Transcript Highlights:

• And then the last one on here is just a measure of how much equity is being...
• Now, the current level of equity holdings is now at 200% of disposable income.
• Longer term, our staff did do some quantitative... Account.
• It might be helpful regarding the staff when we're getting a budget to talk about things.
• And we can work through staff to get that information to you all. Thank you very much.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget, which the Department of Finance described as balanced in the budget year but still facing out-year structural deficits of more than $20 billion. Chair Laird emphasized the budget’s $23 billion in reserves and said the state must work with the Legislature and administration to address long-term fiscal stability. Vice Chair Niello argued the revenue forecast was overly optimistic, called the structural deficit alarming, and criticized the lack of a full January proposal on some major issues, including Proposition 36 and the state’s $20 billion unemployment insurance debt. The Department of Finance presented the budget’s main features: about $350 billion in total spending, roughly $250 billion General Fund, a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit, and $42 billion in higher revenues driven largely by stock market gains and capital gains-related tax receipts. Finance said the budget relies on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and the rainy day fund, maintains strong reserves, and is a “workload” budget with few new programs or cuts. It also highlighted higher education funding, climate investments including wildfire resilience and a new zero-emission vehicle incentive, health and human services costs tied to federal HR1 changes, child care funding, and three tax proposals involving marketplace facilitators, renewable aviation fuel, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The Legislative Analyst’s Office focused on risks to the budget, especially downside risk in the revenue forecast and the state’s chronic multi-year deficits. The LAO said its revenue estimate is about $30 billion below the administration’s because it is more cautious about the stock market and AI-driven gains, and it recommended using the LAO revenue forecast, rejecting the proposed suspension of the rainy day fund deposit, and setting aside the proposed Proposition 98 settle-up in reserve rather than spending it. The LAO also urged the Legislature to begin addressing the structural deficit now rather than waiting until the May Revision, warning that delaying could force rushed decisions later. Members raised concerns about health care cuts, HR1 impacts, CalFresh and Medi-Cal eligibility changes, county administrative burdens, the MCO tax extension, wildfire funding, the Olympics and Exposition Park, courthouse maintenance, and worker displacement from refinery closures and AI. Finance said it would begin discussions with legislative leadership before the May Revision and acknowledged that federal funding losses could not simply be backfilled, though it said it was working with counties and federal agencies on implementation details. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing consisted of presentations and member questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Anderson, would you like to provide an introduction of the DE3 amendment before nonpartisan staff
• Are there any questions from members for nonpartisan staff? Seeing none, all right.
• </c> help farmer cooperatives purchase equity help farmer cooperatives purchase equity in<00:37:07.760
• </c> on a fantastic new staff on a fantastic new staff um<00:40:57.920><c> to</c><00:40:58.040><c> help
• </c><00:42:09.640><c> do</c> programming that the incredible staff do programming that the incredible

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't want it to go to the state staff; we want it to go out to the grants staff.
• </c> with clarifying exactly what event staff with clarifying exactly what event staff is<01:42:31.520
• Sometimes we are the only staff in the building.
• Sometimes we are the only staff in the building.
• Sometimes we are the only staff in the building.

Bills: HF1082, HF1042, HF1295, HF1686, HF1998, HF1775, HF1163

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers, law enforcement oversight, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. armed forces, military installation, armory, air base

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the senator and the staff. I appreciate the committee.
• I want to thank the author and the staff and sponsor for working with us.
• We're going to see that equity come in.
• Chair, and thank the staff very much for your assistance on this bill.
• First, I want to thank the author, her staff, and committee staff for engaging with us in negotiations

