Transcript Highlights:

• We also look at internal controls to ensure that compliance.
• And then we also look at internal<01:35:44.000><c> controls</c><01:35:44.400><c> to</c><01:35:44.639>
• <c> ensure</c><01:35:45.040><c> that</c> internal controls to ensure that internal controls to ensure
• controls over each of these areas.
• So we try to control things. of minutes. So we try to control things.

Summary: The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council met on May 27, 2026, approved the January 7 minutes and the day’s agenda, and reported no conflicts of interest. The executive director gave staff updates, including introductions of new staff member Cara Castanza and DNR liaison Jason Co., both of whom were welcomed by the council. Members were also informed about three minor easement/conveyance matters in the packet, including a small Bowser easement impact with about $1,600 returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, a Minnesota Land Trust easement request involving a DNR trout stream easement, and an access easement revision in Itasca County. The council also noted several upcoming dedication events and a June field tour in southeast Minnesota beginning in Winona on June 16, with visits to Whitewater WMA, bluff prairie and stream sites, and a river segment if a boat is secured. A major agenda item was a legislative session recap on the Outdoor Heritage Fund portion of Senate File 2077, the omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy, and Lands bill. Staff reported that all council recommendations were incorporated into the bill, which passed both chambers on May 17 and was expected to be signed by the governor. The fiscal year 2027 Outdoor Heritage Fund recommendations covered 53 programs totaling about $188.9 million, with the February forecast increasing the appropriation slightly so the final total was about $191.16 million; eligible programs were proportionately increased. Staff also highlighted a few changes made during the legislative process, including adjustments to the Roso Lake rehabilitation phase three project, the conservation partners legacy grant language, and statutory provisions affecting the council. The recap also covered policy changes in the bill: a public member term limit of eight years, with a short vacancy exception and transition rules for current members; a revised executive director hiring process allowing the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide support while preserving the council’s final hiring authority and permitting closed meetings for candidate discussions; and an extension of the Upper Mississippi River invasive carp deterrent design deadline to June 30, 2027. Members discussed the Roso Lake amendment at length, with Senator Lang and Representative Burkel explaining that the added delay and injunction-related language were intended to address local concerns and preserve the council’s process while litigation proceeds. The meeting ended without any additional formal action beyond receiving the updates and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they local levels, or are they international levels? Who are they? Yes, sir. So both.
• They've told me, 'I've lost control over my body. I felt humiliated.'
• And within days, someone has found her, built trust, and taken control.
• SB 1221 gives criminal prosecutors effective control over conservators' investigations.
• Giving prosecutors that control effectively turns them into criminal proceedings, with ...that control

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of public safety bills. The chair announced recess and return times, noted several consent items, and said SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Testimony procedures were explained, including limits on principal witnesses and public comment. Several bills were heard out of file order with authors presenting and witnesses speaking in support and opposition. SB 1446 would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make votes public, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluations in certain cases. Supporters, including the author and district attorneys, said it would improve transparency and public safety; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual or serial sexual offenses from elderly parole eligibility; the author and district attorneys cited recent releases of serious sex offenders and the need to respect victims and sentences, while opponents said the elderly parole process is already rigorous and evidence-based and that the bill would reduce rehabilitation incentives. The chair and other members strongly supported the measure, but no vote was taken. The committee also heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement forces from entering California without the governor’s permission; the author and supporters framed it as a state sovereignty and constitutional authority measure, and the committee discussed an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for implementation of Proposition 36; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and related services, while opponents called it fiscally reckless and said the budget process was the proper place to address funding. The chair summarized amendments removing a specific appropriation and limiting eligible recipients, and members emphasized that the voters approved Prop. 36 but it remains underfunded. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer oversight for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment providers, especially ABA providers serving children; it drew support from health plans and behavior analysis groups and no opposition. SB 1210 would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to all gang databases, including local ones; supporters described privacy harms and racial disparities, while police chiefs opposed applying CalGang rules to informal local investigative files. SB 1019 would create a DOJ cargo theft task force; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, and port interests described organized theft, rail sabotage, and supply-chain losses, and there was no opposition. SB 1217, on non-consensual intimate image removal, was introduced with privacy and public safety amendments and framed as a survivor-driven effort to create a DOJ clearinghouse for rapid takedown requests; the author said it would help end ongoing digital harm from exploitation.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is John Carlo Ferrero, and I'm a high school intern with the LSO.
• to serve as an intern with the LSO.
• </c> Rothus has made me want to intern today. Rothus has made me want to intern today.
• Thank you, Senator Scott. is so the people can retain control over is so the people can retain control
• </c><02:20:50.640><c> of</c> That's how the people retain control of That's how the people retain control

