Video & Transcript Research : 'rendition statement'
Page 95 of 418
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Governmental Organization Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Governmental Organization
Transcript Highlights:
- Requiring published statements of purpose and cost basis summaries is just good governance, and this
- Requiring published statements of purpose and cost basis summaries is just good governance, and this
Summary:
The subcommittee met at 1:40 p.m. with quorum established and heard one bill, SB 920 by Senator Archuleta. The bill was described as a good-governance measure based on a 2018 audit of the Gaming Control Fund. It would require the Gaming Commission, when adopting or adjusting a fee deposited into the fund, to maintain a regulation stating the fee’s authorized purpose and use, with the goal of improving transparency, accountability, and fiscal integrity in gambling regulatory fees.
The bill’s sponsor and supporters, including Communities for California Card Rooms and representatives from several casinos, testified in strong support, saying the measure would add clarity and “belt and suspenders” to the fee process. Assembly Member Dixon asked about the delay since the 2018 audit and said she supported the bill. There was no opposition.
The committee voted do pass SB 920 to Appropriations, with the roll showing enough aye votes to pass while the roll remained open for absent members. The committee then approved a consent calendar containing SB 33, SB 1205, SB 1235, SB 1236, SB 1273, and SB 1434, all with do pass to Appropriations recommendations. The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Rules Committee Apr 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I had a statement, but I guess it's not going to...
- In my opinion, and they don't tell you about the Kazatsuni his statement on this Bucharest, which is
Summary:
The Rules Committee convened, established a quorum, and approved the consent agenda by unanimous roll call vote. The committee then took up House Resolution 25, authored by Assembly Member Harabedian, commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Harabedian described the resolution as a reaffirmation that the genocide occurred and noted its long history in the Legislature.
Supportive testimony came from David Ojakian of the Armenian Assembly of America, who said the resolution was important to counter denial, mark the 110th anniversary, and recognize broader concerns about ethnic and religious cleansing in Artsakh. He cited prior California, congressional, and presidential acknowledgments of the Armenian Genocide and urged passage of the resolution. One witness in opposition, Karahan Mette of the Turkish College in California, argued the events were a wartime conflict rather than genocide, disputed the death toll, and called for a unifying joint resolution instead.
Committee members Arreguín and Zbur voiced support for the resolution and its importance to constituents, including the Little Armenia community. The committee then voted to advance H.R. 25 by unanimous roll call, and the meeting adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- speaking out, for raising concerns, and asking some very good questions and making some very profound statements
- But the Senate, the state of Texas, had an opportunity today to put together a policy statement and begin
Summary:
Senate Democratic Caucus leaders held a press availability to criticize Senate Bill 689, the DEI bill they said had passed and would roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in Texas government. Chair Carol Alvarado opened by saying colleagues had raised serious concerns and that the bill would set the state back. Senator Royce West argued Democrats had offered a better approach, including a complaint-review process through the Texas Workforce Commission and real penalties for discrimination, but said the majority rejected meaningful enforcement and left only “hollow words.”
Senator José Menéndez said claims of a purely merit-based, color-blind system ignore systemic discrimination and the need for offices that support equity and inclusion. He said the bill sends a message that Texas does not care about diversity or inclusion and noted that an amendment to create real consequences for discrimination was defeated. Senator Borris Miles warned that DEI had been demonized without evidence that public hiring was based only on DEI rather than qualifications, and said minority- and women-owned business programs and protections for disabled veterans businesses could be put at risk.
Senator Nathan Johnson added that the Senate had just confirmed Justin Berry to the T. Cole position while emphasizing merit, which he called contextually inconsistent. He described the debate as “misdirected passion,” saying lawmakers should focus on more serious problems rather than efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in government offices. No votes or other formal actions were taken during the remarks, which ended with questions from reporters.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (02/10/2026)
Environment and Agriculture
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:57:22.079>
that You know, remove that statement that You know, remove that statement that - You can see the bill has the first part, which is a statement of purpose.
- This is taken is a statement of purpose.
- I would agree with that statement.
- Um do I would agree with that statement.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (04/15/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- ,<01:48:18.639>
we look at their advocacy statement, we look at their advocacy statement, - I just wanted to correct the facts on the statements just made.
- <02:42:50.560>
Um corrected in my colleague statement. - Um corrected in my colleague statement.
