Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Amy Skate, committee staff.
• For the record, Kellyn Wright, staff to the Local Government Committee.
• For the record, David Monarchy, staff to the committee.
• I'm staff to the committee.
• Again, for the record, David Minnekey, staff to the committee.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several transportation-related bills. On Substitute House Bill 2251, staff explained changes to Climate Commitment Act accounts and revenue distribution, including new operating and capital accounts and a revised split of auction proceeds among transportation, capital, operating, and air quality accounts. Members asked about the bill’s effect on CERA funding, the air quality account, and whether the bill responded to projected revenue declines. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the bill’s goal of clearer, more predictable budgeting; tribal testimony requested clearer protections and a dedicated tribal set-aside, while other witnesses supported the bill for its transparency and climate/transportation benefits. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2588, which would allow county ferry districts to operate and finance vehicle ferries, not just passenger-only ferries. The prime sponsor and county officials from Whatcom and Pierce described the bill as a local option to help fund aging ferry systems without raising taxes, and public testimony from island residents, county representatives, and advocacy groups strongly supported it as a way to stabilize essential ferry service. The committee also heard House Bill 2722, which would raise the vehicle weight threshold for Transportation Benefit District fees from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds. Staff said the change would modestly increase TBD revenue statewide, and the sponsor argued the current law unfairly exempts heavier trucks while lighter vehicles pay the fee. Cities and local officials supported the bill, while the trucking association said it would support a compromise at 9,000 pounds instead of 10,000. The committee also heard House Bill 2727, creating an Educational Transit Access Grant Program for transit agencies and community and technical colleges to pilot free or reduced fares for students; the sponsor and transit advocates said it would improve affordability and access, and testimony emphasized equity and student retention benefits. In executive session, the committee considered Second Substitute House Bill 1923, which would expand who can form passenger-only ferry service districts and where they can be formed, with added intent language related to southern resident orcas and a revised effective date. After discussion, the committee voted 23-4 to pass the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation. The chair also announced a deadline extension for amendment requests on bills heard that day and thanked staff before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for staff? There are no amendments to this bill. Any questions for staff?
• Any questions for staff? There are no amendments to this bill. Any questions for staff?
• Greg Vogel, committee staff.
• Greg Vogel, committee staff.
• Greg Vogel Committee staff.

