Transcript Highlights:

• coach attacked in a parking lot after a game. lot by multiple family members at an away game for benching
• That coach was jumped by the family members of the benched player and did not have a chance.

Bills: SB26 , SB 26

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the trials deep and the fiery find, when I feel alone, you're still by my side.
• So I am so grateful, Senator Colladio, Senator Broder, it just, the bench just keeps growing.
• You know, if you're a bench scientist, HIV is one of the most fascinating disease states to look at.

Summary: The Senate first handled a large batch of executive appointments reported by the Ethics and Elections Committee. Senators debated several nominees, with some members objecting to particular appointees over their views or past conduct. The report on the first group of appointments was adopted 31-0, and Jeffrey Aaron’s separate confirmation to the Public Employee Relations Commission was approved 26-10 after extended debate centered on his role as counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation and allegations that he helped facilitate the transfer of Medicaid settlement funds into political activity. The chamber then considered Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. Supporters praised her work on Medicaid directed payments and hospital funding, while opponents criticized her prior tenure at the Department of Children and Families, citing problems with Medicaid redeterminations, postpartum coverage, Hope Florida oversight, and a women’s shelter case. The Senate adopted her confirmation report 32-5. Next, Taylor Hatch’s confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families was taken up; the committee report noted ongoing concerns about SNAP/EBT compliance, child welfare practices, audits, and Hope Florida, but recommended confirmation based on her stated commitments to reform. After debate over DCF’s performance and accountability, the Senate adopted her confirmation report 33-4. After a brief recess, the Senate held a recognition ceremony for outgoing President Kathleen Passidomo. Senators from both parties offered lengthy remarks praising her leadership, diligence, humor, and support for members, often recalling personal interactions and her role in shaping legislation and mentoring newer senators. The ceremony emphasized her service as Senate President and continued leadership as Rules Chair, and included a presentation of a handmade keepsake box filled with letters and mementos from staff and colleagues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the trials deep and the fiery fight, when I feel alone, you're still by my side.
• So I am so grateful, Senator Colladio, Senator Broder, it just, the bench just keeps growing.
• You know, if you're a bench scientist, HIV is one of the most fascinating disease states to look at.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests, including a state champion Crossroads Academy girls basketball team and a Florida State University student intern. The chamber then turned to executive appointment confirmations reported by the Committee on Ethics and Elections and other reference committees under Rule 12.7, with Chair Don Gates explaining that the committee had reviewed the qualifications and suitability of the nominees and held public hearings where required. Members debated several confirmations at length. The report containing 186 appointments was adopted 31-0 after Senator Polsky explained her no votes on three nominees, citing concerns about past comments and ideological views. The Senate then confirmed Jeffrey Aaron to the Public Employee Relations Commission by a 26-10 vote after sharp debate over his role as counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation and allegations tied to the diversion of Medicaid settlement funds; supporters argued he was a competent lawyer and no formal action had been taken against him. Chavon Harris was confirmed as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration by a 32-5 vote, with supporters praising her work on Medicaid funding and opponents criticizing her prior leadership at DCF and the Hope Florida-related issues. Taylor Hatch was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families by a 33-4 vote, despite concerns raised about SNAP/EBT compliance, child welfare practices, audits, and DCF’s handling of Hope Florida; supporters emphasized her commitment to reform and the difficulty of the agency’s mission. After a brief recess, the Senate held a lengthy recognition of outgoing President Kathleen Passidomo. Senators from both parties offered personal tributes focused on her leadership, toughness, humor, mentorship, and support for colleagues, especially women in the chamber. Several speakers also referenced her handling of difficult bills, her post-presidency service as Rules Chair, and her resilience after personal loss. No further legislative action was taken during the recognition segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the trials deep and the fiery find, when I feel alone, you're still by my side.
• So I am so grateful, Senator Colladio, Senator Brodeur, it just, the bench just keeps growing.
• You know, if you're a bench scientist, HIV is one of the most fascinating disease states to look at.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the trials deep and the fiery find, when I feel alone, you're still by my side.
• So I am so grateful, Senator Colladio, Senator Broder, it just, the bench just keeps growing.
• You know, if you're a bench scientist, HIV is one of the most fascinating disease states to look at.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assemblymember Kolosa, please approach the bench and present your bill.

