Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> act</c> Portable benefit accounts an act Portable benefit accounts an act relating<00:15:54.720>
• </c> community can make these decisions. community can make these decisions.
• I would argue between my community and I would argue between my community and the<00:44:25.599><c> one
• And to have that up our community.
• Let them go throughout the community.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we review it, come up with an estimate of liability change from that portability law that's in our
• law that's in our statutes portability law that's in our statutes and<00:09:41.040><c> recommend</c>
• </c> contributions to a more safer community. contributions to a more safer community.
• And many of the people that are on community supervision in other states would be in prison.
• </c> for individuals that are on community for individuals that are on community supervision.<01:43:38.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2229, community college students. Bill of Rights remedies.
• HB 2255, Teachers Academy community college students.
• We know that this additional spending will target immigrant communities in our state.
• Again, these masked agents are simply targeting innocent immigrant communities.
• This amendment would... ...and commit crimes against our immigrant communities.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, guest introductions, and approval of the journal. The chamber then moved through several Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills and resolutions, mostly on second reading or in committee-of-the-whole format. Most measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, often after adopting committee or floor amendments. Among the early items, SB 1515 (Industrial Commission revisions), SB 1645 (Auditor General performance audit), SB 1678 (health facilities), and SCR 1023 (Independent Redistricting Commission changes) were debated and approved. SCR 1023 drew the most discussion, with supporters arguing it would add geographic diversity, expand the commission to three Democrats, three Republicans, and three independents, and tighten population deviation standards to 5,000 people; opponents warned it could skew the commission and reduce nonpartisanship. The Senate also adopted amendments and advanced SB 1399, SB 1507, SB 1564, SB 1621, SB 1629, and SB 1811, with topics including AHCCCS cost reports, school district consolidation, electronic monitoring in long-term care, obesity prevention, behavioral health network adequacy, and public-school internet/wireless device issues. Later calendars addressed elections, public safety, and criminal justice. The Senate advanced SB 1134 (political signs) with an emergency clause, SB 1489 (ballot measures and circulators) after removing certain paid-circulator disclosure requirements, and SB 1725 and SCR 1048 concerning marijuana smoke as a public/private nuisance, shifting much of the issue into civil law and leaving only substantial, deliberate conduct on the criminal side. In public safety, SB 1416 on missing and kidnapped children reporting was amended to require law-enforcement training every two years and documentation of online information-sharing decisions; senators clarified it did not alter the Turquoise Alert. SB 1751 and SCR 1049, both related to capital punishment, were amended to make firing squad an available option rather than a mandatory method in certain cases, with one senator speaking in opposition to the death penalty. The Senate also advanced SB 1012, SB 1573, SB 1661, SB 1662, SB 1569, SB 1634, SB 1647, SB 1655, and SB 1664, covering concealed weapons notice appeals, judicial determinations and religious secular laws, paternity/genetic testing support, probation conditions, election-related voter registration and signature handling, foreign campaign contributions, election worker summonsing, and nomination petition signatures. Several bills were retained or moved between calendars, and the Committee of the Whole reports were adopted, sending the listed bills forward as amended.

Bills: HB34 , HM7 , HM8 , HM17 , HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM25

Keywords: HB34, school nurse, school nurses, nurse licensure, licensure, charter school, charter schools, school district, public education, Department of Health, Public Education Department, registered nurse, RN, mentorship, evaluation, competency, teacher salary parity, minimum salary, level one license, level two license

Transcript Highlights:

• It's House Bill 42, Frozen Food for Certain Communities, and it's targeted to rural communities for senior
• So I don't need anybody to tell me about that community because I know that community, Mr.
• There is no consideration whatsoever for my community or any of the other communities.
• I was the mayor of this community when this body shut down a power plant and a mine in my community.
• I know what this vote represents for communities across New Mexico, especially for rural and tribal communities

Bills: HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM25 , HB9 , SB2 , SB19

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• Gain the skills they need to reenter our communities in a productive fashion.
• We're talking about 3G offenses that are really affecting our community.
• TDCJ does not release those people out into the community. That is our intent. Thank you.
• My name is Amanda Marzullo, and I am the Policy Director for the Austin Community Law Center.
• We also conduct training for police communication operators.

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, regular community supervision, deferred adjudication, and community supervision for state jail
• remedy for both an individual and the community.
• My community in Pleasanton just goes out; no communications whatsoever, no cell phone service, nothing
• Communications, copper theft, and fiber vandalism have a significant impact on our emergency communications
• Communications copper wire can take down an emergency communications service or an entire community.

