Transcript Highlights:

• Pledge of Allegiance of the Flag, which will be appropriately led by Senator Alston on a pretty big day
• facility in partnership with Banner Health Care, which provided free health care to students and their
• This is your portion of the day, so thank you very much, Mr. President and members.
• Everyone, they fell in love with you, especially kids in foster care.
• And get more money for kinship care. Leela, it got me on my knees, Leela.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call, then approved the journal and spent much of the early session on personal privilege remarks, guest introductions, and proclamations. Recognitions included Arcadia High School’s 2026 state championship boys basketball team, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, Diné College and Navajo sovereignty/Indigenous higher education, Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, and Route 66’s centennial. The chamber also honored Senator Lela Alston for her long legislative career and retirement, with remarks from colleagues and a musical tribute after recess. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole and considered three House bills. HB 2048, dealing with orders of protection and process service, was amended and recommended do pass. HB 2398, concerning watercraft insurance requirements and penalties, was amended after debate over a floor amendment exempting some infrequent boat rentals; the amendment was adopted over opposition from Senator Epstein, and the bill was recommended do pass as amended. HB 2611, relating to child welfare and group home safety, was amended with changes requiring DCS reporting and standards for group foster homes, and was also recommended do pass as amended. On third reading, the Senate passed HB 2198, HB 2434, HB 2764, HB 2772, HB 2837, HB 2868, HB 2906, and HB 2996, with HB 2772 drawing a 17-9 vote after Senator Gonzales objected that it could affect emergency responders seeking driver’s licenses from patients. HB 2868 passed 25-1, HB 1668 passed 25-1, and the rest passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to SB 1168, SB 1254, and SB 1668, then passed SB 1168 and SB 1254 on final reading and sent them to the Governor; SB 1668 also passed final reading and was sent to the Governor. The chamber then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• day, right?
• What's left in the machine per day?
• Geography doesn't care about... I mean, I'm sorry, retail behavior doesn't care about geography.
• Geography doesn't care about... I mean, I'm sorry, retail behavior doesn't care about geography.
• Geography doesn't care about... I mean, I'm sorry, retail behavior doesn't care about geography.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and CFO Jim Durus. McIntyre said the Lottery has more than tripled its return to the Education Trust Fund since 2011, from $62 million to $207 million in FY 24, while keeping expenses relatively flat over time. He explained that the Lottery operates like a business, is heavily audited, and that the governor’s budget raises the FY 26-27 revenue estimate to $185 million, up about $12 million annually from prior estimates. He attributed FY 24’s unusually strong results to record Powerball sales driven by a spike in billion-dollar jackpots tied to higher interest rates, and said scratch tickets still make up most gross sales, though Powerball is the highest-margin product. Members questioned the Lottery about the difference between gross revenue and profit, the steep rise in operating expenses, and the reasons for requested budget increases. McIntyre said the main drivers were payroll, benefits, advertising, added regulatory responsibilities from expanded gaming, and a new Salesforce customer-tracking system. He also described requested capital needs, including an outdated security system, building access and ADA improvements, and upgrades to the front office for employee safety. He said the security system is still running on an old Windows 7-based setup and that the requested upgrade would modernize cameras and add redundancy. The discussion also covered staffing and gaming expansion. McIntyre said the Lottery has 84 employees including three commissioners, with 13 funded vacancies, and that it plans to fill positions as two new gaming rooms come online in Rochester and Derry. He said the Lottery’s revenue estimates were revised upward because sports betting in Massachusetts had less impact than expected and historic horse racing machines have been more profitable than forecast. He also explained the governor’s proposal to shift historic horse racing toward slot-style machines, saying the physical machines would look largely the same but the content and math would change, and that the state’s revenue share would increase under the proposal. No votes were taken; the committee mainly asked questions and received explanations about the Lottery’s budget and revenue assumptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Folks, to Hoplin, I want to respect those who are here on time, and I know everyone has busy days and
• Helping the cause of getting people with postpartum depression the care they need.
• Someone from MassHealth Managed Care Organization.
• And I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you. Senator Gomez and his team.
• And I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The commission met to review the state budget process and discuss maternal and perinatal health funding. Members heard that the House did not adopt several maternal health amendments, including funding for community-based perinatal mental health grants, implementation of maternal health law items, Tufts Center for Maternal Health Advancement, private insurance coverage for midwifery care, a midwifery workforce development fund, and birthing center grants. On the Senate side, three amendments were adopted: funding for the Mass Now menstrual equity program, a large earmark for the Neighborhood Birth Center, and funding for an out-of-state resident reproductive health training pilot. Other Senate proposals, including a midwifery workforce fund, a health education trust fund, and the Tufts center request, were not adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will promote care provider education in partnership with the Department of Health to improve care
• So one day he was good, and then after the accident, things started declining, so it happened really
• The first issue in the bill requires every employer of a residential facility or day training program
• If safety truly matters, then safety standards should apply to everyone providing care.
• Members, there are already barriers to youth within the foster care system.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was in foster care, and...” “...was in foster care and was in jail, in juvenile detention, jail, prison
• And he wanted to talk about the project, the day.
• Care for each other.
• I’m used to 30 days. Within 90 days, in accordance with RCW 34.05.461 subsection 8A.
• So they would issue a final order within 90 days.

