intensity

Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• The response said the language was supplied by Erin KGAN from the courts, and that it is pretty consistent
• The response said the language was supplied by Erin KGAN from the courts, and that it is pretty consistent
• ><00:26:08.039><c> um</c><00:26:08.279><c> language</c><00:26:09.279><c> uh</c><00:26:09.399><c> supplied
• </c><00:26:09.919><c> by</c><00:26:10.120><c> Erin</c> that was um language uh supplied by Erin that
• was um language uh supplied by Erin KGAN<00:26:10.919><c> from</c><00:26:11.080><c> the</c><00:26:11.200

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would give stakeholders the opportunity to expand recycling infrastructure, develop the necessary supply
• would give stakeholders the opportunity to expand recycling infrastructure, develop the necessary supply
• and those are the resources and the lakes that we value so highly, not to mention the groundwater supplies
• and those are the resources and the lakes that we value so highly, not to mention the groundwater supplies
• Rivers and lakes that people value so highly, not to protect the, uh, uh, mention the groundwater supplies

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• broker those times at inflated prices, and in the process substantially reduce the already strained supply
• incentive, the state of California risks losing a critical segment of the entertainment industry supply
• That's a supply-demand problem, I get it, and wound up going to the secondary market to be able to get
• will create additional shortages in the secondary market, which is not only competitive, it balances supply

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on youth health, sports, and entertainment access. AB 1626 would require mental health training for youth sports coaches and create a model training for recreational and club coaches; supporters said coaches are often the first adults to notice mental health struggles, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1884, as amended, would allow school districts that already use athletic drug-testing programs to add nicotine testing, with safeguards limiting disclosure and removing earlier punitive provisions; supporters framed it as a response to youth vaping, while opponents warned it could stigmatize students, discourage participation in extracurriculars, and burden schools. The bill passed 3-2 to the Assembly Education Committee, with some members still expressing reservations but supporting it after amendments. AB 2503 addressed heat guidelines for desert school athletics, seeking flexibility in wet-bulb temperature rules so practices and games would not be pushed so heavily into evening hours. The author and a desert athletic trainer argued current standards do not reflect local acclimatization and create scheduling burdens; the bill passed 5-0 to the Assembly Education Committee. AB 1954, the PAR Act, would require third-party golf reservation platforms to have written authorization from municipal golf course operators before listing or reselling tee times, aimed at stopping inflated resale of public golf reservations. Supporters from city and golf organizations said the bill would protect affordable access to public courses; it passed 5-0 to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. The committee also heard AB 2319, which would create a standalone California post-production tax credit to keep editorial, sound, visual effects, and finishing work in-state even when principal photography occurs elsewhere. Labor and industry witnesses said California is losing post-production jobs to other jurisdictions and urged the bill be amended to include stronger labor standards; the bill passed to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. Finally, AB 1720, the California Fans First Act, would cap resale prices for concert and live entertainment tickets at no more than 10% above face value, excluding sporting events and certain season-ticket arrangements. The author argued the bill would curb scalping and make live events more affordable for fans.

Transcript Highlights:

• Previously, the department has experienced supply chain delays and manufacturer backlogs with regards
• So previously, the department has experienced supply chain delays and manufacturer backlogs with regards
• It's an innovative approach that uses mobile technology to provide real-time information on the drug supply
• overdose prevention, as well as providing community-level early warning about changes in the drug supply

Summary: The hearing began with an overview of the California Health and Human Services Agency, which described its 2026-27 budget, major departments, and strategic priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth, and aging/disability services. The agency also explained a technical CalHHS/CalHires budget adjustment tied to HR1 compliance and eligibility system work. No LAO concerns were raised on that item. The committee then heard from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration on its budget, its SB 823 realignment report, and related issues. OYCR said county-based realignment has generally succeeded but outcomes and readiness vary widely, and it recommended more climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral management, better programming, improved transition planning, and integrated longitudinal data systems. Members pressed OYCR on “net widening,” county-by-county trends, and the gap between the detailed recommendations discussed in hearing and the more general recommendations in the public report. OYCR also described problems with federal Title II grant timing and a pending $14 million administrative funding adjustment, and discussed implementation of the juvenile justice realignment block grant formula. The Ombudsperson division separately requested two new positions due to rising complaints, site visits, and records-access disputes with counties; LAO noted the proposal would create ongoing General Fund costs. Several other departments presented budget change proposals. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover an interagency administrative support gap with DSS; LAO had no concerns. EMSA presented its department overview, said its AB 716 ambulance-rate report has been delayed after resources were reduced, and requested funding for disaster-response vehicle replacement, IT security assessment work, and additional HR/legal staff; members questioned delays, compliance, and the ongoing General Fund impact. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of LIWIP funds and explained a new Proposition 4 process for continuing the farmworker housing component. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority for $60 million in additional federal funds and 54 positions to meet growing vocational rehabilitation demand, with no General Fund impact. The Department of Child Support Services presented its budget and a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections. Members questioned why local agency funding was being restored despite declining caseloads, and staff explained that staffing costs have risen faster than caseload declines and that additional funding is needed to maintain service levels. The supplemental report estimated full pass-through would cost about $150 million General Fund annually, or about $80 million for a state-and-county portion, with $3 million to $5 million in automation costs. Finally, the Department of Public Health gave a broad overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its State of Public Health report, highlighting improved mortality and life expectancy, declining overdose deaths and STI rates, persistent racial and regional disparities, and increasing public health emergency demands. CDPH also warned that federal funding threats and policy changes are creating major uncertainty for state and local public health systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• some of the career tech courses, depending on what it is, may have an additional fee because of supplies
• 54:17.839><c> of</c> may have an additional fee because of may have an additional fee because of supplies
• > whatever</c><00:54:19.280><c> they're</c><00:54:19.520><c> doing</c><00:54:19.920><c> that</c> supplies
• or whatever they're doing that supplies or whatever they're doing that even<00:54:21.520><c> the</c>

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now let me say, nationally, the population... and the demand for doctors continues to outpace the supply
• So we see a supply or we see a shortage in lots of...
• I know supply and demand. I understand the concept.
• And if there's a demand for doctors... ...and we're not meeting the supply, how about we create more

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• blueprint addresses the demand side of economic development, the K-16 Collaborative is built to the supply
• side, and now the master plan on career education blends these together by linking supply to demand.
• members as recently as the LA fires, where many were deployed to stand up disaster resource centers, supply
• members as recently as the LA fires where many were deployed to stand-up disaster resource centers supply

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s new Career Education Master Plan and related budget items. Labor Secretary Knox described the plan as an effort to reduce fragmentation across K-12, community colleges, workforce boards, and other systems by improving statewide and regional coordination, data sharing, skills-based hiring, career pathways, and wraparound supports such as child care, housing, food, and transportation. Members asked how success would be measured, how the plan would serve disconnected youth and adults, and whether the proposed data integration would rely on Cradle to Career; the secretary said it would. The Department of Finance said it was available to answer questions on the education side. The committee then reviewed existing CTE funding and oversight. The LAO, CDE, and Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office described the major ongoing programs, including CTIG, Perkins, K-12 Strong Workforce, and Community College Strong Workforce, and noted that many programs overlap in purpose and administration. Members repeatedly raised concerns about duplication, annual applications and reporting burdens, lack of clear outcome metrics, and whether funding incentives should be better aligned to regional collaboration. CDE and the Chancellor’s Office said they support alignment and dual enrollment, and Finance and CDE said LCFF/local match dollars are part of the funding structure. The committee also discussed child care as a barrier to participation and the need for better tracking of enrollment, completion, and job outcomes. On the consolidated application proposal, Finance proposed a study directing CDE to examine whether three long-standing CTE grant programs—Specialized Secondary Programs, CTIG, and California Partnership Academies—could be streamlined into a single application and reporting process. The LAO supported reducing administrative burden but noted that the largest programs, CTIG and K-12 Strong Workforce, were excluded from the proposal even though districts most often cite them as burdensome. CDE said it did not oppose the study but warned that statutory differences may limit consolidation. Members said the proposal should better address regional coordination, multi-year funding stability, and outcome measures rather than only simplifying paperwork. Finally, the committee heard a proposal for a $5 million ongoing California Education Interagency Council. GovOps said the council would provide a neutral venue for statewide coordination across education and workforce systems. The LAO opposed the proposal, arguing that existing bodies already provide coordination, the proposal does not change agency incentives, and the council would lack authority to implement decisions. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a coordinating body and others questioning whether it would differ from past efforts. No votes were taken during the portions summarized here, and the committee indicated it would hold some items open for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• house a crew, what the local infrastructure is, is there a place to feed their crew, by building supplies
• house a crew, what the local infrastructure is, is there a place to feed their crew, by building supplies
• house a crew, what the local infrastructure is, is there a place to feed their crew, by building supplies
• house a crew, what the local infrastructure is, is there a place to feed their crew, by building supplies

