Transcript Highlights:

• But we must continue to expose the fraud, to strengthen internal controls, and to make sure that fraudsters
• But we must continue to expose the fraud, to strengthen internal controls, and to make sure that fraudsters
• But we must continue to expose the fraud, to strengthen internal controls, and to make sure that fraudsters
• We've had multiple bills to strengthen internal controls.
• </c> to handle and tackle internal controls. to handle and tackle internal controls. the<00:42:00.560

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Normally when we deal with interns, it's normally maybe high school or college.
• And so you have some companies that are forcing interns that are doing it for free.
• Also, in the statute, Ulrey, is the term intern or apprentice defined somewhere?
• And an intern. And I'm just going to keep it to the bill there. Right. No, no, I understand.
• Well, even outside of education, just the notion of paid intern or unpaid intern, is there ever a situation

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeals process by allowing additional medical evidence submitted in court to be sent back to the medical director for review and a new opinion. The Attorney General’s office explained the bill, noting a 30-day deadline for the medical director to act before the case returns to court. The bill drew support from injured workers and several business and labor groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments and then reported the bill favorably without objection. House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage starting at $12 in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation, prompted extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, and the AFL-CIO, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind living costs, that many workers remain in poverty despite working, and that higher wages would help families and local economies. Opponents, including NFIB and several members, argued that the market is already setting wages above the federal minimum in many jobs, that a mandate would raise costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or jobs, and hurt small businesses. After discussion, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported Senate Bill 383 favorably with amendments. That bill expands the incumbent worker training program by increasing funding flexibility, shortening the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allowing unobligated funds to roll over. Members and the Louisiana Works secretary discussed workforce training, outreach, and how to connect workers to existing training programs and high-demand jobs. The committee also reported Senate Bill 382 favorably, which repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and began hearing House Bill 422, the “Behind-the-Counter Safety Act,” aimed at workplace violence protections for retail and food service workers, including signage, reporting, and enhanced penalties; the sponsor explained it was intended to address attacks on frontline workers and to give businesses a tool to warn against violence.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their students and interns are equipped to be valuable graduates and successful employees here in the
• Their students and interns are equipped to be valuable graduates and successful employees here in the
• Their students and interns are equipped to be valuable graduates and successful employees here in the
• are equipped to be valuable interns are equipped to be valuable interns<00:34:14.760><c> graduates</
• c><00:34:15.240><c> and</c><00:34:15.480><c> successful</c> interns graduates and successful interns

Summary: The committee first considered an amendment to add a new “Lakes” license plate to HB 2, with proceeds directed to the cyanobacteria fund for lake cleanup. Representative McGuire said the bill had already passed on consent and asked that it be included in HB 2; members discussed that it had also gone to the Senate. The motion to adopt the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote. The committee then took up an amendment imposing a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds, with several exemptions for funds that could not legally or appropriately be charged, such as those involving federal money or bequests. Supporters said it would make the treatment of dedicated funds more consistent and raise roughly $31 million over the biennium for the general fund, while opponents questioned the number of carve-outs and who currently pays the administrative costs. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Next, the committee reconsidered and then adopted an amendment changing the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, reducing the share going to the Education Trust Fund from 41% to 30% and increasing the General Fund share. Supporters argued the Senate had overfunded the Education Trust Fund and that the change would help balance the budget without changing education spending levels; opponents said they could not support taking money from the Education Trust Fund. The amendment passed 5-3. The committee also adopted, by the same 5-3 margin, an amendment incorporating HB 741 language on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools, with supporters calling it House policy and opponents noting it had been a close, partly partisan vote in the House. Finally, the committee considered a change to the University System of New Hampshire budget that would reduce general fund appropriations by $40 million per year, offset in part by $15 million in previously approved unique dollars for a net reduction of $25 million per year. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that other options had been exhausted; opponents called it harmful to the university system and argued the committee should instead look to other areas, including education freedom accounts, for savings. The discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on the UNH item.

