Transcript Highlights:

• SEVEN YEARS AGO FLORIDA SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS WERE CAPPED. THEY WERE LIMITED.
• IN FACT, TODAY I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE FROM THE 24 25 SCHOOL YEAR WAS 92.2
• BACK THEN THERE WAS NO STATE MECHANISM TO ENSURE A HIGHER PAY FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS.
• WE HAVE ENSURED THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE A DUTY TO EDUCATE NOT A RIGHT TO INDOCTRINATE. .
• AS WELL AS THE HAMILTON SCHOOL FOR CLASSICAL AND CIVIC EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:31:42.480><c> infrastructure</c> with electric school bus infrastructure with electric school bus
• So the county school board made that decision to say, you know what? We need school buses.
• school buses.
• The county school board made that decision to say, you know what? We need school buses.
• school buses.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, Kinston High School Mr.
• They gas schools.
• Contrary to ICE raids in schools.
• They gas schools. And I want students. They gas schools.
• Mary's High School and continued playing Mary's High School and continued playing at<05:49:13.600><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I actively partner with local schools, the school district, and fellow small businesses to sell books
• As a former Catholic school teacher and a former public school middle school librarian, I can understand
• When I was a middle school librarian, they provided author visits free of charge during school hours.
• It was as if a rock star were coming to school.
• I passed the equivalency test in high school.

Bills: HB2242 , HB2446 , HB2799 , HB4502 , HB2920 , HB2790 , HB5620 , HB5060 , HB5076 , HB5080 , HB5081 , HB5128 , HB5130 , HB3847 , HB5116 , HB2969 , HB4546 , HB4202 , HB5624 , HB3964 , HB4803 , HB872 , HB4775 , HB4777 , HB4961 , HB5570 , HB2988 , HB4260 , HB1375 , HB5009 , HB5411 , HB5134 , HB4388 , HB3095 , HB1387

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:42.079><c> I'm</c> proart program at Shaky high school I'm proart program at Shaky high school
• </c> in my culinary room of my high school in my culinary room of my high school having<00:53:00.000>
• </c> proart program at Oak River High School proart program at Oak River High School I'm<00:59:31.480
• <01:02:54.319><c> um</c><01:02:55.319><c> uh</c><01:02:55.480><c> program</c> School um uh program School
• </c><01:08:35.040><c> too</c> opportunity to visit shaki schools too opportunity to visit shaki schools

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our high school page. Uh, Mr.
• Andrew Lewis, if school page. Uh, Mr.
• Anthony's school, Triary School in Casper, Finn and Reagan.
• :04.960><c> Casper,</c><00:49:05.520><c> Finn</c> school, Triary School in Casper, Finn school, Triary
• </c><00:51:09.520><c> We</c> law school partner, Bob Nicholas. We law school partner, Bob Nicholas.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• property and not just one school, all schools.
• So, I was an elected school board member, and I can talk to how you are seen as a school board member
• What happens when you're a school board member? You go into schools a lot.
• </c><00:13:31.120><c> you</c> are the boss of the school district. you are the boss of the school district
• You go into you're a school member? You go into schools<00:13:39.200><c> a</c><00:13:39.440><c> lot.

Bills: SF0082

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there was questions about the school there was questions about the school district<01:03:41.920>
• </c> the swept and the school funding aspect. the swept and the school funding aspect.
• , school district officials?
• </c><01:38:22.159><c> officials,</c><01:38:22.639><c> school</c> consulted with school officials, school
• consulted with school officials, school district<01:38:23.280><c> officials?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on HB 302, which would add precious metals and digital assets as potential investment options. State Treasurer Monica Misipelli said she took no position on the bill and did not see an immediate fiscal impact or operational problem, but explained that the state’s operating funds and rainy day fund require liquidity and stability, so they would not be suitable for volatile assets like precious metals or digital assets. She said the only funds that might potentially use such investments would be certain trust funds held in perpetuity, which are managed by an outside investment advisor under a contract and investment policy. Members asked about the treasurer’s current investment practices, including the types of funds managed, the role and discretion of the investment advisor, the state’s risk profile, and whether the bill would affect existing authority. Misipelli said the office follows RSA 11 and related statutes, with different objectives ranging from conservative to aggressive depending on the fund, and that the advisor meets with the office regularly, with formal performance reviews on a quarterly basis. She also said the office recently centralized management of about 40 trust accounts totaling roughly $60 million into five combined portfolios under a five-year contract with an RFP-selected vendor. When asked whether precious metals or digital assets are already indirectly available through mutual funds, she said that was possible for some mutual funds, but she was not certain about digital assets. Representative Ammon, the bill’s sponsor, said similar legislation had passed the Oklahoma House, the Texas House and Senate, and had advanced in Arizona. He argued the bill was intended to give the treasurer more tools to help balance portfolios and hedge inflation, noting concerns about federal debt and inflation. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair ended the questioning after thanking the treasurer and asking her to remain available in case further questions arose.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oana has done great things with the downtown streetscape and with the high school.
• </c> streetscape and with the high school streetscape and with the high school it's<00:21:33.360><c>
• Association, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, the Association of Metropolitan School
• </c> record spending in school districts last record spending in school districts last year<01:20:22.239
• I just want to comment, if I could, on our county and school district employees.

