Video & Transcript Research : 'Catholic'

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MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am

Joint Committee on Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • At this time, I will welcome Francis Hogan by way of Teams from the Massachusetts Catholic Conference
  • At this time, I will welcome Francis Hogan by way of teams from the Massachusetts Catholic Conference
  • From the Massachusetts Catholic Conference? Yes, can you hear me? Can you hear me?
  • The Catholic Church has always strongly opposed physician-assisted suicide and continues...
  • Concluding, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference believes that the legislation should focus on ways
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on bills in three areas: emergency medical services/AED access, athletic training and student safety, and end-of-life options. Committee chairs outlined testimony rules and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Some bills had no live witnesses, while others drew extensive testimony from advocates, professionals, and legislators. On AED-related bills, the American Heart Association supported requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events and athletic fields, citing sudden cardiac arrest survival rates and urging cardiac emergency response plans as an added safeguard. A parks and recreation professional supported AED access but raised concerns about the cost, staffing, maintenance, and feasibility for municipalities with limited resources. Athletic trainers supported expanding their scope of practice and removing workplace restrictions, arguing it would improve injury prevention, reduce costs, and help retain professionals in Massachusetts. The committee also took extensive testimony on end-of-life options legislation. Supporters included legislators, physicians, hospice volunteers, clergy, patients’ family members, and advocacy groups, who described the bills as allowing terminally ill, mentally capable adults to choose a peaceful death with strict safeguards and self-administration requirements. They emphasized personal stories of suffering, public support, and the claim that other states have not seen abuse. Opponents, including faith-based, disability-rights, and family policy representatives, argued the bills amount to physician-assisted suicide, could pressure vulnerable people, and may be influenced by prognosis errors, coercion, or financial incentives. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Catholic Charities of Hawaii in support. >> Good morning, Chairs and Vice Chair.
  • I'm Betty Lou Larson, representing Catholic Charities Hawaii.
  • Catholic Charities Hawaii in >> Thank you. Catholic Charities Hawaii in support?
  • Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee, I'm Betty Lou Larson for Catholic Charities Hawaii.
  • That is what so many of the seniors that Catholic Charities helps need.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Committee on Housing, meeting jointly with the Committee on Health and Human Services, heard testimony on Senate Bill 2787, which would expand use of the rental housing revolving fund to provide loans or grants for purchasing rental units, and Senate Bill 2957, which addresses tenant displacement and relocation protections, as well as Senate Bill 2866, which would make the state rent supplement program for kupuna permanent and appropriate funds for it. Testimony on SB 2787 included support from DHHL, HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, and others, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying language and standards for grants, and the Tax Foundation questioned whether grants fit the revolving-fund structure. On SB 2957, supporters including OHA, PACT, medical-legal advocates, and tenant representatives emphasized relocation hardships from the KPT redevelopment, language access, and the need for clearer minimum safeguards; the Attorney General suggested defining “comparable units” and correcting a drafting error. On SB 2866, HPHA, Catholic Charities, AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the kupuna rent supplement program permanent to prevent homelessness among low-income seniors. During discussion on SB 2957, members questioned HPHA and tenant counsel about the KPT low-rise relocation process and what “comparable housing” meant in practice. HPHA said all tenants were relocated, but counsel described disputes over comparability, disability and family-size issues, and at least one offered unit that was not livable. For SB 2787, members questioned DHHL about why it sought funding from the rental housing revolving fund rather than other sources; DHHL said it was still exploring options and had mostly used its funds for infrastructure, with only a small portion used as revolving funds. The chair expressed concern about relying on scarce housing funds and urged more efficient use of DHHL’s existing resources. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass SB 2957 with amendments and SB 2866 with amendments. For SB 2957, the amendments would replace the bill with a working group on tenant displacement and relocation, include a blank appropriation and defective date, and request $75,000 for the working group; the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present, with Senator Favela excused. For SB 2866, the amended version would include a blank appropriation, defective date, and committee report language noting requests for $110,160 for two HPHA public housing specialist positions and $2.16 million for the state rent supplement program; this motion was also adopted, with Senator Favela excused. After the joint hearing adjourned, the committee returned to the housing-only agenda and continued discussion of SB 2787 before moving on to SB 3089, which would amend the down payment loan assistance program for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers; testimony on SB 3089 was beginning when the transcript ended.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy and Administration (02/02/2026)

Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • schools, and the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • schools, and the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • schools, and the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • schools, and the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • schools, and the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Health Services (3-5-26)

