Transcript Highlights:

• 20 states that have raised the minimum wage: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii
• , Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island,

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeals process by allowing additional medical evidence submitted in court to be sent back to the medical director for review and a new opinion. The Attorney General’s office explained the bill, noting a 30-day deadline for the medical director to act before the case returns to court. The bill drew support from injured workers and several business and labor groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments and then reported the bill favorably without objection. House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage starting at $12 in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation, prompted extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, and the AFL-CIO, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind living costs, that many workers remain in poverty despite working, and that higher wages would help families and local economies. Opponents, including NFIB and several members, argued that the market is already setting wages above the federal minimum in many jobs, that a mandate would raise costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or jobs, and hurt small businesses. After discussion, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported Senate Bill 383 favorably with amendments. That bill expands the incumbent worker training program by increasing funding flexibility, shortening the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allowing unobligated funds to roll over. Members and the Louisiana Works secretary discussed workforce training, outreach, and how to connect workers to existing training programs and high-demand jobs. The committee also reported Senate Bill 382 favorably, which repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and began hearing House Bill 422, the “Behind-the-Counter Safety Act,” aimed at workplace violence protections for retail and food service workers, including signage, reporting, and enhanced penalties; the sponsor explained it was intended to address attacks on frontline workers and to give businesses a tool to warn against violence.

Transcript Highlights:

• Canada, the Virgin Islands, and we talk about topics like this all the time.
• widely at a minimum of 408 schools across 37 states or then territories, including 21 in Alaska, 7 in Hawaii

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been an educator in Massachusetts for 30-plus years and eight years in Rhode Island.
• I transferred over $100,000 of my Rhode Island retirement funds, all of those funds, to MTRS for the
• MTRS stated I could retire September 2024, including in this calculation six-plus years from Rhode Island
• What I cannot do is send my $100,000 back to the Rhode Island system.
• Had MTRS not accepted my monies, I would never have retired or withdrawn my monies from my Rhode Island

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 20th hearing of the 194th General Court to take testimony on late-filed bills, with notice that the hearing was livestreamed and written testimony could be submitted afterward. The committee heard several retirement-related proposals, including a bill for Jason Mitrecy to receive creditable service for prior Vermont correctional and probation work so he can retire earlier from Massachusetts Probation Service, and a bill supported by Rep. Bowman and Beverly Police Chief John Lachillard to allow the chief to remain in service longer despite age-related retirement limits. Committee members asked about health-exam and age-cap language, and the sponsors said they had worked with House Counsel to mirror recent statutory language to address those concerns. The committee also heard testimony from Judge Dan DeLorati, president of the Massachusetts Judges Conference, in support of legislation to extend military creditable service benefits to judges under the Heroes Act framework. He said the State Retirement Board had denied prior requests because judicial retirement is calculated differently, and argued judges who served in the military should receive the same retirement credit as other state employees. Members generally agreed with the policy goal and emphasized the need to get the statutory language right. Finally, Alex Seminello testified about a retirement dispute with the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System after he was initially told he could buy back Rhode Island service credit, transferred more than $100,000, and then was later told the buyback could not be completed. He said the error reduced his expected pension and left him in financial difficulty, and he urged passage of legislation requiring MTRS to honor the agreement. Senator Montigny also spoke in support of that petition. The hearing concluded with thanks to staff and a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page two, Governor's Message No. 786 withdraws nominations to the island burial council, island of
• Um, not that are from the Big Island, but coming from Maokai.
• ,</c><00:31:34.320><c> I</c> the same county, from the same island, I the same county, from the same
• island, I know<00:31:34.720><c> many</c><00:31:35.039><c> families</c><00:31:36.000><c> that</c><00:31
• Um, not that are from<00:31:58.880><c> the</c><00:31:58.960><c> Big</c><00:31:59.120><c> Island,</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• litigation in Fenwick Island.
• Right before you walked in, I brought up Fenwick Island.
• So Fenwick Island, a Superior Court decision in litigation involving the town of Fenwick Island confirmed
• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.
• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.