Summary: The Committee on Revenue and Taxation met with a quorum and heard five bills, most of them tax exemptions or credits aimed at housing, veterans, and seniors. SB 1096, as amended, would provide a $1,500 tax credit for certain grandparents and other caregivers for tax years 2026 through 2030, with income-based phaseouts, a seven-year carryforward, and exclusions for dependents receiving foster care payments. Members praised the author’s amendments and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 672, extending a property tax welfare exemption for community land trust projects that create or rehabilitate low-income housing, and AB 1668, extending for five years the welfare property tax exemption for nonprofit land trusts that protect open space and recreational lands. Supporters for both bills emphasized permanent affordability, stewardship of natural lands, and relatively small public costs compared with the housing and conservation benefits. AB 672 and AB 1668 each passed unanimously to Appropriations, though AB 1668 drew one respectful opposition from the California Teachers Association. AB 2022 would expand the property tax exemption for disabled veteran homeowners, increasing the exemption for low-income veterans to 100% and to 50% of assessed value for others, while preserving current benefits through a loophole-closing amendment. The author and veteran advocates argued the bill would help keep disabled veterans and their families in their homes and make California more competitive with other states. The bill passed 5-0 to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 2641 was placed on the consent calendar and adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Member Kolosa, please approach the bench and present your bill.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So, there's a lot of innovative technologies out there that are still in the research or bench-scale
• there that are still in the<01:12:44.360><c> research</c><01:12:44.880><c> or</c><01:12:44.960><c> bench
• </c><01:12:45.240><c> scale</c> the research or bench scale the research or bench scale uh<01:12:46.440

Bills: SB3326

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet, when it began in late January, he was not in our starting five, nor was he on the bench.
• was</c><00:35:37.200><c> he</c><00:35:37.359><c> on</c><00:35:37.440><c> the</c><00:35:37.599><c> bench
• </c><00:35:38.160><c> Instead,</c> five, nor was he on the bench.
• Instead, five, nor was he on the bench.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><01:55:40.000><c> that</c><01:55:40.239><c> you</c><01:55:40.719><c> are</c> We have not only a bench
• have</c><01:56:04.480><c> not</c><01:56:04.719><c> only</c><01:56:04.880><c> a</c><01:56:05.119><c> bench
• </c><01:56:05.360><c> press</c><01:56:05.679><c> that</c> We have not only a bench press that We have
• not only a bench press that takes<01:56:06.239><c> out</c><01:56:06.400><c> the</c><01:56:06.560><c>

Committee: House Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Begnoli would like to approach the bench. Sir, you get the zoo first. Oh, we got the zoo first.
• to<00:39:25.359><c> uh</c><00:39:25.920><c> approach</c><00:39:26.320><c> the</c><00:39:26.599><c> bench
• /c><00:39:27.599><c> Sir,</c><00:39:28.000><c> you</c><00:39:28.079><c> get</c> to uh approach the bench
• Sir, you get to uh approach the bench.

Bills: HF2563

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• Since we only have one staff member, additional consulting manpower is needed to expand the bench of
• </c><00:57:12.280><c> to</c><00:57:12.480><c> expand</c><00:57:12.799><c> the</c><00:57:12.920><c> bench
• </c> Consulting manpower to expand the bench Consulting manpower to expand the bench of<00:57:13.359>

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So, chairman, um, from the bench and just for a background history, I've worked at um Northern Rapa
• or bench or your<04:07:19.439><c> other</c><04:07:19.760><c> duties?
• </c><04:07:29.359><c> and</c><04:07:29.680><c> just</c> &gt;&gt; So chairman um from the bench and just
• And that's what I push on the bench is to return to our culture, to return to our tradition because we
• </c><04:08:39.279><c> is</c><04:08:40.000><c> to</c> that's what I push on the bench is to that's what

