Transcript Highlights:

• Both of those fail will be in the last three weeks of the session. The election is May 16th.
• For appellate court judges, that was a period of eight weeks.
• I total that up; it's 80 hours a week that my father worked at a service station.
• Chairman, because... ...sometimes it's a lot more than 80 hours a week.
• For the district courts, we did about, we did a five-week survey.

Summary: The committee first took up the fiscal status statement, certification of the state surplus, and the five-year baseline budget. Officials from the Office of Planning and Budget and the Division of Administration said the January fiscal status statement had no changes, and the commissioner certified a surplus of $577,073,871. They also reviewed the baseline outlook, noting projected imbalances in later years driven by declining revenue, including the redirection of motor vehicle sales tax, and rising costs such as inflation and Medicaid-related expenses. The fiscal status statement was approved without objection. The governor’s executive budget was then presented as a third consecutive standstill budget, with administration officials emphasizing efficiency savings, no reduction in services, and no reduction in state workforce. They said the budget relies on prior savings efforts and incorporates agency-level cuts and reorganization, while also addressing higher costs in corrections, DCFS, and health care. Major items highlighted included funding for LA GATOR, the high-impact jobs program, DCFS modernization, corrections population and overtime needs, nursing home and managed care adjustments at LDH, and additional support for the MJ Foster Scholarship Program. Members asked about the impact of inflation, the use of federal versus state funds, the future of voucher and GATOR funding, and whether more support should go to DCFS and the Hero Fund. The committee also received the calculation of the FY27 expenditure limit, set at $20.1 billion, and the annual comprehensive financial report for FY2025, which received a clean audit opinion. Members approved a BA-7 increasing federal funds for an executive office transportation grant, approved additions to the Act 751 higher education deferred maintenance project list and a Baton Rouge Community College project combination, and approved contract amendments for CPRA with Coastal Estuary Services and Access Sciences. The committee also corrected a legislative intent item naming the New Orleans Recreational Development Foundation. Finally, the judiciary presented a weighted caseload study for district and appellate courts, explaining it as an updated tool to assess judicial workload and potential judgeship needs; members discussed its limits, the role of specialty courts and commissioners, and the need for further legislative-judicial collaboration before any changes are made.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nationally, this is a big problem.
• This is something we've seen nationally.
• to 17th in the nation.
• We are looking at more safety net insurance, $0.50 a week, for OOMG! For more than $0.16 per week.
• The feds just released a report last week.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a couple of weeks ago, we were at 107 degrees, and it...
• Just a couple of weeks ago, we were at 107 degrees, and the wet bulb reading was 88.9.
• These areas are among the most golf-starved in the nation.
• This model creates a demand for tee times second to none in the nation.
• I'm here on behalf of a co-sponsor, National Independent Talent Organization.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, Mass Save is a nation-leading success story.
• As you know, Mass Save is a nation-leading success story.
• Since As you know, Mass Save is a nation-leading success story.
• I mean, we've heard, all of us heard quite a bit over the winter about rising costs and impacts on week-to-week
• to week in the state.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes. Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs. Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described. Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.

Transcript Highlights:

• On this week, when we have taken time to acknowledge and defend religious freedom across the globe, may
• On<00:06:53.520><c> this</c><00:06:53.759><c> week,</c><00:06:54.000><c> when</c><00:06:54.240><c> we
• , when we have taken time to On this week, when we have taken time to acknowledge<00:06:55.680><c> and
• </c><00:07:59.360><c> One</c><00:07:59.599><c> nation</c> republic for which it stands.
• One nation republic for which it stands.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's weeks of training.
• It's weeks of training.
• It's weeks of training.
• It's weeks of training.
• It's weeks of training.

