Transcript Highlights:

• , too high even after accounting for all the damages from greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
• These high costs make it harder for people. this bill would change it from a lump sum to instead directly
• These high costs make it harder for people.
• And I think for our ratepayers, for our residents who are in high wildfire zones, anything we're doing
• And I think for our rate payers, for our residents who are in high wildfire zones, anything we're doing

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard two bills focused on electricity affordability and utility costs. AB 745, by Assembly Member Irwin, would restructure the California Climate Credit by shifting it from lump-sum payments to direct reductions in volumetric electricity rates and moving the credit to the summer months when bills are highest. The author and UC Santa Barbara economist Dr. Kyle Meng argued this could significantly lower summer rates and better help households during extreme heat. Supporters, including UCS, NRDC, and some labor representatives, favored the concept, with some urging that the gas climate credit also be redirected. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed 18-0 to the floor. The committee then considered AB 825, also presented as an affordability package aimed at reducing electric bills by addressing wildfire mitigation costs, transmission financing, permitting delays, and a review of ratepayer-funded programs. The bill would authorize securitization for undergrounding expenses, remove the first $15 billion in undergrounding capital investments from the rate base for return purposes, create a public transmission financing program using Proposition 4 funds and IBank support, revive the California Power Authority as a public sponsor, and establish a task force to review energy efficiency and demand response programs. The author and witness Matt Friedman of The Utility Reform Network said the bill could save ratepayers billions over time through lower-cost public financing and securitization. Testimony on AB 825 was mixed. Support came from several consumer and clean-energy groups, while utilities and labor raised concerns about the bill’s impact on utility financial stability, wildfire fund participation, liability, and whether the $15 billion securitization cap could discourage undergrounding. Some witnesses also objected to the task force’s potential effect on energy efficiency and demand response programs. Committee members discussed the need to balance affordability with utility creditworthiness and wildfire safety, and several asked for more analysis of market impacts and liability issues. Despite those concerns, AB 825 passed the committee 13-0 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• refiners and also in terms of pegging them at high risk for leakage. feedback that we've been getting
• refiners and also in terms of pegging them at high risk for leakage.
• Refiners, and also in terms of pegging them at high risk for leakage.
• But again, in the abundance of caution, we did set everyone at high risk for leakage through the end
• I think it's bad for energy security. It's bad for jobs. It's bad for our economy.

