Transcript Highlights:

• YOUR OFFICE PUTS IN THE TIME AND STOP CHARACTERS NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE QUALITY AND THE ALLIANCE A
• WE HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE IN PROVIDING GOOD QUALITY WATER TO OUR RESIDENCE.
• THEY JUST WANT US TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE, GOOD QUALITY WATER WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INVESTMENT
• AS SOME OF YOU INDICATED, THIS IS A UTILITY. ALL THE COSTS OF THE UTILITY ARE BUILT INTO THE RATE.
• IT'S NOT AN INDICATION OF WHERE I WILL VOTE IN THE FUTURE, BUT LET'S LET IT PLAY OUT. >> Chair McClain

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rural areas of the state, engage providers that can offer integrated care, and improve access and quality
• It's indicating no state agency, professional, or occupational licensing board.
• There is no indication because my husband is probably the only person in the world who... ...gets this
• In terms of this amendment set, it indicates that y'all would have a larger authority in that, but in
• In terms of this amendment set indicates that y'all would have a larger authority in that, but in the

Summary: The committee first heard and favorably reported SB 255, which expands eligibility for psychosocial rehabilitation services by adding health sciences and therapeutic recreation degrees to the list of acceptable educational backgrounds. Supporters said the change would help address workforce shortages and improve access in rural areas. SB 314 was then reported favorably; it cleans up prior law so a limited scope certified social worker license can still be used for community psychiatric support and treatment services even if the application is filed after the CSW license has expired, rather than being barred by a timing restriction. The committee next took up several bills by Chairman McMath. SB 26, which repeals facility need review requirements for opioid treatment programs, was reported favorably after members and witnesses said Louisiana has too few OTPs and that removing the review would improve access, especially in rural areas. SB 29, requiring review and reporting of a child’s immunization records in certain unexpected death autopsies, was reported favorably despite questions about whether the bill should refer more broadly to medical records; supporters said the data could help evaluate vaccine-related concerns, while opponents raised concerns about singling out immunizations. SB 30, dealing with telehealth for obesity/weight management, was amended and reported favorably; the committee adopted technical amendments and a conceptual amendment replacing “metabolic condition” with “weight management services,” while witnesses debated patient safety, board authority, and whether the bill should limit agencies’ ability to restrict telehealth in the future. The committee also reported favorably SB 219, which creates an Office of Health and Nutrition within LDH. Supporters from the department, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Pennington Biomedical said the office would strengthen coordination on nutrition, physical activity, and brain health, and cited high Alzheimer’s costs and prevalence in Louisiana. SB 222, which streamlines Medicaid behavioral health administrative requirements and expands telehealth for psychosocial rehabilitation, was reported favorably with amendments after supporters described workforce and rural access barriers. SB 195, the “Danny’s Dose EMS Treatment Act,” was reported favorably; it would allow EMS personnel to administer a patient’s own prescribed time-critical medication in emergencies, and testimony from a parent and physician described life-threatening delays under current practice. The committee also adopted SCR 2, updating hospital architectural standards to the most recent Facility Guidelines Institute edition, and SCR 22, requesting a more detailed legislative auditor report on opioid settlement expenditures; members said they wanted clearer outcome data and planned to refine the language before floor debate. Finally, HB 1093 on naturopathic medicine was introduced and heavily amended, with the bill shifted under LSBME oversight and a large set of changes discussed, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have some special requests to continue services and grow, as I've already indicated.
• In Taos, there is a red BSO office, and the yellow indicates the Taos cemetery. Okay, very well.
• It certainly helped our retention, as well as a Attract some very high-quality candidates.
• So, my question to you is: You indicated that you've had people, but then they've left.
• One of the aims of creating this agency was to improve the quality of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• All senators, please indicate your presence. A quorum is present, Mr. President.
• So I had the water quality improvement ballot initiative in my particular district.
• All senators, please indicate your presence. A quorum is present, Madam President.
• All senators, indicate your presence. A quorum is present, Mr. President.
• All senators, indicate your presence. A quorum is present, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is not an indication that the contractor or agency is not committed to serving more kids.