Summary: The House convened, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 89 members present, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the prior day’s journal and received notice that the Senate had passed SB 13, 22, 46, 51, and 90 and requested concurrence. On second reading, HB 134 (sexual assault nurse examiners), HB 168 with HCS 1 (voting under the influence), and HR 7 (recognizing guiding principles of elections in Kentucky) were reported. The House also recommitted HB 258 to the Transportation Committee and took up HB 312 for third reading and passage. HB 312, relating to concealed firearms and deadly weapons, drew the bulk of the debate. The sponsor argued the bill would allow law-abiding 18- to 20-year-olds to obtain a provisional concealed carry license, saying they are adults in other respects, the Second Amendment protects their right to bear arms, and Kentucky should align with other states. Supporters framed the measure as a constitutional rights issue and cited defensive gun use statistics, while one member argued the root problem is family upbringing rather than guns. Opponents said the bill would increase risks in schools and public spaces, pointed to concerns from school district police and SROs, and cited research linking younger age groups and loosened carry laws to higher firearm violence; they also argued the bill would make communities less safe and that no one’s rights would be taken away by voting no. The sponsor said no stakeholder had expressed opposition and clarified the bill would not change where firearms are permitted. The transcript provided does not include the final vote on HB 312.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members are not Live Nation or Ticketmaster.
• California is the number one state for live events in the nation.
• I'm sitting with the competition to Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
• Ticketmaster and Live Nation exist in both places.
• It is currently being used in 49 other states across the nation and in nations around the world except

Summary: The Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection heard several bills focused on privacy, AI, surveillance, and consumer protections. AB 302 would bar schools from excluding students from extracurricular activities because they do not use social media and would require schools to use at least one non-addictive means of contacting students and parents; it drew support from Common Sense Media and no opposition. AB 1705, the Reclaim Act, would require websites hosting non-consensual pornography to verify consent before upload; district attorneys and the Commission on the Status of Women supported it, while TechNet and CCIA opposed or raised concerns. AB 2007 would separate parental consent for a child’s image/likeness from general program enrollment forms in youth programs; educators supported it, while local government and parks groups raised implementation and penalty concerns. AB 2212 would update higher education sexual harassment definitions to include tech-facilitated harassment such as cyberbullying, doxing, and nudification-related abuse; students and advocacy groups strongly supported it, with no opposition. AB 1837 would extend transit agencies’ authority to use camera enforcement in bus-only lanes and at transit stops, with privacy retention limits and human review; transit agencies supported it, while some senators expressed concern about automated enforcement and surveillance, and the bill was placed on call after a split vote. AB 2392 would create an intersegmental higher education working group on generative AI training and procurement standards; it passed 5-0 after amendments removed prerequisites tying AI deployment to completion of the report. The consent calendar was also approved on call. Later, AB 1798 would prohibit life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information in underwriting; supporters argued it protects privacy and encourages testing, while insurers opposed the bill as undermining risk-based underwriting, and it advanced on a 3-0 vote on call. Finally, AB 1883 would restrict workplace use of emotion-recognition and neural-data surveillance tools; labor and privacy advocates supported it, employers and local agencies raised safety and litigation concerns, and it passed 3-0 to Labor after narrowing amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forced labor built this nation.
• At Burlington, we are joined by hundreds of people every week—750 people just last week—who are dedicated
• Each week, clergy stand in pulpits statewide, and we affirm Each week, clergy stand in pulpits statewide
• Once a week, I have a meeting on the seventh floor.
• Once a week, I have a meeting on the seventh floor.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil rights, immigration, hate crimes, and reparations bills. Chair Edwards and Chair Day opened with strict testimony rules, including two-minute limits, written testimony options, and decorum requirements. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell testified in strong support of S. 1126/H. 1920, the Combating Hate in the Commonwealth bill, saying Massachusetts needs stronger tools to address rising hate and bias incidents. Her Civil Rights Division chief explained that the bill would give the division civil investigative demand/subpoena power, expand civil rights enforcement, close loopholes in the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, add protected classes to the hate crimes law, and require better hate-crime data reporting. The committee also heard support for H. 1954 on access to counsel in immigration proceedings, H. 4684 on law enforcement identification and public trust, and H. 1927 to exonerate individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Several bills focused on discrimination and civil rights enforcement. Supporters of S. 1248 on organizational standing said fair housing nonprofits need explicit authority to bring discrimination complaints in their own names, especially as federal protections are under attack. On H. 1246, advocates urged adding sex and gender as protected classes in the hate crimes statute, arguing women are not protected under current state law. H. 1820 drew testimony for protections against height and weight discrimination. H. 1995 would regularize sentencing for hate crimes by requiring diversity awareness training for both convictions and continuances without a finding, and H. 1056/H. 1589 would broaden hate-crime victim standing and require restitution to be used to repair harm. H. 1886 would clarify that defense-based social service staff are exempt from mandated reporter obligations when working under attorney-client privilege. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1889/S. 1064, a bill to eliminate disparate impact. Environmental justice advocates, fair housing attorneys, and community members argued that neutral policies can still produce discriminatory outcomes and that Massachusetts should allow state-court claims and a private right of action to address them. Committee members raised concerns about litigation floodgates, punitive damages, and the scope of protected classes, while supporters said the bill would mainly target systemic harms and injunctive relief. Additional testimony supported H. 1922/S. 119, the Fair Investment Act, which would create civil rights protections in venture capital and other investment settings for founders and investors, especially women and minority entrepreneurs. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1683, the Sex Trade Survivor Act, which would expand vacatur and expungement relief for trafficking survivors, remove archaic offenses from the code, and create an interagency commission; supporters emphasized reducing barriers to housing, employment, and reentry. Finally, the committee heard extensive support for H. 1753/S. 1181, establishing a commission to study reparations in Massachusetts. Testifiers described the state’s history of slavery, redlining, and ongoing racial disparities, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• clearly, so we carried it over to this week.
• I figured that if you know, I didn't know, but I was clear last week. I get it. I get it.
• </c> last week. last week. &gt;&gt; I<00:16:48.000><c> get</c><00:16:48.079><c> it.
• </c><00:25:24.640><c> Um,</c><00:25:25.600><c> so</c> in the founding of our nation.
• Um, so in the founding of our nation.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This is three weeks of unprecedented coordination.
• It's kind of a national standard.
• That broadcast from the National Weather Service offices.
• To camps around the nation. Thank you. Showing is on.
• Weeks. Thank you for being here.