Summary: The hearing resumed in the Legislative Ethics Board matter involving Tara Simmons after the board confirmed no ex parte communications had occurred overnight. Respondent’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she violated ethics rules by combining legislative support for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and personal dealings were intertwined. After a recess for deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss, and the hearing moved into the defense case. The first defense witness was Sharon Navas, executive director of the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC). Navas testified that she met Simmons in 2018, later hired her, and took steps to separate Simmons’s legislative duties from her work for EEC. She said Simmons was never paid for lobbying or legislative acts, that her compensation came from unrestricted funds, and that the organization used written ethics-compliance language and a formal scope of work. Navas also described the proviso-funded dashboard project involving Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley, testifying that Simmons was not involved in the project’s day-to-day work, did not attend the meetings about the dispute, and was not part of the alleged contract disagreement. On cross-examination, staff focused on the contract documents, the dashboard work, and whether the scope of work matched the parties’ understanding. Tara Simmons then testified in her own defense. She described her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics guidance from House counsel and board-related materials before taking outside employment or supporting provisos. She said she relied on prior ethics advice when separating her legislative role from outside work and when seeking provisos for AEJG and EEC. Simmons also addressed her relationship with Anthony Powers, describing it as a friendship rooted in criminal justice reform work and prior collaboration. The hearing was still in the middle of Simmons’s direct testimony when the transcript excerpt ended, with no final ruling on the merits or disposition of the allegations.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 243 only just took effect 13 days ago.
• I adopted my daughter through Alameda County foster care.
• Happy Founders Day.
• What happened to me that day was not a misunderstanding.
• And that's going on every single day.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last I checked, months don't have more than 31 days, but 40 days of good time per month. So, Ms.
• So if you have two years, minus 60 days, you have 670 days remaining.
• So you get 0.25 times the 558 days. So you get 0.25 times the 558 days.
• I just lost 10 days. I'm here 10 days longer because I did this. We never had that before.
• We have to be exceedingly careful when we talk about these things. Exceedingly careful.

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence honoring a deceased member, then approved the April minutes. The first major presentation was from Chelsea Florey of Child and Family Services on the Diversion Task Force and related grant programs created with one-time funding from HB 1012. She reported that five of six proposals were funded, with youth diversion services operating in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and a Red River Children’s Advocacy Center program focused on problematic sexualized behavior. Members discussed barriers such as staffing shortages, voluntary family engagement, service fatigue, and the need for better coordination, broader outreach, and possible changes to diversion eligibility rules so low-level cases can remain in diversion longer. Several legislators pressed for more practical system changes and clearer service navigation, while Florey said the task force is trying to build a service array or hub and is leaning on the Children’s Cabinet for broader recommendations. The committee then heard from North Dakota Lottery Director Thomas Lawler, who gave an operational overview and biennium report. He described the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, Pick and Click subscriptions, Players Club membership, and revenue distribution. For the 2023-25 biennium, about $67 million in tickets were purchased, with roughly $16.2 million transferred overall, including money for the general fund, drug task force grants, and compulsive gambling prevention and treatment. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether the amount is set by statute. A lengthy presentation followed from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on criminal justice data connectivity and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that North Dakota’s jail, court, HHS, and correctional systems use multiple separate databases that do not communicate in real time, requiring manual cross-checks and staff communication. He said the department is exploring a centralized hub or other integration approach, but noted challenges with identifiers, vendor contracts, confidentiality, and cost. Robin Schmolenberger then updated the committee on a Medicaid data-sharing project with HHS, saying monthly application assistance is now occurring in correctional facilities and that automated bi-directional data exchange is expected in late 2026 to help suspend and reactivate Medicaid coverage and identify former foster care youth. Members also discussed parole, probation, transitional housing, and the need for better real-time notifications and clearer data definitions. The committee also received an update from county representatives on the 24/7 sobriety program, including a recent attorney general opinion that if a court waives 24/7 fees, sheriffs may use the cheaper twice-daily breath test or urine testing instead of SCRAM bracelets or drug patches. Finally, Bruce Johnson of the Racing Commission presented on an audit report, acknowledging serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, grant documentation failures, a breeders fund eligibility reversal, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has already changed its procedures by tracking fund limits monthly, requiring grant applications and itemized reports, enforcing breeders fund rules as written, and routing purchases through procurement with written contracts. The committee asked follow-up questions throughout but took no formal votes on these presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been $15,000, actually, since my days.
• access to early education and care.
• Sure that with this four-day, one day, dedicated to adjudication solely, we’re able to,” “That with this
• four-day, one day dedicated to adjudication solely, we’re able to tackle more in a more efficient way
• Take care. All right. All right.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And more veterans armistice day. This bill's been considered on three different days and agreed to.
• And the reason we were below that is because people don't care. Why don't they care?
• They don't trust us because of days like today. They don't trust us because of days like today.
• tax credit for child care.
• We have $8 billion in the rainy day fund still.

