Video & Transcript Research : 'pilot program'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 2nd, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I rise to present AB 31, which would create a three year pilot program with the Department of Justice
- AB 954 establishes a pilot program through Caltrans for the establishment of bike highways in two separate
- Proud to present AB 1140, which will create a single occupancy cell pilot program at four correctional
- AB 1307 establishes a pilot program allowing 30 qualified dentists from Mexico to practice in areas with
- AB 1344 would create a pilot program adding DAs to the list of authorized petitioners for orders in the
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 24, 2026 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Next, we'll go to CS for CS HB 783, Coordinated Access Model pilot program by Representative Sapp and
- We'll create a coordinated Access Auto pilot program in Duval, Clay, and Saint Johns counties to assist
- It says Grant program. It adds infant. I'll crab a disease to the newborn screening program.
- These people are the backbone of this program.
- She understands the program and my family has what we need.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
February 24, 2026 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair Tomkow: Next, we'll go into CS for CS HB 783, Coordinated Access Model Pilot Program by Representative
- CS for CS HB 783 will create a Coordinated Access Model pilot program in Duval, Clay, and Saint Johns
- It creates a new Year 5 ISSA grant program.
- These people are the backbone of this program.
- She understands the program and my family has what we need.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services and Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health Apr 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Why would we cut this program?
- It was a pilot program launched in seven counties with a very limited scope of bargaining that proved
- with additional program data.
- The department also administered $365 million in home and community-based services pilot programs to
- support nutrition investments, access, and home and community-based services pilot programs to support
Summary:
The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk.
The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care.
The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- We doubled down on program integrity.
- We doubled down on program integrity.
- And certainly the PCA program, the adult health, foster programs, are, um, By double digits.
- And certainly the PCA program, the adult health foster programs, are—we're not immune to that.
- We had 79 Massachusetts municipalities participate in our pilot one-free-designee program, bringing the
Summary:
The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness.
A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law.
Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Right now these programs are spread across multiple agencies.
- program.
- This just happens to be one of those that we want to set up as a school safety drone response pilot program
- In fact, just last week, LDH announced a program.
- LDH announced a program called Ascend, and it's going to be a very comprehensive program to work with
Bills:
SB524, SR108, SR109, SCR56, SCR57, SCR12, HB227, HB398, HB689, HB897, HB1029, HB1107, HB1217, HB221, HCR58, HB136, SB162, SB382, SCR33, SCR30, SB112, SB194, SB307, SB341, SB346, SB363, SB495, SB503, SB507, SB509, SB513, SB408, SB131, SB145, SB333, SB464, SB466, SB500, SB283, SB338, SB488, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB228, SB246, SB249, SB268, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB312, SB319, SB323, SB369, SB431, SB474, SB484, SB490, SB492, SB501, HCR14, HB537, HB652, HB653, HB661, HB726, HB756, HB851, HB964, HB966, HB34, HB35, HB48, HB474, HB553, HB758, HB852, HB10, HB16, HB36, HB44, HB46, HB52, HB61, HB78, HB98, HB102, HB124, HB126, HB131, HB135, HB141, HB142, HB164, HB170, HB171, HB179, HB194, HB231, HB245, HB280, HB292, HB294, HB297, HB305, HB336, HB337, HB351, HB436, HB594, HB789, HB956, HB957, HB995, HB1040, HB50, HB117, HB120, HB122, HB139, HB148, HB149, HB185, HB199, HB247, HB271, HB286, HB301, HB358, HB359, HB384, HB413, HB428, HB450, HB462, HB547, HB613, HB631, HB657, HB669, HB675, HB680, HB691, HB712, HB716, HB720, HB723, HB727, HB728, HB735, HB747, HB759, HB825, HB842, HB845, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB907, HB923, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB965, HB1036, HB287, HB370, HB515, HB521, HB570, HB1200, HB29, HB39, HB58, HB67, HB73, HB76, HB77, HB82, HB112, HB121, HB125, HB132, HB134, HB151, HB154, HB155, HB161, HB166, HB187, HB191, HB207, HB211, HB224, HB238, HB241, HB242, HB250, HB260, HB265, HB275, HB300, HB320, HB338, HB339, HB349, HB379, HB399, HB427, HB463, HB464, HB468, HB545, HB550, HB551, HB565, HB588, HB639, HB725, HB782, HB805, HB808, HB834, HB847, HB853, HB858, HB861, HB883, HB916, HB937, HB977, HB1012, HB1027, HB1044, HB1054, HB1071, HB1091, HB1117, HB119, HB129, HB677, HB850, SB68, SB149
