Transcript Highlights:

• We have just had the $5 million.
• You can only reduce down by $5 million.
• We have just had the $5 million.
• You can only reduce down by $5 million.
• We have had 11 hearings in this Budget Sub 5.

Summary: The committee opened with the State Controller’s Office May Revision requests, including funding for Fiscal book-of-record stabilization, a Broadcom IDMS licensing adjustment, the California State Payroll System, ACFR reporting automation, and $3 million for unclaimed property outreach. Testimony emphasized progress on Fiscal becoming the state’s accounting book of record in July, faster ACFR publication, and the move to electronic unclaimed property claims. Members asked about the size of the unclaimed property fund and how quickly money is transferred to the General Fund; the Controller’s office said about $15 billion is held, with most excess transferred regularly, and the LAO noted the fund is the General Fund’s fourth-largest revenue source. No concerns were raised by Finance or the LAO, and the item was closed after no public comment. The committee then heard the administration’s proposal to tax prewritten digital software and software-as-a-service, with Finance saying it would modernize sales tax treatment and raise an estimated $450 million General Fund and $560 million local revenue in 2026-27. The LAO supported modernizing the tax but suggested broader digital goods coverage and a business-use exemption; industry and taxpayer groups opposed the proposal, warning of higher costs for consumers and businesses. Members also heard CDTFA’s administrative request tied to the proposal, plus a separate CDTFA budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs; that reduction was presented as a savings item and drew positive reactions. Next, the committee considered federal conformity for “Trump accounts,” which would align California tax treatment with federal rules for tax-deferred children’s accounts and avoid tracking burdens for families. The LAO recommended approval, and the item drew no opposition. The committee also heard a proposal to cut the first-year $800 annual business tax to $400 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs; Finance argued it would lower startup costs and encourage new business formation, while the LAO said the benefit was not well targeted and could subsidize entities that would form anyway. Members discussed the policy tradeoff, and public commenters split between support for small business relief and concern about revenue loss. The final major revenue item was a permanent business tax credit limitation, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability, while excluding the low-income housing tax credit and personal income tax credits. Finance said it would raise significant revenue from large profitable corporations, and the LAO said it was a reasonable option but noted it would mainly affect the R&D credit and could have future implications for programs like California Competes. Public testimony was sharply divided, with business groups opposing the cap and anti-poverty advocates supporting it as a way to recapture revenue. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment request, which would return most of the direct-file-related resources to the General Fund while retaining a smaller staff to improve CalFile, and the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which members and advocates supported despite relatively modest annual donations. The hearing continued with GoBiz proposals on civic media funding, CA RISE reappropriation, and a semiconductor facility reversion, with the LAO supporting the latter two and members raising questions about the civic media program’s scope, outreach, and inclusion of broadcast and ethnic media.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what is a planned unit development or a PUD?
• We have one more amendment in front of us today, so I'll move the A-5 amendment.
• The A-5 amendment is Vice Chair.
• If there's any discussion on the A-5 amendment, Representative Howard just on this.
• All those in favor of adopting the A-5 amendment, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 5, this act shall take effect immediately.
• Ayes 56, nays 5. The bill is passed.
• AYES 56, NAYs 5. >> THE BILL IS PASSED.
• AND THAT WE RISE STRONGEST WHEN WE STAND UNITED AND TOGETHER.
• CONFERENCE WILL MEET AT 5:45 IN 315 OF CAPITOL BUILDING.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, and then processed a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate or Assembly versions for third reading. The chamber also adopted the resolution calendar with exceptions and took up several resolutions and ceremonial recognitions, including a resolution mourning Hudson Talbott, a Dairy Month resolution highlighting New York’s dairy industry, and introductions honoring Niskayuna academic teams, Gabriella Scheer for receiving the Liberty Medal, the Hartstein family’s civic engagement, and Diana Cochran’s advocacy for safe firearm storage. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed many bills on topics including insurance, public health, education, labor, social services, banking, local government, veterans, public service, consumer protection, criminal procedure, cannabis, parks, taxation, election law, and highway matters. Several members explained votes on notable measures: support for acupuncture insurance coverage, consumer protections for doorbell-camera data sharing, expanded protections in debt collection cases, trauma-informed procedures for sexual assault survivors, a Legionnaires’ disease awareness program, changes to mandatory minimum sentencing, and universal safe storage of firearms. A number of home rule and local authorization bills were also approved, including parkland alienation measures and local tax exemption authorizations. Most measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though some drew recorded opposition. Notable roll calls included the consumer debt uniformity bill, the mandatory minimum sentencing bill, the safe storage/firearms bill, and the public housing and public health measures, each with more divided votes. The chamber also accepted a lengthy Rules Committee report sending many additional bills directly to third reading, and then began the supplemental calendar, passing at least the first items before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• That can be contributions to political committees and party units.
• Every time he makes a payment, you can issue him a receipt for $5.
• Senator Westlin could issue that receipt for $5.
• /c> it every two yeah Mr chair it is is $5 it every two yeah Mr chair it is is $5 per<01:10:41.719>
• /c><01:14:21.400> and that if we issue them for every $5 and that if we issue them for every $5