Committee: Senate Elections & Government Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Right before you walked in, I brought up Fenwick Island.
• So Fenwick Island...
• Fenwick Island, a Superior Court decision in litigation involving the town of Fenwick Island confirmed
• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.
• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.

Bills: HB344

Committee: Senate Elections & Government Affairs

Summary: The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee heard several election- and campaign-related bills. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 155 would make Public Integrity Commission reports publicly available on the commission’s website, add a specific travel-expense reporting category, and remove the FOIA requirement for accessing reports; Senator Richardson said he supported the transparency measure and asked to be added as a co-sponsor. The committee also took up House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would create state protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, expand language access, prohibit intimidation and deception, and allow court remedies for violations. The bill drew strong support from advocacy groups including YWCA Delaware, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and the Legal Defense Fund, and several senators voiced support and interest in moving it quickly. House Bill 430, a constitutional amendment proposal, would make explicit that only natural persons may vote in Delaware elections, including municipal elections, in response to concerns about corporate or other artificial-entity voting in some towns. The discussion focused heavily on Fenwick Island, where the mayor testified that the town’s charter has long allowed certain artificial entities to vote in local elections and said the system is limited and has worked for years; other speakers argued the bill was needed to prevent corporate dilution of residents’ votes. Senator Richardson expressed concern about restricting entities with a local stake, while Senator Hoffner and others emphasized the principle of one person, one vote. Senator Townsend presented House Bill 344, which would tighten campaign finance rules by requiring Delaware bank accounts for candidates and committees, recurring training, better documentation of candidate loans, longer record retention, automatic filing extensions, and inactive status for noncompliant committees; one public commenter opposed the bill on cost grounds. He also presented House Bill 448, which would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security expenses for candidates and elected officials, with guardrails, and a commenter suggested allowing electronic security systems without a cap. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 472, a local de-annexation measure for Noble’s Pond in Cheswold to remove scattered residential lots from town boundaries and resolve uneven tax treatment; Senator Hoffner noted local law enforcement supported the change. The committee adjourned after hearing no further public comment on HB 472, and the vote to adjourn was unanimous.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is about, frankly, losing those revenues that are going to Rhode Island.
• They've been going to Rhode Island for years now.
• And let's be honest, Bally's Twin River in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is only a 25-minute drive.
• Every day we delay, Rhode Island enjoys the benefits of our hesitation. H. 496 ends that.
• Neighboring states, especially Rhode Island, have adapted.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Rep. Carole Fiola and Sen. Barry Finegold, held a lengthy hearing on a range of gambling-related bills. Testimony first focused on H. 496 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to authorize Plain Ridge Park Casino to add table games and more slot machines. Supporters, including Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Sen. Finegold, Rep. Barry R. Finegold, Rep. Brian Vaughn, and Plainville officials, argued the change was needed to keep Massachusetts gaming dollars from flowing to Rhode Island, protect jobs, and preserve local tax revenue. They described Plain Ridge as a strong community partner and cited host-community benefits such as municipal infrastructure projects and local aid. Opponents or skeptical witnesses later argued that expanded gambling, especially online, would increase harm and cannibalize existing casinos and local economies. The committee also heard testimony on bills related to sports betting restrictions and online gambling. Sen. John Keenan presented a “Better Health Act” proposal to ban prop bets and in-play bets, require affordability checks, prohibit hosts, raise the sports betting excise tax, expand funding for problem-gambling services, and increase