Transcript Highlights:

• State aid streets must be designed to meet state aid standards, and the state requires the streets in
• State aid streets must be designed to meet state aid standards, and the state requires the streets in
• ><c> and</c> designed to meet state aid standards and designed to meet state aid standards and the<00
• Sorry, this is Minnesota, but I understand that we have a housing crisis that's very real in Minnesota
• with the state AIDS you know the<00:37:40.839><c> state</c><00:37:41.119><c> aid</c><00:37:41.440><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:40.079><c> forward</c> a million dollars of a Minnesota forward a million dollars of a Minnesota
• Uh speaking in Lansboro, Minnesota.
• </c> aid for 2024 and 2025. aid for 2024 and 2025.
• This repeals Minnesota statute repealer.
• </c><01:49:50.639><c> more</c> city uh bills to make Minnesota more city uh bills to make Minnesota more

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas in 1984, the state of Minnesota established a sister state relationship with Taiwan, and Minnesota
• </c> humanitarian aid and disease control. humanitarian aid and disease control.
• to strengthening and deepening the sister ties between the state of Minnesota and Taiwan.
• support Minnesota that it reaffirmed its support for the Taiwan Relations Act and supports Minnesota
• Minnesota and Taiwan. And I recognize the member from Hennepin, Representative Lee.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> professor at the University of Minnesota professor at the University of Minnesota Law<00:04:53.440
• </c> Minnesota right there. Minnesota right there.
• </c> the city, the mayor, and Minnesota Wild. the city, the mayor, and Minnesota Wild.
• </c> for these supplemental purposes. for these supplemental purposes. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• So, a recent Minnesota corrections.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So moving on to higher ed, H.R. 1 makes several direct changes to federal student aid.
• And three aid areas have substantial impact for Washington.
• So for students and families, these caps reduce access to federal financial aid, and, of course, that
• Then we'll get into the context of developing the 2026 supplemental budget.
• To that end, we've prepared a preliminary budget outlook for you for the 2026 supplemental.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused first on juvenile rehabilitation system capacity. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth, and has longer lengths of stay, especially for “post-25” youth who must remain in secure facilities and cannot go to community beds. They described overcrowding at Green Hill School, placement limits at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for more medium-security and specialized mental health beds. DCYF said it is pursuing a Parkland facility proposal, a staffing model decision package, and a broader feasibility study and master plan update. No votes were taken; members were asked to follow up with questions later. The committee then heard on behavioral health system capacity from the Behavioral Health Administration and the Health Care Authority. DSHS described growth in forensic and civil bed need, expansion at Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, and Brockman, and construction of a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State expected to open in 2028. HCA reported progress on long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams, saying the community-based system is being expanded to support step-down care and reduce hospital reliance. Members asked about whether capacity is right-sized, the difference between facility types, and federal match eligibility for services. A federal funding update followed, covering the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371 on SNAP, Medicaid, marketplace coverage, long-term services and supports, K-12, higher education, and hemp regulation. OFM and agency staff said H.R. 1 adds work requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, increases state administrative and benefit costs, reduces Medicaid and marketplace subsidies for some groups, tightens redeterminations, and may significantly affect provider payments and state-directed payments. H.R. 5371 extended federal funding through January 30, 2026 and included some agency appropriations and other provisions, including changes affecting hemp producers. Members asked about SNAP error rates and special enrollment periods. Finally, budget coordinator Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview. She reviewed the state’s near general fund outlook, noting revenue declines since the enacted budget, the effect of reversions, and a preliminary maintenance-level outlook showing a projected increase in NGFO spending over the four-year period. She said the supplemental will reflect updated caseload and cost forecasts and mandatory impacts from H.R. 1, but not policy proposals. No actions or votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Emmer, for 5 minutes. Mr.
• And FEMA provides critical training, resources, and supplementation.
• </c><02:12:00.560><c> for</c> to restore lifesaving food aid for to restore lifesaving food aid for malnourished
• </c><02:18:45.599><c> seek</c> gentle lady from Minnesota seek gentle lady from Minnesota seek recognition
• :29.120><c> just</c><02:27:29.280><c> fighting</c> food aid, we're not just fighting food aid, we're

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking something going to supplement their farm that will just provide enough residual income
• We're talking something going to supplement their farm that will just provide enough residual income
• The supplemental revenue from land leases for solar projects and other renewable energy projects can
• The idea of alternative energy is another income stream to supplement, not to replace or displace that
• Colorado North Carolina etc comparatives across the country to other states including Minnesota, Colorado