Summary: The committee first heard SB 753, which would modernize California’s shopping cart recovery rules by allowing cities and counties to return abandoned carts directly to retailers, recover documented retrieval costs, and avoid the current impound-and-wait process. The author and supporters, including San Jose officials and the League of California Cities, said the bill would help clear streets, sidewalks, and waterways and reduce local costs. Grocers and retailers opposed the measure unless amended, arguing it would turn cart retrieval into a new cost burden and could create incentives for cities to charge too much for stolen property. After extensive discussion about notice periods, cost caps, and local ordinances, the committee adopted amendments and passed the bill 6-0 as amended. The committee then took up SB 445, which would speed up permitting and approvals needed for high-speed rail by requiring early engagement, setting rules for third-party coordination, and creating a dispute-resolution process. The author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier, broader transit proposal and was intended to reduce delays caused by utilities, local governments, and other entities. Supporters said permitting bottlenecks add major costs and delays to infrastructure projects, while opponents from utilities, cities, counties, telecoms, and special districts raised concerns about safety, reliability, affordability, and the need to review the pending amendments. The bill passed 8-1 to the Utilities and Energy Committee. The committee also heard SB 9, a narrower housing bill focused on accessory dwelling units. The author explained that it would require local ADU ordinances to be submitted to HCD for review and would make state standards control if a local agency fails to submit a compliant ordinance or respond to HCD findings. Supporters from housing and YIMBY groups said the bill would improve enforcement of state ADU law and prevent local barriers from slowing housing production. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. The committee then began hearing SB 79, which would allow more housing near major transit stops; the author and supporters framed it as a response to the housing shortage and transit underuse, and the hearing continued with extensive support testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their platform is to ensure economic equity through pay equity for women, affordable health care for
• Their platform is to ensure economic equity through pay equity for women, a foreign is to ensure economic
• equity through pay equity for women, affordable health care for women and their families, and to ensure

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New York State Urban Development Corporation Act in relation to enacting the New York State Digital Equity
• This bill would enact a New York State Digital Equity Plan that establishes the ConnectAll Digital Equity
• New York State Urban Development Corporation Act in relation to enacting the New York State Digital Equity
• This bill would enact a New York State Digital Equity Plan that establishes the ConnectAll Digital Equity

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions met for its first convening of the 2026 session and confirmed quorum. The chair emphasized transparency in state agencies and utilities, particularly the Public Service Commission, and referenced prior work on utility affordability, nominations, and chaptered bills from the previous session. The committee considered eight bills. It advanced S.373, which would bar confidentiality and nondisclosure provisions in certain state and municipal contracts; S.1336, creating a New York State Digital Equity Plan and ConnectAll Digital Equity Grant Program; and S.2324, requiring Attorney General and Comptroller review of certain state or public authority real property sales over $250,000. It also moved S.2459 to restore earlier Public Authorities Control Board oversight provisions, and S.3736 to increase information provided to PACB members before project funding votes. Additional bills reported to the floor included S.4071A, clarifying that stormwater is included in the definition of sewage for certain water and sewer authorities; S.4576A, establishing a procedure for appointing a president or chairperson upon vacancy and correcting gendered language; and S.5551, requiring recording and public posting of certain Empire State Development public hearings. The bills were moved, seconded, and reported out, with several passing unanimously and at least one receiving a negative vote or abstention noted in the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every lawsuit requires judges, court staff, state attorneys, and taxpayer-funded resources.
• I do want to say thank you to all of your staff.
• My landlord is Equity Residential.
• New Jersey has its own lawsuit going on over the same thing against 10 landlords, but Equity isn't one
• I'm informed by the Democratic staff that OLS thinks that we do need a motion and vote.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and also jeopardize the well-being staff and also jeopardize the well-being of<00:11:31.279><c> staff
• </c><00:11:41.839><c> This</c> staff will be catastrophic. This staff will be catastrophic.
• </c><00:23:17.600><c> to</c> finding and hiring qualified staff to finding and hiring qualified staff
• </c><00:23:25.600><c> probably</c><00:23:26.080><c> being</c> staff who are already probably being staff
• </c> Director for Reproductive Equity Now. Director for Reproductive Equity Now.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Melissa Van Gorkham, staff to the committee.
• I think I might punt the question over to staff if you're able.
• Staff, please bring up the one-and-a-half-minute timer.
• Staff, please bring up the one-and-a-half-minute timer.
• Chair and committee members, John Kim, committee staff.

