Transcript Highlights:

• Could you just go into a little more detail on what the background study is looking for and how that
• uh something I've heard talking study uh something I've heard talking with<00:59:10.760> a<00
• study study system<01:00:08.079> searches<01:00:08.720> a<01:00:08.960> wide<01
• /c><01:02:39.559> which studies under net study 2.0 which studies under net study 2.0 which requires
• recommendation from the legislative recommendation from the legislative auditor<01:32:19.639>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the minimum study that you are looking at. We've got a true study of the cost.
• That's the minimum study that you are looking at.
• Please note, this study is independent. Study Track does not lobby for or against ESA expansion.
• It is a baseline descriptive, not prescriptive study.
• When we did the study, we evaluated five pillars.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have the hour for this legislation.
• do have the hour for this legislation. do have the hour for this legislation.
• > expand<00:04:29.160> access This legislation will help expand access This legislation
• They highlighted that as a specific... legislation responds to a lot of their legislation responds to
• <00:50:45.320> include And key elements of the study include And key elements of the study

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:18.839> um<00:40:19.839> but the study um but the study um but uh<00:40:22.560
• specifics in this piece of legislation specifics in this piece of legislation and<00:46:00.079><
• And I'm happy to take any questions. uh study that was just referenced uh is uh study that was just referenced
• <01:03:23.359> as<01:03:23.680> there<01:03:23.839> are legislate as there are legislate
• comprehensive data privacy legislation. comprehensive data privacy legislation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Overall, this legislation dispensaries.
• agreed, advancing homegrow legislation agreed, advancing homegrow legislation to<00:44:51.520>
• HP 196 is legislation<01:40:15.920> which legislation which legislation which would<01:40:17.920
• legislation would simply allow people to legislation would simply allow people to request<01:42:12.800
• <01:42:26.000> the legislation last bienium passed the legislation last bienium passed the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:33.120> is EIDBI to ensure a background study is EIDBI to ensure a background study
• screenings and background studies screenings and background studies and<00:09:54.320> improved
• Background studies. We call them background studies.
• for the 2026 legislative session. for the 2026 legislative session.
• <00:47:45.520> from was able to find was a CMS study from was able to find was a CMS study

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, we started the organization and put the legislation together.
• I think... ...legislation together.
• We did a follow-up study on teachers leaving the profession.
• . and added that accountability measures within their legislation.
• I want y'all to pass the word on to the other legislators.

Bills: SB197, HB140, SB214, HB214, HB147, HB270, SB73

Keywords: business regulation, nonprofit entities, electronic filing, merger agreements, limited liability companies, partnerships, property transfer, termination fees, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates

Transcript Highlights:

• . management legislation.
• <00:26:41.600> council planning commission legislative council planning commission legislative
• study by property valuation. study by property valuation.
• section that creates a joint legislative section that creates a joint legislative environmental<
• report monthly to the joint legislative report monthly to the joint legislative oversight<01:46:

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That fee is a disincentive to not practice and to not study and to be there to come prepared.
• that uh folks are studying customers are studying<00:15:53.639> for<00:15:53.759> the<
• Pat Benner, legislative representative with AFSCME Council 5.
• my name is Pat Benner legislative my name is Pat Benner legislative representative<00:25:06.039>
• altogether or having some sort of study altogether or having some sort of study to<00:26:19.120>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Accordingly, careful legislative language, Accordingly, careful legislative language, including oversight
• Angela Short with the Legislative Analyst Office.
• to come out, when do we anticipate that study?
• Related to Proposition 30, that legislation specifies any legislation that has an overall effect of increasing
• Related to Proposition 30, that legislation specifies any legislation that has an overall effect of increasing

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I applaud you for bringing this piece of legislation.
• It was all oil actual industry people from industry and legislators.
• And we preemptively passed legislation. Gas in their communities. Correct.
• And we preemptively passed legislation in Louisiana to keep that from happening.
• We're here today to support this legislation.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you had to have a new piece of legislation, I would encourage you to legislate.
• Several important reasons for this legislation.
• CBD is more studied, CBG is not very well studied, I don't know. of any on the long-term impact in youth
• And only through this thoughtful legislation, y'all's thoughtful legislation, will we be able to come
• I went on to study chemical engineering.

Bills: SB3, SB810, SB965, SB1073, SB1119, SB1505, SB 3

Keywords: Texas Education Code, public schools, school district, open-enrollment charter school, teacher speech, employee speech, biological sex, pronouns, gender identity, retaliation, discipline, workplace protections, school personnel, education policy, LGBTQ, transgender, charter schools, SB 965, religious speech, prayer

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is not simply a policy. shift.
• Carolyn Chu from the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Second thing is that we had a national study done, and it escalated.
• But somehow, with this national study, they had to make some assumptions.
• Vanessa Roscoe, I'm a legislative advocate with Golden State Opportunity.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we are studying the Committee on Human Services and Homelessness hearing.
• First up, we have HCR 67 and HR 61 requesting the Disability and Communication Access Board to study
• First up, we have HCR 67 and HR 61 requesting the Disability and Communication Access Board to study
• I urge the important legislation.
• > to<00:10:08.520> me This legislation is important to me This legislation is important

Bills: HCR67, HCR102, HR61, HR94

Keywords: disability, communication access, healthcare, sign language interpreters, deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, auxiliary aids, effective communication, peer counselor, youth mental health, social disconnection, Hawaii schools, wellness program, student support, cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, disability rights, peer counseling, education

Summary: The joint Committee on Human Services and Homelessness and Committee on Health heard two measures on April 7, 2026. HCR 67/HR 61 would request the Disability and Communication Access Board to study communication needs in health care settings for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and develop guidelines. Written testimony supported the measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, DCAB, Local Independent Living Hawaii, and one individual. A DCAB representative noted the proposal could serve as a backup if related measures do not move forward. No one testified in opposition, and both committees voted to pass the measure unamended. The second measure, HCR 102/HR 94, urged the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to establish a statewide peer counselor program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection in schools. Support came from the Department of Education, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, and individual testifiers Katie Smith and Ray Ward. Smith said peer support can reduce stigma, increase belonging, and improve school climate. Ward, speaking from lived experience, described the harms of loneliness and trauma and said a peer counselor program could provide culturally grounded support and safer pathways to help. No opposition was offered, and both committees voted to pass the measure unamended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not really sure why we're involved in this, but I know you've studied and everything else, so I'm
• I'm not really sure why we're involved in this, but I know you've studied and everything else, so I'm
• think it's a good piece of legislation think it's a good piece of legislation and<00:04:22.160><
• and everything else know you've studied and everything else so<00:05:07.080> um<00:05:08.080>
• The Kentucky National Guard briefing and aerial flight of Frankfurt for legislators—please be reminded

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection met with a quorum and considered two bills. House Bill 131, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, would give certain former second-class cities more flexibility to change firefighter schedules without a collective bargaining agreement, allowing alternative schedules such as 24-on/72-off and a 48-on/72-off pattern. Meredith said the measure was developed with the Kentucky League of Cities and Kentucky Professional Firefighters and was permissive rather than mandatory. Senators generally supported the bill, noting it would not affect departments that want to keep their current schedules. The committee then heard House Bill 136 from Rep. Jared Bowman, with testimony from Josh Crawford of the Georgia Center for Opportunity. The bill would require more comprehensive annual reporting from the Department of Corrections so lawmakers can better evaluate sentencing, parole, recidivism, rehabilitation, and re-entry outcomes. Supporters said Kentucky currently relies too much on anecdote and incomplete data, and that better information would help direct funding and policy decisions; Bowman also tied the bill to follow-up on last year’s criminal justice reforms. Some members praised the data-gathering effort and discussed possible future tweaks, while one senator criticized HB 5 and said the data should have been collected earlier. Both bills were advanced unanimously by the committee and sent to the Senate floor with favorable consideration. The chair also announced a reminder about the Kentucky National Guard briefing and aerial flight event RSVP deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gina Hubbard, many of you know, helps me a lot in relations with other agencies and legislators.
• legislators and other state arts agencies can utilize for events and catering.
• We had our five-year experience study Performed that same year.
• changes consistent with that the most recent experience study.
• And this, we did a study. Let me see.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A legislator and coming down here to the Capitol, all the nuanced ways that that impacts you.
• First and foremost, ethnic studies has not been implemented.
• match for work study wages.
• To support them, we need transformative legislation like California AB 1829.
• even as the state has adopted reforms intended to make school different piece of legislation.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard AB 402, which would increase Cal Grant award amounts for students attending private nonprofit colleges and allow community college transfer entitlement awards to be used at those institutions. The author and supporters said the bill would restore award levels to their 2001 value and improve access for low- and middle-income, working, military, and transfer students. Several witnesses from private nonprofit universities, community college districts, and advocacy groups supported the measure. Senators raised concerns about the prior Cal Grant agreement tied to Associate Degree for Transfer participation and about the need to fund broader Cal Grant reforms, but the bill advanced on a unanimous due-pass vote to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up AB 2067, a sunset extension for lease-lease-back authority for TK-12 school construction through July 1, 2032. The author and supporters from school housing and contractor groups said the method provides flexibility, early collaboration, cost control, and legal certainty for school construction projects. Senators asked how often lease-lease-back and other alternative delivery methods are used, and whether the skilled-and-trained workforce provisions limit competition. Some members objected to the skilled-and-trained requirement, while others said the bill simply preserves an existing tool without changing labor rules. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, with Senator Ochoa Bogh voting no, and was placed on call. AB 1204, which would revise the Local Control Funding Formula by increasing supplemental and concentration grants, lowering the concentration threshold, adding regional cost adjustments, and setting a minimum annual COLA floor, drew extensive testimony on both sides. Supporters said the bill better reflects regional costs, inflation, and student need, especially for low-income, multilingual, and unhoused students. Opponents, including several school district leaders, argued it would widen funding disparities and divert money from the LCFF base grant, which they said should be the priority. Committee members also questioned the fiscal impact, the proposed 4% COLA floor, and whether the bill had enough research and stakeholder consensus. Despite those concerns, the bill was advanced to Appropriations on a due-pass vote and placed on call. Finally, the committee heard AB 1235, which would require a skilled-and-trained workforce process for CSU design-build projects to align CSU with UC and community college construction rules. Supporters said it would improve training and project quality, while opponents from contractor groups argued it would reduce competition, increase costs, and impose mandates without evidence of better outcomes. Several senators objected to the skilled-and-trained requirement as limiting opportunities for contractors who comply with state law, while others noted the issue was already common in higher education construction. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote on AB 1235 was captured.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have always prided myself on being a teacher before a legislator.
• We as legislators are responsible for our children.
• has been offered and their plan for offering independent study.
• has been offered and their plan for offering independent study.
• I think that that would make this legislation better.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes. The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously. Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• matter up without leg a legislative fix. matter up without leg a legislative fix.
• know interim study from our perspective<04:17:37.040> interim<04:17:37.439> study<04:17
• I do know that I'm a legislator.
• of clarity as can happen in legislators of clarity as can happen in legislators legislatores<05:
• I do know that I'm a legislator. or not. I do know that I'm a legislator.

Keywords: 9:00am HB 155 9:30am HB 1102 10:30am HB 1109 11:00am HB 1356 11:30am HB 1469 1:00pm HB 1323 2:00pm HB 1376, 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with unanimous committee approval of amendment 2026-2021S to HB 2. Senator Lang explained the amendment corrected a drafting error so that $2.5 million in state funds, matched with federal money for a total of $5 million, could be spent during the biennium rather than lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The money is intended to stabilize Medicaid per diem rates for county nursing homes, and members agreed without objection to adopt the amendment and continue working from the bill as amended by the Senate. The committee then discussed HB 155 and a proposed amendment, 2026-201H, dealing with the business enterprise tax. The House side described the proposal as a compromise that would raise the filing threshold from $250,000 to $375,000 and create a trigger that would reduce the BET rate by 0.05% for each $100 million in combined business tax surplus, down to a floor of 0.25%. Senate members opposed lowering the rate at this time, arguing that tax relief should focus on the filing threshold, which they said would remove filing burdens for about 3,500 small businesses, and that rate cuts should be considered in a budget cycle rather than an off-year. Concerns were raised that one-time revenues, such as tax amnesty receipts or federal repatriation-related surpluses, could unintentionally trigger reductions. Representative Sweeney later offered a revised approach by moving the effective date of the trigger mechanism to January 1, 2028, and said he was also willing to carve out tax amnesty revenues or adjust the effective date to avoid using one-time funds. The Senate remained unwilling to agree to a rate reduction, though it expressed openness to raising the filing threshold further. The committee ultimately did not resolve the business tax issue and recessed to continue discussions at a later time. The final item discussed was HB 1102, concerning an increase in the research and development tax credit paired with changes to state park fees. House members supported the R&D credit increase but opposed tying it to higher park fees, citing concerns about tourism, especially at border parks, and noting that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources had said it did not need the increase. Senate members defended the park fee changes as a fairness issue, arguing that New Hampshire residents should pay less than out-of-state visitors and that the department had not raised rates in many years. No vote was taken on this item during the discussion captured here.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:48.400> And<00:04:48.639> in legislative oversight committee.
• And in legislative oversight committee.
• that's a legislative decision. that's a legislative decision. represent<01:00:30.079> Prono.
• legislation? legislation?
• We then, out of that traffic study, were forced to relocate our school entrance.

Keywords: 1189, house, all