Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the third and final sunset review oversight hearing, which is once again being held jointly
• Has this kind of anomalous six-month cap made it hard to budget?
• I don't know that it has made it hard to budget. I think at this.
• I don't know that it has made it hard to budget.
• The board currently oversees a budget of over $3 million and has five months in reserve.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state's overall budget condition is tight.
• As it relates to CSU's core operations, for the governor's budget in 2026, the governor's budget provides
• In addition, the governor's budget maintains the ongoing General Fund amount adopted in the 2025 Budget
• And finally, our oversight teams.
• the 2025-26 and the 2026-27 budget year.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the lacking oversight, is really allowing the proliferation.
• As you said, the lacking oversight is really allowing the proliferation of abuse in this industry.
• Yeah, it's our understanding that there was budget allocations to the department in 2023 to help, uh,
• And I do see that it was taken out of the budget for Medi-Cal.
• There are obesity drugs that are still in the California budget.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, oversight, and affordability. The first major item was SB 306 by Senator Becker, a prior authorization reform bill. Becker and supporters, including the California Medical Association and California Hospital Association, argued that prior authorization delays care, adds administrative burden, and can lead to serious patient harm. The bill was substantially amended late in the process to have DMHC and CDI identify services and drugs to exempt from prior authorization based on utilization data, with safeguards for fraud, waste, abuse, and patient safety. Health plans and insurers opposed the measure as written, saying prior authorization remains an important utilization-management tool and raising concerns about the 90% threshold, drug inclusion, and how modifications are counted. The committee also heard SB 35 by Senator Umberg, which would let cities or counties inspect unlicensed sober living homes if DHCS does not act promptly on complaints. Supporters said the bill would address weak enforcement and protect residents, while one behavioral health directors group opposed it unless amended. Members generally supported the measure, citing problems with unlicensed facilities and the need for local enforcement backup. The committee then heard SB 62, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark if approved by the federal government. Senator Wiener said the package would add hearing aids, durable medical equipment, and infertility treatment including IVF, acknowledging that premiums could rise but arguing the benefits were worth it. Health Access California and other advocates supported the bill, while the California Family Council opposed it. The committee also took up SB 596 by Senator Menjivar, which would tighten the rules for hospitals claiming an on-call list as a defense to nurse staffing ratio penalties. Supporters, including nurses and SEIU, said hospitals have used vague or ineffective on-call practices to avoid accountability and that the bill would improve enforcement and patient safety. Hospital groups opposed it, arguing that staffing is highly dynamic, that hospitals need flexibility to manage acuity and emergencies, and that the bill could increase costs and interfere with collective bargaining arrangements. Finally, the committee heard SB 40 by Senator Wiener, the Insulin Affordability Act, which would cap insulin copays at $35 for a 30-day supply and restrict step therapy unless a plan covers at least one insulin in each drug type. Supporters, including physicians, diabetes advocates, nurses, students, and patient groups, said insulin is life-saving and too often unaffordable, forcing patients to ration or choose between medication and basic needs. There was no formal opposition testimony, though one member questioned why insulin remains so expensive. The committee also began discussion of SB 363, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full presentation or any action on the measures. No votes are recorded in the portion provided, and several bills were noted as consent items earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page three, it says oversight only reflect—oh, sorry, I skipped—oversight notes the population described
• The money will not be taken away, or we will not take any money away from the budget.
• Make sure that there's tracking and oversight for that, which, I mean, that's minimal.
• Update the website to include this tax and the oversight so the people can see it. That's fine.
• We have to cut $1 billion from our fiscal year budget in 2007, another billion dollars in 28.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Local Government met in executive session and first adopted a substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which replaced Senator Black’s version with Representative Farnan’s bill. Members discussed that the controversial community-agreement language had been removed and that related community paramedic language had been moved to another bill. The committee then voted 16-0 to do pass the substituted bill. The committee next considered House Bill 3496, dealing with county officials’ salary schedules and county classification issues. Representative Reedy explained the substitute added election authorities language, incorporated another bill on sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys, and changed the title and substance to address county valuation rules for certain fourth-class counties. Members discussed the impact on county classifications and the inclusion of abated and tax-exempt property in valuation calculations. The substitute was adopted, and the committee voted 15-1 to do pass the bill. In public hearing, Representative Sharp presented House Bill 3028 as a Lewis County fix to allow more at-large members on a county board instead of requiring one from each township; a retired Lewis County commissioner testified in support, and no opposition appeared. Representative Thompson presented House Bill 2431 to let Lexington ask voters for a public safety sales tax after a major gas explosion; supporters said it would fund police, fire, and ambulance needs without reducing current budgets, while an opponent argued against new taxes and special laws. Representative Violet presented House Bill 2732 to raise the voter-approved cap on water service line repair fees from $12 to $24 annually; St. Peters officials said costs have risen and the program helps residents avoid large repair bills, while an opponent said existing programs are solvent and opposed the increase. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tanya Henry, I'm the budget director for DCI. Tanya Henry, I'm the budget director for DCI.
• There are regulatory oversight.
• mortgage oversight.
• 27 budget.
• I know there's been, we put them in the budget, we took them out, we put them in the budget, we took