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:29 SB 162 Discussion 01:03 SB 162 Vote 13:48 SB 1 Discussion 14:49 SB 1 Vote 34:43 SB 25 Discussion 38:45 SB 25 Vote 40:31 SB 50 Discussion 41:09 SB 50 Vote 42:55, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, a measure on unemployment insurance fraud. The sponsor said the bill would create a clearer process for state unemployment staff to refer suspected fraud cases, especially smaller-dollar cases that may not draw federal attention, and would help protect employers and the integrity of the unemployment system. Testimony from Brian Sikma supported the bill as a common-sense anti-fraud proposal, but several senators raised concerns that suspending benefits during an investigation could unfairly burden claimants, especially if the claim later proves legitimate. The sponsor and witness said the bill was intended to allow quick adjudication and that benefits could be reinstated after review, and the sponsor noted the referral process would include identifying information and details about the suspected fraud. The committee then voted on the bill; it passed with favorable expression, 8-1, and was sent to the floor. The committee then returned to Senate Bill 1, which would create a Kentucky Film Office and Film Commission and fund the office with a portion of the state transit tax and production-related fees. Senator Wheeler and invited guests described the bill as an economic development and tourism measure meant to expand Kentucky’s film industry, attract productions statewide, and build on existing tax credits. Witnesses, including Mary K. Po... and Misty Wrigley Miller, said a state film office would help market locations, provide a searchable database for producers, and make it easier for rural communities to compete for productions. They cited an economic impact study showing about $200 million in film-related economic activity in 2022, with additional ripple effects and tax revenue, and argued the office would help create jobs and workforce opportunities for Kentuckians. Members generally praised the concept of Senate Bill 1 and compared Kentucky’s potential to Georgia’s film industry growth. Witnesses said Kentucky already has strong incentives but needs a dedicated office and commission to better promote the state and coordinate production activity. The discussion emphasized that the commission would help ensure a return on investment and that local crews and businesses would benefit from more productions. The transcript ends during continued discussion of the bill and questions from senators, with no final vote on Senate Bill 1 shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• the project, and then they might be able to re-budget that within the project to something like supplies
• project to re-budget that within the project to something<00:26:46.799><c> like</c><00:26:47.000><c> supplies
• </c><00:26:47.480><c> or</c><00:26:47.720><c> travel</c><00:26:48.159><c> if</c> something like supplies
• or travel if something like supplies or travel if they've<00:26:48.520><c> come</c><00:26:48.679><c>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• more quick ones: the duties of the fire marshal, as you heard, and as you know, OPLC—we moved the electrical
• The electrical inspection fees, we can charge some, but not all of them. It’s kind of weird.
• mechanical and the other inspections we would be doing, so that if someone were to request us to do an electrical
• Steven Rancort, licensed electrician in the state of New Hampshire and executive director of the Electrical
• Uh, this committee has heard, like so many other occupations, that CPAs are really um in short supply

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then because retailers are very smart about this, they'll have all the grill supplies right next
• And then because retailers are very smart about this, they'll have all the grill supplies right next
• to the cashier. and so I said This, they'll have all the grill supplies right next to the cashier, and

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard testimony from credit union, retail, banking, and payments industry representatives. Much of the discussion focused on proposals to exclude sales tax and tips from interchange fees, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and related litigation, and whether similar state action in Massachusetts would help small businesses or instead create a patchwork that burdens state-chartered institutions. Witnesses from defense and community credit unions argued interchange helps fund fraud prevention, cybersecurity, member services, and low-fee products, while retail and NRF representatives said merchants are paying significant swipe fees and that state laws like Illinois’s are aimed at reducing costs that are not being passed on to consumers. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides security, fraud protection, rewards, and access to credit, and that many of the costs merchants complain about are actually bundled processor or acquirer fees rather than interchange itself. Others countered that small businesses are struggling with rising overall costs and that Massachusetts should consider reforms such as allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as meaningful relief for merchants and opponents saying it is temporary and incomplete. No formal votes were taken on legislation. The commission accepted oral testimony, noted that written testimony would be accepted through July 31, and concluded the meeting by unanimously voting to adjourn. The chair and members said they would continue gathering testimony and work toward recommendations, with the chair stressing the need to find a fair middle ground that supports both small businesses and the broader payments ecosystem.