Transcript Highlights:

• Is the estimate for design able to be built with $130 million?
• Is the estimate for design able to be built with $130 million?
• Is the estimate for design able to be built with $130 million?
• Design able to be built with $130 million, and when would it be open?
• So for the $130 million requests that we have, design is being completed as we speak.

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In other words, about $130 million less.
• You said it was 130 million, and now you say it's 4 million.
• I'm just talking about how you go from 70 to 130 to four.
• I'm just talking about how you go from 70 to 130 to four.
• So that's 130 million that they were denied, and it was 4 million that they got.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Auditor of Public Accounts came into the Appropriations and Revenue Committee to highlight a $130
• I mean, we can go on and on. $130 million in questionable spending, and that's not counting the $800
• </c><01:24:56.480><c> $130</c><01:24:57.840><c> million</c><01:24:58.800><c> in</c> can go on on and
• on. $130 million in can go on on and on. $130 million in questionable<01:24:59.600><c> spending,</c><
• For more than 130 years, Norton Children's has been a trusted lifeline for families across Kentucky and

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into committee and floor reports. Several measures received favorable committee reports and were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar, including Current Resolution 9, Senate Joint Resolution 23, House Bill 145, House Bill 567, and House Bill 506 with House Committee Substitute 1. The chamber also noted that House Bills 500 and 504 had already received two readings and were sent to the Rules Committee before House Bill 500 was brought up for final consideration. Most of the discussion focused on House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill. Members described it as a “good first draft” and emphasized a budget process they said was more transparent than in prior years. The bill was presented as a restrained two-year operating budget with spending growth kept at a little under 2% annually, while setting aside about 2% of projected revenues, or roughly $614 million, in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future needs. The budget also used base reductions in some areas while exempting others such as Medicaid benefits, SEEK, corrections, behavioral health, and veterans programs. Subcommittee chairs then outlined major spending areas. Education provisions included a 2% annual increase in base SEEK funding, transportation funding held flat, equalization for recallable nickel funding, continued retirement contributions, and major support for postsecondary access, dual credit, asset preservation, and workforce training. Health and family services provisions held Medicaid steady while adding waiver slots, behavioral health and substance use support, public health investments, and funding for rural health and laboratory capacity. Other sections covered personnel and pensions, veterans services, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, tourism, and environmental projects. The only recorded action on the floor was adoption of House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 500, followed by a motion for final passage of the bill as amended. The transcript ends as discussion on final passage begins, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• For normal-caliber handguns and rifles, the peak sound levels are rarely and continually exceed 130 decibels
• Witton in money sounds silent... ...handguns and rifles, peak sound levels rarely and continually exceed 130

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The hearing covered a wide range of Judiciary Committee bills, with much of the testimony focused on criminal justice, public safety, and civil asset forfeiture reform. Several lawmakers and advocates supported bills to increase penalties or create new offenses related to assaults on sports officials, assaults on transit workers, reckless discharge of firearms, fires and explosives, pill press machines, and drug-induced homicide. Testifiers described rising harassment and violence against youth sports officials and transit workers, as well as the fentanyl overdose crisis and the need for stronger tools to prosecute dealers whose conduct leads to death. Supporters of the sports-official and transit-worker bills emphasized declining referee availability and repeated assaults on commuter rail and MBTA workers. District attorneys also backed bills on reckless firearm discharge and fires/explosives, saying current law does not adequately address dangerous conduct that endangers bystanders. The committee also heard testimony on several proposals related to youth diversion and prison mitigation. Supporters of the youth court justice fund bill said youth courts are peer-led diversion programs with strong compliance and low recidivism, and argued for a stable funding source rather than annual earmarks. A representative from Bridgewater supported a prison mitigation fund for municipalities that host state prisons, saying the costs of public safety and emergency services are not fully covered. On gun policy, testimony split between supporters of a bill to ban in-state manufacture of assault-style rifles for civilian sale and opponents or skeptics of other firearm-related measures, including a bill on collateralizing firearms and a bill to increase penalties for drug trafficking combined with illegal firearm offenses. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to civil asset forfeiture reform. Advocates from the ACLU, CPCS, the Boston Bar Association, the Institute for Justice, and others supported bills to increase the burden of proof, improve transparency and reporting, require counsel, and limit or eliminate the current practice of directing forfeiture proceeds to law enforcement. They argued the current system creates perverse incentives, lacks adequate due process, and is insufficiently transparent. District Attorney Paul Tucker defended current forfeiture practices, saying his office has reporting and oversight, uses the funds for investigations and community programs, and warned that reducing forfeiture revenue would hinder crime fighting. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chairs repeatedly thanked witnesses and indicated the bills would remain under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• will cause a global famine that will kill 2 billion people worldwide in the first two years, including 130
• million people here in the United States. ...including 130 million people here in the United States