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were not provided the budget authority to include new construction.
• issues that we're going through and we're wanting to have more oversight.
• This is above what we are doing in our budget.
• So I think that we need to have better oversight. I think we need to have better oversight.
• So I think that we need to have better oversight.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Considering the state's current budget concerns, I do not believe that Assembly Bill 249 should be a
• Concerns have also been raised about pressure on jurisdictions' budgets.
• And the charter cities that we've seen, typically it's between 0.002% and 0.07% of the budget is the
• And of course, there is oversight.
• Department of Justice still cares about public corruption, they provide oversight.”

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up eight agenda items, including four consent bills. The committee first approved the consent calendar, which included SB 280, SB 621, SB 851, and SB 852, all moving forward without objection. The committee then heard several bills from Senator Umberg focused on election administration and campaign finance, along with SB 408 on voter-roll maintenance. SB 249 would require county board of education elections to be consolidated with the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, argued this would increase turnout and make those elections more representative; opponents, including Orange County education officials, argued it would override local control, increase costs, and add ballot fatigue. The bill passed 5-2 and was re-referred to the Committee on Education. SB 398 would make it a crime to pay or offer contingent payments or other valuable consideration to induce voting or voter registration, closing what supporters described as a loophole involving lotteries and incentives. It passed 5-0 as amended and was re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 42 would remove the state ban on public financing for campaigns in general law cities and counties, allowing local voters to decide whether to adopt such systems. Supporters from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and many local advocates said it would broaden participation and reduce the influence of big money; opponents raised concerns about taxpayer funding, guardrails, and local oversight. The bill passed 5-2 and was re-referred to Appropriations. Finally, SB 408 would require election officials to use U.S. Postal Service change-of-address data to help maintain voter rolls; supporters said it would improve accuracy and trust in elections, while one commenter questioned reliance on postal data. The bill passed unanimously 6-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. The committee then completed the remaining roll calls and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And also, it's in your committee analysis that I requested the budget funding through the normal budget
• Recently, the Senate Budget Committee released its state budget plan, which did include funding for exactly
• There is a reason why we needed oversight.
• These are state-run operations with no state oversight.
• These are state-run operations with no state oversight.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 110 is a budget bill, junior.
• It makes technical amendments to the Budget Act of 2026 to identify budget-related legislation pursuant
• First of all, we usually have a budget deficit.
• We allocated $300 million in this budget.
• But, colleagues, this budget spends $355 billion.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is an oversight committee for better stewardship.
• First, this is about legislative oversight.
• First, this is about legislative oversight.
• That means the risk falls on the state budget and Idaho taxpayers.
• And so I think having this oversight committee is a must if we're going to spend any of the... ...oversight

