Video & Transcript Research : 'predictive models'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 21st, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- However, the clock is not a prediction of war. It is a warning.
- This legislation was modeled after current California statute.
- This legislation was modeled after current California statute on unclaimed property, which has established
- . ...to ensure streamlined processes are applied and predictability, allowing housing projects to move
- This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, and I think that our bill can be an important model for the studies
Summary:
The Assembly met on May 7, 2026, after an initial delay caused by the absence of a quorum, then proceeded with prayer, a moment of silence for victims of a hate-motivated attack at the Islamic Center in San Diego, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Speaker pro tempore then moved through the daily file, repeatedly urging members to be on time and at their desks as the House of Origin deadline approached. Procedural actions included dispensing with the journal, deferring some items, and moving AB 1667 to the inactive file.
The bulk of the session was devoted to floor consideration of many bills, most of which passed with little or no opposition. Measures approved included bills on artificial intelligence provenance information (AB 2713), community college trustee compensation (AB 2528), transit camera enforcement and privacy (AB 1837), excess proceeds claims in taxation (AB 2705), HOA technical cleanup (AB 1892), hepatitis C treatment access (AB 1843), child care planning in local general plans (AB 1914), greenhouse energy code flexibility (AB 2200), rent-now-pay-later consumer protections (AB 2350), housing cleanup and density bonus measures (including AB 2390, AB 2480, AB 1567, AB 1751, and others), spay/neuter access (AB 2010), workforce housing financing tools (AB 2110), supportive housing and homelessness-related changes (AB 2146), mental health and health plan notification measures (AB 1598, AB 2613), student aid and education bills (AB 1534, AB 1636, AB 1669, AB 1728, AB 1784, AB 1871), public safety and criminal justice bills (AB 1546, AB 1572, AB 1872, AB 1877, AB 1932), and several health and social services measures (AB 1602, AB 1628, AB 1680, AB 1825, AB 1845, AB 1906, AB 1907, AB 1925). Most bills were described as support measures, often with bipartisan backing and no opposition, and passed by wide margins.
A few bills drew more discussion, especially AB 1751, a housing/townhome bill that sparked extended debate over wages, prevailing wage, stakeholder engagement, and whether the measure could depress pay for construction trades; despite concerns and an opposition speech, it ultimately passed 44-0. AB 1793, which would allow symmetrical rounding of cash transactions to the nearest nickel in light of the penny’s phaseout, also drew light debate and passed 47-1. AB 1932, an urgency measure expanding community-based crisis response, passed with one no vote on both the urgency and the bill. Several urgency or 54-vote bills, including AB 1534 and AB 1932, required later roll calls or calls to be lifted, but all measures described in the transcript were ultimately approved.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/19/2026 - Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The current model of current-year funding, anytime we go on the roller coaster of students coming in
- We've expanded 13 elementary schools to a K-6 model.
- That K-6 model will allow fifth graders at those elementary schools to continue through sixth grade in
- We've tried to stabilize cash flow, increase predictable revenue streams, and avoid receivership or any
- It will stabilize recurring funding tied to maintaining enrollment under 125 students, a predictable
Summary:
The committee first heard the January 2026 follow-up to the special audit of the Arizona State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The auditor’s contractor reported that the board had implemented or was in the process of implementing most of the 28 recommendations from the 2024 audit, but three remained unimplemented: resolving complaints within 180 days and two open meeting law recommendations. The follow-up also identified new concerns about outdated or incomplete public disciplinary records and the lack of a complete public records request log and response procedures. Committee members pressed the board on open meeting compliance, complaint delays, transparency, and lobbying activities, while the executive director said the board had adopted new policies, added staff and investigators, created an intake committee, improved complaint prioritization, and was transitioning to a new licensing platform. She also said the board had ended broad subpoenas, improved conflict-of-interest tracking, and was working to formalize its practices in rule. The committee did not take a vote or other formal action in the transcript provided.
The committee then received the Arizona school district financial risk analysis for January 2026. The Auditor General’s office reported that the number of highest-risk districts increased from two to nine, and districts approaching the highest-risk category increased from seven to nine. The presentation explained the financial risk measures used, common risk patterns among the highest-risk districts, and the district action plans posted on the report website. Tucson Unified School District was used as an example of a highest-risk district, and Scottsdale Unified as an approaching-highest-risk district. Members asked about declining enrollment, reserve balances, negative fund balances, and the use of capital monies for operations.