Summary: The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on January 23, 2026, first taking executive action on several bills. The committee held SB 6035 and SB 5842 for another week, then worked through SB 5973 on initiative and referendum signature gathering rules. Members debated 12 amendments to a proposed substitute and the underlying bill, but none were adopted. The substitute would prohibit pay-per-signature and require 1,000 pre-filing signatures for initiatives; opponents argued it would burden the initiative process, while supporters said it would curb fraud and improve accountability. The committee then advanced SB 5892, SB 6081, SB 5877, SB 5968, and SB 6034, each on a due pass recommendation, with SB 6081 referred to the Transportation Committee and the others sent to Rules or Ways and Means as noted in the motions. During public hearing, the committee heard SB 5888, which would remove Senate confirmation for members of the Washington State Women's Commission. Senator Wellman said the change would align the commission with similar bodies and correct an inconsistency, and commission staff testified in support, saying the appointment process is already thorough and that the governor would retain appointment authority. The committee also heard SB 6123, expanding a public-records exemption for voluntarily supplied demographic information to local government employees; a Pierce County HR director supported the bill, saying it would help build trust while preserving aggregate reporting. The hearing on SB 5853, sponsored by Senator Wilson, drew strong support and no opposition; it would create a statewide emergency notification system for public officials to alert them to targeted threats, with the Secretary of State and Military Department involved in administration. Secretary of State staff said they supported the concept but wanted to work with the sponsor on implementation details, and the sponsor said he was willing to amend the bill to address those concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to thank your staff for working with my staff on this bill.
• We really, really Just want to thank your staff for working with my staff on this bill.
• Thank you. just want to thank your staff for working with my staff on this bill.
• My staff would appreciate it very much. Thank you very much.
• I want to thank the committee staff for their thorough analysis.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met under suspense-file procedures, with the chair explaining limits on testimony, position letters, and that bills with fiscal impacts of $150,000 or more would generally be sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. Several bills were pulled from hearing, and a consent calendar of committee bills later passed 4-0. AB 761 by Addis, the only item initially slated for a vote, was ultimately held over to the next hearing. The committee heard testimony on a series of tax-related proposals. AB 232 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax money for wildfire, flood, or earthquake-related expenses; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, but was sent to suspense. AB 1443 would exempt tips from state income tax for five years and was supported by the California Restaurant Association and a restaurant owner, but also went to suspense. AB 1435 would provide relief to businesses and property owners facing cleanup and security costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; it received broad support from business, real estate, trucking, retail, and local government representatives, and was referred to suspense. The committee also heard AB 1428, which would create a California Affordable Child Care Fund financed by a 0.5% tax on income above $10 million; child care workers and SEIU-backed witnesses supported it, while taxpayer and business groups opposed it as harmful to competitiveness and affordability. AB 691 proposed a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and covering veterinary costs, AB 1219 proposed a middle- and low-income personal income tax cut, AB 1354 proposed a credit for increased homeowners insurance premiums, AB 19 proposed an education savings account/voucher-style program, and AB 567 proposed insurance rate stabilization and related tax/fund changes; each drew testimony for and against where present, but all were referred to suspense. The meeting ended with the committee adjourning after the held-over AB 761 item was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to thank Chair Simon has Senate leadership for and staff are working on me with this bill
• member. >> It rained you said a train on non school staff member.
• The exact language is a trained non-clinical school staff member.
• Senator, it's it's as appropriate school staff. >> Must be trained.
• So but the bill is is looking at is is is training all of those all of the staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Contact the committee staff.
• Before we get started, I'll introduce my staff to those. who don't know him already, my chief of staff
• So the majority of this process is staff driven, is what you're telling me?
• Of course, but up until that point, the staff decides.
• Lack of that, the staff decides what becomes before the commission. I suppose that's right.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This letter directs PACE organizations and directed entities to require staff to complete evidence-based
• In December 2017, we informed those licensees and their facility staff that they are required, on an
• Our RCFEs must also train their staff on residents' rights outlined in our regulations, which require
• We can exclude staff... There are civil penalties, enhanced civil penalties.
• We can exclude staff members. We can revoke licenses. So there's a pretty wide array.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have over 350 staff? No. How many staff?
• I believe our positions that we have is about 110. 110 staff. Okay.
• Thank you so much to the staff as well. Thank you, Assembly Member.
• We continue to have conversations with the author's staff.
