Transcript Highlights:

• sparked considerable interest, and in May 1926, her efforts resulted in the establishment of the nonprofit
• Interest, and in May 1926, her efforts resulted in the establishment of the nonprofit organization, the
• </c><01:06:40.359><c> and</c><01:06:40.520><c> municipalities</c> to nonprofits and municipalities to
• nonprofits and municipalities throughout<01:06:42.000><c> the</c><01:06:42.080><c> state.
• community-type system that serves a majority of the users who reside in a nonprofit or resident-owned

Transcript Highlights:

• Kind of all the nonprofit to do that.
• ><c> Minnesota</c><00:46:00.880><c> um</c> nonprofit advocate for Minnesota um nonprofit advocate for
• The nonprofits all should be getting their salaries.
• The nonprofits all should be getting their salaries.
• The nonprofits all should be getting their salaries.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• I think... or another nonprofit to do their housing or another nonprofit to do their housing um<00:20
• Will it be distributed by the counties, or will they be using some nonprofits to do that? Mr.
• that do this work on a nonprofits that do this work on a regular<00:21:55.919><c> basis.
• , it's those very nonprofits that have been stealing the funds from us in many cases, especially when
• , it's those very nonprofits that have been stealing the funds from us in many cases, especially when

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This past year, Voices in Voting, a nonprofit organization in our state for the past 30 years, joined
• Does the nonprofit seek resources from other organizations to...
• Does the nonprofit seek resources from other organizations to supplement funding from the state?
• I’m the executive director for the nonprofit Healthy Nevada Health Information Exchange.
• I'm the executive director for the nonprofit Healthy Nevada Health Information Exchange.

Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• It was officially registered as a nonprofit in 1987, and in 2015 registered as a 501(c)(4).
• </c><00:42:43.760><c> in</c> registered as a nonprofit in registered as a nonprofit in 1987<00:42:45.839
• </c><00:45:35.079><c> benefits</c><00:45:36.000><c> to</c><00:45:36.240><c> help</c> state and nonprofit
• benefits to help state and nonprofit benefits to help improve<00:45:36.800><c> their</c><00:45:37.520
• level to help them uh we and nonprofit level to help them uh we also<00:50:38.720><c> have</c><00:50

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit research organization that develops
• Acadia Center is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization that works to advance bold, effective
• It's a group of nonprofit community action... ...is the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network.
• It's a group of nonprofit community action agencies, also known as CAAs or CAPs, that deliver the low-income
• We're an affordable housing nonprofit based in Newton.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Transcript Highlights:

• As a nonprofit, Vitalant proudly operates blood donation centers in Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston.
• I'm the medical director of a nonprofit independent clinic.
• I'm a pharmacist and founder of the nationwide nonprofit Blessed by His Blood.
• I'm a pharmacist and founder of the nationwide nonprofit blessed by his blood.
• So all of the blood banks in the U.S. are nonprofits, and we will share blood when needed, right?

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• exemptions from property tax, such as an exemption for real and personal property owned or used by nonprofit
• include, among other things, the sale or transfer of property to a qualifying grantee such as a nonprofit
• these funds, or at least maybe double dealing, where folks who had some sort of relationship to the nonprofit
• Maybe double dealing, where folks who had some sort of relationship to the nonprofit that was allocating
• I guess I was under the impression that the Housing Authority was a nonprofit or a quasi-governmental

