Transcript Highlights:

• example, we wanted to know the average bail amount assigned to defendants in Minnesota, broken down by race
• </c><00:29:21.120><c> or</c><00:29:21.600><c> offense</c> Minnesota broken down by race or offense Minnesota
• broken down by race or offense or<00:29:22.840><c> we</c><00:29:22.960><c> wanted</c><00:29:23.240><
• 11.360><c> defendant</c><00:30:11.760><c> including</c><00:30:12.080><c> their</c><00:30:12.279><c> race
• </c> the defendant including their race the defendant including their race ethnicity<00:30:13.200><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also cleaned up the statute and took out some language having to do with dog racing and horse racing
• to</c><01:37:39.520><c> do</c><01:37:39.719><c> with</c><01:37:39.920><c> dog</c><01:37:40.159><c> racing
• </c> language having to do with dog racing language having to do with dog racing and<01:37:40.679><c>
• horse</c><01:37:40.960><c> racing</c><01:37:41.360><c> that</c><01:37:41.520><c> was</c><01:37:41.679
• ><c> no</c><01:37:41.880><c> longer</c> and horse racing that was no longer and horse racing that was

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on HR 18, a resolution urging New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to seek federal changes that would let very small slaughter plants use custom-exempt inspection criteria with a third-party inspector present, so beef, pork, lamb, and goat could be sold as individual cuts directly to consumers. Representative Judy Aron said the resolution was drafted in lieu of state legislation because the issue is governed by USDA rules, and she noted she was also working on an amendment to ensure the measure covered federal “very small” plants. Representative Miner asked for clarification about custom slaughter versus retail sales, and Representative Scully supported the resolution while suggesting language to make clear it applied only to local end consumers. Joyce Brady of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the state’s four USDA slaughterhouses and the bottleneck in custom cutting made the issue important. After no further testimony, the chair closed the hearing. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. For HB 616, members discussed an amendment that had been revised after public comments and Commissioner Jasper’s feedback; Representative Guber said it balanced the competing positions, and Representative Penza and Representative Ger said the language now addressed concerns about animal suffering by allowing euthanasia if a treating veterinarian determines the animal is in extreme suffering. The committee then discussed HB 77, with Representative Penza describing changes to landfill-related standards, including replacing aquifer references with drinking water wells, removing a penalty section, changing discretionary language to mandatory language for the department, and adjusting an in situ soils standard. Members praised the compromise, though Representative Scully raised concerns about the 1,500-foot setback and suggested engineering controls such as berms; Penza responded that current rules do not include such controls and that the setback was intended to address surface spills. Several members said the bill reflected a hard-fought balance and should not be rewritten at the last minute. For HB 505, the freeze-dried food bill, Representative Aron explained that the amendment replaced a simple exemption with a requirement that homestead food operations selling freeze-dried foods from a farm stand, farmers market, or retail food store obtain a homestead food license under RSA 143-A:4. She said the amendment defines freeze-dried foods as fruits, vegetables, and commercially prepared dairy products, and delays the effective date 120 days to allow rulemaking. Members generally supported the approach as a light-touch oversight mechanism for potentially hazardous foods, though Representative Ktoa asked for clarification about how the amendment interacts with existing licensing and inspection exemptions, and Aron clarified that these products would not be exempt from licensing under the relevant law. The committee then turned to HB 250, concerning local authority over dog muzzling, where members broadly supported the amendment as a simple solution, while Representative Ktoa asked about the underlying definition of a vicious dog and whether all listed behaviors would warrant muzzling. The discussion noted that the amendment would allow towns to require muzzling for dogs meeting the statutory definition, while excluding hunting, working, herding, and similar dogs.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Annabelle Marquez with the Committee for a Better Shafter, and Alma Martinez with the Center for Race
• Goodosioscoe, with the Center on Race, Poverty, and Environment, also registered support and said they
• Gresia Roscoe, on behalf of the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, in support.
• Greis Yarosco with the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment, in opposition.
• Also been asked to note opposition for Food & Water Watch, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment,