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 3256, a bill stemming from the Massachusetts Cranberry Revitalization Task Force that would remove Chapter 61A barriers for certain renewable energy projects on non-producing agricultural land. Supporters said the bill would let farmers separate adjacent land from Chapter 61A without a municipal right of first refusal, avoid rollback and advance tax penalties, and use small solar or other renewable projects to generate supplemental income while keeping the farm in operation. Testimony emphasized that the proposal is intended to be “farm-first,” limited to marginal or accessory land, and could also produce local tax revenue for municipalities. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill should be limited to solar, the appropriate project size, impacts on other agricultural sectors, and whether future sales or conversion back to other uses should trigger local rights of first refusal. Witnesses said the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and noted that similar projects typically involve 20-year leases with extensions. The committee also took testimony on S. 2009, which would authorize regional transportation ballot initiatives. MAPC and Transportation for Mass argued that the bill would give municipalities and groups of municipalities a flexible tool to raise local revenue for transportation projects such as transit, roads, bridges, bikeways, and pedestrian infrastructure, with sunset provisions so the revenue ends when the project ends. They said the measure would not raise taxes on its own, but would allow local voters to decide whether to adopt a revenue source, and pointed to examples from other states where similar initiatives funded major transit and infrastructure projects. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony was also heard on S. 1922, which would create a Massachusetts fund allowing voluntary taxpayer donations to the UN Least Developed Countries Fund or related 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting climate-vulnerable communities. Climate Reality Project representatives said the bill would let Massachusetts residents support climate resilience projects in the world’s poorest countries at no cost to the Commonwealth, and could serve as a model for other states. Senators questioned how recipient countries and nonprofits would be selected, what safeguards would exist regarding countries such as Yemen, and how taxpayers would know where donations would go; witnesses said the fund would be administered through the UN system and that they would provide more clarification. Rep. Michelle Ciccolo also testified on H. 3051, seeking a one-year deferral of the higher interest rate that applies when deferred property taxes become due after the death of a senior or veteran, saying the current jump to 16% can burden heirs and discourage use of the deferral program. The hearing concluded without any votes or committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This supplemental budget will allow us to fulfill that commitment.
• Finally, the supplemental budget includes $150 million.
• I see that there's no funding for the rural aid in the H-1 budget or in the supplemental budget.
• In prior fiscal years, we had a separate small pot of money that was for rural aid.
• aid to municipalities based on road miles.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 55, the governor’s FY25 supplemental budget proposal to spend about $1.3 billion in surplus Fair Share revenue. House and Senate chairs framed the bill as a one-time opportunity to invest fairly in education and transportation, while also noting the need to protect the state’s long-term fiscal balance. Administration officials said the proposal should be considered alongside the FY26 budget and related bills, since the governor’s broader Fair Share plan aims for roughly an even split between education and transportation over time. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler outlined the administration’s priorities. Transportation funding would go mainly to the MBTA and related reserves, including money for the Federal Transit Administration reserve, MBTA stabilization reserve, low-income fares, winter resilience, RTA workforce support, MassDOT workforce and project delivery, and micro-transit grants. Education funding would support universal preschool expansion, early education and care capacity, early literacy tutoring, adult basic education and ESOL, early college and career technical education, MyCAP expansion, and special education circuit breaker funding. The administration emphasized that many of these investments are one-time or multi-year measures designed to address current needs without creating unsustainable recurring costs. Committee members raised concerns about regional equity, especially the large share of transportation money going to the MBTA versus regional transit authorities and rural areas. Several members asked for more detail on how the proposal would benefit Western Massachusetts and other non-MBTA regions, and whether micro-transit and Chapter 90-related investments would be sufficient. Education questions focused on special education reimbursement shortfalls, federal funding cuts to school districts, and how CTE and vocational investments would align students with workforce needs. The administration said it would provide additional data on MBTA versus RTA investment and explained that the special education circuit breaker and transportation reimbursement changes were intended to improve predictability and relief for districts. After the administration panel, Jessica Tang of AFT Massachusetts testified in support of using Fair Share funds to protect public education amid federal uncertainty and cuts. She argued that schools are facing a fiscal cliff, that vulnerable students would be hit hardest by funding losses, and that the Fair Share revenue should be used to preserve services and support students’ needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• and state AIDS and and federal AIDS and state AIDS and and local<00:11:31.959><c> AIDS</c><00:11:32.959
• And the aid amount is a function of initial aid, transportation aid, which is a portion of initial aid
• </c><00:42:36.160><c> a</c> Aid um transportation Aid which is a Aid um transportation Aid which is a
• Um, they, you know, maybe have an aid or a part-time aid.
• They're, you know, they maybe have an aid or a part-time aid.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, anyone that tells across Minnesota.
• get safe schools funding like they do for non-public pupil aid.
• Have Annunciation parents requested getting non-public aid?
• Have Annunciation parents requested getting non-public aid?
• Have Annunciation parents requested getting non-public aid?