research and data sharing. He and supporters framed the bill as a public-health response to addiction, suicide, bankruptcy, and other harms. Rep. David Nangle, speaking from personal experience with gambling addiction, strongly opposed internet gaming, warning that it would intensify addiction and expose children and families to 24/7 gambling on phones. In contrast, Rep. David Moradian and industry witnesses supported H. 4431 to legalize and regulate internet gaming, arguing it would bring illegal activity into a regulated market, generate new revenue, and include consumer protections such as age verification, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and responsible-gaming tools. The committee also took testimony on H. 4238, which would expand fundraising options for fraternal organizations, especially the Elks. Rep. Bruce Ayers and Elks representatives said the bill would help lodges raise money for scholarships, veterans’ services, and community programs after COVID-related losses and declining membership. On H. 480, Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, Rep. Badger, and representatives of veterans organizations and gaming-machine operators urged allowing qualified veterans groups to participate in certain video gaming activity, saying it would provide a sustainable revenue source to keep posts open and support veterans’ services. Dr. Rachel Volberg testified that expanding gambling, especially online gambling and slot machines at veterans organizations, would likely increase gambling harm, and she urged stronger harm-prevention measures, data reporting, and research funding. Other witnesses, including anti-gambling advocates and industry representatives, sharply disagreed over whether legalization would reduce illegal gambling or worsen addiction and social costs. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a state-specific one, a coalition application with Hawaii and several other states, and then we
• We had a state-specific one, a coalition application with Hawaii and several other states, and then we
• We had a state-specific one, a coalition application with Hawaii and several other states, and then we
• State-specific one, uh, we had one coalition application with Hawaii and several other states, and then
• So Connecticut has done that, Rhode Island has done that, and Massachusetts has done that.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• could be sort of a lot of medical need involved on the island.
• He's doing a study on OnPoint and then in Rhode Island.
• If you haven't taken a tour of Rhode Island or New York, please do so.
• My aide did go, but I'm a big fan of Rhode Island.
• I used to live in Rhode Island and had a place in Bristol.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery held a public hearing on several harm reduction bills, including measures to decriminalize simple possession and paraphernalia, authorize overdose prevention centers, and expand access to naloxone for first responders. Chair Mindy Domb and Senator John Velis opened by describing harm reduction as an evidence-based public health strategy and noting Massachusetts’ recent decline in fatal overdoses. They emphasized that testimony would help shape whether and how the bills advance, and explained the hearing process, including time limits and written testimony. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Rep. Kate Donaghue, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Manny Cruz, public health professionals, recovery advocates, and people with lived experience, argued that harm reduction saves lives, reduces stigma, and can connect people to treatment. They supported overdose prevention centers and decriminalization as tools to keep people alive long enough to enter recovery, and several speakers described personal losses to overdose or family experiences with addiction. Some supporters also framed the bills as racial justice measures, arguing that criminal penalties for possession have disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. Opponents, including Sen. Nick Collins and several South End residents, argued that overdose prevention centers and decriminalization would worsen public drug use, crime, and neighborhood disorder, especially around Mass and Cass. They said current approaches such as Section 35, diversion, and police leverage into treatment are more effective, and they urged more treatment beds and recovery facilities instead of harm reduction sites. Committee members questioned witnesses about research, local siting, crime data, and the relationship between harm reduction and treatment, and several members said neighborhood impacts must be considered alongside overdose prevention. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing; it continued receiving testimony and announced a later break before resuming on H. 2196 and S. 1393.