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• Regular community supervision, deferred adjudication community supervision, and community supervision
• supervision, including deferred adjudication community supervision. ...ordered or jury-recommended community
• for both an individual and the community.
• I know when those are cut in my community in Pleasanton, it just goes out—no communications whatsoever
• service or an entire community.

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard testimony on several bills dealing with criminal discovery, crime lab access, controlled substances, community supervision, interference with officers, oilfield theft, and copper theft. On SB 1124, witnesses split over whether the bill clarified discovery law after the Heath decision or rolled back the Michael Morton Act; opponents argued it narrowed disclosure and shifted responsibility away from prosecutors, while supporters said it restored balance, limited harsh sanctions, and preserved exculpatory-disclosure duties. The committee later voted 4-0 to report SB 1124 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard and later reported favorably SB 1372, which resolves a statutory conflict over access to the DPS crime lab portal, and SB 1936, which changes how LSD “abuse units” are defined for testing and charging purposes; both were sent to the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1937, which would require a subject-matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence, was also reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard SB 552, which would make people defined in the bill as “illegal aliens” ineligible for judge-ordered or jury-recommended community supervision, including deferred adjudication. Supporters said the bill would prevent state-funded early release of people who entered or remained in the country unlawfully, while county officials and immigration advocates warned it would be overbroad, difficult to administer, and costly to local jails and taxpayers. Despite those concerns, the committee voted to report SB 552 favorably, and Senator Huffman requested it be taken to the floor. On SB 1208, which increases interference with a peace officer or public official from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony, law enforcement witnesses said repeat “auditors” and similar actors were creating dangerous confrontations and needed stronger deterrence; opponents argued the bill would chill protected filming and protest activity. The committee voted to report SB 1208 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also took testimony on SB 1806, a committee substitute addressing oilfield theft and related crimes. Supporters from law enforcement and the oil and gas industry said organized theft of crude, equipment, and related materials is a growing problem and that the bill would strengthen penalties, allow seizure and sale of stolen product, and improve inspection and forensic tools. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with placement on the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 1646, which targets copper theft and fiber vandalism by increasing penalties, requiring reporting and recordkeeping for certain purchases, and adding training and enforcement tools. Telecommunications, law enforcement, and emergency-network witnesses supported the bill as necessary to protect 9-1-1 and critical infrastructure, while metal recyclers warned the bill could overregulate legitimate businesses and sweep too broadly. The committee later voted to report the committee substitute for SB 1646 favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about 3G offenses that are really affecting our communities.
• TDCJ does not release those people out into the community. That is our intent. Thank you.
• TDCJ does not release those people out into the community. That is our intent. Thank you.
• I've handled them myself dealing with less lethal devices. But I believe this is a good start.
• I am the policy director for the Austin Community Law Center.

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending. SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• development and job creation, but also presents challenges in meeting the energy needs of expanding communities

Bills: SB483 , SB522 , SB783 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1664 , SB1762 , SB1856 , SB1877 , SB1977

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays. The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process. Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Keywords: NH House of Representatives Committee Streaming, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQHnyO93Vng, 2026-06-14T02:39:09+00:00, 2.2.23, Data collected via generic collector engine, http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/calendars_journals/ 0:00 House Session – February 1, 2024 9:39 Call the House to Order 9:41 Adjourn from the Late Session 9:55 Prayer – Reverend Bob Stewart 12:51 Pledge of Allegiance 13:16 National Anthem by Tasha Lawson 15:01 Leaves of Absence 15:33 Introduction of Guests 16:20 Communication – Welcome Rep. Sean Durkin and Rep. Michael Murphy 17:17 Memorial Remarks for Hon. Suzanne Smith 23:25 Motion to place Memorial Remarks in Permanent Journal 23:38 Bill Removed from Consent Calendar: CACR 20, HR 20, HB 1447-FN 24:24 Adoption of Consent Calendar 25:26 Motion to Suspend House Rules 26:54 HB 1199-FN-A 27:11 Motion to Table (DIV) 30:46 HB 1588-FN 31:23 HB 1598-FN-A 32:57 HB 1237-FN 33:29 ITL (DIV) 42:21 FA 0345h 43:20 OTPA 44:06 Motion to Reconsider HB 396 (DIV) 49:26 HB 1372-FN (RC) 53:36 HB 1068 53:55 OTP (RC) 1:01:55 ITL 1:02:33 HB 1520-FN-A 1:02:48 OTP (DIV) 1:15:40 ITL 1:16:57 CACR 23 1:17:11 OTP (RC) 1:37:51 HB 1002 (RC) 2:15:09 Announcements 2:16:49 Lunch Recess until 1:30 pm 3:45:49 HB 1005-FN 3:47:08 HB 1248 -FN 3:47:26 Motion to Indefinitely Postpone (RC) 3:50:19 HB 1230 (DIV) 4:03:19 HB 1398 4:03:50 HB 1499 4:05:08 CACR 13 4:05:34 FA 0385h (RC) 4:18:50 OTP (RC) 4:21:06 Motion to place debate on CACR 13 in Permanent Journal 4:21:25 HB 1179-FN 4:22:27 HB 1338 (RC) 4:33:15 HR 21 (DIV) 4:41:46 HB 1391-FN (DIV) 5:02:35CACR 20 5:03:07 Motion to Indefinitely Postpone (DIV) 5:08:43 HR 20 (RC) 5:15:18 HB 1447-FN (DIV) 5:27:04 Third Reading 5:27:40 Announcements 5:30:36 Unanimous Consent – Rep. William Boyd 5:33:39 Motion to Print Remarks of Rep. Boyd in Permanent Journal 5:33:48 Recess to Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., 928, house, all, 2.2.40, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• That having been said, I hope that members of the capital community and our colleagues – I know, folks
• development entities targeting low-income communities.
• , and we strongly urge the legislature to take action to protect our communities.
• This is a necessary investment in our state, our future, and our people and our communities.
• Protecting them protects access to entire communities. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, communicate the action to the House.
• Clerk, communicate the action. Clerk, communicate the action of the Senate to the House.
• community in Boone County, for our community in Lincoln County.
• Boone County, for our community in Lincoln County.
• And that community, as the chairman said, is a special community to me and the gentleman from the 7th

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last legislative session, you may remember the House Bill 8 within the community college.
• Each community college has their local governing board.
• Program and how it truly does impact these rural communities, and how can we?
• And so we get to know these people very well, and that enhances the community.
• We have campuses in large urban centers and rural communities.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have two local leaders, mayors from my community. First, Mr.
• I'm Erin Stanton with Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose.
• Chat Hewitt with the California Community Foundation, in support.
• In 2024, for my community, that number was 6,343 unsheltered. for my community, that number was 6,343
• I also recognize the community concerns about DRE public reports.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is about supporting our local communities.
• And we are just begging you to look at your small communities and keep that money in your communities
• them back. and keep that money in your communities.
• communities.
• In the communities that we love. Thank you so much for your time and attention.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have two local leaders, mayors from my community. First, Mr.
• I tell people all the time, you know, I represent eight communities.
• I'm Erin Stanton with Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose.
• Chad Hewitt with the California Community Foundation, in support.
• Right, with Enterprise Community Partners.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 64 by the Business Committee, relating to the Portable Benefit Plan Act.
• the flexibility to offer them renewable contracts, to give them stability, and keep them in our communities

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, prayer, and the Pledge, then approved the journal and received messages from the Senate. Senate Concurrent Resolution 115 was signed by the Speaker, House Bills 533, 502, and 555 were returned from the Senate for enrolling, and Senate Bills 1254 and 1258 were introduced and referred to committee. Standing committee reports moved a number of bills and memorials to second reading or other committees, including several education, local government, agriculture, environment/technology, transportation, and state affairs measures; Senate Bill 1265 was re-referred, and House Bill 575 was placed on general orders. In third reading, House Bill 641, dealing with sick leave and employer discipline, drew debate over whether it improperly incorporated federal law into state law and whether it could create litigation risk for employers. The bill failed on a 24-46 vote. House Bill 728, which defines school staffing categories and adjusts K-12 funding-related terminology and flexibility, received bipartisan support and passed 70-0. House Bill 751, revising the STARS transportation revenue program limits, also passed 70-0. House Bill 591, a cleanup bill repealing the last remaining section of the county medical indigent program, passed unanimously, as did House Resolution 24 on temporary and pending Idaho State Tax Commission rules and Senate Bill 1221, which makes changes affecting irrigation districts and PERSI-related treatment. The House also heard first reading of a large package of new bills, including measures on workforce development and computer science/STEM education, charter school admissions, foreign adversary investments, harboring aliens, taxing districts, development impact fees, contractor registration, motor vehicle insurance and appraisals, industrial hemp, corporate credit union cleanup, Fish and Game penalties, motor vehicle exemptions, newborn safety review, controlled substances, dual enrollment, and student enrollment counts. Several bills were advanced to printing or committee referral, and the chamber then moved to announcements and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 64 by the Business Committee, relating to the Portable Benefit Plan Act.
• the flexibility to offer them renewable contracts, to give them stability, and keep them in our communities

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• slash critical funding for their communities.
• Community health centers are the backbone of the safety net.
• John's Community Health in support. Thank you.
• I'm a state worker with Housing and Community Development.
• I'm a state worker with housing and community development.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all