Transcript Highlights:

• of our veterans finance and policy bill. of our veterans finance and policy bill.
• It's a good compromise policy bill.
• that's agreed in this commerce policy that's agreed in this commerce policy bill,<02:53:28.800><
• pro-ousing uh supply local policies. pro-ousing uh supply local policies.
• This is not just a policy program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Remember, the role of JLCAR is not to set policy.
• just want to be clear that uh policy just want to be clear that uh policy stuff<00:04:20.799>
• and we separated different policy and we separated different policy decisions<00:11:57.760> to
• <00:33:34.960> to<00:33:35.120> happen policy discussions that need to happen policy
• I also think that the policy level.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with housekeeping items, approved the minutes and consent agenda, and reminded the public that JLCAR’s role is limited to determining whether agency rules are within statutory authority, not to decide policy. Testimony was to be limited, and members noted that policy concerns should be addressed through the legislature rather than the committee process. The first major item was Public Utilities Commission rule 25-215 concerning natural gas suppliers. Staff said the proposal had been postponed because the PUC appeared to lack authority to impose fines and penalties in this rule set, especially suspending or revoking registrations, and recommended either a conditional approval removing those provisions or a preliminary objection for lack of statutory authority. PUC counsel responded that the cited authority had been incorrect, that the Department of Energy now has most registration rulemaking authority, but argued the commission still has jurisdiction over mediation and dispute resolution and may still have authority over fines because natural gas suppliers are not expressly excluded from public-utility status. Committee members discussed the split between PUC and DOE authority and the possibility that the transition in authority had not been fully cleaned up in statute. The committee then voted to grant a waiver of the time limit and postpone the item for another month so the agencies could work with counsel and clarify which parts of the rule could proceed. Members also urged that any needed legislative fix be brought forward quickly, noting that the Senate was not taking up non-germane amendments and suggesting the House as the likely venue for a cleanup bill. The committee next took up Department of Energy EN900 and EN1000 rules. Staff said the EN900 net-metering rules had been postponed previously and that the main remaining issue was a retroactive requirement in EN909.03(b), which the agency agreed to revise so the language would apply only on or after the 2026 effective date of the chapter. The agency described the EN900 rules as implementing net metering authority transferred from the PUC and expanding the chapter to cover municipal group net metering and low- and moderate-income community solar projects. The EN1000 interconnection rules were described as implementing 2024 legislation requiring uniform procedures for distributed energy resources. The department said both sets of rules were developed through extensive stakeholder input and asked for approval subject to the oral amendment already discussed."}】【。json

Transcript Highlights:

• There's more of a policy debate that goes on.
• we otherwise could with more efficient policy.
• So that's a policy choice.
• I'm Senior Director of Policy for Rivian.
• I'm Senior Director of Policy for Rivian.

Summary: The meeting began with a budget subcommittee hearing on a proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit trailer bill. Assembly Members Ávila Farías and another member spoke in support, emphasizing union jobs, refinery investments, and the need to decarbonize aviation. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s proposal would provide a $1 to $2 per gallon credit against the diesel excise tax for SAF sold in California from 2026 to 2036. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing it is a relatively expensive way to reduce emissions, has uncertain environmental benefits, could significantly reduce transportation revenues, and conflicts with the spirit of voter restrictions on transportation taxes. Committee members questioned whether the credit would mainly benefit out-of-state producers, whether firms would have diesel tax liability to use the credit, and whether the proposal would shift production away from renewable diesel and raise fuel prices. Administration and CARB staff said the credit is intended to support aviation decarbonization, preserve jobs, and help keep California on track toward its 2045 climate goals. LAO and UC Berkeley testimony countered that the policy could mostly subsidize existing technologies, that feedstock supply is limited, and that the net emissions benefit may be small relative to the cost. Members also asked about the effect on local streets and roads, SHOP, and trade corridor funding; Finance estimated a $165 million annual revenue impact would reduce those programs, while LAO said the reductions would mean fewer projects over time. No vote was taken, and the chair said the issue would remain open for further discussion. The committee then moved to a zero-emission vehicle incentive trailer bill proposing a one-time $200 million appropriation to CARB for a new point-of-sale incentive program focused on first-time buyers and leases of new and used light-duty ZEVs. Supporters said the program would help offset the loss of the federal EV tax credit, maintain momentum in California’s ZEV transition, and use a one-to-one match with participating automakers to double the state’s investment. LAO recommended rejection, saying the proposal does not meet the high budget bar this year, lacks enough program detail to evaluate, is unlikely to move sales significantly given the size of the appropriation, and could duplicate existing state and utility programs. Members asked about current incentives across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty sectors, the recent decline in ZEV sales, and whether the program would help lower-income buyers rather than subsidize purchases that would have happened anyway. CARB said the proposal is meant to fill a gap in the light-duty market, where sales fell sharply after the federal credit expired, and noted existing programs for other vehicle classes. The Department of Finance also addressed a separate question about the Motor Vehicle Account, saying a previously planned GGRF transfer was no longer needed because updated forecasts showed the fund had sufficient balances, though LAO said the account still has a structural long-term imbalance. The discussion ended before any vote or action on the ZEV proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] I call this meeting of the Committee on Energy Finance and Policy to order.
• My name is James Leoner, and I am a policy associate with Conservation Minnesota.
• My name is James Leoner, and I am a policy associate with Conservation Minnesota.
• My name is James Leoner, and I am a policy associate with Conservation Minnesota.
• State should handle these type of policy State should handle these type of policy issues<00:43:00.599