• ... ...of the minor repair infrastructure grants and continuity of certain quality services programs
• Now, as for some of the increases, there's the CSPP Quality Rating and Improvement System Block Grant
• May Revision includes an additional $20 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund for the CSPP Quality
• Thank you for indicating rejecting that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major discussion focused on child care and early education, including proposed reductions tied to federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue changes, the shift of reductions from general child care to the California Alternative Payment Program, the end of funding for prospective pay implementation, a 2.01% cost-of-living adjustment, child care infrastructure grants, and a proposal to increase administrative funding for alternative payment agencies. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported removing prospective pay funding and urged caution on the administrative-rate shift, while also recommending more justification for the slot reduction approach and more detail on infrastructure grant alignment. Committee members strongly objected to eliminating about 6,000 child care slots, arguing the Legislature should preserve and expand child care access. The Department of Education supported the preschool QRIS block grant increase and the COLA but raised concerns about rate alignment for three- and four-year-olds and the lack of funding to maintain enrollment growth. The committee then reviewed trailer bill language affecting child care, including codifying age-based reimbursement categories, expanding documentation for enhanced inclusion rates, clarifying CalWORKs child care eligibility, aligning health and safety standards with federal requirements, coordinating disaster-related infrastructure funding, and updating oversight language. Administration officials said the proposals were intended to support the single reimbursement rate structure, improve safety compliance, and coordinate disaster recovery funding. LAO said it had no major initial concerns with the trailer bill language but would continue reviewing it. The hearing then turned to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS described projected caseload declines, a one-time augmentation for county administration to implement federal H.R. 1 changes, a proposed reassessment schedule for county administrative funding, and updated estimates that H.R. 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people. Members pressed the administration on the impact of H.R. 1, the “chilling effect” on immigrant households, county workload, and whether the state should backfill federal cuts, especially for families with children subject to new work requirements. The committee also discussed a one-time CalFood augmentation, state administrative expense funding, staffing for H.R. 1 implementation, and a small increase to the CACFP meal reimbursement rate. Finally, the committee began IHSS items, including the impact of reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit, automatic IHSS termination tied to Medi-Cal loss, and related savings and caseload estimates, with the administration explaining that these proposals would reduce eligibility and that there is no broad substitute for IHSS for many recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would also indicate—no, no, I'm asking, so from a buyer and seller point of view, okay?
• Any of the staff on the housing quality standards inspections?
• Well, the law right now, HCD has the oversight of housing quality standards for this.
• inspection, thinking that we're trying to solve a housing quality standard issue.
• And as someone who spent over 20 years on the housing quality... ...or a rental.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard four items, including one consent bill, and began before quorum was established. AB 760, by Assemblymember Ta, would temporarily allow mobile home park-owned homes to be rented to people displaced by a natural disaster in areas under a declared state of emergency, including adjacent jurisdictions. Supporters said it would quickly add housing after fires, floods, or earthquakes; there was no opposition at the hearing, and members generally praised the narrow committee amendments. The bill later passed on a due-pass-as-amended vote. Chair Haney presented AB 1445, which would let cities create downtown recovery districts to finance office-to-housing conversions and other downtown revitalization projects using growth in property tax revenue. Support came from the California Travel Association, Housing Action Coalition, IKEA, Spur, Abundant Housing, and Circulate San Diego, with members saying the bill could help downtowns recover and expand mixed-use housing. The committee voiced support and interest in broader use of the tool, and the bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote. AB 456, by Assemblymember Connolly, drew the most extensive debate. The bill would prohibit mobile home park managers from requiring interior repairs or improvements as a condition of sale and would require timely written lists of exterior repairs, with supporters arguing that park managers are interfering with sales and delaying closings. Opponents, led by the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, argued that interior inspections are needed to protect buyers and park residents from unsafe conditions and potential liability. Members raised questions about safety, disclosure, HCD oversight, and liability; after discussion, the bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended vote, with some members not voting or expressing reservations. The committee also approved the consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I heard through your words an indication that there may not be employment contracts.
• that race could Chief Justice indicated that race could be<01:02:30.000> used<01:02:31.000>
• The quality of any product is intricately tied to the quality of its production process.
• The quality of any product is intricately tied to the quality of its production process.
• the quality of any product<01:33:35.840> is<01:33:36.199> intricately<01:33:37.119>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first considered two concurrent resolutions. SCR 76, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, would create a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine the school’s future governance and its relationship with the Kentucky Department of Education. Bledsoe described the school’s long history and said the task force would give the small deaf-school community more voice. The committee adopted the resolution unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then took up SCR 131, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, to continue the Efficient and Effective Districts Task Force from 2024. Wise said the prior task force met about 10 times and focused on student achievement and district policy, and the new version would continue that work as a legislature-only task force. The resolution passed unanimously with favorable expression. Members next considered HB 240 on primary school promotion. Rep. Truitt explained that the bill would require students who are not ready in kindergarten to repeat kindergarten, while a committee substitute softened the approach by allowing a school to hold a child back in kindergarten but requiring action in first grade. He said the bill aligns with existing reading-screening efforts and is intended to strengthen early literacy foundations. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression; Sen. Williams briefly explained his support as favoring performance-based advancement. The committee also approved HB 298, which would change the identification of schools for comprehensive support and improvement from every three years to annually, require KDE recommendations during management audits, add professional development in reading and math, and require effective instructional resources. The committee substitute also allowed districts with multiple CSI schools to contract for a turnaround vendor. The bill additionally carried employee-misconduct provisions from prior sessions, including disclosure requirements for applicants; the only change discussed was removing the word “investigation” from one disclosure section. HB 298 passed unanimously with favorable expression, and the committee also adopted a title amendment. Finally, the committee heard HB 424 on employment at public postsecondary institutions. Rep. Tipton said the bill would require performance and productivity reviews for faculty at least every four years, clarify appointment and removal authority for presidents at certain institutions, and expand “cause” for dismissal to include failure to meet performance and productivity requirements. Dr. Ray Horton, speaking for faculty groups, proposed a small substitute that would tie any performance measures to existing employment contracts to preserve academic integrity and avoid unintended changes to tenure processes. Members discussed how tenure works at Kentucky universities, and the committee was still in the middle of considering the proposed substitute when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bills listed on today's introduction calendar are given their first reading and referred as indicated
• The bills listed on today's introduction calendar are given their first reading and referred as indicated
• /c> the Quality Learning Center, the Quality Learning Center, the<02:22:53.800> Somali<02:22:54.240
• reproductive freedom, high-quality reproductive freedom, high-quality health<02:42:43.800> care
• The legislative auditor has indicated The legislative auditor has indicated that<03:14:40.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I indicated, I'm James Hallmark with the Texas A&M University System.
• university into the A&M system, we will not only enhance the university's capacity to provide high-quality
• These are groups like the Higher Learning Commission and Middle States, all vetted for quality and rigor
• With regard to quality, THECB's list is rock solid.

Summary: The Senate Committee on K-16 met with 14 bills on the agenda and announced it would recess around 9:45 to attend the floor session, then resume afterward. The committee first took up Senate Bill 2361, which would transfer governance of the University of Houston-Victoria from the University of Houston System to the Texas A&M University System and rename it Texas A&M University-Victoria. Senator Cole explained that the committee substitute added transition language for employee health benefits and ERS contributions. Supporters, including Texas A&M System officials, Victoria’s mayor, regional economic development leaders, a Formosa Plastics representative, a Victoria College trustee, and a local business owner, said the move would better align the university with regional industry needs, especially engineering, agriculture, and workforce development, while helping retain local students and support economic growth. A Texas A&M official also noted accreditation, data-system, and other transition challenges, but said the change was manageable. Because there was no quorum, the committee could not adopt the substitute, and SB 2361 was left pending subject to the call of the chair after public testimony closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 530 from Senator Sparks, which would update Texas higher education law to match federal rules allowing institutions to use any nationally recognized accreditor rather than only a regional accreditor. Sparks said the bill was a cleanup measure responding to a 2019 federal rule change and prior concerns had been addressed over the interim. Testimony in support came from a Texas Public Policy Foundation fellow, who said the bill would give universities flexibility, preserve quality standards, and simplify credit transfer and costs for students. With no opposition and no questions, public testimony closed and SB 530 was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was that participate in news have the same quality?
• I have access to the same quality insurance as traditional insurance plans.
