Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to which is pretty special.
• uh assessed as elk damage.<00:38:04.800><c> Representative</c><00:38:05.359><c> Hansen.
• As part of the special celebration, I want to recognize Cara Larson.
• As part of the special celebration, I want to recognize Cara Larson.
• As part of the special celebration, I want to recognize Cara Larson.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Aaron Avery, California Special Districts Association, in support. Good afternoon.
• Allowing local officials to collect unpaid administrative fines with special assessments and abatement
• assessment, but only for violations that endanger public health or safety.
• assessments for fines and daily penalty fees.
• There is already the ability to seek special assessments and liens without going to court for costs actually

Summary: The committee opened the June 18, 2025 Local Government hearing with housekeeping rules, noting that testimony would be in person and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. Because a quorum was initially lacking, the committee proceeded as a subcommittee and heard several bills before later taking formal votes once quorum was established. The agenda included 15 bills, with eight placed on the consent calendar and one bill pulled by the author. The bills discussed included SB 333, which would let San Luis Obispo County voters consider raising the local sales tax cap for transportation funding; SB 390, a district-specific measure for South San Francisco to address a Mello-Roos/CFD issue affecting properties with conservation easements; SB 394, which would increase penalties for water theft and allow local agencies to recover damages; SB 611, which would restore protections for housing projects tied to adopted community plans while CEQA litigation is pending; SB 757, which would allow nuisance abatement liens or special assessments to collect cleanup costs for chronic nuisance properties; and SB 489, which would require public agencies involved in housing approvals to post application requirements online. Supporters generally framed the bills as tools for infrastructure financing, housing production, transparency, public safety, or deterrence of theft and blight. Opposition was heard on SB 757, with critics warning about due process, foreclosure risk, and displacement of low-income homeowners. After quorum was called, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 757, and later approved SB 489 on a 10-0 vote. The consent calendar bills—SB 74, SB 225, SB 272, SB 409, SB 558, SB 735, SB 736, and SB 737—were approved together. SB 333 advanced on a 7-2 vote, SB 390 passed 9-0, SB 394 passed 9-0, and SB 611 passed 10-0. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after all listed actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> parks and other taxes and fees assessed parks and other taxes and fees assessed on<00:26:57.760>
• fund, the Convention Center Enterprise special fund, tourism emergency special fund, and special land
• 43:46.359><c> special</c> Convention Center Enterprise special Convention Center Enterprise special fund
• </c><00:43:50.640><c> fund</c> fund um tourism emergency special fund fund um tourism emergency special
• ><c> Development</c><00:43:53.440><c> Fund</c> and special landan and Development Fund and special landan

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism and Water and Land was held on March 20, 2025, on SB 1396 SD3 HD1, which would raise transient accommodations tax revenues beginning in 2027, impose a $20 per-night tax on stays booked through loyalty or rewards points, and dedicate funds to DLNR for natural resource protection, management, and restoration. The Office of the Governor, DLNR, DBEDT, the Hawaii State Energy Office, Tax Department, Hawaiian Home Lands, HI-EMA, the Climate Advisory Team, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HCDA, the Hawaii Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resource Legacy Fund, KUA, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority all testified in support or with comments, generally emphasizing the need for dedicated funding for environmental stewardship, resilience, wildfire and climate preparedness, and community-based projects. Several supporters cited polling showing broad visitor willingness to pay additional fees to protect Hawaiʻi’s resources, and DLNR and the Attorney General noted the bill aligns with broader state land-management and fire-safety priorities. Opposition came from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, which argued the bill unnecessarily raises the TAT, places more burden on visitors and visitor-dependent businesses, and could harm Maui’s still-recovering economy. The Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi initially marked opposition but then said it had misunderstood the bill’s relationship to another measure and asked to resend testimony. Expedia Group did not oppose the TAT increase itself but raised operational concerns about the new tax on loyalty-point redemptions, calling it novel and difficult to administer. The American Hotel Lodging Association and Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance were listed as having no comments present. Testifiers also suggested amendments, including dedicating the revenues to a special fund, ensuring community grants, and clarifying administrative provisions. One testifier urged the bill be used to fund hurricane shelters and stronger building standards, while another emphasized that the measure should support people and disaster resilience as well as environmental protection. During questions, members asked for the polling methodology and for a breakdown of current TAT allocations; staff indicated they could share the survey memo and began identifying existing statutory remittances. No vote or final committee action was taken during the excerpted portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHEN THE YOUTH COMES INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ASSESSMENTS WE DO THAT ASSESSMENT
• I MENTIONED ASSESSMENTS. YOUNG KIDS THAT COME INTO OUR SYSTEM. I MENTIONED ASSESSMENTS.
• IT IS CALLED THE RESIDENTIAL ASSESSMENT SYSTEM FOR YOUTH.
• IN YEARS PAST WE HAD A SEPARATE ASSESSMENT FOR KIDS IN THE DJJ THAT WAS A PRE-AND POST ASSESSMENT AND
• THE LEARNING GAINS, THE PM ASSESSMENTS USED ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we had an office of Special Master that was working... ...special master that was working with us
• So when will you have that assessment done, you think?
• They're really taking over for the Office of Special Master.
• The Office of Special Master is no longer.
• That was specific for staffing for the Office of Special Master.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Office of the Inspector General and California Correctional Health Care Services on prison oversight, medical care, reentry, and related budget requests. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two additional intake analysts, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025 and explaining that the unit reviews and routes complaints, including PREA and staff misconduct allegations, within 30 days. Its medical inspection unit reported on cycle seven prison health inspections, noting generally adequate case-review performance but weak policy-compliance results, especially in medication management and health care environment indicators, and said it was beginning cycle eight with revised inspection methods. Members questioned the OIG about what kinds of complaints were driving the increase, whether the office tracks validity or systemic patterns, and how it distinguishes duplicative complaints from those already handled by CDCR. OIG said the largest categories were prison conditions and staff misconduct, that it does not determine whether complaints are “valid” in a statistical sense, and that it forwards issues to CDCR or other entities as appropriate. Senators also asked about the medical inspection findings, the remaining prisons not yet delegated back from federal receivership, and whether more detail should be provided in future reports. LAO and Department of Finance staff said they had no concerns with the OIG proposal. The committee then reviewed the correctional health care budget, including staffing, pharmacy, contract medical costs, and the state’s progress toward ending the Plata medical receivership. CDCR said it is trying to reduce vacancies through hiring events, social media outreach, new classifications, and more on-site care, while also using CalAIM to improve reentry services; CalAIM officials reported 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% managed care assignment, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about $14.7 million in reimbursements to date. Members pressed staff on the cost of receivership, the pace of delegation, whether more care could be consolidated into fewer facilities, and whether the state should seek more federal reimbursement or alternative staffing models. Finally, the committee discussed the new mental health receivership and a telemental health staffing proposal. The receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for the receiver’s office and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent; CDCR also sought about $8.9 million for telemental health staffing, growing to $13 million ongoing. LAO recommended approving the action plan and portions of the telehealth request, but urged the Legislature to monitor progress, consider out-of-state recruitment and expanded telehealth, and avoid across-the-board salary increases; Finance cautioned that out-of-state licensure would require major statutory changes and that staffing-ratio changes would need receiver approval. Senators raised concerns about the high cost of receiverships, vacancy-driven fines, the need for more detailed benchmarks, and whether the state should consolidate mental health populations and better target recruitment to fill hard-to-staff positions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education, State Assessment, and Finance Provisions.
• Some states do administer assessments, though reporting requirements of those assessments may vary across
• Some states report assessment-related data, including, I'd say, just assessment-related data.
• So to your point about questions of special populations, do you all feel like those special populations
• Chair, of course, is looking at special education.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to mention regarding assessments that health plans are currently being assessed.
• I do want to mention regarding assessments that health plans are currently being assessed.
• I do want to mention regarding assessments that health plans are currently being assessed.
• I do want to mention regarding assessments that health plans are currently being assessed.
• I do want to mention regarding assessments that health plans are currently being assessed.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We should be able to assess that need more comprehensively in our next report. That's all I have.
• But at this point, we know that we need to do an assessment.
• Or would an assessment change any of those proposals? I would suggest that, again, I could have Mr.
• California has built this specialized network to respond to trafficking.
• So it's us living through assessing those situations and then seeing So it's our living through assessing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This involves a streamlined approach to its project-specific special assessment bonds.
• Special assessments are a common way to help finance project-related infrastructure, especially in rural
• </c><02:09:56.520><c> assessments</c> exclusively from the special assessments exclusively from the special
• More specifically, the special assessment bonds created in section one of the bill could affect the revenues
• , the special More specifically, the special assessment<02:17:58.280><c> bonds</c><02:17:58.760><c> created

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another question came up from my special education department, and as we've heard, special education
• Another question came up from my special education department, and as we've heard, special education
• If someone's getting a special education degree, are they actually being a special education teacher,
• You're asking about whether people who have a special education credential are deployed in special education
• They take a literacy performance assessment as part of their two-part performance assessment.

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• If concerns remain, a team may recommend a special education evaluation to formally assess the presence
• So I would like for you to actually create a special section for special education students who are already
• identified and to recognize that... ...special section for special education students who are already
• So the assessment pieces of the bill, assessment and accountability. ...our tests. Sure.
• So the assessment pieces of the bill, assessment and accountability are intertwined, but two separate

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The committee continued hearing testimony on Senate Bill 2252, which would expand early literacy and numeracy screening, parent notification, intervention supports, and teacher training, including math academies and early childhood supports. Supporters from Texas 2036, Good Reason Houston, Texas Business Leadership Council, and several parents argued that early identification of skill gaps, clearer data for families, and stronger teacher preparation would improve student outcomes, workforce readiness, and long-term earnings. They cited low math proficiency statewide, the importance of early intervention, and examples of districts using screeners and data dashboards to guide instruction and resource allocation. One witness also highlighted home visiting as a family-support model, while another urged more funding for pre-K partnerships and stronger support for parents with reading materials and guidance. A district special education administrator testified neutrally, saying the bill reflects practices already used in her district but expressing concern that it could reduce local control and teacher discretion by standardizing screening and tying it to funding. A Texas Classroom Teachers Association representative supported the intent but warned that mandatory math academies and intervention academies could burden teachers if implemented like prior reading academies, and a substitute teacher/teacher-of-the-year witness asked for clearer protections around special education information and pay for alternative certification candidates. After public testimony closed, SB 2252 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2253, as substituted, which would phase out routine hiring of uncertified teachers over time, require parent notification when a teacher is uncertified, and expand high-quality preparation pathways such as university programs, residencies, improved alternative certification, and grow-your-own programs. Senator Creighton said the bill responds to the rise in uncertified teachers and aims to strengthen the teacher pipeline with more structured preparation, mentorship, and oversight by SBEC. Invited testimony strongly supported the measure: a Texas Tech researcher said uncertified teachers and fast-track programs are associated with significant learning losses, while year-long residencies and mentored pathways produce stronger outcomes and higher earnings for students. Leaders from Dallas College and Sam Houston State University described successful residency and grow-your-own models, high completion and retention rates, and the need for paid residencies and stipends so candidates can afford to enter the profession. Committee members asked about the difference between mentorship and residency, the cost-effectiveness of paid residencies, retention incentives, and how to scale the model statewide. The committee also adopted the substitute for SB 2253 and later paused to vote out several other bills, including SB 1191, SB 1786, SB 226, SB 326, SB 570, SB 870, SB 991, SB 60, SB 365, SB 1401, and SB 1067, all of which were reported favorably, many with unanimous votes and some placed on the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, introduction of special guests. Proceed, please. Thank you. Mr.
• And so we want our assessments to be accurate. Right.
• “Yeah, that’s requiring that special rollback.” “Yeah, that’s that.
• So if assessments are outside of those parameters... ...if assessments are outside of those parameters
• based on yearly assessments, and that's right.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have special orders to get to today. ...special orders to get to today.
• The supplemental assessment...
• fees or special assessments and taxes and clarified that fees must be reasonably related to the cost
• An assessment as to whether, to the G.
• What's ironic is it's a special district.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It looks to me like this is paying for administrative support, not specialized legal or specialized support
• Is there a specialized workforce FTEs in this budget that has been approved?
• You know, last year, Early Childhood Special Ed, the 619 coordinator transitioned over to ECECD.
• We've instituted a pilot in Roswell with New Mexico Pre-K and the special education.
• I will just close with, we are engaged in a very extensive statewide community assessment.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• That means less special ed teachers.
• We look at all of the kids, the AP kids, the kids in special classes, the special needs kids, and we
• The annual coverage assessment is... The annual coverage assessment is...
• The annual coverage assessment is not a charge on the policyholder, but an assessment on the health carriers
• We heard that assessment, the first half of that assessment, in Assembly days, and the testimony was

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• And without the CEC here, we cannot assess that.
• They are expected to de-escalate, to assess risk, to protect the public.
• Yeah, the bill would add for the specialized de-escalation training. It would add...
• The bill would add the specialized de-escalation training.
• I represent a territory serving as the vice chair of the special games in this house.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• SRT, special response team, that’s our SWAT team.
• Damage assessment, 3D mapping.
• And then the database actually does a vulnerability assessment for us.
• actually does a vulnerability assessment for us.
• Last year you funded a school security assessment grant.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee heard a series of domestic security and law enforcement presentations from the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Highway Patrol, and FDLE. Sheriff Rob Hardwick outlined the sheriffs’ legislative priorities, focusing on adding xylazine to Florida’s trafficking statute and increasing penalties for luring or enticing a child under 12 from a misdemeanor to a felony. He also discussed domestic security coordination, fusion center intelligence sharing, and jail-based reentry efforts. Members asked about xylazine prevalence in Broward County and whether canine units can detect it; Hardwick said he would follow up with data and noted that dogs are not specifically trained for xylazine, though fentanyl-certified dogs may alert on mixtures. Chief Charlie Vasquez of the Florida Police Chiefs Association presented three priorities: stronger protections for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and their families when threatened because of their jobs; faster and more consistent access to blood-borne pathogen testing results after exposure incidents; and mandatory life without release for anyone convicted of murdering a police or correctional officer, reviving a version of the Jason Raynor Act. Senators asked about delays in blood testing after exposure, and Vasquez said officers can be forced to take prophylactic medication while waiting for results and that the process should be streamlined. Florida Highway Patrol Director Dave Kerner described FHP’s domestic security role, including criminal interdiction, canine units, traffic homicide investigations, aviation, drones, border operations, and responses to threats such as human smuggling and the October 7-related security posture at synagogues and campuses. He said staffing remains constrained by vacancies and pay disparities, so he was not seeking more authorized troopers at this time. FDLE Deputy Commissioner David Binder then reviewed the state’s domestic security structure, fusion centers, critical infrastructure assessments, and grant funding, warning that federal homeland security dollars have declined sharply while threats remain high. He highlighted work on drone mitigation, radiological detection, vehicle barriers, and school security assessments, and emphasized the need for continued interagency coordination. The committee took no formal votes and adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to introduce you to our very special donkeys later on.
• They're very specialized.
• And then we have different special tax funds, law enforcement protection funds, and different special
• Some special assessment loans, which is a pledge of assessments on benefiting property owners within
• I mean, a special assessment district is not as strong a credit as, for example, a G.O. or a net system

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• assessments any time a project is needed.
• assessment in the year 2025.
• That's 20% of our client database, and that is a surprise special assessment for reserve projects that
• assessment in the year 2025.
• That's 20% of our client database, and that is a surprise special assessment for reserve projects that

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving down to the special revenue fund.
• </c><00:05:00.800><c> revenue</c> the state government special revenue the state government special revenue
• To that, on line 45, we add a special revenue fund adjustment of $45,000 per year.
• That's from the special revenue fund.
• And these special revenue funds are from the fire safety account.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house