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 2026 on groundwater recharge. The author and supporters said the bill would streamline permitting for recharge projects, codify long-standing CEQA exemptions for flood diversions to recharge, and add tribal consultation and other guardrails. Water agencies and local districts supported the measure as a way to capture high-flow water and reduce groundwater subsidence, while environmental groups and some irrigation districts opposed it, warning that the bill’s exemptions and broader diversion authority could harm rivers, Delta resources, and public trust values. The bill was discussed but not voted on because the committee lacked a quorum at that point. The committee then took up AB 1577 on data center energy accountability, which would require monthly reporting of energy-use data and permit-related estimates of energy and water demand. The author and the Little Hoover Commission argued the bill would improve transparency, help protect ratepayers, and give regulators better information for grid planning. Data center industry representatives opposed it as duplicative, burdensome, and uniquely targeted, while local governments, environmental groups, and some utilities supported it or supported it if amended. The bill was later reported out with a due pass recommendation once a quorum was established. Members also heard AB 2245 on a producer responsibility program for lubricant products and containers, AB 2170 on CEQA language-access and environmental review protections for overburdened communities, AB 2059 on rural transportation and VMT mitigation, AB 1808 on Western Joshua tree permitting and fee relief, AB 2182 on industrial energy efficiency program changes, and AB 2231 on streamlining two hospital projects. Testimony was mixed on most of these bills: supporters emphasized affordability, local control, environmental justice, or project urgency, while opponents raised concerns about CEQA scope, regulatory duplication, costs, and environmental impacts. Several measures received due pass recommendations and roll-call votes, including AB 2170, AB 2059, AB 1808, AB 2182, and AB 2231, with some members voting no or not voting and some bills left open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't do live running or harness horse racing or live dog racing anymore, so that whole section is
• We don't do live running or harness horse racing or live dog racing anymore, so that whole section is
• We don't do live running or harness horse racing or live dog racing anymore, so that whole section is

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee worked through a draft bill amending animal cruelty and protective custody provisions, focusing on how animals may be seized, cared for, and returned, and on what rights owners have when animals are taken. Members discussed adding language requiring officers to inform a charged person in writing of the right to petition for a veterinarian of their choice, clarifying that any documents presented for signature must be fully and honestly explained, and revising language so confiscated animals cannot be altered without notarized owner authorization. They also considered a new prohibition on using confiscated animals for fundraising or donations, ultimately preferring the term “financial gain” over “profiteering.” The discussion also covered protective custody procedures, including adding “municipal animal control officer” to the list of officers involved, allowing return of animals to the owner or caretaker if no charges have been filed or no warrant establishing probable cause has been sought or issued, and clarifying the distinction between criminal seizure and temporary protective custody. The commissioner’s comments led to several proposed deletions or revisions, including removing language viewed as redundant or inconsistent with protective custody, and striking references to live racing provisions that are no longer relevant. Members further addressed lactating animals, agreeing to add language that confiscated lactating animals should not be separated from their nonweaned offspring. They also discussed a proposed confidentiality provision requiring people assisting in investigations or taking possession of seized animals to sign a binding nondisclosure agreement, though members noted similar protections may need to be duplicated in the temporary custody section as well. The conversation was largely about drafting and legal clarity, with no final vote or formal action recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are not going to solve the child care crisis by engaging in a race to the bottom, and my fear is that
• We are not going to solve the child care crisis by engaging in a race to the bottom, and my fear is that
• We are not going to solve the child care crisis by engaging in a race to the bottom, and my fear is that
• :39.279><c> and</c><00:31:39.480><c> my</c><00:31:39.639><c> fear</c><00:31:40.039><c> is</c> in a race
• to the bottom and my fear is in a race to the bottom and my fear is that<00:31:40.399><c> by</c><00:

Bills: HF1247, HF628

Keywords: child care, aides, supervision, child care centers, staffing regulations, childcare, day care, licensed child care center, early childhood education, child care licensing, director qualifications, staff ratios, group size, staff-to-child ratio, substitutes, volunteers, assistant teacher, teacher qualifications, infant care, toddler age

