Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I have an aye recommendation. Do we have a motion?
• My recommendation is aye.
• Chair recommendation is no. Bennett? Berman? Berman? Salachi? No. Salachi, no.
• Chair recommendation is no. Bennett? Berman? Berman? Salachi? No. Salachi, no.
• Chair recommendation is no. Bennett... Bennett. Okay.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:01.760> Recommendation House Bill 736 HD1 SD1.
• Recommendation House Bill 736 HD1 SD1.
• going to have to recommend a deferral going to have to recommend a deferral for<00:21:54.680> this
• Our recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye, co-chair Holt.
• For the House, the recommendation is to pass a CD1.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees met repeatedly on Friday, April 25, 2025, mostly to wait for finance releases and to roll bills to later times. Several measures were deferred or continued, including HB 1007 on HCDA, HB 987 on procurement, HB 620, HB 961, HB 1293, HB 1320, SB 1252, HB 1168, and others, with members often agreeing to reconvene later in the day when releases might be available. One higher education bill, HB 549 on an early learning apprenticeship grant program, was deferred because the requested expenditure of about $12.5 million could not be approved, and HB 563 on the UH Space Science and Engineering Initiative was also deferred after conferees could not reach agreement in time. Several bills were successfully amended and passed. HB 329 appropriated $2 million for the Mililani work-for-housing project and $2 million for Maui Central Middle School. HB 736 established a wastewater system technology testing pilot program at the UH Water Resources Research Center and included a $745,325 FY26 appropriation. SB 865 created a full-time permanent CTAHR extension position, funded at $76,570 in each of FY26 and FY27 through the Agribusiness Development Corporation. HB 442 funded two pre-nursing pathway positions at UH with $215,552 each year for two fiscal years, and HB 1146 funded UH graduate assistant positions and planning work for Ala Wai Canal debris management and water quality control, with the conferees correcting the FY26 amount during discussion before approving it. Later, HB 1168 on UH revenue bonds was approved with amendments, setting the bond amount at $30,750,000 and a July 1, 2025 effective date. HB 961, the librarian pilot program, was ultimately approved with a CD1 restoring the original $132,308 appropriation and two FTE librarian positions for a two-year pilot serving one Oahu complex area and one neighbor island complex area. HB 1293 on Department of Education procurement was also approved with amendments to support the DOE’s farm-to-school goals by exempting certain local food purchases under $250,000 from the electronic procurement system and requiring at least three written quotes instead, effective July 1, 2025, with repeal on June 30, 2028. SB 1252 on dementia was later approved with a CD1 funding two full-time positions in UH Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine Department of Geriatric Medicine at $525,000 each in FY26 and FY27.

Transcript Highlights:

• moves that House Bill 1828, without amendments, be reported favorably to the full House with recommendations
• moves that House Bill 2498, without amendments, be reported favorably to the full House with recommendations
• I move that House Bill 3464, without amendments, be reported favorably to the full House with recommendations
• moves that House Bill 3673, as substituted, be reported favorably to the full House with the recommendation
• House Bill 5261 would codify the Sunset Commission's recommendations. ...and the General Appropriations

Bills: HB1826, HB2854, HB3006, HB4614, HB5261, HB5639

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, HB 2854, Pokuaa-Flowers Act, parole, mandatory supervision, electronic monitoring, releasee, parole officer, hospital visit approval, general hospital, law enforcement notification, DSHS, Department of State Health Services, corrections, public safety, liability immunity

Transcript Highlights:

• For over a year, we've been working with the FAA on implementing recommendations from the AXA Section
• The expert panel couldn't have been more specific about this particular recommendation.
• IG report, which has several recommendations, a series of recommendations, the FAA, many of those recommendations
• Those recommendations were specific to the FAA, so I'd have to defer to them in terms of their plans
• relative to implementing those recommendations.