Transcript Highlights:

• The focus of the program, changing how we were doing it internally.
• Our model now incorporates international best practices.
• I think that's a big question we've got to ask internally in the state.
• But your internal staffing has to come up at the same level.
• But when you do that internally, you're going to have to take care of your internal staff, and there

Transcript Highlights:

• recently learned that in World War II, Gallup protected its Japanese Americans from going to the internment
• Senator Mimi Stewart from the International District and East Gateway area of Albuquerque, District 17
• Our businesses in the community are hiring our interns directly out of their programs.
• The city of Gallup is hiring our interns directly into the workforce in our community.
• To be an intern at any location of their interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, today I have my almost my entire office staff, um, including our new intern.
• In the gallery today, I have one of my interns, Vanessa Heath.
• In the gallery today, I have one of my interns, Vanessa Heath.
• In the gallery today, I have one of my interns, Vanessa Heath.
• In the gallery today, I have one of my interns, Vanessa Heath.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clegg, a student at North Kitsap High School from Palsbo, and Avram Weich, a student at Spokane International
• He led the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2545, He led the International Association
• act relating to establishing a pilot program that creates a pathway to physician licensure for international
• I want to thank the international medical graduates, Dr.
• And the international medical graduates and this particular program that creates a pathway for... ...

Bills: SB5223 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024 , SB5223 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5941 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare, financial burden, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, my name is Brett Fayoum, the vice president of general aviation for Tampa International
• We are working with international markets to buy as one of them.
• Very proud to have our international headquarters and Florida where a number has its national headquarters
• My name is Nathan Trail, 90 senior director of international state, local policy.
• You can imagine Tampa in international to wooded rate, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• Taken together, internal controls.
• </c> effective oversight and strong internal effective oversight and strong internal controls<00:41:53.400
• She said there has been an internal OIG for 2 years, 3 years.
• There's been the internal<01:43:50.160><c> OIG</c> internal OIG internal OIG has<01:43:51.880><c> been
• </c> Chair Robinson said the internal OIG has been there for 2 years, 3 years.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I want to introduce my intern, Holly. Can you stand up, please?
• So I would like for our intern, Noah, to stand up.
• I also want to introduce Einor, our law intern.
• I also want to introduce Aynor, our law intern for the House Democratic Caucus.
• So I would like for our intern, Noah, to stand up.

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, and spent much of the opening portion recognizing guests and interns from both parties, along with former lawmakers and a newly seated member, Representative Sylvia Allen. The chamber then took up House Concurrent Resolution 2065 honoring the late Alfredo Gutierrez. Members from both parties gave extended remarks about his life as a civil rights advocate, student activist, legislator, and mentor, and the resolution was unanimously adopted and transmitted to the Senate. Family members of Gutierrez were recognized in the gallery during the memorial tribute. The House then moved into Committee of the Whole on the first budget-related measures. On House Bill 4138, the “feed bill”/budget operations measure, Democrats argued the budget favored corporations and data centers over seniors, health care, housing, universities, and vulnerable families, while Republicans defended it as a continuation of prior policy and said it preserved tax conformity and modest agency cuts. After debate and questions, the committee recommended the bill do pass and the House adopted that report, sending HB 4138 to engrossing. The chamber next considered House Bill 4139, the amusement/gaming-related budget bill. Members debated whether it was essentially unchanged from last year’s budget language, with Republicans saying it was a continuation bill and that gaming-related provisions would support rural economies and tourism, while Democrats questioned the broader budget context and its effects on working families. The committee recommended HB 4139 do pass, and the House adopted that recommendation. The House then began debate on House Bill 4140, the state budget implementation bill, focusing on the budget stabilization fund and a proposed government efficiency initiative; discussion was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also open up Minnesota landowners to unnecessary eminent domain property seizures by international
• </c><01:09:44.239><c> energy</c> seizures by international energy seizures by international energy conglomerates
• Because if we're going not going to move product on an international market in the most efficient way
• an international market<01:20:18.880><c> when</c><01:20:19.120><c> it</c><01:20:19.199><c> comes</c>
• </c> that are used to international trade. that are used to international trade.