Bills: HF1976

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: paid leave, family leave, employment law, Minnesota statute, benefit eligibility, seasonal employment, workforce, labor rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and devices in school, we are not school children.
• and devices in school, we are not school children.
• </c><00:24:58.880><c> We</c> school, we are not school children.
• We school, we are not school children.
• </c> only to our counties, but to our schools only to our counties, but to our schools and<01:38:52.000

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This RS is about helping foster children stay in their school of origin, which is whatever school that
• There is also a new chapter being added about school of origin hearings.
• About school of origin hearings.
• If a child is removed from the home, the department will make the decision about their school of origin
• This bill just says that schools and daycares will talk about voluntary vaccination.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee met with a quorum and quickly considered several RS introductions. Representative Redmond introduced RS 33371 and RS 33372, both tied to Idaho’s rural health transformation and scope-of-practice reforms: the first would expand dental hygienists’ scope of practice, and the second would expand physician assistants’ practice authority within their education, training, and experience. Both were introduced without opposition, though Representative McCann noted she wanted to reserve questions for the dental board on the dental hygiene proposal. Representative Burgoyne introduced RS 33381, which would help foster children remain in their school of origin after removal from the home and add a new process for school-of-origin hearings. Members asked how the proposal would interact with existing placement law, including least restrictive placement and fit-and-willing-relative preferences, and who would pay transportation costs; the sponsor said she would return with answers at a full hearing. The committee then voted to introduce the bill. Representative Rubel introduced RS 33365 to restore the Family Personal Care Services program with sideboards, including fraud controls, a 1,000-family cap, and a 25-hour weekly cap. She argued the program helps families caring for people with severe disabilities and may save money when third-party caregivers are unavailable. After a question about eligibility and wait-list criteria, the committee introduced the RS. Representative Beiswenger then introduced RS 33541, a revised medical freedom bill that removes a cause of action, makes school and daycare vaccination discussions voluntary, bars local preemption of the Medical Freedom Act, and changes the immunization information system to opt-in. It was also introduced, and the committee adjourned after noting more RSs and hearings would follow soon.

Transcript Highlights:

• grade, second grade, or I'm sorry, kindergarten, first grade, and third grade, within 30 days of school
• starting, I'm just a little concerned that 30 days in some of your larger school districts that may
• But my next question is, how are school nurses trained to do this?
• Different than the rough screening exams that are already being done at school? Correct?
• So is there a mechanism that would allow these kinds of exams if there's a school nurse or a school clinic