Transcript Highlights:

• long as I've been in the Assembly, responsible for Canada's relations with Northern California and Hawaii

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that the Hawaii work is ongoing, and those conversations are continuing.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, Hawaii was denied their recertification. There's annual recertification of the MAFUCUs.
• Recently, Hawaii was denied their recertification, while another state got a conditional recertification

Summary: The committee met to review the Attorney General’s budget and related agency operations, beginning with Legislative Council staff walking members through compliance reports and a blue-sheet base budget document. Staff highlighted current-biennium items such as FTE changes, one-time appropriations, litigation funding, opioid settlement receipts, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked for clarification on items including the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then gave an overview of the office’s structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal services to state and local government, and concerns about attorney pay lagging behind other agencies. Members discussed whether attorney compensation should be benchmarked more consistently across state government and whether some legal work could be consolidated within the AG’s office. Ness also addressed questions about AG opinion turnaround times, boards-and-commissions training, the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, office leases, and the state’s criminal justice information systems. The crime lab presentation drew significant attention. Director Jennifer Penner described severe space, safety, and infrastructure problems at the current lab, including cramped work areas, glycol leaks, outdated fire and burglar alarms, air-handling limits, and equipment failures that have delayed toxicology work. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that the preferred location would be near the current health department site, but in a new building. Members asked about possible evidence risks, backlog status, and whether the proposed building would solve the current problems; Penner said it would and noted backlogs have improved overall, though some delays remain. The committee also heard from the new Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director, who described the unit’s civil and criminal work, federal-state funding split, and examples of fraud such as billing for services not provided or upcoding. The gaming division reported continued growth in charitable gaming and e-tabs, with members expressing concern about large trust-account balances, site competition, and possible misuse of proceeds. Finally, BCI outlined its caseload, cybercrime work, missing Indigenous persons task force, and the surge in CSAM cyber tips; members asked about AI-generated CSAM, and the AG’s office noted that last session’s law increased penalties and expressly allowed AI-generated CSAM to be prosecuted like other CSAM. No formal votes or actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that includes the state that is the absolute highest state in the country, Hawaii, at over 55 cents
• We don't compare anything to Hawaii or other companies where they have a different kind of grid system

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• I've never seen Hawaii or Alabama even in the top 10.
• I've never seen Hawaii or Alabama even in the top 10.

Summary: The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help. Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently in process is in Idaho, Washington, Oregon. ...New Mexico, Hawaii.
• I would also just note that recently states Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii all rejected similar legislation

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• Oregon and Hawaii have, Oregon and Hawaii have experimented with allowing out-of-state attorneys to practice

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Summary: The work session began with testimony on expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to rural attorney shortages and public service recruitment. Washington State Bar Association Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a growing but aging attorney workforce, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts including supervised practice as an alternative to the bar exam, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expansion of the law clerk program, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program for innovative legal service delivery. Members asked about bar passage standards, loan repayment assistance, and the former limited license legal technician program. Representatives from the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Gonzaga discussed law school pipelines into public service and rural practice. They described early outreach to students, loan repayment assistance and scholarships, public service stipends, clinics and externships, and partnerships that place students in government, nonprofit, prosecution, and defense roles. Seattle University highlighted its Flex JD and hybrid hub model in rural communities; Gonzaga presented data showing many graduates remain in Washington and enter public interest work; and UW emphasized that unpaid internships and debt remain barriers. The Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense both testified that prosecutor and defender vacancies are severe in rural counties, and that salary, hiring bonuses, housing support, internships, and loan repayment programs are important tools. The Office of Public Defense said its new recruitment and retention program, funded by SB 5780, has already placed interns in underserved counties and helped some commit to future jobs there. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also described as a pathway that helps people train and remain in their home communities. The committee then shifted to family law, guardians, and guardianships. On guardian ad litem practice in Title 26 cases, Northwest Justice Project and private family law practitioners said training has improved since 2018, but concerns remain about inconsistent investigations, bias, inadequate domestic violence training, lack of oversight, high costs, and uneven county practices. They suggested more robust training, better accountability, and possible use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations. For minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act, a Superior Court judge said filings have increased and courts struggle to find qualified attorneys and court visitors, while the Administrative Office of the Courts said its $3 million annual reimbursement program for local courts is running out earlier each year and that minor guardianship costs make up most of the spending. The Office of Public Guardianship reported rising demand for adult guardianship services, noting that recent legislation expanded its caseload capacity and added a navigator role, but that referrals and active cases continue to grow statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• land application of biosolids include your state, Wisconsin, Maryland, Vermont, Indiana, Oklahoma, Hawaii
• biosolids, of course, including your state, uh, Wisconsin, Maryland, Vermont, Indiana, Oklahoma, Hawaii