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:41:01.440><c> Um,</c> bill, curriculum is a local control.
• Um, bill, curriculum is a local control.
• . >> How did we lose control of this committee?
• </c><02:02:43.840><c> component</c> that is why the local control component that is why the local control
• Finally, equity and local control.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• If you do a controlled burn, you go through all the steps to give you some protection should it get out
• If you do a controlled burn, you go through all the steps to give you some protection should it get out
• And I also think if we would do more controlled burns when we have a situation like this week under a
• The response was that the speaker was not aware of what they currently use internally for purchasing
• The speaker said he was not aware of what the agencies currently use internally for vehicle purchasing

Committee: House A&B General Government Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Trust funds for land management activities, plant pest and disease control, citrus issues.
• responsible to manage, they need to be able to do that in a way that ensures that they can do their controlled
• That in a way that ensures that they can do their controlled burns so that we never have the kind of
• as you can see, the department actively seeks and uses federal funding under USDA programs and international
• the FDOC uses the legislative budget authority passed by the Legislature each year to develop an internal

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met to hear member-led presentations on agency budget requests after prior meetings with the agencies. Representative Barnaby summarized the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ fiscal year 2025-26 request, highlighting major funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, Florida Forest Service wildfire and land management needs, citrus disease and research efforts, a new Conner Complex facility and lab, agricultural water and BMP projects, agricultural law enforcement staffing and equipment, maintenance and vehicle needs, and federal grant-related spending. No vote was taken on the department’s request during the meeting. Representative Bartleman presented the Department of Environmental Protection request and said the subcommittee supported it fully. The request emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality grants, springs, harmful algal bloom and red tide response, alternate water supplies, resilience and flood prevention, beach and coral reef restoration, land acquisition and state parks, and cleanup of petroleum, dry cleaning, and hazardous waste sites. Representative Alvarez asked DEP to provide a list of the most contaminated lakes, along with estimated costs, so the committee could prioritize cleanup efforts. Representative Black summarized the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission request, which included additional law enforcement funding in high-demand areas, oyster and reef restoration, habitat restoration, heavy equipment for land management and prescribed burning, a water survival training center, and red snapper data research. Representative Salzman then presented the Department of Citrus request, describing a lean agency budget focused on operations, PALM readiness, marketing and consumer awareness, greening-resistant plant material, and building repairs; the workgroup recommended fully funding the request. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff for the more member-driven budget process, and the subcommittee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is our responsibility to control those purse strings.
• To Sarah Foster, who started out as my first USF intern.
• Started out as my first USF intern. Go Bulls.
• To all of my interns, you are the shining stars in my eyes.
• We are not taking away local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• provides an analysis on cost drivers of specific high-cost projects and identifies strategies to control
• New Mexico Junior College also avoids change orders to control costs.
• We're not going to invest in you guys if you can't control your costs from going from, I think, 354%
• We will actually be able to control valves from the control center so we can slow flow. Mr.
• , and we can then take on a more cost-efficient plan and control that.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are not asking questions in order to support their children; it is to punish and to control.
• This is simply an extension of fear and control. Teachers' jobs are hard enough.
• This is simply an extension of fear and control. Teachers' jobs are hard enough.
• This is simply an extension of fear and control. Teachers' jobs are hard enough.
• To date, as far as I can tell, no one has international Elite level and I go whoa international Elite

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 34 requires controls that offer products or services to a child.
• Kind of along the line with... ...and how do we help parents control it?
• We know that folks tend to stay where they intern, where they get licensed.
• And we know that folks tend to stay where they intern, where they get licensed.
• Therefore, Section 9 ensures that no... control over their own reproductive genetic material.