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• only way the state is able to produce those units, and they're critical units.
• <00:25:21.240> and<00:25:21.840> um units and they're critical units and um units and
• So this is for the units that don't qualify for CIP, meaning units that need repair and maintenance.
• So this is for the units that don't qualify for CIP, meaning units that need repair and maintenance.
• any vacant units and the vacant units any vacant units and the vacant units day<00:35:35.119>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-related measures. SB 38 SD2 drew mixed testimony on changes to 21H projects, with HHFDC supporting and county and community groups split between support and opposition. In discussion, members focused on how county legislative bodies can alter projects in ways that increase costs, including changes to AMI mixes and fee waivers. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, limiting county changes that would impose stricter conditions than HHFDC, stricter AMI requirements, or reduced fee waivers; the motion passed with one member voting with reservations and two members excused. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 71 SD2, which would revise the rental housing revolving fund. Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi YIMBY, and NAAP Hawaiʻi opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken support for deeply affordable units, eliminate the 5% set-aside for households at or below 30% AMI, and create a funding gap for households between 60% and 120% AMI. Supporters of the bill, including public housing and some development interests, emphasized the need to redirect funding and make the program more flexible. In decision-making, the committee described the bill as making comprehensive changes that would narrow Tier 2 toward higher-income projects and favor shorter loan terms, then moved it out with amendments. The committee also heard and advanced several other measures with little or no opposition: SB 40 SD2 on state finances, SB 378 on HHFDC, SB 572 SD1 on housing, SB 1229 ST2 on the dwelling unit revolving fund, and SB 602 on the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority all received support testimony and were moved forward. For SB 65 SD2, HPHA and other agencies supported the measure, and HPHA testified it sought roughly $8 million to $10 million for repair and maintenance of units not covered by CIP funds. The committee also took up SB 826 SD1 on the low-income housing tax credit, where HHFDC, the Tax Foundation, and DHHL expressed confusion over the bill’s intent and whether it would bar state agencies from using LIHTC financing; no action was taken on that item in the excerpt. SB 944 SD2 on LIHTC transferability drew support and a suggestion to keep clarifying language that notifies the tax department, and the committee indicated it would keep the provision in.

Transcript Highlights:

• nationally in the United States. nationally in the United States.
• And we've been screaming housing units, housing units, housing units for a long time.
• > a<00:29:24.480> long housing units, housing units for a long housing units, housing units
• But it is still housing units. But it is still housing units.
• desperately need more housing units. desperately need more housing units.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• to go on to tab two, members, which is Senate Bill 7002 on OGSR, Department of Military Affairs, United
• No, you have Tab 5.
• A conviction integrity review unit is established within the state attorney's office for purposes of
• Additionally, the five conviction integrity units that exist around the state agree that the public..