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee first heard Senate Bill 1292, which would require prospective foster parents to complete 10 hours of basic training before licensure, replacing the current practice where most training is available but optional. Senator Brandon Shippey said the bill was developed with the Department of Health and Welfare as a middle ground between burdensome in-person training and no training at all, with the goal of improving foster parent retention and child safety. A foster parent testified in support, describing crises among new foster families who had not taken training. The committee moved the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and it passed unanimously. The committee then took up House Bill 862, creating an Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund and oversight committee for federal rural health transformation dollars. Rep. Jordan Redmond said the bill was intended to give the legislature oversight of nearly $1 billion in federal funds over five years and to ensure grants include sustainability plans. Members raised concerns about whether the state should accept the funds at all, whether committee members would be paid, and what happens when the money runs out. Supporters argued the bill was about legislative oversight and accountability, while opponents warned it resembled unsustainable federal spending and criticized the underlying federal program. The bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with three no votes recorded. The committee began hearing House Bill 808, an expanded medical freedom bill that would make school and daycare immunizations voluntary, make the immunization registry opt-in rather than opt-out, and limit local governments from imposing medical mandates. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would protect informed consent, prevent coercion, and clarify that the Medical Freedom Act applies statewide. Opponents, including pediatricians, nurses, and school nurses, argued it would weaken public health protections, reduce immunization rates, and make it harder to track and prevent outbreaks. An insurer and other witnesses also warned that the bill’s language could unintentionally restrict emergency responders and public hospitals from recommending or providing medical care. The committee did not finish testimony and recessed, planning to continue the hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> of Education grant funding, oversight, of Education grant funding, oversight, and<00:21:14.160>
• </c><00:21:59.679><c> and</c> in fraud and grant oversight and in fraud and grant oversight and management
• </c><00:24:42.360><c> and</c> associated with grant oversight and associated with grant oversight and
• ,</c> a grant oversight, a grant oversight, that<00:26:13.640><c> seems</c><00:26:13.920><c> like</c>
• </c><00:41:45.520><c> and</c> that MDE had grant oversight and that MDE had grant oversight and management

Committee: House Ethics

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And importantly, the majority of the budget of the budget...
• But this is not a simple matter under these budget conditions.
• Ultimately, this is about more than budgets and policies.
• These budget cuts will not just inconvenience students. They will harm us.
• However, the 2026 budget proposal would defund TRIO entirely.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee held an oversight hearing on how federal actions are affecting California higher education, with opening remarks from the chair and members emphasizing the importance of state-federal shared governance and the need to protect access, affordability, and campus diversity. The first panel included leaders from the CSU, University of the Pacific, California Community Colleges, and UC, who described broad impacts from federal grant terminations, changes to student aid, loan limits, visa and immigration policy, and proposed reductions to research support. Testimony focused on the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, caps on Parent PLUS and Pell-related changes, the loss or suspension of hundreds of grants, and the resulting harm to student support services, research, workforce pipelines, food assistance, and health care training. UC and CSU representatives warned of major losses in research funding, indirect cost reimbursement, and student opportunities, while community college leaders highlighted uncertainty around federal grants and the need to maintain services for low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and other vulnerable students. Committee members asked how the state could respond, including through intersegmental partnerships, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and support for basic needs and nutrition programs. Witnesses said California could help by sustaining financial aid, protecting minority-serving institution programs, and investing in research, housing, and workforce development. Several speakers stressed that federal changes were creating instability for students and campuses, and that the effects would likely be long-lasting, especially in health care, teaching, STEM, and social work pipelines. A second panel then focused on equitable access. The California Student Aid Commission described state efforts such as the $3.9 billion investment in aid programs, the Cal Grant system, the Dream Act, and possible reforms to better serve adult learners, foster youth, undocumented students, and students with dependents. The Los Angeles Community College District reported that federal cuts and policy shifts are discouraging students from applying for aid, threatening TRIO and MSI/HSI-funded services, and reducing support for basic needs, counseling, and workforce programs. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the CSU Academic Senate echoed concerns about FAFSA confusion, international student restrictions, grant losses, and the erosion of equity-focused programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and discussed possible state responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission, the creation oversight.
• It creates legislative<00:15:37.279><c> oversightes.
• I am thankful for the oversight in here.
• </c><00:17:54.640><c> One</c> thankful for the oversight in here.
• One thankful for the oversight in here.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget proposal identifies a number of tasks that need to be completed in the budget year.
• Your comment that the timing doesn't match up between the state's budget timeline, the state budget process
• Assemblymember, I think that this is why in lean budget times, frankly, and in lush budget times, we
• Haney and all the members who signed on to the letter to the Budget Committee and to the Budget Chair
• Fund in the state budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our budget director is going to be working with President Molander on the annual budget and biennial
• budget process.
• And we're over, we're under budget right now.
• DPI budget.
• It was on the budget side.