Sierra Vista Unified School District then presented its response to being identified as financially at risk. The superintendent said she had recently taken over and was implementing a turnaround plan that included a school closure, staffing reductions through attrition, spending freezes, tighter purchase controls, a three-year sustainable spending plan, and efforts to stabilize enrollment through outreach, customer-service changes, and alternative program offerings. She also said the district was redirecting some capital assistance to operations, renegotiating contracts, and improving communication with families and staff. Committee members questioned the district about declining enrollment, instructional spending, school safety, academic performance, and whether the action plan adequately addressed those issues. No formal vote or action was taken on the school district item in the transcript provided.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, as our vision is thriving communities, we are developing model programming here in New Mexico and
- So direct to institution is the model we promote most.
- I feel like that's the model that we want to demonstrate. Are there challenges?
- Drought Monitor, as well as the Climate Prediction Center is predicting drought to persist in the majority
- Jay, who's in the audience with RMA, as well as the NOAA Climate Prediction Center and other folks and
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Described openly as a social justice wealth redistribution model.
- wealth redistribution model. wealth redistribution model.
- CACR 12 helps protect that model by making it harder for future legislatures to throw it away.
- CACR 12 helps protect that model by making it harder for future legislatures to throw it away.
- Uh and they've uh raising predicted.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Wildfire Prevention Jun 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It really became a national and worldwide model involving RCU, local officials, and community members
- This model shifted dramatically after the Tubbs Fire.
- The study revealed that the number one metric that best predicted whether a house would burn was its
- And in recent years, I've modeled and looked at the climate crisis.
- And what it would take in my modeling is eco-villages that are well-staffed in Marin County.
Summary:
The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond.
Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding.
Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures.
Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Sep 22nd, 2025
Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- are modernizing the private cloud to meet NIST 800-53 compliance and revising the New Mexico rate model
- Matt will talk a little bit about the different business models that we've brought together into the
- Of transmission in the Midwest is one of the things we are trying to model.
- When you were modeling power resources, just fossil resources, against each other...
- With your funding models and what you have in You know, you talked about targeting community colleges
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- First of all, companies like predictability. They like to know what...
- Companies like predictability. They like to know what they're going to be facing.
- As predicted, almost 400,000 Californians canceled or terminated their coverage.
- That is a proven model; it's worked ever since President Bush, and I would urge an I vote.
- So it's modeled after the demand-side grid support, DSGS, program that people love.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through gubernatorial appointments and third-reading measures. Three appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and the State Mining and Geology Board were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then considered a series of bills on criminal procedure, military authority, housing, refinery safety, land use, music festivals, homelessness planning, solar tax assessment, HOA assessments, privacy, utility accounts, refrigerant disposal, law enforcement training, natural gas planning, school transfers, and regional transportation planning.
Among the more debated measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense instructions passed 25-10 after opposition centered on judicial discretion and consistency. SB 1354, limiting out-of-state military or law enforcement activity without the Governor’s permission, passed 29-9 after supporters framed it as a sovereignty measure and opponents argued federal command authority controls. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed 29-9; supporters said it would curb predatory investor purchases after wildfire disasters, while opponents raised concerns about property rights and market effects. SB 966 on refinery worker participation in safety standards passed 30-9 amid a dispute over worker protections versus regulatory burden, and SB 1256, a local housing/subdivision bill, passed 32-0 despite concerns about fire-safety amendments.
The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning with a commitment to exempt smaller cities, SB 1007 on HOA assessment transparency and homeowner approval thresholds, SB 923 on privacy deletion rights, SB 1098 on utility balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery, SB 937 on flashbang and breaching-device restrictions, SB 1082 on inter-district transfer timelines, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. SB 1329 on solar farm property tax assessment drew extensive debate over county revenues, solar development certainty, and fairness to rural communities, but ultimately passed after the call was lifted. Several measures were supported by authors and committee chairs as balancing consumer, worker, or local government protections against concerns about costs, regulatory stability, and local control.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- It's unpredictable, but what is predictable is that this is exactly, as the judge says, it's a cost of
- It's unpredictable, but what is predictable is that this is exactly as the judge says, it's a cost of
- Speaking of cannabis, House Bill 1858 was modeled off the Massachusetts ballot question from 2008, which
- Truly, I predict this safe reporting legislation will have larger repercussions like more efficient law
- I put a lot of effort into modeling tolerance and critical thinking for my students.
Summary:
The committee opened with procedural guidance for a very large hearing, explaining testimony limits, written testimony procedures, and rules for maintaining order. Members then heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including proposals to define antisemitism using the IHRA definition, regulate facial recognition technology, restrict weaponized robotics and drone use, expand protections for journalists’ confidential sources, address access to decedents’ email accounts, and create or adjust rules around municipal enforcement and animal cruelty fines. Several sponsors and advocates asked for favorable reports, and committee members asked clarifying questions on implementation, costs, and how the bills would interact with existing law.
