Transcript Highlights:

• They have been a nonprofit since 2016, when they started, and they have a 100% success rate.
• and a reduced ability to accept rates and a reduced ability to accept patients<00:17:58.000><c> from
• of adults experiencing cognitive decline are occurring at an even higher alarming rate.
• </c><00:57:12.839><c> and</c> account for this in their rates and account for this in their rates and
• </c> providers and drive up insurance rates providers and drive up insurance rates in<01:07:52.119><c

Bills: HF837 , HF1903 , HF499 , HF794

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:51.880><c> among</c><00:21:52.120><c> school</c> equalize tax rates among school equalize
• tax rates among school districts<00:21:52.960><c> the</c><00:21:53.080><c> state</c><00:21:53.440><c>
• reduce the rate for those keeping<00:22:04.360><c> the</c><00:22:04.559><c> revenue</c><00:22:05.000
• </c> districts so as a result the the rate districts so as a result the the rate that's<00:34:13.320>
• </c><00:34:47.639><c> differential</c> because of that tax rate differential because of that tax rate

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• saw that in certain regions like the Central Valley and the Inland Empire exhibited lower transfer rates
• , our analysis found that globally the CSU and the UC systems generally have high admission rates and
• Transfer students are admitted to UC at extremely high rates.
• rate for students who enter as first-year students.
• The data, including the transfer rate findings in the audit, also showed this troubling reality.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee held an oversight hearing on a state audit of California’s community college transfer process, with members and witnesses broadly agreeing that transfer pathways remain too complex and inconsistent. Opening remarks emphasized that community colleges serve a large, diverse, often first-generation and low-income student population, but only about one in five transfer-intending students move to a UC, CSU, or other university within four years. Members highlighted disparities by race, region, campus, and major, and pointed to the Associate Degree for Transfer, TAG, and Cal-GETC as helpful but incomplete tools because requirements still vary across campuses and systems. State Auditor’s Office staff said the audit found that while UC and CSU overall enroll substantial numbers of transfer students, individual campuses and high-demand programs often do not, especially in STEM fields. They described barriers including missing prerequisite courses, unclear information, limited counseling, and inconsistent articulation between campuses. The audit used a computer science example to show how different UC and CSU campuses require different courses for the same major. The audit issued 22 recommendations, with 10 fully implemented and four partially implemented; remaining work centers on articulation, counseling, data sharing, and better use of ASSIST. UC, CSU, and the Community Colleges each said they support transfer and are taking steps to improve it. UC cited a new public dashboard, data-sharing agreements, new transfer pathways, and an ADT pilot at UCLA, while saying campus capacity and program differences limit systemwide mandates. CSU pointed to its strategic plan goals, the Transfer Success Pathway program, direct admissions outreach, and efforts to expand ADT alignment and credit applicability, while acknowledging that many students never reach the application stage. Community Colleges emphasized that transfer reform is central to equity and baccalaureate access, and called for stronger common course numbering, broader ADT acceptance, and more student-centered articulation. Members pressed the systems on why more uniform requirements and better coordination have not been achieved, and on how to reduce barriers for placebound and working students.

Transcript Highlights:

• saw that in certain regions like the Central Valley and the Inland Empire exhibited lower transfer rates
• of student transfer, Member Alvarez requested an audit examining how the state can increase the rate
• Transfer students are admitted to UC at extremely high rates.
• Their four-year graduation rate is slightly higher than the six-year graduation rate for students who
• The data, including the transfer rate findings in the audit, also showed this troubling reality.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Transcript Highlights:

• We are done surviving on an outdated subsidy rate system.
• Everything has gone up except for our rates.
• Everything has gone up except for our rates.
• Our child poverty rate is now the fourth highest in the nation. That is not a coincidence.
• They have reduced high school graduation rates and decreased college attendance rates compared to their

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think if there's one thing that Cap-and-Invest should protect, it's electricity rates.
• Are there other reasons that rates may increase?
• lower or driving electric rates down.
• So what does this mean for ratepayers in California and specifically POU rate payers?
• Rate increases are a real possibility.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Transcript Highlights:

• We're graduating students at a higher and higher rate.
• But the fertility rate has declined there as well.
• For fiscal 25, the Coordinating Board increased the dual credit outcome rate from the fiscal 24 rate.
• While recommendations are based on those rates, they also establish the rates in a rider that serves
• Viable income, how can we justify rating those the same way?

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The national passing rate is 80%. The national passing rate is 80%.
• </c> and the pass rates. and the pass rates.
• It’s not a first-time pass rate. The data is not a first-time pass rate.
• </c><01:08:03.440><c> and</c> from 65% pass rate to 82% pass rate. and from 65% pass rate to 82% pass
• </c> rate but then jinned up to 83% pass rate rate but then jinned up to 83% pass rate again<01:08:10.000

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from KDE on the revised Kentucky academic standards for reading and writing. KDE explained the statutory six-year review process, the public comment periods, and the main revisions, including updates tied to the science of reading, decodable text, encoding/decoding, and an updated vision statement. KDE said 308 responses were received on the initial public comment, most respondents favored keeping standards as-is, and about 12% of standards were revised. The department also said the document was streamlined by removing repeated graphics and reducing its size by about 24%, and that a later comment period drew more than 400 responses. No new standards were flagged for review. Members asked about alignment between standards, curriculum, assessments, and NAEP, and KDE said instructional resources should be aligned to standards, KSA assessments are aligned to the standards, and screeners/diagnostics help identify student needs. Representative Truett raised the idea of a textbook-to-standards crosswalk, and KDE said publishers and a future repository partner should provide such crosswalks for local districts. Representative Bojanowski asked why foundational reading skills are not directly assessed on the third-grade KSA; KDE responded that the assessment is designed to measure end-of-grade expectations, while screening and diagnostics are used earlier to identify decoding needs. Representative Gel asked about early childhood supports, and KDE said it is working with early learning and special education offices and promoting LETRS professional learning for both teachers and preschool educators. The committee then received the mathematics improvement committee report. KDE said the mathematics committee unanimously approved a new strategic plan for improving math achievement from pre-K through grade 20 and adult education. The plan centers on six priorities: student empowerment, effective mathematics teaching and learning, continuous educator development and growth, a continuum of learning, community and family partnerships, and teacher recruitment and retention. KDE said the plan is intended as a living document with goals, recommended actions, and evidence bases, and that it aligns with the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Act by supporting high-quality instructional resources, professional learning, and family resources. In response to Senator Thomas, KDE explained that the professional learning recommendation means districts should tailor teacher training to classroom needs and instructional materials so math teachers are better equipped to implement standards and support students.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was to reduce pretrial detention rates, meaning how much time an individual is spending in jail
• We've had a 66% reduction in FTA rates.
• We have an overall pretrial FTA rate of 4.5%, which is, again, a phenomenal review.
• We had an 81.49% screening rate for indigency.
• In Grays Harbor County, our 2023 figures estimate the rate of incarcerating a person at $168 a day.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a hearing on a State Auditor’s Office performance audit about expanding pretrial services in Washington. Audit staff said most of the 14 courts reviewed wanted to expand or implement pretrial services but faced barriers such as funding, limited community resources, and public safety concerns. They also reported that only three courts could provide usable data, that pretrial service use varied across courts, and that some demographic disparities appeared in the data, including lower rates of pretrial services for Hispanic defendants at two Spokane courts and for Black defendants at Spokane Superior Court. The audit also found that many courts do not collect pretrial data in an accessible format and recommended clearer guidance, better data systems, stakeholder outreach, and evaluation of program effectiveness. The State Auditor’s Office also noted that the Administrative Office of the Courts’ pretrial pilot program had received legislative funding and was being expanded. Representatives from Spokane Municipal Court, Grays Harbor County District Court, and Yakima County discussed their local programs and data. Spokane officials described a robust integrated system and said their pretrial services unit, launched in 2021, had reduced bail use, jail time, failure-to-appear rates, and recidivism, while helping judges make quicker release decisions. Grays Harbor staff echoed the audit’s findings on cost savings and said data collection is labor-intensive for limited-jurisdiction courts, especially without dedicated staff. They also described using risk assessment tools and pilot funding to support alternatives to jail. Yakima and Spokane participants emphasized that stable funding and standalone pretrial services units would improve program consistency and outcomes. Committee members asked about how pretrial services reduce detention time, how courts can better communicate cost savings and public safety benefits, and why statewide data collection is difficult. Audit staff and court representatives said early assessments, better information at first appearance, and integrated case-management systems help reduce jail stays and improve release decisions. The hearing ended without formal committee action, and the chair adjourned the meeting after inviting written public testimony on the audit topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:57.360><c> Um,</c><00:03:57.680><c> the</c> rate system by 1% per year.
• Um, the rate system by 1% per year.
• Certain rates, such as clinically managed low-intensive and high-intensive residential services, were
• And so this proposal just aligns with what the actual rates are in those sectors.
• </c><00:08:26.319><c> are</c><00:08:27.120><c> um</c> aligns with what the actual rates are um aligns

Bills: HF2995 , HF2434

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, funding, appropriations, MinnesotaCare, behavioral health, general assistance, healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• In getting the RFP ready, our consultants have told us that we might get better rates from vendors if
• We could get better rates from vendors if we had a longer contract.
• We get competitive rates, but the MPDP is a little bit unique in the fact that the...
• A three-year contract may get us some better rates, but a five-year period could provide even better
• rates.

Bills: SB175 , SB195 , SB196 , SB199

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: aircraft, tax exemption, sales tax, lease tax, maintenance, Alabama, health insurance, Medicare, retirees, public education, contracts, education, high school, community college, dual enrollment, secondary credit, Move on When Ready, parental leave, state employees, local education agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• That rate doesn't cover what our sheriffs are losing out of their budgets.
• So I think thinking about that is we don't have a differential in rate.
• So we tried to rework that rate. They worked with us.
• a partial day rate.
• So we'll see how that works as well for some of those daily rate services.

Committee: All PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• Their rate is below 275? Their rate is below 275? Be sure you're using microphones, folks.
• We rely on the auditor's office to do the rate, to calculate the rate rollbacks and where the assessments
• They don't calculate the TIF or the tax abatement into your new rate structure.
• They don't calculate the TIF or the tax abatement into your new rate structure.
• So every year we have a tax rate hearing.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Udub's 10-year rate of return, these numbers are as of June 30, 2025, would put it 64th among all higher-ed
• Had they achieved the same rate of return that the State Investment Board was able to achieve at that
• But that also assumes a 90% redemption rate, which is what they reported in Oregon, so if the redemption
• rate was lower than that, especially for a newer program in Washington, then that $40 million might
• And I would just say that when you look at the return rates on the bottles, nationally the average is

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2565, which would require University of Washington gifts, grants, and similar funds to be invested through the Washington State Investment Board instead of UW’s internal investment office. Staff and the prime sponsor argued the change would lower fees and improve returns, while UW’s representatives opposed the bill, citing concerns about donor intent, legal restrictions on thousands of individual endowments, and differences in portfolio management and liquidity needs. No questions were raised in the hearing, and no action was taken on the bill at that time. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills. On Third Substitute House Bill 1607, related to recycling and waste reduction, members adopted a technical amendment but rejected amendments that would have directed unredeemed deposits to the Working Families Tax Credit and litter programs, added accountability requirements for grants, or created a SNAP-related benefit. The bill was then reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation on a 17-13 vote. On Second Substitute House Bill 1622, concerning bargaining over public employers’ use of artificial intelligence, members adopted one amendment updating the AI definition and rejected three others that would have narrowed bargaining triggers or limited the bill to technologies with demonstrable material impacts. The bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation on a 19-11 vote. The committee also advanced House Bill 2254, which would cover administrative costs for the Partnership Access Line assessment, and House Bill 2385, which extends timelines for the Medicaid access program after federal changes affected implementation; both were reported out with do pass recommendations. House Bill 2531, continuing and adjusting the ground transportation quality assurance fee structure, also passed out of committee. Finally, House Bill 2543, allowing county clerks to increase certain fees to cover court-related costs, was reported out with a do pass recommendation on a 22-6 vote. The committee adjourned after completing its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• a say in that vote instead of the city... ...instead of the city council or mayor increasing that rate
• not... ...Um, our concern is that one size does not fit all because the bill talks about that the rates
• Are there different rates in different areas, or are everybody's rates across the state the same as far
• Currently, there’s no cap on what that franchise rate can be.
• that municipality, specifically Birmingham, would have the ability up until December 31st to set a rate

Bills: SB271 , SB295 , SB309

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: SB271, Alabama, municipalities, city fees, town fees, franchise fees, utility franchise, natural gas, manufactured gas, gas utility, public streets, public places, right-of-way, municipal consent, gross receipts tax, license tax, privilege tax, Public Service Commission, PSC, utility regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• But for us in the city, our tax rate is one of the highest in the state and, in fact, one of the highest
• Our tax rate is one of the highest in the state and, in fact, one of the highest in the country.
• Just to give an example, the homestead rate right now is 64 mills, and the non-homestead rate is about
• There are going to be 400 units of both market rate and affordable housing.
• And if they choose to sell the property going forward, it allows an abatement against the millage rate

Committee: Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection met with a quorum, adopted the June 17 minutes, and took testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 1053, sponsored by Chair Kavanaugh, would raise the acreage cap for neighborhood enterprise zones from 15% to 20% for certain zones. Supporters from Invest Detroit and the City of Detroit said the change would help make housing and redevelopment projects viable, especially in high-tax areas like Detroit, and the bill was reported to the floor on a 6-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 988, sponsored by Senator Santana, which would extend from 30 to 35 days the deadline to appeal a denied poverty exemption to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. The sponsor and Detroit’s property assessment director described it as a technical alignment with the Tax Tribunal Act and a correction to conflicting timelines; the bill drew support from the Michigan Poverty Law Program, the Michigan Chamber, and the Tax Tribunal, and was reported unanimously. The committee then adopted S-1 substitutes for Senate Bills 1041, 1042, and 1043, the price-gouging package sponsored by Senators Moss, Chang, and Kavanaugh. Sponsors of the price-gouging bills said the package would strengthen Michigan’s emergency price-gouging protections by defining excessive increases during declared emergencies, covering lodging, essential goods and services, and energy products, and giving the Attorney General clearer enforcement tools. Supporters included the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Attorney General’s office, while the Michigan Chamber, Mackinac Center, and NFIB opposed the package. Despite the opposition, all three bills were reported to the floor on 5-3 votes. The meeting adjourned after all reported bills were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> policy to charge resident tuition rates policy to charge resident tuition rates for<00:42:37.040
• There are situations where the program is paying for higher non-resident rates.
• There are situations where the program is paying for higher non-resident rates.
• rate or the<00:48:58.319><c> negotiated</c><00:48:58.880><c> rate</c><00:48:59.280><c> depending</c>
• But um they negotiated rates there.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• These vacancy rates below 10%? Am I understanding this right? Yes, correct.
• We had a 90% fill rate, and we were not achieving that in multiple classifications.
• Women over 55 have the lowest recidivism rates. Please summarize.
• Women over 55 have the lowest recidivism rates. Please summarize.
• And our recidivism rate, as far as we can tell from our surveys, is less than 6%.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program, and the Coleman mental health receivership. The hearing focused on correctional health care, reentry, aging incarcerated populations, and the state’s progress toward compliance in the Plata and Coleman receiverships. Members also discussed the OIG’s intake complaint workload and medical inspection findings, as well as broader questions about staffing, vacancies, and the cost of court oversight. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two permanent positions in its intake processing unit, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025. OIG officials said complaints are categorized by issue and prison, prioritized by urgency, and generally responded to within 30 days, but they do not track complaint “validity” rates. The medical inspection unit reported that in cycle seven, case review performance was generally adequate while policy compliance was often inadequate; the lowest-scoring areas included emergency services, medication management, and health care environment. Members asked for more detailed reporting on complaint types, priority levels, and systemic issues. CCHCS described rising health care costs driven by an aging prison population, staffing vacancies, and contract medical expenses. Officials said more than 80% of the budget is personal services, and they are using hiring events, social media outreach, and expanded classifications to reduce vacancies. CalAIM officials reported early implementation success in pre-release and reentry services, including 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% assigned managed care plans, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about 169,000 claims submitted and $14.7 million reimbursed. The LAO noted that the Plata medical receivership has increased per-person costs and that the state should continue oversight while seeking ways to reduce vacancies and expand federal reimbursement opportunities. For the Coleman mental health receivership, the receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for receiver office staffing and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent. The LAO supported continued oversight but recommended additional steps to address vacancies, including greater out-of-state recruitment, expanded telemental health, and possible consolidation of mental health services. The LAO also recommended reducing the telemental health staffing request and monitoring its effects. Members questioned the long-term cost of receiverships, the pace of compliance, and whether more detailed benchmarks and staffing data should be provided. No formal votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• down for us, bring your interest rate down to 2%, which is really, really low.
• down for us, bring your interest rate down to 2%, which is really, really low.
• down for us, bring your interest rate down to 2%, which is really, really low.
• </c> projects with this High interest rate projects with this High interest rate environment<00:22:56.559
• </c><00:31:38.159><c> come</c> we hope that as um interest rates come we hope that as um interest rates

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a series of housing bills. HB 1432 and HB 1428 drew support from HHFDC, and HB 1428 also received testimony from Hawaiian Community Assets, which said housing counseling funding is needed to meet demand for financial education tied to affordable housing, and that such counseling can help reduce evictions, prevent foreclosure, and stabilize households. HB 833 on community land trusts received broad support from HHFDC, county housing officials, community land trust representatives, and a local developer; testimony emphasized keeping housing affordable in perpetuity, but also asked for clearer access to financing, longer repayment terms, and inclusion of additional land trusts in the bill. Peter Savio argued that community land trusts are the best way to control demand and keep housing tied to local incomes. The committee also heard HB 19 on the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, which HHFDC said should be made permanent because the pilot has been successful, with 81 units in the program and $7.4 million of the $10 million allocation already committed. HHFDC said the fund helps stalled for-sale projects by providing state equity that revolved back when homes are sold. HB 529 and HB 432 were also heard; HB 432 would create a subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund for projects above 60% AMI, and HHFDC said this would help finance housing for households at 65% and 80% AMI. The bill drew support from several housing, business, and industry groups. Several other housing measures were discussed with mixed testimony. HB 419 had HHFDC support, Limby Hawaiʻi opposition, and support from the Grassroot Institute and others; members asked about whether councils approve these projects in one or multiple readings. HB 527 and HB 416 also drew a mix of support and opposition, with questions focused on county approval timelines and whether state-financed projects would still go through normal local review. HB 417 on the rental housing revolving fund prompted questions about how it differs from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund and whether it should be more flexible for mixed rental and for-sale projects. HB 418’s proposed working group was noted as potentially unnecessary because HHFDC said a public working group was already being formed. HB 1411 on housing preference raised questions about what happens if a recipient changes jobs, and HB 374 drew an Attorney General’s Office recommendation to remove a duration requirement to avoid possible constitutional travel issues. HB 373 and HB 1492 were also heard, with strong testimony from Peter Savio in favor of a broader trust-based model for affordable housing. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's a third of the rate of Black birthing folks.
• And then White birthing folks are experiencing a rate of about 15 per 100,000 births.
• So that's a third of the rate of black birthing folks.
• . experiencing a rate of about 15 per 100,000 deaths per 100,000 births.
• The United States continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates.

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities opened with remarks framing the discussion around reproductive and maternal health disparities affecting Latina, Black, and Indigenous women in California. Members emphasized the need to connect state data with lived experience, and the committee heard historical context on coercive sterilization, language access, and the ways immigration status, poverty, and racism continue to shape reproductive health care. The first panel featured Clarissa Ramirez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Sophia Pedrosa of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Kim Robinson of Black Women for Wellness, who described reproductive justice principles, the legacy of eugenics and forced sterilization, community education efforts, promotoras, and the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive care. They also raised concerns about federal funding cuts, fear related to ICE and public charge, and the loss of education and outreach programs that support patients and families. The second part of the hearing focused on maternal health. Matt Green of the California Department of Public Health described persistent racial disparities, including Black birthing people being three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and outlined state efforts such as the Black Infant Health Program, the Perinatal Equity Initiative, the Centering Black Mothers in California report, and a new Black birth equity action plan. Chris Esgera of the Department of Health Care Services explained the state’s birthing care pathway, postpartum care pathway, and Transforming Maternal Health model, including policy changes to support doulas, community health workers, transitional care, and postpartum coverage. He said the department is working through policy updates and payment reforms, with Medi-Cal coverage for pregnant people and 12 months postpartum remaining protected. The final panel included Dr. Nicole Economo and Dr. Kelly McHugh of ACOG, who discussed provider education, anti-racism and implicit bias training, and the need for quality improvement projects focused on closing equity gaps at individual hospitals. They highlighted tools such as the CLEAR Initiative, the Elevate Toolkit, and use of CMQCC data to track outcomes by race and ethnicity. Across the hearing, members repeatedly stressed that community-led solutions, sustained funding, better data, and accountability are needed to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve reproductive health outcomes. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during the hearing, though several policy priorities and ongoing legislative efforts were referenced for future consideration.