Transcript Highlights:

• Um, for example, used car prices have gone up over 40% in the last couple of years.
• </c><01:03:54.200><c> have</c><01:03:54.400><c> gone</c> um for example used car prices have gone um
• </c> supplying of the food potential online supplying of the food potential online cooking<01:34:23.840
• Okay, it's been invaluable to help seniors and to help them find the best price for them.
• Okay, it's been invaluable to help seniors and to help them find the best price for them.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that needed to be clearly stated, not just for our purposes, but for anybody watching online.
• We expect a great system and great service at a good price, which is extremely important to our district
• We expect a great system and great service at a good price, which is extremely important to our district

Committee: All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first considered an emergency rule from the Department of Education amending consolidation and annexation rules to implement Act 919 of 2025 and Act 157 of the 2026 fiscal session. Department staff explained the change was needed to support newly detached isolated school districts while avoiding financial hardship for the parent districts by preserving declining-enrollment funding, local tax revenue, and using existing unused department funds rather than new appropriations. Senator Irvin emphasized the policy background and financial mechanics, and the committee reviewed and approved the emergency rule without objection, effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on June 19, 2026. The committee then approved an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services allowing hospitals to open separate adolescent substance use disorder units and receive payment for residential services provided to adolescents. Senator Irvin requested the item be brought to the Public Health committee for an update, and the rule was approved without objection, also effective June 19, 2026. The committee next heard a waiver request from Whitehall for cooperative purchasing over $1 million for construction services tied to a specific vendor and system; the athletic director said the vendor had a strong track record and the project would begin in late August 2026 and finish in November 2026. The waiver was approved on motion. In the director’s report, the committee adopted the same per diem, mileage, and expense allocations for the coming fiscal year, noting committees had not spent their full allocations. It also approved a motion to cancel the July 2026 Legislative Council meeting because of scheduling conflicts, while allowing subcommittees to meet in July only for items with imminent need; any July subcommittee actions will be final and reported to the full council at its August 21, 2026 meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moretti online right now. We're Mr. Moretti online right now.
• Chairman, he is now online. Mr. Chairman, he is now online. Got<00:26:58.920><c> him.
• :36:27.600><c> through</c> before fertilizer prices went through before fertilizer prices went through
• That's the price of where where we are.
• Nobody online? Okay. Seeing none. Nobody online? Okay.

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:17:39.199><c> lunch</c> receive a free and reduced price lunch receive a free and reduced price
• </c><03:30:24.040><c> lunch</c> in um in free and reduced price lunch in um in free and reduced price
• price price for<03:45:13.000><c> for</c><03:45:13.199><c> a</c><03:45:13.359><c> dollar</c><03:45:13.880
• </c><03:45:59.399><c> that's</c> their than their full price that's their than their full price that's
• </c><03:46:33.040><c> application</c><03:46:33.680><c> in</c> have an online application in have an online

Summary: The committee first discussed HB 443, which would change terms and vacancy language for members of a higher education commission. Members raised concerns that the bill was too narrow to address broader issues with commission membership, including expired appointments, attendance expectations, and whether the Department of Education could replace the commission’s role. Several members suggested the bill was not ready for action and favored holding it for further work, possibly through a subcommittee or work session. One member suggested that if attendance standards were added, no more than two unexcused absences should trigger removal, given the commission’s meeting schedule. The chair said he would defer action and form a small subcommittee to report back before the committee deadline. The committee then moved to HB 484, dealing with repurposing Career and Technical Education classroom space after 20 years of exclusive use. The chair explained that the bill was aimed at the Milford CTE project, where shared use of space could allow a school to repurpose part of a CTE facility while still using it for CTE-related instruction. Members discussed other possible situations around the state, including Claremont, North Conway, and Jaffrey/Rindge, and whether the bill should be limited to Milford or broadened to allow local districts more flexibility. Some members favored passing the bill now to help CTE projects move forward, while others argued for an amendment removing the requirement that the space be vacated specifically to expand the CTE program occupying it. Testimony and discussion emphasized that the Milford project had state approval but reduced funding, requiring a smaller scope and repurposing of existing space. Supporters said the bill could help preserve CTE programs while also benefiting general education space needs, and that local districts should have flexibility after 20 years. Opponents or cautious members noted that the language might not fit every district situation and asked for feedback from Director Beard and Steve Rothenberg before final action. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, and instead discussed waiting for an amendment and additional input before acting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan Stolwell online. He's an ER doctor. He's seen firsthand the catastrophic impact of Cratum.
• So I'll give you two minutes, and then we'll see if there's anybody online.
• Do we have anyone online that wants to testify?
• Okay, and we have someone online, I do believe? We have Kara. Are you there? Okay.
• And then a quick comment to the witness that just testified online.

Committee: Joint Health and Human Services Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• You should shop around for the coverage and price that best suit your needs.
• In other words, our system prioritizes availability of coverage. prioritize price regulation.
• These two policy goals, availability and price. conflict.
• have moderated as well with the other prices of insurance.
• The price of reinsurance has risen significantly since 2020.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, anybody online? All right, anybody online? >> Mr.
• Chairman, nobody's online for this. >> Okay.
• Everything is high-priced. We're taking every missing report seriously.
• Are there any other public comments for this in the room or online?
• >> There's nobody currently online, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay. Well, thank you so much for the update.

Committee: Joint Management Audit Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it'll hopefully be competitively priced, but that's what's happening right now is, for those
• “It requires a governing board to provide the public with online access for at least five years to all
• standard, a lot of what school districts are already practicing, already putting their documents online
• standard, a lot of what school districts are already practicing, already putting their documents online
• Because a lot of school districts are participating online, but then there's that halt there.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank everybody here today, online and in person, for your participation.
• I hope there wasn't any difficulty in getting online there. Mr.
• Wages aren't going up, even though prices are rising.
• Wages aren't going up, even though prices are rising.
• Somebody likely committed perjury, and Texans are paying that price.

Transcript Highlights:

• When our freezers are full and the prices are very cheap, then they come in and buy them for nothing,
• Strain, the commissioner is going to tell you a little bit about it after, but the prices right now are
• this domestic seafood out of their freezers, it'll give them a better opportunity to pay the right price
• What this will do is buy these commodities because the price that the shrimpers are looking at is below
• So we're looking to get that online.

Committees: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development , House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development met to approve the October 3, 2024 interim minutes and then took up two resolutions. HCR 205, by Representative Kerner, urged USDA to use its Commodity Procurement Program to purchase domestic Louisiana shrimp. Supporters said shrimpers are facing very low prices, full cold storage, and an urgent need for federal purchases to stabilize the market and help local processors and fishermen. Commissioner Mike Strain explained that USDA commodity purchases can support schools, nursing homes, and food banks, and members discussed the need for cold storage, marketing, and better promotion of local seafood. The resolution was reported favorably without objection. The committee also considered HCR 188, which memorializes Congress to oppose any federal farm bill language that could negatively affect the use of hunting dogs; members said the provision had raised concerns about field trials, scent hounds, and hunting practices, and the resolution was also reported favorably without objection. The committee then received a presentation from Southern University Ag Center and College of Agriculture leadership, led by interim president and chancellor Orlando McMeans and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin Walker. They outlined the center’s research, teaching, and extension work, including medicinal cannabis research, beef cattle and smart ranching, viticulture, aquaculture, precision agriculture, food and nutrition, and support for small farmers and K-12 dual enrollment. They highlighted scholarship and enrollment programs, including USDA-supported 1890 scholars and JAG Stars, as well as partnerships with LSU and USDA. They also described major facility projects, including a high-tech meat processing facility, research labs, a vineyard, and a proposed 1,300-bed disaster shelter/mega shelter at the experiment station. Members asked questions about meat-cutting and processing training, cattle genetics, and the shelter’s use when not needed for disasters. Southern officials said the new processing facility is intended to support training and workforce development, and that the shelter could also be used for events such as weddings, graduations, and agricultural activities. The committee expressed appreciation for the presentation and the work of the Ag Center. Representative Broussard then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The drugs have been in shortage and the prices have gone up on them, but they're still just old drugs
• Have four ways to apply for benefits online, over the phone, in person, mail or fax.
• Okay, yes ma'am. but when they're going to come online. Yep. OK, so we have.
• We have coming online, I'll start with Texas Behavioral Health Center in Dallas. That is 292 beds.
• They're an additional for grant hospitals that are also coming online.