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaiian Homes Commission to the board of directors of HHFDC, and it will also help restore land to a race
• Hawaiian Homes Commission to the board of directors of HHFDC, and it will also help restore land to a race
• prohibition in section 5156 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes against discrimination on the basis of race
• 27:39.400><c> of</c> against discrimination on the basis of against discrimination on the basis of race
• c> including</c><01:27:41.000><c> gender</c><01:27:41.280><c> identity</c><01:27:41.639><c> or</c> race

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 834, which would change restrictions on transfers of real property under chapter 201H, HRS, and was discussed in the context of Hawaiian homelands and HHFDC-funded projects. Supporters, including HHFDC, DHHL, and individual testifiers, said the bill would clarify that Hawaiian homelands should not be subject to the 201H buyback and appreciation restrictions, while preserving affordability requirements tied to federal mortgage and tax credit programs. HHFDC explained that the main concern was the buyback/share-appreciation provisions, especially for DHHL projects using LIHTC or similar financing, and said aligning the statute with DHHL’s program goals would not be a problem. Members questioned whether removing the restrictions could weaken affordability protections, and whether the state could still prioritize beneficiaries and workforce housing, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 759, which would add the DHHL chairperson or designee to the HHFDC board of directors and adjust quorum requirements. DHHL and several supporters argued the measure would give Hawaiian Homes a seat at the table, improve access to HHFDC funding sources such as tax credits, private activity bonds, and revolving funds, and help leverage limited resources to reduce the Hawaiian Homes waitlist. One testifier supported the bill but urged safeguards to prevent favoritism or abuse of power, and another raised concerns about whether a DHHL representative would need to recuse from voting on projects involving DHHL. HHFDC testified that DHHL projects still must compete under the same criteria and set-asides as other applicants, and that the board already includes multiple public and executive representatives. Members pressed on whether DHHL could achieve the same informational goals without a voting seat, and whether the added board role would create leverage or conflicts. The DHHL witness said a nonvoting role could provide information, but a voting seat would be more useful for decision-making and advocacy. The discussion also covered DHHL’s use of LIHTC, rent-to-own models, transitional housing, and other layered financing, as well as the broader need to coordinate state housing resources. The transcript ends during continued questioning, with no final committee action or vote shown.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• something because, as you know, during early voting it's whichever party had the last gubernatorial race
• Do you think we need to go to all during early voting is also by percentage of the governor's race, or
• And so we're even, in our case, we're a minimum three precincts have to be hand-counted, three races
• post-election hand count, you had, in our case, we had to do three precincts, three random precincts of three races

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since my first race, I have voted to support LGBTQ rights and have been proud to earn the support and
• I support the right for everyone to marry, regardless of sexual orientation, race, or race.
• I support the right for everyone to marry regardless of sexual orientation, race, or gender.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present, opened with a moment of silence for Ted Williams, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then accepted the previous day’s minutes and moved into a series of recognitions, beginning with House Resolution 27 designating June 24, 2026 as Staff Appreciation Day. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the chamber spent much of the meeting honoring legislative staff across both caucuses, with members and staff introducing themselves and being recognized for years of service and behind-the-scenes work. The House also recognized staff member Justin, who is leaving for a position with the Delaware State Board of Education, and later gave farewell remarks for Representative Kevin Hensley and Representative Charles Postles, both of whom are retiring. Numerous members spoke in tribute to their service, constituent work, and personal character, and both Hensley and Postles offered remarks thanking colleagues, staff, and family. The House then received communications from the Senate, including several bills and resolutions passed and returned, and a notice of Senate concurrence on other measures. Representative Wilson-Anton made a brief statement explaining her vote on Senate Bill 100 and reaffirming support for marriage equality and related civil rights issues. The chamber also took up Senate Joint Resolution 16 and Senate Joint Resolution 17, which set the official revenue estimates for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; both were read, called to roll, and passed by constitutional majority votes of 37-4 and 40-1, respectively. Finally, the House considered Senate Bill 335, the operating budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Representative Williams presented the budget on behalf of the Joint Finance Committee, describing major funding items including raises for state and education employees, health insurance and retiree benefit funding, developmental disability services, Medicaid growth, purchase of care, and maintenance of reserve funds. Several members praised the committee’s work, while Representative Shupe said he would vote no, citing concerns about the budget’s 6.3% growth despite appreciating the committee’s effort. After the budget presentation and comments, Leader Harris moved that the House recess for party caucuses, and the House stood in recess until the call of the bell.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm policy director with the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School, a research
• Our clearest differences were our race and our family's wealth.
• I carried these differences in race, wealth, and survival with me often.
• that when workers are automatically enrolled, participation rates are equal, about 80% across all races

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the work that we do every day to make sure that every child, regardless of their race or their location
• sure that every child, regardless<00:38:31.520><c> of</c><00:38:31.680><c> their</c><00:38:31.920><c> race
• </c><00:38:32.320><c> or</c><00:38:32.640><c> their</c> regardless of their race or their regardless
• of their race or their location,<00:38:33.359><c> has</c><00:38:33.599><c> a</c><00:38:33.760><c> quality

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• been pulling all over to try to get resources to help support our data evaluation manager and our race
• been pulling all over to try to get resources to help support our data evaluation manager and our race
• So we have a race and equity manager here, Around our panel process.
• So we have a race and equity manager, a racial equity action plan, and we use something called a decision

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Trade should not be a race to the bottom.
• Trade should not be a race to the bottom.
• Trade should not be a race to the bottom.
• Trade should not be a race to the bottom.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, March 27, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every race is partisan and we'll move forward from there because every race is partisan.
• And I'm going to use the term because I saw it here and I liked it: it's race-neutral laws, because this
• from all of the data that we can find on our side of the aisle, this is popular among voters of every race

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills and one bill on party vacancy procedures. SB 1018, which would expand Arizona’s foreign law restrictions to expressly include Sharia law and certain related religious or cultural practices, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters said it was intended to prevent enforcement of coercive or unconstitutional private adjudications, while opponents argued it was anti-Muslim and unconstitutional. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. SB 1568 would require election equipment clocks and timekeeping functions to be set to the current accurate time and verified during testing. County officials opposed parts of the bill as impractical for equipment not connected to the internet and for areas with different time zones, while the sponsor and a witness said inaccurate clocks had been observed in testing. The committee adopted the bill on a 4-3 vote. SB 1687 would move the primary election to the Tuesday before Memorial Day and adjust related filing and petition deadlines; an amendment expanding Clean Elections timing and spending provisions was offered but defeated. The bill then passed 4-3 after members discussed the need to align election timelines and Clean Elections rules. SB 1825 would change how precinct committeeman vacancies are filled, shifting authority in counties over 500,000 people toward legislative district chairs and requiring faster action by county boards. Supporters said it would streamline appointments and improve transparency, while opponents warned it could concentrate power and create abuse. An amendment clarifying the county-size threshold was adopted, and the bill passed 4-1 with one present and one absent. SB 1037, which imposes stricter cybersecurity and chain-of-custody requirements on voting and tabulating equipment and requires continuous video at counting centers, also passed after amendment on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing SCR 1001, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring U.S. citizenship to register and vote, banning foreign-national election contributions, requiring proof of identity for voting, and changing some mail-ballot and polling-place rules; the transcript cuts off before any vote on that resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every race is partisan, and we'll move forward from there because every race is partisan.
• And I'm going to use the term because I saw it here and I liked it: it's race-neutral laws, because this
• of the data that we can find at our side of the aisle, right, this is popular among voters of every race

Bills: SB1018, SB1037, SB1568, SB1687, SB1825, SCR1001

Keywords: foreign law, Sharia law, cultural practices, women's rights, marriage laws, domestic violence, honor killings, Arizona legislation, elections, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system, EMS gateway

