Transcript Highlights:

• The board became an advisory body, and the superintendent was the lead governance actor for a period
• That is why it matters that the person leading our education system is accountable to the public, not
• be leading that department.
• what, who should be leading that department.
• Californians have consistently said they want direct voice in who leads public education.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Howgate earlier this week talking about how some of those tax changes will lead to an additional $650
• All of these things lead to higher costs. It leads to people going to nursing homes.
• It leads to people having major infections in their mouths.
• Nearly all states and leading tax experts have abandoned tax haven lists years ago.
• And on this issue, Massachusetts is behind and we need to continue to lead.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any lead witnesses in opposition? You will also have two minutes. Thank you.
• Lead witnesses in opposition.
• Lead witnesses in opposition.
• Are there lead witnesses in support? Does anyone else wish to testify in support?
• Are there lead witnesses in opposition? All right, are there lead witnesses in opposition?

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Tell me what leads a caseworker to that they can't deal with this, they just walk away.
• Abuse, those kinds of things that lead to pretty dangerous situations for those children.
• That's where your heart can't pump well enough, which can lead to acute pulmonary edema.
• TEA is designated as the lead...
• Texas should lead the way in this. In conclusion, it has given me my life back.

Bills: HB 1106 , HB3284 , HB541 , HB713 , HB1403 , HB1586 , HB1942 , HB2070 , HB2844 , HB2851 , HB3151 , HB3749 , HB3940 , HB3963 , HB4454 , HB4466 , HB4795 , HB5154 , HB5394 , SB1357 , HB 1052 , HB4099 , HB4638 , HB5147

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Exarris, to the rostrum to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• We also lead in arts and culture and kick-ass musicians.
• We're going to lead. We're going to lead. We're going to lead.
• As our nation faces new tests, Massachusetts will lead again.
• Yet leading from within, as a shepherd must do, can move everyone forward.

Summary: The joint convention of the Massachusetts Legislature convened to receive the Governor’s State of the Commonwealth address. The session began with procedural motions to appoint committees to notify the lieutenant governor, constitutional officers, Executive Council, and Governor, followed by an invocation from Archbishop Richard G. Henning, the posting and retiring of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. The Governor was then formally admitted to the chamber and delivered the address, with a benediction afterward by Rabbi Elaine Zacker. Governor Maura Healey’s address focused on affordability and public services. She highlighted actions and proposals on housing, including faster permitting, use of state land for housing, accessory dwelling units, down payment assistance, and expanded programs to help first-time buyers. She also discussed energy affordability, saying she would oppose utility rate hikes, pursue an energy affordability bill, and temporarily reduce electric and gas bills. On health care, she described efforts to cap costs, prevent prior authorization for insulin, ban medical debt reporting to credit agencies, and form a health care affordability working group. She also proposed making subscription cancellations easier, improving transportation through bridge repairs and transit investments, and strengthening protections for children on social media. The Governor also emphasized education, workforce development, and economic competitiveness, citing the state’s top national education ranking, expanded pre-K and child care, literacy and tutoring investments, early college opportunities, and a goal of 100,000 apprentices over 10 years. She praised Massachusetts’ response to federal actions, including support for vaccines, food assistance, abortion access, and research funding, and she criticized the Trump administration on tariffs, health care cuts, and immigration enforcement. She also noted public safety and veterans’ issues, including new assisted-living protections after the Gabriel House fire and the rebuilding of veterans’ homes. No substantive votes on legislation were taken beyond adoption of the ceremonial orders and the final adjournment motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Exarris, to the rostrum to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• To lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• We also lead in arts and culture and kick-ass musicians.
• We're going to lead. We're going to lead.
• As our nation faces new tests, Massachusetts will lead again.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would lead to cleaning up more pollution by capping the generation and handling fee. amount of tax
• A peer-reviewed study published last year found toxic metals in every tampon tested, including lead,
• On average tampons contained lead levels eight times higher than the federal limit for lead in drinking
• Of the 16 metals tested, 12 were present in every tampon, including lead.
• In other words, you can be in violation of it for exceeding it, which would then lead to a third party

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:58.200><c> the</c> Workforce course that leads the Workforce course that leads the credential
• </c><00:36:22.200><c> to</c> a direct support curriculum leading to a direct support curriculum leading
• </c> complete the educational program leading complete the educational program leading to<00:36:37.480
• We can prevent the escalation of crisis that lead to emergency room boarding.
• </c><01:39:15.360><c> to</c> financial burden that could lead to financial burden that could lead to

Bills: HF2367 , HF2319 , HF2523 , HF1742 , HF671 , HF2331 , HF2722 , HF2406 , HF1674

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• That was discussed as kind of leading into the development of fiscal notes during the 2024 legislative
• Chair mentioned this to lead Stevenson that we may want to look into.
• </c><00:46:48.599><c> um</c> that Mr chair mentioned this to lead um that Mr chair mentioned this to
• </c> votes and so I guess Mr chair and lead votes and so I guess Mr chair and lead lead<00:47:52.559>
• Stevenson I might suggest we may lead Stevenson I might suggest we may want<00:47:54.319><c> to</c><

Bills: HF3

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:55.880><c> to</c><00:40:56.079><c> devastating</c><00:40:56.560><c> burnout</c> burden leads
• to an very awkward situation when leads to an very awkward situation when you<01:16:58.480><c> have<
• It would likely result in decreased vaccination rates, leading to outbreaks of communicable diseases
• </c><03:11:03.080><c> to</c><03:11:03.279><c> outbreaks</c><03:11:03.720><c> of</c> rates leading to
• outbreaks of rates leading to outbreaks of communicable<03:11:04.680><c> diseases</c><03:11:05.680><c

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• would like to register their support for this bill, if there's anyone who would like to speak and lead
• If there's anyone in the room that would like to speak as lead opposition witness, this is your time
• you taking this lead and bringing this bill forward.
• Trauma can lead to long-term harm and cycles of continued violence.
• Trauma can lead to long-term harm and cycles of continued violence.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Two lead support witnesses and two lead opposition witnesses will follow.
• Do we have any other lead support witnesses? Lead support. Yes. Two minutes. Thank you.
• Do we have any other lead opposition? Two minutes. Thank you. Thank you.
• Do we have any lead opposition witnesses? Do we have any me-toos?
• Do we have any lead opposition witnesses? Do we have any me-toes?

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then took up a series of bills on business, professions, health, cannabis, and consumer protection. AB 72, creating an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone in Riverside County, drew questions about whether the state should target one region over others, but supporters argued it would help bring EV manufacturing and related jobs to the Inland Empire. The bill passed on a 8-1 vote to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. AB 685, which would create the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Fund to support technical assistance and capital infusion programs, drew broad support from small business networks and chambers, but some groups raised concerns that the June amendments could affect eligibility and that the funding should be clearly supplemental rather than replacing existing support. The author said discussions were ongoing, and the bill passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 173, a resolution, on a 7-0 vote, and AB 1760, a Dental Practice Act cleanup bill sponsored by the Dental Board, on a 10-0 vote. AB 1637, which would limit changes to physician-authored medical records and make unauthorized alterations a misdemeanor, was supported by physicians and labor groups who said it would protect patient safety and professional accountability; it passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. AB 1785, allowing online sales of pseudoephedrine products with existing age and quantity safeguards, passed 10-0. AB 1973, expanding the ability of advanced practice clinicians to perform procedural abortions within their training, drew strong support from reproductive health providers and strong opposition from anti-abortion witnesses who raised safety concerns; after questions about training and oversight, it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. The committee then considered AB 2025, requiring disclosure when rental listings use digitally altered or AI-staged images. Supporters said it would prevent renters from being misled, while the California Apartment Association said it was working with the author on implementation; the bill passed 8-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. AB 2697, allowing drive-through cannabis sales with local approval and security requirements, was supported by cannabis businesses and operators as a way to improve access and compete with the illicit market, while narcotics officers opposed it over ID verification and public safety concerns; it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. Finally, AB 2249, responding to a state audit on cannabis packaging attractive to children by defining prohibited imagery and creating a public rubric and pre-review process, received support from the cannabis operators association and the state auditor’s office, while small independent farmers raised concerns that some categorical bans could sweep too broadly. The transcript cuts off during that bill’s opposition testimony, and no final action on AB 2249 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• They opt out of research that could lead to life-saving breakthroughs.
• Lead to market collapse or significant disruption.
• AB 1798 ensures that genetic testing leads to better health.
• Uncertainty leads to blind spots.
• It leads to increased risk, and ultimately it leads to higher premiums for other policyholders.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Behind me is the rostrum from where she presided, leading this state as the most consequential Speaker
• this state as the most presided leading this state as the most consequential<00:25:47.679><c> speaker
• She knew if we didn't do our work, we would lose the opportunity to lead.
• </c> would lose the opportunity to lead. would lose the opportunity to lead.
• </c><00:28:30.320><c> with</c> would want us to do, to lead with would want us to do, to lead with conviction

