Transcript Highlights:

• And when we had the vacancy, >> Okay.
• The who got to vote for that vacancy?
• , as every other county would in their vacancies.
• Vacancies are not common, but they do happen.
• Thank you. commissioner vacancy and no one would be commissioner vacancy and no one would be able<01:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes we have vacancy, an abundance of vacancies, and a certain type of housing support.
• Sometimes we have vacancy, an abundance of vacancies, and a certain type of housing support.
• abundance of we have vacancy an abundance of vacancies<00:09:30.920> and<00:09:31.120> a
• and a certain type of housing vacancies and a certain type of housing support<00:09:33.200> we
• <01:15:44.840> and lead to more unfilled job vacancies and lead to more unfilled job vacancies

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• on any deliberations of such subcommittee unless he or she has been designated to fill an excused vacancy
• made by the co-chair of the General Conference Committee representing the house in which the excused vacancy
• If such vacancy is in a minority seat on a subcommittee, then the designation shall be made upon the
• member by the co-chair of the General Conference Committee representing the house in which the excused vacancy

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The joint Economic Development budget subcommittee meeting opened with introductions, review of subcommittee rules, and identification of the agencies to be discussed, including the Department of Economic Development, Urban Development Corporation, Alcohol and Beverage Control, Cannabis Management, and the Gaming Commission. The chairs also outlined broad budget priorities, including support for innovation hotspots, incubators, minority- and women-owned businesses, biomedical research, centers of excellence, advanced technology, workforce development, and grants tied to tourism, cultural institutions, public safety equipment, and food retail subsidies. Most member comments focused on small business conditions and economic development policy. Senators Borrello and Chan emphasized that small businesses are the backbone of the economy and argued for reducing taxes, utility costs, fines, permits, and regulations; Chan suggested a possible one-year utility tax holiday. Assembly Member Slater similarly criticized New York’s tax and regulatory climate and promoted legislation to create a Department of Regulatory Review and Economic Growth. Assembly Member Buttenschon discussed one-house proposals such as changes to small business stock ownership rules and a hardship savings account, while Assembly Member Bendett said county infrastructure funding should be increased substantially. Several members highlighted sector-specific investments. Senator Addabbo and Assembly Member Woerner stressed the importance of racing and gaming, including addiction treatment and recovery, integrity in racing, and stronger drug testing. Assembly Member Otis pointed to science and technology initiatives such as Micron, Empire AI, quantum research at Stony Brook, and broadband/digital inclusion through ConnectALL. Assembly Member Cashman supported investment in the Cornell Center for Food and Agriculture, and Senator Hinchey praised tourism matching grants, restaurant and farm food donation tax credits, and incentives for heat pumps and clean energy retrofits. No formal votes were taken. The meeting ended with staff continuing consultations with members and the chairs concluding the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is a definite relationship between the self-response rates of counties and their vacancy rates
• , except for Suffolk County, which has much less of a vacancy rate—a vacancy rate of only 7.1%—but a
• And that imputation would include the population count or, like, the vacancy or occupancy status.
• And then there will be a product in 2030, which will hopefully be better as to the vacancy rates and
• Lastly, Sunderland's single-family and small multi-family vacancy rate is virtually non-existent.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:08:14.000> fill hopefully get them hired to fill hopefully get them hired to fill vacancies
• <01:08:16.120> So, vacancies in our state government.
• So, vacancies in our state government.
• in the Department or they have vacancies in the Department that<01:14:38.680> they<01:14:38.840
• If you believe we should fill those vacancies in state government, vote yes. Senator Winter.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received several committee reports and appointment recommendations. Committees reported favorably on a number of bills and appointments, including local government, health and human services, transportation and energy, business/labor/technology, and judiciary items. The chamber also announced a change on the Senate Finance Committee, with Senator Adrian Benavidez appointed to replace Senator Julie Gonzales for the remainder of the session. A major floor item was House Bill 1136, creating the Pathways to Public Service Program in the Department of Personnel and Administration to identify coursework that could qualify students for entry-level state government jobs. Supporters said it would help attract young people to public service and fill state vacancies using existing resources; opponents argued it promoted government employment over private-sector careers and could expand government unnecessarily. After debate, the Senate adopted the bill on second reading, and the Committee of the Whole report later reflected that HB 1136 passed second reading and was ordered revised and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1023 recognizing Latino/Latina Advocacy Day after reading it at length and hearing remarks in support of civic engagement and Latino participation in policymaking. In addition, the chamber concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 74, which clarifies penalties and procedures related to excessive claims in public construction performance bond disputes; the bill then passed again on re-passage. Several other bills, including Senate Bill 63 and remaining calendar items, were laid over to later dates, and the Senate also considered and began processing consent-calendar gubernatorial appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• She thinks raising the age helps reduce the high volume of vacancies in state courts and ensure stability
• judges she knows seem able to work in the system until 75, and that raising the age helps reduce vacancies
• <00:26:30.400> that<00:26:30.559> we with the um extended vacancies that we with the
• um extended vacancies that we see,<00:26:30.960> not<00:26:31.120> just<00:26:31.200><
• position, but for judicial vacancies position, but for judicial vacancies across<00:26:34.799>

Bills: SB2055, SB2152

Keywords: civil rights, helpline, investigator, data analysis, Aloha United Way, reporting, confidentiality, community support, mandatory retirement, Hawaii Constitution, judiciary, justices, judges, 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard SB 2055, which would create a Civil Rights Commission helpline for reports of harms from federal deployments in Hawaii and require annual reporting and a public hearing. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission supported the concept but said the bill should be broadened to cover civil rights and human rights violations more generally, and recommended using existing 211/Aloha United Way infrastructure. Testimony was largely in support, with a few opponents. Members focused on whether the proposed line was really a 24-hour legal hotline or a reporting/referral mechanism, what jurisdiction the commission would have over federal employees, and the estimated costs. The committee chair indicated the bill would move forward with amendments, including adopting HCRC recommendations and adding appropriations for Aloha United Way, database/website development, and staffing. The committee then heard SB 2152, a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 70 to 75. Judge Robert D.S. Kim, the Office of the Public Defender, Earthjustice, Community Alliance on Prisons, the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, United Public Workers, the League of Women Voters, ILWU Local 142, CARES, and others testified in support, arguing that experienced judges improve stability, reduce vacancies, and preserve institutional knowledge. Opponents or skeptical comments were limited, but one member questioned whether the measure was just a temporary fix rather than a broader solution to judicial succession and mentoring. Members also asked about existing retention and fitness safeguards, including Judicial Selection Commission retention hearings and the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s ability to investigate complaints about a judge’s physical or mental ability to serve. The discussion noted that the measure would still leave those processes in place. No final vote on SB 2152 was taken in the portion provided, but the committee appeared to be moving toward decision-making after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like other departments, we have a 30% vacancy rate.
• So our vacancy rate in total has not decreased much, okay? It has not decreased significantly.
• <00:12:34.000> so<00:12:34.240> our<00:12:34.480> vacancy<00:12:34.920> rate<
• /c><00:12:35.160> in<00:12:35.360> total vacancies so our vacancy rate in total vacancies
• The Chair noted that the Environmental Health office has had a long-term vacancy problem.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health, Human Services, and Labor and Technology committee heard testimony on SB 447, a Department of Health pilot program related to recruitment, and SB 1043, a tax measure. On SB 447, the Department of Health said the pilot had streamlined hiring by delaying minimum-qualification review until later in the process, while the Department of Human Resources Development objected that parts of the bill could conflict with civil service rules, due process rights, and equal pay requirements. Several labor and employee groups testified, with some supporting the pilot as a way to address vacancies and others warning about merit-system concerns. The committee later voted to pass SB 447 as is. On SB 1043, testimony was mixed but largely focused on the bill’s tax changes, especially the proposed increase to the general excise tax and exemptions or credits for lower-income households. Supporters, including labor groups and housing/worker advocates, argued the bill would reduce burdens on working families, help with food insecurity, and keep residents in Hawaiʻi. Opponents, including the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and some community witnesses, said the general excise tax is regressive and would raise costs across the state. The committee voted to advance SB 1043 with substantial amendments, deleting most of the bill except section two and setting a far-future effective date, while noting the fiscal impact had not been provided. The committee also deferred SB 633 and later deferred SB 1633 for further decision-making, scheduling continued consideration for February 12, 2025, in Room 225. The hearing included standard instructions on one-minute testimony, written testimony, and Zoom procedures, and the committee adjourned after taking the above actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• they are under 45% vacancy they are under 45% vacancy rate<03:45:25.319> but<03:45:25.600
• the reality when you have 45% vacancy the reality when you have 45% vacancy over<03:57:07.239>
• over 40 plus when you have 20% vacancy over 40 plus when you have 20% vacancy and<03:57:10.199><
• each vacancy takes another vacancy each vacancy takes approximately<04:03:00.359> 12<04:03:00.640
• with you have to fill those vacancies with you have to fill those vacancies with<04:03:22.600>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 187, which would allow parents or guardians to seek restraining orders on behalf of a minor child even when the alleged perpetrator is not a family or household member. Tracy Sirles testified that the bill was prompted by her family’s experience after being told by state police to seek a restraining order, only to learn the current law did not allow it because the offender was the child’s best friend’s father. Members agreed the change was straightforward, noted the fiscal note reflected only a small indeterminate cost to the judicial branch, and moved House Bill 187 ought to pass; the motion was approved unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 66, a Right-to-Know bill that removes “citizen” language in favor of “person” in some provisions and allows certain New Hampshire-connected requesters to seek records electronically if the records already exist in that format. Members reviewed concerns about defining “member of the media,” the scope of electronic requests, and a sentence stating appeals would have no filing fee or search charge. After debate, the committee voted to amend the bill by removing that fee-waiver sentence, then recommended House Bill 66 ought to pass as amended. The vote was 6-3. Next, the committee heard from the Environment and Agriculture chair about several solid-waste-related bills being folded into trailer bill language, including House Bill 215 and House Bill 171, with discussion of a possible three-year landfill moratorium and the need to address DEES staffing and funding concerns. DEES later clarified that the revised approach would not require new positions or create a fiscal impact because the new solid waste commission would be self-funded through filing fees. The committee voted unanimously to retain House Bill 215. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 566, which requires landfill permit applications to include a detailed leachate management plan and more information about disposal contracts. The sponsor said the bill was developed with DEES to address leachate problems and improve safety oversight. DEES testified that the bill largely reflects current practice and would have no specific fiscal impact, with existing staff able to absorb any review workload. The committee moved House Bill 566 ought to pass, and the motion was approved unanimously. The committee also briefly discussed House Bill 624, a grant program for local river management advisory committees, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• rates so that when people are looking to buy a home or looking to... ...healthy vacancy rates so that
• And then finally, there is the issue of achieving a healthy vacancy rate.
• rate—that is... ...studies, who suggested that a sort of natural vacancy rate—that is, when it's enough
• So when we put all those together—the 51,000 homes for the healthy vacancy rate, the 6,800 homes for
• We had 115,000 to meet our existing shortage, bring up the vacancy rate, deal with pent-up demand, handle

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion. Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations. Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, reducing our vacancy rates.
• When I started in the role, our vacancy rate was over 20%. It is now down to 8.9%.
• I think individual hiring managers may know what their vacancy rates are, but for senior leaders, the
• push to fill our vacancies was very important to me.
• The push to fill our vacancies was very important to me.

