Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several House matters after suspending Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12. Among the items referred to committee was a House petition to designate an overpass on State Route 6 in Sandwich as the U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Raymond G. Torville Veterans Memorial Overpass. The Senate also ordered House No. 4364, authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant certain easements to the town of Vaughn, to a third reading. The chamber then considered House No. 972, a bill authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Linfield Center Water District in the town of Linfield. The House had added an emergency preamble, and the Senate suspended the rules, concurred in the House amendment, adopted the emergency preamble by standing vote, and passed the bill to be enacted. The bill was signed by the President and laid before the Governor for approval. During the session, a senator also recognized the Dighton-Rehoboth softball team in the Senate Chamber for winning the MIAA Division III Championship for the second consecutive year. At the end of the meeting, the Senate adopted an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and recognized guests John and Michael McGuire, including Michael McGuire’s service as a Marine. The chamber then took up several measures, including emergency preambles for two sick leave bank bills: one for James Caruso of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and one for Carlos Borges of the Department of Correction. In each case, the emergency preamble was adopted by standing vote. The Senate also considered late-file petitions, voting to suspend Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12 so the matters could be referred to the appropriate committees. In addition, the Senate took up and passed to be engrossed a bill authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant certain easements to the town of Bourne, and a bill establishing a sick leave bank for Gregory Baker of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. Later, the Senate enacted several bills, including an act dissolving the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation and the sick leave bank bills for James Caruso and Carlos Borges. The enacted bills were ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. The Senate then adopted an order to adjourn until Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., with the clerk directed not to print a calendar, and adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will please rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted an order related to receiving communications from Governor Maura Healey. It then took up and passed to be engrossed two local bills: H.4556, establishing an appointed town clerk position in Avon, and H.4716, amending the charter of Provincetown. The chamber also suspended Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12 to allow several Senate petitions to be considered and referred to their respective committees. The Senate adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of William Richard Lynch of South Boston, followed by a moment of silence. It then took up H.4363, authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a parcel of land in Wellesley; the emergency preamble was adopted by standing vote, and the bill later passed to be enacted. The Senate also passed to be enacted H.3306, establishing Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, H.4214, regulating the appointment of the police chief in Fall River, H.4459, amending the charter of Sikonk, and H.4632, authorizing Billerica to set an age limit for original appointment as a police officer. At the end of the session, the Senate adopted an order to meet again the following Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. It then adjourned in memory of William Richard Lynch.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I'm extremely proud to recognize Sons of the Flag, a non-profit founded in 2001 by Navy SEAL and
• Sons of the Flag offers survivors and their families vital supplies, emotional support, and financial

Bills: SJR27, SB7, SB27, SB57, SB66, SB140, SB293, SB413, SB437, SB467, SB506, SB510, SB512, SB571, SB710, SB785, SB800, SB850, SB863, SB865, SB904, SB905, SB973, SB974, SB1191, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1494, SB1504, SB1522, SB1567, SB1579, SB1580, SB1723, SB1760, SB1838, SB1923, SB1946, SB1957, SB1964, SB2121, SB2167, SB2221, SB2321, SB2368, SB2373, SB2407, SB2431, SB2477, SB2587, SB2615, SB2807, SB2965, SB2986, SB3039, SB3047, SB3070, SB1, SB8, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB21, SB30, SB37, SB260, SB268, SB331, SB379, SB441, SB447, SB457, SB509, SB568, SB650, SB763, SB1198, SB1405, SB1506, SB1540, SB1566, SB1610, SB1637, SB1660, SB1833, SB2018, SB2024, SB2155, SB2217, SB2308, SB2337, SB2601, SB2753, SB2778, SB2878, SB2900, SB2972, SB3059, HB4, HB145, HB300, HB493, HB2011, HB2067, HB2516, HB2525, HB2885, HB2974, HB3071, HB3372, HB3556, HB3595, HB5138, HB5246, HB40, HB46, HB119, HB705, HB1545, HB2017, HB2963, HB3642, HB3909, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3045, SB3071, HB796, HB1523, HB5294, HB748, HB3395, HB180, HB3171, HB146, HB5596, HB5694, HB1135, HB3225, HB186, HB1449, HB3793, HB112, HB104, HB3336, HB3520, HB3320, HB5663, HB2399, HB111, HB3483, HB4580, HB3748, HB632, HB4730, HB5690, HB5689, HB3385, HB4359, HB5381, HB123, HB5606, HB1057, HB3664, HCR141, HCR40, HCR59, SR695, SCR54, HCR153, HCR166, HCR168, SJR27, SB7, SB57, SB66, SB140, SB293, SB413, SB437, SB467, SB506, SB510, SB512, SB571, SB710, SB785, SB800, SB850, SB863, SB865, SB904, SB905, SB973, SB974, SB1191, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1504, SB1522, SB1567, SB1579, SB1580, SB1723, SB1760, SB1838, SB1923, SB1946, SB1957, SB1964, SB2167, SB2221, SB2321, SB2368, SB2407, SB2477, SB2587, SB2615, SB2807, SB2965, SB2986, SB3039, SB3047, SB3070, HB40, HB119, HB705, HB1545, HB2017, HB2963, HB3642, HB3909, SB17, SB21, SB509, SB1198, SB1506, SB1833, SB2155, SB2601, SB2778, HB300, HB2011

