Transcript Highlights:

• It really creates a new federal program within state statute.
• There’s nothing we can do to change that federal law.
• There’s nothing we can do to change that federal law.
• We don't need any federal requirements.
• government, at the federal government's discretion, for those funds that were spent. ...with the federal

Transcript Highlights:

• For medical assistance, this is already in federal Medicaid law.
• So this is federal Medicaid law.
• </c> fraud or theft in state or federal fraud or theft in state or federal programs.<00:07:19.120><c>
• </c> health administration. Representative. health administration. Representative.
• They're in DHS versus the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Summary: The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law. Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions. Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• the rulings of court of federal courts.
• the rulings of court of federal courts.
• the rulings of court of federal courts.
• and this in any administration and this in any administration<00:09:34.160><c> uh</c><00:09:34.320><
• Um so the um federal courts.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 158, which had been amended from an automatic voter registration-related request to a resolution urging the administration to follow the law and comply with federal court orders. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, the Democratic Party of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaii women lawyers, and others. One witness spoke against automatic voter registration, warning it could be exploited by bad actors, though the chair clarified that the amended resolution was focused on court orders rather than AVR. Members asked questions about whether states or Congress can enforce compliance with court orders and whether there were historical examples of presidents refusing to follow them. The response emphasized separation of powers, checks and balances, and the importance of state support for the rule of law. The committee then voted to accept the proposed SD1 for SCR 158; the measure passed with one no vote recorded from Senator Awa. The committee also took up SCR 154, a resolution supporting implementation of applicable United Nations Human Rights Council universal periodic review recommendations. No testimony was received on that measure, and it was deferred. In a later decision-making agenda item, the committee considered a measure directing the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to include circuit and district court facilities in planning new correctional centers and to establish a release procedure away from residential communities and public spaces; the committee recommended passage as amended, and the measure passed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last month, USDA released the newest federal participation rate for federal fiscal year 2022, and the
• The Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TFAP, provides administrative funds and USDA foods
• And lastly, with the current federal administration pauses and review of programs like RFSI, in review
• at this time, the current federal administration continues to determine what programs will persist.
• And are these administrative burdens dictated from the federal government, or is this something the state

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on food insecurity in California and how state and federal nutrition programs, agricultural production, and food distribution systems intersect. Assemblymembers emphasized that many Californians, including farmworkers, seniors, children, and communities of color, remain food insecure despite California’s agricultural abundance. Panelists and members discussed CalFresh, WIC, school meals, Sun Bucks, food banks, and the impact of federal policy changes, including possible nutrition cuts, tariffs, and immigration enforcement, on access to food and the agricultural workforce. Secretary Karen Ross described CDFA programs aimed at improving access to fresh food and supporting local agriculture, including the senior farmers’ market program, California Nutrition Incentive Program, Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, Community Food Hubs, Farm to School, urban agriculture, and a proposed tribal food sovereignty program. She said these efforts help connect local producers to consumers, expand healthy food access, and build infrastructure such as refrigeration, mobile markets, and aggregation hubs. Department of Social Services Deputy Director Alexis Fernandez Garcia outlined CalFresh, CFAP, Sun Bucks, CACFP, emergency food programs, and tribal nutrition assistance, noting that CalFresh and related programs significantly reduce poverty and food insecurity, but participation gaps remain for non-English speakers, some Asian American communities, and undocumented households. PPIC researcher Tess Thorman presented data showing that 13% of California households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and Latino, Black, and other households. She said nutrition programs reduce poverty and food hardship, but federal rules, income thresholds, immigration restrictions, and high living costs limit their reach. Members asked about simplifying applications, improving call center access, increasing outreach in multiple languages, and adjusting benefits for inflation. Officials said the state has used available federal options to streamline enrollment, improve customer service, and target outreach, but many core rules and benefit levels are set federally. The second panel shifted to food production and market access. A farmer, a UC food systems leader, and a produce distributor described efforts to connect small and medium farms with food banks, schools, universities, and Medi-Cal food-as-medicine programs. They highlighted programs such as Farms Together, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Farm to School, food hubs, and climate-smart infrastructure grants as ways to create stable markets for local growers while improving food access. Speakers also raised concerns about land tenure, consolidation, regulatory burdens, labor constraints, and the loss of federal funding, and members discussed whether state investments and Prop. 4 funds could help sustain and expand these efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of federal raids. of federal raids.
• </c> current administration. current administration.
• front of a federal judge.
• Is the federal<01:08:27.440><c> government</c> federal government federal government arresting,<01:08
• </c> federal agents are safe. federal agents are safe.

Summary: The hearing of the Minnesota Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability focused on federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, especially ICE and CBP operations, and their alleged constitutional and civil-rights impacts. Opening remarks from both parties emphasized the need for calm, cooperation, and public safety, though they sharply differed on the causes of the current situation. Republican members argued that violent criminal undocumented immigrants should be removed and that state and local officials should cooperate with federal authorities. Senator McEwen and other Democrats described the federal presence as abusive and terrorizing, citing deaths, family separations, and community fear, and called for accountability and truth-telling. The chair also held a moment of silence for Renee Mlin Good and Alex Prey before testimony began. Testimony from the ACLU of Minnesota and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota described what they said was a large-scale federal enforcement operation, including Operation Metro Surge, with widespread alleged violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Tenth, and other constitutional amendments. Witnesses cited alleged racial profiling, warrantless arrests, excessive force, denial of counsel, detention out of state, and failure to comply with court orders. They referenced specific cases involving Susan Tinure, Abdi Khadir Nure, Victor Manuel Diaz, and others, as well as reports of journalists and community members being threatened or detained while documenting ICE activity. The witnesses also said the federal government’s lack of transparency makes it difficult to know how many people have been detained or deported and argued that the harm extends to both immigrants and citizens. Committee members asked questions about ICE entering homes without judicial warrants, federal claims about constitutional limits, and access to counsel for detainees moved out of state. The witnesses said that out-of-state detention, poor locator systems, paid phone access, and lack of privacy make legal representation difficult or impossible, and that civil-rights remedies often come too late because people are removed before cases are resolved. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the committee moved from opening statements into testimony and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:31:45.680><c> resources</c> America, and ensure federal resources America, and ensure federal
• </c> exists within the federal government. exists within the federal government.
• </c><04:49:35.520><c> Bill</c> administration wants to punish. Bill administration wants to punish.
• </c> is compliant with federal requirements. is compliant with federal requirements.
• </c> our federal welfare programs a priority. our federal welfare programs a priority.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> share testimony about the recent federal share testimony about the recent federal administration
• Prior to the current federal administration, over 20,000 Minnesotans who've been serving for over 10
• Prior to the current<01:25:03.760><c> federal</c><01:25:04.159><c> administration,</c><01:25:05.120><
• c> over</c> current federal administration, over current federal administration, over 20,000<01:25:06.239
• So this federal administration is going to punish people for going to college.

Transcript Highlights:

• . best about contracting with a dental administrator.
• We have been able to provide that largely by winning federal grants.
• This was an unprecedented and unexpected action by the federal government.
• We are a statutory nonprofit under federal and state law.
• I don't even know if the Trump administration is going to approve it.

Bills: HF2435

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• sprayed by federal agents?
• their first administration.
• Our schools are trying to comply with federal expectations, but are often caught between a federal administration
• 00:43:19.600><c> a</c><00:43:19.640><c> federal</c><00:43:20.000><c> administration</c> caught between
• a federal administration caught between a federal administration that<00:43:20.760><c> is</c><00:43:

Transcript Highlights:

• Administration, let's go back to the Biden administration. Go back to the Obama administration.
• </c> approved by the federal government. approved by the federal government.
• As I've mentioned before, the Obama administration, the Bush administration, the first Trump administration
• , the Bush administration, administration, the Bush administration, the<03:26:32.560><c> first</c><03
• administration, the the first Trump administration, the Biden<03:26:34.399><c> administration,</c> Biden

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> requests of the administrator. requests of the administrator.
• Administration.
• funds that we can claim against federal funds that we can claim against the<01:08:34.839><c> administration
• </c> the administration of the program. the administration of the program.
• . administrator. administrator.