• Chair, committee members, and committee staff.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a long policy agenda focused largely on student access, equity, and institutional oversight. Bills discussed included AB 2236 on common course numbering and streamlined articulation across the community colleges, CSU, and UC; AB 2422 on protections when financial aid is delayed; AB 1669 on medical and mental health leaves of absence; AB 1713 on accepting IEPs and 504 plans as proof of disability for accommodations; AB 2766 on priority housing and related supports for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness; AB 2212 on tech-facilitated sexual harassment and AI-generated intimate images; AB 2504 on a pilot to upskill creative-industry workers for AI-related changes; AB 1734 on preserving and expanding California food insecurity data collection; and AB 2771, the sunset bill for the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. The committee also took up a consent calendar of three bills earlier in the hearing. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from student groups, advocacy organizations, and system representatives, with many speakers describing personal experiences with transfer confusion, delayed aid, mental health crises, disability documentation barriers, housing instability, and online sexual harm. AB 2236 drew support from community college, CSU, UC student associations, and college-opportunity advocates, while the CSU Academic Senate registered opposition. AB 2771 drew a notable exchange over the cost and scope of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, with Vice Chair DeMaio opposing the extension on fiscal and bureaucracy grounds; the author responded that the bureau is fee-funded and that its fees had not been raised in years. AB 1734 also prompted skepticism from DeMaio about the survey’s cost, methodology, and whether the work should be competitively bid, though supporters argued the existing California Health Interview Survey infrastructure was the most efficient way to preserve critical food insecurity data after federal cuts. The committee voted to advance the measures it heard, generally on party-line or near-party-line votes, with several bills held open for additional members to add on. AB 2236, AB 2422, AB 1669, AB 1713, AB 1734, AB 2766, and AB 2212 all received do-pass recommendations and were re-referred to the appropriate policy or fiscal committees. AB 2771 was also moved forward to the Committee on Business and Professions after debate over the bureau’s reauthorization and fee structure. The hearing ended with the committee beginning consideration of AB 2504, the AI-related workforce upskilling pilot for creative industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, if you don't mind, we were just about to end the presentation by our staff and may have for.
• Representative Farnum, is this going to be for our staff? Okay.
• Okay, I'd just like to thank you, Secretary and staff, for taking time out today.
• Legislative fiscal office or House fiscal staff was presenting us a slide earlier.
• And I appreciate you and I appreciate the staff. Chris is always in touch with me. So thank you.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• As was mentioned, last month, CARB staff released As was mentioned, last month, CARB staff released proposed
• have been meeting with staff.
• And as I mentioned, we did allow time for changes to the staff proposal if needed.
• Staff had an early workshop after the... ...extending the program last year.
• So the staff proposal puts forward both a framework that we are soliciting feedback on.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Summary: The committee heard an overview of CARB’s proposed amendments to California’s Cap-and-Invest program, implemented under AB 1207 and SB 840 after last year’s reauthorization through 2045. CARB said the draft rule changes are intended to support affordability, market certainty, and the state’s 2030 and 2045 climate targets, while also addressing offsets, utility allowance transfers, leakage protections for industry, and post-2030 allowance budgets. Members emphasized the importance of completing the rulemaking on schedule this spring so the changes can take effect by September 1, 2026. A major focus was how allowances are allocated among electric utilities, natural gas utilities, industry, and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. CARB explained that the proposal transfers natural gas utility allowances to electric utilities over time to support electrification and ratepayer protection, while maintaining free allowances for industry to reduce leakage risk and preserve in-state manufacturing and refining. Several members and panelists questioned whether the proposed utility changes could raise rates, whether the transition from gas to electric credits should happen faster, and whether the industrial allocation changes reduce climate credit and GGRF revenues more than necessary. CARB and panelists said they were open to additional data and comments, and noted that the proposal is still in public comment. The committee also discussed carbon capture, carbon removal, and refining. Members asked CARB to ensure that CCUS and CDR are clearly recognized as viable compliance pathways and to keep SB 905 rulemaking on track. On refining, members raised concerns about imported gasoline, leakage, and the need for better data on the carbon intensity of imported fuels; CARB said cap-and-invest applies to fuel suppliers at the rack, while life-cycle accounting issues are handled more through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and related modeling. CARB said it is continuing technical work on those data tools. In the second panel, the LAO, IEMAC, EDF, and SCAPA representatives generally agreed that the program faces real tradeoffs between affordability, ambition, and leakage protection. The LAO and IEMAC stressed that the Legislature should scrutinize how CARB divides the allowance “pie,” since more free allocations to utilities or industry mean less revenue for GGRF. EDF argued the program could be somewhat more ambitious in the near term without harming affordability, while SCAPA said the proposal would reduce allowances for publicly owned utilities and could undermine early decarbonization investments and ratepayer benefits. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like I'd like to thank the chair and the committee staff for working so diligently with my staff
• We're a proud supporter of AB 864, I want to thank the author and his staff and your staff and also our
• I just want to thank the author, the committee, and her staff for all of their hard work.
• It would also prohibit the board from delegating this authority to staff.
• Please keep me and my staff in the loop as the bill moves forward.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• So members, I'd like you to introduce your staff. We'll start with.
• Vice Chair Hagen Booth, would you introduce your staff? You bet.
• Senator Alvarado, would you introduce your staff?
• now as my chief of staff.
• We have staff that actively manages each project to ensure.

