Transcript Highlights:

• immigration status, who are disproportionately Latino, and otherwise don't have particular breakdowns by race
• Department of Finance The Department of Finance doesn't have a breakout by gender or race.
• Studies show that Medi-Cal expansion resulted in reduced disparities across race, ethnicity, income,

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s safety net, focusing on Medi-Cal and CalFresh. The chair and vice chair framed the issue as a major federal disruption that would reduce benefits and shift costs to the state, counties, hospitals, and other local systems. The first panel included the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Finance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and the Food Research and Action Center, each describing projected enrollment losses, higher state and county costs, and implementation challenges. The LAO outlined H.R. 1’s main changes: new and expanded work requirements, more frequent eligibility redeterminations, restrictions on certain non-citizen eligibility, and financing changes affecting provider taxes and federal matching rates. The LAO estimated that 1 to 2 million people could be disenrolled from Medi-Cal and more than 600,000 could lose CalFresh, with additional costs from reduced federal support and possible state and county administrative burdens. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s budget includes about $1.4 billion General Fund in 2026-27 to respond to H.R. 1, with larger out-year reductions in federal funds and projected Medi-Cal caseload losses of up to 2 million by 2029-30. The UC Berkeley Labor Center projected up to 3 million Californians could lose full-scope Medi-Cal by 2028 when H.R. 1 is combined with state budget changes, while noting the state could choose policies that would reduce some of those losses. The Food Research and Action Center warned that CalFresh cuts and time limits would increase hunger, worsen health outcomes, and strain local economies and emergency systems. Members questioned the witnesses about procedural disenrollments, regional variation, the overall growth in Medi-Cal spending, the future of the MCO tax, the CalFresh error rate, and the downstream effects on hospitals and county indigent care. Several senators argued that the federal law was driven by tax cuts for high-income earners and would disproportionately harm low-income Californians, immigrants, and communities of color. Administration witnesses said some impacts are still being analyzed, that counties and departments are working on implementation, and that the Legislature may need to use statute, reporting, and oversight tools as federal guidance develops. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• immigration status, who are disproportionately Latino, and otherwise don't have particular breakdowns by race
• Department of Finance The Department of Finance or LAO doesn't have a breakout by gender or race.
• Studies show that Medi-Cal expansion resulted in reduced disparities across race, ethnicity, income,

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• DEIA programs are much more than race.
• already recognized, with multiple subgroup categories on the California Department of Human Resources race
• Fourteen-year-old Sewell Setzer, who loved Formula 1 racing and Fortnite, took his own life in February

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance recognizing 9/11. Members then moved through a long daily file and concurrence calendar, with many items passed without debate or temporarily retained. The chamber also took procedural actions, including re-referring AB 1152 to the Public Safety Committee, suspending rules for guest access and file-item handling, and later taking a roll-call vote to allow a late-filed journal letter request. Among the major Senate bills taken up on third reading, the Assembly approved SB 385 on peace officers’ rights, SB 753 on shopping cart recovery, SB 838 on housing and hotel projects, SB 643 on carbon dioxide removal grants, SB 645 on jury peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 761 on CalFresh access for students, SB 774 on real estate licensing sunsets, SB 400 on renewable energy labor tax incentives, SB 24 on utility spending transparency, SB 37 on attorney advertising ethics, SB 258 on spousal rape involving disabled spouses, SB 364 on outdoor advertising near new freeways, SB 403 removing the sunset from medical aid in dying, SB 770 on HOA barriers to EV charging, and SB 22 on gift certificate cash redemption values. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 403 and SB 770 drew more divided votes, while SB 24 was briefly delayed by a call before passing. The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments on Assembly bills covering a wide range of topics, including service of process (AB 747), local clean energy planning (AB 39), firearms (AB 1078), workers’ compensation (AB 1336), public health (AB 1487), survivor leave protections (AB 406), solid waste (AB 70), water reporting for data centers (AB 93), Diwali recognition (AB 268), wildfire workforce recovery (AB 338), educational equity (AB 419), civic education (AB 422), office-to-housing conversions (AB 507), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), privacy/browser opt-out rules (AB 566), housing element transparency (AB 610), tenant appliance requirements (AB 628), code enforcement penalties (AB 632), homelessness and LGBTQ-related policy (AB 678), energy (AB 740), DEIA review in state government (AB 766), inmate firefighter wages (AB 247), children’s health (AB 798), real estate (AB 851), COVID-era rehiring protections (AB 858), hazardous materials (AB 961), real property and housing covenants (AB 1050), aging (AB 1069), health care facilities (AB 1172), endangered species protections (AB 1319), CalWORKs modernization (AB 1324), cannabis access for seriously ill patients (AB 1332), foreign labor contractors (AB 1362), and downtown revitalization financing (AB 1445). Several of these passed overwhelmingly, while a few drew notable opposition, including AB 93, AB 403, AB 770, AB 851, AB 1050, and AB 1319. The transcript also included extended debate on SB 34, which was presented as a compromise measure on air pollution and port operations in the San Pedro Bay area. Supporters said it narrowed the scope to protect union jobs while preserving AQMD authority, while opponents and supporters alike noted the underlying distrust between labor and environmental stakeholders. The Assembly passed SB 34, SB 515 on disaggregated demographic data collection, and then began taking up AB 495 on immigration, with the sponsor describing family separation and immigration enforcement trauma before the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• what I ask: insofar as you have any influence or persuasion of whatever horse you're backing in the race
• what I ask, insofar as you have any influence or persuasion of whatever horse you're backing in the race
• We've all been in the middle of highly contentious sheriff's races.