Keywords:
Jump Start, career and technical education, CTE, career diploma, career pathways, workforce development, high school diploma, career major, individual career and academic plan, ICAP, individual graduation plan, IGP, work-based learning, apprenticeship, internship, dual enrollment, articulation agreement, transfer credit, rural schools, rural LEA
Summary:
The Senate opened with a quorum, a guest minister prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a St. Charles Parish presentation featuring a youth national anthem singer. The chamber then moved through a large number of House and Senate messages, committee reports, and introductions, including measures on career and technical education, flood risk maps, public-private partnership contracting, arts day, and a task force on work-based learning. Several resolutions were adopted, including SCR 56 honoring the YMCA and SCR 57 honoring Jonathan Nicole, both by unanimous votes. A House concurrent resolution supporting elimination of the U.S. Department of Education also passed 26-9.
On Senate bills, the chamber gave final passage to SB 112 on voluntary release time for K-12 religious instruction with a criminal background check amendment, SB 194 on public assistance and citizenship verification, SB 307 on public displays of historical/religious documents, SB 341 expanding church and nonprofit religious self-insurance coverage, SB 346 prohibiting deepfake materials used against students, SB 495 on campaign finance reporting and unitemized contributions, SB 503 on age assurance for minors using mobile apps, SB 507 creating a statewide process for determining non-enrollment, SB 509 on bank-owned life insurance, SB 131 limiting attorney fee recovery in occupational licensing disciplinary cases, SB 145 requiring backup power for adult residential care providers, SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and federal reimbursement, SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage, SB 466 on expropriation and foreign adversaries, SB 488 on a school safety drone response pilot program, SB 312 on union dues and withholding procedures, and SB 319 on voter identification and provisional ballot procedures. Most passed with little or no opposition, though SB 194, SB 307, SB 503, SB 131, SB 333, and SB 319 drew some dissenting votes.
The chamber also passed multiple House bills, including HB 1071 on public records exceptions for aerospace critical infrastructure, HB 537 repealing the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, HB 652 and HB 653 adjusting Oyster Task Force membership, HB 661 narrowing nepotism restrictions for certain school board hires with an amendment, HB 756 aligning watercraft enforcement with Coast Guard standards, HB 851 banning intentional balloon releases, HB 964 authorizing a Caddo Parish property transfer, and HB 34 and HB 35 on sheriff pension fund eligibility and contribution rules. Several items were returned to the calendar or referred to committees. A major discussion centered on SB 484, which would restructure parts of higher education governance and transfer certain Board of Regents functions; it drew extensive questioning and amendments, including a new Lumcon board structure and financial reporting requirements, but was returned to the calendar for further work rather than final passage.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Dec 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Next we'll move on to the social equity program.
- The social equity program was created in 2020 by the legislature.
- But the program we are working on right now, I would...
- But the program we are working on right now would bring these programs into CTE classrooms.
- But the program we are working on right now would bring these programs into CTE classrooms.
Summary:
The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states.
The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement.
Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- So the bottom line on the Turnpike toll credits is that there is only a pilot program that's been initiated
- The bottom line on the Turnpike toll credits is that there is only a pilot program that's been initiated
- The bottom line on the Turnpike toll credits is that there is only a pilot program that's been initiated
- as is, not a pilot.
- That's for the program as is, not a pilot.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Program.
- And we were trying to do a pilot program to have when you call a number, and then they say, well, you
- And we had two agencies in this pilot program, including yours. We met with you last week.
- program such as the one we're suggesting?
