Transcript Highlights:

• My name is John Lawn, and I am the House Chair.
• consistent with House Rule 27.
• House Bill 4623. Sandra Beaton.
• We have now an in-person panel on House Bill 4353: Megan Van Nostrand, Dr.
• This is why Senate Bill 2587 and House Bill 4353 are so important.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a range of health care financing bills focused largely on autism services and kidney disease coverage. Committee chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman outlined hearing procedures and noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted until each bill is acted upon. They said the day’s bills addressed affordability and access to behavioral health services, provider reimbursement, Medicare coverage for vulnerable patients, and MassHealth eligibility asset exemptions. A major portion of the hearing concerned House Bill 4623, which would recognize board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCABAs) in the MassHealth reimbursement framework to help address long wait lists for autism spectrum disorder services. Representative Lisa Field and several providers testified that Massachusetts families face long delays for ABA services and that adding BCABAs would expand workforce capacity, reduce costs, and improve access. Wakely actuary Annie Tasman Ewing said a three-tier model could reduce MassHealth costs by up to 6% annually, while Dr. Sandra Beaton and others described severe wait lists and said the bill would allow more families to be served sooner. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 4425 and Senate Bill 2737, which would allow people under 65 with end-stage renal disease to purchase Medigap coverage. Representative Stanley, Senator Gomez, and advocates from the American Kidney Fund and Dialysis Patient Citizens argued that current law unfairly excludes these patients, leaves them with high out-of-pocket costs, and can delay transplant eligibility because many centers require secondary insurance. Testifiers said the change would help about 846 residents, could cost insurers only a small premium increase, and might reduce Medicaid spending by avoiding asset spend-downs. Committee members asked questions about the existing statutory carve-out and the practical effects on transplant access. The hearing also included testimony on House Bill 4353 and Senate Bill 2587, which would require regular Medicaid rate reviews for ABA services. Providers and clinicians said current MassHealth rates no longer reflect the cost of delivering care, especially with new 2026 policy requirements, workforce shortages, and accreditation obligations. They emphasized that the bills would not mandate a rate increase but would create a data-driven, transparent review process. At the end of the hearing, the chairs thanked participants, invited additional written testimony, and the committee voted unanimously to adjourn the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the agenda, House File 628.
• Anyway, House File 628, as you mentioned, is being held over, and for good reason.
• Anyway, House File 628, as you mentioned, is being held over, and for good reason.
• </c><00:02:35.920><c> and</c> child care can be more affordable and child care can be more affordable
• <00:05:21.319><c> for</c> affordability for affordability for families<00:05:23.280><c> success</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• We support new housing construction in Massachusetts and build on last year's Affordable Homes Act.
• We've not built enough housing. The housing that we have is out of reach. We have enough housing.
• Health care workers are leaving because they can't afford housing that they can reasonably afford.
• So if we're serious about addressing housing affordability, if we're serious about stemming these workforce
• treatment, House No. 5316, comes from the House endorsement.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've not built enough housing. The housing that we have is out of reach. We have enough housing.
• We've not built enough housing. The housing that we have is out of reach.
• Health care workers are leaving because they can't afford housing that they can reasonably afford.
• So if we're serious about addressing housing affordability, if we're serious about stemming these workforce
• Paper from the House.

