Transcript Highlights:

• Our employee breakdown: we have support staff of 39 positions.
• order to properly maintain our roads, we also need to provide good places of employment for our employees
• We held a Christmas luncheon with significant participation from our employees.
• This luncheon was organized by three of our employees, and each District 6 employee received a ham.
• It was a special event for our employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriating additional money to the public employee retirement system. Mr.
• PERSI is funded by retirement contributions made by employers and employees.
• Industry was telling us, 'You're not producing the type of employees with the skills we need.
• He's served as a trustee of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho since 2005.
• That's the signal of a quality employee.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, opened with prayer honoring Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboom, and approved the journal. The chamber then handled routine committee and House messages, including referrals of several Senate and House bills to standing committees, reports of enrolled measures, and gubernatorial and House transmittals. Senators also briefly returned House Bill 545 to committee because it had not been properly reported. The main floor action centered on several third-reading bills. Senate Bill 1299, limiting government use of digital identification and protecting physical ID and device privacy, passed 35-0 after debate about privacy, enforcement, and whether it would affect agency accounts. Senate Bill 1335, extending service obligations for state-supported veterinary students, passed 33-2. Senate Bill 1330, raising the small-claims limit from $5,000 to $15,000, passed unanimously by reused roll call. Senate Bill 1359, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act, drew the most debate over consumer protection versus regulation; it passed 19-16. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1348 on public outdoor target ranges and Pittman-Robertson funds, Senate Bill 1376 on declarations of candidacy, and Senate Bill 1378 modernizing off-road vehicle account and trail funding rules. Later, the chamber took up several appropriation bills: House Bills 868, 869, 870, 871, and 876 all passed, covering PERSI, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, OITS, the State Tax Commission, and the State Board of Education/higher education budgets. Those budget bills prompted extended debate over funding levels, tax collection, cybersecurity, and especially cuts to universities, community colleges, and career technical education, but each ultimately passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• But then there are some other jurisdictions associated with tax shifting that have employees employed
• Because we use the single sales factor method to apportion corporate profits, relocating employees or
• It's got all its employees, all its assets in State A.
• Their learning and the learning of their employees and their families.
• Hello, Brian Mayor Montes with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• repeatedly sexually assault a repeatedly sexually assault a 14-year-old 14-year-old 14-year-old employee
• </c><00:18:56.640><c> and</c><00:18:56.799><c> job</c> accommodation for employees and job accommodation
• for employees and job applicants<00:18:57.559><c> who</c><00:18:57.760><c> request</c><00:18:58.120>
• </c><00:19:54.240><c> to</c><00:19:54.679><c> um</c> adjustments to allow an employee to um adjustments
• </c><00:20:49.880><c> or</c> accommodations to a pregnant employee or accommodations to a pregnant employee

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives us a little over 400 total full-time employees.
• It gives us a little over 400 total full-time employees.
• When I talk about our employees, our employees are those people.
• And we've now got an employee base that when I first joined the company, the average age was, employee
• It's 1,113 employees in the state.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• That doesn't account for office leases that haven't expired, but employees are largely not working in
• </c> has resulted in loss of employees has resulted in loss of employees working<00:08:23.240><c> in<
• into projects that can help employees that they can employ.
• into projects that can help employees that they can employ.
• into projects that can help employees that they can employ.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Scarsdale for legislation to amend the Sick Leave Bank for Matthew McRae, an employee of the Department
• Fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority employees.
• of the bill, an act providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority employees
• Lanatra of Kingston, will the members, guests, and employees please stand in a moment of silent tribute
• Members and employees, please stand in a moment of silent tribute in memory of Roberta Bobby Phyllis

Summary: The House opened with routine procedural actions, including suspension of Joint Rule 12 for two petitions and suspension of Rule 7A to take up several bills immediately. Members advanced multiple Ways and Means bills to third reading, including measures on campaign finance reporting for statewide ballot questions, tax-free medical devices, fairness for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority employees, releasing land use restrictions in Revere, and authorizing a land taking in Norwood. Several engrossed local and special bills were then passed to be enacted, including measures affecting Boston police age waivers, the Hudson charter, Plymouth’s land acquisition account, Falmouth sewer-related costs, and Randolph’s charter. The House also considered Senate Bill 2916 on campaign finance reporting for ballot questions. Supporters said the bill would strengthen disclosure, close reporting loopholes, and improve transparency around ballot question committees and signature gathering, while also creating a commission to review the initiative petition process. Amendments were adopted, including changes to the commission’s membership and a separate amendment related to signature-gathering provisions. After debate, the bill passed to be engrossed by roll call vote 149-0. Members then took up the fiscal year 2027 budget conference report, House No. 5555, totaling about $63.4 billion. Supporters highlighted funding for Chapter 70 education aid, local aid, Fair Share investments in education and transportation, MBTA and regional transit support, housing and homelessness programs, food assistance, and immigration legal aid. The conference report was adopted by roll call 142-6, the emergency preamble was adopted, and the budget bill was passed to be enacted by the same vote. The House also declined concurrence on Senate Bill 3064, “to build resilience for Massachusetts communities,” and appointed a committee of conference, and later appointed a conference committee on House Bill 4646, enhancing child welfare protections. The session ended with a moment of silence for community figures and adjournment to the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• In New Jersey, that meant a savings of 25% for state employees and 18% for local employees.
• insurance provider integrated PBM services into our overall pharmacy and benefit contract for our employees
• In New Jersey, that meant a savings of 25% for state employees and 18% for lower for state employees,
• and 18% for local employees.
• insurance provider and integrated PBM services into our overall pharmacy and benefit contract for our employees

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 13, 2026, adopted the May 6 minutes, and then took up several bills dealing with pharmacy benefit managers, prescription access, behavioral health coverage, and Citizens Property Insurance. HB 938, as amended, was the main PBM reform measure. After the committee adopted a large amendment set that narrowed the bill, members heard extensive testimony in support from Mark Bloom, Justin Joseph of Capital Rx, and Kathy Ue of Pontchartrain Cancer Center, all emphasizing transparency, pass-through pricing, reverse auctions, and patient access. Supporters described savings from reverse auctions and administrative models, while the cancer center testified that PBM-owned specialty pharmacy requirements can delay cancer medications and create financial hardship. The committee reported HB 938 favorably with amendments. The committee also heard HB 1154, which prohibits prior authorization for certain generic medications prescribed by qualified physicians, with a $250 cap discussed as a safeguard against higher-cost generics. The bill was supported by representatives from Ochsner Health and the Louisiana State Medical Society and was reported favorably. HB 909, which requires commercial coverage for behavioral health crisis services, was amended to clarify the insurers covered and then reported favorably with support from the Office of Behavioral Health and several outside groups. Testimony on HB 909 focused on reducing emergency room and law enforcement burdens and expanding crisis response capacity across the state. HB 1187, dealing with excess emergency assessment funds from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, was explained by the Insurance Commissioner as a way to transfer remaining Katrina-era assessment funds to the Fortified Roof Program. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, SB 511 and SB 512 were deferred and converted into a study resolution approach because there was not yet consensus on the underlying issue. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2504, filed during the 2026 regular session, relating to collective bargaining and state employees
• Senate Bill 2504E by Senator Hooper, a bill to be entitled an act relating to state employees.
• Senate Bill 25... ...state employees. President's reference: appropriations.
• Senate Bill 2504E, a bill to be entitled, an act relating to state employees.
• The bill establishes contribution rates by employers for each class of employee who participates in the

