Transcript Highlights:

• If you saw some of the things filed, you'd understand why it's difficult.
• But again, we were too late and nothing happened.
• Several amendments have been filed, which will be considered at this time.
• And we filed this amendment, we filed the bill actually before this to write this wrong.
• Senator Moore, oh, I'm sorry, let's get the clerk filing. Amendment number one by Mr.

Summary: The Senate took up several committee reports, resolutions, and House messages, then moved through a series of bills on the calendar. Early action included adopting a Ways and Means order on Senate Bill 2549, which promotes student learning and mental health, by substituting a new draft and setting amendment deadlines and a second reading date. The chamber also adopted congratulatory resolutions for the Sport Fish Restoration Program’s 75th anniversary and the Hawthorn Hotel’s 100th anniversary, and suspended rules on a sick leave bank petition for a trial court employee and on a House bill validating a special election in Hardwick, which was ordered to a third reading. The Senate also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Peter Hayden Lapin of Springfield, a veteran and former public servant. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 137, renaming and updating references in the General Laws to replace outdated and offensive terms regarding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Senators spoke at length in support of the bill, emphasizing respect, disability rights, and the work of advocates such as Melissa Riley and the Arc of Massachusetts. An amendment by Senator Creem replaced “hearing impaired” with “deaf or hard of hearing,” and a corrective amendment by Senator Lovely was also adopted. The bill was then passed to be engrossed by a unanimous 40-0 roll call. Next, the Senate considered Senate Bill 1034, which repeals archaic laws including sodomy-related provisions, the common nightwalker law, and the blasphemy statute, and creates a commission to review archaic laws going forward. Senators described the measure as a civil liberties and dignity issue, with particular attention to the misuse of the common nightwalker law against women and trans people and the historical injustice of blasphemy laws. Amendments were adopted to add the Supreme Court as a recipient of commission reports and to remove the crime of petite treason. The bill was then passed to be engrossed unanimously, 40-0. Finally, the Senate considered Senate Bill 2558, the “blue envelope” bill to improve interactions between police officers and people with autism spectrum disorder. Supporters said the voluntary program would help drivers and passengers with ASD during traffic stops and would be made permanent through the Registry of Motor Vehicles, with the State Police and advocacy groups involved. An amendment requiring in-service training by the Massachusetts Police Training Council was adopted, while a proposed yellow-dot amendment for older drivers with chronic illness was rejected 5-34. A Ways and Means amendment was then adopted, and the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously, 39-0. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you file this just today?
• </c> legal action, have instituted penalties. legal action, have instituted penalties.
• </c> those kind of penalties. those kind of penalties.
• </c><00:04:02.080><c> does</c> the power to institute penalties does the power to institute penalties
• That's the point of a penalty. salary. That's the point of a penalty.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Representative Anderson moves House File 5040.
• So if 100% tax and one is a penalty.
• She said there is often a significant lag time between filing periods and when a penalty is incurred,
• In in the penalty situation, Right. In in the penalty situation, right?
• </c> fraudulent, that's when that penalty fraudulent, that's when that penalty would<00:12:50.480><c>