- So just going back to to your statement So just going back to to your statement where<03:51:06.080
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 292, which would authorize a governor’s warrant to cover special education aid shortfalls from the education trust fund, and from the general fund if needed, so local school districts would not have to absorb prorated costs or raise local property taxes. Senator Lang said the bill was prompted by a prior $15 million special education funding shortfall caused by higher-than-expected catastrophic aid claims, including more qualifying students and the recent increase in the special education age limit to 22. He emphasized that the bill is intended to ensure the state meets its funding commitment and avoid shifting costs to towns.
Members asked about how the bill interacts with House Bill 742 and House Bill 773, including whether the language should be merged or whether the state should fund 100% versus an 80% floor. Lang said he was open to improving the bill and to adding a study committee or performance audit on special education costs, but maintained that the state should not push costs to local taxpayers when it has available funds. The hearing on SB 292 was then closed, with no vote taken.
The committee then opened Senate Bill 98, which would extend for five more years a tax credit program for donations to regional career and technical education centers. Senator Waters said the program has been successful in building partnerships between CTE centers and employers, especially through equipment donations that support training and apprenticeships. He cited examples including automotive, marine trades, and advanced manufacturing programs, and said the five-year extension would let lawmakers continue to review whether the incentive is working as intended.
Several members questioned whether the credit is effectively a 100% subsidy and how the cap works. Waters and another member explained that the underlying program has an aggregate cap of $500,000 and that credits are prorated if requests exceed that amount; they also said the donations are primarily equipment, not cash. Some members raised concerns about whether businesses could also claim other tax deductions or credits, but the sponsor said the existing structure has been in place for years and has been revisited periodically. No vote was taken during the hearing excerpt provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Governmental Organization Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Requiring published statements of purpose and cost-based summaries is just good governance, and this
- Requiring published statements of purpose and cost-based summaries is just good governance, and this
Summary:
The committee met as a subcommittee and heard one bill, Senate Bill 920 by Senator Archuleta. SB 920 would require the Gaming Commission, when adopting or adjusting a fee deposited into the Gaming Control Fund, to maintain a regulation stating the fee’s authorized purpose and use. The author described it as a good-governance measure based on a 2018 audit of the fund, aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and clarity around regulatory fee revenues. Supporters from Communities for California Card Rooms and related casinos testified in favor, saying the bill would add a useful layer of documentation and oversight; there was no opposition.
Members asked a brief question about the delay since the 2018 audit, and the author responded that it was a matter of governance. The committee then voted SB 920 out on a motion by Assembly Member Gibson, seconded by Assembly Member Soria, with the bill passing “do pass to appropriations.” The roll was left open briefly for absent members.
The committee also took up a consent calendar containing SB 33, SB 1205, SB 1235, SB 1236, SB 1273, and SB 1434, and approved those measures on a motion to “do pass to appropriations, recommend consent.” The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- After national media attention and public statements by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE,
- by the Department of public statements by the Department of Homeland<00:09:18.240>
Security <00 - uh you know, standpoint and statements uh you know, standpoint and statements that<01:23:44.520>
- Then I'll just make a statement,<01:26:08.200>
Mr. - Chair, and I'll be done statement, Mr. Chair, and I'll be done here. here. here.
Summary:
The committee adopted the minutes from its February 24, 2026 meeting after a motion by Vice Chair Coulter. The hearing then focused on the impact of federal immigration enforcement, referred to throughout as Operation Metro Surge, on Minnesota college campuses. The chair said the purpose was to document alleged abuses, campus fear, and racial discrimination, and to hear from testifiers about effects on students, faculty, and staff. Representative Novotny briefly objected to the framing, saying the committee should be finding facts rather than making a predetermined presentation, and the chair responded that members should remain respectful and that questions would be held until after all presenters testified.
Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow described what he called relentless and unprecedented disruption, including student stops and interrogations, family separations, and an ICE operation on campus in which armed masked agents allegedly detained a student without a warrant and pointed weapons at students and staff. He said the campus received bomb threats afterward, increased virtual learning options, and saw spikes in student support needs, housing assistance, and leaves of absence. Jenna Chernega of the Inter Faculty Organization said faculty across Minnesota State universities reported widespread student and colleague stress, increased workload, disappearing students, and a need for clearer sensitive-location protections and academic freedom guidance. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College Faculty said community conditions inevitably affect classrooms, that campuses have not yet had an ICE incident but are bracing for one, and that faculty want to support students and may need financial help if enrollment declines.