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then took up a motion to reconsider the prior day’s failed vote on CS for SB 1080 (local government land regulation), which was adopted without objection, and moved into the special order calendar. A series of bills were debated and mostly passed, often after substituting House companions. Measures approved included funding for expedited DNA testing grants, additional aggravating factors in capital cases, fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients, commuter rail indemnification, migrant vessel disposition, specialty license plates, an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign, relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter school changes, sexual offender registration updates, utility worker assault/battery penalties, juvenile justice revisions, student mental health outcome reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School changes, school readiness resources for children with disabilities, sexual images/child exploitation penalties, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county tax collector/property appraiser employees. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and brownfields. Debate centered on public safety, health care access, education, recovery housing, and government administration. Some of the most substantive discussion came on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered and defeated after extended debate over election-related communications and the proper scope of existing ethics laws. The certified recovery residences bill also drew extensive support and testimony about addiction recovery and housing stability. Most bills passed on strong bipartisan votes, with a few receiving notable opposition, including the charter schools bill, the aggravating factors bill, and the Office of Faith and Community bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• what I ask, insofar as you have any influence or persuasion of whatever horse you're backing in the race
• what I ask, insofar as you have any influence or persuasion of whatever horse you're backing in the race
• We've all been in the middle of highly contentious sheriff's races.

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for Pope Francis. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to the special order calendar and took up a long series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills before final passage. Among the measures approved were bills creating an expedited DNA testing grant program for local law enforcement, adding aggravating factors in capital cases involving gatherings for religious, school, or government activities, requiring state health coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients, authorizing indemnification for commuter rail providers, prohibiting abandonment of migrant vessels in Florida waters, and creating new specialty license plates. The Senate also passed bills on Alzheimer’s awareness, relocating the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter schools, sex offender registration, utility worker protections, juvenile justice, student mental health reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School, school readiness, sexual images involving children, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county property appraiser employees. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and Brownfields. Debate was especially extensive on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered but failed 13-23 after arguments over election-related communications and the scope of existing law. The certified recovery residences bill also drew notable debate, with supporters emphasizing housing as essential to recovery and opponents raising concerns about implementation and local control. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes, including the capital aggravating factors bill, charter schools, and the Office of Faith and Community measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• what I ask: insofar as you have any influence or persuasion of whatever horse you're backing in the race
• what I ask, insofar as you have any influence or persuasion of whatever horse you're backing in the race
• We've all been in the middle of highly contentious sheriff's races.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. Members then moved to the special order calendar after adopting a motion to reconsider the earlier failed vote on CS/SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. The chamber also temporarily postponed several bills during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, Brownfields, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills with little or no opposition, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included expedited DNA testing grants for law enforcement; additional aggravating factors in capital felony sentencing; fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients; commuter rail indemnification; disposition of migrant vessels; specialty license plates; an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign; relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University; charter school changes; registration rules for sexual predators and offenders; assault and battery penalties for utility workers; juvenile justice revisions; reporting of student mental health outcomes; foster home licensure transfers; water access facilities and boating-related funding; Florida Virtual School changes; school readiness program improvements; protections against lewd sexual images of children; age-related criminal offense provisions; tampering with electronic monitoring devices; certified recovery residences; and codification of the FSU Election Law Center. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly, though the charter school bill and the aggravating factors bill drew more divided votes. One of the most debated measures was SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office employees while on duty and using government resources, citing alleged election-related emails and concerns about mixing government and religious influence. Supporters argued the amendment was needed as a guardrail; opponents said existing law already covered the conduct and that the amendment could be confusing or overly broad. The amendment failed 13-23, and the underlying bill passed 27-9 after extended debate about faith, politics, and the office’s role. Another notable debate involved SB 954 on certified recovery residences, where senators emphasized the need for stable housing in addiction recovery and the bill passed unanimously after supportive remarks from members who had personal experience with recovery. The Senate also passed SB 674 on bonuses for county tax collector and property appraiser employees after questions about safeguards and the purpose of the bonuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• come out, almost all of them would be a bill ready to go, which how this committee is set up and the race
• It's really turning into some sort of like an arms race right now. trying to make sure that the United
• Okay, just to be clear, that got me in this race.

Bills: HB512 , HB2248 , HB2679 , HB2832 , HB3112 , HB3368 , HB3490 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB3666 , HB3700 , HB3711 , HB3770 , HB3963

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: grievance procedures, state agency, employee rights, workplace regulations, employment law, employees, employment actions, appeal, state employees, workplace rights, disciplinary actions, employment conditions, employment disputes, job protections, public information, transparency, government accountability, information access, notification requirements, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• researcher is listed on their website, Chelsea Johnson, and she states that she's a specialist in race
• researcher is listed on their website, Chelsea Johnson, and she states that she's a specialist in race
• organization lists Chelsea Johnson as its lead researcher, and that she says she is a specialist in race

Bills: HF550

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on age, sex, different race, different metabolisms.
• A lot needs to be changed in medical schools as it relates to race. like getting into that because that's
• But it seems like the race is, where it's at right now, where it hits us the most are the ones where

Bills: HB5 , HJR3 , HB155 , HB513 , HB5 , HB155

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: dementia, research, health care, Texas Institute, grants, medical breakthroughs, oversight, prevention, funding, healthcare, Texas, autopsy, confidentiality, public records, medical examiner, law enforcement, HB 513, surgical smoke, surgical plume, smoke evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• color="aaaaaa">>> My name is William Moore </font> <font color="aaaaaa">and the president Cruises race
• color="aaaaaa">>> My name is William Moore </font> <font color="aaaaaa">and the president Cruises race
• color="aaaaaa">Network of North America and </font> <font color="aaaaaa">and the president Cruises race

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that intimate partner violence affects each and every community, regardless of race, income,
• We know that intimate partner violence affects each and every community, regardless of race, income,
• We know that intimate partner violence affects each and every community, regardless of race, income,
• We know that intimate partner violence affects each and every community, regardless of race, income,
• every gender, every every race, every gender, every religion.

Transcript Highlights:

• at least one objective distinguishing feature that has contributed to social disadvantage such as race
• at least one objective distinguishing feature that has contributed to social disadvantage such as race
• <04:18:09.359><c> ethnic</c><04:18:09.760><c> origin,</c><04:18:10.239><c> gender</c> such such as race
• , ethnic origin, gender such such as race, ethnic origin, gender um<04:18:11.920><c> or</c><04:18:12.159
• defines refugee as someone who is persecuted or who has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Humphrey School of Public Affairs finding that over half the spending in the most competitive Minnesota races
• statements from candidates for federal offices, statewide offices, state legislative, and judicial races
• /c><01:26:35.600><c> educate</c> Would voter guides educate voters about local elections and local races
• This bill would include offices, so all federal offices, statewide offices, state legislative races,
• as well as judicial races.

Bills: HF4348 , HF4186 , HF4202 , HF4455 , HF3884 , HF3883 , HF3882 , HF3881 , HF2688 , HF3295 , HF3862 , HF3362 , HF4242 , HF3798

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• We are telling the world that the United States will continue to lead in the global technological race
• 04.000><c> the</c><02:54:04.120><c> global</c><02:54:04.560><c> technological</c><02:54:05.279><c> race
• </c> lead in the global technological race lead in the global technological race and<02:54:06.160><c>
• Research Act, is a smart piece of legislation that will ensure that we stay competitive in the global race

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1194 races apprenticeship-based and traditional models, disproportionately harming Hawaiian practitioners
• HB 1194 races apprenticeship-based and traditional models, disproportionately harming Hawaiian practitioners
• licens<00:25:03.320><c> your</c><00:25:03.520><c> H1</c><00:25:04.520><c> 1194</c><00:25:05.399><c> races
• </c><00:25:05.760><c> apprenticeship</c> licens your H1 1194 races apprenticeship licens your H1 1194
• races apprenticeship based<00:25:06.640><c> and</c><00:25:06.840><c> traditional</c><00:25:07.840><c

