Transcript Highlights:

• All right, next up we will have Senator Murphy again with Senate Bill 91 in just a minute or so.
• But we will exact four or five bills probably once we're done with Senate Bill 91.
• Senator Murphy again with Senate Bill 91 Senator Murphy again with Senate Bill 91 in<01:33:54.080
• so I'd like to Rew welcome uh Bill 91 so I'd like to Rew welcome uh Senator<01:34:24.000> Murphy<
• Is there anyone else who would like to speak on Senate Bill 91?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In our region, 91 of our 101 cities and towns already have a local option meals tax.
• This local option allows municipalities to increase the senior exemption allowed under Chapter 59, Section

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on several property and local tax bills. The main focus was H.56, the Municipal Empowerment Act, which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, and Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo supported as a package of local options and administrative reforms. Supporters said municipalities need more tools to relieve pressure on property taxes and fund services, citing proposed increases to local meals and lodging taxes, a new local vehicle excise surcharge, senior property tax relief, one-year override flexibility for emergencies, and central valuation of telecom and utility property by DOR. The administration said the bill was based on municipal listening sessions and was intended to give cities and towns optional, not mandatory, revenue tools. Opponents, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, argued the tax increases would hurt restaurants, hotels, tourism, and small businesses and add to affordability concerns. The committee also heard testimony on H.3211, dealing with deeds excise receipts, from Norfolk County Commissioner Richard Staidi. He said Norfolk County is financially stable but needs additional revenue for major capital needs at its agricultural school, especially a new cafeteria and other aging facilities, and also to support county programs such as veteran transportation services. On S.2020, a bill to allow settlements of tax liability, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Asian American Civic Association, and several individual taxpayers urged creation of a more workable offer-in-compromise process at DOR. They said the current system is too subjective, requires an unaffordable $5,000 threshold, lacks clear standards and appeal rights, and leaves low-income taxpayers stuck with unmanageable debt, license suspensions, or business closures. Supporters said the bill would give both taxpayers and DOR a practical way to resolve liabilities and bring people back into compliance. The committee also took testimony on S.1966, which would require nonprofits selling property to disclose any back-tax obligations to buyers. Senator Peter Durant said the bill was prompted by a personal experience in which a tax bill arrived after a nonprofit property purchase was already completed, and he argued the disclosure would prevent buyers from being surprised by retroactive tax liability. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed the session after hearing from all scheduled witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• DPS did provide us data showing that 91% of those who received an OND under those laws have not had a
• In sections 4904, 4905, 06, and 065, the penal code and chapter 71 of the penal code.

Transcript Highlights:

• 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91
• Part 4, Chapter D, Rule 8162, is a whole section on the central... accumulator, and it would be really

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Ametria Sidney, President of the California Chapter of the National Emergency Numbers Association.
• We are going to pass and retain on file items 89, 90, 91. Which brings us to file item 92, AB 1150.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WASTE AND RECYCLING ASSOCIATION FLORIDA CHAPTER.
• AND IN THE NEWS, IT SHOWED 91 OD DEATHS, WASHINGTON POST KRATOM LISTED FOR LEADING PARTIAL CAUSE OF DEATH

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is built into that, has 87.5% as being the percentage of the Medicaid enhancement tax, as opposed to 91%
• , but it uses a higher percentage of dollars to attract a higher federal match. ...as opposed to 91%,
• So regarding critical access hospitals, I guess they originally said 91% anyway.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first went into executive session on SB 83, which concerns an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund, lottery-related changes, and a voluntary statewide self-exclusion database. Representative Ulery moved to retain the bill, saying more work was needed to make the bill clear. The motion passed 17-0 with three members absent, and SB 83 was retained in committee. The committee then took up SB 249FN, a bill relative to the uncompensated care and Medicaid fund. Representative Ulery offered House Amendment 2025-2465H, which was described as incorporating a recent agreement between the state and hospital parties into state law and setting the stage for future action. Medicaid Director Henry Litman explained that the agreement keeps the Medicaid enhancement tax at 5.4%, uses directed payments rather than traditional DSH payments, and is intended to be budget-neutral for the state while increasing hospital payments through a higher federal match. He also said critical access hospitals would continue under the existing directed-payment approach, and that the agreement includes a mechanism to revisit the arrangement if federal law changes substantially. New Hampshire Hospital Association President Steve Hearn said the association supports the amendment and the bill as amended, calling the settlement fair and beneficial to hospitals and the Medicaid program. The amendment and the subsequent ought-to-pass-as-amended motion both passed 18-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair said the committee had now gone through all of its bills and had retained nine in total, with a future meeting planned in September or October to review retained bills. Members briefly discussed possible future committee of conference work and noted there would be no House session that Thursday. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Senate project, we agree with the offer on lines 58, 60, 64, 68, 91, 92, 97, 99, 99. 60, 64,
• 68, 91, 92, 97, 99, 104, 110.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• back of bill offer: 7 through 11, 19 through 25, 33, 55, 63, 67 through 73, 77 through 79, 83, 87, and 91
• And all unshaded rows on 79, 83, 87, and 91.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Senate project offer, we agree with the offer on lines 58, 60, 64, 68, 91, 92, 97, 99, 99.
• For the Senate project offer, we agree with the offer on lines 58, 60, 64, 68, 91, 92, 97, 99, 104, and