Summary: The committee took up several health-related bills and moved most of them forward. House Bill 4329, by Pro Tem Moore, passed 6-0 after a brief explanation that it changes the definition of coverage services from “reimbursable” to “reimbursed.” House Bill 3016, by Representative Dobrinski, also passed 5-0; it would create a vision screening program tied to early literacy efforts and establish a revolving fund, with members raising questions about funding, training, timing in larger districts, and whether insurance or outside clinics could help cover costs. Representative Dobrinski said he was open to adjustments and noted the bill is intended to identify vision issues that can affect reading and school performance. Representative West’s House Bill 4118 passed 5-0 after the committee adopted a PCS as the working draft. West described it as a fiscally responsible measure supporting family caregivers, maintaining existing safeguards under the Caring for Caregiver Act, and preserving a nonrefundable tax credit capped at $1.5 million. House Bill 366, by Representative Pogemiller, passed 5-0 and would create a revolving fund for the Health Care Workforce Training Commission to support behavioral health professionals in rural Oklahoma under the Rural Health Transformation Program. The committee also considered House Bill 3649, a Department of Mental Health request bill allowing proceeds from certain real estate sales to be placed in a department trust for future property purchases or development. Questions centered on whether the bill aligned with an RFP involving current state facilities, and the bill was sent to oversight on a 4-1 vote. House Bill 3650, a Hospital Association request bill to extend the managed Medicaid rate floor, was also sent to oversight on a 5-0 vote, with Chairman Stinson saying he intended to amend the end date from 2035 down to 2028 before further consideration. House Bill 3644 was laid over until the following week, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• may be a little different than last time we were there is that the young people there are now in school
• So we're going to have a little bit of a challenge trying to work around and not disrupt their schooling
• Our youth will probably be in school. be in school.
• We have a high school and postgraduate education.
• This last year, we graduated 22 graduates: 6 with a high school diploma and 16 received their GED.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• of Hawaii to conduct an inventory of bus stops on Hawaii Island utilized by children to travel to school
• advisory</c><00:16:47.759><c> committee</c><00:16:48.079><c> to</c><00:16:48.320><c> collaborate</c> school
• advisory committee to collaborate school advisory committee to collaborate with<00:16:48.959><c> the
• </c><00:16:59.120><c> to</c><00:16:59.440><c> travel</c><00:16:59.759><c> to</c><00:17:00.000><c> school
• </c> utilized by children to travel to school utilized by children to travel to school and<00:17:00.560

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Transportation met on Thursday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. with a short agenda focused on two resolutions. STR 32 requested that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation work with the Department of Transportation to use inmate work furlough programs for state roadway and highway maintenance. Testimony was received in support from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and an individual, Frank Schultz. No one testified in opposition or with reservations. The committee also heard STR 117 SD1 HD1, which urged the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee to collaborate with the Department of Education, Department of Transportation, and the County of Hawaii to inventory bus stops on Hawaii Island used by children traveling to school and to develop safety improvements at those locations. Testimony in support came from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Education, and Frank Schultz. Again, there was no opposition or additional public testimony. After taking the measures up, the committee voted to pass both resolutions unamended as is. The chair’s recommendations were adopted, with some members excused from the vote on STR 32. Before adjournment, the chair noted this was the last traditional transportation committee hearing of the session, thanked staff, members, and advocates, and said the committee would move into conference on nearly 45 transportation measures. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have approximately 1 in 36 children right now in our school district that suffer from autism.
• I used to get sent home from Montessori school with papers pinned to my chest saying, 'Stop Pizzo.'
• school board members this morning and I told her we're going to be presenting this bill today.
• Some of these achievements include a high school national debate championship in 2024 and...
• Senator Pizzo: Of all the school districts— Senator Pizzo: Of all the school districts that are in Florida

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions before taking up a special order calendar of bills. Early measures included a claims bill for relief to L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which passed 34-0 after substitution from the House version, and a claims bill for the estate of Mark Legata, which passed 35-0 after the amount was reduced in the substitute. The chamber then approved CS for CS for SB 42 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, requiring investigators to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse; the sponsor described it as a fix for cases where medical evidence is overlooked, and it passed 34-0. A bill on autism education for teachers was also substituted with the House version, amended to replace the Senate language, and passed 35-0 after supportive remarks from members. The Senate next passed a land-use bill, SB 218, adjusting hurricane-related development restrictions so they continue in storm-damaged counties but expire in unaffected counties in 2026, with debate focused on local control and recovery needs; it passed 36-0. The chamber then approved several other measures with little or no opposition: a probate bill modernizing curators of estates (36-0), a Blue Ribbon Projects bill creating a framework for large planned developments with conservation set-asides, which drew extensive debate over local control, growth management, and the bill’s breadth before being temporarily postponed, a state lotteries update (36-0), a diploma requirements bill allowing Special Olympics participation to substitute for PE and clarifying marching band credit (36-0), and a naturopathic medicine licensure/regulation bill that reestablishes a licensing framework and board, which passed 33-3. The Justice Administrative Commission bill was amended to broaden membership to include a judge or senior judge and passed 37-0. The Senate also passed a public records exemption for certain local administrators and their families (31-5), a clinical laboratory personnel bill easing staffing requirements by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards (37-0), a dry needling bill clarifying occupational therapists may perform the practice (37-0), a financial disclosures bill revising gift/honoraria reporting and restoring a percentage-based reporting option via amendment (36-0), and a child welfare bill expanding when parental drug abuse can be treated as harm or neglect and allowing earlier court intervention and services (37-0). Later, the chamber took up a bill on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would prevent enforcement of foreign or religious law over the Constitution, create a due-process process for domestic terrorist designations, and bar public funds from supporting terrorism. Senators raised questions about the lack of a time limit on conduct used for designation and whether conviction is required; an amendment was then offered to remove specific references to Sharia law and the bill’s findings, with the sponsor of the amendment arguing the language stigmatized Muslim constituents and singled out Islam. The transcript cuts off during that amendment debate, so no final action on the bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:26.480><c> in</c> their traffic including every school in their traffic including every school
• </c> network is from KDE from our school network is from KDE from our school system<00:20:57.520><c>
• kids can come to school and expect things to work so they can learn and the other users.
• kids can come to school and expect things to work so they can learn and the other users.
• So I went back to school and I got a master's in public administration.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Discussion of the KentuckyWired Network 00:00:55 Discussion of the Water Resource Information System 00:35.40 Discussion of Geographic Information Systems 00:52:30 Discussion of Committee Report to LRC 01:15:05, 958, all

Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a presentation from Leadcore representatives Jimmy Bird, Mike Murray, and Rebecca Moss on the Kentucky Wired network. Leadcore described its role as the design-builder and service provider under the KCNA contract, saying the network was built with roughly 13,200 feet of fiber, mostly aerial, and that the use of non-armored cable was a Kentucky-side decision made to reduce cost. They also said aerial construction and non-armored cable increase maintenance challenges, including storm damage and squirrel-related damage, and reported FY25 service activity of 104 break-fix events, 30 maintenance replacements, 64 storm-damage events, and nearly 13,000 feet of fiber replaced to date. Committee members questioned whether the original project anticipated this level of replacement and whether any forecast existed for maintenance under non-armored cable. Leadcore said it did not do a formal forecast and could not say whether the replacement rate was above or below norms, though it acknowledged the decision not to use armored cable came from the Kentucky side of the contract. Members also asked about whether replacements caused network degradation; Leadcore said it tries to replace cable at existing splice points to avoid degradation and, where needed, uses armored cable for replacement sections going forward. The committee then explored Leadcore’s relationship with Excel and KCNA. Leadcore said it has a service-level agreement for KCNA-related fibers but not for dark fibers used by Excel, and that Kentucky Wired fibers get priority on service requests. It said outages are reported through a 1-800 number and that it was not aware of any access problems to the huts. On the tech refresh, Leadcore said its understanding is that maintaining the network is its responsibility, but the technology refresh is not; it said only a very limited amount of refresh has occurred and that this did not match the original contract intent. Leadcore also said it had not been asked to defer maintenance. The chair closed by saying the testimony would inform a committee report and that he intended to recommend clawing back or withholding some previously authorized Kentucky Wired and refresh funding until an audit is complete, with the committee to vote on a report later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mahalo. needs to achieve are Farm to school needs to achieve are Farm to school goals<00:23:53.720><c
• farm-to-school local produce, we require two estimates.
• farm-to-school local produce, we require two estimates.
• farm-to-school local produce, we require two estimates.
• High school and watched the kids eat lunch.

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1140, Ashby, school campus access, due pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 1140, Ashby, school campus access, due pass with author amendments to make technical changes.
• SB 1181, Hurtado, school safety grant, holding committee. SB 1220, Hurtado, firearms, due pass.
• SB 1083, Perez, school employee egregious misconduct, due pass as amended to clarify background check
• SB 1083, Perez, school employee egregious misconduct, due pass as amended to clarify background check