Summary: The committee heard House File 5040, the “Take It Back Act,” presented by Representative Anderson. The bill, as amended by the DE1 amendment, would impose a 100% tax on amounts a person is convicted of stealing through fraud against Minnesota public programs, with the stated goal of recovering taxpayer dollars. Anderson said the measure is bipartisan, has many co-authors, and was developed with the Department of Revenue to ensure it could be administered without undue burden. Joanna Bears of the Department of Revenue testified in support of the bill’s administration and thanked the authors for working with the department. She explained that the bill has two parts: a conviction-based tax that would be assessed after a fraud conviction, and a penalty piece tied to fraud identified through the department’s existing review and tip processes. In response to member questions, Bears said the department already receives tips and information from other agencies, reviews them carefully, and would use the bill as another tool to address public fund fraud. Members also asked about timing, restitution, and whether the bill could be misused by bad-faith tips; Anderson and Bears said the conviction-based portion is not tip-driven and that the bill is intended to be administered legally and efficiently. Representative Smith asked about the relationship to the Fraud Restitution Fund and whether the bill would apply to private-sector tax fraud. Bears said restitution would likely be collected first depending on statutory priority, and clarified that the new 100% penalty would apply only to public fund fraud, not general tax fraud, and only to the fraudulent public-fund amount. Representative Witty and others expressed support for the bill as a tool to combat fraud. At the end of the hearing, Representative Anderson renewed her motion to lay over House File 5040, as amended, for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill, and the chair indicated that was the plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’ve talked to so many of you over the weekend, late last ... other evenings.
• I apologize for coming on late in support.
• Apologize for coming on late in support.
• We are moving down the file.
• We are moving down the file.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health bills focused on access to preventive care, behavioral health, hospital services, and patient safety. Early items included AB 554, which would expand and protect access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP, including injectable forms and coverage protections; supporters said it would shore up access amid federal threats, while insurers opposed it as a costly benefit mandate. AB 577 would limit insurer and PBM practices that steer medications away from physician offices and require more transparency and patient consent; doctors and patient advocates supported it, while health plans and insurers warned it could raise drug costs and disrupt specialty pharmacy networks. AB 546 would require coverage for portable HEPA purifiers for vulnerable enrollees during declared emergencies, especially wildfire smoke events, with support from air quality and public health groups and opposition from insurers concerned about benefit expansion and cost. The committee also heard AB 224, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark plan after a public review process, adding infertility treatment, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment if approved by CMS for the 2027 plan year. DMHC said the state had completed the review and needed legislation to meet federal timing, and the measure drew broad support. AB 1032 would require plans and insurers to reimburse up to 12 additional behavioral health visits for enrollees in wildfire-affected counties for a limited period after an emergency; supporters argued it would fill gaps in trauma care after disasters, while insurers said existing parity and continuity-of-care rules already address the issue and that the bill could create inequities. AB 849 would require trained chaperones for sensitive ultrasound exams and training on how to observe and intervene; it was backed by a survivor and patient advocates, with hospitals and health districts raising staffing concerns. Later, AB 1196 would direct the Department of Public Health to update outdated rules requiring three surgeons for certain heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass; supporters said the rule no longer reflects modern practice and strains staffing, while cardiology representatives had no formal opposition but wanted to review amendments. AB 1113 would codify a right to wear a mask for health reasons in public spaces, with support from disability and public health groups. AB 1386 sought to add perinatal care to the list of basic hospital services, prompting testimony about maternity ward closures, workforce shortages, and rural access; the author said the bill would be amended further and that the committee would need to revisit timelines and implementation details. The committee also heard AB 1429, which would address Kaiser’s repeated mental health parity violations and improve access to behavioral health care, though the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill is shown. Several bills were moved with motions and seconds, but many were held for quorum; AB 1196, AB 1113, and AB 1386 were among the measures advanced to a roll call or held on call, and the committee repeatedly noted that final votes would occur when quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why are we so late in getting that going if we could have started this last year?
• Well, so it is a state penalty that is required under law.
• They tend to do the penalty revenues.
• could see more penalty revenue as a result of more uninsured people.
• Did we see any penalties accrued from that, or any assessed penalties?

