Transcript Highlights:

• That comes out to about $85 per employee.
• That comes out to about $85 per employee.
• employees they're because they're not employees they're they're<01:56:14.599><c> it's</c><01:56:14.719
• How many employees did you start with?
• </c><02:32:22.359><c> how</c> way um you're adding 43 employees how way um you're adding 43 employees

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt on the New Hampshire Insurance Department budget. He said the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers based on New Hampshire premium volume, with about $8 billion in premiums written in the state and a department budget of roughly $15.5 million. He explained that the department has 88 authorized positions, eight vacancies, and that three full-time positions were unfunded after the governor’s requested 4% reduction exercise. He also said the department is trying to balance staffing needs with not overburdening carriers during a hard insurance market. A major topic was the department’s $2.6 million rebate to industry from the prior fiscal year, which Bettencourt described as a credit against the next assessment rather than a direct cash payment. Members questioned why that credit was not reflected as a reduction in the upcoming budget, and Bettencourt and staff explained that the budget assumes full staffing and full spending, with any year-end surplus returned to insurers. The commissioner said the department had added staff in recent years for succession planning and to preserve institutional expertise, and that the rebate reflects careful budgeting rather than excess spending. Members also asked about staffing changes by division, including positions unfunded in fraud, property and casualty examinations, life and health examinations, and tax. Bettencourt said fraud investigations remain strong and that the department can use outside contractors for examinations, with those costs billed to the company being examined. He also described the department’s examination process, including periodic financial exams and targeted market conduct reviews triggered by consumer complaints or trends. Additional questions covered OIT transfers, the department’s oversight of fully insured health coverage, the insurance premium tax and fines going to the general fund, and the department’s limited role in auto repair reimbursement disputes, where he said complaints have recently declined.

Transcript Highlights:

• That money was supposed to be used for raises for the employees.
• This really has to do with employees; it has to do with population growth.
• This really has to do with employees; it has to do with population growth.
• We didn't give the employees a raise this year.
• Senate Bill 1110 last year was brought up about employees.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Shannon Manning, an employee of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Stephanie Rivera, an employee of the Worcester County Sheriff's
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Shannon Manning, an employee of the trial court of the Commonwealth
• , S-2908. an employee of the trial court of the Commonwealth, S2908.
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Stephanie Rivera, an employee of the Worcester County Sheriff's

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution offered by Senator Fattman honoring Reverend Robert Gratterotti on his 90th birthday. The chamber then took up several local and special acts on third reading, including bills waiving the Boston Police Department maximum age requirement for officers Adam Watt, Rodney Alcindor, Jonathan Telford, Kenny Gatto, and Jean E. Rosney, as well as measures concerning the Hudson town charter, a Plymouth land acquisition revenue account, and Falmouth funding for low-pressure pump installations. Each of these bills was passed to be engrossed. The Senate also acted on committee and House papers. It suspended Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12 to consider a transportation-related petition concerning Massachusetts Department of Transportation easements in Woburn and Burlington, then referred the matter to the Committee on Transportation. The Senate ordered to a third reading House bills relating to James J. O'Neill Park and a transfer of land interest in West Brookfield after suspending the rules. Later, the Senate passed several bills to be enacted, including measures increasing the membership of the Berkeley Board of Selectmen, establishing sick leave banks for Shannon Manning and Stephanie Rivera, additional Boston police age-waiver bills, and a Bridgewater charter amendment adding gender-neutral language. It also passed a House bill making certain fiscal year 2027 appropriations before final action on the general appropriations bill, after a parliamentary inquiry confirmed the amount of the 112th budget as $7.7 billion and noted it would be rescinded once the General Appropriations Act is passed. Finally, the Senate enacted additional bills on Plainville and Orange town charters and the fiscal year 2027 appropriations measure, then adopted an order to reconvene in formal session the following Wednesday at 11 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• MDE currently has 475 employees and a $49 million payroll.
• The fiscal note says MDE would need 13 additional employees, including five employees to help schools
• Four employees to tell parents if their children know how to read, and five employees to let schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 302 creates a public records exemption for the personal information of current and former employees
• against judges from the litigants who are dissatisfied with adverse results in court proceedings, J QC employees
• who receive and investigate these J QC employees who receive and investigate these complaints have experienced
• complainants who are dissatisfied with the Jake who sees resolution of their complaints causing employees
• This exemption will provide the same measure protection to the personal information of JQC employees