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Education Finance and Policy leaders discussed House File 3493, a school safety package presented as a bipartisan, common-sense effort to protect students in public, non-public, tribal, and charter schools. Rep. Brian Lawrence said the bill would provide more school safety funding, more student mental health support, local anonymous threat reporting options, safe school plans, and student discipline reforms. Chair Peggy Bennett and Rep. Ben Bakeberg emphasized that the proposal was intended to be flexible, practical, and responsive to local needs rather than a one-size-fits-all mandate. Several questions focused on whether the package would include gun restrictions, but the authors said the committee was focused on education-related tools it could control and on areas of agreement. They repeatedly said they were not willing to advance a package that left any students out, including those in non-public or tribal schools. Bennett said schools should be able to opt into anonymous threat reporting systems rather than being mandated, arguing schools are already overmandated and that good ideas will be adopted voluntarily. Members also discussed funding, including a proposed $50 million shift from Northern Lights money and the overall size of the appropriation, which was described as still unsettled but roughly $52 million a year in the latest figures. The speakers said the package was being moved during committee deadlines and that they wanted to act quickly on the areas where there was agreement. They expressed frustration that no Democratic counterproposal had been brought forward and said they hoped to pass a school safety package that could keep all kids safe.

Transcript Highlights:

• Students from every part of Minnesota, every county, seek a degree from the University of Minnesota,
• Minnesota Minnesota KRON<00:07:05.360><c> as</c><00:07:05.520><c> we</c><00:07:05.720><c> look</c><00
• Crookston are from Minnesota.
• professionals in Minnesota.
• professionals in Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> good nutrition and preventing Minnesota good nutrition and preventing Minnesota taxpayer<00:02:59.480
• That is supplemental, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• That is supplemental, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• So, it would be state of Minnesota.
• </c> And here in Minnesota, we're not. Right? And here in Minnesota, we're not. Right?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Together with the $1.39 billion fair share supplemental budget signed into law earlier this month, we
• Together with the $1.39 billion fair share supplemental budget signed into law earlier this month, we
• In addition to that, we also increase the minimum Chapter 70 per-pupil aid to $150 per pupil.
• Chapter 70 per-pupil aid to $150 per pupil.
• And it indicates that, notwithstanding the... ...expressed by this visual aid.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to the University of Minnesota, Minnesota, Minnesota, &gt;&gt; Mr.<00:54:16.880><c> Chelseith,</c
• </c><00:54:29.040><c> Uh</c> University of Minnesota. Uh University of Minnesota.
• State or University of Minnesota, and of course the University of Minnesota is recommended.
• That aid goes to the Minnesota State colleges and universities, tribal universities, tribal colleges,
• </c> um, Bernie, Minnesota State Colleges. um, Bernie, Minnesota State Colleges.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education. After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed. During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, tax aids and credits.
• Next, tax aids and credits.
• Next, tax aids and credits.
• Next, tax aids and credits.
• Aid government Aid and County program Aid can<01:35:27.280><c> be</c><01:35:27.600><c> its</c><01:35

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with Minnesota Public Lands.
• I'm with Minnesota Public Lands.
• c> recorded</c> of Minnesota has recorded of Minnesota has recorded 522,000<00:09:00.800><c> motorized
• </c><00:34:43.200><c> of</c> of the Minnesota Association of of the Minnesota Association of Townships
• </c><00:43:07.000><c> from</c> ATVs travel to greater Minnesota from ATVs travel to greater Minnesota

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1012, as amended by the A1 amendment, and the author moved the bill to be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill. The amendment, adopted on a voice vote, changed the timing for public input in trail planning, removed language on decommissioning trails, and combined the measure with another ATV-fee bill. The author said the bill would unify ATV trail signage policy statewide, align statute with DNR best practices, and not affect the forest trail inventory, existing ATV-accessible miles, or hunting exemptions. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives of the Minnesota Public Lands Coalition, tribal officials from the Max Band and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, a retired DNR conservation officer, a retired wildlife manager, and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, argued the bill would better protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and culturally significant areas, improve transparency and tribal consultation, and make trail planning and enforcement more workable. The EQB said the amended bill’s rulemaking timeline was more workable, and the DNR described its existing multi-step trail review and consultation process. Opponents, including ATV Minnesota, county commissioners from northern counties, and a representative of the Minnesota Trappers Association, argued the bill would burden or restrict existing trail systems, increase costs, and threaten tourism and local economies. They said current trail development already involves DNR and local review, and that the bill could reduce access for riders, trappers, and other users. In member questions, the author and a Minnesota Association of Townships representative said the bill was intended to codify DNR best practices and bring local governments into the process earlier, while confirming that hunting exemptions were not removed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Call to order this hearing of the Minnesota Senate Taxes Committee Thursday, March 13th at 8:32 a.m.
• </c> Rural and isolated areas in Minnesota Rural and isolated areas in Minnesota it's<00:21:14.960><c
• I think there is something magical to what we have in Minnesota.
• ><c> tax</c> aiding Aid reporting requirements tax aiding Aid reporting requirements tax expenditure<
• Article Three is the Aids and Credits article.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the aid of Goodwill's career services, she was offered a medical assistant I don't know.
• We have foundation, categorical, supplemental, and additional funds.
• And those are used to determine the amount of state aid.
• So that takes us to our supplemental fund category. And there were eight of these.
• It was about the instructional aides and paraprofessionals.

