Transcript Highlights:

• My background is fire on the capital Monday, fire rescue.
• In terms of my background, in civil, I started off clerking for a judge where I managed his civil calendar
• trial like Representative Berfield, I have a dad who was an attorney, was a tax attorney, but my background
• We're going to check in for roll call here and then probably walk over to the Supreme Court.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, uh, that's a bit of my background.
• No, just just think Well, as background.
• <01:17:21.440> Um<01:17:22.080> there I'd have to check on that.
• Um there I'd have to check on that.
• background, we're New Hampshire's background, we're New Hampshire's statewide<04:23:02.720> chamber

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I used to do as a principal is I would just pull the attendance every couple of weeks, check on
• What I used to do as a principal is I would just pull the attendance every couple of weeks, check on
• What I used to do as a principal is I would just pull the attendance every couple of weeks, check on
• attendance every couple of weeks check attendance every couple of weeks check on<00:37:01.760>
• trying to build our background trying to build our background understanding<01:07:15.559> about

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• going to check whether there were any other<01:02:58.160> prov<01:02:58.880> are<01:02
• <01:07:57.920> and Uh also just by way of background and Uh also just by way of background
• Um, they talk about using clearinghouses that they have found to check applicants.
• Um, there was an issue about checking citizenship status, and there was an issue about double Social
• Um, there was an issue about checking citizenship status, and there was an issue about double Social

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services. Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access. Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access. The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• To take advantage of to, let's face it, Waymo doesn't need to pass a background check, and where you're
• They've always been checked.
• You check your oil. You've got to have your fluids.
• We get checked by doctors. We get checked every two years for validity.
• Waymo pulled 3,000 vehicles to check their safety issues. Vehicles to check their safety issues.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Subject to checks. There are checks and balances. It's not just an automatic renewal.
• Would still qualify and then they check with the client.
• immigration status and to check incomes and to check and see if the beneficiary. qualifies, and they
• do checks on the Texas Workforce Commission website.
• And so I'm having my team checked out.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I hope that you will ensure that nominees come before us do more than just check the box.
• Before the FBI has even completed their background investigations, I think this is another example of

Keywords: nomination, Senator Warren, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Undersecretary of Commerce, accountability, oversight

Summary: The committee convened to discuss several nominations, notably for key positions including the directors of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Undersecretary of Commerce. Senator Warren raised significant concerns during her opposition to all four nominees, citing their failure to provide satisfactory answers regarding their qualifications and policy perspectives. She expressed particular alarm over Jonathan McKernan's ties to external influences and Jeffrey Kessler's hesitance to acknowledge geopolitical threats, leading to discussions about accountability in nominations and oversight. The votes resulted in a mixed outcome, with some nominees being approved while others faced substantial opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I mean, you're not going to have a record in life if they pull your criminal background history.
• Criminal background checks talk about various offenses, but never truancy.

Bills: HB2947, HB3276, HB3513

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I did try to check kind of where we were this year so far, since we are in the assessment testing window
• I did try to check kind of where we, below or right at that 1%.
• We all come from different backgrounds and so it's helpful to hear.
• So we'll send you a check for 12 million. The other 8 million, you pay out of your general fund.
• So we'll send you a check for $12 million. The other $8 million you pay out of your general fund.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse the roosters in the background.
• Excuse the roosters in the background.
• Excuse the roosters in the background.
• So you're checking off several things when we focus on food security and what the government, what the
• So you're checking off several things when we focus on food security and what the government, what the

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the background is the existing building.
• Again, now with the existing hospital on the right side, our replacement hospital in the background,
• I'd have to check with our HR director to see where there are some positions that were retired, where
• We have a very talented and astute quality manager who will not check that they are completed until it
• So one we did launch was these pre-authorization quality checks.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conductors and assistant conductors check fares, assist with medical emergencies and resolve conflicts
• Thirty-two states don't even require background checks for guns.
• To deal with this with the most vulnerable ages of young kids, check.
• With a background in addiction, I'm acutely aware of when something plays a very important role in my
• With a background in addiction, I'm acutely aware of when something plays a medicinal role in my life