Committee: Senate Nominations

Keywords: Texas Water Fund, water management, infrastructure funding, local governments, workforce development, community colleges, educational programs, sustainability

Summary: The meeting focused on several crucial issues, including the Texas Water Fund and its implications for development in the state. Various members highlighted the critical need for effective management of water resources, discussing the role of the Water Development Board and their strategies for outreach to local governments. The committee engaged in a thorough examination of funding projects and the sustainable financing necessary for communities facing challenges in meeting their infrastructure needs. Additionally, there was notable discussion regarding promoting workforce development and the alignment of educational programs with the demands of the job market as indicated by recent trends in community colleges.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:45.720><c> and</c> from our great teachers to staff and from our great teachers to staff and
• One of the finest staffs, and we're lucky to have all of you.
• One of the finest staffs, and we're lucky to have all of you.
• </c> thousands of Educators and Sport staff thousands of Educators and Sport staff are<01:30:39.719><
• </c><01:37:37.840><c> at</c> for the staff at for the staff at mde<01:37:39.599><c> uh</c><01:37:39.679

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We look forward to Dignity Alliance working with the committee and staff to fine-tune, if need be, any
• of these measures, and hopefully... ...with the committee and staff to fine-tune, if need be, any of
• We're doubtful that all of that money is actually getting to staff.
• Thank you. ...doubtful that all of that money is actually getting to staff.
• And this is particularly the late hours when the staff is limited, the professional nursing staff is

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Aging and Independence

Summary: The Committee on Aging and Independence heard testimony on a package of long-term care and elder care bills focused on building on the state’s 2024 long-term care reform law (Chapter 197). Richard Moore of Dignity Alliance urged favorable action on the bills as a “long-term care 2.0” effort, arguing they would strengthen the workforce, protect residents’ rights, improve clinical quality, and increase transparency and sustainability in nursing homes and other facilities. He also raised concerns about staffing funds not reaching direct care workers and suggested further oversight of how appropriated money is spent. Patricia Crispy of the American Nurses Association testified in support of House Bill 766, which would require at least one registered nurse with full voting rights on the board of directors or trustees of every acute care hospital and nursing home. She and the bill’s sponsor, Representative Vanado, said nurses’ clinical expertise and 24/7 presence make them valuable contributors to governance and patient safety. Committee members asked whether the bill would cover assisted living and how many facilities already have nurse board members; the witness said she would provide more data and clarify the assisted living question. Senator Lovely testified on two bills: Senate 479, which would expand transparency and accountability in long-term care by tightening fire safety, smoking, hearing-loss, and ownership disclosure requirements, adding advocacy groups to an advisory committee, and increasing penalties; and Senate 480/House 795, which would require single-occupancy rooms in nursing homes unless residents consent to share, to improve privacy and reduce infection spread. Deborah De Benedictus also testified in support of House 759, describing her father’s experience in assisted living and arguing for the use of cameras in elder care facilities to monitor care and deter neglect. The committee discussed privacy concerns, notification rules, and the need for honest staffing and care practices, and then adjourned without taking any recorded votes or formal actions in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second finding: staff vacancies declined significantly.
• The staff vacancy rate decreased in every program.
• So the data showed us that the staff vacancy trends are improving, but vacancies are still more than
• From 2024 to 2025, staff vacancy rates declined for community-based day support, so CBDS down to 14%,
• No, this is, I think, staff on that end of it. Who's the chair for the work?

