Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh goals for the committee commission. uh goals for the committee commission.
• </c> Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission Governor<00:20:17.160>
• </c> candidates in the commission candidates in the commission participation<00:24:43.280><c> in</c><
• </c> Kaho'olawe Commission issues as well. Kaho'olawe Commission issues as well.
• </c> King Kamehameha Celebration Commission King Kamehameha Celebration Commission Governor<00:28:29.480

Summary: The committee heard and then later voted on a series of gubernatorial nominations and several bills. In the nomination portion, DLNR and the nominees generally testified in support or briefly described their qualifications and goals. The nominees included Elray Moreno, Richard First, and Stephen DeWalt for the Game Management Advisory Commission; Noah Dolim and Graham Hart for the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board; Joseph Pickard, Jared Machado, and Elena Bryant for the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council; Kaipuloa Makanui Alona Kealoha for the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission; and Zachary Bentolina for the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission. Testimony emphasized public service, community representation, historic preservation awareness, and bridging communication between communities and DLNR. For the Kaho‘olawe nomination, testimony also discussed storm damage and ongoing assessments on the island. The chair asked questions about historic preservation outreach, board vacancies, and the status of Kaho‘olawe facilities. GM 651 was deferred so the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts could weigh in, while the others were later recommended for advise and consent and adopted without opposition. In decision making on the 1:00 p.m. agenda, the committee voted to advise and consent on GM 641, 642, 703, 683, 743, 645, 646, 647, and 738. GM 651 was deferred to a later date. The committee also noted that some nominees were interim or reappointments, and clarified that the Kaneohe Bay and Kaho‘olawe-related appointments were being confirmed for the first time or as continuing service, as applicable. The committee then moved into its 1:05 p.m. agenda on several bills. HB 2426 relating to state parks was passed with amendments, including an effective date change. HB 1881 relating to land use was passed with amendments that limited passenger ropeways for private single-home use, removed the mountain definition, prohibited passenger ropeways in all land use districts, and added a narrow exemption for certain government or recognized nonprofit projects subject to legislative approval. HB 1918 relating to taxation was passed with amendments changing the effective date to January 1, 2028 so it could proceed to Ways and Means. HB 1802 relating to conservation mitigation banks was passed with technical amendments. Each measure was adopted by the members present without recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have a question on the commission, the film commission as a whole, because this has come up in the
• So the film commission, like so many of our commissions, are appointed by our governor. the lack of data
• So the film commission, like so many of our commissions, are appointed by our governor. and Like so many
• of our commissions, they are appointed by our governor.
• I think the other area where we saw some deficits in the commission was just staffing.

Summary: The committee heard SB 756, authored by Senator Skinner, which would expand reporting and accountability for California’s film and television tax credit program. The senator said the bill is intended to improve equity and transparency by requiring the California Film Commission to collect better demographic and geographic data, including workers’ zip codes and veteran status, using existing payroll and third-party systems without adding new mandates. Supporters said the information is needed to evaluate whether the state’s film incentive benefits California workers and communities, especially in areas like South Los Angeles. Public testimony was limited. Dylan Hoffman, on behalf of California Arts Advocates, testified in support. No opposition testimony was presented. Committee members, including Assembly Member Quirk-Silva and Assembly Member McKinnor, voiced support and emphasized the need for standardized data collection and stronger oversight of the tax credit program. The author also noted recent staffing increases at the Film Commission to help monitor the program. The committee moved the bill on a motion and second, and SB 756 passed out of committee with a due pass recommendation to the Appropriations Committee. The roll call was recorded as 8-0, with one member not present in voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• bogus commissions or just giving commissions to anybody.
• When I took office in 2021, I revoked that commission, and I revoked all commissions.
• It's a commission; it's a commission; it's a commission. House Bill 1038 does not change that.
• It's a commission, it's a commission, as a commission.
• It's a commission, it's a commission, is a commission. House Bill 1038 does not change that.

Committee: Senate Judiciary B

Transcript Highlights:

• So the people that make up this commission are experts in their field.
• The commission keeps an eye on south through the generosity of the Florida legislature.
• So the commission itself is primarily responsible for the commission grant, but also keeps an eye on
• So in the last couple years, this commission is not a commission that just sits and has meeting it gets
• He helps me with this commission here next Tuesday. We're both main campus. Yeah, yeah.

