Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the institutions are allowed to provide two projects if you're a two-year college or three projects
• start doing something about those projects.
• Certainly we have some, uh, revenue that covers some of our ongoing maintenance items.
• So if it's, if it's a land grant or, or whatever, that's how we pay for a lot of those projects.
• Uh, aging facilities always have, uh, what we call deferred maintenance from day one.

Transcript Highlights:

• Big reinsurer, hey, I have 50 condominiums that are failing in some areas of maintenance.
• Big reinsurer, hey, I have 50 condominiums that are failing in some areas of maintenance.
• Big reinsurer, hey, I have 50 condominiums that are failing in some areas of maintenance.
• Big reinsurer, hey, I have 50 condominiums that are failing in some areas of maintenance.
• Big reinsurer, hey, I have 50 condominiums that are failing in some areas of maintenance.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The project certification committee, or PCC, oversees the certification of IT projects.
• It is a subsequent or interrelated project to an already certified project.
• projects we have.
• Sometimes you have a long project.
• I want to start off here by telling y'all a story. project, big state software project.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had well over 50 major mandatory projects. We didn't have the bandwidth to do them. Okay.
• An 8 year mandatory projects got to happen.
• I put this one up and it's an odd chart when we took all of our mandatory projects and elevated them
• They're having to move maintenance, operational maintenance in the sun tax or having to move that into
• They can't bit on big projects, can't keep our economy moving.

Transcript Highlights:

• These funds will help us with deferred maintenance. health and safety projects, and increased lease costs
• Honestly, we had a bunch of different projections there.
• Chip caseloads are projected to increase by 34% in 26 and 4.5%.
• This is why the projection projected utilization.
• So looking at the projected utilization.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In that 11,500, we also are including about 340 new project-based vouchers.
• , going to still project $3,200 in this $258?
• That amounts to approximately 10% of the projected $325 million the industry is projected to raise for
• You're saying maintenance is 23.3. Is that right?
• You're saying a maintenance is 23.3. Is that right?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public FY27 budget hearing at Barnstable Town Hall, with opening remarks emphasizing the Cape and Islands’ seasonal infrastructure, housing, transportation, workforce, and digital needs. The hearing began with testimony from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s budget priorities for job training, apprenticeship, youth employment, reentry programs, and unemployment insurance modernization. The secretary highlighted proposed funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, YouthWorks, reentry workforce development, and services for young adults with disabilities, along with a proposal to streamline youth work permits. Members also discussed the unemployment trust fund, the COVID assessment on employers, rising unemployment, and the need to improve DUA customer service and claims processing. Committee members asked about job seeker barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, and out-migration of young workers, as well as how to keep Cape Cod graduates and seasonal workers in the region. The administration said its strategy is to pair training with broader affordability investments and to expose students to career pathways earlier, including through middle school, early childhood STEM, YouthWorks, pre-apprenticeships, and Building Pathways. Senators and representatives also raised concerns about regional funding disparities, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, and the administration said it is reviewing MassHire funding and service equity through a policy committee and statewide workforce board. On unemployment assistance, officials reported major improvements in wait times and claims processing, but said they are still working through backlogs and staffing challenges while maintaining program integrity. The committee then heard testimony from the Executive Office of Economic Development. The secretary described House 2 as a fiscally restrained budget with no new taxes or fees, while preserving core programs and using the Mass Leads Act tools to support competitiveness. EOED’s proposal included funding for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, social enterprise operating grants, regional economic development organizations, the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, Community Workforce Partnerships, Pathmaker, advanced manufacturing training, life sciences, innovation vouchers, AI initiatives, small business assistance, and tourism and live theater support. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also testified on its FY27 request, focusing on consumer protection, licensing, banking, insurance, and public safety regulation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members may capital projects referendum.
• <00:05:20.240> referendum capital projects referendum capital projects referendum uh<00:05
• long-term facilities maintenance long-term facilities maintenance revenue.<00:20:11.679> And<
• Um and I long-term facility maintenance.
• <00:24:47.840> for previous facility maintenance for previous facility maintenance for charter

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does that amount also include the projected 42,000 children that we projected would enroll in that program
• It includes hardware and two-year maintenance and licensing.
• or for deferred maintenance.
• or for deferred maintenance.
• or for deferred maintenance.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so in total there are 17 projects for 17.9 million. this area totaling 37.8 million dollars. this
• <00:04:04.360> on<00:04:04.600> line you'll see, removed one project on line you'll
• see, removed one project on line 56.<00:04:05.600> It's<00:04:05.800> cultivating<00:04
• This establishes maximum grant amounts, and that would be $2 million for trail maintenance grants and
• <00:23:23.400> and through and looking at projects and through and looking at projects and

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Conference Committee met on May 13, 2026, to finalize House File 3426. After roll call established a quorum, staff walked members through the conference agreement and spreadsheet, noting that most appropriations were unchanged from the House and Senate positions. The report kept the LCCMR recommendations in resiliency, water, fish and wildlife, energy, and most land and education/outdoor recreation items, while removing the “cultivating conservation leaders through education and wilderness experiences” project and a Senate rotational grazing pilot provision. The committee also noted the overall appropriation total and carryforwards/extensions, and that the community grants program appropriation remained in the bill. Members then reviewed the policy language in the DE amendment. The agreement retained House provisions setting guardrails for the community grants program, including requirements for emerging issues account votes, maximum grant amounts, staff training, monitoring visits, pre-award risk assessments, surety bond or fiscal-agent approval for advance payments, and quarterly progress reports, while also adopting Senate language repealing a DNR acquisition-approval requirement. Senators McEwen and Her offered contrasting comments about the removal of the Boundary Waters-related project, with McEwen criticizing the decision as politicized and Her emphasizing stewardship and the importance of exposing young people to the Boundary Waters. Representatives Heintzeman and Fischer defended the need for accountability and said the issue had been addressed in a bipartisan way. The committee reported receiving a letter from the DNR supporting the language and thanking the conferees and staff. Chair Her moved adoption of the HF 3426 DE amendment and the spreadsheet dated 5/13/26 at 11:38 a.m., authorized staff to prepare the conference committee report and make technical and conforming changes, and the motion passed 7-0. The meeting ended with thanks to staff, LCCMR participants, and Speaker Melissa Hortman, followed by adjournment and instructions for members to watch for and sign the conference committee report electronically that night.

Transcript Highlights:

• things it's a simple remediation project things it's a simple remediation project um<00:15:22.720
• implementing that project implementing that project thank<00:18:29.640> you<00:18:30.200>
• He emphasized that maintenance is really important.
• <04:25:27.840> is frequently enough and so maintenance is frequently enough and so maintenance
• He said they will also look at any maintenance issues that a trail could cause.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 332, a bill to add protection and remediation of surface waters as a new authorized purpose for New Hampshire village districts. Prime sponsor Rep. Rosemary Rung said the bill is intended to give local voters in lake communities a voluntary tool to address cyanobacteria blooms and other water-quality problems through village districts, including the ability to raise revenue, adopt ordinances, and pursue treatments or watershed management measures. She emphasized that the proposal is meant to complement, not replace, state law and that any district action would still need to comply with existing permitting and environmental requirements. Supporters, including Andrea Laro of New Hampshire Lakes and Elizabeth Harper of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, said the bill would help municipalities collaborate on lake protection when state resources are limited. They argued that local districts could bring subject-matter expertise, access grants and technical assistance, and respond more quickly to problems such as septic impacts, runoff, culvert repairs, and in-lake treatments. They also suggested clarifying the bill’s wording around “protection and remediation” to better define the scope of authorized activities. Opponents, including Steve Wolf and Chris Norwood of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, argued that village districts can already be overly broad and sometimes expand beyond their original purposes. Wolf said existing town and state agencies already handle shoreline protection and warned that village districts can impose ongoing taxes and create governance problems. Norwood urged a study bill instead, citing concerns about the scope of village districts and examples where some districts have taken on planning and zoning powers beyond their original mission. No vote or final action on HB 332 was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:00.240> in their piloting of the project in their piloting of the project in specific
• <00:58:52.720> is interesting also about that project is interesting also about that project
• <00:59:11.119> really been a really rewarding project. really been a really rewarding project
• You know, do deferred maintenance.
• <01:41:51.360> and, subsidy to do deferred maintenance and, subsidy to do deferred maintenance

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then reviewed the structure and statutory requirements for its final report. Staff explained that the report must go to the commissioners of commerce, housing finance, and economic development, as well as relevant legislative leaders, and must include a summary of task force activities, adopted findings and recommendations, tort reform recommendations to reduce insurance costs, any draft legislation, and other necessary information. A draft report, likely excluding recommendations and draft legislation, is expected to be circulated before the first January meeting. Most of the meeting focused on the Fair Plan and whether it could be expanded to help homeowners associations, affordable housing, and common interest communities that are struggling to obtain coverage. Supporters said these groups are facing availability problems and often end up in the surplus lines market, which lacks the consumer protections of the admitted market. They argued the Fair Plan could serve as a third-market option with stronger protections and better access, especially for properties that are having difficulty getting quotes. Several members and witnesses raised concerns that the Fair Plan was never intended to be a broad affordability solution and warned against using it to artificially lower prices below risk-based levels. They said doing so could shift losses onto other policyholders through assessments and potentially weaken the broader insurance market. The Fair Plan administrator explained that any expansion would require substantial research, staffing, actuarial and underwriting expertise, reinsurance planning, IT changes, and likely assessments or other capitalization decisions, and that the plan would need to focus on a limited subset of properties rather than the entire market. No votes were taken on policy recommendations, and the discussion ended with agreement that more information and scoping work are needed before any formal recommendation is made.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much. $300,000 uh if we hit our projections so $300,000 uh if we hit our projections so
• <00:35:37.640> of full-time employees and maintenance of full-time employees and maintenance
• Although there are new requirements, our drinking water protection project is projecting a reduction
• <01:07:52.640> is<01:07:52.839> projecting<01:07:53.319> a protection project
• is projecting a protection project is projecting a reduction<01:07:53.880> of<01:07:54.079>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grand Farm is the lead on the project, but it's a collaborative project with several other partners,
• The question of the number of projects that have had EA and sort of where those projects fall within
• One is just the conveyance projects, and the other is all the flooding conveyance projects together.
• , little projects?
• So with the project, without the project analyses, without the project would change the baseline.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what do those projections look like? What are those projections like for those companies?
• What percentage of the project is materials, and then what percentage of the project is actually already
• The project extent between the two models is the same. The project begins...
• So I'd like to see any kind of a plan or project projection on this, or pro forma, to see how the O&M
• Project is transparent.

Summary: The Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee met for a work session and public hearing on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement program. Program staff outlined major milestones, including the recent biological opinion, the Coast Guard’s opening of a public comment period on the Navigation Impact Report, expected decisions in early 2026 on navigational clearance and the final supplemental environmental impact statement, and a possible amended record of decision in 2026. They also discussed the Bridge Investment Program grant amendment deadline, the need for an initial finance plan, and ongoing community outreach and contractor engagement. Greg Johnson announced he was stepping down as program administrator, and Carly Francis introduced herself as interim administrator. A large portion of the meeting focused on design and cost questions. Staff said the program is studying fixed and movable spans, single- and double-deck configurations, and one versus two auxiliary lanes, with final recommendations to be made through the federal environmental process. They said the Coast Guard’s decision is central to what bridge configuration is permittable and to the timing of the updated cost estimate, which has not yet been released. Members pressed for more detail on cost drivers, potential impacts to businesses upriver, and whether the states would need to seek additional funding. Staff said they had reached agreements with four impacted river users, but the underlying evaluation materials are protected and not publicly releasable. The committee also reviewed transit-related questions. Staff explained that light rail remains part of the modified locally preferred alternative and that ridership and operations estimates are being updated using federal modeling methods. They said projected opening-day transit operations and maintenance costs have dropped from an earlier estimate of $21.8 million to about $10.3 million annually because the current model assumes lower frequency, with Oregon and Washington shares split by geography and fare recovery. Members raised concerns about TriMet’s financial stability and the need for a funding plan by fall 2027, ahead of a planned federal transit funding application in fall 2028. During public testimony, several speakers criticized the delay in releasing a new cost estimate and argued the project scope should be reduced if costs continue to rise. Testifiers from City Observatory and the Just Crossing Alliance said the project appears to be avoiding bad news, urged the committee to consider scope reductions, and questioned whether the active transportation and freeway components align with the project’s core purpose. The meeting ended with thanks to Johnson for his service and a transition to public hearing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• $20 million into Littleton maintenance $20 million into Littleton maintenance facility.<00:22:58.159
• the federal funding for those projects the federal funding for those projects with<00:56:06.880>
• We'll work to deliver these projects, or we'll work to defer these projects until we have the revenue
• at that point with a few projects. at that point with a few projects.
• > delayed,<01:26:58.719> um projects, they're being delayed, um projects, they're being

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or, you know, as they change... ...like, you know, as regular maintenance or, you know, as they change
• So you understand what I'm saying, that just as simply as part of regular maintenance, when they change
• I would push back a little bit, though, in that if we did that for everything, regular maintenance for
• Regarding this new project, I would love it if our committee could actually visit at some point this
• This is a research project out of the University of Kansas.

Bills: HB2121, HB2134, HB2451, HB2700

Keywords: modification, electronic equipment, consumer rights, OEM restrictions, civil penalties, intellectual property, critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, Arizona Space Commission, strategic plan, aerospace, economic development, space industry, education, workforce training, assistive technology, disability services

Summary: The House Committee on Science and Technology convened for its first meeting of the session, with members and staff introducing themselves and the chair reviewing committee rules and amendment deadlines. The committee then heard several bills focused on technology policy, infrastructure security, and a new study committee on assistive technology. Testimony was generally supportive of the bills’ goals, though several members raised concerns about implementation, costs, and the role of the Arizona Corporation Commission on the infrastructure bill. HB 2121 would prevent manufacturers from disabling consumer electronic devices when owners make modifications, such as using third-party parts or firmware changes, and would allow owners or the Attorney General to sue for damages. After discussion about consumer ownership, security, and possible manufacturing impacts, the committee adopted the Fink amendment narrowing the bill to consumer products and gave HB 2121 a do pass recommendation by a 7-1 vote with one present. HB 2134 would restrict Chinese-produced equipment from critical infrastructure and limit contracts with Chinese companies; the sponsor and supporters framed it as a national security measure, while opponents focused on cost, implementation, and utility coordination. The committee heard testimony from the Arizona Corporation Commission, which said the bill would require new staff and resources, and from outside witnesses who said the bill was prospective and aligned with federal restrictions. HB 2134 passed 5-4. HB 2451 would adjust Arizona Space Commission board terms, extend the strategic plan deadline, and add astronautic educational opportunities to the commission’s duties. Supporters described the commission as a bipartisan effort to grow Arizona’s space industry, and the bill passed 8-0. HB 2700 would create a Technology Study Committee focused on assistive technology and technology-first approaches for people with disabilities. The sponsor and a constituent advocate described how assistive technology can improve independence and service delivery, and members expressed support for the concept. After adopting the Connolly amendment, the committee approved HB 2700 as amended by an 8-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:15.519> that that in place now affect projects that that in place now affect projects
• Um, who currently maintains this project, or who will maintain it, maybe I should say?
• So, I was just wondering the maintenance moving forward if that would fall onto your folks' lap or or
• or who will maintains um this project or who will maintain<00:14:36.480> it,<00:14:36.880>
• <00:15:07.360> forward wondering the maintenance moving forward wondering the maintenance

Bills: SB3294

Keywords: wrongful conviction, compensation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, innocence, legal process, burden of proof, case manager, medical coverage, judicial discretion, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 3294, a controversial measure concerning post-release assistance for people pursuing reversals of prior court decisions where innocence is in question. Members discussed keeping the bill moving on the “human side” while a House companion addressed the legal issues. The adopted amendments removed advanced compensation language and instead required DCR, with DHS, to help petitioners prepare applications for financial and medical assistance, notify DHS upon release, assign a case manager to assist with a cell phone for one year, housing, employment, mental health counseling, and expedited benefits, and provide a state ID upon release. The measure also included technical amendments and a defective date, and it passed unanimously. The joint committees then heard SB 2237 on fire prevention, which would require state agencies to create and update hazard maps and direct DNR to adopt rules and clear brush. DLNR testified that a single lead agency should develop the maps with input from other agencies, that a five-year timeline would be more reasonable, and that assigning DNR all fuels management on state lands would create an unfunded mandate. Members discussed using the newly created fire marshal’s office as the lead, and the committees ultimately deferred the bill in favor of a broader wildfire mitigation measure already moving in another committee. The final agenda included SB 2596 on government leases, SB 30002 on the Hawaii State Planning Act and green infrastructure, and SB 3067 on records and filing requirements. SB 2596 was advanced unamended to Ways and Means. On SB 30002, OPSD explained that a 2025-2027 comprehensive review of chapter 226 is underway, with a report and draft legislation due in 2027, and members debated whether to move piecemeal changes now or wait for the broader review; the bill nevertheless passed unamended. SB 3067, which updates outdated filing formats and drawing scales, also passed unamended with DAGS supporting the measure in writing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As has been indicated, the Austin Firefighter Retirement Fund is projecting currently an unfunded liability
• It's like that's what your maintenance and operation budget is for, you know, the taxpayers will pay
• Because the funds should be used for the care and maintenance and not capital improvements, I think I
• Is there a difference between capital improvements versus repairs and maintenance?
• So you're thinking of, of additions as opposed to maintenance and repairs and there's also nothing in

Transcript Highlights:

• and not an energy project.
• So whether this is the right place or not, I support the project.
• So I'd love to see the project go forward. Thank you.
• I was working with people on the Freeborn Wind project.
• It's not a typical setback from a residence for a wind project.

Transcript Highlights:

• Depending on the threshold, this could capture small projects and routine maintenance work, which I think
• Since then, over 400 wildfire projects have been approved statewide, with projects...
• Since then, over 400 wildfire projects have been approved statewide, with projects being approved in
• Fuel reduction projects.
• the actual project.

Keywords: 987, senate, all