Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr of Essex and Middlesex as a member of the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and the appointment
• An act regarding the appointment of special police officers in the city of Malden, House No. 4584.
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• bills are passed to be enacted, and the bills will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and announced committee membership changes, including Senator Tarr’s resignation from the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and Senator Durant’s appointment to fill the vacancy, followed later by the reverse reappointment. The chamber then took up and passed to be engrossed two local bills: H.4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and H.4584, further regulating the appointment of special police officers in Malden. The Senate also considered several Committee on Rules orders extending reporting deadlines for current Senate documents. An order for the Committee on Financial Services was adopted, extending its deadline to May 4, 2026 for seven bills. Orders for the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs and the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery were amended from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026 before adoption, also covering seven bills. On final passage, the Senate adopted an emergency preamble for H.4259, designating the Widen Park tennis courts as the Kim O’Connell Tennis Courts, by a standing vote of 2-0. The Senate then enacted H.4602, increasing the membership of the select board in Munson, and H.4259, sending both to the Governor. The Senate adopted an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr of Essex and Middlesex as a member of the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and the appointment
• An act regarding the appointment of special police officers in the city of Malden, House No. 4584.
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• bills are passed to be enacted, and the bills will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor

Summary: The Senate took up several local and procedural matters. It passed to be engrossed H. 4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and H. 4584, further regulating the appointment of special police officers in Malden. The Chair also announced changes to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, with Senator Tarr and Senator Durant exchanging committee membership through resignation and reappointment. The chamber then considered multiple Senate orders extending reporting deadlines for committees under the Rules of the Two Branching Act. An extension for the Committee on Financial Services under S. 2796 was adopted, with members noting it covered seven bills through May 4, 2026. Another order for the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs under S. 2775 was amended to extend the deadline from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, and then adopted. A similar order for the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery under S. 2776 was also amended from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026 and adopted, with members again confirming it covered seven bills. On final passage, the Senate adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4259, designating the Wider Park tennis courts as the Kim O'Connell Tennis Courts, by a standing vote of 2-0. It then enacted H. 4602, increasing the membership of the select board in the town of Munson, and H. 4259, sending both bills to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to reconvene the following Thursday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr of Essex and Middlesex as a member of the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and the appointment
• An act regarding the appointment of special police officers in the city of Malden, House No. 4584.
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• bills are passed to be enacted, and the bills will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and announced changes to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, with Senator Tarr resigning and Senator Durant appointed, then later the appointments were reversed. The chamber took several matters out of the orders of the day and advanced two local bills on third reading: H. 4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and H. 4584, further regulating the appointment of special police officers in Malden. Both bills were passed to be engrossed. The Senate then considered and adopted several committee reports extending reporting deadlines for pending legislation. It approved an extension for the Committee on Financial Services, with discussion clarifying that seven bills were covered and the deadline was May 4, 2026. It also adopted an amended extension for the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, changing the deadline from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, and an amended extension for the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, likewise changing the deadline to June 30, 2026; in each case, the orders were adopted after suspension of the rules. For final passage, the Senate adopted an emergency preamble by standing vote for H. 4259, designating the Wider Park tennis courts as the Kim O'Connell Tennis Courts, with two members voting in favor and none opposed. The Senate then passed H. 4602, increasing the membership of the select board in the town of Munson, and H. 4259 to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The session concluded with an order to adjourn until Thursday at 11:00 a.m., which was adopted, and the Senate adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr of Essex and Middlesex as a member of the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and the appointment
• An act regarding the appointment of special police officers in the city of Malden, House No. 4584.
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• bills are passed to be enacted, and the bills will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarr of Essex and Middlesex as a member of the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and the appointment
• An act regarding the appointment of special police officers in the city of Malden, House No. 4584.
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• Third reading of a bill: An act further regulating the appointment of special police officers in the
• bills are passed to be enacted, and the bills will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and announced changes to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, with Senator Tarr resigning and Senator Durant appointed, then later the appointments were reversed. The chamber then took up several local bills on third reading and passed them to be engrossed, including H.4225 authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption and H.4584 regulating the appointment of special police officers in Malden. The Senate also considered and adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines. It approved an extension for the Committee on Financial Services until May 4, 2026, covering seven bills, and then amended and adopted an order for the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs to extend its deadline from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, also covering seven bills. A similar order for the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery was amended from April 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026 and adopted after some procedural objection. On final passage, the Senate adopted an emergency preamble for H.4259, designating the Widen Park tennis courts as the Kim O'Connell Tennis Courts, by standing vote, and then passed H.4602 increasing the membership of the select board in Munson and H.4259 to be enacted. The bills were ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. The Senate then adopted an order to adjourn until Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whichever you want to appoint. Well, I'm going to appoint Alexander as the chair.
• </c><00:47:00.400><c> a</c><00:47:00.640><c> subcommittee</c> um appoint a subcommittee um appoint a
• Whichever whomever you want to<00:47:22.960><c> appoint.</c> to appoint. to appoint.
• I'm going to appoint volunteered.
• But all right, so will then appoint you.

Summary: The committee began by explaining that the meeting was a work session and that votes would only be taken where there was clear consensus. CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” was discussed first but not acted on because the prime sponsor was absent. Members raised concerns about whether the issue belonged in the constitution and what the amendment would mean in practice, and the chair recessed the matter for a future meeting. HB 74, concerning the definition of “citizen” for the right-to-know law and disclosure of preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum or majority of a public body, drew little support. Members noted the Senate’s prior rejection of a related bill and agreed the proposal was unlikely to advance. A motion to ITL the bill passed unanimously by roll call, 15-0, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. HB 232, dealing with rights of conscience for medical professionals, was also recessed. Members said they had not yet seen the amendment, which was described as narrowing the bill to abortion-related issues and limiting penalties. Several members said they could not judge the bill without the amendment and expected disagreement, so the chair recessed it. HB 253, on interest-bearing pooled trust accounts maintained by lawyers, was discussed at length; the chair said the bill did not address the underlying IOLTA issue and would likely create conflict with the bar and judiciary. Members cited existing Supreme Court procedures and suggested the bill was unnecessary. A straw vote showed support for interim study and ITL, and the committee ultimately voted 15-0 to place HB 253 on consent. HB 293, aimed at preventing minors from accessing obscene material on internet-connected devices, prompted substantial debate. Members generally supported the goal but objected to the bill’s private right of action, its focus on manufacturers rather than content providers or internet platforms, uncertainty about the filtering technology required, and concerns about defining obscenity on a national rather than community basis. The committee discussed forming a subcommittee to work on the bill further, and members volunteered to serve, indicating the issue would be revisited rather than voted on immediately.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, that existing task force has a representative of the Forest Service appointed by the governor
• The governor has that appointment.
• The reason is that you're striking the authority from the governor, but you're saying, 'Governor, after
• With the Forest Service, but to have the appointment by the governor.
• If you don't, if the governor only has that, the governor can't change that number, so she either has

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• On page three, you can kind of see the appointing entities for the CAP.
• There are members from CalPERS, CalSTRS, the Governor appoints two members, and then...
• CalSTRS, the Governor appoints two members, and then both the Assembly and the Senate committees also
• appoint members for this panel.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement and the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement held a joint hearing required by law to receive an independent report from the California Actuarial Advisory Panel on CalPERS. Opening remarks emphasized CalPERS’ role in providing retirement security for about two million members and the importance of pension funding to the state budget, especially amid economic uncertainty, market volatility, federal policy changes, and concerns about future fiscal pressure. Scott Tarando, CalPERS chief actuary and a CAP member, presented on the statutory disclosure requirements in Government Code Section 2029. He explained that CalPERS’ current discount rate is 6.8%, that lower investment returns increase contribution rates and unfunded liabilities, and that the plan uses a 20-year amortization period for new unfunded liabilities. He said CAP has recommended a reasonable amortization range of 15 to 20 years and that CalPERS’ longer smoothing period helps reduce volatility in employer contributions. He also explained the timing of actuarial data: the valuation used for current contribution rates is based on the prior fiscal year’s audited data, with the next year’s rates developed later in the annual cycle. Members asked about the relationship between average employee service life and amortization, whether current market and AI-related changes could justify using more current data, whether pension benefits change when valuations are updated, and how CalPERS’ funded status has changed over time. Tarando said retiree benefits do not change based on annual valuations, that the system’s funded status has improved from roughly the mid-60% range about a decade ago to around 80% or higher more recently, and that CalPERS is monitoring possible long-term workforce effects from AI but sees no immediate need to change assumptions. Michael Cohen of CalPERS said the system complies with information requests and is independently audited annually, but there has been no formal federal review released. In public comment, a representative of county governments praised the improved funded status and PEPRA reforms. The hearing concluded with remarks reaffirming fiduciary responsibility and the importance of protecting CalPERS beneficiaries.

