Transcript Highlights:

• </c> folks exiting homelessness, and provide folks exiting homelessness, and provide a<00:09:23.519><
• And so we need to provide for residents.
• </c> We'll ask the department to to provide We'll ask the department to to provide any<01:04:18.480><
• As always, we're happy to provide buyin.
• We can get legislation that can provide clarity, provide some additional funds for cities that don't

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Once again not providing appropriate.
• So that's provides ADR services.
• They provide some evaluation.
• > some</c> does that. they they provide some does that. they they provide some evaluation.<01:00:58.319
• </c> attorney Kan provide my information. attorney Kan provide my information.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to continue its review of recommendations for New Hampshire’s family court, with the chair emphasizing a collaborative approach and noting that the group would focus on the origins of the family division, recurring problems identified in earlier reports, and comparisons with other states. Members discussed organizing testimony into three broad topics: the court hearing process and pro se litigant preparation, mediation/arbitration/counseling, and the interaction of domestic violence issues with family court and related criminal proceedings. The chair also noted that the subcommittee would not meet again for two weeks and encouraged members to review materials from Judge Michael Mace and NCSL research on other states’ family court systems. Attorney Heather Culp, senior administrator for the judicial branch’s circuit court, testified about New Hampshire’s ADR programs. She explained that the Office of Mediation and Arbitration, created by statute in 2007, oversees more than 12 statewide ADR programs across the Supreme, Superior, and Circuit Courts, including family division programs such as divorce-parenting mediation, neutral case evaluation, guardianship, termination of parental rights, and voluntary adoption mediation. She said the divorce-parenting mediation program is the largest family division ADR program, with about 3,400 mediation sessions in 2023 out of roughly 6,700 cases, and that most cases involving minor children are referred to mediation soon after the first appearance session. Culp described the family division process as beginning with a first appearance session led by a case manager, who provides information, helps with paperwork, and schedules mediation, usually within 30 to 45 days. She said mediation is strongly encouraged in parenting and divorce cases, but there is no requirement to reach agreement, and parties may settle some issues while leaving others for court. She also explained that mediation is prohibited or limited in certain domestic violence cases: cases with active civil protection orders may proceed only with both parties’ consent and possible safeguards, while cases involving criminal protective orders are not sent to mediation. Mediators in court-referred family cases are contracted with the court and must be certified by the executive branch’s mediator certification board; mediators do not communicate with judges, except through a brief ADR report noting whether the case settled or what the next procedural step is. Members asked about referrals, timing, and the meaning of “neutrals,” and Culp said the court uses in-house contracted neutrals for family division ADR and does not refer divorce-parenting cases to outside providers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> packets uh based on information provided packets uh based on information provided by<00:03:10.959
• </c> improvements passing 16117 would provide improvements passing 16117 would provide direct<00:47:30.920
• </c><01:38:46.520><c> a</c> think I need to uh be able to provide a think I need to uh be able to provide
• </c><01:52:52.760><c> things</c> metropolitan area depart provide things metropolitan area depart provide
• </c><01:53:21.679><c> our</c> private Loren bus service provides our private Loren bus service provides

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When the Black Panthers in Oakland provided free breakfast to children, it was branded socialism.
• AB 2285 provides state-chartered banks, credit unions, and crypto exchanges with provides state-chartered
• Hence why this bill would allow for all service providers within the financial sector to provide this
• While many jurisdictions already provide credits for these. A site with similar existing uses.
• While many jurisdictions already provide credits for these purposes, not all do so.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved procedural motions, and recognized several guests and honorees, including CAUSE leadership academy participants, retiring FCMAT CEO Michael Fine, a Capitol intern, environmental leaders celebrating Black Conservation Week, family members of members, and NASA astronaut Captain Victor Glover Jr. The body also took up a number of routine file items and committee referral requests, with several bills referred to committees by unanimous consent and multiple items passed or retained on file. The main floor debate centered on ACR 214, the Juneteenth resolution. Members from the Black Caucus and other caucuses spoke in support, describing Juneteenth as both a celebration of emancipation and a reminder that freedom and equality remain unfinished work. Speakers emphasized Black history, civil rights, solidarity across communities, and ongoing issues such as education, housing, health, incarceration, and economic inequality. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 66 coauthors were added. The Assembly also considered AB 2285 on blockchain staking and crypto regulation. The author argued the bill would provide consumer protections and clear rules for banks, credit unions, and crypto exchanges, while an opponent warned it could weaken securities oversight and consumer safeguards. The bill passed 45-1, and the author requested immediate transmission to the Senate. Later, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment passed 55-0 after brief support for clarifying fee rules and reducing duplicative costs. The chamber then adopted the second-day consent calendar, including resolutions for Women’s Equality Day and the International Day of Yoga, along with several Senate bills, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Assembly announced it would not meet on Friday, June 19, would reconvene Monday, June 22 at 1 p.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We encourage the public to provide written testimony before the hearing by visiting our website, APRO.A.org.gov
• AB 2417 merely ensures the option of Social Security as a retirement benefit is provided to community
• AB 2417 also provides digestible, conspicuous information to faculty, including part-time faculty, about
• For individuals who have elected to give back to their communities through teaching, AB 2417 provides
• In these situations, single-pane windows with curtain systems provide the necessary sunlight into these

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So please vote no on S. 1236 to keep this commission as one way to provide better representation for
• And so we provide that. That's really what this is about, is preventing a brownout or blackout.
• We will not provide you a permit for a septic system.
• And so when DEQ says they can't provide more connections, then that sewer district can't.
• And so when DEQ says they can't provide more connections, then that sewer district can't.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 25 and reordered the agenda to hear House Bill 941 first. HB 941, presented by Speaker Moyle, would move the rules coordinator and related rule publication functions from the executive branch to the Legislative Services Office and eliminate the existing periodic review process for administrative rules. Supporters said the bill would restore legislative control over rules and ensure they match statutory authority; opponents raised separation-of-powers concerns and worried about giving one legislative employee too much power. After questions from several members, the committee voted on a due-pass motion, which failed 8-5. The committee then reconsidered Senate Bill 1320, a code cleanup measure removing outdated language tied to a State Controller’s Office project fund that ended in 2023. With no testimony in opposition, the committee passed SB 1320 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. It next heard Senate Bill 1236, which repeals the Idaho Women’s Commission because it has been defunded and inactive for years. The sponsor described it as housekeeping, while several women’s advocacy groups and individual testifiers opposed the repeal, arguing the commission still has value in addressing women’s representation, pay, health care, and other issues. After debate, a motion to hold the bill failed 7-6, and the committee then approved SB 1236 for the floor on a 7-6 vote. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 1397, presented by Representative Sauter and Senator Woodward, which would bring certain private wastewater systems under Public Utilities Commission oversight if they have 100 or more connections. Supporters said some homeowners are trapped by private sewer monopolies, facing doubled rates and being unable to obtain building permits because systems lack capacity or will-serve letters. Opponents questioned whether the bill would interfere with private contracts, but supporters argued it would provide the same consumer protections already applied to other utility monopolies. The committee passed SB 1397 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• My concerns, while I appreciate all the applicants, I appreciate the desire to provide for our communities
• And that would be we provide information, so we give them information, we enhance their skills, so that
• And then we provide support in some manner.
• But I really do think we should provide our information that we feel on these particular entities.
• And so these are strategies that really fit that same model, and it goes into the providing information

Summary: The committee first approved the January 29, 2006 minutes, then moved into discussion and recommendations on several Idaho Millennium Fund-related requests. Members repeatedly emphasized that funding should align with the committee’s prevention-focused mission, especially youth substance abuse prevention, and several members raised concerns about the lack of clear performance measures, oversight, and long-term “home” agencies for some programs. There was also discussion about whether some proposals were more like childcare or system-support efforts than direct prevention, and whether future committees should be bound by multi-year commitments. The committee recommended funding for the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund ($692,240 one-time), the Idaho Safety Assessment Center Coalition ($1 million one-time through the Department of Juvenile Corrections), the Idaho Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers ($3 million one-time through the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance), the Up River Youth Leadership Council recovery center ($150,000 ongoing through Health and Welfare), and a statewide drug awareness media campaign ($5 million one-time through the Office of Drug Policy). Most of these motions included direction that appropriation language should address distribution, oversight, and reporting criteria, and members discussed the need for a state agency to oversee each program. The Children’s Bridge request for $3.5 million one-time was discussed but the motion died for lack of a second. The committee also debated the governor’s recommendation to appropriate $25 million one-time from the Millennium Fund to the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid, to mitigate the impact of the updated Medicaid forecast on the general fund. Some members objected that Millennium Fund dollars should not be used for Medicaid, while others supported the transfer as a one-time budget-balancing measure given the state’s fiscal pressures. The motion ultimately passed, with a request that any unused funds be paid back if possible. The meeting ended after a brief question about whether the ongoing portion of the recovery center funding required a separate motion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• promotes collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Corrections to provide
• promotes collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Corrections to provide
• Further, the bill provides that if a law enforcement officer encounters an illegal alien operating a
• So this provides some clarity in the law that has long been overdue. Thank you for your support.
• So this provides some clarity in the law that has long overdue. Thank you for your support.

Bills: S0086 , S0642 , S0712 , S0758 , S0896 , S1224 , S1300 , S1370 , S1712

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: unauthorized aliens, commercial motor vehicles, safety regulations, civil penalties, law enforcement, bail bond, insurance regulation, foreign insurers, financial disclosure, premium reporting, pyramid schemes, consumer protection, fraud prevention, legal affairs, penalties, justice, administrative commission, membership, state attorneys, public defenders

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1300 on education and workforce development for current and former inmates. Senator Claudio explained that the bill is intended to expand collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Corrections to provide training opportunities tied to Florida’s need for CDL drivers. The bill was reported favorably without debate. Members then considered SB 896 on campus safety, as amended by strike-all and late-filed amendment. The bill would require postsecondary institutions to adopt active assailant response plans, conduct security risk assessments, improve threat reporting and information sharing, and allow voluntary participation in the guardian program; the late-filed amendment removed a prohibition on guardians wearing uniforms. After questions about the firearm-discharge provision near campuses and testimony both for and against, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 86 on commercial motor vehicles operated by unauthorized aliens, SB 642 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers, and confirmed appointees listed on tabs 10 through 19. The committee next heard SB 712 on pyramid promotional schemes, which would create a new prohibition and increase penalties while preserving legitimate direct sales plans. Members raised concerns about whether participants in such schemes might themselves be victims, and the sponsor said prosecutorial discretion would distinguish victims from primary wrongdoers; the bill was reported favorably. SB 1224 on rental housing application fraud was also amended and reported favorably after testimony from apartment and realtor groups in support. In the latter part of the meeting, Chair Martin presented SB 1370 to expand habitual traffic offender status to repeated unlicensed driving, and SB 1712 to create a statewide FDLE counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit. SB 1370 was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1712 drew extensive questioning and public opposition over concerns about broad language, surveillance, and possible impacts on speech and protest, but the sponsor said the unit would focus on protecting the state from adversary intelligence threats and operate within constitutional limits; it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 758 on the Justice Administrative Commission was amended to adjust commission membership and reported favorably unanimously. The committee then recorded additional votes for members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want to provide a more streamlined pathway.
• Provides flexibility to license. We we want. We want all of our our tracks to continue racing.
• And this provides a pathway that we can ensure that will happen represents an you're recognized.
• But again, the intent is that we're providing a data.
• And then it was taken away from us the that the bill provides some clarity.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also provided a one-time funding of 200 million dollars from the state's general revenue.
• Now, this kind but provides local governments with many important things, including a background.
• Now, the technical workshop that will be provided to the local planning development professionals.
• We want to provide a product their taxi.
• And I think the perspectives that have been provided have been incredibly insightful.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would provide support.
• </c><01:20:45.520><c> that</c> we're we're not going to provide that we're we're not going to provide
• The other states provide that.
• </c> communities program in order to provide communities program in order to provide that<01:29:22.800
• 01:29:24.159><c> a</c> that infrastructure or to provide a that infrastructure or to provide a shared

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So today I’ve been asked to provide an overview of the Health and Human Services budget.
• So today I’ve been asked to provide an overview of the Health and Human Services budget.
• So today I’ve been asked to provide an overview of the Health and Human Services budget.
• </c> care um and we're doing provider care um and we're doing provider enrollment<00:48:16.319><c> and
• </c><00:51:37.000><c> to</c> particularly in Services provided to particularly in Services provided to

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• remote testimony... ...and due to the hybrid nature of this hearing, those wishing to provide remote
• Even New Hampshire provides tax credits ranging from $700 to $4,000.
• By providing this property tax exemption, we can demonstrate our gratitude and support for those who
• We have a clear path, and it is time for Massachusetts to evaluate and enhance the relief we provide
• Currently, this clause provides a 100% real estate exemption.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 32 bills related to veterans and service members, with opening remarks from Chair Madaro and Senator Eldridge emphasizing the committee’s work on tax credits and property tax relief, including follow-up to the HERO Act of 2024. The chairs outlined hearing procedures, noted the August 23 reporting deadline for House-filed matters, and explained that testimony would focus on issues including voluntary contributions, sales tax, property tax, and economic development. No votes were taken during the hearing. Several bills drew testimony in support of expanding or simplifying veterans’ property tax benefits. Rep. Sylvia supported H. 3255 to raise the veterans’ property tax workoff cap from $1,500 to $2,000, matching the senior workoff program. Rep. Soder and Sen. Moore advocated for stronger property tax relief for disabled veterans, including H. 3245 and S. 2046, with Moore proposing a disability-based exemption and state reimbursement to municipalities. Rep. McGregor supported H. 3175, which would eliminate the need for veterans to refile annually for exemptions unless their status changes, arguing it would reduce burdens on veterans and assessors. Testimony also addressed line-of-duty death benefits and local implementation concerns. Mary Ann Cardi supported H. 3188 to clarify that surviving spouses of police and fire personnel who died in the line of duty qualify for a full real estate exemption. Chris Clark, Senator Sear, and Counselor Ludke all backed the veterans’ workoff bill, describing it as an equity fix that would align the veterans’ program with the senior program and help municipalities like Barnstable use the benefit more effectively. After hearing from all scheduled speakers and confirming no additional in-person testimony, the chairs adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll provide a tax credit for future citizen's hearing for the grandchild.
• provides that if a community land trust is granted this exemption, it must repay the exempted taxes
• The cost to the counties varies directly in proportion to the benefit provided.
• The second home is a five-bedroom house that will provide much-needed affordable housing for a larger
• There are many more projects in the pipeline that will provide stability for working families in the

Summary: The Committee on Revenue and Taxation met with a quorum and heard five bills, most of them tax exemptions or credits aimed at housing, veterans, and seniors. SB 1096, as amended, would provide a $1,500 tax credit for certain grandparents and other caregivers for tax years 2026 through 2030, with income-based phaseouts, a seven-year carryforward, and exclusions for dependents receiving foster care payments. Members praised the author’s amendments and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 672, extending a property tax welfare exemption for community land trust projects that create or rehabilitate low-income housing, and AB 1668, extending for five years the welfare property tax exemption for nonprofit land trusts that protect open space and recreational lands. Supporters for both bills emphasized permanent affordability, stewardship of natural lands, and relatively small public costs compared with the housing and conservation benefits. AB 672 and AB 1668 each passed unanimously to Appropriations, though AB 1668 drew one respectful opposition from the California Teachers Association. AB 2022 would expand the property tax exemption for disabled veteran homeowners, increasing the exemption for low-income veterans to 100% and to 50% of assessed value for others, while preserving current benefits through a loophole-closing amendment. The author and veteran advocates argued the bill would help keep disabled veterans and their families in their homes and make California more competitive with other states. The bill passed 5-0 to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 2641 was placed on the consent calendar and adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Service Law in relation to creating a resilient electric vehicle charging system pilot program and providing
• Senator, do you provide any notice to the chair on this change? This is...
• Did you provide any notice? No. Notice was not provided to rule on this. Okay.
• Did you provide any notice? Did you send notice? No.
• Notice was not provided under the rule of this.

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee met under Chair Kevin Parker and considered a series of energy, utility, and clean transportation bills. The committee first advanced a bill by Senator Connery on make-ready electric infrastructure for public-serving EV charging, after members raised concerns that the costs of preparing school bus charging infrastructure could be shifted to ratepayers. The committee then advanced Senator Parker’s pilot program for resilient EV charging microgrids, with discussion focused on using existing NYSERDA resources, the role of batteries, and the bill’s purpose in supporting emergency charging during outages. Another bill on heavy distribution centers and EV charging was also advanced after debate over its application to large warehouse and e-commerce facilities. The committee also considered a bill on carport-mounted solar systems that would limit local zoning restrictions. A motion to substitute in a different bill was ruled improper for lack of notice, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on appeal. Members then advanced a PSC guidebook bill on gas and electric rate-making, and a utility shutoff protection bill for medical emergencies, life support equipment, and elderly, blind, or disabled customers, with questions about age definitions and the scope of medical documentation. The committee also advanced the Home Utility Weatherization Jobs Act, which would create a pilot program for electrification and weatherization in disadvantaged communities, with members discussing whether the program would be available at no cost to building owners and how utilities would access capital. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about who would pay for the programs, whether ratepayers or taxpayers would bear the costs, and how much local control would remain under the solar siting bill. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed a recent NYISO report warning about possible summer reliability issues and urged the committee and the PSC to review it closely. The chair noted the report should be considered alongside other state planning documents, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We encourage the public to provide written testimony before the hearing by visiting the committee's website
• The Office of Inspector General, the high-speed rail, provides independent. ...cap entirely.
• This bill provides maximum transparency and accountability.
• This bill provides maximum transparency and accountability.
• We are committed to transparency, and for most requests, records can be provided within hours.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, what this bill does is, um, it provides for security.
• It allows our security forces to deal with the new state house and a new parking deck and also provide
• I mean, in terms of where the security would be provided.
• I mean, it's not going to be like providing capital police for us like ... >> Understood. >> Okay.
• </c> some interest and also you know provide some interest and also you know provide for<00:12:20.560

Bills: HB66 , HB110 , HB114 , SB210 , SB228 , SB231 , HB66 , HB110 , HB114 , SB210 , SB228 , SB231

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: elder abuse, financial exploitation, inheritance, joint tenancy, conviction effects, HB110, sunset bill, Alabama Sunset Law, State Board of Medical Examiners, Medical Licensure Commission, medical licensing, physician regulation, healthcare regulation, professional licensing, ethics law, state ethics code, public servants, board members, agency continuation, sunset review

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, our goal is to provide shared services that allow state agencies to focus on their
• This will be leveraging our existing PeopleSoft platform to provide financial dashboards for agencies
• And we've provided that guidance to those agencies.
• It's provided by the vendor since it's a cloud-based service. Thank you.
• for the buildout for that, so you'll be putting out an RFP for a new provider.

