Transcript Highlights:

• We're certainly committed to and happy to convene a working group around the establishment of this.
• And so I asked if we could do a tandem effort to work with some of us in the working group who are interested
• But the working group was then expanded to include more folks, and so they've been slowly working through
• It's been a little bit of up and down, but the working group is pushing through. Thank you.
• One would work to help facilitate more stakeholders to become part of this larger working group that

Transcript Highlights:

• When I ran for state representative, I pledged to continue to work the whole time I was in office to
• work on the elections, to ensure they were fair and free in our state.
• Thank you, and we appreciate your participation in that work group. Anyone else?
• Thank you, and we appreciate your participation in that work group. Anyone else?
• participation in that work participation in that work group<00:17:03.199> anyone<00:17:03.560

Keywords: Consideration of HB 684 02:30 Consideration of HB 699 19:10, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs met with a quorum and considered two election-related bills. The committee first took up House Bill 684, sponsored by Representative Jennifer Decker, and adopted a committee substitute. Decker described the bill as a “continuous improvement” measure developed with election officials, clerks, legislators, and citizens. She walked through provisions addressing precinct officer staffing in vote centers, notice to school districts when schools are used as voting centers, absentee ballot replacement when a ballot is not received, retention and disposal timelines for election-related video surveillance, permanent voting assistance certifications, write-in candidate deadlines and posting restrictions, candidate filing details, witness requirements, public posting of candidate information, felony voting language, and school district closure rules for voting locations. Members discussed the school-related provision, the handling of mail-in ballots, and a committee-substitute change removing credit cards and debit cards as acceptable voter ID. Supportive comments emphasized election integrity and the collaborative drafting process. The committee then voted to report HB 684 favorably. The committee next considered House Bill 699, sponsored by Representative DJ Johnson, which would add a pre-certification verification process for candidate filings. Johnson said the bill was intended to prevent ineligible candidates from appearing on the ballot by requiring election officials to verify that a candidate’s residence is in the correct jurisdiction and, in partisan races, that the candidate is registered with the party sought, with appeals going to circuit court. He argued the current system relies on costly legal challenges after filing errors occur. During discussion, Representative Hancock voted no, saying the bill would create an unnecessary administrative burden and that filing paperwork should remain a basic responsibility of candidates, while other members voted yes. The committee ultimately reported HB 699 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• you know I know there was a small group you know I know there was a small group set<00:17:12.760
• <00:36:04.280> and rate if you will works and rate if you will works and so<00:36:06.400><
• have some bills that have work have some bills that have work requirement<00:48:21.880> and
• I will work on that in the House.
• So we're working on that.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• your members worked on do you also work your members worked on do you also work on<00:23:25.320>
• <01:00:08.839> at<01:00:08.920> a worked at Prairie Island he worked at a worked at
• , what is going to work.
• , what is going to work.
• What is going to work?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is Senate Bill 239, which is an act relating to the child abuse and neglect reporting working group
• <00:16:02.440> reporting<00:16:03.600> working<00:16:04.040> group.
• as a stakeholder, and adding the Agency of Education as a stakeholder that the working group would consult
• with. ...regarding the stakeholders that the working group would consult with, which was a technical
• S. 239, an act relating to the child abuse and neglect reporting working group.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Tom Stevens of Waterbury, who reflected on the Sermon on the Mount as a call to resist exclusion, greed, and coercion and to focus on blessing and care for those in need. After the devotional, the chamber suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 313, relating to transforming Vermont’s career and technical education system, and committed it to the Committee on Education. The House also adopted HCR 241, a concurrent resolution congratulating University of Vermont Distinguished Professor and Vermont State Climatologist Dr. Leslie Ann Dupigny-Giroux on receiving the Manny L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science, with members offering remarks about her climate work and public service. On the action calendar, the House passed Senate Bill 157 on recovery residence certification in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and Senate Bill 239 on the child abuse and neglect reporting working group in concurrence with proposal of amendment. During discussion of S. 239, a member explained that the House amendment was a technical correction adding the Vermont School Counselor Association and the Agency of Education as stakeholders for the working group to consult. The House also concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 410, which concerns the calculation of recidivism and other criminology measures; the Judiciary Committee said the Senate change was a clarifying wording revision and supported it. The chamber then moved through announcements, including recognition of visiting family members, a UVM intern, and notice of a caucus discussion on permitting modernization. A member also invited colleagues to view Vermont Railways’ train in Montpelier. The House completed its orders of the day and adjourned until the next morning at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:02.880> uh involvement was through a group uh involvement was through a group uh French
• Um, and this bill changes a member on the Solid Waste Working Group and extends the due dates for the
• First, if this bill becomes law, we will be happy to serve on the Solid Waste Working Group.
• So, you know, we the Forest Society could bring that perspective to the working group.
• <00:38:59.960> specifically don't think this group specifically don't think this group specifically