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The policy... ...a lot of you have said to me is this seems like good policy, the politics are hard.
• ... ...those conversations and recognize that when we do hard policy, right, when we do hard policy and
• Politics is hard, policy is hard, we are in a housing crisis.
• Politics is hard, policy is hard, we are in a housing crisis.
• You have to be the person to say, do I like this policy?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:14:44.480> whereas of our 5% spending policy, whereas of our 5% spending policy, whereas
• the very least need to have a policy the very least need to have a policy that<00:39:07.119>
• <00:39:49.119> is what every agency's data policy is what every agency's data policy is because
• , policy and if they don't have a policy, policy and if they don't have a policy, then<00:40:01.440
• about them, but that's the policy about them, but that's the policy decision<01:11:14.239> before

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I mentioned, we do have evaluation and prioritization policies for the two funds.
• We're revising our policies to make things better. Mr.
• We do it based on the statutes, the rules, and the policies.
• And I think we do need, I think we really do need strict policy.
• And that was a policy decision that you all made as a legislature.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Promoting a skilled and trained workforce is just good policy.
• Hazing, or any other violations of campus policies.
• I’m a master of public policy student at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and I serve as
• Real destigmatization means real policy change.
• Great Gardner, on behalf of the Drug Policy Alliance, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a series of bills focused on expanding access to higher education, addressing workforce shortages, student housing, and labor standards on campus projects. AB 662 would create a South County Higher Education Task Force to explore a mixed-use, intersegmental institution in Chula Vista; supporters said South San Diego County is a “college desert,” while the bill passed on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations. AB 885 would establish a College Access for All Fund to help make CSU and UC attendance more affordable; supporters cited student debt and affordability concerns, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 730 would provide $15 million to help establish a medical school in the Central Valley to address physician shortages, and it advanced on a due pass motion. AB 1400 would let up to 15 community college districts pilot bachelor’s degrees in nursing; supporters argued it would expand affordable BSN access and keep students local, while CSU, UC, and other higher education groups opposed it as unnecessary and inconsistent with the master plan. The bill passed to Appropriations, with members raising questions about clinical placements, faculty shortages, and possible effects on associate-degree programs. The committee also considered AB 1235, which would require CSU design-build projects to use a skilled and trained workforce, aligning CSU with other public higher education construction standards. Supporters said it would improve safety, training, and local job opportunities, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1247 would restrict contracting out of classified school and community college jobs unless workers meet training and qualification standards and would address pension and training concerns; supporters said it would protect students and classified employees, while school and college groups warned it would disrupt services and add unfunded mandates. The bill passed to Appropriations with one no vote. AB 1470, presented on behalf of Assemblymember Haney, would allow a portion of student housing revolving loan funds to be used for affordable student, faculty, and staff housing in downtown and commercial districts; it was discussed as a housing and downtown revitalization measure, but the committee held off on a motion pending more members. ACA 3, also on behalf of Haney, would require UC to offer limited down payment loans to eligible long-term support staff first-time homebuyers; it drew extensive support from UC workers and unions, while UC and business groups opposed it as costly and outside UC’s mission, and the measure was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was the election policy. Thank you for catching that.
• That was the election policy. Thank you for catching that.
• I think the bills in here represent good policy.
• cities already have significant policy cities already have significant policy leeway<00:47:39.920
• administrators some of the good policy administrators some of the good policy that<00:52:35.960>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't want to hurt anybody, but this policy may hurt some people.
• Madam Chair and Senator Gallegos, that would be put in the policy.
• So now, just my thought, how would you do public policy.
• They have this as a policy to use medical cannabis, correct?
• It's interesting that this is a statewide policy, but that policy we're doing checkerboard everywhere