Transcript Highlights:

• If confirmed, you would lead 18 agencies of the IC. serve as the principal advisor to the President,
• It also leads me to question whether you can develop the trust necessary to give our allies confidence
• As the President's Principal Intelligence Advisor, I'll begin by leading by example, checking my own
• If confirmed, I'll bring my experience and fresh eyes to leading the intelligence community.
• I will do my very best to find the truth, no matter where it leads, and I will share that truth with

Committee: Senate Intelligence (Select) Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Um we have nine literacy leads network.
• ,</c><00:02:34.360><c> administrators,</c> charter literacy leads, administrators, charter literacy leads
• </c><00:02:56.200><c> and</c> regional literacy network leads and regional literacy network leads and
• The capacity to lead their districts.
• </c> district literacy lead district literacy lead and<00:22:00.960><c> presenting</c><00:22:01.520><

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• These and other investments made through the program will lead to almost 4 million metric tons of avoided
• Residents receive affordable upgrades, which leads to lower utility bills.
• Businesses continue to improve efficiency, and... ...lead to lower utility bills.
• My agency, Action Incorporated, is one of the lead community action agencies that comprises LEAN.
• We're the lead vendor for Eversource in the income-eligible sector of Mass Save.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Summary: The hearing focused on the value of Mass Save, with committee members and witnesses largely emphasizing that the program lowers energy bills, reduces peak demand, supports climate goals, and delivers benefits beyond direct participants. The chair opened by noting Mass Save’s long-term savings, its role in weatherization and heat pump deployment, and recent statutory changes directing the program toward emissions reductions, low- and moderate-income households, and fossil-fuel restrictions. Elizabeth Mahoney of the Department of Energy Resources said the program has evolved to broaden access and control costs, citing large weatherization totals, heat pump installations, avoided emissions, and budget controls that removed $500 million from the approved plan. She also said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer Mass Save was intended to reduce administrative and procurement costs, and she explained that outreach to low- and moderate-income communities is counted within marketing spending. Several witnesses addressed the program’s workforce and business impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, contractors, and thousands of jobs by creating stable demand for energy-efficiency work, while warning that sharp budget cuts would lead to layoffs and discourage investment in training, equipment, and hiring. Committee members pressed them on who administers the program, and both said the program administrators and utilities collaborate, with day-to-day contractor oversight and customer work largely delegated to private vendors and community partners. Other witnesses, including Brian Biot and James Collins of the low-income network, described the “quarterbacking” model used for income-eligible customers, where community action agencies provide full project management, technical support, and wraparound services to help households access fuel assistance, discount rates, weatherization, and electrification measures. A major theme was cost-effectiveness and system-wide savings. Anna Johnson of ACEEE and Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said Mass Save returns more than it costs, reduces peak demand, and lowers prices for all ratepayers, including those who do not participate directly. They cited avoided costs in the billions, strong state rankings, and examples of peak-hour savings that avoid expensive generation and infrastructure. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that energy efficiency is the cheapest way to achieve greenhouse gas reductions and that cutting the program would force more expensive power plants to run. Bronte Payne of Sunrun and Ben Sondaga of Highland Electric Fleets highlighted Connected Solutions, a Mass Save-funded virtual power plant program, saying it saves ratepayers money and can use home batteries and electric school buses to reduce peak demand and support grid reliability. Equity and affordable housing witnesses, including Mary Wampo and Barney Heath, said Mass Save has become more responsive to renters, low-income households, and designated equity communities, while also helping affordable housing projects meet passive house and electrification standards; no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• witnesses in support and two lead witnesses in opposition, for no more than two minutes each.
• As previously stated, your two lead witnesses will each have two minutes to provide testimony.
• Unfortunately, our lead witness, Dr. Alex Randolph, fell ill and could not make it today.
• If I may, since this lead witness isn't here, one of our core tenets is making sure that there is equal
• Alongside David Millman, who's here with me today, I help lead Survivors Pro Bono, a nonprofit legal