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing on a wide range of bills affecting law enforcement, corrections, fire services, emergency management, telecommunicators, and sex offender policy. Testimony strongly focused on proposals to restore an education incentive for Massachusetts State Police troopers hired after the Quinn Bill was repealed, with State Police Association witnesses arguing the current system creates unfair pay disparities, hurts recruitment and retention, and leaves newer troopers earning less than some supervisors with the same or less education. They urged favorable reports on H. 2651, S. 1759, and S. 1783. A separate witness also supported H. 2627, a sheriff’s pay-parity bill, while suggesting amendments to avoid distinctions between correction officers and jail officers and warning that the proposal should not be viewed as a funding issue alone. The committee also heard testimony on public safety and oversight bills. A rape survivor testified in support of S. 1663, arguing that municipal fire or police personnel convicted of sex offenses should not remain in positions of public trust. Senator Miranda testified in support of S. 1723, S. 1724, and S. 1727, which would create correctional officer training/accountability standards, a correctional inspector general, and privileged communication with legislators for incarcerated people; he said the bills respond to misconduct and lack of independent oversight in the Department of Correction. In contrast, the Fire Chiefs Association and Professional Fire Fighters opposed H. 2572/S. 1668/S. 1740 on emergency management, saying the bill was developed without enough collaboration, lacked local-control safeguards, and could undermine incident command and local decision-making during disasters. Several panels supported other public safety measures. The Fire Chiefs Association and PFFM backed S. 1641 and S. 1744 to create a Massachusetts Public Safety Building Authority to help fund fire station and municipal public safety building projects, and supported S. 1647 to implement the Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendations on hot works and welding safety, including tougher penalties and training requirements. Witnesses also supported H. 2664/S. 1736 to create a hoisting machinery regulations board, saying current licensing standards for heavy equipment are too minimal. Another panel backed H. 2663/S. 1761 to classify 911 telecommunicators as first responders, citing stress, burnout, and the expanding role of dispatchers. Finally, an attorney from CPCS testified in opposition to S. 1752, warning that expanded sex offender residency restrictions would likely increase homelessness, make supervision harder, and raise constitutional concerns based on prior court rulings.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, I do have a list of nearly $130 million of...
• The number we're talking about, about $130 million or so, would represent, given the general expectations

Transcript Highlights:

• With the ayes being 130 and the nays being 10, House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1020 is third
• With 130 ayes and 10 nays, House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1020 is third read and passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Labor Assembly Bill 618 and substitute the identical Senate Bill 496, Third Reading Calendar 130
• &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; >> Calendar 130, Assembly 618, Assembly Member Shimsky, an act to amend the Labor Law

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• This goes back to the history of two years when... we passed House Bill 130 that schools had to do 1140
• Chair, Representative, so House Bill 130, I believe there was language that a school district couldn't

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a result of that effort we did back in June, we got about 130 attendees, but about 52 responses
• And as a result of that effort we did back in June, we got about 130 attendees, but about 52 responses