Keywords: judicial conduct, state commission, judicial misconduct, commission membership, constitutional amendment, water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, school safety, emergency operations plan, multihazard plan, mandatory drill, disaster preparedness, emergency response, students with disabilities, impairments, special education, Section 504

Transcript Highlights:

• Flag Clerk, call Mr. Speaker. Flag Clerk, call Mr. Speaker.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
• So this was giving authority to OMV to waive some of the flags and penalties.
• The situation he's trying to address is somebody who may have a flag on their license, but who may be
• Who may have a flag on their license, but who may be trying to get their cancer medication, cancer treatment

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• kiddos situated, um, I saw a group of people walk in behind me that had lapel pins that displayed the flag
• lapel pins that behind me that had lapel pins that displayed<00:10:38.600> the<00:10:38.800> flag
• displayed the flag of North Macedonia. displayed the flag of North Macedonia.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with ceremonial readings and announcements, including a pledge of allegiance and a House Concurrent Resolution recognizing April 2026 as the Month of the Military Child in Vermont. Members also welcomed guests in the gallery, including military families, Vermont Library Association leaders Daisy Benson and Amy Williams, a legislative intern, delegates from North Macedonia under the Open World Program, and Norwich University students. Several caucus and event announcements followed, including a reception for an art exhibition, caucus meetings, and a legislative cabaret notice. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 89, relating to expanding survivor benefits. Committee members explained that the bill would extend the existing emergency personnel survivor death benefit to additional categories of workers, including law enforcement officers, certain corrections employees, family services workers, and certain state-operated mental health employees, with a prospective effective date of July 1, 2026. The House General and Housing Committee reported the bill favorably 10-0-1, and the Appropriations Committee reported 11-0-0, noting there was no new money in the bill and that the fund currently had enough for one claim. The House voted to propose the bill to the Senate as amended and ordered it to third reading. The House also considered House Bill 626 on sexual extortion, voyeurism, and nonconsensual disclosure of sexually explicit images. The Senate amendment added enhanced penalties for voyeurism involving victims under 18, with higher penalties for repeat offenses. After hearing from the Defender General, prosecutors, sheriffs, and the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the House Judiciary Committee recommended concurrence 10-0-1. The House agreed to concur in the Senate proposal of amendment, and third reading was ordered. At the end of the session, the House adjourned on a voice vote until Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've never had somebody flag me down and say, hey, I have a drug problem. I want help.
• And I've never had somebody flag me down and say, hey, I have a drug problem. I want help.
• addressing mass shootings: minimizing the prevalence of mass shootings, mental health resources, red flag
• This includes implementing extreme risk protection orders, also known as ERPOs, and red flag laws to
• Also, flagging that it is really difficult to do full test runs because the impact on students—and the

Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that even if a deficiency could be flagged and put, you know, put the ball back in the other person's
• So that even if a deficiency<00:19:30.960> could<00:19:31.120> be<00:19:31.280> flagged
• ><00:19:31.679> and<00:19:31.919> put,<00:19:32.240> you deficiency could be flagged
• and put, you deficiency could be flagged and put, you know,<00:19:32.480> put<00:19:32.640>
• 21.280> been approved if the application has uh been approved if the application has uh been flagged

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:24 SB 52 discussion: 01:28 SB 52 voting: 25:08, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met with a quorum and adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 52. The sponsors, Senators Rawlings and Elkins, explained that the substitute narrowed the bill to state public agencies, exempted cities and counties, extended the basic decision deadline from 30 to 60 days, added an additional extension for safety, health, and public welfare concerns, removed an earlier jury-trial provision, and exempted Kentucky State Police exams. They said the bill is intended to require clear permit criteria, timely agency decisions, and meaningful appeal rights for permits tied to constitutionally protected activity, without eliminating existing licensing or permitting requirements. Senators supporting the bill described long agency delays and uncertainty in permitting as costly for contractors, schools, landfill projects, and energy development. Senator Elkins gave a detailed example of a landfill permit process that took years, and other members said agencies should be held to timelines or at least provide reasons for delay. Senator Boswell and Senator Clemens raised concerns that the safety/health/welfare extension could remain subjective and that hard deadlines might pressure agencies and risk public safety. Senator Thomas also said he supported the goal but was voting no because he wanted a safer middle ground. Audrey Ernsburger of the Kentucky Resources Council testified in a neutral-to-cautious position, saying the group agreed that complete applications should be reviewed in a timely and predictable way, but objected to the default-approval mechanism and some burden-shifting provisions in the original language. She warned that deadlines could begin before an application is complete, that deficiencies might not toll the clock, that automatic approval could create public-health risks in some licensing contexts, and that KRS Chapter 13B already governs administrative hearings and judicial review. She said KRC would prefer a statutory process without a hard deadline. After discussion, the committee voted 9-2 to report Senate Bill 52 favorably, as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under
• We have not flagged in that effort.
• house.<00:16:01.680> We<00:16:01.920> have<00:16:02.079> not<00:16:02.720> flagged
• We have not flagged in that house.
• We have not flagged in that effort.<00:16:04.399> So<00:16:04.720> our<00:16:05.360>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's kind of when the flag went up. First flag. This is a history lesson, but it's a real one.
• Flag went up. Some of that money that built Harris County toll road was federal money.
• crossing who's outfitted in a vest, shirt, jacket, high-visibility color appropriate for daytime flagging
• During the daytime, we have to have either a flag or a stop paddle.

Bills: SB39, SB2129, SB2141, SB2246, SB2323, SB2439, SB2722

Keywords: commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee reconvened on SB 2722, as substituted by Senator Bettencourt, which would redirect a portion of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus revenues to the City of Houston and impose audit and tax-rate penalty provisions. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz testified in support, arguing that Houston bears a large share of toll-road public safety burdens, citing thousands of police and fire responses on toll-road property and the need for compensation for emergency services. Bill King, testifying neutrally, said the toll authority generates large excess revenues and urged stronger oversight and clearer controls on how the money is spent. Opponents, including Harris County officials, business and neighborhood representatives, and toll-road critics, argued the bill would divert transportation dollars, create a precedent for taking toll revenues for general municipal use, and could worsen project delivery and incentives; several also questioned the accuracy and interpretation of the revenue figures and the lack of comparable audit requirements for the city. The committee took extensive testimony but left SB 2722 pending without a vote. The committee then heard SB 2129, which would increase fines for motorists who disregard railroad crossing gates or flaggers, and SB 2323, which would redact railroad crew members’ personal information from public accident reports. Both bills were presented as safety measures, with railroad labor testimony in support, and both were left pending after brief public testimony. The committee also heard SB 2141, a Zaffirini bill concerning specialty license plates for judges, with the substitute aimed at reducing security risks by changing how judges are identified on plates; it too was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2439, another Zaffirini bill, described as a TDLR cleanup measure related to ATV and off-highway vehicle safety certification. The bill would abolish the current training and certification program, which supporters said was burdensome and underused given the small number of approved instructors statewide. With no significant opposition on the record, the committee closed testimony and left SB 2439 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members and visitors in the gallery, will you please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• Members and visitors in the gallery, will you please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag?
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• We rip the wounds off of those in my community so we can stand up here and hug the flag.
• We didn't have red flag laws at the time, so the people who keep saying, well, BSO kept going to his

Summary: The House convened for opening-day business, with prayer, a moment of silence for Captain Bill Guston, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum established. The Speaker outlined a budget message emphasizing reduced spending and a proposed permanent 0.75% sales tax cut, and the chamber then received the Governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001. Members moved to reinstate several vetoed appropriations, including the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1, the Department of Corrections automated staffing/time management system, and Baldwin sewer and water main work; each reinstatement passed unanimously. The House also adopted a special order calendar and special amendment procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. On the special order calendar, several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including Lucy’s Law on boating safety (CS/CS/CS/HB 289), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process. These measures focused on boating safety, water infrastructure, utility-rate fairness, school walking safety, and procedural civil-law updates. A major floor debate centered on HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “Free Kill Law” limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-awaited justice measure for families who lost adult children or unmarried relatives to medical malpractice, while opponents were not recorded in the final vote tally; the bill passed 104-6 after extensive emotional testimony from sponsors and affected families. The chamber also heard a lengthy, highly divided debate on HB 759, which would lower the firearm purchase age from 21 to 18. Supporters argued the current law is inconsistent with adult rights and responsibilities and cited constitutional precedent, while opponents emphasized Parkland, youth gun violence, and public-safety concerns; the transcript ends during continued debate on that bill, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then programs that were flagged as low-producing for three consecutive kind of review periods then
• Lisa, but so when you have a program flagged as low-producing for three consecutive five-year periods
• , will be flagged for review?
• And if you have three of those in a row, those would be flagged for review by the board.
• So 15... ...those would be flagged for review by the board.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• about like for child abuse, how our counselors in schools, doctors, medical providers are required to flag
• but if you seek help, then the way the current law is that healthcare provider is required to red flag
• So it's required to red flag her for that baby to be pulled from her.
• When the baby's born, the baby is tested, and if the baby has drugs in its system, CPS will red flag
• don't seek help and the child is born with a drug abuse problem or they do seek help and they get flagged