Jennifer Irwin of AFSCME said fear from ICE activity extends beyond campus boundaries and is affecting attendance, work, and daily life for staff and students; she cited a member detained in St. Paul while trying to prove legal status. Student testifiers Brendan Frazier of Concordia University, St. Paul, Jonathan Fitzgerald of Minnesota State Mankato, Sudi Adow of Lead MN, and Will Luther of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities described panic, reduced attendance, food insecurity, disrupted classes, and fear of leaving home or commuting to campus. They urged stronger student privacy protections, support for international and immigrant students, emergency aid, and policies to keep campuses safe. No further committee action or votes were taken after the minutes approval.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- So, we say physician or optometrist statement of the medical need.
- ,<00:21:07.120>
I Um so I think as a general statement, I Um so I think as a general statement - Um, sounded like a statement. Don't know if we need a response. Uh, Senator Johnson Stewart.
- Um Sounded<00:55:30.960>
like <00:55:31.080>a <00:55:31.120>statement. - Don't know if Sounded like a statement.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPN DEFER, CPN-HOU, CPN, CPN-EDT Public Hearings 02-03-2026
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:16:27.839>
of the auditor to include a statement of the auditor to include a statement - But the state—so I guess my question, a specific question to you, is how do you square that statement
- But the state—so I guess my question, a specific question to you, is how do you square that statement
- But the state—so I guess my question, a specific question to you, is how do you square that statement
- But the state—so I guess my question, a specific question to you, is how do you square that statement
Keywords:
combat sports, boxing, mixed martial arts, health regulations, safety standards, licensing, event regulation, 912, senate, all
Summary:
The committees first took up SB 2071 on rent-to-own housing. Testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC and Hawaii Realtors, but Sierra Club of Hawaii and others opposed the bill unless it was amended to exclude ceded lands from the 99-year lease provision. Members discussed the scope of ceded versus non-ceded lands and whether an inventory exists. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including HHFDC’s proposal to make the fixed-price period flexible by tying it to an option period and Sierra Club’s language limiting the program to non-ceded state or county land.
They then heard SB 2191 on limited profit housing associations. HHFDC supported the measure, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Office of the Auditor urged caution about tax exclusions and asked for clearer, more targeted limits and measurable outcomes. The committees adopted amendments to add a statement of purpose, include measurable metrics, apply the tax provisions to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and delay the effective date to allow for administrative changes. SB 2191 was recommended for passage with amendments.
The committees also considered SB 2197, which would have replaced the five-year fixed-price period in rent-to-own housing with an option period set by HHFDC, but deferred it indefinitely because its issues were addressed in SB 2071. SB 2180 on deposits of public funds drew comments from the Hawaii Bankers Association questioning definitions and noting banks are already subject to Community Reinvestment Act requirements; decision-making was deferred to the next day in the CPN committee and to a later date for the housing committee. Finally, SB 2210 on housing discrimination received support from disability advocates and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, which asked for one additional investigator; the committees passed it with amendments adding a blank appropriation for one full-time position and planned to notify Ways and Means for possible re-referral.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (01/29/2026)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- the employer, um, we'll have information provided by the individual with their 1099s or earning statements
- the employer, um, we'll have information provided by the individual with their 1099s or earning statements
- With their 1099s or earning statements as to what they've earned in order to put that into their base
- So, and again, and I've when we've talked about this in prior, um, sessions, I've made the statement
- that you don't I've made the statement that you don't want<01:05:57.280>
to <01:05:57.440>
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (05/01/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, I just wanted to ask you to please echo your statement that I believe is correct to the bill that
- Um, I just wanted to ask you to please echo your statement that I believe is correct to the bill that
- Um, I just wanted to ask you to please echo your statement that I believe is correct to the bill that
- I think there's a fiscal impact statement associated with this bill.
- I disagree vigorously with the statement that we are keeping students where they are failing.
Summary:
The Education Funding Committee met in executive session on a bill concerning school meal access and reimbursement. The bill would address local school districts’ responsibility to provide meals during school hours, reimburse schools for meals served at no cost, and make an appropriation. The committee first moved to retain the bill, with supporters saying it was complex, had uncertain fiscal impacts, and should be considered alongside other related meals bills. Opponents argued the committee already had enough information, that the bill served a small number of students at relatively low cost, and that delaying action would harm children who need food to learn.