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• consider holding computer science funding steady this biennium at $1 million to support a full-time employee
• And on average, they serve significantly more English language learners, homeless and highly mobile youth

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a critical need for the Town of West Tisbury to allow us to retain and attract qualified employees
• The six towns have a joint... ...of West Tisbury to allow us to retain and attract qualified employees
• And we anticipate that town public sector employee housing is likely to be one of those things.
• And we anticipate that town public sector employee housing is likely to be one of those things.
• And we anticipate that town public sector employee housing is likely to be one of those things.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on two bills: H. 5447, a home rule petition concerning the Town of West Tisbury’s affordable housing trust fund, and H. 5317/H. 5314, relating to condominium conversion or partition of co-owned two-unit buildings. Chair Richard Haggerty and Senate co-chair Julian Cyr opened the hearing and explained the format, including three-minute testimony limits and a July 31 deadline for written testimony. Peter Harrington testified in support of updating the partition law so courts could use condominium conversion when dividing co-owned property. He said the current law is rooted in medieval-era rules and can hinder preservation of middle-class housing, especially where a two-family home might otherwise be sold and redeveloped. He argued the change would give judges a modern tool to preserve existing housing stock and noted the issue arises in some partition cases, though not every day. Laura Silber testified for West Tisbury in support of H. 5447, saying the town wants its affordable housing trust fund expanded to serve households up to 180% of area median income and to support seasonal-community workforce needs, including public sector essential workers. She said the town and Martha’s Vineyard Commission also support broader seasonal-community housing tools and a future local option transfer fee. Senator Cyr questioned whether the home rule petition was necessary given the Seasonal Communities law, and Silber responded that the petition was a short-term measure while technical fixes and a pooled year-round housing trust are developed. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with adjournment after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number two: Under current law, unclassified and classified employees of the ROV may not run for
• This measure closes a loophole in the current law, which will prohibit part-time or parish employees
• Item number two, under current law, unclassified and classified employees of the ROV may not run for
• This measure closes a loophole in the current law which will prohibit part-time or parish employees of
• the ROV from law, which will prohibit part-time or parish employees of the ROV from running for public

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the March 11, 2025 meeting. Chair Nancy Landry explained that the board was reviewing proposed technical and administrative changes for the Department of State’s 2026 elections omnibus bill, which would later go to the House and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees for public hearing. No public comment cards were submitted, and the board reiterated that comments could also be emailed to the acting secretary. First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd presented items 1 through 39, with item 7 removed before consideration and item 37 later removed after board discussion. The proposals covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including registrar salary payment timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, clarifying party affiliation for voters who select “unaffiliated,” technical updates for voter registration transfers and precinct changes, protections for pre-registrants’ personal information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee ballot procedures, nomination petition certification, notice requirements when a candidate dies, watcher deadlines, over-voting, ballot curing, nursing home voting timing, procurement authority for voting equipment, and deadlines for contesting constitutional amendments and election irregularities. Several items were explained as cleanup or consistency changes to align the election code with current practice and prior omnibus revisions. Board members asked multiple clarifying questions, especially about the meaning of “unaffiliated,” the timing language for pre-registrants, what counts as actual notice of a candidate’s death, and whether proposed rules would follow the APA. The most substantive disagreement involved item 37, which would have allowed the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official; after discussion, the board agreed to remove that item from the omnibus recommendations. Members also discussed item 38, which would create a cause of action and deadline for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, which clarifies that election contests cannot be filed before election day. The board then approved the remaining provisions—items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 and 39—and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• for their employees, or to reinvest as they see fit in their businesses.
• Ensure employees are not criminals with background checks.
• Ensure employees are not criminals with background checks.
• Municipalities do currently require background checks for all employees, full-time and seasonal employees
• Municipalities do currently require background checks for all employees, full-time and seasonal employees

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I think all employees who work side by side with other state employees deserve the benefits of
• </c><00:52:10.000><c> Um,</c> then they would just be employees.
• Um, then they would just be employees.
• </c> side by side with other state employees side by side with other state employees deserve<00:52:16.559
• ,</c><00:55:38.160><c> what</c> direct if they're not an employee, what direct if they're not an employee

