Transcript Highlights:

• thank the Speaker and our budget chair for the tremendous skill in which they have been going about guiding
• Number one, we've been guided by three priorities, especially in terms of human services. ...guided by
• That was the guiding light in crafting this budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• want to thank the Speaker and our budget chair for the tremendous skill with which they have been guiding
• Number one, we've been guided by three priorities, especially in terms of human services.
• We've been guided by three priorities, especially in terms of the human services budget subcommittee.
• That was the guiding light in crafting this budget.

Summary: The Assembly convened, initially lacked a quorum, and then completed the roll call, prayer, and pledge. Members observed a moment of silence for the fatal B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in Assemblymember Lackey’s district. The body then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of numerous Senate bills to different committees, suspending rules for committee notices, and taking up the budget bill, AB 109, without reference to file for concurrence in Senate amendments. Debate on AB 109, the 2026 budget act, centered on competing views of the state’s fiscal condition and policy priorities. Supporters said the budget balances the current and next year’s budget, reduces the structural deficit, builds reserves, protects health care, schools, housing, food assistance, and other safety-net programs, and responds to federal cuts under H.R. 1. Opponents argued the budget increases taxes and costs, shortchanges schools, underfunds Proposition 36, relies on gimmicks, and does not adequately address public safety, cost of living, or long-term sustainability. Several members also highlighted specific provisions such as hospital support, Medi-Cal and IHSS protections, child care, immigrant legal services, prison closure, and funding for courts and victim services. A motion by Assemblymember DeMaio to return AB 109 to the Senate failed on a roll call vote, 13 ayes to 45 noes. The Assembly then voted on concurrence in the Senate amendments to AB 109; the measure passed, and the Senate amendments were concurred in without objection, with immediate transmittal to the Governor. Afterward, the Assembly moved to the daily file and took up SCR 89, a resolution affirming diversity, equity, and inclusion. Supporters from several caucuses framed DEI as a core California value and a response to federal attacks, while opponents criticized DEI as divisive. The transcript ends during debate on SCR 89, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• incremental steps to provide incentives, resources, and tools to help businesses succeed, and also to help guide
• 00:24:30.480> help businesses succeed, and also to help businesses succeed, and also to help guide
• > keep<00:24:31.760> improving<00:24:32.320> our<00:24:32.440> support guide
• us to keep improving our support guide us to keep improving our support next<00:24:33.320> year

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance by four Vermont music therapists, followed by remarks recognizing music therapy as an evidence-based profession and welcoming the performers to the chamber. The body then handled several referral and procedural matters: Senate Bills 212 and 328, and Senate Bill 325 after an Environment Committee report, were referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A because of revenue impacts. The House also read HCR 263, congratulating the 2026 Mount Mansfield Union High School Division 1 championship girls basketball team, and members offered brief congratulations and announcements, including a birthday greeting for the Chief of Staff, notice of an art social, and a reminder about the House Adjournment Pool benefiting Good Samaritan Haven. The House voted to move Senate Bill 206, relating to licensure of early childhood educators, from Government Operations and Military Affairs to Human Services. It then took up House Bill 951, the state budget bill, suspended rules to consider it immediately, and voted not to concur with the Senate’s proposal of amendment. The House requested a committee of conference and appointed Representatives Shay, Feltes, and Lumley to serve on the House side, then suspended rules again to message its action to the Senate forthwith. In the orders of the day, the House passed House Bill 902 on amendments to the City of Barre charter, and passed Senate Bills 142, 179, 227, 230, and 298 in concurrence with proposals of amendment. Action on Senate Bill 223, relating to water quality, was postponed for two legislative days. The House then considered Senate Bill 327 on economic development, hearing detailed testimony from the Commerce and Economic Development, Ways and Means, and Appropriations committees. The bill would support small businesses, repeal the VEGI sunset, create hospitality and culinary workforce initiatives, revise the Rural Industrial Development Grant Program, authorize cash rounding when pennies are unavailable, and establish a C-PACE financing program. Ways and Means offered nine amendments, including changes to VEGI limits, grant language, rounding notice provisions, and C-PACE timing and tax clarifications; the House adopted the amendments and proposed the bill back to the Senate as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• well qualified for the position, and we do hope that you are able to use your experiences to help us guide
• able to use your experiences to<00:03:58.319> help<00:03:58.560> us<00:03:58.879> guide
• ><00:04:00.159> um<00:04:00.480> more<00:04:00.799> rehabilitation to help us guide
• um more rehabilitation to help us guide um more rehabilitation for<00:04:02.000> the<00:04:02.239

