Transcript Highlights:

• And these are the results of consumer tastes and preferences.
• Consumer companies may choose not to pursue approval because of consumer preferences, not because it's
• We use the minimum amount of color sweetener to meet consumer preferences and these amounts well, well
• So we encourage a no vote today and look forward to continuing to talk with Senator Martin about his
• And senators by your vote show Cs for CS for SB 1132.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would really prefer to have the choice.
• We get that, but we would really prefer to give the consumer a choice.
• They would really prefer to have the choice.
• We get that, but we would really prefer to give the consumer a choice.
• The recent vote of their environmental committee has voted in favor of banning polystyrene.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a heavily attended hybrid hearing focused primarily on plastics reduction bills, along with a few local and related waste-management measures. Chair Rauch and Chair Barber outlined strict testimony rules because of the large number of speakers. Before the plastics docket, the committee heard support for a local Sharon sewer-extension bill for a Sunrise Senior Living project, and the bill’s proponents said the project would help address senior housing needs and would still require MWRA and local approvals. The chairs also noted a separate local matter involving Sharon and the MWRA. A major portion of the hearing centered on the Plastics Reduction Act and related bills addressing single-use plastics, including plastic bags, polystyrene, black plastic, plastic beverage bottles, non-flushable wipes, skip-the-stuff provisions, and truth-in-labeling. Sponsors and supporters said the bills would reduce litter, microplastics, greenhouse gas emissions, and municipal waste costs, while creating statewide consistency and supporting environmental justice communities. Several speakers cited local bans already adopted by many Massachusetts cities and towns, and many urged the committee to advance comprehensive statewide action. The committee also heard testimony on a boat wrap recycling bill, a mattress recycling bill, and a bill to prohibit hotels from providing small plastic toiletries. Municipal officials and waste professionals supported extended producer responsibility for paint and labeling for non-flushable wipes, saying these measures would shift costs away from cities and towns and reduce strain on wastewater systems. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, Mayor Ruth Ann Fuller of Newton, and a Franklin County waste official all backed paint EPR and wipes labeling. Fire Chief Brian Nardelli testified for the Fire Chiefs Association in support of lithium-ion battery legislation, citing fire safety and disposal concerns. Other speakers, including environmental groups, local activists, and business representatives, supported bag and polystyrene bans, though the Retailers Association of Massachusetts urged any bag policy to be truly statewide and said any bag fee should be retained by retailers. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So my question is about what we're actually voting to put into law. Right.
• of what we have already voted would be the full text of the amendment.
• on something, they're voting whether to change the Constitution of Virginia.
• That's language that may be preferred.
• will happen if the people vote no for the amendment.

Committee: House Privileges and Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• . cultural and linguistic preferences.
• And we just voted last time to expand $500 million to spin off, in my understanding.
• Now, I can provide you the exact regulatory requirements personally if that's what you... prefer?
• Because most people are going to— you just said the preference is full-time.
• I said that it's based on preference; I did not.

Transcript Highlights:

• By that vote, the bill is reported favorably. Thank you. Thank you.
• I ask all of you to please vote yes to HB 643. Thank you. Thank you. Vote yes to HB 643.
• By your vote, the bill's reported favorably. Thank you, sir.
• By your vote, the bill is reported favorably.
• So I'm voting yes on this today. Thank you.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee took up eight bills focused on water policy, coastal resilience, environmental regulation, beaches, wildlife funding, and carbon sequestration. HB 7001 preserved the public-record exemption for site-specific location information on endangered and threatened species before its scheduled repeal, and it was reported favorably 16-0. H.R. 661, expressing support for a “one-water” approach to the state water supply, drew discussion about whether it implied centralized control; an amendment aligning the resolution with Senate language was adopted, and the resolution passed 16-0 with a committee substitute. The committee also advanced HB 1345 on infrastructure and resiliency, which after a strike-all amendment authorized DEP to procure coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships and use incentives such as revenue-sharing, expedited permitting, public engagement, and workforce training; it passed 16-0. HB 477 on weather modification was substantially amended to return to current statute and add a $10,000 fine for failing to obtain a permit; the bill drew extensive public testimony both for and against weather modification and cloud seeding, and it passed as amended with a committee substitute. HB 6043, repealing the 2018 customary-use beach statute affecting Walton County, prompted testimony about beach access, tourism losses, and private property rights; it passed 17-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 843, making clarifying changes to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds and allowing use of the non-game wildlife trust fund for law enforcement and coordination with related agencies and landowners; it passed 17-0. HB 1169 revised water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and procurement practices, including restrictions on lobbyist funds and updated project preference rules; two amendments were adopted and the bill passed 16-0. Finally, HB 1063 created a task force to study carbon sequestration and related ecosystem services in Florida’s natural and agricultural lands and waters; after amendments removing a fiscal component and clarifying voluntary participation and property-rights protections, it passed 15-2. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Holt is excused. Representative Hussey votes aye.
• Representative Todd votes aye.
• Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Holt is excused. Representative Hussey votes aye.
• Representative Todd votes aye.
• </c><00:40:00.800><c> 348</c><00:40:01.800><c> chair's</c> vote voting on House Bill 348 chair's vote

Committee: House Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Anybody can hear this great committee vote however you want to vote.
• By your vote of nine ayes, zero noes, and three present, you have voted House Committee Substitute for
• Representative Haley, I now move that House Bill 1627 be voted do pass.
• By your vote of 12 ayes, zero noes, you have voted House Bill 1627 do pass.
• Bye. enthusiastically yes right by your vote of 12 eyes and zero knows you voted House Bill 1627 do pass

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Transcript Highlights:

• And we will bring this back to a vote.
• Harabedian, not voting. DeMaio, aye. Hart, aye. Hoover, aye. Quirk-Silva, not voting.
• Ransom, not voting. Senator Cabaldon, no. Senator Ashby, not voting. Becker, no.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you, Senator.
• And you may be voting on one of those bills that addresses that.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Opel votes yes. Representative Opel votes yes. Representative Spar votes yes.
• /c><01:37:13.360><c> the</c><01:37:13.480><c> vote</c> to1 okay the vote to1 okay the vote being<01:37
• Representative Ford voted yes. Representative Murphy voted yes. Representative Aly voted yes.
• Representative Elberger voted no. Representative Davis voted yes. Representative Opel voted "I..."
• Representative Spar voted yes. Chairman Janigian voted yes.

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on HB 660, which would require historic horse racing facilities to pay 10% of HHR winnings to host communities as mitigation. Representative Om said the amendment was intended to leave charities and the state whole while funding local costs tied to large gaming facilities. Supporters argued the measure would address future municipal expenses, while opponents said host towns have not reported current problems and that the bill would single out one industry. Members questioned the 10% rate, whether the proposal was retroactive, and whether it would apply to existing facilities; the sponsor said it would apply to facilities already in place or later added. The hearing was then closed without any vote recorded in the transcript. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 658-FN, which raises reimbursement caps and adjusts fees for the Oil Discharge and Disposal Cleanup Fund and the Oil Pollution Control Fund. Representative Malloy introduced the bill, and Representative Aly explained the funds as a state-backed insurance mechanism for oil spill cleanup and prevention, including replacement of leaking home heating oil tanks for low-income homeowners. Bob Scully of the Energy Marketers Association supported the bill, saying the fee structure helps fund remediation and tank replacement, though costs are ultimately passed on to consumers. Department of Environmental Services officials Robert Bishop and Jennifer Marts described the bill as extending the fee collection for 10 years, changing reporting dates, increasing the cap for low-income tank replacement, and rebalancing fees based on an actuarial review. DES testified that the actuarial study found the fund needed to remain solvent and that home heating oil releases are the largest category of new releases, with the fuel oil fee otherwise needing to rise by more than 200% to cover projected costs. The board instead proposed a smaller increase and adjusted other fees accordingly, while maintaining a reserve to cover the first days of a major coastal spill before federal funds become available. Members asked about the basis for the fee changes, the role of the actuarial review, and the statutory language governing who pays the fees. The transcript ends during this hearing, with no final committee action or vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair has called the vote and it's done. It failed.
• The chair has called the vote and it's done. It failed.
• It's just too late once the chair calls for the vote.
• Okay, we could do a roll call vote on the next if you'd prefer.
• If you'd prefer, the motion was to send to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Mr.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion to vote to &gt;&gt; Chair votes yes.
• The motion of vote to &gt;&gt; Chair votes yes.
• The vote of inexpeding &gt;&gt; chair votes yes.
• vote?
• Representative Wary voted yes. Representative Wood voted yes. Representative C voted yes.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• What you see in front of you is the pieces of the modified locally preferred alternative.
• We also conducted a stated preference survey, which informs the value of time assumptions.
• We also conducted a stated preference survey, which informs the value of time assumptions.
• It was informed by data, by public comment, and also by the modified I look would prefer.
• is that statement of preference from our partner agency.