Transcript Highlights:

• by</c><00:02:10.920><c> the</c> two and one appointed member by the two and one appointed member by
• the</c> and one individual appointed by the and one individual appointed by the minority<00:02:27.959
• They hire and appoint the director, which is a six-year appointed position, and then they oversee our
• Larson. uh hire the and appoint the director uh hire the and appoint the director which<00:07:55.599>
• 56.840><c> position</c> which is a six-year appointed position which is a six-year appointed position

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• data, and gather input from patients, providers, and stakeholders, and must submit a report to the governor
• I hope that the governor will sign it. I'm happy to answer any questions.
• A person who is ineligible due to term limits may be appointed by the county school superintendent to
• If no one else runs, though, a county superintendent could appoint you for up to four years, because
• you would be appointed for the first two years and then the seat would need to go up for election as

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of bills, mostly in health, education, commerce, federalism, and government. In health, members discussed radiology technology updates (HB 2050), a tribal Medicaid waiver/drawdown measure with no state cost (HB 2177), an emergency medicine study committee (HB 2183), fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements (HB 2184), a physician assistant licensure compact (HB 2190), dementia care telemonitoring funding (HB 2202), SNAP error-rate reduction and fraud/eligibility oversight bills (HB 2206, HB 2442, HB 2797), child welfare protections like credit freezes and recorded interviews (HB 2321, HB 2322), and podiatric licensure compacts (HB 2438). Several of these were described as consent-calendar items, while HB 2206 and the SNAP-related measures drew discussion about fraud reduction, administrative burden, and work requirements. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendors and local permits (HB 2118), earned wage access services with fee caps and disclosure rules (HB 2309), CPA licensure changes (HB 2476), cash acceptance for retail purchases under $100 (HB 2555), drone delivery and unmanned aircraft guardrails (HB 2875), timeshare salesperson licensing (HB 2877), and a prohibition on state-mandated social credit scoring in lending decisions (HB 2903). The tax and retirement-related items included 529 plan conformity and Roth IRA transfer rules (HB 2477), annual tax conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (HB 2785), ASRS technical and disability-related changes (HB 2089, HB 2090, HB 2092), and a bill on employee health insurance definitions (HB 2089). The Arizona Commerce Authority bill (HB 2754) would add legislative members to the board and shift more control over trade offices and Arizona Competes Fund spending to the legislature. The education section focused heavily on school governance and finance. Bills included patriotic youth group presentations in schools (HB 2312), school board term limits (HB 2318), mandatory training for governing board members (HB 2379), independent municipal advisors for bond elections (HB 2320), restrictions on districts buying operating charter/private school sites to game enrollment formulas (HB 2376), conflict-of-interest limits for school facilities board architects and engineers (HB 2378), public meeting and travel transparency rules for districts (HB 2380), limits on long-term school property leases and reporting requirements (HB 2384), tighter bidding rules for school construction job orders using Building Renewal Grant funds (HB 2482), and a voluntary computer science proficiency seal (HB 2764). Sponsors repeatedly framed these as transparency, accountability, and anti-abuse measures, while some opposition centered on local flexibility, housing use, and existing training providers. In federalism and government, the committee heard bills to give counties more time to mail sample ballots (HB 2006), require courts to identify veterans at first appearance for possible veterans court referral (HB 2226), study veterans’ awareness of benefits (HB 2406), broaden military leave protections (HB 2663), require SAVE verification for voter registration and certain state services (HB 2806), require U.S.-sourced voting machine components by 2029 (HB 2901), affirm the Electoral College (HB 2902), and establish due process protections for justice of the peace courts against outside administrative action (HB 2976). Government committee items included a later deadline for library trustees’ annual reports (HB 2129), a two-year limit on certain adult protective services reports to the Attorney General (HB 2228), and an exemption for public and semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules (HB 2439). Several bills were reported as consent-calendar items, and a number of sponsors noted committee votes, fiscal neutrality, or favorable testimony in support of the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're running for governor. Congratulations to you. Um, Governor Walz is running for re-election.
• You're running for governor. made. You're running for governor.
• Um Governor Congratulations to you.
• The governor is an elected governor of this state.
• </c> um, our appointments in this role ended. um, our appointments in this role ended.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...appointed, and then, two, attendance issues from members that are appointed.
• And what the plan is is to have the governor, the lieutenant governor, all the mayors, the Senate president
• The fact that HRS 107, Part II, says that there shall be appointed an...
• And I will propose that when these two people are appointed, no ifs, ands, or buts.
• And then the governor put a stop to SPCC. So, in that sense, we're up to date.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Patty Murray as her statewide veterans constituency coordinator and then as Governor Inslee's
• I want to give a tip of the hat to our lieutenant governor who worked on I want to give a tip of the
• Sometimes mission critical, that means spouses and children can't get to their appointments on time.
• I can't attend my appointments because I have a toddler, and I can't just leave my toddler with anyone
• Sometimes mission critical, that means spouses, children can't get to their appointments on time.

