Transcript Highlights:

• Washington has a responsibility to safeguard this access where students' home states have failed and
• I started college back home, and I wanted to get into school really quickly. So I went to TCC.
• And I knew even then, learning about public service loan forgiveness. I love serving my community.
• And if that also will contribute to me being able to get loans now and have those loans forgiven at a
• I'm curious about how many of you have student loans that you also are holding or carrying.

Bills: SB5826 , SB5828 , SB5909 , SB5954

Committee: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development

Keywords: medication abortion, public education, access, healthcare rights, postsecondary institutions, college grant, scholarships, higher education, private institutions, Washington State, undergraduate programs, enrollment, program review, public institutions, veterans, tuition waiver, education, survivors, eligibility, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• The increased revenue goes into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund established under the Hawaiian Homes
• Testifying first is the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
• General Loan Fund established under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended.
• </c><00:16:08.839><c> General</c><00:16:09.160><c> Loan</c> into the Hawaiian homes General Loan into
• the Hawaiian homes General Loan Fund<00:16:09.680><c> established</c><00:16:10.040><c> under</c><00:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism, Housing, and Economic Development and Technology began with House Bill 604, which would raise the transient accommodations tax by 1 percentage point starting January 1, 2026 and direct the revenue to the Hawaiian Homes General Loan Fund. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the bill as a source of consistent funding, while the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed it, warning that Hawaii already has very high tourism taxes and that further increases could hurt visitors, workers, and the broader economy. The committees later voted to pass HB 604 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date; the vote was adopted, with one member noted as having reservations in the housing committee vote and one no vote in that committee. The committees then heard House Bill 973, which would require transient accommodations brokers and others to display all resort fees, taxes, and government-imposed charges upfront in advertised prices and would establish penalties. The Office of Consumer Protection expressed concerns about the bill’s intent requirement and noted a forthcoming federal FTC rule on junk fees; the Hawaii Hotel Alliance strongly supported the measure as promoting transparency and uniformity, and a public witness also supported price transparency while questioning the size of the penalties. After questions about federal rescission of the FTC rule and enforcement authority, the committees voted to pass HB 973 with amendments as an HD1, including removal of the intent requirement and technical changes, and the recommendation was adopted unanimously. House Bill 594, relating to hotel service disruptions, would require hotel keepers to give notice of disruptions to guests and third-party vendors and allow damages. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to add a purpose section and savings clause to address First Amendment and contract clause issues, and Unite Here Local 5 supported the bill, saying guests are not always notified of disruptions and that the measure would improve transparency; the union agreed with the legal amendments. The committees voted to pass HB 594 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date, adopting the recommendation. The final measures were House Bill 448 and House Bill 449, both related to technology enablement and economic development for small businesses, including tourism-related businesses. HTDC strongly supported both bills but emphasized that technology should be targeted to the actual problem and coordinated with sister agencies rather than applied broadly; the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce also supported HB 448, and HB 449 received support from HTDC and HFIA. The committees adopted amendments to HB 448, including moving a $250,000 appropriation to the committee report, and to HB 449, including deleting duplicative language tied to HB 448 and moving a $500,000 appropriation to the committee report; both bills were passed as HD1s with deferred dates, and the hearing adjourned after the votes were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our campus is also home to the number one wine fermentation program in the world.
• California is home, as we just heard from the Chancellor, to one of the largest...
• You mentioned grants and loans. Is it a riskier investment for loans to be made?
• So we have, you know, efforts at USDA that provide business loans and, you know, industry loans to agricultural
• So guaranteed loans would be crucial.

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation was held at UC Davis and focused on how alternative proteins can support California agriculture, the bioeconomy, and farmers. Opening remarks from UC Davis leaders and committee members emphasized the university’s food science, fermentation, and sustainability strengths, and the state’s prior investments of $5 million for UC alternative protein research and an additional $1 million for ICAMP. Members framed the topic as a way to grow new markets, keep more value in-state, and address climate, food security, and commercialization challenges. The first panel featured Sana Beg of the Plant-Based Foods Institute, who argued that California agriculture and alternative proteins are complementary, not competing, and stressed that farmers are essential to the sector. She highlighted the need for ingredient processing capacity, technical assistance for growers, and predictable demand through public procurement, including schools, hospitals, and state facilities. Committee members asked about financing and market development, and Beg said guaranteed loans, grants, and state- and USDA-backed support could help de-risk investment and build the supply chain. The second panel focused on research and development. Beam Circular described the circular bioeconomy in the San Joaquin Valley, including efforts to turn agricultural residues into higher-value products, build shared infrastructure, and expand workforce training. ICAMP and UC ANR described UC Davis-centered research, pilot facilities, and a proposed plant innovation center to bridge lab-scale work to commercial manufacturing. USDA researchers discussed using byproducts such as brewer’s spent grain, tomato pomace, lima beans, and chickpeas for new food ingredients. Members repeatedly emphasized the importance of public R&D funding, consumer acceptance, and food-grade scale-up facilities. The final panel highlighted company perspectives from Optimized Foods and Blue Diamond Growers. Optimized Foods described using fungi fermentation to convert almond hulls, cocoa waste, and tomato pomace into protein-rich ingredients and stabilized nutrients. Blue Diamond outlined its grower cooperative model, sustainability practices, almond ingredient portfolio, and the Sacramento almond innovation center. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with discussion centered on research, commercialization, infrastructure, and market-building for California-grown alternative protein products.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our campus is also home to the number one wine fermentation program in the world.
• California is home, as we just heard from the Chancellor, to one of the largest California is home, as
• You mentioned grants and loans. Is it a riskier investment for loans to be made?
• So we have efforts at USDA that provide business loans and industry loans to agricultural operations.
• So guaranteed loans would be crucial.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Homes.
• </c><01:37:07.239><c> buyers</c> language could create for home buyers language could create for home
• Wouldn't it be better that we target more affordable home development, starter homes, under a certain
• </c> not only that but how many of our homes not only that but how many of our homes now<01:46:29.920
• ><c> um</c><01:46:42.760><c> under</c> home development starter homes um under home development starter