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and we're looking at age groups here of that group.
• earnings by different uh cultural groups earnings by different uh cultural groups or<00:43:24.200
• <00:53:57.079> is can think um the the whole group is can think um the the whole group is
• who are working and who are not incarcerated and who are available to work.
• In training, but also get to work.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, everyone who's available, and now this is everyone in the same age groups—those who are working
• . groups. groups.
• after long work histories. after long work histories.
• And so we can assume that that group likely has a disability that prevents them from working.
• We also partner with different groups like the Upper Midwest Film Office, who work on bringing films

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm chairing that with Senator Brownsburg, so I'm looking forward to working with you and working
• Been working on this. Been working on this. Past Mass Amendment.
• The Citizens United Working Group—we were part of that—we came out of that trying to do something.
• He was in the lifers group at Norfolk.
• He was in the lifers group at Norfolk.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on S. 7 and H. 63, proposed constitutional amendments to restore voting rights to people incarcerated for felony convictions. Sponsors Rep. Erica Iderhoven and Sen. Liz Miranda argued that Massachusetts should reverse the 2000 disenfranchisement change, describing it as a recent and racially discriminatory policy that excludes thousands of residents—disproportionately Black and Latino—from civic participation. They said the amendment would put the question before voters, likely in 2028, and noted that implementation details such as domicile and where incarcerated people would register to vote would be handled separately through legislation and existing jail-based voting work. A large number of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people testified in support, many speaking remotely from MCI Norfolk, MCI Shirley, and MCI Framingham. They said voting would affirm dignity, accountability, rehabilitation, and connection to community, and several described civic education programs inside the facilities that had helped them engage with public policy. Witnesses repeatedly characterized disenfranchisement as “civil death,” linked it to racial injustice and the legacy of slavery, and urged the committee to advance the bills favorably. A few speakers also addressed practical questions about voting location and domicile, with sponsors saying those issues are not specified in the constitutional amendment and would be worked out later. Committee members asked several questions, including whether incarcerated people would vote in the community where they were incarcerated or where they previously lived, and whether future legislation could include carve-outs based on offense type or time served. Testifiers and sponsors generally said the amendment itself does not decide those implementation questions, and some said they would oppose carve-outs. One member raised a broader moral objection about allowing people convicted of serious crimes to vote; supporters responded that punishment should not erase democratic rights and that voting can support rehabilitation and reentry. No vote or final committee action was taken during the transcript provided. The hearing also briefly included testimony on a separate matter, S. 521, a proposed ratification of the federal Child Labor Amendment. Witnesses supporting that measure warned against renewed child labor rollbacks in other states and argued Massachusetts should reaffirm protections for children and education. That portion of the hearing was separate from the voting-rights discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who is my boss if I work at CYFD?
• Then the outreach family outreach group...
• To a group home. I know 'group home' is a dirty, nasty word anymore.
• That's why I worked so hard to get that done.
• So, we do have groups like teachers' groups. groups, education groups, hospital groups, and anonymous

Transcript Highlights:

• I KNOW IT'S NOT PREPARED BUT MAYBE BY AGE GROUP, WHERE LIKE IF YOU HAVE ON THAT CORRELATES TO AGE GROUP
• HOW DO YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH THAT GROUP? IT IS A FRAGILE AND SENSITIVE GROUP IN OUR SOCIETY.
• THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL WITH HOW DO YOU EDUCATE THAT GROUP BECAUSE IT IS A GROUP THAT IS MOST
• CERTAINLY WITH IN ALL AGE GROUPS.
• POTENTIAL EMPLOYER OR YOUR WORK?

