Transcript Highlights:

• more than $255 million to support 1,366 resident positions and 180 residency programs for the entire length
• They will be able to offer some individual and one-on-one sessions, and a lot of what they do is in group

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• dollars to train elementary teachers in Iowa on quote equity-centered education $38,000 for a one-day session
• This bill would guarantee that federal funding to public schools could not be cut during the length of

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• You are all invited to come to that session and participate if you'd like.
• meets during our first scheduled session meets during our first scheduled session after after after
• Well, I’m just talking about general work sessions—how long? So start having your own little ideas.
• Currently right now, our academies will take 64 for three sessions.
• We were doing 210 last year for sessions. Representative Jurus, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• And written testimony can always be submitted at any length via email to the Joint Committee on Public
• Brett Mendez and Senator Fernandez to file this bill this session.
• And the nursing home industry to advance this bill this session.
• During the recent legislative session, our dedicated legislative leaders refiled the bill.
• During the recent legislative session, our dedicated floating on an equal tide.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public health and emergency services bills, with many speakers focusing on EMS system failures, hospital service closures, trauma preparedness, epilepsy awareness, drink-spiking response, sudden cardiac arrest, and survivor financial assistance. Several legislators and advocates described the EMS system as underfunded and overstretched, citing long ambulance waits, staffing shortages, and the need for statewide oversight, a special commission, and clearer recognition of EMS as an essential service. A number of speakers also supported bills to preserve essential hospital services after closures such as Nashoba Valley Medical Center and birthing services in Leominster, arguing that current closure rules lack enforcement and leave communities without critical care. Multiple panels testified in support of bills requiring trauma kits in public buildings, public education on SUDEP and epilepsy mortality, and improved cardiac arrest response. Supporters of the trauma-kit bill said public buildings should have bleeding-control kits and trained staff, comparing them to AEDs and first aid supplies. Epilepsy advocates, clinicians, and grieving parents urged a public health campaign on SUDEP, saying families are often not warned about the risk and that awareness could improve medication adherence, reduce guilt, and save lives. On cardiac arrest, EMS professionals and the American Heart Association backed measures to improve telecommunicator CPR, create an AED registry, and strengthen dispatch and training standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a bill addressing illicit drink spiking. Senators, city officials, victims, physicians, and an international anti-spiking advocate described cases in which hospitals refused toxicology testing unless a sexual assault was reported, and argued for standardized testing protocols, better data collection, and coordination with law enforcement and licensed venues. Another bill drew a sharp exchange over local public health control and the SAFE 2.0 law, with one senator arguing for more local approval and voluntary participation, while committee members defended the earlier law as a response to inequities in local public health capacity. Finally, advocates from Jane Doe, Inc. supported legislation to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, saying unrestricted cash helps survivors meet basic needs, escape abuse, and rebuild stability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly is now in session. Assembly is now in session.
• And your real estate investment trust, for those that were not with us in the session last year, as we
• propose that a Williamson Act contract be rescinded or cancelled, but only that it be suspended for the length
• landowners to generate solar energy on their property, to make a healthy economic return during the length
• Session scheduled tomorrow is being pushed from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and first dealt with a procedural dispute over four amendments to AB 1240. The Speaker ruled the amendments out of order as not germane, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on a 49-16 vote. Members then added co-authors to several consent-calendar resolutions, including measures on the National Conference of State Legislators, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Men’s Mental Health Month, before adopting the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions, including a welcome for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and took up a motion to bring AB 41 up out of file, which failed 19-48. The bulk of the meeting was floor action on a long series of bills and resolutions, many of which passed with broad bipartisan support. Measures approved included ACR 40 supporting immigrant students and FAFSA privacy; AB 917 on permanent status for certain school employees; AB 985 on anesthesia access; AB 7 and AB 42 on higher education and student services; AB 245 providing property tax relief for wildfire victims; AB 255 allowing funding for drug-free recovery housing; AB 279 updating K-12 library standards; AB 289 creating a pilot for automated speed enforcement in highway construction zones; AB 291 on an educator apprentice program; AB 327 addressing swatting; AB 340 on confidential union communications; AB 341 creating an oral health technical assistance center for people with disabilities; AB 356 on San Diego health care infrastructure; AB 410 on bot disclosure; AB 476 on copper theft enforcement; AB 477 on educator pay targets; AB 485 on stolen wages and business licensing; AB 487, the insurance committee’s technical omnibus bill; AB 573 on tobacco retail license fees; AB 598 on school mapping technology; AB 635 on mobile home law enforcement referrals; AB 651 on remote participation for incarcerated parents in dependency hearings; AB 654 on homelessness hotline assistance in Los Angeles County; AB 662 creating a South County higher education task force; AB 667 on language access in professional licensing; AB 669 limiting early denial of addiction treatment; AB 670 on naturally occurring affordable housing; AB 695 on online continuation of community college for deported students; AB 723 on disclosure for digitally altered real estate images; AB 727 placing Trevor Project information on student IDs; and AB 736, a $10 billion affordable housing bond for the June 2026 ballot, which passed on a 61-11 urgency vote after extensive debate. Debate on AB 736 was the most extensive of the day, with supporters arguing the bond would help address California’s housing crisis and give voters a chance to weigh in, while opponents criticized the state’s bond debt and past spending results. The Assembly then recessed for caucus meetings and later returned to continue the daily file, where additional measures were taken up, including AB 798 adding diapers and wipes to the emergency food bank reserve program, which passed 56-0, and AB 821 on career technical education, which was presented as bipartisan-supported as the transcript continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, that one you can obviously see how the length of line extrapolates to higher costs or environmental
• <01:50:42.200> of you can obviously see how the length of you can obviously see how the length
• So, obviously, not near the length of time put into getting right-of-way for that one, but still from
• :07.640> the<01:53:08.600> um obviously, not near the um obviously, not near the um length
• of time put into getting right length of time put into getting right away<01:53:11.720> for<01

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move Senate Joint Resolution 17 and ask that it be read at length.
• Joint Resolution 17 and ask that it be read at length. Mr. Scheffel, please read our resolution.
• Hunter to the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly for the position of State Auditor.
• ><06:09:41.040> for<06:09:41.480> any<06:09:41.840> further<06:09:42.120> length
• <06:09:42.440> of issue this for any further length of issue this for any further length of

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the journal, and then moved through announcements recognizing Nowruz/Persian New Year, Ute Day at the Capitol, Mosaic students, and other brief invitations and tributes. The chamber then agreed to proceed out of order to resolutions and adopted House Joint Resolution 1017, which urges the federal government to fulfill obligations to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe regarding water rights and the Animas-La Plata project. Supporters emphasized tribal water security, federal funding, and the tribes’ longstanding stewardship; an amendment (L.004) was adopted 60-0, and the resolution then passed 60-0, with several members adding as co-sponsors. The House also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 17, reappointing Carrie L. Hunter as State Auditor for a five-year term. Speakers from the Legislative Audit Committee praised Hunter’s professionalism, nonpartisan leadership, and the office’s national recognition; the resolution passed unanimously, 62-0, and members invited Hunter to be recognized in the chamber. After that, committee reports from Appropriations and Finance were read and several bills were set as special orders for later consideration. In Committee of the Whole, the chamber considered several measures. Senate Bill 39, dealing with Fire and Police Pension Association disability and survivor benefits, received a technical cleanup amendment and passed. House Bill 1311, concerning bonds in lieu of retainage in construction contracts, was amended to clarify public versus private projects and passed; supporters said it would help smaller contractors, including contractors of color and women contractors, enter the market. House Bill 1184, continuing the Colorado Forest Health Council, passed after committee report amendments. House Bill 1305, on aligning state and federal statutes to improve access to inpatient behavioral health, passed despite some committee-level concerns about regulation. House Bill 1234, concerning access to child abuse or neglect records, passed after an amendment limiting access unless courts explicitly grant it; supporters said it would help victims access their own records, including for legal defense. Finally, Senate Bill 50, on child care center policy disclosures, was introduced with sponsors explaining it would require centers to disclose mandatory reporter obligations, camera and footage policies, and related privacy/access rules, in response to a case where parents were denied access to video footage.

Transcript Highlights:

• And looking forward to tackling all the education issues this session.
• Again, for 90% of the regular session, the media did not report on this, but for 90% of the regular session
• It's double last session.
• And if you truly cared about children, you wouldn't be doing all of this session after session for 100,000
• We wouldn't be doing all of this session after session for 100,000 kids. Thank you very much.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Several senators emphasized support for public education, teacher pay and safety, parental choice, and the combined K-16 jurisdiction of the committee. The chair also reviewed hearing procedures, including public testimony registration and time limits. The main item was Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, laid out by Chairman Creighton. He described the bill as an education savings account program intended to expand school choice, with a $200 million universal eligibility pool and an additional $800 million targeted to students with disabilities and lower-income families. He said the bill includes anti-fraud safeguards, criminal background checks for vendors, reporting requirements, data protections, and annual testing for participating students, while not imposing STAAR on private schools or homeschoolers. He also said the bill removes a prior hold-harmless provision for public schools and is separate from public school funding and teacher pay legislation. Members questioned the bill’s income threshold, lottery and priority structure, treatment of homeschoolers, microschools, charter schools, religious freedom protections, citizenship/lawful presence language, cybersecurity, open records, and disability-related issues, including whether 504 students and foster children should be included. Creighton said the bill is designed to prioritize former public school students with disabilities or lower incomes, while also allowing universal eligibility within the program’s first funding tier, and that the Comptroller would oversee vendor screening and cybersecurity rules. He said the bill does not direct curriculum or interfere with religious beliefs and that amendments may be offered later on citizenship and other issues. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, starting with EdChoice representative Robert Inlow, who testified in support of SB 2 and cited national growth in school choice programs and studies he said show positive effects for students and public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• What’s the length of time that a town can place a moratorium on this if they decide that they don’t want

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications met under Chair Senator Kevin Parker and considered several bills related to clean energy, transmission, storage, schools, and microgrids. Bill 1456, which would require certain watercraft, aircraft, and trains to be zero-emissions and direct NYSERDA studies and incentives, was discussed as technology-neutral and advanced with one no vote to the Finance Committee. Bill 286, increasing statewide energy storage capacity, drew concerns about battery safety, fire risk, and volunteer fire department training, but was advanced to the floor with two no votes. Bill 2482, the Go Green Schools Act, would let schools convert to renewable energy and keep savings for school operations; it advanced to the floor despite concerns about siting solar on school grounds. Bill 2485 on expanding electric transmission lines and Bill 5510 directing NYSERDA to develop microgrid recommendations were both advanced to the Finance Committee, each with one no vote. The committee then heard testimony from Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. She argued that wind, solar, storage, and transmission have made New York a leader in clean energy and said renewable energy is increasingly cost-competitive, with much of recent bill increases driven by grid upgrades and gas prices rather than renewables. She also said clean energy helps hedge against volatile fossil fuel prices, pointed to community solar and offshore wind as savings and reliability tools, and said the state’s permitting and interconnection processes have improved. Members questioned Wells about farmland use, decommissioning, recycling of solar and wind equipment, battery storage safety, local control, and misinformation. Wells said utility-scale projects require decommissioning plans and financial assurances, farmland must be restored under agricultural guidelines, and recycling capacity is developing. On battery storage, she said New York has rigorous codes and monitoring requirements, that not all storage is lithium-ion, and that state-level permitting is appropriate for large facilities. Several senators raised concerns about fires, contamination, winter performance, and siting projects in densely populated areas or on farmland, while others emphasized farmland protections and the value of renewable projects to host communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• accountable, and I'll be able to give you and tell you how many rate filings we have, what's the average length

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• While I appreciate the concerns about the potential for increasing voter fatigue by adding to the length

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• information for this report, and they will be available after this presentation for our question and answer session
• And HED began accepting applications for supplemental funding in the summer of 2022 for the 2023 session
• We had a lot of briefings during the interim and during the legislative session, but I'd love to catch
• So because of the session time frame, we start, we thoroughly vet those projects and by November, early
• But I can't fund it till we get through the session and then we go through one last cycle of reviews,

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:38:53.560> um It has to do with the training session, or center.
• <01:27:53.280> on actually start on our work sessions on actually start on our work sessions
• <01:30:19.360> uh<01:30:19.480> are we'll start into our work session uh are we'll
• Chairman, we could ask them for a document that we could consider at the work session. Yes. Okay.
• If you could please, we can bring that to the work session this week, okay?

Keywords: 928, house, all

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:

• Senator, I think there are three approaches to value, as we've discussed at length.
• we've we've approaches to value as we've we've discussed<00:34:10.480> at<00:34:10.800> length
• There's the cost discussed at length.
• in the legislature and the this session in the legislature and the problems<01:08:38.480> and
• and signed by the governor that session and signed by the governor that was<02:37:22.399> sent

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But it’s just the length of trying in 2 years, we’re going to bypass 2026.
• Um, and it happened during general session last. I had a few that didn't make it.
• If I thought this could wait until general session February next year, I would let it wait.
• I had a few that that session last.
• > February<01:54:54.400> next until general session February next until general session

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um well you can ask my boss uh I session um well you can ask my boss uh I I<00:37:42.599> I<00
• as far as the uh interesting session as far as the uh well<00:37:56.000> it<00:37:56.160>
• Yes, the FTE were increased last budget session, so two budget sessions ago.
• The 2023 legislative session came with significant investments and policy changes that have been and
• The 2023 legislative session came with significant investments and policy changes that have been and

