Transcript Highlights:

• do</c><00:20:00.679><c> not</c> provide services to agencies that do not provide services to agencies
• Jesus responds to them, “Any time you denied access to humane care to the least among you, you denied
• <c> of</c><01:13:24.760><c> any</c> remiss to collect any service of any remiss to collect any service
• Baren, is it, um, I want to thank you for your service.
• Baren, is it, um, I want to thank you for your service.

Bills: HF10

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• you for your service to commissioner for coming over today.
• And I'm here today to strongly support SB 162, to this bill would give the public back the right to access
• If we lose access to the beach, we lose more than us and we lose.
• It's an honor to be here and I would like to thank you all for your service.
• And that is a neighborhood beach access is closest to our home.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But cooperatively with the Florida College System to ensure that they are providing services to all eligible
• They are doing extensive renovation in order to make access available.
• Yes, and we do have a lot of access to information.
• awarded was zero, and then in the next... intentionally designed to support an automotive service lab
• As you heard, the Florida College System is the primary point of access to post-secondary education in

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to review funding models for the Florida College System and district workforce education programs, with an emphasis on how new dollars are allocated in the program fund and how performance and targeted funding are incorporated. Chancellor Hebda explained the Florida College System model, including base program funding, student success and pipeline funds, performance incentives for industry certifications, and the 2022 president-developed formula that weights enrollment, workforce enrollment, completions, small-college factors, and regional cost differences, plus a targeted funding floor for colleges below a minimum per-FTE level. Vice Chancellor Goodman then outlined the district workforce model, which uses lagged enrollment, program cost weights, local revenue offsets, small-district adjustments, and unmet-need calculations to distribute lump-sum appropriations to school districts offering workforce education. The department also provided updates on several grant programs and funding delays. Goodman said the Workforce Development Incentive Grant, Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education Startup Grant, and teacher apprenticeship/mentor bonus programs all involve multi-year awards and often require reversions and reappropriations because projects are delayed, extended, or not fully obligated by year-end. She said the department is moving toward an electronic grants system and had already adjusted internal deadlines to speed awards, while acknowledging some reimbursement delays and explaining that mentor bonuses for teacher apprentices will not be paid until the first cohort reaches the statutory timing requirement. Members asked about tracking whether CTE students work in their trained fields, how Xello is used to inform students about career pathways, how FTE is calculated, whether the funding formulas could encourage growth over quality, and how students with disabilities are counted in workforce funding. Questions also focused on tuition, enrollment trends, and the gap between college and university funding. The committee heard that tuition has remained flat for more than a decade, enrollment has rebounded from COVID and is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, and the college system’s funding per FTE varies widely. Valencia College President Kathleen Plinsky testified in support of the proposed formula and an additional $200 million for the Florida College System, saying Valencia is the second-largest college in the state but ranks last in per-FTE funding, which has made it difficult to recruit and retain faculty and admit qualified students in high-demand programs like nursing. The committee took no vote and adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also important to separate these merchant-facing services from the global payment card network,
• It's predominantly a debit card situation because they don't have access to credit.
• We've been trying to wrap our arms around, at least on the financial services committee, but certainly
• We've been trying to wrap our arms around, at least on the financial services committee, but certainly
• And that has a knock-on effect to consumers. Number two, banks are how broad credit access exists.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• the community and try to deliver that service directly to the customers.
• The primary focus of the Division of Workforce Services is to provide services to job seekers and job
• who she would have had access to before.
• a local labor force with greater access to education opportunities and better access to industries.
• to civilian careers by tailoring the services to their skills in needs.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide that public service to them, to their families, and to their community.
• . services to contractual services for shortfalls in the medical services contract for the inmates' medical
• access to programming and peer supports.
• going to be the number one thing that this body can do to help affect access to that treatment for people
• We're looking at using Medicaid money to get OPRI mentors to provide the same service.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• fully integrate primary and mental health care, as many communities still lack sufficient services to
• And I guess, maybe not surprisingly, but by an overwhelming margin, youth access to mental and behavioral
• </c><00:44:05.680><c> access</c><00:44:06.000><c> to</c><00:44:06.240><c> mental</c> Coloradoatans, youth
• access to mental Coloradoatans, youth access to mental and<00:44:06.720><c> behavioral</c><00:44:07.119
• </c><00:44:20.160><c> to</c> overwhelming margin, youth access to overwhelming margin, youth access to

