Transcript Highlights:

• For clarity, the following members intend to vote from a remote location pursuant to Rule 40.7: Senator
• :38.399> a following members intend to vote from a following members intend to vote from a remote

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This meeting, including the audio and video of remote participants, is being streamed live on YouTube
• This meeting, including the audio and video of remote participants, is being streamed live on YouTube

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education and Labor and Technology heard Senate Bill 420, which would extend Department of Education workers’ compensation coverage to newly graduated high school students participating in DOE-sponsored work-based learning programs through July 31 after graduation. DOE testified in support, estimating the bill could affect about 50 to 100 students in the first year and saying it would help students gain experience and transition to employment. Members asked about current coverage, costs, and partnerships; DOE said current coverage ends at graduation, there had been no incidents, and the bill would create no additional cost. The committees voted to pass SB 420 with amendments, including an amended effective date, and the bill was adopted. The Committee on Education then took up several education measures. It adopted a proposed SD1 for SB 894, a Farm to School measure that would appropriate funds to help meet a goal of serving 30% locally sourced food in public schools. The committee also heard SB 789 on school cafeteria meal costs; DOE said it wanted the existing requirement lowered from 50% of meal preparation cost to 25% rather than repealed, to align with its administrative package, and explained current prices were about $2.75 while meal costs were about $9. Testifiers from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Appleseed supported removing the requirement entirely or at least reducing it, saying it would avoid large price jumps and move toward free school meals. The committee later voted to pass SB 789 with amendments lowering the threshold to one-fourth of meal cost and changing the effective date. The committee also heard SB 449 on a school facilities planning database. DOE said it supports better planning but believes the database should be housed within DOE rather than duplicated under the School Facilities Authority, while SFA supported the bill as a proactive decision-making tool. The Attorney General’s office suggested clarifying language to make clear references to the Board of Education. In later agenda items, the committee heard SB 423, which would add Head Start-related ex officio members to the Early Learning Board; EOEL and the board chair supported it and suggested technical language to preserve required representation. The committee also heard SB 1384, a housekeeping bill redirecting repaid early childhood educator stipend funds to the Early Learning special fund after the prior special fund was repealed; EOEL supported it and said about $31,864 was being recouped from nine recipients. Finally, SB 684 would require the Board of Education to adopt rules banning cell phones at DOE schools; testimony was in support, and members discussed the need for a consistent statewide policy, with the board expected to work on one in collaboration with DOE.

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is that in many remote Alaska Native communities, it is unlikely that a municipal government
• THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN MANY REMOTE ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Provided hearings related to sexually violent predators, known as SVPs, provided a remote access option
• As of now, courts are not required to provide a remote access option, which means that members of the
• Many cars have already implemented remote access options for court participants due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Even in counties where there are blanket policies against the public having access to remote proceedings
• , the Hollywood Division has been able to respond to the public's request and fashion appropriate remote

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• littlest learners had access to care and continuing education as many other programs were able to go remote
• And seeing we had a remote classroom at the early ed provider that I worked with at the time, we... home
• And seeing we had a remote classroom at the early ed provider that I worked with at the time, we Thank
• Seeing we had a remote classroom at the early ed provider that I worked with at the time, we hosted a
• to protect our residents, I know in some other spaces there's conversation about being able to use remote

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The following members intend to vote from a remote location pursuant to Rule 40.7: Senators Carlson and
• :36.240> a following members intend to vote from a following members intend to vote from a remote
• <00:04:36.680> location remote location remote location pursuant<00:04:38.800> to<00:04
• Okay, who's doing the remotes? Senator Hayden, for those voting pursuant to rule 40.7.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our final testifier here, and then we have one remotely, is Alexandria Fitz Simmons.
• We will now go to our remote testifier, Sarah Bernhard. crisis management policies.
• now<00:53:59.920> go<00:54:00.000> to<00:54:00.160> our<00:54:00.400> remote
• Uh we will now go to our remote Simmons.
• Uh we will now go to our remote uh<00:54:01.359> testifier,<00:54:02.559> Sarah<00:54:03.040

Bills: HF4893

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• our friends in the minority party every single time a bill comes to this floor and there is even a remote
• our friends in the minority party every single time a bill comes to this floor and there is even a remote
• there<01:41:44.640> is<01:41:44.880> even<01:41:45.440> a<01:41:45.640> remote
• and there is even a remote and there is even a remote fiscal<01:41:47.800> note<01:41:48.880

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with an invocation, and welcomed guests including the doctor of the day, a Johns Hopkins student, and visiting scouts. The chamber then moved through first-reading introductions of several House bills, including measures on bullying and harassment reporting, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, Baltimore County nuisance actions, parole hearing commission procedures, a blockchain technology task force, and a task force on deed fraud, all of which were referred to standing committees. The main floor action centered on layover bills. Senate Bill 932, concerning social media platforms displaying a user’s usual location, was amended to broaden the protected location reference and to protect participants in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program; after discussion about whether minors and child-abuse victims were covered, the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, drew multiple county-specific amendments. Howard County and Baltimore County amendments sought to give priority to existing local tobacco businesses for the new licenses. Supporters said the changes would protect established local shops from out-of-state entities, while opponents argued the bill should remain statewide and not be amended county by county. A motion to special order the bill failed, and the amendments were adopted before the bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 84, on collective bargaining for graduate assistants, also advanced after a committee amendment was adopted. A District 2 amendment was offered to clarify that graduate assistants are employed as teaching, administrative, or research assistants, but the floor leader opposed it, saying the bill’s definition was already clear and the change would create confusion. The minority leader questioned the definition and the relationship between graduate assistants and employees, prompting discussion of collective bargaining as bargaining by employees through representatives. The transcript cuts off before final disposition of that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education

Bills: HF3490, HF4040

Keywords: education finance, scholarship-granting organizations, charitable purposes, student scholarships, nonpublic schools, K-12 education, tax credit, advance payment, Minnesota tax law, child education expenses, taxpayer assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota House, and, uh, we had just started session and COVID hit and we had to go to online learning, remote
• :41.040> learning, we we had to go to online learning, we we had to go to online learning, remote
• 37:43.359> and<00:37:43.599> even<00:37:43.839> though<00:37:44.000> I remote
• Um, and even though I remote learning.
• First, we have our remote testifier, Mark Granit, president of Viking Bank of Alexandria.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh<00:03:36.000> our<00:03:36.239> first Uh, our first two testifiers are both remote
• Um, our next testifier is also remote. Mr.
• 01:30:04.080> testifier<01:30:04.480> is<01:30:04.639> also<01:30:04.880> remote
• our next testifier is also remote. Mr. our next testifier is also remote.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.

Bills: HF1746, HF2585, HF1159, HF2574, HF2839, HF157, HF158, HF160, HF338, HF512

Keywords: Oakdale, tax increment financing, local government, funding, urban development, tax increment, St. Paul, redevelopment, housing authority, housing trust fund, low-income housing, property taxation, Minnesota statutes, vacant property, housing, commercial to residential conversion, Minneapolis, urban redevelopment, public parks, tax capacity

Transcript Highlights:

• question is, with what we heard in testimony here, we're dealing with a critical access hospital in a remote
• /c><00:21:53.600> Hospital<00:21:54.440> in<00:21:54.559> a<00:21:54.760> remote
• critical access Hospital in a remote critical access Hospital in a remote area<00:21:56.320>
• question is, with what we heard in testimony here, we're dealing with a critical access hospital in a remote

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for letting me testify remotely. In 2022, I did get sick.
• Thank you for letting me testify remotely.
• c> have made thank you for letting me have made thank you for letting me testify testify testify remotely
• :29:45.600> and<01:29:45.880> next<01:29:46.159> up<01:29:46.360> is remotely
• thank you and next up is remotely thank you and next up is Towanda Towanda Towanda Burks<01:29:49.199

Bills: HF10, HF27

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, permit to carry, concealed carry, handgun permit, firearm permit, pistol training, sheriff, application process, electronic filing, mail application, fax submission, certified mail, certified delivery, gun rights, Second Amendment, firearms regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and note we do have a quorum present at this time, and we have two members that are remote: Representative
• Sencer-Mura and Representative Hill cannot be with us, so they'll be here remotely.
• I thought maybe that was one of our remote people. Absolutely, just about ready to wrap up.
• I thought maybe that was one of our remote people. Absolutely, just about ready to wrap up. Mr.
• But with that, we’ll go to Representative Hill remotely. Thank you, Chair.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, he's remote. Okay. I don't remember my glasses next time. I'm good. No, I'm good.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its fifth hearing of the 194th General Court on disability, line-of-duty, and health presumption bills. Committee members noted the hearing was livestreamed and accepted written testimony through June 16, 2025. The first panel, including the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, strongly supported H.2845, which would require restoration of sick, vacation, or personal time used while an injured officer or firefighter awaits a Chapter 41, Section 11F determination if the injury is later found work-related. Testimony said the current process often forces injured personnel to litigate to recover accrued time, and members described the bill as a fairness measure with no fiscal cost. Committee members asked about prior consideration and municipal positions, and one member shared a personal experience with a similar loss of accrued time. A second major panel from the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and sponsoring legislators supported several firefighter-related bills: H.2918/S.1792 on mandatory insurance coverage for firefighter cancer screenings; H.2962/S.1818 on Commonwealth fire department parity for military-base and Massport firefighters, including injury coverage and presumptions; and H.2860/S.1851 on maintaining physical examination records. Testimony emphasized the high cancer risk in the fire service, the importance of early detection, and the need to extend municipal-level protections to state and Massport firefighters. Committee members expressed strong support, discussed PFAS-related gear replacement and funding, and noted that similar bills have been before the committee for multiple sessions. The committee also heard H.4147, a retirement-related bill for a MassDOT employee seeking to transfer approximately five years of MBTA retirement contributions into the state system as a service buyback. The bill was described as having been filed in 2017 and reported favorably last session, but it stalled in Senate Ways and Means. Finally, Howard Levine testified remotely in support of a correctional officer disability pension bill, describing severe injuries from a 1990 inmate assault, multiple surgeries, early retirement, and a request to increase his pension to reflect a current lieutenant’s salary. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The only part that DOC may have in this, if counties have some remote issues, they may make recommendations

Bills: SB137, SB504, SB1213, SB1216, SB1221, SB1224, SB1232, SB1238, SB1255, SB1256, SB1258, SB1264, SB1266, SB1325, SB1441, SB1448, SB1450, SB1460, SB1496, SB1543, SB1589, SB1597, SB1621, SB1655, SB1679, SB1687, SB1716, SB1730, SB1733, SB1769, SB1921, SB1932, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030, SB2084, SB2112, SB2170, SB2182

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB1213, earned credits, inmate credits, good time, sentence reduction, DOC, prison reform, corrections policy, inmate classification, class levels, rehabilitation credits, achievement credits, vocational training, educational credits, prison programs

Transcript Highlights:

• 20th, and we're convening in Room 224, and video conferencing, which includes the audio and video of remote

Bills: HB1979

Keywords: environmental review, affordable housing, clean energy, judicial proceedings, public participation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee held an AEN hearing on Friday, March 20, in Room 224 with remote participation streamed live. The first measure, HB 1880 HD3, would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2030, the use or application of pesticides containing 1,3-D (Telone). Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and HAPA, argued that 1,3-D is a probable carcinogen, can drift off target, and poses risks to farm workers, nearby families, children, and vulnerable communities, while safer alternatives exist. Opponents, including the Western Plant Health Association and Dole Food, said the product is federally registered and regulated, is needed for pineapple production, and that banning it could threaten jobs, local food production, and the pineapple industry; Dole also noted a petition signed by 95 employees opposing the bill. The chair recorded 73 in support, seven opposed, and two comments for the measure. The committee then took up HB 1931 HD2, which would establish a state noxious weed coordinator, update the process for designating and managing noxious weeds, allow public proposals to change designations, require notice and reporting, classify weeds into three categories, and strengthen enforcement and penalties. Testimony was generally supportive, with DLNR and DAB submitting support and CGAPS backing the bill as a modernization of outdated 1950s-era statutes, arguing that more flexible administrative rules would better address changing agricultural and invasive species conditions. The measure received 38 supportive testimonies, with no opposition or comments recorded. Because the committee did not have quorum, no final decision was made on the measures. The chair announced that decision-making would be rolled to Wednesday, March 25, at 3:05 p.m. in Room 224, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Olson.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chinese products such as power transformers have been found to have components that allow remote monitoring