Committee: Joint Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• a Roger Helms: preference not to get shot by the gun.
• Vote no on this bill.
• Please vote no. Thank you.
• We do urge you to vote no on the bill.
• By your vote, Senate Bill 1506 has passed favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• administrator a true fiduciary to the school children of Minnesota, so let him do that, and please vote
• Finally, we prefer to have management needs dictate any wildlife survey rather than have that dictated
• that uh to completed finally we prefer that uh to have<01:04:41.279><c> management</c><01:04:41.839>
• </c><01:24:33.639><c> most</c> including personal preference most including personal preference most
• a DNR does prefer to develop a recommendation<01:25:20.600><c> regarding</c><01:25:21.000><c> the</c

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote no. Thank you.
• Chair voting aye. Okay. Item number 17, AB 1892. Chair voting aye. I. Stern. I. 13 to 0.
• Chair voting aye. Stern, aye, aye. Thank you. Item 31, AB 2784. Chair voting aye.
• With that, I'll ask for an aye vote. Actually, I won't ask for an aye vote.
• With that, I'll ask for an I vote. Actually, I won't ask for an I vote.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met as a subcommittee and announced a large agenda, including a consent calendar and several bills pulled for separate hearing. Early in the hearing, the committee heard AB 1876, which would codify federal nondiscrimination protections in state health care law. The author and supporters said it would protect access to coverage and services for all protected classes, including transgender people, while opponents argued it would force coverage of disputed gender-affirming treatments and impose penalties on providers and insurers. No vote was taken during the informational-style presentation, and the author requested an aye vote when a quorum was present. The committee then heard AB 1650 on requiring rental vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly marked, with supporters describing it as a transparency and public-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement activity and opponents later withdrawing opposition after discussions with the author. AB 635, dealing with the Mobile Home Residency Law Protection Program, would extend and revise a resident-funded legal assistance program for mobile home owners; supporters said it improves access to justice and enforcement, and there was no opposition. AB 1697 would extend the date for enforceability of certain employment contract provisions under AB 692 and add an urgency clause; the NFL supported it, SIFMA was support-if-amended, and the chair noted sympathy for some workers while expressing concern about high-paid executives. The committee also heard AB 2784, the annual State Bar fee bill, which held fees flat while making governance and reporting changes; it drew support from the State Bar and no opposition. AB 2782, the Assembly Judiciary Committee civil omnibus bill, made minor clarifying code changes and also drew no opposition. Other measures heard included AB 2662 on monitoring and reporting federal immigration enforcement impacts, AB 2235 on allowing judges to use alternate mailing addresses for safety, AB 1544 on courthouse access and transparency, AB 2624 expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, AB 1857 to block grocery restrictive covenants that prevent new grocery stores in underserved areas, AB 1892 clarifying HOA duties and election notice rules, AB 634 banning products containing tianeptine, AB 1684 limiting HOA restrictions on home cooling systems, AB 1752 increasing appraisal reimbursement in eminent domain cases, AB 1660 improving compliance by financial institutions with public guardian requests, AB 782 narrowing a prior housing redevelopment law for certain charter cities, and AB 2195 limiting occupational license suspensions for low-income parents owing child support. Across these bills, testimony was largely supportive, with several measures drawing “support if amended” or no opposition after negotiations; the transcript does not reflect final votes on the bills discussed here.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote or change your vote. Declare the vote.
• Members wishing to vote or change your vote, declare the vote.
• Have Waldron vote or change your vote? Play the vote. Vote of A and zero nay.
• Ii Members wishing to vote or change a vote, declare the vote.
• Members wishing to vote or change your vote, declare the vote.