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at group homes to the House and Senate Health and Human Services Committee chairs.
• On random employee drug screening results at group homes to the House and Senate Health and Human Services
• The title is Access to Non-Opioid Prescription Drug Controls.
• So we need to have strict warnings on these, especially the Indian Health Services.
• I think when it comes to Indian Health Services, that would be a federal issue, but happy to research

Summary: The caucus reviewed several House and Senate measures, mostly in concurrence form. HB 2611, which clarifies and expands children’s rights in foster care and kinship care, was presented with a Senate amendment requiring quarterly reports on random employee drug screening results at group homes to the Health and Human Services committee chairs; the sponsor intended to concur. HB 2048, on access to non-opioid prescription drug controls, would bar more restrictive utilization controls such as prior authorization or step therapy for clinically appropriate non-opioid pain medications approved by the FDA, with a repeal date of August 31, 2028; the sponsor intended to concur, though one member raised concerns about opioid addiction in tribal communities and asked about stronger warnings and Indian Health Service involvement. HB 2404, changing inter-facility transport procedures, returned from the Senate with only a delayed effective date change, and concurrence was expected. SB 1630, a Senate bill, would create a home and community-based service program for adults who are seriously mentally ill; members noted there was no opposition, but also that the bill appears to have a cost and no appropriation. HB 2950, creating tourism improvement districts, was amended in the Senate to remove a lodging business assessment requirement for destination marketing organizations and allow local governing bodies to approve assessment rates; members confirmed it remained an opt-in/opt-out structure. HB 2995, which rewrites Arizona’s domestic violence framework for legal decision-making and parenting time cases, was amended to make child and victim safety the highest priority, revise court findings and evidence standards, limit mutual domestic violence findings, and add an emergency clause; the sponsor recommended concurrence, though one member asked where the committee stood on the bill. HB 2265, concerning court fees and assessments, was amended to restore courts’ ability to adopt new fees, fines, and surcharges going forward; concurrence was recommended, but county supervisors remained opposed due to concerns about cost shifts. HB 2986, the annual ADEQ omnibus, was amended to merge the recycling fund into the solid waste fee fund and exempt certain public water system infrastructure modifications from plan review; concurrence was expected. The caucus also briefly noted the fiscal year 2027 budget bills, HB 4154 through HB 4169, before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually more accessible to those who need to use that option rather than imposing additional burdens
• I think we should have more access to the ballot box.
• Texas temporarily expanded access to curbside voting to Texans during the COVID-19 pandemic if they were
• curbside voters and want to help all voters who need this service to the best of our ability, but there
• 30%, were related to disability access issues.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• your constituents and all Texans will be able to access the trails.
• tool to improve and expand outdoor recreation access.
• That's a million vehicles that we need reliable access to charging infrastructure at all hours and in
• When we ensure access to charging spots, we're supporting our workers to get to their jobs, businesses
• statutes need to be to service that growth.

Bills: HB535 , HB2120 , HB2822 , HB3243 , HB3457 , HB3544 , HB4089 , HB4192 , HB4669 , HB4868 , HB4955 , HB5253 , HB5669 , SB1371 , SB1919 , SB2001

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, traffic safety, municipality, criminal offense, pedestrian safety, traffic regulations, municipal law, bicycle regulations, motor vehicle passing, traffic law, municipalities, bicycle operation, traffic laws, municipal regulations, port commission, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, San Patricio County

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a million vehicles that we need reliable access to charging infrastructure at all hours and in
• When we ensure access to charging spots, we're supporting our workers to get to the jobs, businesses,
• This would allow the creation of that environment to service not only LNG, but any large ship.
• Servicing that environment brings that revenue. To this location.
• In line with what current statute needs to be to service that growth.

Bills: HB 535 , HB 2120 , HB 2822 , HB 3243 , HB 3457 , HB 3544 , HB 4089 , HB 4192 , HB 4669 , HB 4868 , HB 4955 , HB 5253 , HB 5669 , SB 1371 , SB 1919 , SB 2001

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, traffic safety, municipality, criminal offense, pedestrian safety, traffic regulations, municipal law, bicycle regulations, motor vehicle passing, traffic law, municipalities, bicycle operation, traffic laws, municipal regulations, port commission, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, San Patricio County

Transcript Highlights:

• high quality public services to all Texans.
• we're hopeful to see some legislative direction to better coordinate the services that we do have in
• state to get them access to the mental health care that they need.
• to try to get connected to mental health services that wound up escalating to a traditional CPS case
• To ask for your funding support in helping make sure all Texans have access to one of probably the most

