Transcript Highlights:

• Patel.
• Patel. Thank you. We'll go on with Dr. Patel.
• Patel.
• Patel.
• Patel?

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel? Thank you. Here. Here. Erwin? Krell? Here. Here. Sanchez? Zbur? We have a quorum.
• Patel, aye. Rodriguez, I. Sanchez, aye. Zbur, aye. Motion passes.
• Patel, aye. Rodriguez, aye. Sanchez, no. Zbur, aye.

Summary: The Rules Committee met, called the roll, and confirmed a quorum. The committee considered a consent agenda, and one member requested that item 14 be removed for separate consideration. A motion was made and seconded to approve the remainder of the consent agenda. The committee then voted on the consent agenda, and the motion passed. Item 14, identified as H.R. 57, was then taken up separately. The committee voted on H.R. 57, and the motion passed by roll call. After the vote on H.R. 57, the committee adjourned. The transcript does not include discussion of the substance of the bill or any testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel? Yes. Rodriguez. Sanchez. Zabur? We have a quorum.
• Patel aye. Rodriguez. Sanchez. Zabur aye. Motion passes.
• Patel, aye. Rodriguez. Sanchez. Zabur, aye.

Summary: The Rules Committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and a quorum was established. The committee then considered a consent agenda, with one item removed for separate action. A motion was made and seconded to approve the remainder of the consent agenda, and the motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee next took up Item 16, an urgency clause request for AB 5454. A motion and second were made, and the item passed on roll call, with one member not voting. After completing these actions, the Rules Committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel. I, aye. Rodriguez, Sanchez, Zbur? Krell, aye. Patel, aye. Rodriguez, Sanchez, Zbur? Aye.
• Patel, aye. Rodriguez, Sanchez, Zbur? Aye. Aye. Ta? Aye. Ta, no. Motion passes.