Committees: Joint Transportation , Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and its consultant described the study as focused on transportation mitigation, not on whether dam removal should occur. They outlined geologic risk work on drawdown and erosion, identified vulnerable embankments and nearby roads, rail, and utilities, and explained a total logistics cost model used to compare base conditions and several future scenarios. Those scenarios included no-dam conditions with new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, a combined “many solutions” scenario, and a future scenario still to be defined. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could test reduced grain volumes; staff said the model can estimate transportation changes and costs, but not broader farm-economics impacts. WSU’s independent review said the model had improved but still had limitations in spatial detail, routing accuracy, and testing, and that stakeholder engagement remained important though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received an update on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Consultants said the study is in its early information-gathering phase, with a statewide survey of cities and counties, interviews, national research, and legal review of possible funding mechanisms. They described current sidewalk funding as fragmented, with grants, transportation benefit districts, levies, and some utility-tax allocations used in Washington, but no dedicated statewide source. They said the study is especially examining a possible sidewalk utility fee, while parcel taxes appear unlikely under Washington’s property-tax rules. Members asked whether any new mechanism would duplicate existing taxes, how a sidewalk fee would be collected, and whether development requirements for sidewalks count as dedicated funding; the consultants said the study is aimed at expanding local options rather than mandating adoption. Deliverables include a preliminary draft by mid-December, a “Sidewalks 101” document by year-end, and a final report by mid-June next year. The committee also heard a brief update on the ocean-going vessels at berth emissions study. Staff explained that the report is nearing completion and will be presented at the next JTC meeting. They highlighted federal Clean Air Act constraints, noting that Washington’s options are shaped by California’s waiver-based standards and that deviations from California’s vessel-at-berth rules could invite litigation. Staff said stakeholder outreach is underway and asked for any missing participants to be identified before the final report is issued. Finally, the committee began hearing from county representatives on local transportation challenges. The county engineers’ association emphasized ongoing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs, but the presentation was cut off as the meeting moved on to the next item.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reality is there's 134 of us; 130 of us weren't in that room, but 134 of us voted on this language
• I appreciate the inclusion of House File 130, which establishes a 10-year mandatory minimum for first-degree

Transcript Highlights:

• They're all pretty much stagnant, whether we do an 80-unit development or a 130-unit development.
• these projects, if he's typically charging $400,000 to do 80 units, he might charge $500,000 to do 130

Bills: SB434 , SB844 , SB898 , SB1177 , SB1214 , SB1454 , SB1920 , SB1927 , SB1935 , SB1965 , SB2010 , SB2046 , SB2068 , SB2073 , SB2183 , SB2260 , SB3034 , SB907

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Building costs were around $130 a square foot; now they're at $130, reflecting an increase of 27%.

Bills: HB1453 , HB1718 , HB2043 , HB2207 , HB2798

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• We were starting at $130 million.
• </c><02:54:09.040><c> That's</c> $130 million figure that we had.
• That's $130 million figure that we had.
• We look, we were starting<02:54:13.840><c> at</c><02:54:14.479><c> 130</c><02:54:14.720><c> million.
• But then if you starting at 130 million.

Committee: Joint Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• We represent nearly 130 service providers throughout the state of California.
• We represent nearly 130 service providers throughout the state of California.
• CDSA represents nearly 130 community-based organizations across the state that work to support nearly

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 130 ayes and zero nays, the bill is repassed as amended by conference and the title is agreed
• There being 130 I's and zero nazs, the There being 130 I's and zero nazs, the bill<00:52:18.960><c> is

Transcript Highlights:

• 2029 and 26 and 27 and 1.142 million in 2029 and ongoing. ongoing. ongoing. lines<00:25:43.760><c> 130
• 44.720><c> is</c><00:25:44.880><c> a</c><00:25:44.960><c> carry</c><00:25:45.279><c> forward</c> lines 130
• and 131 is a carry forward lines 130 and 131 is a carry forward amount<00:25:45.840><c> from</c><00:

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• 57.520><c> about</c> facility needs and we've completed about facility needs and we've completed about $130
• 53:59.839><c> work</c><00:54:00.559><c> in</c><00:54:00.799><c> that</c><00:54:01.119><c> time</c> $130
• Million worth of work in that time $130 Million worth of work in that time frame<00:54:02.799><c> and

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• there and sure enough, there are those rocks set, look just like the picture from 125 years ago or 130
• there and sure enough, there are those rocks set, look just like the picture from 125 years ago or 130
• there and sure enough, there are those rocks set, look just like the picture from 125 years ago or 130

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been up in my office reading stuff on Alzheimer's, but I'm used to 130 meetings for the afternoon

Committee: All ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA ADVISORY COUNCIL