Health Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Elizabeth meets that definition because we’re a nonprofit Catholic hospital and it’s part of our mission
  • Elizabeth meets that definition because we’re a nonprofit Catholic hospital and it’s part of our mission
  • Elizabeth meets that definition because we’re a nonprofit Catholic hospital and it’s part of our mission
  • Elizabeth meets that definition because we’re a nonprofit Catholic hospital and it’s part of our mission
  • a nonprofit Catholic hospital and it's<00:32:11.679> part<00:32:11.840> of<00:32:12.000
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 689, which would authorize Kentucky to seek federal approval for a Medicaid state-directed payment program for physician and non-physician professional services delivered through qualifying hospital-affiliated groups, beginning in 2026. Rep. Amy Neighbors and witnesses from Owensboro Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare said the bill would bring in about $29 million in new federal Medicaid dollars without using general fund money, help retain physicians, support rural and underserved access, and tie payments to quality metrics. Witnesses described staffing shortages, rising costs, and the need to sustain services such as OB care, primary care, and preventive outpatient services. After questions about how the funding would work and whether private practices were included, the committee voted on the bill and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then moved to House Bill 407, as substituted, which would streamline Kentucky’s certificate-of-need process. Rep. Marianne Proctor and supporters from the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Institute for Justice said the bill would not repeal CON but would modernize a system they described as outdated and overly restrictive, citing national trends toward reform and arguing that Kentucky’s process has changed little since the 1970s. They said the substitute added language requiring the cabinet to contact a dominant provider when needed for data to make CON determinations. Mark Gilfoil, speaking in opposition for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, argued that CON is not a barrier to care in Northern Kentucky and said the bill would weaken the process by limiting who can request hearings, present evidence, and appeal decisions, effectively giving applicants control and making approvals nearly automatic. He said St. Elizabeth serves as a safety-net hospital for low-income and publicly insured patients and warned the bill could harm that role. Members questioned both sides about the appeal process, the definition of safety-net hospitals, and whether the bill could increase facilities and create waste or abuse. The discussion was still ongoing when the transcript ended.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Do we have Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi on Zoom?
  • Hello, I'm Betty Larson for Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi.
  • Charities<00:27:46.559> Hawaii<00:27:47.000> on<00:27:47.200> Zoom have Catholic
  • Charities Hawaii on Zoom have Catholic Charities Hawaii on Zoom with with with comments<00:27:50.000
  • Char Haw we'll send on a Catholic Char Haw we'll send on a written<00:27:53.640> testimony<00
Keywords: 910, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

HHS-HOU, HHS-LBT, HHS-CPN, TCA-HHS, AEN-HHS Public Hearings 02-07-2025

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we also got late testimony from Catholic Charities Hawaii. testimony okay so for our 1 pm agenda
  • Larson, with Catholic Charities, supports this bill because it really helps seniors who have no other
  • Catholic Charities says that there's 84 on the wait list. Is that correct?
  • > okay<00:04:31.840> for least okay for least okay for households<00:04:33.759> Catholic
  • charity says that households Catholic charity says that there's<00:04:35.280> 84<00:04:35.880
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint Housing and Health and Human Services hearing began with Senate Bill 878, which would extend the sunset date for the state rent supplement program for kupuna to June 30, 2028. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and others. Catholic Charities described a waitlist of seniors at imminent risk of homelessness and said the program helps seniors retain housing or secure units with landlord support. Members asked whether the bill would expand the number of households served; staff said the contract allows up to 127 households and that additional pending households could be funded, but applicants must still go through the program process. Both committees voted to pass SB 878 unamended. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1610 on Ohana Zones. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions supported the measure so long as it did not supplant existing funding, and described the funding as supporting homelessness services and wraparound supports. The Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments, with DHS suggesting a definition of “kali” be added for clarity. The committee chair said the bill would receive technical amendments for clarity and consistency and accepted proposed amendments related to including “tales” in the program; the measure was advanced with amendments, with members voting in favor in both committees. In the joint Health and Human Services and Labor and Technology hearing, Senate Bill 1496 on civil rights and website accessibility drew support from disability advocates and organizations, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the National Federation of the Blind, the Deaf and Blind Task Force, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. Testimony emphasized the need for stronger state protections amid concerns about federal enforcement, while one testifier raised concerns about jurisdiction, minimum contacts, the use of WCAG 2.1 standards, and the bill’s immediate effective date. The committees decided to pass SB 1496 with technical amendments, including adding a defective date to allow further work before conference, and the recommendation was adopted in both committees. Later, the joint Health, Human Services, and Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing took up Senate Bill 404 on service animals. The Attorney General’s office raised a possible constitutional issue and the lack of an enforcement mechanism, while DHS deferred to other agencies. DCAB supported the bill but recommended amendments to identify an enforcement agency and require notices from professionals and sellers of service-animal or emotional-support-animal paraphernalia. Several advocacy and real estate-related groups testified in support. After discussion, the chair recommended deferring SB 404 for further work because of the Attorney General’s concerns, and the hearing adjourned without a vote on the measure. The final joint Transportation, Culture and the Arts, and Health and Human Services agenda heard SB 1526 on a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory and SB 1492 on mobility management; both measures were advanced with amendments or as-is, with SB 1526 sent forward with technical amendments and SB 1492 moved ahead after members noted blank dollar amounts and requested the Department of Transportation provide figures.