Transcript Highlights:

• Well, appreciate all that.
• Well, that one I don't have.
• We've put out guidance as well.
• We've put out guidance as well.
• Doing well, thank you.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, appreciate all that.
• Well, that one I don't have.
• We've put out guidance as well.
• Doing well, thank you. Good.
• Well, we went in.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I can't tell you this. You know...
• Well, it's not just a few.
• Well, the follow-up: is that not basically fraud?
• Senator Zaffirini, I have solutions as well or suggestions, and I think some clarities as well.
• Workers' comp for that matter as well.

Bills: SB 30 , SB 517 , SB 1313 , SB 1314 , SB 1316 , SB 1541 , SB 1698 , SB 1845 , SB 1860 , SB 2420 , SB 2429

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• This does not reflect well on our body.
• So if you thought you were going to sleep well tonight, saying like, well, at least kids aren't going
• Well, you're about to do it again.
• They need another well to be able to...
• Well, it's the same...

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, he was at the table available.
• Um, well, looking at, you know, Chair.
• Well, I'll describe it as it right.
• Well, Madam Chair, Um, Senator Dibble.
• And, again, you know, well and fine.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and provide for same-sex marriages both in their state and recognize marriages from other states as well
• The legislature should further all wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and
• Should further all wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality.
• marriage, we can go to multiple marriages, although that's in violation of our state constitution as well
• Hodges*, SCOTUS acted in a manner which abandoned the law of God and violated the Constitution of the

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 26 and 27 by voice vote. It then considered RS 33605, a replacement request from Rep. Jaron Crane correcting a word change from “or” to “and” in language dealing with material that is “sexually explicit” and “taken as a whole.” Members asked about how the phrase should be interpreted and who would determine whether material is sexually explicit, and the sponsor said those issues would be addressed more fully at a later hearing. The RS was introduced by motion and approved by voice vote. The committee next heard H.J.M. 17, a memorial from Rep. Tony Vichnavsky asking the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit *Obergefell v. Hodges* and return marriage policy to the states. The sponsor and supportive testimony from Idaho Family Policy Center argued that marriage should be defined by states, citing federalism, Idaho constitutional provisions, and religious liberty. Opponents and skeptical members raised concerns about the legal effects on existing marriages, interstate recognition, contractual rights, and whether the Supreme Court would even reopen a settled case. After debate, the committee sent H.J.M. 17 to the floor with a due pass recommendation by a 10-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 674, which would streamline discontinuance of telephone service by allowing FCC-approved discontinuances without additional PUC approval. The sponsor said the bill was a cleanup measure to reduce duplicative regulation, while the Idaho Public Utilities Commission testified that the bill could reduce Idaho’s independent review of service quality and customer impacts, especially in rural areas. Lumen Technologies supported the bill, saying it would improve regulatory certainty and encourage investment in fiber and other modern services. The committee then moved HB 674 to the floor with a due pass recommendation by voice vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that an indication of how many wells are in the stripper well status?
• I hope others do as well. Mr.
• Well, thank you, committee.
• Well, Mr.
• Well, Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section met with a quorum, approved the December 10, 2025 minutes, and received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. OMB reported the state was about $2 million ahead of forecast biennium-to-date, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397.5 million. Joe Morset also reviewed balances in major funds, oil tax revenues, interest income, federal grant reporting, fiscal irregularities, the voluntary separation incentive program, vacancy savings, and the FTE pool. Members asked about the higher-than-forecast interest income, the effective oil tax rate and stripper-well production, the impact of temporary pay adjustments and vacancy savings, and whether the voluntary separation program could reduce institutional knowledge or shift duties to remaining staff. The committee then approved four Emergency Commission requests: $5.26 million for DPI to support an AI-enabled tutoring platform, $105,000 from the general fund contingency for Corrections GPS monitoring, about $1.963 million for HHS SPACES eligibility system upgrades tied to Medicaid work requirements, and about $1.2 million for SNAP eligibility IT improvements. Legislative Council reported remaining interim spending authority after those approvals, and NDIT gave an update on digital accessibility compliance efforts, saying the state has made substantial progress on websites and PDFs but that applications will take longer to remediate. NDIT also reported on the Infinite Campus student information system rollout, noting data migration remains the biggest challenge and that a supplemental vendor is being brought in to help get districts ready for summer go-live. Greg Hoffman then gave a brief update on NDIT’s operational fund, saying cash remains negative in PeopleSoft but accounts receivable keeps the fund functioning within federal limits. The Supreme Court reported on its new and vacant FTE funding pool, saying it has filled 7 of 10 new positions and has realized some vacancy savings, and Legislative Council provided a similar report for the legislative branch along with a reminder that budget action reports are available online. The Department of Transportation presented its Flexible Transportation Fund, explaining the fund’s allocation formulas and ranking process, and sought Budget Section approval for two projects over the $10 million threshold: a Medora city streets and sidewalk project and a Cass County bridge replacement. Members questioned whether funding Medora streets could set a precedent for city street reconstruction and whether the bridge application process fully reflects statewide needs. DOT said the projects were scored competitively and that the bridge list does not capture all deficiencies statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you look, well, who lives in And then you look, well, who lives in communities that have more
• Well, it's poor people, right?
• Well, thank you. Thank you, Ms. O'Bean.
• And there has been backlash on that as well.
• Well, just to us, but to the public?” “Yes.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we, we put it in, in, in the.
• Dogs and cats are susceptible as well.
• We're very pleased as well.
• Well, who's your vet? Well, I really don't have one.
• Well, can y'all give us some.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Mary Wells, Laresa Giddens, and Jacqueline. Aludo. Mary Wells, yes ma'am.
• Well, it wasn't.
• OK, well let me ask you this.
• We moved to Texas at the beginning, well, the very end of 2022. Well, welcome to Texas.
• Well, the child feels abused.

