Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a partisan, Democratic or Republican measure.
• I think that it would prevent us from doing business.
• We've implemented a number of measures to address research security in-house.
• I was. ...implemented a number of measures to address research security in-house.
• I've been pro-family on a number of measures with creating barriers on others.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 399 by Senator Bass, which would create the Louisiana Higher Education Research Security Council to review and potentially block certain gifts, contracts, academic partnerships, and research partnerships involving foreign adversary sources. Bass said the bill is intended to protect university research, intellectual property, and students from foreign influence, and would also require public disclosure of certain foreign-linked arrangements and a plan to eliminate foreign-adversary-linked software. Supporters from State Armor argued Louisiana universities have been vulnerable to Chinese Communist Party influence and intellectual property theft. Representatives from Tulane University and Lenovo raised concerns that the bill could create duplicative review, delay research, raise costs, and sweep in legitimate private or multinational entities; a proposed amendment to exempt entities operating under a CFIUS national security agreement failed 4-8. After debate, the committee moved SB 399 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 310 by Senator Cloud, presented by Representative Carlson, which would require public school and college health centers to display information about pregnancy resources available in Louisiana. Supporters from Louisiana Right to Life said the bill would help connect pregnant students with existing state and private assistance programs, while the ACLU submitted a red card in opposition without speaking. The bill was moved favorably without objection. The committee also advanced House Resolution 171 by Representative Turner, which calls for a study of the workforce-oriented TOPS Tech and M.J. Foster programs, with business and workforce groups supporting the study as a way to measure outcomes and return on investment; it was moved favorably. Next, the committee took up House Bill 1084 by Representative Turner, a tuition autonomy bill for public post-secondary institutions. An amendment was adopted to add a conceptual framework for tuition-setting considerations, but the bill would still remove the existing 10% over two years cap and allow institutions to set tuition more freely. Turner argued universities need more flexibility because state funding has declined and campuses face deferred maintenance and operating pressures. Several members, especially Representative Carlson, warned that higher tuition could reduce access and that the bill did not address broader structural problems in higher education. Despite those concerns, HB 1084 was moved favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 351 by Senator Jackson Andrews, which would let families apply for child care assistance through CCAP once pregnancy is known, rather than waiting until after birth, to help move them up the waiting list. An amendment was adopted to have BESE, rather than the department, handle rulemaking and to allow the House and Senate education committees to approve the implementation process. The bill was then discussed as a way to help parents return to work sooner, and the hearing continued with questions from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a measured approach to try to deal with this.
• This is a measured approach to try to deal with this and set some basic rules of the road.
• Sponsors of the bill want to thank the author for carrying this measure.
• We'll place that measure on call. Thank you. Thanks colleagues. Thank you.
• And without action, we are not just failing to prevent exploitation.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several privacy, technology, and public safety bills. SB 898 would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long software support will last and to notify consumers when support is nearing its end; Consumer Reports supported the measure, while members raised concerns about private enforcement, notice mechanics, and replacement obligations for leased devices. The bill was amended and passed 5-1 to Judiciary, with the measure placed on call. SB 1279 would authorize Long Beach to install additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway under the same privacy and equity guardrails as the existing pilot program, including limits on data use, no facial recognition, warning periods, and reduced fees for low-income recipients. Supporters cited severe crashes and fatalities on PCH, while opponents raised civil liberties and due process concerns and questioned how the system identifies the actual driver. The committee approved the bill 6-2 and placed it on call. SB 1111, the Artificial Intelligence Abuse Protection Act, would create civil remedies for non-consensual AI voice, image, and video cloning and digital replicas. Support came from SAG-AFTRA and Common Sense Media, and members discussed concerns about background images and employer liability, including a request to preserve a rebuttable presumption for good-faith employers. The bill passed 7-1 to Public Safety and was placed on call. SB 1217 would create a DOJ-run clearinghouse for survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery and deepfakes to request removal from online platforms; survivors and advocacy groups testified in strong support, and members discussed privacy, cybersecurity, funding, and the lack of a private right of action. It passed 8-0 to Public Safety and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1095, which would require fusion centers and participating agencies to adopt MOUs barring use of sensitive personal information for immigration enforcement or racial/identity profiling, require annual reporting, and allow audits and inspections. Supporters argued fusion centers have operated with too little oversight and have been used to circumvent state privacy and immigration laws; some members supported the transparency goals while others raised concerns about operational ambiguity and the bill’s interaction with existing law. The discussion continued, with the author and members debating the scope of permissible information sharing and enforcement consequences for violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is measured. It is responsible, and it is overdue.
• I think this is a measured approach. I think it's a smart approach.
• I think this is a measured approach. I think it's a smart approach.
• It is measured, it is compassionate, and it is accountable.
• There are preventative measures in this bill to ensure that we are looking at that and we are putting