Bills: HF2432

Keywords: HF2432, judiciary finance bill, public safety finance bill, corrections policy, crime victims, victim services, Minnesota victims of crime account, court fees, marriage license fee, financial crimes, fraud investigations, insurance fraud, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Commerce Fraud Bureau, wage theft, automobile theft prevention, nonprofit security grants, 911 funding, POST Board

Transcript Highlights:

• The House is also in session today, so you may see members come and go during the hearing.
• So I filed this bill every session. I think it somehow ends up between two different committees.
• Rush and his team on this, and I know they are championing it and have made it a priority of the session
• Women's Liberation Front has hosted detransitioners in public education sessions.
• Hopefully this is the year in a session where we bring this bill to reality and have it passed by both

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of health insurance and public health bills, with most speakers focused on expanding coverage for specific treatments and services. Bills discussed included H. 1187/S. 792 on rehabilitation counselors, H. 1173/S. 692 on patient navigation, S. 2600 on scalp cooling for chemotherapy patients, S. 2599 on medically necessary treatment for port wine birthmarks, H. 1164 on licensed educational psychologists for child and adolescent mental health services, S. 754/H. 1254 on autism diagnosis and treatment by nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists, S. 714/H. 1137 on infectious disease response and coverage, and S. 791 on making nature a prescriptive therapeutic intervention. Speakers generally argued these bills would improve access, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and address gaps in current insurance reimbursement rules. Testimony in support emphasized personal stories and clinical evidence. Cancer patients and providers described the benefits of patient navigation and scalp cooling for dignity and quality of life during treatment. Boston Children’s Hospital staff and families said port wine birthmark treatment is medically necessary, can prevent complications, and should not be denied as cosmetic. Rehabilitation counselors and school psychologists argued their services are effective, cost-saving, and underused because they cannot bill insurance. Autism advocates said current insurance statutes are outdated because nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists already provide evaluations and should be recognized for reimbursement to avoid delays in early intervention. Public health and GLAD Law testimony supported stronger infectious disease coverage to remove barriers to testing, treatment, and PrEP access. The hearing also included extensive testimony on H. 1172, a bill requiring insurance coverage for detransition-related care. Supporters said it would ensure coverage for medically necessary care for people who regret or reverse gender transition, while opponents argued it would legitimize anti-trans narratives or, conversely, that detransition care is needed because transition procedures can cause harm. The committee also heard strong support for S. 791 from advocates who described nature access as a health intervention that could help with trauma, anxiety, substance use recovery, and environmental justice, with claims that insurance coverage and reduced park fees would improve access. No votes were taken during the transcript, and the chair repeatedly thanked speakers and moved through the long list of public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I would like to thank you and the floor leader for allowing my office to have educational sessions
• And three of these sessions were with the Department of Revenue, And three of these sessions were with
• Madam Speaker, you know, over the course of this summer and this session, we've learned a lot about taxes
• leave something languishing in statute where someone willy-nilly could stand up in the middle of a session
• My worry would be, without really, really sussing that out in the statute, the length of time that would

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 58th day by roll call vote, 123-1. Members also introduced a number of special guests, including physicians, sheriffs, students, interns, and a police chief, before moving to third reading and perfection of bills. House Bill 1758, dealing with permanent daylight saving time in Missouri, was debated at length. Supporters said it would end the twice-yearly clock changes and argued it could benefit children, productivity, and quality of life. Opponents warned it would create darker morning commutes, safety concerns, and health issues tied to circadian rhythms. The bill passed third reading by a vote of 107-31 with two present. The chamber then perfected and printed House Bill 3329, which repeals expired or unused tax credits, and House Bill 3405, which clarifies that SALT/pass-through entity provisions are deductions rather than tax credits for Department of Revenue processing. Both bills were described as cleanup and efficiency measures, with supporters emphasizing accountability and reduced manual work at DOR; both moved forward without opposition in committee and were approved on the floor. Finally, House Bill 2426, a parental rights bill, drew extensive debate and an amendment. The bill would elevate parents’ rights in education, medical, privacy, and related decisions to a fundamental-rights standard and add provisions on school records, recordings, evaluations, and certain health-care decisions. Critics argued it was overly broad, could interfere with school operations and existing protections, and might create problems in areas such as IEPs, truancy, and medical consent; supporters said it simply codified and strengthened parental authority. House Amendment 1, focused on IEP procedures and requiring parental consent for major changes, was adopted 98-25 with six present, and debate on the underlying bill continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, let me apologize for the fact that we are an hour late in the hearing, but the Senate floor session
• A lot of the kind of formal listening sessions and advisor groups really do happen at the department
• of the projects of our storytelling was the documentary, *Diamonds of Resilience*, which is a full-length