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard extensive testimony on HB 1194 HD2, a bill to regulate midwifery and require accredited education for licensed midwives. Supporters, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, ACOG, a pediatrician, and several licensed midwives, argued the bill would improve maternal and newborn safety, clarify the definition of midwife, strengthen accountability, and align Hawaii with national education standards. They said accredited training is necessary to avoid gaps in knowledge and to support safe transfers and collaboration with hospitals. Opponents, including many midwives, parents, cultural practitioners, and community groups, argued the bill would restrict access to care, criminalize traditional and apprenticeship-based midwifery, and undermine reproductive autonomy and Native Hawaiian and other cultural birthing practices. Several asked for amendments to preserve a birth attendant exemption, the PET/portfolio pathway, and cultural and religious protections. Others said the bill would disproportionately harm rural, Indigenous, and low-income families by making training and licensure less accessible. The committee also heard testimony from state and county entities and professional organizations, with some standing on written testimony and others offering brief comments. The chair repeatedly reminded testifiers of the one-minute limit and the possibility that final decision-making would be deferred if quorum was lost. The transcript does not show a final vote or action taken during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• basically</c> The final data slide basically just shows you the percentage of students we serve by race
• When we start disaggregating by race and by other characteristics, we're just not meeting it.
• :10.119><c> start</c><00:52:10.559><c> disaggregating</c><00:52:11.559><c> by</c><00:52:12.280><c> race
• </c><00:52:12.799><c> and</c><00:52:13.000><c> by</c> we start disaggregating by race and by we start
• disaggregating by race and by other<00:52:13.799><c> you</c><00:52:13.920><c> know</c><00:52:14.839>

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• emerging capability that really stands to change the way society works in many ways and, you know, racing
• emerging capability that really stands to change the way society works in many ways and, you know, racing
• Society Works in many ways and and you Society Works in many ways and and you know<00:42:23.400><c> racing
• towards</c><00:42:24.359><c> that</c><00:42:24.680><c> without</c><00:42:25.520><c> really</c> know racing
• towards that without really know racing towards that without really understanding<00:42:26.760><c> uh

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• have with this is that it's going to result in inherent discrimination on income, disability, and race
• discrimination on income<02:32:27.520><c> disability</c><02:32:28.120><c> and</c><02:32:28.319><c> race
• <02:32:29.200><c> first</c><02:32:29.399><c> of</c><02:32:29.560><c> all</c> income disability and race
• first of all income disability and race first of all let's<02:32:30.279><c> assume</c><02:32:30.680>
• They has a lot to do with income and race and disability.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• and the revenue for going out to 2027, does that include the estimated revenue from historic horse racing
• That's charitable gambling revenue, and the vast majority of that is historic horse racing.
• machine that you use and sort of guesstimating the revenue that will be produced by historic horse racing
• :09:34.159><c> with</c><04:09:34.319><c> historic</c><04:09:34.600><c> horse</c><04:09:34.800><c> racing
• </c> up but that's with historic horse racing up but that's with historic horse racing machines yeah<

Summary: The meeting featured presentations from the Department of Administrative Services and the Treasury Department on state revenue reporting and unclaimed property. State Comptroller Dana Call explained DAS’s role in compiling statewide revenue reports, including the annual revenue plan set through the budget process and the monthly revenue focus reports that track cash receipts. She noted that unrestricted general fund revenue is about $2 billion annually, while miscellaneous other revenue is a much smaller and less predictable category, averaging roughly $30 million to $32 million a year. She also described two more material internal revenue lines: statewide indirect cost recoveries and post-retirement benefit recoveries, which are billed to agencies and often tied to federal reimbursement rules. Members asked about the interest line in the revenue charts and about how the figures were presented, and Call clarified that the totals were in millions and that the interest item would be explained by the Treasurer. She also explained that the indirect cost and post-retirement recoveries are internal cost allocations that flow back into the unrestricted revenue pool and are reflected in agency budgets as interagency costs. Treasurer Monica Meissner then outlined Treasury Department functions, including bank deposits, statewide disbursements, banking relationships, investments, debt management, compliance, the FONA College Savings Program, the ABLE Plan, scholarship programs, and the abandoned property program. In discussing unclaimed property, she said holders report property after a five-year dormancy period, the state uses automated systems and outreach to locate owners, and claim activity has increased. In fiscal year 2024, the state returned about $12.2 million to citizens through roughly 12,000 claims; over the last 10 years, about $72.6 million has been returned. She also said the state escheated $19.9 million to the general fund and $1.8 million to counties last year, and explained that securities-related proceeds are harder to estimate because they depend on market conditions. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill to ensure America continues our leadership and standard-setting in the global technology race
• Already, China is leading in the 6G patent race, filing about 35% of patents globally.
• Already, China is leading in the 6G Already, China is leading in the 6G patent<04:48:57.040><c> race,
• , filing about 35% of patents patent race, filing about 35% of patents globally.<04:49:01.920><c> To<
• The race to 6G is not just about faster phones.