Bills: HB14, HB 106, HB146, HB267, HB274, HB 1127, HB1359, HB1393, HB1584, HB1640, HB1710, HB2152, HCR101, HJR8, HR51, HB106, HB146, HB267, HB274, HJR8, HR51

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• So what, how we support them in their work is we provide them reporting.
• this system truly works for the people it was created to serve.
• this DDS's willingness to work with us, but we need the legislature's partnership to ensure this system
• If the current oversight system were truly working, these inequities would not persist year after year
• That type of system only works if people feel safe walking through that door.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the governor’s IHSS budget proposals and then took public testimony from the administration, LAO, county representatives, labor, consumer advocates, and an aging/disability advocacy group. The administration described IHSS as a large Medi-Cal long-term services program serving more than 900,000 recipients and proposed three changes: shifting some growth costs tied to authorized hours per case to counties, eliminating the statewide backup provider system, and aligning IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations. The administration also discussed the earlier CFCO reassessment penalty change for counties and said overdue reassessments had dropped significantly. LAO said the governor’s overall IHSS cost estimates appeared reasonable, but raised concerns about the hours-per-case cost shift, including unclear root causes for growth, limited county control over statewide averages, and uncertainty about the eventual savings. County Welfare Directors Association, SEIU, and consumer/advocacy witnesses opposed the hours cost shift, arguing counties use state tools, the proposal would pressure counties to cut services, and it could harm older adults and people with disabilities by increasing institutionalization and shifting costs elsewhere. The chair and members repeatedly questioned the rationale for the proposal, the lack of a defined baseline, and whether the current assessment tools or MOE structure should instead be revisited. On the backup provider system, the administration said the program is underused and costly to administer relative to service spending, while LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether administrative costs could be reduced instead of eliminating it. County, labor, and consumer witnesses opposed the cut, saying the system is a critical emergency safety net even if utilization is low, especially for rural areas and people with complex needs. Members also asked about data quality, county backup systems, and whether consumers know the program exists. On the Medi-Cal/IHSS alignment proposal, the administration said automation would stop General Fund-only spending when recipients lose Medi-Cal and restore IHSS automatically when Medi-Cal is regained; LAO and others noted the proposal had been rejected before and urged better notices and safeguards. Witnesses warned that automatic termination could create gaps in care and unpaid work for providers, while the department said counties already manually terminate in some cases and that automation is ready if approved. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair indicated the committee would continue with public comment and later items before a hard adjournment time.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move adoption of the committee report. Senators, we have a motion to adopt the committee report.
• I move adoption of the committee report. Senators, we have a motion to adopt the committee report.
• works...
• The system that is there, this justice system—we see it with CYFD.
• And we're still trying to work with the missing and murdered and just the reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Andrew works in the film industry. He works with film productions when they come to town.
• The committee reports are adopted.
• Report to your seat, please.
• The committee reports be read in its entirety and voted on as a single report.
• And I just wanted to give you an update on how that's working. Seems to be working great.

Transcript Highlights:

• I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ALONG ON THIS BILL BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT STOP.
• I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
• Collins: YES. >> SB 88 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY. CONGRATULATIONS.
• AND REALLY WORKING ON THE OVERALL EFFORT OF REDUCING RECIDIVISM.
• PEOPLE WHO WORK ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE. IT HAS BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also had a deer report.
• back to work here appreciate your work back to work here appreciate your work uh<00:47:32.040>
• group so the work group um is up work group so the work group um is up and<00:50:55.880> running<
• Hyon, for your report.
• Haves, too, for all your work.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The most recent DEED report on the Getting to Work program is in your packets.
• The most recent DEED report on the Getting to Work program is in your packets.
• The most recent DEED report on the Getting to Work program is in your packets.
• The most recent DEED report on the Getting to Work program is in your packets.
• > worked<00:47:43.840> in Cloud, Central Minnesota area, worked in Cloud, Central Minnesota

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thus, the CSU must remain a system of regional access, not merely centralized or virtual access.
• If the CSU can centralize procurement, HR systems, IT operations, or other administrative functions to
• We understand that CSU's work is central to California's future.
• What we are doing differently now is working towards systemness.
• I love our community college system. I think they're doing phenomenal work, big advocate for them.

