Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the House position will spend more blind pension than we ultimately agreed to in House Bill 2.
• And then we would be able to spend it in the formula, the way we've structured House Bill 20, which we're
• And then, obviously, in House Bill 11 with MoHealthNet, that's where most of the Medicaid spending is
• So House Bill 2017 is a reappropriations bill. There's nothing new in House Bill 2017.
• Anyhow, one of the federal pandemic spending bills in which the federal government passed along billions

Summary: The House convened with prayer, approved the House Journal by a 107-1 vote, and then spent much of the day on introductions of guests, family members, interns, and public servants. Members recognized visitors including family of legislators, a park ranger honored for life-saving work, substance-use treatment advocates, nonprofit and apprenticeship program representatives, students, and staff. The chamber also received committee reports and Senate messages, including a conference committee appointment on House Bill 2818 and fiscal review reports recommending passage of Senate Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 1062. The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 on public education. The budget chair explained the conference report as providing $8.4 billion for K-12 and the Office of Childhood, with disputes over funding sources and the foundation formula. Several members argued the bill underfunded schools by about $190 million and objected to using blind pension and projected ARPA/lottery-related funds; others defended the budget as record-level funding and emphasized that the total education dollars were unchanged, only the funding mix differed. A substitute motion to reject the conference report and send the bill back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report on House Bill 2 was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68. The House then adopted and passed House Bill 3 on higher education, after debate over a proposed performance-based funding model and language directing the department to develop a new formula by the end of the year. Members generally supported keeping funding flat this year while studying a longer-term model. House Bill 4, covering Revenue and Transportation, was adopted 128-21 and passed 127-27, with discussion of rural roads funding and transportation investments. The House also took up House Bill 5 on the Office of Administration and IT consolidation/accountability, with the sponsor describing it as the central state-government operations bill; debate on that measure began before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our budget has funding from three bills this last session: Senate Bill 2024, our main appropriation bill
• bill; and House Bill 1577, which was for the wastewater infrastructure bill.
• The House Bill 1577, that's the $9.7 million.
• And then the last one on here is Senate Bill 2267.
• We have to spend it wisely.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines. Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do. Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the House position will spend more blind pension than we ultimately agreed to in House Bill 2.
• And then we would be able to spend it in the formula, the way we've structured House Bill 20, which we're
• And then obviously in House Bill 11 with MoHealthNet, that's where most of Medicaid spending is as well
• bill.
• So House Bill 2017 is a reappropriations bill. So there's nothing new in House Bill 2017.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call, and a long series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, public servants, nonprofit leaders, students, and a park ranger honored for life-saving actions. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate nonconcurrence on numerous amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on another bill. The main floor action centered on budget conference committee reports, especially House Bill 2002 on public education. Members debated whether the conference version fully funded the foundation formula, with supporters arguing it maintained record-level funding and opponents saying it left schools about $190 million short and relied on uncertain funding sources such as blind pension, lottery, and possible ARPA dollars. After a substitute motion to send the bill back to conference was defeated, the House adopted the conference report 83-68 and then third-read and passed House Bill 2002 by the same margin. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where members discussed a move toward a future performance-based funding model while keeping current funding flat; the conference report passed 119-28 and the bill was third-read and passed 109-32. The chamber next considered House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation. Debate focused on transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety project in Lebanon that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The conference report was adopted 128-21 and the bill was third-read and passed 127-27. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2005 for the Office of Administration and IT-related functions, with the sponsor and supporters emphasizing IT accountability, the Movers project, and the transfer of some staff to DSS; the transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the last key distinction between this and House Bill 675 was that 675 was a spending cap. 675 told
• A spending cap says you can only spend so much.
• A spending cap cap and a spending cap.
• </c> tax cap bills are? tax cap bills are?
• c><01:50:29.360><c> least</c> attached to a bill a bill with at least attached to a bill a bill with