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:44.559><c> people</c><00:25:44.799><c> on</c><00:25:45.039><c> the</c><00:25:45.200><c> bench
• </c><00:25:45.679><c> to</c><00:25:46.000><c> to</c> wasn't enough people on the bench to to wasn't enough
• people on the bench to to take<00:25:46.559><c> up</c><00:25:46.799><c> the</c><00:25:46.960><c> fight

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs. The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we're very fortunate to have a very full bench, uh, not just in this room but others who are dedicated
• Uh, we're very fortunate to have a very full bench, uh, not just in this room but others who are dedicated
• We're very fortunate to have a very full bench, uh, not just in this room but others who are dedicated

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:10:31.640><c> ensuring</c> research and clinical trials ensuring research and clinical trials
• </c> clinicians and look at clinical trials clinicians and look at clinical trials to<01:27:37.719><c
• They are already doing clinical trials, yes, not clinical trials to those that already qualify.
• yes not clinical yeah clinical trials yes not clinical trials trials trials to<01:32:24.960><c> those
• </c><01:33:40.080><c> ourselves</c> wouldn't do clinical trials ourselves wouldn't do clinical trials

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> successfully completed phase one trials successfully completed phase one trials and<00:09:40.640
• </c> two and three clinical trials two and three clinical trials particularly<00:26:16.880><c> for</c
• </c> trials in the US at the moment. trials in the US at the moment.
• </c> have cleared phase one safety trials. have cleared phase one safety trials.
• . trial. trial.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Judgment obligation bonds are commonly used to finance and pay awards from bench and jury trials as well
• As a result, these supplements often enter the market without clinical trials, lacking evidence that

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not a good situation when 40% of iron workers are sitting on the bench, right?
• After trial, the award was just $4 million, a $71 million savings for the state, nearly our entire annual
• those hidden fees and to make all transactions more transparent for consumers, even ensuring that trials

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs and testimony from Governor Healey and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz. The chairs emphasized fiscal caution amid choppy revenue growth, rising health care and education costs, and federal uncertainty, while the governor framed House 2 as a $62.8 billion budget that grows spending by about 1% without new taxes or fees and aims to protect core services while advancing affordability. The administration said the budget uses efficiencies, program integrity, and Fair Share surtax revenue to support education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety, and it also filed a supplemental Fair Share bill using surplus FY25 funds. Much of the questioning focused on the federal “OB3” tax law and the administration’s separate proposal to delay or phase in certain corporate tax changes, especially research and experimental deductions, to avoid in-year budget shocks. Members also pressed the administration on Fair Share allocations, with the governor and secretary explaining that operating-budget surtax spending is weighted more toward education while supplemental spending is more transportation-focused, and that combined spending is roughly balanced overall. The administration highlighted Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, rural school aid, local aid, child care, the MBTA deficit, regional transit authorities, and a new HHS transportation line item as part of the broader transportation strategy. Several members raised concerns about Chapter 70 equity, rural districts, municipal overrides, out-migration, housing affordability, public housing repairs, and the MBTA Communities Act. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion on school funding formulas, PILOT, and municipal aid, and stressed housing production, energy affordability, and workforce development as key responses to out-migration. On energy, the governor defended an all-of-the-above approach, including renewables, gas, and exploration of nuclear, while saying she would continue pushing utilities and regulators to reduce ratepayer costs. The governor also said fire safety grants would not be withheld for noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, and members discussed public safety, housing, and local grant impacts in that context. Other topics included the Bright Act and higher education capital investments, with the administration saying it is preparing to support campus infrastructure across the public higher education system and that the bill is intended to strengthen Massachusetts’ competitiveness and retain graduates. Members also questioned cuts to the PCA program and EAEDC, and the governor responded that the state’s PCA program remains strong but is under pressure from large federal health care reductions. No votes were taken; the session was a hearing on the governor’s budget proposal and related policy bills, with the administration taking questions and offering explanations of its recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not a good situation when 40% of iron workers are sitting on the bench, right?
• After trial, the award was just $4 million, a $71 million saving for the state, nearly our entire annual
• those hidden fees and to make all transactions more transparent for consumers, even ensuring that trials

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means