Transcript Highlights:

• This is a special initiative commission to study the future of payments and sales transactions by credit
• This is a special initiative commission to study the future of payments and sales transactions by credit
• Further, the commission is tasked with studying and reviewing: one, the cost of small businesses operating
• The commission is tasked with studying and reviewing: one, the cost of small businesses operating in
• So I'm excited to serve with— The commission is tasked with studying and reviewing: one, the cost of

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House and Senate chairs opened the first organizational meeting of the special initiative commission created by Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024 to study the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card and the impacts on small businesses. They explained that no testimony would be taken at this meeting; instead, the commission would begin its work, introduce members, and prepare for future hearings and a final report with recommendations on credit cards and other payment methods. The chairs outlined the commission’s charge: to examine payment trends, cashless transactions, credit card fees, mobile payments, buy now, pay later financing, and the effects of section 28A of chapter 140D on small businesses. They said the commission would likely organize hearings around business and consumer impacts, the legal and regulatory landscape, and policy options such as transparency measures, reporting requirements, and possible limits. Members discussed the importance of hearing from retailers, restaurants, banks, small businesses, and possibly experts, and suggested considering cryptocurrency and whether hearings should be held outside the State House or include regional access. Several commissioners and stakeholders introduced themselves, including representatives from the Attorney General’s office, the House, the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Commissioner of Banks, retail and restaurant associations, a banking representative, and two small business owners. The chairs said interested parties could sign up to testify or receive notices, written testimony would be accepted, and the first hearing was tentatively set for April 8 in Gardner Auditorium. The meeting ended with a motion to close, which passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Refer to the Committee on Indirect Governmental Affairs, HB 1043 by Bojani relating to a study by the
• HB 1136 by Gamas relating to the study conducted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles regarding
• Relating to a study done by the Texas Division of Emergency Management of the potential effects of droughts
• HB 1171 by Raymond, relating to the study on the state land and use of Facilitate Health and Wellness
• for Veterans. 259 to conduct a study concerning the cyber security of small businesses.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 04:51.560> a<00:04:51.680> groundbreaking<00:04:52.440> 2014<00:04:53.280> study
• <00:04:53.720> led<00:04:54.000> by A groundbreaking 2014 study led by Dr.
• The buyers described in the study came from all types of backgrounds, including business professionals
• buyers described 13 to 16 years old the buyers described in<00:05:16.320> the<00:05:16.440> study
• came from all types of in the study came from all types of backgrounds<00:05:18.319> including