Summary: The Rules Committee was called to order, a roll was taken, and a quorum was established. Members then approved the consent agenda after one member requested that item 8 be removed for separate consideration. Item 8 was the urgency clause request for AB 1318 by Assembly Member Bonta. A motion and second were made, and the committee voted on the item by roll call. The motion passed, with several members voting aye and a few voting no. After completing the vote on AB 1318’s urgency clause request, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel. Thank you for being here. Excited to be part of this committee. Members, Dr. Patel.
• Patel asked a question on the last panel as to what we can do.
• Patel.
• Patel, thank you very much for your presentations.
• Patel. Thank you very much for your presentations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held a hearing on California’s medical technology landscape, with opening remarks emphasizing the state’s large life sciences sector and the committee’s interest in understanding MedTech’s economic and policy impacts. The first panel featured Greg Thiel of the Biomedical Manufacturing Network and John Wagner of AdvaMed, who distinguished MedTech from biopharma as more hardware- and manufacturing-oriented, with shorter development cycles, more incremental innovation, and a broader base of middle-skill jobs tied to local supply chains, community colleges, and manufacturing space. They highlighted California clusters in places like Fremont, Irvine, Carlsbad, and Silicon Valley, and cited examples such as Penumbra and Varying Medical Systems to illustrate the importance of infrastructure, land use, and reshoring. Wagner also outlined the FDA’s device classification system and argued that medical devices, including AI-enabled devices, are already heavily regulated federally and should generally be exempt from broader state rules that could create a patchwork of requirements. Committee members asked about cybersecurity, AI, workforce development, supply chain disruptions, trade competitiveness, and the effects of federal NIH funding cuts. The witnesses said cybersecurity is part of FDA review, though they did not have all details on hand, and stressed that AI in MedTech is used in diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and operational efficiency under FDA oversight. They said California should focus on workforce training in AI, robotics maintenance, quality control, and manufacturing, while also rebuilding local supply chains as reliance on overseas components becomes less reliable and more expensive. Members also raised concerns about the loss of the state R&D tax credit and whether California is losing startups to other states; the witnesses said the lack of incentives and high regulatory costs can push companies elsewhere, and that MedTech is less dependent than biopharma on NIH-style nondilutive funding but still benefits from supportive policy. The panel also discussed FemTech as a growing and active area for acquisition and investment. A second panel included Dr. Rob Monroe of Lyca Biosystems, Emily Sams of Intuitive, Ida Garakhani Good of Saravia Neurosciences, and Lucas Springer of Newman. Monroe described digital pathology as a way to digitize glass slides, improve access to subspecialty review, reduce diagnostic delays and errors, and enable AI-assisted analysis, while noting adoption remains low because of infrastructure costs and lack of reimbursement. Sams described Intuitive’s robotic-assisted surgery systems, including da Vinci and the Ion bronchoscopy platform, emphasizing that the technology is surgeon-controlled, improves precision and recovery, and is supported by extensive clinical evidence; she said AI and machine learning are being integrated to improve outcomes and workflow, but clinicians remain in the loop. Good presented Saravia’s MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation approach for dementia, arguing that MedTech’s biggest challenge is the “translational” gap between promising science and market adoption; she urged the state to create a direct, non-dilutive translational fund to help early-stage companies bridge prototype-to-clinic milestones. Springer, speaking for Newman, said California’s ecosystem is ideal for R&D but too difficult for manufacturing because of permitting, zoning, and regulatory complexity, and he called for streamlined permitting and incentives to keep advanced manufacturing jobs in-state. Committee members again pressed on the R&D tax credit, advanced manufacturing incentives, and whether AI could replace human review; witnesses said AI should augment, not replace, trained professionals, and that pathologists and clinicians remain responsible for final decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel, please help illuminate. Yeah, it seems like, thank you for...
• Patel has some questions. It's more, I'm just trying to piece it all together.
• Patel. Yeah, you know, to your point...
• Patel? Just a quick clarifying question: what grade levels are we doing this screening?
• Patel? I'm excited to see freshly prepared meals at the local community level.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Quirk-Silva, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel
• Members Bonton and Rogers to have guests in the rear of the chamber, and to allow Assembly Members Patel
• Okay, Assembly Member Patel, it looks like you have a very special guest introduction to make.
• Welcome, Patel family. And yet another very special guest introduction.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and brief procedural business, including approval of a motion to withdraw SB 107 and SB 117 from the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and place them on third reading. Members also approved procedural requests for adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest seating, and later took up the daily file. The main floor item was H.R. 80, a resolution recognizing Lunar New Year. Assembly Member Fong presented the resolution, and several members from different caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing the holiday’s cultural significance, themes of renewal and family, and California’s large AAPI community. The resolution was opened for coauthors, received 62 coauthors, and was then adopted by voice vote. Fong also distributed prosperity cookie boxes to members after passage. The chamber also observed moments of silence for Reverend Jesse Jackson and later for Babatunde Akinlola and Harold Tripp during adjournments in memory. Members gave tributes highlighting Akinlola’s film and education career and Tripp’s leadership in the Karuk Tribe and work on tribal restoration and natural resources. The session ended with announcements of upcoming committee meetings and adjournment until Thursday, February 19 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Quirk-Silva, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel
• Members Bonton and Rogers to have guests in the rear of the chamber, and to allow Assembly Members Patel
• Okay, Assembly Member Patel, it looks like you have a very special guest introduction to make.
• Welcome, Patel family. And yet another very special guest introduction.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer, a moment of silence for Reverend Jesse Jackson, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled routine floor business, including procedural motions to withdraw SB 107 and SB 117 from the Budget Committee for third reading, which passed on a recorded vote of 41-13. The chamber also took up H.R. 27 on the second reading file and several file items were continued or passed and retained. The main substantive item was H.R. 80, a resolution recognizing Lunar New Year. Assembly Member Fong presented the resolution, describing Lunar New Year as an important holiday for East and Southeast Asian communities and noting California’s large AAPI population. Multiple members from different caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing cultural diversity, family, renewal, and the significance of the Year of the Fire Horse. The resolution received 62 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. The remainder of the session featured guest introductions, including the Youth Leadership Institute and family guests of several members, followed by adjournments in memory for Babatunde Akinlola and Harold Tripp. Members honored Akinlola’s work in film and education and Tripp’s leadership in the Karuk tribe and natural resources. The Assembly announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until Thursday, February 19 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, I see we have Assembly Member Patel in the audience. I. Cabaldon. Aye. Cabaldon. Aye. Choy.
• Next, I see we have Assembly Member Patel in the audience. You may begin whenever you're ready.
• Senator Cabaldon: Did you want to respond to Assembly Member Patel?
• Assembly Member Patel: Yes, Madam Chair, to Senator Cabaldon.
• File item 24, AB 2008, Patel. Motion is do pass as amended to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel. Rodriguez. Sanchez? Here. Zabur. We have quorum. We have a consent agenda.
• Patel, aye. Rodriguez. Sanchez. Zbur. Motion passes.
• Patel, aye. Rodriguez, aye. Sanchez, no. Zbur. Motion passes, and the Rules Committee is now...

Summary: The Rules Committee met, called the roll, and established quorum. After a consent agenda was presented, one member requested that item 7 be removed for separate consideration, arguing that the urgency request did not meet the constitutional standard for immediate preservation of public peace, health, or safety and was instead driven by political expediency. The remainder of the consent agenda was approved by roll call. The committee then took up item 7, an urgency clause request for SB 280 by Senator Cervantes. A point of order was raised that the amendments were not germane under Rule 92, but the chair ruled the motion was limited to the urgency clause and not the merits of the bill. The committee proceeded to a roll-call vote and the urgency clause request passed. After the vote, a member moved to refer item 7, along with ACA, to the Judiciary and Elections Committees, arguing the measures would significantly affect Californians and democracy and needed more time and hearings. The chair ruled that motion out of order because the matter before the committee was only the urgency clause request. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's this bill, you know, I know Assembly Member Patel has a bill.
• Thank you, Assembly Member Patel.
• Bill that you heard earlier from Assembly Member Patel.
• File item 16, AB 2225, Patel, do pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• File item 17, AB 2555, Patel. Do pass to Senate Appropriations.

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and first heard AB 302, which would prohibit schools from requiring students to use addictive social media feeds as a condition of participating in extracurricular activities and would require schools to offer a non-social-media way to communicate with students and families. The author and a student witness argued the bill protects minors from being forced onto addictive platforms, while senators asked how coaches and clubs would communicate; the author said email, built-in messaging, and other direct methods would still be allowed. The bill was held on call for absent members. The committee then took up AB 2504, creating a pilot program to train creative-industry workers for AI-related changes through partnerships among community colleges, employers, unions, and tech companies. Supporters from WME and the Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office said the program would help workers adapt to rapid industry change, while senators discussed the pilot’s size, geographic diversity, and sunset date. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 1534 followed, adding state guardrails for federal Workforce Pell short-term training programs, including limits on tuition, restrictions on certain financing products, and transparency rules for partnerships with unaccredited entities. Support came from TICAS, EdTrust-West, and the Campaign for College Opportunity; senators questioned the scope of state authority and why private institutions were not clearly included, and the author said the broader approval framework was being handled in trailer bill language. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee. The committee also heard AB 1381, a gut-and-amend proposal to strengthen screening for school teachers with histories of egregious misconduct while balancing due process and privacy concerns. Supporters and opponents both emphasized student safety and the need for reliable information-sharing, and members noted the bill was similar to a previously held measure; the author said amendments were still being worked out. The bill passed to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to coordinate statewide efforts, drew broad support from school board and education groups but also concern that it could duplicate existing work and add bureaucracy; after extended debate about whether the commission would identify causes or solutions, it passed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Finally, AB 1547, requiring a UC feasibility study for a branch medical school in Kern County, drew local support but opposition from a senator who argued the Legislature cannot direct UC’s internal operations under the state Constitution; the chair said the Legislature can make recommendations and the bill remained under discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel had some questions and comments. Yeah, I appreciate your presentations today.
• Patel, first, thank you for your presentation.
• Patel, Mr. Fong. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Thank you, everyone.
• Patel, thank you.
• Patel really reminded me of to the UC.

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:

• Patel. Thank you for being here. Excited to be part of this committee. Members, Dr. Patel.
• Patel asked a question on the last panel as to what we can do.
• Patel.
• Patel, thank you very much for your presentations.
• Patel. Thank you very much for your presentations.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held a hearing on California’s medical technology landscape, with opening remarks emphasizing the sector’s size, economic impact, and role in jobs and innovation. The first panel contrasted MedTech with biopharma, describing MedTech as hardware- and manufacturing-oriented, more incremental in development, and more dependent on supply chains, land use, and mid-skilled workforce pipelines. Witnesses argued California is the epicenter for MedTech because of its mix of engineering, software, hospitals, and manufacturing ecosystems, and cited clusters in places like Irvine, Fremont, Carlsbad, and the Bay Area. They also highlighted examples such as Penumbra and Vyaire Medical Systems to show how local manufacturing, community college training, and reshoring can support growth. The panel discussed cybersecurity, trade relations, supply chain disruptions, and the need for better coordination with hospitals and regulators, while AdvaMed stressed that medical devices are already heavily regulated by the FDA and should generally be exempt from broader state laws that could create a patchwork of requirements. Members also discussed AI in MedTech, workforce training, and the possible effects of federal NIH funding cuts, with witnesses saying MedTech is less dependent on NIH than biopharma but still benefits from a strong innovation ecosystem. Committee members then asked about AI, affordability, patient satisfaction, women’s health, and the R&D tax credit. Witnesses said AI is helping reduce errors, redundant testing, and imaging time, while keeping clinicians in the loop, and that digital pathology and robotic surgery are improving diagnosis and treatment. They also noted that packaging, plastics, and recycling can affect FDA approvals, and that FemTech is an active and growing area for investment and acquisition. Several members raised concerns about California’s regulatory and incentive environment, including the loss of the R&D tax credit, and witnesses said the absence of tax incentives has made it harder to keep companies and jobs in the state. The second panel featured company representatives from Lyca Biosystems, Intuitive, Saravia Neurosciences, and Newman. Dr. Monroe described digital pathology as a way to digitize tissue slides, improve access to subspecialty review, and enable AI-assisted diagnosis, especially for cancer care and rural areas. Intuitive highlighted robotic-assisted surgery, including the da Vinci system and the Ion bronchoscopy platform, and said its technologies improve precision, reduce complications, and support clinician-led care. Saravia Neurosciences presented an early-stage neurotechnology for dementia that uses MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation and AI-driven personalization, and argued California needs a state translational fund to bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization. Newman, a startup working on home diagnostics, said California’s permitting, zoning, and manufacturing rules make it difficult to scale advanced manufacturing locally and urged streamlining, reduced red tape, and incentives to keep manufacturing jobs in-state. Committee members again focused on tax credits and asked how the state could better support manufacturing, translational funding, and the retention of high-paying MedTech jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I see that Assemblymember Patel is here.
• I see that Assemblymember Patel is here.
• I see that Assemblymember Patel is here.
• We are grateful to Assemblymember Patel for introducing the bill and know that AB 1074 helps to fulfill
• Patel. All right. Dr. Patel, I invite you to close then.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Flora, Gonzalez, Irwin, Krell, Patel? Here. Rodriguez, Sanchez, Zbur. We have a quorum.
• Patel? Aye. Rodriguez? Aye. Sanchez? Aye. Zbur? Aye. Motion passes.
• Patel? Aye. Rodriguez? Aye. Sanchez? Aye. Zbur? Aye. Motion passes. Thank you. Aye.

Summary: The Rules Committee convened, established a quorum, and approved the consent agenda by unanimous roll call vote. The committee then took up House Resolution 25, authored by Assembly Member Harabedian, commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Harabedian described the resolution as a reaffirmation that the genocide occurred and noted its long history in the Legislature. Supportive testimony came from David Ojakian of the Armenian Assembly of America, who said the resolution was important to counter denial, mark the 110th anniversary, and recognize broader concerns about ethnic and religious cleansing in Artsakh. He cited prior California, congressional, and presidential acknowledgments of the Armenian Genocide and urged passage of the resolution. One witness in opposition, Karahan Mette of the Turkish College in California, argued the events were a wartime conflict rather than genocide, disputed the death toll, and called for a unifying joint resolution instead. Committee members Arreguín and Zbur voiced support for the resolution and its importance to constituents, including the Little Armenia community. The committee then voted to advance H.R. 25 by unanimous roll call, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mursuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Pappin, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos
• request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assemblymembers Berner, Calderon, and Patel
• Assemblymember Patel, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory. Thank you, Mr.
• Thank you, Assemblymember Patel. Assemblymember Borner.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel, I have a technical question.
• Patel, I had one more question for you.
• Patel and Mr. Fong. Thank you for the presentation on this.
• Patel, I’ll let you make the closing argument here.
• Patel. Yes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel, about what's in it for the Legislature?
• Patel and committee members.
• Patel, and members.
• Patel. Thank you, members of the committee staff.
• Patel. I think that, you know, organizational, Ramble. Thank you for the question, Dr. Patel.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee first heard two bills. AB 1665 by Assemblymember Pacheco would require school sports coaches to complete approved mental health training. Supporters said coaches are trusted adults who are often first to notice student-athlete distress, and a witness described personal experience with body image and disordered eating pressures in athletics. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved out of committee on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, ultimately passing 9-0 after add-on votes. AB 2316 by Assemblymember Hoover would allow charter schools to apply for the same financial hardship relief in the state school facilities program that traditional districts can seek. Supporters argued this would improve parity and help smaller and low-income charter schools access permanent facilities; some initially opposed agencies said their concerns were addressed by amendments. The bill also passed unanimously, 9-0, to Appropriations. The committee then took up a consent calendar containing 12 additional measures, including bills on education funding, facilities, and other school-related matters, plus a resolution. Those items were approved on a 7-0 vote, with the roll left open for add-on votes. After the bill hearing portion was recessed and later reconvened, additional members added votes to AB 1665, AB 2316, and the consent calendar, bringing each to 9-0. The committee then held an informational hearing on state-level education governance, centered on Governor Newsom’s proposal to restructure the California Department of Education and the role of the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, with AB 2117 serving as a policy vehicle carrying the same language and no action to be taken. Testimony came from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Education Commission of the States, and former CDE chief deputy Richard Zager. Witnesses reviewed the history of California’s governance structure, compared it with other states, and discussed accountability, legislative oversight, and the role of the superintendent under the proposal. Committee members raised concerns about preserving checks and balances, the fiscal implementation plan, county-office relationships, and whether the superintendent’s role would be reduced too far; no vote was taken at the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel. Patterson. Sanchez. Schiavo. Sharp-Collins. It's stuff.
• Patel. Aye. Patterson. Rodriguez. Rodriguez. Sanchez. Sanchez. Aye. Schiavo. Sharp-Collins.
• Patel, aye. Patterson, aye. Rodriguez, aye. Sanchez, aye. Schiavo, aye. Sharp-Collins, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on June 17 and began with procedural announcements, quorum, and a consent calendar. The consent items included SB 246, SB 278, SB 317, and SB 386, which were moved together and approved by roll call. The committee then took up its only presentation item, SB 439 by Senator Weber, which would extend the sunset of the California Health Benefit Review Program (CHBRP) by six years and increase its annual budget by $1 million. Support testimony came from Jen Chase on behalf of the University of California and Garin Corbett, CHBRP’s director. They described CHBRP as providing objective, evidence-based analysis of health benefit mandate bills, noted its workload and public resources, and argued that the program needs the extension and funding increase to keep pace with inflation and the growing complexity of health policy. No opposition testimony was offered. Committee members expressed support for CHBRP’s role in informing health policy and fiscal analysis. SB 439 was then moved due pass to Appropriations and approved on a unanimous roll call vote. The hearing concluded after additional add-on votes confirmed the measures were out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patel. I am going to pass it off to our next panelist.
• Patel for putting this together. I have two teenagers myself.
• Patel for putting this together. I have two teenagers myself.
• Patel.
• Patel, for allowing us to be here. And students, you were truly amazing.

Summary: The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that youth distress, self-harm-related emergency visits, and difficulty obtaining care remain elevated, while workforce shortages and reliance on one-time funding continue to limit access. Assemblymember Lori Davies echoed concerns about unstable funding and said lawmakers need to hear directly from providers and families as they prepare for the budget and legislation. The chair framed the hearing as a chance to hear from county, school, provider, and student perspectives, especially in San Diego County, where needs are high and investments have not always matched demand. County and school officials described the current system and recent state initiatives, including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, school-linked fee schedules, payment reform, and the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. San Diego County Behavioral Health said it serves Medi-Cal youth with specialty mental health needs through a broad continuum of care, including outpatient clinics, school-based services, crisis response, residential treatment, and new crisis and residential facilities. San Diego County Office of Education and San Marcos Unified School District described efforts to expand school-based services and reimbursement through CYBHI, but said implementation is slowed by complex billing rules, insurance-data collection concerns from families, administrative burden, and uncertainty about sustaining staff positions funded by grants or soft money. School counselor testimony highlighted reduced stigma through campus outreach and clubs, but also noted that counselor-to-student ratios remain well above national standards and that budget cuts threaten supports. Provider testimony stressed that the system remains fragmented and that youth often move between emergency rooms, inpatient care, outpatient therapy, schools, and county programs without smooth handoffs. A child psychiatrist described crisis cases in which the main choices are brief hospitalization or discharge with limited follow-up, and argued for stronger warm handoffs, more outpatient and intensive outpatient options, better school-clinic coordination, and broader use of mobile crisis and 988. Rady Children’s Hospital and Aurora Behavioral Health described large increases in behavioral health demand, expansion of integrated care, and major barriers tied to low reimbursement rates, delayed payments, and administrative complexity. Across the panel, witnesses called for more stable funding, clearer reimbursement rules, better parent education on warning signs, and stronger collaboration among schools, counties, hospitals, and community providers to reduce stigma and improve timely care for youth.