Transcript Highlights:

• This will avoid perception that the revenue and the solid waste management assistance account, other
• This will avoid perception that the revenue and the solid waste management assistance account, other
• This will avoid perception that the revenue and the solid waste management assistance account, other
• This will avoid perception that the revenue and the solid waste management assistance account, other
• </c> covered household hazardous waste covered household hazardous waste products,<00:15:55.360><c> the

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when I talk about wasted energy...
• When I talk about wasted energy, I'm referring to the excess of wind and solar.
• And it is a chart that tracks how much wasted energy comes from wind and solar.
• And when I talk about wasted energy, when I talk about wasted energy, I'm referring to the excess of
• And it is a chart that tracks how much wasted energy comes from wind and solar.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee held an informational hearing on digital asset innovation, with opening remarks framing cryptocurrencies, blockchain, stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance as a growing part of the financial system. Dennis Porter of Satoshi Action Fund presented on the market size, institutional adoption, use cases such as remittances and small-business payments, and policy developments at the federal and state levels. He also discussed risks including volatility, cybersecurity, and illicit use, while arguing that clear regulation can support innovation and consumer protection. State Controller Malia Cohen then updated the committee on implementation of SB 822, California’s unclaimed digital asset law. She explained that the law applies to custodial accounts, not self-custodied wallets, and requires holders to conduct outreach before dormant digital assets are transferred to the state in native form. Committee discussion focused on how abandonment is determined, what counts as account activity, the expected timeline for notices and custodian procurement, and the administrative costs and staffing needed to run the program. Controller staff said the state is still building procedures, working with Oregon, and expects a significant increase in claims once the program is operational. Porter returned with a proposal for a California digital asset reserve fund built on unclaimed digital assets under SB 822. He argued the fund could be cost-neutral, use only high-quality digital assets, and include guardrails such as an advisory board, audits, and public reporting. Committee members expressed interest in diversification and consumer protection, but also raised concerns about volatility, documentation, and market downturns. The hearing ended after public comment from industry and advocacy representatives, including support from the California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition, the Crypto Council for Innovation, and Coinbase, all urging clear, technology-neutral policy to keep innovation and jobs in California.

Transcript Highlights:

• All the flag means is we're not making any determination of fraud, waste, or abuse.
• We're generating a flag waste, or abuse.
• </c> potentially you could call maybe a waste potentially you could call maybe a waste of<00:47:30.560
• </c> determined to be fraud, waste, or abuse? determined to be fraud, waste, or abuse?
• </c><01:26:24.480><c> an</c> this because we didn't want to waste an this because we didn't want to waste

Bills: HF3378

Keywords: human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• with a couple of groups this morning that brought a minor issue to my attention regarding some solid waste
• It would take what's now considered waste and make it a value, not only to operators but also to surface
• wastewater's disposed, it's put so deep that our iodine companies could not retrieve it, so it's wasted
• It's not just currently wasted; it's wasted forever.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• promote a more sustainable circular economy and avoid problems that are created by mismanaged hazardous waste
• And it could create a hazardous waste crisis if clear pathways for management are not already. in place
• complications that burned EV batteries posed in the cleanup of the LA fires and as local household hazardous waste
• EV batteries have already started arriving at Household Hazardous Waste, or HHW, facilities operated
• Come on up Good afternoon Tony Hackett from Californians Against Waste in support extremely grateful

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• construction demolition waste.
• </c><00:35:18.480><c> transition</c> construction demolition waste transition construction demolition
• waste transition program.<00:35:20.000><c> These</c><00:35:20.160><c> would</c><00:35:20.280><c> be<
• </c> governments to improve solid waste governments to improve solid waste management<00:35:23.280><c
• </c> construction demolition waste. construction demolition waste.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to page 6, the city utilized solid waste funds to pay monthly dumpster rental fees on behalf
• However, it does not appear that the water department transfers the payments received to the solid waste
• Additionally, $3,600 was due to the street fund from the solid waste fund as of December 31, 2023.
• weren't transferred to general fund, or vice versa from general fund to solid waste.
• I apologize for us having to be presented and waste your time today.

Summary: The committee began with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that 19 of 43 original entities for the 2022 reporting year had had turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reporting year, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five still outstanding. The committee also heard that Adona had come into substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, and it voted to file that report and discontinue withholding turnback. It then voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report for Gum Springs after hearing repeated findings involving budgeting, disbursements, payroll, and Act 833 funds, with city officials saying they had begun correcting records and were seeking help from the Municipal League and a city attorney. Fargo was deferred because the mayor was absent due to illness. The committee next considered Denning, where staff described repeated and serious accounting problems over 2022-2024, including unauthorized payments, missing documentation, weak payroll controls, and improper handling of funds. The mayor and recorder-treasurer said prior records were disorganized and that they were now working with an attorney, CPA help, and new software; the committee voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report. Green Forest’s report, involving a fixed-asset listing issue after the mayor’s death, was filed. Several private water and sewer reports were either filed or deferred depending on whether responses had been received, and the committee announced its March meeting would be held in Room 149 because of renovations. The committee then reviewed a series of referred reports involving alleged financial irregularities. In Elaine, the fire chief’s questionable purchases were referred and filed. In Strong, staff described undeposited garbage-bag receipts, improper payments for private dumpster service and other expenditures, payroll tax penalties, and deficit fund balances; the mayor said controls had been improved, but the committee deferred the report to March. The Faulkner County Fair Association report found undocumented cash withdrawals, questionable disbursements, and inadequately documented cash payments to a carnival vendor; the committee filed it. Brooklyn’s report involved a fraudulent direct-deposit change, and Mineral Springs’ report involved transfers from the cemetery fund, employee loans, overpayments, and travel reimbursement issues; both were filed. Additional reports included Rondo, where the recorder-treasurer explained missing computers and fuel purchases tied to personal vehicles, and the committee filed the report; Waldo, where the mayor had been overpaid due to extra biweekly payments, which was filed; Columbia County, where a floodplain management contract lacked an authorizing ordinance, which was filed; and several private water-system reports, some filed and others deferred for lack of responses. Carlisle’s report showed large but improving misstatements in financial records, and the committee filed it after hearing that new software and training had reduced prior problems. Caddo Valley’s report prompted a lengthy discussion about CDs and interest recognition; staff explained that principal balances should be reflected as city assets and interest should be recorded when earned or reported by the bank, and the report was filed. Prairie County’s budget overrun and road-fund issues were discussed at length, with the judge explaining equipment and weather-related costs and staff clarifying the distinction between road funds and locally approved sales-tax uses; the report was filed. Finally, the committee deferred a Cross County Rural Water Association matter after learning it had not filed with Legislative Audit since 2002-2003 despite receiving significant state funding, and members expressed concern about the long gap in filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• metals-intensive servers every few years means that we're going to be adding more and more to the e-waste
• metals-intensive servers every few years means that we're going to be adding more and more to the e-waste
• metals-intensive servers every few years means that we're going to be adding more and more to the e-waste
• metals-intensive servers every few years means that we're going to be adding more and more to the e-waste
• metals-intensive servers every few years means that we're going to be adding more and more to the e-waste

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• solar flares or geomagnetic storms, and high-altitude electromagnetic pulses, which would come from a nuclear
• Solar flares or geomagnetic storms and high-altitude electromagnetic pulses, which would come from a nuclear

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, nuclear is like, "Hey, look, nuclear is simple, easy, let's do it. Let's look at it."

Bills: HF4470, HF2418, HF3417, HF3365, HF3463

Keywords: HF4470, Melissa Hortman, memorial, statue, memorial garden, State Office Building, Capitol Mall Design Framework, capital investment, appropriation, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Department of Administration, public art, commemorative monument, landscaping, artist selection, family consultation, Minnesota legislature, state building site, capital appropriation, political subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're not talking about a nuclear reactor, uh, where water could be potentially discharged into a
• So we're not talking about a nuclear reactor, uh, where water could be potentially discharged into a

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the hard insurance market for nonprofits, and one of the things that came up in that committee was nuclear
• the hard insurance market for nonprofits, and one of the things that came up in that committee was nuclear

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance market for nonprofits, and one of the things that came up in that committee was, um, uh, nuclear
• insurance market for nonprofits, and one of the things that came up in that committee was, um, uh, nuclear

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 733-FN, a bill concerning third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors funding lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, increases litigation abuse, and contributes to higher insurance and consumer costs. He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with guardrails and reporting requirements on specified pages of the bill. He also noted a couple of drafting fixes, including adding the word “knowingly” and incorporating a missing section later. Members raised questions about the bill’s foreign-entity language, especially the provision allowing a governor or the Department of Safety to designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure. Representative Cole said he would have lawyers review that issue. Another member asked whether the bill would prohibit a party from obtaining outside funding for a lawsuit; Cole clarified that the bill is intended as a reporting measure, not a ban, and that disclosure would be required. He also said the bill is aimed at American citizens rather than foreign-backed financing, and that some states had considered caps on such arrangements, though this bill does not. Brandon Gratz of the Attorney General’s office testified that the enforcement language appears too limited, because it would allow only civil penalties and not broader Consumer Protection Act remedies such as injunctions or restitution. He suggested the Attorney General may not have meaningful authority under the bill as written and raised possible insurance-law issues. Commissioner D.J. Benton-Court of the Insurance Department said the disclosure could help insurers better assess risk and potentially soften the hard insurance market by improving transparency, competition, underwriting, innovation, and claims management. He also said the bill likely needs further work on jurisdiction and enforcement, and that the committee may need to coordinate with the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and possibly banking regulators. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Billions of dollars that we know have been wasted in this state.
• Unfortunately, we've seen devastating examples of waste, fraud, and abuse.
• What does that have to do with finding $400 million of waste?
• I cannot stand by while our vital asset is wasted.
• I cannot stand by while our vital asset is wasted.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor file of bills. Early measures passed with little or no debate, including AB 698 on local transfer taxes and affordable housing analysis, AB 456 on mobile home sales, AB 1129 on reportable infant health conditions, AB 69 on Fair Plan insurance notices and voluntary market searches, AB 357 on expedited student and faculty housing permits, AB 383 on firearms code cleanups, AB 426 on drones interfering with emergency response, AB 825 on energy affordability and transmission financing, and AB 699 on ballot transparency for local tax and bond measures. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan margins, while AB 825 drew the most extended debate over whether it would lower costs or expand state control of energy infrastructure; it ultimately passed 45-5. The most contentious item was AB 84, which would strengthen oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools and tighten accountability for charter spending and operations. Supporters argued it was needed to stop fraud and misuse of public education dollars, citing major scandals and audit findings, while opponents warned it would harm legitimate charter schools, reduce educational options, and disproportionately affect rural and special-needs students. Several members said they supported the bill only to keep negotiations going, and others urged more targeted or delayed action. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the Assembly passed AB 84 on a 41-22 vote. The chamber also took up AB 610, a housing bill that would require cities and counties to disclose planned housing restrictions and limit new constraints for three years after housing element approval. The author framed it as a certainty and transparency measure to help address the state’s housing shortage, while noting continued discussions with local governments and housing advocates. The transcript ends with the bill’s presentation and request for an aye vote, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> audits Financial Integrity fraud waste audits Financial Integrity fraud waste and<02:04:01.440><
• First, fraud, waste and abuse.
• First, fraud, waste and abuse.
• First, fraud, waste and abuse.
• and abuse so perhaps most on fraud waste and abuse so perhaps most importantly<03:32:53.239><c> is</

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Finance Division 3 met for a work session on House Bill 519, which concerns funding for Waypoint. The chair noted general support for the organization but said the bill would likely need to be suspended and folded into the budget process because the committee did not yet know available revenues or what amount, if any, could be committed. Kya Fox, director of the Division for Behavioral Health, testified that the department supports the bill and the program, explaining that it had been funded with other available funds, including $100,000 for 2024 and $400,000 for 2025, under a contract running through June 30 of this year. She said the shelter serves a unique population of young adults and is part of the department’s children’s system of care and Mission Zero efforts to reduce barriers to psychiatric discharge and emergency department use. Members questioned Fox and Waypoint representatives about the budget placement of the request, the difference between the efficiency budget and prioritized needs, and whether state budget documents would show any internal Waypoint revenues. Fox said the request appears as a general fund item and that the state would not see Waypoint’s internal financial operations in the budget. A legislative member explained that prioritized needs are critical services already in place but not necessarily included in the efficiency budget, and another member said the distinction is not strictly applied. The committee also raised a separate question about how DHHS would handle any future state or federal restrictions on DEI practices; Fox said that was a question for department leadership and legal staff, but that the department follows state law and contract requirements. Waypoint CEO Bor Alvare and Director Mandy Lancaster then described the shelter and related services. They said the shelter serves ages 18 to 24, is a 14-bed open-room facility with half walls, and is staffed overnight by two full-time workers. They said admission is first come, first served, with some vulnerability factors considered, and that they do not discriminate by race, gender, or sexual orientation. They reported no known incidents of sexual violence, though some youth are turned away each night because the shelter is full. They also explained that Waypoint provides broader services beyond the shelter, including outreach, drop-in centers, housing support, rental assistance, and family mediation, and said they serve about 400 youth and young adults in Manchester alone. The discussion ended with questions about whether lowering the upper age limit would affect the program; Waypoint said most residents are already in the 18-to-23 range, but that housing shortages make the current age span important for helping young adults avoid chronic homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• Presenting SB 1371, which ensures that solid waste companies cannot use force majeure clauses to suspend
• Solid waste collection is an essential public health service that our communities rely on every single
• Waste haulers do not benefit when trash piles up. The opposite is true.
• Our members are not parties to labor disputes between waste companies and unions.
• John Macaille on behalf of Waste Management and Recology, also opposed unless amended. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard several bills. SB 911, by Senator Becker, would require notification and verification of defensible-space compliance when homes in high wildfire severity zones are transferred, using the preliminary change of ownership report; supporters said it would improve wildfire resilience and insurance availability, while county assessors opposed the use of the PCOR and urged a different recorded document. Members generally supported the bill but raised concerns about the 12-month compliance window and the need to keep working with assessors; the bill was held pending a quorum and later placed on call. SB 1016, by Senator Blakespear, would create a pathway for a higher-level mental health evaluation when a Care Court petition is dismissed because the person is too ill to participate or otherwise needs more intensive care. Supporters, including psychiatrists, family members, and local officials, said Care Court is leaving many severely ill people untreated and that the bill would connect them to existing LPS processes. Opponents, including Disability Rights California, county behavioral health directors, counties, and other advocacy groups, argued it would expand involuntary detention, bypass existing pre-petition screening safeguards, and undermine Care Court’s voluntary nature. The bill passed the committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 1112, by Senator Archuleta, would create a faster court process for victims of illegal or excessive “bandit towing” to recover their vehicles by posting a bond and obtaining a release certificate. Support came from Enterprise Mobility and the author, who said the bill targets bad actors and helps equalize leverage for vehicle owners; the California Auto Body Association sought an amendment to exclude auto repair shops. The committee passed the bill as amended to Appropriations and placed it on call. SB 1119, by Senator Padilla, would impose child-safety requirements on AI chatbots, including risk assessments, crisis-response protocols, parental controls, limits on time and data use, reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The bill was driven by testimony from the mother of a teenager who died by suicide after prolonged chatbot interactions; industry and business groups opposed or sought amendments, citing overlap with recent law, vague standards, and prescriptive design mandates. Members expressed strong support for the bill’s goals while urging tighter definitions, and the bill was moved on a roll call vote and placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and this bill changes a member on the Solid Waste Working Group and extends the due dates for the
• First, if this bill becomes law, we will be happy to serve on the Solid Waste Working Group.
• Second, we note in our letter that the Forest Society is not expert in solid waste management issues.
• But that kind of touches on my third point: there are so many issues related to solid waste management
• It's mostly just dealing with solid waste issues as I recall the charge of this particular commission

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> years if there is so much fraud, waste, years if there is so much fraud, waste, and<00:58:28.160
• </c> term waste and fraud. term waste and fraud.
• The hardest part here when we say waste and fraud, the waste is often the way we and fraud, the waste
• </c> waste of taxpayer money. I yield back. waste of taxpayer money. I yield back.
• </c> that Christy Gnome purchased and wasted that Christy Gnome purchased and wasted taxpayer<06:10:21.680

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:13.839><c> So,</c> fraud, waste, and abuse. So, fraud, waste, and abuse.
• When it comes to issues with regard to fraud, waste, and abuse, we would like the sanction to match the
• ,</c><00:20:26.920><c> and</c> issues with regard to fraud, waste, and issues with regard to fraud, waste
• </c><00:49:19.000><c> And</c> regard to the fraud waste and abuse.
• And regard to the fraud waste and abuse.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Waste is a little bit more subjective.
• One person's community amenity could be the next person's biggest waste ever.
• So I'd ask, you know, to really dig into waste and understand that waste is in the eye of the beholder
• But we can't forget when we're being evaluated on whether it's waste or what we do.
• However, if it's waste, we know what works in one county might not work for another county.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes heard first from city representatives through the Florida League of Cities, who argued that property taxes are a stable local revenue source that funds core services such as police, fire, parks, public works, and stormwater work. Casey Cook emphasized that cities are optional governments with widely different tax bases and service levels, that exemptions shift the burden to fewer taxpayers, and that transparency already exists through TRIM notices, public budgets, and local hearings. Sarah Campbell of Fernandina Beach, T. Michael Stavris of Winter Haven, and Stephen O’Kee of Port St. Lucie described their budget processes, the share of general-fund revenue coming from property taxes, reserve policies, debt and capital planning, and the impact of inflation, minimum wage increases, and personnel costs. They all said local governments need predictable revenue and that any property tax changes would require careful consideration of replacement funding or service reductions. Members questioned the city panel about whether homebuyers are clearly informed about city versus county taxes and services, the role of HOAs, how many lobbyists cities employ, reserve levels, average salaries, and whether utility revenues are used only for utility purposes. The panel said TRIM notices, realtor listings, and city websites provide tax information; HOAs generally do not provide emergency services; lobbyists help local governments track Tallahassee legislation; reserves vary by city and fund; and utility revenues are generally restricted, though some cities use limited transfers. Members also asked about revenue replacement if ad valorem taxes were reduced or eliminated, and the panel said options would likely include user fees, service cuts, or other local revenue shifts. The chair also asked about public safety consolidation, and the response was that such decisions are local and may shift costs rather than create true savings. The committee then heard from county representatives after an overview by the Florida Association of Counties’ Davin Suggs, who framed counties as shared partners with the state and emphasized the gap between rising market values and the shrinking share of taxable value after exemptions and assessment limits. He said counties face a mismatch between revenue based on taxable value and expenses driven by real-world costs, and noted that most counties either held millage steady or lowered it without reaching rollback rates. He also highlighted that property taxes are only one part of county revenue, with charges for services and intergovernmental revenue often larger in some counties, and that public safety at the county level includes more than law enforcement, such as EMS, emergency management, inspections, and corrections. Deborah Manzo of Okeechobee County described a fiscally constrained rural county with limited staff, a county-supported airport, heavy reliance on property taxes for the general fund, and major cost pressures from inflation, insurance, retirement, and state and federal mandates. She said the county lowered millage slightly over recent years but still depends on multiple revenue sources and special assessments, and she flagged Medicaid, medical examiner costs, and possible firefighter workweek changes as significant concerns. Bay County Administrator Mark McQueen said his county’s budget is shaped by Hurricane Michael recovery, non-discretionary obligations, and rapid growth; he described ongoing FEMA reimbursement delays, substantial borrowing to cover disaster costs, and continuing interest expenses while the county waits for reimbursement. The county panel was still in progress when the transcript ended.