Transcript Highlights:

• schools and expand the required child eye care exams from children entering kindergarten to entering preschool
• For preschool-age children, if symptoms of vision impairment are not caught by a parent, guardian, or
• Approximately 10% of all preschool children have eye or vision problems.

Summary: The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated. The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously. Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.

Transcript Highlights:

• staff with the credentials to fill these current 10,000 extra slots so that we could have these free preschool
• Preschool teachers, as you might know, are not a well-compensated career, making it challenging to both
• Preschool teachers, as you might know, are not a well-compensated career, making it challenging to both

Bills: HB2438 , HB2422 , HB2525 , HB2586 , HB2337 , HB2311 , HB2286 , HB2324 , HB2363 , HB2098 , HB2088

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: education, scholarship, early childhood, funding, higher education, early education, support, degree seekers, private security, security guard, armed security guard, security company, licensing fees, license renewal, endorsement fee, fingerprints, background check, workforce retention, low-wage workers, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Oakland's preschool has been instrumental in teaching her healthy ways to communicate. express how she
• With the astronomical costs of preschool providers, I don't know anyone with a baby or a toddler who
• My name is Viridiana Anguiano, and I'm the Program Director for Listos Preschool and Child Care here

Bills: HF2436 , HF470 , HF2643 , HF2456 , HF102 , HF1367

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• When my oldest son was in preschool, he was described as busy, lacking attention, and having no safety
• His preschool teacher pulled me aside to say how glad she was that we had finally found the right medication
• lived experience as a parent watching the effects of food dies on my child when my oldest son was in preschool
• he watching the effects of food dies on my child when my oldest son was in preschool he was described
• His preschool teacher pulled me aside to say how glad she was that we had finally found the right medication

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Amazing that there would be a free preschool for every four-year-old. $4 billion for community schools
• to develop, implement, promote, and foster a comprehensive statewide initiative for encouraging preschool
• To develop, implement, promote, and foster a comprehensive statewide initiative for encouraging preschool
• I am a preschool special education teacher in San Francisco.
• I am a preschool special education teacher in San Francisco.

Summary: The subcommittee opened with remarks on the state budget and K-12 education, noting the large increase in the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee, the use of deferrals and reserves in the prior budget, and the challenge of balancing education funding against other state priorities. Superintendent Tony Thurmond described California education as improving overall, citing gains in test scores, graduation, and college readiness, but said major gaps remain for low-income students, students of color, agricultural communities, English learners, foster youth, and students with disabilities. He praised recent investments in universal meals, transitional kindergarten, community schools, arts, broadband, and special education, while warning that declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and the proposed $5.6 billion Prop. 98 settle-up create uncertainty for districts. He also urged a long-term literacy plan, expanded tutoring, universal kindergarten, and continued protections for students and families affected by immigration enforcement, including ICE-related fear and attendance loss. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Proposition 98 from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Finance explained that the Governor’s budget projects the minimum guarantee will rise by about $21.7 billion over three years, with a $5.6 billion settle-up obligation in 2025-26 intended to avoid overappropriation if revenues weaken. Finance also described revised reserve deposits and withdrawals, ending with about $4.1 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account by 2026-27. The LAO said recent revenue collections were stronger than expected in the current year but warned that the outlook for 2026-27 is weaker and that stock-market-driven revenues remain volatile. The LAO supported maintaining reserves and one-time spending buffers, but recommended fully funding the guarantee and using other budget solutions rather than shifting the settle-up into future deficits. Members asked about the settle-up process, certification timeline, the effect of attendance declines tied to immigration enforcement, and wildfire-related impacts, including Pasadena Unified’s $4 million special appropriation. On LCFF and necessary small schools, Finance proposed a 2.41% COLA and about $2.2 billion in additional LCFF funding for districts and charters in 2026-27, plus a $30.7 million ongoing increase to raise the necessary small schools allowance by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA but said the small-school increase was not tied to a specific cost study and could be redesigned to better target small districts, noting that only a fraction of very small districts would benefit. Questions focused on how small schools access supplemental and concentration grants and how attendance recovery programs are being implemented. The Department of Education said only 130 LEAs had reported attendance recovery so far, likely because it is a new program with compliance requirements, though interest appears to be growing. FICMAT then reviewed the fiscal health of local districts, reporting an uptick in qualified and negative certifications, though still far below Great Recession levels. It said declining enrollment, rising special education costs, and higher labor and insurance costs are the biggest fiscal pressures, and that some districts are using fiscal stabilization plans and staff reductions ahead of second interim reports. FICMAT also discussed wildfire impacts on Pasadena Unified and Los Angeles Unified, explaining that Pasadena’s $4 million state appropriation was based on an early post-fire assessment and that the district is being monitored with the county office of education. Members raised concerns about Pasadena’s leadership, special education staffing shortages, AB 218 sexual abuse litigation costs, insurance premium increases, and the need for stronger prevention and training measures. FICMAT said SB 848 and related policies address some of those concerns by strengthening standards, training, and reporting requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert for preschool, with a lack of daycare programs,
• Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert for preschool, with a lack of daycare programs,
• Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert or preschool, lack of day.
• We, Freeman is a small rural district considered a desert or preschool lack of daycare programs, meaning
• to provide high-quality early learning for students, and there are currently no other daycare or preschool

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, we're working on building a new preschool in Albuquerque, and that's still in the works, and
• just a little bit budget-wise to touch base on capital outlay: we are also looking at expanding our preschool
• For FY25, we served 210 students on our three campuses: our main Santa Fe campus, Albuquerque Preschool
• For our preschools, the Albuquerque campus included a few of our students who operate under a JPA with
• his house, and he was talking about that he was getting the little beans on the beanstalk that his preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 150 is the Child Care and Preschool Trailer Bill. It includes the following.
• to child care to the state The bill also conforms provisions related to child care to the state preschool
• program and streamlines state preschool eligibility enrollment priorities so that state preschool contractors

Summary: The Senate session opened with a roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long series of floor recognitions and votes. Members spent substantial time honoring the Los Angeles Dodgers, celebrating their back-to-back World Series championship and highlighting the team’s history, community role, and connections to Jackie Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela, Vin Scully, and Jaime Jarrín. Senators also recognized summer interns and welcomed members of Kappa Alpha Psi’s Kappa League and Guide Right program to the floor. The chamber then took up several measures, beginning with AB 182 on ballot order and proposition numbering for the 2026 statewide ballot, which passed 38-8 after debate over whether placing legislatively referred measures first was fair. SR 113, commemorating the International Day of Peace and honoring Dr. Yongshik Cho’s role in proposing it, passed unanimously after supportive remarks about peace, education, and California’s diversity. The Senate also adopted SJR 16 urging Congress to restore commercial driver’s licenses for affected California truck drivers, and SCR 185 designating Probation Services Week. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to budget trailer bills. The Senate concurred in Assembly amendments to AB 112, AB 150, AB 152, AB 181, and AB 179, covering Medi-Cal, child care, human services, education governance, and housing. It also passed or concurred in SB 168, SB 169, SB 170, SB 171, SB 172, SB 174, SB 177, and SB 180, addressing public resources and energy, transportation, executive branch reorganization, labor, state government, courts, Medi-Cal financing, and taxation. Several of these drew opposition centered on energy costs, transparency, business impacts, or the proposed “fair share” approach to Medi-Cal costs for large corporations, but most measures passed on party-line or near-party-line votes. The Senate also confirmed three California Horse Racing Board appointments and ended with adjournment motions, including a request to adjourn in memory of Francis Lydia Limos of American Canyon.

Transcript Highlights:

• White Mountains Regional School District, which openly states on its website that it lacks enough preschool
• states on its website that it lacks states on its website that it lacks enough<00:28:08.760><c> preschool
• capacity</c><00:28:09.920><c> for</c><00:28:10.240><c> even</c><00:28:10.560><c> its</c> enough preschool
• capacity for even its enough preschool capacity for even its own<00:28:11.280><c> resident</c><00:28

Transcript Highlights:

• individuals with disabilities, which this governor of our state just last year proposed cutting preschool
• But those preschool kids didn't have a lobbyist representing them to get their issue directly to the
• individuals with disability, which this governor of our state, just last year, proposed cutting preschool
• But those preschool kids didn't have a lobbyist representing them to get their issue directly didn't

Transcript Highlights:

• academic coach and student council advisor at Kuhill Elementary School, supporting students from preschool
• Elementary School, supporting students Elementary School, supporting students from<00:37:41.920><c> preschool
• </c><00:37:42.480><c> through</c><00:37:42.720><c> fifth</c><00:37:43.119><c> grade,</c> from preschool
• through fifth grade, from preschool through fifth grade, earning<00:37:44.160><c> a</c><00:37:44.400

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment adds some federal funding that we received from a preschool development grant.
• requirements and for our annual performance report, and they will capture, analyze, and disaggregate preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill, but I want to make sure that there are no issues related to schools, daycare centers, preschools
• Preschools, and other areas where vaccine records are important for management of children who may be
• So would that include preschool programs, daycares as well?

Bills: HB689 , HB742 , HB926 , HB946 , HB948 , HB1028 , HB1095 , HB1114 , HB1121 , HB1155 , HB1185 , HB1217 , HB1220 , HB1227 , HCR76

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: public assistance, child welfare, benefit adjustment, DCFS, LDH, fraud detection, household reporting, Medicaid, immunization, healthcare eligibility, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, health policy, vaccination requirements, vaccination status, vaccine mandate, medical freedom, medical autonomy, public buildings, public access, government services

Transcript Highlights:

• taxable as a retail service, and clarifying that live presentations exclude classes provided by preschools
• are taxable as a retail service, clarifying that live presentations exclude classes provided by preschools
• The bulk of that impact is to our preschool classes, after-school programs, field trip workshops, and

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• are taxable as a retail service, clarifying that live presentations exclude classes provided by preschools
• are taxable as a retail service, clarifying that live presentations exclude classes provided by preschools
• The bulk of that impact is to our preschool classes, after-school programs, field trip workshops, and

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6346, the proposed “millionaires’ income tax” package. Staff reviewed the bill and a long list of amendments affecting the new income tax, related business tax changes, and several exemptions and implementation provisions. The committee adopted amendments to exempt diapers from sales tax, allow certain tribal income treatment clarifications, create an advisory group to help implement the tax, move up the repeal date for some business tax changes, and require the measure to go to the voters; several other amendments on federal conformity, agricultural income, pass-through entities, and the marriage threshold were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then adopted the striking amendment as amended and advanced the bill on a 9-6 do pass vote, with supporters arguing it would fund education, health care, child care, and tax relief, and opponents warning about competitiveness, capital flight, and the state’s spending growth. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible entities for county Conservation Futures Program funding. Staff said the bill would not change the tax levy structure and would have no state revenue impact, while tribal witnesses said it would improve voluntary conservation partnerships for habitat, farmland, and open space. Members asked about the bill’s scope, and staff confirmed it applies only to federally recognized tribes. House Finance also heard Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform measure that would consolidate the state school levy, expand senior and disability property tax exemptions, raise income thresholds, and simplify the application process with a standard deduction. The prime sponsor and county assessors supported the bill as a way to help seniors, disabled persons, and disabled veterans stay in their homes and reduce administrative burden, while several testifiers opposed it as a tax shift that would raise costs for others and potentially strain local revenues. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6113, an administrative and technical tax cleanup bill related to last year’s tax changes; the Department of Revenue supported it and noted a possible clarifying amendment, while nonprofits, schools, libraries, health care groups, workforce training providers, and trade associations asked for additional exemptions for live presentations and related educational activities. The chair announced that Senate Bill 6097 would be added to Monday’s executive session, Senate Bill 6114 was removed, and amendments for Monday’s bills were due by 5 p.m. that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• schools and expand the required child eye care exams from children entering kindergarten to entering preschool
• For preschool-age children, if symptoms of vision impairment are not caught by a parent, guardian, or
• Approximately 10% of all preschool children have eye or vision problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such an established network will collectively link students from preschool through post-secondary career
• I spent most of my career teaching both developmentally delayed preschool and then general education
• preschool.

Transcript Highlights:

• dropped them off at the airport. their public elementary school and then I took our little guy Noah to preschool
• and he happens to go to preschool at our synagogue and as I walked him into our synagogue we walked
• guards through a metal detector and it's not lost on me that our dear friends who send their kid to preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the owner of La Esperanza Preschool.
• organization by following the policies set forth. in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at a nationally accredited preschool
• We are now mandating teachers to have bachelor's degrees for infants through preschool.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We met in preschool together.
• We met in preschool together.