Committee: House Agriculture

Summary: The committee hearing focused on biosolids, sewage sludge, and PFAS contamination, with the opening remarks and first three presenters arguing that land application of municipal sludge poses serious risks to soil, water, livestock, and human health. Representative Shaw cited EPA and state data on detected pollutants and PFAS in biosolids, while Denise Travick Poyer described her background in chemical engineering and PFAS work and said the EPA’s draft sewage sludge risk assessment shows unacceptable risk at very low PFOS/PFOA levels. She urged source reduction, more testing, and consideration of total organic fluorine, and noted examples from Michigan where industrial pretreatment and source reduction reduced PFAS in biosolids. Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Larry Woolley and Investigator Dana Ames presented a case study of alleged runoff from land-applied biosolids affecting a ranch, with high PFAS readings in soil, water, fish, cattle tissue, and a stillborn calf, and said the county and state had pursued investigations, lawsuits, and legislative responses. Sandra Trawick of Save Oklahoma Farms and Ranches argued that Oklahoma’s biosolids program relies heavily on Class B sludge, that current rules are outdated, and that land application exposes farms and rural communities to pathogens, chemicals, odors, flies, and runoff; she cited examples from Maine, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma to support calls for stronger regulation or a ban. After the testimony, members asked about sampling methods, lab testing, EPA limits, and whether the cited PFAS blood levels were comparable to the soil and sludge measurements. Witnesses said the Johnson County samples were collected by a Texas A&M PhD contractor and tested at a single lab, and they explained that the EPA’s 4 parts per trillion figure applied to municipal drinking water standards. Questions also addressed whether sludge is incorporated into soil; Trawick said it had often been left on the surface, though she had seen better disking after public scrutiny. Members asked how biosolids compare with manure and feedlot waste, and witnesses responded that municipal sludge is more contaminated because it includes industrial, hospital, and household waste streams, unlike animal manure. The committee then moved to alternative solutions, hearing from Doug McKinney of Advanced Microbial Solutions, who promoted biological sludge removal using bacteria to reduce sludge volumes and avoid land application, citing cost savings for wastewater plants and correctional facilities. Jason Jepsen of Eden Energy followed with a pitch for an eight-stage waste-to-energy system that converts mixed waste into clean energy, biochar, and reusable products, framing waste as an asset and presenting his company’s technology as a no-land-application alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• International Vice President for Communication Workers of America. representing members here in California, Hawaii
• I'm with the California-Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• So today we have here with us Miss Staten Island, Miss Richmond County, Miss New York team, Miss Richmond
• County team, and we also have Miss Staten Island team as well.
• Island team as well.
• Island, Ms.
• Richmond County, Miss New York team, Miss Richmond County team, and we also have Miss Sten Island team

Committee: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, and Parks and Recreation met on May 19, 2006, with a quorum present and six bills on the agenda. The committee first reported S1383 (Serrano), requiring state park and historic site leases, licenses, and management agreements to comply with master plans; S3209 (Kavanaugh), addressing skier and snowboarder duties under the General Obligations and Labor Laws; and S4697 (C. Smith), creating the “Checkout New York Pass” for free use of state parks, historic sites, and recreation facilities, with a free pass provided to each public library for circulation. The committee also reported S727A (Scarcella-Spanton), allowing veterans to fish for free in state parks, and S9389 (Scarcella-Spanton), concerning navigation law changes related to pilotage and sheriff duties at specific locations. The final bill, S9685 (Fadey), would rename several agency buildings in Amherst State Park. It received some opposition and without-recommendation votes, and members noted concern about renaming and the value of community input; the bill was reported to Finance. Most other bills were moved, seconded, and approved unanimously or with limited dissent. The meeting ended after Senator Scarcella-Spanton introduced guests shadowing her for the day, including Miss Staten Island and related titleholders, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• once known as born on the island once known as Hispanola Hispanola Hispanola the<00:21:40.799><c> island
• </c> island nation. island nation.
• I said, “Honey, this island Dominican girl can't take it.” I said, “And guess what?
• “Honey, this island Dominican girl can't take it,” I said. “And guess what?
• Who would ever think that island girl will become the Speaker of the House? I didn't.