Transcript Highlights:

• It highlights some of those things, including increased cartel activity, increased black market activity
• There is a strong financial influence coming into this state because of the marijuana lobby and the money

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• choose to listen to some drug manufacturer advocacy-based group and then give the group that would be lobbying
• People who come in and seek services who may be actively using substances.
• We have seven kiddos, and I have a son who has been in active drug addiction for most of, in fact, his

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1002 , HB1065 , HB1155 , HB1916 , HB2264 , HB1078 , HB1687 , HB1701 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2088 , HB2091 , HB2107 , HB2109 , HB2110 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2152 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2228 , HB2229 , HB2230 , HB2235 , HB2238 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2249 , HB2253 , HB2254 , HB2269 , HB2272 , HB2283 , HB2304 , HB2317 , HB2340 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2445 , HB2452 , HB2472 , HB2492 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB2664 , HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB1717 , HB1795 , HB1859 , HB2107 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2151 , HB2155 , HB2165 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2242 , HB2245 , HB2253 , HB2283 , HB2317 , HB2343 , HB2385 , HB2406 , HB2417 , HB2426 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB2606 , HB1170 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2111 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2199 , HB2206 , HB2296 , HB2360 , HB2436 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2510 , HB2525 , HB2532 , HB2543 , HB2605 , HB2624 , HJM4012 , HB1759

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Transcript Highlights:

• in a blighted, underserved area, and create real residential and commercial activity from the ground
• And they talk about how movement and physical activity, the right to physical activity, is just that.
• ban so that we can't go lobby for six years, and neither can other public officials, and neither can
• people who are heading state agencies go back and lobby their own agency.
• A bill to be entitled an act relating to batterers intervention program activities.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including a resolution honoring Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a special-order calendar with multiple bills, many of them paired with House companions and amended before final passage. Early action included adoption of a tax conformity bill tied to federal changes in the Internal Revenue Code, with a 34-0 vote. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described provisions to strengthen fraud enforcement, impose work requirements for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid drug purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Democrats offered amendments to delay work requirements until Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP users such as caregivers, seniors, disabled individuals, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators also questioned implementation details, exemptions, and potential effects on vulnerable populations. After debate, the bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a public records exemption and related Parkinson’s Disease Registry measures, designation of the SS American Victory as the state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on legal tender recognition for gold and silver, public records protections for financial and digital-asset custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government budget transparency, digital voyeurism, insurance customer representative licensing, and a medical freedom bill with amendments on vaccine-related materials and anti-kickback provisions. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though the public records bill for gold/silver custodians and the legal tender repeal drew a few dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• business activity for State Enterprise<00:29:52.320><c> Zone</c><00:29:52.679><c> Program</c><00:29:
• Like, why would they be asking you to lobby on behalf of narrowing this bill?
• </c> agriculture land the primary activity agriculture land the primary activity should<01:35:46.239>
• But again, it's a way of proving that there is agriculture activity.
• It's a way of proving that there is agriculture activity.

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• Mary Beth Dickerson and lobby in favor, not wishing to speak. Andre Bro... I wish to speak.
• Mary Beth Dickerson and lobby in favor, not so to speak.
• significant cost, accrediting organizations or other membership organizations that perform monitoring activities
• that's being recommended simply does not exist, outside of a single incident, which I appreciate is active
• Outside of a single incident, which I appreciate is active litigation right now, this body stands at

Bills: SR119 , SCR65 , HCR47 , HB196 , HB218 , HB256 , HB325 , HB352 , HB434 , HB448 , HB476 , HB608 , HB624 , HB626 , HB632 , HB749 , HB818 , HB1059 , HB1112 , HB1242 , HB1249

