Transcript Highlights:

• Please welcome Stuart Walt Hall and Douglas Shaw on behalf of the Locke Foundation.
• As a graduate of Stanford University and the MIT Sloan School of Management, Ms.
• This bill is about heat safety guidelines for high school athletics.
• But right now, those steps can knock students out of their program entirely.
• districts. when in funding that's supposed to be going to our school districts.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, completed the prayer and pledge, and then held a lengthy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony. Members from both parties and several caucuses spoke in support of HR 107, emphasizing AAPI contributions, resilience, and the need to oppose hate and discrimination. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 observance, including community leaders, educators, advocates, business leaders, and cultural institutions. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up the Daily File and passed a series of measures, including AB 2050 on HOA reserve funding, AB 2106 on lawsuits involving licensed design professionals, AB 1794 on direct home delivery of enteral formula, AB 1829 on CalWORKs-related student aid, AB 2038 extending wildfire insurance moratorium protections, AB 2281 on election cybersecurity, AB 2448 on protecting sensitive medical information, AB 2568 on water district board compensation, and AB 1658 on county public contract change-order authority. Most of these bills passed with broad support, though AB 2050, AB 2038, and AB 2448 drew some no votes. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and election administration, after a contentious floor debate over election trust, voter access, and decorum. Additional measures passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including AB 2125 on notice in water-rights adjudications, AB 2784 on State Bar fees, AB 1614 on e-bike passenger restrictions, AB 2503 on high school heat safety guidelines, AB 1703 on osteopathic title protections, AB 1920 on community college Promise eligibility, AB 1999 on veterinary workforce and animal shelter care, and ACR 123 recognizing Duan Wu Jie. The chamber then began consideration of ACR 189 designating May 2026 as Foster Youth Awareness Month, with supportive remarks from members, before the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Santa Fe Public Schools in 2024, reported 741 homeless youth in our public school system.
• What is the program? What is the name of that program?
• Number 1, school readiness.
• When we brought all these programs together, there's capacity issues in these programs.
• We did a pilot with 19 programs, 50 classrooms, both school-based and community-based.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe the asthma program was pretty strong for folks at home and for school support.
• We know that we have a lot of schools in Roxbury, so we did a study near the Haley School, and we see
• in Roxbury so we did a study near the Haley school and we see that are mostly doing school hours of
• Law Foundation.
• I remember in high school I went to Norwell High School in the South Shore.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a lengthy hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills related to environmental health, PFAS, medical device chemicals, food access, lead poisoning, air quality, oral health, and school food additives. Chair Driscoll and Chair Decker emphasized that the hearing was for testimony only, no decisions would be made that day, and that written testimony could still be submitted. They also noted the high volume of speakers and asked witnesses to keep remarks brief. A major portion of the hearing focused on PFAS-related legislation, including bills to restrict PFAS in products and food packaging and to create a PFAS remediation trust fund. Municipal officials and advocates described the high costs of PFAS cleanup, especially for drinking water systems, citing Easton’s multimillion-dollar treatment investments and rate increases. Testimony from legislators and advocates argued that Massachusetts should act despite federal uncertainty, and that the state should stop PFAS at the source rather than leaving municipalities and residents to pay for remediation. The committee also heard strong support for a bill banning DEHP in medical devices, with physicians, nurses, and a bill sponsor saying the chemical can leach from IV bags and tubing and that safer alternatives already exist. The committee also heard testimony on bills to establish statewide food truck permitting, with food truck owners and a senator describing the current system as costly, duplicative, and inconsistent across municipalities. Another set of witnesses supported the “Bean New Deal,” which would expand plant-based food options in public institutions, senior nutrition programs, and WIC, citing health, equity, and cost savings. On lead poisoning, housing advocates and a representative backed bills to expand lead-safe housing requirements to all rental units, arguing the current law contributes to discrimination against families with children and leaves too much pre-1978 housing uncertified. The committee also heard support for an outdoor air pollution bill that would create an advisory committee, identify pollution hotspots, expand monitoring, and set reduction targets, with testimony from environmental justice groups, pediatricians, and legislators describing disproportionate asthma and other health harms in overburdened communities. Later testimony addressed oral health bills to create dental therapists and allow dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide, with supporters saying the measures would expand access, reduce costs, and help underserved patients. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to prohibit harmful food dyes in competitive school foods, with parents describing behavioral and health concerns tied to synthetic dyes. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• before school.
• school events.
• AND CERTAIN SCHOOL EVENTS. VOTER APPROVAL IS REQUIRED.  424 AND CERTAIN SCHOOL EVENTS.
• But the concern is some schools and some students quite don't fit in the PE program as presented, and
• BUT THE CONCERN IS SOME SCHOOLS AND SOME   646 STUDENTS QUITE DON'T FIT IN THE PE PROGRAM 