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am

Joint Committee on Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm an attorney and I'm a member of the Board of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, which represents
  • Board of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, which represents the Archdiocese of Boston and the Catholic
  • basic Catholic teaching, namely that the directly intended, purposeful taking of unborn human life is
  • This principle, designed to protect innocent human life from direct attack, is at the heart of Catholic
  • and my family that couldn't have birth control, so I was the Catholic birth control, in the future,
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures and time limits, then heard testimony on House 2499, a bill to create a public awareness campaign on menopause and related midlife health issues. Supporters, including a nurse, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and other advocates, said menopause is widely misunderstood by patients and providers, leading to delayed care, unnecessary suffering, workplace impacts, and inequities in women’s health. Several speakers shared personal experiences with symptoms being dismissed or misdiagnosed and urged the committee to advance the bill. The committee then took testimony on a package of endometriosis bills, including House 2527 and Senate 1564, calling for a task force and broader awareness efforts. Patients, a physician, and advocates described long diagnostic delays, severe pain, infertility, medical gaslighting, and limited access to specialists and effective treatment. They argued for more research, provider education, and a coordinated state strategy, and several asked for favorable reports. The chair also noted the hearing was running behind and extended time to allow more testimony. Later, the committee heard Senate 1579, which would eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass requirements for abortion access for minors under 16. Planned Parenthood representatives, physicians, legal advocates, and students argued the current law creates unnecessary delays and harms vulnerable youth, especially those in unsafe homes or foster care, while supporters said minors can already consent to other reproductive health care. A pro-life witness opposed the bill and emphasized parental involvement and support services. The committee also heard House 2403 and Senate 1560, which would create a Human Service Transportation Consumer Advisory Board; disability advocates and riders described past safety problems and current service gaps, and supported the board as a low-cost way to improve accountability, rider input, and reliability. No votes or final actions were taken in the excerpt.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session 3/26/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • But you goes to an incision Catholic school and she says, I think these good these gun should not be
  • We lived in Wisconsin and our children that go to Catholic school.
  • September and said we're for expanding school safety funding to nonpublic schools, like what the Catholic
  • I go to Annunciation Catholic School, and during church we went through a shooting.
  • We're going to talk about the Catholic author, evil and Waugh who's one of my favorites even was a Catholic
Keywords: 1183, house
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Jan 20th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • For many of the clients that I've served, their active faith, whether they're Protestant, Catholic, Muslim
  • For many of the clients that I've served, their active faith, whether they're Protestant, Catholic, Muslim
  • Catholic, Muslim, or Jewish, or some other, serves as a cornerstone for accountability, hope, learning
  • important, but I'm going to take that a step further, where my wife is director of music at our Catholic
Summary: The committee considered several bills and reported each favorably. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part. Supporters said it would expand provider options and help address a shortage of certified programs; opponents raised concerns about mixing government-ordered programming with religion and about the state’s prior rule change. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction barring licensed insurance agents from partnering with health care sharing ministries to market or sell their programs. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores free speech, consumer choice, and access to faith-based alternatives, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, higher commissions, and weak protections because these ministries are not insurance. After extended debate, the measure passed 8-2. Other measures advanced unanimously or near-unanimously. CS/SB 502, as amended, would give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in the state system; it passed 9-0. CS/SB 52 would exempt volunteer armed security for houses of worship from Class D or G licensing requirements, and supporters cited rising threats to churches and the need for organized volunteer security; it passed 9-0. SB 840, a cleanup bill to narrow and clarify last year’s emergency-related land-use restrictions after hurricanes, also passed 9-0, and CS/SB 758, which updates the membership of the Justice Administration Commission, passed 9-0 after an amendment restoring two public defenders to the commission.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Mary's Catholic School in Fort Walton Beach to a homeschooling St.