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered a wide range of Judiciary Committee bills, with much of the testimony focused on criminal justice, public safety, and civil asset forfeiture reform. Several lawmakers and advocates supported bills to increase penalties or create new offenses related to assaults on sports officials, assaults on transit workers, reckless discharge of firearms, fires and explosives, pill press machines, and drug-induced homicide. Testifiers described rising harassment and violence against youth sports officials and transit workers, as well as the fentanyl overdose crisis and the need for stronger tools to prosecute dealers whose conduct leads to death. Supporters of the sports-official and transit-worker bills emphasized declining referee availability and repeated assaults on commuter rail and MBTA workers. District attorneys also backed bills on reckless firearm discharge and fires/explosives, saying current law does not adequately address dangerous conduct that endangers bystanders. The committee also heard testimony on several proposals related to youth diversion and prison mitigation. Supporters of the youth court justice fund bill said youth courts are peer-led diversion programs with strong compliance and low recidivism, and argued for a stable funding source rather than annual earmarks. A representative from Bridgewater supported a prison mitigation fund for municipalities that host state prisons, saying the costs of public safety and emergency services are not fully covered. On gun policy, testimony split between supporters of a bill to ban in-state manufacture of assault-style rifles for civilian sale and opponents or skeptics of other firearm-related measures, including a bill on collateralizing firearms and a bill to increase penalties for drug trafficking combined with illegal firearm offenses. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to civil asset forfeiture reform. Advocates from the ACLU, CPCS, the Boston Bar Association, the Institute for Justice, and others supported bills to increase the burden of proof, improve transparency and reporting, require counsel, and limit or eliminate the current practice of directing forfeiture proceeds to law enforcement. They argued the current system creates perverse incentives, lacks adequate due process, and is insufficiently transparent. District Attorney Paul Tucker defended current forfeiture practices, saying his office has reporting and oversight, uses the funds for investigations and community programs, and warned that reducing forfeiture revenue would hinder crime fighting. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chairs repeatedly thanked witnesses and indicated the bills would remain under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the first thing is: who's checking on the auto work?
• After it's completed, who's checking to see who was left out?
• I'll need to check with my colleagues.
• The agenda provided very robust background on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and the Housing and
• but truly transformative to Californians across all different ethnic, racial, religious, queer backgrounds

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not going to be ongoing, you know, Just touch base with my PCP once or twice a year and check
• Back up, I want to, because it's important to know the background.
• And I Know all too well sitting across from a patient that it's very helpful to have that background
• I believe it is New Jersey; I can double-check, but I believe it's New Jersey that is actually at the
• I checked with Rubian, and she said that the health care authority is looking at these things, but maybe

Transcript Highlights:

• I check to see if I'm going to save money on this or that, and honestly, a lot Of these people, like
• So, sorry, I'm in the office, and if you're hearing background noise, I do want people to remember that
• Of note, our students for their clinical rotations go through the full federal background check going
• If you'd like to, if you're an early riser, you can check out Hojo Academy at 515 Park Avenue.
• elevate our students to the level they need to be at, we still require strong teachers with solid backgrounds

Transcript Highlights:

• I checked the website a while back, and there are about 403 dams in the National Inventory of Dams in
• I can check with my District 6 office.
• I'll just write you a check for whatever the cost of doing their normal business.'
• And I'm going to give you a little bit of background on what we're doing with the mitigation right now
• We just think that we need to do a lot more to understand what those background levels are.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and thank you so much, Senator Lee, and check plus one to everything
• And through the chair to Senator Rouson on the committee, just by background, the bill is necessary because
• We can think that we are really good at keeping an eye on the road, sending a quick text, checking the
• We are really good at keeping an eye on the road, sending a quick text, checking the weather, but we're
• The layperson without any kind of health care background suffers no penalty. Madam Chair, if you...