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article II

Transcript Highlights:

• But I've seen firsthand the power of equal access to education.
• Members, all Californians deserve access to public health.
• have to be in a position to compensate. choices here about the programs and services that we want to
• Oscar Ramos was a dedicated man who was devoted to his life and to his service and to his country as
• His military service reflect his commitment to his country and to its values.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to those services will be good for our citizens of the area.
• able to have access and to have an actuary do that analysis of the encounter data?
• The bill also talks about giving access to the Auditor General to provide this committee with access
• I don't see that it would decrease access to patient care.
• and anyone who accepts payment from insurance services rendered by health care practitioners to refund

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills. SB 1546 on background screening for athletic coaches was explained as another extension of the deadline for coaches to be added to the background screening clearinghouse; it passed favorably with support from athletic and youth sports organizations. SB 958 on type 1 diabetes early detection was amended to match the House version, requiring the Department of Health to provide school districts, school boards, and charter schools with informational materials for parents; it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. CS/SB 1070 on electrocardiograms for student athletes drew extensive discussion about sudden cardiac arrest prevention, implementation timelines, costs, funding through private and public sources, and whether insurance, KidCare, or Medicaid should cover screenings; after supportive testimony from school and athletic groups, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also heard SB 1060, which would create a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid managed care to review encounter data, financials, audits, and rebate calculations with assistance from an actuary and the Auditor General. The sponsor and several senators framed it as a transparency and verification measure in response to large mid-year Medicaid funding increases and concerns about network adequacy and vertical integration; it passed favorably. CS/SB 944, which shortens the insurer overpayment recovery look-back period for claims involving psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, also passed favorably with support from the Florida Psychological Association. SB 1370, moving ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute rather than under hospital licensure provisions, was supported by surgery center representatives and reported favorably. The committee approved SB 768, as amended, to narrow the foreign-country-of-concern licensure attestation for health care entities to direct controlling interests and clarify the “reasonable efforts” standard; it passed after questions about how the standard would work in practice. SB 1544 on opticianry prompted significant debate over whether the bill would limit nonlicensed staff in ophthalmology and optometry settings; after a proposed amendment was withdrawn and multiple witnesses spoke both for and against, the bill was temporarily postponed. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1808 requiring health care practitioners and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with enforcement through AHCA fines or professional discipline, and then reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Children deserve consistency and access to both parents.
• 19:10.239><c> result</c><01:19:10.400><c> of</c> more access to justice as a result of more access to
• from offering services or continue to grow.
• Members of services or continue to grow.
• </c> Human Services and I am very pleased to Human Services and I am very pleased to have<02:29:48.880

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your time and for your service to the people of Massachusetts. Ms.
• We want people to have access to both genetic testing and life insurance and to be able to afford both
• We want people to have access to both genetic testing and life insurance and to be able to afford both
• Access to genetic testing data. There's no business necessity here, only a question of fairness.
• We want to give a special shout-out to LIS, Legislative Information Services, for being nimble and allowing

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a fully virtual public hearing after a blizzard and state emergency closed the State House and created travel and cleanup concerns. Chairs Senator Paul Feeney and Representative James Murphy opened by thanking first responders and committee staff for making the hearing possible and noted that several members attended remotely. The committee heard testimony on three bills: H.5112, An Act Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination; H.4914, An Act Relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code; and S.2921, An Act Relative to Travel Insurance. Most of the testimony focused on H.5112. Representative Dave Rogers and his constituent Robin Biggs testified in support of H.5112, describing gaps in federal genetic nondiscrimination law that do not cover life, long-term care, or disability insurance. Biggs shared her experience as a BRCA2 mutation carrier and said genetic knowledge helped her take preventive steps, but that people fear testing because insurers may use results against them. Lindsay Jack of the ALS Association and Lisa Schlager of FORCE also supported the bill, arguing that it would encourage preventive care, research participation, and fairer underwriting without harming insurance markets. They said insurers could still use medical history and diagnoses, but not genetic test results alone. Committee members asked questions about whether insurers currently request genetic testing and how such information is used in underwriting. Testifiers said the information is routinely asked for or found in medical records, but the bill would prohibit its use in coverage decisions and would prevent insurers from requiring testing. No votes were taken. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the chairs closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting by unanimous voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to say a special thank you for your service and thank you for working to make our community a
• Thank you for visiting us today and for your service to all.
• From advocating to civil rights to ensuring our youth have access to opportunities that uplift them,
• Commitment to service is expressed in its slogan greater service, greater progress.
• to food service establishments refer to the Committee on Natural refer to the Committee on State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• FIRST OF ALL, IS THERE ANY MONEY GOING TO THEM FROM THE STATE TO PROVIDE SERVICES?
• CAN HELP THEM GET CONNECTED TO THE SERVICES HELPING THEM TO THE NEED.
• DIRECT SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED.
• ALTHOUGH IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO REACH DIFFERENT SERVICES OF THESE VISA SERVICES ARE
• I AM HERE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS VERY DIFFERENT TO HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING WHEN THAT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your time and for your service to the people of Massachusetts. Ms.
• We want people to have access to both genetic testing and life insurance and to be able to afford both
• We want people to have access to both genetic testing and life insurance and to be able to afford both
• Access to genetic testing data. There's no business necessity here, only a question of fairness.
• We want to give a special shout-out to LIS, Legislative Information Services, for being nimble and allowing

