Transcript Highlights:

• Leah Adkins, Callie Price, Allison Moten, Destin Ferris, Tommy Lee Milam, K.K.
• Leah Adkins, Callie Price, Allison Moten, Destin Ferris, Tommy Lee Milam, K.K.
• We have Crystal Bibb, Chris Price, and Sherry Price, if they would stand, and the Senate make them feel
• electric transmission lines that support an America First economy and will lead to affordable energy prices
• electric transmission lines that support an America First economy and will lead to affordable energy prices

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Zion Dennis, Noah G., Josephine Hoskins, Cassidy Price, Sincere Wyatt, chaperone Brian Jehe,
• SB 2696, commerce of 30 gas prices prioritizing. HB 2720, DES benefits administration continuation.
• In these times of prices skyrocketing for gas and groceries, and the rent is still way too high, our
• Senator Sears said this is not price gouging and that it works in veterans' interests.
• Look at the price of gas.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and welcomed several guest groups, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, Brianna Andrew, and students from Gilbert Edu-Prize. The chamber also adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the President announced a temporary committee appointment for Senator Shamp and a request to adjourn after Wednesday’s session until Monday, March 16. The floor then considered a long list of bills, with several third-reading votes. Measures that passed included SB 1654 on elections funding, SB 1711 on school safety-related information, SB 1743 on campaign contribution address disclosure, SB 1747 on access technology content, SB 1284 on moving violations, SB 1336 on State Land Department issues, SB 1365 on property tax exemptions for veterans, SB 1655 on juror summons/poll worker service, SB 1662 on probation, SB 1803 on Department of Veterans’ Services claims assistance, SB 1494, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1503 on pension benefit plans, SB 1584 on Department of Corrections recruitment, SB 1632 on DES, SB 1723 on bail, SB 1206 on insurance claims, and SB 1827 on aviation. Several bills failed, including SCR 1047 on marijuana establishment licenses, SB 1134 on political signs before reconsideration, SB 1544 on probation, and SB 1585 on sex offender monitoring. SB 1134 was later reconsidered and passed. Many of these votes featured debate over elections administration, privacy, health care access, veterans’ benefits, probation, and public safety. The Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for Calendar One and later Calendar Two. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted amendments and recommended do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672, with discussion focusing on school training standards, veterans’ park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS provider reimbursement, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug authorization. On Calendar Two, the committee also advanced SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, SB 1611, and SCR 1022 after amendments and extended debate, especially on AHCCCS fraud, juvenile court proceedings, inmate medical release, and the American Indian Health Program. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, the bills were properly assigned, and committee announcements were made for the next day’s meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Think about it as getting two doctors for less than the price of one.
• Unpredictable changes in food supply pricing impact our overall budget with medical and food.
• We partnered with Lindsay Hospital, it's been almost two years to access 340B pricing.
• We have transitioned all hepc treatment to 340B pricing as well as HIV.
• The quality of food, we're hoping to get a better quality of food for a cheaper price.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we've just seen a little lower price impacts than we would have expected given some of it.
• Also, goods prices in 2024 actually were negative.
• So when goods prices go down, that's bad for sales taxes.
• The sales tax generally is on the total purchase price.
• So, a quick review of the law prior to 5814: sales and use tax have been due on the selling price of

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from Dr. Reich on the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC), including how the council’s joint executive-legislative forecasting process works, the main state revenue sources, and recent economic conditions. He said Washington’s economy is slowing, with weak employment growth, softer taxable sales, and uncertainty from tariffs, federal spending, and the federal shutdown. He also noted that the September forecast was reduced, mainly because of lower sales tax and real estate excise tax collections, and that the state still expects modest growth rather than a recession. Members asked about whether Washington tends to lag national downturns and how forecast information should affect budgeting; Dr. Reich said the forecast is a revenue tool, not a budgeting decision, and that spending choices remain with elected officials. The Department of Revenue then presented on Washington’s sales and use tax structure and the implementation of Senate Bill 5814, which expands retail sales tax to several services effective October 1, 2025. Steve Ewing explained how sales and use tax are sourced, how reseller permits and the multiple points of use exemption work, and how the new law applies to live presentations, temporary staffing, investigations and security services, IT services, custom website development, advertising services, and custom software. He said DOR held listening sessions, issued interim guidance, and set up a centralized landing page and outreach efforts to help taxpayers understand the changes. He also described a six-month grace period for certain pre-existing contracts through March 31, 2026, but said penalties and interest still apply under the statute. Committee members raised concerns about how businesses and individuals will know when a service is taxable, who is responsible for collecting and remitting tax, and how sourcing will work for services delivered across multiple locations or online. DOR staff walked through examples involving accounting services, live lectures, virtual events, advertising campaigns, and search engine marketing, including the use of reasonable allocation and pool codes when exact sourcing data is unavailable. Members also questioned the administrative burden on small businesses and professionals newly subject to tax, and whether additional legislative fixes or relief from penalties and interest may be needed. No votes or formal actions were taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Darren Moore, Alexis Smothers, Somaiya Williams, Ashton Whitaker, Miss McGuire, Kierra Price, Skylar
• You will pay a price. And, Mr. Chairman, Mr.
• You will pay<00:49:11.600> a<00:49:11.680> price. pay a price. pay a price.
• As a military man who literally paid a big price for this country to fight for the lesser of these, to
• the ultimate price, but a big<00:58:56.000> price big price big price for<00:58:57.320> this

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 42 members present and a quorum, opened with an invocation by Pastor Jaylen Robinson, and recognized several guests and honorees. Early floor remarks included a welcome to students from Forest Oak Middle School, a young Senate shadow from Woodlawn High School, and guests from Charles H. Flowers High School. The chamber also noted a doctor of the day and announced that panoramic photos in the Senate lounge were available for order by March 27, with eye exams available in the State House. The main legislative business was Senate Bill 283, the President’s Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee presented 291 amendments, described as funding priorities for jobs, infrastructure, and reliability while staying within debt affordability limits. The amendments covered school construction, natural resources, higher education, housing, Maryland Environmental Service, miscellaneous grants, local Senate bond initiatives, jails and detention centers, and pre-authorizations for fiscal 2028. Four amendments were separated for individual roll calls: 30, 35, 46, and 241, all of which were adopted. The remaining committee amendments were adopted without objection, and the favorable committee report as amended was then taken up. During debate on the capital budget amendments, one senator raised concerns about the bill and the difficulty of tracking the amendments on the electronic system, prompting discussion about technical issues and the availability of the documents on the website and in paper form. The chair said the committee had been working on the bill for months and urged the body to proceed. A question was raised about Amendment 264, which deauthorized a Willing Helper Society renovation project in Charles County; the chair explained the money had not been spent, was about to expire, and was repurposed to a Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland project to keep the funding in Charles County.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are people who could help bring premium prices down for you and residents in your district, so
• This means higher prices for constituents.
• help bring premium prices down for you<00:50:53.440> and<00:50:53.680> residents<00:50
• uh to make up as the ERS raise prices uh to make up the<00:51:21.799> difference<00:51:22.599
• difference this means higher prices the difference this means higher prices for<00:51:24.319> constituents

