Transcript Highlights:

• AUC research studies entitled The Magnitude of California's Water Challenges estimates a shortfall in
• A new UC study, entitled Inaction's Economic Costs for California's Water Supply Challenges, estimates
• So your study, which was done just a year or so later than the Governor's, was off by $2 million from
• what the Governor's study did?
• And if we're not building the 9 million acre-feet, we asked the University of California to do a study

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry, I didn't do my usual studying up on the bills before I got here. You had a long night.
• Studies indicate that employing just 100 formerly incarcerated individuals can increase their lifetime
• We'll now have to add a data tag to scenarios of DNA studies, as well as use the already limited time
• Exactly after studying the committee substitute, I have a lot of concerns. OK, so let's go ahead.
• But first, let's all get a chance to study the committee substitute. If there are more questions.

Bills: SB315, SB584, SB1228, SB1484, SB1860, SB1802

Keywords: DNA privacy, genetic privacy, genetic testing, genetic material, DNA ownership, property right in DNA, genetic consent, biological sample, genomics, genetic data, HIPAA, health information privacy, health care provider, research ethics, human subjects research, law enforcement DNA, forensic DNA, paternity testing, medical examiner, genetic discrimination

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we're going to launch the full-blown study and the construction to replace that.
• Chairman, because it just piqued my interest about an upcoming study, so on page 9...
• Yes, so on page 9, there is an upcoming study...
• Yes, this study will look at the... ...look at the corridor of several miles and determine how access
• That's what the study is aimed at. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Transcript Highlights:

• But additionally, in 2018 there was a biomass economic impact study, as well as a Duth Steam Plant study
• materials environmental impact study materials environmental impact study and<00:15:30.519> then
• There was a weather trend study, and then an energy savings loan as well.
• <00:18:18.600> program new geothermal feasibility study program new geothermal feasibility
• study program launched<00:18:19.480> this<00:18:19.640> year<00:18:20.559> since

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill, we had a study done by the U.S.
• This study alone was just about extreme heat. Storms, all those costs.
• This study alone was just about extreme heat.
• We don't have any problem with a study.
• Support and cooperation in any sort of study that y'all want to conduct.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I know that the cabinet is going to talk about the fish study that they did, where they took samples
• So our government has been slow to sort of study this issue and adopt any kind of uniform guidelines
• this issue and adopt to sort of study this issue and adopt any<00:07:54.479> kind<00:07:54.720
• But, you know, the EPA, the FDA, and the USDA are all studying PFAS.
• I don't understand are all studying PAS.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:40 Chair Comments 00:02:51 Rep. Nima Kulkarni PFAS Presentation 00:04:35 EEC PFAS Presentation 00:39:36 Rusty Cress PFAS Presentation 01:01:10 Chair Comments on Admin Regs and Reports Received 01:14:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair has set aside some consideration for our Senate to study the issue of sports wagering.
• to study the issue of sports wagering. to study the issue of sports wagering.
• As it relates to the study, I think the one comment I wasn't intending to make, but since it's up for
• I think the one comment I wasn't study.
• are our horsemen involved in that study are our horsemen who<00:25:18.080> quite<00:25:18.400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we do everything from drug development to clinical studies and interventional trials.
• the human brain I uh be able to study the human brain I uh can<00:37:52.599> say<00:37:53.000
• <00:37:59.160> human used um most uh often to study human used um most uh often to study human
• For example, the techniques that we have perfected for studying the brain have been commercialized.
• For example, the techniques that we have perfected for studying the brain have been commercialized.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] I wanted to try to get the EIDBI licensure study report in, but we had a great conversation and
• As I mentioned earlier, we've done this study in three phases.
• As I mentioned earlier, we've done this study in three phases.
• As I mentioned earlier, we've done this study in three phases.
• So some providers who participated in our study said they need more direction from DHS.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from DHS on its early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) study and related licensing proposal. Christy Grom explained that EIDBI is a Medical Assistance state plan service for children and young adults under 21 with autism or related conditions, and that DHS’s multi-phase evaluation included standards review, community engagement, and a comparison with other states. She said the service is important but that DHS identified gaps in oversight, including stretched clinical supervision, providers affiliated with many centers, out-of-state providers, and rapid growth in enrollment that has outpaced current monitoring capacity. DHS’s main recommendation was to create a provisional license for EIDBI in Chapter 245A as an immediate step, with later work toward full licensing standards. The proposal would let DHS identify controlling individuals, disqualify ineligible people, investigate maltreatment, suspend or revoke licenses, require background studies and qualifications before service delivery, move EIDBI providers into a higher-risk category for revalidation, and make DHS the lead investigative agency for maltreatment. DHS also recommended statutory standards for supervision, caseloads, training, and documentation, while emphasizing the need to balance oversight with continued access to services. Grom said the provisional licensure proposal is part of the governor’s budget and that DHS hopes to begin implementation in 2025, with a possible full license start date in 2028. Testifiers then spoke in support of EIDBI while urging the committee to preserve access and include more community input. Ana Hagi Muhammad, a parent of three autistic children and a Somali community advocate, said EIDBI has been beneficial for her family and that community organizations serving Somali families have not been sufficiently engaged in DHS’s process. Ana Muhammad, a Black mother of a young autistic child, said ABA has helped her son with communication, self-regulation, and independence, and asked that discussions reflect the diversity of family experiences. Committee members asked testifiers to keep remarks brief and to identify which modality they use, and the chair indicated the committee would continue hearing from additional testifiers before further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• input from myself, the staff at the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston, the Charter Study
• I have a degree in human psychology, and I've invested more than $45,000 in my dog training studies.
• municipalities, consulted studies, and undertook a robust process of community engagement.
• consulted studies and undertook a robust process of community engagement we held approximately 50 open
• COVID-19 and long COVID have been under clinical study over the last five years and appear to affect

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got a short refresher for you on the cooling need study that ODOE conducted with our consultant
• The study focused on three types of housing: mobile and manufactured homes, publicly supported rental
• The estimated cost to install permanent cooling equipment in all the housing types studied across the
• So kind of data sense that study. Thank you.
• In the study, heat pumps were the preferred solution for efficient cooling and heating service.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee met for a series of information sessions focused on housing stabilization, rental assistance, senior housing, and heat resilience. In the first panel, OHCS and NOAA described the state’s affordable housing preservation work, including the $35 million in 2025 stabilization funding used to reduce debt and keep distressed affordable rental projects operating, plus manufactured home park preservation efforts. OHCS said the portfolio remains under strain, with about a third of projects at debt coverage ratios of 1.0 or less and rising insurance and operating costs. NOAA urged faster closings on the stabilization awards, more funding in 2027, and broader rent assistance and process reforms. Committee members asked about the gap between current appropriations and need, and OHCS explained that the new Article 11-Q bond preservation program is structured differently and requires full refinancing rather than simple cash infusions. The committee then heard a detailed discussion of the state’s eviction prevention and rental assistance program, ORDAP. OHCS said the program is administered through community action agencies, prioritizes households at imminent risk of eviction, and is now funded at a much lower level than in the prior biennium, reducing expected service to about 8,200 households this biennium. The Oregon Law Center, a county community action agency, and Multifamily Northwest all agreed the program prevents homelessness and is effective, but they differed on whether assistance should be tied so closely to eviction court. Legal aid and community action witnesses said the current system is underfunded and that eviction filings are the clearest indicator of need, while Multifamily Northwest argued the process can push people into court unnecessarily and should be moved earlier when possible. Legislators raised questions about whether a pre-eviction model could be developed and about the costs of court involvement; one member shared a personal story about how rental assistance helped keep their family housed. Next, the governor’s office, OHCS, and OHA presented on the new senior housing initiative and healthy homes work. The governor’s housing director said Oregon is making progress on homelessness and housing production, with reductions in homelessness outside Multnomah County and an estimated 50,000 future units added to the pipeline through recent state actions. OHCS outlined the senior housing programs launched in May: a debt-financing program using elderly and disabled bond authority, an older adult housing development program funded through the senior property tax deferral revolving account, and a rehousing program for older adults that will use bridge funding and services to move at least 400 unsheltered older Oregonians into housing. OHA also described its Healthy Homes Grant Program, including $24.6 million already awarded, a new $5 million grant round for seniors and people with disabilities, and examples of home repairs and weatherization that help people remain safely housed. The final information session focused on home cooling and heat resilience. OHA presented data showing rising extreme heat days, more heat-related emergency visits, and likely undercounted heat deaths, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities, and people without access to healthy homes. ODOE reviewed implementation of Senate Bill 1536, including a cooling needs study that found 58% of surveyed households in the studied housing types needed permanent cooling, with estimated statewide costs of $582 million to $1 billion. ODOE said its rental home heat pump and community heat pump programs have supported 4,638 installations so far, with a temporary reopening planned using remaining funds. The session ended with a remote presentation from a Community Action Partnership of Oregon representative, continuing the discussion of how community action agencies help deliver energy and anti-poverty services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it's all of the amendments and contracts for our planning studies, as well as any amendments we had
• basically enacting it so we can get started as the office and the commission on working on those studies
• as well as any for our planning studies as well as any amendments<00:01:31.439> we<00:01:31.680
• <00:02:00.799> and on uh working on those studies and on uh working on those studies and working
• The consultant that we are going under contract with will complete the study, and the amount of that

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A New Mexico study repeated that same study and showed that one physician generates 11.4 jobs and $1.9
• And there's good science on this, and this is not a one-up study. Show the next.
• This competition is happening, even though study after study have shown that business location decisions
• Many of these studies are good and accurate within the limits of economic modeling.
• I never saw an economic study.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion. The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care. The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hernandez shared that in terms of We just completed a supply and demand study that shows exactly that
• And the cost, quality, and outcome study had come out on child growth and development.
• It's because the studies that justified this, one, targeted low-income at-risk families, and our state
• What you'll see is that Firstborn, to your previous point, is currently being studied in a multi-year
• study to see if it can receive Medicaid reimbursement, so that is in the works.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a senior at the University of Minnesota studying plant science and the former president of Lambda
• I'm a senior at the University of<00:03:53.680> Minnesota<00:03:54.200> studying<00:03:
• 54.600> plant<00:03:54.920> science<00:03:55.840> and of Minnesota studying plant
• science and of Minnesota studying plant science and the<00:03:56.040> former<00:03:56.320>
• I mean, study on the Saint Paul campus? >> Misty Walt. Um, Representative Carroll, thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB Number 48 by DARB relating to the creation of a working group to study alert notification systems
• HB number 60 by Lopez at Cameron relating to the study by the Texas Water Development Board of the state
• Infrastructure fund and the implementation of streamlining procedures based on the results of the study
• HB number 68 by Lopez and Cameron relating to the study by the Texas Water Development Board on the cost
• HB 152 by money relating to a study of alternative methods of taxation to replace revenue loss to political

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd be in support of studying it. flaws. I'd be in support of studying it.
• I'm thinking about studying it. I know you are. I don't want another study commission.
• it studied a little. it studied a little.
• I'm thinking about studying thinking? I'm thinking about studying it. it. it.
• completed extensive animal studies. completed extensive animal studies.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:42.240> for the general fund for some studies for the general fund for some studies
• to extend the effective date for a study to extend the effective date for a study due<01:48:01.760
• So the study is essentially a two-prong study to compare the method introduced in Senate File 1111 as
• > a<01:52:36.159> two-prong the study is essentially a two-prong the study is essentially
• :38.239> method<01:52:38.560> introduced study to compare the method introduced study to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unanimously agreed to have a study. unanimously agreed to have a study.
• is the ACES study, right?
• is the ACES study, right?
• is the ACES study, right?
• is the ACES study, right?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several housing, landlord-tenant, and condominium-related measures. Senate Bill 62, relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, would allow HPHA-owned parcels and related areas such as parking lots to be closed to the public with posted signage; HPHA strongly supported the bill, saying it would help reduce loitering, drinking, and other problems, and no further testimony was offered. Senate Bill 822, relating to the landlord tenant code, would create a three-year working group in the Department of the Attorney General to study and improve the residential landlord-tenant code. The Judiciary supported the measure but said the scope should be narrowed; the Attorney General opposed leading the group and suggested another agency should do so; Hawaii Realtors and the Hawaii Worker Center supported the concept and suggested moving the chairmanship to the Judiciary and including Legal Aid participation. The Judiciary said it could chair the group if the bill were narrowed to matters within the court’s purview. Senate Bill 38, relating to housing, would limit counties from imposing stricter conditions, AMI requirements, or fee-waiver reductions on certain affordable housing proposals if those changes would increase project costs. HHFDC supported the bill, saying county changes after state approval create uncertainty for developers, while the Hawaii State Association of Counties opposed it as an intrusion on local authority and a restriction on county safety and infrastructure conditions. Members asked about whether existing county review periods were sufficient, and the county association said the main concern was the bill’s language limiting counties from making cost-increasing conditions. Senate Bill 146, relating to condominiums, would revise alternative dispute resolution procedures for condo disputes, including evaluative mediation and binding arbitration. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission said it took no position overall but supported a $150 mediation fee and asked for a similar arbitration fee; Community Associations Institute supported the bill with suggested amendments; however, most testimony was strongly opposed by condominium owners and advocates, who said the bill had been changed to the detriment of owners and would increase costs and reduce protections. The committee noted 44 testimonies on the bill, with 2 in support, 37 in opposition, and 2 with comments. Senate Bill 253, relating to condominium reserves, would require a detailed budget summary to stand on its own, remove a good-faith defense for certain noncompliant budgets, and clarify standing and the association’s burden regarding substantial compliance. Hawaii Realtors and Community Associations Institute supported the measure as improving transparency and giving owners and buyers a clearer picture of association finances. Greg Msakian also supported it, arguing it would help owners and describing problems he experienced with budget committee exclusion and budget noncompliance in his own association. The discussion ended while testimony on the bill was still underway, with additional witnesses expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I move interimm study. Mr. Chair, I move interimm study.
• <03:08:23.120> study<03:08:23.439> from<03:08:23.600> the A separate study,
• a case study from the A separate study, a case study from the National<03:08:24.080> Library<03
• This raises serious questions studies.
• Another study found that there are, say, a review actually of other studies found that there are mental

Keywords: 1189, house, all