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard several housing-related bills and gubernatorial appointments. SB 6201 would create property tax and REET exemptions for property used as affordable housing by social housing agencies, with testimony from the sponsor and supporters from Seattle Social Housing and House Our Neighbors emphasizing lower development costs and deeper affordability. Senator Gildon questioned how the 50% occupancy requirement would work at purchase, and staff explained the covenant and compliance requirements. The committee also heard SB 6205, which would add conflict-of-interest restrictions and reporting requirements for the Community Reinvestment Account, Affordable Housing Program, and Covenant Homeownership Program; Senator Braun said the bill responds to reports of misuse and is intended to improve transparency and trust. The committee heard gubernatorial appointments Pedro Espinoza and Diana H. Perez to the Housing Finance Commission, both of whom described their construction, local government, and housing experience and were supported by committee members. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and passed SB 6001 on scissors stairs, SB 6026 on allowing residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, and SB 6054 on fire-hardened building materials. SB 6026 drew the most debate, with amendments added and others rejected; supporters said it would expand housing supply, while opponents and local governments raised concerns about historic districts, main street areas, and limits on local planning authority. SB 6054 was amended to remove the 10% cap on fire-hardened materials, with members saying it would help homeowners protect against wildfire risk. The committee then moved to public hearings on SB 6069, which would require cities and counties to allow emergency shelters, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing in more zones and limit local restrictions to objective standards and administrative review. Supporters, including housing providers, the Attorney General’s Office, King County, and Disability Rights Washington, said local barriers are delaying needed housing, while cities and the Association of Washington Cities argued the bill is too broad and would limit operational agreements and local flexibility. The committee also heard SB 6167, which would bar homebuyers from receiving multiple state-funded down payment assistance loans or grants. The sponsor said the bill is meant to maximize limited assistance dollars for more households, but opponents from housing nonprofits, advocates, and a homeless veteran said it would reduce access to homeownership, especially for Black households and families needing layered assistance in high-cost markets. Finally, the committee returned to SB 6205 testimony, where supporters said the bill would prevent self-dealing and misuse of grant funds, while one testifier urged more investigation and oversight resources. No final action was taken on the public hearing bills during the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a regional clean energy advocacy nonprofit, and our members are a combination of clean energy
• developers and related businesses and other nonprofits.
• I'm a member of Friends of Fish and Northwest, a small nonprofit that for 10 years has been bringing
• James Mochella representing Columbia Riverkeeper, a nonprofit with 4,000 members in Washington, with
• a mission to restore and protect the water quality ...and nonprofit with 4,000 members in Washington

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5821, which would direct the Department of Commerce, if funded by gifts or grants, to develop a nuclear power strategic framework and integrate it into the state energy strategy. Supporters, including Sen. Braun, Energy Northwest, public power representatives, and several pro-nuclear advocates, said Washington needs to keep advanced nuclear on the table to address rising electricity demand, reliability concerns, and clean energy goals. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill gives nuclear special treatment, lacks sufficient guardrails on waste, safety, cost, and public process, and was rushed without adequate tribal consultation. Several tribal testifiers said the bill should require early, meaningful government-to-government consultation and stronger protections for treaty rights and cultural resources. The committee then held a work session on a Washington State Institute for Public Policy report reviewing state policies supporting small modular reactors. Staff and researchers explained that the report surveyed 79 policies in 35 states and found most states are still in preliminary planning stages, with policies focused on feasibility studies, siting, workforce development, permitting, financial support, and market integration. Members asked about water use, waste, footprint, and whether the report covered fusion; the researchers said it was limited to fission and that water needs vary by reactor design. Some senators noted the need to consider lifecycle impacts and compare nuclear with other energy technologies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6010, which would change FSEC tribal consultation procedures by exempting most government-to-government consultations from the Open Public Meetings Act when there is no deliberation or commitments, requiring all FSEC members to participate in consultation, and giving tribes a chance to review and correct the consultation summary before it goes to the governor. Tribal witnesses and environmental groups supported the bill as a way to improve confidentiality and meaningful consultation, while the Association of Washington Business opposed it, saying it could add delays and suggesting timelines. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6004, which would update contracting statutes so public entities can contract for renewable or non-emitting generation capability under CETA definitions; utilities supported the update as a modernization, while consumer and environmental opponents warned it could shift financial risk to ratepayers, especially for nuclear projects. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• that districts work with the county continuum of care, who specialize in these things, or other nonprofit
• housing organizations and service organizations. things or other nonprofit housing organizations and
• And also, by the way, just to go back one quick second, you know, the state has done so much in nonprofit
• the Jewish caucus, they sought and secured funding through the budget to support, in their case, nonprofits
• budget about having that resource available, much akin to how the Jewish caucus pushed for those nonprofit

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met at the start of the 2026 session and heard four bills. AB 673 (Jackson) would create a five-year Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program for 16- and 17-year-old homeless students who are not in a parent or guardian’s custody, with grants to local education agencies for housing referrals, basic needs, tutoring, employment readiness, and related services. Support came from the Department of Education and an Alameda County Office of Education representative. Members raised questions about funding, reporting burdens on small districts, and coordination with county and nonprofit services, but the bill was approved 6-0 and sent to Human Services as amended. AB 1493 (Avila Farías) would have required school board special elections to be consolidated with the next primary or general election. The author argued this would reduce costs and increase turnout, while opponents including CFT and the California School Boards Association said it would reduce local accountability and preserve too much time for appointed members without voter input. Committee members debated turnout, democracy, costs, and whether the bill should instead address signature thresholds; the author said she was open to further work, but the measure failed on a 2-2 vote and did not advance. AB 68 (Gallagher) would require rural school districts, as defined in the bill, to have at least one school resource officer on campus, with a good-cause exception and a compliance plan if a district cannot meet the requirement. The author and a Glenn County superintendent said rural schools face long response times and need more protection, while CSBA, the Small School Districts Association, and several advocacy groups opposed the mandate, citing local control, costs, and evidence that SROs can increase anxiety and disciplinary actions without improving safety. After a lengthy debate over safety, local control, and funding, the bill passed 5-2 and was sent to Public Safety. AB 296 (Davies), which would create a standalone website for schools to buy and sell used career technical education equipment, drew support from construction industry groups and passed unanimously 8-0 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• that districts work with the county continuum of care, who specialize in these things, or other nonprofit
• requires that districts work with the county continuum of care who specialize in these things or other nonprofit
• housing organizations and service organizations. things or other nonprofit housing organizations and
• But the thing that is really—and also, by the way, just to go back— The state has done so much in nonprofit
• budget about having that resource available, much akin to how the Jewish caucus pushed for those nonprofit

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so nonprofit housing developers were made eligible two years ago, so they can access now the
• They're looking to help community, um, nonprofits in particular, um, but others will qualify.
• I would just note that they are either nonprofit.
• So if they're a for-profit medical care provider, that's not the program for them, um, but for nonprofits
• So we'll see a lot of these loans going to nonprofit clinics to make sure that they can buy and stay

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• authorize the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs to allow a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
• FFLA has yet to justify why they should be treated better than any other individual, family, nonprofit
• if we have to continue to pay this 10x times rate for IOTA program, it's going to suffer other nonprofits
• We want to fund the legal aid just isn't, but these other charities and nonprofits that we donate are
• I strive to be a voice for those who haven't found theirs yet, working with nonprofits, government agencies

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and considered a wide range of bills, including early learning and special needs funding (SB 1102), Israel bond investment authority (SB 1674), Parkinson’s disease research at USF (SB 1800), mental health and substance use disorder reforms (SB 1620), veterans nursing home beds (SB 788), securities regulation updates (SB 988), labor pool regulation (SB 1672), Alzheimer’s awareness (SB 398), educator preparation (SB 1590), student mental health reporting (SB 1310), specialty license plates (SB 824), financial institutions and IOTA-related issues (SB 1612), transportation facility designations (SB 1408), utility worker protections (SB 1386), DNA testing grants (SB 1072), the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (SB 364), housing support for former foster youth and homeless students (SB 584), sex offender registration changes (SB 1654), migrant vessel disposal (SB 830), commuter rail indemnification (SB 916), juvenile justice revisions (SB 1344), aggravating factors in capital cases (SB 984), and a criminal offender substance abuse pilot program (SB 1140). Most bills were explained by sponsors, often with supportive testimony from affected agencies, advocacy groups, or industry representatives, and several were amended before final action. The committee adopted amendments on many measures, including clarifications and effective-date changes for SB 1102; technical changes to SB 1620 implementing mental health commission recommendations; a delete-all amendment for SB 1620; an amendment to SB 988; a consumer-disclosure amendment on SB 1612; and multiple amendments to SB 1408, SB 364, SB 584, SB 1654, and SB 1344. SB 1672 on the Labor Pool Act drew extensive public testimony in opposition from worker advocates, who argued repeal would weaken protections for temp workers and formerly incarcerated workers, and the bill was temporarily postponed to a later meeting without a vote. Several bills received notable testimony in support, including SB 584, where former foster youth described housing instability and the importance of campus housing and federal voucher coordination; SB 1386, which was backed by utility and industry groups seeking stronger penalties for assaults on utility workers; and SB 984, which drew opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops over expansion of death penalty aggravators. The committee also heard support and opposition on SB 1612 regarding IOTA interest rates and legal aid funding, with bankers and civil legal aid representatives disputing the proper rate structure and whether the bill conflicted with Florida Bar rules. At the end of the meeting, the committee reported all voted-on bills favorably, including SB 1102, SB 1674, SB 1800, SB 1620, SB 788, SB 988, SB 398, SB 1590, SB 1310, SB 824, SB 1612, SB 1408, SB 1386, SB 1072, SB 364, SB 584, SB 1654, SB 830, SB 916, SB 1344, SB 984, and SB 1140. Members also requested to be recorded on various bills, and the committee adjourned after noting one remaining meeting would be lengthy.

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel that my background in both business and in the nonprofit sector work will bring a lot of value
• I feel that my background in both business and in the nonprofit sector work will bring a lot of value
• the experience and knowledge from my experience in this area and I do have a lot of experience in nonprofit
• </c><00:05:13.720><c> work</c><00:05:14.720><c> as</c> lot of experience in nonprofit work as lot of
• experience in nonprofit work as well.<00:05:15.440><c> So</c><00:05:15.759><c> I</c><00:05:16.000><c>

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Governor’s Message 666, the nomination of Rose Kea to the Commission on the Status of Women for a term ending June 30, 2029. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from business and community members, and Kea described her background as a real estate broker, small business owner, and nonprofit volunteer leader, saying her experience with workplace equity and women-owned businesses would help the commission. Senators questioned her about the connection between her background and the commission’s work, and about how she would respond to current threats to women’s rights; she said the commission should serve as a unifying and leading force for gender equity. The committee later voted to advise and consent, with the chair’s recommendation adopted. The committee also considered SCR 128 and SR 107, which sought information on state lands leased to the federal government. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the resolutions as drafted, saying the AG does not maintain the lease inventory and that the request should instead go to the agencies that manage the land, such as DLNR, DOE, and DOT. The committee amended the measures to ask the AG to determine whether there are constitutional or other legal impediments to continued leasing or new leases, including whether nominal lease amounts violate law, and then passed both with amendments. Next, the committee took up STR 153 and SR 123, which request the County of Maui to complete the transfer of the Hoie roads, including Hoie Road F, to resolve jurisdictional ambiguities. The judiciary administrator testified in support, and the measures were passed, with the committee adopting the chair’s recommendation. Finally, the committee heard STR 179 and SR 149 on reviewing the Hawaii Revised Statutes for gender-neutral language. The LGBTQ+ Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women supported the effort, though the women’s commission asked for more time and a set date to dissolve the work group. The committee amended the resolutions to assign the review to the Legislative Reference Bureau, with consultation from the LGBTQ+ Commission, the Commission on the Status of Women, civil rights experts, and law-related organizations, and set interim and final reporting deadlines before passing the measures with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• to me while watching the proliferation of some of our taxing entities and how they contract with nonprofits
• As the committee substitute has been laid out, it does back out the exempt nonprofit organizations or
• If a nonprofit or a political subdivision enters into a contract with a nonprofit, that money is not
• Some of the four big corporations in my own district, all nonprofit.
• We found out that maybe one of the nonprofits, they're like, well, you know, we have salaries that are

Bills: SB 6 , SB6 , SB504 , SB765 , SB815 , SB929

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• The eligible applicants include qualified nonprofit and for-profit corporations, limited liability companies
• The eligible applicants include qualified nonprofit and for-profit corporations, limited liability companies
• In addition, we'll note in the committee report that nonprofit housing developers can qualify for prioritization
• we'll note in the committee<00:22:21.919><c> report</c><00:22:22.279><c> that</c><00:22:22.400><c> nonprofit
• </c><00:22:23.000><c> housing</c> committee report that nonprofit housing committee report that nonprofit

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing-related measures. Senate Bill 65 would appropriate funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for rehabilitation and repair of public housing units. Testifiers from the Department of Human Services, HPHA, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and Roar Cares supported the bill, emphasizing that repairing vacant units is a fast, cost-effective way to increase available housing for homeless and elderly residents. HPHA later told the committee it had 139 vacant units, with an estimated average repair cost of about $73,000 per unit. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage of SB 65 with amendments, including an appropriation of $10,147,000, and the motion passed. The committee also considered Senate Bill 40, which would allow HHFDC to secure a line of credit or other indebtedness for the bond volume cap recycling program. HHFDC supported the measure and explained that Act 35 had provided a $150 million line of credit for fiscal year 2025 only, so this bill would extend that authority; HHFDC said the bonds involved would be revenue bonds. Roar Cares supported the bill, while the chair asked whether the Legislature would need to pass such a bill annually. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage with amendments to specify revenue bonds and noted the administration should study other ways to secure the line of credit without annual legislation. For Senate Bill 35, which would create a Housing Efficiency and Innovation subaccount within the rental housing revolving fund and allow fund transfers without legislative approval, HHFDC and several others supported the measure, arguing that more flexible fund movement would improve efficiency. The committee adopted a recommendation to pass SB 35 with amendments, including language prioritizing projects on state or county land or projects by entities required to reinvest surplus into housing, and noting nonprofit developers could qualify for prioritization. Senate Bill 42, which would repeal certain 30% AMI set-aside and preference requirements for rental housing revolving fund projects, drew opposition from Catholic Charities Hawaii, which argued the bill would reduce the supply of the most vulnerable housing units, while HHFDC warned it could reduce production of 30% AMI units. The committee deferred SB 42. The final bill discussed was Senate Bill 75, which would establish a working group to revise the state’s qualified allocation plan and related rental housing revolving fund loan terms and report back to the Legislature. HHFDC and others offered comments, while Catholic Charities asked that the bill be deferred, saying HHFDC already had the capacity to work with the community without a new law. Roar Cares supported the concept but urged broader stakeholder inclusion. In decision-making, the chair said the committee report would note concerns about prior QAP revisions and the need for more transparent, ongoing stakeholder participation, and the committee recommended passage of SB 75 without amendments. All recommendations were adopted, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> at top levels in the nonprofit, at top levels in the nonprofit, corporate,<00:01:28.479><c> and
• But if we are a nonprofit, by the way, that does not mean not profitable, right?
• Nonprofit is just some public good.
• But if we are a nonprofit, by the way, that does not mean not profitable, right?
• Nonprofit is just some public good.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the vice president of policy of New Futures, which, as many of you know, is a nonpartisan nonprofit
• NAMI New Hampshire is a nonprofit grassroots organization whose mission is to improve the lives of all
• <00:53:39.240><c> Grassroots</c><00:53:39.799><c> organization</c><00:53:40.440><c> whose</c> nonprofit
• Grassroots organization whose nonprofit Grassroots organization whose mission<00:53:40.920><c> is</c
• that Nashua kids have access to. to a to a nonprofit<01:44:33.199><c> similar</c><01:44:33.880><c> kind

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• MassVOTE is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization working to increase voter registration, education, and
• After many campaigns and After many campaigns and taking my talents into the nonprofit and community
• And there’s a number of nonprofit organizations—mine, the League of Women Voters, others—that are in
• On a personal note, I changed my career from IT corporate to the nonprofit sector, focused on election
• And unlike everyone else here, you know, we have a lot of people who work for nonprofits and senators

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy. A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay. Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As opposed to these other nonprofits, [country clubs] do not serve a function of public good.
• As opposed to these other nonprofits, [country clubs] do not serve a function of public good.
• Barley mentioned, our five largest property owners for nonprofits are McClain, Habitat, Belmont Hill
• Barley mentioned, our five largest property owners for nonprofits are McClain, Habitat, Belmont Hill
• MACDC represents over 100 community-based nonprofits, including all 63 state-certified CDCs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.