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the Department of Health Care Services’ proposed budget, including a $229.1 billion total-funds budget and projected Medi-Cal enrollment decline as redeterminations continue. Members focused heavily on the fiscal and programmatic effects of prior budget solutions and federal changes, especially the elimination of General Fund-supported Prop. 56 dental supplemental payments beginning July 1, 2026, the hospice utilization-management change, and the impact of reduced caseloads alongside rising health care costs. DHCS said it is still completing required access and rate-reduction analyses for the dental cuts and has been engaging stakeholders, but could not yet quantify the real-world effect on utilization or provider participation. The committee also reviewed the November 2025 Medi-Cal local assistance estimate, which shows higher General Fund spending despite lower enrollment, driven by managed care rate growth, Medicare cost growth, state-only claiming, and federal policy changes. The hearing then turned to provider taxes and federal H.R. 1 constraints, with extensive discussion of the MCO tax, the hospital quality assurance fee, and other health care-related taxes. DHCS explained that H.R. 1 phases down allowable tax levels and tightens “generally redistributive” rules, making the current MCO tax structure and the proposed higher hospital fee levels difficult or impossible to renew as originally designed. Staff and the LAO described the tradeoff between preserving Medi-Cal funding and avoiding higher costs on private providers and consumers. Members asked about options for preserving revenue, including possible amendments to Prop. 35 or returning to voters, and were told the department is still evaluating approaches while federal guidance remains in flux. The committee also reviewed hospital payment increases already implemented through state-directed payments, with DHCS noting that H.R. 1 will force those payments down to Medicare levels over time. Several budget change proposals were discussed and left open, including requests tied to the managed care final rule, managed care operations, hospital value strategy, long-term care payment transparency, and interoperability requirements. The committee also heard about a one-year trailer bill extension for skilled nursing facility financing, including continuation of the SNF workforce standards program, the SNF quality assurance fee, and annual rate growth, while the department develops a longer-term financing redesign for 2027-28. Members expressed skepticism about repeated rate reform efforts and questioned whether a one-year extension of the eliminated workforce quality incentive program should be restored during the transition. Finally, Covered California presented its budget and enrollment update, reporting that the expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credit is expected to reduce affordability significantly, with average premiums roughly doubling for many enrollees and as many as 400,000 Californians potentially losing marketplace coverage over time. The exchange said California’s $190 million subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees, but not enough to offset the federal loss, and it is also implementing a new gender-affirming care benefit and awaiting federal action on benchmark plan changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also shared that the sponsors of this late missing valuable instructional time.
• filing complaints.
• filing complaints.
• filing complaints.
• filing complaints.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• > 2640</c> house file 2367, Senate file 2640 house file 2367, Senate file 2640 closely<00:04:18.880><
• :08.000><c> 1582,</c> File 2000, House File 1582, File 2000, House File 1582, uh,<00:17:09.919><c> is
• File 2000 and House File pass Senate File 2000 and House File 1582.<00:36:30.560><c> Thank</c><00:36
• </c> bills, Senate File 2000 and House File bills, Senate File 2000 and House File 1582<01:18:22.080>
• </c> penalty and Iowa has no penalty. penalty and Iowa has no penalty.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you going to file? Did you guys talk? Are you going in file order, Mr. Chair? We are, yeah.
• We're going to start with file item one, SB 875. Thank you very much.
• We're now five years later because PG&E has made filed endless filings to gum up the process.
• for late payments.
• for late payments.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and authorize additional funding to support renewable natural gas projects by reducing interconnection costs. Supporters said high interconnection costs and the current tax treatment are major barriers to methane reduction projects; opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, raised ratepayer cost concerns and objected to rate-basing and additional public funding. The author said amended language would remove the rate-basing provisions and instead urge the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Community Impact Mitigation Program for the Diablo Canyon plant through 2030 to continue funding local emergency preparedness, fire protection, public safety, and school district costs. The County of San Luis Obispo and labor groups supported the bill, while TURN opposed it as a statewide ratepayer subsidy that could be funded from existing PG&E revenues instead of higher rates. Members discussed the bill in the context of the 2022 Diablo Canyon extension deal and the possibility of a future longer extension. SB 1215 by Senator Cortese would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing and evaluate progress, with amendments aimed at affordability and limiting system upgrade costs. Supporters said renters are largely locked out of home charging and that prior utility programs proved cost-effective; no opposition testified. SB 1359 by Senator Stern would require more deliberate CPUC review before major gas system investments, emphasizing electrification and non-pipeline alternatives. Gas utilities and several industry groups opposed it, arguing it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and change the regulatory compact. The committee also heard SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Senator Gonzalez, which would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Water agencies, environmental groups, and local governments supported the measure, while one member expressed concern that it lacked a funding source and could not overcome Proposition 218 limits; the bill was moved to Appropriations and the roll was left open. Finally, SB 1098 by Senator Perez would restrict the use of long-running memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities, require exceptional circumstances for new accounts, and add sunset and cost-sharing requirements. Consumer advocates and large energy users supported tighter oversight, while the utilities and business groups opposed the bill as too rigid and potentially harmful to flexibility for wildfire, emergency, and safety-related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, they have administrative penalties, they have civil penalties, and they have criminal penalties.
• </c> Can you tell me, are there any penalties Can you tell me, are there any penalties for<00:09:12.120
• c> have</c> administrative penalties, they have administrative penalties, they have civil<00:09:25.240
• penalties. penalties. penalties.
• ,</c><00:10:03.960><c> but</c> may move to a financial penalty, but may move to a financial penalty,

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so it creates penalties for the act of doing it and, um, hopefully we can do something to put an
• um for the Um so it creates penalties um for the act<02:04:53.360><c> of</c><02:04:53.520><c> doing<
• So, this bill just is, uh, updating the penalties for such a heinous crime.
• </c> the penalties for such a heinous crime. the penalties for such a heinous crime.
• date without the the bill at this late date without the ability<02:22:34.080><c> to</c><02:22:34.479

