Transcript Highlights:

• We have never opposed, in the last few sessions, the minimum wage piece of this.
• He missed the renewal deadline, but they didn't give him a call. There was no notice.
• And we found out that Lee had missed the renewal deadline for Mass Health.
• He missed the renewal deadline, but they didn't give him a call. There was no notice.
• My apologies, I meant to testify earlier this week, but I missed the deadline on Friday.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid public hearing with testimony on a wide range of labor, workforce, unemployment insurance, apprenticeship, disability services, farm labor, hospital staffing, and workplace harassment bills. Chairs Jake Oliveira and Paul McMurtry outlined hearing procedures, limited testimony to two minutes, and noted written testimony would be accepted after the hearing. Committee members and staff were introduced throughout the session as witnesses arrived in person or remotely. A major portion of the hearing focused on unemployment insurance legislation. Greater Boston Legal Services, the AFL-CIO, and Rep. Joan Meschino supported bills to adjust UI eligibility for workers with fluctuating schedules and to streamline waivers and write-offs for non-fault overpayments, arguing the current system unfairly denies benefits or burdens workers who were not at fault. They also backed bills calling for more oversight and resources for the Division of Unemployment Assistance, citing persistent delays in benefit payments. NFIB opposed the UI changes, warning that the trust fund is headed toward insolvency and arguing the bills would worsen the system’s finances. Rep. Meschino and committee members emphasized that the proposals were meant to protect good-faith claimants and did not apply to fraud. Another large set of bills addressed wages, workforce development, and working conditions. Testimony supported raising and modernizing direct care wages to address severe staffing shortages in human services and disability services, with advocates from the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council, The Arc of Massachusetts, parents of adults with disabilities, and a direct care worker describing how low pay and turnover harm people needing support. The committee also heard support for apprenticeship-related bills from the AFL-CIO and the Carpenters, while Associated Builders and Contractors opposed mandatory apprenticeship ratios and urged changes to align them with licensing laws. Farm worker advocates supported a bill to raise farm labor standards, including minimum wage, paid breaks, and paid time off, while the Farm Bureau opposed parts of it beyond the minimum wage increase. The hearing also featured testimony on workplace harassment training, overtime protections, hospital mandatory overtime, suicide prevention signage on construction sites, and a proposal to update the Massachusetts Medical Society’s mission language from “citizens” to “people.” Labor groups, educators, and compliance trainers strongly supported mandatory annual sexual harassment training, saying it would improve workplace culture and reduce harm. SEIU 1199 supported extending the hospital nurse mandatory overtime ban to the broader hospital workforce. Witnesses on the suicide prevention bill described personal losses in construction and recovery work and urged posting 988 information on job sites. The committee took no votes during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports, and members asked follow-up questions on UI calculations, apprenticeship ratios, small-business impacts, and emergency exceptions for hospital staffing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, everyone, to our first work session in the 26th interim.
• I'd love to explore this further outside of a work session.
• deadlines. ...imposed new deadlines that took effect in 2025.
• But this session, we’re advocating a little differently.
• I think we'll be working on this next session.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2025 ACFER was completed by the staff of Legislative Audit, and the deadline for filing the ACFER
• I realize it came out during fiscal session, and a lot of us are just now getting through this.
• Unfortunately, it was during fiscal session, and lots of folks haven't had a chance to truly digest it
• And that if somebody is past that revalidation deadline, if a provider's past that deadline, we would
• So... ...is it something that needs to be prepared to be addressed in the next legislative session, or