Bills: HB3674 , HB4326 , HB4331 , HB3029 , HB2963 , HB3551 , HB2973 , HB3019 , HB3461 , HB2961 , HB3261 , HB3759 , HB3429 , HB3069 , HB3372 , HB3705

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: school resource officer, sexual assault training, law enforcement training, CLEET, school safety, mental health, continuing education, HB4326, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, Oklahoma's Promise, scholarship, tuition assistance, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, eligibility expansion, adopted students, foster care, DHS custody, child-placing agency, tribal custody

Transcript Highlights:

• If you don't have the votes, it doesn't matter what you do if you don't have the votes.
• You don't have the votes. It doesn't matter what you do if you don't have the vote.
• New Hampshire requires a two-thirds vote. Colorado requires a 55% vote.
• So I kind of want an up-or-down vote on either we want an approval voting and ranked-choice voting ban
• Strike approval voting from 1297 and take the vote and then act from there.

Bills: HCR3025

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Summary: The State and Local Government Committee first heard House Concurrent Resolution 3025, a resolution honoring the police and first responders of Fargo. Representative Hendricks presented it as a straightforward tribute tied to a tragic incident, and several members and a representative of the Chiefs of Police Association and North Dakota League of Cities spoke in support. There was no opposition, and the committee closed the hearing and later gave the resolution a 6-0 do pass recommendation, with Senator Braunberger volunteering to carry it. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 3010, which would direct Legislative Management to study legislative responsibility to review existing law before proposing new law. Representative Kempinock said the idea was to reduce repetitive or duplicative bills and improve legislative education, but also noted that current efforts by Legislative Council and leadership had made the resolution largely unnecessary. Members generally agreed with the premise but questioned whether a study was needed, and the committee ultimately gave it a 4-2 do pass recommendation, with Senator Lee volunteering to carry it. Next, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 3003, which would raise the threshold for approving constitutional amendments from 50% to 60%. Speaker Wise argued constitutional changes should be difficult and cited other states’ higher thresholds, while Eric Spencer of the Greater North Dakota Chamber supported the measure and emphasized how often North Dakota’s Constitution has been amended. Members discussed the irony of asking voters to raise the threshold by a simple majority and the broader issue of an overused constitution, but the committee still recommended it do pass on a 6-0 vote. The committee then spent considerable time on House Bill 1297 and related House Bill 1307 amendments dealing with approval voting, ranked-choice voting, and a Fargo-specific exemption. Members and witnesses from the Secretary of State’s office and the League of Cities debated whether Fargo should be exempted and how to avoid conflicts between the two bills. An amendment to strip approval voting from 1297 failed on a 3-3 tie, after which the committee gave 1297 a 4-2 do pass recommendation so the floor could decide the issue, with plans to reconcile 1307 afterward based on that outcome.

Transcript Highlights:

• to take those important votes.
• We're voting that we're present, but we're not voting yes or no because we weren't at the meeting.
• I'll correct the next time because we did start a process of voting on commissioners, and we did vote
• But we did vote on three people.
• Now I just need to take a vote.