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> House Bill 502. House Bill 502.
• </c> spend it. spend it.
• </c> House Bill 9. House Bill 9.
• </c> Bills 843 and 851. Bills 843 and 851.
• </c><01:40:41.480><c> 827,</c> Senate Bill 124, and House Bills 827, Senate Bill 124, and House Bills

Transcript Highlights:

• 752, 680, 860, Senate Bill 1251, 1309, 1373, House Bill 875, 876, 877, 795, 819, 862, and Senate Bill
• of House Bill 867.
• House Bill 867.
• Bill 826.
• House Bill 835.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, that is the bill. Thank you, Senator Leek, for explaining the bill.
• Chair, that is the bill. Thank you. Are there any questions on the bill?
• We are back on the bill as amended. Are there questions on the bill as amended?
• Members, are there questions on the bill? There are questions on the bill?
• This is a big bill, so if you'll forgive me, I want to spend a little more time on certain sections of

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and favorably reported several bills. SB 1672 removed duplicative state provisions related to labor pools; CS/SB 940 prohibited third-party sale of restaurant reservations without the restaurant’s consent; and CS/SB 1820 made changes to motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer franchise law, including disclosure of performance measures, anti-retaliation protections, and limits on franchise termination or nonrenewal. The committee also approved CS/SB 324, creating a revolving loan program to help small businesses affected by prolonged public works construction, and SB 936, which creates a recurring three-year study of the effects of AI, robotics, and automation on Florida’s workforce and economy. SB 1322, the Florida Rural Jobs Act, was amended and reported favorably to encourage private investment in rural small businesses through a state tax credit program. The committee also reported favorably on CS/SB 910, which regulates for-profit veterans’ benefit assistance services, and CS/SB 656, which extends protections from extraordinary collection actions to all bill-of-care payment actions by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 1264, a broad Department of Commerce agency bill. The strike-all amendment added or revised provisions on Secure Florida, the RISE venture capital tax credit program, data center tax exemptions, business development classifications, military land transfers, and other economic development matters, while also repealing regional planning councils from statute. That repeal drew extensive opposition from local officials and regional council representatives, who argued the councils are important for emergency management, grant writing, planning, and support for small and rural communities. Supporters of the amendment said the councils could continue locally without state statutory involvement. After debate, the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, though Senators Davis and Smith voted no. The committee also considered CS/SB 1238, which would tighten reemployment assistance rules by disqualifying claimants who fail to meet job-search requirements or refuse work, and by adding verification and reporting requirements. Supporters framed it as adding guardrails and preventing fraud, while opponents argued Florida’s unemployment system is already difficult to access and that the bill would add unnecessary barriers and costs. Despite opposition from labor and advocacy groups, the bill was reported favorably, with Senators Smith and Arrington voting no. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of Alexis Yarborough and John Gilbert to the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the bill.
• Before the change is made by the bill. Members, are there any questions on the bill?
• Members, House Bill 657.
• By your vote, House Bill 1197 passes. Please show C.S. for House Bill 1197.
• And that is the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair I move house bill<00:26:12.240><c> 1412</c> bill 1412 bill 1412 &gt;&gt; there's<00:26:13.360><
• </c> your support on this bill. your support on this bill.
• House Bill 1413 passes. Madam Majority Leader. House Bill 1413? Seeing none, the House Bill 1413?
• </c> House Bill House Bill 1413 passes. House Bill House Bill 1413 passes.
• </c><01:19:53.679><c> Um</c> this bill. Um this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's two areas where most of this increased spending, where the debt's coming from: that's in special
• State spending on special education is driving us closer to a more than $5 billion deficit, according
• But while state spending may go down when it comes to special education in Minnesota, the numbers are
• State spending on special education is driving us closer to a more than $5 billion deficit, according
• Do we know what are the biggest drivers of state spending in special education?