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6026, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act with populations of 30,000 or more to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and bar local governments from requiring ground-floor commercial or retail as a condition of housing approval, with exemptions for certain sensitive areas and a carve-out for transit-oriented development station areas. The prime sponsor, Senator Alvarado, and supporters from the governor’s office, Commerce, housing advocates, developers, and major employers argued the bill would unlock underused land, reduce costs, and help address the state’s housing shortage. Opponents and local government representatives from small towns, counties, and cities said the bill could harm commercial corridors, small businesses, tax base stability, and local planning flexibility, and asked for narrower exemptions or additional carve-outs. No vote was taken on SB 6026 during the hearing. The committee then held executive action on Senate Bill 5937 and Senate Bill 5938. SB 5937, dealing with smart access systems and tenant privacy, was amended to clarify that keypad-only entry is not covered, require written privacy policies within five days of installation, and add operational purposes to allowable data collection; the committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill with a due pass recommendation. SB 5938, which changes the foreclosure prevention fee and directs a Commerce study on a state homeowner assistance fund, was also amended to extend the study deadline and related expiration date; the committee adopted the amendment and moved the bill forward with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6018, which would expand and modernize the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage lending to borrowers, extending bond counsel selection cycles, removing advance notice requirements for bond issuance, and repealing an outdated housing finance plan/program. The sponsor and the commission said the bill would improve efficiency and create new financing tools for affordable housing, while banking groups said they supported the goal but wanted clearer limits to ensure the commission would not enter first-mortgage lending for homebuyers. The sponsor and commission said they would work on clarifying language. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6027 and Senate Bill 6028. SB 6027 would expand the use of local housing sales taxes and the Affordable Housing for All account to support operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, and preservation of existing affordable housing, update REET exemption timing, and align the definition of emergency housing with the Growth Management Act; local governments, housing providers, and advocates strongly supported the bill as a way to preserve existing housing amid rising costs and federal funding uncertainty. SB 6028 would create a revolving loan fund administered by the Housing Finance Commission to finance mixed-income affordable homeownership projects with long-term affordability covenants; the sponsor said it would help builders who have entitled sites but face high capital costs, and the hearing began with staff briefing and sponsor testimony, with questions from members starting as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the committee, Marlon Yanez, committee staff.
• I'm Jared Sachs, staff to the committee.
• Members of the committee, Marlon Yannis, committee staff.
• Jarrett Sachs, staff to the committee.
• We need more staff. A couple of...