- Yeah, not to get into the pluses or minuses of the program, simply the administration of the program.
Summary:
The committee first considered the confirmation of Dr. John Lattell to the Florida Board of Medicine. In questioning, senators focused heavily on his views on abortion, vaccines, ivermectin, hormonal birth control, and the role of CDC/FDA guidance in board discipline cases. Dr. Lattell said the board should apply Florida statutes, described himself as strongly pro-life and skeptical of some federal health guidance, and said he would be sympathetic when judging fellow physicians because of his own experience in practice. Supporters praised his medical background, military service, and family medicine experience, while opponents argued his stated views could affect his ability to fairly discipline other doctors. The committee voted 5-2 to recommend confirmation, with Senators Polsky and Rouson voting no.
The committee then took up the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Hatch outlined her background at DCF and APD and described department priorities including streamlining services, improving child welfare and behavioral health systems, expanding peer support, and reducing SNAP error rates. Members asked detailed questions about Hope Florida, the number and role of Hope Navigators, agency responsiveness on bill analyses, and accountability for community-based care contractors. Hatch said Hope Florida is a partnership-based navigation effort aimed at self-sufficiency, that 143 Hope Navigators are in place, and that the department is working to improve transparency and oversight through contracts, audits, and a proposed funding model.
Senators also pressed Hatch on the Hope Florida Foundation’s compliance history and on forensic audits of community-based care agencies, especially Northwest Florida Health Network. Hatch said the foundation is now in compliance and under audit, and that the contractor had completed corrective actions and was operating within current accountability limits. She said DCF had not yet conducted new forensic audits under her tenure but was preparing another round and was considering using contracted-services dollars to support that work. The discussion ended with continued questioning on oversight, staffing, and whether the agency could provide more formal bill analyses going forward.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/21/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- of any such program. of any such program.
- Um, I have listed here that this is for basically a pilot program, and several of us here on the committee
- And I don't really see any harm in trying this pilot program.
- And I don't really see any harm in trying this pilot program. Didn't seem appealing to us.
- And I don't really see any harm in trying this pilot program. Didn't seem appealing to us.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- It builds off of a pilot program that we did two years ago, uh, with the generosity of this committee
- <00:03:23.239>
and importantly is that uh this program and importantly is that uh this program - <00:09:29.680>
to so grateful for uh this PR program to so grateful for uh this PR program - sharing the program.
- sharing the program.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- And, you know, we had talked about why not a pilot program, you know, something that doesn't take away
- And, you know, we had talked about why not a pilot program, you know, something that doesn't take away
- And, you know, we had talked about why not a pilot program, you know, something that doesn't take away
- And, you know, we had talked about why not a pilot program, you know, something that doesn't take away
- And, you know, we had talked about why not a pilot program, you know, something that doesn't take away
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- This pilot program was established in 2021 with Senator Abeler as the bill's author, and it has had a
- It is similar to the $8.5 million of one-time investment for the pilot program that Senator Rarick proposed
- This pilot program was scholarships.
- This pilot program was established<00:03:42.239>
in <00:03:43.000>2021 <00:03:44.000> - <00:04:38.800>
program <00:04:39.360>that investment for the pilot program that investment
CT
Connecticut 2026 Regular Session
Finance Advisory Committee May 14th Meeting May 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The veterans opportunity pilot, did that never just never got off the ground?
- A real challenge with that program.
- We discussed how we may be able to stand that program up. We never got it off the ground.
- Program within our Department of Veterans Affairs that pays minimum wage.
- So individuals in our independent program pay a program fee, and that's based on a percentage of their
Summary:
The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes of its April 2 meeting and then took up three budget transfers. The first, FAC 2026-6 for the Office of the State Treasurer, moved $75,000 from personal services to other expenses to pay for consultant help applying for federal energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay provisions. Treasurer’s office staff said the agency had one open position and several others pending posting, and members discussed how the transfer related to vacant positions and the committee’s budget display.
The second item, FAC 2026-7 for the Office of the State Controller, transferred $700,000 from personal services to other expenses to cover higher Core-CT software maintenance and licensing costs. Comptroller staff said the office had 21 open positions, most in Core-CT, and explained that the system, implemented in 2003, receives regular quarterly and monthly updates from Oracle. Members also discussed how the system serves payroll, HR, purchasing, accounting, and related functions for many state agencies, including UConn and the Board of Regents.
The final item, FAC 2026-8 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, transferred $700,000 from personal services, the veterans opportunity pilot, and headstones accounts to other expenses for year-end operational needs. Commissioner Ron Welch said most vacancies were in the skilled nursing facility, food service, and physical plant, with staffing challenges especially for nurses and aides. He also explained that the veterans opportunity pilot never fully launched, that the Institutional General Welfare Fund has been depleted and the agency now relies more on general fund support, and that the department faces rising food, utility, and pharmaceutical costs, including a federal VA reimbursement change that will leave the state responsible for medication costs by 2027. All three transfers were approved, and the meeting adjourned.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee, May 4, 2026 - AM
Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- But, um, if we go under the pilot program, there will be no new construction.
- couldn't<02:06:59.080>
we uh, pilot program, um, we couldn't we uh, pilot program, um, we - <02:07:15.360>
program, uh, if we go under the pilot program, uh, if we go under the pilot - <02:08:22.960>
programs, only a limited number of pilot programs, only a limited number of - of, um, winning one of those pilot of, um, winning one of those pilot programs. programs. programs
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Jun 8th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- AB 2476 is a targeted, common-sense update to the Central Procurement Program created by AB 1373 in 2020
- 75 and 100 years, and so we're looking forward to having eligibility under the Central Procurement Program
- I am pleased to present Assembly Bill 2518, a district-specific bill that creates a five-year pilot program
- I hope that the pilot is successful and that we then have another bill next year that takes it to all
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications met to hear several bills; ACA 9 was announced as postponed to a later hearing. The committee first approved the consent calendar, then heard AB 2458 by Assemblymember Bennett, which would extend California Energy Commission appliance efficiency standards to appliances that are rented or leased rather than only sold. Supporters from Ceres and Southern California Edison testified in favor, and Senator Caballero asked whether the bill would affect commercial food processors; the author said the CEC indicated it would not. The bill passed on a unanimous roll call and was sent to Senate Appropriations.
The committee then heard AB 2476 by Assemblymember Ellis, which would remove an outdated pre-2020 state-funding requirement for pumped storage hydro projects to qualify for the state’s central procurement program, while keeping the 500-megawatt cap. The author and supporters from Rye Development, GreenGen Storage, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers argued the bill would expand competition for long-duration storage, support grid reliability, and help lower costs for ratepayers. Senator Rubio and others asked how the bill would produce savings, and the author explained that more eligible projects would increase competition in procurement. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations.
Finally, the committee heard AB 2518 by Assemblymember Sharp-Collins, a San Diego County pilot program to speed utility connection timelines for affordable housing, hospitals, municipal projects, EV infrastructure, and other projects. The San Diego Housing Commission and SDG&E supported the measure, saying it would reduce costly energization delays; members asked about possible impacts on other customers and whether the bill conflicted with existing SB 410 work, and the author said it was intended to complement current utility timelines. AB 2518 also passed on a unanimous vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee later reopened the roll to record an additional vote on AB 2518, confirming its passage before adjourning.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, February 2, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- better off than they were before entering the program.
- a call center specifically for the VR program.
- programs.
- programs.
- Expanding program approvals for new programs is now misguided.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- It's my understanding both Chris and I are kind of the test pilots for the LBA office.
- It's my understanding both Chris and I are kind of the test pilots for the LBA office.
- It's my understanding both Chris and I are kind of the test pilots for the LBA office.
- And I are kind of the test pilots for the LBA office.
- I would have to counter some of the things behind this program. I've heard Mr.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-WTL-EDT-EIG, WTL-AEN Public Hearings 03-19-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- non-ag park program. non-ag park program. Okay,<00:28:20.800>
good. Okay, good. - the non-agricultural program.