  • Mary's Catholic School in Fort Walton Beach to a homeschooling situation, and you're involving a co-op
  • Mary's Catholic School into the neighborhood public school, Moves from, you know, St.
  • Mary's Catholic School into the neighborhood public school, that her educational folder will follow her
Summary: The committee first heard the Pre-K-12 education budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-26 and voted to adopt it as the committee’s recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The proposed $34.7 billion budget includes increases for the FEFP, Family Empowerment Scholarships, VPK, school safety, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, school hardening, Jewish day school security, and an education enrollment stabilization fund. Members asked no questions on the budget before it was advanced, and staff was authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then passed CS/SB 1402, which expands eligibility for dropout retrieval services to any individual who has withdrawn from high school and clarifies how school grades are calculated for virtual instruction providers that offer only dropout retrieval services. An amendment to clarify the grading calculation was adopted without objection, and the bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee also took up SPB 7030, a comprehensive scholarship-program bill sponsored by Senator Gates, which would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding as its own categorical, expand the education stabilization fund, create fall and spring application windows, require a single scholarship application and more documentation, assign student IDs, change payments to a monthly schedule, require background checks for paid instructional providers, mandate annual FTE audits by the Auditor General, and standardize reimbursement and eligibility procedures. After extensive discussion and public testimony, the bill was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably, with Senator Osgood voting no. Finally, the committee considered CS/SB 508, which requires private schools participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to disclose in writing what accommodations, modifications, and services they will provide for students with existing plans such as IEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans. An amendment was adopted to require public schools to consult with private schools about equitable services, and the bill was reported favorably. Public testimony included support from parent-choice advocates and concerns from private-school representatives about administrative burden and the scope of the required disclosures. The meeting concluded after the final roll call votes and adjournment motion.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 4, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Transcript Highlights:
  • Larson with Catholic Charities.
  • also had written testimony in support from the Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform and Catholic
  • Services Network, Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Catholic
  • Early Childhood action strategy Catholic Early Childhood action strategy Catholic cherries<01:05
  • .. ...of Health, from the Executive Office on Early Learning, from the Māmā Ohana Working Group, Catholic
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard several Human Services measures focused on Medicaid access, long-term care benefits, home health reimbursement, SNAP administration, trauma-informed child welfare, and child abuse reporting. HP 702 would increase funding for Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are secured, and testimony from disability advocates supported the measure as needed to help people with disabilities cover medical expenses. HB 1477, described as a correction to a prior session’s mistake, would clarify that the monthly needs allowance for certain long-term care residents does not replace state supplemental payments and would raise the ceiling by $25 to fix the prior issue and by an additional $20 as a new benefit; DHS supported it with amendments, and the committee indicated it would amend accordingly. HB 713 would fund a DHS rate study for home health services, with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii strongly supporting it and describing rising labor costs, losses on Medicaid patients, and access concerns if agencies cannot keep serving Medicaid clients. HB 1099 would appropriate emergency funds to DHS after a USDA penalty tied to SNAP response times, with supporters including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others arguing the money should be reinvested in staffing and systems to improve access and avoid further penalties. HB 1079 would direct the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS to create trauma-informed assessments and training for Child Welfare Services staff; testimony from state offices and advocacy groups supported it, citing the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, staff burnout, and the need for a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Finally, HB 239 would narrow when failure to provide a child’s needs constitutes abuse or neglect, but DHS raised concerns that the current wording could broaden abuse findings and leave families in poverty without a clear safety net, while the Honolulu prosecutor’s office opposed it, warning it could weaken mandatory reporting and hinder investigations of child abuse. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, though the chair said HB 1477 would be amended and several measures were left open for further questions and testimony.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Education (05/13/2025)

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • to remove Catholics from public schools.
  • came and this was was when the Catholics came and this was a<00:15:54.320> bigoted<00:15:54.880
  • <00:15:58.000> Um remove Catholics from public schools.