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard a series of gubernatorial nominations, primarily to the State Rehabilitation Council, the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (PABEA), the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Center for Nursing Advisory Board. Nominees included Patrick Gartside, Judith Daniels, James Montgomery (not present), Christine Park, Tammy Napoleon, Scott Spelina, Roy Katsuda, and Dr. Sylvia Rom. Each nominee described their background and why they wanted to serve, with recurring themes of disability advocacy, vocational rehabilitation, nursing workforce development, elder issues, and LGBTQ+ health and community support. Department of Human Services and Executive Office on Aging representatives generally testified in strong support of the nominees and emphasized their qualifications and relevance to the boards’ missions. Members and agency witnesses also discussed substantive policy issues during the nominations. For PABEA nominee Scott Spelina, the committee asked about a bill involving strict liability and elder abuse-related criminal penalties; Spelina supported the approach, saying it would be easier to enforce and better protect seniors. For other nominees, testimony highlighted the need for stronger rehabilitation services, qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors, adult education partnerships, and nursing recruitment and retention, especially on Kauaʻi. Dr. Sylvia Rom’s nomination drew broad support from commission members and community supporters, with testimony focusing on LGBTQ+ health, gender-expansive youth, and intersectional advocacy. No final votes were taken during the hearing. The chair repeatedly stated that decision-making would be deferred until later in the calendar, and in some cases until the nominee was present or quorum was available. One nomination, James Montgomery, was skipped because he was not present on Zoom, and Kevin Nakamura’s nomination was also deferred to a later date. The committee accepted written and oral testimony and generally moved through the nominations without questions from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• about three years ago, you asked us to commit and help build that from scratch, that policy that would guide
• have— ...in the last three years, that would have bearing on the IPS that you have in place that guides
• And Jim, are you available to, or do you want to guide us through any of the changes on this?
• And each client fund has an investment policy statement that guides us in terms of how we care for, when

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• first-century text called Pirkei Avot, the great sage Hillel asks three questions that continue to guide
• questions<00:01:49.120> that<00:01:49.320> continue<00:01:49.760> to<00:01:49.880> guide
• questions that continue to guide us. questions that continue to guide us.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My vote today is guided by my responsibility to my constituents, to the integrity of the judiciary, and
• [clears throat] My vote<00:12:50.320> today<00:12:50.560> is<00:12:50.800> guided
• ><00:12:51.200> by<00:12:51.440> my vote today is guided by my vote today is guided by

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Working behind the scenes, he guided leaders through moments that contributed, I think, to that growth
• Working behind the scenes, he guided leaders through moments that contributed to that growth and the

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• been having, with some of those counties and areas, daily calls, setting goals for them, helping them guide
• having with some of those counties and areas daily calls, so setting goals for them, helping them guide

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging, Children, and Youth first approved the February 11 minutes and then reviewed a DCFS policy manual update from Director Tiffany Wright. The rule changes were described as largely terminology and compliance updates to align with new laws, an executive order, and current practice, including moving internal procedures out of the public manual and into DCFS’s internal procedure manual. Members asked whether the changes altered practice or just wording, and Wright said they were mainly procedural and vernacular updates, such as changing terms like “protection plan” to “immediate safety plan” and “safety factor” to “safety threat.” The committee then reviewed and accepted the rule without objection. Wright also presented DCFS performance data for the third quarter of FY 2026, including hotline reports, investigations, foster care, in-home services, permanency, and adoption measures. She noted staffing shortages in some counties, lower timeliness in completing maltreatment reports, and efforts to support those areas with central office staff and daily calls. Members asked about neglect trends, sexual abuse/exploitation categories, behavioral issues, and workforce recruitment and retention. Wright said DCFS is expanding hiring support, outreach, retention efforts, trauma support through UAMS, and a new staff training model beginning July 1. She also presented the biannual overturned investigations report, which tracks hotline calls, true findings, appeals, and reversals by county, and answered questions about comparing it with prior years. Major Jeff Drew of the Crimes Against Children Division presented the 2025 annual report, saying the hotline received 67,987 calls and 37,986 were accepted for investigation, with 6,539 CACD investigations assigned and a 28% substantiation rate. He described hotline operator training, including a four-week program with policy review, scenarios, recorded calls, live call monitoring, and evidence-chain and decision-making instruction. He said the starting salary for hotline operators is $43,888 plus benefits and would check on comparisons with other states. Elizabeth Pooley of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas reported that the state’s 29 CACs and 64 multidisciplinary teams served 13,568 children and families in 2025, up about 3,000 from the prior year, and hosted 259 trainings. Members asked about funding, and she said state funding is the same for each center at roughly $70,000 to $75,000, supplemented by federal and community support, with work underway on Arkansas-specific best practices. The meeting ended after a brief unrelated question about Meals on Wheels and a Project Zero adoption event announcement.

Transcript Highlights:

• been having, with some of those counties and areas, daily calls, setting goals for them, helping them guide
• having with some of those counties and areas daily calls, so setting goals for them, helping them guide

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging, Children and Youth approved the February 11 minutes and then reviewed a DCFS policy manual update from Director Tiffany Wright. Wright said the changes move internal procedures out of administrative rule into DCFS’s internal procedure manual under an executive order, while also updating terminology, conforming to enacted laws, revising foster family continuing education hours, and removing obsolete requirements. Members asked whether the changes would alter practice; Wright said they were mainly terminology and process-location changes, intended to make the department more efficient and flexible. The committee then accepted the rule review without objection. Wright next presented DCFS quarterly performance data for the third quarter of FY 2026. She reported 8,610 hotline reports accepted, 6,919 assigned to DCFS, 22% of investigations found true, neglect as the most common substantiated allegation, and continued staffing shortages in some counties affecting timeliness. She also reported 3,420 foster care cases, 1,788 in-home cases involving 4,568 children, 72% monthly home-visit compliance, 36% permanency within 12 months, 4.5% re-entry into foster care, and 156 children available for adoption. Members asked about neglect trends, sexual abuse/exploitation data, behavior-related removals, staffing recruitment and retention, training improvements, and whether ACE-style testing should be considered for children; Wright said DCFS is expanding recruitment, retention, and training efforts and was open to further discussion on education-related assessments. The committee also received DCFS’s biannual overturned investigations report, covering July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, which tracks hotline calls, accepted reports, true findings, appeals, and overturned findings by county. A member asked for comparison to the prior year’s report. Major Jeff Drew then presented the Crimes Against Children Division annual report, saying the hotline received 67,987 calls in 2025, 37,986 were accepted for investigation, and CACD handled 6,539 cases with a 28% substantiation rate. Members asked about hotline operator training, qualifications, salary, and whether Arkansas compares with other states; Drew said operators receive a four-week training that includes law, policy, scenarios, recorded calls, live-call monitoring, and evidence-chain/decision-making instruction. Finally, Elizabeth Pooley of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas reported that the statewide network of 29 CACs and 64 multidisciplinary teams served 13,568 children and families in 2025, up about 3,000 from the prior year, and hosted 259 trainings for professionals. She said funding comes from a mix of state, federal, and community sources, with state funding set at roughly $70,000 to $75,000 per center and not based on caseload. Members asked about funding stability and standards of care; Pooley said CACs follow national standards and Arkansas is developing state best practices. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2243 will take a deliberative phased approach, establishing a state bank commission to guide implementation
• A.B. 2243 will take the deliberative phased approach, establishing a state bank commission to guide implementation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2243 will take a deliberative phased approach, establishing a state bank commission to guide implementation
• A.B. 2243 will take the deliberative phased approach, establishing a state bank commission to guide implementation

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met and first approved the consent calendar, which included AB 2028, AB 2425, and committee bill AB 2795, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also noted that AB 2558 and AB 2746 had been pulled from the agenda. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including acceptance of written testimony and rules against disruptive conduct. The committee then heard AB 2116, which would require registration and basic conduct standards for certain small-business financing providers, including merchant cash advance companies, and prohibit confessions of judgment and power-of-attorney provisions before default. Supporters argued the bill would close an oversight gap and improve transparency for small businesses; a small business owner testified that a purported 13% loan turned out to have a 235% APR. Opponents said the bill mixed consumer and commercial regulation and could restrict access to capital, though they supported banning confessions of judgment. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2243, by Assembly Member Haney, proposed creating a state bank commission to study whether California should establish a state bank or other public financing tools. Supporters said a public banking model could reduce borrowing costs, keep more public money in-state, and better finance housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities; opponents from banking groups raised concerns about taxpayer exposure, deposit guarantees, and the use of public funds and existing lending structures. The bill passed and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2350, which would set guardrails on rent-now-pay-later products for rental housing; supporters said these products can lead to high fees, debt, and eviction risk, while industry groups opposed the bill unless amended. AB 2350 passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you and I have gone on some of those guided hunts together.
• , maybe help us understand why you feel like this is important, given the big business that these guided

Bills: SB1550, SB2065, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172

Keywords: burn ban, drought, emergency powers, county commissioners, fire safety, wildfire prevention, pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, hunting regulations, orange clothing, commercial hunting, game and fish, wildlife management, wildlife, trespass, dogs, hunting

Transcript Highlights:

• Our youngest child suffered abuse at the licensed daycare, and we are sharing our family story and hope
• Our youngest child suffered abuse at the licensed daycare, and we are sharing our family story and hope
• for cameras in licensed daycare centers in<00:30:26.080> Minnesota.
• In 2022, there were 51 cases in licensed child care. In 2023, 75.
• I hold in my hand the member guide of 134 reps here at the House.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, it's safe to say that if they were providing medical oversight, they were not licensed clinicians
• So, uh, it's safe to say that if they were providing medical oversight, they were not licensed clinicians
• <00:09:02.880> And they were not licensed clinicians.
• And they were not licensed clinicians.
• As Senate President, he helped guide New Hampshire through both challenges and opportunities, always

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with Senate Bill 197, which would remove supervision of the legislative facilities committee nurse from the Department of Health and Human Services and instead place the nurse under the Board of Nursing’s scope of practice and the Nurse Practice Act. Ryan Maliti introduced the bill for Senator Pearl, and John Williams of DHHS explained that the current statutory language is outdated, dating back to 1995, and improperly gives medical supervisory authority to a non-clinician. He said the change would align the statute with current practice and that the department, the Joint Legislative Committee’s chief operating officer, and the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification were all comfortable with the language. Committee members asked about the need for the change and confirmed the old supervisory language was no longer being meaningfully used. The chair closed the hearing on SB 197, noting there may be additional amendments before final action. The committee then heard Senate Bill 186, which would authorize the Joint Legislative Historical Committee to accept and display a portrait of former Senator Jeb Bradley in the State House. Max Taylor, speaking for Senator Rashardi, described Bradley’s long public service and urged the committee to move the bill. Members asked whether the portrait was completed, where it would be displayed, and how size and placement would be determined. Taylor said the portrait had not yet been commissioned but would be paid for by Bradley, and that the exact location had not been set. Committee members and staff noted that the Joint Historical Committee is already working on portrait placement and space issues, and that the bill may need to be coordinated with broader updates to the statutes governing portraits and memorials. The committee also heard Senate Bill 200, introduced by Senator Reardon, to allow the Joint Legislative Historical Committee to accept and hang a portrait of former Senator Sylvia Larson. Reardon and Donna Susi, who painted the portrait and had served as Larson’s chief of staff, gave strong testimony about Larson’s legislative record, leadership as Senate President, and bipartisan service. Members asked about the portrait’s status, size, and where it would be displayed; witnesses said the portrait was completed, framed, and currently stored in a box pending approval, and that the committee would decide placement. In the later work session, the chair used the two portrait bills to discuss broader problems in the statutes and the Joint Historical Committee’s responsibilities, including possible size limits, placement rules, and whether New Hampshire should adopt practices used in other states such as waiting periods or moratoriums on portraits. No votes were taken during the work session, but members discussed using the bills as vehicles for larger statutory cleanup.

Transcript Highlights:

• of operations, so Monticello is currently licensed through 2050.
• There's a licensing and regulatory risk again when you're first of a kind licensing with the Nuclear
• There's licensing and regulatory risk again when you're first of a kind licensing with the Nuclear Regulatory
• <01:21:17.360> uh the court will rule on those licenses uh the court will rule on those licenses
• We have the license for Monticello.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• picture that you see here is the overarching categories that we, as staff of the committee, have used to guide
• a lot of the work to guide our research and eventually to guide the proposals. that we've put before
• And the roadmap Continues to guide our work as LESC staff but can also strengthen other processes potentially
• She welcomed her into the classroom, took her through, and guided her through. the students' notebooks

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not have affirmative rights, and that is all we are asking for is the affirmative right to guide
• We do not have affirmative rights, and that is all we are asking for is the affirmative right to guide
• We do not have affirmative rights, and that is all we are asking for is the affirmative right to guide
• We do not have affirmative rights, and that is all we are asking for is the affirmative right to guide
• > is<02:09:12.280> the And that is all we are asking for is the affirmative right to guide

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cannot say that we're not committed to try to have facilities and options for these youth, to try to guide
• So a violence risk assessment is an intensive evidence-based tool, and it is conducted by a licensed
• So it's a licensed clinician, but I also want to point out that is a certified forensic evaluator.
• So a violence risk assessment is an intensive evidence-based tool, and it is conducted by a licensed
• So it's a licensed clinician, but I also want to point out that is a certified forensic evaluator.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it protects the fundamental principle that health care decisions should be guided by medical expertise
• essential health care, and it puts providers at risk of burdensome investigations and of losing their license
• essential health care, and it puts providers at risk of burdensome investigations and of losing their license
• essential health care, and it puts providers at risk of burdensome investigations and of losing their license
• and that physicians and clinicians are not subjected to abusive lawsuits, insurance penalties, or license

Bills: SB2936, SB2850, SB2851, SB2521

Keywords: accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle

Summary: The joint hearing covered House Bill 251, which would require hospitals to report costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients, and House Bill 1875, which would expand protections for gender-affirming health care services. On HB 251, the Department of Health said it supported the intent but described the bill as complicated and potentially impractical as drafted because the department lacks the expertise to produce the required analyses without outside help. Hawaii Health Systems Corporation echoed those concerns, while the Queen’s Health System said it was willing to work with the department to provide the information. In committee discussion, officials explained that hospital support in Hawaii includes public hospital appropriations and the provider tax program, which uses hospital and nursing home contributions to draw federal matching funds; a department witness estimated the net benefit at about $150 million for hospitals and $20 million for nursing facilities, though exact figures would be provided later. On HB 1875, the Insurance Division testified with concerns that the bill’s language on prohibited actions by malpractice insurers was broad and vague, and that a rate-increase prohibition could conflict with actuarially based insurance pricing. The division also noted it was not the primary enforcement agency for the statute. In contrast, many testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, PFLAG Oahu, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Democratic Party, and others. Supporters argued that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and protected by privacy and bodily autonomy principles, and that the bill would protect patients and providers from outside political interference. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.