Transcript Highlights:

• So there are varying matches based on different factors. Mr.
• I move the six-based Angus amendment dated to 2026 at 1:58 p.m.
• At NAMI, we believe in skills and pills.
• The issue with the fiscal note is that the data they use is based on 2024; it's not based on 2025 data
• Why you touch base just beyond that? We'll talk with the view.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct AHCCCS to seek federal approval for a home- and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with quarterly implementation updates, a stakeholder work group, and a cap on enrollment. The sponsor and advocates from Arizona Mad Moms argued the bill would create a Medicaid-funded long-term care option for the most disabled SMI patients, reduce costly hospital and state-only care, and improve continuity of care. A committee amendment narrowed eligibility to individuals needing a long-term SMI level of care, changed reporting to semiannual, reduced the initial cap to 250 members with possible growth tied to savings, and required AHCCCS to keep pursuing approval if CMS denies it. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1630 as amended passed 10-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1131, which originally required every school district and charter school to adopt a cardiac emergency response plan and appropriated $1 million for implementation. A Warner amendment replaced the mandate with a reporting requirement on AED counts, CPR/AED-trained staff, and whether a plan exists, while shifting the appropriation toward AED grants and limiting school spending to purchasing and maintaining AEDs. The American Heart Association supported the amendment as a way to gather baseline data and target resources, while some members questioned the funding split and the rural-school priority. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1131 as amended passed 9-1. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 1582, dealing with the school safety interoperability fund. The amendment changed the appropriation from ADE to ADOA and allocated funds to specific county sheriff’s offices to continue existing interoperable communication systems linking schools and first responders; supporters said the systems had been used in drills and some real incidents, and were important for school safety. One member raised concerns about the auditor general’s report and whether the program should continue, but sheriffs and school officials described it as a useful communication tool. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1582 as amended passed 6-4. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 1504, which would change retirement rules for Tier 2 and Tier 3 public safety personnel and reduce the waiting period for cost-of-living adjustments. The sponsor, police and fire representatives, and pension consultants argued the bill would improve recruitment and retention and align benefits more closely with what employees were promised, while cities, counties, and taxpayer groups warned it would add substantial unfunded liabilities and undermine the 2016 pension reforms. The committee spent extensive time on actuarial costs, funding status, and the effect of the amendment exempting the bill from statutory pre-funding requirements; the transcript ends during that discussion before a final vote on SB 1504 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, growing up, my grandmother used to listen to baseball games.
• We went to the Reds games, but she liked to listen to them, and after she died I kept thinking, why did
• you like to listen to the baseball game so much?
• You know, growing up, my grandmother used to listen to baseball games.
• you like to listen to the baseball game so much?

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met with a quorum and first considered Senate Bill 3, relating to student athletes and NIL. Senator Max Wise said the bill would modernize Kentucky’s NIL framework so universities remain competitive and student-athletes can benefit, noting the state’s earlier NIL law and the need to act before a pending national settlement. Several members supported the bill but expressed concern that NIL has changed college athletics and could eventually affect high school sports. The committee reported Senate Bill 3 favorably. The committee then took up Senate Bill 15, relating to minimum wage exceptions for minor league baseball players. Senator Amanda Bledsoe and MLB representative Josh Allen explained that the bill would align Kentucky law with the players’ collective bargaining agreement, treating the players as salaried rather than hourly workers and addressing overtime issues. Members discussed the minimum weekly salaries at Single-A and Triple-A, along with housing, meals, and health benefits under the agreement. The committee adopted a committee substitute, passed a title amendment, and reported Senate Bill 15 favorably. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 103, which concerns the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and services for people with disabilities. Senator Danny Carroll and provider advocates said the bill would add regulatory oversight, require reporting to the legislature and governor, and give preference to in-state services when available, while preserving access to out-of-state services when needed. Testimony focused on Kentucky’s low employment ranking for people with disabilities, unused federal funds, provider funding concerns, and an OVR order of selection that would limit services to the most severe cases. The committee adopted a committee substitute and reported Senate Bill 103 favorably after supportive comments from members about the program’s impact on employment and quality of life.

Transcript Highlights:

• Courtney, I wanted to touch base on Bar Authority.
• I have a couple on page, on line 88, the Office of Military Base Planning.
• LFC put it in the healthcare authority base, which you had adopted.
• Behavioral Health Needs in Skilled Nursing Facilities.
• Related to community-based youth mentoring services.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Investments in recruiting and sustaining either skilled crews or developing a contractor base are both
• Materials costs... ...crews are developing a contractor base, are both very difficult in this environment
• We're counting on you to transform the way we deliver community-based resources in Pierce County.
• adds needed simulation-based space for students in the health sciences to train at a time when clinical
• We are a Spokane-based nonprofit that serves Native families, including those from each of Washington's

Bills: HB2295

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: Washington capital budget, supplemental capital budget, capital appropriations, state building construction account, taxable building construction account, climate commitment account, natural climate solutions, housing trust fund, affordable housing, supportive housing, homelessness, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, school construction, school modernization, school seismic safety, healthy schools, school electrification, SCAP, behavioral health facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Investments in recruiting and sustaining either skilled crews or developing a contractor base are both
• We're counting on you to transform the way we deliver community-based resources in Pierce County.
• This project adds needed simulation-based space for students in the health sciences to train...
• This project adds needed simulation-based space for students in the health sciences to train at a time
• We are a Spokane-based nonprofit that serves Native families, including those from each of Washington's

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held a hearing on Proposed Substitute House Bill 2295, the supplemental capital budget. Staff said the proposal totals nearly $911 million, including about $400 million in bonds and $511 million from other state and federal sources, with much of the increase over the governor’s proposal coming from Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. Major spending areas include housing and homelessness, K-12 construction, human services facilities, and CCA-funded clean energy, decarbonization, and habitat restoration projects. The chair said the committee would not take amendments at the hearing and planned to vote out the budget on Thursday, with a technical fix striker expected. Testimony was largely supportive of the House proposal, with many witnesses asking the committee to preserve or increase specific items in final negotiations. Housing advocates urged support for the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and projects such as Alliance Place, Cloverdale Cottages, Cherry Street Village, Somos, and the Thrive Center. Education and public facility witnesses backed investments in school seismic safety, small district modernization, Healthy Kids Healthy Schools, community college and university maintenance, and projects at Cascadia College, WSU, CWU, and UW. Health and human services testimony supported behavioral health, Tubman Center, HealthPoint, pregnant parenting treatment, and the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub. Natural resources, climate, and infrastructure witnesses praised funding for Flood Plains by Design, community forests, trust land transfer, salmon recovery, the Skokomish land purchase, and the Lower Columbia River dredging project. Several local governments and organizations requested additional support or Senate-level funding for specific projects, while Climate Solutions cautioned against using CCA dollars to backfill existing obligations. The committee heard no votes during the hearing, and the chair closed by saying the budget would be executed on Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, commuter trip reduction, or CTR, is an employer-based program designed to provide
• By way of background, commute trip reduction, or CTR, is an employer-based program designed to promote
• both Microsoft and Amazon have robust commute trip reduction programs and have shown how employer-based
• Based on historical information, there would be an indeterminate fiscal impact.
• And I hope we can get to a place where the sort of place-based decisions can be made.

Bills: HB2307 , HB2374 , HB2379 , HB1823 , HB2111

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: commute trip reduction, definitions, transportation, environmental impact, urban planning, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation, vehicle classification, tolling, emergency suspension, public access, state highways, transportation improvement board, TIB, transportation improvement account, motor vehicle fund, arterial streets, local match, private match

Transcript Highlights:

• Recognizing that you're speaking as a faith-based religious person. organization.
• How do you think this would change for... based on what you just said, a non-religious organization?
• They're amazingly skilled.
• And, of course, the committee continues to work on these bills and move them based on what we've heard
• A sister city agreement is a broad-based, long-term partnership that encapsulates municipal, business

Bills: HB128 , HB34 , HB 128 , HB621 , HB748 , HB2259 , HB2960 , HB3113 , HB4749 , SB835

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• A SYSTEM IN WHICH THE STATE ATTORNEY AND COURT'S HANDS WERE TIED AS TO WHAT THEY COULD DO WITH HIM BASED
• ON THE CHARGES AND BASED ON HIS HISTORY.
• THE THREE-DAY WAIT WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO WAIVE THE THREE-DAY WAIT PURCHASE BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE
• ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I THINK SOMETIMES IT SERVES TO EXPAND THE BASE OF PEOPLE BUT ALSO, IT AFFIRMS UP
• THOSE ARE THE STANDARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT ASKED TO FOLLOW BASED ON THE US CONSTITUTION.

Transcript Highlights:

• learned that Worcester farmers were not eligible for the same compensation as the traditional land based
• There was reimbursement program that was based on the percentage of your previous year's sales.
• fuel the locomotive comes a lot of the other funding programs cost share and other other incentive-based
• So that has been a program that we've we've also had incentive-based programs for farmers to try it and
• Those are involved with with implementing those specific bnp's based off of the commodity should. >>

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think we really have the luxury of doing the blame game and, you know, spin room.
• I think they're frustrated that there's been some games, but that's kind of always an end of the session
• I think they're frustrated that there's been some games, but that's kind of always an end of the session
• However, depends on how frustrated that there's been some games, frustrated that there's been some games

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a very factual, evidence-based person.
• I'm a very factual, evidence-based person.
• </c><00:32:01.360><c> on</c> Monday for the game on Monday for the game on Saturday<00:32:04.120><c>
• <01:14:42.320><c> upon</c><01:14:42.560><c> these</c> based upon these based upon these discussions.<
• Okay, we're going to take a brief recess. based renewable program is quite small based renewable program

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The joint Senate committees heard HB 108 HD2, which would allow direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and require liquor commissions to adopt rules. Most testimony came from craft brewers and distillers in support, who said the bill would help small and fragile producers reach customers, move limited or specialty products that wholesalers do not carry, and maintain relationships with visitors after they leave Hawaii. Supporters also argued that direct-to-consumer shipping would not meaningfully increase underage access because common carriers age-gate deliveries and require adult signatures, and that the measure would supplement rather than replace the three-tier system. Opposition came from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Hawaii Liquor Wholesalers Association, which said the bill could create problems with minor access and tax revenue and would allow out-of-state manufacturers to ship directly to Hawaii households. Supporters responded that similar concerns were raised when wine direct shipping was adopted and said the existing shipping and reporting systems can track and tax these sales. Several witnesses, including Maui Brewing, Ola Brew, Koloa Rum, Hana Rum, Koulana Rumworks, Koval Distillery, and the Brewers Association, described their small-batch operations, limited distribution options, and the potential for direct shipping to expand sales and jobs. Committee members questioned witnesses about underage access, tax collection, and the impact on the three-tier system. One witness discussed efforts to protect and potentially scale the Hawaiian spirit Okolehao through geographic and sourcing rules. The transcript does not show a final vote or disposition on HB 108 HD2 in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> went</c> Colorado-based company that went Colorado-based company that went insolvent,<00:31:35.360
• Back in 2019, when I passed HB 480, which was the sports betting bill to allow legalized sports gaming
• My name is Alicia Preston, and I represent the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association,
• And one example is my newest customer, which is based in the Middle East.
• </c> which is based in the Middle East. which is based in the Middle East.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:18.480><c> on</c><00:17:18.680><c> the</c> amounts based on the amounts based on the uh,<00
• It's based off of a two-party difficult.
• </c><00:44:10.520><c> budget</c> bienniums as part of the base budget bienniums as part of the base budget
• >> Specifically, it's from a role-based authentication control process.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Specifically, it's from a role-based &gt;&gt; Specifically, it's from a role-based authentication

Summary: The committee first approved the March 20 minutes and then adopted the remainder of the consent calendar, after removing two items for separate discussion. On item 26071, members questioned a $95,000 DoubleTree Manchester contract for a two-day conference. Department staff said the hotel was the only bidder, the conference typically draws more than 500 attendees, most of the cost is food offset by registration fees, and attendees pay their own lodging except for presenters. The committee then approved the item. On item 26068, members asked for clearer reporting on remaining federal funds in continuing items. DHHS said about $10.3 million remained as of February 28, 2026, and agreed to provide the original award amounts and a reconciliation later. The committee approved the item. The committee then took up a DHHS transfer item for the developmental disability system, where officials said projected costs had risen because of delayed pandemic-era billings, new individuals entering the system, and higher individual service budgets. They said the budget was built on older assumptions, that carryforward funds had fallen from about $94 million to $72 million, and that the transfer would not affect lapse because it shifts general funds while federal Medicaid funds are accepted in return. The item was adopted. The committee also approved a hiring request and then a late Corrections item tied to overtime and recruitment. Corrections officials said the department is about 50% staffed for corrections officers, typical overtime is an eight-hour shift, inmate populations are beginning to rise again, and the department is using academy blitzes, out-of-state recruiting, targeted advertising, and a $10,000 sign-on bonus paid after academy completion and one year of service. Senator Gray said the late item was intended to help reduce a larger request expected in June, and the committee adopted the item. Finally, members questioned DHHS item 26074 on the New Hampshire Care Connection system and its interoperability with provider and managed care systems. DHHS said the system already has SMART on FHIR integration, single sign-on, and deeper integration options, and that managed care organizations are working with the contractor on use cases and data exchange. Officials said the project has been multi-phase, including the 988 crisis-response migration, privacy/security work, a provider network of more than 100 organizations, and a searchable resource portal managed by Granite United Way. They said the closed-referral solution is funded largely with Medicaid federal funds and is planned to continue in the base budget, not the rural health grant. The discussion ended without further action noted in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as the Senate's concerned, based on your revenue estimates, based on the increase in the lapses
• At the end of '27, a deposit into the rainy day fund of about $50.4 million based on your estimates,
• As far as the senate's<00:05:31.840><c> concerned</c><00:05:33.039><c> uh</c><00:05:33.280><c> based<
• uh based on your revenue<00:05:34.320><c> estimates</c><00:05:35.039><c> based</c><00:05:35.360><c>
• based on the um increase<00:05:36.960><c> in</c><00:05:37.199><c> the</c><00:05:37.360><c> lapses</c