Bills: AB52 , AB76 , AB163 , AB388 , AB483

Committee: Assembly Commerce and Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• It's really turning on something internally that's happened within the lawmaking or regulatory-making
• language, 'there is any count alleging a procedural defect,' is a lot more specific and puts a lot more control
• language, 'there is any count alleging a procedural defect,' is a lot more specific and puts a lot more control
• types and so forth, it may be best as the legislative liaison for the judiciary, before you send any interns
• Before you send any interns out coming through the annual report, that we might be able to provide that

Committees: House Judiciary , House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• It may just be an internal rule. Yeah, I'm not sure, but that's probably why I want it in statute.
• It's not going to be something that's internally drawn off their paycheck. Okay.
• It's not going to be something that's internally drawn off their paycheck. Okay.
• So they always have the control over this process. This is 2026. This has been around for 43 years.
• MSTA members retain control of their membership.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• STRENGTHENS JUST LAID OF CONTROL, IT PREVENTS UNAUTHORIZED REGULATORY OVERREACH, IT IMPROVES RULEMAKING
• Overdorf: SO YOU ARE SAYING IT WAS INTERNAL SITUATIONS YOU FELT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO FINISH THE RULE?
• THERE IS NO INTERNAL PROCEDURE FOR ADVISING THE COMMITTEES SCHEDULING ABOUT ON THE RATIFICATION THEREFORE
• MANAGEMENT SERVICES WHICH PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND SERVICES BUT DOES NOT DIRECT SUPERVISOR CONTROL
• WE HAVE INTERNAL GUIDANCE WE WANT ORDERS DONE IN A CERTAIN TIME. THAT IS WHAT I WANT.

Transcript Highlights:

• , And ask you not to give in to a spirit of fear and control, but to leave it here and don't pass it
• They're part... ...They're part of the International Council of Shopping Centers and some of the big
• I have an internal policy. So how do you reconcile that?
• Then they're going to have to have internal training, which costs money and time.
• So I would disagree. have to have internal training, which costs money and time.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We simply do not have the expertise or resources to litigate international, comparative, constitutional
• This is, I mean, I just Googled the other day, the International Criminal Court.
• And a lot of countries are part of this International Criminal Court.
• There's the International Court of Justice. There's a lot of countries that are a part of that.
• There's international court of justice. There's a lot of countries that are a part of that.

Bills: SB5962 , SB6105 , SB6203 , SB6296

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: spring blade knives, knife legislation, weapon regulation, public safety, law enforcement, medical debt, garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings exemption, exempt wages, debt collection, consumer debt, student loan debt, private student loans, disposable earnings, minimum wage, writ of garnishment, exemption claim, judgment debtor, creditor

Transcript Highlights:

• The Teche Vermilion Water District was created to control that system.
• He did this in conjunction with overall, I would say, international plans to do this, something called
• has no control in any way, shape, or form to control climate change, and that we should get away from
• What we don't have control over is what our neighbor does. Right, right.
• What we don't have control over is what our neighbor does. Right, right.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• adjustments are largely reflected in various standard statewide adjustments and the decrease in internal
• So that has been cut from, you know, it was an internal reduction that we did.
• We actually have technology now to where if a drone appears, we can take control of the drone.
• We have technology now to where if a drone appears, we can take control of the drone.
• Program. ...and Tobacco Control Program.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard FY27 budget presentations for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, beginning with Public Safety Services. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the department’s recommended budget of $645.9 million, including supplemental pay, State Police, Motor Vehicles, and the State Fire Marshal. Officials explained that the overall budget reflects a net decrease from FY26, driven largely by shifts in funding sources, removal of one-time statutory dedications, and adjustments tied to undercollections in fees and self-generated revenues. State Police was recommended at $459.7 million, OMV at $86.7 million, and the Fire Marshal at $41.1 million. Department leaders also described ongoing modernization efforts, staffing vacancies, and the use of efficiencies identified internally. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burns and agency heads testified about State Police operations, including increased cadet graduations, improved Mardi Gras security, progress on APHIS and OMV modernization, and the new crime lab under construction. Members asked about undercollections, vacancies, the role of public tag agents, and whether the agency could expand counter-drone capabilities. Burns said the department has identified about $11 million in efficiencies, but warned that counter-drone work would require additional funding, citing a $4.5 million fiscal note for HB 940 and roughly $9 million more for a robust unit. OMV officials said staffing and retention remain difficult, but modernization should improve service and reduce lines; they also said the agency continues to rely on public tag agents and is working through reinstatement fee collection issues. The committee then reviewed the Department of Corrections FY27 budget, recommended at $902.3 million, with most funding from State General Fund and a large increase tied to higher incarceration costs, medical needs, overtime, and added capacity at Louisiana State Penitentiary. DOC officials said the department remains under pressure from vacancies, turnover, contraband, and medical costs, and that the budget includes funding to add 150 correctional officers at Angola and to house ICE detainees at Camp J. They also discussed criminal justice reinvestment savings, prison enterprises, and reentry programs funded through the Second Chance Act. Members asked about staffing, inmate deaths at Elaine Hunt, work-release pay, and whether the department is tracking the true long-term cost of incarceration. Officials said they are pursuing pay increases, recruitment, expanded training and reentry programs, and more data-driven workforce alignment, while acknowledging that many budget pressures remain unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• On lines 1.13, you will see a revisor fix to an internal cross-reference.
• </c><00:39:24.480><c> one</c><00:39:24.640><c> point</c> an internal cross reference. one point an internal
• And the ones that they don't have control over really uh inflate their budgets.
• And the ones that they don't have control over really uh inflate their budgets.
• They run the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Bills: HF2431 , HF2438 , HF2783 , HF1943

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We had an intern, Ms. Zyla Bryant. Zyla, will you please stand?
• This legislative session, she has also served as an intern in our office.
• In the East Gallery, we have our intern, Rohan Patel. Rohan, please stand.
• I'd like to recognize my intern, Sebastian Gertl. Thank you.
• In the West Gallery, we have our intern, Michaela Lusena.

Transcript Highlights:

• While early in the year, international meetings had significant increase in attendance from international
• International visitors make up a significant portion of our visitation.
• I know you get the international numbers, right?
• International Canada, but what about visitors coming from other states?
• Finally, international travel.

Committee: House House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of recent federal policy and budget actions on Massachusetts libraries, humanities organizations, arts institutions, and tourism. Testimony from library leaders described the loss or jeopardy of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, including statewide databases, local grants, staff positions, E-rate/hotspot support, and digital equity programs. Witnesses said the cuts have already forced reductions in services, canceled grants and workshops, and in some cases left schools, students, job seekers, and low-income patrons without access to key resources. Members of the committee asked for lists of affected communities and databases, and several witnesses said they would provide additional written detail. Arts and humanities witnesses said federal terminations from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS have hit organizations across the Commonwealth, including Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass MoCA, and local museums and historical societies. They described canceled or rescinded grants, layoffs, reduced programming, and a chilling effect on future applications and on artistic and scholarly work, especially where federal awards had already been matched with local or private funds. Several speakers also raised concerns about executive-branch DEI conditions attached to funding and about book challenges and book banning, saying these trends threaten intellectual freedom and public access to culture and history. Committee members emphasized the economic importance of the sector and the need to publicize the impacts. Tourism officials from Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism testified that federal cuts and broader geopolitical and tariff issues are hurting international visitation, especially from Canada and Western Europe, and could affect major upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and Sail Boston. They said reduced funding for Brand USA and Discover New England will weaken long-term marketing efforts and international partnerships, with downstream effects on hotel tax revenue, jobs, and workforce recruitment. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members mainly asking questions and requesting follow-up written testimony and data.