Transcript Highlights:

• What began as a small railroad settlement in rural What began as a small railroad settlement in rural
• Spencer was a champion of the small, humble acts of kindness that so often go unseen.
• He took a small break to serve in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 72.
• And if you go home and ask people in small towns and big cities, people in small towns and big cities
• Small hospital, $15 million. Big company, small hospital.

Transcript Highlights:

• It fixes a small problem in a mountain of trouble.
• It fixes a small problem in a mountain of trouble in the underlying bill.
• For a small school district, that might be multiple officers.
• So you're talking quite a bit of money for small school districts.
• And this amendment takes a small step back in the way Philosophical underpinning of this bill.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB5831 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002 , HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm saying we kind of missed the boat.
• </c><00:58:28.319><c> of</c><00:58:28.400><c> missed</c><00:58:28.640><c> the</c><00:58:28.799><c> boat
• </c><00:58:29.040><c> We</c><00:58:29.200><c> missed</c> we we kind of missed the boat.
• We missed we we kind of missed the boat.

Summary: The committee first approved the June 9 minutes, then reviewed a deferred personnel contract involving workers’ compensation claims administration. Staff explained that the roughly $50 million figure included about $48 million for claims payments and up to $1.45 million per year for administrative services, with billing based on a fee schedule for specific services rendered. Senator Meredith raised concerns about the vendor’s history, the scoring and bid process, and prior allegations involving the company; the administration responded that the procurement had been conducted under 45A through open competition, with outside scorers and no finding of wrongdoing tied to this contract. Meredith moved to disapprove Contract 167, Hart seconded, and the committee voted 5-2 to disapprove it. The committee then deferred a Western Kentucky University personal services contract because the vendors were still not registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Hart moved to defer the contract until the August 2026 meeting, Meredith seconded, and the motion carried. The committee also approved the agenda covering the various contract lists and deferred items. Next, the committee heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on several personal services contracts for medical staffing and related services. Secretary Steven Stack and staff explained that staffing shortages often require outside vendors, that the contracts were competitively bid under 45A, and that the cabinet uses a streamlined vendor pool for specialized needs such as actuaries, auditors, and technical consultants. The committee approved Contracts 52 through 55 without objection. Discussion then began on Contract 61, with Meredith expressing concern that the committee lacked enough detail to judge whether the services could be performed in-house or whether the exchange of resources was appropriate; Stack said the contract was intended to provide efficient access to specialized outside expertise. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Contract 61 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• What remains is a very small profit.
• I'm the CEO and founder of Balanced Diversity, a small and local staffing company. up of small businesses
• What remains is a very small profit.
• We're not talking about something small.
• It seems like these are small issues.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 16, which would require county behavioral health directors to create clear pathways for clinicians to be authorized to initiate 5150 involuntary holds. The author and supporters argued the bill would reduce reliance on law enforcement and create more consistent crisis response standards statewide, while county behavioral health directors opposed it as an unfunded mandate that could increase law enforcement involvement and create implementation burdens. Members raised questions about county costs and funding, but the author emphasized the bill’s role in building a more clinical response system. SB 561 would require public guardians to acknowledge conservatorship referrals, make determinations within a reasonable time, and provide status updates on request. Supporters said the bill would reduce delays that leave vulnerable adults in limbo, while the opposition from public guardian representatives was removed after amendments. SB 381 drew extensive public testimony in support; it would allow California-born adoptees, and descendants of deceased adoptees, access to original birth certificates, with a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents. Supporters framed the bill as a matter of dignity, identity, and health, and there was no formal opposition on the record. The committee also discussed SB 880, which would give tenants and prospective owner-occupants notice and a first opportunity to make an offer when institutional investors sell certain homes. Supporters said it would expand homeownership opportunities and preserve neighborhood stability, while opponents warned about conflicts with federal law, bundled-sale restrictions, and impacts on build-to-rent and affordable housing projects. Members and the author discussed possible amendments to address those concerns. SB 1238 would impose a duty of care and additional transparency requirements on HOA managers and boards; supporters said it would protect homeowners from mismanagement, while the main opposition argued the duty should remain contractual and could increase litigation. Finally, SB 423 would require disclosure of emergency-service records related to private detention facilities, and SB 28 would make changes to the CARE Court process, including a statewide ombudsperson and expanded oversight; both drew support and opposition, with concerns focused on transparency, privacy, implementation, and the balance between treatment and coercion. SB 574, discussed at the end, would require disclosure and human oversight for AI use in courts and legal practice and create a complaint process for ADR providers, with the State Bar noting requested amendments related to complaint handling and confidentiality.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to think, like, the example we like to use is a law enforcement boat, right?
• As we talked about, there are many more people in even a small area of California compared to Montana
• So on this map right here, you can see the small symbols are all of our large natural areas that are
• So on this map right here, you can see the small symbols are all of our large natural areas that are
• While you might be small territory-wise compared to... You are a behemoth in a lot of ways.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• Just the struggle in the enchanted circle of our village, which, you know, is pretty small, 575 people
• They took a, a, a small amount of number and then the judge gave them the authority to destroy it.
• to, to really take account of the water issue that we have, and of course, really, um, support our small
• And, and we're all, uh, in the same boat too, so I, I welcome, uh, the district attorney from, from my
• never, never before and never when I was on the bench did I ever see this level of dismissals for small

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It certainly costs more for services in a small town where services have to be brought from somewhere
• And, um, that the eye of bats and the beholder, as you said, a small school district that is required
• school district that is required a small school district that is required is<00:29:22.000><c> to</c>
• Maybe they don't have any people in that small district.
• I'll be on a boat. Nice. Yeah, we asked that to Caitlyn the other day.

Summary: The subcommittee met to begin work on HB 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and more broadly to study special education aid/differentiated aid and related costing issues. The chair said the group was starting early because the issue has been debated for years without resolution, local districts are being forced to absorb prorated costs, and the committee wants to send the Department of Education and HHS Medicaid a clear request for data and recommendations before retained bills return in the fall. A committee clerk was also selected, with Representative Reverend volunteering to take notes for the meeting. Members reviewed background materials on special education enrollment, high-cost students, and possible funding formulas, including data on students in high-cost brackets and prior ideas such as category-based funding and caseload-based approaches. The chair also referenced research on other states, including Arkansas, which uses a different special education funding structure and audits IEPs. The committee emphasized that it was focused on the funding mechanics and costs, not on questioning whether services should be provided. Henry Lipman of HHS explained how Medicaid-to-schools currently works in New Hampshire. He said 172 school districts participate, but utilization dropped during the pandemic and remains below historical levels, in part because districts need the capacity to bill Medicaid. Under the current system, schools receive reimbursement based on half of the Medicaid fee schedule, with the school district effectively providing the state share. He said the federal government is requiring a shift by July 1, 2026, to a true certified public expenditure model based on actual costs, which should allow schools to recover 50% of their true costs and some administrative overhead. The department has received a roughly $2.5 million grant to hire a vendor and support districts through the transition, and an RFP and stakeholder meetings are underway. Committee members asked about how costs would be determined, whether the new system would use actual district-specific costs rather than averages, and how the department would support districts that do not currently participate. Lipman said the cost model would be based on each district’s own reasonable costs, subject to audit standards, and that the department expects to provide templates and technical assistance through the vendor because its staff is limited. He also said about one in four New Hampshire children are enrolled in Medicaid, that child enrollment has been relatively stable, and that continuous coverage rules should reduce churn. No votes or formal actions on HB 742 were taken during the meeting beyond organizing the subcommittee and beginning testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This conference is relating to sexual exploitation and provides safe harbor protection for those seeking

Transcript Highlights:

• They're an accumulation of many small system decisions compounding over generations: who or what gets
• So we were asking them, how can we, like, what, how did we miss the boat here? What did we do?

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities opened with remarks framing the discussion around reproductive and maternal health disparities affecting Latina, Black, and Indigenous women in California. Members emphasized the need to connect state data with lived experience, and the committee heard historical context on coercive sterilization, language access, and the ways immigration status, poverty, and racism continue to shape reproductive health care. The first panel featured Clarissa Ramirez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Sophia Pedrosa of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Kim Robinson of Black Women for Wellness, who described reproductive justice principles, the legacy of eugenics and forced sterilization, community education efforts, promotoras, and the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive care. They also raised concerns about federal funding cuts, fear related to ICE and public charge, and the loss of education and outreach programs that support patients and families. The second part of the hearing focused on maternal health. Matt Green of the California Department of Public Health described persistent racial disparities, including Black birthing people being three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and outlined state efforts such as the Black Infant Health Program, the Perinatal Equity Initiative, the Centering Black Mothers in California report, and a new Black birth equity action plan. Chris Esgera of the Department of Health Care Services explained the state’s birthing care pathway, postpartum care pathway, and Transforming Maternal Health model, including policy changes to support doulas, community health workers, transitional care, and postpartum coverage. He said the department is working through policy updates and payment reforms, with Medi-Cal coverage for pregnant people and 12 months postpartum remaining protected. The final panel included Dr. Nicole Economo and Dr. Kelly McHugh of ACOG, who discussed provider education, anti-racism and implicit bias training, and the need for quality improvement projects focused on closing equity gaps at individual hospitals. They highlighted tools such as the CLEAR Initiative, the Elevate Toolkit, and use of CMQCC data to track outcomes by race and ethnicity. Across the hearing, members repeatedly stressed that community-led solutions, sustained funding, better data, and accountability are needed to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve reproductive health outcomes. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during the hearing, though several policy priorities and ongoing legislative efforts were referenced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're on the same boat here. Thank you for your time today. That's all the questions.
• I owned my own small company, so I had to go work.

Summary: The committee continued a public hearing on House Bill 2897, which would expand optometrists’ scope of practice. Supporters, including Dr. Kelly Deering, said optometrists are trained to perform the listed office-based procedures, that rural Missouri lacks access to ophthalmologists, and that the bill would reduce wait times, travel burdens, and costs while helping retain students and practitioners in the state. Opponents, including representatives of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, argued the bill does not guarantee rural access and said the procedures should remain within the medical/surgical training of physicians. Members also questioned training on live human eyes and how suspicious lesions would be handled. No vote was taken, and the hearing on HB 2897 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2353, which would create a licensing and sign-and-seal framework for interior designers and move oversight to the board that includes architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. Sponsor Rep. Sherri Gallick and supporters said the bill modernizes regulation, recognizes accredited education and NCIDQ testing, and would let licensed interior designers take responsibility for non-structural interior design work without hiring an architect to stamp plans. Opponents from the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and others said they were still negotiating but remained concerned about scope-of-practice language, especially phrases like “all interior design of buildings” and “publicly occupied buildings,” which they said could create overlap with architecture and engineering or unintended obligations for public entities. Testimony also focused on whether unlicensed interior designers would still be allowed to work under carve-outs. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2241, which would create a separate framework for certain faith-based residential child care facilities to operate without a state license while registering with the state and meeting background-check, reporting, and oversight requirements. Sponsor Rep. Jamie Gregg and MACA representatives said the bill is intended to expand foster placement capacity for children in need while preserving the religious mission of Christian homes, and they cited federal and state initiatives encouraging partnerships with faith-based providers. Opponents argued the bill would create a two-tier system, weaken state licensing protections, and risk placing vulnerable children in facilities without the same direct oversight, inspections, and reunification safeguards as licensed foster homes. Members raised concerns about abuse history at some faith-based homes, the role of the proposed board, and whether religious practices or other mission-based rules would conflict with child welfare standards. The hearing continued with additional testimony; no vote was reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are about 9,000 small and midsized independent petroleum drillers in the United States.
• United States these mostly small United States these mostly small operations<02:27:04.880><c> are</c>
• </c><02:47:43.880><c> polluters</c> this was um attacks on small polluters this was um attacks on small
• I was a small aircraft operator and captain of a research vessel.
• I'm also the engineer on the boat, and I'm not sure my vessel will survive termination.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seven years later, that little girl who carried her pink coin purse everywhere she went, soliciting small
• </c><01:13:08.719><c> businesses,</c> manufacturers, small businesses, manufacturers, small businesses
• ,</c><01:21:40.239><c> from</c><01:21:40.480><c> tribal</c> communities large and small, from tribal
• ,</c><02:18:22.240><c> our</c><02:18:22.559><c> family</c> of our lives, big and small, our family of
• our lives, big and small, our family grieavves<02:18:23.920><c> that</c><02:18:24.160><c> he</c><02:

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's a small ad, you pay for a small space.
• Gallion, I kind of have a—I mean, we're all in the same boat, right?
• They would fall under a small government review process.
• They would fall under our small government review process.
• We tried to try, because it’s all the saying you can’t cross a chasm in two small leaps.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Summary: The task force met with a quorum and first reviewed a memorandum summarizing a survey of state agencies on possible statute revisions. Levi reported that 20 agencies submitted 70 proposals, with about 33 potentially becoming agency pre-file bills. Common themes included procurement, concessions, architect/engineering services, liability limits, and IT-related efficiencies. Members asked about sharing the survey results more broadly and about cross-agency coordination, especially with higher education and ITD-related issues. OMB then presented three topics from its survey responses: concessions, pre-qualification of architects/engineers/construction managers/land surveyors, and publication of legal notices. OMB said the current concessions law is too rigid because it requires award to the highest responsible bidder and does not fit newer concession models, and it suggested a best-value approach, a higher threshold, and standardized templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB said the law is fragmented across several statutes and should be consolidated and expanded for broader use. On legal notices, OMB described the current rate-setting and publication process, noted rising costs and shrinking newspaper availability, and proposed a collaborative effort to modernize notice delivery, improve accessibility, and explore online options. The task force discussed how to move these ideas forward, and a motion passed directing OMB to implement its suggestions and report back at the next meeting. The University of North Dakota then presented several proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND recommended raising the threshold for treating routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements as construction, arguing that the current $250,000 threshold forces unnecessary architect/engineer involvement and adds cost. It also proposed changes to bid advertisement language to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement criteria, a higher direct-hire threshold for design services, and an increase in the legislative approval threshold for privately funded projects. Members discussed the need for data, risk and complexity considerations, and collaboration with counsel and industry groups. A motion passed directing Levi and counsel to work with UND on bill drafts based on its proposals for a future meeting. DPI followed with a shorter presentation on credentialing and statutory cleanup. It suggested reviewing the department’s 23 credential categories for relevance, and said DPI and the Education Standards and Practices Board have discussed transferring some credentialing authority to ESPB. DPI also recommended removing outdated school safety patrol language, cleaning up waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so districts are not burdened by obsolete reporting mandates. Members agreed the screening itself should remain in place, while the reporting requirement could be reconsidered. The committee then recessed until the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The highest are going to be all your very... small rural schools because of the way the small rural formulas
• This explains the small reduction in the early draft of the 2026 UTP.
• And again, our Maritime Division itself. is relatively small.
• So it's not a. large list in their small dollar amount.
• I'm in a small town just south of Houston.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Being a small business owner myself, very, very protective of small businesses here in California that
• We're one of the 300 small tech companies.
• And that hurts the small businesses this bill claims to help.
• We are a small niche product. We are a small niche product, but a critical health care innovation.
• My small crew of six could not do it on their own.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we know that there are a lot of communities in New Hampshire that are small, that don't have
• Their police department is so small they can't handle these things.
• Their police department is so small they can't handle these things.
• </c> I can see um and very very small I can see um and very very small percentage<01:50:44.520><c> of
• It's like a small waterfall cascading into the AMC River. I've tested it three times.

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a hearing on HB 566, which would require permit applications for new landfills to include a detailed leachate management plan. Representative German introduced the bill and explained that it was prompted by recent reporting on leachate management problems at New Hampshire landfills, including alleged violations and deficiency letters from DES. He said the bill was intended to address public health concerns, PFAS contamination, and increased leachate volumes tied to more severe rainstorms, while still allowing innovation in treatment and transportation methods. He also described a set of proposed amendments developed after discussions with DES and a landfill operator, including changing “permit for construction” to “operating approval,” applying the bill to landfill expansions, moving contract-related language into the planning section, and removing a proposed new subparagraph. Committee members asked whether the bill would limit operator flexibility or duplicate existing DES rules. Representative German said the bill would not dictate specific treatment methods or lock operators into long-term contracts, but would require a plan showing how leachate will be managed, transported, and disposed of, with later contract changes reported to DES. Several members and the BIA representative questioned whether the bill was necessary given existing Env 806 rules and DES enforcement authority. The Business and Industry Association opposed the bill as introduced, arguing that DES already has rules and technical expertise, that the issue is better handled through rulemaking, and that moving requirements into statute could freeze the framework and make future adjustments harder. Supporters countered that a statute would provide a stronger, more durable policy commitment in response to ongoing problems. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration and with the sponsor indicating that a revised amendment would likely be brought forward for later work session or executive session review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Haska had in his amendment, that they could use it for vote boat builder type information.
• Because me and you in this boat together, are we not? Yeah. I'm not in this for me, though.
• They don't worry about the small mountains.
• It just applies to a small number, and with that I'll move for the BIR, please. That is questions.
• Yes, as I explained before, this only applies to a small number of circuit clerks, and we're trying to

Transcript Highlights:

• Being a small business owner myself, I'm very, very protective of small businesses here in California
• One of the complaints from our small, One of the complaints from our small independent glass association
• Small browsers are gaining market share.
• We're one of the 300 small tech companies.
• And that hurts the small businesses this bill claims to help.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on child safety, immigrant community transparency, agricultural land security, consumer protection, estate transfers, detention commissary pricing, and public works wage enforcement. SB 1234 would require fentanyl to be included in drug tests ordered by juvenile courts for parents or guardians in dependency cases; the author said it was a narrow child-safety measure, and there was no opposition. SB 1257 would require the Attorney General to publish annual reports on immigration enforcement incidents at designated safe locations; supporters said it would improve accountability and document fear in immigrant communities, while questions centered on how the data would be collected and concerns were raised about sanctuary policies. SB 1176 would bar foreign adversary entities from buying or controlling California agricultural land; supporters framed it as a national security measure, while committee members pressed the author on enforcement, who would verify buyers, and possible discriminatory application. The bill was moved on a 2-4 vote and placed on call after the author said he would work on clarifying responsibility and nondiscrimination concerns. The committee also heard SB 1146, which would require clear disclosure when AI-generated or altered images, audio, or video are used in health-related advertisements depicting health care providers. The California Medical Association and California Dental Association supported the bill, saying it would curb deceptive deepfake ads and protect consumers; it passed unanimously, 7-0. SB 988 would restrict assignment of benefits in auto glass claims, require claim numbers and itemized estimates, and update repair disclosure rules to curb overbilling and steering; supporters said it would protect consumers and stabilize insurance costs, while independent glass shop concerns about steering and market concentration were discussed. The bill passed 7-0, with one member abstaining because of a conflict. SB 1288, presented on behalf of Senator Laird, would require financial institutions to make good-faith efforts to notify beneficiaries of non-probate assets and would simplify access requirements, especially for nonprofits. Supporters described long delays and burdensome account-opening requirements; SIFMA and the California Bankers Association opposed the bill unless amended, citing conflicts with federal and industry obligations and concerns about retroactive burdens. The bill passed 8-0. SB 941 would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; supporters said detainees often pay excessive prices for basic necessities, and the bill passed 8-0. Finally, SB 909 would raise and index public works contractor fees and penalties and dedicate more penalty revenue to enforcement; labor supporters said stronger funding is needed to address wage theft and backlogs, while contractors warned of uncapped costs and reduced transparency. The discussion continued with questions about enforcement and whether stronger penalties or license restrictions would better deter repeat violators.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I don't recall the exact percentage, but it is a very small portion.
• I'm a small business owner.
• There are other universities like Truman that are in that exact same boat.
• That is a very small amount, lady. I will concede. Obviously, That is a very small amount, lady.
• Louis, really small investment.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And so basically we're just looking at getting their webpage updated and just some small advertising
• So I think it's a very small impact.
• So I think it's a very small impact.
• So I think it's a very small impact.
• And the equipment means a motor vehicle, a machinery, a machine powered by a small engine, or a farm

Committee: Joint Legislative Management