Transcript Highlights:

• MEMBERS, LET'S MOVE ON TAB TWO, DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION.
• FOLLOWS IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION FOLLOWS IN DETERMINING WHETHER A PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN
• LIKEWISE, THE RULE HAS NOT RECOMMENDED AS I SAID IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION SINCE 1983.
• DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF WHO IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION CURRENTLY AND IS IT FILLED OUT?
• AS A BRIEF BACKGROUND PRIDE TO THE LITIGATION THE COMMISSION AND THE PREDECESSOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll be discussing the budget recommendations for the Historical Commission.
• I'm John Nau, Chairman of the Texas Historical Commission.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you and the Commission.
• James Beauchamp, presiding officer of the commission. Thank you.
• The agency's James Kessler: ... for the Veterans Commission.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2912—this is about the Corporation Commission. Mr. Fleming, I'm sorry, House Bill 2912.
• The results of these studies are reported to the Commission and become part of the process for future
• The Constitution does permit the Commission to go along with these kinds of changes if they want to.
• Chairman, members, House Bill 2192, this is about the Corporation Commission. Mr.
• The commission adopts the rates. Requiring an analysis is a policy decision we can make.

Summary: The committee considered a series of bills and resolutions for constitutional and proper-form review, with Tim Fleming from the Rules Attorney’s Office flagging potential issues and suggesting floor amendments in several cases. House Bill 2313, dealing with teachers’ strikes and work stoppages, was found to raise a pension-rights problem under the state constitution because it could diminish retirement benefits; the suggested fix was to remove the words “or former employment.” The committee also reviewed House Bill 2697 on opioid overdose emergencies and related immunity provisions, House Bill 2912 concerning Corporation Commission review of integrated resource plans for electric utilities, House Bill 2991 on parental consent for minors’ social media accounts, House Bill 4010 regulating genetic counselors and conscience protections, and House Bill 4115 and HCR 2051 regarding petition circulator identification requirements. In each of those measures, the rules attorney identified constitutional concerns tied to anti-abrogation, separation of powers/rate-making authority, First Amendment issues, or lawsuit-threat language, but indicated proposed amendments could resolve them. Members asked questions and debated the constitutional analysis, especially on HB 2912 and HB 2991. On HB 2912, one member argued the bill concerned policy and modeling rather than rate-setting, while others noted the complexity of the commission’s authority. On HB 2991, the sponsor said the measure had been under negotiation for months and was intended to avoid constitutional conflict, though the rules attorney said the First Amendment case law was not yet well developed. For HB 4010, the committee focused on a provision that could prohibit threatening a lawsuit against a genetic counselor, which the attorney said should be removed. For HB 4115 and HCR 2051, the attorney cited Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation as a reason to delete the petition-circulator name-disclosure requirement. The committee voted to recommend each of the individually discussed measures as constitutional and in proper form, generally by 4-2 votes with two absent, including HB 2313, HB 2697, HB 2912, HB 2991, HB 4010, and HB 4115/HCR 2051. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved a large mass motion covering many additional bills and resolutions, and that package was recommended by a 6-0 vote with two absent. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've been doing a fabulous job with this commission.
• I've also been on commissions that basically changed the date.
• man that commission, but also.
• Folks who would man that commission, but also in order to get the emails out to this commission and to
• And we currently have a full commission.

