Transcript Highlights:

• I know Secretary Greenstein is actually in Washington, D.C.
• As many of us maybe know, or are very familiar with, Louisiana, unlike many states in the United States
• I want you to understand why HB 949 matters in this state.
• There are communities in the state, as it's been stated, the rural parishes, underserved areas, and hospitals
• There's communities in the state, it's been stated.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and adopted the April 28 minutes. The committee first heard a presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, a leadership and networking initiative focused on Louisiana health care challenges such as workforce shortages, rural access, chronic disease, and the economic impact of health care. Speakers described it as a cross-sector program intended to build informed leaders and support collaboration with health systems, insurers, providers, LDH, and the Louisiana Hospital Association. The committee then moved through a series of bills, generally adopting amendments and reporting measures favorably. SB 57, a nutrition/labeling bill, was amended to delay the effective date for the labeling provision until December 31, 2028, and was reported as amended. HB 62 increased membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission and was reported as amended, and HB 193 adjusted membership rules for the Sickle Cell Commission foundations and was also reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help close accounts and avoid problems with automatic payments and federal benefit clawbacks; it was reported favorably. SB 405, which had been heard earlier, was reworked to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing home quality initiative, including short- and long-term quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, internal expertise, and reporting requirements; after reconsidering prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment and reported the bill as amended. The committee also advanced several health and human services bills. HB 222 would allow Medicaid dental coverage when needed to clear a patient for another covered medical procedure, and it was reported as amended after LDH said the cost could be absorbed. HB 420 expanded DCFS background-check requirements to cover staff with access to sensitive records, and HB 475 required verbal consent before AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit; both were reported favorably. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council for grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police, and was reported as amended. HB 486 joined Louisiana to the psychology interjurisdictional compact to expand access to psychologists through telepsychology and temporary practice across state lines, and HB 574 updated outdated board names in the Mental Health Advisory Services Board statute; both were reported favorably. Later, the committee heard HB 949, which would create a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address radiologist shortages and improve imaging access, especially in rural areas. Testimony emphasized that RAs work under radiologist supervision and would extend capacity without replacing physicians; the bill was reported favorably. HB 584 required foster children to be provided luggage or similar items instead of trash bags when moving placements, and also corrected language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights from “privileges” back to “rights” while extending the bill’s applicability to children from birth to age 18; it was reported as amended. The committee also reported HB 1214, which restructures certain LDH state facilities into a more unified system, and HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill, both favorably. Finally, HB 203 added members from Christus Health System and Xavier University’s College of Medicine to the uterine fibroids commission and was reported favorably before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Several states, including Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, and Minnesota, have already
• Again, out-of-state vendors are not obeying our requirements.
• Other states, including New York, Washington, Oregon, and Illinois, already use similar processes to
• to a lot of medications that 49 other states can have.
• It updates state law to allow APCs to... ...these issues.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts is one of only a handful of states...
• That will eliminate a lot of jobs in the state.
• I heard put forward in another state on this.
• They pointed I heard put forward in another state on this.
• Can you state your name?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on a wide range of bills involving consumer protection, auto regulation, alcohol licenses, and professional licensure. A major focus was legislation to require a one-hour domestic violence awareness training for salon and cosmetology licensees (H.323/S.200), supported by District Attorney Marion Ryan, law enforcement, and a salon industry witness who described the program’s value in identifying and helping victims. The committee also heard strong support from the Attorney General’s office for auto consumer protection legislation (S.228/H.379) that would expand used-car warranty protections, extend the Lemon Law return period to seven days after receipt of the vehicle, raise the mileage cap to 200,000 miles, and increase dealer surety bonds to $50,000. Independent dealers opposed those changes, arguing they would burden small businesses and that dealer education, not expanded liability, was the better solution. The committee also took testimony on bills related to vehicle financial products and repair information. A trade association supported GAP waiver legislation (H.4188/S.281), saying it would create clear consumer protections and standard disclosures. On right-to-repair and heavy-duty vehicle service information (S.266), engine and truck manufacturers supported an exemption for commercial vehicles, while others argued that releasing service data to the general public could create safety, cybersecurity, and emissions risks. The committee then heard extensive testimony on auto dealer franchise and warranty reimbursement legislation (S.201/H.406), with dealer groups supporting changes to warranty labor reimbursement and manufacturer groups opposing