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:43.079> the after the election and reported the after the election and reported the
• for is some sort of central for is some sort of central place<00:29:56.919> uh<00:29:57.159
• a process that is never ending SB works a process that is never ending SB works every<00:38:47.000
• <00:52:00.280> with that we have been working with that we have been working with representative
• <00:53:37.280> um in the cleanup Bill okay that works um in the cleanup Bill okay that works

Keywords: Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20 Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44 Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56 Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup. Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll have to submit an annual report summarizing its work to the legislature and the public.
• It'll have to submit an annual report summarizing its work to the legislature and the public.
• > its<00:04:40.720> work<00:04:40.920> to annual report summarizing its work to
• annual report summarizing its work to the<00:04:41.120> legislature<00:04:42.000> and<00
• There is a benefit to having day-to-day working knowledge of the programs and systems for which you are

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• system.
• tell you we are working on it. tell you we are working on it.
• as work? as work?
• working on it, you're working general is working on it, you're working on,<02:53:58.319> department
• and work all to be working together and work all those<03:08:52.000> out<03:08:52.800> right

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under our current retirement law, once a system reaches full funding and the mathematics are worked out
• The bill would provide some additional relief for back payments and allow the retirement system to work
• That works.
• We know they do dangerous work, arduous work.
• We can report back to our members and help them believe that their hard work for our students has been

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of retirement, municipal workforce, and public employee labor bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2749, a Plymouth home rule petition to classify Plymouth harbormaster employees as Group 4 for retirement purposes. Supporters, including local officials and retirement board representatives, argued the employees perform law-enforcement and rescue duties comparable to police and fire personnel, that the change would be fair, and that it would have little or no fiscal impact on the town. A separate harbormaster-related bill, H. 2743, was also introduced later in the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on provisions of the Municipal Empowerment Act (H. 56), including a temporary critical-shortage exemption allowing retired state or municipal employees to return to work in hard-to-fill positions, and a renewed OPEB commission to study retiree health care costs. Administration and municipal officials said the measures were needed to address staffing shortages and rising benefit liabilities, while emphasizing the shortage exemption would be time-limited and require proof of recruitment efforts. Related retirement bills drew support and caution: advocates for higher COLA bases and enhanced COLA benefits urged relief for retirees, but some asked the committee to wait for recommendations from the special COLA commission before acting. A major portion of the hearing concerned labor rights at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Union representatives and employees backed bills to extend just-cause protections, promotional rights, and collective bargaining rights to MWRA and CPCS workers, arguing they currently lack protections available to most other public employees. Testimony described unfair discipline, delayed promotions, and high turnover, and committee members indicated prior favorable action on similar MWRA bills and expressed support for addressing CPCS labor rights. The committee also heard from representatives of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and public higher education employees in support of H. 2820, which would require timely funding of ratified state employee contracts, with witnesses describing long delays in receiving negotiated raises and back pay. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and closed each panel after questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we work on family issues.
• Um, so I'm just trying to understand how this would work, how you envision it work.
• those systems immediately.
• A standardized system.
• Is that your testimony though that, yes, I just want to clarify in the reporting at the central counting

Transcript Highlights:

• as well. ...go through that system, legal system as well.
• But we've worked with...
• I would just say that the way that the health care system works now, the relationship between government
• We're working with Weissac out of the university to track our 30 highest users of this system.
• It doesn't work real well with Wyoming, but we'll share the whole report and then we'll try to update

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I I it just needs a lot more work. Um I I it just needs a lot more work.
• will work at all. will work at all.
• work.
• of the Whole rise and report. of the Whole rise and report.
• the Whole report. the Whole report.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• work environment.
• Four out of five are concerned about getting sick at work, unsafe working conditions, employer retaliation
• But they don't work if workers don't have access to those laws and the ability to be able to report and
• The county of Santa Clara's OLSE works toward creating a healthy business economy and a safe working
• that they're working in unsafe conditions, and they're going to still go to work, but it's going to

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced several bills focused on worker protections, training access, wage enforcement, outreach, and workplace safety. SB 513 would require employees to have access to their training and certification records; supporters, including laid-off refinery workers and labor organizations, said employers sometimes withhold records during layoffs, while committee members called the practice unacceptable. The bill passed 5-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. SB 809 addressed misclassification of construction truck owner-drivers by offering employers amnesty if they reclassify workers as employees and adopt a two-check payment system; labor and construction trades groups supported it, and it passed 5-0 to Judiciary. SB 578 would codify the California Workplace Outreach Program, which funds trusted community organizations to educate workers about their rights. Supporters described the program as a proven way to reach low-wage, immigrant, and hard-to-reach workers, especially amid wage theft, retaliation, and immigration enforcement concerns. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 261 would strengthen collection of wage theft judgments by creating a public list of nonpaying employers and adding penalties after six months of nonpayment; county enforcement officials and labor advocates said it would help workers recover unpaid wages. It passed 6-0 to Judiciary. The committee also approved SB 369, which would require skilled and trained workforce standards for Salton Sea restoration projects, with supporters saying the work is hazardous and should use trained labor; it passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 20 sought to address silicosis in stone countertop fabrication by requiring training and certification protections for workers; supporters said the disease has caused deaths among mostly Latino workers, while industry groups supported the bill with amendments and requested implementation resources. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of four additional bills and adjourned after all listed measures were moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding the Cancer Innovation Fund report, I would like to provide a few highlights from that report
• We work with the Cancer Connect Collaborative to advertise this opportunity, and, like I said, we work
• We also have about four or five reports. One is the return on investment report.
• One is the patient outcomes report.
• This bill will basically help create a system, a portable system, where we could have all this information

