Transcript Highlights:

• The HDIP program just put $18 million into market-rate housing.
• The HDIP program just put $18 million into market-rate housing.
• The HDIP program just put $18 million into market-rate housing.
• Here are some facts about SHARP: We have a 2% recidivism rate, making our recidivism rate 92% lower than
• We have a 2% recidivism rate, making our recidivism rate 92% lower than the Commonwealth's at large.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of housing and homelessness bills. Chairs Rich Haggerty and Julian Cyr opened by noting the committee’s focus on EOHLC programs such as RAFT, MRVP, and HomeBASE, and several members and advocates emphasized the urgency of the state’s homelessness crisis, including rising family homelessness and the need for earlier intervention, more stable subsidies, and stronger long-term housing tools. A major theme was homelessness prevention and rehousing. Multiple witnesses supported bills to codify and strengthen RAFT and HomeBASE, arguing that assistance should be available earlier in a crisis rather than only after a notice to quit or imminent loss of housing. Testimony from legal services, homelessness coalitions, social workers, municipal housing staff, and tenant advocates said the programs help families avoid eviction and shelter, but need more flexibility, higher benefit caps, and permanent statutory protection. Several speakers also urged support for codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), describing it as a critical long-term subsidy for low-income households and older adults, and warning that codification would protect the program from future budget or policy changes. The committee also heard testimony on housing stability for older adults, affordable homes for people with disabilities, supportive housing, housing cooperatives, home sharing, local preference, and reentry housing for returning citizens. Advocates for older adults described a Somerville bridge subsidy pilot that helped stabilize seniors while they waited for permanent housing, and urged statewide expansion. Supporters of supportive housing called for an interagency board to streamline funding and development, while cooperative housing proponents backed creation of a Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives and a dedicated funding reserve. A bill to secure housing for returning citizens drew support from reentry providers and Senator Adam Gomez, who said stable housing is essential to successful reintegration. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses generally asked the committee to report the bills favorably, and some members asked follow-up questions on data and program details.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't go through the third-party setting rates.
• And then standard consumer credit rates will be capped at a maximum of 1.25 for eight years.
• Consumer credit rates will be capped at a maximum of 1.25 for eight years.
• Well, look, you know, we would love to get our loss rates down to zero, but that's impossible.
• Well, look, you know, we would love to get our loss rates down to zero, but that's impossible.

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, payment industry groups, and a credit card issuer. Much of the discussion focused on proposed state laws that would limit interchange fees on the tax and tip portions of transactions, especially Illinois’s Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and similar efforts in other states. Witnesses opposing the proposals argued that interchange helps fund fraud protection, cybersecurity, rewards, and access to credit, and warned that state-by-state rules would create a patchwork that could harm state-chartered banks and credit unions, raise compliance costs, and reduce consumer access to credit. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a significant burden on merchants, especially small businesses, and that current pricing is opaque and often bundled with other processor charges. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides major benefits to merchants and consumers, including security, convenience, faster settlement, online commerce, and broader access to credit. One witness from Capital One said the industry’s losses from fraud and default are substantial and that interchange helps offset those risks; he also noted that merchants already have some tools, such as surcharging where allowed and negotiating clearer processor contracts. Retail representatives and the National Retail Federation countered that small businesses are under pressure from many costs and that interchange and related fees remain a real pain point, with some urging the commission to consider reforms that would return more money to businesses without disrupting the system. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as a significant merchant win that includes temporary rate reductions, more surcharge flexibility, and the ability to decline certain card tiers. No votes were taken. The meeting concluded after all scheduled testimony was heard, with the commission chair saying the session had been productive and that the committee would continue gathering testimony and written comments before making recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um that um this is a discussion relative to the tax rate better served in a budget year.
• We're making good solid movement on tax policy. relative to the tax rate better served relative to the
• ,</c> dramatically lowered our tax rates, dramatically lowered our tax rates, showing<00:18:33.280><c
• </c> further and future business tax rate further and future business tax rate reductions<00:19:06.960
• </c> concerns me that the bond rating concerns me that the bond rating agencies<00:31:07.200><c> already

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 155 continued discussion of a compromise over business tax relief, small-business filing thresholds, and nursing home funding. Representative Sweeney proposed raising the filing threshold to $400,000 and creating a trigger for future Business Enterprise Tax reductions if business tax revenues produce a $200 million biennial surplus, with the Department of Revenue Administration commissioner able to exclude one-time or non-sustainable funds. Supporters said the proposal would provide a clear policy direction, immediate relief to about 4,500 small and micro businesses, and a future path back to the BET’s original 0.25% rate. Opponents, led by the Senate side, argued the trigger language was premature, better handled in a budget year with more revenue data, and inappropriate to decide in a short conference committee meeting. The Senate also emphasized that the tax policy should not be locked in without a fuller public process, while House members argued the trigger would not take effect until a future biennium and was therefore a prudent way to signal New Hampshire’s direction on taxes. A separate point of discussion involved nursing homes: the House said its report would include $2.5 million for nursing homes with non-lapsing language, and senators stressed the importance of that funding for the health care system and county property taxpayers. One senator warned that triggers could encourage revenue underestimation and noted bond rating concerns about a structural deficit. Several motions were made to accept the Senate position with the $400,000 threshold and related amendments, but the first motion failed on a party-line style split, with the Senate voting yes and the House voting no. A second House motion to accede to the Senate position while also including the nursing home funding, the threshold increase, and the future trigger language was also rejected by the Senate. The meeting ended with the report filed without agreement on the trigger language, and the transcript then notes a separate reconvened committee of conference on HB 751 being postponed until 12:30 the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:41.760><c> per</c> mortality rate per mortality rate per 100,000<00:09:43.520><c> births</
• times the rate of white women. women. women.
• </c> the rate the rate of<00:16:43.640><c> white</c><00:16:43.880><c> infants.
• . capita rate.
• . rate. rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and a 50% take rate.
• Then we did a 15% take rate for those who are available for reduced-benefit retirement.
• And that's a 50% take rate. Right. Or sorry, a 50%—25% take rate of reduced and unreduced.
• Increase in the contribution rates that our folks have to make.
• I know current teachers who are working are not interested in an increase in contribution rate.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you look at our replication rates, they're not perfect, but our recidivist rates stand still
• So what we're trying to give you is our paroling rate.
• But our paroling rates as a whole average about 68% of all the combined hearings.
• So the 68% that you're seeing is the rate. Those are the... The 68% that you're seeing is the rate.
• Our parole rates are up. We have a lot more. Life is being released.

Summary: The Special Commission on Criminal Justice Reform 3.0 heard a presentation from the Massachusetts Parole Board focused on how parole, probation, the Department of Correction, sheriffs, and community providers coordinate reentry and supervision. Chair Angela Gomez described the board’s mission, its discretionary parole process, and the work of its transitional services, life sentence, victim services, and field services divisions. She highlighted 2024 activity including 2,810 institutional release hearings, 141 life-sentence hearings, 100 victim access release hearings, 18,238 victim notifications, 53 pardon petitions, 70 commutation petitions, 41 early termination applications, and supervision of about 2,993 committed parolees. She also emphasized the board’s shift toward evidence-based practices, individualized conditions, graduated sanctions, and more service-oriented supervision, including GPS guidelines and community-based interventions. Members focused heavily on data questions and the practical overlap among agencies. Senator Brownsberger and others asked for clearer breakdowns of releases, active supervision, average length of supervision, and distinctions between parole, mandatory release, revocations, and interstate compact cases. The board explained that some figures combine in-state and out-of-state cases, that roughly 400-plus people on supervision are lifers, and that annual revocations can remain technically supervised until final hearings. Members also asked for more detailed outcome data on employment, housing, treatment, and program retention, as well as a clearer breakdown of people who refuse parole versus those who decline after a grant. The board said it could provide follow-up data and noted that many refusals are driven by pending cases, desire to avoid supervision, or preference for serving time inside. The discussion also covered collaboration with UMass, including risk assessment research, training on best practices, and real-time support for medication and drug-testing issues through community pathways. The board and commissioners described shared housing and reentry resources such as MASH, community justice resource centers, sheriff-run programs like Rocky Hill and HOPE, and other placements that help stabilize people after release. Several speakers stressed that housing is the biggest gap and that agencies are trying to keep people in the community with employment, benefits, treatment, and safe housing. The commission also received an update on the Mattis-related clemency/parole cohort: 210 individuals were identified, 144 were immediately eligible for hearings, 100 hearings had been completed, 10 were scheduled, and some had postponed or were still being calculated for eligibility. The meeting ended with plans for a March 9 public hearing and a request for follow-up data and continued site visits before the commission moves into recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the rates vary because the companies are independent and they make their own rates, and there’s no
• So the rates vary because the companies are independent and they make their own rates, and there’s no
• </c> rate per month of $7,200. rate per month of $7,200.
• </c> rate 63,000. rate 63,000.
• rates.

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax rate in Arkansas is 20%, and the tax rate in Oklahoma is 22%. Today.
• A tax rate in Kansas is zero. The tax rate in Arkansas is 20%, and the tax rate in Oklahoma is 22%.
• rate.
• rate.
• tax rate.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you look at their turnover rates, they're dealing with... with 30-plus percent turnover rates
• This chart highlights turnover rates for JCOs all.
• Is the turnover rate I think you if not have the highest turnover rate in a state is it's definitely
• And those are those come from savings that you see in reduced re-arrest rates, re-incarceration rates
• With a 90.7% success rate. completion rate.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we've also had um more ongoing rate we've also had um more ongoing rate increases<00:29:19.559><
• for elderly waiver and Alternative rates for elderly waiver and Alternative Care<00:29:29.840><c> by
• Chapter 256R relates to nursing facility rates, and it establishes the MA reimbursement rates for nursing
• and it establishes the ma Facility rates and it establishes the ma reimbursement<00:35:43.200><c> rates
• </c> Services rate Services rate methodologies<00:38:24.520><c> and</c><00:38:24.720><c> payment</c><

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• If this rate is above 6%, rate below 6%.
• aspect of this that mostly the rate aspect of this that mostly the error<00:46:25.119><c> rate</c><00
• So, error rate, excuse me.
• </c> significant reduction in the error rate, significant reduction in the error rate, which<00:47:38.079
• </c> threshold monitored by rating agencies. threshold monitored by rating agencies.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And our average participation rate is 50%.
• We're not growing assets at double-digit rates.
• In fact... ...pretty consistently at double-digit rates.
• We're not growing assets at double-digit rates.
• We've been able to reset assets up the rate curve in this higher rate environment.

Summary: The committee took roll, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a compliance-report update on the Industrial Commission and related funds and programs. Staff reviewed the status of one-time appropriations and grant programs, including electric grid resiliency, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the salt cavern business-case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members asked about funding balances, reimbursement timing, matching requirements, and how some commitments would affect the State Investment Fund and future biennia. Industrial Commission staff then gave a broader update on the agency’s administrative office, grant management system, leadership transitions at several commission agencies, and active grant rounds. They reported that the grant management system is nearing completion, that several agency leadership searches have concluded, and that the commission’s grant programs currently have 108 active grants totaling more than $165 million. They also described the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority round, the oil and gas research program’s enhanced oil recovery awards, the grid resiliency grants, the salt cavern study, and the research technology park program, noting that some projects are awaiting federal funds or additional matching cash. Ron Ness, speaking for the Oil and Gas Research Council, focused on the state of the oil industry and the enhanced oil recovery “Bakken 2.0” effort. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on better infrastructure, longer laterals, and new EOR methods such as CO2, natural gas, and surfactants. He emphasized the importance of the Bakkeneast pipeline and related gas-utilization projects, the recent DOE funding that will return some money to the research council, and the need to modernize tax and incentive rules for CO2-based recovery. Members discussed the potential economic benefits for oil, agriculture, and manufacturing. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and a broader strategic update. Bank leadership reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, participation lending, student lending, disaster programs, and legislatively directed programs, and said the bank is managing for a flatter deposit base and stronger liquidity because of fintech competition and changing market conditions. They reported improved earnings, with net income rising to about $231 million, and described Rough Rider Coin as a new internal payment rail for North Dakota banks and credit unions, not a public cryptocurrency. Members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster lending, and the bank’s capacity to support state programs while maintaining its balance-sheet and liquidity requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, I don't know the exact conviction rate of it, but it's...
• Ability to lower rates. Mr. Chair, and Roberto, Mr.
• How would Those things inter-rate. I am not an expert.
• They have to do rate filings. Those rate filings are Approved.
• There's a lot of things That would explain why rates have gone up.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; or an upcoming rate case. &gt;&gt; or an upcoming rate case. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• rate case."
• </c><04:52:20.560><c> Um</c> that go obviously in into rates. Um that go obviously in into rates.
• We're supposed to have a rate that is set out there, and the rules of that rate are set by the Public
• </c> our community power aggregation rates our community power aggregation rates had<05:20:26.958><c>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Sounds like a rate increase.
• Over that period of time, residential rates are in the bottom half, being in the lower half of rates
• And then when the utility comes in for a rate case, our rates can sometimes, like, triple.
• Our rate regulation staff does run, for us, what the increases to each rate class would be, given the
• The rates that you start with, the negotiating rates that you start with, is that generally market value

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee held its third interim hearing on Texas electric grid reliability and 765 kV transmission lines/private property rights. Chair Schwertner opened by noting record ERCOT summer demand of 91,089 MW and emphasized the committee’s focus on managing rapid load growth, ensuring adequate generation, and protecting homeowners, businesses, landowners, and ratepayers. The committee also adopted strict two-minute limits for public testimony and planned to hear invited witnesses first, then public testimony. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, and OPUC Chief Counsel Benjamin Barclay testified on Senate Bill 6 implementation, large-load interconnection, transmission cost allocation, and market design. Gleeson said the PUC has adopted or is finalizing rules on net metering/co-location, large load interconnection standards, and a transmission cost recovery rule that would move from 4CP to 12CP, lengthen the interval to 30 minutes, and add a minimum demand charge to better allocate costs to large loads. Vegas explained ERCOT’s new batch process for large loads, saying it provides year-by-year capacity allocations, clearer financial obligations, and a transmission plan; he reported 205 GW eligible for Batch Zero, with 65 GW classified as baseload, 25 GW in an intermediate category, and 114 GW as allocated load. Barclay supported the changes as better protection for residential and small commercial customers, while warning that the minimum demand charge may need an exit-fee concept to address stranded costs if large loads leave. Members pressed witnesses on whether additional market changes are needed to attract dispatchable thermal generation and whether DRS/DRRS Plus could become a capacity-market substitute. Gleeson and Vegas said the current market still favors solar, batteries, and other low-variable-cost resources, and that more incentives may be needed for gas and other thermal generation; Gleeson said the commission’s reliability standard assessment will begin this year and conclude next year with a 2029 outlook. They described DRS as an ancillary service for intraday reliability and DRS Plus as a proposed real-time revenue mechanism for thermal resources during scarcity, not a forward capacity market. Senators also questioned whether 12CP could still be gamed, whether curtailment authority under SB 6 should be expanded from EEA 2 to earlier stages, and whether the batch process should be bifurcated so traditional industrial loads are handled differently from data centers. Witnesses said the batch process is intended to prevent speculative projects from driving transmission costs, that most large-load projects are data centers, and that future rules may need to better distinguish among types of large loads.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><04:58:58.840><c> rate</c><04:58:59.000><c> of</c> overall response rate of overall response rate
• It starts with referral rates.
• Graduation rate is one of them.
• Graduation rate is one of them.
• Graduation rate is one of them. District graduation rate is one of them.

Summary: The committee first noted that House Bill 398, concerning Holocaust and genocide studies, and House Bill 131 had already been handled previously and were off the schedule. It then took up House Bill 740, which would require the Department of Education to maintain permanent records for closed charter schools. After brief discussion about overlap with another charter-school bill that already addressed closure and records, Representative Freeman moved to table the bill. The committee voted 16-0 to table/ITL the bill, and it was placed on the consent calendar. The main discussion centered on House Bill 557, which would require additional information on school budget ballots, including average cost per pupil, enrollment history, and teacher-to-administrator ratios. Members raised concerns that the bill was duplicative of existing law, overly detailed, costly to towns, and potentially electioneering or cumbersome on ballots. Supporters argued it would improve transparency and help voters who do not attend deliberative sessions or use online resources. The committee did not vote on the bill during the discussion; instead, members moved into caucus and later indicated they would hold the bill until Monday for further review. Later, the committee turned to House Bill 699 on special education definitions and considered Amendment 0606H. The sponsor explained the amendment was developed with the Department of Education after hearing testimony and was intended to align state definitions with federal law and incorporate recommendations from a prior audit, including changing “functionally blind pupils” to “students with visual impairments.” Some members supported the changes as responsive to the hearing and audit, while others objected that the amendment was still confusing, had not fully addressed stakeholder concerns, and should wait for a more comprehensive special education audit. The discussion also referenced House Bill 754 and another amendment, but the transcript ends before final action on HB 699 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:18:35.639><c> welcome</c> rate welcome rate welcome representative<01:18:38.000><c> thank</c><01:
• Statewide rate of 1.12 Statewide rate of 1.12 and<01:32:55.679><c> of</c><01:32:55.840><c> course</c>
• </c> into a fixed rate into a fixed rate 2.5<01:33:09.159><c> uh</c><01:33:09.360><c> it's</c><01:33:
• </c><01:46:53.599><c> was</c> front of me but if the swept rate was front of me but if the swept rate
• </c><01:50:26.040><c> in</c><01:50:26.280><c> each</c> the swept tax rate in each the swept tax rate

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:22.680><c> payer</c><00:13:22.959><c> savings</c> rate it used to read rate payer savings
• rate it used to read rate payer savings now<00:13:23.560><c> it</c><00:13:23.720><c> reads</c><00:13:
• </c><00:27:27.080><c> payer</c> best that they can for the rate payer best that they can for the rate
• This is part of setting rates. The PUC is the one who sets the rates.
• part of that rate.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida's passage rate was 84.9 percent with the national average of 91.2 percent.
• This shows when you do that, your NCLEX passage rate increases tremendously.
• Senator Harrell said our rating is 51 or 50 out of 50 and I want to make sure everyone knows that we
• I was disappointed that Tallahassee State College had a low passage rate this year.
• If we want more nurses entering the workforce, we need strong pass rates and program capacity.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the highest rate in the nation.
• State regulations require the standardized rate established by the Department of Social Services to..
• However, low-income Medi-Cal recipients without SSI are not protected by an income-based rate cap and
• SB 433 creates an income-based cap to RCFE room and board rates that allows all Medi-Cal... ...cap to
• SB 433 does not make any change to Medi-Cal rates.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard several homelessness, public benefits, and aging-related bills. SB 748 would expand Encampment Resolution Funding to support safe parking sites for people living in cars or RVs, require quarterly reporting from HCD on outcomes, and direct LAO evaluation; supporters said it would help local governments reduce RV encampments while connecting people to housing and services. SB 290 would repeal the CalWORKs immunization sanction that reduces aid when parents cannot provide acceptable proof of a child’s vaccination; supporters argued the penalty unfairly harms families already in poverty and can worsen instability, while no opposition testified. SB 606 would define “functional zero” for overall and unsheltered homelessness and require local jurisdictions to plan for and report on the housing and interim shelter needed to reach that goal; supporters said it would add accountability and focus on reducing unsheltered homelessness, and one group moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. SB 433 would create an income-based room-and-board cap and personal needs allowance for all Medi-Cal assisted living participants in residential care facilities for the elderly, not just SSI recipients; supporters said it would prevent eviction and homelessness among low-income seniors and people with disabilities, and facility groups withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. SB 761 would require students applying for Cal Grants to be notified that they may be eligible for CalFresh and given information on how to apply; supporters said it would address widespread student food insecurity and low enrollment among eligible students. The committee accepted amendments on the bills, and all of the measures discussed were reported out on 7-0 or similar unanimous votes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with the consent calendar also approved unanimously.