Summary: The House first established a quorum after introductions of the Freedom of the Road Riders and Warsaw High School students. Members then took up House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on alpha-gal syndrome. The sponsor described the bill as a public health surveillance measure to add alpha-gal to Missouri’s reportable conditions, require lab reporting to the Department of Health and Senior Services, and send aggregated data to the CDC. Supporters said the bill would help identify hotspots, guide education and funding, and address a serious tick-borne condition affecting rural and urban Missourians alike. Opponents raised concerns about cost, false positives/negatives, and privacy, but the sponsor and others said the system would be HIPAA-compliant and de-identified at the federal level. Two amendments to HB 1855 were debated. An amendment changing the department’s follow-up authority from “may” to “shall” was adopted, with supporters arguing that if the legislature funds follow-up, the department should be required to do it. A second amendment creating an opt-in/opt-out consent process for reporting was rejected 41-10 after extensive debate over privacy, data collection, and whether consent would undermine disease surveillance. The House then adopted the House committee substitute for HB 1855 as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Bills 2230 and 2978, a revised education measure aimed at reducing screen time in K-5 classrooms and encouraging handwriting and cursive instruction. The sponsor said the bill was based on research linking heavy screen use to poorer educational and behavioral outcomes, and supporters emphasized local control, parent access to screen-time policies, and the need to bring experts together through a state-level focus group. An amendment to exclude virtual school programs was adopted. The House then adopted the committee substitute for HB 2230 and 2978 as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2355, the Food Is Medicine Initiative. The sponsor said the bill would let Missouri use federal funds through 1115 waivers to pilot medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition counseling, and related interventions to improve health and lower Medicaid costs. Members generally supported the concept, citing food deserts and the benefits of better nutrition, but an amendment adding vitamin therapies and cleanup language prompted concern from one member about supplement quality and regulation; the transcript ends during that amendment discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> barriers to prevent suicide attempts. barriers to prevent suicide attempts.
• <c> advocates</c><00:03:20.560><c> to</c> the suicide prevention advocates to the suicide prevention
• </c> together with the suicide prevention together with the suicide prevention advocates<00:05:10.880
• </c> improvements for the interim measures? improvements for the interim measures?
• national suicide prevention hotline.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do not support the ballot measure when it came before us.
• I do not support the ballot measure when it came before us.
• There is no law today that prevents... ...topic.
• accountability measures to ensure that state funds are used efficiently and for specific measurable outcomes
• of measure.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee opened by announcing a heavy agenda and noting that Senate Bill 1176 would be held. It then took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 1272, which appropriates $5 million for the City of Douglas as a state match for the Douglas Port of Entry project. The bill was amended to draw the money from the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund instead of the General Fund. Senator Gowen, the Douglas mayor, and city staff described the project as a $678 million federal investment opportunity that would support water, wastewater, and broadband infrastructure, create jobs, and improve border security. The committee approved SB 1272 as amended on a 15-0 vote with three present and one not voting. The committee next approved SB 1503, as amended, which expands the state death benefit to include civilian pilots employed by law enforcement agencies and applies the change retroactively to January 1, 2026. Senator Gowen and DPS leadership testified that the change was needed so the family of a pilot killed in a February helicopter crash would qualify for the benefit. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1274, as amended, created a separate timeshare salesperson license and training path; supporters said it would streamline licensing for people who only sell timeshares, while one member objected to the added rulemaking discretion. It passed 17-1 with one not voting. The committee also approved SB 1286, which expands veterinary telemedicine by allowing longer prescription periods for certain medications after an electronic exam, with shorter limits for antimicrobials. Supporters said it would help rural and disabled pet owners and had been negotiated to the satisfaction of veterinarians and telemedicine advocates. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1519, as amended, raised the off-highway vehicle weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds and revised related registration and funding provisions; supporters argued it would reflect newer enclosed-cab vehicles and better align Arizona with neighboring states, while opponents warned of trail damage and said the study process was not complete. It passed 10-7 with one present and one not voting. Finally, the committee approved SB 1618, which restructures the Military Affairs Commission, adds members with defense and aerospace expertise, requires more frequent meetings and reporting, and updates the Military Installation Fund and related duties to better attract and retain defense missions. Supporters said the changes would help Arizona compete for military and defense investment, while some members questioned whether the commission’s mission was being broadened too far and whether the existing structure should instead be handled through other agencies. The bill passed 10-6 with one present and one not voting. The committee then considered SCR 1020, which would index legislative salaries to inflation or deflation starting with future officeholders if approved by voters. Supporters argued the current $24,000 salary had eroded significantly since 1998 and limited who could serve, while opponents objected to legislators voting on their own pay or preferred reducing session time instead. The resolution was approved and sent forward for voter consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Measure is adopted.
• Measure is adopted. Mr.
• Measure is adopted. Mr.
• Measure is adopted. Thank you.
• Measure is adopted.

Summary: The joint committees first heard House Bill 229, which would establish a statewide speed restriction for motor vehicles under certain circumstances. Testimony on the bill was limited and came in support from the City and County of Honolulu’s transportation services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. No one testified in opposition, and there were no questions. The committees then took up House Bill 860, which would grant immunity from liability to the state or counties when they repair or maintain a street whose ownership or jurisdiction is disputed between them. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted written testimony, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee, Hawaii County Council member Heather Kimble, and the Iolani Homestead Community Association for Justice testified in support. The Ho Association for Justice opposed the bill, arguing the immunity was too broad and that the issue had already been addressed by prior legislation. In discussion, members raised concerns about liability and asked whether a different approach, such as extending the 2017 law transferring Oahu roads in limbo to the counties, would be acceptable; county representatives said that path could be considered if immunity were removed. House Bill 1161, which would authorize counties to use a road usage charge mechanism similar to the state’s, drew support from the Department of Transportation, the Energy Office, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, several county and city offices, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. Rental car companies and industry groups supported the concept but asked for amendments, including a flat fee instead of a per-mile charge, relief for plug-in hybrid vehicles, and a delayed implementation date. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii also supported relief for hybrids. Members questioned the rental car representatives about the flat-fee proposal, and they said a per-mile charge would be difficult to calculate and pass on to customers. At the end of the joint agenda, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1161 to Tuesday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m., and the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee also deferred the three measures to that date and time. The Transportation and Culture and the Arts committee then began hearing House Bill 925, which would create a Performing Arts Special Fund, and House Bill 1378, which would establish a Performing Arts Grants Program and Special Fund and revise the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ responsibilities and funding sources. HB 925 received support from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and written support or comments from DBEDT, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, and others. HB 1378 drew extensive testimony and discussion focused on preserving arts funding while addressing concerns about the use of Works of Art Special Fund dollars for positions and programming. The Governor’s office said it supported the intent but had concerns; the Attorney General warned that the bill’s cap and transfer provisions were unclear and could affect the tax-exempt status of bond-funded dollars; and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts opposed the measure, urging an audit, tracking of deposits, and a shift of positions and programs to general funds instead of changing the law. The chair explained that the bill was intended to protect arts funding while tightening the legal guardrails around bond-financed dollars and preserving federal support, and asked testimony to focus on new points as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> measure under consideration. measure under consideration.
• It's a clean CR what this measure is.
• </c> for millions of Americans, preventing for millions of Americans, preventing people<00:30:11.760>
• And with whose grief cannot be measured.
• And I have here just one measure York.