them as costly and unnecessary. Manufacturers from GM, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and others said their current time-study and appeals processes already compensate dealers fairly and that the bill would raise costs for consumers. In addition, the committee heard testimony on H.333, which would move auto damage appraiser licensing from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure. Collision repair advocates supported the change, saying the current board structure leads to repeated dismissals of complaints and lacks accountability, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect consumers and ensure proper repair reimbursement. The hearing also included testimony in support of a local alcohol license petition for Westwood and a separate local alcohol measure for a town grant license. At the end of the hearing, the chairs announced that all docketed bills had been heard, noted that a joint poll would be held on H.4184, and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think there has been forward movement in other states, and I think for our state specifically, we
• There are several requirements in the state of Missouri. Two of them are in state statute.
• Um, there may be one that has a semester requirement in a state, but not two full credits.
• than most of these other states.
• So there are some other states that have that requirement for graduation.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 3532 and House Bill 3483, which were combined by amendment into a House Committee Substitute. Representative Kelly explained the amendment corrected a clerical error and merged the two bill strings; members discussed removing the phrase “public school” so the measure would apply more broadly. The committee adopted the amendment and substitute, then voted the combined House Committee Substitute do pass by a 16-0 roll call vote, sending it next to the Rules Committee and then potentially to the House floor. The committee then heard House Bill 2965, sponsored by Representative Bosley, which would require Missouri students to complete one unit each of Black history and Black literature before graduation, with standards and model curriculum developed by the State Board of Education. Bosley argued the bill would provide a fuller and more accurate account of American history, improve student engagement and outcomes, and empower all students. Supporters from the NAACP and committee members praised the goal, but several members raised concerns about making the courses graduation requirements, the burden on transfer students, and whether the bill should instead be tied to existing social studies credits or broader K-12 standards. No opposition testimony was offered. Finally, the committee heard House Bills 2126 and 2197, presented together as similar measures on building-level administrator evaluations. The sponsors said the bills would require annual evaluations of principals and other building administrators, set a March 1 timeline for renewal or nonrenewal decisions, and allow administrators with at least five consecutive years to request written reasons if their contracts are not renewed. Committee members and witnesses generally supported regular evaluations and timely notice, but several questioned whether the bills were too restrictive on reasons for nonrenewal and whether the language created a kind of tenure-like protection. Supporters from principals’ groups, Missouri NEA, and Missouri State Teachers Association backed the bills, emphasizing fairness, feedback, and professional growth. The hearing concluded without a vote on these two bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 67 counties across the state.
• Those boards are appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida.
• Can our state fail?
• Alvarez: People move to the great state and we love that.
• Burdens like that help us make this a better state.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please welcome them to the California State Assembly.
• It has 72 centers representing 250,000 members across the United States and Canada.
• have followed our lead, including New Mexico and Washington.
• Thank goodness all the voters across the state say.
• In some parts of the state, they're really looking at 11%, 12%.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then handled a series of procedural motions, guest introductions, and floor actions. Members approved motions to suspend rules for various purposes, removed some bills from consent, and added coauthors to resolutions. The chamber also adopted a Rules Committee request to place ACR 233 on second-day consent. The body then took up multiple concurrence and resolution items. Among the measures approved were AB 2056 on teacher exchanges with Mexico, AB 2323 on public notice, AB 1778 on controlled substances and testosterone-related scheduling, AB 2692 on common interest developments, H.R. 110 on “food as medicine,” H.R. 117 urging Congress to reform Section 230 to address online harms, SCR 152 designating Dolores Huerta Day, SB 575 reestablishing the Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund, SB 939 simplifying retirement service-credit purchases, SJR 6 urging the federal government to honor infrastructure funding commitments, SB 1165 improving tax compliance for contractors, SB 930 requiring encryption for school exam proctoring services, SB 922 clarifying local road-repair cost recovery tied to public service operations, and H.R. 124 supporting DACA recipients. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; H.R. 110, H.R. 117, and SCR 152 were adopted by voice vote after adding coauthors. The most contentious item was AB 1923, which would ensure the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act appears on the November 2026 ballot. Supporters argued it protects voters’ right to decide on a qualified local initiative and prevents delay from a county-ordered study; opponents said it overrides local authority and changes the rules to facilitate a tax measure. After debate, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments and passed the bill 54-16, sending it to the Governor. The session also included several adjournments in memory honoring Jonathan Gregg Burgess, Jeffrey Mosedo, Brian Haney, Anne Cronin Dunn, and Pastor Darryl Monroe Moore, before the Assembly adjourned until Monday, August 10.