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Interchange revenue is one of the tools that allows local, community-based credit unions to invest in
• Eric Michelson continued: “When we process those, the bank approves or declines the transactions based
• That’s what the budget is based on right now.
• For you all to realize that this is not a numbers game.
• This is truly a game about how we want to invest in our communities, in our people, and in Massachusetts

Summary: The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees. Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open. Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative, that lacks a population base of like Albuquerque, perhaps a lot.
• This is based upon the new requirements that have been implemented through H.R. 1.
• And just a little more detail in that number, these programs would all be evidence-based, and that number
• My sense, based on anecdotal reports from our food banks, is that some expenses have made it harder to
• Needed funding or could use funding to get ahead of the game.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Entities that are requesting funds, are they required to have any local skin in the game?
• They are required to have a minimum amount of skin in the game of 10%, and it may actually get smaller
• The committee substitute and opening it up to more people, I think it'll be good. $20 million based on
• It is one of the nationwide and worldwide chapters of Dark Sky International, which is based in Arizona
• There's no obligation for anyone to do anything today based on this legislation.

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, but they could be taxed based on the levies that were passed after January 1, 1975, or the political
• So, thank you for adding to my knowledge base.
• , whatever... ...the base whatever base would be would have to come back for correct?
• If your community, Darden and O'Fallon, chose to vote to lower the levy to remove any base that might
• tight budgets to become more lean, but yet allow them that cushion to be able to stay ahead of the game

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Soil and Water Conservation District aid has provided a game changer for how SWCDs are funded from the
• provided</c><00:04:04.319><c> uh</c><00:04:04.599><c> really</c><00:04:04.799><c> a</c><00:04:05.000><c> game
• </c><00:04:05.280><c> Cher</c><00:04:05.879><c> for</c> has provided uh really a game Cher for has provided
• uh really a game Cher for how<00:04:06.480><c> s</c><00:04:06.720><c> swcds</c><00:04:07.519><c> are

Summary: The committee took up House File 1066, a Soil and Water Conservation District funding bill. An author’s amendment, 66A1, was offered and adopted by voice vote, putting the bill in the form preferred by the author. The amendment and bill discussion centered on changing the state aid level for SWCDs, with the bill as amended described as eliminating a scheduled reduction in funding and instead increasing the annual appropriation to $22 million. Representative Ryer explained that SWCDs are long-standing, locally elected conservation entities that help preserve soil and water quality, support farmers and homeowners, and do not have levy authority. He said the funding level was based on a bottom-up assessment of district needs and was intended to help districts maintain staffing and address local problems early. Sheila Vany of the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts testified in support, saying the aid has been a major improvement in SWCD funding and describing district work such as lakeshore stabilization, cover crops, nutrient management, lake monitoring, rain gardens, and irrigation guidance. The chair noted the voluntary nature of SWCD work with willing landowners and expressed support for the bill. No opposition testimony was presented, and no department testimony was offered. The committee then laid House File 1066, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• A report of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission pursuant to Section 69 of Chapter 23K of the General
• Massachusetts Gaming Commission pursuant to Section 69 of Chapter 23K of the General Laws submitting
• half, Sam Ellinger, who replaced senior Max Cruz on an injury substitution, was able to score the game-winning

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, briefly recessed several times, and noted receipt of Massachusetts Gaming Commission reports on December 2024 and January 2025 casino and sports wagering revenue, which were placed on file. The chamber also featured several ceremonial introductions, including Cohasset High School’s boys’ soccer team, recognized for winning the school’s first state championship, and a group of visitors from Northborough and Worcester welcomed by Senators Kennedy and Donaghue. The only substantive action taken was adoption of an order extending the previously established subcommittee under the temporary committee on rules so it could continue handling matters related to Chapter 250 of the Acts of 2024, with its membership unchanged. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn and set the next meeting for Monday at 11:00 a.m. No roll call votes were recorded; both orders were adopted without objection, and the Senate adjourned accordingly.