Transcript Highlights:

• I want to know what their challenges are.
• It can't just be one agency.
• We're looking at agency code 790.
• a total of 47 agencies.
• We'll be reviewing Agency Code 770.

Bills: SB48 , SB64 , SB100

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• the agency.
• </c><00:08:34.240><c> uh</c> research division within the agency uh research division within the agency
• </c> actually goes to overall agency actually goes to overall agency Administration<00:10:03.120><c>
• and supports the agency Administration and supports the agency uh<00:10:05.160><c> also</c><00:10:05.640
• </c> know attention to additional agency know attention to additional agency administrative<01:12:48.639

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But with all challenges come opportunities.
• The challenges before us are real and complex.
• The second largest agency is also L.A. Metro.
• I mean, we can be pretty big and challenging for them to navigate.
• One of the challenges that we had is the high cost of living.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several governor’s appointments, routine agenda items, and the confirmation hearing for Dina El-Tawansy to serve as Director of the California Department of Transportation. The committee first approved a series of appointments to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Contractors State License Board, and Medical Board of California, along with bill referrals, a rule waiver for guests on the Senate floor for a memorial adjournment in honor of former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgments. Most of these actions were approved on 5-0 votes, with the early appointment items passing 3-2. The committee then heard testimony from El-Tawansy, who emphasized her 28 years at Caltrans, a focus on safety, equity, climate resilience, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of transportation issues, including the impact of federal and state disputes affecting immigrant truck drivers and highway funding, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal rules, asphalt recycling and disposal, climate-related damage to roads and coastal infrastructure, and the future of gas-tax revenue and road user charges. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is prioritizing safety and emergency projects, working on reevaluating DBEs, advancing climate adaptation planning, and studying road user charge pilots and related technology. Members also asked about small business participation, toll lane agreements, homelessness encampments on Caltrans property, and the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor. El-Tawansy described Caltrans programs to support small and disadvantaged businesses, local hiring, heavy equipment and CDL training, standardized toll lane agreements, delegated maintenance MOUs with local governments, and expanded efforts on encampment response and rail/transit planning. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with representatives from transportation agencies, contractors, local governments, labor, and technology firms urging confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate for confirmation, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I challenge you to continue working in this arena.
• The Agency for to Department of Children and Families.
• The Agency for Healthcare Administration, Medical and mental health professionals, representative from
• sister agency.
• And I think that we are at a challenge point when it comes to mental health and substance misuse and

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , a state agency, a local agency, could be a nonprofit.
• , a state agency, a local agency, could be a nonprofit.
• . ...and ethnicity, they have responded to another agency, as they have self-reported to another agency
• It is a challenging data source. We have fairly high population coverage.
• So it was kind of the first agency use, but it is not the only agency use.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The task force is expanded to include three additional state agencies.
• The task force is expanded to include three additional state agencies.
• I know this well because of the challenge...
• I'm offering this feedback purely as a citizen, not as a representative of my agency.
• Especially in this challenging fiscal environment, the governor is grateful to— Especially in this challenging

Bills: SB5979 , SB6308 , SB6319

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: opioids, substance abuse, dependent children, child welfare, caregiver substance use, court orders, shelter care, judicial discretion, family law, early childhood, family services, diversion programs, court-ordered assessments, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do think you could ask the agency at some point.
• I think there's resource witnesses here from the agency if you want to ask them directly.
• Uh, uh, we have great agencies, but you know, in the, in the agency process there's gonna be a lot of
• That, that is, uh, one of the other challenges with actually having rural medicine.
• It does make it challenging.

Bills: HB163 , HB 296

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• My understanding is that we passed the budget for the agency yesterday.
• Any agency, yes, sir.
• One of the challenges with Arkansas PBS is it's hard to get ratings.
• I challenge that we must build upon the foundation of generations before.
• I challenge that we must build upon the foundation of generations before.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This agency is largely special funded.
• You know, our agency mission, and basically, You know, our agency mission, basically, to put it in a
• That's one of our challenges. Laboratory move is going to be a big challenge.
• It provides some challenges.
• And don't forget that the agency is massive.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines. Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do. Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• The challenges before us are real and complex.
• The second largest agency is also L.A. Metro.
• I mean, we can be pretty big and challenging for them to navigate.
• I mean, we can be pretty big and challenging for them to navigate.
• One of the challenges that we had is the high cost of living.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several items, beginning with gubernatorial appointments not required to appear. The committee approved multiple appointments on 3-2 and 5-0 votes, including members to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California. Members also approved a bill referral item, a rule waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guests on the Senate floor during an adjourn-in-memory for former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgment items, all by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard the required appearance of Dina El-Tawansy for Director of the California Department of Transportation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized Caltrans’ priorities of safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of issues, including impacts from federal and state rules affecting immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal guidance, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate-related damage to infrastructure, and the future of transportation funding as gas tax revenue declines. El-Tawansy said Caltrans would prioritize emergency and safety projects, continue work on the Highway 58 corridor, and help DBEs through a reevaluation process and outreach efforts. She described ongoing climate adaptation work, including vulnerability assessments, vegetation management, and corridor studies such as Route 37 and LOSSAN, and said the department is researching road user charges through pilots and national collaboration. She also discussed small-business programs, local hiring, toll lane agreement consistency, and efforts to address litter and homelessness on Caltrans property through delegated maintenance agreements and new staff positions. After public testimony from numerous transportation, construction, local government, labor, and technology organizations in support of the nominee, the committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate floor for confirmation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I look forward to, and challenge you to, start to present and challenge each platform to give us
• I guess it will be challenged in court. I don't know.
• There are local agencies already on .gov, and there are local agencies like the Desert Water Agency in
• the agency to undertake significant costs.
• So I think that these agencies, these very important agencies, are exactly the ones that should migrate

Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, look, the funding aspect here will be a challenge.
• Agencies like Fish and Wildlife need better tools, planning, and long-term capacity.
• Cal Fire is widely recognized as one of the most innovative fire agencies in the world.
• We know that we're facing increasingly challenging risks associated with wildfire.
• SB 894 tackles this challenge directly.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 872, which would direct $300 million annually for 20 years to repair subsidence damage in the State Water Project and to fund Delta levee repairs. The author and supporters said the bill is needed to protect water deliveries for 27 million Californians, prevent major infrastructure and flood risks, and address long-term threats to California’s water supply. Support came from a broad coalition of water agencies, local governments, environmental groups, and business interests; there was no opposition testimony. Members discussed the scale of the funding, the beneficiary-pays issue, and whether the bill should more clearly address risk and identify likely project areas. The committee adopted amendments, and SB 872 passed 5-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up SB 1305, a study bill on the feasibility of reintroducing the California grizzly bear. The author, tribal sponsors, and conservation supporters framed the bill as a science-based roadmap that would examine habitat, impacts, and implementation, while recognizing the grizzly’s cultural significance to tribes and its ecological role. Opponents, including sheriffs, cattle groups, county representatives, and a former Fish and Wildlife law enforcement official, argued that California lacks the staffing, funding, and public-safety capacity to manage another apex predator and that the state is already struggling with wolves and mountain lions. Members raised questions about the scope of the feasibility study, local control, and whether the bill should address conflict risk earlier in the process. The author agreed to work on additional amendments, and the bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations and remained on call. SB 1079, creating a Cal Fire Fire Innovation Unit to speed the testing and deployment of wildfire technologies, was heard next. The author and supporters said California has strong wildfire innovation but lacks a formal pipeline to move promising tools from pilot projects into statewide use. Supporters included Megafire Action, Fireworks, the Orange County Fire Authority, and the California Association of Realtors, which sought amendments related to nonprofit administration of grants. There was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Emergency Management and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 997, which would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to collect fines and fees tied to its groundwater sustainability plan. Supporters said the change would allow more efficient enforcement and avoid lengthy civil litigation; no opposition appeared. Members asked whether the authority should be extended more broadly to other statutory GSAs, and the author said discussions were ongoing. SB 997 passed 2-0 to Judiciary and was placed on call. The committee later caught up on votes for the earlier bills and then moved to SB 894, a wildfire resilience loan program modeled on Go Green to help homeowners finance home-hardening measures; it passed 5-0 to Emergency Management and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1229 was introduced by Senator Allen to strengthen coastal protections for rebuilding after disasters, beginning with the Palisades fire context, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• This deep engagement will be necessary as we are faced with a third straight year of budget challenges
• We cannot ignore the real challenges facing middle-class and working families, but we also refuse to
• First, one of the biggest challenges in crafting the 2026 budget will be the impact from the loss of
• Governor's budget help continue the implementation of the new housing and homelessness agency.
• That's SB 125, intended to be the fourth of five installments to keep transit agencies afloat.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks emphasizing the start of a months-long process, the need for fiscal responsibility, and concerns about structural deficits, federal funding losses, housing and homelessness, and oversight. The vice chair echoed those concerns, warning against budgets built on short-term fixes and urging accountability. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget year proposal of about $349 billion in total expenditures, including $248 billion General Fund, while acknowledging a structural imbalance in the out years and proposing a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. Finance said the budget relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, and on suspending a rainy-day fund true-up deposit to cover a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit. The administration highlighted higher education funding, climate and wildfire resilience investments, a new ZEV incentive, added Health and Human Services costs tied to H.R. 1, child care funding, and three tax proposals: third-party delivery tax compliance, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The LAO, by contrast, warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” cited downside risk from stock market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to use reserves, avoid suspending rainy-day deposits, and begin shrinking multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Member questions focused on wildfire mitigation and insurance, transit and GGRF funding, federal cuts affecting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed tax credits, homelessness accountability language, and education funding. Several members pressed for earlier partnership on deficit solutions and for more scrutiny of budget choices. The committee also discussed declining enrollment in K-12, community colleges, and CSU, with concerns about whether funding formulas are aligned with actual student demand. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Law enforcement agencies are working diligently.
• Vanderland's comments, one of the most challenging things our industry has... To follow on Mr.
• And so I think the challenge our members are facing is a really sophisticated effort.
• Currently, the agency can only place certified officers on this registry.”
• Rather than rehab, challenges that we face in the retail industry is organized retail crime.

Bills: SB476 , SB664 , SB745 , SB826 , SB989 , SB1080 , SB1171 , SB1320 , SB1437 , SB1727 , SB1809 , SB2289 , SB2320

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several criminal justice bills, with most of the discussion focused on oilfield theft, DWI enforcement, juvenile justice, reentry licensing, jail transparency, and court/judicial standards. SB 1320 would create a DPS oilfield theft unit headquartered in the Permian Basin; supporters from industry, law enforcement, and a district attorney described increasingly sophisticated, organized theft tied to cartels and multi-jurisdictional criminal networks, while DPS said it currently has only two officers working the issue. The committee voted SB 1320 out unanimously and placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 826, which would enhance DWI committed in a school zone to a state jail felony, also passed unanimously after brief explanation and no testimony. SB 1171, adding juvenile justice OIG peace officers to Schedule C salary, was reported favorably on a committee substitute, and SB 1080, which would allow incarcerated people to obtain occupational licenses effective upon release, also passed on a committee substitute after testimony from formerly incarcerated advocates and reentry supporters. The committee also considered several bills aimed at tougher DWI penalties. SB 476 would increase intoxication manslaughter penalties when the offender violates an ignition interlock restriction; the bill was supported by the author, victims’ family members, Galveston officials, and law enforcement, but opposed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued treatment and prevention would be more effective. After discussion about possible amendments, the bill was left pending. SB 745 would create a new first-degree felony option for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, and it was reported favorably after testimony from a prosecutor supporting the need for a stronger sentencing option. SB 2320 would broadly increase penalties for DWI offenses, including first-time DWI, DWI with an open container, high-BAC DWI, and repeat offenses; it was supported by a grieving family member and a sheriff, and the committee voted it out favorably. On juvenile justice, SB 1727 would expand tools to address assaults on staff at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities by lowering the age for transfer to adult prison in some cases, allowing earlier transfer of determinate-sentence youth, and restricting release when a criminal case is pending. Juvenile probation officials supported the bill as a public safety and victim-rights measure, while the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed it, arguing it would send children to inappropriate adult facilities and conflict with juvenile justice principles; the bill was left pending. SB 1437 would expand the juvenile justice do-not-hire registry to include non-certified positions, and it passed unanimously after supporters said it would help close loopholes that allow predators to move between child-serving jobs. SB 2289, requiring counties that house inmates out of state to report that information and any deaths to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, also passed unanimously. Finally, SB 989, requiring criminal background checks for court personnel who determine bail, and SB 664, establishing statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and associate judges, were explained and discussed as transparency and public-safety measures, with SB 989 reported favorably and SB 664 under committee consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, some of the challenges that the Department of Commerce had in carrying out their duties, mainly
• OMES in purchasing vehicles by law enforcement agencies.
• The speaker explained that the reports requested from state agencies often are not disseminated back
• The speaker said the bill would authorize LOFT to be the clearinghouse for agency reports.
• Currently, there are 19 programs across five agencies.

Committee: House A&B General Government Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those operating adjustments are crucial to the agency functions.
• It authorizes some data sharing between agencies to facilitate the reporting of suspected fraud, and
• As a measured request, without it, we could potentially move backwards as an agency with the operating
• The decisions you must make are difficult, especially when presented with the challenge of the budget
• We know that the work you put into your budget this year was incredibly challenging, and we also know

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So that might look like MassHire, MassAbilities, staffing agencies, or working with some of the local
• And we all know that well-trained officers are a value to any agency.
• One would be, should parole and community justice centers be combined into one agency?
• I know I can only speak for one of the larger agencies, UTEC.
• They would need to adjust to evening hours, and there have been some challenges with that in terms of

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on June 15, with co-chairs Senator Will Brownsberger and Representative Dan Hunt. The commission approved delaying action on prior meeting summary/minutes until the next meeting, and the chair noted the statutory reporting deadline is being extended from September 30 to November 30 through the pending general appropriations budget. Members also discussed future work, including remaining Department of Correction facility visits, possible fall meetings, and whether to invite additional stakeholders such as the judiciary, district attorneys, and the Department of Mental Health. The main testimony came from the Massachusetts Parole Officers Association, represented by Brian Lucier and Shauna Hawksley. They described parole officers’ role in community supervision and reentry case management, including referrals for housing, mental health, substance use treatment, employment, education, and public benefits. They argued for stronger collaboration between parole, DOC, and county facilities, and said parole officers develop local expertise that can improve referrals after release. They also said the former reentry navigator positions, which were lost in 2025, were valuable and should be restored or better positioned in the community. The MPOA also urged consideration of recreating regional reentry centers, which they said previously improved information sharing, reduced duplication, and supported people released without supervision. Members and witnesses discussed barriers such as funding, staffing, transportation, and location of community justice support centers, as well as the need for better coordination so referrals made inside facilities match community resources. Commission members asked about training, arrest authority, POST certification, revocations tied to public safety versus social-service needs, and the role of sheriffs and DOC reentry teams; the witnesses said parole officers receive specialized academy and in-service training but are not currently tied into MPTC because they are not post-certified. The meeting ended with agreement to continue work over the summer and reconvene in the fall.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute adds that a public utility agency does not have the power of eminent domain
• except as otherwise provided by section 572.058.0585 and establishes that public utility agencies are
• The TCEQ and the PUC are authorized to permit a public utility agency to serve as a temporary manager
• Right now, you file your DCP with those agencies and it sits in a drawer somewhere.
• Challenging. Chair: Thank you. Any other questions? Chair: Thank you. Any other questions?

Bills: HB 4530 , HB 4931 , HB 5559 , HB 5560

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water rights, Texas Water Trust, water bank, environmental conservation, water quality, instream flows, aquifer, water injection, Edwards Aquifer, environmental regulation, groundwater, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water conservation, drought, utility regulation, water use restrictions, Public Utility Commission, civil penalties, drought contingency, environmental protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with the introduction of our uh agencies with the introduction of our uh agencies and<00:01:27.840
• </c><00:21:47.039><c> in</c> report where it identified challenges in report where it identified challenges
• </c> Direct from the other attached agencies Direct from the other attached agencies she<01:28:26.119
• assessment tool for state agencies assessment tool for state agencies facilities<02:23:32.840><c> that
• </c><02:32:40.000><c> are</c> change when all the other agencies are change when all the other agencies

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We still have serious challenges to address, but we are no longer standing still.
• California's insurance challenges are not confined to any single problem.
• So those are not maps that are drawn by an agency.
• So that's our way of tailoring to this urban-rural challenge.
• Foster family agency sites since October 24.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all