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we have Department of Health providing comments.
• Next, we have Mihokoto for Reorld providing comments. Thank you.
• providing of Health providing comments.<00:17:12.959><c> Next,</c><00:17:13.280><c> we</c><00:17:13.600
• </c> Mihokoto for Reorld providing comments. Mihokoto for Reorld providing comments.
• David Hunt in<00:18:28.320><c> providing</c><00:18:28.880><c> comments.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health, Human Services, and Agriculture and Environment heard testimony on SR 85, which requests the Department of Health to form a working group on solid waste management, and on SCR 19, which asks the Tax Review Commission to identify ways to implement Hawaii’s long-term care financing program. SR 85 drew broad support from the Department of Health, the Board of Water Supply, environmental groups, and numerous individuals, with one commenter asking that a military representative be added to address possible landfill use of military lands. For SCR 19, testimony came in support from the Executive Office on Aging and another supporter. For SR 85, the chair recommended passage with amendments. The amendments revised landfill-location language, removed certain lines, expanded the report’s scope to include materials management policies, environmental protections, and alternative technologies for waste that cannot be recycled or composted, and changed the working group membership language to include representatives from specified sectors. The committee also agreed to add invited participants such as Zero Waste USA, the reuse and deconstruction industries, a landfill leachate expert, a unit-based pricing expert, and a military representative, and to require the governor or designee to convene the initial meeting. The committee adopted the recommendation by vote, with members voting aye and one member excused. For SCR 19, the chair recommended passage with an amendment adding reference to findings in a 1991 report on financing long-term care. The committee approved the measure with amendments by vote, again with members voting aye and one member excused. The joint session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her employer did not provide bereavement leave policy.
• This legislation provides just that.
• Do you know of any other states that provide this liability shield right now?
• We're forced to assume liability while being restricted from, The service provider.
• These benefits provide incentives for residents to change how they commute and lower emissions.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on a large group of bills carried over from the previous session, with Chair Jake Oliveira and House Co-Chair Paul McMurtry outlining the process and limiting testimony to three minutes. The committee heard testimony on several labor and workplace proposals, including bills to harmonize employee definitions to address misclassification (SB 1338/HB 2141), expand bereavement leave (including H. 2189/S. 1354 and related bills), protect collective bargaining rights for certain administrative employees (HB 268/SB 1306), expand commuter transit benefits (HB 2153/SB 1345), regulate employer use of credit reports (S. 1286), and require apprenticeship participation or OSHA-related workplace safety measures on public projects. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read into the record additional bills that did not receive testimony that day. Supporters of the misclassification bill, including Greater Boston Legal Services and the AFL-CIO, said aligning the employee-status tests across wage, unemployment, and PFML laws would reduce confusion, improve enforcement, and help workers wrongly treated as independent contractors or managers recover benefits and bargaining rights. NAGE and its representative argued that public-sector employees have been improperly reclassified into management titles to weaken unions, and that the bill would force the Division of Labor Relations to review those titles. On bereavement leave, advocates including the Louis E. Brown Peace Institute, a state representative, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, and individual survivors described the impact of sudden loss and homicide on families, saying guaranteed leave would help workers grieve, make arrangements, and avoid losing jobs or custody-related stability. The committee also heard support for commuter benefits as a low-cost way to reduce emissions and increase transit use, and for restricting employer credit checks because of inaccuracies and discriminatory effects. There was opposition to some construction-related bills. The Associated Builders and Contractors and the Building Trades Employers Association supported apprenticeship training in principle but said current apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios are outdated or misunderstood, and that the bills should be amended or clarified before advancing. The Massachusetts landscape and snow-removal industry strongly supported a snow-liability limitation bill, arguing that hold-harmless clauses and broad indemnification requirements force contractors to assume liability for conditions they cannot control, drive up insurance costs, and threaten business viability. The committee did not take any votes during the hearing, and the session ended with the chairs thanking members, staff, and the public before adjourning.