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there's no exception, for instance, for, you know, race discrimination.
• instance,<00:04:15.000><c> for,</c><00:04:15.920><c> you</c><00:04:16.040><c> know,</c><00:04:16.280><c> race
• </c> instance, for, you know, race instance, for, you know, race discrimination.<00:04:17.480><c> Um,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• name is Jose, and I'm from Miami, and I just want to remind you that for the city of Miami mayoral race
• , only 21.34% of people actually voted, and that's such an embarrassing number for a race.
• name is Jose, and I'm from Miami, and I just want to remind you that for the city of Miami mayoral race
• , only 21.34% of people actually voted, and that's such an embarrassing number for disagree race.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with HB 4087, which authorizes the Highlands County Hospital District to evaluate options to sell, lease, or manage its hospital. An amendment adding fair market value as a consideration was adopted, and the bill then passed unanimously. HB 841, which eliminates the requirement for validation stickers on license plates and moves registration verification to electronic systems, also passed after questions about law enforcement procedures, pretextual stops, and consumer savings; a technical amendment was adopted first. HB 593, dealing with campaign fundraising while on official time, lobbying rules for water management districts, agency secretary travel reimbursement, and settlement conditions involving third parties, passed without opposition. CS for HB 1019, the PFAS-related bill phasing out aqueous film-forming foam and requiring testing of treated effluent and biosolids, passed after an amendment limiting local utility liability until EPA standards are set; speakers emphasized firefighter and water-quality concerns. Several local and administrative measures also advanced. HB 4089 conveyed the Trenton Train Depot to the City of Trenton, HB 6011 updated ethics disclosure procedures for Form 10 filings, and PCS for HB 1051 created a recall process for community development district board members while also addressing synthetic turf deed restrictions and landowner-control timelines. HB 1031 established a pilot callback system for state agency customer service lines, and CS for HB 961 removed a burdensome electronic signature requirement for salvaged titles. HB 1421, which requires land managers to consider cattle grazing on conservation lands, drew substantial debate over state parks, water quality, and land management; an amendment added ecological guardrails and the bill passed 20-3. CS for HB 253 expanded eligibility for the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program and passed unanimously, while HB 4039 required Broward County to study and hold a hearing before enlarging the Monarch Hill landfill landmark and passed despite opposition from the waste industry. CS for HB 755 eased Habitat for Humanity bond requirements in the Florida Keys and extended the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, and HB 1035 promoted nature-based coastal resiliency projects and permitting; both passed unanimously. The committee then considered major foreign influence and election integrity measures. CS for CS for HB 905, the FIRE Act, was substantially revised by strike-all to expand registration and disclosure requirements for foreign agents and foreign-supported political organizations, restrict gifts and contracts tied to foreign countries of concern, terminate sister city agreements with such countries, and strengthen penalties for transnational repression; members debated the treatment of Qatar, linkage institutes, and the broader impact on international students, and the bill passed 24-1. Finally, CS for HB 991 proposed sweeping election changes, including citizenship verification at registration, a citizenship oath, new voter ID rules, paper ballots except for disability accommodations, candidate party-affiliation timing rules, stronger foreign-money restrictions, and other enforcement provisions. Members raised extensive concerns about document submission, data retention, student IDs, seniors, disability access, and the burden of proof for citizenship, and the committee was still in the middle of that discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• seem like we're trying to remove someone that's currently on the board for whatever specific reason, race
• the board for whatever<00:21:38.400><c> specific</c><00:21:38.799><c> reason,</c><00:21:39.200><c> race
• ,</c> whatever specific reason, race, whatever specific reason, race, ideologies,<00:21:40.960><c> whatever

Bills: SB174, SB39, SB40, SB206, SB200, HB169, HB345, HB381, HB25, SB174, SB39, SB40, SB206, SB200, HB169, HB345, HB381, HB25

Keywords: business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40, Houston/Hunter Act, firearm hold agreement, gun storage, temporary firearm storage, firearms dealer, federal firearms licensee, FFL, civil immunity, gun owner

Transcript Highlights:

• School board races in general are unlike any other races in our state because they are nonpartisan.
• like. in leadership that we lose in rural Arizona when it comes to leaders like Mike and school board races
• in general are unlike any other races in our state because they are nonpartisan when you run for school

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I know in my last race I did four or five, six pieces of mail all with the same company.
• know</c><00:42:30.960><c> in</c><00:42:31.200><c> my</c><00:42:31.440><c> last</c><00:42:31.680><c> race
• Um I know in my last race I it's made.
• Um I know in my last race I did<00:42:32.800><c> u</c> did u did u was<00:42:34.960><c> four</c><00:42

Keywords: Elections - Room 210; 29 January, 2026: 2:30 PM, 925, all