Transcript Highlights:

• As we know, this legislature, and this committee in particular, has made impactful investments in Washington's
• Substance use disorder also disproportionately impacts our industry.
• The Board is here testifying as other, only as we are waiting whether there is a fiscal impact.
• Adjusted for inflation, growers are earning far less today than prior generations.
• Adjusted inflation, growers are earning far less today than prior generations.

Bills: HB2405 , HB2406 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2492

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: mental health, PTSD, treatment program, research, pilot program, veteran support, trauma, healthcare funding, labor, communication, Department of Labor and Industries, workplace standards, modernization, collective bargaining, labor relations, employee rights, union representation, non-covered employees, wage enforcement, labor standards

Transcript Highlights:

• You mentioned the deferrals and the impacts on students.
• All these things can impact the student experience.
• All these things can impact the student experience.
• They clearly impact graduation timelines.
• That's one of the impacts of all of this. Correct. That's one of the impacts of all of this. Yes.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think management impacts of, or impacts of predators, the birds now are taking more fish than Idaho
• I could tell there was absolutely no clue of the impact, if you will, that all the pelicans that they're
• If you look at the total impact, like I said, let's take Mike County, for example, Ada.
• It's the largest that's going to be impacted.
• By going back to the previous year’s mill levy rate, you unwind a lot of the impacts of 389.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Senator Coobee, inflation maybe, I don't know.
• I know that in the Public Safety Committee we had a discussion about the fiscal impact of including the
• I know that in the Public Safety Committee we had a discussion about the fiscal impact of including the
• The losses impact generations and generations. And thank you for bringing this forward.
• Proceeds from this plate would directly support three areas of impact. First, officer wellness.

Summary: The committee took up several appropriations, transportation, naming, and education measures. It first approved SB 1035, which provides a FY27 General Fund appropriation for a 5% salary increase for Arizona Department of Corrections sworn officers and civilian employees; an amendment set the appropriation at $34 million and extended the raise to private prison employees under contract. Testimony from corrections advocates emphasized severe staffing shortages and pay gaps with other law enforcement employers, while some senators objected to including private prisons. The bill passed 6-3. The committee then approved SCM 102 and SCM 1006, which rename stretches of highway in honor of L.F. Quinn and PFC Michael Nolan, respectively, after emotional testimony from family members and local supporters; both memorial measures passed 9-1. SB 1065, appropriating $3.64 million for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Military Veterans Fund, also passed 6-4 after supporters described HBOT as a promising, drug-free treatment for veterans, while opponents questioned the evidence and FDA approval for the claimed uses. SB 1248, which clarifies funding and attendance rules for county jail and juvenile detention education programs, passed unanimously 10-0 after county school officials said it would prevent double-counting students and separate funding streams properly. The committee also advanced transportation bills focused on the fast-growing West Valley corridor. SB 1204 appropriates $5.5 million to ADOT to design and conduct environmental analysis for interchange improvements at U.S. 60 and SR 303; supporters from the City of Surprise described severe congestion, safety risks, and economic impacts, while some senators argued the project should be funded through HURF rather than the General Fund. It passed 8-1, and the chair invited members to discuss broader HURF funding issues later. SB 1207, a smaller $150,000 study bill to examine financing mechanisms for development tied to U.S. 60/SR 303 infrastructure, also passed 7-1 after local officials said it would help align growth with transportation funding. SB 1274, creating a Police Foundation specialty license plate and fund for Phoenix Police Foundation programs, passed 6-2; the foundation said proceeds would support officer wellness, remembrance, and community/youth outreach. Finally, SB 1001, a $1 million appropriation for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, passed 9-0 after blind seniors and advocates testified that the services preserve independence and prevent more costly institutional care. The committee also heard SB 1161, which would make non-lapsing a prior $750,000 DPS appropriation for the Yuma County Family Advocacy Center, with the sponsor explaining it was intended to allow the funds to be spent over multiple years; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There could also be some impact on student support services.
• This will have a detrimental impact on our students.
• It will impact student outcomes.
• It's impacting the staff and the faculty on campus, and it will impact students.
• on us, and their impact that will make us become illegal.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will be impactful.
• I'm so glad that I had an opportunity... ...the fires has had a lasting impact on me.
• I would hope we're having a public hearing on something that impacts Cradle to Career.
• Teacher shortages have disproportionately impacted underserved communities.
• The other piece is inflation protection.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several education bills, with AB 887 by Assemblymember Berman proposing that every school district and charter school adopt a plan so all high schools offer at least one computer science course by 2029-30. Supporters, including a teacher and student, argued California is falling behind other states and that computer science is essential for student opportunity and workforce readiness. ACSA opposed the bill, citing the shortage of qualified computer science teachers and administrative burden. The bill passed the committee on a 6-0 vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1390 by Assemblymember Solache, which would allow local and county school boards to raise trustee compensation above long-standing statutory minimums that have not changed in decades. Supporters said the current stipends are too low to make board service accessible to working families and younger community members. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with five votes, with the roll left open for additional members. AB 865 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would create a $5 million, three-year grant program for dual-language immersion instructional materials, split between high-demand languages and other languages. Supporters said districts often lack standards-aligned materials in languages beyond Spanish, forcing teachers to create their own. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 857 by Assemblymember Gibson, requiring annual cultural competency training for K-12 staff, also passed 5-1 after supporters linked it to the state reparations task force report and argued it would improve trust and student outcomes. The committee additionally approved AB 677 by Assemblymember Bryan, which would make it easier for unhoused students to access school-based vision and dental screenings by allowing directory information to be used for that purpose with an opt-out process; it passed 8-0. AB 903 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, directing the Department of Education to develop best practices on education technology and digital equity, passed after amendments and with some opponents indicating they would remove opposition once the amendments were in print. Finally, AB 917 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, extending permanent-status protections to certain educators in small districts and county programs, drew significant opposition from small districts and regional occupational programs over flexibility and funding concerns; the bill still passed 5-2 with the roll held open for additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• critical incidents we've monitored, selected intake complaints where we feel we have made a noteworthy impact
• But certainly, if there's any help that could be reasonably done that wouldn't impact people being able
• STOP contract rates have not kept pace with inflation over time, which has contributed to increasing
• It showed me victim impact.
• It showed me, it taught me victim impact.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program, and the Coleman mental health receivership. The hearing focused on correctional health care, reentry, aging incarcerated populations, and the state’s progress toward compliance in the Plata and Coleman receiverships. Members also discussed the OIG’s intake complaint workload and medical inspection findings, as well as broader questions about staffing, vacancies, and the cost of court oversight. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two permanent positions in its intake processing unit, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025. OIG officials said complaints are categorized by issue and prison, prioritized by urgency, and generally responded to within 30 days, but they do not track complaint “validity” rates. The medical inspection unit reported that in cycle seven, case review performance was generally adequate while policy compliance was often inadequate; the lowest-scoring areas included emergency services, medication management, and health care environment. Members asked for more detailed reporting on complaint types, priority levels, and systemic issues. CCHCS described rising health care costs driven by an aging prison population, staffing vacancies, and contract medical expenses. Officials said more than 80% of the budget is personal services, and they are using hiring events, social media outreach, and expanded classifications to reduce vacancies. CalAIM officials reported early implementation success in pre-release and reentry services, including 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% assigned managed care plans, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about 169,000 claims submitted and $14.7 million reimbursed. The LAO noted that the Plata medical receivership has increased per-person costs and that the state should continue oversight while seeking ways to reduce vacancies and expand federal reimbursement opportunities. For the Coleman mental health receivership, the receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for receiver office staffing and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent. The LAO supported continued oversight but recommended additional steps to address vacancies, including greater out-of-state recruitment, expanded telemental health, and possible consolidation of mental health services. The LAO also recommended reducing the telemental health staffing request and monitoring its effects. Members questioned the long-term cost of receiverships, the pace of compliance, and whether more detailed benchmarks and staffing data should be provided. No formal votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• A friend of mine put this handout together, and he believes that in order to track inflation, the best
• item to track inflation is actually the manufacture of brown eggs, because brown eggs cannot be mass-produced
• You can't mass-produce them, so the price of brown eggs tracks with inflation.
• districts and public charter schools that participate in this awarding seal, and there's no fiscal impact
• maybe just cut that in half and not the whole thing because, again, it could have such a detrimental impact

Transcript Highlights:

• She's a brilliant young lady who has made a real impact, and I do not doubt that this experience has
• expected costs to the public to install, operate, and maintain; three, the results of an economic impact
• In the 88th session, DPS led an effort on behalf of all impacted agencies to update Texas statutes to
• The fiscal impact would be contingent on how many counties approve the measure, and with that I move
• The House enhanced the $100,000 income cap to adjust for inflation using the consumer price index for

Bills: SJR60 , SB203 , SB317 , SB397 , SB511 , SB524 , SB731 , SB781 , SB801 , SB867 , SB1071 , SB1232 , SB1319 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1633 , SB1798 , SB1944 , SB1978 , SB2082 , SB2233 , SB2363 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2717 , SB2797 , SB2841 , SB2919 , SB2928 , SB2969 , SB3038 , SB3063 , HB 102 , HB 107 , HB 130 , HB132 , HB148 , HB647 , HB668 , HB677 , HB694 , HB748 , HB754 , HB923 , HB 1193 , HB 1240 , HB1318 , HB1397 , HB1584 , HB1639 , HB1875 , HB1893 , HB1922 , HB2071 , HB2187 , HB2254 , HB2350 , HB2510 , HB2513 , HB2516 , HB2522 , HB2559 , HB2712 , HB2713 , HB2733 , HB2775 , HB2788 , HB2789 , HB2894 , HB2960 , HB3033 , HB3126 , HB3211 , HB3370 , HB3376 , HB3751 , HB3805 , HB3810 , HB4187 , HB4219 , HB4238 , HB4273 , HB4325 , HB4344 , HB4384 , HB4506 , HB4529 , HB4643 , HB4753 , HB4783 , HB4850 , HB4885 , HB5342 , HB5424 , HB5560 , HCR90 , HCR98 , SJR5 , SJR34 , SB9 , SB27 , SB40 , SB458 , SB482 , SB493 , SB529 , SB541 , SB693 , SB841 , SB843 , SB912 , SB963 , SB1173 , SB1241 , SB1350 , SB1383 , SB1388 , SB1559 , SB1646 , SB1734 , SB1789 , SB1833 , SB1883 , SB1951 , SB1968 , SB2143 , SB2544 , SB1 , SB17 , SB260 , SB509 , SB1506 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2308 , HB2525 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SJR60 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB2023 , SB511 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB1085 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB2458 , SB801 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB2797 , SB2076 , SB2876 , SB1640 , SB1449 , SB1181 , SB1234 , SB2926 , SB2841 , SB1528 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB1237 , SB2819 , SB629 , SB2608 , SB1602 , SB2009 , SB867 , SB640 , SB1698 , SB2680 , SB913 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1483 , SB1444 , SB1553 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2298 , SB2622 , SB2955 , SB2334 , SB1367 , SB2044 , SB2363 , SB2565 , SB1888 , SB3036 , SB3057 , SB3043 , SB3063 , SB3035 , SB203 , SB2688 , SB2522 , SB2459 , SB2655 , SB2251 , SB1884 , SB2928 , SB2566 , SB1749 , SB2549 , SB2553 , SB2919 , SB1944 , SB1232 , SB1798 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2233 , SB2683 , SB1319 , SB1978 , SB3038 , SB3045 , SB1633 , SB1538 , SB719 , SB3071 , SB3065 , HJR34 , HB1393 , HB26 , HB3810 , HB388 , HB2712 , HB1633 , HB685 , HB4753 , HB762 , HB2286 , HB1606 , HB132 , HB1458 , HB 1240 , HB2788 , HB2791 , HB3146 , HB1893 , HB4850 , HB4187 , HB1397 , HB3751 , HB2061 , HB647 , HB2522 , HB4738 , HB3033 , HB2563 , HB 128 , HB581 , HB766 , HB2259 , HB2358 , HB4384 , HB748 , HB793 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3104 , HB5180 , HB1584 , HB4219 , HB3806 , HB3804 , HB3803 , HB1522 , HB3597 , HB1612 , HB4224 , HB1314 , HB2254 , HB4643 , HB 1237 , HB3126 , HB2856 , HB3114 , HB3505 , HB4205 , HB5652 , HB3687 , HB5424 , HB4506 , HB3370 , HB2025 , HB4273 , HB3395 , HB3376 , HB2733 , HB2495 , HB4325 , HB2071 , HB2510 , HB138 , HB18 , HB 107 , HB694 , HB923 , HB1639 , HB1700 , HB2187 , HB3211 , HB4529 , HB4655 , HB5342 , HB2516 , HB4783 , HB1894 , HB1965 , HB 102 , HB300 , HB1875 , HB2513 , HB2713 , HB39 , HB 114 , HB24 , HB3088 , HB4163 , HB3479 , HB2842 , HB519 , HB609 , HB 1275 , HB1592 , HB3348 , HB 120 , HB6 , HB247 , HB1533 , HB2421 , HB2273 , HB2464 , HB2011 , HB3575 , HB3788 , HB4370 , HB4809 , HB5057 , HB5084 , HB5534 , HB5668 , HB3424 , HB2715 , HB2564 , HB2760 , HB2765 , HB2898 , HB3260 , HB3800 , HB4396 , HB5195 , HB4341 , HB43 , HB5686 , HCR90 , HCR98 , SJR60 , SB1633 , SB2233 , HB 102 , HB 107 , HB132 , HB694 , HB923 , HB1639 , HB1875 , HB1893 , HB2071 , HB2187 , HB2510 , HB2513 , HB2522 , HB2733 , HB2788 , HB3033 , HB3211 , HB3370 , HB3376 , HB3751 , HB3810 , HB4187 , HB4219 , HB4273 , HB4325 , HB4506 , HB4529 , HB4643 , HB4753 , HB4783 , HB4850 , HB5342 , HB5424 , SB511 , SB1978 , SR533 , SR554 , HCR90 , HCR98 , HCR144 , SJR34 , SB529 , SB541 , SB693 , SB1173 , SB1646 , SB1734 , SB1833 , SB3074 , HB 1233 , HB 1285 , HB1828 , HB1876 , HB2091 , HB2301 , HB2725 , HB3063 , HB3177 , HB3483 , HB4662 , HB5606 , HCR9 , HCR10 , HCR40 , HCR76 , HCR118 , HCR127 , HCR135 , HCR141 , SB3074 , HB 1233 , HB 1285 , HB1828 , HB1876 , HB2091 , HB2301 , HB2725 , HB3063 , HB3177 , HB3483 , HB4662 , HB5606 , HCR9 , HCR10 , HCR40 , HCR76 , HCR118 , HCR127 , HCR135 , HCR141

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• WSDOT reports a base fiscal impact of $16,000 annually for 0.7 FTE ongoing to provide subject matter
• Commerce reports an indeterminate fiscal impact due to the amount of tribal facilitation and dispute
• That would be a non-transportation impact.
• FIMSIP reports no fiscal impact for its participation in program development, and the impact to local
• FIMSIP reports no fiscal impact for its participation in program development, and the impact to local

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• That said, the base fiscal impact for a grant program they report, which could then be expanded, would
• Commerce reports an indeterminate fiscal impact due to the amount of tribal facilitation and dispute
• That would be a non-transportation impact.
• The bill's impact is indeterminate for local governments that fully plan under the Growth Management
• FIMSIP reports no fiscal impact for its participation in program development, and the impact to local

