Edward Kennedy — Edward Kennedy was recognized as the Senator from Worcester and spoke in support of Amendment 94. The amendment was identified as being by Ms. Kennedy, and shortly afterward another senator thanked her for offering the amendment and initiating the discussion.
Ronald Mariano — Referenced as the Senate President who supported the underlying supplemental budget investment.
Patrick O'Connor — Introduced Amendment 313 and began speaking in support of Free Period funding.
Patrick O'Connor — Named during the roll call on House No. 5280.
Patrick O'Connor — Recorded as voting yes.
Kenzie Blackwell — Kenzie Blackwell is identified as the Hingham resident who founded Free Period in 2021, which has since supplied millions of feminine hygiene products to public schools across Massachusetts. The senator recalls reaching out after reading a local article about Blackwell’s feminine hygiene drive at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hingham, and Blackwell’s positive response helped spark the partnership with Free Period in the Commonwealth. The discussion also notes that Free Period quickly spent a $500,000 allocation in 26 hours and still faced additional requests from schools needing more products.
Jason Lewis — Jason Lewis is repeatedly identified as the lead filer of Amendment 87 concerning METCO transportation and is praised for his leadership as a METCO Caucus champion and for advancing school integration and educational equity in the Commonwealth.
Jason Lewis — Jason M. Lewis is identified during the roll call on House No. 5280 and is recorded as voting yes, with the vote confirmation repeated in the transcript.
Bruce Tarr — Senator Bruce Tarr is recognized and then introduces Amendment 338, which concerns withdrawal from the deficiency fund. He follows by discussing the supplemental spending document, urging attention to its fiscal implications and the chamber’s spending choices.
Bruce Tarr — Continued presenting Amendment 271, arguing for GIC oversight, cost control, and a standing vote.
Bruce Tarr — Moved that the vote on the matter be taken by standing vote.
Bruce Tarr — Requested a standing vote and then called for a brief recess to bring up charts.
Bruce Tarr — Identified as the sponsor of Amendment 271, GIC Oversight.
Bruce Tarr — Named as the sponsor of Amendment 271.
Bruce Tarr — Responded to the opposition and defended the amendment.
Bruce Tarr — Continued defending the amendment as a tool for identifying savings and cost control.
Bruce Tarr — Continued arguing for oversight and referenced a letter to the head of the GIC.
Bruce Tarr — Identified as the sponsor of Amendment 338, which was returned to after the vote on Amendment 271.
Bruce Tarr — Introduced the amendment on withdrawal from deficiency funding and argued that an important tool was being cast aside.
Bruce Tarr — Responded by thanking the previous speaker for his transportation work and making points in support of the amendment.
Bruce Tarr — Argued the amendment does not create a legislative veto and defended the 30-day notice requirement.
Bruce Tarr — The amendment sponsor is referenced as the gentleman requesting a standing vote.
Bruce Tarr — His amendment number 404 is introduced, concerning 90-day notice on decoupling and fiscal impact.
Bruce Tarr — The speaker refers to a good friend on the Committee on Ways and Means and discusses the amendment's tax implications.
Bruce Tarr — Referred to as the gentleman from Gloucester and the Minority Leader who filed the amendment.
Bruce Tarr — Moves the Senate into a brief recess as the next amendment is being read.
Bruce Tarr — Moves the Senate into a brief recess; his amendment number 274 is then called up.
Bruce Tarr — Requests unanimous consent to withdraw pending amendment number 274 after reaching agreement with the Chairman of Ways and Means and staff.
Bruce Tarr — The chamber moves on after amendment 355 is withdrawn; the prior amendment sequence continues under procedural control.
Bruce Tarr — Asked Senator Driscoll to explain the amendment before the Senate.
Bruce Tarr — Recorded as voting no during the roll call.
Bruce Tarr — His name is invoked in a procedural reference to an order being read.
Liz Miranda — The transcript identifies Senator Miranda as speaking in support of the amendment.
Liz Miranda — Senator Liz Miranda Edwards introduces Amendment 406 and then explains her support for it, describing it as a district-specific proposal focused on job training opportunities for public school students.
Liz Miranda — Named during the roll call on House No. 5280.
Liz Miranda — Recorded as voting yes.
Nick Collins — Senator Nick Collins introduced Amendment 376, which concerns extending paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance protections to graduate student workers, and then spoke in support of the amendment before the chamber.
Nick Collins — Senator Nick Collins rises to speak and expresses support for Senator D. D. Domenico’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of addressing school funding issues.
Nick Collins — Offered Amendment 353 and spoke in support of funding for Uffum's Corner Health Center and UMass Boston partnership.
Nick Collins — Nick Collins was identified during the roll call on House No. 5280 and later recorded as voting yes.
Michael Rush — Michael Rush asks unanimous consent to withdraw his amendment and continue the discussion to the legislative session; the chair then reiterates that the senator has made that request.
Michael Rush — Michael F. Rush was named during the roll call on House No. 5280 and then recorded as voting yes.
Karen Spilka — Karen Spilka is repeatedly addressed as Madam President while the speaker continues remarks, including a brief ASR-like shift to 'Mr. President,' then proceeds through a motion and recess-related exchange. The sequence ends with a closing 'Thank you' and later opposition remarks that again address her as Madam President, all within the same general procedural discussion.
Karen Spilka — Responded yes in the roll call.
Brendan Crighton — Brendan Crighton opposed the proposed amendment, arguing that it would be too restrictive and would limit the MBTA’s flexibility to carry out urgent maintenance and repair work. He said the agency needs the ability to withdraw from the fund without added reporting requirements because existing oversight mechanisms already provide accountability.
Brendan Crighton — Brendan Crighton is discussed as the sponsor of an amendment focused on high-needs school districts. The speakers praise his filing of the amendment, note that it addresses a fundamental obligation to support districts facing enrollment decline and rising costs, and suggest it should inform future FY27 budget discussions.
Brendan Crighton — Brendan P. Crighton is named during the roll call on House No. 5280 and later recorded as voting yes.
William Driscoll — His amendment number 176 on Bridgewater Middle School water filtration is read and adopted; amendment number 251 on Randolph Public Schools is then introduced.
William Driscoll — The transcript contains a garbled reference to 'Domenico'; the exact speaker is uncertain, but the amendment concerns Chapter 70 education funding.
William Driscoll — Senator William Driscoll introduced Amendment 251 for Randolph Public Schools and explained that it would provide $50,000 for capital improvements at Randolph High School, specifically restroom upgrades and related deferred maintenance. He then continued by connecting the amendment to broader themes of civics education and student engagement, referencing his experience judging a civics showcase and similar student presentations.