Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I'm here remotely, Mr. Chairman. Hi, Dan. Go ahead. Welcome back.
• We can support collaborative efforts with national organizations.
• Tim's remote, I think. Tim Havil, Mass Public Banking Steering Committee.
• She said this shows how widespread their support is.
• I think Tim's remote. I see Tim on the screen. Hi, Tim, how you doing?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session. Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills. Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate passed this last year with bipartisan support.
• We cannot in supporting this urgency.
• of the Senate supported this bill. of the Senate supported this bill.
• > the<00:30:31.040> language, author actually supports the language, author actually supports
• member participating remotely. member participating remotely.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator, for supporting this bill. My pleasure.
• Fee sharing to support our offices.
• We are supportive of the heart of this bill.
• types of transactions we are supportive types of transactions we are supportive of<01:15:34.960>
• So continue for support. Thank you for hearing the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely: Olsen.
• Thank you, and I'm going to support this bill.
• And I urge members to support the motion so we can finish our work today.
• A decrease in the student support personnel workforce grant.
• Will be voting yes, and I would appreciate your support as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our city is a big supporter of the relicensing.
• And what are our elected officials supporting and what is being supported in the policy landscape?
• We've seen a Republican administration support this.
• We can see the direction that a lot of this supports going.
• I and the NEI do support recycling.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We still rely on these federal funds to support 20% of our operations.
• We still rely on these federal funds to support 20% of our operations.
• I urge all members of the committee to support HB 3109 and SB 2014.
• And then my follow-up... ...and they exist as businesses to support them. Thank you.
• And just, I guess my concern is I'm supportive of the idea.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 10 bills covering voluntary contributions, sales tax, property tax, and economic development. Chair Adrian Madaro outlined the process, noted the July 12 reporting deadline for House-filed matters, and explained that written testimony would be accepted through July 7. Testimony was limited to three minutes per speaker, with questions from committee members after each witness. Several local and statewide measures were presented in support. Melrose Mayor Jennifer Grigoratus supported H. 3979, which would authorize Melrose to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption tied to the state Senior Circuit Breaker credit; she said the program has helped 209 senior households and provides relief of several hundred to about a thousand dollars per household. Michael Memelow of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination supported H. 3109 and S. 2014, which would create a Massachusetts Against Discrimination Fund allowing voluntary donations, including through tax returns, to help offset uncertainty in federal funding that supports about 20% of MCAD’s operations. Tom Hurley of the Massachusetts Airport Management Association supported H. 3125, which would exempt runway and taxiway infrastructure at privately owned public-use airports from property tax, arguing it would address an economic fairness issue for 10 such airports. Chris Gregory testified in support of H. 3037, a voluntary income tax checkoff for a least developed countries fund administered through Oxfam and the World Bank to support environmental work in the world’s poorest countries. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the number of Melrose households receiving the exemption, the scale and risk of MCAD’s federal funding, dual-filing procedures with the EEOC, the tax burden and local impact of privately owned airports, and the structure and administration of the least developed countries fund. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• This isn't a hard vote to support this motion.
• <00:05:14.440> this This isn't a hard vote to support this This isn't a hard vote to support
• I ask for support of this hard vote. I ask for support of this motion. motion. motion.
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely.
• The clerk will close the roll. participating remotely. Jones. participating remotely. Jones.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this bill their children remotely.
• Please support House File 1915. Thank you for your testimony.
• Please support House File 1915. days. Please support House File 1915.
• It is very the comments and support.
• But thank you for the support. Thank you, Chair West.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that I'm going to be uh very supportive that I'm going to be uh very supportive of<00:15:56.279>
• <00:26:35.399> students called abs and you can support students called abs and you can support
• to go through today about why we support to go through today about why we support uh<00:44:54.640
• <00:56:46.720> funding today I'm asking you to support funding today I'm asking you to support
• Learning Happens under the the support Learning Happens under the the support of<00:58:28.760>