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 13, 2026 suspense-file hearing on Senate bills, with the chair opening by thanking staff and recognizing consultant Jennifer Swenson’s retirement after 30 years in the Legislature. The committee explained that it was weighing the fiscal impact of 293 bills and that some would move forward while others would be held because of cost, duplication, or competing budget priorities. The committee then took up the suspense file in alphabetical order and acted on a large number of measures, sending many to the Assembly floor as due pass or due pass with amendments. Examples included bills on battery recycling, wildfire resilience loans, mobile home park disaster assistance, price gouging, veterans’ property tax exemptions, housing and insurance issues, energy and utility regulation, election procedures, criminal justice, health care, education, housing, environmental protection, and artificial intelligence. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, delay implementation, add reporting requirements, clarify definitions, or reduce costs; others were held in committee. Among the notable actions, several bills were advanced on roll calls while others were held, including measures related to water quality, utility rate information, juvenile detention, CARE Court, and various housing and energy proposals. The committee also moved a number of sunset and technical cleanup bills, and several members requested to be added as principal or joint authors on amended measures. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that the committee had moved a large number of bills to the Assembly floor, usually with amended language, and that the amended versions would be posted online. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there are many, many school districts across are implementing this curriculum.
• Many school districts across are implementing this curriculum, which was created by DESE because there
• And our organization is supporting about 60 or so schools at the moment, adding another 70 next year
• I've been having a wonderful opportunity teaching high school, but having a child in second grade and
• That's another inquiry-based high school curriculum that was originally developed for California with

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution met without a quorum, so no votes were taken and any items requiring action were deferred to a future meeting. Representative Sean Garballey welcomed new commission member Mona Roy and thanked outgoing members Susie Berry and Abigail Chandler, noting that the governor’s office would be contacted about open appointments to help restore quorum. The commission then heard a presentation from the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition, which outlined civics and history education programs tied to Mass 250 and America 250, including Civic Learning Week, teacher professional development, student civic projects, online courses, and curriculum resources from partners such as iCivics, Harvard’s Democratic Knowledge Project, GBH, Facing History and Ourselves, EDC, Revolutionary Spaces, and others. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism reported on the state’s 250th anniversary campaign, including a November event at the Old South Meeting House with the governor, lieutenant governor, and Boston Symphony Orchestra, strong media coverage, over $6 million in sponsorships, new TV spots tied to Ken Burns’ American Revolution documentary, and a new Massachusetts First webpage and merchandise. Revolutionary 250 gave an update on upcoming Henry Knox Trail commemorations, including events beginning in January at the state line and continuing in Great Barrington, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham, Cambridge, Roxbury, and Dorchester Heights, with related planning for the St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day parade and other Revolutionary-era observances. The commission also discussed possible future initiatives for member working groups: contributing to an America 250 time capsule, organizing community-level “America’s potluck dinner” events on July 5, and coordinating readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 8. Members asked clarifying questions about how the potluck and time capsule efforts would work, and staff said an email would be sent after the meeting to gather interest and form small planning groups. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, a second, and unanimous approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the fire cadet program are more likely to be from Boston, went to our high schools, and thus
• So let's say you have a $50,000 pension after 35 years of being a public school educator.
• You work for 30 years at a public school.
• My friend, in 2019, went to her 70th high school class reunion at the age of 88.
• , wore many hats as a guidance counselor, school adjustment counselor, and school psychologist.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public employees, retirees, and public safety personnel. Early testimony focused on House Bill 2859, which would make Massachusetts Department of Correction industrial instructors permanent civil service employees after years of provisional status, and House Bill 2995, which would reduce the Boston Fire Cadet Program service requirement from two years to one year. Supporters of the Boston fire cadet bill argued it would improve equity, expand opportunities for Boston residents, and help diversify the Boston Fire Department; committee members asked about the current makeup of academy classes and the effect of a hybrid model, and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association was described as neutral on a separate age-related police bill. The committee also heard several proposals related to post-retirement earnings and civil service rules for police and fire retirees. Testimony supported bills including H. 2903 and H. 2966, which would loosen earnings limits for retired public safety workers returning to work, and related measures affecting civil service exemptions and professional services for retirement boards. Speakers argued the current limits are confusing, discourage experienced workers from filling needed municipal jobs, and can create safety issues on public works and construction sites. One witness from Worcester Police supported raising the police academy age limit from 32 to 39 to improve recruitment, especially in BIPOC communities, while Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata supported a separate bill to raise the Boston Police Academy age cap from 39 to 45. A substantial portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 2812 and S. 1817, which would increase the pension COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and freeze certain retiree health insurance contribution rates, with additional testimony about capping out-of-pocket health costs for some retirees. Educators and union representatives said the current COLA structure has eroded pension value and leaves retirees struggling with rising costs, while one witness described long delays and confusion in navigating retiree health coverage. The committee took no substantive votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after hearing all testimony.