Summary: The committee heard an overview and discussion of CARB’s proposed amendments to California’s Cap-and-Invest program, implemented under AB 1207 and SB 840. Chairs and members emphasized the program’s role in meeting climate targets while balancing affordability, and CARB described the proposal as intended to preserve market certainty, strengthen cost containment, address utility affordability, and support the state’s 2045 carbon-neutrality goal. CARB also noted the public comment period, the planned board hearing, and the goal of an effective date of September 1, 2026. Members questioned CARB on several implementation issues, including whether the rulemaking would be completed on time, the treatment of carbon capture and sequestration, the timing of the transfer of allowances from natural gas utilities to electric utilities, and the impact on ratepayers. CARB said it was on track to meet the May deadline, that CCUS/CDR could be further refined in the proposal and would also be addressed in a separate SB 905 rulemaking later in the year, and that it was seeking to protect ratepayers while inviting more utility data during the comment period. The committee also discussed refining-sector leakage risk, gasoline imports, and how imported fuel is accounted for under cap-and-invest versus the low-carbon fuel standard. A second panel of outside experts and stakeholders then testified. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and IEMAC representatives explained the major statutory changes, including putting offsets under the cap, shifting allowances from natural gas to electric utilities over time, and changing how allowance value is divided among utilities, industry, and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. They stressed that CARB has significant discretion in setting the allowance “pie,” and that more free allocations to utilities or industry reduce GGRF revenues. EDF’s representative argued the proposal should be adopted this spring, said the utility transition should happen faster, and urged a tighter near-term emissions cap. SCAPA, representing publicly owned utilities, opposed the proposed utility allocation changes, saying they would reduce expected allowances, undermine long-term planning, and could force higher rates or reduced decarbonization investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, this bill was introduced last year with high hopes that it would be in the 2025 season.
• Of course, this bill was introduced last year with high hopes that it would be in the 2025 season.
• Of course, this bill was introduced last year with high hopes that it would be in the 2025 season.
• </c> committee for further consideration. committee for further consideration.
• </c> Thank you for your time. Thank you for your time.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3169 is a bill that would set requirements for a study on barriers for suicide prevention
• Hope starts here. Thank you. Thank you very much for being here and your testimony.
• </c> Hope starts here. Thank you. Hope starts here. Thank you.
• > Prevention</c><00:04:46.560><c> and</c> Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Coalition for Suicide
• So, thank you for your time.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• school juniors and seniors use most high school juniors and seniors use um<00:24:43.600><c> for</c><
• "Yeah, so a lot of our high schools use a post-secondary planning tool, and for my kids it was Naviance
• We'll have about 4 million high school graduates, and that will be true for the next several years.
• We'll have about 4 million high school graduates, and that will be true for the next several years.
• We'll have about 4 million high school graduates, and that will be true for the next several years.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Public Higher Education Study Committee held an organizational meeting and received an update from the university and community college systems on implementation of recommendations from the governor’s higher education task force. The systems said the task force report contained about 40 recommendations, and they have focused first on operational items while continuing to work on larger policy issues, including better alignment of public higher education with workforce and economic development needs. The committee also discussed reporting requirements under the amended law and whether quarterly reports are required or whether annual updates are sufficient unless the committee requests more. A major topic was expanding Early College and dual-enrollment opportunities. The chancellors reported strong growth in Early College participation, significant student and family savings, and state scholarship support that they described as producing a strong return on investment. They said the goal is to build clearer pathways so students can earn college credit, reduce debt, and stay in New Hampshire for postsecondary education. They also noted ongoing work to simplify admissions and transfer processes, including about 100 transfer pathways between the systems, direct-admit efforts for community college and university students, and continued development of transfer equivalency tools. Members pressed the systems and the Department of Education on direct outreach to high school students, especially juniors, so students would know they are eligible for direct admission and other opportunities. The main obstacle discussed was access to student contact information, with officials saying the issue may involve contract limits with the College Board and possibly statutory constraints on sharing data. Department of Education staff said they are meeting with the systems and vendors to determine what changes are needed. Committee members urged faster action so students and families can receive letters or other notices about in-state options, affordability programs such as Granite Guarantee, and pathways to community college and university enrollment.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of it comes down to how do we engineer our schools to be more engaging for high school students.
• All of it comes down to how do we engineer our schools to be more engaging for high school students.
• All of it comes down to how do we engineer our schools to be more engaging for high school students.
• ><c> uh</c> engaging for high school students uh engaging for high school students uh this<01:04:46.480
• My name is Jeff Piki, and I've been an educator for 25 years, with the last 18 years as a high school

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the 2011 plan.
• 80% for 12 years.
• They weren’t too high.
• for us.
• We hope the asset allocation changes produce better, higher returns for the fund, and that keeping the

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held an informational hearing on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) to review its long-term financial condition, funding status, investment performance, experience study results, and possible legislation. MOSERS staff explained that the plan is a statutorily created defined benefit system covering state employees, several colleges and quasi-governmental entities, with an 11-member board and outside actuarial and investment consultants. They reported the June 30, 2025 valuation showed a funded ratio of 55.4%, assets of about $9.6 billion, liabilities of about $17.4 billion, and a FY27 actuarial employer rate of 27.44%, which the board raised to a 32% minimum contribution rate under a policy adopted in 2023. MOSERS attributed the funding decline over time to several factors: reductions in the assumed investment return from 8.5% to 6.95%, mortality assumption updates, a move from open to closed amortization, and especially weak payroll growth and a shrinking active workforce. Staff said the minimum contribution policy is intended to accelerate UAL paydown and could bring the plan to 80% funded by 2037 rather than 2041, assuming all assumptions are met. The committee also discussed the recent experience study, which kept the investment return assumption at 6.95% and made only modest assumption changes, and a proposed 2026 bill package (SB 1557 and SB 1054) that would automatically refund small balances under $1,000 to terminated non-vested members and add auto-escalation to the deferred compensation plan. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on investment strategy and why MOSERS has lagged some peers. The investment consultant said historical underperformance was driven mainly by asset allocation choices that emphasized a more risk-balanced, diversified portfolio with less public equity exposure than peers during a period when equities performed very strongly. He said the board adopted a more equity-oriented allocation in 2024 and is phasing it in over eight quarters, with recent short-term results improving and the portfolio outperforming its policy benchmark. Members also asked about the effect of inactive members, the rationale for the higher employer contribution, and whether the current board should be held responsible for past decisions; MOSERS officials emphasized that the current board is trying to correct course and that pension funding changes take time. The hearing also touched on ongoing litigation against a former private equity manager, Catalyst Capital, with MOSERS saying it has spent about $20 million in legal fees so far and that the case remains on appeal. The committee took no formal vote and adjourned after the informational presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We hope to get people moving the ball down the field again, but let's aim for a touchdown with this.
• We asked: Do we need them for CMS? Do we need them for LFC?
• We're hoping for that for the future. That's why we passed that.
• The projection for GSP is low to moderate growth for the state.
• I believe some of it is for the cost-sharing for food stamps.