Keywords: Boeing, aviation safety, safety management system, military aviation, air traffic control, transparency, oversight, accountability

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on significant safety concerns surrounding Boeing and its compliance with federal aviation standards. Lawmakers expressed frustration over the Army's failure to provide requested operational transparency regarding helicopter operations near Washington, D.C., amid recent incidents indicating a strained air traffic control situation. Several members called for reform in Boeing's oversight, emphasizing the need for a robust safety culture and mandatory safety management systems to prevent future disasters like the 737 MAX crashes. The discussions were passionate, with survivors and families impacted by past accidents present, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the issues at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• What recommendations can you give us as to this is working?
• process, or what are your recommendations that we might follow through and do to really establish a
• We also recommend that first responder peer support stay with the first responder community.
• They recommended some options for consideration there. We work with the CBCs on this as well.
• So the funding formula here recommends a budget of $1.391 million.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• the engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012 be reported to the full Senate without recommendation
• as to its passage, but with the recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry
• The engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012 be reported to the full Senate without recommendation
• as to passage, but with the recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry
• as to passage, but with the recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee met and took up the engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012. Counsel explained that the bill shortens several Public Service Commission timelines for certificates of public convenience and necessity, including deadlines for final decisions and final submissions, with different timeframes for smaller water/sewer projects and very large projects. The bill also requires applications to justify the need for a facility, including consideration of alternatives such as advanced transmission technologies, and adds requirements for electric transmission lines of 200 kV or greater, including a showing that costs are commensurate with benefits to West Virginia ratepayers and commitments to provide off-take facilities when requested. Comparable changes were also described for siting certificates, including a reduced decision timeline. After questions and no amendments, the vice chair moved to report the bill to the full Senate without recommendation as to passage, but with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Energy, Industry and Mining Committee. The committee approved the motion by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks moves that Senate Bill 1150 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it
• Dean Zaffirini moves that Senate Bill 2122 be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that
• Senate Bill 1757 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the
• Senate Bill 2050 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the
• It is recommended. And we have three gavels. Take your choice. Thank you, ma'am.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks moves that Senate Bill 1150 be reported to the Senate with a recommendation that it do
• Dean Zafarini moves that Senate Bill 2122 be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that
• Senator Birdwell moves that Senate Bill 1757 be reported to the Senate with a recommendation that it
• Senator Birdwell moves that Senate Bill 2050 be reported to the Senate with recommendation that it do
• It is recommended, and we have 3 gavels. Take your choice. Thank you, ma'am.

Transcript Highlights:

• risk pools charge accurately recommended risk pools charge accurately recommended contributions.
• This accurate recommended contributions.
• So recommendations uh by the actuaries.
• <04:49:53.280> rate offering the actuar recommended rate offering the actuar recommended rate
• It's something that recommending. Okay.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Sen. Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would codify the department’s interpretation that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary coverage for a newborn, unless the mother has no insurance or coverage under an employer-sponsored plan. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure is a clarification of existing practice and intended to protect vulnerable newborns; a question from Rep. Miles clarified that if a young woman is on her parents’ policy, the newborn would generally be covered under that family coverage. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Sen. Kevin Avard, which would require insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, Medicare Advantage plans. Commissioner Benton Court said the bill arose from disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers, brokers, and the department were confused by carriers changing or ending offerings; he said the department wanted a simple notification requirement so it could better advise consumers. Members discussed network adequacy, county-based service areas, and the fact that the bill would make notice a condition of licensure, with possible fines or license action for noncompliance. Witness Paula Rogers of AHIP said her group supported the bill if amended, and the department indicated it would support a change from a 120-day notice period to 90 days to align with state rules; the committee planned to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Rep. Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion of pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole argued the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell drugs at a loss, describing PBMs as middlemen and saying the measure is a compromise that protects local pharmacies. Members questioned whether consumers would pay more and whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts; Cole responded that the bill would let pharmacies refuse unprofitable fills while consumers could still obtain the drug through mail order or other channels. He also said the issue has changed over time because the practice now affects a much larger share of generics and is concentrated among a few PBMs. The hearing remained open as questions continued, with no vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have some comments and recommendations.
• So we recommend the legislature...
• So we recommend the legislature consider one or two options.
• I hear the alternatives, but what is the recommendation here?
• They were recommendations, and HCD implemented all of the recommendations, largely procedural regarding

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:51:44.560> Thank recommend this bill ought to pass.
• come up with a recommended speed limit. come up with a recommended speed limit.
• the recommendations are there for. for. for.
• Our recommendation Vote 14 to zero.
• > passes Our recommendation about the passes Our recommendation about the passes adopted<03:32

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I would recommend it strongly.
• <01:04:36.240> to case, make periodic recommendations to case, make periodic recommendations
• <01:04:57.119> as recommendations in those instances as recommendations in those instances
• They’re making recommendations.
• They’re making recommendations.

Bills: HF2825

Keywords: expungement, criminal justice, background check, security industry, private detective, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, recommend... >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Chair, do you recommend who goes on that committee conference then?
• Chair, do you recommend who goes on that committee conference then?
• Chair, do you recommend who goes on that committee conference then?
• Chair, do you recommend who goes on >> Mr.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then moved into a work session on its remaining bills. The main discussion centered on House Bill 477, which would establish a commission to study safety and security procedures at the New Hampshire State House. Members debated whether a new commission was needed, with several speakers arguing that security is already being reviewed through the bipartisan Joint Facilities Committee and existing security staff, including an outside consultant’s review. Others raised concerns that members do not always know how to report safety or behavioral issues and suggested better communication to the full membership about who to contact and what information can be shared. The House clerk then explained the structure and authority of the Joint Facilities Committee under RSA 17-E, noting that it is a bipartisan legislative committee made up only of elected officials, with publicly listed members, defined duties, and the ability to meet in nonpublic session on sensitive matters such as security. The clerk said members can bring concerns to the committee, its chair, or their caucus leadership, and that some safety briefings are already given to all members when appropriate. Several members said they preferred keeping security matters limited to a need-to-know basis and opposed creating a new commission that could force public discussion of sensitive procedures. The committee then voted on HB 477. Representative Sheen moved ITL, Representative Turkot seconded, and the motion passed 12-0, with Representative Wall voting no. The bill was sent to consent. After that, the committee began discussion of House Bill 314, which would prohibit the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh following on to make recommendations uh following on the<00:31:50.039> um<00:31:50.320>
• <00:36:31.880> for<00:36:32.040> the together recommendations for the together recommendations
• right um lead nne thank recommendations right um lead nne thank you<00:46:04.520> chair<00:46
• Additionally, we're looking to have a recommendation to have the definition of urban search and rescue
• an additional $10 governor recommends an additional $10 million<00:53:49.920> to<00:53:50.079

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the March 22, 2024 minutes and then took up House File 3761, the Safety Through Support Act, with a motion to lay the bill over. Representative Lee Finke said the bill is intended to improve re-entry outcomes and public safety by expanding prison visitation, including mentoring and access for mental health and medical professionals, and by creating a task force to support rehabilitation and re-entry. Testifiers in support included Holly Bot, who described how family visits helped her through incarceration and later into successful re-entry and business ownership, and Zeke Caliguri, who argued that consistent visitation and community connection are essential to humanity, rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism. Elliot Bhai of NAMI Minnesota also supported the bill, framing visitation as a form of needed mental health support in prisons. Members raised several concerns and suggestions. Representative Hudson questioned the bill’s strip-search limitation language, asking what would count as a credible, documented security concern, and also worried the task force could create discriminatory access or favor certain viewpoints. Representative Finke said she did not view a conviction as making someone permanently a security risk and said the task force was meant to ensure meaningful visitation for everyone, not to enable discrimination. Representative Hollins and Representative N. supported the bill’s overall goals while suggesting language could be tightened and noting that maintaining outside ties helps people return as productive members of society. Representative Witte asked about the Department of Corrections commissioner’s presence, and the chair said questions for him could wait for a later bill. Representative Mu asked about the fiscal note and the research behind the bill. Staff said a fiscal note had been requested but not yet signed off by the LBO, which was one reason the bill was being laid over. Finke said she could share the visitation study and noted that the bill responds to research linking visitation to lower recidivism; she also said remote visitation data shows value but can be costly. After closing remarks emphasizing that visitation is “medicine” and that most incarcerated people will return to the community, the chair renewed the motion and laid over House File 3761. The committee then moved on to House File 4959, with a motion to re-refer it to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• He ultimately makes the decision, but relies very heavily upon the recommendations of those folks.
• He ultimately makes the decision, but relies very heavily upon the recommendations of those folks.
• He ultimately makes the decision, but relies very heavily upon the recommendations of those folks.
• He ultimately makes the decision, but relies very heavily upon the recommendations of those folks.
• He ultimately makes the decision, but relies very heavily upon the recommendations of those folks.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We recommended that the LCPR approve the requested assumption updates.
• uh are that annuity the recommendations uh are that the<00:48:15.200> systems<00:48:15.640>
• we also recommend that the study<00:48:28.640> be<00:48:28.800> completed<00:48:29.240
• to the legislator and recommendation to the legislator and their<01:03:38.000> members<01:03:
• to pass and be incorporated recommended to pass and be incorporated into<01:18:53.360> the<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, is actually from Governor Walz's budget recommendation, where he basically recommends eliminating
• Chair, is actually from Governor Walz's budget recommendation, where he basically recommends eliminating
• task force based clinically recommended task force based recommended<00:32:34.840> treatment<
• <00:59:23.640> for person that it is being recommended for person that it is being recommended
• I actually think Senator Mann in this bill has some good recommendations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another professor came in and did a study to recommend actions that could be taken to address certain
• Most recently, the Committee of Bar Examiners developed their recommendation and sent that to the Board
• So we will make a recommendation.
• Okay, so they recommend changes. You implement the changes, if that's where it goes.
• What the State Bar will do is take their recommendations, look at them very carefully, implement them

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another professor came in and did a study to recommend actions that could be taken to address certain
• Another professor came in and did a study to recommend actions that could be taken to address certain
• So we will make a recommendation. Board of Trustees will put a petition in to the Supreme Court.
• Okay, so they recommend changes. You implement the changes, if that's where it goes.
• What the State Bar will do is take their recommendations, look at them very carefully, implement them

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first took up several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Trinidad Solis, M.D., and Gerald Talbert, M.D., to the Medical Board of California. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, with roll calls on each item showing unanimous support from members present and the items left open for additional votes before final tallying. The main public business was the confirmation hearing for George Cardona, J.D., for a second term as Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California. Cardona described reforms made since taking office, including new conflict-of-interest and gift rules, stronger investigative requirements, efforts to reduce backlog and improve efficiency, and monitoring of discipline disparities identified in prior studies. Senators questioned him about safeguards after the Girardi matter, the John Eastman discipline case, racial and ethnic disparities in attorney discipline, unauthorized practice of law by notarios, staffing shortages, and the use of AI in filings. Public witnesses from the State Bar, SEIU Local 1000, and others spoke in support. The committee voted 3-0 to advance Cardona’s appointment to the full Senate. The committee then heard Laura Enderton Speed, J.D., for Executive Director of the State Bar. She said her priorities would be restoring public trust, improving the discipline system, addressing the February 2025 bar exam problems, and strengthening fiscal stability and internal controls. Members asked about the State Bar’s structural budget deficit, the remote administration failures in the February exam, safeguards against undisclosed gifts and conflicts, and the status of audits and investigations. Supporters from the State Bar, the civil defense bar, SEIU Local 1000, and a longtime colleague testified in favor. The committee approved her appointment 5-0 to move to the full Senate. At the end of the meeting, members also approved the remaining governor’s appointments and procedural items, and the chair thanked Senator Jones for his service on the committee before adjourning the public portion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another professor came in and did a study to recommend actions that could be taken to address certain
• So we will make a recommendation.
• Okay, so they recommend changes. You implement the changes, if that's where it goes.
• Okay, so they recommend changes. You implement the changes, if that's where it goes.
• The Board of Trustees to make a recommendation to the Supreme Court that that happened. All right.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established a quorum and first approved several items without required appearances, including the appointments of Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Trinidad Solis, M.D., and Gerald Talbert, M.D., to the Medical Board of California, along with references of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard testimony on two State Bar of California appointments requiring appearance: George Cardona, J.D., for Chief Trial Counsel, and Laura Enderton Speed, J.D., for Executive Director. Cardona described his first four years as chief trial counsel, emphasizing reforms after the Girardi matter, including stronger conflict-of-interest and gift rules, tighter trust-account investigations, more data tracking, and efforts to reduce case backlogs and discipline disparities. Senators questioned him about the John Eastman disbarment case, the office’s role and jurisdiction, racial and Latino discipline disparities, unauthorized practice of law by notarios, staffing vacancies, and the use of AI in pleadings and internal work. Public witnesses from the State Bar, SEIU Local 1000, and others supported his confirmation, and the committee voted 3-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate. Enderton Speed said she sought the executive director role to help restore public trust, strengthen discipline and admissions, and address the February 2025 bar exam problems. Senators asked about the State Bar’s budget deficit, hiring freeze, long-term fiscal stability, the bar exam audit and litigation, safeguards against conflicts and gifts, and the decision to move the February exam largely remote before returning to in-person administration for July. Public witnesses also supported her confirmation, citing leadership, accessibility, and a focus on core functions. The committee voted 5-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The meeting ended with remarks honoring Senator Jones on his final day on the committee and a cake presentation before adjournment to executive session.