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• File item number four, SB 951 Reyes.
• File item number two, SB 1316 Smallwood-Cuevas, file item number five, SB 1046 Blake Spear, and file
• And file item number six, SB 1059.
• File item number 8, SB 1185, Cortese.
• File item number four, SB 951, Reyes.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, House Bill 2430 concerns the crime victim penalty assessment, or CVPA.
• Second, it authorizes the court to impose an additional surcharge on the penalty assessment up to $50,000
• I think it's important that if we're going to increase penalties, and I'm okay with increasing penalties
• Increases criminal penalties for that as well.
• It's a false idea that a gross misdemeanor penalty is going to curb demand.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met in executive session on several bills previously heard, first reviewing proposed substitutes and amendments, then taking final action after a caucus recess. House Bill 1591, which provides sentencing, resentencing, and record-vacation relief for defendants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, was advanced on a 7-2 vote after adopting substitute H3302.1. Members supporting the bill emphasized the need for a close causal connection and documentary proof of victimization; opponents raised concerns about cases involving harm to third parties and wanted more refinement. The committee also advanced House Bill 2146 on sexual exploitation of a minor after adopting Amendment 348, which clarified that the offense covers causing a minor to view sexually explicit conduct when the minor’s viewing will be photographed or part of a live performance. House Bill 2220, dealing with oversight and hearings procedures for the Criminal Justice Training Commission, was reported out on a 7-2 vote under substitute H3305.3, which dropped a higher burden of proof, adjusted hearing panel size, and allowed an administrative law judge to issue an initial order if the panel deadlocks. House Bill 2430, concerning the crime victim penalty assessment, was also reported out unanimously; its substitute increased assessment amounts, added a surcharge for defendants with substantial resources, tightened indigency exemptions, and restored an indigency exception for certain offenses. House Bill 2526 on prostitution generated the most debate. The committee withdrew one proposed substitute, then adopted substitute H3308.1 and Amendment Whale 275, which shifted the bill toward a model that increases penalties for buyers while requiring referrals to services for the first two investigative detentions of a person engaged in prostitution and limiting arrest until a third detention. Supporters said the changes would reduce criminalization of survivors and improve access to services, while opponents argued the bill and amendment would weaken enforcement and fail to protect trafficking victims. The committee reported the bill out 5-4. House Bill 2641 was deferred. Finally, House Bill 2648, addressing state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement, was amended with Lang 185 to require body cameras and reporting when officers encounter federal agents conducting immigration enforcement, remove a proposed Attorney General representation requirement, and require indemnification by the employing government. Supporters framed the bill as protecting civil rights and clarifying officers’ duties; opponents said it could hinder cooperation with federal partners and create operational problems. The committee approved the bill 6-3 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and 48.5% receive a net marriage penalty or underpayment of their credit relative to their penalty.
• </c> their penalty. their penalty.
• files their taxes on paper.
• </c> are filing income income taxes on paper. are filing income income taxes on paper.
• roughly 6% of tax filing population that files<00:43:24.720><c> their</c><00:43:24.880><c> taxes</c>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• uh</c> rate both pre-filing and post filing uh rate both pre-filing and post filing uh of<00:54:36.319
• </c><04:20:19.040><c> the</c> the office uh the time of filing the the office uh the time of filing the
• When you file and you're wrapped into that TurboCourt and Odyssey system for filing, it's pretty darn
• When you file, and you're wrapped into that TurboCourt and Odyssey system for filing, it's pretty darn
• That's very helpful. filings in the Superior Court System filings in the Superior Court System since<

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met for its first meeting of the new session with opening remarks, member introductions, and a discussion of committee logistics. Members described their backgrounds and priorities, including criminal justice, right-to-know and privacy issues, domestic violence, death-with-dignity legislation, abortion, firearms, landlord-tenant policy, housing, and technology/privacy concerns. The chair noted there were already 34 bills assigned to the committee and expected more, and said the committee would likely continue to have a heavy workload this session. The chair also outlined how the committee would operate: meetings would generally be on Wednesdays, with possible Mondays as needed; hearings would not require a quorum, but executive sessions would; and members were asked to provide updated phone numbers and email addresses, especially cell numbers. He explained that the committee would continue its practice of seating members in a mixed partisan arrangement to encourage communication, and that the new clerk had joined the committee. A significant portion of the meeting focused on procedures for executive sessions and meeting times. The chair said the committee would follow the traditional rule allowing executive sessions on bills heard that day if proper notice was given, but he would avoid taking up controversial matters without full attendance. Members then discussed whether meetings should start at 9, 9:30, or 10 a.m., with concerns raised about long commutes, evening obligations, and winter driving after dark. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the chair indicated he would try to accommodate the committee’s preference while balancing the workload.