Summary: The committee held an inaugural hearing on the health care and support needs of older LGBTQ Californians, with members and witnesses emphasizing that this population has made major gains in rights and longevity but still faces discrimination, isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in services. Opening remarks highlighted concerns about older LGBTQ people entering nursing homes and feeling forced back into the closet, as well as the growing number of Californians aging with HIV. The hearing was structured into three panels, with public testimony considered if time allowed. The first panel focused on the overall health and support landscape. Justice in Aging described survey findings showing discrimination, poor health, difficulty with errands, and economic insecurity among older LGBTQ Californians, and warned that federal Medicaid cuts and broader federal actions could worsen access to home- and community-based services and culturally competent care. CalHHS and the Department of Aging described the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide LGBTQIA older adult survey, and efforts to support gender-affirming care, PACE, care management, and community supports. Witnesses stressed the need for better outreach, data collection, and a “no wrong door” approach so people can more easily find and access services. The chair and senators pressed the departments on how survey findings are being translated into concrete action and how state agencies are coordinating across silos. The second panel addressed health care for seniors living with HIV. A longtime survivor described severe financial and benefits consequences from a federal clawback and argued that California needs stronger legal, navigation, and housing supports, including HIV-specific housing funding. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, saying it has educated area agencies on aging, added HIV data to planning tools, and found that 20 of 33 area agencies identified HIV as a target population, with 16 including specific strategies. The Office of AIDS outlined Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, a Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and that local case managers are expected to coordinate whole-person care. Case managers and advocates said housing, food, transportation, mental health, and premium assistance remain major needs, and senators asked whether future ADAP rebate funds could support navigation, housing, and other gap-filling services. The final panel turned to transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex seniors. The Department of Social Services described protections under SB 219, including nondiscrimination notices, resident rights postings, required records for preferred names and pronouns, and annual inspections of licensed facilities. The Department of Public Health and a TransLatin Coalition leader were introduced to discuss additional supports for TGI seniors. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the themes of visibility, coordination, and implementation, asking departments to follow up on how they will better connect services, improve outreach, and ensure that existing laws and programs are actually reaching the people they are meant to serve.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, let me apologize for the fact that we are an hour late to the hearing, but the Senate floor session
• A lot of the kind of formal listening sessions and advisor groups really do happen at the department
• of the projects of our storytelling was the documentary "Diamonds of Resilience," which is a full-length

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Select Committee on Older LGBTQ Californians held an inaugural hearing focused on health care, long-term services, and supports for older LGBTQ Californians, including older adults living with HIV and transgender, gender diverse, and intersex seniors. Opening remarks emphasized the historical discrimination faced by these communities, the growth of the older LGBTQ population, and the need to address gaps in care, especially in nursing homes, home- and community-based services, and access to affirming providers. Senators present framed the hearing as timely in light of federal policy changes and the state’s aging population. The first panel featured Justice in Aging, CalHHS, the Department of Aging, and the Aging and HIV Institute. Testimony highlighted statewide survey findings showing both resilience and significant disparities: many respondents reported discrimination, low incomes, health challenges, social isolation, and unmet needs, with worse outcomes for transgender adults and adults of color. Speakers stressed the importance of Medi-Cal, PACE, home- and community-based services, gender-affirming care, and the Master Plan for Aging, while also criticizing the limited explicit attention to LGBTQ older adults in state planning and the impact of federal Medicaid cuts and other federal actions. Committee members asked about translating survey findings into concrete actions, improving outreach in rural areas, and creating more coordinated, “no wrong door” access to services. The second panel focused on seniors living with HIV. A long-term survivor described the “survivorship penalty,” including benefits problems, housing insecurity, and the need for legal and navigation support, as well as HIV-specific housing and protections against outdated disability standards. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, which added HIV status to the definition of greatest social need in area plans; it said 20 of 33 area agencies on aging identified HIV as a target population and many included specific strategies. The Office of AIDS described Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, the Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and are intended to support whole-person care. Committee members pressed agencies on how ADAP rebate funds might be used, how to improve implementation of SB 258, and how to better connect people to existing benefits and services. The final panel addressed supports for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex seniors. The Department of Social Services reviewed protections in long-term care facilities under SB 219, including nondiscrimination rules, required training, preferred pronouns and gender identity records, and complaint investigations, and also described IHSS as a self-directed program that can help older adults choose affirming providers. The hearing ended without formal votes or legislative action, but members repeatedly requested follow-up on implementation, outreach, data collection, and possible budget or program changes to better serve older LGBTQ Californians.