Transcript Highlights:

• We also work with the U.S.
• We're actively working towards that.
• to work forever.
• water planning groups.
• As of November 6, we asked the groups that are working with the Little Creek Groundwater Conservation

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Securities so working with the Securities so working with the Securities Commission<00:11:54.480
• work from all across departments. work from all across departments.
• Let's work on a resolution maybe to do a study group, uh, with all the department heads and, like, all
• Correct, Amanda, if I'm group already.
• pretty good little study group pretty good little study group >> right<00:28:48.640> so

Bills: HB259, HB206, HB207, HB259, HB206, HB207

Keywords: income tax credit, tax incentive, recruitment, remote work, remote worker, recruited worker, rural counties, small counties, county population tiers, opportunity zone, teacher recruitment, nurse recruitment, law enforcement recruitment, workforce development, economic development, relocation incentive, Alabama Department of Revenue, nonrefundable tax credit, tax carryforward, state income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Working with the public consulting group to conduct this analysis, and that work is underway.
• In addition, we'll be convening a work group beginning March 28th focused on streamlining access to the
• We had hundreds of listening sessions and work group meetings at this point, first to try to inform the
• The strength-building program is about to launch another work group in order to get even more feedback
• There are a lot of other groups in San Diego who are talking about this same work but may not be aware

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• group of people who they know work on this.
• And so this group has just been an informal group that plans events, whether or not it's at West Las
• It's like, I'm going to need some more time to work around this one. So, yeah, so that's good work.
• It's like, I'm going to need some more time to work around this one. So, yeah, so that's good work.
• Louise, and even though she thought I said we weren't having the work session, she had the work session

Bills: AB328, AB397

Keywords: Juneteenth, education, economic commission, cultural affairs, racial healing, policy recommendations, African-American studies, higher education, fee waivers, Native American students, unaccompanied youth, academic progress, Nevada System of Higher Education, 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the work that we're doing now.
• A lot of the work that we're doing now.
• And so I'm proud to work with a team of folks who are very deeply committed to that work.
• working together?
• API group.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration met to hear the Civil Rights Department’s budget items, with the chair opening by emphasizing that agency directors should appear in person if they want their items heard. Go-Biz was not heard because its director was absent. The department outlined four chaptered-legislation implementation items: SB 464 on updated pay data reporting categories, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 935 expanding data collection and reporting, and SB 518 creating the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery. The Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office had no concerns with these proposals. Members then asked about the department’s broader workload and role in responding to discrimination, hate incidents, and immigration-related fears in communities. CRD explained that it handles complaints in areas such as housing, employment, public accommodations, hate crimes, and human trafficking, but does not have jurisdiction over the federal government or landlord-tenant law generally. Officials said filings and open matters have risen sharply, with the department nearing 12,000 open matters, and described outreach in multiple languages, immigrant-serving work, and support for victims through T and U visa-related assistance. They also discussed the Commission on the State of Hate, the California vs. Hate hotline, and coordination with Stop the Hate grantees and community organizations. The committee also heard items on ongoing workload for AB 2188, AB 1041, and AB 1949, which would convert limited-term resources to permanent positions because workload has met or exceeded initial estimates. The LAO had no concerns. A final item requested $502,000 for ongoing security guard services at CRD public counters after more than a dozen threats to staff since July 2024; the LAO again had no concerns. Members expressed support for the security request and discussed the need for safe public-facing offices. No votes were taken, and each item was closed after discussion and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• working across its secure and community facilities.
• So we conducted focus groups with JR staff.
• for, and we're looking forward to working on those and are working on how to implement many of those
• How they are working.
• Are the efficiencies working? Is your screening process working?