Summary: The House met in extended session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and a series of journal, committee, and Senate bill reports. Members also received several referrals and Senate messages, and the Speaker signed multiple bills already prepared for the Governor. The chamber then took up a long slate of measures, largely budget-related and conference/concurrence items, with repeated roll-call votes and several brief floor remarks for and against the bills. Among the major actions, the House passed or concurred in a number of Senate bills addressing fiscal code and budget implementation, abusive towing practices, telemarketing robocalls and caller ID spoofing, prostitution penalty changes, veteran notification procedures, the cosmetology licensure compact, solar decommissioning, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, E85 flex fuel definitions, local road transfers, civil penalties for unlicensed commercial driving schools, and trailer sales. The House also adopted House Resolution 580 designating July 18, 2026, as Piping Plover Day. Most of these measures passed overwhelmingly, many by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The most significant debate centered on House Bill 2400, the General Appropriations budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, and House Bill 1505, the education-related budget implementation bill. Supporters described the budget as a bipartisan compromise that funds adequacy and tax equity for schools, public safety, mental health, roads and bridges, veterans, seniors, and workforce programs while avoiding broad-based tax increases. Opponents argued the budget used accounting maneuvers, deferred spending, and was structurally unbalanced. After extended debate, the House concurred in the Senate amendments to HB 2400 by a 167-35 vote and to HB 1505 by a 172-30 vote. The House also considered House Bill 2559, which included Commonwealth property conveyances and a controversial provision affecting Penn State branch campus properties. A motion to recommit the bill failed, and the House ultimately concurred in the Senate amendments by a 105-97 vote after members debated property rights, labor effects, and the future use of the campuses. The session concluded with the Senate later concurring in several House amendments, the Speaker signing the final bills, and the House adjourning until September 9, 2026, unless recalled sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 3 removes definitions for the terms health care facility and health care provider, and Amendment
• Boy, it's a day for voluntary deferrals.
• Is it Iris Domestic Violence Care? Ms. Freeman, present in opposition.
• I guess it's an interesting day.
• No way of knowing what a particular person would want to do on a day-to-day basis.

Bills: HB343 , HB378 , HB394 , HB396 , HB426 , HB439 , HB491 , HB523 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB1025 , HB1038

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: parole eligibility, juvenile offenders, rehabilitation, first-time offenders, reentry programs, substance abuse treatment, education programs, emergency responders, law enforcement, obstructing traffic, public safety, penalties, parole, criminal justice, release extension, prison reform, autopsy, criminal evidence, photographs, court proceedings