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the substitute, just to give you some background, states that the comptroller shall bar any employee
• And I do want to note here at the outset that there are only about 500 such, uh, employees in the entire
• risks without providing them with the same protections and same benefits that other public safety employees
• Another employee of mine faced an even greater challenge.
• And I know it wasn't a sound business decision, but every single one of my employees is very valuable

Committee: House S/C on Workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 21 by Representative Gloria Oso amends Title 11, the Municipal Employees Retirement System
• To amend Title 11, municipal employees retirement system, employer participation, certain exemptions,
• within each department, powers and duties of those employees, and creation of a new position within
• Title 23 first responders to provide for definitions to include public works employees to define public
• works employees.

Bills: HR46 , HR47 , HR48 , HR49 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , HR42 , HR43 , HR44 , HR45 , HCR22 , HCR23 , HCR24 , HCR25 , HCR26 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR29 , HCR30 , SCR13 , HB894 , HB983 , HB984 , SB19 , SB23 , SB26 , SB30 , SB39 , SB45 , SB46 , SB50 , SB51 , SB55 , SB69 , SB71 , SB73 , SB84 , SB85 , SB89 , SB96 , SB98 , SB101 , SB110 , SB148 , SB150 , SB160 , SB164 , SB303 , SB340 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB160 , HB171 , HB174 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB198 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB237 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB316 , HB351 , HB393 , HB400 , HB413 , HB446 , HB469 , HB486 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB807 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB474 , HB487 , HB503 , HB606 , HB633 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB846 , HB852 , HB856 , HB868 , HB875 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB221 , HB148 , HB331 , HB149 , HB901

Keywords: HR 46, House Resolution 46, water well drillers, water wells, well drilling, driller licensure, licensing requirements, Department of Conservation and Energy, R.S. 38:3098.1, LAC 46.LXXXIX.507, professional references, two years drilling experience, workforce development, barriers to entry, water infrastructure, natural resources, groundwater, public health, state water resources, occupational licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• The way it's been working thus far in Eagle is that the director is a city employee.
• I double-checked on Transparent Idaho just now, and he is a city employee of the city of Eagle.
• The library staff that he hires and fires are city employees as well.
• The library staff that he hires and fires are city employees as well.
• Right now, again, being that the director is a city employee, but the board has statutory authority to

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee met with a quorum and heard several bills. House Bill 749, dealing with forced annexation and septic-system replacement in unique annexation situations, was presented as a property-rights compromise that would let a city pay for a new system or allow the homeowner to install one at their own expense. The committee moved HB 749 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion carried. House Bill 661, which would allow small waste haulers to compete in counties with franchise agreements, also received a due pass recommendation and passed the committee. House Bill 715, which would require city council involvement in hiring or firing directors of city-owned libraries, drew strong opposition from library professionals and associations who warned it would politicize libraries and create conflicting lines of authority; supporters argued it would add accountability for taxpayer-funded positions. Despite the opposition, the committee voted to send HB 715 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1354, a major accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bill that would prevent cities over 5,000 population from banning ADUs, require by-right allowances for internal and detached ADUs, limit local restrictions on size, setbacks, parking, fees, and owner-occupancy rules, and extend HOA restrictions to ADUs unless owners consent in writing. Supporters, including AARP Idaho and the Idaho Home Builders Association, said it would expand housing options, help aging Idahoans and family caregivers, and increase supply. Opponents, including the Association of Idaho Cities, APA Idaho, and community association representatives, argued it was too preemptive, would strain infrastructure and parking, and should preserve more local control. The committee voted to send SB 1354 to the 14th order for possible amendment after a failed motion to hold it in committee. House Bill 733, a tax administration bill, would shift partnership audit handling to the partnership level rather than requiring amended returns from each individual partner, aligning Idaho with federal practice and other states. The sponsor and a CPA representative said it was a process change only, intended to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency for both taxpayers and the Tax Commission. The committee sent HB 733 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee approved the minutes from February 26 and March 5 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the court in proceedings for court-ordered evaluation or court-ordered treatment to authorize an employee
• And this amendment and this bill will authorize an employee to complete the service and file the required
• created a new line of service: the service of necessary documents by screening and evaluation agency employees
• Our employee benefits cover it. This is just private insurance. Absolutely, yes.
• If we want to go into other titles, if we're looking at all state employees, we're open to have that