Transcript Highlights:

• 10:39.639><c> some</c><00:10:39.880><c> of</c><00:10:40.040><c> the</c><00:10:40.200><c> most</c> States
• Constitution and the Constitution of the state of Minnesota.
• </c><00:56:33.680><c> realized</c><00:56:34.119><c> a</c> that the state realized a that the state realized
• </c> calculation shows that the state calculation shows that the state realized<00:56:39.680><c> a</c
• She had no community support, and her grown children were living out of state.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• since California has seen a decrease in rodent complaints in all its major cities, so there are many states
• There are many states that are working on this. There are restrictions for anticoagulants.
• Minnesota and Washington have unique restrictions on these anticoagulants.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• only here in Massachusetts, but across the country through the Tourette Association of America in Washington
• The matter will be referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered and advanced Senate No. 2152, designating June 7 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day. The bill was presented by the Senator from Middlesex, who explained it was inspired by a Lexington constituent, Owen Rosenthal, and aimed to raise awareness and reduce stigma around Tourette syndrome. The Minority Leader voiced support, and the Senate adopted an emergency preamble amendment before passing the bill to engrossment and later to enactment. The chamber also adopted an emergency preamble for a sick leave bank bill for Andrew Satera, a Trial Court employee, and later passed that bill to enactment as well. In addition, the Senate adopted several resolutions commending National Safety Month, honoring Daniel Grover Fitch, and celebrating the 300th anniversary of the first religious society of Newburyport. Other actions included suspending rules to refer a petition to dedicate “Bob Pizza” as the official pizza of the Commonwealth to committee, ordering a House sick leave bank bill for Dana Johnson to a third reading, and referring several House petitions to committees. The Senate also agreed to adjourn in memory of Captain Andrew John Parker of Rockport, and welcomed the Scrap Robotics team of Weymouth to the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Senator William Graves' State Correctional Facilities visitation policies for incarcerated persons
• The substitute, does that mirror, because we've had numerous bills that deal with the State Correctional
• Washington Commemorative Commission as a joint commemorative commission.