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard an interim study proposal on Arkansas adult education and the Excel Center model, presented by Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. Witnesses argued that about 300,000 Arkansas adults lack a high school diploma or GED and described the Excel Center as a diploma-granting public charter option for adults 19 and older, with wraparound supports such as child care, transportation, tutoring, life coaching, and career services. They said the Arkansas campuses are not state-funded, highlighted growth in enrollment and graduation outcomes, and cited research showing improved employment, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members discussed the role of Goodwill’s nonprofit mission, the need for multiple adult education pathways, and the relationship between adult education challenges and broader state efforts such as LEARNS and ACCESS. The committee then debated the interim study proposal procedure, including whether questions should have been taken before the vote. The motion to adopt the ISP passed, and members noted that the study would broadly examine adult education, GED testing, high school diplomas, charter schools, in-person adult education, and funding allocation. Several members asked for follow-up information on current adult education funding, the availability of Excel Centers, and the criminal justice study results. After that, staff from the Bureau of Legislative Research gave a detailed adequacy funding overview for Arkansas K-12 education. They reviewed national funding principles and then explained Arkansas’s revenue streams and distribution system, including general revenue, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, local property-tax revenues, and facilities partnership funding. They also walked through the state’s foundation formula, categorical aid, supplemental aid, and additional funding, including the per-student matrix amount of $7,771 for 2025 and how funds are allocated to districts and charters. Members asked about student support staff, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the Excel Center’s treatment in funding totals; staff said some of those questions would be addressed in a later spending presentation. The meeting ended after the committee was told the department was present mainly to answer questions and no further business remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's the key for us Minnesota.
• I'm a staff attorney with Legal Aid, also representing the Minnesota Disability Law Center.
• First, current Minnesota law created student support personnel aid to address shortages and reduce caseloads
• safe schools that aid to be used for any safe schools purpose.<00:30:50.800><c> Minnesota</c><00:30:
• </c> earlier in session to increase that aid. earlier in session to increase that aid.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3493, the Safe Schools Revenue Increase bill, and first adopted the DE amendment before moving the bill on for re-referral to Ways and Means. Representative Lawrence described the bill as a multi-layered school safety package for all students and schools, including public, nonpublic, charter, and tribal schools, with increased safety funding, mental health support, anonymous threat reporting, school safety plans, and student discipline changes. Several supporters emphasized the need for flexible safety funding and cited real-world safety concerns, including anonymous tip systems that had generated many reports, classroom evacuations, staff injuries, and the need for more resources for mental health and safety infrastructure. Some supporters, including charter school leaders and Catholic Conference testimony, argued the bill’s flexibility and broader safety approach were important, while others supported the K-3 suspension language as a needed tool in severe cases. Opponents focused heavily on the bill’s repeal of Minnesota’s K-3 suspension ban and non-exclusionary discipline requirements. Legal aid, disability advocates, and education groups argued that suspensions harm young children, worsen disparities, and disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities, and they urged the committee to keep restorative and non-exclusionary practices in place. Disability advocates also asked that any safety planning explicitly account for students with disabilities and that the bill remain aligned with IDEA protections and individualized education decisions. Several testifiers opposed using public funds for private schools, saying public money should stay in public programs. Other testimony came from school administrators and staff who supported restoring limited suspension discretion, describing serious elementary incidents, classroom evacuations, and injuries that they said required a short-term removal option to stabilize classrooms and plan for students’ return. Mental health and school support personnel witnesses stressed that safety and mental health funding should remain distinct and that more counselors, social workers, and related staff are needed to address student crises. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided beyond adoption of the DE amendment and the motion to re-refer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts has the opportunity to address these flaws by supplementing the Trump accounts with investments
• ... ...to address these flaws by supplementing the Trump accounts with investments focused specifically
• This really goes back to my days as a legal aid attorney.
• And this really goes back to my days as a legal aid attorney is looking to address, you know, one of
• Sixteen other states, including Rhode Island, Maryland, and Minnesota, already grant this flexibility

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

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.