Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, once again, I'm here to address the situation of California's wasteful spending.
• </c><04:36:17.760><c> of</c> resolution is actually a giant waste of resolution is actually a giant waste
• needed to waste time while they<04:37:20.080><c> hammer</c><04:37:20.480><c> out</c><04:37:20.799><c
• I don't know why we're wasting time on this floor.
• I urge members to reject this wasteful, harmful, anti-competition bill, and I reserve the balance of

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the fraud, waste, and abuse administrator within program integrity.
• So, again, I have three units in that fraud, waste, and abuse section.
• One of them, provider integrity, we look at Medicaid provider fraud, waste, and abuse.
• </c> that fraud, waste, and abuse section. that fraud, waste, and abuse section.
• We do that on the waste, and abuse.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns. Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note. The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• , reducing waste, and saving taxpayer<01:21:29.760><c> dollars.
• So they enter the waste stream. They're just wasted.
• They're<01:30:06.480><c> just</c><01:30:06.920><c> wasted.
• So this is a really They're just wasted.
• It keeps drugs out of the waste stream, and I think it'd be a really risky business model.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A larger space will allow us to decrease food waste. It will decrease our food cost.
• It will decrease our food food waste.
• Uh, I'll just close by saying, you know, we waste so much food in our country, as Chair Kativis Watun
• </c><01:46:39.360><c> so</c><01:46:39.520><c> much</c> by saying, you know, we waste so much by saying
• It could go to people that go to waste. It could go to people that are<01:46:53.119><c> hungry.

Bills: HF2078 , HF777 , HF841 , HF1112 , HF1098 , HF1926

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child care, day care, child care center, licensing, license requirements, parent access, guardian access, custody order, court order, furnishings, equipment standards, learning materials, early childhood education, infant care, toddler care, preschool, school-age child care, play materials, sensory materials, gross motor equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• is having the resources for the agency to complete critical oversight functions to eliminate fraud, waste
• is having the resources for the agency to complete critical oversight functions to eliminate fraud, waste
• is having the resources for the agency to complete critical oversight functions to eliminate fraud, waste
• I'm worried that we're going to have a ton of waste or a lot of plates that now are going to go to waste
• I'm worried that we're going to have a ton of waste or a lot of plates that now are going to go to waste

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $350 million wasted.
• It almost... ...$350 million wasted, almost $1 million spent on veneer for what?

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met and took several budget-related items out of order. It first approved a revised Auditor’s Office letter and amendment that reduced requested salary and match increases to 10 percent for operations and UCP, and then approved a revised Lieutenant Governor’s Office request that kept positions at line-item maximums while revising regular salary and match appropriations to a total increase of $99,876. Both items passed without objection. The committee then considered a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one Governor senior advisor position, reducing authorized positions from 59 to 58 and cutting regular salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the change was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s conduct, transparency, and refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Members debated the relevance of the amendment to current duties, whether the governor could still hire the individual in another role, and whether a Board of Corrections member could speak. After discussion, the committee rejected the amendment on a roll call vote. Under regular business, the committee approved an OPM request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can recruit two medical examiners, with pay up to $300,000 for those positions. Members also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school, including clinic, lab, communications, mental health, and administrative roles. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're wasting money. We are absolutely a waste of money. We're giving them away free money.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• 39:46.800><c> you</c> The A57 amendment just cleans up the language a little bit on the infectious waste
• </c> yesterday of infectious waste. yesterday of infectious waste.
• Will you be taking it at the waste facility?
• to see what other categories make waste to see what other categories make sense. sense. sense.
• </c> those that generate waste to Newport? those that generate waste to Newport?

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do Senator Lucero asked whether there are any pre- and post-metrics on the amount of waste schools would
• He said it would be interesting to know whether waste levels have increased.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thanks for coming in today, Assistant Commissioner. levels of waste have
• increased uh so levels of waste have increased uh so again<00:17:14.240><c> thank</c><00:17:14.360><c
• by being responsive to decreases waste by being responsive to our<00:34:14.359><c> students</c><00:34

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• exposing occupants to hazardous living conditions and creating broader public health risks, like improper waste
• living in squalor just because it's a motor home that's a dilapidated motor home with the trash and waste
• posed by a lapsed 602 letter, current law also poses indirect risks due to administrative costs and wasted
• posed by a lapse 602 letter, current law also poses indirect risks due to administrative costs and wasted
• property owners who are frustrated with repeated trespassing, which often results in trash, bodily waste

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we definitely haven't wasted any work that has been done. We can still build off of it.
• I wouldn't say waste, and I wouldn't say that we're behind schedule.
• They do it to protect against fraud or waste of public dollars. Can I respond to that? Yes.
• They do to protect against fraud or waste of public dollars. Can I respond to that? Yes.
• So, in the A waste of public dollars. And I'm going to... Can I respond to that one? Yes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Noam Elroy, on behalf of Rethink Waste, the California Compost Coalition, and People, Food
• Good morning, Noam Elroy, on behalf of Rethink Waste, the California Compost Coalition, and People, Food
• , wildfire resilience, clean transportation, and climate adaptation, including support for organic waste
• , wildfire resilience, clean transportation, and climate adaptation, including support for organic waste
• million for zero-emission heavy-duty and medium-duty vehicles, as well as $29 million for organic waste

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only have millions of taxpayer dollars been wasted in the name of DEI, this philosophy has fostered
• Much of the division of our peoples and wasted money is occurring To do.
• Much of the division of our peoples and wasted money is occurring in municipal and county government.
• DEI has become a wasteful, bureaucratic boondoggle.
• Uses like this are about saving money, not wasting it. I hope we can also agree on this.

