Transcript Highlights:

• I move to lay over the balance of the calendar till Tuesday, April 7th, 2026.
• Seeing no objection, the balance of the calendar will be laid over until tomorrow, April 7th.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the bill sponsor considering all options to help us balance our budget.
• I just hope that we continue to really talk about how we balance our budget in a way... ...that doesn't

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• where we saw a balance of about $50 million.
• </c> steady increase in the overall balance. steady increase in the overall balance.
• </c><02:10:40.960><c> And</c> the overall corpus of the balance.
• And the overall corpus of the balance.
• </c> clear as of 930 the overall TANF balance clear as of 930 the overall TANF balance was<02:11:40.320

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session opened on February 13, 2026, with the chair outlining the committee’s advisory role and the possible motions available under House Rule 45. The committee then took up House Bill 1569, concerning the Philbrook Center/state hospital campus property, and heard extensive testimony from Commissioner Charlie Arlinghouse. He explained that the property is currently one parcel and state law prevents subdivision unless a separate Senate bill, identified as SB 572, is enacted to fix the legal issue. He said HB 2 directed the sale of the property but did not address subdivision or marketing details, and he characterized the $5 million revenue estimate as speculative. He also said the state would first offer the property to the city or county, which he viewed as the most practical buyer and potential partner for any subdivision work. Members asked whether the building should be retained for transitional housing or sold, what would happen after July 1, 2026, and whether other vacant state buildings could absorb the current occupants. Arlinghouse said there are no firm plans for the building if it is not sold, and that HHS would remain until a sale occurs. He described the building as not especially historic or attractive and noted plumbing issues, while also acknowledging HHS’s view that it could serve as transitional housing. He said there is no reserve stock of office space, that the state already rents substantial office space in Concord, and that some nearby state buildings are either under renovation or only partially usable. He also said the Executive Council would have to approve any sale and that moving costs are usually not budgeted in advance, leaving the using agency to absorb them. Several members raised concerns about relying on asset sales to balance the budget, citing past examples where projected real estate revenue did not materialize on schedule. Arlinghouse agreed that one-time revenue should generally be used for one-time expenses, but said the state sometimes has legitimate reasons to sell assets and that such decisions depend on the state’s needs. He estimated the state rents roughly 100,000 square feet of office space in Concord at about $25 per square foot, and said he would provide a more exact figure later. In response to a question about whether the state should include a right of first refusal if the property is later resold, he said that idea had not been considered but could make sense, especially if the buyer is the city or county. No votes were taken during this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see from the long-term profile, the general fund is essentially balanced while the school
• foundation program is projected to have a negative balance and require transfers from the LISRA next
• </c><01:01:57.920><c> while</c><01:01:58.240><c> the</c> fund is essentially balanced while the fund
• is essentially balanced while the school<01:01:58.720><c> foundation</c><01:01:59.520><c> program</c>
• </c><01:02:02.319><c> and</c><01:02:02.559><c> require</c> to have a negative balance and require to

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are lots of things to balance: due process rights, public safety risk, victims, and the public's
• additional parole mechanisms while still providing the flexibility for the state of California to balance
• There needs to be a balance.
• And I think it just requires balanced government.
• We believe this strikes a beneficial balance for both consumers and licensed repossessors.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum. The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are lots of things to balance: due process rights, public safety risk, victims, and the public's
• additional parole mechanisms while still providing the flexibility for the State of California to balance
• public safety interests with... ...are supported by the evidence and balanced public safety interests
• There needs to be a balance.
• And I think it just requires balanced government.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of public safety bills. The chair announced recess and return times, noted several consent items, and said SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Testimony procedures were explained, including limits on principal witnesses and public comment. Several bills were heard out of file order with authors presenting and witnesses speaking in support and opposition. SB 1446 would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make votes public, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluations in certain cases. Supporters, including the author and district attorneys, said it would improve transparency and public safety; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual or serial sexual offenses from elderly parole eligibility; the author and district attorneys cited recent releases of serious sex offenders and the need to respect victims and sentences, while opponents said the elderly parole process is already rigorous and evidence-based and that the bill would reduce rehabilitation incentives. The chair and other members strongly supported the measure, but no vote was taken. The committee also heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement forces from entering California without the governor’s permission; the author and supporters framed it as a state sovereignty and constitutional authority measure, and the committee discussed an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for implementation of Proposition 36; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and related services, while opponents called it fiscally reckless and said the budget process was the proper place to address funding. The chair summarized amendments removing a specific appropriation and limiting eligible recipients, and members emphasized that the voters approved Prop. 36 but it remains underfunded. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer oversight for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment providers, especially ABA providers serving children; it drew support from health plans and behavior analysis groups and no opposition. SB 1210 would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to all gang databases, including local ones; supporters described privacy harms and racial disparities, while police chiefs opposed applying CalGang rules to informal local investigative files. SB 1019 would create a DOJ cargo theft task force; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, and port interests described organized theft, rail sabotage, and supply-chain losses, and there was no opposition. SB 1217, on non-consensual intimate image removal, was introduced with privacy and public safety amendments and framed as a survivor-driven effort to create a DOJ clearinghouse for rapid takedown requests; the author said it would help end ongoing digital harm from exploitation.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are lots of things to balance: due process rights, public safety risk, victims, and the public's
• additional parole mechanisms while still providing the flexibility for the State of California to balance
• public safety interests with... ...are supported by the evidence and balanced public safety interests
• There needs to be a balance.
• And I think it just requires balanced government.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the resulting budget balancing requires reductions in all areas. And as Mr.
• </c> solve for to balance their budgets. solve for to balance their budgets.
• </c> You know, the resulting budget balancing You know, the resulting budget balancing requires<00:30
• Due to funding gaps, our school is balancing its budget in part by cutting one of its special education
• to create opportunities balance target to create opportunities that<01:28:48.480><c> connect</c><01:

Bills: HF3790 , HF3654 , HF3371 , HF3470 , HF1099

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's a balance between price.
• And there's a balance between those<00:59:26.640><c> things</c><00:59:26.880><c> and</c><00:59:27.040
• And that's just part of that balance between making sure that we do a good job with the integrity of
• And that's a tricky balance that we navigate every day. We have a subrecipient monitoring policy.
• </c><01:08:39.440><c> between</c> that's just part of that balance between that's just part of that balance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will tell you that comes from a fraud prevention perspective, so there's probably a balancing that
• I will tell you that comes from a fraud prevention perspective, so there's probably a balancing that
• I will tell you that comes from a fraud prevention perspective, so there's probably a balancing that
• ,</c><00:21:05.480><c> things</c><00:21:05.720><c> we</c><00:21:05.840><c> could</c> checks and balances
• , things we could checks and balances, things we could have<00:21:06.080><c> checked,</c><00:21:06.520

Bills: HF1338

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• safety spending is constitutionally locked, which services are municipalities expected to cut to balance
• It's easy for us to give out tax breaks when it's not us balancing our budget.
• And so my thing is there have been no checks and balances. He's been doing whatever he wants to do.
• This legislation strikes the right balance between readiness and responsibility.
• This legislation strikes the right balance between readiness and responsibility.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this is just recognizing the error in the fund balance.
• The Senate bill repeals the voting equipment grant account and transfers the remaining balance into the
• The Senate bill repeals the voting equipment grant account and transfers the remaining balance into the
• The Senate bill repeals the voting equipment grant account and transfers the remaining balance into the
• </c> election party judge balance election party judge balance requirements.<01:11:16.640><c> On</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, one last question: is there ever a reserve balance in that account, or does it kind of zero itself
• So there are at times where there is a reserve balance.
• in that account or does it kind balance in that account or does it kind of<00:36:52.440><c> zero</c>
• uh we try to there is a Reserve balance uh we try to even<00:37:04.040><c> out</c><00:37:04.319><c>
• </c> uh we are keeping that at a zero balance uh we are keeping that at a zero balance uh<00:37:32.000

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The system balances demands that have been higher every year since 2019 with acute care hospital beds
• </c> into consideration and balanced into consideration and balanced appropriately<02:38:18.279><c> so
• </c><02:38:33.600><c> here</c> the fact there is a balance here the fact there is a balance here certainly
• I think there needs to be a balance.
• I think there needs to be a balance.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I tried to balance, and my colleagues worked with me.
• , and I can't make it balance in my own mind.
• That's balance.
• </c> consistency and a balance standpoint. consistency and a balance standpoint.
• Um, we want to respect balanced budget.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sound policy must balance freedom to act with freedom from harm imposed by others.
• Current law under RSA 195 reflects this balance. Towns may already pursue withdrawal.
• </c><00:50:37.520><c> equalized</c> formula, that balances equalized formula, that balances equalized
• House Bill 1688 would dismantle that balance.
• Chapter 126U the chapter uh balance.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You want to keep balance. You want with. You want to keep balance.
• I'm arguing that they're out of balance.
• .<02:58:25.040><c> You</c> balance.
• You balance.
• </c> to be reduced to make the tales balance to be reduced to make the tales balance and<04:03:01.520

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• substantial approach, frustrated in many ways that housing policy issues lack a certain sense of balancing
• substantial approach, frustrated in many ways that housing policy issues lack a certain sense of balancing

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held its first meeting of the session to hear testimony on House Bill 65, a proposed constitutional amendment establishing a right to housing in Massachusetts. Co-chairs Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Richard Haggerty opened the hearing, outlined the hybrid format and testimony time limits, and noted the presence of several House members. The discussion centered on the broader housing crisis and the idea that housing should be treated as a constitutional right, with the hearing framed as the start of a series of housing-related meetings this session. Public testimony was brief but strongly supportive. Vincent Lawrence Dixon urged the committee to advance H.65, arguing that housing is a basic necessity and that the amendment could help strengthen and clarify housing policy in the Commonwealth. Erica Tetsuique, speaking from lived experience with homelessness, described time spent at Pine Street and Bridge Over Troubled Waters and said a Housing First approach and constitutional recognition of housing could help address homelessness, crime, mental health, and substance use challenges. She also criticized the Johnson v. Grant decision and called for Massachusetts to set an example nationally. Committee members thanked the speakers and acknowledged the importance of personal testimony. No votes were taken and no formal action on the bill was reported during the hearing. The meeting ended after a brief opportunity for additional comments, with the committee adjourning by motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires cities to notify not only property owners, but also lien holders if there are any outstanding balances
• This allows the lien holder the ability to work with their client to come to a resolution before the balance

Bills: SB1265 , SB2154 , SB1775 , SB2139 , SB1552 , SB483 , SB1198 , SB2135 , SB2118

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: municipal ordinances, local government, ordinance publication, posting requirement, public notice, municipal law, city ordinances, town ordinances, county government, newspaper publication, effective date, Oklahoma statutes, 11 O.S. 14-106, ordinance notice, government oversight, municipalities, city government, town government, property maintenance, nuisance abatement

Summary: The County and Municipal Government Committee considered and advanced several bills related to county purchasing, municipal notice requirements, property liens, county home rule, jail funding, and local fines. Senate Bill 2135 would let county purchasing agents obtain and administer county purchase cards through county depositories, with transaction rules modeled on the state P-card program and still subject to existing purchasing procedures. Senate Bill 483 would authorize county commissioners to create a relocation assistance program. Senate Bill 1198 would require OHCA to release liens on property at the request of a county treasurer. Senate Bill 1265 would extend the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 to 30 days, and Senate Bill 2154 would require cities to notify lienholders as well as property owners about outstanding property maintenance balances. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2139, described as clarifying language to a 2024 law after stakeholder discussion, and Senate Bill 1552, which changes population requirements in a 1992 county home rule statute. SB 1552 drew the most discussion, with members asking about its effect on rural counties, the Kenny v. Tulsa County case, and whether any county is currently affected; the sponsor said the bill raises the threshold, affects no counties now, and would still require voter approval and additional charter approval if a county later qualified. The bill passed on a 3-2 vote. Two additional bills were approved with little or no debate: Senate Bill 2118 would allow surplus funds from a county sheriff’s commissary fund to be used for jail operations, inmate care, and related expenses, and Senate Bill 1775 would cap fines in small towns. All other measures mentioned passed unanimously or near-unanimously, and the committee adjourned after completing the posted agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I keep asking for is a balance between the two.
• What I keep asking for is a balance between the two scenarios where we can treat both the providers fairly

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The House Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and took up House Bill 2155 in executive session. The committee considered and adopted House Committee Substitute 0.03C after discussion of several changes: limiting reimbursement to labor costs rather than total costs, adding “bad actor” language to exclude entities not lawfully in the right-of-way, updating notification and information-sharing requirements, and limiting the bill to road projects. Members raised concerns about the lack of a specific dispute-resolution mechanism for disagreements over reasonable costs and about the unpredictability of labor costs and possible manipulation. After a brief at-ease to review the substitute, the committee adopted the HCS by voice vote. On the motion to do pass HB 2155 as amended, Representative Matieson explained longstanding concerns about fairness between municipalities and providers, but said he would support the bill to keep negotiations going and encourage a better amendment before floor debate. Other members voiced support or opposition, with some no votes reflecting concerns about cost allocation and ambiguity. The committee then took a roll-call vote and passed HB 2155, HCS 0.03C, by 8-4. The meeting adjourned after the bill was reported do pass.