Summary: The committee heard updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Navy Region Northwest, Fairchild Air Force Base, the Coast Guard, state licensing agencies, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Washington National Guard, and a veterans behavioral health presenter. Across the military briefings, common themes were readiness, infrastructure, and quality-of-life issues for service members and families, especially child care, housing, food insecurity, medical and dental access, and military spouse employment. JBLM highlighted its role in Indo-Pacific readiness, ongoing PFAS cleanup, 212 new family housing units under construction, efforts to expand child care, and continued work to keep the Lewis Army Museum open. Navy Region Northwest discussed its major installations and economic impact, the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan, future carrier and submarine homeporting needs, and asked the legislature to continue support for licensure compacts, educational stability for military children, housing, and medical access. Fairchild emphasized its tanker and survival missions, child care shortages, food insecurity, aging housing, and concerns about wind turbine development near flight paths, while the Coast Guard focused on rebuilding Base Seattle for new icebreakers and on rural access to housing, medical care, and child care at dispersed stations like Neah Bay. Members repeatedly raised food insecurity and asked for follow-up on solutions. JBLM and Fairchild both described increased demand for food assistance during the shutdown, and committee members noted progress in getting mobile food vans onto JBLM. The presenters also praised state action on military spouse licensure and child care, including Senate Bill 5545 and related compact and portability efforts. The Department of Licensing reported about 9,000 self-identified military members or spouses licensed, with average time-to-license just under nine days, and said applications are prioritized when military status is self-identified. The Department of Health said its military-to-civilian crosswalk now covers more than 35 health professions, that temporary practice permits and expedited processing are in place, and that 1,300 credentials were issued to military spouses and domestic partners and 129 to military-trained health professionals in the last fiscal year, all within 30 days. The Professional Educator Standards Board explained that military spouses and service members can receive expedited teacher certification with reduced documentation, and that they are moved to the front of the review queue when they self-identify. Members asked about verification, and staff said the process relies on attestation with investigatory safeguards if needed. The Washington National Guard briefed on its dual state and federal mission, the impact of the recent shutdown on nearly 700 employees who worked without pay, and policy and budget requests including youth academy protections, alignment of the Washington Code of Military Justice with the UCMJ, making Civil Air Patrol a division of the Military Department, 911 funding, disaster assistance, and capital funding for headquarters and readiness facilities. The Guard also warned about drone threats and said it wants authority to identify, track, and monitor suspicious drones. A veterans behavioral health presenter, an Army combat veteran and clinical social worker, described high suicide risk, barriers to care, and the need for more culturally competent services, especially for women veterans and caregivers. He said Washington veterans’ suicide rate remains above the national average and emphasized that childcare, transportation, and provider shortages can prevent timely treatment. Members generally responded supportively throughout, asked for follow-up on food security and other issues, and encouraged agencies to bring forward legislative ideas for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since his appointment as Chancellor of Texas A&M in 2011, John Sharp has placed Texas A&M on a trajectory
• Shortly after his appointment in 2011, one of Chancellor Sharpe's first objectives was the establishment
• Aging 4471 by Morgan Ling, the appointment of the signature verification committee in certain counties
• HB 4850 by Button relating the programs with the Office of Governor and the Texas Economic Development
• HB 4889 by Moody, ruling the appointment of the attorneys in the ad libium and the compensation of the

Bills: HB9 , HB22 , HB908 , HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you believe I had a doctor's appointment with my orthopedic surgeon who fixed my knee?
• </c> believe I had a doctor's appointment believe I had a doctor's appointment with<00:37:55.280><c>
• Hey, if I have a guy with the governor.
• And um, talked to the governor this morning about both these bills.
• </c> the governor in the enrolling process. the governor in the enrolling process.