The committee also heard from Tim Roar, a Keene school business administrator and co-designer of the bill, who explained that the proposal was intended to be an opt-in program for districts, with rulemaking to set participation requirements. He said the bill was meant to target aid to students between 175% and 200% of poverty, reduce bad meal debt, and avoid spending taxpayer money on families who could afford to pay. He estimated the state cost at about $250,000 in year one, with local taxpayer costs around $8,500 for Keene, and said some districts already have systems for online applications while others do not.
Committee members questioned him about meal debt, online application software costs, and how districts handle students who reach debt limits. Roar said districts still feed students who are hungry, but use other resources and family outreach when meal debt is capped, and he argued that parents should be responsible for providing lunch when they can afford it. Other members pushed back, saying they had seen students go hungry and that teachers sometimes pay for lunches themselves. One member noted the bill would increase eligibility, make it easier to apply, strengthen personal responsibility, and was not a mandate. The discussion ended without a recorded final vote in the excerpt, though the retain motion remained the central action under debate.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And then you get your tax statement. If you're in, so you get your tax statement.
- And by the way, Vice Chair Martinez-Fisher, I love your passion statement today.
- Okay so you made some... pretty broad statement.
- Statement erroneously communicates is that there is no connection between new debt and new taxes I find
- Enriching the debt disclosure statement between English and Spanish versions of the ballot proposition
Bills:
HB19, HB30, HB851, HB1663, HB1681, HB1769, HB1937, HB1979, HB2428, HB2433, HB2825, HB3159, HB3424, HB3486, HB3487, HB3504, HB3605, HB3879, HB3994, HB4382, HB4752, HB5444, HB5446, HB5447, HB3199, HB4847, HB19
Keywords:
local government debt, property tax, ad valorem tax, bond election, certificate of obligation, anticipation note, school district tax rate, voter-approval rate, debt service cap, municipal finance, county bonds, flood control district, hospital district, public works, tax transparency, property tax notice, November uniform election date, general obligation bonds, local debt reform, taxpayer notice
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- The outline form for your statement of economic form for your statement of economic form for your statement
- And I know you'll support me in my statements I have to make that we in my statements I have to make
- that we in my statements I have to make that we thank our military people for their thank our military
- I made a statement in the committee job. I made a statement in the committee job.
- U I heard your statement that it was a U I heard your statement that it was a U I heard your statement
Keywords:
regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/04/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- Another way to look at this work is, well, actually let me go to the mission statement.
- , and there are many very important words in this mission statement.
- go to work is uh well actually let me uh go to the<01:15:44.360>
mission <01:15:44.760>statement - and uh there are many by this statement and uh there are many very<01:15:52.880>
important <01 - I would say all is a very statement I would say all is a very compelling<01:15:59.040>
term <01
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House higher education panel questions U of M representatives about award 1/23/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- He added that their president was unable to attend today's hearing, so he would be reading a statement
- <01:15:58.400>
and statements and statements and fabrications<01:16:00.800>another <01: - And I always say let's live in the land of fact and truth, not accusations, inflammatory statements,
- And I always say let's live in the land of fact and truth, not accusations, inflammatory statements,
- lies baseless statements direct lies baseless things<01:44:06.719>
and <01:44:06.920>with<
Summary:
The committee heard testimony from Amber Cameron of the University of Minnesota’s Office for Public Engagement about the University’s Outstanding Community Service Awards and, specifically, the community partner award given to Communities United Against Police Brutality in 2021 and 2024. Cameron explained that the awards program recognizes faculty, staff, students, and community partners, that nominations are reviewed by University selection committees using criteria such as positive societal impact, innovation, extraordinary results, and overall impression, and that the committee evaluates only the application materials. She said the nomination for Communities United Against Police Brutality described a long-standing partnership with the University through student learning, including work through the Center for Community-Engaged Learning and a student white paper connected to the passage of Travis’s Law.
Committee members raised concerns about the organization’s history, its public messaging, and whether it was appropriate for the University to honor it. One member argued that the group’s IRS records showed it was formally organized in 2020, questioned claims that it had existed for 25 years, and objected to the organization’s letterhead and activism. Cameron responded that the award does not require formal tax status and that the selection process relies on the nomination packet rather than outside information. She also said the award nomination documented work with 130 course offerings across 17 academic departments and about 1,000 students over 24 years.