Summary: The Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Feasibility Commission met to continue its work toward making recommendations to the Legislature on establishing a cultural center in Boston. The chair reviewed the commission’s mandate, upcoming monthly meetings, site visits, listening sessions, and the plan to eventually hire a consultant for the feasibility study. Members also discussed the importance of capturing the broader 200-plus-year Cape Verdean history in Massachusetts, especially in light of Boston’s 250th anniversary and Cabo Verde’s recent 50th independence anniversary. A major portion of the meeting focused on reviewing and narrowing a list of potential additional commissioners. Members discussed the need for geographic, sector, and generational diversity, and several commissioners raised concerns about overrepresentation from New Bedford and the need to include people connected to other Cape Verdean communities such as Brockton, Boston, Wareham/Onset, Taunton, the Cape, and Haverhill. Testimony and comments emphasized including people with skills in arts, culture, history, construction, philanthropy, law, education, museum curation, and community organizing. Members also discussed whether to use a slate, an inventory of skills and regions, or individual votes, and whether abstentions should be treated as “reserve your rights” instead. The commission voted to appoint three individuals: John Cruz, former State Senator Vinny deMacedo, and Angelo Lopes Barbosa or a designee from the Center for Cape Verdean Studies at Bridgewater State University. The body then voted to pause the remaining commissioner appointments until the next meeting and directed the chair and staff to create an inventory of candidates by skills, region, and other relevant criteria. Members also agreed to add two newly suggested names—former Brockton City Councilor Tina Cardoso and Maria Gomez-Pena—to the candidate list. The chair said the next meeting would be scheduled for January, and the meeting adjourned after the commission approved the motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The vote will now occur. If you favor the measure, you'll vote aye.
• Those voting, we should vote or change their vote. Preparing to close the vote. Close vote.
• Members, the vote will now occur. If you favor the measure, vote aye.
• The vote will now occur. If you favor the measure, you'll vote aye.
• Those wishing to vote or change their vote. Close the roll.

Bills: SB843 , SB1733 , SB1476 , SB1237 , SB1410 , SB1894 , SB1272 , SB1204 , SB1721 , SB1725 , SB1735 , SB1337 , SB1339 , SB1461 , SB1975 , SB1450 , SB1458 , SB1232 , SB1238 , SB1325 , SB1209 , SB1362 , SB2072 , SB1451 , SB1540 , SB1581 , SB1535 , SB1266 , SB1927 , SB1460 , SB2084 , SB2182 , SB392 , SB985 , SB1265 , SB1283 , SB1441 , SB1307 , SB1425 , SB1826 , SB1365 , SB1696 , SB1870 , SB1722 , SB1639 , SB715 , SB716 , SB182 , SB609 , SB169 , SB134 , SB1611 , SB432 , SB1407 , SB2039 , SB1356 , SB1288 , SB2019 , SB1705 , SB1878 , SB2118

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Rachel Franklin, along with several student pages and visiting groups in the galleries, including Catholic home educators, Leadership Moore, and ALS advocates. The ALS introduction highlighted the disease’s effects and the need for awareness and support. The chamber then took up several bills. Senate Bill 392 reestablished the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission through 2030 to support military installations and related planning, and it passed 47-0 with emergency status. Senate Bill 985 codified the local food for schools program and gave the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry more flexibility to administer it; members discussed its benefits for school nutrition and local producers, and it also passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1265 extended the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 to 30 days due to the decline of daily and weekly newspapers, and it passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1283 updated probate law so out-of-state executors, administrators, or guardians must appoint an agent in Oklahoma rather than in the county where the case is heard, and it passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1441 made it unlawful to knowingly fly a drone over critical infrastructure below 400 feet or into the structure, with penalties aligned to physical trespass, and it also passed 47-0. The Senate then made several committee and devotional announcements before adjourning until Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote 16 to zip. All those in favor Okay. Vote 16 to zip.
• Vote 16.
• Vote 16.
• Vote 16.
• Vote 16.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.