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Communications from the Governor.
• Further communications from the Governor will also be referred to the Committee on Rules.
• The Chair wishes to announce that the minority leader has made the following appointment: Boyes Butler
• The Chair wishes to announce that the minority leader has made the following appointment: Boyes Butler

Summary: The Senate met in a non-voting session, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and received routine communications from the President pro tempore, the Governor, and the House. The House transmitted Senate Bills 604, 971, 972, and 1259, and several Senate and House bills and resolutions were referred to committees, including Judiciary, Appropriations, Finance, Education, Transportation, Labor and Industry, and others. The Senate also noted reports from the Department of State and the Department of Environmental Protection, and announced a minority leader appointment of Boyes Butler to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. The chamber recessed briefly for committee meetings, including Judiciary and Appropriations in the Rules Room. When the Senate returned, Senator Pittman moved that all bills and resolutions on the day’s calendar go over in their order without prejudice, and the motion was adopted without objection. Committee reports were then received: Appropriations reported House Bills 2401, 2412, and 2413 as committed, and re-reported several other House bills as committed; Judiciary reported House Bill 1042 as amended. The Senate then agreed to proceed on the first-time committee reports for House Bills 1042, 2401, 2412, and 2413, and moved on without further action. Announcements indicated the Appropriations Committee would meet the next day to consider House Bills 1042, 1505, and 2400. The Senate finally adopted a motion to recess until Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 5 p.m., unless recalled sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bills will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor for her approbation.
• The bill is passed to be enacted, and the bill will be signed by the President and laid before the Governor
• out of the orders of the day: an act amending the charter of the town of Hopkinton to incorporate appointment
• Third reading of a bill: an act amending the charter of the town of Hopkinton to incorporate appointment

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized an intern in the chamber, and adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Helen Riley Curtin of Salem, with a moment of silence held in her honor. The body also welcomed former Senator Richard Moore to the chamber. The Senate then took up several local and special bills for final action. It passed to be enacted House No. 3898, amending the charter of the town of Natick, and House No. 4502, amending the town manager act for the town of Arlington. It also passed to be engrossed House No. 2275, authorizing the City of Revere to pay a sum of money to Denise Matera Condelli, widow of former school committee member Anthony Matera. Additional measures were advanced without objection: House No. 4292, amending the Hopkinton charter to address appointment powers of the board of library trustees, was passed to be engrossed; House No. 4143, authorizing Wellesley to amend the income threshold for senior real property tax deferments, was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. The Senate also suspended rules to advance House No. 4962, establishing a sick leave bank for Sally DeRogers of the Department of Correction, and House No. 4763, validating the results of a Bourne annual election, both to third reading. Finally, the Senate adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor. Lujan Grisham to say a few words. Seeing no objection. Governor.
• Well, that also happens to governors and lieutenant governors.
• To Lieutenant Governor, the best Lieutenant Governor in America, Lieutenant Governor and President of
• Governor, Mr.
• As Lieutenant Governor, you're only as effective as your relationship with the Governor.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and agreed by unanimous consent to allow cameras on the floor and gallery, excuse several senators, and move to announcements and miscellaneous business. The chamber then adopted a ceremonial resolution honoring Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales for his years of service as Senate president and lieutenant governor, followed by extensive remarks from senators and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham praising his leadership, fairness, education advocacy, and personal kindness. Morales briefly responded, thanking members, the governor, and his family, and noting he would offer fuller remarks on his final day. After messages from the House were read, the Senate adopted several committee reports. These included favorable action on Senate Memorial 31; House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 70; House Bill 124, referred to Finance; Senate Joint Resolution 6, referred to Judiciary; Senate Joint Resolution 7; House Bills 103, 154, 165, and 285 as amended; and the Finance Committee’s amended report on House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for House Bills 2 and 3. The Judiciary Committee also reported Senate Bill 104 as duly enrolled and engrossed, and the body noted that SB 104 had been signed in open session. During personal privilege, Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth discussed a State Ethics Commission advisory opinion on whether legislators who are attorneys may vote on medical malpractice cap legislation, arguing the issue is governed by Senate rules rather than the Governmental Conduct Act. He said he would continue to disclose his interests and vote under Rule 7-5, and also rejected a newspaper suggestion that he had a conflict in sponsoring a judgeship bill for the First Judicial District Court. The Senate then moved into third reading, beginning with Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 264, which Senator Duhigg explained as an election-security measure responding to concerns about federal interference, intimidation, and emergency election disruptions; Senator Nava then spoke in support as a co-sponsor.