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee met with a quorum and considered four measures. HB 409, which would require K-12 schools to observe Veterans Day, was presented briefly with no public testimony or debate and passed 18-0. The committee then took up HJR 583, a proposed constitutional amendment to codify religious liberty and expression in schools. Supporters argued it would strengthen existing protections and give voters the final say, while opponents from parent, atheist, interfaith, and church groups warned it could privilege dominant faiths, create coercion or confusion in schools, and reduce flexibility for districts. After extended debate, the resolution passed 18-1, with Rep. Harris voting no. The committee next heard CS/HB 453, which would allow students to substitute participation in Special Olympics for a PE credit and marching band for PE and arts credit under certain conditions. The sponsor and supporters said the bill recognizes the physical demands of these activities and would benefit students with disabilities and band students; school district and PTA representatives waived in support. The bill passed unanimously, 19-0. Finally, HB 127, requiring cursive writing instruction in grades 2 through 5, was presented as a literacy and heritage measure. Supporters said it would help students read historical documents and strengthen handwriting skills, while questions focused on grading, retention, and applicability to charter schools. It passed 17-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• school dental sealant program for high-priority DOE school complex areas.
• school dental sealant program for high-priority DOE school complex areas.
• program, and community grants program, based on the numbers provided by the State Foundation.
• This bill does not take away from the important programs of the foundation and what the foundation offers
• programs of the foundation<04:53:38.878> and<04:53:39.120> the<04:53:39.440> and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School program refer to the Committee on Public Education HB 1056.
• as public school career and technology education programs an indicator for achievement in military readiness
• Program for public schools, refer to the Committee on Public Education, HB 1142 by Oliverson, relating
• School program for the Committee on Public Education.
• School program to provide full and individual initial evaluations for special education services for

Transcript Highlights:

• So that looks like schools, child care centers, senior centers, community-based nutrition programs.
• The program grew from In 2012, we had just a couple dozen producers serving a set of 10 schools, which
• For example, the Healthy Universal School Meals Program deciding to allocate consistent funding to this
• And you can see that the NM Grown programs, which are here, Department of Health, the schools, and the
• Farmers are allowed to set their prices within this program to meet their needs, but schools still at

Transcript Highlights:

• I will make mention that universal school meals was not asked about as a food assistance program that
• We work with three school districts on a student hunger program as well to provide food to 12 different
• schools within those school districts to help stock a food pantry within the school as well.
• And then we work with three school districts on a student hunger program as well to provide food to 12
• different schools within those school districts to help stock a food pantry within the school as well

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PROGRAM BUT IT WAS STRESSFUL BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ONLY TWO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN MIAMI AND
• I HAD TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH SCHOOL AND TO KNOW THAT KIDS CAN WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH SCHOOL, AFFORD TO
• THE FASTEST SUPERCOMPUTER ANY SCHOOL HAD IN THE WORLD.
• REGARDING FUNDS WHICH REWARD EXCELLENT NURSING PROGRAMS TO BE USED FOR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY RELATED PROGRAMS
• AND TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill talks about funding a universal immunization purchase program, as the Hawaii Tax Foundation
• program as the Hawaii tax Foundation program as the Hawaii tax Foundation just just just testified
• Actually, even the schools themselves are voluntarily participating in our programs.
• know if some of you remember our former program, Stop Flu at School, where we annually provided flu
• Actually, even the schools themselves are voluntarily participating in our programs.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we'll just walk through a few program we'll just walk through a few program Basics<00:04:15.799>
• > but program certain program parameters but program certain program parameters but not<00:05:
• law states must administer the program law states must administer the program in<00:05:47.720>
• program unhoused.
• <01:37:39.920> up<01:37:40.080> to of the program um our program is up to of the program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You take away these programs that bring kids to school.
• It's beneficial to have civic education programs in school, like Puna Hou School's democracy program,
• /c><01:07:14.920> Hou<01:07:15.120> School programs in school like Puna Hou School programs
• after school program. after school program.
• could be an after school program. could be an after school program.