Bills: HB 2646 , HB 3941 , HB 5153 , HB 5155 , HB 5394 , HB 1106 , HB 426 , HB 4529 , HB 3984 , HB 4273 , HB 1097 , HB 3940 , HB 1941 , HB 4377 , HB 3153

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, this is an opportunity. This is an opportunity.
• Yes, and we also have a PowerPoint as well. Perfect.
• Well, it is a challenge, no question about it.
• We were able to use that funding, as well as regional flood management program funding, to... ...as well
• Well, thank you so much, Assemblymember Bennett.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, Mr.
• And so I'm watching that as well, too.
• Well, I mean, I mean, it's...
• I might very well... 69-page bill.
• abandon Senator Woods.

Bills: HB99 , HB38 , HB165 , HB127 , HB72 , HB151 , SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 40, a committee substitute addressing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and privacy. Sponsor Sen. Worth said the bill was intended to preserve ALPRs as a law-enforcement tool while adding guardrails to prevent sharing or selling data for immigration enforcement, protected health care activity, or criminalizing constitutionally protected conduct. Supporters included state and local law enforcement, the ACLU, immigrant-rights, reproductive-rights, and sexual-assault advocacy groups. Law enforcement witnesses said the bill balanced privacy with public safety and cited cases where ALPRs helped locate kidnapped children, murder suspects, and stolen vehicles; opponents and some senators argued the bill was too narrow, too focused on immigration and health care, and raised concerns about federal law, data sales, and enforcement. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment removing subsection F, then approved the committee substitute and advanced SB 40 on a do-pass motion. The committee then heard Senate Bill 104, which would create a process for removing wildlife commissioners after the 2023 wildlife commission legislation and the governor’s veto of the prior removal language. Sen. Worth explained that SB 104 would allow the governor to initiate removal for malfeasance, incompetence, or failure to attend meetings, with notice, a hearing, and exclusive review by the state Supreme Court; he said it was modeled on the Board of Regents removal process and was intended to complete the wildlife commission reforms. The New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Audubon Southwest, and the Department of Game and Fish supported the bill, saying it would depoliticize wildlife management and provide stability. Senators asked about the existing “three consecutive meetings” vacancy language, current vacancies, and the prior removal of a commissioner. The committee discussed the governor’s earlier veto and whether the bill was necessary, but no amendment was adopted and the committee approved SB 104 on a do-pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's like, yeah, well, you know, that's what we do.
• Well, Mr.
• And so I'm watching that as well, too.
• Well, it depends on what the drone is.
• You know, I was sitting there thinking, well, this is for unmanned. Well, guess what?

Bills: SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance, privacy, data sharing, law enforcement data, immigration enforcement, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, civil liberties, surveillance, public records, Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico State Police, Department of Public Safety, data sovereignty, vehicle tracking

Transcript Highlights:

• Well done, Senator. We'll turn it back to committee members. Well done, Senator.
• We say, well, go to Merced.
• We say, well, go to Merced.
• EIRs as mayor as well.
• Well played, well played. Senator Dressel. Whenever you’re ready. Thank you very much, Mr.

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, adopted the consent calendar for SB 423 and SB 581, and then heard a series of bills, most of which were presented as streamlining or safety measures tied to transportation, climate, public lands, health care, and higher education. SB 71 by Senator Wiener would extend and expand a CEQA exemption for sustainable transportation projects, adding modes such as microtransit, paratransit, shuttles, and ferries, while also accepting committee amendments that narrowed a Tier 4 diesel rail provision, restored existing right-of-way language with utility protections, and set a new sunset date. Support came from transit agencies, local governments, and advocacy groups; some members raised concerns about the diesel rail language and possible interactions with housing-related legislation, but the bill advanced on a due pass vote as amended. The committee then heard SB 614 by Senator Stern on carbon dioxide pipeline safety. The bill would direct the State Fire Marshal to adopt safety standards for intrastate CO2 pipelines, building from federal draft rules and adding state discretion and possible enhanced protections such as planning zones and more detailed exposure modeling. Supporters argued California needs to fill a federal regulatory gap to advance carbon capture and climate goals, while environmental justice and conservation groups opposed unless amended, citing risks from CO2 leaks and asking for stronger siting restrictions and more specificity. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations, with members noting the need for continued work on the safety provisions. Senator Arreguín also presented SB 304, which would temporarily lift public trust use restrictions on specific land at Jack London Square to allow the Port of Oakland more leasing flexibility under conditions and annual reporting. The measure was described as a limited, time-bound effort to address high vacancy and revitalize the waterfront, and it drew support from Oakland city and county representatives with no opposition in the room. The committee then approved SB 304 on a due pass vote. Arreguín’s SB 830 followed, creating CEQA streamlining for Sutter Health’s new Emeryville hospital campus and designating the City of Emeryville as lead agency; supporters said it would preserve East Bay hospital access before seismic deadlines, and the bill passed with broad support and no opposition. Finally, Senator Caballero presented SB 486, a higher education planning bill intended to align UC and CSU enrollment growth with regional sustainable communities plans and to remove the need to analyze a no-project alternative in certain long-range development plans. Supporters said the bill would better integrate university enrollment forecasting into regional planning, while opponents warned that eliminating the no-project analysis could weaken accountability for housing and infrastructure impacts around campuses. Committee members expressed mixed views and asked for further clarification, but the bill was moved out on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The transcript then shifted to SB 629, a fire response and rebuilding bill, with the author describing amendments to apply fire safety requirements in wildfire-burned areas, update fire mapping, and require annual defensible space inspections, though the discussion was cut off before any final action was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I thank the witness for your testimony.
• This is important, in my mind, as well, because we see these sort of abandoned properties, and if we
• It's not rolled very well. Okay. Well, good afternoon, right? We're afternoon now.
• Yes, can I voice support as well?
• Well, again, I thank the author, and I just want to ask the, Well, again, I thank the author, and I just

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's important as well.
• Well, and I hope that you all co-author this as well.
• Well, and I appreciate that.
• It affects businesses as well.
• Very, very well done.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They applied to other departments as well.
• Well, excellent question.
• We are frustrated by the litigation as well. I am... We are frustrated by the litigation as well.
• Well, I think we provided information in the past.
• Well, yes, I think I appreciate your comments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we offer some telemed.
• They had to have great leadership as well to get there. So, appreciate you're responsible. as well.
• wells for many decades.
• So, things are going well.
• Well, it's fully burdened cost.

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be digging into that as well.
• Well, in some ways, well, they did not go back and reapportioned based on the 6,000.
• That is well taken, by the way.
• Well, thanks for coming in.
• Really well taken advice.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held a hearing on September 22, 2025 focused on preparations for the 2030 census, with an emphasis on Massachusetts’ role in building a complete address list and improving local participation in census-related address review programs. Chair Brownsberger and witnesses from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, the UMass Donahue Institute, Watertown, and MassGIS described the importance of accurate address data for congressional apportionment, federal funding, and state and local planning. They also discussed the first major upcoming step, the Block Boundary Suggestion Project, and the later Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) process, both of which rely on municipalities reviewing and correcting census geography and address files. John Rosenberry of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office said outreach to cities and towns is beginning now, with a likely December start for the block boundary process based on the 2020 cycle. He stressed that local officials, clerks, building inspectors, housing authorities, and GIS staff should be engaged early, especially to capture new development and conversions created under the state’s housing policies. Susan Strait of UMass Donahue explained that LUCA allows local governments to compare their address lists with the Census Bureau’s master address file, and that Massachusetts had very high participation in 2020; she cited examples where local review added hidden or newly built housing units and noted that Boston later corrected a group-quarters undercount of about 6,000 students through a post-census review program. In response to questions, she clarified that those corrections affected annual estimates and funding formulas, but not the 2020 apportionment count. Watertown City Manager George Proakis described how local address review is complicated by accessory dwelling units, single-family to two-family conversions, and large multifamily projects, and urged continued state support for local governments doing this work. Dan Marrier of MassGIS then outlined the Massachusetts Master Address Database, explaining that it combines multiple sources, including E911, assessor, voter, and municipal data, to create a standardized residential address repository used for census preparation and other state functions. He said the database has helped improve census accuracy, including by updating more than one million Census Bureau address-point locations before 2020, and noted that local municipalities remain the final authority on addresses even as MassGIS standardizes and reconciles variants across the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, that's what I'm saying.
• Point is well taken, certainly. Okay, well, thank you. Certainly. Okay, well, thank you.
• Well, you can shoot someone...
• Well, however, folks, let me tell you this.
• “Well, I can tell you, because I am aware. No.

Committee: Senate Judiciary A

Keywords: 974, senate, all