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a series of bills focused on student access, equity, and campus support services. AB 2660 would codify the CalBridge and ENLACE STEM pipeline programs to help underrepresented students move from high school through Ph.D. and faculty or industry careers; AB 2121 would let community colleges temporarily exclude certain local backfill dollars from the 50% instructional spending law so they can replace lost federal funding for MSI and TRIO programs; and AB 1920 would clarify that students do not lose California College Promise eligibility if they earn a certificate as part of a stackable pathway to an associate degree. AB 1636 would authorize Cerritos College to use voluntary data-sharing agreements with K-12 districts to create ready-to-enroll student records, AB 1845 would add human trafficking training and reporting requirements to campus Title IX-related processes, AB 1784 would extend pregnancy and parenting protections to undergraduate students, AB 2229 would create a CSU reentry support program for stopped-out students, AB 1852 would create a conditional pathway for a Kern County medical school if UC does not act, AB 1928 would allow both an advisor and a support person in campus sexual misconduct proceedings, and AB 2392 would require training before AI tools are deployed to students, faculty, or staff. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, with authors and witnesses emphasizing student success, equity, and removing administrative barriers. Supporters included community college and university officials, student leaders, advocacy groups, and survivors. AB 2121 drew the most mixed testimony: community college leaders and students supported it as a temporary response to federal cuts, while faculty groups opposed it or raised concerns about weakening the 50% law and the need for the proposal. AB 1852 also drew opposition from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, which argued the proposal could have broader operational and governance implications, though supporters said Kern County’s doctor shortage justified a local solution. AB 1784, AB 1845, and AB 1928 were framed as protections for vulnerable students in pregnancy, trafficking, and sexual misconduct proceedings, respectively, while AB 2392 was presented as a modest training and transparency requirement to accompany AI adoption. The committee took action on the bills after testimony. Most measures were approved on bipartisan roll calls and re-referred to the appropriate committees, including AB 1636, AB 1784, AB 1845, AB 1920, AB 1928, AB 2229, AB 2392, and AB 2660. AB 2121 and AB 1852 also advanced, though AB 1852 had several members not voting and AB 2121 drew one no vote. The committee also approved a consent calendar that included AB 1591, AB 2203, and AB 2572, and members were invited to add on to bills after the votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• please note that the guideline for bills heard in this committee is to allow for testimony from two lead
• witnesses in support and two lead witnesses in opposition to speak for no more than two minutes each
• And two lead witnesses in opposition to speak for no more than two minutes each.
• As previously stated, your lead witnesses will each have two minutes to provide testimony.
• Unfortunately, our lead witness, Dr. Alex Randolph, fell ill and could not make it today.

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, let me begin with an apology and a ask for accommodation by Lead Pinto.
• Disclosure does oftentimes lead to compromising investigations.
• Um, Lead Pinto. We do need to keep— >> No, no, understood, Madam Chair. Yeah.
• </c><00:10:09.600><c> Um</c><00:10:09.920><c> lead</c><00:10:10.160><c> pinto.
• Um lead pinto. We do need to &gt;&gt; Thank you. Um lead pinto.

Summary: House File 3542 was heard in committee and moved forward with a recommendation to be re-referred to the Children, Families, Finance, and Policy Committee. The bill would change current law so that the commissioners of Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families must disclose the existence of an investigation, rather than may disclose it, with the stated goal of increasing transparency to the public and legislature. Members and agency officials discussed concerns that mandatory disclosure could tip off subjects of investigations, especially in fraud cases, allowing them to destroy evidence, coordinate stories, or otherwise interfere. The Department of Human Services and the Inspector General said disclosure can compromise investigations and noted that providers are typically notified when payments are reduced, suspended, or withheld, though federal law can sometimes require delayed notice. Representative Pinto offered an A2 amendment to require disclosure within 30 days unless it would compromise an investigation, but it was rejected. Representative Hudson then offered an oral amendment stating that disclosure would be required if the commissioner has taken action to reduce, suspend, or withhold payments to the subject of the investigation. The chair waived the rule to allow the oral amendment, and it was adopted. Staff clarified that the bill would only require disclosure of the existence of an investigation, not underlying details, and would not address trade secret redactions. After the amendment, the committee approved the motion to re-refer the bill.