Transcript Highlights:

• Um and I uh Supreme Court council.
• The membership of the council is very broad. We're going to have about 20 people on the council.
• final report from this council is due. final report from this council is due.
• So, it is a been a the council.
• legislation. Next slide please. legislation. Next slide please.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:48.800> in original RPS legislation in original RPS legislation in 2006<00:42:50.920
• notices for the governance Council notices for the governance Council meetings<01:46:17.920>
• You're saying a member of the Council, so somehow we have to substitute member of the Governance Council
• best solution for this legislation best solution for this legislation future<04:04:15.800> com
• legislation thank you Representatives legislation thank you Representatives glad<05:25:38.040>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just makes it a legislative. Oh, I apologize. OK, thank you. That committee substitute.
• This legislation was directly inspired by Chairman Darby's Hydrogen Policy Council that has been successful
• So it's unclear to me if the council has intended to access and utilize field data.
• I'd like to give some background and context to this legislation.
• I'd like to give some background context to this, uh, proposed legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Eastern Plains Council of Governments; Priscilla Lucero of the Southwest Council of Governments;
• of Regional Councils.
• appreciation for the many contributions of our councils of government.
• in Action; Madison Sal's, Student Council; and Camilla Fierro, Student Council.
• Alexa is a big She is a member of the CAMP Student Council.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jake Wilson, Somerville City Council.
• I'm the legislative and policy analyst for the Somerville City Council. Thank you.
• I'm the legislative and policy analyst for the Somerville City Council, and I am here today in that role
• One, the Advisory Council.
• One, the Advisory Council.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several climate and utility-related bills, especially H. 3449/S. 2292 to expand the municipal fossil fuel-free building demonstration program from 10 to 20 communities and related home rule petitions for Somerville and other municipalities. Witnesses from Somerville, Salem, Worcester, Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, Wellesley, Watertown, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association argued that local governments should be allowed to opt into fossil fuel-free or net-zero building standards, citing climate goals, environmental justice concerns, housing production, and data showing all-electric construction can cost about the same as or less than mixed-fuel construction. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses for cost data and asked for written follow-up, while also discussing whether strong environmental standards affect housing supply; witnesses responded that the main housing constraints are financing and that they would provide more data from local projects and state studies. A second major topic was H. 3564, which would require gas companies to provide municipalities with detailed multi-year pipe replacement plans, allow local review and objections, and limit reimbursement for projects not previously disclosed except in emergencies. Municipal leaders and advocates said the bill would improve coordination of street work, reduce disruption and costs, and help cities plan for electrification, network geothermal, and non-pipeline alternatives. Testimony from Wellesley, Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, and others emphasized repeated problems with last-minute gas main work, the need for advance notice, and the value of municipal participation in planning gas system retirement and alternatives. The committee also heard testimony on the “tactical transition” bills, S. 2249/H. 3539, aimed at managing the gas-to-clean-energy transition. Supporters from Gas Transition Allies, Rewiring America, and 350 Mass said the bills would require joint gas-electric planning, create an advisory council, eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups, shift investment toward repairs and clean alternatives, protect workers through retraining, and make utility plans more transparent. They argued these changes would reduce ratepayer costs, avoid stranded gas assets, and support orderly decarbonization. In addition, HEET testified on H. 3541, which would update greenhouse gas accounting to better reflect methane’s short-term climate impact, and H. 3543, which would establish a framework for managing shared thermal resources and thermal energy networks; committee members asked several questions about the meaning, ownership, and consumer-cost implications of the proposed “thermal commons.” No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota to create this council. of Minnesota to create this council.
• The advisory council would be it.
• analyze and sharpen it into legislative analyze and sharpen it into legislative recommendations.
• , looking at the makeup of this council, looking at the makeup of this council, um,<00:35:30.240>
• . legislation. legislation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what the Clean Water Council made recommendations on...
• Those are legislatively mandated grants. That we pass through to 11 councils in statute.
• The blue slice is the legislatively mandated grants to the regional arts councils, about 30% of the funds
• It didn't tell us who the councils should be or how to do that.
• Arts Council funds on a per capita basis into all 87 counties.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative around a legislative<00:04:56.840> selection<00:04:57.280> or<00:04:57.479
• Shon from the Met Council.