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So one of the things we work a lot with is other states around us, and the biggest group we interact
• So one of the things we work a lot with is other states around us, and the biggest group we interact
• So one of the things we work a lot with is other states around us, and the biggest group we interact
• So one of the things we work a lot with is other states around us, and the biggest group we interact
• So one of the things we work a lot with is other states around us, and the biggest group we interact

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That agreement has been working well.
• Working again so they can finish their work. And why would you not want to do that?
• And, again, working with Richie and his group—I mean, they’ve been with us for 22 years.
• I was working at the concessions work at the TD Garden. I'm also...
• I've worked there for 28 years, and I'm also one of our union reps who work in the park.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 452, a right-to-repair bill for agricultural equipment. Farm Bureau and several manufacturers’ representatives opposed the bill, arguing that existing memorandums of understanding already provide farmers access to parts, diagnostics, and repair information, and warning that broader software access could increase emissions tampering and safety risks. Supporters, including repair advocates, a legislator, and a farmer representative, argued that the MOUs are not binding, that farmers need enforceable repair rights to avoid costly delays during critical harvest periods, and that owners should be able to repair equipment they bought without dealer lock-in. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills to limit or eliminate “grab-and-go” alcohol sales at large venues, including House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 225. Union workers from Fenway Park and the TD Garden described self-checkout alcohol kiosks as creating public safety and compliance problems, including underage access, over-serving, theft, and difficulty monitoring intoxication in crowded settings. They said workers are often understaffed and bear discipline when violations occur. In contrast, the Boston Red Sox and Aramark defended the supervised self-checkout model, saying it speeds service, is widely used, and operates with multiple layers of supervision, training, and regulatory oversight; they said they had not received violation notices and that any incidents are isolated. Senator Edwards also testified in support of House Bill 369, aimed at restricting marketing of certain harsh cosmetic products to children, and in support of the grab-and-go bill. She argued that children should not be targeted with products containing toxic chemicals and that alcohol service should remain supervised by trained staff to protect consumers and jobs. Senator Collins and other legislators also spoke in favor of restricting grab-and-go alcohol service, citing concerns about underage drinking and overconsumption. The hearing additionally included a separate bill on Sunday morning alcohol service, with Representatives Scanlon and Lewis arguing for allowing sales beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays rather than 10 a.m., but that bill was only discussed briefly and no action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• up work to now where we have to work up work to come<00:07:51.840> up<00:07:51.960> with
• here to do the work." here to do the work."
• a working group assigned to you needs a a working group assigned to you know, know, know, uh<00:59:17.120
• I know when I worked for a sportsmen's group, every year the number one issue was access.
• I know when I worked for a sportsmen's group, every year the number one issue was access.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened with quorum and housekeeping, then began setting interim topics for discussion. The first major topic was trapping, including prior legislation on mandatory trapper education and trapping setbacks. The Game and Fish director said the department had already gone through a trapping reform process in 2018-2019 and was prepared to testify on those issues again, noting that the commission had previously wanted legislative authority for them. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on a proposed non-motorized trail user fee. Supporters argued it could help fund trail systems and match state trail grants, citing demand for professionally built trails and examples from other states. Testimony estimated potential revenue at roughly $150,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on the model, while noting enforcement would likely rely on an honor system. Committee members discussed possible alternatives and related ideas, including using good neighbor authority with federal land managers and looking at motorized trail funding models. The director said the concept was not yet ready for immediate passage but was worth continued discussion. The committee also briefly discussed fishing outfitter issues, with the co-chair noting a prior bill had passed and that the current board still exists, but more data would be needed later in the interim. Another topic addressed ticket scalping and fake tickets at Jackson’s rodeo, which the sponsor said was affecting visitors and could warrant broader state discussion. The State Archives topic proposed expanding the digital archive and requiring agencies to use it, with added resources for local governments; staff said it would improve security, access, and storage efficiency. The committee then discussed problematic gaming and program funding, but noted a pending bill to create a separate statutory select committee on gaming, so the topic may be better handled there if formed. The final major discussion was the Game and Fish budget. The director said employee compensation increases had raised salary costs from about 40% to 60% of the budget, while overall revenue had not kept pace, forcing cuts to habitat and research work. She warned the department could reach a critical budget point by 2030. Committee members and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation supported a deeper interim review of the department’s finances and possible new revenue sources, with the director suggesting a three-meeting structure: first to lay out the budget outlook, then to discuss additional revenue options, and finally to consider what future generations may have to pay.