- It appropriates funds for the Department of Ag for a non-potable water wells pilot program, prepare an
- HB 1365, relating to the Department of Ag, appropriates funds for a non-potable water wells pilot program
- Department of Agriculture program, but a different program than this.
Summary:
The joint committees met on March 19, 2025, to hear HB 966 HD2, which would create statewide standards for agricultural tourism in counties that adopt ag-tourism ordinances. The bill would require registration with county planning departments, require ag-tourism to remain tied to an active farming operation, and end the activity when the agricultural use stops except in limited circumstances. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with several witnesses emphasizing that agritourism can help farm viability, food security, and public education about agriculture.
The Hawaii Farm Bureau and several other testifiers supported agritourism but urged strong guardrails, minimal statewide standards, and deference to county home rule. They said agriculture should remain the primary activity, warned against adding burdens to farmers and ranchers, and suggested better enforcement and agricultural expertise within county planning departments. Phil Weber and others argued for objective standards, such as minimum revenue or work-performed thresholds, annual reporting, and clearer compliance tools, and cautioned that the bill’s termination exemption could be too broad if not tightened.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill should apply to Department of Agriculture lands, especially ag park lands, and to DLNR lands. Department of Agriculture staff explained that ag park lands currently do not allow agritourism, while non-ag park lands under Act 90 allow limited related activity tied to farm production, with revenue limits and other conditions. Members and witnesses debated how to define and measure agritourism, how to enforce county rules, and whether to exempt ag park parcels or otherwise clarify that existing DOA rules would control. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the chair requested follow-up language from DOA to address possible exemptions and clarify the bill’s application.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration Mar 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This expanded program. to launch this expanded program on an ongoing basis.
- delivery costs, where these funds are actually in support of the actual program design, such as program
- that the program does.
- called the Next Gen Success Program.
- program oversight on this project?
Summary:
The subcommittee held an informational budget hearing covering several GovOps, CDT, CPPA, and DGS items. GovOps reported that most deliverables under the Governor’s generative AI executive order have been completed, including guidelines, procurement tools, community-impact guidance, and a new project delivery lifecycle for Gen AI projects; one workforce-related deliverable remains. Members and public commenters raised concerns about privacy, labor impacts, and how the state will explain and oversee Gen AI use. The committee also heard a proposal to create a California Education Interagency Council with $5 million ongoing and 16 positions to coordinate workforce and education systems; LAO questioned duplication and recommended limited-term funding, while supporters said a neutral convening body is needed to improve coordination and student outcomes.
GoServe presented the College Corps budget proposals, describing the program as a paid service and career-development opportunity for undergraduate students that helps reduce college costs while supporting communities through tutoring, food insecurity work, climate and disaster response, and other service. The administration sought one-time and ongoing funding to expand the program to more campuses and students, while LAO objected to the high administrative costs and recommended rejection. Several students and alumni testified that College Corps provided financial support, professional experience, and career pathways. The committee also heard a $5 million proposal for a Belonging Campaign to address loneliness and social isolation through research, outreach, and local grants; LAO said the proposal lacked clear goals and measures, while supporters said the effort is needed for youth, seniors, and community resilience.
The Department of Technology updated the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, saying construction is underway on the statewide open-access network and the project remains on track for the 2026 deadline, though LAO noted a required business plan had not yet been submitted. The California Privacy Protection Agency presented its Delete Act implementation request for the DROP platform, which will let consumers request deletion of personal information held by data brokers; LAO flagged oversight concerns because CDT is both developing the system and involved in project support. Public commenters from business groups urged caution on CPPA’s rulemakings, warning of compliance costs and job impacts.
The Department of General Services then discussed implementation of Proposition 2 school facilities bonds, requesting staffing and administrative funding to manage the new bond program and continue school facility work. Officials said the program can also help districts affected by the January wildfires, including interim site funding and expedited assistance. Finally, DGS requested authority and positions to operate Building 18 for labor-agency tenants relocating from older Capitol Mall space; SEIU Local 1000 criticized the state’s four-day return-to-office policy and said telework has improved productivity and retention. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded after public testimony and member questions on each item.