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section three is a consolidation of competitive grant and student loan repayment reporting.
• </c><00:01:56.640><c> um</c><00:01:57.439><c> it</c> student loan repayment reporting. um it student
• </c> report for the student loan repayments. report for the student loan repayments.
• </c> there's one that relates to student loan there's one that relates to student loan debt<00:08:41.120
• </c> public and private schools, home public and private schools, home schools,<00:20:10.080><c> uh</

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some loan Higher Education. We have some loan Higher Education.
• loan loan assistance.
• Well, we did we did do the a loan. Well, we did we did do the a loan.
• There's no loan. They a $7,500 stipen. There's no loan. They a $7,500 stipen. There's no loan.
• They do not have student loans. They They do not have student loans.

Bills: HJR 4 , HJR 6 , HB 195 , HB 13 , HB 143 , HB 135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Our loan application.
• , or loan forgiveness.
• And once we've determined that they're eligible for loan forgiveness, then we give them a loan forgiveness
• And so these loans do need to be repaid.
• How do you determine the loan forgiveness?

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's loan repayment, too. Right.
• We also administer health care loan repayment and loan programs designed to recruit and retain health
• specifically about the loans.
• And I would like to know more information about the loans. Are they private loans?
• , and home and community-based care.

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm concerned that if we are going to go after money as a short-term loan, like a payday loan, then it
• I'm concerned that if we are going to go after money as a short-term loan, like a payday loan, then it
• I'm concerned that if we are going to go after money as a short-term loan, like a payday loan, then it
• I'm concerned that if we are going to go after money as a short-term loan, like a payday loan, then it
• </c> newsletter home to all of the students? newsletter home to all of the students?

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a lot of interest in those loans.
• ><c> incre</c><00:26:09.760><c> increased</c> but loan requests have incre increased but loan requests
• Um, we expect to exhaust those loans.
• 50.880><c> totaling</c><00:26:51.279><c> around</c> uh 3,951 loans issued totaling around uh 3,951 loans
• So that's a .0017% losses on 24 loans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They pull a child out of a home on a Friday afternoon and hold that child in custody.
• Next, our second ask is a rural loan assistance program.
• And so, the idea with this ask is a rural loan assistance program.
• or Loan Reduction.
• This fund to the loan servicers.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the unsecured loan.
• to go home to, and the stories go on.
• to go home to, and the stories go on.
• rents and home prices.
• reduce student loans.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the home of the mighty Outlaws.
• Uh, it is the home of the childhood. Uh, it is the home of the mighty<02:34:04.080><c> outlaws.
• </c> the agenda, starting with the loan the agenda, starting with the loan programs,<02:42:12.240><c>
• And a grant program rather than loans.
• So give me got the loan and Beta didn't.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She was raised in Española, and she's called Las Vegas home for nearly 30 years.
• for Humanity, who has helped local families build strength and stability and a real place to call home
• making appropriations from the Public Project Revolving Fund to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
• For all the fans watching at home, hey, these guys got it, all right, six, seven.
• For all the fans watching at home, hey, these guys got it. All right. Six, seven.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• This is relevant when an owner goes to finance a mobile home as a home, as the home must be financed
• as a home as the home must be home as a home as the home must be financed<01:17:24.560><c> as</c><01
• </c> ...loan programs available to mobile home parks for infrastructure improvements, within an analysis
• which</c><01:26:28.960><c> is</c> site build home site build home which is site build home site build
• Manufactured homes sold as built home.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• between the kids that get that immediate quick assessment and the care they receive in the foster home
• Is there a sort of parity in the consideration, you know, where your student loans paid off?
• Okay, your student loans get paid off, but give us a year. Maybe that's something fair.
• Oh, and we're still paying off the medical loans, by the way, the student loans, while he is not allowed
• Most importantly, it will help ensure more Missouri families can bring their newborns home safely.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House committee substitute combining House Bills 1850 and 1975, which was then voted do pass by a 16-0 roll call. The substitute was described as incorporating federal PBM-related transparency and audit provisions, including requirements intended to ensure fair audits, greater transparency for employers and patients, and protections for pharmacies so they are not reimbursed below drug cost and receive a fair fee. Members said the package was a compromise and a needed step because pharmacies are closing. The committee then heard House Bills 2318 and 2368, related to artificial intelligence and mental health. The sponsors said the bills are aimed at truth in advertising, barring AI platforms from marketing themselves as mental health professionals or therapy providers, while not banning AI use in health care generally. Testimony from supporters emphasized concerns about minors and adults relying on chatbots for mental health guidance and the need to protect consumers from misleading claims. The committee adopted an amendment adding social workers to the bill string, rolled it into a substitute, and voted the combined House committee substitute do pass 14-0. Next, House Bill 3313, described as an AOT bill from the prior week, was voted do pass 14-0 without discussion. House Bill 2745 was then amended and passed 14-0; the sponsor explained the changes would require a prompt physical exam for children entering foster care, allow a physician or nurse practitioner to perform it, try to continue existing developmental, behavioral, or emotional care when possible, and require biological parental consent before updating vaccines at the initial visit. House Bill 2463 also received a substitute to close a loophole involving referral payments when a prospective resident or legal representative cancels a contract, and the committee voted the substitute do pass 14-0. The committee also heard House Concurrent Resolution 28, which would designate the last full week of April as Infertility Awareness Week in Missouri. The sponsor linked the resolution to broader efforts to expand fertility access, and supporters, including a patient sharing her infertility experience, spoke about the emotional and physical toll of infertility and the value of awareness. Finally, House Bill 2979, the Rural Missouri Rural Doctors Act, drew extensive testimony. The sponsor and supporters argued it would limit physician non-compete agreements to one year and five miles for nonprofit employers to improve rural access and physician mobility, while opponents from hospitals and health systems said the bill would weaken recruitment, hurt financially stressed rural hospitals, and create uneven treatment between nonprofit and for-profit employers. No vote was taken on HB 2979 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Farmers are telling me of the need for direct payments, not loans.
• I live in Sandwich; that's my home base.
• This is my home.
• And one thing I'm taking home today is, you know, we learn every day. We all have. We did.
• Zachary Sheldon, bring us home. Thank you for your patience.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture opened its first hearing by outlining procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony options, and the plan to hear 27 bills in docket order. The committee then took testimony on H.11/S.53, a resolve promoting equity in agriculture, with advocates from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Southeastern Mass Agricultural Partnership, and urban farming organizations describing racial and economic disparities in farming, lack of data on BIPOC farmers, barriers to land and capital, and the need for a commission to collect information and recommend policy changes. Committee members asked questions about the importance of data collection and future policy development, and the bill was repeatedly urged to be reported favorably out of committee. Testimony also supported H.118, which would create a special commission to examine the strengths and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s emergency food network. The Amherst Survival Center described serving 1.6 million meals last year and explained that food pantries are now functioning as essential parts of the state’s food system while relying heavily on donations, volunteers, and unstable funding. Members discussed the need for a more holistic look at food security infrastructure. The committee then heard H.119/S.60 on climate change impacts on farms and fisheries, with regional planners and farm advocates describing flood damage, rising costs, canceled federal climate-smart funding, and the need for direct state support for adaptation, resilience, and infrastructure improvements. The committee also heard testimony on H.125/H.142/S.65, a healthy soils bill, from landscape professionals who said construction sites often leave poor or stripped soil and that the bill would require better post-construction soil standards to support healthier landscapes and reduce long-term maintenance and environmental problems. Finally, the committee took extensive testimony on H.127, which would prohibit aquaculture of octopus for human consumption. Supporters, including legislators, scientists, veterinarians, students, and animal welfare advocates, argued octopus are highly intelligent and sentient, cannot be farmed humanely, and that octopus aquaculture would create environmental harms such as waste runoff, pressure on wild fish stocks, and ecosystem disruption. No votes were taken during the hearing; the bills were heard and testimony was received.

Transcript Highlights:

• A loan was made. Um, the million. A loan was made.
• </c><03:15:59.520><c> off,</c> it a as a we're writing the loan off, it a as a we're writing the loan
• You could forgive the loan.
• You could forgive the loan.
• </c> Original loan would be easier.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 14, an act relating to the rural hospital operations and facilities revolving loan fund, making
• House Bill 31, an act relating to the purchase of single family homes. Representative Moore.
• House Bill 31, an act relating to the purchase of single family homes. Representative Moore.
• </c> facilities resolving revolving loan facilities resolving revolving loan fund,<00:28:56.399><c> making
• </c> purchase of single family homes. purchase of single family homes.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 04:28 Election and Swearing In of Constitutional Officers 04:35 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 06:51 HR 1 08:08 HR 2 08:40 HR 3 17:11 Impeachment Petitions reported 18:33 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 20:27 Stand at Ease 20:54 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 28:30 Adjournment 33:05, 958, all