On facial recognition, sponsors and advocates described the technology as a threat to privacy, due process, and civil liberties, and urged adoption of the Special Commission’s recommendations, including warrant requirements, notice to defendants, and limits on untargeted surveillance. Support came from legislators, the ACLU, CDT, EFF, and a UMass professor, while committee members asked about current state law and municipal bans. On robotics, Senator Moore and industry witnesses from MassRobotics, Boston Dynamics, and AUVSI supported a bill prohibiting weaponized robots and requiring warrants for certain law enforcement uses, describing it as a public-safety and trust-building measure. On the shield law bill, newspaper publishers, journalists, NEFAC, and the Reporters Committee argued Massachusetts needs statutory protection for confidential sources, citing costly subpoenas and chilling effects on reporting.
The committee also heard testimony on a bill to expand the right of publicity to cover image and voice, with SAG-AFTRA members supporting protections against AI-driven exploitation and some discussion about viral content and consent. Another bill would allow limited access to a decedent’s email accounts, with one witness describing a family’s inability to use a deceased relative’s email to notify friends. The committee then took testimony on psilocybin-related bills: supporters described medical and personal benefits and argued for narrow decriminalization or study, while an opponent warned of public-health risks, impaired driving, and youth exposure; the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society supported limited, safety-based decriminalization. Finally, the committee heard strong support for a “safe reporting” bill for sex workers and trafficking survivors, with advocates saying immunity would encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of arrest, and members raised questions about how the immunity would work in practice.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- She said housing is the most critical need and described the bill as a predictable, dedicated fund that
- Without this type of predictable, dedicated funding, it would be very risky for counties, service providers
- <00:39:21.200>
funding <00:39:21.760>dedicated type of predictable funding dedicated - type of predictable funding dedicated funding<00:39:22.960>
it <00:39:23.079>would <00: - okay thank you very of Agriculture model okay thank you very much<01:01:39.880>
next <01:01:40.079
Summary:
The committee on Water and Land met on February 13, 2025, and heard testimony on a series of housing, land, and resource bills. Early bills included HB 743 on fiscal sustainability, HB 1318 on affordable housing, and HB 1409 on the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Improvement District Board. Testimony on the housing measures was largely supportive from agencies and advocacy groups such as the Office of Planning, Hawaii Housing Future, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities, and the County of Kauai, while the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) raised concerns on HB 1318 about public trust duties for ceded lands. On HB 1409, members questioned whether the bill needed updating in light of a separate bill changing the board structure, and witnesses said the measure did not change funding but only the board’s mission and scope.
The committee also heard HB 1410, which would create a supportive housing special fund. Supporters, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Hawaii Appleseed, argued that predictable dedicated funding is needed for supportive housing, social services, and long-term homelessness solutions. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed tax earmarks in general, saying they subvert the constitutional budgeting process. Members asked how the fund would be administered and who could access it; witnesses said HHFDC and the counties would coordinate the process, but DLNR noted the bill did not provide additional administrative capacity and suggested language to address that.
Later bills included HB 528 on residential leaseholds, HB 1359 on flood mitigation, HB 1087 on historic preservation reviews, HB 868 on disabilities, and HB 1323 on transfer of non-agricultural park lands. HB 528 drew limited testimony, with a Catholic Charities/Hawaii Public Housing Authority representative offering a general example of leasehold development but saying the bill’s exemptions had not been discussed in detail. HB 1359 prompted discussion of homeowner and county responsibilities for drainage and flood damage, with DLNR saying private owners are responsible for drainage on private property and counties for county roads. HB 1087 was supported by DHHL, which said historic preservation reviews currently take about 165 days and the bill could improve timeliness, while Hawaii Historic Hawaii Foundation opposed it. HB 868 drew support from the Disability Rights Center and DCAB, with testimony focusing on beach access and the need for clearer legal authority. On HB 1323, DLNR opposed the bill, saying it did not reflect Act 90 and that some agricultural parcels should remain under DLNR for conservation, watershed, recreation, or fire protection reasons; DOA, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the measure, arguing that productive agricultural lands should be transferred to agriculture to protect local food production and family ranches.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, February 9, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill authorizes the Treasury to issue a circulating and collectible $2.50 coin modeled on the design
- In the face of increasingly hostile words and actions from China and predictable flimsy support from
- <04:54:59.680>
and <04:54:59.920>predictable <04:55:00.560>flimsy predictable and - predictable flimsy predictable and predictable flimsy support<04:55:01.600>
from <04:55:01.840 - <09:00:35.840>
to housing tax credit are predicted to housing tax credit are predicted to
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- These summits are encouraging model These summits are encouraging model showing<00:10:23.600>
- <00:31:12.240>
um <00:31:12.399>of farms that kind of fit the model um of farms that - kind of fit the model um of those<00:31:12.960>
types <00:31:13.200>of <00:31:13.360>- Well, I think if you aren't able to predict whether your...
