Transcript Highlights:

• So the first change I'll discuss is it adds a policy around local effort assistance, lowering the maximum
• enrollment in alternative learning assistance programs that may count toward local effort assistance
• It provides local effort assistance payments to charter schools using the same formula for LEA as is
• This amendment provides local effort assistance payments to charter schools using the same LEA formula
• And also the policy committee OPR staff that come and assist as well really do appreciate all of your

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on three bills. For Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, staff explained it would create an abortion savings program funded by a new assessment on health carriers to support grants for abortion clinical care access. Representative Marshall offered amendments to limit grants to Washington residents, expand eligibility to IVF and fertility providers, prioritize medically underserved areas, and add a 2031 sunset; all were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then voted 18-10 to report the bill out with a do pass recommendation. For Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, staff briefed a striking amendment that would reduce savings in K-12 spending by changing local effort assistance and Running Start limits, prioritizing some transition-to-kindergarten funding, and eliminating inflation increases for National Board bonuses. Members debated a series of amendments on bus depreciation, charter school LEA payments, transition-to-kindergarten funding, and Running Start. Some amendments were adopted, including a bus depreciation change and a Running Start adjustment, while others were rejected. The committee then adopted the striker as amended and reported the bill out 17-12 with a due pass recommendation. For Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would establish the Washington Electric Transmission Authority and related board and advisory structures, members considered amendments on rural land-use expertise, eastern Washington board representation, corridor review standards, tribal workgroup removal, and payments in lieu of taxes for transmission facilities. One amendment was withdrawn and the others were rejected except for a landowner/rural expertise amendment that passed. The committee then reported the bill out 18-11 with a due pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, members exchanged closing remarks thanking staff and colleagues, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Senator Burtenshaw, SESTA stands for special education services and technical assistance.
• So SESTA is that statewide technical assistance center, if you will.
• It reduces the anxiety that they might feel with transition.
• It reduces the anxiety that they might feel with transitioning from one task to another.
• It builds independence, and it prepares their brain for transitions.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began by welcoming a new Senate Page, Caleb Williams of Shelley, who introduced himself and answered a few light questions about his plans after graduation. The committee then approved minutes from February 10, 12, 16, and 17, 2026, by voice vote. The main action item was Senate Bill 1317, which would create regional service centers to help school districts and charter schools share special education-related staff and services, especially in rural areas. The sponsor and department staff said the bill is intended to reduce duplication, improve compliance with IDEA, strengthen recruitment and retention of specialists, and preserve local control. Testimony from superintendents, teachers, parents, advocates, and others was overwhelmingly supportive, emphasizing high costs for contracted services, staffing shortages, and the benefits of shared regional models. Senator Zito raised concerns about the $1 million fiscal note, the use of real property, and the lack of clarity about how many centers would be created and where they would be located. After discussion, the committee voted to send SB 1317 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation; the motion passed with Senator Zito voting no. Following that, the committee received informational presentations on two Idaho education programs: District 91’s PASS program in Idaho Falls, a tiered behavior-support model for young students, and Kootenai Classical Academy’s classical education model, including its curriculum, character education, and strong literacy results. The meeting adjourned at the scheduled hard stop.

Transcript Highlights:

• a committee substitute that simply incorporates suggestions from the controller such as adding transition
• I am in support of this bill and assisted in the drafting of it.
• I assisted working with the controller on the transition language and helped in assisting in drafting
• The city closed vehicle lanes and put in green belts and transit stops.
• House Bill 4348 ties life saving assistance to unrelated disputes over transportation choices.

Bills: HB 341 , HB 469 , HB 971 , HB 1624 , HB 2721 , HB 2959 , HB 3365 , HB 3731 , HB 3793 , HB 3861 , HB 3946 , HB 3966 , HB 4348 , HB 4401 , HB 4402 , HB 4924 , HB 4966 , HB 5563

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, commercial vehicle, safety standards, enforcement, Texas counties, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 873, Alanis, dental assistants: do pass out on a roll call.
• AB 511, Chen, radiologist assistance: hold in committee.
• AB 937, Connolly, Organic Transition Program: hold in committee.
• ACA 3, Haney, UC home ownership assistance: two-year bill.
• ACA 3, Haney, UC home ownership assistance: two-year bill.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:20.680><c> to</c> and providing technical assistance to and providing technical assistance
• </c> a strategy we are deploying to assist a strategy we are deploying to assist our<00:32:09.000><c>
• So, what we're looking to do is look at 24-hour emergency assistance, assisted living, assistive technology
• ,</c><00:53:26.040><c> assisted</c> 24-hour emergency assistance, assisted 24-hour emergency assistance
• <00:53:40.560><c> services,</c><00:53:41.120><c> waiver</c> transitional services, waiver transitional

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the legislative information services and health committee staff as well as the court officers for assisting
• Municipalities embrace smart growth zoning, expanding housing near transit and town centers, and ensure
• area or out in the busy and walkable The same standard, whether you're downtown in our walkable transit
• As well as what could be first-time homebuyer down payment assistance.
• Even with two working family members and rental assistance through HomeBASE, families could not afford

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on zoning, Chapter 40B, and related housing bills. Much of the testimony focused on the “Yes in My Backyard” bill (H. 1572/S. 962), which would expand by-right development of missing middle housing, reduce barriers such as minimum lot sizes and parking mandates, and support duplexes, triplexes, and other small-scale housing. Supporters included housing advocates, developers, local officials, and municipal leaders from places like Cambridge, Salem, and Braintree, who argued that state action is needed because local zoning often blocks needed housing and that the bill would help create more affordable, neighborhood-compatible homes. Several witnesses also backed a companion “Yes in God’s Backyard” bill (H. 2347), which would allow faith-based institutions to build housing on their property by right, with testimony emphasizing the potential for new units, added municipal tax revenue, and partnerships between religious organizations and housing developers. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1021 to modernize Chapter 40R incentives. Senator Pavel Payano and others said the program’s payments have not kept pace with inflation since 2004 and should be increased to better encourage smart-growth zoning near transit and town centers. Another major topic was H. 2298 on site plan review, which would codify and standardize the process in state law. Rep. Kristin Kassner and witnesses from MAPC and NAIOP said current site plan review practices vary widely across the state, creating confusion, delays, and litigation, while a uniform framework would give municipalities clearer tools to review by-right projects without undermining local oversight. The hearing also included testimony on Chapter 40B reform, including S. 1005 and H. 1537. One witness supported further review of 40B and stronger regional planning, while another backed a proposal to allow certain pre-2010 40B condominium owners to sell at market value under a framework that would recapture some of the subsidy benefits. Committee members asked several questions about local zoning changes, housing goals by county, and how the proposed bills would affect communities. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs indicated that written testimony would be welcomed for technical details and additional comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• May we transition from being careless tenants to faithful protectors.
• of the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding section 46-232, relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
• It limits their access to food assistance through SNAP to only three months in a three-year period.
• Food assistance through SNAP is limited to only three months in a three-year period, and it is difficult
• of the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding Section 46-232 relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then recognized several visiting groups at the Capitol, including OBGYNs and trainees for Women’s and Reproductive Health Day, environmental advocates for Environmental Day, Arizona Maha Coalition members, nurses for Arizona Nurses Day, aerospace industry representatives for Aerospace Day, and guests for International Mother Language Day and other district visitors. Several proclamations and recognitions were read, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Aerospace Day, and a recognition of Israeli Supreme Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez. The chamber also welcomed the Doctor of the Day and a newly appointed commissioner, and the President Pro Tem made temporary committee appointments. The main floor business was a Committee of the Whole on several SNAP-related bills. SB 1002, concerning SNAP/TANF public welfare verification, received a floor amendment from Senator Kavanagh and was advanced with a do pass recommendation. SB 1331, relating to SNAP military employment and training, also advanced do pass. SB 1333, relating to a SNAP error rate forensic audit, was amended by the Health and Human Services Committee and advanced do pass after Senator Gonzalez spoke in opposition, arguing the bill did not address the underlying federal error-rate problem and could increase state costs. SB 1334, concerning SNAP work requirement waivers and exemptions, advanced do pass despite Senator Gonzalez’s opposition, in which she argued the bill would restrict Arizona’s flexibility, especially in rural and tribal areas, and could harm older adults and people with disabilities. SB 1368, concerning SNAP purchase restrictions, was then taken up; Senator Gonzalez began speaking in opposition, but the transcript cuts off before the debate or final action on that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:26.159><c> to</c> committee and will be transitioning to committee and will be transitioning
• assistance, long-term care, and then the attorney successfully negotiated with this assisted living
• </c><00:35:09.440><c> happened</c> point out that this assistance happened point out that this assistance
• </c> the statute was passed to transition the statute was passed to transition that<00:37:09.200><c>
• Assistance programs are great; they work really well.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> provider technical assistance, provider technical assistance, education.<00:19:46.799><c> So,</
• Um, we our complex transitions team.
• Um, it's also the case, to transition.
• I will say one of the transitions.
• But wanted to start with a transition to what what passed last transition to what what passed last session