Transcript Highlights:

• The days for this session are very short, but we hope that you'll consider looking at those standalone
• The days for this session are very short, but we hope that you'll consider looking at those standalone
• I'm always happy to make for my high school companies now, but he will be back to only reinforce this
• I hope the committee considers passing this bill favorably both for former foster youth, but also every
• It's eligible for record sealing, and probably a lot of that's such a high number because of the marijuana

Bills: H5085, H5286

Keywords: poverty alleviation, family support, economic mobility, youth transition, financial education, matched savings, community programs, Department of Children and Families, DCF, child abuse investigation, child neglect, pediatrician, advanced practice registered nurse, medical misdiagnosis, rickets, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, vitamin D deficiency, bone fragility, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• I've worked very closely with our charter school in Martin County, Hope School for Autism, as well as
• Hope everything worked out for you, President Gaetz. We're ready for you. We're ready for you now.
• Hope everything worked out for you, President Gates. We're ready for you.
• I hope everything worked out for you, President Gates. We're ready for you.
• high school.

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and passed two autism-related bills. SB 112, by Senator Harrell, would expand autism screening and referral grants, extend Early Steps services from age three to age four, designate the University of Florida autism center as a statewide hub, create grants for autism-focused charter schools and summer programs, and establish an autism microcredential for educators and paraprofessionals. Three technical or clarifying amendments were adopted, and the bill received support from Autism Speaks, The Arc of Florida, Foundation for Florida’s Future, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who emphasized early intervention and the need for training and expanded services. The bill was reported favorably by committee vote. The committee then considered SB 102, by Senator Gaetz, which would direct the Department of Education to create a workforce credential for students with autism spectrum disorder, including badges for job skills and workplace safety, and require reporting on outcomes such as employment after graduation. An amendment was adopted to allow students on a modified curriculum before formal diagnosis to participate and to require coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Testimony from Amy Weatherby of the FSU Autism Institute and CARD strongly supported the bill, stressing the importance of employment outcomes and early preparation, while other organizations also supported it. SB 102 was reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after Senator Harrell was recorded as voting in the affirmative on SB 112.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a shared goal, I hope, and there is some things that need to happen and I'm excited for some
• We have a shared goal, I hope, and there is some things that need to happen and I'm excited for some
• We have a shared goal, I hope, and there is some things that need to happen and I'm excited for some
• We have a shared goal, I hope, and there is some things that need to happen and I'm excited for some
• /c><01:29:40.080><c> high-risisk</c> services. for the other high-risisk services. for the other high-risisk

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is, you know, some individuals, for example, those who maybe have particularly high health care
• And while it is not delivering results in the short term that folks had hoped for, there is still hope
• And while it is not delivering results in the short term that folks had hoped for, there is still hope
• And High Desert, for example, is... Facilities monthly to teach college inside.
• And High Desert, for example, is a concerning medically disabled elderly facility.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) budget, with a focus on prison population trends, spending, facility closures, and efforts to find savings. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) presented data showing the prison and parole populations have fallen sharply over the past 20 years while CDCR spending has remained high, driven largely by security, health care, litigation-related requirements, and aging infrastructure. The LAO also said the state is likely to have several thousand empty beds by 2030 and recommended closing another prison, identifying the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as the strongest candidate, while also urging more transparency around facility deactivations and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) efficiency contract. CDCR Secretary Jeff McCumber said the department faces structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, overtime, medical transport, aging facilities, and violence in prisons, but emphasized declining recidivism, expanding reentry beds, and the need for more single-celling and rehabilitation. Department of Finance representative Anthony Franzoa said the administration is not proposing another prison closure at this time, opposed new reporting requirements on deactivations, and said the BCG contract is intended to produce long-term savings even if near-term estimates are being revised downward. Amber Rose Howard of California United for Responsible Budget argued the state should close more prisons, redirect funds to community services, and stop spending on excess prison capacity. Members questioned why CDCR still relies on vacancy savings, why rehabilitation is only a small share of the budget, and whether the department should be more transparent about capacity reductions and legal liabilities. Several members criticized the $20 million BCG contract and the lack of competitive bidding, while others pressed CDCR on staffing levels, single-celling, suicide prevention, and health care costs for older incarcerated people. The hearing did not take a formal vote, but it ended with clear committee concern about CDCR’s budget transparency, the pace of prison closures, and the need to align spending more closely with the declining prison population and the department’s stated rehabilitation mission.

Transcript Highlights:

• For who you appoint, we've got 69 spaces for PK through 12.
• We have 35 spaces for Doctor James for higher ed.
• And then one of the things I'm pushing for, and I hope you guys are doing it.
• For right now, what we're hoping is that this 45 million dollars gets distributed to the four agencies
• They will pay for that in exchange for them to come to work for them for a period of time.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when it comes time for you to sort of sit down and talk to your constituents, I would hope that you
• I mean that for industry and for businesses and also for AB 617 communities.
• They're considered a high emitter because they produce these products for us.
• And so the hope of fast EV infrastructure is quite a number of years away for us, if not decades, based
• And so the hope of, you know, fast EV infrastructure is quite a number of years away for us, if not decades

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the nominees today, thank you very much for being willing to serve and thank you for being here.
• For the nominees today, thank you very much for being willing to serve and thank you for being here.
• It's been a privilege to serve the University Center Board for the last five years and hope to continue
• It's been a privilege to serve the University Center Board for the last five years and hope to continue
• And Madam Chair, her reputation is so very, very high in Tulsa, and for her to continue in this position

Summary: The Extended Education Committee met to consider a long slate of gubernatorial nominations and reappointments to education-related boards and commissions. The committee heard brief introductions from sponsoring senators and remarks from nominees for the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, State Board of Career and Technology Education, Regional University System of Oklahoma, State Board of Education, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the Secretary of Education, several university and college boards, the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority, the State Textbook Committee, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the Langston University board, among others. Many nominees emphasized their backgrounds in public education, higher education, business, agriculture, health care, or community service, and several acknowledged family members or institutional leaders present in the room. A few nominations drew questions or discussion. John Wesley Nofire was asked about working with the State Board of Education and about the social studies standards process, and he explained the board followed statutory public-comment procedures and made changes before final adoption. Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin received supportive comments from multiple senators, who praised his data-driven approach and urged that he be retained by future administrations. Michael McElroy, Brian Beller, Christopher Franklin, Dr. Michael Peck, and others also answered questions about the role of their boards and their experience with the institutions they would oversee. The committee voted on each nomination, with most receiving unanimous approval and a few passing with one or two dissenting votes. Notable vote totals included David McKenzie and Michael McElroy passing 9-2 and 10-1 respectively, while the rest of the nominees generally passed 8-0, 9-0, 10-0, or 11-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members for their work on the large number of executive nominations and announced that the committee was adjourned for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• For sure. Gina Clive, new superintendent for Lake Superior School District.
• Qualify for free lunch, something like $150,000 for a family of four.
• Thank you for your time. And thank you for the testimony. With that, Ms. Smith and Ms.
• for income eligibility.
• Thank you, and I hope we get consideration for this as we go through the talks.

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• We support, we educate, and we advocate for optimal health outcomes and access to care for all Minnesotans
• </c><00:03:08.319><c> certified</c> to the scope of practice for certified to the scope of practice for
• </c> the Midwifery scope of practice for the Midwifery scope of practice for certified<00:03:18.440><
• </c> members of the committee thank you for members of the committee thank you for this<00:04:02.959>
• Feiger, for your comments.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce development, for workers, for employers.
• for</c> workforce development, for workers, for workforce development, for workers, for employers.<00
• </c><00:31:31.200><c> we've</c> flattest one for for those who can we've flattest one for for those who
• </c> so much for being here for this so much for being here for this presentation<00:46:04.240><c> and
• It's a beautiful place to live, has high-quality health care, good for overall health and well-being,

Bills: HF3004, HF3663

Keywords: workforce development, youth employment, internships, mentoring, job opportunities, digital platform, online portal, career pathways, youth workforce, employment and economic development, DEED, general fund appropriation, nonprofit grant, social media outreach, digital outreach, workforce opportunities, teen jobs, young adults, career exploration, Minnesota youth

Transcript Highlights:

• These are consecutive days of hot weather that are unusually high for a specific place and time.
• I'm hoping. I'm hoping for 5,000. That would be a nice number.
• I'm hoping for 5,000 that would be a nice number.
• And so taking land that has been sitting within UGBs for a long time with low hopes for developing...
• ...taking land that has been sitting within UGBs for a long time with low hopes for developing and maybe

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:

• Yes, it is a high priority to get cooling systems, particularly for high-risk individuals.
• So we're not specifically asking for any specific staffing for...
• First, for prescription drugs, there are pretty high denial rates across insurers.
• And that's one of those other things that we've been asking for and begging for for years that we still
• Management that they hoped for from the MCO.