Summary: The commission met to approve prior minutes, note attendance, and discuss updates on its work to plan a Cape Verdean Culture Center/Museum in Massachusetts. The minutes from the March 11 meeting were reviewed and accepted by motion and vote, with one correction noted about duplicate section numbering. Members also discussed a vacancy left by Julius Brito’s inability to accept appointment, and the need to potentially extend the commission’s deadline and broaden the window for adding commissioners. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on funding and legislative strategy. Staff reported that an amendment to extend the commission’s sunset date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027 was filed in the Senate’s fair share budget but was not accepted. Commissioners and legislators discussed other possible vehicles for the extension, including the regular budget, supplemental budgets, or other moving bills, and also reviewed past and possible future funding sources for a feasibility study, including House and Senate earmarks, a bond bill, and eventually a nonprofit structure that could fundraise. Members emphasized the need for a consultant to support a feasibility study and for public pressure or commissioner advocacy if needed. The bulk of the meeting was a brainstorming session on community engagement and outreach. Commissioners discussed a three-part approach involving site visits, traditional listening sessions, and outreach at existing Cape Verdean events, with possible additions of social media, a website, surveys, recordings, and canvassing. Suggested locations included New Bedford, Cape Cod, Boston, Brockton, Taunton, and potentially Rhode Island sites such as Pawtucket, with several members stressing the historical importance of New Bedford and Cape Cod. Participants also raised the importance of historical accuracy, youth engagement, visibility, and involving existing Cape Verdean organizations and museums. The meeting ended with agreement to continue refining the engagement framework, compile event lists, and return with more concrete dates and plans at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is within Tab 2: the Department of Management Services and Governor's Mansion Commission.
• The Governor's Mansion Commission follows in determining whether a property that has been acquired by
• Do you have a list of any chance who's actually on the Governor's Commission, the Governor's Mansion
• Commission currently, and is it fully filled out, those members?
• And I believe we have a member of the Florida Gaming Commission here.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee reviewed several agency rules and objections under Chapter 120. First, the committee revisited prior objections to Agency for Health Care Administration rules containing sunset provisions. AHCA’s general counsel said the agency amended 26 of the objected rules but declined to amend five others, arguing sunset provisions are lawful, are not themselves rules, and were consistent with a 2019 gubernatorial directive. Committee members questioned that position, especially for licensing and certificate-of-need rules, and urged the agency to consider legislative changes; no formal action was taken on that item during the discussion. The committee then considered an objection to Department of Management Services Rule 60G-1.001 defining the Governor’s Mansion grounds. Committee staff argued the rule is vague and improperly refers to future land acquisitions without updating the rule since 1998. DMS defended the rule as a general definition tied to publicly recorded property and a master lease, but said it would not object if the Legislature chose to codify the definition in statute. After discussion, the committee voted to file the objection. Members also received informational updates from the Department of Environmental Protection on the Solaris state lands inventory system, and from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on its response to the Tampa Bay Downs unadopted-rule litigation, in which the commission said it has stopped relying on the prior tax interpretation and will not promulgate a rule on that issue. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation said it would remove an unsupported cigar wholesale dealer permit reference, repeal an obsolete excise-tax deduction rule, and amend penalty guidelines and an affirmation in its alcohol, beverage, and tobacco rules. Finally, the Division of Administrative Hearings’ interim director discussed case-processing times, possible changes to ALJ status, and whether the Florida Rules of Evidence should apply in administrative proceedings, emphasizing the need to weigh costs, independence, and impacts on pro se litigants. The chair noted this was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the commission is not able to... And is entirely separate.
• And sometimes even minutes before the commission votes on them.
• I know different boards and commissions are the exact same.
• I know different boards and commissions are the exact same.
• Every year, every two years, the commission updates this approach. The commission can change it.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard several energy and utility bills. AB 1016, by Assembly Member Gonzales, would let certain counties with geothermal elements locally permit geothermal plants up to 150 megawatts through a five-year pilot program. Imperial County and other supporters said the bill would speed clean energy development, create jobs, and bring major tax revenue, while labor groups opposed it unless amended to preserve skilled-and-trained workforce standards. The author committed to continue working with labor, and the bill passed 10-0 to Natural Resources with the commitment to take amendments there. AB 1020, by Assembly Member Schiavo, would require investor-owned utilities to disclose taxpayer-funded loans and grants to the Public Utilities Commission and ensure the benefits are passed through to ratepayers. TURN supported the bill as a way to prevent utilities from “double dipping,” while PG&E said it already provides transparency and the bill was unnecessary. Wildfire survivors opposed it unless amended to direct any non-ratepayer funds first to victims. The bill passed 8-1 to Appropriations, with some members raising questions about the treatment of grants, loans, and ratepayer benefits. AB 881, by Assembly Member Wicks, would establish state safety standards for carbon dioxide pipelines to allow carbon capture and sequestration projects to move forward despite delays in federal rulemaking. Supporters, including SMUD and the Carbon Solutions Coalition, said the bill is needed to meet climate goals and access federal funding; environmental justice groups and local residents urged stronger protections and amendments. The bill passed 11-0 to Natural Resources with the commitment to take amendments there. AB 1156, by Assembly Member Wicks, would update the solar use easement program to allow solar development on water-constrained agricultural land; rural counties and farm groups remained opposed but said amendments moved the bill in the right direction. It passed 17-0 to Agriculture. AB 1222, by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, would bar utilities from recovering the costs of challenging CPUC decisions from ratepayers and give greater weight to ALJ proposed decisions; utilities opposed it, citing delay and fairness concerns, while supporters said it would protect ratepayers. It passed 10-3 to Judiciary. The committee also began hearing AB 1260, by Assembly Member Ward, on community renewable energy, with supporters arguing it would improve access for renters and low-income households and correct the CPUC’s implementation of prior law.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:17.960><c> in</c> addressed if there was a commission in addressed if there was a commission
• that oversees the boxing commission and oversees the Mixed Martial Arts commission.
• that oversees the boxing commission that oversees the boxing commission<00:24:21.840><c> and</c><00:
• </c> charge fees here and the commission charge fees here and the commission going<00:49:17.240><c> to
• </c> uh our our local County commissions uh our our local County commissions because<01:18:37.600><c>