  • Um remove Catholics from public schools.
  • school um or another private Catholic school um or another private school<00:26:49.760> or<00
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 03/23/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Today's chaplain is Father Daniel Hogan from Lumen Christi Catholic Community in St. Paul.
  • President, members, I've asked that letters from the Catholic Conference and the Minnesota Family Council
  • members, I've asked that letters<00:11:31.200> from<00:11:31.440> the<00:11:31.560> Catholic
  • <00:11:32.000> Conference<00:11:32.440> and letters from the Catholic Conference and
  • letters from the Catholic Conference and the<00:11:32.600> Minnesota<00:11:33.040> Family<
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, a roll call, and confirmation that a quorum was present, then moved to committee reports. The main floor debate centered on a Rules Committee report involving the referral of a sports betting bill. Senator Rasmussen and others argued the bill should go first to the State and Local Government Committee because gambling falls within that committee’s jurisdiction, while Senator Franzen, Senator Klein, and others defended the Rules Committee’s 6-2 decision to send it to Commerce, emphasizing committee discretion and past referral practice. After clarification that the vote was only on adopting the committee report, the Senate rejected the report by a vote of 22-44. The Senate then handled second readings of a slate of Senate and House bills and introduced two new Senate files: SF 4759, eliminating Cesar Chavez Day, referred to State and Local Government, and SF 4760, changing employment/occupation rules related to criminal convictions, referred to Judiciary and Public Safety. In motions and resolutions, several bills were re-referred with little or no opposition: SF 2689 was moved from State and Local Government to Judiciary and Public Safety but failed on a 30-35 vote; SF 4194 was moved from Taxes to Health and Human Services; SF 4274 was moved from Judiciary and Public Safety to Transportation; SF 4332 was moved from Environment, Climate, and Legacy to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development; and SF 4592 was moved from Judiciary and Public Safety to Jobs and Economic Development. SF 4455 was also given a second reading and placed on General Orders. The session ended as the Senate moved into special orders.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (03/18/2026)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • of public policy for the Roman Catholic of public policy for the Roman Catholic Dasis<01:25:36.480
  • Catholic Bishops to guide Catholic Catholic Bishops to guide Catholic health<01:26:53.199> care
  • in Catholic institutions or elsewhere. in Catholic institutions or elsewhere.
  • And the erds uh require Catholic<01:27:08.080> health<01:27:08.320> care<01:27:08.560><
  • form Catholic health care providers to form their<01:27:10.560> consciences.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 108 May 1st, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Catholic, we still had a very strong belief.
  • And that whole line of Catholics, it never gets out of your bloodstream.
  • I uh was born an an Irish Catholic from I uh was born an an Irish Catholic from a<04:58:14.400> long
  • <04:58:27.280> um haven't been a a churchgoing Catholic um haven't been a a churchgoing Catholic
  • next line of um that Irish Catholic next line of um that Irish Catholic faith.<05:00:16.480>
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and received several committee reports advancing or disposing of bills. Committee actions included favorable referrals for measures such as House Bills 1336, 1069, 1227, 1314, 1132, 1342, 1196, 1224, and Senate Bill 178, while Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 1308 were postponed indefinitely. The chamber also adopted a motion allowing current Joint Budget Committee members to leave while the Senate remained in session. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 134, a bill concerning fees imposed by payment card networks, after a close 18-17 vote. Supporters argued it would help restaurants and other small businesses by limiting swipe fees on sales tax, while opponents warned it would not lower consumer costs and could trigger litigation and broader conflicts among financial institutions, payment processors, and businesses. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 165 on species conservation funding, Senate Bill 138 on reducing administrative burdens in the health care system, Senate Bill 172 on the Front Range passenger rail district, House Bill 105 on reducing barriers in the Labor Peace Act and eliminating Colorado’s second union-election requirement, House Bill 106 on designating higher education institutions as thriving institutions, and House Bill 1312 on peace officer participation and POST-related changes. The Senate then moved into committee of the whole for second-reading consent calendar bills and adopted House Bills 1235 and 1299. Later, House Bill 1113 on election law modifications was taken up in committee of the whole; amendments were adopted to update terminology, extend Secretary of State review time for petitions, and exempt special districts from a recording fee. The bill’s sponsor and supporters described it as a technical and security-focused update to election administration, emphasizing voter access, anti-intimidation protections, and data safeguards. The transcript ends while debate on House Bill 1113 continues.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • noting that he's an expert in civics education, as I was fortunate to be his eighth-grade teacher at Catholic
  • of retirement to answer the call as the director of the Archdiocese of Boston's Office for Black Catholic
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted several congratulatory and commemorative resolutions, and welcomed sixth-grade students from Holy Name School in West Roxbury, along with guests and chaperones. The chamber then took up House No. 4100, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, which was described as addressing a roughly $240 million shortfall in the Group Insurance Commission. Senator Tarr emphasized the urgency of funding the GIC while also urging lawmakers to examine the causes of the deficiency and consider longer-term cost controls. The Senate suspended the rules, ordered the bill to a third reading, passed it to be engrossed, and later received notice that the House had non-concurred in the Senate amendment and appointed a conference committee. The Senate then insisted on its amendment and appointed conferees. The chamber also passed Senate No. 2508, establishing a sick leave bank for Andrew Satera, an employee of the Trial Court. The Senate observed National Law Enforcement Memorial Day with remarks honoring fallen officers and a moment of silence, and later adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Charlene Roberts Hayden, whose life and career in mathematics, software engineering, teaching, and public service were recognized. Finally, the Senate adopted the emergency preamble for H. 4100, passed the bill to be enacted, and adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (02/04/2025)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • I work for Catholic Charities New Hampshire.
  • is Tom blansky I work for Catholic is Tom blansky I work for Catholic Charities<01:20:11.199>
  • John the Baptist Parish in Suncook, testified on behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester.
  • <02:05:48.320> church our our communities the Catholic church our our communities the Catholic
  • be expensive we believe the Catholic be expensive we believe the Catholic church<02:08:24.199>
Keywords: 1189, house, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/26/2026 - Senate Federalism

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the past, laws targeted Catholics, Mormons, Jews, and other religious minorities simply for their
  • things that were named at testimony, those things are already illegal, and it's the same way that Catholic
  • things that were named at testimony, those things are already illegal, and it's the same way that Catholic
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The committee heard several bills and a memorial focused on foreign law, land ownership, presidential electors, and campaign finance/federalism. SB 1018 would amend Arizona’s foreign-law statute to explicitly include Sharia law; the sponsor and supporters said it was needed to prevent foreign legal systems from influencing Arizona courts, while opponents from the ACLU and others argued it singled out Islam, was unnecessary because foreign law is already prohibited, and would be unconstitutional. After debate, the committee recommended SB 1018 do pass by a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1075, which restricts conveyance of Arizona land to foreign entities deemed hostile to the United States and adds disclosure, penalty, and enforcement provisions through a five-page amendment. The sponsor said it was modeled on other states’ efforts to keep adversarial nations from acquiring land near sensitive sites; the committee adopted the amendment and recommended the bill as amended do pass by a 3-3 vote. SB 1141, dealing with presidential electors, would require electors to vote for a properly nominated successor if a winning presidential or vice presidential candidate dies or withdraws before the Electoral College meets, and would deem an elector’s office vacant if the elector fails to vote. Supporters said it closes a gap in Arizona law and improves election continuity; it received a unanimous do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard SCM 1003, a memorial urging Congress to support federalism and a constitutional amendment affirming state authority over election processes and campaign finance. Supporters argued that money in politics and out-of-state or international influence have grown too large and that states should regain more control; some members noted concerns about the rhetoric around ActBlue and other groups but still supported the memorial’s general purpose. SCM 1003 received a unanimous do pass recommendation.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (01/22/2025)

Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yeah, it would have also been better in a private school other than Catholic. All right, thank you.
  • Catholic schools and um unfortunately<01:26:52.360> since<01:26:52.800> Vatican<01:26:
  • <01:28:19.840> school non-union School in a Catholic school non-union School in a Catholic
  • That is among the values in my family that is not part of the Catholic Church's testimony.
  • That is among the values in my family that is not part of the Catholic Church's testimony.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/20/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm Jason Atkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of
  • the Catholic Church in Minnesota.
  • conference the public Minnesota Catholic conference the public policy<00:12:09.160> voice<00:
  • 12:09.399> of<00:12:09.560> the<00:12:09.760> Catholic<00:12:10.040> church
  • c><00:12:10.279> in policy voice of the Catholic church in policy voice of the Catholic church