Summary: The Conference Committee on State Administration, Budget, and Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Appropriations met to resolve outstanding differences between the House and Senate on the budget, proviso, back of the bill, projects, and implementing bill, along with conforming bills HB 5203E, HB 5207E, and SB 2508E. Senator Broder presented the Senate’s offers, and the House responded by agreeing to many items while identifying specific lines in each section to be “bumped” to the next level for further resolution. The committee also agreed to bump the three conforming bills in their entirety. The House and Senate then went through the remaining disputed lines in the budget, proviso, back of the bill, project, and implementing bill offers, with the Senate ultimately concurring with the House’s list of lines to bump. Both sides indicated that the conference committee’s work was complete and thanked each other and staff for the negotiation process. A motion was made and adopted without objection to allow staff to make technical conforming adjustments related to the bump process. There was no public comment, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• through 11, 19 through 25, 33, 55, 63, 67 through 73, 77 through 73, 77 through 79, 83, 83, 87, and 91
• And all unshaded rows on 79, 83, 87, and 91.

Summary: The health care budget conference met to exchange and accept offers on the budget and related bill language. Senator Trumbull presented the Senate’s budget and projects offer, and the House responded that it accepted the Senate position on several specified budget rows while stating that all other unshaded budget rows would bump; the conference also agreed to keep projects open as the process continued. The committee then moved to the proviso, back of bill, conforming, and implementing bills, with the Senate accepting a long list of House proviso rows and additional back-of-bill rows, while all remaining unshaded proviso and back-of-bill items would bump and the conforming and implementing bills would be entirely bumped. A motion was made to allow staff to make technical adjustments as needed, and it was adopted without objection. Members then thanked each other and their staff for their work on the conference. With no further business or public comment, Senator Trumbull moved to adjourn, and the meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that they are different chapters in the law.
• 01:12:10.000> Hampshire<01:12:10.239> under<01:12:10.400> RSA<01:12:11.080> 91
• - citizen of New Hampshire under RSA 91- citizen of New Hampshire under RSA 91- could<01:12:12.239
• Chair, again, I... they are... they do conflict as they amend the same exact chapter of law.
• amend the are they do conflict as they amend the same<02:09:30.400> exact<02:09:30.719> chapter

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1746 adds a targeted paragraph to our RSA 91-A law.
• It makes a small change to RSA 91-A-2. Um, basically adds something to paragraph A.
• So, 91-A does not apply to any of our work.
• I printed up RSA 91-A and looked at it, but it's, uh, it's elsewhere in 91-A that they don't have to.
• They've lost two months talking about how they could make this work under 91-A.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LFC and LESC reached a consensus on Ed Fellows on row 91.
• I think line item 91 and line item 155 talked about the Growing Your Teachers fellows.
• correctly, $155, the recommendation, the PD recommendation, is that an increase to what is in the Line 91
• That row 91 was just meant to supplement that $20 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• To Banking and Insurance: House Bill 59, House Bill 73, House Bill 91, House Bill 135, and House Bill
• House Bill 59, House Bill 73,<00:27:11.520> House<00:27:11.760> Bill<00:27:12.080> 91
• House<00:27:13.279> Bill<00:27:13.760> 135,<00:27:14.400> House 73, House Bill 91
• , House Bill 135, House 73, House Bill 91, House Bill 135, House Bill<00:27:15.200> 169.