Summary: The Committee on Rules took up a long agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included CS for SB 678, allowing pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital, and SB 466, which designates St. Johns County as the site for the Florida Museum of Black History and creates a board to work with the supporting foundation and county officials. Senators and public speakers largely supported the museum bill, though some members asked about feasibility studies and long-term planning. The committee also approved CS for SB 578 on wine containers, SB 582 on penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, CS for SB 1168 creating an aggravated offense for unlawful tracking-device use in furtherance of crimes, CS for SB 806 clarifying that only the Florida Attorney General may represent beneficiaries of Florida charitable trusts as a public official, and SB 1228 to support spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee and Santa Fe springs. The committee then heard and favorably reported CS for CS for SB 304, which addresses child protective investigations involving infants and young children with genetic or other pre-existing medical conditions. The bill requires a qualified medical opinion before permanent removal in cases where injuries may be explained by an underlying condition, and it drew strong support from the sponsor and several speakers. Members also approved SB 1286 clarifying that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities, such as biking or playing outside, do not by themselves constitute neglect unless reckless, and SB 1318, a hands-free driving bill that renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the handheld-device prohibition, and adds penalties for handheld use in work and school zones and for certain serious crashes. The hands-free bill prompted the most debate, with supporters citing crash and fatality data and families sharing personal losses, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, and potential disparate impacts on lower-income and minority drivers; the bill was still reported favorably after amendments. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 14 and SB 20, two claims bills for injuries and deaths involving local governments, and CS for SB 68, which updates health facilities authority financing rules to reflect modern hospital structures. The committee also approved CS for SB 172 on health care practitioner specialty titles and designations after adopting an amendment protecting CRNA titles; the bill generated questions about whether licensed practitioners with doctoral degrees may still use the title doctor under their practice acts. Throughout the meeting, most bills were adopted without opposition, and the committee repeatedly voted to report them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you had asked me to check to see if this would be a non-germane amendment.
• Um, so I would have to check the fire code. I'm not positive on that.
• <04:26:56.080> I I would have to check the fire code.
• I I would have to check the fire code.
• have, you know, an extensive background have, you know, an extensive background in<04:59:12.878>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environmental Policy Subcommittee took up HB 1621, which would require a baseline environmental impact study before development of certain manufacturing and storage facilities. Members said the concept had merit, but they could not resolve major drafting and implementation issues, including how to define covered facilities, what the study would require, and how enforcement would work at the municipal or county level. Several members expressed concern about unintended consequences and said the proposal was not ready; the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL), and the full committee later adopted that recommendation on a 16-0 roll call vote, placing the bill on consent. The committee then discussed HB 1053, involving electronically submitted pesticide use reports. Representative Comtois presented an amendment creating a department database and protecting confidential information, but said she still needed to check whether it was germane and to review administrative issues with the Department of Agriculture. After hearing from David Russo of the Division of Pesticide Control, the committee agreed to continue work on the amendment and took no action that day. The committee also reviewed HB 1186 on egg labeling and producer exemptions. Representative Comtois offered an amendment exempting small producers from most requirements except labeling, but Commissioner Sean Jasper asked for more time to review the impact and suggested the state might not need the existing egg law at all if federal USDA rules already cover the field. Members agreed to hold action until the following week. Finally, the committee began discussion of HB 1780 on penalties for violations involving seeds, plants, and nursery stock, focusing on labeling rules and germination-date requirements; testimony from industry and department representatives indicated they were working toward a compromise that would allow multiple relabelings, add production dates, and set a 36-month sale limit, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had not checked the calendar, to be very honest, but I feel compelled to share my personal story connected
• throughout this country, and it woke up a lot of people, but yet we couldn't even get a national background
• check bill in Congress.
• everybody, but especially our young people, know how to get facts about what's happening in the world and check
• Session schedules as follows: Friday, June 5th, no floor session, no check-in session.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through routine procedural business including journal approval, bill re-referrals, and consent actions. Several guest introductions were made, including family members of members and two CIF Scholar Athletes of the Year, Ryan Liu and Mona Sugawara, who were recognized for academic, athletic, and community achievements. The main floor action was on ACR 191, which designated June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in California. Assemblymember Stephanie presented the resolution and described the ongoing toll of gun violence, citing Hadea Pendleton and recent shootings, while numerous members from both parties and regions spoke in strong support, sharing personal and district-level experiences with gun violence and urging continued state and federal action. The resolution received 55 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. The Assembly also adopted several consent calendar resolutions, including ACR 206 on elder and dependent adult abuse awareness month and ACR 211, along with multiple Senate concurrent resolutions, all by unanimous roll-call votes. The chamber then heard an adjournment in memory for Michael George Savan, a longtime Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department commander, Marine Corps Reservist, former Lomita mayor and council member, and volunteer coach. The Assembly adjourned until Monday, June 8 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The check and balance for that to make sure there's an equitable evaluation of the savings is they have
• You know, ultimately, you have the checks and balances between the executive branch, the legislative
• And that is oversight in so many agencies, some of which exceed our personal background purview.
• This bill checks that box; it's always growing.
• This bill checks that box; it's always growing.

Bills: SB1415, SB1714, SB1962, SB26, SB172

Keywords: nondisclosure agreements, state employment, employee rights, transparency, government accountability, employee suggestions, cost savings, state agencies, incentives, performance awards, efficiency, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, state procurement, state purchasing, State Purchasing Director, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, OMES, exempt entities, purchasing exemptions, state contracts