Video & Transcript : 'High Socks for Hope' :

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Workforce committee considers HF961 2/26/25

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, thank you for that.
  • Uh, no, thank you for that.
  • This is a very successful program for students in high schools all around the state of Minnesota.
  • successful program for um students in<00:03:38.879><c> high</c><00:03:39.040><c> schools</c><00:03:39.439
  • Thank you for consideration for this vital investment in our students' state future.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/01/2026 - Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • From Representative Martinez for a special audit of the Phoenix Union High School District.
  • Saving the best for last. Saving the best for last.
  • Saving the best for last. saving the best for last.
  • For the record, for the last agenda item—or for agenda item number six, I'm sorry—JLAC received another
  • I'm hoping that it's actually going to be empowering for the department to arrange their electronic system
Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • members: Communities for a Better Environment Action, Black Women for Wellness Action Fund, Center for
  • That is a dramatic benefit for the climate and for air quality.
  • For years. Sometimes SQL analysis for years, for years.
  • For the author. For the author, Ms.
  • Working well, and we'd hope that we would not mess with success. For this reason, we oppose.
Summary: The committee hearing centered first on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on the largest polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would make polluters help pay for climate harms, protect taxpayers, create jobs in construction and clean energy, and dedicate at least 40% of funds to disadvantaged communities. Support testimony came from environmental justice groups, labor, youth advocates, health organizations, and many individual witnesses, while opponents from the building trades, chambers of commerce, petroleum, and business groups warned it would raise fuel and consumer costs, threaten refinery jobs, and create legal and economic uncertainty. Committee members debated the bill’s impact on affordability, jobs, refinery closures, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses climate funding needs. The committee ultimately voted to give AB 1243 a due pass recommendation to the Judiciary Committee, with the roll left open. After AB 1243, the committee moved to another bill on wildfire mitigation and related resilience work. The author said the measure addresses a long-running wildfire problem and accepted committee amendments, describing the bill as a response to increasingly severe wildfire seasons and the need to help communities stay safe and rebuild after disasters. The transcript cuts off as that presentation begins, so no final action on the second bill is shown in the excerpt.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/01/2026 - Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's it for us. All right. Well, thank you for coming to the hearing.
  • Saving the best for last. Saving the best for last.
  • For the last agenda item—or for agenda item number six, I'm sorry—JLAC received another request for special
  • I'm hoping that it's actually going to be empowering for the department to arrange their electronic system
  • For instance, um...
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Capital Investment - 02/04/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • for that I hope come up with the funds for that I hope I've<00:15:57.519><c> answered</c><00:15:57.759
  • I'm hopeful that we'll have a large number for next year, and some things are going to have to wait till
  • I'm hopeful that we'll have a large number for next year, and some things are going to have to wait till
  • I'm hopeful that we'll have a large number for next year, and some things are going to have to wait till
  • </c><01:44:40.880><c> for</c> for um um adaptive hockey and for for for um um adaptive hockey and for
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Education Funding (02/04/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • math works for these courses offered to high school students at a discount already.
  • He said the agreement in statute is that they charge $150 for the courses offered in the high schools
  • He noted that 60% of high school graduates are going outside the state for education, and if they can
  • I don't see this as necessarily a student qualifying for every year in high school, or every year from
  • a fairly high percentage of students identified for special education.
Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which clarifies that dual and concurrent enrollment courses may not exceed four credits. Members said the bill came from the community college system and was intended to preserve the program’s high school-to-college pathway. An amendment changing the effective date to passage was adopted 18-0, and the committee then voted 18-0 to recommend OTPA on the bill as amended, with the bill placed on the consent calendar. The committee then retained HB 295 and HB 366, both related to school building aid, after members said the issues were complex and needed more work. Both motions to retain passed 18-0, leaving the bills in committee without reports. The chair also said HB 354 would not be taken up that day because of possible changes from the Department of Education and others. HB 494, funding the math learning communities program, was then amended to flat-fund the program rather than increase it, with members citing budget uncertainty. The amendment passed unanimously, and the committee then voted 18-0 for OTPA on the bill as amended, placing it on consent. Finally, HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid, drew debate over whether charter schools should be treated differently from traditional public schools. The committee voted 10-8 for inexpedient to legislate, sending the bill to the regular calendar; Representative Damon was assigned the minority report and Representative Popovic the majority report. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program, where members discussed flat-funding the program at $2.5 million per year and the potential impact on course availability, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you for joining us this morning for today's informational hearing. I'm especially grateful.
  • -based multinational, is saying which system is best for us for tax purposes.
  • would be for them, that it would be incredibly difficult for them to do.
  • So the total tax is going to be 135% rather than 100%, which is what you would normally hope for.
  • Rather than 100%, which is what you would normally hope for.
Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s taxation of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Committee members and witnesses discussed how unitary taxation and sales-factor apportionment work, why multinational corporations are a small share of filers but a large share of tax liability, and how foreign income, profit shifting, and double taxation concerns affect policy choices. The Franchise Tax Board explained current filing rules, the seven-year water’s-edge election, and recent filing statistics showing about 21,562 water’s-edge returns in 2023, roughly 6% of C corporation filers but about half of corporate tax liability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and FTB staff emphasized that revenue effects from eliminating water’s edge are uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable, and they noted possible revenue volatility and administrative complexity. Several committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the burden on FTB, whether certain industries are more likely to shift profits, and whether companies would leave California; witnesses generally said there was no strong evidence that firms would exit the state because tax liability is driven mainly by California sales. They also discussed how California already administers both methods, how the election can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on a firm’s facts, and how federal reforms like GILTI/NCTI, CAMT, and OECD Pillar Two may affect the issue. The second panel presented sharply contrasting views. One professor and a tax policy advocate argued that water’s edge creates unfairness, encourages profit shifting, and leaves California with billions in lost revenue, while a Tax Foundation witness argued that mandatory worldwide reporting would tax the wrong income, create double taxation and litigation risk, and impose heavy compliance burdens, especially for foreign-based multinationals. A later panel from the California Budget and Policy Center supported closing the “water’s-edge loophole,” saying it would raise needed revenue for public services and level the playing field between large multinationals and smaller domestic businesses. No vote or formal action was taken; the hearing was informational only.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Appropriations Feb 12th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • I worked for you guys. I worked for you guys. I worked... ...talking about. I work for you guys.
  • You stood for dignity. You stood for accountability. You stood for restoration.
  • Please call the roll on CS for CS for SB 1066.
  • By your vote, CS for CS for CS for SB 1066 is reported favorably.
  • High-quality public education workforce for Florida students, and that is the bill.
Summary: The committee first took up SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for the wrongful convictions, incarceration, and death tied to the 1949 case. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step after prior state apologies, pardons, and exonerations. The committee adopted a $4 million amendment that divided compensation equally among the four families and updated the recipient for Ernest Thomas’s share. Multiple family members and advocates testified in support, emphasizing the decades of trauma and the need for full justice. Senators in debate largely supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 330, which clarifies disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers by refining the definition of heart disease and allowing certain officers who transfer agencies to rely on a prior physical under specified conditions. SB 474 also passed, expanding military leave protections to include public officials and employees who serve in the Coast Guard or Florida State Guard, adjusting pay eligibility for federal service, and updating related retirement and assistance provisions. SB 96, the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program bill, was amended to expand eligibility to veterans with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level and to move funding into the General Appropriations Act; members debated whether the broader eligibility could increase demand, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 7018 on child welfare, making the Step Into Success pilot program permanent statewide, adjusting visitor/background-check rules for out-of-home placements, and creating a best-practices program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. CS/SB 480 on state IT governance was reported favorably after amendments that strengthened vendor performance metrics and restored state data center security provisions; it creates a new central IT governance structure under the Governor’s office and aims to improve oversight of procurement, spending, and technical debt. SB 1066, addressing partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River and Kirkpatrick Dam, passed after a late-file amendment and extensive testimony from environmental, recreation, and local economic interests. SB 1216, which gives school districts more flexibility in educator compensation, and SB 1120, which increases oversight and reporting for water management district spending, were also reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 1366 on claims against the government, which raises sovereign immunity caps, ties future adjustments to CPI, shortens claim deadlines, and changes attorney-fee provisions. The bill drew support from local government and public-hospital groups as a compromise, but also significant concern from some senators about the impact on self-insured agencies and whether the fee changes would discourage attorneys from taking cases. The discussion remained ongoing, and the bill was still moving forward as the meeting continued.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment & Energy Jan 20th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Environment & Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you for your time. Jobs. Thank you for your time.
  • Do you anticipate that this bill would result in increased costs for the low-income? I hope not.
  • Thanks for Mena for this bill.
  • I was hoping for more questions. Sorry to disappoint. I'm disappointed, but thank you.
  • Thank you so much for hearing our concerns today and for making space for us to share the voices of the
Bills: HB2426 , HB2373 , HB2416
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Education Feb 13th, 2026 at 08:35 am

House Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • life after high school.
  • from high into work.
  • Thank you for that.
  • gifted is as high as can be in New Mexico because we were one of the leaders in gifted education for
  • So it will be assumed in, with hope for funding to come through in the final version of HB 2.
Bills: HB30 , HB120 , HJR1 , SB210 , SB306
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • White cards are for information only.
  • So we're trying to do something to help with the revenue for the training for the deputies.
  • So we're trying to do something to help with the revenue for the training for the deputies for that.
  • First off, I want to thank you for the strong work y'all are doing for our transportation in Louisiana
  • Cole Garrett for a quick second. Mr. Cole, please introduce yourself for the record. Yes, sir. Mr.
Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on Wednesday, March 11, with a quorum present and heard several specialty license plate bills. HB 801 by Rep. Martinez would create a classic black specialty plate, with revenue directed to State Police high-speed pursuit training for local law enforcement. Members discussed the need for better pursuit training in light of fatal crashes, adopted a set of amendments and a technical change, and reported the bill favorably with amendments. The committee also advanced HB 891 by Rep. Landry, which creates wildlife conservation specialty plates and adjusts revenue distribution to support conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited and Quail Forever, while also helping the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conservation fund. Testimony from LDWF and the conservation groups emphasized habitat work, fundraising leverage, and conservation benefits. The bill drew extended questioning from Vice Chair Fontenot about Ducks Unlimited’s work, including its projects in Louisiana and other states and whether certain habitat practices affect duck migration; the committee then reported the bill with amendments. HB 587 by Rep. Dickerson would create a PANS/PANDAS specialty plate to raise awareness and return revenue to the general fund to help cover treatment costs. The bill was supported by a parent and child who described the disorder and the impact of insurance coverage for IVIG treatment; it was reported with amendments. HB 331 by Rep. Mack created a Louisiana GOP specialty plate and was reported with amendments after brief discussion. HB 629 by Rep. Lyons created a plate for the Crew of Athena and was also reported with amendments. HB 428 by Rep. Baham created an LSU baseball championship plate recognizing the 2023 and 2025 national title teams and was reported with amendments. Rep. Walters voluntarily deferred HB 129, HB 130, and HB 854, and the committee adjourned afterward.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Lackey, for coming.
  • Thank you very much for those hopeful words. We needed it.
  • It's really important for us to hear that. Are there questions for members for Mr. Fein or Ms.
  • Thank you both for being here and for providing this insight.
  • So it all started in August, and we're really looking for support for a budget ask, but really for this
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Transparency held a hearing focused on three issues: federal funding cuts and delays, possible state revenue impacts from reduced IRS enforcement, and the fiscal effects of AB 218 on local governments. The Franchise Tax Board described how state and federal tax systems are closely linked, how most returns are filed electronically through software, and how FTB relies on IRS information sharing for compliance, fraud prevention, offsets, and nonfiler work. Members raised concerns that federal staffing cuts at the IRS could weaken audits of large corporations and reduce California revenue, and asked about VITA and ITIN filers; FTB said it was not aware of VITA reductions, noted ITIN returns are processed the same as other returns, and said ITIN filing appeared slightly down this year. The Department of Finance said it is monitoring federal developments, summarized the continuing resolution and reconciliation process, and noted that California lost nearly $940 million in earmarked federal projects under the CR, while major federal budget decisions remain uncertain until the President’s budget and later congressional action. The University of California reported substantial federal pressure on research, student aid, and health care. UC said hundreds of millions of dollars in federal awards have already been canceled, with additional threats to NIH and DOE facilities-and-administration rates, graduate fellowships, student loan repayment plans, international student visas, Pell Grants, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal funding. Committee members pressed UC on the effects of DEIA-related federal restrictions, the loss of clinical trials and research staff, and the impact on low-income students and patients. UC said it is pursuing litigation with the Attorney General and other institutions, but emphasized that court action is only a temporary solution and that sustained state and private support may be needed. The second panel addressed the fiscal consequences of AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims against public agencies. FCMAT presented a report with 22 recommendations, including better statewide data collection, financing mechanisms, a possible victims compensation fund, and prevention measures. Los Angeles County described a tentative $4 billion settlement tied to AB 218 claims, saying it will require reserves, borrowing, and long-term annual payments through 2050, while also forcing curtailments and cuts to vacant positions to preserve services. Members discussed insurance pools, retroactive premiums, unidentified future claims, and the need for a compensation fund or other financing tools. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with public comment, including testimony from local health officials about nearly $400 million in terminated federal public health grants and the resulting layoffs and service impacts.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 14, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • And, for example, in this case, litigation, but you can put a factor for a rating factor for just about
  • I'm not a building code expert, but I can give you some high... Is that for me?
  • And I hope maybe some experts could help me. But I'm available for whatever. Absolutely.
  • So we prepared for it. We saved for it. We knew it could come. We were ready for it.
  • Just food for thought. Thank you. Thank you for the comment.
Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - Part 1 - 03/17/26

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I hope you'll continue to have discussions with people, and we will lay the bill over for now and
  • The bar is very high, but there have been thousands and thousands of cases that they paid for, where
  • The the bar is very high, paid for here.
  • schedule, just this one, is because of the current very high risk of adverse outcomes for measles.
  • </c> wrap-around experience of that we hope wrap-around experience of that we hope for for for and<02
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JDC Public Hearing 04-23-2025

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • for.
  • I hope to be back in five minutes. Apologies for the delay.
  • , and he has been for years, where he encourages high school students to pursue their academic dreams
  • As for myself, I do the same. I help. As for myself, I do the same.
  • And that's the type of impact that I hope to have should I be confirmed as a judge for the district family
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Summary: The committee hearing covered three judicial confirmations for the First Circuit family court. The first nominee, Maria F. Penn, was introduced for confirmation to a six-year term as a district family court judge. Testimony from family law attorneys and the Hawaii State Bar Association was strongly supportive, emphasizing her courtroom demeanor, preparation, knowledge of family law, respect for litigants and counsel, and ability to manage emotionally difficult family court matters. Judge Penn also spoke about her background, including her legal career, prior service as a PDM family court judge, and her view that family court requires both legal judgment and empathy. The chair noted that the committee would not vote that day and would take up votes the next morning. The second nomination was Wilson Aunga for a district family court judgeship. Supporters described his character, community involvement, and suitability for family court, including testimony from the Honolulu prosecutor, longtime friends, classmates, community members, and others. Speakers highlighted his work with youth, his leadership in the prosecutor’s office, his calm and impartial temperament, and his commitment to education and public service. The chair reported 105 supporters, no opposition, and one comment from the Hawaii State Bar Association. Additional testimony continued from members of the public, including a speaker discussing mental health and personal support for Aunga. Throughout the hearing, the chair enforced a two-minute limit on oral testimony and explained that the committee was short on time and would recess as needed. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair announced that voting would occur the following day in the same room.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • But plus $20 million to the adopted for the current year and more for next year.
  • I’m still hopeful that April, May, and June, as it has historically for corporate, still becomes our
  • And that's my story for 27. Okay. I am for fiscal year 27.
  • It's for me a very cautious outlook for the next three years. I have...
  • It's for me a very cautious outlook for the next three years.
Summary: The Revenue Estimating Conference met with four members present and first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized the FYI end-of-balance of $577,077,871 as nonrecurring revenue. The main business was revising the state revenue forecast for FY 2026, FY 2027, and the long-range outlook. The Division of Administration recommended a $113 million reduction to the FY 2026 State General Fund forecast and a $104 million reduction for FY 2027, citing weaker-than-expected individual income tax collections, softer corporate income tax receipts, and some weakness in general sales tax, partly offset by stronger motor vehicle sales tax and higher mineral-related revenues tied to oil prices. The Legislative Fiscal Office presented a somewhat different but broadly similar forecast, with modest net increases to the general fund bottom line in the current year and next year, emphasizing caution on income and corporate taxes and more optimism on sales, severance, royalties, and some other revenue streams. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the causes of the income tax shortfall, especially withholding and refund patterns after tax changes that lowered rates. Department of Revenue officials explained that withholding tables had been set with a cushion that may be producing larger refunds, and said changing the tables could quickly reduce overwithholding, though the effect would take time to show up. Members also discussed corporate collections, the lingering effects of the franchise tax repeal, the role of settlements and audits, and the extent to which collections are voluntary versus enforcement-driven. The Department of Revenue said corporate collections still had key filing and estimated-payment milestones ahead in May and June, and that refund and audit activity related to the former franchise tax would continue for some time. The conference then adopted the Division of Administration’s FY 2026 forecast, the FY 2027 recurring forecast, and the long-range forecast, along with the proposed inflation rates for the Millennium Trust and parish severance allocation. Members also adopted the incentive expenditure forecast, noting that the reported amount is only the REC-reported portion and that larger tax exemption amounts come off the top before appropriations. The Treasurer reported a General Fund cash balance of about $404.1 million as of May 5, 2026, and an interfund borrowing base of about $9.18 billion, saying cash levels were similar on average to the prior year. The meeting ended with a note that another REC meeting might be needed depending on the May 16 election, and the conference adjourned without objection.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • , and they're coming in for resources there, so we're hopeful to be able to fund some of those.
  • , and they're coming in for resources there, so we're hopeful to be able to fund some of those.
  • We advocated for some one-time funds there a couple years ago in the budget, hoping that it's creating
  • we hope to solve for with the resources requested in our budget change. ...which is a challenge we hope
  • Thank you for this overview, and I appreciate you're doing exactly what I would hope to see for all of
Summary: The Assembly Subcommittee on State Administration held a budget hearing focused heavily on housing, homelessness, and related administrative proposals. HCD reported that California housing production has increased, with 2023 completions up 13% from 2022 and entitlement and construction timelines improving, while members and advocates criticized the Governor’s January budget for zeroing out or sharply reducing several housing programs. Public testimony urged funding for affordable housing production, preservation, youth housing, CalHome, LIHTC, HAP, and related programs, and several speakers argued the state should not pull back after recent progress. A major policy item was trailer bill language to allow HCD to access “excess equity” in existing affordable housing projects and recycle those funds into new or preserved housing. HCD and the LAO said the proposal could unlock tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, but members wanted guardrails and clearer statutory direction to ensure the funds stay within the intended housing purposes. The committee also discussed encampment resolution funding; HCD said the proposal would shift expenditure deadlines to the date of award rather than appropriation, while the LAO raised concerns about limited outcome data and urged the Legislature to use upcoming reporting before deciding on future funding. The hearing also covered HCD trailer bills to consolidate default reserve funds into a centralized continuously appropriated account and to clarify reporting requirements for early rounds of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program. HCD requested funding to implement chaptered legislation, including a new tribal housing program and reporting-related bills, and also sought extensions for certain reappropriations, including Homekey and REAP 2 deadlines. Public commenters and regional agencies supported flexibility for REAP 2 timing and other housing-related adjustments. Finally, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency presented the Governor’s reorganization proposal to split the current agency into a Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Consumer Protection Agency. The administration said the change would improve focus, efficiency, and coordination, but the LAO and several members questioned whether it would truly save money or improve accountability, especially given the need for new leadership, possible staffing changes, and the fact that the plan had not yet been formally submitted for review. No votes were taken during the hearing.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/10/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In these times of prices skyrocketing for gas and groceries, and the rent is still way too high, our
  • So I would hope for your vote later on in third read. Okay. All right.
  • Because Access already provides background checks for high-risk providers.
  • So I would like for it to continue the way Access is already checking background checks for high-risk
  • So I would like for it to continue the way Access is already checking background checks for high-risk
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Feb 9th, 2026

Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chairman, for a question, or even for an hour later.
  • problem for everyone else.
  • Sorry, apologize for that.
  • for looking into the budget, and thank you for all your input.
  • you for all your hard work thank you for looking into the budget and thank you for all your input we
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so thank you for bringing this forward. And I do hope that we can find some type of balance.
  • For undermining parole grants, particularly in high-profile or politically sensitive cases.
  • I hope that member would be charged with a felony for sexual molestation.
  • Thank you for your testimony. Is there anyone else hoping to express an opinion on the bill?
  • Thank you for your testimony. Is there anyone else hoping to express an opinion on the bill?
Committee: House Public Safety