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee first heard SB 252 on invasive species, which would broaden the Department of Agriculture’s authority to inspect items moved into or within Hawaii, prohibit the sale of pest-infested merchandise, and allow quarantine, treatment, or destruction of affected materials with clarified penalties. Testifiers from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Farmers Union, and many others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing gaps in current inspection authority and the need to address high-risk non-agricultural commodities such as outdoor furniture and other cargo that can carry pests like red imported fire ants. Members raised concerns about staffing, inspection capacity, commerce impacts, and whether better manifest descriptions or scanners could help target higher-risk shipments. The chairs recommended passage with Department of Agriculture and technical amendments, and the committees adopted the recommendation. The joint CPN/EDT hearing then took up SB 148 on combat sports, which would create a Hawaii Combat Sports Commission and regulate combat sports while prohibiting no-rules contests. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments on effective dates and later said other jurisdictions generally use a single commission for boxing and MMA. Supporters, including a professional fighter and a longtime advocate, argued the bill would help revive the sport in Hawaii, improve local opportunities, and reduce costs associated with separate commissions; one testifier initially appeared opposed but clarified he was actually in support. Committee members asked about safety, medical coverage, staffing, vacancies, and whether separate commissions could share staff. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including an Attorney General effective-date amendment, amendments from the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses to increase health-care coverage at fights, and DCCA’s recommendation to unify boxing and MMA under one commission; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. A later joint CPN/Housing agenda began with SB 69 on deposits of public funds, which would require the Director of Finance to consider the benefits of using in-state depositories, including favorable lending terms for affordable housing. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Hawaii Bankers Association offered comments, and no other testimony or questions were noted before the discussion moved on. The next measure introduced was SB 24 on limited profit housing associations, which would create a regulatory framework and a limited profit housing council; the transcript cuts off as testimony on that bill was beginning.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, the Idaho Barley Commission is a grower-driven, grower-funded, grower-governed commission
• The commission is governed by three growers who are appointed...
• Also, the Barley Commission...
• Commodity commissions: I cannot emphasize enough the vital role that our commodity commissions play in
• Wilder with the Idaho Barley Commission today.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a member of the commission here today.
• We also... ...of the commission here today.
• And also along with a couple of commission members are also in line.
• And thank you for taking part in this commission.
• And thank you for taking part in this commission.