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 128 was heard and then laid over for possible inclusion in the committee omnibus. The bill, authored by Representative Ric, would raise penalties for prostituting a minor so they align with existing criminal sexual conduct penalties: from 20 to 30 years for victims under 14, from 10 to 15 years for ages 14 to 16, and from 5 to 10 years for ages 16 to 18. The author said the bill addresses a statutory mismatch that makes prostitution of a minor carry a lower penalty than some sexual conduct offenses, and noted it was part of a broader, ongoing effort to reform criminal sexual conduct laws. Caroline Palmer of the Minnesota Department of Health provided technical assistance and described the harms of child sexual exploitation, including trafficking, survival sex, coercion, and long-term physical and mental health consequences. She said children are exploited in many settings, including online, and that vulnerability factors such as housing instability, abuse, disability, and lack of support increase risk. She also cited research showing buyers of trafficked minor girls often came from varied backgrounds, and emphasized that victims can face lasting trauma and collateral consequences in education, employment, housing, and the justice system. Members asked about the administration’s position, and Palmer clarified she was there only to provide technical assistance, not to represent a formal endorsement. Representative Mher noted that current law may already allow criminal sexual conduct charges in some cases involving very young victims, suggesting other tools remain available. Representative Pinto said he understood the policy concern but wanted to examine the bill’s structure and penalty levels further. No amendments or votes were taken, and the bill was simply laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• unanimously agreed to have a study. unanimously agreed to have a study.
• is the ACES study, right?
• is the ACES study, right?
• is the ACES study, right?
• is the ACES study, right?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several housing, landlord-tenant, and condominium-related measures. Senate Bill 62, relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, would allow HPHA-owned parcels and related areas such as parking lots to be closed to the public with posted signage; HPHA strongly supported the bill, saying it would help reduce loitering, drinking, and other problems, and no further testimony was offered. Senate Bill 822, relating to the landlord tenant code, would create a three-year working group in the Department of the Attorney General to study and improve the residential landlord-tenant code. The Judiciary supported the measure but said the scope should be narrowed; the Attorney General opposed leading the group and suggested another agency should do so; Hawaii Realtors and the Hawaii Worker Center supported the concept and suggested moving the chairmanship to the Judiciary and including Legal Aid participation. The Judiciary said it could chair the group if the bill were narrowed to matters within the court’s purview. Senate Bill 38, relating to housing, would limit counties from imposing stricter conditions, AMI requirements, or fee-waiver reductions on certain affordable housing proposals if those changes would increase project costs. HHFDC supported the bill, saying county changes after state approval create uncertainty for developers, while the Hawaii State Association of Counties opposed it as an intrusion on local authority and a restriction on county safety and infrastructure conditions. Members asked about whether existing county review periods were sufficient, and the county association said the main concern was the bill’s language limiting counties from making cost-increasing conditions. Senate Bill 146, relating to condominiums, would revise alternative dispute resolution procedures for condo disputes, including evaluative mediation and binding arbitration. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission said it took no position overall but supported a $150 mediation fee and asked for a similar arbitration fee; Community Associations Institute supported the bill with suggested amendments; however, most testimony was strongly opposed by condominium owners and advocates, who said the bill had been changed to the detriment of owners and would increase costs and reduce protections. The committee noted 44 testimonies on the bill, with 2 in support, 37 in opposition, and 2 with comments. Senate Bill 253, relating to condominium reserves, would require a detailed budget summary to stand on its own, remove a good-faith defense for certain noncompliant budgets, and clarify standing and the association’s burden regarding substantial compliance. Hawaii Realtors and Community Associations Institute supported the measure as improving transparency and giving owners and buyers a clearer picture of association finances. Greg Msakian also supported it, arguing it would help owners and describing problems he experienced with budget committee exclusion and budget noncompliance in his own association. The discussion ended while testimony on the bill was still underway, with additional witnesses expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I move interimm study. Mr. Chair, I move interimm study.
• <03:08:23.120> study<03:08:23.439> from<03:08:23.600> the A separate study,
• a case study from the A separate study, a case study from the National<03:08:24.080> Library<03
• This raises serious questions studies.
• Another study found that there are, say, a review actually of other studies found that there are mental

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, no testimony, no studies. Thank you for your answer.
• Okay, no testimony, no studies. Thank you for your answer.
• Okay, no testimony, no studies. Thank you for your answer.
• there are case studies of that show there are case studies of other<01:40:46.000> states<01:40
• <02:23:50.000> that article or actually the study that article or actually the study that

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh another study shows that 50%.
• A film studies teacher illustrating.
• study the issue of school bullying. study the issue of school bullying.
• <06:25:00.798> school constructive bill to study school constructive bill to study school
• We need to take need to study it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:11:35.920> that studies have consistently shown that studies have consistently shown that
• You'll hear that this rate was set up by a cost study. That's true.
• was set up by a cost study. That's true. was set up by a cost study. That's true.
• I think that the cost study is valuable for helping us understand the cost of services.
• I think that the cost study is valuable for helping us understand the cost of services.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tomorrow is also the next to the last opportunity to attend Bible study in the morning in Room 0109,
• in the morning in room 0109 study in the morning in room 0109 and<00:25:15.279> it<00:25:15.600
• Um, we talk about metrics and studies all the time in this building.
• Uh this this study would right way.
• Um, we talk about metrics and studies Um, we talk about metrics and studies all<01:10:40.000>

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal of Friday, May 1, 2026, on a voice vote after Representative Johnson offered a humorous Star Wars-themed motion. Members then made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including Finance, Business Affairs and Labor, State Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources, and Appropriations, along with a few non-legislative notices such as open enrollment and a Cinco de Mayo potluck. The chamber also received a committee report from Appropriations recommending House Bills 1016, 1272, 1326, 1428, and Senate Bill 5 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The Majority Leader moved to add House Bills 1054, 1272, 1327, 1016, and 1428 to the special orders calendar for May 4, 2026 at 9:18 a.m., and there was no objection. The House then took up Senate Bill 160, concerning employee protections in the workplace, with a Business and Labor committee report. The bill’s sponsors said it would ensure meatpacking workers receive frequent bathroom breaks and that the cost of initial protective equipment is not deducted from paychecks. Supporters argued the bill protects basic dignity and health, while opponents said the issues are already covered by OSHA and that the measure is redundant, potentially preempted, and too specific to one employer. Representative Richardson offered amendment L002 to require coordination with OSHA before state action, but the amendment was defeated on a voice vote. Debate on the bill continued, with members divided over whether the legislation was needed or whether existing labor and safety rules were sufficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• endometriosis not for children studies endometriosis not for children studies show<03:29:59.000>
• To study prevention of spread of a pathogen.
• <05:30:50.798> conducted reductions a Harvard study conducted reductions a Harvard study conducted
• surgeries a total of 27 studies surgeries a total of 27 studies conducted<05:31:17.680> by
• <05:50:00.760> over recently studied over recently studied over 100,000<05:50:03.280> patients

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when that wasn't even on the radar at the time. in studying that and trying to determine in studying
• it's something that you consider study it's something that you consider study when<01:49:20.520>
• <01:53:08.320> we're know to the extent of study we're know to the extent of study we're required
• <04:06:44.840> have be legislated study but why not have be legislated study but why not have
• <04:24:11.080> um looking at retrospective studies um looking at retrospective studies um

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training through the police standards system. Representative Barbara Coma, the sponsor, said the bill was prompted by problems in animal cruelty cases, especially in rural areas without animal control officers, and she described it as a limited training measure. She said an amendment was forthcoming that would add an eight-hour approved course and a two-hour refresher every three years, and she emphasized that the trained officers would serve as resources rather than being required to take action themselves. Members asked about cost, due process, overlap with animal control officers, how trained officers would be identified and notified, and whether veterinarians could fill the role. Coma responded that the bill would not be a heavy financial lift, would not interfere with animal control officers, would apply to livestock as well as companion animals, and would still require law enforcement involvement because veterinarians cannot lawfully remove animals from property. She also said the training could improve due process by helping officers better understand when animal removal is appropriate and how cases should proceed. Sheriff William Wright, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, testified in opposition. He said training itself was acceptable, but the bill went beyond training by creating an obligation for sheriffs and state police to respond to and potentially investigate animal cruelty cases, which he argued would be ambiguous, unfunded, and burdensome for staffing and resources. He said some sheriff’s offices do not have investigative deputies and that the bill could create liability and uncertainty about who would lead investigations. In response to questions, he said the association would likely have no objection if the bill were limited to training, but it opposed the assistance/investigation mandate as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, just six strikes in Massachusetts between January
• The same study found that benefits paid to these striking workers amount to less than half a percent
• And although proponents of a ban will often direct legislatures to studies showing the negative impacts
• , those studies tend to be very narrowly focused and are contradicted by other studies.
• I've spent a lot of time reviewing those studies and working actually with one of the lead authors for

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on legislation concerning unemployment insurance, non-compete agreements, prevailing wage, and minimum wage issues. Committee leaders outlined the hearing process, asked witnesses to keep oral testimony to three minutes, and invited written testimony through November 20. No votes were taken during the hearing; it ended with a motion to adjourn and notice of the next hearing on November 20. Much of the testimony focused on bills to expand unemployment insurance for striking workers, including H. 2168 and S. 1319. Labor leaders, union members, and legal advocates argued that workers who are out on strike for more than 30 days should be able to receive UI benefits, saying the policy would help workers and families meet basic expenses, reduce employers’ ability to “wait out” strikes, and encourage good-faith bargaining. Speakers cited recent strikes, including the Republic Services strike, and said the proposal would not meaningfully increase strike activity or strain the UI trust fund. Another major topic was minimum wage legislation, especially H. 2107/S. 1349 to raise the minimum wage to $20 by 2029 and index it to inflation, and H. 2191 to create a $25 enhanced care worker minimum wage. Supporters said current wages are not keeping pace with housing, food, and childcare costs, and that care workers, direct support staff, and human service employees face chronic vacancies, burnout, and turnover. Testimony also supported H. 2126 on prevailing wage by adding apprenticeship and training contributions to the wage calculation, and H. 2159 and S. 1363 on prevailing wage-related issues. One witness, Russell Beck, testified against S. 1336, which would ban non-competes, and against H. 2118, arguing Massachusetts’ current non-compete law is a balanced compromise that should not be disrupted.

Transcript Highlights:

• that could be sent to the Commission on Health... ...and Safety and Workers' Compensation, which studies
• Finally, the bill does have to have an actuarial study, or the COLA, excuse me, before it is granted.
• s actuary produced four cost studies. Those options range from $30 million to $366 million.
• So this bill is a study bill.
• But this is a study. It makes sense. I would move the bill. Okay, we have a motion.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee heard and advanced several bills covering workers’ compensation, public pensions, workplace training, public works wages, and disability/paid family leave benefits. AB 1048 would require greater transparency when medical provider payments in workers’ compensation are reduced through network or administrator arrangements; supporters said providers need the underlying contract to verify reductions, while opponents argued the problem is overstated and existing dispute remedies are available. AB 1601 would give Sonoma County flexibility to provide targeted cost-of-living adjustments to retirees; supporters emphasized retirees have gone without a COLA since 2008 and that the retirement system is well funded, with no opposition testimony heard. AB 1439 would request a UC Berkeley study on labor standards in real estate and infrastructure projects funded through CalPERS and CalSTRS portfolios; labor groups supported it, while local governments, housing, and industry groups opposed it as unnecessary and potentially burdensome. AB 1697 would delay implementation of last year’s AB 692 on stay-or-pay and related employment contract provisions to 2027, with some support from the NFL and a support-if-amended request from the financial services industry for a 2028 date. AB 1803 would add anti-hate speech content to existing workplace harassment training; supporters framed it as a response to rising antisemitism and workplace hate, while opponents raised First Amendment concerns and argued current law already addresses harassment. AB 2120 would extend Los Angeles Unified’s selective certification hiring authority and allow retention of such employees in layoffs, and AB 2292 would bar providers from charging administrative fees for completing disability insurance and paid family leave certification forms; both drew support and no opposition testimony in the hearing. AB 1198, the Fair Pay for Construction Workers Act, would tie prevailing wage to the time work is performed rather than bid advertisement, with supporters calling it a fairness fix and opponents warning of uncertainty and higher costs on public projects. The committee later reconvened and voted all of the heard bills out, with most passing on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; AB 1439 was the only measure with recorded dissent, passing 4-1 on the final committee vote. Several items were also placed on call before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1991, Aguiar-Curry, market research study, motion is due pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2511, Arreguín, comparable worth study, held in committee.
• AB 1771, Alvarez, apartment regulations study, held in committee.
• AB 16, Davies, veteran studies, held in committee.
• AB 2521, Papan, water availability study, do pass out with Republicans not voting.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are part of it. of the reason why I came to study at the University of Texas and came to this state
• If you study history, the comment that the Jews killed Jesus is not a reference. to whether or not the
• So I would just encourage. you to study history before you make those decisions.
• State Health Services Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies biannually collects some placement data
• What's more, the same study identified a significant need in teachers and campus administrators.

Bills: SB2972, SB1909, SB2815, SB735, SB2233, SB800, SB1069, SB2683, SB2986, SB2058, SB2310, SB2055, SB1032

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Transcript Highlights:

• The both the biological mother and adoptive parents have when choosing adoption, studies have shown that
• She's studying in college and she is now 21 years old. I picked up that case 5 years ago.
• legal custodian did so and under chapter 9, specifically, 39 point 0, 1, the definition illegal can study
• If we've determined there's an appropriate home study or they could be placed with a non relative.
• Malia, the who study also waiving in support Ruth McLeod DNP RN waiving in support.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB776 by Leo Wilson relating to the definition of an eligible school district for purposes of the study
• Oriented Education, HB805O Cortez, relating to the study of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and
• HB 842 by Lalani, relating to a study and report on burying power lines in the Gulf Coast region.
• Hunter requesting that the lieutenant governor and speaker to create a joint interim committee to study
• 62 by Hunter requesting the lieutenant governor and speaker to create a joint interim committee to study

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• input from myself, the staff at the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston, the Charter Study
• I have a degree in human psychology, and I've invested more than $45,000 in my dog training studies.
• municipalities, consulted studies, and undertook a robust process of community engagement.
• consulted studies and undertook a robust process of community engagement we held approximately 50 open
• COVID-19 and long COVID have been under clinical study over the last five years and appear to affect

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got a short refresher for you on the cooling need study that ODOE conducted with our consultant
• The study focused on three types of housing: mobile and manufactured homes, publicly supported rental
• The estimated cost to install permanent cooling equipment in all the housing types studied across the
• So kind of data sense that study. Thank you.
• In the study, heat pumps were the preferred solution for efficient cooling and heating service.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee met for a series of information sessions focused on housing stabilization, rental assistance, senior housing, and heat resilience. In the first panel, OHCS and NOAA described the state’s affordable housing preservation work, including the $35 million in 2025 stabilization funding used to reduce debt and keep distressed affordable rental projects operating, plus manufactured home park preservation efforts. OHCS said the portfolio remains under strain, with about a third of projects at debt coverage ratios of 1.0 or less and rising insurance and operating costs. NOAA urged faster closings on the stabilization awards, more funding in 2027, and broader rent assistance and process reforms. Committee members asked about the gap between current appropriations and need, and OHCS explained that the new Article 11-Q bond preservation program is structured differently and requires full refinancing rather than simple cash infusions. The committee then heard a detailed discussion of the state’s eviction prevention and rental assistance program, ORDAP. OHCS said the program is administered through community action agencies, prioritizes households at imminent risk of eviction, and is now funded at a much lower level than in the prior biennium, reducing expected service to about 8,200 households this biennium. The Oregon Law Center, a county community action agency, and Multifamily Northwest all agreed the program prevents homelessness and is effective, but they differed on whether assistance should be tied so closely to eviction court. Legal aid and community action witnesses said the current system is underfunded and that eviction filings are the clearest indicator of need, while Multifamily Northwest argued the process can push people into court unnecessarily and should be moved earlier when possible. Legislators raised questions about whether a pre-eviction model could be developed and about the costs of court involvement; one member shared a personal story about how rental assistance helped keep their family housed. Next, the governor’s office, OHCS, and OHA presented on the new senior housing initiative and healthy homes work. The governor’s housing director said Oregon is making progress on homelessness and housing production, with reductions in homelessness outside Multnomah County and an estimated 50,000 future units added to the pipeline through recent state actions. OHCS outlined the senior housing programs launched in May: a debt-financing program using elderly and disabled bond authority, an older adult housing development program funded through the senior property tax deferral revolving account, and a rehousing program for older adults that will use bridge funding and services to move at least 400 unsheltered older Oregonians into housing. OHA also described its Healthy Homes Grant Program, including $24.6 million already awarded, a new $5 million grant round for seniors and people with disabilities, and examples of home repairs and weatherization that help people remain safely housed. The final information session focused on home cooling and heat resilience. OHA presented data showing rising extreme heat days, more heat-related emergency visits, and likely undercounted heat deaths, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities, and people without access to healthy homes. ODOE reviewed implementation of Senate Bill 1536, including a cooling needs study that found 58% of surveyed households in the studied housing types needed permanent cooling, with estimated statewide costs of $582 million to $1 billion. ODOE said its rental home heat pump and community heat pump programs have supported 4,638 installations so far, with a temporary reopening planned using remaining funds. The session ended with a remote presentation from a Community Action Partnership of Oregon representative, continuing the discussion of how community action agencies help deliver energy and anti-poverty services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it's all of the amendments and contracts for our planning studies, as well as any amendments we had
• basically enacting it so we can get started as the office and the commission on working on those studies
• as well as any for our planning studies as well as any amendments<00:01:31.439> we<00:01:31.680
• <00:02:00.799> and on uh working on those studies and on uh working on those studies and working
• The consultant that we are going under contract with will complete the study, and the amount of that

Keywords: 916, all