Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to announce that all hearing materials, including the agenda background and handouts, are
• We had a bill last year, SB 545, that had the funding identified for the bill, a study that was held
• If you turn to page one on the background, I'm not going to go through all of this.
• The people who were here who served on the cap-and-invest study group know that.
• I don't know what your construction background is. I have my opinion, because I've built things.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan and next steps for the project. Chair Cortese opened by noting major changes since the 2024 plan, including new leadership, a bottoms-up review, scope changes in the Central Valley, loss of federal funds, and renewed interest in private investment and value capture. The Authority’s CEO, Ian Chaudhary, presented the project as moving into a construction and track-laying phase, citing progress on Central Valley structures, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocations, and a new procurement for track and systems. He said the plan reflects a more disciplined, optimized approach, with the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment targeted for revenue service around 2033 and the broader Phase 1 corridor envisioned as commercially viable through ancillary revenues, public-private partnerships, and future private financing. Committee members questioned the Authority about station relocations, single-tracking, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, transparency, and the feasibility of private financing. Chaudhary said the Merced and Bakersfield station locations were still under discussion with local governments and that no contracts had been finalized. He defended the reduced scope and single-track approach as a just-in-time strategy to avoid overbuilding, while maintaining high-speed standards. He also said the Authority was exploring land value capture, broadband, energy, and other corridor-based revenue sources, but acknowledged that some tools would require legislative action and that private financing options were still being evaluated. Several senators expressed support for the project but raised concerns about permitting delays, local opposition, constitutional and statutory limits, and the need for stronger accountability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General then gave critical assessments of the draft plan. LAO staff said the plan assumes major statutory changes, understates risk, lacks transparency about scope changes, and may not fully fund even the smaller Merced-to-Bakersfield segment once borrowing costs and other uncertainties are considered. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan does not comply with newer statutory requirements in SB 198 and AB 377, citing three main deficiencies: unauthorized scope changes to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment, an inadequate funding plan that omits financing costs, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the Authority’s presentation obscures the true cost and schedule impacts of the project changes, and that incomplete reporting limits legislative oversight. The Authority responded that it would address the OIG’s findings in the final business plan, and committee members indicated they expected a written response on compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• We studied this the last couple of days, knowing this discussion was coming.
• We studied this last couple of days knowing this discussion was coming.
• We did, however, go back in, do another study with our actuary. We did not change the rates.
• We did, however, go back in, do another study with our actuaries, looked at all the surrounding states
• It also repeals the management internal management requirements for the criminal background checks.”

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas Medicaid and Department of Health rules, many implementing 2025 acts. Early items covered presumptive eligibility and Medicaid policy updates, including adding a definition of fictive kin for foster children and changing the disability onset age for ABLE accounts from 26 to 46. Another rule clarified that continuous glucose monitors may be billed by both pharmacies and durable medical equipment providers, with committee members questioning prior authorization timing, system lag, and a fiscal impact estimate of about $3 million over two years; the rule was reviewed, but members requested additional cost breakdowns. Other Medicaid-related rules addressed an RSV vaccine administration fee increase, an ET3 telemedicine exemption for ambulance treat-triage-transport services, a dental rate increase under Act 1025, expanded physical therapy access, and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies package covering doulas, lactation consultants, remote monitoring, and expanded prenatal testing. Most were reviewed without objection after brief discussion or no questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Studies show that children like Maria's in stable homes perform better academically, and home ownership
• Studies show that children like Maria's in stable homes perform better academically, and home ownership
• our disability communities are facing, and we believe that the challenges warrant a task force to study
• our disability communities are facing, and we believe that the challenges warrant a task force to study
• We try to give some background to residents when we do that, as we did when we rolled our rent back at

Bills: HF1143, HF1548, HF1340, HF2549, HF2559, HF1673, HF2740, HF2507, HF2461, HF2381, HF2695

Keywords: education funding, unemployment aid, special education, Minnesota statutes, appropriations, housing, redevelopment, local government, trust funds, community development, HF1340, housing infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, affordable housing, supportive housing, permanent housing, adaptive reuse, area median income, AMI

Transcript Highlights:

• The streamlining was taken under advisement and study in a large consultative process statewide among
• that relates to the healthcare study for educators and school districts.
• IP STUDY THAT RELATES TO THE HEALTHCARE STUDY FOR EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS THERE IS A STUDY THAT
• President, funding time to study and rehabilitating a hockey arena and other projects.
• Rest and members for getting the nuclear study in this bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas study, 30% and they looked at similar youths who went on probation versus state youth youth lockups
• all of our national work around juvenile. initiatives, probation transformation, and our work My background
• In studies in New York City, for example, where they've evaluated.
• Super critical that you have staff who are relatable, who are credible, understand their background.
• Again, as with my background, as an officer of the court, having been a probation officer of the carry

Bills: HB31, HB3360

Keywords: juvenile justice, community supervision, felony offenses, treatment of children, juvenile facilities, chemical dispensing device, solitary confinement, rehabilitation, criminal proceedings, delinquency, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a long Bar Association process within the corporate law or business law section, including careful study
• that section or business law section um that included<00:01:47.600> careful<00:01:48.119> study
• <00:01:48.479> of<00:01:48.680> recent<00:01:49.000> changes included careful study
• of recent changes included careful study of recent changes in<00:01:49.560> the<00:01:49.719>
• I spent the last weekend on a study committee, or drafting committee.