Summary: The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees. Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open. Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the LFC analyst for the Sentencing Commission.
• I'm the Executive Analyst for the Sentencing Commission.
• The commission was very excited about that program.
• Commission.
• The LFC recommended a flat budget for this commission.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It is an honor to be serving on the Florida Public Service Commission.
• I felt this before I got to the commission.
• I also added term limits and another structure to the commission.
• Michael LaRosa is the current chair of the Public Service Commission.
• I want the staff to actually be making those. ...be done by the commission.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and first considered SB 1416, which would move municipal elections to coincide with the general election and extend incumbent terms until the new schedule takes effect. Senators discussed whether the bill would affect runoff elections, with the sponsor explaining that runoff timing would shift to the August primary/general election framework. The Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties were noted as opposed, while members cited potential taxpayer savings and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 766, as amended by strike-all, which would require agents of certain “countries of concern” to register with the Division of Elections when engaging in political activity. The amendment narrowed the bill’s focus and aligned terminology with existing state law. After no opposition or debate on the amendment, the committee adopted it and then reported the bill favorably. Members next heard the reappointment of Mike LaRosa to the Public Service Commission. Questioning focused heavily on PSC transparency, the sufficiency of commission orders, Supreme Court criticism of PSC decisions, storm protection plans, utility rate cases, and how the commission evaluates evidence and consumer impacts. LaRosa said the commission had changed its procedures to produce more detailed orders and more robust discussion, and he described ongoing work on rate cases, public engagement, and emerging energy issues such as small modular reactors. Despite concerns raised, the nomination was reported favorably to the full Senate. The committee then approved a block of additional appointments in tabs 4 through 27, also reporting them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• . commission. commission.
• </c> to the public, but in this commission to the public, but in this commission you<01:59:04.480><c>
• </c> disclosure before the commission disclosure before the commission releases<02:06:40.800><c> the<
• So does this commission ever learn anything that had to be secret, or would this commission only know
• <02:08:41.119><c> commission</c><02:08:41.920><c> ever</c><02:08:42.320><c> learn</c> commission commission

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you talking about things like working with a judicial commission or the commission on state conduct
• Children's Commission is part of that.
• canons, but having served on that commission and having seen the difficulties in getting that commission
• Item 6: Texas Forensic Science Commission.
• The Texas Indigent Defense Commission.

Bills: SB 1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Commission can speak to in more detail.
• I have to commend the Railroad Commission and their staff.
• The Railroad Commission passed their rules.
• within the current statute allowed, and I think this statute allows the Railroad Commission. ...commission
• From the Railroad Commission, members, are you interested in hearing from the Railroad Commission?

Bills: HB3619 , HB3652 , HB4572 , HB4891 , HB4941 , HB5103 , HB5105 , HB5106 , HB5224 , HB5600

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards

Transcript Highlights:

• And retailer commission strategy at the 24-25 spending level.
• Operations Division, Texas Lottery Commission.
• Commission.
• And there's no desire at the commission to circumvent the law.
• We had discussions collectively as a commission during commission meetings.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And if that's the will of this commission, we will then be able to fundraise.
• No, I think getting an extension of the commission should be a fairly easy thing to do.
• I've also been on commissions that basically changed the date.
• man that commission, but also... ...folks who would man that commission, but also in order to get the
• And we currently have a full commission.

Summary: The commission approved the minutes from its March 11 meeting after a motion by Jeannie Costa and a second by Senator Michael Brady, with members noting a few possible corrections to attendance and wording. The meeting then focused on updates about the commission’s timeline and funding. Staff reported that an amendment to extend the commission’s deadline from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027 was filed in the Fair Share budget but was not accepted, and members discussed pursuing the extension through other budget vehicles, including the regular budget, a supplemental budget, or other legislation. Commissioners also discussed the need to fill a vacancy left by Julius Brito and to potentially extend the deadline for appointing new commissioners. A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to brainstorming the commission’s community engagement plan for the proposed Cape Verdean Culture Center. Members revisited a three-part approach involving site visits, traditional listening sessions, and outreach at existing Cape Verdean events, while also emphasizing historical accuracy, youth engagement, visibility, and regional collaboration. Commissioners suggested using surveys, canvassing, social media, a website, and other digital tools to reach people across the diaspora, including those unable to attend in person. Several members recommended specific locations and institutions for engagement, including New Bedford, Brockton, Boston, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island, with references to museums, historical societies, clubs, and cultural organizations already doing related work. Testimony and comments also addressed funding and organizational structure for the future center. Legislators described possible funding sources such as House and Senate earmarks, a bond bill, and a nonprofit structure that could later support fundraising and operations. Members discussed examples from other cultural institutions, including the Holocaust Museum, the African American History Museum, and the Haitian Toussaint Louverture Cultural Center, as models for governance and public support. The group also raised the possibility of future collaboration with the Cape Verdean government and institutions in Cabo Verde, though one member urged waiting until after upcoming elections there before making formal contacts. No additional votes were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning the meeting.