Keywords: Video Starts 00:00 Convene 05:16 Report of Committees 10:27 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 11:07 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 18:04 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 20:57 ConC and Rules Report 26:01 Adjournment 31:55, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 95 members present. Members approved excusing absent members, suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications, and approved the journal from January 13, 2026. The Banking and Insurance Committee reported House Bills 176, 184, and 265 favorably, and those bills were placed on the calendar as having had first reading. The chamber then took up several announcements and citations. A legislative citation was adopted honoring Tatum Elizabeth Dale, with remarks from members describing her kindness, service, and impact on the community. Another citation was adopted recognizing Emily Bingham for her book My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning of an Iconic American Song. Members also announced upcoming committee meetings, including Tourism and Outdoor Recreation, the House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Health Services, and Oversight and Investigations. The House received a large batch of new bill introductions covering topics such as criminal law and minors, electric utilities, daylight saving time, veterans’ treatment and benefits, transportation, outdoor recreation, human trafficking, licensed professionals, automated license plate readers, postsecondary education, utility disconnection protections, electric metering, virtual currency kiosks, mental health facilities, perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, controlled substances, prescription drugs, and literacy in schools. Two resolutions were also introduced, one encouraging a school naming honor for Jose Marte and another recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Committee on Committees then referred numerous bills to standing committees, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um these start on line 91.
• Um these start on line line line 91.<00:05:26.320> The<00:05:26.639> first<00:05:26.960
• > one<00:05:27.199> is<00:05:27.600> operating 91.
• The first one is operating 91.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill E2 and 91 by Senator Sanders.
• Senate Bill 91-47, by Senator Sanders.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Procurement and Contracts met for its second meeting of the 2026 session, with Chair Jeremy Zellner noting a quorum and welcoming members. The committee took up a series of procurement- and contracting-related bills, including measures on reciprocal MWBE certification, liability and design professionals, minority and women participation in state contracts, waste diversion planning by state agencies, breaking public contracts into smaller sizes to increase small business participation, expanded construction mentorship opportunities, service-disabled veteran-owned business participation goals, and contract fee/requirements for agreements between state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The discussion in the transcript was brief, with no substantive debate recorded. Members generally moved each bill and seconded the motions, and the chair called for votes. Most bills were reported out of committee either to the calendar or to finance, with members voting in favor and a few recorded as “without rec” or individual ayes noted. No bills were defeated. At the end of the meeting, the chair reminded members to complete their voting sheets and then entertained a motion to adjourn. The committee approved adjournment and the meeting concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does, instead of the 80/20 share, we are upping it to equal 91% of the money.
• of the money upping it to equal to 91% of the money um<02:12:08.520> the<02:12:08.679> and
• but it also um is only for two years 91% but it also um is only for two years because<02:12:18.840><
• return to the hospitals of their tax 91% return to the hospitals of their tax payment<02:13:52.639><
• return of their tax payments that 91% return of their tax payments that group<02:14:52.000> of

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of introduction, I was bank commissioner during the New England banking crisis in '91 and '92
• This piece of legislation aims to revise the Commonwealth's use-of-bank-name statute, Chapter 176, Section
• Over 91% of our restaurants are independently owned.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um,<00:33:41.279> we<00:33:41.519> feel<00:33:41.840> Smart<00:33:42.240> 91,
• c><00:33:42.559> we're<00:33:42.799> in<00:33:42.960> strong Um, we feel Smart 91
• > 91<00:33:44.880> is<00:33:44.960> a<00:33:45.120> coste<00:33:45.360>
• Smart 91 is a coste effective support.
• Smart 91 is a coste effective public<00:33:46.880> safety<00:33:47.360> tool<00:33:47.679

Bills: HB1751, HB1752, HB1531, HB1577

Keywords: Hawaii National Guard, tuition assistance, graduate degrees, education, military personnel, funding, school districts, state budget, performance metrics, emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, Smart911, 911, 911 Board, emergency response, public safety answering point, PSAP

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held its first hearing and began with House Bill 1531, which would require the governor or county mayor to provide an ASL interpreter during official emergency announcements broadcast on television or the internet, ensure the interpreter is visible, and require news outlets to show the interpreter in a picture-in-picture window. Testimony was strongly supportive from disability advocates, who said live captions can be inaccurate and that ASL access is critical during emergencies, but broadcasters raised practical concerns that the bill as drafted could require extra camera crews and reduce coverage. Members discussed possible alternatives such as government-provided pool feeds and interpreter placement, and the chair recommended deferring decision-making on the bill to the following Wednesday to allow time for amendment language. The committee then heard House Bill 1751, which would expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel. The Hawaii Army National Guard, the Department of Defense, and University of Hawaii representatives supported the measure as a recruiting, retention, and professionalization tool. A member asked about funding, and the response was that the program is funded through a state appropriation currently set at $250,000 and was described as sufficient at present. The bill drew no opposition in the hearing. Next, House Bill 1752 was taken up. This measure would remove the Adjutant General as a nonvoting ex officio member of the HAIMA advisory committee and add the HAIMA administrator as a nonvoting ex officio member of the MSAC. The Department of Defense and Department of Health supported the bill, with the Department of Health asking that it be aligned with other EMS modernization provisions in the governor’s package so the related measures remain consistent. No objections were raised. The committee also heard House Bill 1577 on 911 services, which would require the 911 Board to establish a statewide emergency safety profile system for residents to voluntarily store emergency-relevant personal information. The Department of Health, disability advocates, the 911 Board, and others supported the concept, saying it could improve emergency response for people with disabilities, kūpuna, families, and others with functional needs. Testimony also raised concerns about funding, system integration, confidentiality, advanced directives, and liability protections if information does not reach responders in time. Members discussed statewide coordination and existing county systems, and the hearing continued with those issues unresolved.