Transcript Highlights:

• It actually passed into law by Senator Moore, I'm not Senator, Governor Moore Healy, last year.
• And how you guys got to this table is that in the commission language, the governor and the mayor of
• And so we got together all eight of us after being appointed by the governor or the mayor or the Speaker
• I do want to acknowledge that most of the appointments were accepted.
• then I'll come back to this group around what I can talk to about the Speaker of the House, the Governor

Summary: The Cape Verdean Cultural Center Commission met with quorum, opened with roll call, and welcomed several new commissioners from across Massachusetts, including community leaders, scholars, elected officials, and representatives from Cape Verdean organizations. Chair Miranda and the facilitators described the commission’s purpose: to study and recommend a path toward a Cape Verdean cultural center in Boston, including its organizational structure, location, programming, and feasibility study. Miranda emphasized the long effort behind the commission and said the goal is to produce a report that could support a future center with features such as an auditorium, library, recording studio, and restaurant. Commissioners discussed how to gather public input, with suggestions including visits to existing cultural institutions, traditional listening sessions in communities such as Boston, Brockton, New Bedford, Taunton, Fall River, the Cape, and the Islands, and collecting feedback at festivals and other Cape Verdean events. Members also raised the importance of involving youth, elders, artists, and local historical societies, and of correcting myths and gaps in the historical record about Cape Verdean communities in Massachusetts. Funding was discussed briefly: short-term support may come through earmarks, while larger support would likely need to be pursued through a bond bill. The group agreed to continue sharing ideas by email and through a future repository or shared platform, with meeting minutes to be circulated the following week. A motion was made and seconded to approve the February 2 meeting minutes, and the commission voted to adjourn. The next meeting was tentatively planned for early April, with a Doodle poll to be sent out to members.

Transcript Highlights:

• She relies on her own vehicle to attend VA medical appointments and maintain treatment.
• The bill's clear prohibition Our governor here in the state of California.
• , our governor here in the state of California.
• I understand that the AG and the Governor feel very strongly that they have the constitutional right
• Once again, this bill is supported by the Governor, the AG, and our military, which is looking forward

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several veterans-related bills. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income when determining eligibility for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption. Support came from veterans organizations, county veterans services groups, and local officials; there was no opposition, and the bill was approved and sent to Appropriations. SB 1040 would create a state-local matching program for veterans’ cemetery maintenance endowments, with the state matching private or local deposits up to $250,000 per cemetery per year. It drew support from veterans groups and county representatives and was also approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 1407, which would exempt military retirement pay and surviving spouse military retirement benefits from state income tax. The author and supporters argued it would help retain military retirees in California and support the workforce and economy. The bill received broad support from veterans organizations, county officials, and labor representatives, with no opposition, and was moved to Appropriations, with the roll held open and later completed. SB 1034 would streamline access to disabled veteran parking placards for veterans rated 100% permanent and total, and SB 1201, the No Hungry Heroes Act, would seek federal waivers and other changes to protect vulnerable veterans from CalFresh/SNAP cuts and ensure referrals to county veterans service officers. Both bills had support from veterans advocates and food banks, no opposition, and were approved to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1354 would prohibit out-of-state military personnel from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the governor’s permission, while preserving Title 10 activations and mutual aid arrangements. The author and the California Public Defenders Association framed it as a safeguard for state authority and civil rights; there was no opposition, and it was sent to Public Safety. After the main votes, the committee later completed the held rolls and reported the bills out, then adjourned after thanking veterans and attendees.