Bills: HR747 , HR719 , HB5371

Keywords: courthouse construction, federal regulations, urban development, government spending, judicial facilities, political violence, Charlie Kirk, civil discourse, freedom of speech, unity, political extremism, condemnation, Civic engagement, continuing resolution, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, omnibus, government funding, federal budget, USDA

Transcript Highlights:

• We should ensure we are doing what we have to do and not taking preventative measures proactively for
• AB 554, Assemblymembers Gonzalez and Haney, would prohibit step therapy for HIV prevention drugs.
• So what the measure did is it made the tax permanent under state law.
• Specificity in the measure or in the administration's proposal?
• Generally, the measure is quite broad in the pools of funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• The operator is required to implement reasonable measures to prevent its chatbot from generating sexually
• An operator must implement reasonable measures to prohibit and prevent these chatbots from claiming to
• to prevent the generation of content encouraging or describing how to commit self-harm.
• And how to, kind of, where to draw the line, how to prevent this is something that we're still trying
• I think having reasonable measures to prevent sexually explicit or suggestive content for minors is important

Bills: SB6046

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: SB 6046, Civil Air Patrol, Washington Military Department, Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol, volunteer air patrol, search and rescue, disaster relief, cadet training, communications support, cyber security, emergency response, governor call-up, active state service, federally chartered Civil Air Patrol, Washington Wing, Title 38 RCW, military department, tribal cooperation, public safety aviation, aerospace cadets

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anyone that wishes to testify for or against the measure?
• Is there anyone else that wishes to testify for or against the measure?
• Is there anyone else that wishes to testify for or against the measure?
• The bill defines preventive health care services. I just realized, who was the author? That was Dr.
• HB5611 authorizes an emergency services district to provide preventative health care services.

Bills: HB2814 , HB4477 , HB5084 , HB5108 , HB5127 , HB5383 , HB5611 , HB5663 , HB5664 , SB1563 , HB2668 , HB3841 , HB4114

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: juvenile justice, release documents, children, identification, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, civil service, staffing requirements, local government, positions exemption, Texas legislation, fireworks, Lunar New Year, retail permits, public safety, Texas law, holiday sales, HB 5108, deaths in custody, custodial death, jail death

Transcript Highlights:

• QALYs are a mathematical measure ...of my entry into a lot of this work.
• QALYs are a mathematical measure that's used to establish the value of health care treatments.
• The Quali is a mathematical measure that's used to establish the value of health care treatments.
• I think it's almost certain that CPR's work saved lives during the pandemic by legally preventing some
• And it introduces guardrails to hopefully prevent people with disabilities being pressured into signing

Summary: The Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities’ Long-Term Services and Supports and Health Equity Subcommittee met and heard a presentation from Colin Killick of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network on disability discrimination in crisis standards of care during COVID-19. He described how Massachusetts and other states initially used rationing criteria that prioritized short-term or long-term survival in ways that disadvantaged disabled people, older adults, and people with certain chronic conditions, and he discussed related issues such as QALYs, DNR pressure, and inequities in vaccine prioritization. He also noted that disability rights advocates, legal groups, and allies used litigation, media outreach, and public pressure to force revisions to the standards, and that Massachusetts ultimately adopted more protective third-round standards that limited the use of life-expectancy judgments and banned QALYs in those decisions. Members asked why the disability health care discrimination bill has not passed despite being reintroduced over multiple sessions. Killick said the main obstacle now appears to be lack of legislative prioritization rather than active opposition, after earlier concerns about QALYs were resolved through compromise. He identified the bill as S. 869, an act relative to preventing discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of health care, and said it had been favorably reported out of the Health Care Financing Committee. Members thanked him for the presentation and for his work during the pandemic. The meeting then moved to roll call, approved the minutes by motion and second, and adjourned after noting the next meeting date as August 31st.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way that affordability works is, first of all, the fraud prevention that we've been able to put into
• That is something that our counties have been asking for year after year, and it is also a fraud prevention
• measure because when we improve the IT, it gives an opportunity for less fraud to take place because
• <00:07:51.480><c> measure</c><00:07:52.200><c> because</c><00:07:52.720><c> when</c><00:07:52.880><c>
• we</c> prevention measure because when we prevention measure because when we improve<00:07:53.560><c

Transcript Highlights:

• Aqua JPA provides risk management, self-insurance, and loss prevention services to more than 400 public
• Aqua JPA provides risk management, self-insurance, and loss prevention services to more than 400 public
• Okay, we will leave that measure on call for the absent members, but you do have sufficient votes to
• Okay, we will leave that measure on call for the absent members, but you do have sufficient votes to
• Those are not very preventable.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee held its first meeting and adopted committee rules for the 2025-26 session. The committee heard SB 1001, which would require the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue identification cards for essential utility workers so they can more easily access evacuation zones during emergencies. The author and supporters, including Rowland Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority, said the bill was prompted by delays during the Eaton Fire, when utility crews in marked vehicles were denied access despite having authorization. Members generally supported the bill as a practical way to improve coordination between utilities, law enforcement, and incident command during disasters. The bill was voted out on a do-pass motion to the Senate Public Safety Committee. The committee also heard SB 1153, which would require urban retail water suppliers in high-risk areas to include wildfire-specific procedures in emergency response plans and make findings clarifying the role and limits of public water systems during wildfires. The author and witnesses from water agencies argued that public water systems are not designed to function as wildfire suppression systems and that the bill would improve planning while addressing growing liability exposure after major fires. Senator Perez raised concerns about balancing liability reform with accountability and the need for future infrastructure hardening, and the Vice Chair emphasized that the bill should not create a hollow safe harbor. The author accepted committee amendments clarifying that negligence liability remains intact, and the bill was moved out as amended to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. A consent item, SB 870, was also approved. After roll calls were completed and absent members later voted, all three measures passed the committee 8-0. SB 1020 was pulled from the hearing for a future date.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those in favor of the measure vote aye. The measurable analysis was now open to Senate.
• Those in favor of the measure vote aye. Those opposed vote no.
• They gave us tools to prevent its return.
• This measure is an emergency measure.
• This measure is an emergency measure.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions recognizing judges, medical and mining guests, students, and Girl Scout Troop 6354. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of bills, with most measures receiving committee amendments and do-pass recommendations. Bills discussed included SB 1272 on the Douglas port of entry, SB 1327 on Arizona Board of Regents restrictions involving foreign countries, SB 1400 on public safety employee information, SB 1519 on off-highway vehicles, SB 1627 on unmanned aircraft, SB 1630 on AHCCCS home and community-based services and mental illness, SB 1720 on parenting time, SB 1763 on school district finances, SB 1826 on rural wayfinding signs, and SB 1827 on vertiports/advanced air mobility. Several bills drew floor amendments and brief explanations, including changes to off-highway vehicle use, drone restrictions near schools, parenting-time standards, and school finance reporting. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1272, SB 1327, SB 1400, SB 1519, SB 1627, SB 1630, SB 1720, SB 1763, and SB 1826. SB 1827 initially failed on a 15-15 vote. Members also debated SB 1111 on automatic license plate readers during a later Committee of the Whole session; supporters said it added guardrails such as warrant requirements, training, logging, and felony penalties for misuse, while opponents argued it still enabled broad surveillance and contained loopholes. The chamber adopted the Committee of the Whole report and then proceeded to third reading votes on the earlier bills. In the later session, the Senate considered SB 1111, SB 1214 on stem-cell/regenerative therapy, SB 1683 on foreign ownership/advisory limits for real property, SB 1686 on a memorial designation, and SB 1745 on local excise tax rate limits. SB 1214’s sponsor said the bill created a framework for regenerative medicine and medical tourism, while opponents said the policy was too significant for floor amendment and should be developed through stakeholder meetings. SB 1683 and SB 1745 were amended and advanced, and SB 1686 passed without amendment. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, and the Senate then took up a motion to alter the report on SB 1111 to include the Hoffman amendment and exclude the Payne amendment, with debate centered on whether the bill was a necessary surveillance safeguard or an unconstitutional mass-surveillance measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the continued measure.
• ,</c><00:38:11.480><c> not</c> prioritize front-end prevention, not prioritize front-end prevention,
• . prevention. prevention.
• </c> subverting the law, they try to prevent subverting the law, they try to prevent the<01:09:44.480
• </c> to vote no on this measure. Thank you. to vote no on this measure. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, and the Department of Family, Community, and Preventive
• Preventive Medicine.
• I move that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the measures
• They prevent, like I said, overgrazing by elk and deer, which restores our riparian zones.
• Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted and the measures be properly