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got municipal corporations like King County Metro, RTAs like Sound Transit, some city transits
• Transit had these.
• But you talk about $500,000 a year for their transit program.
• I don't know how long Garfield Transit has been in existence.
• So if you actually go over into Link Transit in Wenatchee or Spokane Transit or Grant Transit, almost

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on October 16, 2025, for a budget and revenue overview, a traffic safety presentation, and a discussion of potential transit and active transportation grant programs. Committee staff reviewed the adopted 2025-27 transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, the large share for WSDOT, and the mix of revenue sources including fuel tax, vehicle-related fees, federal funds, Climate Commitment Act revenue, and new 2025 revenues from SB 5801 and SB 5802. Staff said the 2025 session produced a balanced four-year plan, preserved major project schedules, maintained highway preservation funding, and added money for culverts, local preservation, and other priorities. They also described a September forecast showing lower motor fuel consumption than previously expected, but still enough revenue growth to keep the transportation plan balanced. For the 2026 supplemental, staff said agency requests were relatively modest overall, with most capital requests reflecting reappropriations and timing shifts rather than new projects, while WSDOT’s addendum identified much larger future needs for maintenance, preservation, paving, culverts, and safety work. Senators asked for more detail on how revenues are distributed by fund type and geography, how much of the maintenance and preservation request is actual maintenance versus equipment, whether paving needs could be supported through bonding, and how electric vehicle sales trends might affect forecasts. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chikino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She said U.S. traffic fatalities have risen sharply over the past decade, with especially large increases for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and argued that the U.S. lags other high-income countries in roadway safety. Her presentation highlighted IIHS’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce fatalities 30% by 2030 through safer speeds, stronger impaired-driving countermeasures, better pedestrian protection, and safer commercial vehicles. She discussed research linking higher speed limits to higher fatality risk, the benefits of lower urban speed limits, speed safety cameras, traffic calming, lighting, pedestrian beacons, and safer intersection design. She also described ongoing work with Bellevue on smart signal technology and pedestrian safety pilots. Committee members thanked her for the presentation and said they would share the materials with others. In the final work session, the committee revisited transit and active transportation grant concepts that had been included in the Senate budget proposal but did not advance in 2025. Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division explained how grant programs need runway, staff capacity, applicant readiness, and clear criteria, and compared program design to getting a plane off the ground. She discussed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting that some projects could be structured as funding-first programs while others would work better as project-line or project-first models. She said regional trail projects are already eligible under existing programs but often score lower because current criteria emphasize safety and population served. Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association then reviewed transit grant programs and argued that transit safety and security needs remain underfunded, including operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health coordination, and non-uniformed security staff. He said many transit capital programs are oversubscribed, that operator barrier retrofits alone could cost $20 million to $30 million, and that agencies face uncertainty about how recent sales tax changes apply to security-related contracts. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've been meeting with the State Water Board, with the Department of Financial Assistance, trying
• So with me today, I have Ortencia Lopez, Executive Director for the Energy Transition Collective, and
• So with me today, I have Ortencia Lopez, Executive Director for the Energy Transition Collective, and
• Energy Transition Collective is the sponsor of this.
• RPS is a really important tool in our transition to a cleaner energy future.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of energy, water, and utility bills. SB 952, SB 1417, SB 924, SB 925, SB 1011, SB 1168, SB 1196, and SB 1350 were all discussed, along with consent items SB 1008 and SB 1245. SB 952 would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility in meeting clean energy procurement goals for the State Water Project; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. SB 1417 would extend transparency and notice requirements to mutual water companies, especially in response to wildfire-related rate increases in Altadena; supporters described lack of notice, meeting access, and public accountability, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and potentially conflicting with existing law. SB 924 would modernize low-income energy assistance and weatherization programs to better measure affordability outcomes and tenant benefits, and it passed with broad support. SB 925 would direct the Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; it was supported by industry and clean energy groups and passed without opposition. SB 1011 would require CPUC standards for human review of utility AI systems and labor consultation; supporters framed it as a safety and workforce protection measure, while utilities and business groups warned about cost, duplication, and overbroad regulation. SB 1168, now a study bill, would have the CPUC examine how data centers pay for load growth and rate impacts; it drew mixed reactions, with some industry opposition and some labor support after amendments. SB 1196 would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines; housing advocates supported it and it passed. SB 1350 would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with strong support from hydrogen, labor, and utility interests, but TURN opposed it unless amended, arguing it lacked safeguards against greenwashing and resource shuffling. The committee also approved the consent calendar and several bills were reported out on recorded votes, with most measures advancing on strong bipartisan support and a few no votes from Senators Strickland and Dahle on selected items.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with me today, I have Ortencia Lopez, Executive Director for the Energy Transition Collective, and
• Energy Transition Collective is the... ...a great job of outlining our bill and what we propose to do
• Energy Transition Collective is the sponsor of this.
• RPS credits, or the RPS is a really important tool in our transition to a cleaner energy future.
• RPS credits, or the RPS is a really important tool in our transition to a cleaner energy future.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications heard a long agenda of energy, water, housing, and technology bills. SB 952 (Laird, presented by Perez) would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility to meet the State Water Project’s 100% clean energy procurement goal by 2035 while managing costs; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. The committee also heard SB 1417, which would extend transparency, notice, and public meeting requirements to mutual water companies’ rate increases; Senator Perez and supporters tied the bill to post-Eaton Fire recovery in Altadena, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed it, citing conflicts with tenant billing laws, privacy concerns, and burdensome meeting requirements. SB 1417 was approved on a split vote and the roll was left open. Members then considered SB 924, a low-income utility assistance/weatherization bill by Hurtado, which would require measurable affordability outcomes and better tenant-focused benefits; it passed to Appropriations with broad support from clean energy and community groups and no opposition. SB 925 (McNerney) would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; supporters from General Atomics, Clean Air Task Force, and TAE Technologies argued it would help keep fusion investment in California, and it passed unanimously to Environmental Quality. SB 1011 (McNerney) would require CPUC standards for human review and labor consultation before utilities deploy AI in operations; labor and utility engineer witnesses supported guardrails, while business and utility groups opposed or sought more review, warning of overregulation and overlap with other laws. The bill passed to Privacy, Digital Technology and Consumer Protection on a divided vote. The committee also advanced SB 1168 (McNerney), a study bill directing the CPUC to examine how data centers can pay their fair share of grid costs; data center and utility groups were opposed or neutral pending amendments, while climate advocates supported it, and it moved to Revenue and Taxation. SB 1196 (McNerney) would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines and penalties; housing advocates supported it and it passed to Local Government. SB 1350 (McNerney) would allow renewable portfolio standard credits for power plants using green hydrogen, drawing strong support from hydrogen, labor, utility, and local government interests, but opposition from TURN over greenwashing and tracking concerns; it passed to Environmental Quality. Finally, SB 1158 (Stern) would expand quarterly reliability reporting by the CEC and CPUC to include transmission and grid upgrade status; it was presented as a common-sense reliability measure and moved forward with support.

Transcript Highlights:

• I essentially begged my union to assist me in facilitating my leave, and they left me on my own.
• I am a bus operator in Miami-Dade County Transit.
• I am a bus operator in Miami-Dade County Transit.
• I'm a 23-year employee of Miami-Dade Transit. I'm a bus maintenance technician.
• I am a school bus operator, and I'm also a transit bus operator.

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• James Varela, Transit Division Manager, Los Alamos County. Please proceed when you're ready.
• With transit, we provide a summer Bandolier shuttle.
• hire and retain transit services.
• Instead, train and retain transit services.
• The Assistant District Engineer for Maintenance is Mr. Barry Lytle.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee assistant can please call the roll.
• The committee assistant can please call the roll.
• Chair, Brendan Ripke, the California Transit Association, Sunline Transit Agency, San Mateo County, and
• Brendan Rupicki, the California Transit Association, Sunline Transit Agency, San Mateo County Transit
• Chair and members, Brendan Rupicki, the California Transit Association, Sunline Transit Agency, San Mateo

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Robbie Akhan, key assistant location manager, Teamsters Local 399, and I support this bill.
• Hello, Anthony Rosario, second assistant camera, IATSE Local 600, in strong, strong support.
• Anthony Rosario, second assistant camera, IATSE Local 600, in strong, strong support. Thank you.
• We do think this is an innovative way to encourage and actually push folks onto transit.
• Robbie Akhan Key, assistant location manager, Teamsters Local 399, in support. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard AB 749, which would create a blue ribbon commission to study equitable access to youth sports and recommend a statewide framework, including coaching standards, PE modernization, and funding models to reduce barriers for families. The author and supporters, including youth sports advocates, educators, coaches, and former athletes, argued that sports improve health, school engagement, and long-term opportunity, while noting racial and income disparities in participation. One member raised concerns that a new commission could add cost and regulatory burdens, but the bill was framed as a study measure rather than immediate regulation. The committee also took up AB 549, aimed at coordinating state and local security planning for major upcoming sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympic and Paralympic Games. Supporters said the bill would improve interagency coordination, protect visitors and communities, and help prevent human trafficking and discrimination during mega-events. Members discussed the need to avoid over-policing and to center community values, but the bill advanced on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1291 addressed ticket purchasing for concerts, sports, and other live events by requiring electronic proof of purchase and allowing it to be used for entry if a ticket cannot be accessed through no fault of the buyer. Supporters said the measure would give consumers more certainty and help address problems in a monopolized ticketing market, while opponents from venues, sports teams, and entertainment groups warned it could undermine anti-scalping tools, create security problems, and burden venues with duplicate or fraudulent proofs of purchase. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended basis to Privacy and Consumer Protection, with the roll held open for absent members. The consent calendar item, AB 644, was also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment number six creates the transition advisory team.
• And this is a whole transition of the WIA program or process.
• The smooth transition of this process.
• So just to be clear, the transition advisory team is one team.
• The transition, I don't know. Sorry, Guy. We'll get that.

Summary: The Labor and Industrial Relations Committee first took up House Bill 680 by Rep. Weibel, which proposes a major overhaul of Louisiana’s workforce development system. The bill and a large amendment package were described as modernizing workforce planning, consolidating some state-level strategy and administration, and strengthening coordination with local workforce partners, employers, and regional stakeholders. A transition advisory team with an 18-month sunset was added to help implement the changes, and members repeatedly raised concerns about preserving local input for different regions, parishes, and cities. Rep. Weibel, the secretary of Louisiana Works, parish officials, and other supporters said the goal is to shift more resources from overhead to training and direct services while keeping local boards and parish involvement in place. Testimony from a Utah official and from local government and business representatives emphasized that similar consolidations can create efficiencies without eliminating local responsiveness. The committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 680 with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 780 by Rep. Furman on workers’ compensation. The bill seeks to streamline disputes over compensation and medical benefits, reduce litigation, and lower costs by restoring an expedited preliminary determination process and changing the standard for penalties and attorney fees to an arbitrary-and-capricious standard. Supporters, including lobbyists and defense attorneys, argued that the current process is outdated, overly technical, and too litigious, especially because adjusters now often work remotely and the statute still relies on fax and certified-mail procedures. They said the bill would speed up decisions, reduce unnecessary attorney-fee claims, and help employers and injured workers alike. Opponents, including attorneys for injured workers, argued the bill would make it harder for workers to recover penalties when benefits are delayed, shift the burden in favor of insurers, and fail to address understaffing and defense costs. Members debated whether the bill’s new standard should replace the current “reasonably controverted” language; an amendment to restore that language was offered but opposed by the author and other members and was not adopted. The committee adopted technical amendments and other committee amendments, heard additional testimony, and continued debating the bill’s substantive changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• CMS gave us technical assistance.
• Given the new HR1 framework, CMS gave us technical assistance to comport with the transition period that
• CMS gave us technical assistance. given the new HR1 framework, CMS gave us technical assistance to comport
• with the transition period that they have allotted for this fee.
• of state government assistance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health began with a hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California health programs, focusing first on reproductive health state investments. HCAI outlined five state-funded reproductive health programs created after Dobbs, including uncompensated care, practical support, capital and clinical infrastructure, and workforce programs. Essential Access Health and Planned Parenthood testified that these funds have served hundreds of thousands of patients, but warned that the uncompensated care program is fully awarded and needs renewal, and that Title X and Medicaid-related federal uncertainty continues to threaten access. Members questioned who the uncompensated care program serves, why Medi-Cal covers a large share of abortions, and whether Planned Parenthood could expand prenatal services; public commenters urged continued support for reproductive health access. The committee then took up long-term care services and supports, starting with the HCBA and Assisted Living Waiver programs. DHCS reported large wait lists for both programs and said enrollment is limited by workforce and provider capacity, while LAO noted that increasing slots alone may not increase access without additional programmatic changes. Members pressed the department on whether more slots should be added given the lower cost of home- and community-based care compared with skilled nursing facilities, and public testimony argued that the wait lists should be reduced and that staffing concerns do not fully explain unused capacity. The committee also heard testimony on congregate living health facilities, where providers and a patient family described the homes as critical, lower-cost alternatives to nursing facilities for younger, medically complex people. Witnesses requested short-term bridge funding, while DHCS said it is proposing to transition CLFs into a managed care benefit by January 1, 2028, which would remove caps and expand access statewide. The final long-term care topic was PACE. DHCS explained that it has paused new PACE applications and service expansions for at least two years to reassess oversight capacity and develop a statewide strategic growth framework, while existing programs continue operating. CalPACE supported the pause as a planning measure but asked for four additional state nurse positions to reduce delays in level-of-care determinations and speed enrollment for frail older adults. Members shared personal stories about how PACE has helped family members and asked how the state will meet growing demand; DHCS said stakeholder engagement will begin later in the year and that some existing applications already in process will continue. Public commenters broadly supported PACE, HCBA, and CLF funding requests. The hearing then moved to the Department of Health Care Services’ 2026-27 Medi-Cal budget and related trailer bills. DHCS said Medi-Cal spending has grown due to coverage expansions, higher acuity, rising utilization, and especially pharmacy costs, and it described proposals to extend the current skilled nursing facility financing framework for one year while the state develops a new value-based payment strategy. LAO said most recent Medi-Cal spending growth has been driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload growth, with pharmacy spending growing especially quickly, and recommended better and more timely data to analyze the drivers. Members expressed concern about the rapid rise in Medi-Cal spending and asked for more detail on the largest cost increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• connect people to transit and reduce VMT.
• The ATP also lacks... ...connect people to transit and reduce VMT.
• AB 2168 modernizes the definition of safe routes to transit, shifting focus toward transit-rich corridors
• This bill modernizes the definition of safe routes to transit to include more than just the mass transit
• VTA has a very robust transit-oriented development program.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen the full funding of transitional kindergarten.
• Most of that increase reflecting the expansion of transitional kindergarten.
• And it is my final one, as I will transition from FICMAT sometime in the fall.
• We picked a kind of a middle-of-the-road approach to give them some initial assistance.
• They did not ask for any assistance, and neither did the LA County Office of Education.

Summary: The subcommittee opened with remarks on the state budget and K-12 education, noting the large increase in the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee, the use of deferrals and reserves in the prior budget, and the challenge of balancing education funding against other state priorities. Superintendent Tony Thurmond described California education as improving overall, citing gains in test scores, graduation, and college readiness, but said major gaps remain for low-income students, students of color, agricultural communities, English learners, foster youth, and students with disabilities. He praised recent investments in universal meals, transitional kindergarten, community schools, arts, broadband, and special education, while warning that declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and the proposed $5.6 billion Prop. 98 settle-up create uncertainty for districts. He also urged a long-term literacy plan, expanded tutoring, universal kindergarten, and continued protections for students and families affected by immigration enforcement, including ICE-related fear and attendance loss. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Proposition 98 from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Finance explained that the Governor’s budget projects the minimum guarantee will rise by about $21.7 billion over three years, with a $5.6 billion settle-up obligation in 2025-26 intended to avoid overappropriation if revenues weaken. Finance also described revised reserve deposits and withdrawals, ending with about $4.1 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account by 2026-27. The LAO said recent revenue collections were stronger than expected in the current year but warned that the outlook for 2026-27 is weaker and that stock-market-driven revenues remain volatile. The LAO supported maintaining reserves and one-time spending buffers, but recommended fully funding the guarantee and using other budget solutions rather than shifting the settle-up into future deficits. Members asked about the settle-up process, certification timeline, the effect of attendance declines tied to immigration enforcement, and wildfire-related impacts, including Pasadena Unified’s $4 million special appropriation. On LCFF and necessary small schools, Finance proposed a 2.41% COLA and about $2.2 billion in additional LCFF funding for districts and charters in 2026-27, plus a $30.7 million ongoing increase to raise the necessary small schools allowance by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA but said the small-school increase was not tied to a specific cost study and could be redesigned to better target small districts, noting that only a fraction of very small districts would benefit. Questions focused on how small schools access supplemental and concentration grants and how attendance recovery programs are being implemented. The Department of Education said only 130 LEAs had reported attendance recovery so far, likely because it is a new program with compliance requirements, though interest appears to be growing. FICMAT then reviewed the fiscal health of local districts, reporting an uptick in qualified and negative certifications, though still far below Great Recession levels. It said declining enrollment, rising special education costs, and higher labor and insurance costs are the biggest fiscal pressures, and that some districts are using fiscal stabilization plans and staff reductions ahead of second interim reports. FICMAT also discussed wildfire impacts on Pasadena Unified and Los Angeles Unified, explaining that Pasadena’s $4 million state appropriation was based on an early post-fire assessment and that the district is being monitored with the county office of education. Members raised concerns about Pasadena’s leadership, special education staffing shortages, AB 218 sexual abuse litigation costs, insurance premium increases, and the need for stronger prevention and training measures. FICMAT said SB 848 and related policies address some of those concerns by strengthening standards, training, and reporting requirements.