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag. The Senate will be in a brief recess.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up House No. 62, an act extending certain COVID-19 measures adopted during the state of emergency. Senator O'Connor spoke in support, praising the continued flexibility for municipal meetings and public participation, including remote attendance and testimony, and expressing hope the changes could eventually become permanent. The chamber adopted Senator Rodgers’ amendment striking and replacing the bill text with Senate Document No. 2506, then passed the bill to be engrossed. The Senate later adopted the emergency preamble by standing vote, with three in favor and none opposed, allowing final passage of the bill. The bill was then passed to be enacted and ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. Separately, Senator Tarr recognized a guest from Salem State University and spoke about the Frederick Berry Institute of Politics and its alternative spring break program. The Senate also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of former Representative John Stasik, followed by a moment of silence. Finally, the Senate adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and announced committee membership changes, including Senator Tarr’s resignation from the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and Senator Durant’s appointment to fill the vacancy, followed later by the reverse reappointment. The chamber then took up and passed to be engrossed two local bills: H.4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and H.4584, further regulating the appointment of special police officers in Malden. The Senate also considered several Committee on Rules orders extending reporting deadlines for current Senate documents. An order for the Committee on Financial Services was adopted, extending its deadline to May 4, 2026 for seven bills. Orders for the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs and the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery were amended from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026 before adoption, also covering seven bills. On final passage, the Senate adopted an emergency preamble for H.4259, designating the Widen Park tennis courts as the Kim O’Connell Tennis Courts, by a standing vote of 2-0. The Senate then enacted H.4602, increasing the membership of the select board in Munson, and H.4259, sending both to the Governor. The Senate adopted an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up several local and procedural matters. It passed to be engrossed H. 4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and H. 4584, further regulating the appointment of special police officers in Malden. The Chair also announced changes to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, with Senator Tarr and Senator Durant exchanging committee membership through resignation and reappointment. The chamber then considered multiple Senate orders extending reporting deadlines for committees under the Rules of the Two Branching Act. An extension for the Committee on Financial Services under S. 2796 was adopted, with members noting it covered seven bills through May 4, 2026. Another order for the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs under S. 2775 was amended to extend the deadline from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, and then adopted. A similar order for the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery under S. 2776 was also amended from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026 and adopted, with members again confirming it covered seven bills. On final passage, the Senate adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4259, designating the Wider Park tennis courts as the Kim O'Connell Tennis Courts, by a standing vote of 2-0. It then enacted H. 4602, increasing the membership of the select board in the town of Munson, and H. 4259, sending both bills to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will members, guests, and employees please join with me in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and received a Senate message referring a petition on certain property in Lowell to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, which the House concurred in after a suspension of Joint Rule 12. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then recommended several bills for consideration, including measures on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, security bonds, police officer age requirements in Worcester and Boston, a Somerville net-zero building standard, waivers of police age limits, pre-employment medical record retention for Peabody public safety personnel, smart meters, and an additional alcohol license for Bridgewater; Rule 7A was suspended and the bills were read a second time and ordered to a third reading. The House also welcomed former Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis M. O'Brien as a guest of Speaker Mariano. Two engrossed bills were then taken up: House No. 4259, designating the Wheeler Park Tennis Courts as the Kim O'Connell Tennis Courts, for which the emergency preamble was adopted by a 9-0 vote and the bill was passed to be enacted; and House No. 4602, changing the membership of the select board in Monson, which was also passed to be enacted. Finally, the House received a gubernatorial message recommending legislation on Massachusetts winning global investment, talent, and innovation, which was referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. The House adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned in formal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House of Representatives will now join with me in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States
• And join with me in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met in joint session, suspended Joint Rule 12 for several petitions, and then took up a series of local bills reported by the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. Those bills included authorizing the town of Avon to appoint a town clerk, allowing the City of Revere to pay a sum to Denise Manatra, widow of school committee member Anthony Manatra, and validating the results of a special election in Hardwick. The House suspended Rule 7A, gave the bills second readings, ordered them to a third reading, and later passed House No. 972, authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Linfield Center Water District, to be engrossed. The major substantive action was on Senate No. 2540, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The Committee on Ways and Means recommended passage with a full substitute amendment contained in House Document No. 4265, totaling $536,832,564. The House adopted the amendment, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed as amended. When the Senate returned the bill with notice that it had nonconcurred in the House amendment and appointed a conference committee, the House voted to insist on its amendment and also appointed its own conference committee members: Mr. Mike Woods of Boston, Ms. Ferrante of Gloucester, and Mr. Smola of Warren. The House then adopted an order to adjourn until Wednesday at 11 a.m., with notice of a Democratic caucus at noon and roll calls at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff employees will rise and pledge to the flag.
• To the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate met for final passage on several measures, beginning with adoption of an emergency preamble for H 4587, a sick leave bank bill for David A. Russell of the Department of Correction. The chamber then took up and passed to be engrossed S 1919, providing for the retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter in Westfield, and H 4287, authorizing West Springfield to grant four additional off-premises alcohol licenses. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn in memory of Representative Anne Margaret Ferrante, with Senator Tarr offering a detailed tribute to her life, public service, and advocacy for Gloucester, fishermen, economic development, and children’s literacy. After a moment of silence, the Senate passed to be enacted H 4149, revising the charter of Lynn; H 4286, allowing Somerset an additional wine and malt beverage license; and H 4439, creating a simplified procedure for accepting subdivision roads in Marlborough. Finally, the Senate passed H 4587 to be enacted and laid it before the Governor. The chamber adopted an order to meet again the following Thursday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Representative Ferrante.