Summary: The Senate convened in special session with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed moments of silence for Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to budget, implementing, collective bargaining, retirement, education, health, taxation, corrections, fuel tax, and related conference-report legislation. Chair Hooper then outlined the process for taking up Senate conforming bills first, followed by House bills once received, in preparation for budget conference. The chamber passed several Senate bills and House companion bills, generally by 32-0 votes, after delete-all amendments were adopted to place the measures in proper posture for conference. Measures taken up included fuel taxes (SB 2506E), the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge (SB 2508E), judges (SB 2512E), pre-K-12 education (SB 2514E), retirement (SB 2E/HB 5205E), higher education (SB 2516E/HB 5601E), health care (SB 2518E/HB 5301E), collective bargaining/state employees (SB 2504E/HB 5201E), government administration (HB 5203E), correctional facilities financing and capital improvements (HB 5403E), documentary stamp tax distributions (HB 5501E), petroleum cleanup programs (HB 5701E), and the general appropriations and implementing bills (SB 2500E/HB 5001E and SB 2502E/HB 5003E). In each case, the Senate either passed the bill as amended or, after failing to pass the House version as received, requested conference with the House. During debate on the tax package, Leader Berman urged lawmakers to consider suspending the motor fuel tax for the summer, citing high gas prices and the need for immediate relief at the pump. The Senate ultimately passed HB 7031E as a blank vehicle for conference and then requested conference with the House after failing to pass it as received. No substantive amendments were adopted beyond the conference-posture delete-all amendments, and no recorded opposition votes were cast on the measures considered. At the end of the session, the Rules Chair announced the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet that day or the next, and the Senate adopted a motion to establish the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session by website publication and secretary announcement. The Senate then adjourned upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• state agency, a municipality, county, or a political subdivision of the state, its contractors or employees
• members, Senate Bill 1665 requires each state agency to adopt a standardized hiring process for all employees
• members, Senate Bill 1665 requires each state agency to adopt a standardized hiring process for all employees
• ' employee positions and allows a candidate to appeal a hiring decision to the state personnel board.
• Nguyen amendment dated March 6 at 3:30 p.m. adds an employee of a utility as defined in Section 40-491

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard a long series of Senate bills, mostly on third-read consent, covering education, public safety, health, courts, labor, and water. Several bills were briefly explained and then pulled from consent for further discussion, including measures on public records review standards (SB 1078), sexually explicit materials in schools/libraries (SB 1435 and SB 1567), burial costs in death cases (SB 1135), military flags in HOAs/COAs (SB 1184), court-ordered treatment guardianship (SB 1243), standardized state hiring (SB 1665), released-time religious instruction (SB 1741), firearm safety instruction in schools (SB 1424), student participation in extracurriculars after certain convictions (SB 1475), Celebrate Freedom Week (SB 1572), federal scholarship-granting organizations/vouchers (SB 1142), immigration-related arrest notifications (SB 1055), defamation standards (SB 1099), peace officer certification for military police veterans (SB 1107), mandatory reporting of child abuse/neglect directly to DCS (SB 1127), attorney licensing and discipline issues (SB 1148 and SB 1039), concealed weapons on college campuses (SB 1068), and firearm muffling devices/silencers (SB 1069). Members also raised constitutional, policy, and school-safety concerns on several of these bills, while supporters emphasized alternative pathways for students, veterans, and workers, and tighter reporting or licensing rules. Other bills were described without extended debate, including claims against the state for unpaid contracted services (SB 1097), workers’ compensation death benefits for surviving spouses who remarry (SB 1136), burial expense increases (SB 1135), state agency web pages for internal guidance (SB 1586), court-ordered treatment procedures and service of process in mental health cases (SB 1113), medical examiner authorization (SB 1123), tribal MOUs with DCS (SB 1125), controlled-substance scheduling conformity with federal classifications (SB 1188), EMT personal information protections (SB 1193), mammography notice updates (SB 1318), assisted-living referral disclosures (SB 1477), accommodation school GED instruction for 11th graders and students over 16 (SB 1166), credit enhancement board continuation (SB 1422), school district and charter school obligations related to religious release time (SB 1741), school firearm safety instruction (SB 1424), and school civics/freedom-week instruction (SB 1572). The committee also heard bills on CPA certification pathways (SB 1181), insurance adjuster licensing (SB 1415), county voter-registration rules online (SB 1040), campaign address privacy (SB 1259), federal land acquisition notification (SB 1281), water supply/demand assessments (SB 1202), environmental compatibility for power plants and small modular reactors (SB 1418), and groundwater recovery rules (SB 1785). The meeting ended with announcements and a brief recognition of Rep. Stephanie Hamilton with an “Affordability Award.” No final votes are shown in the transcript excerpt; instead, many bills were either left on consent, pulled for later discussion, or flagged for closed caucus. The chair then asked guests to leave so members could hold a closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• I sincerely appreciate these individuals and all the employees at DOPL who work hard every day not only
• I also want to express my appreciation to the DOPL employees and the members of our boards and commissions
• These are the costs needed to compensate the division's employees and any operating costs that aren't
• We also have a new employee who's out on a field trip, Tristan Thompson, who was recently hired as a
• Just to give you an update as to where we are right now, we have cut down our employee count.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• your attention to this page in the very first line on the uses column, the personal services and employee
• First of all, you may remember last year you all passed legislation that increases the share of employee
• A big reason for that is if you'll notice on the personal Services and employee benefits line in the
• Our two biggest price tags and the biggest growth of government is 80% of state employees' health care
• because our employees cannot afford health care because we need to reform our medical malpractice.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• including the Commission on Human Relations, the Division of Administrative Hearings, the Public Employees
• The final recommendation is $257,000 for targeted retention incentives for employees in the higher-cost
• This funding will go towards adjusting employee pay in some of the high-cost areas to retain our frontline
• McCaffrey, next we have the highlights of the Public Employees Relations Commission, and here with us
• For those of you not familiar with PERC, it handles career service appeals for state employees throughout

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum, welcomed new member Senator Ralph Massullo, and first took up confirmation of five appointees to water management district and basin board positions. Senator McLean moved favorable confirmation of Ted Everett, Jerome Pate, Michael Romano, Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns, and the motion passed by roll call. The main agenda item was the Governor’s Florida First budget presentation for the environmental agencies. Kim Kramer and DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert outlined proposed environmental funding of about $5.8 billion, including more than $1.4 billion for water resources, $810 million for Everglades restoration, $408 million for water quality, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $75 million for beach renourishment, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state park infrastructure, and $221 million for hazardous waste cleanup. They also highlighted proposed funding for FWC operations, manatee care, python removal, oyster reef restoration, forestry and wildfire equipment, and citrus research and disease response. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a cut to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and how beach renourishment is handled after storms. The committee then heard the general government budget presentation. Agencies highlighted included DBPR, Gaming Control, the Lottery, DMS, PERC, DFS, OIR, and Revenue. DBPR discussed funding for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, vehicle replacement, and IT recruitment; Gaming Control requested new law enforcement squads and a licensing/enforcement IT system; the Lottery emphasized marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding; DMS proposed building, fleet, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and local government grant investments; PERC described workload growth after SB 256 and requested staffing, operations, and pay increases; OIR sought more staff for consumer protection and market oversight plus building renovations; DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home funding, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation; and Revenue requested operational, IT, and fiscally constrained county funding. Members questioned DBPR about unfunded HOA fraud and condo transparency items, DMS about cybersecurity grants, and DFS about My Safe Florida Home funding levels, abandoned grants, and reduced program uptake. No further action was taken, and the committee adjourned without additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE BULK OF THIS IS DONE BY ONE SUPERVISOR AND THREE EMPLOYEES.
• >> IF AGENCIES HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT IS ALL THAT THEY DO POTENTIALLY YES.
• I SUSPECT YOU WILL FIND MOST AGENCIES ARE PRETTY LENIENT AND THOSE EMPLOYEES A DO A VARIETY OF OTHER
• ASSUME FOR A MOMENT THAT AN EMPLOYEE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS THE CAR AND THE AUTHORIZE TO USE FOR THAT CAR
• IS ONLY HERE IN TALLAHASSEE, NOW, THAT EMPLOYEE DECIDES TO TAKE HIS FAMILY TO DISNEY WORLD WITH THE