Bills: HF846, HF1538, HF1959

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• and remote learning reduced demand for transportation. 2021, as there were travel restrictions and remote
• work and remote learning reduced demand for transportation.
• It supports access to employment, education, health care, shopping, and community activities.
• No portion of this grant program is used to support fixed-route operational expenses.
• I just wanted to make a few brief comments supporting fixed routes and paratransit.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Government Finance Transportation Study Subcommittee met to review fixed-route transit systems and related funding needs. After approving the prior meeting minutes, the committee heard presentations from Cities Area Transit in Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Bisman Transit in Bismarck-Mandan, and MATBUS/Fargo, along with comments from North Dakota Protection & Advocacy. The transit agencies described their routes, paratransit services, ridership trends, fare structures, fleet replacement needs, and rising operating costs, emphasizing that transit supports access to work, school, medical care, and other essential services. Testimony also noted that ridership fell during the pandemic and has been recovering, while vehicle and maintenance costs have risen sharply. Grand Forks transit reported 17 routes, a recent fare increase, and operating costs that exceed fare revenue, with paratransit service extending beyond the federal minimum service area. Bisman Transit outlined its fixed-route and paratransit operations, recent service expansions, local mill levies, sales tax support, and federal grant structure, and said it is seeking more stable funding and flexibility beyond paratransit-only support. Minot’s transit superintendent explained the state’s existing transit aid formula, the use of refurbished buses, and the challenges of driver recruitment and electric bus infrastructure. Fargo asked for additional state support for fixed-route urban transit. Committee members discussed whether ride-share services could replace transit, the cost per trip, local match requirements, and whether a separate state funding source should be recommended for the four urban fixed-route systems. The subcommittee ultimately approved a motion to have Legislative Council prepare a summary of its activities for inclusion in the full Government Finance Committee report, and members indicated they would seek more detailed funding figures from the transit agencies before making any specific recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:05:20.880> Ethan will be testifying remotely. Ethan will be testifying remotely.
• community support and community buyin. community support and community buyin.
• projects that supported the legislation goals.<01:18:56.880> We<01:18:57.120> supported
• These all support transit and shock.
• And we have MJ testifying remotely.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:54:27.280> but<00:54:27.520> if be supporting this amendment, but if be supporting
• We partner with support preparedness.
• <01:33:14.400> this others who are able to support this others who are able to support this
• So, we'll remote testifier as well.
• <02:46:54.399> tour, guess, or were offered a remote tour, guess, or were offered a remote

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with unanimous bipartisan support.
• can feel comfortable supporting this bill.
• This measure has received bipartisan support.
• And I, too, rise in support of this bill.
• It has had bipartisan support.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a long floor file with many Senate bills. Early procedural actions included unanimous-consent motions, a successful roll-call to rescind prior action on SB 351, and a 54-vote suspension of Joint Rule 61(a)(3) to allow floor amendments on SBs 80, 351, and 415. The chamber also made several referrals, moved one item to the inactive file, and welcomed new Assembly Member Natasha Johnson and other guests. The bulk of the meeting consisted of concurrence and third-reading votes on a wide range of measures, many of them passing with little or no opposition. Topics included tribal gaming grants (AB 221), State Bar fee and bar exam changes (SB 253), AI guardrails in community colleges (SB 241), consumer arbitration clauses (SB 82), due process for law enforcement in Racial Justice Act cases (SB 734), dental payment fee disclosures (SB 386), HOA balcony inspection reports (SB 410), farmland protection and EIFD rules (SB 5 and SB 516), emergency shelter zoning (SB 340), HIV confidentiality (SB 504), election signature-cure reforms (SB 3), contractor workers’ compensation compliance (SB 291), fire training funding (SB 345), wage theft enforcement (SB 355 and SB 261), food allergen disclosures (SB 68), ride-share insurance coverage (SB 371), housing and disaster recovery measures (SB 233, SB 625, SB 21), midwifery education (SB 520), mobile home insurance access (SB 525), epinephrine in schools (SB 568), health facility emergency licensing (SB 582), hair relaxer enforcement (SB 236), wastewater surveillance (SB 317), and several tax, transportation, and public health bills. A number of bills drew brief policy debate or opposition. SB 388, creating a California Latino Commission, prompted criticism from some members who argued the money should go directly to community needs rather than a new commission; it still passed. SB 50 on digital safety for victims of abuse, SB 20 on silicosis prevention, SB 306 on prior authorization reform, SB 373 on oversight of out-of-state special education placements, and SB 437 on reparations descendant-status verification were among the more substantive and discussed measures. Most bills passed by wide margins, often unanimously, and several urgency or tax-levy measures required 54 votes and were approved. The session ended with continued passage of remaining file items and multiple items retained or passed temporarily for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• S. 228, an act relating to collective bargaining over remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for
• S. 228, an act relating to collective bargaining over remote, in-person, and hybrid work standards for
• collective S 228, an act relating to collective bargaining<00:07:37.199> over<00:07:37.680> remote
• ,<00:07:38.080> in-person,<00:07:38.720> and bargaining over remote, in-person, and
• bargaining over remote, in-person, and hybrid<00:07:39.520> work<00:07:39.840> standards

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What supports are there for them to use the tablets?
• What supports are there for them to use the tablets?
• Whether training supports or staff supports, how does that work for folks inside?
• English learners definitely have support within the department to be able to access what they need to
• To be honest, that was one of the huge sticking points in the negotiation: remote activation. Yeah.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met with a new member from Prisoners’ Legal Services and approved the July 11 minutes. The main presentation came from Department of Correction Commissioner Sean Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Mitzie Peterson, who gave an overview of DOC facilities, population trends, and the department’s broad mission, including sentenced prisoners, pretrial detainees, civil commitments, Bridgewater State Hospital, and the Section 35 program. They noted the custody population has fallen from about 10,000 in 2016 to roughly 6,000–6,600, while the share serving first- or second-degree sentences has increased. They also reviewed the department’s facility footprint, including Souza-Baranowski, MCI Norfolk, MCI Framingham, Bridgewater, and the planned transfer of the Section 35 program to Health and Human Services by the end of 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on programming, education, health care, and reentry. DOC described tablet access for all incarcerated people, free phone calls, email, and more than 330,000 hours of educational, vocational, and reentry use. They highlighted partnerships with colleges and universities such as Tufts, Boston College, Emerson, and others, along with HiSET completion, vocational training, and programs like The Last Mile and Persevere. Health care spending was discussed in detail, including a total annual health-related contract cost of about $300 million, with separate contracts for prison health care, Bridgewater State Hospital, MassAQC, and MAT services. DOC said it has nearly eradicated Hep C and MRSA and now offers all three FDA-approved MAT medications, including long-acting injectables when clinically indicated. Commissioners also asked about specialized programming, language and disability access on tablets, and how programming is distributed across facilities. DOC explained that nothing is mandatory, but program participation is encouraged and can affect parole consideration. Staff described assessments using COMPAS, criminal thinking interventions, trauma-related treatment, and specialized units for emerging adults, mental health, and substance use. The department said programming costs were about $101 million in fiscal year 2025, or roughly 12% of the operating budget, excluding health care. Members praised the elimination of restrictive housing and the rollout of body-worn cameras, while DOC said the cameras required new policy and union negotiations but are now used for training, accountability, and de-escalation. The meeting ended with a plan for DOC to return in September with more detailed information on SAUs, programming statistics, and facility structure, and the commission voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to ensure elected officials have a solid understanding of how agency operations and procedures support
• Is something that people are supportive of.
• days in person, where I know that other states perform this process remotely.
• There's no reason necessarily to spend this... ...perform this process remotely; many of them do.
• Please consider supporting our mission, and thank you for watching.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Support these workers.
• And to me, this means supporting pensions for our teachers, supporting safe staffing ratios for our nurses
• So, I appreciate the sentiment to support workers.
• To support workers.
• We're going to support people right here and right now.

Transcript Highlights:

• We support Walmart and Amazon workers learn and enforce their rights.
• Fund appropriation that supports EDD Next as well.
• I still work 100% remote.
• I'm part of Ask Me, and we're here to support you.
• I want to thank you for your support today, everyone.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• be supporting be supporting Senator<00:27:33.640> an<00:27:33.840> OTP.
• supporting the case management of folks. supporting the case management of folks.
• I will not be supporting an OTP. I will not be supporting an OTP.
• Thanks. 44 individuals signed in remotely in support and 1,732 individuals signed in opposition.
• ,<00:59:30.280> 1,732 support, 1,732 support, 1,732 in<00:59:32.840> opposition.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, this isn't a community that's remote in the sense that Mosquero is remote, but it's on I-25
• Inadequate support would lead to delays, miscommunication, or budget overruns.
• So I certainly support not going to that.
• We have strong community support.
• Is the district supportive of that or no?