Keywords: 987, senate, all

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Keywords: 988, house, all

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health began with a hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California health programs, focusing first on reproductive health state investments. HCAI outlined five state-funded reproductive health programs created after Dobbs, including uncompensated care, practical support, capital and clinical infrastructure, and workforce programs. Essential Access Health and Planned Parenthood testified that these funds have served hundreds of thousands of patients, but warned that the uncompensated care program is fully awarded and needs renewal, and that Title X and Medicaid-related federal uncertainty continues to threaten access. Members questioned who the uncompensated care program serves, why Medi-Cal covers a large share of abortions, and whether Planned Parenthood could expand prenatal services; public commenters urged continued support for reproductive health access. The committee then took up long-term care services and supports, starting with the HCBA and Assisted Living Waiver programs. DHCS reported large wait lists for both programs and said enrollment is limited by workforce and provider capacity, while LAO noted that increasing slots alone may not increase access without additional programmatic changes. Members pressed the department on whether more slots should be added given the lower cost of home- and community-based care compared with skilled nursing facilities, and public testimony argued that the wait lists should be reduced and that staffing concerns do not fully explain unused capacity. The committee also heard testimony on congregate living health facilities, where providers and a patient family described the homes as critical, lower-cost alternatives to nursing facilities for younger, medically complex people. Witnesses requested short-term bridge funding, while DHCS said it is proposing to transition CLFs into a managed care benefit by January 1, 2028, which would remove caps and expand access statewide. The final long-term care topic was PACE. DHCS explained that it has paused new PACE applications and service expansions for at least two years to reassess oversight capacity and develop a statewide strategic growth framework, while existing programs continue operating. CalPACE supported the pause as a planning measure but asked for four additional state nurse positions to reduce delays in level-of-care determinations and speed enrollment for frail older adults. Members shared personal stories about how PACE has helped family members and asked how the state will meet growing demand; DHCS said stakeholder engagement will begin later in the year and that some existing applications already in process will continue. Public commenters broadly supported PACE, HCBA, and CLF funding requests. The hearing then moved to the Department of Health Care Services’ 2026-27 Medi-Cal budget and related trailer bills. DHCS said Medi-Cal spending has grown due to coverage expansions, higher acuity, rising utilization, and especially pharmacy costs, and it described proposals to extend the current skilled nursing facility financing framework for one year while the state develops a new value-based payment strategy. LAO said most recent Medi-Cal spending growth has been driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload growth, with pharmacy spending growing especially quickly, and recommended better and more timely data to analyze the drivers. Members expressed concern about the rapid rise in Medi-Cal spending and asked for more detail on the largest cost increases.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Keywords: 988, house, all

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Banking and Finance met as a subcommittee at first due to a lack of quorum, then established quorum and proceeded with an informational hearing on AB 1984 by Assemblymember Rogers. The bill was presented as an effort to reduce the influence of money in politics by limiting political spending by corporations and other state-created entities, with supporters arguing that Citizens United has fueled dark money, eroded public trust, and distorted democracy. Testimony in support came from the author, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Nancy Price of the Alliance for Democracy, and several advocacy groups and individuals, who emphasized corruption concerns, the need for transparency, and the view that the bill would make elections more accountable and less dominated by anonymous spending. Committee members raised concerns about constitutionality, the definition of covered entities, and whether the bill could unintentionally favor wealthy individuals or independent expenditures over ordinary candidates. Assemblymember Rubio argued that the measure could disadvantage candidates from poorer districts and shift power toward self-funded or IE-backed campaigns, while Assemblymember Schiavo and others noted the corrosive effect of dark money and the difficulty of running in a system shaped by large outside spending. The author and witnesses responded that the bill would not eliminate all spending, but would require spending to come from identifiable individuals and reduce anonymous corporate and dark-money channels. Opposition testimony came from the California Chamber of Commerce, which argued the bill would be unconstitutional under First Amendment precedent and would silence businesses and nonprofits rather than solve the underlying problem. Additional opposition was voiced by the California Building Industry Association and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. The committee also briefly considered and passed the consent calendar, including AB 2607, by roll call vote. The hearing on AB 1984 remained informational only, and no vote was taken on the bill before the meeting adjourned.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a series of procedural motions including suspending rules, re-referring several bills to committees, and allowing committee notices for pending re-referrals. Members also received guest introductions, including LA28 leadership for an informational hearing on preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and advocacy groups focused on reproductive health and equity. On the floor, the Assembly took up several third-reading bills. AB 1944 by Assembly Member Lee, which would delay implementation of lower axle weight limits for zero-emission buses to give transit agencies more time to adapt to battery technology limits, passed 49-1. AB 2305 by Assembly Member Caloza, prohibiting private equity and other corporate investors from controlling or influencing litigation decisions, passed 55-0. AB 2004 by Assembly Member Al-Annees, authorizing Fresno and San Joaquin counties to designate county correctional officers as peace officers if locally agreed, passed 52-0 after supportive remarks from Assembly Member Tangipa about a Fresno County correctional officer who died after being injured in a jail shooting. The Assembly also adopted the second-day consent calendar, including ACR 161 on Special Districts Week and HR 87 on school accountability, with 57 co-authors added to the resolutions and unanimous votes on the consent items. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory for Marcella Villanueva, a longtime California Commission on Aging employee remembered for her service and compassion, followed by announcements of upcoming committee hearings and the next floor session before adjournment until Thursday, April 9 at 9 a.m.

Summary: The Rules Committee convened in the afternoon, called the roll, and confirmed a quorum. A consent agenda was presented and a motion was made and seconded to approve it. The committee voted unanimously in favor, with all members present voting aye, and the motion passed. The committee then adjourned.

Keywords: 988, house, all