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with four members present and took up a long agenda of education-related bills. Early items included SCR 65, which would create a K-12 student success task force to study statewide career and academic pathway advising; the committee adopted a substantive amendment adding designees and then reported the resolution favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SCR 119, honoring Coach D.D. Breaux, after brief remarks about her LSU gymnastics legacy and the request that LSU study naming its gymnastics training facility in her honor. Several bills affecting school operations and student support were heard and reported favorably, including HB 434 on probationary school bus driver employment and superintendent authority over dismissal; HB 484 expanding scholarship benefits for children and spouses of fallen or disabled firefighters and police officers; HB 749 and HB 1059 on savings accounts and TOPS math eligibility alignment; HB 218 adding food insecurity questions to student questionnaires, which was amended and reported favorably; HB 325 expanding TOPS Tech eligibility through dual enrollment and part-time use; HB 476 requiring Safe Haven law postings in middle and high school restrooms; HB 1249 clarifying access to school-based health centers, with an amendment adopted; HB 1242 allowing more than one early learning center license at the same location under certain circumstances; HB 632 improving data protections and functionality for LA First; and HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students, which was amended to address IEP and dispute-process concerns before being reported favorably. Two bills drew extended debate over transparency, privacy, and school autonomy. HB 608 would create confidentiality for intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing documents; LSU representatives argued the bill was needed to protect student-athletes and competitive information, while PAR and the Louisiana Press Association opposed it as an improper secrecy carve-out for state-generated revenue. Despite the opposition, the committee reported HB 608 favorably. HB 1112, which would exempt BESE-approved non-public pre-K programs from certain licensure and safety requirements and adjust related definitions, was amended and then heard with testimony from the Pelican Institute in support, arguing it corrects overreach from prior law and protects private school autonomy and parental choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:05.480><c> facilitate</c> collaboration to actively facilitate collaboration to actively facilitate
• I just want to make it very clear to you also: don't start lobbying us on something, right?
• I just want to make it very clear to you also: don't start lobbying us on something, right?
• I mean, that's part of the tax lobby issue. I don't know.
• </c> of the tax the tax Lobby of the tax the tax Lobby issue<01:19:42.040><c> I</c><01:19:42.120><c>

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're still actively working to build up their water infrastructure.
• And we're still actively working to build up their water infrastructure.
• Rabbis declared boycotted grapes non-kosher and lobbied in Sacramento.
• Rabbis declared boycotted grapes non-kosher, lobbied in Sacramento with religious leaders, and encouraged

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with a Native American prayer/song and a moment of silence for former staff member Eric Washington, then proceeded through a series of procedural motions, guest introductions, and floor ceremonies. Members also recognized Assemblymember Ward’s birthday and welcomed several guests, including family members, business and community leaders, firefighters, and students. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to the Native American Day ceremony and adoption of ACR 208 by Assemblymember Ramos, which recognized California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference. Multiple caucus leaders spoke in support, emphasizing Native history, sovereignty, cultural preservation, missing and murdered Indigenous people, and the need to tell California’s history honestly. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 61 coauthors were added, followed by a ceremonial honoring of tribal elders and leaders. The Assembly also adopted several other resolutions and concurred in Senate amendments on multiple bills. These included ACR 126 designating the Captain Vida Anderson Memorial Highway, AB 1651 requiring disclosure of AI use in bar exam development, AB 2789 on mediation, AJR 27 urging federal disaster aid for Eaton and Palisades fire victims, and AB 2134 protecting local officials taking parental leave. Later, ACR 213 designated September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, HR 102 recognized Filipino American History Month, and ACR 230 proclaimed California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day; all were adopted with broad support and many coauthors. The Senate file also began with SCR 136 on coastal protection and SJR 12 opposing offshore drilling, with debate reflecting strong environmental opposition and a dissenting view that the resolution was too absolute and could raise energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to pay for services to counter these activities, as well as paying for a lot of staff time.
• He said that low-income families with children are the most active coupon users.
• hundreds of thousands of working people across Washington and that they will be on the hill next week for lobby
• We'll be on the hill next week to have folks out here for our lobby day to talk with you all about it