Summary: The committee met to consider a large slate of appointments, with the main discussion centered on the confirmation of Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Harris testified about her background in state service and outlined agency priorities including Medicaid financial accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, behavioral health redesign, rural health access, workforce recruitment, and use of technology and AI. Senators questioned her extensively about the Hope Florida/Medicaid settlement controversy, opioid settlement-funded advertising campaigns tied to marijuana prevention and the 2024 Amendment 3 election, public records compliance, abortion reporting and enforcement under the Heartbeat Protection Act, managed care denials, value-based purchasing, and Medicaid funding pressures. After debate, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation, with Senator Polsky voting no. The committee then considered Anna Ortega and Robert Payne for the Florida Public Service Commission. Ortega, a current PSC commissioner and former staff advisor, discussed utility regulation, data center load issues, ratepayer protections, transparency in PSC decisions, and lessons from other states. Payne, a former legislator and longtime utility co-op employee, emphasized his technical background and the need to balance utility returns with consumer affordability. Both nominees were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and recommended favorably to the full Senate. Next, the committee heard from Jeffrey Aaron for reappointment to the Public Employees Relations Commission. Aaron described PERC’s role in public-sector labor disputes and said his work had been upheld in appellate courts without reversal. Senators questioned him about his law firm’s state contracts, his role as chairman of Attorney General James Uthmeier’s PAC, and his connection to the Hope Florida Foundation matter; he declined to discuss the pending investigation. Public testimony included opposition from Florida Voice for the Unborn. The committee nevertheless recommended his confirmation, with several no votes. Finally, the committee approved the remaining appointees on tabs 5 through 46 in a single vote, postponing Dr. John Littell and DCF Secretary Hatch, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the authorized vacancies.
• And then along with that, with the SIC board, do you have any vacancies there?
• Chair and Senator, yes, we have one vacancy where the governor has...
• First, our vacancy rate we have here at 13.1%.
• I just wanted to call out our average vacancy rate is about 7.4%.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that the number of those vacancies is increasing, and we know that because you and I have talked
• that we see across the board vacancies that we see across the board is<00:12:50.000> particularly
• know that the number of those vacancies know that the number of those vacancies incre<00:13:18.680
• because we can't find someone to fill because we can't find someone to fill the<00:13:52.240> vacancy
• might not be in the best the vacancy might not be in the best interest<00:13:55.600> and<00:13

Bills: HF1, HF1754, HF1809, HF1478

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Our department vacancy currently is 663. Our department vacancy currently is 663.
• that we had a 33% vacancy percentage. that we had a 33% vacancy percentage.
• >> is is that a segue for vacancies? >> is is that a segue for vacancies?
• of vacancies. of vacancies.
• Vacancy.<02:29:16.479> Janet.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in a 0.6% vacancy. It is impossible to find housing.
• vacancy to find another place to live. vacancy to find another place to live.
• deleting housing vacancies and home ownership.
• Uh deleting housing vacancies and sir.
• And deleting rental vacancy rate. Okay.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every vacancy means fewer personnel available to respond to emergencies, engage in community policing
• Every<00:04:11.520> vacancy<00:04:12.160> means<00:04:12.480> fewer<00:04:12.760
• > personnel Every vacancy means fewer personnel Every vacancy means fewer personnel available<
• At the same time, Kentucky's largest departments continue to report significant vacancies.
• Louisville has between 200 and 250 vacancies, while Lexington has reported more than 100 vacancies.

Bills: HB339

Keywords: Civil Air Patrol, CAP, emergency leave, job protection, employment discrimination, leave of absence, volunteer service, emergency response, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, state employee leave, military leave, public employees, local government employers, reinstatement rights, seniority protection, unpaid leave, Meeting Start 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:14 Discussion of Local Law Enforcement Issues 00:03:08 Discussion of Civil Air Patrol Employment Protections 00:50:46 Adjournment 01:06:07, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unfulfilled for an extended period of time, depending on when a vacancy occurs.
• We should note that the current process of filling judicial vacancies is already time-intensive, with
• of qualified applicants, in some cases taking more than a year after a vacancy occurs.
• This proposed change would prolong the period of vacancy for certain appointments, thus delaying the
• of qualified applicants, in some cases taking more than a year after a vacancy occurs.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we currently have 663 vacancies.
• <00:58:30.640> Uh vacancy percentage was about 33%. Uh vacancy percentage was about 33%.
• of vacancies with only a 58.5 vacancies of vacancies with only a 58.5 vacancies um<05:18:41.600>
• Uh, we are currently filling our last vacancy. So we will have zero vacancies.
• So we will have zero last vacancy.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Late in the year, we had five vacancies. We're an agency of 18 FTEs, so that's 27% of our agency.
• We are not an agency that leaves vacancies open.
• But critically to the supplemental request, the timing of these five vacancies happened When DFA and
• It was just bad timing on our vacancies and bad timing on when they had to get the numbers turned in
• As for a recommendation, We don't have vacancy savings. We're not a complicated agency.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the only times that it comes up in discussions at this point is when filling a vacancy and staff
• need to calculate whether a legislator's term starts when they fill the vacancy based on what it is
• One of the only times that it comes up in discussions at this point is when filling a vacancy and staff
• need to calculate whether a legislator's term starts when they fill the vacancy based on what it is
• More broadly, the Colorado legislature is seeing more vacancies between sessions, and making it to the