Bills: SB3263, SB3261

Keywords: student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, athlete agents, student athletes, endorsement contracts, professional representation, registration requirements, sports law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 3263, which would create a state-supported endowment for University of Hawaii athletics NIL (name, image, and likeness) funding. University of Hawaii Athletics Director Matt Eliott supported the bill, saying NIL requires both immediate funding and a longer-term sustainable solution. He asked for several changes: lowering the initial endowment target from $10 million to $2 million so the fund could start sooner, allowing NIL reporting by team rather than by individual student-athlete, and clarifying that athletes may choose whether to use an agent, while still allowing certified agents or a parent/guardian if desired. Committee members raised concerns about using taxpayer dollars for athlete compensation, the burden on a small-state budget, and whether the university could realistically raise the required matching funds. Several senators questioned whether the university had a concrete fundraising plan and whether the endowment would meaningfully help UH compete with larger programs. Eliott said UH is already fundraising privately for current NIL obligations, had raised more than $1.6 million toward a $3 million annual goal, and would continue fundraising for both short-term needs and the endowment match. He also said the university is not trying to compete with Power Five schools on the same scale, but to be successful at its own conference level. Members also discussed transparency and privacy, with some senators arguing that if state money is used, the public should know how it is spent, while Eliott said individual student-athlete NIL information should remain private and team-level reporting would be preferable. He confirmed international student-athletes are eligible for NIL and said about 60 to 70 UH athletes are currently participating, with more than 100 expected next year. The discussion also touched on UH’s Mountain West media rights and local TV rights, with Eliott explaining that the conference distribution is expected to remain around $3.5 million and that local TV rights would be negotiated separately. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They didn't graduate from high school.
• Parents, a nonprofit supporting local schools, served as president of the Santa Clara County School
• Parents, a nonprofit supporting local schools, served as president of the Santa Clara County School
• , Temple Emmanuel Academy Day School, and E-CAR.
• Higher rates of suicide ideation in our schools.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer from Rabbi Mona Alfie, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber then held its first official Jewish American Heritage Month ceremony, beginning with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 195 by Assembly Member Gabriel. Gabriel and several colleagues from multiple caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing Jewish Californians’ contributions, the diversity of the Jewish community, solidarity with other communities, and opposition to anti-Semitism. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 67 co-authors were added, and the Assembly then recognized 14 honorees for their service and leadership in California. After the ceremony, members offered guest introductions and the body moved to floor business. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 9 by Assembly Member Bonta, which would add affordability as a required factor in CPUC rate-making, remove telecommunications from the CPUC, create an Office of Broadband, and expand legislative appointments to the commission, was adopted. The Assembly also passed AB 1697 delaying implementation of a 2025 labor law, AB 2322 on stormwater permit definitions, AB 1653 on pupil instruction, AB 2274 and AB 2273 on criminal justice and child sexual abuse-related prosecutorial practices, AB 2512 on Anaheim Angels naming language tied to a potential land exemption, AB 1956 on suicide prevention for young men and boys, AB 1809 on job order contracting, AB 1970 banning step therapy for serious mental illness and substance use disorder medications, AB 1973 expanding authority for advanced practice clinicians, and AB 2055 on vessel law modernization. The Assembly also adopted ACR 186 designating May as California Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Month and H.R. 111 recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia, after extensive debate reflecting both support and criticism over LGBTQ rights and parental rights issues. Several measures were passed with recorded votes, while some items were passed and retained on file or continued. The transcript ends as the Assembly was moving into AB 2059, a CEQA-related bill on rural transportation projects, with the sponsor describing it as a narrow exemption for 21 rural counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• guessing this is some sort of pilot program for these school districts so we can see whether this works
• We have 43 elementary schools, 18 traditional middle and high schools, and 6 alternative schools.
• program.
• Now, these include school accountability, which is the foundation for continuous improvement and the
• LCAP and school finance. which is the foundation for building a budget to implement the community's strategic

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant Programs, and L.A.
• this program.
• and home-based programs by leading to program disruptions and closures.
• So right now, my program is literally like nine school-age kids, and every single child has to go to
• school, which means every single child has to be taken to school.