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 16, and the chair moved the bill with a recommendation that it be re-referred to Elections Finance and Government Operations. Representative Rymer said the bill would require reporting to ICE when an illegal immigrant is arrested on suspicion of a violent crime, even if the county attorney does not prosecute, and would bar state and local entities from blocking federal immigration enforcement. He described the bill as narrowly focused on serious offenses such as murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, and criminal sexual conduct, and said it was intended to improve communication with federal authorities about dangerous offenders. Supporters argued the bill would improve public safety and cooperation with federal law enforcement. David Zimmer, a former local law enforcement official, said cooperation with ICE is consistent with law enforcement practice and helps with information-sharing, warrants, consulate notifications, and locating individuals. Several other supporters, including a crime victim family member and a security officer, said the bill would help identify dangerous criminals and protect communities. Opponents said the bill would reduce trust in local law enforcement and discourage victims and witnesses from reporting crimes. Testifiers from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, The Advocates for Human Rights, Violence Free Minnesota, the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, the Northstar Alliance, the City of Minneapolis, and others said mandatory ICE notification could deter domestic violence and trafficking victims from seeking help, harm due process, and undermine community safety. Some also warned it would interfere with local separation policies, burden local agencies, and have negative economic and civil rights impacts. The committee also heard emotional testimony from individuals describing domestic abuse and immigration-related fears, and from family members of a murder victim who supported the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• there's there's fee and and pricing there's there's fee and and pricing disclosures<01:21:22.239
• <01:45:06.239> as line and get eggs at half the price as line and get eggs at half the price
• >> I I think they're like double the price, >> I I think they're like double the price, but
• bears right away, you'll pay that price bears right away, you'll pay that price rather<01:49:27.920
• Uh, but I was just looking at comparative prices just to illustrate that the price difference here and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee focused primarily on a bill concerning long-term care insurance rate increases and consumer notice. Members and staff discussed replacing or supplementing a proposed public hearing requirement with annual reporting, website updates, and consumer-facing disclosures about approved rate increases, carriers writing the products, and how the products work. Several participants emphasized that long-term care policies are long-term products, that rate increases can be spread over many years for actuarial reasons, and that consumers need better information about trends and the impact of increases. A major point of disagreement was whether the bill should try to cap premium increases. One member argued the real problem is unexpected increases of 15% to 20% and urged a statutory cap to protect consumers. Insurance department representatives and others responded that hard caps had been struck down in prior case law, that the department’s core responsibility is solvency, and that carriers need sufficient premium to pay future claims. They also said the market is struggling because many carriers stopped selling the product, leaving in-force policies to bear the cost, and that overly restrictive caps could cause insurers to withdraw from the state. The discussion then shifted toward a compromise requiring carriers to notify policyholders before a rate increase is approved and allowing a 60-day comment period. Participants debated whether the notice should come from the carrier, how confidentiality rules would apply before approval, and what the department should do with public comments. The department said it already reviews filings carefully and that submitted rates are often adjusted before approval; lawmakers noted that prior commissioners had pushed back on increases in some cases, including a seven-year moratorium. No final vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly tried to move the subcommittee along to other bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• If prepare to pay a steep price for it.
• I mean, prices are higher than ever.
• <03:10:01.760> I mean, prices are higher than ever. I mean, prices are higher than ever.
• That's what I prices or transportation.
• ,<03:22:22.640> to families, to bring down food prices, to families, to bring down food prices

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we see prices increasing in a matter of months when projects are delayed.
• And I know that the price of beef and replacing stocker cattle right now, it's a lot.
• And then the consumer with beef prices, it's a lot... ...and all of this adds to it.
• Prices just go up, and we’re trying to mitigate that.
• The first question we're asked is, what will the price of water be?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of manure, the value of that the price of manure, the value of the<00:04:21.200> manure<00:04
• Aging farmers, low commodity prices, tariffs, skyrocketing costs of inputs, etc., etc., etc.
• <01:01:36.760> well while they shoulder milk prices well while they shoulder milk prices well
• cattle and record fertilizer prices cattle and record fertilizer prices right<01:28:50.000> now
• Uh, we have our pricing at the peak of what we can do while still keeping the zoo accessible.

Bills: HF4740, HF3940

Keywords: financial assurance, feedlot permits, manure storage, environmental compliance, agriculture regulation, abandoned infrastructure, pollution control, environmental impact, animal feedlot, livestock, regulations, Minnesota Rules

Summary: The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 4740, authored by Rep. Hansen, which would require feedlots with at least 1,000 animal units to provide financial assurance for closure costs. Hansen argued the bill would shift cleanup responsibility from taxpayers to owners, citing abandoned feedlots, changing ownership structures, and the 2024 Pure Prairie Poultry bankruptcy as examples of why public funds should not be used for closures and cleanup. He also said the bill would apply to new or renewed permits and suggested a statutory definition of abandoned feedlot storage units may be needed. Farm and livestock groups testified in opposition. Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Pork Producers Association, and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation said existing MPCA and county permit rules already require closure planning and reporting, and that the bill would add unnecessary costs and barriers for family farms, beginning farmers, and expansion. They warned the financial assurance requirement could function like an animal-unit cap, encourage fragmentation or out-of-state relocation, and impose annual costs that would not improve environmental outcomes. Several testified that true abandonment is rare and that current permitting and closure processes already address it. MPCA staff said the agency has concerns with the bill, noted there is currently no formal fiscal note, and said the agency would need to ensure any appropriations cover ongoing staffing needs. MPCA officials explained that permitted feedlots already must notify the agency before closure, follow a checklist of closure requirements, and undergo follow-up inspection; they said abandonment notifications are uncommon and they are not aware of any currently permitted facilities in abandonment process. Members questioned whether the bill was needed, what form financial assurance would take, how other states handle similar requirements, and whether the proposal would unfairly burden smaller or family operations. No vote on HF 4740 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• These mega retailers are likely then to pursue trade and pricing practices that result in below-cost
• then to pursue trade and pricing then to pursue trade and pricing practices<01:07:30.960> that
• <01:15:55.080> more see more product get sold at prices more see more product get sold at
• And it lists the year as well as the price point, because unfortunately wine does kind of follow price
• point, because unfortunately wine does kind of follow price point as far as how long it will last.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• interest rates, $100 for a month in an HOA fee is equivalent to about a $12,500 cost impact on the price
• <00:19:45.159> of<00:19:45.240> a $12,500 cost impact on the price of a $12,500 cost
• impact on the price of a new<00:19:45.559> home<00:19:46.440> so<00:19:46.600> just
• <00:19:55.360> of $12,500 uh to a new home at the price of $12,500 uh to a new home at the
• price of purchase<00:19:55.840> that's<00:19:56.039> really<00:19:56.480> essentially

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These are critical treatments, but their high price tags are putting a real strain on patients and our
• time, we're further concerned that these coupons enable drug manufacturers to maintain high list prices
• Drug companies often keep their drug prices high by setting their own list price, and they're offering
• copay coupons to help some patients afford those high prices.
• But those dollars still get priced into premiums and create significant conflicts of interest.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So their reimbursement price is already stated in the statute.
• So their reimbursement price is already stated in the statute.
• So their reimbursement price is already stated in the statute.
• So, their wholesale price and NDC.
• price is already stated in the<00:24:31.440> night.

Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251

Keywords: military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR

Transcript Highlights:

• So looking back towards last year's crab season, after a few years of soft prices, we saw record price
• So looking back towards last year's crab season, after a few years of soft prices, we saw record price
• So looking back towards last year's crab season, after a few years of soft prices, we saw record price
• And we can't always be the ones that pay the price. And we are often.
• The price is higher.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... 2022 pushed electricity rates to a 20-year high, and since then, natural gas prices have retreated
• It could lower peak prices, and then the older generation could also get these new penalties assessed
• It's going to increase electricity prices. It's not the right answer. We were supportive...
• It's probably staying about even keel because of the price. Okay, so the price.
• Well, price is one thing.

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• And how do we know if the contract price is a reasonable price? CMS evaluates the price.
• 22.040> contract yes and how do we know if the contract yes and how do we know if the contract price
• <00:45:22.760> is<00:45:22.880> a<00:45:23.000> reasonable<00:45:23.920> price
• <00:45:24.920> CMS price is a reasonable price CMS price is a reasonable price CMS evaluates
• <00:45:26.400> the<00:45:26.599> price evaluates the price evaluates the price okay<00:

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon adjournment of both chambers today. There is not an exact time, there for the live stream has been created with a place holder time of 4:00 PM est., 958, all

Summary: Chairman Hart called the meeting to order, confirmed a quorum, welcomed Representative Rachel Roarx, and the committee approved the February 11 minutes. The committee then moved through its agenda of PSC and related contract items, including a motion to consider the reviewed contracts without objection. One Department of Highways item was deferred when the virtual representatives were not yet available. The committee first took up Kentucky Housing Corporation contracts. Members questioned outside legal services for foreclosures and bankruptcies, why the work was not handled entirely in-house, and how much of the workload and cost it represented. Witnesses said the agency’s need was largely geographic rather than a lack of expertise, that less than 1% of the loan portfolio is referred out for foreclosures, and that many fees are reimbursable through FHA. Both Kentucky Housing Corporation items were approved. The committee then considered a Department for Community Based Services contract tied to a protest and a temporary renewal with PCG. Witnesses said the contract increase was needed to bridge the gap while the protest and RFP process were unresolved, and that the initial vendor received no funds. The committee approved the item, with Senator Douglas explaining his vote as a preference for straightforward answers. The committee also heard a Northern Kentucky University contract for a Workday ERP replacement, including implementation consulting and separate license fees. University officials explained the move from SAP to Workday, the complexity of the systems, and the need for a consulting partner; they said the total effort would span 10 years and that the contract was priced below comparable institutions. After extensive questioning about cost, budget, and value, the vote ended 4-4 and the chair noted the contract would move forward through the Finance Committee if no disapproval motion was made. Finally, the Office of Inspector General presented a contract for culture change training in nursing facilities funded by civil monetary penalties; witnesses said the goal was to improve staff satisfaction, communication, and resident outcomes, and that the CMP fund balance was about $38 million. Discussion also covered survey backlogs and CMS restrictions on the funds, with the item still under review as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• More specifically, this would be a minor fix that allows for statewide relative price to be not more
• we would make would basically say that hospitals with not more than 1.0 of the statewide relative price
• make them what we would consider a distressed hospital rather than just simply the statewide relative price
• Again, these amendments were withdrawn. ...relative, statewide relative price. Thank you.
• reduce those costs and come to the rescue of household budgets that are struggling with the kind of price

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a series of amendments to a supplemental appropriations bill and related measures, with several adopted and several rejected or withdrawn. Early amendments on equitable approaches to public safety and a Holyoke local account clarification failed, while amendments providing $2.5 million for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers technical assistance and expanding access to gender-affirming medications and mifepristone were adopted. The chamber also adopted a technical amendment on alternative protein grants, a clarification to ETF modernization, and an energy storage systems amendment. Other proposals on homeowner protections, La Casa funding, emergency contract reform, an energy dashboard, EV charging ratepayer impacts, hate crimes, distressed hospital payments, and task force membership were rejected or withdrawn. A substantial portion of the debate focused on health care, food assistance, and public safety. Senators spoke in support of funding for community health centers, hospital relief, and EBT anti-skimming protections, including $15.5 million for chip-enabled EBT cards and related replacement-benefit support. One amendment to strengthen protections against impersonating federal officers was rejected, while another on professional protections was withdrawn after discussion of ballot address privacy and security concerns. The Senate also adopted amendments to continue prior appropriations for a North Shore food pantry and drought management efforts, and it later approved a sick leave bank for a Department of Mental Health employee. The chamber then took up the fiscal year 2025 fair share supplemental budget conference report, which Ways and Means described as $1.39 billion in spending split between transportation and education, including MBTA improvements, Chapter 90 aid, regional transit authorities, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, higher education deferred maintenance, and career technical education capital grants. After a roll call, the bill passed, with one recorded negative vote. The Senate also adopted a separate Ways and Means amendment and ordered the bill to third reading before final passage. The session ended with adjournment motions and a moment of silence honoring Melissa and Mark Hortman and other victims of political violence, along with a memorial adjournment for firefighter Jeffrey DeSanchez.

Transcript Highlights:

• audit will be looking at the following questions, whether funding sources paid for the appropriate price
• focuses on reviewing CalHR's plans for renegotiating with Delta Dental and determining whether the prices
• focuses on reviewing CalHR's plans for renegotiating with Delta Dental and determine whether the prices
• RFP in 2025 to address the network challenges and ensure the state receives the most comprehensive pricing
• members and our employees, and not simply having two parties matching each other's benefit packages and prices

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to consider new audit requests and received a status update from the State Auditor, who reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, several statutory audits underway, and that all audits approved in 2025 are moving forward. The committee first approved a consent calendar covering audits on University of California library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. One requested audit on local law enforcement and human trafficking had been withdrawn before the hearing. The committee then debated and approved an audit request from Assembly Member DeMaio on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and its road project management and use of transportation funds. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to examine whether restricted funds, voter-approved revenues, and project commitments were properly used, while SANDAG officials said the agency already undergoes extensive oversight and that its funding sources and project uses are governed by multiple existing audits and reporting requirements. Several members questioned whether the audit would duplicate existing reviews, but the motion passed after roll call. Next, the committee approved Senator Valadares’s audit request on Board of State and Community Corrections Proposition 47 grant administration. Supporters said the audit would assess whether grant recipients and BSCC oversight are producing reliable outcome and recidivism data and whether the funds are achieving public safety goals; BSCC responded that it already has internal controls, that the State Controller conducts biennial audits, and that its reported outcomes show reductions in homelessness, unemployment, and recidivism among participants. The committee also approved Senator Cortese’s audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and contract oversight, prompted by concerns about stagnant annual maximums, provider network losses, and out-of-pocket costs for employees and retirees. CalHR said its current dental network remains strong, that it recently completed an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier beginning in 2027, and that it maintains performance guarantees in its contracts. All three regular-calendar audit requests were approved, and the committee then completed add-on votes approving the earlier consent calendar items before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, as we provide funding for this sector, it is also critical to ensure meaningful price transparency
• Unlike the passenger vehicle market, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles lack publicly available pricing
• closing, and it limits our ability to understand the long-term impact that subsidies are having on prices
• SB 1213 addresses this by requiring CARB to collect and publicly report MSRP, final sale price, and component
• prices for all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles receiving public subsidies in California.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered a Memorial Day weekend prayer, and welcomed a third-grade class from Sacred Heart Parish School to the chamber. Members also handled several procedural motions, including suspending blackout-period rules for budget subcommittee hearings, removing certain items from the inactive file and consent calendar, and confirming multiple gubernatorial appointments, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then took up a series of resolutions and bills. Resolutions approved included National Safe Boating Week (SR 102), Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month (SCR 172), World No Tobacco Day (SCR 177), Lupus Awareness Month (SR 107), and the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris (SR 115). Senators used those measures to highlight boating safety, asthma and food allergy risks, tobacco harms, lupus awareness, and the economic and cultural importance of California wine. The Senate also passed SB 1341 on bag-in-box beverage container processing fees, SB 1083 on school employee misconduct procedures, SB 1153 on wildfire preparedness for urban retail water suppliers, SB 1199 on prescription cost-sharing and out-of-pocket accounting, SB 1240 creating an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, SB 1337 establishing an energy coordination working group, SB 1360 expanding language access for voters, SB 920 on gaming fee transparency, SB 1016 on mental health/Care Court evaluation options, SB 1198 on reckless driving penalties, SB 1213 on reporting prices for subsidized medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, SB 1265 codifying the Go Green financing program, SB 1338 on post-repossession vehicle transport interference, and SB 1135 on wildlife coexistence. Most passed on unanimous roll calls; SB 1265 and SB 1135 drew a small number of no votes. The session concluded with a lengthy adjournment-in-memory ceremony led by the Veterans Caucus, reading the names of 82 fallen service members and pausing in their honor. The President pro tempore then announced the Senate would recess and return for the next floor session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.