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:29.839><c> or</c> goes to DVS if they do it online or goes to DVS if they do it online or
• And a lot of the times that price is derived from that future income stream.
• And I know you have a long agenda. of the times that price is derived from of the times that price is
• It's also posted online for the that.
• It's also posted online for the public.<01:56:01.760><c> Welcome.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Price is only one factor.
• Once we have an online system or online platform that integrates with Direct File, taxpayers will be
• </c> to file their Federal Tax Returns online to file their Federal Tax Returns online for<01:35:34.760
• </c> for free and once we have an online for free and once we have an online system<01:35:37.880><c>
• online platform that system or online platform that integrates<01:35:39.520><c> with</c><01:35:39.760

Summary: The Committee on Finance held informational briefings first with the Department of Defense on its FY 2026 budget request, then with the Hawaii School Facilities Authority. Major General Steve Logan outlined the Department of Defense request for $40.5 million in state funds, which he said would leverage about $74 million in federal matching funds and support 411 open projects that could attract up to $2.3 billion in additional federal grant money. He said the budget focuses on sustainment, safety, and reorganization in light of lessons from the Maui wildfires. Key requests included $1.3 million to sustain IT systems, $2.7 million for 32 HEMA emergency management positions, three new Hawaii Army National Guard positions plus four upgrades, and $1.9 million for the Youth Challenge Program to cover state-mandated fringe costs and staffing needs. He also reviewed capital improvement projects, including Youth Challenge facility upgrades, siren modernization, ADA improvements, building retrofits for disaster resilience, Army facility upgrades, a third state veterans home on Maui, HEMA EOC improvements, and a maintenance/fuel building at Diamond Head. Members asked about the siren modernization timeline, and HEMA said roughly 26 to 31 sirens would be modernized this year, with 15 on Maui, eight on Oahu, and eight on the Big Island. Questions also focused on Youth Challenge and Job Challenge enrollment and vacancies, with the department saying the Hilo Job Challenge Academy is growing and that combining Youth Challenge recruiting statewide into one Kilauea program has helped enrollment. Logan also answered questions about the New Year’s Eve medical transport mission, explaining the Hawaii Air National Guard’s relationship with active-duty Air Force assets and saying the flight cost is about $20,000 per flight hour, though the final bill had not yet been determined. On the Maui veterans home, staff said the University of Hawaii site was no longer viable after faculty senate opposition, so the department is now focused on a 10-acre Puna District site; the project remains tied to a certified $35 million state match and August 2025 and August 2026 federal suspense dates. Logan said the veterans home remains one of the department’s highest priorities, but it could not be moved higher in the submitted CIP ranking. The department also discussed a Governor’s add-on for a fire marshal/Office of Recovery and Resiliency proposal. Logan said the fire marshal position was reestablished last session but has not yet been filled, and that if the function is transferred to the Department of Defense, the department wants funding ready to move quickly. Staff later said the request would include about $1.1 million for seven positions and about $2.2 million for operating costs, though details were still preliminary. The committee then reconvened for the School Facilities Authority briefing, where Executive Director Ricky Fujitani described the agency as a startup created in 2020 to improve school and workforce housing development through standardized designs, prefabrication, best-value procurement, and public-private partnerships. He said Hawaii’s single school district still functions like 15 different districts because of its 264 schools across 15 complex areas, and that the authority’s goal is to create more efficient, maintainable, and cost-effective facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dynamic pricing is not a new concept.
• Dynamic pricing rates will provide a needed price signal to inform economically efficient decision-making
• Dynamic pricing rates will Oh, okay, dynamic pricing rates will provide a needed price signal to inform
• , low price, if prices...
• If the next day was to be a high price, low price, if prices are going negative, if they want to use

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on grid reliability, affordability, clean energy infrastructure, and industrial decarbonization. AB 222, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require more data reporting on data centers and aim to prevent ratepayers from bearing related grid costs; supporters said better information is needed to plan for rapidly growing electricity demand from AI and data centers, while opponents warned about privacy, security, trade-secret, and cost-shifting concerns. The bill passed the committee on a 13-4 vote, with the roll left open for absent members. AB 941, by Assemblymember Bonta, would impose a 270-day timeline for CPUC review of priority transmission projects to speed clean-energy infrastructure buildout. Supporters argued that transmission delays are slowing California’s climate goals and raising costs, while opponents raised concerns about CEQA process, staffing, and prioritization. The bill passed 15-0. AB 1191, by Assemblymember Tangipa, would make existing large hydroelectric facilities eligible for the Renewable Portfolio Standard; supporters framed it as a way to lower rates and ease affordability pressures, while opponents said it would undermine the purpose of the RPS by substituting existing resources for new renewable development. That bill failed on a 4-11 vote. AB 1280, by Assemblymember Garcia, would expand state grant programs to support thermal energy storage projects for industrial decarbonization. Supporters said it would help modernize manufacturing, cut pollution in disadvantaged communities, and preserve jobs, with broad support from environmental and clean manufacturing groups and no opposition testimony. The bill passed 17-0. AB 1117, by Assemblymember Schultz, would require the CPUC to offer optional dynamic electricity rate tariffs for customers to shift usage away from peak periods; supporters said it could lower bills and improve grid efficiency, while utilities said they were not opposed to the concept but wanted more flexibility and time in the regulatory process. That bill passed 14-0. The committee also approved its consent calendar and other noncontroversial items, with several measures moving forward unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:13:10.640><c> 13</c> average electricity prices last year. 13 average electricity prices last
• </c> kept when it comes to energy prices. kept when it comes to energy prices.
• So we have the highest gas prices in the country, the highest electricity prices in the country, the
• Most of my constituents are more concerned about the prices in the supermarket than the prices in the
• Most of my constituents are more concerned about the prices in the supermarket than the prices in the

Bills: HB4758

Keywords: home electrification, taxpayer subsidies, energy efficiency, rebate programs, public law repeal

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 130 students transferred to our online 130 students transferred to our online learning<00:46:15.520
• </c> our students have moved to online our students have moved to online learning<01:28:53.120><c> with
• Despite the our students went online.
• And as I said, Senator Lucero, online.
• Um, when we talk and watching online.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that it's online. that it's online. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:58:35.760><c> you.
• </c> get their news and information online. get their news and information online.
• ><c> was</c><03:35:28.880><c> $540,000</c> median sales price was $540,000 median sales price was $540,000
• The median home price was $350,000.
• So we are doing a that price range.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• adjusts for prices and population adjustment.
• Price. You know the drill.
• My name is John Price.
• Price. Senator Bernt. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Price, thank you for being here.
• Price. Do you expect to raise fees again next year? Thank you, Mr. Price.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I can start with the presentation; we're online. All right, I'll start.
• That is the worst-case scenario, a low oil price scenario.
• So, of course, there is a lot of volatility depending on price and production.
• Certainly on that sector and prices and probably all the same. Secretary, maybe address it.
• If demand drops, actually, prices will likely fall.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Anybody in the car business will tell you the cars are sold on payment, not on price.
• And so that's when we're seeing these gas price spikes.
• So this is a way to stabilize gas prices as we make the transition to cleaner vehicles.
• That's a downward price spiral. I was over at the auto show.
• We have online tools for total cost of ownership.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Select Committee on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure focused on California’s EV market, charging infrastructure, and the effects of recent federal actions. The chair opened by emphasizing California’s progress on EV adoption and charging reliability, but also noted ongoing challenges with affordability, access, interoperability, heavy-duty electrification, and federal headwinds. She highlighted interest in technologies such as inductive charging and thanked host organizations and staff before moving to the first panel. State agency witnesses from Go-Biz, CARB, and the California Energy Commission described current programs and priorities. Go-Biz outlined its role in coordinating agencies, supporting permitting, and advancing the state’s ZEV market development strategy and equity action plan. CARB discussed federal attacks on its clean vehicle regulations, litigation to defend waiver authority, and the importance of incentives and regulatory programs such as Advanced Clean Trucks, Advanced Clean Fleets, Clean Truck Check, HVIP, and Clean Cars for All. The CEC detailed its funding and regulatory work on charging and fueling infrastructure, charger reliability, payment methods, roaming, and statewide planning, while stressing the need for more charging in multifamily housing and more public DC fast charging. All three agencies said federal rollbacks and permitting delays are major obstacles, but that California remains committed to expanding ZEV adoption. The second panel featured advocates, local government, utility, and research perspectives. CalETC urged continuous state funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and emphasized the low-carbon fuel standard, multifamily charging, and managed charging. An EV advocacy group proposed a conquest-style state incentive for new and used EV buyers and argued that multifamily housing is a major untapped market, while also favoring Level 2 charging over Level 1 for most home and apartment settings. Los Angeles County and LADWP described large-scale local deployment of chargers, fleet electrification, workforce training, and the need for sustained funding, agency coordination, and streamlined permitting and grid interconnection. UCS recommended prioritizing replacement of older high-emitting vehicles, using fuel policy revenues to support cleaner cars, and expanding bidirectional charging. The chair closed by asking for more discussion on Level 1 versus Level 2 charging and noted the importance of education, affordability, and practical deployment strategies.