• So I appreciate the Met Council.
• Shon from the Met Council.
• So I appreciate the Met Council.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I appreciate the legislators' legislative session this year.
• And I appreciate the legislators' legislative session this year.
• also extends to our youth council. Yeah. also extends to our youth council. Yeah.
• Good morning, legislators.
• One for the council. I got the representative of the council. Yeah, all of you is cool.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing focused on the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s work under the Navah settlement, which was described as a first-of-its-kind climate agreement tied to the state’s constitutional public trust and clean-environment obligations. Speakers said the settlement was intended to accelerate progress toward Hawaii’s 2030 and 2045 clean energy goals, especially by addressing transportation, the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. They emphasized that the agreement formalizes milestones, reduces dependence on changing administrations, and includes a role for the legislature alongside the courts and executive branch. DOT and Earthjustice representatives outlined the main settlement deliverables: creation of a new Office of Energy Security and Community Outreach, formation of a youth council, and development of an emissions reduction plan that will be updated over time. They also highlighted a new project-level greenhouse gas/VMT scoring tool, described as the first of its kind in the nation for DOT-wide use, to evaluate the climate impact of transportation projects. The presentation tied these efforts to prior legislative actions, including the state’s climate emergency declaration, net-zero/net-negative targets, and Act 131’s requirements for multimodal network planning and emissions reporting. A substantial portion of the briefing was devoted to the youth council, which reported 20 members selected from 83 applicants, representation from across the islands, and work on bylaws, committees, and outreach. Youth members described feedback they gave on the energy security plan, a student leadership summit presentation, and future plans to meet with legislators and participate in the Climate Future Forum. DOT also said the settlement’s transportation strategies include clean fuels, electrification, aviation sustainable aviation fuel, marine shore power, and carbon sequestration, including expanded native tree planting and fire mitigation work. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the briefing. Members discussed implementation challenges, including cost and supply constraints for aviation and marine decarbonization, but DOT said industry stakeholders were not rejecting the goals, only raising affordability and timing concerns. Officials also noted that a GIS map for network gaps was in development and that the settlement’s pedestrian, bike, and transit connectivity requirement would compress roughly 15 years of work into five years, with an estimated annual commitment of $40 million to $50 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are 18 voting members of the New England Council.
• Regional council membership, Mr.
• Regional council membership, Mr.
• One, when does the council take a formal position?
• But when does the council?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the Massachusetts sea scallop fishery, especially the economic importance of the industry, federal scallop management, and two policy questions: reopening the Northern Edge area on Georges Bank and allowing permit stacking/permit consolidation. Chairing senators emphasized their interest in hearing both sides, their frustration with federal bureaucracy, and their view that the issue should be guided by science while protecting the long-term resource and local communities. Dr. Kate O’Keefe of the New England Fishery Management Council and Kevin Stokesbury of UMass Dartmouth described the Magnuson-Stevens framework, annual catch limits, rotational area management, and the role of industry-funded surveys and the research set-aside program. They said scallops remain the most lucrative council-managed commercial fishery on the East Coast, but recent changes include more small scallops, lower biomass in some areas, higher natural mortality, and shifting abundance toward Georges Bank. On the Northern Edge, they explained that the council previously considered opening the area through a framework/joint action with habitat management, but discontinued the action in 2024 because of conflicting objectives involving scallop yield, habitat protection, and other species. They said the issue could be revisited through future council priority-setting. Representatives of the Sustainable Scalloping Fund argued that the fishery needs modernization to remain economically viable. They supported reopening the Northern Edge and strongly backed permit stacking, saying it would allow two permits on one vessel while keeping ownership caps in place, reducing costs, improving safety, and helping family-owned fleets avoid financial distress and outside investment. Port of New Bedford representative John Regan stressed the port’s central role in the state economy, the need to protect working waterfront infrastructure, and the importance of any permit changes preserving local ownership and participation. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members asked that the witnesses keep the committee informed as the council and federal agencies consider next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• may be provided by applicable executive and legislative agencies.
• There's no legislator involvement. Nor partisan staff.
• Be directed in the budget or other legislation.
• Law, including legislation with a future implementation date.
• And for the legislative budgets...

Summary: The committee held its first meeting, with co-chairs and members introducing themselves and staff outlining the committee’s statutory mandate under the 2025-27 supplemental operating budget. Staff explained that the Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability will receive technical assistance from a nonpartisan organization, with work split into two phases: first on revenue growth, spending assumptions, and cost drivers in the four-year outlook, and later on staffing, overhead, performance management, and public reporting. Members broadly said they hoped the committee would build a shared factual understanding of the state’s fiscal situation, structural deficits, and budget processes, and identify a sustainable path forward for the operating budget. Staff then gave a detailed presentation on operating budget basics. They reviewed the size and composition of the operating budget, noting that most spending is concentrated in grants/client services and salaries/benefits, with K-12, DSHS, HCA, DCYF, DOC, and higher education making up most NGFO spending. They explained the distinction between constitutional, federal, statutory, and discretionary spending, using examples such as K-12, Medicaid, collective bargaining agreements, court-driven obligations like McCleary and Trueblood, and one-time appropriations. They also walked through how the state uses incremental budgeting, carry-forward and maintenance-level calculations, caseload and per-capita forecasting, and the four-year balanced budget outlook, including reserve calculations and the budget stabilization account. Members asked extensive questions about what is and is not included in the outlook, especially future collective bargaining agreements, health care and compensation growth, tort and other liabilities, and whether the state could better distinguish mandatory from discretionary spending. Staff explained that current CBAs and other already-enacted obligations are included, but future CBAs are not; some liabilities are reflected as expenditures when appropriated, while broader long-term liabilities are not fully captured in the outlook because they depend on future policy choices. Staff also noted that the legislature and ERFC can adopt assumptions such as reversions and growth factors, and that an outlook accuracy report is produced every five years to compare projected and actual maintenance-level spending. The committee agreed to follow up on some of the more complex liability and assumption questions. After a short break, Josh Goodman of the Pew Charitable Trusts began a presentation on Pew’s role and approach to state fiscal sustainability. He described Pew as a nonpartisan organization with long-standing state fiscal research, emphasizing its 50-state comparative data, interviews with state officials and experts, and focus on long-term sustainability, reserve policies, and recession preparedness. The presentation was ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• For that reason, I urge you to advance this legislation.
• There is similar legislation in New York as well.
• There is similar legislation in New York as well.
• I'm going to throw my city council hat to the former city council boss, because we have an issue going
• This legislation will shorten that process.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on zoning, Chapter 40B, and related housing bills. Much of the testimony focused on the “Yes in My Backyard” bill (H. 1572/S. 962), which would expand by-right development of missing middle housing, reduce barriers such as minimum lot sizes and parking mandates, and support duplexes, triplexes, and other small-scale housing. Supporters included housing advocates, developers, local officials, and municipal leaders from places like Cambridge, Salem, and Braintree, who argued that state action is needed because local zoning often blocks needed housing and that the bill would help create more affordable, neighborhood-compatible homes. Several witnesses also backed a companion “Yes in God’s Backyard” bill (H. 2347), which would allow faith-based institutions to build housing on their property by right, with testimony emphasizing the potential for new units, added municipal tax revenue, and partnerships between religious organizations and housing developers. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1021 to modernize Chapter 40R incentives. Senator Pavel Payano and others said the program’s payments have not kept pace with inflation since 2004 and should be increased to better encourage smart-growth zoning near transit and town centers. Another major topic was H. 2298 on site plan review, which would codify and standardize the process in state law. Rep. Kristin Kassner and witnesses from MAPC and NAIOP said current site plan review practices vary widely across the state, creating confusion, delays, and litigation, while a uniform framework would give municipalities clearer tools to review by-right projects without undermining local oversight. The hearing also included testimony on Chapter 40B reform, including S. 1005 and H. 1537. One witness supported further review of 40B and stronger regional planning, while another backed a proposal to allow certain pre-2010 40B condominium owners to sell at market value under a framework that would recapture some of the subsidy benefits. Committee members asked several questions about local zoning changes, housing goals by county, and how the proposed bills would affect communities. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs indicated that written testimony would be welcomed for technical details and additional comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governing statute 97A.056 establishes the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council as part of the legislative
• The Lessard-Sams Council consists of 12 members: two appointed legislators from the House and two appointed
• Lassard Sams Council vets the projects. Lassard Sams Council vets the projects.
• <00:36:26.000> a<00:36:26.240> multiple council, the council looks at a multiple council
• and legal council involvement. and legal council involvement.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So members, House File 4598 is the Workers' Comp Advisory Council recommendations.
• House File 4598 is the Workers' Comp Advisory Council recommendations.
• Committee on Rules and Legislative Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration<00:01:22.120>
• <00:01:39.440> Um Council recommendations. Um Council recommendations.
• <00:01:42.240> meets the Workers' Comp Advisory Council meets the Workers' Comp Advisory Council

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the reasons I came to Jefferson City was to work on legislation like this, legislation that can
• of that statewide council.
• Council.
• So this piece of legislation will not only Still bound by the chains of legislation.
• And so it's important for us as legislators to put forth legislation and pass laws that...

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The TAB is an advisory board to the council. The council is the MPO.
• the council. The council is the MOO. the council. The council is the MOO.
• council is providing their services? council is providing their services?
• Met Council. Met Council.
• Uh 12.8% is allocated by council policy. Uh 12.8% is allocated by council policy.

Bills: HF4693

Keywords: transportation, license plates, validation stickers, replacement fees, government fees, 1183, house

Summary: The Transportation Finance and Policy Committee approved the April 13, 2026 minutes and then heard a presentation from Charles Carlson of Metropolitan Transportation Services on regional transit governance and finance in the Twin Cities area. Carlson reviewed the history of transit governance from private streetcars and buses to public control, including the creation of the Met Council and Metropolitan Transit Commission in 1967, later fragmentation through suburban opt-outs and the Regional Transit Board, and the 1994 consolidation that made Metro Transit part of the Met Council. He also explained the role of the Transportation Advisory Board as a state-created advisory body to the council’s federally designated MPO function, and noted that any major structural change to the Met Council could trigger federal redesignation requirements. The presentation then focused on funding changes over time. Carlson said transit was long supported by fares, property taxes, and federal aid, but that property taxes for operations were prohibited in 2001, federal operating assistance ended, and the state shifted to general fund support and then motor vehicle sales tax revenue. He described the 2006 constitutional dedication of motor vehicle sales tax, the volatility of that revenue during the Great Recession, and the use of one-time state appropriations and later federal COVID relief to cover operating gaps. He said the 2023 legislature created the regional 3/4-cent transportation sales tax to stabilize transit operations, reduced the state’s rail operating obligation, and moved Metro Mobility/Metro Move into a state forecast-based program effective in 2025. Members asked several questions about the structure of suburban “opt-out” providers, including Maple Grove and Plymouth, and how they can contract with Metro Transit or private providers while still retaining control of their allocated funds. Carlson explained that replacement service municipalities receive statutory and formula allocations and choose how to use them. He also described Metro Move as a waiver-based service begun in 2024 that uses human services and Medicaid funds to reduce pressure on the state general fund. Later discussion covered ridership and service shares, with Metro Council providing the vast majority of regional transit service and suburban providers accounting for a small share. No votes or bill actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes; the chair indicated a bill would be taken up later in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative Council.
• Legislative Council. Move into the next session.
• Legislative Council program evaluation—who's doing that for us?
• I am the Policy and Program Division Director for Legislative Council.
• We posted on the Legislative Council social media accounts.

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then received an update from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency on the interagency council on homelessness and continuum of care funding. Testimony described rising homelessness tied to tight housing markets, low incomes, aging homelessness, barriers to rental assistance and public benefits, and limited shelter and case-management capacity. Members discussed the need for more affordable housing, continued one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant and Housing Incentive Fund, better coordination with Health and Human Services on economic assistance and human service zones, landlord engagement, recovery housing, and reentry housing. The committee also heard that federal continuum of care funding remains uncertain, with possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing and housing-first models; members asked for a future update on the impact if federal rules reduce the share available for permanent housing. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described current screening and service delivery, including infant referrals, regional staff, short-term programs, and collaboration with vocational rehabilitation. He said the targeted screening system is working, recommended maintaining the current model, and noted ongoing challenges with staffing, public awareness, and accessible state websites and documents. Public testimony from a visually impaired resident and a deaf resident emphasized barriers such as CAPTCHAs, inaccessible PDFs, employment forms that screen out applicants based on driver’s license status, shortages of interpreters, and the need for video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training for users and agencies. Finally, the committee heard a final report on the study of child care provider licensing from HHS Early Childhood Director Kay Larson. The report summarized provider input and committee discussion on simplifying North Dakota’s child care licensing structure, reducing administrative burden, and balancing that with health and safety standards. Key topics included licensing categories, child care assistance eligibility, food program sponsorship, staff qualifications, training requirements, ratios and group size, age bands, and preschool exemptions. The committee’s recommendations included streamlining to three provider types plus a preschool designation, revising ratio and age-band rules, and carrying forward certain preschool outdoor-space exemptions. Larson noted that any changes would require statutory changes, rulemaking, and a transition period before new licensing rules could take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm David Pettit with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Members will take up the Behavioral Health Executive Council Chair calls David Pettit with the legislative
• And Darryl Spinks with the Behavioral Health Council Executive Health Council, sorry.
• This is where, again, legislative prerogative.
• Is that gonna be through legislation? Legislation and rule and rule.

Transcript Highlights:

• Student council president Coen Fedwick, student council vice president Laa Silva, treasurer Levy Ezo,
• is here uh Teddy broa legislative is here uh Teddy broa legislative attorney<00:02:15.280> Emy
• Aid Sarah Thorne a Mia oata legislative Aid Sarah Thorne a legislative<00:02:21.160> Aid<00:02
• 00:02:23.080> legislative Hagood and legislative Hagood and legislative intern<00:02:25.120>
• <00:02:47.480> Vice Kawaii our Kawaii County Council Vice Kawaii our Kawaii County Council

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, called the roll, and approved the previous day’s journal. Members then made several introductions recognizing visitors in the gallery, including staff and guests connected to tourism, a group from the Luso-American Development Foundation from Portugal, and students and administrators from Kahakai Elementary School. Senator Kim also introduced four University of Hawaiʻi Shidler College of Business Travel Industry Management students and their academic advisor and professor. Senator DeCoite spoke about Tourism Day at the Capitol, thanking HTA, HBCB, CNH, and Kilohana for their participation and youth-focused tourism programs, and later introduced the FLAD visitors from Lisbon, Portugal. The clerk reported Governor’s Message Nos. 713 to 717 transmitting nominations to boards and commissions, and Governor’s Message No. 718 withdrawing a nomination to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board. The Senate also received Senate Concurrent Resolutions 51 to 67 and Senate Resolutions 33 to 51 for referral to committee, which were ordered referred. The Chair announced that the deadline to file Senate Concurrent Resolutions and Senate Resolutions with the Clerk’s Office was 4:30 p.m. that day. At the close of business, Senator Wai moved that the Senate stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 4:30 p.m. for receipt of resolutions and reconvene at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 10. Senator Dort seconded the motion, and the Senate recessed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative staff. legislative staff.
• would be a management council. would be a management council.
• health um include a legislative health um include a legislative representation.<00:19:10.240>
• to ensure that there's legislative to ensure that there's legislative oversight.<00:19:20.720>
• 500,000 would go to management council. 500,000 would go to management council.

Keywords: 916, all