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first postponed Senate Bill 350. It then took up several Open Government Sunset Review bills, most of them extending or preserving public records or public meeting exemptions. Senate Bill 7000, relating to emergency shelter information for persons provided public emergency shelter during storms or catastrophes, was amended to set a new sunset date of October 2, 2031, and reported favorably. Senate Bill 7002, concerning Department of Military Affairs records in Department of Defense systems, was similarly amended to extend the sunset date to October 2, 2031 and reported favorably. Senate Bill 7012, dealing with Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records on motor vehicle registration, dealer licensing, driver licenses, and private inspection providers, was amended to conform the effective date with the House companion and reported favorably. The committee also approved Senate Bill 7006, which preserves public meeting and records exemptions for portions of Florida Public Service Commission hearings involving confidential proprietary business information, and Senate Bill 7008, which preserves similar exemptions for Florida Gaming Control Commission meetings and records. Senate Bill 7004, concerning conviction integrity unit investigation information, was explained as maintaining confidentiality for reinvestigation materials during active innocence reviews and was reported favorably without amendment. Later, Senate Bill 7014, on Department of Legal Affairs records related to investigations of social media platforms, was taken up as a committee substitute that extended the repeal date for two exemptions from October 2026 to October 2031 and was reported favorably. Finally, Senate Bill 7016, which preserves the exemption for certain financial information held by an economic development agency for administration of small business loan programs, was reported favorably without amendment. No opposition or public testimony was presented on the bills, and the committee adopted the amendments and committee substitute by voice vote before taking recorded roll-call votes. At the end of the meeting, members were invited to record missed votes, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House section 5 is a suspended.
• Most much of the rule was release unit.
• They modify interstate transfer unit.
• On page R7, Senate section 5 warning.
• On R5, Senate section 5 training.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Probably 5% go to California, to the Imperial Valley.
• Cattle that are brought into the United States, they are regulated.
• Packing plant in the United States right here in Tolleson, right?
• The United States. That's why we're seeing these prices.
• The United States. That's why we're seeing these prices.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Treatment and healing teams, or units, which streamline emergency department assessment of the health
• I work for First 5 California, and we obviously are hoping to reject the proposed $20 million cuts.
• I can add to that: **Matt Schulert**, Borna Finance, Catholic Unit.
• We’re keeping $5 million for certain prescription drugs. And then sweeping the $45 million.
• Request for the $5 million and reverting the $45 million.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The general funded accounting unit is accounting unit 10004, which begins on page 22 of the budget book
• c> accounting<00:36:23.359> unit unit is um accounting unit unit is um accounting unit 10004
• We have a discovery unit who looks for non-filers and then a specific tobacco unit to make sure that
• make<01:33:13.280> sure a specific tobacco unit to make sure a specific tobacco unit to make
• That's the result of us unfunding three positions in the administration unit. unit and if you look at

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this morning we passed Senate Bill 13 as amended which will make 5 pilot.
• So we need to build over 5000 housing units per year between now and 2030.
• Um, so, uh, I'm a big United fan.
• Um, I'm going from page 5. So, dumb question because it says in here, Mr.
• Maybe there's 5 bidders, 6 bidders, they all come in.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> the next five minutes within the next 5 the next five minutes within the next 5 minutes<00:10:55.360
• accounting unit accounting unit that<00:16:59.920> run<00:17:00.240> through<00:17
• <01:15:59.480> is insurance program accounting unit is insurance program accounting unit is
• unit unit 7948<01:46:55.880> in<01:46:56.159> agency<01:46:56.760> income 07<01
• pharmaceutical to then get up to the 5% pharmaceutical to then get up to the 5% of<02:50:53.800>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division Three work session on February 21, 2025 focused on the Division of Medicaid Services budget. The chair opened with procedural guidance, noting the division’s role is to make recommendations to the full Finance Committee, that the budget must be balanced, and that members should track possible amendments ahead of a March 26 target for House Bills 1 and 2. Members also discussed the importance of using official budget documents and online resources, and the chair said no motions would be taken at this session. A major early topic was concern over a five-point Medicaid policy document and the timing of House Bill 2. Representative Tarki objected that the document appeared to be an unofficial draft and argued that significant Medicaid policy changes should have been transmitted by February 15 under state law. He said the lack of an official, posted document raised transparency concerns because the changes could affect tens of thousands of residents. Committee leadership responded that the five-point document was a working document, that it would be posted online within minutes, and that House Bill 2 is often delayed while the Office of Legislative Services finalizes and formats the governor’s proposed trailer bill. DHHS Chief Financial Officer Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman then began the budget presentation. White said the committee would use the PowerPoint as the document of record, starting with the governor’s operating budget pages 885-893, and noted that Medicaid is the largest accounting area in the state budget. He said the governor’s budget reflects about $60 million in reductions within the Medicaid area, with Granite Advantage handled off-budget and another $10 million in reductions there, for roughly a $70 million difference overall. Members asked whether the comparison was being made against an efficiency budget or a prioritized-needs budget, and White said the department could look at it different ways. The presentation then outlined Medicaid’s role in New Hampshire: it provides health coverage, serves as the state’s direct interface with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and helps finance related services such as long-term supports, school-based services, adult dental coverage, and re-entry programs for people leaving correctional settings. White also reviewed enrollment and program context, saying New Hampshire has about one in seven residents enrolled in Medicaid, making it the fourth smallest Medicaid program in the country by enrollment, and described recent efforts such as youth re-entry and the Medicaid unwind after the end of the federal continuous coverage period. He said the state had to process more than 238,000 redeterminations after the public health emergency and that the department tried to avoid unnecessary coverage loss during that transition.