• So we're talking about farmers, the level of of insurance in the quality that insurance it's tailored
• We have any indication of which cities are incredibly delinquent or delaying the process for a permanent

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OKAY, DOES NOT INDICATE, THERE'S NOBODY HERE NAMED ALEXANDER. YOU ARE WAVING IN SUPPORT, THANK YOU.
• HEALTH POLICY MY NAME IS EVA LYNN AND HAVE BEEN AN OPERATING NURSE SINCE 1995 AND I TRANSITIONED TO QUALITY
• FLORIDA CAN BE A LEADER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE SURGICAL TEAM BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY
• EXPANSION OF ACCESS OF CARE IS DONE WITH THE PROPER SAFEGUARDS THAT ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Quality people are willing to do this work; that's awesome.
• So my point is that what we need, in my opinion, is quality control experts.
• So my point is, is that what we need, in my opinion, is, is quality control experts, you know, like,
• Snow indicated, that could be limited in scope.
• Snow indicated, that could be limited in scope.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there was some indication that done.
• That is the depth of this, the quality of those relationships.
• That is the depth of this, the quality of those relationships.
• That is the depth of this, the quality of those relationships.
• The depth of this, the quality of those relationships.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers to preserve the quality
• Many Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers to preserve the quality
• Many Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers to preserve the quality
• Statistics also indicate that at least one person in this room who is not currently affected by distracted
• Do we have any indication that the governor is not going to veto this bill again? We shall see.

Summary: The Committee on Rules took up a long agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included CS for SB 678, allowing pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital, and SB 466, which designates St. Johns County as the site for the Florida Museum of Black History and creates a board to work with the supporting foundation and county officials. Senators and public speakers largely supported the museum bill, though some members asked about feasibility studies and long-term planning. The committee also approved CS for SB 578 on wine containers, SB 582 on penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, CS for SB 1168 creating an aggravated offense for unlawful tracking-device use in furtherance of crimes, CS for SB 806 clarifying that only the Florida Attorney General may represent beneficiaries of Florida charitable trusts as a public official, and SB 1228 to support spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee and Santa Fe springs. The committee then heard and favorably reported CS for CS for SB 304, which addresses child protective investigations involving infants and young children with genetic or other pre-existing medical conditions. The bill requires a qualified medical opinion before permanent removal in cases where injuries may be explained by an underlying condition, and it drew strong support from the sponsor and several speakers. Members also approved SB 1286 clarifying that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities, such as biking or playing outside, do not by themselves constitute neglect unless reckless, and SB 1318, a hands-free driving bill that renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the handheld-device prohibition, and adds penalties for handheld use in work and school zones and for certain serious crashes. The hands-free bill prompted the most debate, with supporters citing crash and fatality data and families sharing personal losses, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, and potential disparate impacts on lower-income and minority drivers; the bill was still reported favorably after amendments. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 14 and SB 20, two claims bills for injuries and deaths involving local governments, and CS for SB 68, which updates health facilities authority financing rules to reflect modern hospital structures. The committee also approved CS for SB 172 on health care practitioner specialty titles and designations after adopting an amendment protecting CRNA titles; the bill generated questions about whether licensed practitioners with doctoral degrees may still use the title doctor under their practice acts. Throughout the meeting, most bills were adopted without opposition, and the committee repeatedly voted to report them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• They might be buying less in any of these categories or purchasing lower-quality items.
• And in the PPIC statewide survey, we have found that 30% of Californians have indicated they have cut
• They might be buying less in any of these categories or purchasing lower quality items.
• And in the PPC statewide survey, we have found that 30% of Californians have indicated they have cut
• Bonn on the previous panel noted the importance of a thriving business community and roots to quality

Summary: The committee held an information hearing on California’s economy and household affordability, with the first panel focusing on inflation, housing, energy, wages, and the likely effects of new federal tariff policy. PPIC’s Sarah Bone said Californians remain deeply pessimistic about the economy, with inflation the main driver of concern; she noted prices are still about 23% higher than in January 2020, with especially large increases in food, energy, and housing costs. LAO’s Brian Euler emphasized that housing is the largest household expense and pointed to insurance, electricity, gasoline, and health care as other major cost pressures, urging the Legislature to review whether existing policies are actually reducing costs and to consider studies of why recent housing laws have not produced more units. UC Davis economist Catherine Russ warned that tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico, and potentially broader imports could raise consumer prices, disrupt supply chains, and hurt California exporters, farmers, and small businesses; she suggested monitoring prices, strengthening food assistance, and preparing transition support for affected workers and producers. Members pressed the panelists for concrete, near-term policy ideas, especially on housing and tariffs. Questions centered on whether accessory dwelling units are making a meaningful dent in affordability, how to improve implementation of pro-housing laws at the local level, and how to measure the impact of tariffs on consumers, health care, and agriculture. Panelists said ADUs help but are limited, that state laws can be undermined by local implementation and litigation, and that tariff effects may show up quickly in prices and later in hiring and investment. Several members stressed that the tariff issue is not a minor disruption for constituents and asked for more data on consumer impacts, food aid needs, and crop-specific farm losses. The second panel shifted to regional economic development and small business support. Go-Biz’s Derek Kirk described California Jobs First and the state economic blueprint as a first-in-decades, regionally informed strategy to create good-paying jobs, support key sectors, and align workforce and business development across 13 regions. The California Association for Local Economic Development’s Gerbach Sahota argued that local governments need practical tools, stable policy, and stronger partnerships with the state, while warning that prosperity is not always perceived as shared and that rural communities can be left behind. He urged the Legislature to use hearings, local input, and existing funding streams more effectively, including for recovery and infrastructure. David Fitzgerald of the Small Business Development Centers said California’s SBDC network serves hundreds of thousands of clients, many of them women and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, and has generated billions in economic impact, capital access, revenue, and jobs. He said the biggest gaps are outreach to the state’s many self-employed businesses with no employees, better labor data on those workers, and more flexible support for direct services. Committee members then asked what small businesses need most in the face of inflation and tariff shocks, including lower licensing costs and other relief, and the discussion continued on how to better target state support to businesses and households under pressure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The meat is of much better quality because you don't have that stress.
• The meat is of much better quality because you don't have that stress.
• The meat is of much better quality because you don't have that stress.
• The meat is of much better quality because you don't have that stress.
• There are a few, and our commissioner who came here last week indicated there are always a few like to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a work session and then executive session on HB 396, which would allow processing of beef cows, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by USDA. Representative Comtois presented a revised amendment after prior drafting issues were corrected. The changes narrowed the bill to cuts of meat rather than meat food products, clarified labeling for amenable and non-amenable species, removed an exemption from federal law, struck a seasonal date range at Representative Bixby’s request, and reinstated a previously removed section. Supporters said the amendment now had clearer language and better safeguards, while some members still expressed reservations about the underlying policy. Testimony from DHHS food safety officials emphasized that the department does not inspect custom-exempt facilities and would have little oversight unless there were a complaint or foodborne outbreak. They noted concerns about removing the September 1 to April 30 date range, explaining it had been included in the original bill because of temperature and storage concerns for large animals, and they also said the amendment appeared to focus documentation requirements on bison, elk, and red deer. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the proposal would create food safety risks, whether farmers should instead be educated and helped to aggregate processing capacity, and whether the bill would expose farmers, retailers, and restaurants to federal enforcement risk. Rob Johnson of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau said the organization had recently voted down a policy opposing state regulations that would allow uninspected meat sales at retail, and he said he needed to consult further with Farm Bureau leadership before taking a position on HB 396. He suggested the bill should use the broader term “dairy and beef cattle” rather than “beef cows” for consistency. Supporters argued the bill would help small farmers, expand local food access, and reflect an intrastate policy choice despite conflict with federal law. The committee then moved into executive session and voted to approve amendment 2025-3090H, with members stating they would likely have different views on the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:30.720> Cologne<00:31:31.200> indicated,<00:31:31.679> cost overview,
• Cologne indicated, cost overview, as Mr.
• Cologne indicated, cost of<00:31:32.159> service<00:31:32.399> regulation<00:31:32.960>
• Rates are now being adjusted by external indices; in this case, it's largely GDPI to accommodate for
• <00:38:20.960> in being adjusted by external indices in being adjusted by external indices

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational briefing on the Public Utilities Commission’s performance-based regulation (PBR) framework and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ whistleblower complaint process. Chair Jared Kohole opened the meeting, noted it was informational only with no public testimony, and explained that members would hear presentations and then have an opportunity for questions. The committee heard first from Ulupono Initiative, which provided background on why utilities are regulated, how Hawaii’s cost-of-service model and rate cases work, and why PBR was adopted to shift utility incentives away from a capital-investment bias and toward performance, efficiency, cost control, and policy goals such as renewable energy and reliability. Ulupono described Hawaii’s PBR structure as a five-year multi-year rate plan with annual revenue adjustments, a customer dividend, a Z factor for extraordinary exogenous events, and an exceptional project recovery mechanism for large projects. It also outlined performance incentive mechanisms tied to renewable portfolio standard progress, interconnection speed, reliability, and shared savings. The presentation said the current docket is evaluating a possible hybrid approach that would combine forward-looking forecasting with historical results, and Ulupono advocated for stronger incentives, arguing the current rewards are too small relative to utility revenues and should be more meaningful to better align utility behavior with legislative intent. The PUC then presented its own overview, emphasizing that the PBR docket is open and active and that the briefing was limited to the record to avoid ex parte concerns. The commission described the development of PBR in Hawaii through multiple phases beginning in 2018: an initial collaborative phase to set goals, a formal contested-case phase that produced the initial framework, later phases adding scorecards, reported metrics, and additional performance incentive mechanisms, and subsequent refinements including sunset of some mechanisms and adjustments after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The PUC said the framework is intended to be customer-centric, administratively efficient, and protective of utility financial integrity, and that current work includes evaluating how to balance forward-looking and historical test-year approaches within the rebasing process. No votes or formal actions were taken at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• One that I would also add that wasn't indicated that we've... That were said.
• One that I would also add that wasn't indicated that we've shared is that currently when an audit is
• In 2023, public notices began being issued to cities indicating that muralists fall within a definition
• programs meet rigorous standards of professional accreditation, ensuring that students receive high-quality
• places, but also to do so in a way that protects their rights to ensure that they're getting high-quality

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a lengthy agenda of Senate bills, with most measures ultimately advancing on party-line or broad bipartisan votes after substantial testimony and several amendments. Early in the hearing, SB 418 by Sen. Menjivar was presented as a health access bill to codify ACA nondiscrimination protections in state law and require coverage for up to a 12-month supply of medically approved hormone therapy; supporters framed it as protecting continuity of care amid federal threats, while there was no opposition testimony. The committee later also took up SB 456, which would exempt muralists from contractor licensing requirements for commissioned fine art murals; supporters said recent enforcement had chilled mural projects and harmed artists and communities, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 641, part of the wildfire response package, and SB 774, a sunset review bill for the Department of Real Estate and Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers, also advanced with support and no opposition. SB 775 and SB 776, sunset extensions for the behavioral sciences, psychology, and optometry boards, passed after witnesses described technical changes and the need to keep the boards operating. SB 777, dealing with abandoned cemeteries, drew testimony from local governments, industry, and counties; after amendments removed a local takeover mandate and shifted the bill toward a stakeholder working group and study process, opposition softened or was withdrawn and the bill moved forward to Local Government. SB 790, on interstate reciprocity for online higher education, generated the most debate, with supporters arguing California students and institutions need stronger consumer protections and access to the national reciprocity framework, while opponents said the bill’s terms conflicted with the existing compact; it passed as amended to Appropriations after committee members emphasized continued work on student protections. The consent calendar, including SB 389 and SB 861, was also approved, and the committee adjourned after additional vote changes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it also includes quality of care.
• Quality information is similarly opaque.
• Quality information is similarly opaque.
• Quality might be important. Works the same way.
• Quality might be important. Works the same way.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then they will reach out to the agency indicated in the notification.
• agency uh indicated in the notification. agency uh indicated in the notification.
• that they're to get the again indicating that they're to get the information<00:41:11.400> they
• But in speaking with the cities and state and other agencies, they indicated there is a clear process
• The language would indicate that a remedy is a representative one or may be a representative one.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all