Summary: The subcommittee first took up HB 387 on ADS-B airport billing. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would stop airports and third-party vendors from using federally required automatic dependent surveillance broadcast data to calculate landing or touch-and-go fees, arguing the technology was intended for safety and collision avoidance, not invoicing. An amendment clarifying touch-and-go landings and other fee calculations was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably 15-0. Members then heard several local and policy bills. CS/HB 803 on private-provider building permits and inspections drew broad support from industry groups and was reported favorably 14-1. HB 451 and HB 4053, local fire-district assessment bills, were presented as relief for homeowners and churches facing higher non-ad valorem assessments; both were reported favorably after amendments, with testimony emphasizing impacts on houses of worship and local communities. PCS/HB 1329 on local government spending transparency prompted extensive debate over searchable budget formats, posting requirements, and possible unfunded mandates; supporters framed it as taxpayer access and accountability, while opponents argued many local governments already provide this information and that the bill could impose costs. It was reported favorably 8-4. The committee also advanced PCS/HB 927 on local land planning and development, which would allow qualified professionals to assist with pre-application reviews; local government representatives raised concerns about preemption and environmental restrictions, but the bill was reported favorably 13-2. HB 929 on chickee huts, PCS/HB 4081 on expanding a local water and sewer district by referendum, and HB 489 conveying the Trenton Train Depot to the city and county all passed unanimously or near-unanimously. HB 1211, a Department of Military Affairs bill updating leave and assistance-program provisions, was amended and reported favorably. HB 1041, creating business incentives for veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses, also passed 13-0 after amendment and supportive testimony from members and veterans. The final item shown was HB 1001, a bill restricting county and municipal DEI-related actions and contracting; the sponsor described it as a response to division and waste, and members began questioning its definitions, scope, and potential effects on training and civil actions, but the transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I oppose the waste of my money and my tax dollars.
• And wasting that money on doing this type of legislation is unacceptable to me.
• And I believe it's a waste of time, and I don't understand how you guys can be in favor.
• And it's a huge waste of money.
• How do we have this kind of money to waste at a time like this in California when so much is getting

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you do things like convert organic waste to energy, you increase energy reliability.
• I'm with Californians Against Waste.
• On behalf of the California Compost Coalition, Rethink Waste, and CR in our Environmental Services, I
• would like to echo the sentiments of Californians Against Waste made earlier.
• would like to echo the sentiments of Californians against waste made earlier.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee No. 4 hearing focused on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and cap-and-trade reauthorization, with members and panelists discussing how to balance climate goals, affordability, and legislative oversight. The chair emphasized the hearing as a broad review of past GGRF spending and future options, while the LAO outlined how GGRF revenues are generated, how variable they have been, and the tradeoffs between continuous appropriations and annual budget control. Two academic panelists, Dr. Kyle Meng and Danny Cullen Ward, argued that cap-and-trade remains an effective climate policy, but stressed that future revenue will depend heavily on market design, allowance allocation, and price levels. They also raised the idea that GGRF could be used more directly for affordability, especially by lowering electricity costs, and for targeted investments in technologies that the market would not otherwise support. Committee members pressed the panelists on where revenues come from, how much has actually been spent, and whether continuous appropriations reduce oversight. CARB staff said more than $33 billion has been generated to date and a little over $11–12 billion has been spent, with the rest committed or in process, and noted that project timelines can be lengthy. Members also asked about ways to lower electricity rates, reduce wildfire-related utility liabilities, and support electrification. The panelists said transportation fuels are the largest source of GGRF revenue, that industrial emitters receive a smaller share of free allowances, and that reducing wildfire liability and investing in grid-scale batteries could help lower costs and speed decarbonization. Public commenters largely urged the Legislature to preserve or expand continuous appropriations for specific climate programs. Speakers supported funding for nature-based solutions, natural and working lands, urban greening, agricultural climate solutions, waste and composting programs, clean transportation, AB 617 community air protection, clean cars, transit, affordable housing near transit, and dairy digesters. Several groups argued these programs are cost-effective, provide public health and affordability benefits, and should receive dedicated shares of GGRF. Others urged reducing free allowances and using more GGRF revenue to directly lower energy costs for households. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• remain focused on affordability, it's essential that we take action to lower energy costs, reduce waste
• remain focused on affordability, it's essential that we take action to lower energy costs, reduce waste
• I understand managing budgets is difficult, but this is not wasteful spending.
• ACEEE is a nonprofit research organization that develops policies to reduce energy waste and combat climate

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Summary: The hearing focused on the value of Mass Save, with committee members and witnesses largely emphasizing that the program lowers energy bills, reduces peak demand, supports climate goals, and delivers benefits beyond direct participants. The chair opened by noting Mass Save’s long-term savings, its role in weatherization and heat pump deployment, and recent statutory changes directing the program toward emissions reductions, low- and moderate-income households, and fossil-fuel restrictions. Elizabeth Mahoney of the Department of Energy Resources said the program has evolved to broaden access and control costs, citing large weatherization totals, heat pump installations, avoided emissions, and budget controls that removed $500 million from the approved plan. She also said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer Mass Save was intended to reduce administrative and procurement costs, and she explained that outreach to low- and moderate-income communities is counted within marketing spending. Several witnesses addressed the program’s workforce and business impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, contractors, and thousands of jobs by creating stable demand for energy-efficiency work, while warning that sharp budget cuts would lead to layoffs and discourage investment in training, equipment, and hiring. Committee members pressed them on who administers the program, and both said the program administrators and utilities collaborate, with day-to-day contractor oversight and customer work largely delegated to private vendors and community partners. Other witnesses, including Brian Biot and James Collins of the low-income network, described the “quarterbacking” model used for income-eligible customers, where community action agencies provide full project management, technical support, and wraparound services to help households access fuel assistance, discount rates, weatherization, and electrification measures. A major theme was cost-effectiveness and system-wide savings. Anna Johnson of ACEEE and Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said Mass Save returns more than it costs, reduces peak demand, and lowers prices for all ratepayers, including those who do not participate directly. They cited avoided costs in the billions, strong state rankings, and examples of peak-hour savings that avoid expensive generation and infrastructure. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that energy efficiency is the cheapest way to achieve greenhouse gas reductions and that cutting the program would force more expensive power plants to run. Bronte Payne of Sunrun and Ben Sondaga of Highland Electric Fleets highlighted Connected Solutions, a Mass Save-funded virtual power plant program, saying it saves ratepayers money and can use home batteries and electric school buses to reduce peak demand and support grid reliability. Equity and affordable housing witnesses, including Mary Wampo and Barney Heath, said Mass Save has become more responsive to renters, low-income households, and designated equity communities, while also helping affordable housing projects meet passive house and electrification standards; no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kathy, so you're saying that this is no longer going to be classified as a waste of sugar cane
• that this is no longer going to be classified as a waste of sugar cane, correct? Right.
• photographs, and I'm sure they would make no representation that this large stockpile of hazardous waste
• that this large and I'm sure they would make no representation that this large stockpile of hazardous waste

Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502

Committees: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development , House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2A program, seasonal workforce, Louisiana economy, Healthy Food Retail Act, food access, food deserts, economic opportunity, public health, Louisiana agriculture, community development, fresh food, agriculture, national security, food production, supply chain, security task force, farm labor, Chinese investments

Transcript Highlights:

• drive operational changes, starting with strengthening our financial integrity and preventing fraud, waste
• drive operational changes, starting with strengthening our financial integrity and preventing fraud, waste
• We have our integrity and preventing fraud waste and abuse we have already put our new protocols to the
• I'd love to be able to promise that we would never have an instance of fraud, waste, and abuse again,

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another misleading idea is that protecting these rights would increase wasted blood.
• Currently, no, most of those donations are wasted, and if they're not used, then they are discarded.
• But the blood is not wasted.
• directed and autologous donations often go unused because they are set aside for a single patient, wasting

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee began with introductions of three new Senate pages, who briefly described their backgrounds and interests. The committee then approved the minutes from February 3rd by voice vote. The first bill heard was House Bill 558, which would codify protections for foster youth’s Social Security survivor benefits so those funds remain with the child rather than being used by the state. The sponsor and committee members discussed that the bill would align state law with an existing executive order, clarify that it applies only to foster youth, and help young people transition out of foster care. After questions about fiscal impact and how the benefits work, the committee voted to send HB 558 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 528, dealing with directed and autologous blood donations. Supporters said the bill would clarify Idaho law, protect patient choice, and address reported barriers to obtaining directed donations for planned procedures. Opponents, including Red Cross and blood center representatives, argued the bill was unnecessary because such donations are already allowed, could create confusion, add cost, and imply the general blood supply is unsafe. After extensive testimony from medical professionals, patients, and advocacy groups on both sides, the committee voted to send HB 528 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with one member requesting to be recorded as opposed.

Transcript Highlights:

• earlier, one of the engineered wood products that is low carbon does take all of the what is frequently waste
• point earlier, one of the engineered wood products that is low carbon does take all of the frequently waste
• working with our forestry and communities that need the forest thinning and are going to be producing a waste
• , we're providing the off-take for that waste.

Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete