Transcript Highlights:

• And to date we've completed over 3100, excuse me, 31,000 visits.
• when we are conducting our health and wellness visits.
• And again, ongoing visits to date, over 31,000 visits have been completed.
• These are not, they are scheduled visits.
• At a movie and someone will call and say we're here to do your visit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate and I hope you enjoyed visiting the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
• They're visiting here this week. Yes, welcome to your Senate. You can have a seat now.
• </c> Senate and I hope you enjoyed visiting Senate and I hope you enjoyed visiting the<00:04:36.880><
• </c> visiting here this week. visiting here this week.
• Others visiting &gt;&gt; You can have a seat now.

Bills: HB20, HB276, HB644, HB812, HB816, HB916, HB1131, HB1247, HB1518, HB1525, HB1537, HB1541, HB1546, HB1553, HB1562, HB1565, HB1566, HB1576, HB1577, HB1591, HB1605, HB1612, HB1613, HB1614, HB1618, HB1620, HB1650, HB1656, HB1658, HB1661, HB1664, HB1668, HB1676, HB1707, HB1711, HB1713, HB1715, HB1718, HB1727, HB1749, HB1756, HB1774, HB1776, HB1801, HB1802, HB1805, HB1813, HB1815, HB1831, HB1838, HB1853, HB1854, HB1859, HB1863, HB1871, HB1872, HB1918, HB1920, HB1952, HB1965, HB1966, HB1967, HB1969, HB1972, HB1973, HB1974, HB1975, HB1980, HB1985, HB2005, HB2023, HB2031, HB2033, HB2062, HB2113, HB2114, HB2116, HB2138, HB2139, HB2156, HB2158, HB2159, HB2171, HB2208, HB2268, HB2270, HB2272, HB2273, HB2276, HB2289, HB2310, HB2315, HB2335, HB2338, HB2339, HB2340, HB2343, HB2361, HB2384, HB2387, SB2338, SB2431, SB2438, SB2593, SB2907, SB2671, SB2321, SB3084, SB2401, SB3033, SB2972, SB3032, SB2806, SB3014, SB2108, SB2981, SB2973, SB2423, SB2078, SB2322, SB2397, SB2896, SB2088, SB2347, SB2408, SB2970, SB2851, SB2713, SB2697, SB2312, SB2192, SB2363, SB2530, SB3028, SB2024, SB3007, SB2599, SB2596, SB2662, SB2930, SB3334, SB2378, SB3019, SB3231, SB2240, SB2372, SB2175, SB2046, SB2298, SB2922, SB2835, SB3263, SB2174, SB2128, SB2006, SB2489, SB3134, SB2982, SB2425, SB2849, SB2797, SB2795, SB2575, SB2521, SB2765, SB2386, SB2852, SB2022, SB2117, SB2277, SB2387, SB2688, SB2885, SB3132, SB3219, SB2169, SB2591, SB2090, SB2983, SB888, SB3249, SB2611, SB2429, SB2463, SB3154, SB3131, SB3152, SB3315, SB2448, SB2054, SB2140, SB2520, SB2377, SB2986, SB2010, SB2189, SB2026, SB3010, SB2818, SB2002

Keywords: lava insurance, homeowners, insurance market, subsidy, Hawaii, condominiums, annual report, filing fee, real estate, developer, residency, property regime, PFAS, single-use plastics, environmental health, food ware, pollution reduction, local produce, agriculture, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• Port Havada Chargerie with Housing California in support. Nolan Gray, California YIMBY, in support.

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and operated briefly as a subcommittee while the chair outlined public comment procedures and the consent calendar. The first major item was AB 1751, a townhome/homeownership measure by Assembly Members Quirk-Silva and Wicks. The author accepted amendments to strike the bill’s wage provision and to limit unit size and project size, but declined other proposed amendments on downzoning, demolition protections, and site restrictions. Supporters, including the New California Coalition and California Conference of Carpenters, argued the bill would expand attainable homeownership and create more townhome sites; opponents and “opposed unless amended” witnesses raised concerns about renter protections, demolition/displacement, density impacts, and local control. Several labor groups and local government representatives were neutral or supportive of the amended bill, while the committee members discussed the tension between housing production and worker protections. The committee ultimately passed AB 1751 as amended to the Senate Committee on Local Government on a roll call vote, with the bill held on call for absent members. The committee then heard AB 750, which expands HCD’s Portfolio Reinvestment Program to more at-risk affordable housing developments needing rehabilitation. The author and supporters from the California Housing Consortium and California Housing Partnership said the bill would help preserve deed-restricted housing facing expiring affordability restrictions and disrepair, especially when paired with anticipated bond funding. Members asked about the program’s prior funding and how it works to keep units affordable through rehabilitation rather than state takeover; the author emphasized the goal was preservation of existing affordable housing stock. AB 750 passed to the Senate Appropriations Committee on a roll call vote and was held on call for absent senators. The consent calendar was also approved on call. Next, the committee heard AB 306, which would create a more workable statewide appeals and code-interpretation process at the California Building Standards Commission for local building code decisions. The author and supporters from AIA California and the Housing Action Coalition said the bill would reduce inconsistent interpretations across 540 jurisdictions, improve transparency, and support housing innovation while preserving local authority over local matters. Members discussed how the bill would interact with local amendments and alternative methods and means, and the committee moved the bill to the Senate Committee on Local Government on a roll call vote. AB 2612, directing HCD and the Building Standards Commission to develop standards for plug-in photovoltaic systems in new construction, also advanced to Appropriations after supportive testimony and brief questions about safety standards and stakeholder consultation. AB 1070, which orders a study on allowing 3- to 10-unit missing-middle housing under the Residential Code and requires a one-time report on code-related cost pressures, passed to Appropriations after building officials removed opposition. Later, AB 2181, a narrow bill concerning hotel and motel valuation and density bonus potential, passed to Local Government after testimony from Unite Here and others about protecting hospitality jobs and preventing speculative appraisals. Finally, AB 1237, clarifying safety rules for private in-unit pools in hotels and condominiums, passed to Health after the author described added safety measures such as pool covers, alarms, emergency devices, certified operators, and AEDs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Port Havada Chargerie with Housing California in support. Nolan Gray, California YIMBY, in support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unmanned aircraft flying over critical infrastructure such as ports or dams or schools and government

Summary: The Senate took up a series of third-reading bills covering horse racing, local taxation, consumer financial security, elections, utilities, batteries, sexual health, body-worn cameras, property tax treatment for inherited homes, adoptee birth records, youth housing bonds, workers’ compensation, and civil rights. SB 795 on horse racing, SB 762 allowing Hercules to seek voter approval for a sales tax increase, SB 505 requiring two-factor authentication for money transmitter platforms, SB 46 barring California ballot access for presidential candidates who have already served two terms, SB 73 restricting federal access to voting machines without a court order, SB 327 on utility oversight and ratepayer protections, SB 501 expanding battery producer responsibility, SB 608 on school contraceptive access, SB 691 on EMS-related redaction of body-worn camera footage, SB 288 clarifying Proposition 19 timing for inherited homes in probate, SB 381 giving adoptees access to original birth certificates, SB 492 creating a youth housing bond, SB 555 increasing permanently partially disabled workers’ benefits, and SB 747 creating a civil cause of action for constitutional violations by federal officers were all debated and advanced. Most measures passed on roll call, with SB 505 and SB 288 approved by unanimous roll call, and SB 73 carrying an urgency clause that also passed unanimously. Debate on SB 747 was the most extensive and contentious. Supporters argued the bill was needed to hold federal officers accountable for alleged constitutional violations, especially in immigration enforcement, and described it as a civil-rights remedy for people harmed by federal agents. Opponents said existing federal and state remedies already cover such conduct, warned the bill was politically motivated, and argued it could increase litigation and strain law enforcement resources. The bill nevertheless passed on a 30-10 vote, with the urgency clause also approved. SB 492 on youth housing also drew debate over state bonding and debt, with supporters emphasizing early intervention for homeless and foster youth and opponents arguing the state should avoid borrowing and instead fund projects through the budget; it passed 30-9 on both urgency and the measure. Other bills also drew focused testimony. SB 555 was presented as a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment for permanently partially disabled workers’ benefits, and SB 381 was supported as a way to give adopted adults access to their original birth certificates for identity and medical-history reasons. SB 691 was framed as a privacy measure for patients receiving medical or psychological treatment, while SB 501 was described as closing a gap in California’s battery recycling and safety rules by adding medium-format batteries used in e-bikes and portable power systems. SB 762 was presented as a local option for Hercules to address revenue shortfalls, and SB 46 and SB 73 both centered on election integrity and constitutional questions, with members split over federal-state authority and ballot access.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unmanned aircraft flying over critical infrastructure such as ports or dams or schools and government

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Port is not available, so Senator Oumou Verbeten will be presenting the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> visits they get. visits they get.
• visits.
• So, you can't say on the first visit if you're given five visits.
• So, you can't say on the first visit if you're given five visits.
• After that initial visit, a visit.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are already existing cultural institutions in New England that we should do site visits to.
• Does this three-part prong work: site visits, traditional listening sessions, event-based outreach?
• We can actually go visit. We're the Cape Verdean community. We can go to the Biska Club.
• We can actually go visit. We're the Cape Verdean community. We can go to the Biska Club.
• And I do think visiting the museum in Pawtucket and engaging with that community... ...I do think visiting

Summary: The commission met to approve prior minutes, hear updates on funding and deadline extensions, and continue planning for a Cape Verdean Culture Center/Museum in Boston. Members reviewed the commission’s charge, including developing an organizational structure, governance model, feasibility study, community engagement plan, and possible nonprofit structure. The minutes from the March 11 meeting were approved after a motion and second, with one noted correction about duplicate section numbering. A major discussion focused on legislative and budget options to extend the commission’s deadline from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027 and to preserve or secure funding for a feasibility study and related work. Legislators said an amendment to the fair share budget was not accepted, but they would continue looking for a vehicle such as the regular budget, supplemental budget, or another bill. Members also discussed the possibility of future earmarks or bond funding, and the need to fill a current vacancy on the commission. The bulk of the meeting was a brainstorming session on community engagement. Commissioners supported a three-part approach involving site visits, listening sessions, and outreach at existing Cape Verdean events, with added emphasis on social media, a website, surveys, canvassing, and other tools to reach people across the diaspora. Members suggested prioritizing locations such as New Bedford, Cape Cod, Boston, Brockton, and possibly Pawtucket, and discussed working with existing Cape Verdean organizations, museums, and historical groups. There was also discussion of best practices from other cultural institutions, the importance of historical accuracy and youth engagement, and whether to involve the Cape Verdean government after upcoming elections. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on a proportion of the number of visits on a proportion of the number of visits that<00:13:29.920
• </c><00:31:08.440><c> our</c> many of the individuals visiting our many of the individuals visiting our
• Notably, 61% of these visits were from families who are visiting our food shelf for the very first time
• Notably, 61% of these visits were from families who are visiting our food shelf for the very first time
• </c><01:26:40.960><c> a</c> reality is that if she doesn't visit a reality is that if she doesn't visit

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so we get visitation from all over the world.
• Primarily, our visitation comes from the Upper Midwest. We are primarily a drive market.
• Okay, so we get visitation from all over the world.
• Okay, so we get visitation from all over the world.
• Tourism destinations is what we call VFR: visiting family and relatives.

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore full meeting 00:13 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:14 Approval of Minutes 01:40 Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet 27:44 Department of Parks 59:23 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its second Budget Review on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members then heard a presentation from the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Tourism on the 1% tourism marketing fund. Witnesses explained that the fund supports statewide tourism promotion, advertising, research, regional marketing, and matching grants to local tourism commissions, and that it cannot be used for capital construction. They reported that the General Assembly and governor increased appropriations in the 2024 session, adding $3 million in FY25 and $7 million in FY26, and set aside funding for the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority, the National Quilt Museum, and the Southern Kentucky Tourism Initiative. Tourism officials emphasized that Kentucky tourism is a major economic driver, citing 2023 figures of $13.8 billion in economic impact, 79.3 million visitors, $9.7 billion in direct spending, more than 95,000 jobs supported, and nearly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. They said the department now uses targeted digital and over-the-top advertising in selected domestic and international markets, with 62% of media placements digital and 80% of the budget spent out of state. Members asked about market selection, how the department measures return on investment, and what attracts visitors from places such as Dallas, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.; officials said research shows a mix of family visits, outdoor recreation, and varied Kentucky offerings, and that 81% of overnight visitors are repeat visitors. They also discussed the potential impact of tariffs and trade tensions on bourbon-related tourism and international visitation, especially from Canada, and officials said they were monitoring the situation with U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA. The committee then heard from Kentucky State Parks officials on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. They said they are providing quarterly project reports and have been meeting regularly with the Finance Cabinet’s engineering and contract staff. The presentation focused on campground utilities, broadband, and structural upgrades, including $40 million for campground improvements across the park system, with completed bathhouse renovations at Barren River and Nolin Lake and additional projects underway or in planning. Officials said the work is based on camper survey feedback, such as requests for better Wi-Fi, sewer and electric upgrades, frost-free spigots, and improved site layouts, and noted that the My Old Kentucky Home campground project is under construction and expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were shutting down the visiting to provide training to all of our visiting staff and the managers.
• We are challenging the visiting staff to create more of a family environment in our visiting rooms.
• our visiting rooms.
• And that's both in the visiting rooms and in the family visiting. Wonderful. Thank you so much.
• I support family visitation.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first established quorum and took up several routine items, including two governor’s appointments to the Court Reporters Board, references of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Heather Lynn Gonzalez’s appointment was approved 3-1, Allison Salton-Sall’s appointment was approved 4-0, and the other routine items were approved 4-0. The committee then heard testimony on two Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation appointments, Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, both associate directors in the Division of Adult Institutions. Senators focused heavily on the California model, staff safety, prison violence, sexual abuse prevention, retaliation concerns, and visitation. Ratliff and Tuggle said the California model is meant to balance rehabilitation with safety, that CDCR has improved communication and training, and that incidents such as the pepper-spray event at Central California Women’s Facility led to discipline, investigations, retraining, and policy review. They also described PREA reporting systems, anti-retaliation protections, statewide visiting meetings, and efforts to make visiting more family-centered and consistent. Public commenters largely supported both nominees, citing their work on rehabilitation, reentry, and sexual abuse response. The committee unanimously voted 4-0 to send both Ratliff and Tuggle to the Senate floor for confirmation. It then heard from Jason Johnson, nominated as CDCR Undersecretary of Operations. Senators questioned him about parole supervision, public safety, contraband, prison rape prevention, workplace culture, whistleblower retaliation, and repeated allegations in late-filed opposition letters. Johnson said parole risk is assessed through established scoring and supervision levels, that sex offenders are subject to GPS monitoring and treatment, and that operations use investigations, training, and collaboration with law enforcement to address contraband and misconduct. He emphasized rehabilitation, culture change, accountability, and his commitment to staff and public safety, while acknowledging criticism and the difficulty of leading a large institution. No vote on Johnson was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were shutting down the visiting to provide training to all of our visiting staff and the managers.
• We are challenging the visiting staff to create more of a family environment in our visiting rooms.
• And that's both in the visiting rooms and in the family visiting. That's one of our huge pushes.
• And that's both in the visiting rooms and in the family visiting. Wonderful. Thank you so much.
• I support family visitation.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Based in part on data from site visit Based in part on data from site visit schools,<00:08:45.519
• 20:56.400><c> staff</c> visits to several schools, staff visits to several schools, staff reported<00
• </c> frequently mentioned by site visit frequently mentioned by site visit interviews<00:24:23.279><c
• 31.760><c> we</c> [clears throat] On site visits, we [clears throat] On site visits, we learned<00:26
• </c> site visit schools. site visit schools. &gt;&gt; Got<00:52:31.280><c> it.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee received an Office of Education Accountability presentation on student discipline data in Kentucky schools for the 2024 school year. OEA said the study used Safe Schools data, educator and student surveys, site visits to 12 schools, and principal surveys. The report found that about 1 in 10 schools have major behavior-related challenges and up to one-third have at least moderate challenges, with the most common concerns varying by level: high schools cited vapes, cell phone misuse, apathy, and tardiness; middle schools cited apathy, vapes, and cell phone misuse; and elementary schools reported more extreme classroom behaviors such as throwing objects, overturning furniture, and screaming. OEA also noted that 14% of students had at least one behavior event in 2024, but repeated events were rare, and event rates alone do not reliably measure the severity of behavior problems in a school or district. The presentation emphasized that many disciplinary consequences do not align consistently with statutes or local expectations. OEA said law violations made up 19% of more than 250,000 recorded behavior events, while most were board violations, and that some serious incidents resulted in minimal consequences. The report highlighted concerns about weapons, threats, and assaults: only 9.2% of weapon events led to expulsion or alternative placement, few threats resulted in those outcomes, and fewer than 10% of assaults led to expulsion or alternative placement, including some first-degree assaults. OEA also said the Safe Schools data do not identify victims, limiting analysis of assaults on staff or students, and recommended clearer statutory definitions and better data reporting. A major theme was the difficulty schools face in addressing chronic disruption and severe behavior while complying with federal protections for students with disabilities. OEA said principals reported the biggest challenges were federal limits on disciplinary removals and a lack of alternative placement options. The report described variation among districts in how they implement federal requirements, with some administrators discouraging alternative placements or avoiding discipline because of perceived legal risks. Site visits found that many schools lacked chronic-disruption policies, and teachers often reported frustration with minimal consequences and repeated classroom removals. OEA recommended that KDE collect more information from educators, identify promising practices for alternative instructional settings, and develop clearer guidance and training. In discussion, committee members said the findings showed reporting gaps and resource strains, and OEA staff clarified that some underreporting reflects local discretion, while law violations should still be reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• recognized, we have Jan Salo Taylor, Sals, and Faith Koua, and also joining Faith is her brother, visiting
• </c><00:01:32.759><c> from</c><00:01:33.079><c> New</c> faith is her brother visiting from New faith
• with us here, visiting the state Capitol today.
• <00:02:07.479><c> with</c><00:02:07.680><c> us</c><00:02:08.479><c> here</c><00:02:08.720><c> visiting
• </c><00:02:09.039><c> the</c><00:02:09.119><c> ho</c> visiting with us here visiting the ho visiting

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> unannounced</c><00:26:16.799><c> as</c> licensing visits are unannounced as licensing visits are
• visit visit &gt;&gt; match<00:27:02.799><c> billing</c> &gt;&gt; match billing &gt;&gt; match billing
• Their visits are not coordinated.
• Their visits are not coordinated.
• Chair, um, so for licensing visits, one of the things that the licensors try to do to make the visit

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• neighbors in British Columbia; and whereas throughout our history, Washingtonians have traveled to visit
• our family members, friends, and colleagues living across our northern border, while they have visited
• You and I spent time visiting businesses. ...that I've had to deepen this relationship.
• You and I spent time visiting businesses in Vancouver, but also in Ottawa as well, and learning about
• This summer, I also got to visit Edmonton and learn about what they're doing with carbon capture and

Summary: The Senate convened on Tuesday, February 24, approved the previous day’s Journal without objection, and handled committee referrals. Among the measures referred, engrossed substitute House Bill 2548, concerning health care market standards, was specifically sent to the Committee on Rules rather than the committee listed in the standing committee report. The chamber also received supplemental committee reports later in the day, including Senate Bill 5998, the operating budget supplemental, and House Bill 2664, both referred to Rules. The main floor action was consideration of Senate Resolution 8696, which recognizes Washington’s interconnected relationship with Canada. The resolution highlighted economic, cultural, environmental, and border-community ties, including trade, shared infrastructure and energy links, cross-border family connections, tribal and First Nations relationships, and cooperation on issues such as climate policy, disaster response, and scientific research. Senators Schumake, Short, and Slatter spoke in support, emphasizing border communities, shared natural resources, research partnerships, and the long-standing friendship between Washington and Canada. The resolution was adopted by voice vote. After adoption, the Senate recognized visiting Canadian and regional officials and representatives, including the Canadian Consul General in Seattle, the Consulate’s trade commissioner, Quebec’s delegate in Seattle, the Mayor of Blaine, and Western Washington University representatives. The Senate then went at ease, later reconvened briefly to process the supplemental committee reports, and adjourned without objection until Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did not visit my local physical therapist, so I don't know what my diagnosis is..."
• When court-ordered visitation began, he began struggling to breathe again.
• It took over a year of... ...visitation was paused for 30 days.
• They were her kids because she loved them so much, and she saw them struggle after visits.
• I saw him struggle after these visits.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 754, which would add physical therapists to Idaho’s direct primary care statute so they can enter direct payment agreements with patients without those arrangements being treated as insurance contracts. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve access, especially for patients who need frequent therapy or live in underserved areas, and emphasized that it would not expand physical therapists’ scope of practice. One member objected that the bill’s wording could blur the definition of primary care and create scope confusion. After testimony from a physical therapy association representative and a small business health care provider, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, with several members recording no votes. The committee then took up House Bill 724, which would add and clarify safety-related rights for children in foster care, including safe placement, access to medical and forensic exams after abuse disclosures, basic necessities, and consideration of safety in visitation and placement decisions. The sponsor said the bill is a narrow child-safety measure that does not alter parental rights or removal standards, while foster parents, a psychologist, former foster youth, and others testified in support with accounts of abuse, unsafe placements, and inadequate oversight. Some members raised concerns about enumerating rights in statute and about broad language that could have unintended future consequences; a substitute motion to send the bill to amending order failed on a roll call vote, and the original motion to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation passed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 759, a budget-related measure to reduce Medicaid residential habilitation funding and require a new audit/rate study of home and community-based services. The sponsor said the reduction reflects a governor’s budget recommendation and that the audit would help determine appropriate rates and spending. Providers and family members of people with disabilities testified that the bill was too vague, that prior rate studies were not fully followed, and that any reductions could harm staffing and services; they asked for clearer standards, collaboration, and assurance that rate-study results would actually be used. A motion to hold the bill until a later date was offered, but the sponsor opposed delaying the budget item and the committee continued discussion toward a floor recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are challenging the visiting staff to create more of a family environment in our visiting rooms.
• And that's both in the visiting rooms and in the family visiting. Wonderful. Thank you so much.
• I support family visitation.
• I support family visitation.
• I support family visitation.

Summary: The committee first handled routine actions, including quorum, governor’s appointments not required to appear, references to bills, and floor acknowledgments, with those items approved on 3-1 or 4-0 votes and left open for add-ons where noted. It then heard testimony on several CDCR appointments: Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle as associate directors for adult institutions, and later Jason Johnson as Undersecretary of Operations. All three nominees emphasized long careers in corrections, support from family and colleagues, and a commitment to public safety, rehabilitation, and improving staff and institutional culture. Much of the questioning focused on the California model, staff safety, sexual abuse prevention, use-of-force incidents, visitation, and rehabilitation. Ratliff and Tuggle said the California model was poorly communicated at rollout but is intended to improve both staff wellness and rehabilitation, not weaken security. They described training, root-cause reviews, statewide calls, and direct engagement with staff and incarcerated people. On a widely criticized pepper-spray incident at Central California Women’s Facility, Ratliff said staff were disciplined, some terminated, and the facility received additional training on de-escalation, communication, use of force, and report writing. On sexual abuse and retaliation concerns, both nominees pointed to PREA training, multiple reporting channels, anti-retaliation monitoring, and a zero-tolerance policy. Members also pressed the nominees on visitation consistency, family reunification, contraband, and the San Quentin transition program. CDCR leaders said visitation is essential to rehabilitation and that the department is working toward more consistent statewide rules and a more family-friendly visiting environment. They also said contraband interdiction is being strengthened through K-9 searches, drone interdiction, and information sharing. Johnson, whose confirmation drew late opposition letters and a lawsuit alleging retaliation and workplace culture problems, said he was driving culture change, had improved reentry and community partnerships, and viewed rehabilitation as central to CDCR’s mission. After public support from former incarcerated people, advocates, and nonprofit leaders, the committee voted 4-0 to advance the appointments to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've also been expanding, working to maximize the use of telehealth visits, asynchronous messaging visits
• We've also been expanding, working to maximize the use of telehealth visits, asynchronous messaging visits
• We're able to do phone visits, video visits, email visits, in addition to delivering in-person care.
• She was undocumented and was afraid to come in for a visit. We contacted her and visited her home.
• And so those are the patients that we visited.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s Medi-Cal program and on community health effects from recent immigration enforcement actions. Committee leaders said H.R. 1 would sharply reduce federal funding, increase administrative burdens, and worsen access to care, especially for Medi-Cal enrollees, immigrant families, rural communities, and reproductive health patients. The second half of the hearing examined how ICE raids and related federal actions are creating fear, reducing clinic and emergency department use, and disrupting children’s access to schools and early childhood education. Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined the main H.R. 1 provisions affecting Medi-Cal: work requirements, semiannual eligibility redeterminations, shorter retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal support for emergency and lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for prohibited abortion providers. She estimated millions could lose coverage, with tens of billions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California warned the defunding provision could force clinic closures, service reductions, and loss of access to family planning, STI testing, and cancer screenings. The California Hospital Association said the financing changes could cut hospital revenue by tens of billions over 10 years and threaten access, especially for rural and safety-net hospitals. The Western Center on Law and Poverty argued the law would increase churn, paperwork, and uninsured rates, disproportionately harming working adults and people experiencing homelessness. Committee members asked about implementation timelines, notification systems, administrative costs, the effect on immigrant eligibility, and whether California could delay or mitigate some provisions. Bass said the state was still assessing federal guidance, planning county and provider outreach, and exploring a possible delay for work requirements and a transition period for provider-tax changes. Members also discussed how state budget actions may need to be revisited in light of H.R. 1, and how California might preserve access through state-only funding or other policy changes. In the second panel, CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Children’s Partnership described the health consequences of immigration enforcement. Speakers said raids and data-sharing fears are causing anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care, with Los Angeles County reporting declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits after enforcement actions. The Children’s Partnership said school and early childhood absences are rising in some communities and that enforcement is undermining children’s emotional well-being and access to education. Members asked for more data and discussed possible state protections, telehealth, mobile care, and legal and policy responses to reduce fear and preserve access to health and education services.