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met on June 5 and first adopted prior minutes and several committee reports. The executive committee report noted adoption of its minutes, staff updates on scheduled audits, approval of an annual financial audit for the City of Horseshoe Bend, and an update on the intern program. The Counties and Municipalities report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, compliance follow-up with towns including Denning, Gum Springs, Omer, Fargo, Jericho, and Haynes, and review of current and deferred reports; the committee filed most current reports but deferred several and referred some matters to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The Educational Institutions report said 103 education audits were reviewed, most with no findings, while several school districts had findings and one Booneville School District finding was referred to law enforcement. The State Agencies report included findings at the Department of Finance and Administration and a deferred Department of Health report, and the committee filed 13 reports. The committee then received lengthy presentations on the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report and the state single audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Legislative Audit issued unmodified opinions on the state financial statements, but identified two material weaknesses: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and improper methodology changes and documentation issues at the Division of Workforce Services affecting year-end estimates for unemployment-related accounts. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed. Auditors reported 33 findings overall, including 31 federal findings, $12.9 million in outstanding questioned costs, and qualified opinions for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Committee members questioned DHS, the broadband office, OST, DFA, Education, and Workforce Services about the findings, corrective actions, cyber protections, federal drawdowns, child care reporting, and accounting methodology changes. Several agencies described corrective steps. DHS said it had changed how it draws Summer EBT funds, addressed provider revalidation and incarceration-related Medicaid issues, and updated internal processes and staffing. The broadband office said the questioned costs reflected invoice documentation disputes rather than missing payments and expected Treasury review to resolve the issue. OST said it was expanding logging, endpoint detection, and enterprise monitoring, and described broader cybersecurity investments, training, and a roadmap. DFA and Workforce Services addressed the workers’ compensation and unemployment accounting issues, with Workforce Services saying it had updated its policy and submitted the methodology to DFA. After discussion, the committee voted to hold the two statewide audit reports over until the August meeting, with members asked to submit specific questions in advance so only needed agencies would return. The final item was a special report on the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority for January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The audit reviewed compliance with laws, board procedures, bidding, payroll, permits, inspections, and cash handling. It noted prior private audit findings on segregation of duties, that recent private audit reports had not been obtained for 2023 through 2025, and that the current administrator said prior office staff and bookkeeping contractors resigned when he was hired. The authority’s operations and revenue sources were described, and the report was presented for committee review.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if the court continues the hearing, then all of the deadlines are refixed so that if you are getting
• That's from all these deadlines. That's entirely correct.
• This is a simple study resolution for the Law Institute to review and study in test states a session.
• So in response, I promised them that I would do something in session to address their concerns, and this
• So in response, I promised them that I would do something in session to address their concerns, and this

Summary: The Senate Judiciary A Committee met on May 5, 2026, with five members present and adopted the April 28 minutes. The committee then heard and favorably reported several measures, including HCR 31, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to study replacing or clarifying the term “foreign” in state law; HB 263, allowing the 14th JDC magistrate judge to handle certain specialty court felony matters; HB 299, clarifying paper filing rules for jury bonds and related payment issues; HB 535, simplifying hospital-based acknowledgments of paternity by removing the two-witness requirement while keeping notarization; HB 571, codifying the 19th JDC’s complex litigation section program; and HB 538, increasing the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court fee cap from $15 to $75 to help offset court costs. The committee also reported HB 215, raising the small succession affidavit threshold from $125,000 to $200,000, and HB 226, adding a 10.1 conference requirement before requests for admissions are deemed admitted, with discussion about discovery fairness and default judgment exceptions. The committee also took up HB 324, which makes judicial stipend increases permanent and adds a 2.7% salary increase for judges effective July 1, 2027; an amendment restoring the second year of the COLA was adopted, and the bill was reported with amendments. HB 1043, raising the jurisdictional amount in Jefferson Parish first and second parish courts, was amended to increase the amount from $35,000 to $50,000 and then reported with amendments. HCR 6, directing the Law Institute to study forced heirship and disinherison issues, was amended to add reporting language and related Civil Code references and then reported with amendments. HB 1006, changing summary judgment deadlines to give opponents more time to respond, was amended and reported by a 3-2 vote after roll call. Two more substantive bills drew extended debate. HB 1239 would strengthen the presumption that parents share physical custody equally unless a court finds that arrangement infeasible or not in the child’s best interest; supporters framed it as a parental-rights measure, while an attorney in opposition warned it would increase litigation, reduce stability for children, and be used as leverage in child support disputes. Despite the opposition, the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 190, as amended, would create a duty of reasonable care for certain software/app providers toward minors and require expert testimony, while excluding manufacturers; supporters said it was aimed at protecting children from harmful platform design, but opponents argued the proposal was unnecessary because existing tort law already covers negligence and warned it could create new causes of action and uncertainty over whether software is a “product.” The committee heard testimony from the Louisiana State Law Institute, the sponsor, and outside witnesses, but the transcript ends before final action on HB 190 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Excavators and locators, there are currently penalties for excavators that don't meet their deadlines
• Right, but there are no penalties for them meeting or missing deadlines.
• If we want to talk about potential penalties for operators not complying with the deadline, I think that
• But if they're using a sublet service, like if they're hiring the locators, who is ensuring the deadlines
• I have written testimony; I know you're up against a deadline.