Transcript Highlights:

• My apologies, I got here a bit late for the briefing.
• When you look at Chinook, those counts didn't start until the late '90s. It's been up and down.
• Is the penalty severe enough?
• I can’t speak to all of the penalties.
• fish, but there are penalties based upon the, I guess, quote-unquote, invasiveness of the species.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5838, which would add a federally recognized tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources. The Department of Natural Resources commissioner and tribal leaders said the change would bring Indigenous knowledge and a voting voice to decisions on trust lands, while preserving existing tribal consultation. Some county and economic interests said they were not opposed to tribal participation but stressed the board’s fiduciary duty to trust beneficiaries and asked for more review of the board’s purpose; one witness questioned whether the beneficiaries had been consulted. The prime sponsor, Senator Claudia Kaufman, said the bill is about inclusion and equity and indicated openness to an amendment adding both eastside and westside tribal representation. The hearing closed with 142 written comments reported: 33 pro, 107 con, and 2 other. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5960, which would require Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and take predator mitigation actions when populations fall below specified benchmarks. Senator Shelley Short said the bill responds to declining deer and elk numbers and a lack of management, especially in northeast Washington. Supporters argued the bill would codify existing agency plans and restore balance in wildlife management, while opponents—including conservation groups, the Sierra Club, and several scientists and advocates—said the state’s predator-prey study found wolves were not the main driver of ungulate declines, pointing instead to habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions. Ranching and farm groups supported the overall goal but objected to the bill’s in-state wolf translocation provisions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said it recognized the bill’s intent but opposed it because some directives were impractical, costly, or would require legislative approval. The hearing closed with 1,197 written comments reported: 843 pro, 352 con, and 2 other. The committee then held a work session on Lake Washington salmon predation. Larry Phillips and Muckleshoot Fisheries Director Jason Schaffler described a coalition effort to reduce predation on juvenile salmon in the Lake Washington system, saying invasive and predatory fish such as walleye, rock bass, American shad, northern pike, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass are harming sockeye and Chinook recovery. They said sockeye returns have fallen from hundreds of thousands to about 18,000 in recent years, ending tribal and sport fisheries, and argued that targeted predator removal, supported by prior state and county funding, could help restore runs. Senators asked about the methods and funding, and the presenters said fishing and netting are being used to suppress larger predatory fish and that more sustained investment is needed. Finally, the committee began public hearing on Senate Bill 1697, which would make federally recognized tribes eligible recipients for county conservation futures funds. Testifiers from the Washington Farmland Trust and the Tulalip Tribe said the bill would expand voluntary conservation partnerships, help tribes steward farmland and habitat, and make it easier to leverage county funds with other grants. They described past projects where tribal participation improved conservation outcomes but said tribes could not directly access conservation futures dollars under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> much rather that time in um late August. much rather that time in um late August.
• It’s going to be hotter in late June.
• So I in late August early September.
• </c> It's going to be hotter in late June. It's going to be hotter in late June.
• </c><00:20:30.480><c> I</c> late Labor Day falls this year. I late Labor Day falls this year.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair's bills in file order. The next bill is file item number five, SB 909.
• When the Labor Commissioner does collect penalties, 50% of those penalties shall go back into the Public
• As file item 1, SB 1054.
• Moving on to file item number 5, SB 909.
• Moving on to file item number 6, SB 1132.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• Management and e-filing system.
• So we started e- filing the filing.
• </c> when we are going to have e- filing when we are going to have e- filing statewide<00:09:10.000><
• </c> specific penalty that is being forced. specific penalty that is being forced.
• </c> you know something that is a penalty. you know something that is a penalty.

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• filed did not get care through Care Court.
• One of the things that I'll add: the Care Court base their assessment on whether or not to file this
• An additional concern is that this bill references the death master file.
• The death master file, Social Security's death master file, is not perfect.
• And I had found in his file cabinet a stack of passbooks this big.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 4 is the Commerce Budget Bill.
• House File Number 4. Discussion to the bill.
• </c> penalties or repealing those penalties penalties or repealing those penalties as<00:08:17.759><c
• Is the penalty too great or not enough?
• </c> the penalty too great or not enough? the penalty too great or not enough?