Bills: SB1113 , SB1115 , SB1122 , SB1123 , SB1125 , SB1165 , SB1188 , SB1193 , SB1243 , SB1318 , SB1477

Committee: House Health & Human Services

Keywords: mental health, involuntary evaluation, service of process, court-ordered treatment, evaluation agencies, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, healthcare, behavioral health, prior authorization, American Indian health program, medicaid, medical examiner, death investigation, body disposal, autopsy, veteran burial

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Katie Durkin, here on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees.
• Here on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees.
• It is an employee of DCYF who serves as a frontline, case-carrying position.
• Here on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees.
• It is an employee of DCYF who serves as a frontline, case-carrying position.

Summary: The Early Learning and Human Services Committee held public hearings on three bills. HB 2468 would update the Revised Code of Washington to match DSHS’s 2025 reorganization, replacing references to eliminated administrations with the new Home and Community Living Administration and Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration, and also removing a 2028 sunset on the Dementia Action Collaborative, adjusting advisory committee membership, and eliminating a staffing mandate tied to no-paid-services caseloads. The sponsor and DSHS testified in support as a technical cleanup bill, while members raised questions about possible amendments, including whether to keep or remove the Dementia Action Collaborative sunset. DSHS said it was open to changes and noted some statutory references still need correction. No vote was taken. HB 2529 would rename the DCYF Oversight Board as the DCYF Accountability Board, move it to OFM for administrative purposes, narrow some duties, require at least twice-yearly engagement with affected communities, allow the board to request ombuds reports, broaden some membership qualifications, and change the annual report to an every-other-year report starting in 2027. Representative Dent, a board member, said the changes were intended to make the board less political, improve attendance and membership flexibility, and focus the report on more useful recommendations. A union representative asked for language ensuring a DCYF caseworker board member can attend meetings as part of job duties rather than using personal leave. Members also questioned whether the reduced reporting frequency was appropriate given recent fatalities and near-fatalities at the agency. No action was taken. HB 2455 would create a two-year pilot program providing rental assistance and related housing fees for 50 youth in extended foster care who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, beginning January 1, 2027, with a report due in 2029 and transition planning required before youth age out at 21. The sponsor and multiple youth advocates testified strongly in support, describing homelessness, instability, and barriers such as “double-dipping” restrictions that prevent youth from combining housing supports. Testifiers said the bill would help youth focus on school, work, and healing, and urged the committee to expand the program if possible. Members asked about the pilot timeline and whether an interim review might be useful. The hearing closed with no vote on the bill, followed by committee announcements about Friday’s 8:30 a.m. meeting and an agenda change removing HB 2200 from Friday executive session and moving it to possible executive session next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to allow them to raise the wages of their employees or hire additional employees, growing the economy
• I think of the restaurant that has 24 employees.
• This is something that is going to help them keep their employees safe.
• We start thinking about the trickle-down: if employees can't go to the doctor because they don't have
• President and Senator, this is for small businesses of 50 or fewer employees. Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'm so proud of this small step for state employees, but maybe we'll get to everyone soon.
• We're passing it now for state employees. We did the same thing with our cancer bill last year.
• And these are state employees. These consultants are not contractors. That was my next question.
• These are state employees.
• That's why we are going to have, you know, maybe 197 employees in this, and we're going to pay...