Cameron further said the award program was being phased out and retooled into a new internal Engaged Scholar Awards program focused on community-engaged scholarship rather than volunteer service. No vote or formal action was taken during the exchange, and the discussion ended with questions about the nomination materials and how the University defines the organization’s work with students and faculty.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- It made a statement about our ability to work with the council, to work with you folks, to get things
- about our ability to work with statement about our ability to work with the<00:57:45.880>
council - But as far as I'm concerned, it's a general statement. I mean, it's, um, right in, um, we just...
- But as far as I'm concerned, it's a general statement. I mean, it's, um, right in, um, we just...
- That, um, um, you know, they, they are, and this is a general statement again too, it's, right, we let's
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 4 February, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- and to file a complaint against an employer who fails to provide such a statement.
- <01:31:55.280>
and request a written earning statement and request a written earning statement - who fails to provide such a statement. who fails to provide such a statement. also<01:31:59.840>
- >> Yes, sir, for a friendly comment and just a statement.
- financial statements. financial statements.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer and the pledge, established a quorum, dispensed with reading the journal and bill introductions, and then moved through announcements recognizing visitors in the galleries, including cancer advocacy groups, Mississippi Math and Science School students, a gospel choir, Leadership Greater Jackson, and other guests. Members also made several commendations, including recognition of Elena Johnson’s softball accomplishments and a student’s appointment to West Point.
On the general calendar, the House passed House Bill 1076, the SAVE Act of 2026, by a vote of 122-0. The bill is described as a consumer protection measure for veterans that prohibits pay-to-refer arrangements, tightens standards for paid claims assistance, requires written agreements and limits upfront or nonrefundable fees, and adds privacy and disclosure safeguards. The House also passed House Bill 223, designating a segment of Highway 537 as the Sergeant John Howard Tanner Memorial Highway, by 122-0.
The chamber then passed House Bill 1112, which revises state aid road division laws to expand purchasing authority, increase authorized vehicles, and allow unused county road funds to be reallocated after a period of time, by 120-1. House Bill 737, with an adopted amendment, allows Medicaid providers to repay certain non-fraud overpayments in installments when immediate repayment would cause hardship and aligns the repayment timeline with federal law; it passed 116-0. The House also passed House Bill 479 on marriage and family therapy and psychology licensure changes, adopting an amendment that extends the time to verify credentials for out-of-state applicants and provides a temporary license, by 121-0.
Additional bills passed included House Bill 991 on third-party registration systems for used motor vehicle parts dealers and scrap metal processors (118-0), House Bill 1072 creating voluntary portable benefits accounts for independent contractors (119-0), House Bill 1137 revising CPA licensure education and experience requirements (118-1), House Bill 571 extending the foreign-national contribution ban to ballot measures (111-1), House Bill 630 allowing certain county electors to serve as municipal poll managers in small municipalities (113-4), House Bill 858 requiring election equipment internet connectivity to be disabled on election day (116-1), House Bill 788 changing how affidavit ballots can update voter registration information, with an amendment adopted, (115-3), and House Bill 908 tying Mississippi’s mail-ballot counting rule to the outcome of pending federal litigation so state and local races would be treated the same if the current federal-race rule is struck down (the bill was under discussion at the end of the excerpt).
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Before you vote, you can check out the digital voter guide to review statements from candidates and statements
- out the digital voter guide<00:04:44.400>
to <00:04:44.639>review <00:04:44.960>statements - <00:04:45.280>
from guide to review statements from guide to review statements from candidates - <00:04:46.080>
and <00:04:46.560>statements <00:04:46.960>about <00:04:47.280> - ballot candidates and statements about ballot candidates and statements about ballot [music]<00:
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Higher Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- The committee welcomes, of course, submission of additional longer statements in writing at the discretion
- Thank you, and I think that last statement is what I was trying to...
- Thank you, and I think that last statement is what I was trying to get at.