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Sarah Coles. Members also introduced a number of guests in the gallery, including representatives from the Arizona LEND Program, Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses, and other visitors. The House then received communications from the Governor and moved into Committee of the Whole to consider Calendar One. In Committee of the Whole, members debated SB 1280, a bill concerning Mexican gray wolves and the use of public funds to transport them. An amendment offered by Representative Gutierrez, nicknamed the “Cruella DeVille Act,” was adopted after extended discussion about wolf conservation, ecosystem impacts, and whether the bill would interfere with wildlife recovery efforts. The underlying bill then received a due pass recommendation. The committee also recommended due pass for SB 1418 and SB 1785, and the House later adopted the Committee of the Whole report, placing SB 1280, SB 1418, and SB 1785 on third reading while retaining SB 1200 on the calendar. The House then considered Calendar Two. SB 1053, dealing with concealed carry permit fees, drew debate over whether the fee reduction was revenue-neutral and whether the bill should instead focus on training requirements; it received a due pass recommendation. SB 1259 also received due pass without debate. SB 1372, relating to health care provider recruitment and anesthesia access, was amended and then recommended do pass. SB 1475, which would bar students convicted of certain serious offenses from participating in interscholastic activities, prompted strong debate over student discipline versus second chances, and it too received a due pass recommendation. SB 1478 received a technical floor amendment changing its effective date and was then recommended do pass as amended. The House adopted the committee report, sending SB 1053, SB 1259, and SB 1475 to third reading and properly engrossing SB 1372 and SB 1478. On third reading, the House passed SB 1078, SB 1107, SB 1123, and SB 1142. SB 1142, a federal education tax credit bill, generated the most debate, with opponents arguing it would divert resources from public schools and primarily benefit wealthier families, while supporters said it would not affect state revenues and would allow Arizona families to benefit from an existing federal credit. The final vote on SB 1142 was 33 ayes to 26 nays, and the House then adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• To put this in perspective, in 2023, 6.4 million Californians were under the California Poverty Measure
• Poverty measure line, which means that they had an annual income around $44,000 for two working-age adults
• CSBG prioritizes measurable, locally defined outcomes, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
• We used some CSBG funds for wellness outreach, including heat awareness, nutrition, and preventative
• The center provides access to training, outreach programs, supports drug and alcohol prevention, and