Bills: HB2766, HB2891, HB3334, HB3791, HB3911, HB4021, HB4041, HB4042, HB4384, HB4426

Keywords: inactive wells, oil and gas regulation, environmental protection, Railroad Commission of Texas, well plugging, Railroad Commission, penalties, violations, pipeline safety, civil penalties, criminal penalties, wildfire prevention, oil and gas, safety inspections, administrative penalties, excavation, notification, utilities, underground facilities, regulatory compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• by election day to be counted if they arrive within seven days, giving voters a more realistic... deadline
• At a moment's notice, because there are strict deadlines, to verify signatures.
• During the 23-24 election, submitted by the California legislative session, CACO sponsored two chaptered
• The state petition format will require more staff for more work with no change in processing deadlines
• And in particular, it will be important to figure out an appropriate deadline for signature curing in

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Ethics Commission will now hold an executive session pursuant to Sections 551.071 and 551.072, 17.074
• formal hearing we have scheduled for today, we have a few announcements coming out of the executive session
• During the session, those priorities are communicated to legislative staff and legislators.
• Our next agenda item relates to the 2025 legislative session, which has just concluded.
• Beyond the sunset, the appropriations process was, I think, a positive session for the commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at the session, you see a number of...
• I almost like to have the Mayor sitting in some of the sessions with us.
• And when you have a few minutes after a visit, and I have been blown away this session.
• By clarifying deadlines, assessors can ensure exemptions are processed efficiently.
• By aligning the veterans' exemption deadlines with other key assessment deadlines, this bill simplifies

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Filer, allowing the deadlines to be suspended.
• You allow the deadlines to be suspended.
• Chairman, but perhaps it's time for me to end this part of my session with you.
• Chairman, but perhaps it's time for me to end this part of my session with you.
• Uh I session picking winners and losers.

Bills: HB0002, HB0022

Keywords: building permits, local government, residential construction, permit timelines, code compliance, municipal officers, recall election, petition requirements, local governance, voter participation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It received a favorable report last session as well.
• needed to get this passed and implemented, so we were close to getting this to the finish line last session
• We would fix the processing messes and confusion and fix the ballot return deadline so that slow mail
• does not take away a person's Valid return deadline so that slow mail does not take away a person's
• The MTCA has identified priority issues for the 194th legislative session, and we have submitted written

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on several election-related bills, with most testimony focused on voting access, ballot administration, and election procedures. Senator Driscoll testified for S. 509, a Randolph home rule petition to require bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole, and Randolph officials and community members strongly supported it, saying it would improve access, confidence, and participation for Haitian Creole speakers. Other speakers, including advocates and residents, described language barriers as a form of voter suppression and urged favorable action. Leader Donato testified on H. 822, which would remove the word “physical” from the absentee voting disability standard, and on a bill to raise the signature threshold for creating political designations and allow dormant designations to be dissolved. Senator Rausch testified on several bills, including one expanding the State Ballot Law Commission’s jurisdiction over presidential primary candidate placement and a broader elections infrastructure bill that would change registration deadlines, primary dates, reporting systems, ballot design, mail voting procedures, and voter outreach. Representative Cattelda also testified on a bill to rename the ballot title for governor’s councilor to “governor’s counselor.” The Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, through Tom Joyce and Ben Kaufman, said it supported a number of the bills and offered local election administration expertise. Former Representative Lenny Mera and Sandra Cato testified for S. 536, a bill on accountability for defective and spoiled ballots, citing a disputed 2022 Revere recount and arguing that spoiled ballots should be documented and publicly inspectable so improperly rejected ballots are not lost. Emma Chinman of Partners in Democracy supported multiple reforms, including the elections infrastructure bill and a bill allowing unenrolled voters to serve on boards of registrars. After testimony concluded, the committee accepted written testimony by email and then adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• statute or should it be in session law? statute or should it be in session law?
• Chair, and my concern is that we are past deadline.
• my concern is that we are past deadline. my concern is that we are past deadline.
• <00:54:55.599> and the gavl at the beginning of session and the gavl at the beginning of session
• We are past deadline, and this is the jurisdiction that it would be heard in.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This was passed several weeks ago in our first bill of the session.
• Senator Brodeur: It's a little less because the last amount we provided was in special session.
• Session, that is the bill. **Chair Hooper:** Questions on the bill?
• It requires the division to conduct annual regional hurricane readiness sessions each year and develop
• The other concern is that these new earlier deadlines, especially the May 31 deadline for the first five

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And come out of executive session. Thank you. Second.
• So can sessions of the legislative body.
• ,<01:55:03.280> the<01:55:03.440> first<01:55:03.599> session deliberative session
• , the first session deliberative session, the first session of<01:55:04.000> town<01:55:04.239
• executive session? So moved. executive session?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, at the conclusion of our session today, the sergeant will escort Judge Gluck and his family
• <00:26:24.080> It<00:26:24.120> was issues affecting our deadlines.
• It was issues affecting our deadlines. It was inadvertently<00:26:25.040> missed.
• There will be a leadership meeting in Room 409 immediately after session.
• session. Senator Wakai. session. Senator Wakai.

Bills: SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• This is my third session as a page. Happy to assist you guys.
• Majority staff, this will be my fourth session.
• This is my second session with Science and Technology.
• This is my second session with Science and Technology.
• Amendment deadlines are as follows: the committee amendment deadline is Tuesday afternoon at 12 p.m.,

Bills: HB2121, HB2134, HB2451, HB2700

Keywords: modification, electronic equipment, consumer rights, OEM restrictions, civil penalties, intellectual property, critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, Arizona Space Commission, strategic plan, aerospace, economic development, space industry, education, workforce training, assistive technology, disability services

Summary: The House Committee on Science and Technology convened for its first meeting of the session, with members and staff introducing themselves and the chair reviewing committee rules and amendment deadlines. The committee then heard several bills focused on technology policy, infrastructure security, and a new study committee on assistive technology. Testimony was generally supportive of the bills’ goals, though several members raised concerns about implementation, costs, and the role of the Arizona Corporation Commission on the infrastructure bill. HB 2121 would prevent manufacturers from disabling consumer electronic devices when owners make modifications, such as using third-party parts or firmware changes, and would allow owners or the Attorney General to sue for damages. After discussion about consumer ownership, security, and possible manufacturing impacts, the committee adopted the Fink amendment narrowing the bill to consumer products and gave HB 2121 a do pass recommendation by a 7-1 vote with one present. HB 2134 would restrict Chinese-produced equipment from critical infrastructure and limit contracts with Chinese companies; the sponsor and supporters framed it as a national security measure, while opponents focused on cost, implementation, and utility coordination. The committee heard testimony from the Arizona Corporation Commission, which said the bill would require new staff and resources, and from outside witnesses who said the bill was prospective and aligned with federal restrictions. HB 2134 passed 5-4. HB 2451 would adjust Arizona Space Commission board terms, extend the strategic plan deadline, and add astronautic educational opportunities to the commission’s duties. Supporters described the commission as a bipartisan effort to grow Arizona’s space industry, and the bill passed 8-0. HB 2700 would create a Technology Study Committee focused on assistive technology and technology-first approaches for people with disabilities. The sponsor and a constituent advocate described how assistive technology can improve independence and service delivery, and members expressed support for the concept. After adopting the Connolly amendment, the committee approved HB 2700 as amended by an 8-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not aware of any deadline.
• My former seatmate and friend, you know, as we sit in House sessions, we have a lot of time to talk to
• My former seatmate and friend, you know, as we sit in House sessions, we have a lot of time to talk to
• No. that was changed um I think perhaps<04:07:35.279> last<04:07:35.520> session<04:07:
• 36.080> where<04:07:36.479> you<04:07:36.800> cannot perhaps last session where

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1334, which would remove the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization’s authority to approve “any other educational expense” under the EFA statute. The prime sponsor, Representative Porchelli, said the bill would narrow the law to the specifically listed qualifying expenses, avoid broad interpretation, and shift any questions to the Department of Education or the legislative oversight committee. In response to questions, she said she did not think the open-ended category had been needed and that the statute already clearly lists allowable expenses. A representative of the Children’s Scholarship Fund testified in opposition, saying the category is used rarely but is important for unusual cases, especially students with special needs, and that removing it could create unintended consequences. After testimony, the chair closed the hearing on HB 1334. The committee then heard HB 1513, which would move several EFA reporting and oversight requirements from administrative rules and the contract with the Children’s Scholarship Fund into statute. Representative Porchelli said the bill would consolidate existing requirements on timely responses to oversight requests, publication of expense reports by category and provider, and transmission of eligibility and enrollment data to the Department of Education. She described the bill as mostly a clarification and transparency measure rather than a substantive policy change. Members asked about the meaning of “timely access,” the 45-day deadline, whether the contract already covered these duties, and whether the scholarship organization had ever failed to comply. The Children’s Scholarship Fund said it had generally met the 45-day deadline, had not knowingly refused information requests, and that the quarterly reporting requirement could add cost; the sponsor said the DOE had provided guidance and was neutral. The hearing on HB 1513 was then closed. Finally, the committee heard HB 1256, which would repeal the state librarian’s authority to award scholarships for graduate library school attendance at American Library Association-accredited schools. Representative Drago said the law was unnecessary because the state does not currently have a state librarian, scholarships are not typically granted by statute, and he objected to the ALA accreditation requirement and what he described as the association’s political advocacy. In questions, he clarified that the bill targets the accreditation requirement rather than a specific school and said he did not think the state should direct taxpayer-funded scholarships toward ALA-accredited programs. A member raised First Amendment concerns, but the sponsor said the issue was not speech itself, only the use of taxpayer dollars and state law to support that direction. The transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on HB 1256.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's effective July 1, 2027, and provides guidelines and a deadline for the next 15 months so that the
• 00:23:56.240> guidelines<00:23:56.799> and<00:23:57.039> a<00:23:57.200> deadline
• and provides guidelines and a deadline and provides guidelines and a deadline for<00:23:57.760><
• Chairman. this provides a framework and a deadline this provides a framework and a deadline and<00:30
• proof we could come back in 2027 session proof we could come back in 2027 session >> and<00

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate President may waive these deadlines, but only if OS needs a little more time to complete the
• The Senate President may waive these deadlines, but only if OS needs a little more time to complete the
• The Senate President may waive these deadlines, but only if OS needs a little more time to complete the
• The filing period is starting during the legislative session.
• It's unlikely this legislative session.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's kind of the theme of the year, of this session, and this bill helps get us there. frauders cease
• That's kind of the theme of the year, of this session, and this bill helps get us there.
• and this bill helps get us this session and this bill helps get us there<00:33:08.159> so there
• Chair West, we've waived the deadline to take up this amendment.
• Representative Coulter has an amendment, which—okay, he made the deadline, but then, you know, we changed

Bills: HF1169, HF1916

Keywords: child protection, child welfare, paperwork reduction, social services information system, SSIS, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, foster care, children in placement, county social services, Tribal governments, private child placing agencies, case management, administrative burden, information technology, human services, welfare administration, Minnesota tribes, child care assistance, CCAP, program integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• You've opened our sessions, not just You've opened our sessions not just with words, but with intention
• Members, the Senate is back in session, and we are going to go back in session, and we are going to go
• But now we're in the position where we have a five o'clock deadline, which is an hour and a half away
• I cautiously asked John Kupal to pass by the 5 o'clock deadline and just let's fight to the end.
• The next floor session will be on Monday, June 29th at 2 p.m.

Keywords: 987, senate, all