Summary: The committee held public hearings on two transportation-related bills. For Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5374, staff explained that the bill would require tribal governments to be included in Growth Management Act transportation coordination and in preparation of county six-year transportation programs, and would create a tribal traffic safety coordinator grant program through the Traffic Safety Commission. Fiscal impacts were described as indeterminate and scalable, with estimates for staffing, grants, and local government coordination costs. The Association of Counties testified in support, saying the bill would better align existing tribal consultation processes with transportation planning and would not force counties to restart plans already near adoption. For Engrossed Senate Bill 5649, staff said the bill would create a Washington State Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program to provide grants and loans for public and tribal ports with public operations, with DOT setting priorities and criteria in collaboration with supply chain stakeholders. Fiscal notes estimated significant staffing and program costs, but the amount would depend on appropriations; no funds were included in the current Senate Transportation budget. The Washington Public Ports Association and representatives from the Port of Everett and Port of Port Angeles supported the bill, arguing it would help ports address congestion, improve freight efficiency, and leverage federal matching funds for major infrastructure projects. The Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board director said many proposed projects would not qualify for FMSIB funding because they are not on strategic freight corridors, which is why a separate program may be needed. Members asked about timing, whether the tribal planning bill would require counties to start over on plans already near completion, and how the port bill would interact with existing funding sources and FMSIB eligibility. Staff and witnesses said the tribal bill was intended to work with existing coordination processes and not force counties to restart, while the port bill was meant to fill gaps where current programs do not apply. The chair then reviewed amendment deadlines for budget and committee bills, and the meeting adjourned for caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we will assess the impacts that climate change might have on... ...will assess the impacts that climate
• We didn't invest in them because they were impact funds.
• By the time the median public employee intends to retire, climate impacts will inflict persistent inflation
• The fiscal impact to the substitute will be lower.
• local prosecution impacts.

Bills: SB5439 , SB6109 , SB6304

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: investment, thermal coal, divestment, state investment board, fossil fuels, environmental impact, renewable energy, detention facilities, state funds, privatization, criminal justice reform, Washington State Investment Board, responsible investment, sustainability, corporate governance

Transcript Highlights:

• Those impacts both are in station operations, obviously how we serve Californians, the impact on our
• And I emphasize the anecdote to say this is a Southern California impact, this is impact on content,
• I think, so I just talked about the impact for us.
• And it deeply impacts our environment.
• So how the student experience can be impacted is really how any position at KPBS can be impacted as we

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Summary: Assembly Member Chris Ward and Senator Akela Weber Pearson convened an informational hearing at KPBS and San Diego State University on the impact of the federal rescission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding on California public media. Opening remarks emphasized public media’s role in education, local news, arts and culture, emergency alerts, and service to rural and underserved communities, with local officials from San Diego and La Mesa voicing support. Panelists from PBS SoCal, KCRW, and Rebuild Local News described major operational and content impacts from the funding loss, including layoffs, reduced staff and programming, threatened children’s and educational content, and pressure on smaller stations that rely heavily on CPB support. They also discussed public media’s role in disaster response, local arts coverage, and the shrinking local news ecosystem, while noting possible responses such as shared services, philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and state policy support. A second panel focused on labor and production perspectives. NPR veteran Jack Speer and filmmaker Nate Dappen said the cuts threaten journalism jobs, documentary production, and science programming, and warned that fewer resources mean less fact-checking, less on-the-ground reporting, and weaker public understanding of science and technology. They urged continued support for public media as a trusted, noncommercial source of information. The final panel featured KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR. KPBS said federal funding made up 12% of its budget and that reserves have only delayed possible future reorganization; Radio Bilingüe reported losses to both CPB and FEMA-related infrastructure funding affecting Spanish- and indigenous-language service; and KVPR said it lost CPB and FEMA grants but offset the loss through an emergency fundraising drive. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with questions about state policy options and future support.

Transcript Highlights:

• And how will coverage losses impact counties?
• lives will be impacted.
• When you add on the impacts to public hospitals and to county eligibility workers, we anticipate impacts
• It’s not just Medi-Cal recipients who will be impacted; the impact will be felt by all patients we serve
• This TBL proposes to allow CDSS and impacted counties to assess the impact that is unique to that disaster

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services heard an overview of the expected California budget and program impacts from H.R. 1, including changes to Medi-Cal and CalFresh eligibility, redeterminations, work requirements, immigration-related coverage rules, retroactive coverage limits, and reductions in federal matching for certain services and provider financing mechanisms. DHCS and CDSS described implementation plans focused on automation, data matching, clearer communications, county training, and outreach, while noting that many federal details are still pending. The Legislative Analyst’s Office also reviewed how H.R. 1 could increase pressure on county indigent care systems, explaining the history of county responsibility under Section 17000, 1991 realignment, and AB 85, and warning that counties may face large increases in uninsured residents seeking care without corresponding funding flexibility. An independent policy expert urged consideration of a more standardized statewide approach to indigent care and raised questions about governance, benefits, and financing. Department witnesses estimated substantial coverage losses and fiscal effects: DHCS projected major Medi-Cal disenrollment tied to work requirements, six-month renewals, narrowed immigrant eligibility, and reduced retroactive coverage, while CDSS estimated large CalFresh benefit losses and a significant increase in administrative workload and payment accuracy pressure. Members questioned how exemptions would work for older adults, people experiencing homelessness, undocumented residents, and cash workers, and asked about the effect on the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot and on county administrative funding. Officials said they would use available data and self-attestation where possible, but acknowledged that many cases would require manual screening and that the county workload estimates remain in dispute. They also said the state is still evaluating the impact of H.R. 1 on provider taxes and state-directed payments, which could create additional budget pressure. County representatives from Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Tulare, and San Bernardino described major local consequences if H.R. 1 is implemented as written. They warned of higher uninsured rates, more strain on emergency rooms and public hospitals, increased homelessness and food insecurity, and a likely need to rebuild or expand county indigent care programs that were largely scaled back after the ACA. Counties said they are already freezing hiring, cutting positions, reducing overtime, deferring spending, and launching outreach and coordination efforts with managed care plans and community partners, but argued that these steps are not enough without additional state support. Several counties backed the California County Welfare Directors Association’s request for $373 million in General Fund support for eligibility work and asked for a CalFresh match waiver to soften the new county share of administrative costs; Los Angeles and Santa Clara also emphasized that their local revenue measures would not close the projected gaps. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can talk about the impact statement if that helps. Senator Boyd, you're recognized.
• A just and equitable system is one that considers both impact and responsibility.
• The next one that's going to be up is going to be Missy Joyce, apparent. both impact and responsibility
• Inflation stands at 3.3%, making it more expensive for the state to do business.
• was also important, which impacted the lower tables in Arkansas.

Committee: All REVENUE & TAX - SENATE

Summary: The Senate Revenue and Tax Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator Jonathan Dismang, which continues the state’s long-running effort to reduce Arkansas income tax rates. Dismang said the bill would lower the personal income tax rate retroactive to January 1, 2026 and delay the corporate income tax change until the following January, bringing the rate down from 7% to 3.7%. He also said the bill would use existing surplus funds and estimated that a person making $65,000 would see their effective tax burden reduced by about 45% compared with earlier rates. The committee heard several witnesses in opposition, including a United Methodist pastor/social worker, a parent describing her son’s disability and need for supported living services, representatives from Arkansas Appleseed and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and a Marshallese community advocate. They argued that Arkansas should preserve revenue for public schools, health care, food assistance, housing, rural hospitals, early childhood education, and disability services, and said the tax cuts would disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers while providing little relief to working families. Several speakers cited low state spending relative to national averages and warned that further cuts would worsen existing service gaps. In closing, Dismang and other supporters said the state can be both compassionate and competitive, that no essential services would be cut by the bill, and that Arkansas has continued to grow revenue despite prior tax reductions. Members emphasized balancing service funding with economic competitiveness and noted the legislature’s focus on lower-income tax brackets in earlier reforms. The committee then voted to do pass SB1, and the bill was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, what is the fiscal impact on this bill? Thank you for the question.
• Currently, there's not a fiscal impact on this. The date originally was would have been.
• There is no fiscal impact to the state.
• Actually, from the time of his exception, you would see if we adjusted for inflation, the cap should
• So there's no fiscal impact. All we're raising is the maximum credit for eligible caregivers.

Bills: HB2947 , HB3257 , HB3264 , HB3834 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB4003 , HB4118 , HB4326 , HB4346 , HB4421

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, veterans, disability benefits, federal law, Oklahoma Statutes, military service, criminal justice, minimum sentences, parole eligibility, violent crimes, Oklahoma statutes, HB3834, Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act, ibogaine, ibogaine-based therapeutics, ibogaine analogs

Transcript Highlights:

• incurred over $6 billion in disasters, natural... ...over $6 billion in disasters, natural disaster impacts
• We can also store drought impacts. We can store intense heat. Not just water.
• We can also store drought impacts. We can store intense heat.
• We can store storm impacts in our parks.
• The response was that it varies considerably, depending on participation and the pace of inflation.

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Summary: The Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources heard House Bill 1624, sponsored by Rep. Sassmann, which updates Missouri’s invasive plant law. The bill makes clerical corrections to Latin plant names and extends the existing affidavit requirement, previously applied to nurseries and nursery dealers, to seed dealers so they cannot knowingly sell seeds of listed invasive species. Support came from the Missouri Municipal League, Sierra Club, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, an individual landowner, and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, all describing the bill as a needed cleanup and expansion of last year’s law. One witness from Armourvine opposed the bill, arguing the plants have medicinal uses and warning against broader restrictions on landowner choice. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 1736, sponsored by Rep. Wellenkamp, a disaster resilience measure focused on parks and flood mitigation. The bill would allow cities and counties to use existing sales tax revenue tied to parks to buy repetitive-loss properties, remove structures, and convert those areas into natural floodways, greenways, or other stormwater management spaces that still function as parks. The sponsor and several members discussed repeated flood damage in St. Charles, St. Louis County, and other river communities, emphasizing that the proposal would help with voluntary buyouts, reduce long-term losses, and avoid expensive concrete infrastructure. Members asked about eminent domain, funding limits, and how the land would be kept from future development; the sponsor said the bill is limited to voluntary sales and local discretion. Support for HB 1736 came from St. Charles County and the Sierra Club, which said the bill would clarify eligible park fund uses, support natural stormwater infrastructure, and protect environmental and economic resilience. Committee members from affected districts described local examples where buyouts and park conversions had worked or where flooded homes remain a burden. There was no opposition testimony, and the hearing concluded without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, we had a study done and we found that we had an economic impact of about $36.1 million, and
• In 2023, we had a study done and we found that we had an economic impact of about $36.1 million, and
• In 2023, we had a study done and we found that we had an economic impact of about $36.1 million, and
• Adverse impacts in Minnesota's managed ATV trail system, and I would really call it managed.
• Reduce impact to the trails in which we have the privilege to operate across Minnesota.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• That make sure that we're not giving away our ability to make laws that fundamentally impact the people
• However, this does not impact medical malpractice. It doesn't impact insurance.
• So this bill will not impact that at all. Senator Shindo. Thank you.
• But when we put dollars and cents in statute, we have to adjust every 10 years or so based on inflation
• We've never kept up with inflation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know hardworking people are struggling to stay ahead under the lingering effects of inflation and
• </c> under the lingering effects of inflation under the lingering effects of inflation and<01:06:46.640
• surge, Colorado Democrats stepped up to stabilize our insurance market and blunt the devastating impacts
• 08:18.239><c> blunt</c><01:08:19.199><c> the</c><01:08:19.520><c> devastating</c><01:08:20.319><c> impacts
• </c> market and blunt the devastating impacts market and blunt the devastating impacts of<01:08:21.199