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved the prior November minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, which covers community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injury. The presenters said 102 of 132 members responded, and reported that overall vacancy rates improved for the third straight year, falling from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, with declines across all program types. However, they emphasized that nearly 4,000 positions remain unfilled, licensed practical nurse and clinician vacancies remain especially high, and almost 1,800 people are still waiting for day services. ADDP also highlighted a new survey question on health insurance costs, reporting that nearly 90% of respondents saw premium increases averaging 11%, which providers said limits their ability to offer competitive wages and benefits. Members and commissioners discussed the significance of the data, the need to balance survey length with useful trend information, and the impact of immigration and workforce availability on provider staffing. ADDP said it plans to repeat the survey in the fall and continue monitoring these pressures. The subcommittee then elected Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian as co-chairs by voice vote. Members discussed possible speakers for the next meeting, including state and out-of-state workforce experts, JVS, Josh Cutler or his office, Juan Vega, Human Services Research Institute, and NASDDDS, with an emphasis on training, turnover, apprenticeships, and broader workforce supports. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you need further accommodation, please communicate with Sergeant staff.
• And we are going to have House Council and fiscal staff provide us with a walkthrough of the DE2 amendment
• mindful of the fact that we'll debate the bill tomorrow, do we have any members with questions for staff
• Very much appreciated working with you, Chair Novotny, and both partisan and nonpartisan staff.
• Partisan staff as well, very appreciative of all your work in putting this bill together.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Timelines are compressed and we need additional staff to meet the deadline.
• We've also added staff throughout the agency to address critical business needs.
• With regard to recruiting and retaining qualified and experienced staff, we've made significant progress
• As a. we saw around 30% turnover of licensed staff during the last biennium.
• And so you had a staff member there, so I do want to Acknowledge that, and I appreciate staff being out

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> eviction action, we're seeing uh staff eviction action, we're seeing uh staff and<01:14:57.200><
• </c> to kill the security staff. to kill the security staff.
• ,</c> the staff, the staff, the<01:25:42.440><c> and</c><01:25:42.800><c> the</c> the and the the and
• Staff will send out a message if it's going to be a little bit later than that.
• </c> just watch your emails I guess staff just watch your emails I guess staff will<01:35:58.920><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• No, it was New Mexico Tech staff and Oil Conservation Division staff. Okay.
• No, it was New Mexico Tech staff and oil conservation division staff. Okay.
• Our staff is relatively small; I have about 70 technical staff members.
• We like to accomplish as much as we can at the staff-to-staff level.
• The board and its staff have spent a, and DOE and its staff have spent a considerable amount of time

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll follow up with your staff. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Where are we?
• to other TCAC staff.
• to other TCAC staff.
• So it is a lot of work on the part of the cities and county staff.
• So it is a lot of work on the part of the cities and county staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• previously, both staffs...
• We intended to do with staff previously, both staffs, and again, just so you know how the process works
• , when we get done with conference, the staffs write the bill, both of them, nonpartisan staffs, they
• First and foremost, always the staff. The staff is the heartbeat of this building.
• The staff is the heartbeat of this building.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call, and a long series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, public servants, nonprofit leaders, students, and a park ranger honored for life-saving actions. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate nonconcurrence on numerous amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on another bill. The main floor action centered on budget conference committee reports, especially House Bill 2002 on public education. Members debated whether the conference version fully funded the foundation formula, with supporters arguing it maintained record-level funding and opponents saying it left schools about $190 million short and relied on uncertain funding sources such as blind pension, lottery, and possible ARPA dollars. After a substitute motion to send the bill back to conference was defeated, the House adopted the conference report 83-68 and then third-read and passed House Bill 2002 by the same margin. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where members discussed a move toward a future performance-based funding model while keeping current funding flat; the conference report passed 119-28 and the bill was third-read and passed 109-32. The chamber next considered House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation. Debate focused on transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety project in Lebanon that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The conference report was adopted 128-21 and the bill was third-read and passed 127-27. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2005 for the Office of Administration and IT-related functions, with the sponsor and supporters emphasizing IT accountability, the Movers project, and the transfer of some staff to DSS; the transcript ends during discussion of that bill.