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:01.920><c> of</c> state of state of Minnesota.<00:10:03.680><c> Thank</c><00:10:03.920><c> you
• </c> smoothly, we followed a lot of states smoothly, we followed a lot of states down<00:13:17.519><c
• </c> make with the voters of this state. make with the voters of this state.
• </c> state. So members uh please vote green. state. So members uh please vote green.
• </c> work to love other people in this state. work to love other people in this state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to be a state other state decides to be a state qualifier,<00:24:50.240><c> it</c><00:24:50.480><c>
• c> issuers,</c><00:27:21.679><c> state</c> issuers, state qualified issuers, state issuers, state qualified
• 38.000><c> collaborate</c> will states, smaller states collaborate will states, smaller states collaborate
• The state established under state law.
• , but it's the state-to-state.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met on November 12 and first approved the September 17 and October 15 draft minutes unanimously after brief discussion. Members also identified themselves for the record, including a new member from Bumpsk Bank, a staff attorney from the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Securities Regulation, a prior crypto commission participant, and a uniform law commissioner involved in tokenization projects. The main presentation was by UNH law professor Seth Orinberg, who discussed the federal GENIUS Act and the pending Clarity Act and how they affect New Hampshire’s options in the digital asset space. He described the GENIUS Act as governing payment stablecoins/stable tokens, defining them as blockchain-based assets used primarily for payments, redeemable for a fixed amount of national currency, and required to maintain stable value. He said the law creates three possible state roles: hosting federally qualified issuers, becoming a state qualifier for issuers up to a $10 billion threshold, or exploring state-backed issuance as a sovereign. He noted that the state-qualification path would require conforming legislation, examination capacity, and coordination with Treasury, while the sovereign-issuer theory is legally uncertain and may become a test case. Orinberg also outlined the core compliance framework he said applies to covered issuers: 100% reserve backing in high-quality liquid assets, monthly public reserve reporting, no yield or interest-like rewards, segregation of reserve assets, immediate redemption at face value, and anti-money-laundering/know-your-customer obligations. He then turned to the Clarity Act, describing it as a broader market-structure bill that would create categories such as digital asset, digital commodity, digital security, and ancillary asset, with self-certification procedures for issuers. He said the two federal laws together would separate payments from investments, preempt inconsistent state standards for covered payment stablecoins, and likely reshape the boundaries of state authority over digital assets.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the state.
• for the state.
• </c> for the state. for the state. &gt;&gt; Follow<00:15:20.320><c> up.
• </c> that will be actual debt state debt. that will be actual debt state debt.
• </c> state point of view. state point of view.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 1042, which would increase the BFA contingent credit limit. State Treasurer Monica Misipelli explained that under RSA 66, state debt capacity is tied to unrestricted revenue and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is contingent rather than direct debt. She said the state currently has about 4.2% to 4.3% debt-to-revenue ratio, about $120 million in additional capacity, and that approving the bill’s proposed increase would reduce available capacity for future state borrowing, including capital budgets. She noted the BFA has a long history of using guarantees without a state payout, but said the legislature should consider whether the full additional $250 million is needed and whether unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Pease Development Authority, should be reviewed in the future. Committee members asked whether guarantees have the same effect as actual debt for bonding capacity, and the treasurer confirmed that they do for purposes of the formula. Members also asked about the usual level of debt relative to the statutory 10% cap, and she said the state generally stays well below that limit. BFA Executive Director James Key Wallace then testified that the request was driven by rising project costs, inflation, and the need for more runway so the agency does not have to return to the legislature in an emergency. He said the BFA is self-supported, has never had a guarantee paid out by the state, requires collateral and reserves, and believes the appropriate range is closer to $400 million to $450 million; he also said a Senate bill would raise the limit to $400 million. He added that the BFA’s pipeline includes projects from about $15 million to $100 million and that housing availability is an important factor in business location decisions. After closing the work session on House Bill 1042, the committee opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage for pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Dave Nagel, the prime sponsor, gave extensive background on his long career in pain medicine and said the bill is intended to improve access to non-opioid therapies and evidence-based pain management. He described the broad population affected by chronic pain and opioid use disorder, and said the proposal has long had bipartisan and stakeholder support. No vote or final action was taken on House Bill 241 in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those who will be providing comments today, we do ask that you please state your name and the organization
• The United States produces roughly about 80% of the world's pecan crop.
• Another fun fact: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were huge fans of pecans.
• Proud to present AB 1711, which will ensure that the revenue generated by fares and approved in the state
• Fairs Association and the California Fairs Alliance, representing fairs and fairgrounds throughout the state

Summary: The committee opened with routine announcements, including hearing logistics, public comment instructions, and a brief “fun fact” about National Pecan Month and Ag Day. After establishing a quorum, the committee took up a consent calendar of four bills—AB 2423, AB 2743, AB 2778, and AB 2779—which were approved unanimously. The main item heard was AB 1711 by Assembly Member Conley, which would require more timely distribution of state funds for fairs and fairgrounds and expand allowable uses for those funds. The author and the Western Fairs Association argued that fairs are important for agricultural education, local economies, cultural events, and emergency response, and that delayed funding leads to deferred maintenance and higher costs. Several committee members spoke in strong support, noting the importance of county fairs in their districts and their role as community hubs and emergency shelters. There was no opposition testimony. The committee voted AB 1711 out on a due pass motion to the Appropriations Committee, and the bill ultimately passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those who will be providing comments today, we do ask that you please state your name and the organization
• The only major nut tree native to North America, and the United States produces roughly about 80% of
• Another fun fact: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were huge fans of pecans.
• Proud to present AB 1711, which will ensure that the revenue generated by fairs and approved in the state
• Fairs Association and the California Fairs Alliance, representing fairs and fairgrounds throughout the state

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• for NSTAR releasing or modifying easements for the benefit of the Commonwealth, to the Committee on State
• legislation to designate asparagus as the official vegetable of the Commonwealth, to the Committee on State
• Petition to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, and petition of Michelle
• Howard and Representative Hong of Lowell: members of Wynne Middle School, Moody Middle School, Washington

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Rules Committee reports. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and approved multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines for the Election Laws, Environment and Natural Resources, and Revenue committees. The House also concurred with Senate petitions and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a number of new petitions to committees, including proposals on travel insurance, easements involving Eversource, early intervention services related to prenatal opioid exposure, retirement benefits, lottery revenue distribution, designating asparagus as the state vegetable, and a temporary emergency veterans assistance program. The chamber then advanced a series of local and individual bills, including measures on electronic scanning of identification, police age-limit waivers for named applicants in Boston and Haverhill, and a bill on contracting for digital replicas. These bills were read a second time and ordered to a third reading. Later, the House considered engrossed bills and passed several to be enacted, including a land conveyance in Wellesley, Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, changes to the Fall River police chief appointment process, a Seekonk charter amendment, and authorization for Billerica to set an age limit for police officer appointments. The House also passed to be engrossed bills on DCR Title IX compliance and additional Boston police age-waiver bills, and enacted the Wellesley land conveyance bill. Members adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, a former Quincy legislator, mayor, and clerk magistrate. The House then adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I forgot to state law. We have one.
• There are bills in Florida and Texas, Washington state, and other places to take a look at this, largely
• </c> amount the state would receive overall. amount the state would receive overall.
• So instead of state.
• </c> to the state budget. to the state budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 291, which would update religious land-use and property tax exemption rules for church-owned parsonages, parish houses, and similar properties. Senator Tim Lang, speaking for the sponsor, said the bill was intended to address situations where former parsonages are no longer occupied by clergy and are instead used for church-related purposes such as housing staff, religious education, or congregate living tied to ministry, including addiction recovery. He emphasized that the bill was not meant to create commercial rental housing and that it also preserves reasonable zoning and environmental regulations. Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would be applied, especially the meaning of “religious purposes,” the six-unit limit, the “same lot” language, and whether churches could use the exemption to rent units for revenue. The sponsor said the six-unit cap was added to prevent large-scale commercial rental use, that congregate housing would be limited and defined, and that the bill was meant to cover uses like substance abuse recovery, homes for unwed mothers, and religious education, but not apartments converted for ordinary rental. He also said churches would still file annual exemption paperwork and towns could challenge claims they believed were commercial. Questions also raised concerns about whether the bill treated religious and nonreligious housing trusts differently; the sponsor responded that the bill was aimed at church-owned property used in pursuit of a religious mission. Several witnesses testified in support. Representative Mark Pearson, an active clergyman, said the bill would not remove additional property from the tax rolls because clergy housing allowances typically lead clergy to buy taxable homes elsewhere, while the church-owned parsonage remains exempt. Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire supported the bill as a modest expansion that could help create more attainable housing by allowing better use of existing religious land and structures, though he noted his organization would support even broader use. The hearing ended without a vote or final action, and the chair closed questions after the testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• transportation in the state of Minnesota in<00:03:28.840><c> state</c><00:03:29.080><c> fiscal</c><00
• </c><00:04:39.639><c> so</c> the different systems for the state so the different systems for the state
• Kansas is another state.
• Kansas is another state.
• Kansas is another state.

Bills: HF1167 , HF1242

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• and every state.
• and every state.
• even</c><01:03:41.160><c> with</c> this state and every state even with this state and every state even
• mandated in all states uh to advocate mandated in all states uh to advocate for<01:26:48.600><c> the<
• </c> we'll also be Distributing our um state we'll also be Distributing our um state of<01:35:21.360>

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bless our well-being of our state.
• Just as Abraham was moved by obedience... previously as a state representative and previously as a state
• </c> these great United States. these great United States.
• </c><00:32:18.159><c> And</c> met in the state office building.
• And met in the state office building.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all