Summary: The hearing focused first on how wildfires and other disasters affect child care providers, families, and early education infrastructure. State officials from the Department of Social Services and Department of Education described disaster response and preparedness efforts, including shelter coordination, licensing outreach, emergency waivers, distribution of supplies, and the statewide child care disaster plan. Testimony from providers and advocates emphasized major gaps in recovery funding, insurance coverage, rebuilding support, mental health services, and coordination with local rebuild plans. Several witnesses urged more dedicated disaster-recovery funding for child care facilities and suggested statutory changes, including allowing greater flexibility for rebuilding costs and requiring early childhood programs to be included in local disaster planning. The second panel addressed immigration enforcement and its impact on child care. Advocates from the Children's Partnership, Every Child California, and CHIRLA said enforcement activity is causing families to keep children home, disrupting continuity of care, reducing enrollment, and creating fear and trauma for children and providers. They argued that immigrant and mixed-status families need clearer protections, privacy safeguards, legal support, trauma-informed guidance, and safe-haven policies for child care settings. Speakers also stressed that the child care workforce is heavily immigrant and that recent state laws such as AB 49 and AB 495 will require funding, training, and technical assistance to implement effectively. Public commenters, including child care providers, described personal experiences with fire damage, displacement, permit delays, lost income, and the emotional toll of serving families during crises. Others described how immigration enforcement has made parents afraid to attend events, drop off children, or remain connected to providers. Committee members repeatedly noted that child care is often overlooked in emergencies and asked state officials how child care systems are being integrated into disaster planning and how local and state agencies can better coordinate. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we made clear is that educators, the school district, and the school committee proved that it is
• I mean, different teacher prep programs.
• the net school spending.
• in the Ford Elementary School.
• It would recognize the critical role these employees play in our public schools while ensuring our schools

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with most testimony focused on two main topics: improving access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for students with disabilities, and raising educator pay statewide. On the AAC bills (House 514/Senate 418), parents, advocates, and attorneys described how AAC devices and communication books help nonverbal or minimally verbal children communicate, participate in class, and reduce frustration and behavioral issues. Testimony emphasized that while districts are generally required to provide devices, many teachers and school staff lack training to use them effectively; the bill would direct DESE to update licensure and training requirements so newly licensed teachers are prepared to support AAC users. Committee members asked about current teacher-prep practices, implementation, and whether DESE could act without legislation, and witnesses said the proposal was intended as a long-term solution and had previously received some support and compromise language. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House 733/Senate 370, which would set a statewide minimum salary of $70,000 for teachers and $55,000 for education support professionals (ESPs/paras), with inflation adjustments and a phase-in structure that would shift costs over time from the state to municipalities. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, MTA leaders, and school employees from several districts, argued that current pay is not a living wage, contributes to staffing shortages and turnover, and forces many educators to work multiple jobs or rely on public assistance. They said the bill would help recruit and retain staff and better reflect the importance of the work. Committee members raised questions about how the state would fund the mandate, how it would interact with Chapter 70 school aid and local budgets, whether other states have similar mechanisms, and whether the proposal could create disincentives for districts already paying above the floor. Witnesses pointed to the Student Opportunity Act, the Fair Share Amendment, and the need for a broader school funding formula review as possible parts of the solution. The committee also briefly heard and discussed Senate Bill 435/House Bill 736, which would require de-escalation training for school bus operators, with the training paid for by employers. The sponsor and a parent advocate said the bill was prompted by a school bus incident involving a child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and would improve safety and reduce reliance on law enforcement. Members asked whether the bill should also cover bus monitors and other transportation staff, and whether private contractors and public operators currently provide similar training. At the end of the hearing, the chairs closed testimony on the full list of bills and adjourned the hearing without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also founded the National Dental Advocacy Program through the Patient Advocate Program, a nonprofit
• This program is, this bill is not trying to eradicate the 340B program.
• incarceration, programs like school-based health and behavioral health, youth diversion, gang reduction
• We also think this is a way for schools to address chronic school absenteeism, which we know that schools
• the Medi-Cal program.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with our Farm to School program and our Central Regional Kitchens, I think this would be critical
• <00:10:41.040> thank million to continue the program thank million to continue the program
• Yeah, so a grant program under ADC, they could administer a grant program.
• program or the cover crop pilot program program or the cover crop pilot program exist<00:19:36.679
• My name is Aishik, a 15-year-old high school student at high school on Oʻahu.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• attends uh middle school at Bedford Lio. attends uh middle school at Bedford Lio.
• Would this bill apply to chartered public schools and private schools that take public money?
• This is just for public schools, not public charter or private schools that take public money.
• exercises required by public schools. exercises required by public schools.
• Thank you, Madam public schools.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Michelle remembered Barbara's passion for school choice and concerns with the school system.
• and<00:16:56.399> the Castayano Family Foundation and the Castayano Family Foundation and
• ,<00:25:51.360> and and preparedness grant programs, and and preparedness grant programs,
• The budget would cut crucial programs The budget would cut crucial programs for<00:39:55.440>
• Go Lady Cavs. storied program legacy, including storied program legacy, including back-to-back<00:45:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all