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Department of Health on the Cancer Connect Collaborative, the Cancer Innovation Fund, and the new Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator, created and expanded by recent legislation. The department reported that the Cancer Innovation Fund has awarded $80 million to 95 researchers to date, with $60 million available in the current cycle and 65 projects funded across 28 institutions in 16 cancer areas last year. The new pediatric cancer incubator received $30 million and awarded four Florida children’s hospitals $7.5 million each. Senators asked about outreach to oncologists statewide, peer review and accountability, funding for National Cancer Institute-affiliated institutions, and whether underserved and rural areas are being prioritized; the department said it uses website notices, listservs, collaborative outreach, and eligibility criteria favoring rural and high-cancer-care providers, and that it monitors projects through reports, expenditures, and contract provisions. The committee then heard Senate Bill 312 on patient-directed medical orders, which would create a voluntary, portable, physician-authorized electronic registry for patients to document end-of-life and serious-illness treatment preferences. Supporters, including nurses, hospice and emergency care advocates, and medical professionals, said the bill would help ensure patient wishes are accessible in emergencies, reduce unwanted interventions, and improve continuity of care. Opponents, including Florida Right to Life, argued the bill could broaden end-of-life decisions too far, raise privacy and coercion concerns, and allow withdrawal of care inappropriately. The sponsor said the measure is intended to support patient autonomy and is not anti-life, and noted she was open to amendments. After public testimony, the committee voted on SB 312 and reported it favorably. The roll call showed support from Senators Berman and Harrell, with the bill passing on the committee vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Workforce Education Alignment System, Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and other modules currently
• , the workforce education alignment system, work opportunity tax credit, and other modules currently
• , and the individuals that were performing the work left that firm as they were working for Arkansas
• That would be the first time we'd have an indication of how the system is actually working.
• These are the reports, Mr. Chair. Any question on the reports? Seeing none.

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• IF IT WORKS IN A BUILDING LIKE GOODWILL WHERE SOMEONE WORKS IN THE BUILDING LIKE AT GOODWILL WHERE A
• I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD KNOW THE MECHANISMS OF HOW THE COURT SYSTEM WORKS AND CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THAT
• BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL REPORTED FAVORABLY AND UNANIMOUSLY.
• HOW DOES IT WORK? >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
• BY YOUR VOTE SB 952 REPORTED FAVORABLY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to work on.
• With respect to reporting, it consolidates duplicative reporting requirements.
• I've worked in the geothermal fields.
• This bill is supported by a broad coalition that includes the Environmental Working Group, Consumer Reports
• I'm working unit.

Summary: The committee heard a series of environmental safety and toxic materials measures, with several bills moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Early in the meeting, the consent calendar was approved, including AB 372, AB 455, AB 1096, AB 1102, and AB 754. AB 362 by Assembly Member Ramos, which would recognize tribal beneficial uses of water and strengthen consultation and protection for tribal water uses, drew strong support from tribes and environmental groups. Water agencies and local government representatives opposed unless amended, raising concerns about CEQA requirements, co-management language, and conflicts with existing water law. The bill advanced to Appropriations, with some members voting aye and others not voting or absent. AB 728 by Assembly Member Lee would require age verification for the sale of certain anti-aging skin care products to minors. The author and a youth witness described social media-driven use of adult skin products by children and alleged skin damage, while supporters argued age checks are a reasonable consumer protection. Dermatologists and retailers opposed the bill, saying it could restrict legitimate acne and other medical uses of over-the-counter products, create compliance problems, and lacked a clear scientific basis. The committee discussed possible ambiguity in the bill’s definition of anti-aging products, but the measure still passed to Appropriations. AB 532 on low-income water rate assistance, AB 773 on copper-based anti-fouling paint, AB 998 on household hazardous waste disposal of vape pens, AB 1031 on geothermal hazardous waste fees, and AB 864 on solar panel hazardous waste and recycling all received strong support and advanced to Appropriations. Supporters for AB 532 emphasized water affordability and local program authority; AB 773 supporters said conflicting state water and pesticide rules are creating confusion for harbors and cities; AB 998 was presented as a practical way to let schools and local facilities dispose of confiscated vape devices safely; AB 1031 was framed as reducing DTSC fee burdens on geothermal development in Imperial County; and AB 864 would ease recycling and reuse of end-of-life solar panels. The committee also began hearing AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals, with the author and supporters arguing it would phase out the most harmful ultra-processed foods from school meals by 2032, but the transcript cuts off before the full discussion and any action on that bill.