Bills: SB6149 , SB6175 , SB6230 , SB6248 , SB6312 , SB6061 , SB6137

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: rural county, frontier county, public facilities funding, economic development, local option sales tax, sales and use tax, workforce housing, affordable housing, county tax authority, RCW, Washington state, community economic revitalization board, CED, infrastructure funding, public works, job creation, job retention, job expansion, county planning, state auditor reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Faith and Justice Lobby Day.
• . activities. activities.
• Representative Luck continued: On a singular lobbying firm or consultant, I guess, and that consultant
• /c> $50,000 to make sure kids do the $50,000 to make sure kids do the political<01:05:33.680><c> activism
• </c> at the secretary of state's lobbying at the secretary of state's lobbying site,<03:14:46.880><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Without Limits might want to join the conversation of what I'll be, you know, legislative advocacy and lobbying
• So again, because we can't advocate or legislate or lobby, we know that there are concerns.
• So again, because we can't advocate or legislate or lobby, we know that there are concerns.

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met on May 18 and approved the prior meeting minutes. The group heard first about the Massachusetts Disability Employment Tax Credit from MassAbility staff, who explained that the credit offers employers an incentive for hiring workers with disabilities, that the certification process is designed to be simple and largely self-attesting, and that outreach is being done through MassAbility’s website, business relations team, flyers, and a dedicated email address. Members asked about employer filing, available data, and whether credits can be carried forward; the presenter said the Department of Revenue handles implementation questions and that the program had recently resulted in its first company receiving the credit, though broader employer uptake remains limited. The subcommittee then heard from Scott Pitt of the Office of the Veteran Advocate, who described the new independent agency’s role in helping veterans access timely services, investigating problems, and improving coordination across state systems. He focused on veterans’ disability ratings, the fact that VA disability does not necessarily prevent work, and the importance of discharge status for access to benefits such as the GI Bill and state programs. He also highlighted vocational rehabilitation, housing and caregiver supports, and the office’s work on professional licensure barriers, especially in nursing, where Massachusetts is exploring whether military training can be recognized more directly. Members discussed other states’ approaches, the need for more data, and possible connections to workforce and nursing stakeholders. In the final portion of the meeting, members discussed a lengthy policy brief and the subcommittee’s future work. They identified two main areas of interest: the “benefit cliff” and youth/young adult pathways into employment, including apprenticeships. Members agreed the brief should be revisited at the August 31 meeting and that they may need a more structured format, such as a spreadsheet or landscape map, to organize the information. The chair emphasized that the commission can collect and share information and develop a white paper for appointing authorities, but cannot lobby or legislate, and invited members interested in the benefit cliff work to join follow-up discussions. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, our friendly Landon Gates is out in the lobby somewhere and he can take your credit card if you need
• Gates is out in the lobby somewhere and Gates is out in the lobby somewhere and he<00:39:49.200><c> can

Transcript Highlights:

• respondents support the idea of increased restrictions on lobbyists, including banning legislators from lobbying
• Do you have concerns about lobbying in Minnesota? So, I actually have the bill to do exactly that.
• , you know, folks often when they see legislators who retire or even resign and go straight into lobbying

Transcript Highlights:

• They are concerned about the usage of the energy, the water, the size, the activities, everything else
• prohibited costs in regulatory accounts that are paid for by ratepayers, such as for political activities
• That activity violates state and federal law.
• activities, promotional advertising, contributions to trade associations that undertake those activities
• Many of the activities that were referenced would be very much illegal under that bill.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, there's a lot of activity going on, so we couldn't touch on everything, but we really wanted
• This added language says, no, it's statewide, so it's inclusive of all business activities.
• This added language says, no, it's statewide, so it's inclusive of all business activities.
• So you're not doing any geothermal activities whatsoever.
• </c><01:24:16.360><c> with</c> things that through like lobbying with things that through like lobbying

Transcript Highlights:

• industry, erasing hundreds of thousands of jobs, wiping out tens of billions of dollars in economic activity
• call your U.S. representatives, send letters, show up at district offices, go to D.C. if you can, lobby
• go to DC if show up at district offices, go to DC if you<00:19:33.840><c> can,</c><00:19:34.720><c> lobby
• <c> change</c><00:19:35.840><c> in</c><00:19:36.080><c> the</c><00:19:36.240><c> year</c> you can, lobby
• for a change in the year you can, lobby for a change in the year we<00:19:36.720><c> have</c><00:19:

Transcript Highlights:

• Both stations see the greatest number of calls and activities from people coming from around the region
• It is located right on the state trail and is a stop for many who are focusing on having a more active
• It is located right on the state trail and is a stop for many who are focusing on having a more active
• This work included significant renovations and expansions to existing lobby and support spaces and some
• and support spaces and some very lobby and support spaces and some very much<00:35:37.120><c> needed

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Give peace to restless hearts, wisdom to active minds, and grace enough for this day's work.
• 00:03:53.440><c> hearts,</c><00:03:54.239><c> wisdom</c><00:03:54.640><c> to</c><00:03:54.879><c> active
• </c> to restless hearts, wisdom to active to restless hearts, wisdom to active minds,<00:03:56.319><c
• The barbers and stylists who want this bill, they don't have a lobbying budget like the restaurant and
• </c><00:54:43.440><c> budget</c> bill, they don't have a lobbying budget bill, they don't have a lobbying

Transcript Highlights:

• In a blighted, underserved area, and create real residential and commercial activity from the ground
• And they talk about how movement and physical activity, the right to physical activity, is just that.
• people who are heading state agencies go back and lobby their own agency.
• A bill to be entitled and act relating to betters andvention program activities.
• Intervention program activities. Relating to batterers intervention program activities.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and doctor-of-the-day introduction, then moved through a long special-order calendar. Early proceedings included a resolution honoring former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also heard several member introductions and recognitions before taking up bills. The most substantial debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758 on public assistance and Medicaid/SNAP reforms. The bill would strengthen fraud enforcement, impose a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid pharmacy purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Senators Berman, Smith, Bracy Davis, Osgood, and others argued for Medicaid expansion and added protections for vulnerable SNAP recipients, while Gates defended the bill as a compliance and cost-saving measure. Multiple amendments were offered, including Berman’s Medicaid-expansion condition and Osgood’s SNAP photo-ID safeguards; both were defeated. The bill was placed on the calendar for third reading after extended questioning. The Senate then passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions before final vote. These included tax conformity legislation (7031/7048), technology and computer science education (1503/1694), Parkinson’s disease registry and related public-records measures (1443/1684), designation of the SS American Victory as the official state flagship (249/1656), electronic payments for local governments (967/1612), legal tender and related public-records exemptions for gold, silver, stablecoins, and virtual currency kiosks (1311/1588/1087/7044/1568), local government finance and spending transparency (1329/1566), digital voyeurism (1536), insurance customer representative licensing (1343/1504), and medical freedom legislation (1756) with amendments on anti-kickback rules and vaccine information materials. Most bills passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with several amendments adopted and some withdrawn; the medical freedom bill was still under consideration at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they talk about how movement and physical activity, the right to physical activity, is just that.
• ban so that we can't go lobby for six years, and neither can other public officials, and neither can
• people who are heading state agencies go back and lobby their own agency.
• A bill to be entitled and act relating to betters andvention program activities.
• Intervention program activities. Relating to batterers intervention program activities.

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s sort of an internal lobbying group.
• Um there's an internal lobbying group.
• They get involved in legislative activities related to child welfare.
• </c><02:32:24.560><c> that</c> scientific, and athletic activities that scientific, and athletic activities
• /c><02:55:52.800><c> additional</c> active assertive search for additional active assertive search for

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.