- think if you aren't able to predict think if you aren't able to predict whether<01:37:57.280>
Summary:
The joint informational briefing focused on how federal policy changes, tariffs, funding cuts, the federal shutdown, and delays in the farm bill are affecting Hawaii agriculture and food access. Opening remarks emphasized Hawaii’s heavy dependence on imported food and farm inputs, the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in USDA services, and the need for stronger state, county, and community coordination. Speakers also noted that immigration enforcement and broader global supply-chain pressures can affect local farm labor, production, and food availability.
Sharon Herd, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, described both positive and negative federal impacts. She said Hawaii has benefited from some recurring grants and a large new $8.8 million federal grant, but also reported about $22 million in losses from suspended or terminated grants, including farm-to-school and water-related projects. She said some USDA programs, such as microgrants for food security and FISMIP, are currently suspended, while the specialty crop block grant remains active. She also said Hawaii farms declined from 7,328 to 6,569 between the 2017 and 2022 censuses and argued the state cannot rely on imports alone to feed its people.
Amanda Shaw of Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii presented findings from federal funding cut reports. She said the first report, in March, identified about $88 million in potential cuts, and the newer report found $64.7 million in confirmed cuts and about $175 million in potential cuts. She said federal shifts are creating uncertainty for farmers, food-system organizations, and school and community food programs, and noted that 4,000 to 5,000 Hawaii farmers could receive less money because of changes to payment-factor provisions for socially disadvantaged farmers. She also said Hawaii has lost 18% of local USDA staff since September 2024, with possible further national reductions expected. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair noted that any legal questions, including the reported SNAP changes, would be for the Judiciary Committee to assess later.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:03:48.400>
policy enforcement and move to a model policy enforcement and move to a model - finish line in establishing a model finish line in establishing a model policy<00:15:10.560>
- Bring predictability<02:28:45.680>
and <02:28:46.000>relief. - <02:28:47.359>
Before <02:28:47.840>I predictability and relief. - Before I predictability and relief.
Summary:
The House returned from recess and took up S. 208, a bill on standards for law enforcement identification. The House Judiciary Committee explained that it had rewritten the bill into a model-policy approach focused on Vermont state and local agencies, rather than imposing direct requirements on all law enforcement, because of constitutional and preemption concerns raised by a recent Ninth Circuit decision. The amended bill would direct the Law Enforcement Advisory Board to develop a statewide policy on officer identification and facial coverings by July 2027, require agencies to adopt a consistent policy by October 1, 2027, and deem agencies to have adopted the model policy if they do not act. The committee reported the bill favorably on a 6-5 vote.
Members then debated an amendment offered by Representatives Berbeco and McGill to restore federal officers to the bill. Supporters argued that public authority should not be anonymous, that visible identification is necessary for transparency, accountability, and public trust, and that the bill should apply to federal agents as well as state and local officers. They said the amendment included exemptions for undercover work, tactical teams, protective equipment, and safety concerns, and argued Vermont should not wait for courts to resolve every constitutional question before acting. Opponents on the Judiciary Committee said the language remained likely unconstitutional and could jeopardize the bill’s passage; the committee had found the amendment unfavorable on an 8-1 vote.
The floor debate continued with several members speaking in favor of the amendment, including arguments that other states have adopted similar requirements and that Vermont should lead on the issue. One member raised a point of order that was not sustained, and the Speaker ruled federal authority relevant to the question. The transcript ends while debate on the amendment was still underway, after a request for a roll-call vote was granted, with no final floor vote on the amendment shown in the excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Human Committee Meeting - 2026-04-14
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- There are so many things impossible to predict there.
- <00:30:24.559>
My <00:30:24.960>belief impossible to predict there. - My belief impossible to predict there.
- <00:31:45.840>
and <00:31:46.080>our that is the model and our that is the model and - , versus the Mshow, which is more of a health plan integrated model.
Keywords:
county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- , providing districts with predictable, providing districts with predictable, flexible<01:09:01.920
- In anticipation of eroding federal support, I'm modeling budgets that have no title funding.
- In anticipation of eroding federal support, I'm modeling budgets that have no title funding.
- In anticipation of eroding federal support, I'm modeling budgets that have no title funding.
- In anticipation of eroding federal support, I'm modeling budgets that have no title funding.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
October 8, 2025 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- And I've heard from many school districts around the state that this has been a challenge hard to predicting
- But now we've thrown in a completely separate model with the scholarship students where we're trying
- Now we have all this different movement going on under 2 separate models that we're trying to incorporate
- issues occur or has that follow the >> traditional track of of payments at the same time and is more predictable
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- So, this may be very interesting, but I'm predicting that this $525,000 cap is going to be reached pretty
- What economic model? Madam Chair, that's a great question.
- The business model of medicine works here.
- To ensure fair and predictable access to the credits for businesses investing in New Mexico jobs, this
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- There isn't one required under this bill, or a known risk at a site adjacent to the H-1 model of, and
- The modeling has changed, raising prices, and, if I understand correctly, the bill allows or instead
- We, I mean, we can't we can't predict that, but it would be there. Yeah. Okay. That's my 15, sir.
- So you, in your model, you stated that the gas prices can increase 5 to 14 cents per gallon, right?
- And you heard the concerns with D.O.T. model.
Keywords:
image-based sexual abuse, working group, gender-based violence, Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, prevention efforts, survivor protections, new technologies, legal reform, HCR14, House Concurrent Resolution, perpetual easement, non-exclusive easement, state submerged lands, submerged lands, shoreline easement, drainage outfall, stormwater outfall, lagoon outfall, pipelines, Kahala Hotel & Resort
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (01/24/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- um sort of has been the operating model um sort of has been the operating model so<01:18:14.199>
- <01:24:55.480>
so development um has a cluster model so development um has a cluster model - that's a very powerful mentoring model that's a very powerful mentoring model then<01:25:11.159>
- Hard to predict. It's hard to predict, yeah.
- <04:13:40.520>
it's the other way um hard to predict it's the other way um hard to predict
Summary:
The committee first heard HB 295, which would make school building aid funds non-lapsing/non-APS. Representative Cahill said the bill was intended to keep any unused building aid money available for future projects, potentially helping move projects up the priority list or provide a little more funding for school construction. Members asked about how much money has lapsed in past years, whether the education trust fund and building aid are separate, and whether any lapsing dollars could be used to pay down debt. Department of Education official Jim Carney said about $29.1 million would be available if building aid is funded to the $50 million maximum in FY26, confirmed that the fund currently lapses, and said the department would gather historical lapse data. Committee members also discussed whether a dedicated fund structure could achieve the same goal, and the chair noted that the education trust fund statute includes school building aid as one of its uses. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee said it would later hold a work session after receiving more information.
The committee then took up HB 237, introduced by Representative Dan McGuire, which would prohibit the use of special education state funds and differentiated aid for students not receiving special education services. The New Hampshire School Boards Association, through Becky Wilson, opposed the bill as written, saying it was unclear, potentially unnecessary, and difficult to implement because adequacy and differentiated aid are distributed as part of a districtwide lump sum rather than as student-specific dollars. She explained that special education costs are embedded across district budgets, including staffing, training, transportation, and instruction, and that some staff and services benefit both special education and general education students. Wilson also said differentiated aid is not tied to a specific pupil and is used at the district’s discretion, though it is intended to support students with greater needs.
Committee members pressed on whether the bill would require districts to track money by individual student, whether it could conflict with federal special education law, and whether it would affect least restrictive environment requirements. Wilson said making the funds student-specific could create privacy and accounting problems and could make it difficult to staff inclusive classrooms, though she did not give a definitive legal opinion on federal compliance. She agreed that students who are not eligible for special education would not be included in the separate catastrophic/special education aid reimbursement program. The discussion continued into the second section of the bill, with members exploring how adequacy aid and differentiated aid are used in practice, but no action was taken during the portion provided.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- that as I was looking at social media this morning, the National Weather Service for Boston was predicting
- And actually, when they introduced the system explicitly based off of the Massachusetts model in 2021
- These types of programs are a model for what we could bring to Massachusetts.
- Who would have predicted that the prices were going to go so high?
- When are you guys going to revise your models?
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service.
Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough.
The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (03/19/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- So 548 as amended extends the direct pay model currently available for primary care to the operation
- So 548 as amended extends the direct pay model currently available for primary care to the operation
- So those cash customers are looking for a different model, and I can't say that I blame them.
- and I can't say that I a different model and I can't say that I blame<00:51:28.359>
them <00:51 - at the time of discharge or predict at the time of discharge or dispatch<00:57:46.039>
uh <00: