Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Look forward to hearing your budget Look forward to hearing your budget proposal.
• . budget. budget.
• </c> uh standard budget uh is uh 25,000. uh standard budget uh is uh 25,000.
• or in the budget the budget request or in the budget because<01:19:46.080><c> u</c><01:19:46.400><c>
• on our budget.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We got to have a budget in the 17th.
• So we'd have to put into the budget.
• </c> not as material for the the the budget not as material for the the the budget process<00:08:03.680
• Thank you for your time and your consideration. district budgets, and the communities district budgets
• ,</c> the table, says this is your budget, the table, says this is your budget, wages<00:16:11.240><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 106 is a budget bill junior that amends the 2025 budget act to provide funding for reproductive
• It is an early action budget item.
• to point out what isn't in our current budget and the Governor's proposed budget.
• -27 budget.
• I want to say thank you to our budget chair and, of course, the Budget Committee for their work.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 106 is a budget bill that amends the 2025 budget act to provide funding for reproductive
• It is an early action budget item.
• to point out what isn't in our current budget and the governor's proposed budget.
• -27 budget.
• I want to say thank you to our budget chair and, of course, the Budget Committee for their work.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through privileges of the floor to recognize several guests, including the St. Mary’s High School football team from Stockton for winning the 2025 state championship, Black-owned businesses honored by the California Legislative Black Caucus and California Black Chamber of Commerce, and students and guests visiting the Capitol. The Rules Committee reported Senate Resolution 77 to third reading, and the Senate approved the journals and proceeded to the daily file. The chamber then confirmed Tyler Sadwith as Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs at the Department of Health Care Services by a 33-0 vote. The main floor action was on Senate Resolution 77, which condemned racist and dehumanizing imagery shared by President Donald Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Numerous senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, framing the post as racist, dangerous, and part of a broader pattern of dehumanization; one Republican senator objected to the resolution’s language and process but said racism should be condemned. SR 77 was adopted on a 28-0 vote. The Senate then took up SB 106, a budget bill to create a one-time $90 million grant program to support family planning providers after federal cuts under H.R. 1 reduced reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and similar clinics. Supporters said the measure would preserve access to reproductive and preventive health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents criticized the bill for secrecy, no-bid contracting, and prioritizing abortion-related services over other budget needs such as rural hospitals and developmental disability services. After debate, the Assembly amendments were concurred in by a 26-9 vote. At the end of the session, the Senate moved to adjournment in memory, with Senator Choi offering a remembrance for Mitzi Ortiz, the city manager of Aliso Viejo, who died on December 22, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• So about 70% of your budget is limited to highway purposes. A fairly new addition to the budget.
• It's not a big piece of your budget. It was used to shore up your budget.
• I'm responding to your information request because the governor's budget will be our budget.
• And so by the time you've authorized the funding in one budget, we're now through the next biennial budget
• pretty challenged their budget too.

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:

• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 will come to order.
• The administration has been mindful of the budget deficit.
• So we believe what we have in this budget achieves a balanced budget while also preserving the core elements
• COVID relief funding was very... 2023-24 budget.
• So this is a policy and budget...

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an informational overview from the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GoServe), including California Volunteers, the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, and the Youth Empowerment Commission. GoServe reported strong participation in programs such as California Service Corps, College Corps, Youth Service Corps, Climate Action Corps, and the new men’s service challenge. Testimony emphasized enrollment, retention, and completion outcomes, outreach results, and efforts to reduce administrative costs. The Department of Finance said the administration supports the programs but has already made reductions to help address the budget deficit, while the LAO said it had no new recommendations on the informational item. Committee members raised questions about program scale, demographics, and effectiveness, especially for Climate Action Corps and whether the programs are duplicative of existing volunteer opportunities. One member criticized the programs as too fragmented and costly, while others asked for more data on who is being served and whether the programs increase actual participation in state services. GoServe said it would follow up with demographic and regional impact information. The committee also discussed the men’s service challenge, which GoServe said has formed partnerships with organizations such as YMCAs and Big Brothers Big Sisters and has already attracted more than 2,000 participants. The item was informational only. The committee then heard a BOE overview and a budget request to implement SB 293, which gives wildfire-affected families additional time to claim intergenerational Prop. 13 property tax transfers. BOE requested $154,000 for guidance, public materials, and inquiry response, explaining that the work is urgent and tied to disaster relief in Los Angeles County, especially Altadena. The LAO had no concerns, and Finance had no comment. Members asked how many cases might be affected and whether more funding would be needed later; BOE said the full number is not yet known and that future requests are possible. The committee also heard BOE’s IT modernization proposal for the state-assessed property tax system, a 30-year-old mainframe replacement costing $3.2 million in 2026-27 and $3.1 million in 2027-28. BOE and Finance supported the project as necessary, while the LAO said it had no concerns but urged a high bar for new IT spending. Members generally supported modernization but cautioned about implementation risk. Finally, CDTFA presented an overview and two policy proposals. The department described administering 42 tax and fee programs, collecting $98 billion in FY 2024, and improving administrative efficiency. Members then discussed local sales tax tools and revenue-sharing agreements, with concerns raised about transparency, consultant-driven tax allocation disputes, and the impact on local communities. CDTFA and the LAO explained that local jurisdictions control how district sales tax revenues are spent and noted the Legislature could revisit the statutory cap on local add-on sales taxes. The committee then heard CDTFA’s proposal to treat all delivery network companies as marketplace facilitators so they must collect and remit sales tax on delivery-app orders. CDTFA said the change would resolve confusion, shift compliance from thousands of small restaurants to a few large platforms, and raise about $44 million annually. Several members questioned whether the proposal would effectively raise consumer costs and whether it would create a competitive advantage or disadvantage among delivery platforms. The item remained under discussion, with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appreciate it responsible budget appreciate it responsible budget budgeting<01:13:53.199><c> is<
• budget reserve?
• budget reserve?
• budget reserve?
• budget reserve?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 will come to order.
• We did not get the resources for Expo Park in this budget, which is very concerning to me.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 is now adjourned.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 is now adjourned.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 is now adjourned.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the LAO, our nonpartisan budget... ...isn't necessary.
• Thank you. ...this budget.
• And I really think that that's what this budget does.
• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education is adjourned.
• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education is adjourned.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education held its close-out hearing for the 2026 budget plan, with the chair describing the Senate proposal as fully funding Proposition 98 and emphasizing investments in universal school meals, career education, immigrant and LGBTQ+ student supports, higher education compacts, community colleges, and other student services. Public commenters largely supported those priorities, including funding for CalNEW and Dream Resource Centers, educator workforce and English learner supports, community schools, special education, paid pregnancy leave, and the Middle Class Scholarship, while some raised concerns about proposed cuts, borrowing, and the inclusion of non-LEA preschool programs in Prop. 98.\n\nDuring member comments, one senator said many items were supportable but raised concerns about placeholder language, accountability, borrowing for the Middle Class Scholarship, and the structure of paid pregnancy leave and apprenticeship funding, indicating some no votes and abstentions. The chair responded that the budget reflects major investments in K-12 and higher education, including full Prop. 98 funding, elimination of the settle-up amount, expanded student aid, and continued support for immigrant students and resource centers.\n\nThe committee then moved through the vote-only calendar and adopted most staff recommendations by roll call. Several items passed unanimously or with one abstention/no vote, while some higher education and K-12 items drew opposition from one member, including the item on the Middle Class Scholarship borrowing structure and certain proposals related to pregnancy leave, Calbright/common cloud platform, apprenticeship backfill, and other specified issues. The hearing concluded after the chair thanked participants and adjourned the subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way this budget works is they take out, you have a base budget, then you take out all the one-time
• parts of that budget.
• You have a base budget, then you take out all the one-time parts of that budget.
• The other part of the enhancement budget...
• We will see a 28 increase in this budget.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate on numerous enrolled and amended bills. The chamber concurred with Senate amendments to House Bill 542 after a brief explanation of the technical changes, and several committee reports were read, including printing, enrollment, and referrals for bills and resolutions. The House also introduced new measures, including House Bill 938 on public assistance definitions for candy and soda, and referred several Senate bills to standing committees. On third reading, the House passed House Bill 897, which narrows and adds conditions to a data center sales tax exemption, including water and electricity-related requirements and a 20-year cap, and House Bill 926, which expands community infrastructure districts to counties outside city limits. House Bill 935, consolidating the Board of Denturity with the Board of Dentistry, also passed after debate over board finances and professional independence. House Concurrent Resolution 36, supporting the Idaho Air National Guard’s transition from A-10s to F-16s, passed by voice vote despite concerns about airport noise and neighborhood impacts. Senate Bill 1326, a property rights/open fields bill limiting warrantless agency entry on private land while preserving lawful investigations and service of process, passed 65-3 with two abstentions. Several other bills were considered with mixed outcomes. House Bill 842, which would have changed city budget growth caps, foregone use, and related property tax rules, failed 28-41 after objections that it would raise taxes or create fiscal uncertainty. Senate Bill 1258 passed to allow rural distilleries to serve their own products under certain conditions, Senate Bill 1382, the Fish and Game enhancement budget, failed 32-36, and Senate Bill 1387, the State Historical Society budget, passed. The House also passed Senate Bill 1388 on Department of Correction enhancements, Senate Bill 1262 clarifying insurer investment rules, Senate Bill 1285 recognizing nonpublic high school diplomas for licensing purposes, Senate Bill 1250 expanding confidentiality for certain death-scene photographs, Senate Bill 1260 revising immigration-related enforcement language, Senate Bill 1311 on ignition interlock vendor notices and reporting, Senate Bill 1369 changing venue rules for lawsuits, Senate Bill 1303 expanding uses of energy royalty funds, and Senate Joint Memorial 11 urging protection of federal public lands from mass disposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:38.720><c> for</c> to housing, establishing a budget for to housing, establishing a budget
• And I don't understand why new budget.
• And I get to work to finish this budget.
• I have a path to pass the budget deal that was enacted.
• We have to pass a budget for the people of Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• view of the budget spending in the GAA format.
• Quick facts allow the user to summarize reports to get budget items, and the user can search on budget
• This is the budget analyst view.
• This is the budget analyst view.
• One is the operating budget by expenditure type, and the other is the operating budget by fund source

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to receive updates on Transparency Florida and related transparency tools. The Governor’s Office and the Department of Financial Services described the Transparency Florida website, the state payment and contract systems, and the local-government financial reporting system (Logger X/XBRL), emphasizing public access, searchable payment and contract data, downloadable reports, and ongoing upgrades. Members asked whether school districts and the Department of Corrections are included in these systems; staff explained that state agencies like Corrections are covered through Transparency Florida, FACTS, and the state financial reports, while Logger X is for local governments. Committee staff reported that the Transparency Florida Act’s requirements have been met and noted that any new recommendations would need legislative action; members were invited to submit recommendations by October 30. The committee then reviewed repeated audit findings for local governments and educational entities. Staff explained the statutory process for “three-peat” findings: first requesting an updated written corrective-action status, then possibly requiring an appearance before the committee, and finally taking further action if findings remain uncorrected. Most entities were recommended for written updates, while the City of Daytona Beach was singled out for an in-person appearance because of a repeated finding involving unexpended building permit balances. Members also raised questions about specific entities, including McIntosh, White Springs, Pahokee, and the Fred R. Wilson Memorial Law Library special district, with staff explaining the nature of the findings and noting that some entities may warrant further review. The committee adopted a motion to accept staff’s recommendations and to send letters to entities with uncorrected audit findings in late-filed 2023-24 audit reports. It also approved a motion directing the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required audit of the Department of the Lottery for fiscal year 2025-26, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance work and OPPAGA preparing operational recommendations. The meeting concluded with notice that the next meeting was tentatively scheduled for November 3 at 3:30 p.m., followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• :28.159><c> funds</c><00:01:28.479><c> allocated</c> budget plus additional funds allocated budget plus
• </c><00:03:56.720><c> as</c> Education Committee Omnibus Budget as Education Committee Omnibus Budget
• The budget target for the base.
• What would that do to the budget?
• because we're to the budget?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He then said he would talk about the budget, and that the budget is aspirational.
• He then said he would talk about the budget, and that the budget is aspirational.
• The second thing he'll just talk about is the budget. Again, he thinks your budget is aspirational.
• The second thing he'll just talk about is the budget. Again, he thinks your budget is aspirational.
• The second thing he'll just talk about is the budget. Again, he thinks your budget is aspirational.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a budget bill.
• It's a budget bill. We given bill. It's a budget bill.
• </c> cut back on our budget in that regard. cut back on our budget in that regard.
• the police department's budget.
• the police department's budget.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in and add it in the enhancement budgets, so we're not decreasing the budgets.
• This is not a maintenance budget; it is an enhancement budget.
• So, in result of this budget, this enhancement budget, there are zero FTPs increased.
• to the OSBE budget.
• To the OSBE budget.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, received committee reports, gubernatorial messages, and House messages, and then moved through first, second, and third readings of numerous bills and memorials. Several measures were referred to committees or held on the calendar, including new Senate bills on kratom, child care, medical education, gold and silver investment, campaign finance, stablecoins, motor vehicles, and workers’ compensation, along with House bills already amended in the Senate. The chamber also adopted three memorials: House Joint Memorial 14 urging more surface water storage, House Joint Memorial 16 supporting seniors and Medicare oversight, and House Joint Memorial 13 calling for federal agencies to follow the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision on waters of the United States. The Senate took up a series of appropriation and policy bills on final passage. Senate Bill 1402, funding the Department of Juvenile Corrections, passed 25-9 after debate over replacement items, staffing, and IT needs. Senate Bill 1403, for the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 24-9 despite concerns about reduced positions and public safety impacts. Senate Bill 1404, for the Department of Agriculture, passed 26-8 with discussion of vehicle, lab, and pest-control and quagga mussel costs. Senate Bill 1405, moving the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to the Department of Water Resources and adjusting CREP and grant balances, passed 30-4; Senate Bill 1406, for the State Public Defender, passed 22-12 amid debate over staffing and the ongoing public defense lawsuit; and Senate Bill 1407, for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, passed 24-10 after discussion of dedicated fund balances and replacement equipment. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1409 for the Idaho State Police, Brand Inspection, and POST, with a 28-5 vote, after debate over federal grant funding, mobile live scan devices, and vehicle replacements. On House bills, House Bill 905 passed 23-11 for the State Board of Education, House Bill 906 passed 26-8 for community colleges, House Bill 907 passed 23-11 for Career Technical Education, House Bill 908 passed 27-7 for the military division, House Bill 715 passed 28-6 on public library board authority, House Bill 742 passed 33-0 on electronic vehicle titles, and House Bill 658 passed 33-0 to fix cemetery district vacancy procedures. The Senate then began debate on House Bill 573, which would change who may teach the enhanced concealed carry course, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the legislature in the FY25 budget had created this group.
• to meet and continue its work in the FY26 budget.
• After the budget came out, the report was due in November.
• My total budget still goes up.
• Can't rely on it to help the state increases in the budget. Yeah.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the November 2025 minutes. Commissioner Charlie Carr then introduced Leslie Darcy, chief of LTSS at MassHealth, who provided an update on the PCA working group and on federal and state budget pressures affecting MassHealth and long-term services and supports. Darcy said the PCA working group had completed its work and submitted recommendations, including reinstating the 66-hour overtime cap, strengthening program integrity, and ending paid paperwork time for EVV users; she said those changes were implemented on 11/26 and were expected to save $7.4 million. She also described additional consensus recommendations to lower the overtime cap from 66 to 60 hours, create a seven-hour weekly meal-prep support limit, and continue exploring benchmarks, though the group could not reach consensus on a benchmark standard. Darcy warned that a federal bill enacted about six months earlier would significantly affect MassHealth, with an estimated $3.5 billion loss to the Commonwealth by 2028. She outlined upcoming changes including revised immigrant eligibility rules in October 2026, work requirements for certain non-disabled adults beginning in January 2027, six-month redeterminations for some adults, and shorter retroactive coverage periods. In response to questions, she said people with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries would be exempt from the work and six-month redetermination requirements. She also explained that reduced federal ACA subsidies were being offset in Massachusetts by state spending, including $250 million in additional state support to keep premiums lower for middle-income families. Members raised concerns about community hospitals, the health safety net, and the impact of federal funding changes on provider rates and uncompensated care. Darcy said restrictions on provider taxes would limit MassHealth’s ability to use those revenues to support rates, and she noted a current $300 million shortfall in the health safety net. She said FY27 would likely include a rate freeze, targeted reductions, one-time budget measures, and further work groups to examine programs such as adult foster care, which she said had grown 40% in two years. Carr emphasized that the situation was serious but potentially fluid, and the meeting ended with no further business; the subcommittee agreed to adjourn before the next meeting and noted an upcoming February presentation from the Department of Public Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the legislature in the FY25 budget had created this group.
• to meet and continue its work in the FY26 budget.
• My total budget still goes up.
• And I, this is Charlie, I suspect that when the budget comes out, we'll see them.
• And I look at these cuts that came as in the reconciliation budget as dynamic.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Long-Term Services and Supports and Health Equity Subcommittee met with roll call, approval of prior minutes, and a presentation from Leslie Darcy, chief of LTSS at MassHealth. The main discussion focused on the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) working group, which had completed its legislatively mandated review and submitted recommendations. Darcy said several earlier recommendations were already implemented, including reinstating the 66-hour overtime cap, strengthening program integrity efforts, and removing paperwork-related authorized hours for EVV users. The group then reached consensus on additional recommendations to reduce the overtime cap from 66 to 60 hours, set a seven-hour weekly meal-prep support limit, and continue work on benchmarks, though no consensus was reached on a benchmark standard. Darcy said the proposed changes were intended to preserve program integrity while addressing rapid cost growth in PCA services. Darcy also reviewed the expected effects of a recent federal Medicaid-related bill, estimating that Massachusetts could lose about $3.5 billion by January 2028. She described upcoming changes affecting Medicaid eligibility for certain immigrant groups in October 2026, work requirements for some non-disabled adults beginning in January 2027, six-month redeterminations for certain adults, and shorter retroactive coverage periods. She emphasized that people with disabilities and people on Medicare would be exempt from the new work requirements and six-month redeterminations. Members asked about the impact on community hospitals, the health safety net, and ACA premium subsidies; Darcy said federal changes could worsen uncompensated care pressures, but Massachusetts used state funds to offset the loss of enhanced ACA premium tax credits, helping keep premiums lower for middle-income families. In response to questions about the FY27 budget, Darcy said MassHealth expected targeted reductions, some one-time measures, and likely a rate freeze rather than large base cuts, with further cost-containment work to follow in FY28. She noted that LTSS is a major share of MassHealth spending and that programs such as PCA, adult foster care, and adult day services are state-plan entitlements once adopted by the state, even though the federal government does not require them. Charlie Carr and other members stressed that the PCA work group had been difficult but collaborative, and Carr said the recommendations were modest compared with other options considered. The meeting ended with a brief planning discussion about a February guest presentation from the Department of Public Health and a motion to adjourn, which was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• adopt the final budget in June.
• That is what this budget bill junior addresses.
• And just to members of the Budget Committee, we are one short of a quorum.
• And just to members of the Budget Committee, we are one short of a quorum.
• And this budget bill junior process is an extraordinary one.

Summary: The committee heard AB 108, a budget bill junior that would amend the 2025 Budget Act to create a one-time $25 million General Fund grant program at HCAI for hospitals in immediate and significant financial distress, along with a technical change related to property tax deferments for eligible low-income seniors. Finance explained that eligible hospitals would need to show less than 10 days cash on hand, best efforts to exhaust other financing options, a payer mix of more than 50% government payers and uninsured patients, and nonprofit status, with expedited contracting and rulemaking exemptions so funds could be distributed quickly. Members repeatedly questioned whether $25 million was enough, how many hospitals would qualify, and whether the 10-day threshold was too narrow, while also raising broader concerns about hospital reimbursement rates, seismic compliance costs, federal policy changes, and the need for more up-to-date data and a longer-term solution. Several members and the LAO noted that the bill was intended as a short-term bridge to keep a very small number of hospitals open until July 1, while the larger distressed-hospital discussion would continue in the May Revision and next year’s budget. Some members argued the state should consider grants rather than loans more broadly, and others emphasized that hospitals serving Medi-Cal and uninsured patients, including safety-net facilities like MLK Community Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, face structural pressures. Public comment was uniformly supportive of the bill, with the California Hospital Association, district hospital representatives, counties, and CHLA all backing the proposal and urging additional funding for distressed hospitals in the coming budget. The committee approved AB 108 on a roll call vote of 18-0 and held the roll open briefly to secure remaining votes before formally reporting the bill out.

Transcript Highlights:

• a final budget for review.
• the budget needs to be passed for this funding to flow.
• further and further away from an agreed-upon budget, we're risking this money.
• This late budget is putting pressure on local budgets in the decisions that impact taxpayers.
• THEY ARE LEGALLY OBLIGATED BY Next week, to publish their budgets.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and discharged several identical Assembly/Senate bills from committee so they could be substituted on the calendar. The chamber then took up and previously adopted two commemorative resolutions: one designating April 2026 as Sikh Heritage Month and another honoring Korean War veterans. Senators from both parties spoke in support of the Sikh resolution, emphasizing the community’s contributions, service, and the need for recognition and inclusion; the resolution was opened for co-sponsorship and the Sikh guests in the gallery were recognized. The Korean War resolution drew remarks from members recalling family service and the sacrifices of veterans, with repeated calls to preserve their stories and honor their legacy. The Senate then moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills. Among them were measures related to charter bus safety and seat belt awareness, coverage for doula services under insurance, social services/EBT-related changes, education, navigation, highway, public service, and hospital-closure reporting. Several bills passed unanimously or with only one dissenting vote; the social services bill drew the most opposition, with Senator Murray objecting that New York should first address EBT chip technology and skimming before adding new vendor requirements. One bill on the calendar was laid aside for the day. The chamber also adopted a supplemental bill authorizing the South Country Central School District to finance certain deficits, described by Senator Murray as a necessary rescue to keep the district operating and pay staff. Senators discussed the state budget impasse during debate on an extender bill, with the sponsor explaining it was a “clean extender” to keep government running through May 4 and cover payroll, health, education, and other essential payments. Senator Helming raised concerns about the lack of rural health transformation funding and the consequences of the delayed budget for schools, local governments, and hospitals. The extender passed, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, May 4, 2026.