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a fully virtual public hearing because the State House was closed due to the prior day’s blizzard and ongoing cleanup and travel concerns. Chairs Paul Feeney and James Murphy opened by thanking first responders, DPW crews, plow operators, healthcare workers, and others who responded to the storm, and they explained the hearing was kept on schedule because of upcoming reporting deadlines. The committee heard testimony on H. 5112, An Act Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination, and also noted two other bills on the docket: H. 4914, An Act Relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, and S. 2921, An Act Relative to Travel Insurance. Representative Dave Rogers testified in support of H. 5112, joined by constituent Robin Biggs, who described her experience as a BRCA2 mutation carrier and said she was advised to secure life insurance before genetic testing because results could affect coverage. Biggs said genetic knowledge helped her make preventive health decisions, but she and others fear financial discrimination if insurers can use genetic information. Lindsay Jack of the ALS Association also supported the bill, arguing that people should not have to choose between learning about their health risks and protecting their financial future, and saying the measure would encourage testing and early intervention without harming the insurance market. Lisa Schlager of FORCE likewise backed the bill, saying many people with hereditary cancer risks avoid testing because of insurance concerns and that the federal law does not fully protect against discrimination in life, long-term care, and disability insurance. Committee members asked questions about whether insurers currently request genetic testing information and whether such information is used in underwriting. Testifiers said insurers routinely ask about genetic testing or obtain the information from medical records, and that the bill would prohibit using genetic test results in underwriting and would prevent insurers from requiring testing. No votes were taken; after testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the chairs closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want you to think about how valuable that property is if you lose the ability to have a critical service
• attached to your property and that service provided consistently.
• whether or not they can continue to receive services going forward.
• This isn't just about rates; this is about whether or not you have access to a service on your... ...
• This isn't just about rates; this is about whether or not you have access to a service on your property

Summary: The House began with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. Members also received communications including the designation of a substitute legislator and committee reports on pending and temporary administrative rules, with several rules approved and some recommended for rejection or exception. The Speaker outlined the day’s plan, noting the chamber would work through orders of business, suspend rules for selected bills, and likely finish for the day before returning the following week. A major floor debate centered on Senate Bill 1397, which would bring certain private sewer districts under Public Utilities Commission oversight for rates and related matters. Supporters argued the bill would protect private property owners in large private sewer districts from monopoly-like control, lack of recourse, and arbitrary rate or hookup decisions. Opponents argued sewer districts are already heavily regulated through DEQ and other requirements, that costs vary by system, and that the bill would expand government and create accountability problems. After debate, the House voted 18-51 with one pair recorded, and the bill failed to pass. The House then passed House Bill 952, the Secretary of State enhancement budget, which included funding for a voter pamphlet on constitutional amendments and initiatives and a 2% ongoing general fund reduction. It also passed Senate Bill 1426, the Idaho Transportation Department enhancement budget, and Senate Bill 1427, the Department of Lands enhancement budget. The chamber also introduced and referred several new bills, including measures on child care, taxation, abatement districts, homestead property tax relief, education, homeowners associations, and appropriations for Fish and Game, species/minerals/energy coordination, and corrections. Later, after recess, the House received additional Senate messages, introduced Senate bills on public health, stable coins, behavioral health, and water resources, and adjourned until Monday, March 30, 2026.