Transcript Highlights:

• We didn't get to come home to the United States.
• Alvarado, Bettencourt. 25 ayes, 5 nays. The roll is complete.
• Alvarado, Bettencourt. 25 ayes, 5 nays. The bill passed to engrossment.
• Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell. 25 ayes, 5 nays. The roll is complete.
• Many pensions are not actually truly sound throughout the United States.

Bills: SJR37, SJR57, SB7, SB8, SB16, SB108, SB125, SB207, SB318, SB371, SB379, SB396, SB406, SB503, SB533, SB565, SB578, SB599, SB686, SB689, SB707, SB763, SB854, SB857, SB875, SB878, SB920, SB924, SB961, SB965, SB985, SB988, SB1021, SB1024, SB1026, SB1038, SB1059, SB1185, SB1202, SB1207, SB1252, SB1330, SB1396, SB1484, SB1527, SB1535, SB1596, SB1619, SB1697, SB1737, SB1741, SB1841, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SJR37, SCR22, SCR12, SB565, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB1497, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB686, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB1215, SB1302, SB856, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB541, SB379, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB1352, SB785, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB961, SB1038, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB924, SB1029, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1697, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SJR81, SJR50, SCR39, SB1536, SB2016, SB1453, SB1173, SB1163, SB996, SB27, SB568, SB1370, SB1321, SB1101, SB906, SB860, SB1563, SB993, SB693, SB1610, SB1537, SB836, SB1332, SB1307, SB963, SB493, SB922, SB984, SB1084, SB619, SB1098, SB1122, SB455, SB522, SB1057, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1877, SB464, SB1277, SB32, SB732, SB660, SB731, SB921, SB268, SB1822, SB1188, SB1939, SB1589, SB397, SB1388, SB2230, SB1058, SB1036, SB1267, SB2112, SB1930, SB532, SB1035, SB2155, SB508, SB29, SB292, SB291, SB901, SB1333, SB1436, SB1494, SB964, SB779, SB1378, SB2312, SB1719

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship, election integrity, constitutional amendment, voting rights, water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• Hi, I'm Melinda Howard Hararete, United Nations Association of California.
• Okay, 5-0. The bill is out. Well, ...5-0. Okay, 5-0. The bill is out.
• Item number 5, SCA 3. Please call the opportunity.
• Item number 5, SCA 3, please call the opposite members.
• Okay, that's a vote of 5-0. The bill is out. Is that it? Okay. Thank you very much, sir.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, YSM, they're looking to build 84 cell single family units in Taos.
• You'll see Dharma here in Santa Fe, that's a 11 rental units that they're planning on putting in here
• That 5 million is actually a number from a couple of years ago. And so it might actually be high.
• If we reduce the unit value Based on these two increased costs, then that affects most everyone.
• I think the prediction was about 5 to 8 million between the two.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
• States of America and to the United States of America and to the republic<00:07:19.120> for<00
• , the clerk received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 15, 2026, at 5:
• 27 the Senate on January 15th, 2026 at 5:27 the Senate on January 15th, 2026 at 5:27 p.m.<00:07:54.720

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, January 16, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides $5 billion as the second... ...for rural departments.
• ESER 2 was approximately $5 billion and ESER 3 was $11.2 billion.
• Moving on to Item 5, local mental health court liaison program...
• Moving on to Item 5, local mental health court liaison program.
• Item 5: The Specialty Court Case Management System.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States.
• We have voted 32 ayes, 23 nays, 5 not voting.
• The vote is 32 ayes, 23 nays, 5 not voting.
• Only 5% have violent convictions.
• I know, it just changed. 31 ayes, 5 nays, 5 not voting.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to page 5, looking to Chart 2.
• For the mobile health units, we have five of those.
• At the feasibility of providing the long-acting injectables via the mobile units.
• Here for us to make mobile units available, drugs and mobile units available. Thank you.
• And I also want to echo, I'm a big proponent of mobile units.