Bills: HF4236 , HF4122 , HF4377

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: public utility, interim rates, utility rates, rate case, general rate case, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, PUC, rate increase cap, rate freeze, refunds, customer refunds, ratepayer protection, electric utility, gas utility, regulated utility, ratemaking, return on equity, rate base, test year, rate design

Transcript Highlights:

• What we are looking at is how do we internally redesign...
• And we have staff internally that can provide services at your home, but we also have strong staff internally
• So we It's been a lot of internal processes and changes that we've made.
• And so we're really working really hard internally.
• And so we're really working really hard internally.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We also invest in internal training, apprenticeship models, and a partnership with Gateway Community
• </c> programs such as certified international programs such as certified international specialist<00:
• </c><01:08:41.720><c> air</c> be the home of of this international air be the home of of this international
• Louisville really is our only international all-points air hub.
• :16:19.920><c> so</c><01:16:20.080><c> we</c> international all-points hub, so we international all-points

Summary: The task force met on October 14, confirmed a quorum, and adopted the September 16, 2025 minutes. Members then received a Kentucky Air National Guard 101 briefing from Brigadier General Bruce Bancroft, commander of the Kentucky Air National Guard, who described the Guard’s structure, missions, and statewide role. He emphasized that Kentucky is a single-wing state centered at Louisville’s 123rd Airlift Wing and highlighted several unique capabilities, including the Contingency Response Group, critical care air transport teams, medical detachment for chemical environments, explosive ordnance disposal, fatality search and recovery, and special tactics personnel. General Bancroft also discussed staffing and readiness, saying the Guard has 1,273 authorized positions, with a mix of AGR, Title 32, and Title 5 personnel. He noted that AGR positions are funded at about 96 percent, while technician positions are funded at about 53 percent, leaving the organization to operate at roughly 75 percent of authorized manpower overall. He said the wing converted from the C-130H to the C-130J in 2021 and completed the transition in about 2.5 years, ahead of the original three-year timeline. The briefing further covered the Guard’s operational tempo and community role. Bancroft said the unit has earned 21 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, has deployed about 500,000 days since 9/11 across 45 countries, and routinely supports federal and domestic missions. He described the C-130J’s tactical airlift, airdrop, and blacked-out operations as directly useful for disaster response in Kentucky, and he pointed to strong ties with UPS and other aviation employers. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, today, usually in June I usually have a lot of interns with me.
• A lot of our interns are at the state conventions.
• Um we are have a lot of interns with me.
• A lot of our interns um are is going on.
• Um, but our interns at the this year.

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met on June 11 but did not have a quorum, so it could not approve the prior minutes. The committee then received a compliance and program update from Brandon Reed and Bill McClowski of the agricultural development board, who said the office is fully staffed, has digitized most records, and has added a Facebook page to share board actions, projects, and compliance work. They also reported that the board and finance corporation continue to operate with strong county-council participation and that the office had completed numerous site visits, program reviews, and project closeouts over the reporting period. The presenters reviewed monthly funding actions from December through May, including board approvals ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars, with a December finance meeting delayed by a snowstorm. They highlighted that the Kentucky Agriculture Finance Corporation now has 57 loans generating more than $2 million per month in payments, and that the revolving loan program has grown to support more than $24 million annually in repayments available for relending. They also noted that 75% of the portfolio is in beginning farmer loans and that the office had recently surpassed 1,000 active loans. Several projects were discussed in detail. These included a grain facility in Callaway County supporting organic corn production for expanding egg-layer operations, a Union County cattle business expansion, a West Liberty Veterinary Clinic project to build a working cattle facility, a Grayson County farmers market project, a Casey County veterinary services project, and a packing warehouse for the Kanye family to support specialty crops. The presenters emphasized that county and state tobacco settlement funds are often combined, sometimes with participation loans, to leverage local investment. They also stressed the importance of supporting greenhouses, farmers markets, specialty crops, and large-animal veterinary services as key agricultural priorities. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the lack of quorum and the informational presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next $20 million is for Global Mass, which will help international companies choose Massachusetts
• The next $20 million is for global mass, which will help international companies choose Massachusetts
• Referenced getting international businesses, a lot of defense contracting going on.
• Seeing none, I really want to thank you for—and we've had internal discussions about this as well, trying
• Putting our tax money to work for us rather than international investment banks.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Transcript Highlights:

• And then these are various internal key performance indicators within the department to make sure that
• This is internal only for the most part. That's correct. For your staff. Yeah, that's correct.
• Yeah, this is, what I say internal, this is used by not only us, our engineer consultants, as well as
• ... ...districts is the main thing that we've started with, and then the KPIs internally, looking at
• Internally making sure that we get those six steps done in a timely manner. Okay.

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or formal actions. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black outlined the department’s transformation efforts, emphasizing faster project delivery, improved transparency, and use of technology. They reported major reductions in contractor payment processing time, from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, and change-order approvals from about 40–45 days to around five days. They also described new tools such as inspection tablets, a project delivery dashboard, e-ticketing, a customer service portal, and a pilot using sensor technology on department vehicles to identify potholes and damaged assets. The department said it is reorganizing district staffing, replacing the old area engineer model with district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, without increasing total staff. Members focused heavily on local maintenance concerns, including potholes, drainage, culverts, mowing, overgrown ditches, and utility-related delays. Several legislators asked how to get quicker responses on routine maintenance and how to distinguish state responsibility from local jurisdiction. DOTD said it would meet with district administrators to address specific problems and clarify jurisdiction, and that the new customer service portal should help track complaints electronically. Members also asked about contractor accountability, utility relocations, and public communication on long-running projects; DOTD said it is improving internal KPIs, coordinating more closely with district staff and public information officers, and considering broader public updates beyond the website. The department also reviewed highway planning and funding. Officials said the Highway Priority Program is being reworked into a more fiscally constrained, staged process that starts earlier in concept development and gives legislators and constituents more feedback before the annual road show. They said the department is using new IDIQ contracting authority to bring in outside help for bridge maintenance and other work, and that bridge maintenance backlogs remain significant. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 and 2.0 together cover 91 projects statewide totaling more than $534 million, with over 40 complete, and that LTIF 3.0 adds 39 projects and about $165 million. Combined with other funding sources, the department said its upcoming construction program will include 385 projects worth about $1.73 billion. Legislators generally praised the department’s progress but raised concerns about lingering local problems and the need for clearer communication. Questions were also asked about a barge strike on the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge, with DOTD saying divers and staff were inspecting the damage and that emergency repairs would likely be needed. After the DOTD update, the new Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, led by Archie Chesson, gave its own update on its first year, describing a small staff, heavy use of consultant and contractor pools, emergency procurement authority, and rapid delivery of rural bridge and roadway projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government and international community have all recognized that there's a problem with the
• There's a problem with the way the international tax deals with these types of issues.
• Whether Massachusetts should tax... ...with by the federal government and the international community
• International companies in Massachusetts employ over 236,000 people at 1,200 companies.
• Over the last five years, employment at international companies in Massachusetts increased by 7%, while

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Honor Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing with the Wine Institute.
• They don't come from 500 years of international panel on climate change data. They are mutable.
• So I have a long history with international marketing of California wine.
• Typically, 20% of those are international visitors. That's down below 5% now.
• And so, Those are international visitors. That's down below 5% now.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I think that our team is committed to a lot of internal capacity building, which means challenging
• one another, really looking... ...a lot of internal capacity building, which means challenging one another
• But I do believe that one aspect of our philosophy is that we build internal capacity, use as many of
• And, again, that may be a factor for a large urban district that we have internal capacity to get...
• And again, that may be a factor for a large urban district that we have internal capacity to get right

Transcript Highlights:

• Students internalize these messages and direct that judgment at their Jewish peers.
• In eighth grade, our approved curriculum has a fantastic unit on Japanese-American internment.
• California, member of Code Pink, Jewish Voice for Peace, Amnesty International.
• Can you affirm to the author, can you affirm that this bill is in violation of international law?
• of Japanese-American internment?

Committee: House Education