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood. The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents. Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not going to create additional affordable housing opportunities if we just prevent landlords from
• But the restrictions that government imposes aren't just rent control or affordable housing restrictions
• And, you know, to really address, I think, our housing affordability crisis, it's really twofold.
• well as keeping the housing supply that we have affordable.
• New Jersey continues to face a severe housing affordability crisis.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumers choose what they want and what they can afford.
• It also helps Consumers choose what they want and what they can afford.
• happened to my mother—and said, oh, we’re not going to be… ...over a senior’s house.
• And you also brought up a very important... ...who cannot afford to live in the urban areas.
• And, Senator, where do we think about this affordability piece? Mr.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1315 by Senator Cabaldon, the “Drive My Car Act,” which was described as a forward-looking bill aimed at ensuring that owners of vehicles with advanced autonomous or software-driven features retain the right to drive their own cars. Cabaldon explained that, after discussions with stakeholders, the bill would likely be redirected out of the insurance space and into transportation to address concerns about mandatory software updates disabling human driving. Members broadly praised the concept as a timely response to emerging technology, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Transportation Committee, with members voting aye and the bill held on call until all votes were recorded. The committee then took up SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, presented by the Insurance Commissioner and supported by the committee chair. The bill was framed as a comprehensive response to wildfire disaster claims problems, especially after the Los Angeles-area fires, and would require more accurate replacement-cost estimates, stronger optional extended replacement-cost coverage, improved building code upgrade coverage, faster claim payments, clearer adjuster communication, pre-disaster emergency response plans, and stronger penalties and restitution for unfair claims handling. Supporters, including United Policyholders, California Environmental Voters, the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, AARP California, and consumer advocates, said the bill would help survivors avoid underinsurance, delays, and repeated trauma in the claims process. Opposition came from several insurance and industry groups, including APCIA, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies, the Civil Justice Association of California, and the California Building Industry Association. They argued the bill remained too broad, would raise premiums, reduce flexibility, and could worsen availability in an already fragile market, especially because of mandatory coverage expansions and faster payout requirements. Committee members questioned both sides extensively about cost, optional versus mandatory provisions, contents coverage, ALE limits, building code upgrades, and rate-setting timelines. The committee ultimately passed SB 876 as amended to the Judiciary Committee on a due pass motion, with one no vote from Vice Chair Niello and the remaining recorded members voting aye; the bill was held open briefly to add a missing vote before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The sad truth is that they are dropping out because they just cannot afford to stay housed and also be
• And the state has validated VMT reductions from earlier affordable housing projects.
• Supporting affordable housing and keeping our beaches open to everyone, regardless of income or where
• to increase the supply and therefore reduce the cost, as well as some combination of affordable housing
• Frankly, in a housing crisis where the median home prices are $905,000, 82% of Californians can't afford

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And my understanding is this bill would afford that.
• And my understanding is this bill would afford that.
• And my understanding is this bill would afford that.
• I'm especially pleased with some of the set-asides for affordable housing, but this will give developers
• and cities an opportunity to create walkable neighborhoods and also create more affordable housing opportunities

Bills: HB2689 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB5877

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• We use that affordability fund to make coverage more affordable for New Mexicans, so we just want to
• And I was the Affordable Care Act...
• So, all of these are funded through the Healthcare Affordability Fund's Marketplace Affordability Plan
• So, more about this affordability program.
• Chair, no, it is coming from the Health Care Affordability Fund. Affordability Fund.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is from House File 84. is from House File 84.
• </c> 4428 and House File 3763. 4428 and House File 3763.
• </c> House File 4969. House File 4969.
• </c> and um, House File 4969. and um, House File 4969.
• </c> afford the three bucks. afford the three bucks.

Bills: HF4401 , HF4466

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your bills last year uh House File 2617. your bills last year uh House File 2617.
• </c> &gt;&gt; I I love working at the state fair house &gt;&gt; I I love working at the state fair house
• </c> years before I was elected to the house. years before I was elected to the house.
• </c> state of Minnesota can find and afford state of Minnesota can find and afford good<00:08:23.360>
• </c><00:08:56.640><c> They're</c> they're just not affordable. They're they're just not affordable.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill on page 7 of House Bill 1, it does say to implement.
• Affordability fund is estimated to have over $100 million in it.
• People are entitled to not buy a home that they can't afford.
• To the pressures and the affordability pressures that folks are facing around housing, transportation
• To the pressures and the affordability pressures that folks are facing around housing, transportation

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the House Chair of the committee.
• You have opposition to House Bill 336, House Bill 335, House Bill 374, opposition to House Bill 224,
• I have you here for House Bill 335, House Bill 336, Senate Bill 268 in opposition, and House Bill 449
• We have you here listed as opposing House Bill 335, House Bill 336, House Bill 374, House Bill 224, which
• So, House Bill 335, House Bill 336, House Bill 374, House Bill 224, House Bill 449, and that's what I