Summary: Division Three of the Finance Committee met in work session on April 20, 2026, to consider Senate Bills 481, 603, and 663, with the discussion focused primarily on SB 481, relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property. The chair explained that the bill was advisory only and that the committee’s recommendations would go to full Finance on April 27. For SB 481, members reviewed conflicting provisions in the prior budget law about whether sale proceeds should go to the general fund or the Youth Development Center Claims and Administration Settlement Fund, and the bill was described as a compromise that would direct proceeds to the general fund before June 30, 2027, and to the settlement fund after that date. It was noted that the settlement fund had originally received about $20 million and had roughly $10 million remaining. The committee also received an extensive update from DCYF Director Marie Noonan on the new Youth Development Center in Hampstead. She reported that construction remained on schedule, with major structural and interior work complete, substantial completion expected in late summer or early fall 2026, and occupancy anticipated in early 2027. The presentation highlighted the facility’s design features, including single-occupancy bedrooms, sensory rooms, an education wing, medical and clinical suites, visitation space, a gym, and multiple outdoor courtyards, all intended to support a trauma-informed setting. Members asked about the facility’s funding, square footage, fencing, and scanner; staff said the building is about 34,000 square feet, funded entirely with federal ARPA state recovery funds to date, and that the scanner is on site but not yet operational pending policy and staff training. Committee members also raised concerns about the facility’s design and security. In response, DCYF said some concrete walls are required for structural and safety reasons, but they are being painted to maintain a brighter environment, and that the fencing will be about 15 feet high with privacy netting because the campus is shared with Hampstead. Officials said the new facility is legislatively limited to a maximum of 12 youth, while the current center can house 12 to 18, and emphasized that courts ultimately determine placements. No votes or final actions were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The largest source of federal aid for our students is the federal Pell Grant program, which accounted
• More than 21,000 CSU students borrowed federal Direct Loans while enrolled part-time.
• More than 21,000 CSU students borrowed federal direct loans while enrolled part-time.
• Jennifer Louie with the Administration, Department of Finance. That's...
• Jennifer Louie with the Administration, Department of Finance. That's...

Transcript Highlights:

• They were some of the first high-profile cases of the federal administration aggressively arresting legal
• </c> first high-profile cases of the federal first high-profile cases of the federal administration<00
• Dresser said this had never crossed his mind, despite years of this federal administration vilifying.
• </c><00:20:00.640><c> administration</c><00:20:01.280><c> vilifying</c> This federal administration is
• </c> federal government. federal government. This<00:43:27.200><c> Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is consistent with federal standards.
• Senate Bill 1630 requires Access to seek federal approval...
• Access provides federal dollars to help care for low-income and disabled people, but because of federal
• DDD and ALTCS have federal Medicaid funding. SMI people don't.
• My understanding is federal law supersedes state law.

Bills: SB1086 , SB1193 , SB1318 , SB1345 , SB1346 , SB1451 , SB1496 , SB1611 , SB1630 , SB1631 , SB1632 , SB1672

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Keywords: reimbursement, healthcare, laboratory services, noncontracting providers, Arizona health care cost containment, personal identifying information, PII, privacy, confidential records, public records exemption, commercial disclosure, data privacy, licensure, certification, health professions, health care licensing, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, emergency medical care technician, EMCT

Transcript Highlights:

• federal process.
• , and federal government.
• </c><04:36:59.080><c> administrative</c> to an administrative administrative to an administrative administrative
• aid staff, and limiting access to federal aid in the big ugly law, the Trump administration has only
• </c> federal funding. federal funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• broadband across and through Federal land.
• This is really a federal responsibility.
• Because, you see, it took five years of the federal delegation working with those federal employees who
• BECAUSE, YOU SEE, IT TOOK FIVE YEARS OF THE FEDERAL DELEGATION WORKING WITH THOSE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO

Transcript Highlights:

• Under SIFCO, the federal government...
• The administration has cited...
• And so what we've done with the timeline is, under the federal 90-day timeline, on— Under the federal
• In December, Hayward received a $13.5 million federal grant cancellation based on new federal priorities
• In December, Hayward received a $13.5 million federal grant cancellation based on new federal priorities

Transcript Highlights:

• for the federal government.
• I can be supporting the administration and still disagree with that administration.
• I can be supporting the administration and still disagree with that administration.
• It can change from administration to administration, just like the DOJ changed its rules when it got
• a new administration.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the climate at the federal level continues to impact federal funding to our institutions, including
• research and administration dollars and federal financial aid benefits to students, while creating a
• research and administration dollars, and federal federal funding, and federal institutions, to our institutions
• , including research and administration dollars, and federal financial aid benefits to students, while
• I know that recently we saw the federal administration drop their lawsuit against DEI programs, so I

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education held its first 2026 hearing on higher education, focusing on UC and CSU system updates, student housing, enrollment, and core operations. In opening remarks, the chair noted recent state fiscal stress, the prior rejection of proposed UC/CSU cuts, and the Governor’s proposed 5% ongoing compact increases. UC President James B. Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia described the systems’ public value, research and workforce roles, and the impact of federal actions on grants, financial aid, and campus operations. Both also emphasized Title IX and civil rights efforts; CSU said it had implemented nearly all state auditor recommendations and was on track to finish the remaining one, while UC highlighted its systemwide civil rights and Title IX offices. Both leaders said federal investigations, grant cancellations, and litigation demands were consuming staff time and money, with UC reporting more than 200 grants lost or affected and CSU citing more than $161 million in lost grants and more than 1,600 grants affected overall. The committee then heard on student housing. Finance and LAO staff said the Governor’s budget made no major new housing proposal but continued support for the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. CSU reported 12 supported projects that will add about 5,047 beds, most below market rate, with four already open and seven more expected this year; it also said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing emergency housing support. UC said the program has supported seven UC projects and two joint community college projects, adding more than 7,000 beds total, but nearly 10,000 UC students were on housing waitlists at the start of fall 2025. UC asked for additional state support, including possible bond funding and a statutory change to allow UC participation in public-private partnership housing projects. Members discussed rapid rehousing, student homelessness, faculty and staff housing, and community college housing partnerships, with both systems describing existing emergency beds and support services. On enrollment, LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan, and holding UC flat in 2027-28. For CSU, LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 target downward to reflect current projections, funding growth separately, and holding 2027-28 flat. CSU said it had rebounded from COVID declines, now exceeds its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE spots from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. CSU also described direct admissions, transfer success pathways, and new degree programs aimed at workforce needs. UC said it had surpassed its compact enrollment goals, planned to add 2,721 California undergraduates in 2026-27, and was seeking $5.5 million for health professional programs. Members raised concerns about underprepared freshmen, K-12 alignment, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, deferred maintenance, ROTC access, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pipelines. The final item on core operations addressed the Governor’s proposal to defer 3% base funding again, moving the one-time deferral to 2027-28 and allowing short-term zero-interest loans to cover it.

Transcript Highlights:

• These policies follow the federal IRS statutes.
• That would be up to the federal government.
• You could go to the federal boards. That would be up to the person.
• You mentioned as well the withdrawal of federal funds.
• law judge at the Division of Administrative Hearings.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up two bills. The first, PCS for HB 725 on political activity at public institutions of higher education, would require colleges and universities to notify students and employees about existing campus political activity rules at orientation and on their websites, and to adopt standardized policies through the State Board of Education and Board of Governors. The sponsor said the bill is intended to mirror federal IRS/501(c)(3) guidelines, protect institutions from risking federal funding, and clarify what is and is not allowed; supporters framed it as an awareness and free-expression measure, while opponents warned it could chill speech, create vague enforcement standards, and lead to unintended consequences for students and faculty. Public testimony was largely opposed, with speakers from student, civil liberties, education, and advocacy groups raising free-speech concerns. The committee passed the bill 13-5. The second measure, PCS for HB 1437, addressed disputes under mutual management plans between conversion charter schools and district school boards. The sponsor said the bill fills a gap by providing a clearer dispute-resolution path through mediation by the Department of Education or, ultimately, an administrative law judge at DOAH. Members asked about appeal rights and whether DOE is perceived as favoring charter schools; the sponsor said the bill simply sets the process for the current issue and that the administrative law judge provision serves as the final step. There was no public testimony, and the bill was reported favorably 18-0.