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, it's also about making sure that there's excellence in governance and oversight.
• Obviously, it's also about making sure that there's excellence in governance and oversight.
• That's a lot of what I've and oversight.
• Otherwise, they'll have to be part of the budget conversation.
• </c><00:20:22.240><c> leader</c> the budget conversation. leader the budget conversation. leader Stevenson

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House DFL leaders held a press availability outlining a broad anti-fraud agenda focused on state programs, especially Medicaid-related services, but also unemployment and tax fraud. They said the package is intended to strengthen accountability, improve oversight, and prevent fraud before it occurs, while arguing that fraud harms vulnerable Minnesotans such as children with autism, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless people. They also tied the problem to long-term privatization of public services, arguing that outsourcing creates more layers and opportunities for fraud, and cited examples like county case management and managed care arrangements. Specific proposals discussed included strengthening the attorney general’s Medicaid fraud control unit, creating or expanding inspector general functions, requiring more in-person site visits, using electronic visit verification, improving background checks and fingerprinting, and upgrading outdated IT systems. Members said some bills would be relatively low-cost while others would require funding, and that bills without fiscal notes might move separately while others could be folded into budget discussions. They also said the House DFL had already taken steps in prior sessions, including creating a fraud unit at the BCA and adding DHS staff for site visits. The discussion also covered the Office of Inspector General bill, with DFL members saying they support placing the office in the executive branch and that the governor should make the final appointment for constitutional reasons. They said Republicans had blocked amendments they viewed as adding fraud-prevention authority to the OIG bill, and that the governor’s staff had not been involved in working groups. On a separate bill involving disclosure requirements, they said the committee version was improved but still flawed because it could interfere with investigations; they said it would next go to the Children and Families Committee. No votes were taken in the exchange, and members said they were still early in session and hoped for more constructive negotiations later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Committee and the Senate Budget Committee to come to order.
• First is preserving legislative oversight.
• Last year we had the same proposal on our budget, other budgets, the Committee on the Housing Agency,
• Last year we had the same proposal on our budget, other budgets of committee on the housing agency, same
• , in those budget negotiations... ...with you and your colleagues around issues around budget.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Katrina Austin is the budget analyst for Article 2. Patrick Philpott, budget analyst for Article 3.
• I would like to introduce Harold Stone. draft a budget and to make sure that this is a conservative budget
• I'm Julie Lindsey with the Legislative Budget Board. I'm one of the Assistant Directors of Budget.
• That's what we are assuming out of this budget. There's nothing in the budget that says GIDC.
• That's what we are assuming out of this budget. There's nothing in the budget that says GIDC.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This board is providing some oversight.
• With our discussions, there's really been not a lot of opposition to the oversight.
• So there's a lot of talk about our budget.
• If they budgeted for it already, can you like break down?
• But You know, everybody on budget is like, where can we pull money from?

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Summary: The Committee on Government Efficiency met in executive session and voted several bills due pass. House Bill 3136 passed 13-1, House Bill 2506 passed 14-0, and House Bill 1758 passed 14-0 after brief comments, including one member stating he would vote present because the issue divided the public. The committee then took up House Bill 2278, which was combined with House Bill 2403 in a House Committee Substitute. Members discussed and adopted a committee substitute and amendment creating an appeals board for MSHSAA-related eligibility disputes, with supporters saying it would provide a final, independent appeal option for students and parents and opponents raising concerns about process, timing, and gubernatorial appointments. The substitute for House Bill 2278 and 2403 was adopted and voted do pass 11-7, with several members voting no over concerns about independence and government oversight of a nonprofit. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2877, which would create a new unemployment administration adjustment fund funded by a small portion of employer unemployment contributions, capped at $10 million annually, to reduce reliance on general revenue for administering unemployment insurance. Representative Voss said the bill would not raise employer costs or affect benefits, and Division of Employment Security Director Alan Andrews testified in support, saying the measure would help avoid general revenue exposure and keep the program self-sustaining. Members asked about the effect in a recession, the relationship to federal funds, and whether the proposal could become a precedent for other funds; no opposition testimony was offered. The committee also heard House Bill 3428, a cleanup bill to move expired dormant funds back to general revenue. The sponsor said several funds had expired and were no longer in use, though some accounts had already been renewed or were still active and would be removed by amendment. Members questioned whether the affected agencies had been contacted and whether some of the money should instead be renewed or used for the original purposes; the sponsor said she was open to discussion, but the bill as presented was intended to reclaim expired balances. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded without a vote on the bill in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's operating budget, um, it's page 84-47, and it's beginning the DCF budget.
• </c><00:07:28.520><c> what</c> they are and where in the budget what they are and where in the budget
• </c> 47 and it's beginning the DCF budget 47 and it's beginning the DCF budget begins<00:08:04.960><c
• Yes, on page 865 of the budget.
• On slide 21, we’re moving into our SYC budget, our Sununu Youth Services budget.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.