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation that we've been working on for probably a year and a half, and we've heard from both employees
• 11:04.760><c> both</c> half and uh so we've heard from both half and uh so we've heard from both employees
• and employers over the last employees and employers over the last couple<00:11:07.800><c> years</c><
• </c> Uh, to address these concerns, employees and employer groups have worked together with me for more
• So, being currently retired and having employees that this is going to affect and help them with their

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:05 Roll Call 00:13 HB 7 Passover discussion 02:45 HB 490 Passover 03:22 HB 744 Discussion 04:08 HB 744 Vote 08:25 SB 10 Discussion 10:25 SB 10 Vote 12:03 SB 25 Discussion 14:30 SB 25 Vote 16:54 Adjournment 19:47, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government met with a quorum present and began with roll call and a brief introduction of a page, William Huffman, a fifth grader from Lexington. The chair announced that House Bill 7 and House Bill 490 would not be considered that day, with HB 7 described by its sponsor as a housing-related proof-of-concept measure that needed more interim study before returning next session. The committee then heard House Bill 744, sponsored by Representative Richard White, with testimony from Brown County officials. The bill would allow counties to pay routine vendors electronically under a standing order, while still requiring appropriate signatures, to address delayed mail delivery, lost checks, and check-washing concerns. The committee substitute and title amendment were both adopted, and the bill received favorable expression to pass the House floor by roll call vote. Senate Bill 10 was presented by Senator Robbie Mills with support from representatives of the sheriff, firefighters, police chiefs, and cities organizations. The bill would enhance retiree health benefits for CERS career retirees by better aligning the subsidy with under-65 health costs. Members voiced support, including one member explaining a yes vote based on the bill’s benefit to retirees, and the committee voted favorably with a title amendment adopted. Senate Bill 25 was then heard from Senator Mills as part of broader housing legislation; it would expand the use of industrial revenue bonds for large multifamily housing projects of at least 48 units to help address Kentucky’s housing shortage. The committee approved the bill with favorable expression, and at the end members who had arrived late recorded attendance and votes before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Alexander Schwartz, an employee of the Massachusetts
• The House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Stephanie Bramante Miller, an employee of the Massachusetts
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Robert Tiro, an employee of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Robert Tiro, an employee of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several local and private bills. It passed to be enacted House No. 4004, validating the results of a special election in the town of Hygwick, requiring and receiving the necessary two-thirds vote. The chamber also advanced House No. 4245, increasing the membership of the select board in the town of Mattapoisett, and ordered House No. 4263, establishing a charter for the City of Medford, to a third reading after suspending the rules. The Senate likewise moved several sick leave bank bills forward, including measures for Alexander Schwartz of the Department of State Police and Stephanie Bramante Miller of the Appellate Tax Board, both ordered to a third reading. Joint Rule 12 was suspended for several House petitions, which were then referred to the appropriate committees. The Senate also adopted the emergency preamble for Senate Bill 2580, establishing a sick leave bank for Robert Tiro of the Trial Court, with a standing vote showing unanimous support. The chamber then adopted a resolution in memory of Joseph William Conelli, honoring his military service, long career with the Boston Police Department, and family. After a moment of silence, the Senate passed Senate Bill 2580 to enactment and ordered it sent to the Governor. The Senate adopted an order to adjourn until Thursday at 11:00 a.m., and adjourned in memory of Joseph William Conelli.

Transcript Highlights:

• An employee at Vital Records even told us that, why are you completing these?
• Senate Bill 1678 requires an employee of a health care institution, and an employee of a group home or
• Madam Chair, Senator Epstein, the amendment removes the requirement for the employee to fill out the
• The amendment removes the requirement for the employee to fill out the form prescribed in the original
• They won't have money coming in to pay their employees.

Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills. SB 1668, dealing with funeral and disposition timelines and related requirements for unborn children and minors, drew emotional testimony from funeral industry representatives and a parent about burdensome deadlines and problems obtaining signatures from an ex-partner; it also drew opposition over language referencing abortion clinics and reproductive freedom. The committee adopted a due-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1286, on veterinary telemedicine prescription limits, was amended to shorten non-antimicrobial prescriptions to 30 days and allow antimicrobial prescriptions for up to 14 days without an in-person exam; veterinarians and industry representatives were neutral with caution or supportive, while opponents warned about overprescribing and inadequate diagnosis. The amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then passed SB 1235, joining the emergency services personnel licensure interstate compact, on a 7-0 vote, with the sponsor describing it as a reciprocity measure for EMTs and paramedics. SB 1446, which changes dialysis social worker documentation from monthly to quarterly to match federal and most state practice, also passed unanimously after support from DaVita. SB 1515, an Industrial Commission cleanup bill that renames positions, removes obsolete private employment office oversight language, and shifts publication of fee schedules online, was amended and passed 7-0. SB 1678, concerning documentation and oversight in health care institutions and group homes for vulnerable adults, was amended to remove a patient-form requirement and instead require DHS investigation when EMS personnel complain that a DNR was not provided; providers moved to neutral or support after the amendment, and the bill passed 6-0 with one not voting. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1747, which would require social media platforms to terminate accounts for minors under 14 and certain 14- and 15-year-olds without parental consent and impose age-verification and harmful-content restrictions. Opponents from NetChoice, TechNet, and Meta raised privacy, security, and constitutional concerns and argued for app-store-based parental controls instead, while a parents’ advocate supported the bill as a starting point for child safety. The transcript ends during that hearing without a final committee action on SB 1747.

Transcript Highlights:

• To actually adopt a policy that makes it clear to employees exactly what we're talking about in this
• Apparently, the House version has a lot about an employee or contractor or a school must receive.
• That many of our retired state employees had not received any kind of cost-of-living adjustment.
• And so I was just wondering, where did that billion dollars go for the employees, the retired employees
• And they were just wondering, retired employees, the employees were like, what happened to that money

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several conference committee matters and resolutions. It granted the House request for a conference committee on House Bill 46 and adopted a conference report on Senate Bill 37, which was described as higher education governance reform, including stronger board authority, changes to faculty senates, general education requirements, and a new ombudsman office. Senators also adopted a large package of resolutions and HCRs by voice vote. A major focus was Senate Bill 12, the “Parental Bill of Rights,” whose conference report was adopted after extended questioning. The bill was described as giving parents more access to school materials and grievance procedures, requiring parental consent for student clubs, and restricting school district employees from assisting with social transitioning or related gender-identity instruction. Senators raised concerns about effects on students already socially transitioned and on parental rights in medical or psychological decisions; the author said the House language was retained in key areas and that districts would need policies and parent notification. The report passed 20-11. The Senate then adopted a resolution allowing the conference committee on Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, to go outside the bounds, and later adopted the budget conference report. Senators highlighted major funding for public education, property tax relief, public safety, health and human services, child care, water and transportation infrastructure, and the Texas Energy Fund. The budget discussion also covered higher education, mental health facilities, community attendant wages, rural hospitals, DFPS case management, child care assistance, and a study rider on TRS. The report passed unanimously, 30-0. Finally, the Senate suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 8 and adopted its conference report. The bill requires counties with jails or jail contracts to participate in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program, with sheriffs choosing among available models and counties receiving tiered grants to help cover costs. Supporters framed it as a public safety measure targeting criminal illegal aliens, while opponents questioned whether it would divert local resources and increase fear in immigrant communities. The report was adopted after debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Officials and employees.
• Since 2009, all public employees, state, county, and municipal employees in Massachusetts have been required
• All public employees, state, county, and municipal employees in Massachusetts have been required to take
• And the employees who register for it are able to...
• Just to say quickly, I'm not only an employee, pardon me.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On their website, they list seven companies and 450 employees.
• </c> seven companies and 450 employees. seven companies and 450 employees.
• How many employees do you have?
• How many employees do you have? I always get a song and dance on that question.
• But 10 years ago, they had 150 fewer employees than they have today.

Keywords: 1189, house, all