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on several real estate, housing, and consumer protection bills. A major portion of the hearing focused on bills to create licensure for commercial interior designers (H.324/S.254), with supporters from the architecture and interior design fields arguing the measure would recognize a distinct profession, expand permitting authority for qualified designers, improve public safety, and remove barriers to firm ownership and public contracting. Witnesses said the proposal had been redrafted through collaboration among interior designers, architects, engineers, and building officials, and Senator Gomez said the Senate had passed the bill previously and hoped to advance it again. The committee also heard support for H.450 on solar customer protections, with solar companies backing standardized disclosures, a consumer brochure, a longer rescission period, and sales registration requirements as consumer safeguards that would not materially disrupt business operations. The committee then took testimony on H.431/S.245, a bill to end housing discrimination in the Commonwealth. Senator Gomez, fair housing advocates, and several renters described alleged discrimination against Black renters and voucher holders, citing testing data and personal experiences. They said the bill would strengthen enforcement by linking court findings to temporary license suspensions, require fair housing training, increase public reporting, and add board representation with fair housing or voucher-holder experience. A real estate appraisers representative also supported S.196, which would make appraisal licensure mandatory in Massachusetts, arguing that home valuation should be done by licensed professionals. A substantial part of the hearing addressed broker-fee and rental-timing bills, including H.335, H.336, H.374, H.224, and H.449. Supporters of the broker-fee changes argued that tenants should not be charged fees when the landlord hired the broker, while opponents warned the language could restrict tenant representation and harm small landlords, students, and the rental market. Several witnesses opposed the 90-day lease-signing window in H.336, saying it would compress the September rental cycle, worsen competition, and make it harder for students and out-of-state renters to secure housing. The chairs noted that broker fees had already been addressed in the state budget, and the hearing concluded with no votes on the bills, only the close of testimony and an announcement that the committee would not hold another hearing until later in the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• for affordable housing that is out of reach for too many people.
• </c> Samuel Estus I serve as affordable Samuel Estus I serve as affordable housing<00:05:39.800><c> program
• We are affordable housing.
• </c> affordable housing has now become affordable housing has now become unaffordable<00:31:10.760><c
• c> we</c><01:06:42.559><c> we're</c> uh housing affordable I think we we're uh housing affordable I think

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• The affordability discussion is on electricity; I think we should focus there.
• And, you know, I too want to start by thanking you for your focus on affordability.
• So we talk about affordability and affordability and it's like, okay, well, you always think of.
• So we talk about affordability and affordability and it's like, okay, well, you always think of, you
• Is it affordable?

Summary: The committee heard several energy and water affordability bills, with extensive testimony on SB 254 by Senator Becker, SB 541 by Senator Becker, SB 453 by Senator Stern, SB 292 by Senator Caballero, and SB 473 by Senator Padilla. SB 254 was presented as a broad utility affordability package addressing short-term climate credits, a Power Fund, tighter scrutiny of rate increases and utility profits, wildfire spending, securitization of future utility costs, and streamlining. Supporters, including TURN and several environmental and public power groups, said it could lower bills and reduce long-term costs; opponents from investor-owned utilities, labor, business, and local government raised concerns about market impacts, insufficient analysis, and the breadth of the bill. The committee approved SB 254 on a 6-3 vote and placed it on call. SB 541 focused on load flexibility and using existing grid capacity more efficiently. Senator Becker described it as a transparency and planning measure to identify cost-effective load shifting and reduce peak demand, while supporters said it could improve resiliency and save money. Several CCAs and utilities opposed the bill in print or unless amended, arguing that some language implied a mandate and that the concept needed more cost-effectiveness analysis; the author said amendments would remove language dividing the state goal among retail suppliers and clarify that the bill is not a procurement mandate. The committee passed SB 541 as amended to Appropriations on a 9-1 vote and left it on call. SB 453 by Senator Stern would return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid program dollars and was described as a way to keep the lights on and redirect unused funds. It drew support from local government and environmental groups, with PG&E expressing concern about how the bill would affect its ability to spend awarded funds. The committee passed SB 453 as amended to Appropriations on a 12-0 vote. SB 292 by Senator Caballero would require more granular outage and reliability reporting, including census-tract-level data, to better inform resilience planning after PSPS events; utilities opposed unless amended, citing duplicative reporting and regulatory overlap, but the bill passed 12-0 to Appropriations. SB 473 by Senator Padilla would require or expand water utility decoupling to promote conservation and affordability. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, business, and local government groups, argued decoupling stabilizes revenue, supports conservation, and can keep rates lower for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office opposed, saying prior pilot data showed no conservation benefit and about $1 billion in added costs, and that the CPUC had already rejected similar requests. Committee members questioned the conservation and capital-investment effects of the different rate structures; the author and supporters argued decoupling helps utilities fund infrastructure while allowing lower fixed charges for low-use customers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on SB 473 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:11.520><c> housing</c> help solve our affordable housing help solve our affordable housing
• And for something more complex like a multifamily affordable housing complex, you'd be lucky to have
• > housing.
• <00:38:12.280><c> housing</c><00:38:13.520><c> uh</c><00:38:13.920><c> complex</c> affordable housing
• uh complex affordable housing uh complex um<00:38:16.240><c> you'd</c><00:38:16.560><c> be</c><00:38

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The joint committees heard HCR 66, which asks the State Building Code Council to update the state building code to allow point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories. Testimony was generally in support, including from Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and OPSD, with one registered opponent. No questions were raised, and the joint committee later adopted a recommendation to pass the resolution as is. Because the housing committee lacked quorum at that time, final action on the resolution was deferred to the housing-only agenda. On the housing-only agenda, the committee first heard HTR 78, which states the intent that housing projects qualifying for credits under Act 31 remain eligible for those credits after the act’s repeal. Testimony was in support from HHFTC and the DIY chapter, and there were no questions or opposition noted. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 592, confirming Lisa Darcy to the HPHA board. Support came from HPHA board members and several individuals, and Darcy said she accepted the nomination and emphasized her experience and interest in HPHA’s work. Members questioned her about the HPHA board’s oversight role, the 10,000-unit RFQ, and media coverage of Kuhio Park Terrace relocations; she said she supports the project, values transparency, and would push for better context and accountability, though some members felt she had not directly answered concerns about on-the-ground oversight. The committee also heard Governor’s Message 736, confirming Grant Chun to the HHFDC board. Support testimony highlighted his experience in nonprofit housing, real estate, and leadership roles, and Chun said he was pleased to serve the state. Members asked about his residence and his perspective on senior care at Hali Makua, where he said his family found the care compassionate and thorough, while noting staffing shortages. The transcript ends before any final vote on the housing-only items is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:29.680><c> housing</c><00:10:30.360><c> options</c> live without affordable housing options
• live without affordable housing options transportation<00:10:32.320><c> in</c><00:10:32.480><c> our<
• quality health care, and affordable housing.
• want to address our housing shortfall, support diverse housing choices, and support age-friendly housing
• like ADUs, shared housing, intergenerational home sharing, and missing middle housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today in support of House Bill 2145.
• House Bill 2145 restores balance.
• We are opposed to House Bill 2145.
• PHILMA opposes House Bill 2145.
• and move on to House Bill 2155.

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:19.560><c> higher</c> sure our students can afford higher sure our students can afford higher
• ,</c> paying for rent or housing, paying for rent or housing, um,<00:24:15.080><c> or</c><00:24:15.560
• ,<00:25:36.160><c> talent,</c><00:25:36.760><c> success,</c> affordability, talent, success, affordability
• :05.120><c> really</c> So affordability progress, we're really So affordability progress, we're really
• CPE started in 1997 in House Bill 1.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for an overview of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). After approving the prior meeting minutes, staff from CPE explained that the council was reconstituted in 1997 and serves as Kentucky’s statewide coordinating body for higher education, with responsibilities including advising the General Assembly and governor, coordinating the postsecondary system, supporting budget and performance funding work, and using data to track outcomes. They described Kentucky’s governance structure, including the KCTCS governing board, independent boards at public universities, and CPE’s role in licensing private institutions and overseeing transfer, closed-school records, and tuition approval. CPE staff emphasized statewide strategic planning and the “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of working-age Kentuckians hold a meaningful credential by 2030. They said the agency uses dashboards, KPIs, and peer comparisons to set targets for institutions and monitor enrollment, retention, and graduation. They also highlighted the Kentucky Graduate Profile, a voluntary effort to embed 10 essential workforce skills into general education and major programs, and noted ongoing work on academic program approval, performance funding, and a biennial budget request. The presentation also focused on student support and workforce alignment initiatives. Staff described the Kentucky Advising Academy, the Commonwealth Education Continuum, and the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, which work with K-12 partners and campuses to improve advising, transfer, wraparound supports, and career planning. They also discussed GEAR UP, the Futurity career-planning platform, and efforts to connect education pathways to workforce needs, including healthcare, veterans, and other adult learners. CPE reported that student debt at graduation has fallen to $10,168 at public institutions and that six in ten Kentucky undergraduates graduate debt free.

Transcript Highlights:

• It achieves the policy objectives. that we share with companion legislation that passed the House with
• Important note, we brought the bison to the White House not too long ago, and President, just to show
• During this time, my parents' house was flooded waist-high, and my sister's house was flooded to the
• Welcome to the House. To the family members that are here, it's an exciting time.
• housing or workforce housing.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee