Transcript Highlights:

• , one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The prayer will be offered
• Where are the people with power, influence, access when rights are being tested?
• Where are the people<00:15:33.279><c> with</c><00:15:33.600><c> power,</c><00:15:34.480><c> influence
• That ends the work at the desk. That ends the work at the desk.
• </c> The clerk would take the call. The clerk would take the call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the word, honor and truth, I have the Southwest Missouri county clerks that are here visiting the
• The gentleman from Green has moved the question under immediate consideration. We now put it.
• 7, line 72, the court may shorten any time frame under the section to achieve this purpose.
• 7, line 72, the court may shorten any time frame under the section to achieve this purpose.
• When you did the titling amendment, right? No. It falls under the original title.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the House Journal by a 121-0 vote, and a brief suspension of business for the Speaker to sign HB 2014. Members also observed a moment of silence for Butler County Fire Protection District Sergeant Commander Jatin Warren, who died in the line of duty, and the chamber introduced several guest groups, including Missouri Council on Aging representatives and county clerks. A resolution was also presented honoring former state representative K. H. Steinmetz for her 18 years of service in the Missouri House. The House then received committee reports recommending passage of HB 2934, HB 1800, and HB 1707. On third reading, HB 2974 passed 136-0 on telehealth and licensure reciprocity; HB 2934 passed 121-24 on consolidating St. Louis convention center governance; HB 2057 passed 137-10 on entertainment districts for Osage Beach and Chesterfield; the combined HB 1839/2921/3015 passed 120-19 on age verification for harmful online content; HB 1707 passed 149-0 to bar the Department of Revenue from taxing credit card processing fees; HB 2819 passed 145-0 to set rounding rules as the penny is phased out; and HB 2600 passed 148-0 to allow ambulance districts to combine resources for coverage. HB 1800, which reduces the inflationary growth factor for certain taxing districts from 5% to 3% and adjusts assessment ranges, drew the most extended debate over its effect on schools, fire districts, and taxpayers; it ultimately passed 82-61. Members also perfected HB 2774, which bars state and local governments from restricting equipment sales or use based on fuel source, and HB 2383, a utility infrastructure protection bill adding wired/copper infrastructure to existing critical infrastructure protections and setting penalties for theft or damage; HB 2383 was amended to align with the Senate version and then perfected. Finally, the House began debate on a combined bill package including HB 1664, 1610, 1645, and 2182, which would extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse civil claims while also shortening the general personal injury statute of limitations from five years to three; the child sexual abuse provisions drew broad support, while the tort-reform portion prompted sharp disagreement over access to justice versus business certainty.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instructions for providing public comment are posted on the GA's website under this committee meeting's
• Members of the public Members of the public should sign in at the end of the table for attendance and
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 12 avoid caffeine entirely, and that
• I'm the contractor with the IA that is the compliance coordinator. So the question again sir.
• Imagine driving to students' homes during the pandemic to help grandparents and great-grandparents connect

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with enough members present to conduct business and approved the June 17 minutes. It first heard HB 459 with House Amendment 1, which would prohibit the sale of energy drinks on public middle and high school campuses during school hours or school events. The sponsor and Department of Education explained that the bill targets beverages containing caffeine and marketed as energy drinks, not ordinary soft drinks or coffee/tea products. Public testimony from the Medical Society supported the bill on health grounds, while the beverage industry said its companies already voluntarily limit school offerings and that the bill does not reflect current practice. No vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 461, a follow-up to prior legislation on New Castle County property reassessment and school tax rates. Senator Cruz said the bill would let New Castle County school districts adjust and reset tax rates to reflect reassessment changes without increasing projected operating revenue, and that it includes a sunset. DSEA supported the measure, saying fair property values are important to public education funding. The committee also heard HB 452, which would require additional background checks and training for DIAA sports officials and strengthen DIAA enforcement procedures. Members questioned how checks would be handled, who would see the results, and who would provide training; the DIAA compliance coordinator said the checks would be maintained through the state process and that associations would verify eligibility. The bill’s sponsor and DIAA said the goal was to align officials with existing child-safety standards. Next, the committee considered HS1 for HB 425, which raises the salary supplement from 6% to 12% for nationally certified school counselors, nurses, and school social workers, and allows DOE to identify additional qualifying positions by regulation. Supporters, including school social workers, nurses, and DSEA, argued the change would improve retention and recognize advanced credentials. Senator Hansen raised concerns that school psychologists were not included; sponsors said a broader study and possible future legislation or budget language would address other nationally certified school-based professionals. The committee then heard HS1 for HB 358 on student elopement notifications, inspired by Ace’s Law, but administrators and the chair raised concerns that the bill may be too prescriptive and difficult to implement in practice, especially when schools may not immediately know a student has left campus. Finally, the committee discussed HB 379 on the comprehensive school discipline improvement program; DOE said the substitute was intended to consolidate prevention and intervention supports and avoid competition for funding, while DASA asked that the bill be paused or tabled. The meeting ended before action on the remaining bill, and HB 443 was deferred to a future executive meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c> gifts for the children there under the gifts for the children there under the leadership
• , under Clause 2 of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S.
• </c><02:14:02.000><c> the</c> perform all other acts for me under the perform all other acts for me under
• failed to act under the after the Senate failed to act under the executive<03:46:14.120><c> order</c
• ><c> lpta</c> the requirement unquote under lpta the requirement unquote under lpta procedures<04:08:

Transcript Highlights:

• We were under 400,000 people. Remember, we were at 275,000 after the vaccine.
• We worked with the Martin Luther King Walter King Commission to do a toy drive at the African American
• I understand that the building is under the auspices of Expo New Mexico.
• As you can see in the personal services and employee benefits line item, the LFC recommendation is under
• The influence of Space Valley and the DOE laboratories and the other customers that I showed you is exactly

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Human Services and the Department of Health, and they then use it to influence some of
• included under that umbrella, but they would have to get back with the details.
• might be affected more by LEARNS and the adjustments made under LEARNS, creating a disproportionate
• He asked whether that could be influencing the data in a non-realistic way.
• He said he was curious how much LEARNS has influenced some of the data.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a Legislative Audit presentation summarizing Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions for fiscal year 2025. Auditors said the department distributed about $4.6 billion in grants overall, including $3.2 billion from the Public School Fund, $1.1 billion in federal funds, and $268 million from other state and miscellaneous sources, across 56 Public School Fund programs, 14 other state programs, and 29 federal programs. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, master principal bonuses, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; audit staff and Department of Education representatives explained that the report was only a distribution summary and not a recipient-level audit. Members also questioned why many districts showed lower funding, and staff said the decline was largely due to reduced federal and one-time COVID-related funds. Senators and representatives also discussed whether some incentive programs, such as master principal and national board bonuses, were tied to student outcomes, and whether Economics Arkansas was the sole entity named in special language for financial literacy funding; department staff said they would follow up on several details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on consumer price index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global, with discussion of CPI-U and core CPI estimates for future fiscal years. Dr. Carlos Silva explained that the forecasts generally trend toward about 2 percent over time and that recent projections may have understated actual inflation because of recent shocks. Members asked about the accuracy of past projections, and he said he would provide more detail later if needed. The bulk of the meeting focused on the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with a statewide student-to-teacher ratio of about 14 to 1, average teaching experience of 11.9 years, and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found that districts with higher poverty and minority concentrations generally had less experienced teachers, and that teacher shortages remained widespread, especially in special education, math, science, and foreign language. Members asked about licensure exceptions, alternative preparation pathways, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, and the cost and return on investment of traditional versus alternative routes. Staff said some licensure exceptions are being phased out under Act 304 of 2025 and that they would follow up on several requested details. The report also found that teacher retention averaged 87 percent statewide in 2025, with districts retaining teachers at higher rates than charters, and that 30 percent of surveyed teachers were considering leaving the profession. Principals and teachers identified school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the strongest negative factors. On salaries, BLR reported a statewide average teacher salary of $60,254 in 2025, with districts averaging $60,458 and charters $55,724. Arkansas ranked 45th nationally on average teacher salary in 2025, though its cost-adjusted ranking improved to 36th; among SREB states it ranked 12th, and among neighboring states it ranked fourth. Members asked about starting salaries, salary compression, district step increases, and whether the report should be shared more broadly with educators and school leaders. Staff said they would provide follow-up information on several questions, and the committee took no formal action beyond receiving the presentations and asking for additional data.

Transcript Highlights:

• harm and the heroism, the brutality and the brilliance, the oppression and the resistance.
• Those are the two sections of the bill, the two purposes of the bill.
• Finally, with regard to the review of the review of the, you know, the review of the, you know, they're
• Under Rule 2.102, the President has authorized the continuation of this meeting until 11:15.
• As we all know, foster family relationships can evolve to the same level of trust and influence that

Summary: The Committee on Rules met and first approved several open-government sunset repeal bills and related measures. SB 7024 and SB 7026, both sponsored by Senator Mayfield, were explained as consolidating and extending public records/public meetings exemptions for cybersecurity information and trade secrets held by agencies; both were reported favorably. SB 7020, sponsored by Senator Trumbull, reenacted an aquaculture records exemption for records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and was also reported favorably. Later, the committee approved SB 14 and SB 24, claims bills for relief involving Miami-Dade County, and SB 16, a claims bill for Heriberto Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg; all were reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS for SB 806, a consumer right-to-repair bill creating portable wireless device and agricultural equipment repair acts, despite opposition from several industry groups, and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill, and under current law versus under the bill?
• I'm talking about the ones who have access to the courts under the current scheme that's in law.
• under the law, or will they be limited to the million dollars in damages?
• under the law, or will they be limited to the million dollars in damages?
• And under HIPAA, 30 is supposed to be the outlier of that.

Summary: The Florida Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness for sexual assault survivors, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a memorial proclamation for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special-order bills, with senators also briefly discussing the session’s pace and thanking staff and colleagues for their work. The first major bill, on driving and boating offenses, was amended and passed 37-0. As amended, it increases penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide/vessel homicide offenses, and adds notice requirements and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. Senators also passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers 37-0, requiring Medicaid managed care plans to offer more after-hours and holiday access and ensuring more primary care appointment availability outside regular business hours. The Senate then passed a major condominium and cooperative associations bill, also 37-0, after extensive debate and multiple amendments. The measure extends deadlines for structural integrity reserve studies, adds flexibility for reserve funding and budgeting, tightens rules for managers and inspectors, limits certain requirements to buildings of three or more habitable stories, and extends the rescission period for condo purchases. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s sponsors for years of work responding to post-Surfside safety and affordability concerns. The longest and most contentious item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendment petition procedures. Sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse in the citizen initiative process by tightening circulator rules, requiring faster submission of signed petitions, adding voter notification, increasing penalties, and shifting costs to sponsors. Opponents argued it would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizens to qualify initiatives. The chamber adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the petition-circulator threshold, volunteer protections, submission timing, invalid-signature investigation thresholds, and notice/cure provisions, while debate continued over whether the overall package would protect election integrity or suppress citizen-led amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our Career Center, under the direction of the Division of Student Affairs, is also offering a new two-day
• Center under the direction of the Division of Student Affairs is also offering a new two-day jump-starting
• We are the driving force that will make GenAI a reality.
• invest in funding that drives student opportunities, not just the contract with OpenAI.
• and that the needs of workers and students drive this conversation.

Summary: The hearing focused on the California State University’s AI Empowered Initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU, the CSU Generative AI Committee, the AI Commons training hub, and the AI Workforce Acceleration Board. CSU officials said the initiative was designed to expand equitable access, avoid a digital divide, and prepare students for an AI-driven workforce. They described systemwide licensing, privacy protections, no use of CSU prompts or data to train models, voluntary faculty participation, professional development offerings, and a $3 million faculty grant program supporting AI-related teaching and curriculum projects across campuses, including San Jose State’s AI-focused programs and student orientation training. Committee members pressed CSU leaders and OpenAI’s representative on bias, privacy, data retention, liability, environmental impact, student mental health, sycophancy, and whether training should be required before access. CSU officials said training materials address ethical use, bias, and critical thinking, that interactions are treated like private email, and that users can report problematic outputs through the tool. They also said the system is separate from the federal preservation order affecting public ChatGPT data. Several members urged more uniform, systemwide training and stronger safeguards, especially for students and vulnerable users. Faculty, staff, and student representatives offered a more cautious view. The Academic Senate and Faculty Association said they had long pushed CSU to study AI and support faculty development, but criticized the rollout as too fast, insufficiently consultative, and too focused on vendor partnerships and spending. They raised concerns about intellectual property, surveillance, bias, environmental costs, workload, and the need for bargaining and transparency. The staff union called for worker councils, negotiated guardrails, and protections against job displacement. The student representative supported broader access and AI literacy but asked for clearer campus policies, more consistent training, better privacy explanations, and stronger student input. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:18:53.760><c> the</c> &gt;&gt; the the the the previous criteria, the &gt;&gt; the the the the
• <00:35:45.599><c> the</c><00:35:46.079><c> uh</c> under the uh under the uh under<00:35:48.079><c> the
• </c> under the ZBA. Okay. under the ZBA. Okay.
• </c><00:39:01.680><c> It</c> follow it under the law as written.
• It follow it under the law as written.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Environmental Protection Agency under<01:07:14.559><c> the</c><01:07:14.720><c> Trump</c> under the Trump
• > the</c> constituted under the leadership of the constituted under the leadership of the chief<01:39
• I would also like to take issue with the..." the fund under paragraph two of this the fund under paragraph
• </c> money if we cut the legs out from under money if we cut the legs out from under it<04:22:46.040>
• 33.760><c> current</c> being discussed under the current being discussed under the current strategy<05

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm either Title 32 under the control of the governor, or I'm Title 10 under the direction of the
• Under the operational control of the Albuquerque Police Department.
• Adjutant General under the authority of the Governor of the state of California.
• is being activated under Title 32, 502 F under the authority of the Governor, with consent of the Governor
• and they would be under the control of the governor.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Developmental Disabilities, are under the jurisdiction of the other committee.
• /c> budget um these are the agencies under budget um these are the agencies under the<00:31:44.399><c
• Before the 23 session, the average wage under the elderly waiver program was around $13 an hour, so that's
• ><c> program</c><00:51:43.319><c> was</c> under the elderly waiver program was under the elderly waiver
• This slide just kind of goes over the most used services under the waivers and what the rates were in

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• under line 24 interest to me is um under under line 24 has<00:14:11.839><c> the</c><00:14:12.079><c>
• </c> please drive me nuts I can't see the please drive me nuts I can't see the person<00:17:25.959><c
• Constitution, how and why they became, and what the distinct honor of being a citizen under the Constitution
• "The fact that the government has cloaked what is effectively a constitutional amendment under the guise
• Afghanistan under the Taliban. That's what we're talking about.

Summary: The committee began by announcing that afternoon hearings, including House Bill 283, would be moved to Representatives Hall because of expected public interest. It then took up House Bill 671, which would establish a kindergarten literacy readiness program. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, described the measure as a way to close gaps in early reading readiness and said it was intended as a first step, with only a placeholder appropriation while details are developed. He framed it as a targeted effort to help children who are not entering first grade ready to read. Testimony on HB 671 was largely supportive. Representatives asked about the bill’s structure, whether a specific program had been identified, how it would interact with play-based learning, and why the provider was limited to a registered nonprofit. Waterford.org representatives Teresa Rosenberger and Rob Riley testified in support, describing Waterford Upstart as a home-based, evidence-based early learning program already used in New Hampshire. They said the program provides adaptive instruction, family coaching, and technology support, including computers, tablets, internet access, and translation services in more than 100 languages. They also said the model has been successful in New Hampshire, including a Nashua pilot and later statewide efforts, and that similar legislation has existed in other states. Rep. Jonah Wheeler also spoke in support of the bill. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 671. After a fiscal note for HB 671 was distributed, the committee moved to House Bill 781, which would require school districts to adopt policies for a cell phone-free education and includes an appropriation. The transcript cuts off as Rep. Litchfield was introduced to testify on that bill, so no testimony, debate, or vote on HB 781 is included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act.
• review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act.
• to review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act.
• And so this is the emergency order under the title of Biden's border crisis.
• The increase in concentration of vehicles to one location is what drives the price of these vehicles.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Cody Popple of the FSU Police Department for his actions during the April campus shooting. The Speaker also outlined the final week of session, noting the chamber had passed 253 House bills and 149 Senate bills to date, with budget negotiations still unresolved and the 2026-27 budget not expected to be completed that week. The special order report was adopted, setting the day’s calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up several Senate bills, mostly technical or open-government sunset review measures, and passed them with little or no opposition: SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on Florida statutes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004 on public-records or meeting exemptions; and SB 7022 on public records related to exams. Members asked questions on a few of these bills, especially the exam-records bill and the military and gaming-related exemptions, but the measures generally advanced without amendment. Votes ranged from unanimous to modest opposition, with SB 7026 passing 106-3 and SB 7022 passing 101-8. The most substantial debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the emergency preparedness and response trust fund in the Executive Office of the Governor. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment to let the fund expire, arguing the money had been misused and that the Legislature should retain control over spending; several members supported her position, while others said the fund is needed for rapid disaster response. A strike-all amendment from Rep. Griffiths was adopted instead, adding accountability provisions and expanding the fund to cover man-made emergencies as well as natural disasters. The bill then passed 82-25. The House also passed CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, CS/SB 474 on military affairs, and SB 488 on Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issues, with SB 488 still under amendment debate when the transcript ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, the bill is enforced under the Consumer Protection Act. Happy to answer any questions.
• Under this title, we don't have that prohibition, do we? The bills are actually the same on this.
• Under this title, we don't have that prohibition, do we? The bills are actually the same on this.
• I am the Deputy Director of the Washington Military Department under General Welsh, and I'm also the
• This bill simply puts the Washington wing of the Civil Air Patrol under the Washington Military Department

Bills: SB6046

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: SB 6046, Civil Air Patrol, Washington Military Department, Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol, volunteer air patrol, search and rescue, disaster relief, cadet training, communications support, cyber security, emergency response, governor call-up, active state service, federally chartered Civil Air Patrol, Washington Wing, Title 38 RCW, military department, tribal cooperation, public safety aviation, aerospace cadets

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2402 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2402 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2429 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2429 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce has under consideration HB 2991 and respectfully recommends the bill

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed Judges Day guests and other visitors, and read a proclamation recognizing March 2026 as Social Work Month. Members also made brief introductions of guests and the doctor of the day, Dr. Philip Williams. The chamber then moved through a long Committee of the Whole agenda, taking up numerous bills with committee and floor amendments, most of them receiving do-pass or due-pass recommendations after brief explanations and some debate. Notable discussion included HB 2444, where several members raised concerns about pharmacist-led care, patient safety, and rural health impacts, while the sponsor argued it would expand affordable access to care; HB 2726, which drew comments about a new sleep apnea device and whether it was a vendor-driven proposal; HB 2991, a bipartisan effort to address social media harms to children; and HB 4070, a bill framed as a “corporate death penalty” approach to combat sex trafficking. Other measures addressed kinship placement in child welfare, midwifery oversight, vulnerable adult protections, tuition waivers for children of disabled veterans, license plate omnibus language, and county and education-related issues. After the Committee of the Whole reported, the House adopted the report and assigned measures for engrossing. The chamber then proceeded to third reading votes on several bills. HB 2123, dealing with financial institutions and gold/silver legal tender, failed on a 24-28 vote after an excusal request was granted to one member with a financial conflict. HB 2270, concerning county authority and sheriff’s posse dissolution procedures, passed 50-3. HB 2324, creating a state fire marshal-related provision, passed 53-0, as did HB 2404 on mental health services. HB 2495 on sentencing failed 26-27. HB 2557 on patient records passed 37-16, HB 2574 on traffic violation appeals passed 52-0, HB 2594 on domestic relations and address confidentiality passed 44-9, HB 2611 on child welfare passed 51-0, HB 2681 on the county employee merit system passed 53-0, and HB 2697 also passed 51-0. The session continued into additional votes beyond the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The university is under a number of federal investigations.
• Under the banner of fiscal efficiency.
• This includes $387 million under the U.S.
• governor and members of this body for supporting the revenue, the support and assistance under AB 100
• and the sooner that we can do something, the better for us because we know that under AB 218, the liability

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2402 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2402 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2429 and respectfully recommends the
• Chairman, the Committee on Commerce is under consideration of HB 2429 and respectfully recommends the
• under the order of business, third reading of bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the Governor's plan, the BSA would cover around half of future funding gaps.
• That's up from one-third under the current rules. This is according to the LAO's analysis.
• , but under the current...
• It is the thing that drives all of the revenue volatility.
• under the rules of Proposition 2 to sustain the level of service that is currently offered.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee held an informational hearing on California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or Rainy Day Fund, with opening remarks focused on the state’s long history of revenue volatility and the role reserves play in smoothing downturns. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that California’s personal income tax base is highly volatile because high-income earners’ income is tied to capital gains and other fluctuating sources, and that Proposition 2’s current reserve rules set aside 1.5% of General Fund revenues plus a share of excess capital gains, but cap constitutional deposits at 10% of General Fund taxes. The LAO said its analysis evaluates reserve policy over decades and found the current system would cover about 30% of funding shortfalls in a 90th-percentile downturn scenario over 50 years, which is an improvement over no reserve but still inadequate. The LAO recommended raising the reserve cap substantially, ultimately to 50% by 2055, with an immediate increase to 20% and gradual increases thereafter. It also suggested either replacing Proposition 2’s deposit formulas with broader rules that capture volatility across all tax revenues or, alternatively, depositing all excess capital gains rather than only a share. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s prior proposal similarly sought to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exclude reserve deposits and withdrawals from the state appropriations limit, arguing those two constraints limited the state’s ability to save during recent revenue surges. Other panelists and members discussed whether reserves should be paired with broader structural changes, including unemployment insurance reform, safety-net funding, infrastructure reserves, and the projected surplus temporary holding account. The California Budget and Policy Center supported reserve reform but emphasized balancing savings with current needs and noted other tools such as revenue increases, borrowing from special funds, and the new surplus-holding account. Members debated the causes and effects of Proposition 13, the appropriations limit, business departures, and whether reserve policy should be more directly tied to protecting Californians’ access to health care, food assistance, child care, and other core services. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational only.