Transcript Highlights:

• Spend under their existing authorities.
• Is this still an invoice to spend the money?
• So, it is a cash asset we spend as we need.
• Bills are a fact of life.
• Online, 220,000 square feet, paid $21,000 in energy bills.

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here listening in in Bill Halsey's stead.
• But this is spending growth by service category.
• So that would make the total spend a lot bigger per capita.
• So that would make the total spend a lot bigger per capita.
• I can say I want to measure total spending.

Summary: The Complex Care Committee meeting focused first on a new Diabetes Caucus launched at the Capitol. Rep. Johnson described the caucus as a forum to educate people about type 1 and type 2 diabetes, genetic risk, early testing, pregnancy-related diabetes, and ways Medicaid policy might improve prevention and lower long-term costs. Members agreed the caucus could intersect with care management, and Carolyn Grandell of CHNCT offered to share information about current diabetes-related care management services at a future meeting. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from Alex Rigger of the Office of Health Strategy, who is moving to the Office of Policy and Management. He reviewed Connecticut health care benchmark data, including total health care expenditures, medical spending, and market-by-market trends. He said 2023 to 2024 per-capita spending grew more than 8.5% statewide and 14% in Medicaid, with long-term care accounting for about 46% of Medicaid spending and retail pharmacy also identified as a major cost driver. Members asked about enrollment changes, dual-eligible populations, Medicare Savings Program members, 340B drug pricing, and value-based payment models. Rigger explained that his office tracks alternate payment models and quality benchmarks, but does not separately capture 340B data. Discussion then shifted to Medicare Advantage, dual eligibles, and hospital discharge planning. Members said they want better data on how many Medicaid members are in Medicare Advantage plans and whether those plans shift costs back to Medicaid or affect access to care, especially for complex-care patients. Staff noted DSS does have some Medicare Advantage indicators and that CMS is developing encounter-data rules for states. Kathy Holt and others raised concerns about denials, nursing home stays, and the need to compare Medicaid spending for dual eligibles in Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare. The meeting ended with plans for follow-up data sharing, including Alex Rigger’s slides, the diabetes caucus materials, and a future discussion with DSS and other agencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have two bills.
• on is a bill that Mr.
• And this bill helps to address that problem. So what does this bill do?
• or paying their own bills.
• 1390 and House Bill 2220.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery held a public hearing on 14 bills focused on insurance, parity, opioids, behavioral health access, and mental health system reform. Chair Mindy Domb and Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would accept written testimony. The hearing featured testimony from legislators, providers, advocates, and behavioral health organizations, with most speakers urging favorable reports on the bills they addressed. A major topic was psychiatric collaborative care, including H. 222/S. 1390, which would raise reimbursement for collaborative care codes to at least Medicare levels and allow billing outside the MassHealth primary care subcapitation model. Supporters said the model improves access, outcomes, and cost savings by embedding behavioral health in primary care, and several witnesses described successful implementation in practices and schools. Committee members asked questions about how the model works, what specialties use it, barriers to adoption, and whether copays, deductibles, and subcapitation rules should be changed. Witnesses also supported related innovation legislation, including H. 2224, which would create a mental health innovation fund and support nontraditional trauma-healing approaches. Other bills discussed included H. 2212, which would require prescribers to discuss opioid and pain-medication risks, alternatives, and addiction/overdose concerns with patients or guardians; H. 2232 and H. 2233, which would address equitable payment and equitable access for behavioral health providers serving MassHealth patients; and S. 1406, which would add opioid maintenance treatment information to MassPAT and allow patient-authorized access to that information. Witnesses also strongly backed S. 1399, which would set targets to increase behavioral health spending within the overall health care cost benchmark, arguing that Massachusetts underinvests in behavioral health and that greater investment could reduce emergency, hospitalization, homelessness, and criminal justice costs. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are looking at spending more on invasive woody species.
• So, we are increasing the revenues to spend for that.
• We don't think we should spend 6%.
• And then somebody else took the bill and wrote it. So I'm glad that that.
• So, it's been a couple of months since we passed this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eighty-five percent of it goes directly into line-item spending.
• I said 85% goes to line-item spending.
• goes to local spending to support various local services and programs.
• These fees also flow into local budgets and go to local spending.
• I'm representing the Massachusetts... ...about this bill H5702.

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-10, House Bill 5002, titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” which would repeal Massachusetts’ adult-use cannabis legalization framework. Chairs Brendan Crighton and Kate Hogan outlined the Article 48 initiative process and explained that the committee is gathering testimony for a report to the legislature. The hearing was organized into expert, proponent, opponent, and public testimony, with written testimony accepted through March 27. The first witness, Jessica Trow of MassBudget, testified in opposition to repeal and focused on cannabis-related revenue and social equity. She said legalization has generated nearly $2 billion statewide since adult-use sales began, with revenue flowing through the Marijuana Regulation Fund, the state sales tax, and local taxes and fees. She emphasized that funds support public health, the Cannabis Control Commission’s social equity work, the Cannabis Social Equity Fund, and municipal budgets, and argued that legalization has created pathways for communities harmed by prohibition. The petition’s spokesperson, Wendy Wakeman, argued in favor of repeal, saying legalization has worsened public health, safety, and quality of life, citing higher potency, addiction, youth use, impaired driving, workplace positives, and black-market concerns. Committee members questioned her about the data sources, the will of the voters, the role of paid signature gatherers, and the petition’s funding, including out-of-state and dark-money concerns. Opponents of the initiative then testified that repeal would harm a regulated industry that has created jobs, tax revenue, and social equity opportunities. Caroline Pino of STEM, Kristen Rogers of Levia, Judith Ledbetter of Project De-Stigmatized Healthcare, and Armani White of Firehouse Dispensary/EON described their businesses, community investments, and personal reliance on cannabis, and warned that repeal would push consumers back to the illicit market and undermine equity programs. In public testimony, Lucas Thayer of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition and Jeff Rawson, a chemist and consumer protection advocate, also opposed the measure, arguing that regulated cannabis is safer than unregulated products and that repeal would damage investments and public safety. The hearing ended after the public testimony, and the committee voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eighty-five percent of it goes directly into line-item spending.
• I said 85% goes to line-item spending.
• So I said 85% goes to line items spending.
• These fees also flow into local budgets and go to local spending.
• I'm representing the Massachusetts... ...about this bill, H. 5002.

Bills: H5005

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: environment, water conservation, natural resources, public funding, environmental justice

Transcript Highlights:

• 717, House Bill 668, and House Bill 750, as well as Senate Bill 1227, and report them back without recommendation
• We have also had under consideration House Bill 530, House Bill 627, House Bill 598, and House Bill 747
• bill.
• The comment that came up—I mean, House Bill 207 in 2021; in 2010 there was House Bill 250, Senate Bill
• The comment that came up—I mean, House Bill 207 in 2021; in 2010 there was House Bill 250, Senate Bill

Transcript Highlights:

• bill and then we can, um, because the bills are identical at just different professions.”
• </c> three bills came well these two bills three bills came well these two bills came<01:10:04.040><c
• The bill is on its way.
• who are on the bill.
• Those groups supported the bill, and she asked for consideration to lay the bill over.

Bills: HF550 , HF412 , HF796 , HF140

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:07.480><c> more</c> families that may possibly spend more families that may possibly spend
• </c><00:05:15.560><c> as</c> file as well uh Senator same bill as file as well uh Senator same bill as
• </c><00:05:19.560><c> extends</c> important this is this bill extends important this is this bill extends
• That's why we support this efficiency bill.
• That's why we support this efficiency bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the bill invests our entire program.
• . bill. bill.
• So, the bill for charter schools.
• Turning to page bill.
• Further discussion on the bill.

Committee: Senate Finance