Transcript Highlights:

• Doing so would not be exercising ordinary care.
• Doing so would not be exercising ordinary care.
• That’s not health care; that’s homicide.
• These are the jobs that help forge the middle class: child care providers who care for young children
• And so having an ombudsman, an added set of eyes, is important for improving our learning curve, improving

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first heard AB 2, which would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters, including Common Sense Media and education and child advocacy groups, argued that social media algorithms and design features amplify harmful content and that existing remedies are not enough to deter misconduct. Opponents from TechNet, CCIA, the Chamber of Commerce, EFF, and others warned the bill was vague, could chill content moderation and encryption, invite litigation, and be preempted by Section 230. Several members raised concerns about defining “harm,” but the bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent onward. The committee then took up AB 282, which would allow landlords and housing providers to establish preferences for tenants who use housing vouchers or other rental assistance, clarifying that such preferences are not unlawful source-of-income discrimination. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, AARP, legal aid groups, and housing nonprofits said the bill would help voucher holders find units and improve voucher utilization. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. Next was AB 882, dealing with court reporter availability and the use of electronic recording in certain cases when an official court reporter is unavailable. The author and supporters, including court reporter and labor representatives, said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage while preserving accurate records. Opponents from consumer attorneys, defense counsel, the Judicial Council, and others argued the bill was too narrow, could harm access to justice, and should be expanded or revised. Members from both parties expressed mixed views but generally supported continuing the conversation; the bill passed and was placed on call. The committee also heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, which would update antitrust law to address collusion through pricing software and digital tools. Supporters said the bill targets modern forms of cartel behavior and closes loopholes that let companies coordinate prices through algorithms. Opponents from the Chamber of Commerce, Civil Justice Association, TechNet, retailers, hospitals, and others argued the conduct is already illegal, the bill is overbroad, and its definitions and burden-shifting provisions need work. Members requested clarifications to key definitions and pleading standards, but the bill passed as amended and was placed on call. The committee then briefly heard AB 935, which would strengthen civil rights data collection and transparency, especially for educational settings; it had no opposition, passed, and was placed on call. Finally, AB 67 was presented to let the Attorney General enforce the Reproductive Privacy Act and seek penalties against local governments that interfere with abortion access. Supporters framed it as an enforcement tool to protect reproductive rights, while opponents from California Family Council and others denounced it as expanding state power to protect abortion access; the transcript cuts off during that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Brian Komodo has dedicated over 40 years to improving health care and meeting the needs of the medically
• Delays and disruption to their access for care.
• health care keeps on coming.
• Health care should not be a part of anyone's health care experience.
• reproductive health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• before continuing to support the VA health care system as a civilian.
• readiness and set new standards in casualty care.
• , to mental health care.
• We want to take care of our service members. How do we fix this problem?
• for our troops, and they're getting world-class care.

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Air Force modernization, fighter aircraft, autonomous systems, air superiority, national security, recapitalization

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on military procurement and modernization, with significant discussions surrounding the Air Force's capabilities and strategic needs. Key topics included the urgent need for recapitalization of the Air Force's fighter squadrons, as well as the importance of integrating new technologies like autonomous systems to bolster military effectiveness. Several senators raised concerns about the current resources available to the Air National Guard and the potential loss of skilled service members if recapitalization plans are not swiftly developed. There were also discussions on the importance of maintaining air superiority in light of evolving threats, particularly from adversaries like China.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:22.159><c> And</c> child care benefits and MIP. And child care benefits and MIP.
• </c> careful. That's where I was last year. careful. That's where I was last year.
• </c><01:02:57.839><c> people's</c> the surplus, that are improving people's the surplus, that are improving
• </c><01:11:29.520><c> its</c> Even if Minnesota were to improve its Even if Minnesota were to improve
• Huge cuts to health care Washington DC.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that causes other issues outside of the abuse and neglect and foster care system.
• Yes, and I'll tell you from firsthand experience that when you have a circuit judge who cares...
• The communication has been great, and of course the court's always very careful about not speaking to
• Juveniles were taken better care of. It was more productive.
• Is that the way you should say it: we'll identify measurable outcomes to be improved? Okay.

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 4893, which would increase penalties for contempt of magistrate court and raise the maximum fine a court may impose without a jury trial. Counsel explained that the bill would raise fines for first, second, and third offenses, add community service, and allow weekend jail or work release for a third offense. The committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and adopted a title amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 5684, a pilot program creating child protection commissioners to help handle abuse and neglect cases. Counsel and the sponsor described the proposal as a way to reduce circuit court backlog, improve the frequency and consistency of hearings, and provide more focused attention to children and families while leaving final decision-making authority with circuit judges. Supporters cited the heavy caseloads, shortages of guardians ad litem, and a Texas model that reportedly improved efficiency; one senator criticized the bill as adding bureaucracy, while others said the system needs a new approach. Members discussed funding through a companion bill tied to the medical cannabis fund, with an initial startup amount and ongoing annual support. Several senators raised concerns about the lack of a sunset date and the need for measurable outcomes. The committee adopted an amendment requiring the Supreme Court’s Administrative Director to identify measurable outcomes, establish a pre-implementation baseline, and provide annual reporting to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, including costs and projected costs. House Bill 5684, as amended, was then reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is an area that we can improve upon.
• the outcomes of children in foster care.
• They make sure that the care, custody, control is constantly done.
• We transitioned to an email-only login system to improve security.
• They've, they've have huge health care bills.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, that takes care of our needs.
• The third war for standard of care. Right.
• Dell Seton Medical Centers here in Austin and Change Health Care.
• We have to be very careful with what we're talking about.
• The use of this platform will improve efficiency.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• , and family child care home education networks.
• has established... ...preschool and child care.
• With these changes, more state preschool, general child care, and family child care home education networks
• , and family child care home education network. state preschool, general child care, and family child
• care home education networks.

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a violation for the operator of that line. 1810B is failed to dig with care in the tolerance.
• Swap that one out and see if we can't get that taken care of. Thank you.
• But continuing on just to. the things that we think might help improve the system.
• So now people... seeking emergency care couldn't get emergency care because they didn't have water.
• These organizations are committed to improving our policies.

Transcript Highlights:

• afford care.
• downstream health care savings.
• It funds abortion care and reproductive care and LGBT care and menopause care, which, by the way, isn't
• care coverage.
• It funds abortion care and reproductive care and LGBT care and menopause care, which by the way isn't

Transcript Highlights:

• , so I spent a lot of time improving the technology.
• We all care about our veterans. I grew up in a military family.
• I mean, I care greatly about veteran employment.
• When's the last time you were in a VA health care facility?
• care and access to veterans.

Committee: Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: veterans affairs, VA modernization, employee layoffs, mental health, suicide prevention, transparency, senate committee, bipartisan support, oversight

Summary: The meeting involved detailed discussions on various veterans' issues, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amidst a backdrop of significant staffing changes. Members expressed deep concerns over the recent layoffs of over 1,000 VA employees, emphasizing the crucial nature of these positions in the context of mental health support for veterans, particularly amid rising suicide rates. Senators articulated the need for transparency and effective communication between the VA and Congress to avoid further breakdowns in services. The session also spotlighted the ongoing modernization of VA systems and the urgent need to streamline processes to benefit veterans effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:15.440><c> across</c> of lives knit together in care across of lives knit together in care
• </c><00:35:42.960><c> and</c> more than $1 billion in child care and more than $1 billion in child care
• </c> made significant investments to improve made significant investments to improve child<00:35:49.640
• That cost has skyrocketed of child care.
• </c> network of counties, managed care network of counties, managed care organizations,<00:58:10.440>

Transcript Highlights:

• UC also improves the lives of countless people across the country and the world.
• generally improving.
• Yes, thank you all of you for caring so much about our Yes, thank you, all of you, for caring so much
• Each of these programs serves an important function in California health care.
• We need to see those numbers improve for diverse students. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Transcript Highlights:

• , child care, and special education.
• , child care, special education.
• the proposed cap on Working Connections child care, reductions in child care subsidy rates, and cuts
• within managed care.
• We know that providing care in hospitals costs 10 times more than in home care settings.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, 475 for marina improvements.
• Um, 475 for marina improvements.
• Um, 475 for marina improvements.
• Um, 475 for marina improvements.
• care facility or skilled beds.

Summary: The committee heard a Department of Corrections capital budget presentation on HB 25, focused largely on urgent maintenance and security needs at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men and other DOC facilities. DOC officials described the governor’s proposed priorities: boiler surge and radiator tank replacements, electronic controls and camera upgrades, and replacement of HVAC units using R22 refrigerant. They also outlined additional requested projects totaling $15.4 million, including a body alarm/man-down system at Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility, steam line and trap repairs, fire alarm replacements, and removal of an underground diesel tank in favor of above-ground storage. DOC testified that many systems are well beyond their expected service life, including 40-year-old boilers, outdated analog cameras, and HVAC equipment using discontinued R22 refrigerant. They said the men’s prison is relying on a leased temporary boiler, has significant steam leaks causing major water loss and reduced boiler efficiency, and is dealing with frequent fire alarm faults and deteriorating wiring. On the body alarm system, they said the vendor no longer supports the equipment and replacement parts are no longer available. On the diesel tank, members questioned whether it could be abandoned in place or whether fuel could be reused; DOC said it had not explored all alternatives and would follow up, while noting the tank is underground and tied into the warehouse system. Members also asked whether some current investments could be reused in the planned new men’s prison. DOC said some items, such as air handlers, might potentially be moved, but most projects are needed to keep the current facility operational and would not be practical to transfer. Questions were also raised about the leased boiler arrangement, the use of the man-down system by staff and visitors, and whether the kitchen project could be converted to a modular unit. DOC said the modular kitchen approach is necessary because the existing kitchen cannot remain fully operational during repairs. The committee then moved to lapse extensions, and DOC identified several projects no longer needing extensions, including items numbered 64, 65, and 66 in HB 25, with the chair noting those balances would be deleted and that the lapse amount was $550,500.

Transcript Highlights:

• These lies not only vilified me, they denied my son the medical care he urgently needed.
• I have S-1280, an act clarifying insurance liability for foster care providers.
• our foster care programming in 1978.
• Our agency has been serving foster care for over 150 years.
• Vulnerable children in foster care, our clients deserve better.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on a wide range of state, probate, and family bills, with chairs Edwards and Day outlining strict testimony limits and accepting written testimony. Early testimony focused on H. 1911/S. 1138, which would clarify that a durable power of attorney may create a trust if that authority is expressly granted; sponsors and elder law advocates said the bill would resolve uncertainty created by the Barbetti decision and align Massachusetts with other states. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1102, a proposal to establish medical panels in Probate and Family Court. Supporters, including attorneys, parents, physicians, and advocates, said neutral three-doctor panels would help judges resolve disputed medical issues in guardianship and custody cases involving children, elders, and people with disabilities. Testifiers described cases where medical treatment was blocked or contested by one parent or guardian, arguing the panels would provide impartial expertise and protect vulnerable people. The committee also heard support for bills addressing disability discrimination in family court, military parents’ custody rights, and a shared parenting bill, H. 1710, which drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and others who said a 50-50 presumption could harm survivors and children. The committee also took testimony on several probate and court-administration measures. Senator Lovely supported a bill on nominee trust partition, and Senator Comerford and probate officials backed legislation to codify additional registry staff positions and modernize registry operations. Other bills discussed included foster care liability insurance, with providers warning that rising premiums and loss of coverage could force program closures; health care proxy storage and activation; access to decedents’ email accounts; uniform trust decanting; the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act; heirs’ property partition protections; a constitutional right to health care; alimony-related reforms; child-centered family law; and a right of disposition for funeral arrangements. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Focuses on infrastructure </font> <font color="aaaaaa">improvements that
• ">improve health care access </font> <font color="aaaaaa">tool and underserved areas </font> <font color
• ="aaaaaa">improve health care access </font> <font color="aaaaaa">tool and underserved areas </font>
• Hospital capital </font> <font color="aaaaaa">improvement and innovative </font> <font color="aaaaaa"
• Senator </font> <font color="aaaaaa">health care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think long-term, when it comes to the cost of taking care of the health care professionals that
• Quality of life matters, and improved quality of life will improve compliance to the medications.
• This bill improves coordination.
• We're going to take care of it.
• There's health care providers—what? Oh, there's health care providers.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to radiation protection in cardiac catheterization labs and later a stem cell/regenerative therapy bill. On SB 1121, which would allow hospitals with radiation protection systems to let clinicians forgo lead aprons if they work in the designated safety area and use real-time dosimetry, testimony was largely supportive or neutral after a late amendment gave radiation safety officers discretion to require protective gear if exposures approach thresholds. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1121 on a 9-1 vote. SB 1120, a more prescriptive bill requiring at least 50% of cath lab rooms in hospitals to be equipped with the radiation protection system, drew divided testimony: sponsors and several physicians argued it would reduce orthopedic injury and radiation exposure and improve recruitment and retention, while hospital and radiology groups objected to the mandate, cost, limited vendor pool, and lack of clarity in the bill’s definitions. After adopting an amendment excluding children’s hospitals, the committee deadlocked 6-6 and SB 1120 failed to pass. The committee then considered SB 1118, which would appropriate $3 million to help rural hospitals install radiation protection systems in cath lab rooms. The sponsor said the funding would help rural facilities meet the same safety goals, and the committee passed the bill 6-5. The committee also heard SB 1214, a “guardrails” bill regulating non-FDA-approved stem cell and regenerative therapies, requiring informed consent, sourcing and reporting standards, advertising limits, and civil penalties for violations. Supporters said it would protect patients while allowing access to promising therapies; some members raised concerns about evidence and commercialization, but after adopting a technical amendment, the bill passed 9-3. The transcript ended as the committee moved on to SB 1630, which would seek federal approval for a home- and community-based service benefit for adults with serious mental illness; the sponsor described it as a capped, Medicaid-based community care option, and Access testified neutral while estimating a fiscal impact, but no final action on SB 1630 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> structural and security improvements structural and security improvements that<00:06:55.000><c>
• </c><00:07:37.240><c> in</c> also funding uh security improvements in also funding uh security improvements
• </c> something to be watched so it improves something to be watched so it improves our<00:08:45.560><
• People I'm taking care of are partly taking care of and talking to remotely through video conferencing
• of or partly taking who I'm taking care of or partly taking care<00:51:29.640><c> of</c><00:51:29.799

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> economic development and improve safety. economic development and improve safety. the<00:04:13.760
• The highway don't care.
• But in the end of the song, care.
• rural</c><01:12:27.120><c> residents,</c> It's about caring for rural residents, It's about caring for
• I appreciate the care about that.