Transcript Highlights:

• He testified with me last week and did just an amazing job. He's a man of many traits.
• and he did just an amazing me last week and he did just an amazing job<00:29:28.200><c> he's</c><00:
• and prior to but after even last week and prior to this<00:30:02.039><c> knowing</c><00:30:02.320><c
• </c><00:36:31.520><c> certification</c> sat for and pass national certification sat for and pass national
• So Helmets to Hardhats is a national nonprofit organization.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, they have to pass a national exam and are certified and licensed under the Kentucky Board of Medical
• Just to give you an example, in the last six weeks, uh, we had a 15-year-old student athlete die due
• It modernizes definitions through Chapter 313, aligns specialty recognition and nationally recognized
• It modernizes definitions through Chapter 313, aligns specialty recognition and nationally recognized
• </c><00:10:38.560><c> recognized</c> recognition and nationally recognized recognition and nationally

Committee: Senate Licensing & Occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• I sent a letter last week requesting to set up a Utah.
• and months. ...the statute in the coming weeks and months.
• Now, with AI, it's a matter of weeks.
• by the National ACLU.
• Guard and the Utah Air National Guard as well.

Committee: Joint Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So FFA is a national organization devoted to agricultural education and leadership.
• She also won first place at nationals, representing Idaho on the national stage.
• So FFA is a national organization devoted to agricultural education and leadership.
• She also won first place at nationals, representing Idaho on the national stage.
• Wheat Associates, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Wheat Foundation, and the Wheat

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to track down Public Safety and National to track down Public Safety and National Security<00:27
• The signers of this letter include a range of national groups like the YWCA, the National Council of
• I'm talking about the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, the National Alliance
• I'm talking about the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, the National Alliance
• </c> fundamental importance to this nation fundamental importance to this nation despite<00:52:19.000

Bills: HR30

Keywords: honor, legacy, Jimmy Carter, human rights, presidential achievements, diplomacy, Georgia, Nobel Peace Prize, James Earl Carter Jr., President Carter, Rosalynn Carter, Plains Georgia, Georgia politics, House resolution, memorial resolution, tribute, condolences, bipartisan, Carter Center, democracy

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is the National Day of Prayer.
• Members, this is our annual National Peace Officers Week recognition resolution and also Peace Officers
• Both of these days, the day and the week, take place next week.
• Speaker, members, once again, thank you for a good week of work here.
• There will still be pages here next week. There will still be pages here next week.

Bills: SB1090 , SJR49 , SB633 , HR1059 , SB650 , SB2063 , SB122 , SB1614 , SB1884 , SJR52 , SJR53 , HJR1101 , SJR50 , HB3021 , HR1058 , SB514 , SB382 , HB3320 , SB740 , SB833 , SB2143 , SB1209 , SB244

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including the Nurse of the Day and a guest pastor, on the National Day of Prayer. Members also made announcements about prayer activities in the Capitol and welcomed former Speaker Charles McCall to the gallery. The chamber then moved through a long floor calendar of Senate bills, joint resolutions, and a conference committee report, with several measures amended on the floor before final passage. Among the bills passed were SB 1090, a consumer protection measure aimed at giving homeowners time to cancel contracts with predatory door-knocking roofers and contractors; SJR 49, repealing a Wildlife Conservation Commission rule on surety for oil and gas leases; SB 633, a juvenile code measure described as protecting children from fentanyl poisoning; SB 650, a public utilities bill tied to transparency and accountability for state employee salary increases; SB 263, amended to include a “lemonade stand” provision; SB 122, a transportation-related bill on proof of insurance; and SB 1614, creating a teacher induction program, which also received emergency passage. SJR 52 and HJR 1101, both dealing with agency rules, also passed, as did SJR 53 on Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority rules. The most debated item was SB 1884, which would strengthen equal access for school employees to teacher professional organizations and related membership/dues procedures. Supporters argued it would clarify existing law, ensure fair access, and give teachers more choice and legal support; opponents said the problem was compliance with current law, not a need for new statute, and warned against duplicating existing protections. After extended debate, the bill failed 47-44. Members then took up SJR 50, a major Medicaid expansion-related resolution revising earlier trigger language; supporters said it preserved expansion unless federal funding changed and gave lawmakers flexibility, while opponents argued the state had not done enough fiscal analysis before proposing changes. SJR 50 passed 69-18. Finally, the House adopted a conference committee report on HB 3021, consolidating graduation requirements into the ICAP framework and clarifying related school rules, and the bill passed with emergency status.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Energy National Science Bowl National Finals, from April 30 to May 4, 2026.
• Quiz Bowl Nationals, in Atlanta, Georgia, from May 22 to 24, 2026.
• It passed the Assembly a few weeks ago.
• We have a special day named after it just a few weeks ago, of course.
• , and 40% waited seven or more weeks.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, and then processed a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate or Assembly versions for third reading. The chamber also adopted the resolution calendar with exceptions and took up several resolutions and ceremonial recognitions, including a resolution mourning Hudson Talbott, a Dairy Month resolution highlighting New York’s dairy industry, and introductions honoring Niskayuna academic teams, Gabriella Scheer for receiving the Liberty Medal, the Hartstein family’s civic engagement, and Diana Cochran’s advocacy for safe firearm storage. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed many bills on topics including insurance, public health, education, labor, social services, banking, local government, veterans, public service, consumer protection, criminal procedure, cannabis, parks, taxation, election law, and highway matters. Several members explained votes on notable measures: support for acupuncture insurance coverage, consumer protections for doorbell-camera data sharing, expanded protections in debt collection cases, trauma-informed procedures for sexual assault survivors, a Legionnaires’ disease awareness program, changes to mandatory minimum sentencing, and universal safe storage of firearms. A number of home rule and local authorization bills were also approved, including parkland alienation measures and local tax exemption authorizations. Most measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though some drew recorded opposition. Notable roll calls included the consumer debt uniformity bill, the mandatory minimum sentencing bill, the safe storage/firearms bill, and the public housing and public health measures, each with more divided votes. The chamber also accepted a lengthy Rules Committee report sending many additional bills directly to third reading, and then began the supplemental calendar, passing at least the first items before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Listen, I was fridge a sovereign nation.
• As we just heard, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• </c> As we just heard, April is National As we just heard, April is National Child<00:18:49.919><c> Abuse
• </c> about me in the past couple of weeks. about me in the past couple of weeks.
• Check weeks until legislative cabaret.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> military Readiness and our national military Readiness and our national security<00:29:48.080><c
• Speaker, I rise today to recognize March as National Red Cross Month.
• These CRAs this week are important because they reinstitute choice in the marketplace.
• These CRAs this week are important because they reinstitute choice in the marketplace.
• These CRAs this week are important because they reinstitute choice in the marketplace.

Bills: HR919 , HR579 , HR177

Keywords: HIV, AIDS, public health, World AIDS Day, bipartisan support, uterine fibroids, fibroids, leiomyoma, women's health, reproductive health, pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, miscarriage, hysterectomy, Black women, Hispanic women, health disparities, awareness month, screening

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:11.400><c> and</c> facility like it in the nation and facility like it in the nation and that's
• ><00:21:15.840><c> New</c><00:21:16.080><c> Market</c><00:21:16.440><c> Hall</c> two weeks or week uh
• on New Market Hall two weeks or week uh on New Market Hall and<00:21:17.360><c> the</c><00:21:17.480
• Sometimes they're telling us as much as 80 weeks.
• But that gives us national recognition all over the state, all over the nation, and the world.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2, which would address the taxation of currency and bullion and was presented as a response to last session’s dispute over whether a line-item veto could be applied to a revenue measure. The sponsor said the bill, as amended by Committee Substitute 2, was largely technical but also made the tax exemption retroactive to August 1, 2024 while making the $1,000-per-day penalty prospective only. Members asked about fiscal impact, possible legal liability for executive branch officials, and whether the issue should instead be resolved by the courts. The sponsor argued the Constitution limits the governor’s line-item veto power to appropriations, not revenue bills, and said the bill would create a judicial remedy and refund process if the executive branch continued collecting the tax. The committee approved the committee substitute and then passed House Bill 2 by a vote of 19-1, with two members passing; the bill was reported favorably to the floor. During discussion, Representative Bojanowski voted no, saying he could not support removing taxes on gold bars while parents pay taxes on diapers. Representative Gentry passed, saying he supported the original intent but was not yet convinced and wanted more time to review the issue. The sponsor also clarified that any liability would be joint and several and could involve executive officials or their budgets if the tax collection continued despite the exemption. The committee then heard a discussion-only presentation on the Kentucky Exposition Center Redevelopment Plan Phase 2. Facility representatives described Phase 1 and the planned Phase 2 expansion, saying the center had record attendance and needed more space to remain competitive and meet client demand. They said Phase 1 was about 20% complete, with completion now expected in October 2026 and an opening target of December 31, 2026 after a short testing period. Phase 2 would follow, including demolition of the West Wing, utility work, and improvements to food service and circulation areas. They said the project would be funded without federal dollars and estimated that, once complete, it could generate about $683 million in annual economic impact, $302 million in state sales tax, and 850,000 room nights in Jefferson County.