Bills: HF747, HF360

Keywords: corporate governance, shareholder rights, beneficial ownership, defective corporate acts, Minnesota Business Corporation Act, trusts, Uniform Trust Code, probate, estate planning, trust protector, directed trust, investment trust advisor, distribution trust advisor, excluded fiduciary, decanting, power of appointment, revocable trust, irrevocable trust, uneconomic trust, rule against perpetuities

Transcript Highlights:

• A national study needs to be conducted and significant time must go by to validate a disease being added
• By way of background, from my own personal perspective...
• Just a little bit of background: it was about, I don't know, eight years or so that a constituent of
• They're studying. Yeah, and you see the local one. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several Senate and House bills, mostly under suspension of the rules, and advanced a number of measures to third reading or engrossment. Early in the session, the House dealt with a Senate bill on student learning and mental health by insisting on its position and appointing a committee of conference. It also referred a Senate petition on alleviating poverty to the Committee on Children and Families after the House declined to concur with a Judiciary referral. The chamber then considered and advanced multiple Ways and Means bills, including legislation on police interactions with people with autism spectrum disorder, honoring Blue Star families, land conveyance in Bolton, newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus, affordable housing and cultural space in Brighton, increasing access to epinephrine, and civil rights and technology. Several bills drew extended floor debate. Supporters of the epinephrine bill emphasized its life-saving purpose and described the death of Michael Brown as a catalyst for the measure; the House adopted the bill after a roll call vote of 149-0. The newborn CMV screening bill also prompted substantial testimony in favor from public health advocates and parents, who argued that universal screening would enable earlier treatment and reduce long-term harm; an amendment to add other rare diseases was withdrawn, and a later amendment creating a broad opt-out was defeated 1-153 before the bill passed 154-1. The civil rights and technology bill focused on banning weaponized drones and robotic devices, restricting misuse, and preserving law enforcement and civil liberties; it passed 154-1. The Blue Star families bill, creating commemorative plates for families of fallen law enforcement officers, passed 156-0 after emotional remarks from members and supporters. The House also passed without recorded opposition a bill facilitating better interactions between police and people with autism, and it approved a Bolton land conveyance bill and the Brighton affordable housing/cultural space bill. The chamber observed moments of silence for former Congressman Barney Frank and State Trooper Kevin Traynor, welcomed several guest groups, and concluded by adopting an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota revalidation, and those will be completed by the end of May, including fingerprint background
• studies for owners and unannounced site visits.
• process of Minnesota Re validate and those will be completed by the end of May, including fingerprint background
• studies for owners, an unannounced site visits.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finance Authority, and we'll go over this particular program and give an update, starting with the background
• And so with that, that is sort of the background of the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program.
• I mentioned doing a study on our water lines.
• It skews the operator's study for a certain test.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a required criminal background check, continuing education, and it's renewed. every two years
• My background comes from the oil and gas business, so I'm... Very pro that.
• Air Force study on the bad financial risks of proposed small modular reactors.
• In the spring of 2024, the A&M System commissioned a feasibility study and determined that the RELLIS

Bills: HB 11, HB 14, HB 132, HB 1584, HB 1606, HB 5061, HB 1041, HB 2286

Keywords: licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 132, Texas Government Code Chapter 418, Public Information Act, confidential records, homeland security, foreign adversary, terrorism, critical infrastructure, emergency response, law enforcement

Summary: The meeting was a thorough exploration of multiple bills, most notably focused on innovative energy solutions and public safety enhancements. Key discussions centered around HB14, which aims to bolster the state's nuclear energy capabilities through the establishment of a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office. Senators and expert witnesses discussed the potential of nuclear power as a clean energy source and a strategic necessity for Texas's growth. There was strong support for the bill, with various stakeholders highlighting its importance for the future energy landscape. Additionally, other bills like HB132 addressed the need for enhanced confidentiality protections regarding sensitive information, while HB1584 sought improvements in power restoration procedures during emergencies. Overall, the committee engaged with multiple viewpoints, balancing innovation with safety and ethical considerations.

Transcript Highlights:

• behind 30% is this was the recommendation of the Judicial Conduct, uh, Compensation Commission, which studied
• Data from a 2024, uh, court staffing study in Texas revealed an average court coordinators salary at
• health and experience in investigation, but often we have candidates that either have social work backgrounds
• , uh, but, uh, and or psychology backgrounds, but have never talked to witnesses or people with investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Six weeks ago, New Mexico was number two in the country for bird diversity, and people come here to study
• legislature, and I'm certainly sensitive to their needs and concerns, especially given The historical background
• We have a minimum of four positions with specific background, then everything else is open.
• Does Fish and Game currently have the ability to study the programs for the management of the endangered

Transcript Highlights:

• In the pilot studies, between 39 and 43 percent... That's net savings.
• In the pilot studies, between 39 and 43% of those patients had a diagnosis within a few days.
• I'd like to share two patient stories from the study.
• He enrolled in our NIH study, and rapid sequencing was ordered.
• Studies recently have shown we are losing vaccinators. Reimbursement rates are a key factor.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket of bills focused on MassHealth benefits and reimbursement, health equity, behavioral health, public health, dental access, 340B drug pricing, tobacco cessation, and coverage for children. The chairs emphasized rising health care costs, provider shortages, administrative burdens, and persistent inequities by income, race, geography, and immigration status. Much of the testimony centered on H.1416/S.901, an act to advance health equity, with legislators and members of the Health Equity Compact arguing for statewide benchmarks, stronger health equity leadership, reimbursement for interpreter services, community health workers and patient navigation, Medicaid graduate medical education support, and a health equity zone trust fund. Witnesses described disparities in life expectancy, maternal mortality, access to primary care, and the impact of federal Medicaid and social service cuts, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. The committee also heard strong support for H.1368/S.847 on rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill MassHealth children. Testifiers from industry, academia, hospitals, and families said early sequencing can end long diagnostic odysseys, improve treatment decisions, shorten hospital stays, and save money, while also providing emotional relief and information for families. The hearing then moved to H.1407 on MassHealth rate parity for inpatient behavioral health providers, where Rep. Scanlan and the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems said the bill would codify existing administrative parity so managed care plans cannot pay less than the MassHealth fee-for-service rate. On H.1392/S.853 to preserve and protect public health, witnesses supported higher vaccine administration fees to improve provider participation and immunization rates. The committee also heard testimony on H.770/845 to protect 340B providers in MassHealth, and on S.848 to require reporting and transparency around 340B revenues and outside administrative costs. Additional bills drew testimony on tobacco cessation coverage for MassHealth members, with advocates supporting broader access to counseling and medications through medical, behavioral health, and dental providers. On H.1409, a nursing home operator asked for more flexibility in a MassHealth staffing-related penalty tied to patient days per resident. On H.1401/S.888, supporters of the “Take 10” dental access proposal said adult MassHealth dental coverage is underused because too few dentists accept MassHealth, leading to long travel times and avoidable emergency room visits; they urged incentive payments for dentists serving new adult MassHealth patients. Finally, on H.1403/S.855, “Cover All Kids,” advocates and immigrant community members urged removal of immigration status as a barrier to full MassHealth coverage for children, while also backing a related bill to ensure 12 months of continuous coverage for children. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked questions on costs, reimbursement levels, and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just an additional background check on an annual basis for those drivers.
• <00:03:06.280> So,<00:03:06.680> it background check of no charge.
• So, it background check of no charge.
• It's just a additional<00:03:10.240> background<00:03:10.760> check<00:03:11.000> on
• and educational backgrounds?

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a few different studies, I think, that highlight. Yes.
• Looking at case studies in different areas, for example, looking at a recent initiative that I had led
• But the study itself by Learning Policy Institute only just looks at after year one.
• I'm an associate professor of race and resistance studies at San Francisco State and a member of the
• Ninety-one percent of those students are from underrepresented backgrounds.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we were the subject, you know, there were studies commissioned by the State Bar.
• So first I will note that what you're referring to is first the 2019 study by Professor George Farkas
• As a result of that, some studies were done.
• Another professor came in and did a study to recommend actions that could be taken to address certain
• He seems to be fairly articulate, and, as Senator Grove has shared, a stellar legal background.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were the subject, you know, there were studies commissioned by the State Bar.
• So first I will note, what you're referring to is first the 2019 study by Professor George Farkas, which
• As a result of that, some studies were done.
• Another professor came in and did a study to recommend actions that could be taken to address certain
• He seems to be fairly articulate and, as Senator Grove has shared, a stellar legal background.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as background, in 2019, the federal CMS issued rules to require hospitals, only hospitals, this
• In a 2022 study, uh, 27% of American patients have undergone care with uncertainty that they can pay
• What threads all of these studies and experiences together is the price information asymmetry that is
• And so would you say that would be equal to what a psychiatrist would study?
• In fact, I was reading this weekend and one study points to a 162% increase.

Transcript Highlights:

• ago, the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee, which I was chairing at the time, had an interim study
• Has there been any research or study done or a survey given to the donors to see if they were willing
• Okay, so no formal studies have been done. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
• In fact, a 2024 study by the Texas Violence and Injury...
• A 2019 study conducted by TCFV found that 71% Needed assistance finding housing.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Eskamani: Valid background, if you've been to Epstein Island before, it is a legitimate question these
• Obviously, I am of a different background. I'm a dual citizen.
• There are ten steps to a genocide Aminah Spike: and I went to study genocide in grad school, and I think
• there are other elements that we certainly should, to Representative Eskamani's point, like maybe a background