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1347, which would streamline cannabis testing lab accreditation by requiring the Liquor and Cannabis Board to accept Department of Agriculture accreditation as the basis for initial certification under certain conditions and to reduce duplication between agencies. The prime sponsor and several industry witnesses said the bill is intended to clarify authority, improve efficiency, and preserve consumer safety, while LCB said it had no policy objection but wanted implementation concerns addressed. Several witnesses supported the concept but said an amendment was needed to clearly assign accreditation authority to WSDA and avoid overlapping requirements. The committee also heard and later took action on several bills. House Bill 2229 would update the Professional Engineers Registration Act by changing board membership rules, increasing pro tem members, and revising registration and exam provisions; the sponsor and board director said it modernizes qualifications without changing licensure standards. House Bill 2091 would require more complete employee contact information to be shared with exclusive bargaining representatives under the Personnel System Reform Act; union witnesses supported it and a policy witness opposed it as a privacy intrusion. Second Substitute House Bill 1128 would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board to make recommendations on child care worker standards; supporters said it addresses workforce shortages and retention, while providers and associations argued it duplicates existing work and could lead to unfunded mandates. In executive action, the committee voted do pass on Substitute House Bills 2492, 2107, 2151, 2355, and Gross Substitute House Bill 2471, and sent them to Rules. It also voted do pass on Second Substitute House Bill 2105 and referred it to Ways and Means. Other bills heard included House Bill 1701 on shared liquor license premises, where a small business owner supported more flexible shared-space arrangements and LCB suggested amendments to prevent undue influence; House Bill 2264 on unemployment benefits for employer-initiated layoffs, which was supported as a clarification to protect workers who opt into reduction-in-force programs; Substitute House Bill 2472 on fire sprinkler work enforcement, supported by labor and industry witnesses; and Second Substitute House Bill 2345, which would adjust paid family and medical leave premium allocations to address IRS tax guidance, with broad support from labor, business, and the agency.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any questions of staff on this bill?
• For the record, Greg Attenacio, committee staff.
• Before you is Greg Adonacio, committee staff.
• Are there any questions of staff on this bill?
• Staff, if we might have a briefing, please. For the record, Julie Tran staffs the committee.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 6159 would create a public hospital infrastructure account funded by a new annual coverage assessment on insurers and other businesses subject to the premium tax, and would allow public hospital districts and other public health entities to collaborate more freely and access capital financing for major construction or modernization projects. Senator Dhingra said the bill is intended to help public hospitals compete and modernize, especially amid federal Medicaid and ACA subsidy cuts. Supporters included UW Medicine, while hospital districts supported the general concept but said Section 2 could unintentionally narrow existing cooperative agreements with nonpublic entities. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill, arguing it would raise premiums, increase consolidation, and improperly sweep in property and casualty insurers and mutual companies; testimony also raised concerns about pass-through costs and retaliatory tax effects. The hearing on SB 6159 closed with 5 pro, 74 con, and 2 other sign-ins. The committee then heard SB 5845, which would modernize timely payment rules by requiring carriers and public employee plans to pay or deny all clean claims within 30 days, require prompt notice and a single request for additional information on incomplete claims, and impose interest or penalties for missed deadlines. Senator Slaughter said the bill would reduce uncertainty for providers and stabilize payments without increasing patient costs. Hospitals, physicians, and health systems strongly supported the measure, citing large volumes of late clean claims and examples of prolonged delays, including a Harborview claim that remained unpaid more than a year after billing. Health plans opposed the bill, saying the current 95% standard is workable, that they already meet high compliance rates, and that the bill could limit fraud, waste, and abuse review on high-dollar claims; they also sought more flexibility and additional time for responses. The hearing closed with 69 pro, 4 con, and 2 other sign-ins. The committee also heard SB 5916, which would prohibit health plans from disadvantaging non-opioid pain treatments relative to opioids in formularies and utilization management, and would require a Department of Health educational pamphlet on non-opioid alternatives. Senator Harris described the bill as a response to opioid deaths and a way to encourage safer pain treatment options. Patients, recovery advocates, and rare disease advocates testified in support, saying insurance barriers and step therapy often make non-opioid care harder to access and can push patients toward opioids. The Health Care Authority and an association of health plans opposed the bill, arguing it could reduce formulary flexibility, increase costs, and limit tools such as prior authorization and step therapy. The hearing closed with 8 pro, 1 con, and 2 other sign-ins. Finally, the committee heard SB 6102 and SB 6103, both sponsored by Senator Muzzall, and SB 6071. SB 6102 would align the ambulance transport quality assurance fee with federal rules after H.R. 1 barred new provider taxes, preserving the existing fee rate and adjusting the Medicaid add-on rate annually; the Washington Ambulance Association supported it, saying the program had improved wages and benefits for EMS workers. SB 6103 would make Medicaid payments for services provided by a rural emergency hospital subject to appropriation, creating a framework for East Adams Rural Health Care to convert to the new federal rural emergency hospital model; East Adams and the Washington State Hospital Association supported it as a way to preserve rural access. SB 6071 would shorten overpayment recovery timelines for all services to six months, or nine months for coordination-of-benefits cases, matching the shorter timelines already enacted for behavioral health services; providers and specialty associations supported the bill as a way to reduce destabilizing clawbacks, while the remaining testimony was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also going to modify the definition of resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity district.
• section 46-104-1 HRS to read as follows: one, to create resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity
• options prior to or in conjunction with the issuance of resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity
• options prior to or in conjunction with the issuance of resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity
• </c> for shelter and equity bonds. for shelter and equity bonds.

Bills: HB2241, HB1163, HB1514, HB1696, HB2021, SB2135, SB2466, SB2727, SB3082, SB3097, SB2861, SCR100, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, SCR162, SB2614, SB3118, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, committee staff. I know how critical you are. Thank you for your work.
• And, of course, committee staff. I know how critical you are. Thank you for your work.
• Massachusetts has long been a leader in health care innovation and equity, but we are falling behind
• Preceptorship can strengthen workforce development and reduce staff turnover.
• Preceptorship can strengthen workforce development and reduce staff turnover.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing focused largely on tax-credit proposals tied to children, families, caregivers, child care, health care workforce development, and public health. A major portion of the hearing concerned bills to expand the state earned income tax credit and child and family tax credit, including H. 3073/S. 1957 and S. 1975. Testimony from advocacy groups, legal services, tax assistance organizations, and health providers supported increasing the EITC match from 40% to 50% of the federal credit, expanding eligibility to immigrant and mixed-status ITIN filers, larger families, younger and older workers, and SSI recipients, and raising the child and family tax credit to $600 per child with inflation adjustments and possible advance payments. Witnesses said these changes would reduce poverty, improve health and educational outcomes, and help families meet basic expenses; committee members asked questions about ITIN filers and expressed support for the policy goals. The committee also heard extensive testimony on S. 1938/H. 3159, An Act Supporting Family Caregivers. Speakers described the scale of unpaid caregiving in Massachusetts and supported a package that would create a refundable tax credit, respite vouchers, workplace and housing protections, unemployment insurance access for those who leave work to care for relatives, a permanent advisory council, and a provision allowing spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth. Several witnesses shared personal caregiving experiences, and committee members responded favorably, noting the emotional and financial strain on caregivers and the importance of supporting them as Medicaid and long-term care systems face pressure. Additional bills discussed included H. 3174 on a child and dependent care tax credit, which was presented as a way to offset the high cost of child care; H. 3197/S. 2019 to improve the financial security of family child care providers through a tax credit; H. 3218/S. 1960 to create tax credits for health care preceptors to address workforce shortages; S. 2064 to establish a living organ donor tax credit; S. 2034 to promote healthy alternatives to sugary drinks through a tiered tax; H. 3015 to create a tax-return checkoff for the YMCA Youth and Government Program; and several public testimony ideas including vaccination, literacy, and grade-improvement tax credits. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing, which ended after all testimony was heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, borrowing from other states and how they are utilizing these key staff. community-wide education
• Our one staff member who works in the Office of Alzheimer's is currently set to get her certification
• What would we expect from those specific five DCS workers in addition to any other general staff that
• Because it's the easiest thing to go work for a private equity hospital.
• A lot of the small clinics in the rural areas might have an LSAA on their staff, and they are able to

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, I am a cyber systems officer with the Florida Air National Guard, serving on state staff as the
• cyber advisor to the air staff at St.
• After a brief stint in private equity, I then became vice president of America First Legal, which is
• After a brief stint in private equity, I then became vice president of America First Legal, which is
• So all 500 staff and faculty members were present, and to be able to address them... ...was two weeks

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 270, which would extend Bright Futures eligibility by 12 months for certain students whose parent was serving overseas in public service and then retired, giving military and diplomatic families more time to return to Florida without losing scholarship eligibility. Senator Burgess also explained a late-filed amendment to set the bill’s effective implementation for the 2025-26 school year, and the committee adopted the amendment without objection. The bill received supportive testimony, including from Senator Smith, and was reported favorably by a roll call vote. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmation hearings for appointees to state college boards of trustees, with the chair emphasizing a new process of hearing from each nominee individually rather than taking a blanket vote. Nominees from Tallahassee State College, St. Johns River State College, South Florida State College, Broward College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and Valencia College described their backgrounds and priorities, which largely centered on workforce development, nursing and health sciences, dual enrollment, fiscal responsibility, student retention, and partnerships with local employers and communities. Several nominees highlighted their own educational or professional ties to the colleges, and some noted the importance of serving rural or military-connected communities. One nominee, John Aloko for Pasco-Hernando State College, was not present because he was attending a conference in Hawaii and was deferred to a later hearing. After hearing all other nominees, the committee voted to recommend confirmation of the remaining appointees in a block vote, covering Tabs 2 through 22 except Tab 8, and the motion passed. Two members later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• to administer the final and largest of the grant monies to the BEAD program, which is a Broadband Equity
• Seeing no debate, staff, please open the queue for a vote. West to iig to iii Right.

Bills: HB2293, HB3176, HB3545, HB3546

Keywords: broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, funding, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, artificial intelligence, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development, state agencies, high-risk AI decisions, deepfakes

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite how far we have come, we must keep pushing for equity and pushing back against hate, especially
• stands in solidarity with our Asian and Pacific Islander American communities because the fight for equity
• and they require continued vigilance, meaningful investment, and commitment to public safety and equity
• works to foster relationships with local partners to advance policies that support student success, equity
• provides education about Locke's history and legacy through preservation and cultural activities, helps staff

Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a ceremonial observance for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support of House Resolution 107, which designates May as AAPI Heritage Month, emphasizing the community’s contributions, resilience, and the need to confront discrimination and hate. The resolution was adopted, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 AAPI Heritage Month celebration, highlighting leaders in education, business, labor, media, cultural preservation, and public service. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up a series of bills. Measures discussed included HOA reserve funding for common interest developments (AB 2050), professional review requirements for lawsuits against design professionals (AB 2106), direct home delivery of enteral formula (AB 1794), expanded CalWORKs-related support for student parents (AB 1829), longer insurance moratoriums for wildfire survivors (AB 2038), election cybersecurity (AB 2281), medical privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care (AB 2448), water district board compensation (AB 2568), county public contract change-order authority (AB 1658), and several other education, health, and licensing bills. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 2050 passed 44-6, AB 2038 passed 45-8, AB 2448 passed 49-13, and AB 1658 passed 61-2, while several others passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and affirming California’s mail voting system. The resolution prompted extended debate over election integrity, voter access, and federal versus state authority, with supporters arguing mail voting is secure and accessible and opponents calling for stronger voter list maintenance and verification. The resolution passed 47-13. In addition, ACR 141 and ACR 123 were adopted by voice vote after co-author roll calls, and the chamber continued or passed on numerous other file items as it worked through the daily file.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those staff work incredibly hard to respond to incidents of depredation.
• Currently, it's roughly 19 permanent staff, with over 50 temp help staff that go out and do the trapping
• Yes, about 50 staff, limited term, as Dan mentioned, with some permanent staff.
• So roughly funds 20: 19 existing staff and one additional new staff.
• But coexistence fails without staff.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy convened for its first hearing and heard an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency. The LAO emphasized California’s strong current revenues but warned of a structural budget problem, projected out-year deficits, and the need for a high bar on new spending. It generally supported the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plan as reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, while urging legislative oversight and caution about using special funds and adding ongoing commitments. Secretary Wade Crowfoot responded with an overview of climate, wildfire, water, coastal, and conservation challenges and highlighted progress under the Newsom administration, including clean energy growth, wildfire resilience investments, land conservation, tribal co-management, and outdoor access initiatives. He also discussed federal staffing cuts affecting California’s response capacity and said the state has had to fill gaps in flood forecasting, land management, and park access. Members then questioned the secretary about the Delta conveyance tunnel and broader water reliability issues. Crowfoot said the project remains important, is being pursued as a beneficiary-pays project, and is moving through the State Water Resources Control Board’s permitting process, while also stressing that it is only one part of a broader water strategy that includes levee strengthening, subsidence, groundwater storage, recycling, and conservation. Senators also raised concerns about permitting delays, invasive species, and the impact of position cuts on agency capacity; Crowfoot said streamlining is needed but that staffing remains essential. The committee then moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation, where Director Armando Quintero described the state park system, tribal agreements, wildfire and deferred maintenance work, and outdoor access programs such as the State Library Park Pass and Adventure Pass. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing $6.75 million General Fund transfer for the library park pass, arguing it did not meet the high bar for new ongoing spending, but several senators strongly supported the program as a low-cost way to expand access. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and campsite no-shows. Department staff said they are updating website guidance, working with the reservation vendor, and implementing new no-show and reservation-modification rules effective July 1, including penalties for repeated no-shows and immediate reopening of vacant sites. The committee then heard a low-cost accommodations proposal, which Parks said would fund planning and construction at several sites using Proposition 68, reimbursements, and donations; the LAO said it had no concerns. Finally, the new director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Megan Hurdle, introduced herself and outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 requests, including funding for salmon genetic tagging, hatchery repairs, and public access improvements. She said the department is focused on biodiversity, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict prevention, and noted that the agency is still updating its service-based budgeting analysis to identify gaps and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:37.520><c> feel</c> that. uh and our medical staff feel that. uh and our medical staff feel
• Healthcare is communities and our staff.
• So yeah, our staff are really worried, and it's incumbent on all of us to protect our staff and our patients
• </c> &gt;&gt; Well, first of all, half of our staff &gt;&gt; Well, first of all, half of our staff are
• So yeah, our staff are perpetrating.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: At this meeting, Senator Matt Klein and a group of Minnesota physicians and medical organizations described what they said was escalating ICE activity in and around hospitals and clinics, and argued it is deterring patients from seeking care and interfering with medical work. Speakers from emergency medicine, pediatrics, the Minnesota Medical Association, obstetrics/gynecology, and family medicine said patients are avoiding appointments, missing follow-up care, and in some cases suffering serious harm because of fear of detention or family separation. They emphasized that emergency departments and other health care settings should remain safe spaces where care is based on medical need, not immigration status. Several speakers gave examples they said showed actual patient harm, including missed prenatal and pediatric visits, delayed treatment leading to sepsis, perforated colon, burst appendix, and a patient with cancer who was detained and moved without medications. Pediatric and OB/GYN speakers focused on trauma to children and families, including fear of bringing children to appointments, requests for home births, and patients refusing transfer for higher-level care. Family medicine and emergency physicians also said staff morale is low, some workers are afraid to come in, and the situation is affecting diverse health care teams across the state. The discussion also touched on legal and policy questions. Speakers said they have tried calling police, hospital administration, and security to remove ICE agents from private patient areas, but reported that agents refused to leave. They said ICE may be allowed in public spaces but should not be in patient rooms or during private exams, and suggested there may be a role for legislation to codify best practices for law enforcement interactions in health care settings. No votes were taken; the meeting consisted of testimony, questions from reporters, and calls for collaboration and for ICE to stop enforcement activity in health care settings.

Transcript Highlights:

• He also wanted to be sure I extend his sincere thanks to the committee staff for their work on this bill
• I will say briefly that we'd like to thank the committee staff for the work on the bill, and particularly
• During the development of a broader safety project, Caltrans staff integrated two wildlife underpasses
• , and leveraging resources for outdoor equity.
• And I really appreciated working with you and your staff on this, Mr.

Keywords: 987, senate, all