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard an update from Garty Consulting on the interim study of legislative term limits. The consultants outlined their research plan and preliminary themes, including loss of institutional knowledge, shifts in power toward executive agencies and lobbyists, reduced long-term policy capacity, faster leadership turnover, and recruitment/support challenges. They also described possible recommendation categories ranging from constitutional and statutory changes to procedural and cultural adjustments. Committee members asked about how other states repealed term limits, how the public survey would address perceptions of term limits, and how stakeholder focus groups would be selected. The committee also heard a presentation from NCSL on term limits in other states, including examples from Nevada, Montana, and Colorado, with discussion of training programs, staffing changes, annual-session debates, bill limits, and impacts on decorum and leadership continuity. Several members requested follow-up data on part-time versus full-time legislatures, taxpayer costs, and nonpartisan staff devoted to oversight. The committee then considered revisions to the legislature’s workplace harassment policy and related forms. Legislative Council explained changes that clarified the definition of harassment, added captions for readability, extended several deadlines, allowed informal resolution before a review panel is appointed, clarified the role of Legislative Council in intake and documentation, and updated confidentiality/open-records language. Members, especially Senator Hogan, said the revisions better formalize the role of counsel and provide a less intimidating path for resolving complaints. The committee adopted the revised policy and forms by roll call vote. Finally, the committee approved a motion to enter executive session at 1:00 p.m. to review the results of a capital threat assessment and discuss legislator security, citing the applicable open-meetings exemptions. Members were instructed to limit discussion to the stated purpose and not take final action until returning to open session.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 2024-25, the department had 861 uniform vacancies and 685 non-uniform vacancies.
• As of May 1, 2026, the department had 340 uniform vacancies and 593 non-uniform vacancies.
• By the end of 2025-26, the CHP projects 388 uniform vacancies, which includes normal attrition.
• suggest that they couldn't continue doing that, as they historically have, particularly given the vacancy
• One is the vacancy data they have shown us; it is coming down notably due to the recruitment efforts

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several budget and policy items, beginning with the DMV’s proposal for the federal state-to-state verification system and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP). DMV officials said the state-to-state system is required for Real ID compliance and functions as a pointer system that shares only limited identifying information to help states verify whether an applicant has records in another jurisdiction. Members pressed hard on privacy, access, hacking, notification, and misuse concerns, including whether other states or federal actors could use the system to target Californians. DMV said access is limited to member jurisdictions, requests are transaction-based, records are encrypted, California can see when its data is requested, and legal remedies would include working through AAMVA and the Attorney General if misuse occurred. On DXP, DMV said the project has been reset, is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is targeted for completion by the end of the calendar year, and the full modernization is expected by fiscal year 2028-29. The committee then took up the High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a work-paper retention and disclosure framework, and that the trailer bill and AB 1608 would codify those powers, add access to needed job classifications and purchasing authority, and require public reporting with temporary confidentiality only in limited circumstances such as pending litigation, security vulnerabilities, or fraud-detection weaknesses. Members debated how broad the confidentiality language should be, whether reports could remain confidential too long, and whether the bill should define “proposed agreements” and require notice to the Inspector General when agreements are being reviewed. The Inspector General said he had already found at least one procurement-related state law violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract, and members discussed the project’s large cost growth and the need for stronger oversight. No vote was taken on the item in the portion provided. Finally, Caltrans began presenting a trailer bill proposal related to workforce development under SB 150, explaining that it would amend Government Code 14017, which governs use of federal highway formula funds and related workforce development efforts. The transcript cuts off as Caltrans starts its overview, so no further discussion, vote, or action on that item is shown in the provided text.