Summary: The Senate and Assembly Human Services Committees held a special oversight hearing on California’s 2026-27 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) state plan, focusing on how the federal anti-poverty funds are administered and used by local community action agencies. Department of Community Services and Development Director Jason Wimbley explained that CSBG is a flexible funding stream used to address housing, employment, education, food insecurity, health, transportation, and disaster response needs, with 60 organizations serving all 58 counties. He noted California received $68.4 million in federal fiscal year 2025 CSBG funds and that the program served about 1.5 million low-income Californians in 2023. He also described how CSBG helped with wildfire response and emphasized the risk posed by proposed federal elimination of the program, though he said federal staffing and program operations were currently stable. Representatives from CalCAPA and several funded agencies described CSBG as essential “braid” funding that supports staffing, leverages other grants, and fills gaps for people who do not qualify for other safety net programs. CalCAPA leaders stressed local flexibility, workforce development, partnerships, and the ROMA performance system, while agency witnesses from Contra Costa County, Northern California Indian Development Council, Proteus, and Sacred Heart Community Service gave examples of housing assistance, food distribution, employment training, utility aid, rural service delivery, tribal services, and disaster or emergency support. Several witnesses warned that federal cuts or elimination of CSBG would force service reductions, layoffs, and loss of leverage for other funding sources. The hearing also included discussion of CalAIM coordination, contingency planning for possible funding losses, and the limits of county ability to backfill federal reductions. During public comment, one speaker raised concerns about compliance and transparency issues involving community action agencies and asked the committees to ensure agencies follow California law. The chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters, reiterated the importance of CSBG in addressing poverty and homelessness, and adjourned the hearing after noting the need to sustain the investment and adapt services to changing statewide needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We aim to retain the existing CHIS food security measurement, and it also expands from 200% to 400% of
• This restriction is clinically inadequate and often prevents patients from receiving meaningful care.
• Many states like Colorado, Washington, Maryland, and Virginia have taken similar steps to prevent the
• I'd like to thank Assembly Member Hart for his leadership and authoring this important parity measure
• Sorry, I don't know if this is in response to a preventative, kind of proactive approach to ensure that

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard presentations on several bills, beginning with AB 1734, which would expand California Health Interview Survey food insecurity data collection to households up to 400% of the federal poverty level. The author and supporters from food banks, AARP, county governments, and nutrition groups argued the bill would improve California’s ability to measure hunger amid federal cuts; there was no opposition. The committee also heard AB 1949, which would treat acupuncture as its own Medi-Cal benefit and allow up to 24 visits per year. Supporters said the current two-visits-per-month cap limits effective treatment and can increase reliance on medications; the bill drew broad support and no opposition. AB 1910, a postpartum pelvic floor health bill, was presented as an education and awareness measure encouraging patients to discuss pelvic floor concerns with providers, with no opposition. AB 2011 would codify federal mental health parity standards into state law; supporters said it would preserve enforcement if federal rules are rolled back, while insurers opposed it as premature given ongoing federal litigation and possible new rules. AB 2706 would modernize California’s cannery law to align with federal food safety standards and reduce duplicative requirements for food processors, with support from the dairy industry and no opposition. AB 2041 would require certain public safety agencies to report compliance with 911 dispatcher pre-arrival instruction training requirements, building on prior legislation; it also faced no opposition. After quorum was established, the committee voted on the bills. The consent calendar bills AB 1571, AB 1864, and AB 1956 were approved 6-0. AB 1734, AB 1910, AB 1949, AB 2041, and AB 2706 all passed the committee unanimously or near-unanimously and were re-referred to Appropriations or Education as applicable. AB 2011 passed 8-2, with some members expressing concern about federal litigation, implementation costs, and the timing of codifying the 2024 parity rule into state law. All bills were placed on call after the votes, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, anything else on this<01:57:02.800><c> measure?</c> this measure? this measure?
• He's introduced the measure. We've opened the hearing. We're discussing the measure.
• We're discussing the measure. hearing. We're discussing the measure.
• one more measure to take up.
• &gt;&gt; uh is on this measure. So I I I want to &gt;&gt; uh is on this measure.

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal is prevention through learning, using data to prevent future loss.
• </c> prevention efforts should focus. prevention efforts should focus.
• </c> comprehensive prevention system. comprehensive prevention system.
• </c> veterans and prevents suicide. veterans and prevents suicide.
• Uh this is one of the prevention.

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.