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and considered three items. First, it heard and passed SB 158, which eliminates cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations under the state employee health plan. Senator Berman described the bill as a way to remove financial barriers to early breast cancer detection, and several senators spoke in strong support, emphasizing the importance of follow-up screening and the life- and cost-saving value of early diagnosis. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up SPB 7024, a committee bill on state planning and budgeting. Senator Brodeur explained that the proposal modernizes and simplifies the state agency long-range planning process by focusing on key data points, removing stale measures, and improving how plans are presented to the Legislature. Senator Berman supported the bill, highlighting new provisions on implementation status and budget consequences if enacted laws are not carried out. The committee voted to submit the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7026, a major overhaul of state information technology governance. Senator Harrell described a transition from the current Florida Digital Service structure to a new cabinet-level Agency for State Systems and Enterprise Technology (ASSET), with enterprise-wide standards, interoperability, procurement oversight, cybersecurity coordination, technical debt tracking, a testing laboratory, workforce development, and annual IT expenditure reporting. Members raised questions about procurement authority, judicial branch inclusion, existing contracts, cybersecurity, and staffing; Harrell said agencies would retain final procurement decisions but would have to follow enterprise standards, the courts were not included, existing contracts would continue, and the bill would add significant state IT staffing. Several amendments were adopted, including changes on CIO selection conflicts, removal of the Northwest Regional Data Center from a definition, reporting on deviations from standards, and technical updates related to the data center and workforce positions. Public testimony strongly supported the bill as a needed modernization of Florida’s fragmented IT system. The committee then reported SPB 7026 favorably as a committee bill. The meeting adjourned after members recorded their votes on the three items.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> if they assault a school employee. if they assault a school employee.
• </c> against a school employee. Uh Mr. against a school employee. Uh Mr.
• </c> school employee. school employee.
• , a teacher, or another employee?
• </c> payroll 600 employees payroll 600 employees is<01:22:59.280><c> well</c><01:22:59.679><c> in</c>

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got about 60 to 65 permanent and session-only employees.
• PERA oversees pension plans for the state employees and the legislative employees.
• Also, they will sometimes revise the employer and employee contribution rates.
• </c> employees and the legislative employees employees and the legislative employees of<00:30:18.440>
• </c> now have about 330,000 active employees now have about 330,000 active employees of<00:30:50.519>

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We were named in a lawsuit, and some of my employees were named in a lawsuit. point one I was hoping
• were named in a lawsuit In a lot, we were named in a lawsuit, and some of my employees were named in
• testifying in a disciplinary action. ...directive or order that attempts to restrict an employee from
• It's no secret I'm looking at the pay parity for all state employees. It's no secret.
• I'm looking at the pay parity for all state employees.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures. HCR 2059, a resolution reaffirming support for county sheriffs and recognizing their constitutional authority, drew debate over language describing sheriffs’ authority as “supreme” or “supreme constitutional.” Supporters said it was a tribute to sheriffs’ work, especially in rural areas, while opponents objected to the phrasing as tied to fringe legal theories. The resolution passed with a do-pass recommendation, 8-3. HB 2811 was presented as closing a gap in Arizona law by making interference with a lawful arrest involving violence or threats of violence a felony under obstructing governmental operations. Supporters said it would clarify the law and align it more closely with federal standards; opponents argued the conduct was already covered by existing resisting-arrest and hindering statutes and that the bill was duplicative and confusing. The bill received a do-pass recommendation, 8-4. HB 4129 would create a Department of Public Safety mental health and wellness program for law enforcement officers and appropriate $15 million for confidential counseling, peer support, family counseling, telehealth, and related services, with some funding reserved for smaller agencies. The sponsor and supporters emphasized officer trauma and suicide prevention, while opponents said similar services already exist and raised cost concerns. Before a final vote, the sponsor requested the bill be held for further work, and the committee agreed. The committee also advanced HB 2270, which expands protections for county seals, logos, insignia, and related identifiers and gives sheriffs exclusive authority over naming and dissolving posses. Sheriffs and county officials said the bill was needed after disputes over posse names and branding; critics warned the language was too broad and could raise First Amendment and due process concerns. The bill passed 12-1. HB 2416, appropriating $20 million for local border support and law enforcement costs related to drug trafficking, smuggling, prosecution, detention, and equipment, also passed after testimony both for and against the funding, 7-5. HB 4018, a strike-everything amendment clarifying sheriffs’ authority over volunteer posses and reserves, passed 10-0 after testimony from sheriffs’ office staff and a member of the public who opposed expanded use of armed volunteers. HB 2253, barring retaliation against employees who testify in law-enforcement disciplinary appeal proceedings, passed unanimously after an amendment removed language voiding restrictive policies. The committee then began hearing HB 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund using investment earnings from the state rainy day fund to pay DPS and corrections salaries, with the sponsor saying he intended to remove the forfeiture component before floor consideration.