Bills: SB20, SB53, SB86, SB96, SB129

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• make for good policy. make for good policy.
• That's what's on their policy. services. That's what's on their policy.
• <03:35:48.640> and First, there are already policies and First, there are already policies
• policy orientation. policy orientation.
• This is not a petition article as those in the policy, uh, as those policies deal with implementation

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Zero estimated exposure policy.
• Add additional public policy.
• <00:13:21.279> and<00:13:21.519> for policy and a copy of the policy and for policy
• before the education policy committee. before the education policy committee.
• > for<04:06:02.000> our policy policy is accountability for our policy policy is accountability

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Robert Moncada from New Rica Policy Center, we support. Thank you.
• Many agencies failed to establish required policies or had none at all.
• Many of your own jurisdictions have a 30-day policy retention.
• So for that, I'm sorry, but I think the policy is better.
• So for that, I'm sorry, but I think the policy is better.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• About DPI's responsibility and policy setting versus the vendor: are you outsourcing policy setting to
• That's the real value from a public policy standpoint.
• Probably a pretty narrow subset of Wisconsinites versus education policy.
• To know kind of the different policy positions.
• Wisconsin Eye, Policy Made Public. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm currently an online student at ASU, and I'm studying public service and policy.
• We'll now go to the Majority Policy Advisor. Thank you so much.
• We'll now go to the Majority Policy Advisor. We're in Chair Olson.
• We'll now go to the Majority Policy Advisor. Thank you for being here. Mr.
• And again, this is a policy areas of what I would hope that good policy is made.

Bills: HB2016, HB2104, HB2105, HB2288, HB2289

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land

Transcript Highlights:

• Town policies and procedures were insufficient to ensure that town council members received the ethics
• They had not established policies and procedures for determining whether workers should be independent
• Motor vehicle usage: they had not established policies and procedures to address personal use of the
• The town lacked—its anti-fraud policy could be enhanced to provide for communicating, investigating,
• One of them is the financial controls and authorization policy, which does provide for regular updates

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the September meeting, regular meeting of the Select Committee on Pension Policies, come to
• And then I love that eight-year smoothing policy.
• And then I love that eight-year smoothing policy.
• Now, the size of it is going to depend on your funding policy and...
• Moreover, the SCPP has studied this policy extensively in recent years.

Summary: The committee approved the July minutes and then received an informational presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on the financial condition of the state retirement systems. The actuary reported that employer contribution rates are generally declining, helped by strong investment returns and reduced funding for PERS 1 and TERS 1, while funded ratios have continued to improve; on a combined basis the plans were reported at 100% funded in 2024, with open plans above 95% and legacy plans varying by system. The presentation also reviewed projected rates and funded ratios under current assumptions, noted that pension costs are taking a smaller share of the state general fund, and discussed risks from investment volatility, policy changes, and demographic experience. Committee members asked about savings from lower rates, deferred asset smoothing, and how Washington compares with other states. The committee then considered the state actuary’s recommendation on long-term economic assumptions and adopted all four recommendations by roll call votes: inflation at 3.0%, general salary growth at 3.5%, membership growth for Plan 1 funding at 1.0%, and investment rate of return at 7.25%. The actuaries explained that the inflation and salary growth increases were driven largely by higher long-term inflation expectations, while the investment return recommendation matched the current statutory assumption. Members discussed the timing of the Pension Funding Council’s decision, the effect of tariffs and inflation uncertainty, and how assumption changes would affect future contribution rates and budgets, particularly for open plans. Staff then gave an update on the LEOFF 1 study, explaining the difference between being “ahead of schedule” and truly overfunded, and summarizing responses received from DRS, the State Treasurer, and the State Investment Board on the merger and restatement proposals. DRS said both bills could be administered, though the merger bill’s COLA banking provision would be challenging until its new system is ready; the Treasurer urged caution, especially about the restatement bill and the use of one-time funds; and the Investment Board said removing assets from the trust would have some transaction costs but likely small impacts. The committee discussed whether to invite additional agencies and local government groups to testify, and staff said more responses, including from Ice Miller and the State Actuary, were expected for the October meeting. Finally, the committee heard a briefing on PERS 1/TERS 1 COLA policy and related bills from the last session. Staff reviewed the committee’s prior ongoing COLA recommendation, the SCPP-endorsed bills that would have created a one-time 3% COLA followed by an ongoing COLA, the Senate merger bill, and a separate ad hoc COLA bill. Public testimony largely supported Plan 1 COLAs and stable contribution rates, while several speakers urged caution about transferring LEOFF 1 surplus assets or merging legacy plans, and others raised concerns about climate risk and the pension fund’s investments. No further committee action was taken on the COLA item during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and it was exciting and exhilarating to make that policy change.
• Um, and it was exciting and exhilarating to make that policy change.
• <00:13:44.240> members<00:13:44.639> were policy issues uh that members were policy
• So policy bonding and shouldn't do that.
• So policies and the issues within that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's our job to specify policy.
• And this doesn't necessarily seem to me to be a specification of a policy change or a policy statement
• and in compliance with law and policy. and in compliance with law and policy.
• And this doesn't necessarily policy.
• energy policy and not the legislature. energy policy and not the legislature.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It continues to evolve, and our policies just simply cannot keep up.
• The danger is that our policies are always a few years behind.
• That's a drug policy, a supply-side issue.
• That's a drug policy, a supply side.
• SUD policy should work really... SUD policy should work really early on too.

Summary: The task force meeting opened with new leadership announcements, including Senator Nick Schroer thanking outgoing chair Representative John Black and naming Representative Del Taylor as vice chair. After some initial technical difficulties with audio and Zoom, members reviewed the task force’s statutory charge under Missouri law: to hold hearings on substance use, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and produce recommendations for prevention and treatment. The chair said the goal for this year is to develop concrete legislative ideas for the next session, with hearings focused first on field experts and later on alternative therapies and the Department of Mental Health. Dr. Rachel Winograd gave the first major presentation, describing Missouri’s overdose crisis as increasingly complex and driven primarily by fentanyl, now compounded by xylazine and metatomidine. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, and attributed the decline to a smaller fentanyl supply, wider naloxone availability, and fewer young people entering use. Her main recommendations were to focus on reducing harm rather than trying to eliminate drug use, expand evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder—especially methadone and buprenorphine—improve access to naloxone, and loosen methadone regulations, including take-home doses, the federal 72-hour rule, and broader methadone units. She also emphasized that peer support, housing, transportation, and other practical supports matter, and noted that naloxone can still reverse fentanyl overdoses even when tranquilizers are present. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director, followed with two recommendations: integrate substance use disorder care into whole-person health care and follow the science when considering substance-related legislation. She argued that primary care, maternal health, workforce training, EMS, public health, and methadone access should all be part of a coordinated model, and said reimbursement should support teams rather than isolated providers. She also urged stronger enforcement of parity between behavioral health/SUD and physical health coverage, and highlighted tobacco and alcohol as major, under-addressed causes of death in Missouri. Dr. Doug Burgess then reinforced the need for a coordinated continuum of care, comparing substance use treatment to the seamless system used for heart attacks, and said patients should have standardized assessment, discharge planning from day one, transition coordinators, peer recovery coaches, and better information-sharing between levels of care. Members asked questions about relapse, treatment court, EMS referral barriers, reimbursement, and whether buprenorphine can be started in the field; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with plans to continue hearing testimony and use it to shape future policy recommendations.