- I'm going to begin with some general statements and then I'm going to close with a bit about MassArt
- There are a fantastic resource that this statement.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its second public hearing of the 194th General Court on capital investments in higher education, focusing primarily on H.54, the Bright Act, along with H.1426/S.949 on green and healthy public colleges and universities and deferred maintenance, and H.1424 on capital investment in Gateway Cities. Chairs and administration officials framed the hearing as a response to aging campus infrastructure, climate goals, workforce needs, and federal pressures on higher education, and explained that testimony would be taken from pre-registered speakers in person and virtually.
University of Massachusetts leaders strongly supported the Bright Act, describing large deferred maintenance backlogs, aging buildings, and the need to decarbonize campuses while modernizing research and teaching facilities. UMass officials said the bill would help keep tuition and fees lower by reducing the need for campuses to finance capital work themselves, and argued that the investments would improve competitiveness, support research, and create construction jobs. Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Tuttweiler, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Gorzkowicz also backed the bill, saying it would leverage Fair Share surtax revenues for a proposed $2.5 billion in campus investments plus additional targeted grants, and that it would support affordability, economic growth, and climate resilience.
Committee members asked about the balance between deferred maintenance and decarbonization, the role of grant programs versus direct spending, the impact on tuition and fees, and how the plan would help campuses respond to federal cuts such as NIH and NSF funding. Administration officials said the proposal was designed to be phased in quickly, with some projects ready to start immediately and others taking longer, and that the grant programs would be structured to include all campuses equitably. They also said the plan would build on an existing financing model similar to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and could help campuses avoid future tuition increases tied to capital costs.
Additional testimony came from MassBay Community College, where President David Podell and recent nursing graduate Deanna Cavazos described the benefits of a new Framingham campus building and said community colleges need modern labs, better planning capacity, and deferred maintenance support to serve the enrollment growth from MassReconnect and MassEducate. State university leaders, including President Mary Grant, President Linda Thompson, and President John Keenan, said their campuses face outdated classrooms, insufficient electrical capacity, and aging facilities, and urged passage of the Bright Act as a long-overdue investment in student success and workforce preparation.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Chair Bud Williams, Chair of the Racial Equity Committee, and I do have an opening statement
- I will be followed by Chairwoman Senator Miranda with her opening statement.
- Imagine a storytelling organization with the words amplify youth voices in our mission statement that
- What we can see here is about three in 10 Americans agree with these statements.
- . ...members of the public expressing support for these statements.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held an informational hearing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in Massachusetts; no bills were heard or voted on. Chairs Bud Williams and Liz Miranda opened by framing the hearing as a response to recent federal actions they said threatened DEI efforts, funding, and civil rights protections in education and other sectors. They said the committee would hear from experts, agencies, advocates, and businesses about the legality and benefits of DEI and the impact of federal actions on the Commonwealth.
Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler testified virtually that Massachusetts is pushing back against federal efforts to restrict DEI, including guidance and certification demands directed at schools. He highlighted state investments in early education, child care, early college, career and technical education, and educator diversity, arguing these efforts help close opportunity gaps for Black and brown students, students with disabilities, English learners, and other underserved groups. In response to member questions, he said federal education dollars are core to services for students and that the state is prepared to fight funding cuts while monitoring impacts across K-12, early education, and higher education.
Elizabeth Matos of the Attorney General’s Office said DEIA programs remain legal under state and federal law and described AG guidance issued to help institutions navigate federal confusion. She reviewed litigation the office has joined or won, including efforts involving withheld school funds, museums and libraries, the Minority Business Development Agency, Head Start, AmeriCorps, and other federal actions. Members asked about immigration-related fear and profiling, and Matos pointed to existing Know Your Rights guidance, said complaints to the Civil Rights Division have increased, and noted the office is seeing issues involving housing discrimination, employment, public accommodations, and threats to call ICE. She also said the office is open to further legislative ideas but did not discuss specifics.
Evelyn Carter, a social psychologist, testified that diversity, equity, and inclusion are often misunderstood and defined the terms plainly, emphasizing that diversity is a group characteristic, equity addresses unequal starting points, and inclusion is about belonging and access. She argued that DEI matters because it creates guardrails against bias, helps make environments accessible, and addresses ongoing inequities. In response to questions, she suggested practical strategies such as using clear criteria and written records in decision-making, broadening who is considered part of one’s in-group, and pairing bias awareness with concrete behavior-change tools. The hearing also included testimony from Meredith Tewitt of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, who spoke about the importance of DEI for women, veterans, and people who rely on federal institutions, and urged lawmakers to continue supporting inclusion and access.