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, three days are the expectation, three days in the office, two days at home.
• </c> they can work from home 2 days a week. they can work from home 2 days a week.
• </c><00:34:52.639><c> of</c> months, there has been 1 day of months, there has been 1 day of unexpected
• </c><00:35:07.760><c> of</c> think you said there's been 1 day of think you said there's been 1 day of
• I’ve been with my ADD district on three meetings within the last 90 days. It started 90 days ago.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 SERVS Informational Update- 00:01:22 Child Removal and Reunification Update: Department for Community Based Services Financials- 00:03:00 Small Business Sales Tax Websites: Department of Revenue-00:28:05 Senior Citizen Meal Programs: Department for Aging and Independent Living-00:35:50 Adjournment-01:41:57, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 11 meeting by motion and voice vote. It then received a brief update on the statewide emergency responder voice system, but no presenter was present. The chair said he expected a more substantive update in November and warned that if there is not real progress on acquiring needed private properties, the committee may consider further action, including possibly freezing funding. The main discussion centered on the Department for Community Based Services’ child removal and reunification work and its structured decision-making tools. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and General Counsel Wesley Duke explained that the intake, safety, and risk assessment tools are being used at very high rates and that the department is still implementing and evaluating the system. Dennis said the tools are meant to inform, not replace, professional judgment; when staff disagree with a recommendation, the worker and first-line supervisor consult and decide together. Members questioned whether the system favors keeping children in the home, whether the department has studied safety outcomes for in-home cases versus removals, and whether foster home shortages affect removal decisions. Dennis said child safety remains the top priority, that the practice has not changed, and that the department would provide additional data on outcomes later. Members also asked about permanency timelines and delays in termination of parental rights cases; Dennis said federal timelines are difficult to meet because of family progress, substance use recovery, and court delays, and she confirmed foster parent shortages were not the reason for those delays. The committee then heard a presentation from the Department of Revenue on the new My Taxes portal. Staff said the portal, launched in March, replaced DOR’s portion of the old Kentucky One Stop Business Portal and now allows businesses to file and pay multiple taxes, update account information, and receive official notices. They reported the system is available 24/7 except for scheduled maintenance every other Thursday evening, has maintained over 99% availability since launch, and now has a dedicated contact center with 50 agents plus a public help line and email. In response to questions, the department said early downtime was caused by unexpectedly high traffic, but server capacity was increased and in the last three months there had been only one day of unexpected downtime.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1670, Arambula, Medi-Cal dental care, holding committee.
• AB 1979, Bonta, AI and health care, do pass out on a B roll call.
• AB 1746, Davies, CalWORKs child care forms, do pass as amended to clarify the 10-day timeline.
• AB 2083, Jackson, child care special districts, held in committee.
• AB 2575, Ortega, AI and health care, do pass out on a B roll call.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each day that we delay action is another day that lives are at risk.
• They were hearing us, and they cared. And that meant so much.
• She saw me crying one day because I miss my son. I am one day because I miss my son.
• because our health care system is so atrocious.
• I'm with her every day. I talk to her constantly.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are on the second agenda for the day. The Senate will come to order.
• The fourth order of business for the day is reports of committees. Order.
• We are on the fourth order of business for the day: reports of committees. Mr.
• We are on the sixth order of business for the day: reports of committees. Mr.
• We are now on the seventh agenda for the day. Just...

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In one case, it was over 220 days.
• ,</c><00:43:53.200><c> but</c> important work they do every day, but important work they do every day
• </c><01:07:53.359><c> after</c> could have been done uh the day after could have been done uh the day
• </c> or referrals to health care providers. or referrals to health care providers.
• </c> Do you care to comment Mr. Johnson? Do you care to comment Mr. Johnson?

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It would also apply on election day.
• </c> into effect 180 days after the election. into effect 180 days after the election.
• I guess I put a—would you believe, so it's I... a city takes care of that along with a city takes care
• </c> legislate because it's not every day legislate because it's not every day that<01:13:44.640><c>
• That takes care of that.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:07:58.319><c> transparency,</c> regardless of the care, transparency, regardless of the care
• </c> depend on a responsible pet care depend on a responsible pet care community.<00:08:09.919><c> Thank
• We urge you to pet care community.
• I with us to this day and very healthy.
• </c> you know, uh pass on or uh sell one day you know, uh pass on or uh sell one day and<00:25:26.640

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that will be our last topic of the day.
• Uh, but it's a new day.
• day for you guys, but my last day of work is June 30th. >> Well, um, we’re not going to meet again until
• So give them that opportunity to take care of that. And ...opportunity to take care of that.
• We care about our children.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You again may have to make it HIPAA compliant, that it be served at least 14 days before the day of production
• </c><00:26:54.080><c> So,</c><00:26:54.400><c> but</c> shift, day shift, whatever.
• So, but shift, day shift, whatever.
• There's just merely not enough law enforcement to fulfill the duties these days.
• There's just merely not enough law enforcement to fulfill the duties these days.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> care for Claremont is about $868,000. care for Claremont is about $868,000.
• The way we've tried to school care.
• </c> would spend all day every day for two would spend all day every day for two weeks<00:51:01.760><
• I also this should take care of that.
• </c> dug on the watch at the end of the day. dug on the watch at the end of the day.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all