Transcript Highlights:

• It also encourages WSDOT to request any available federal funding for...
• Fiscal note has been requested.
• I'm Jeff Wilson representing the 19th legislative district.
• Under this legislation, that maximum term would be increased to 75 years.
• The appropriate time for Sound Transit to request legislative assistance would be after their plan has

Bills: SB5750, SB6148

Keywords: electric vehicles, charging fees, state facilities, sustainability, infrastructure, regional transit authority, RTA, transit bonds, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, bond maturity, debt limit, 25-year cap, regional mobility grant program, public transit financing, transportation funding, Washington RCW, bond issuance, municipal finance, infrastructure finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Committee on Appropriations, which will now come to order.
• I'm urging you, I'm strongly requesting you.
• has $500,000 of recurring funding in the General Appropriations Act.
• This bill was actually something I was requested to do.
• Bush signed legislation... Finally, President George H.W.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for the wrongful convictions, incarceration, and death tied to the 1949 case. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step after prior state apologies, pardons, and exonerations. The committee adopted a $4 million amendment that divided compensation equally among the four families and updated the recipient for Ernest Thomas’s share. Multiple family members and advocates testified in support, emphasizing the decades of trauma and the need for full justice. Senators in debate largely supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 330, which clarifies disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers by refining the definition of heart disease and allowing certain officers who transfer agencies to rely on a prior physical under specified conditions. SB 474 also passed, expanding military leave protections to include public officials and employees who serve in the Coast Guard or Florida State Guard, adjusting pay eligibility for federal service, and updating related retirement and assistance provisions. SB 96, the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program bill, was amended to expand eligibility to veterans with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level and to move funding into the General Appropriations Act; members debated whether the broader eligibility could increase demand, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 7018 on child welfare, making the Step Into Success pilot program permanent statewide, adjusting visitor/background-check rules for out-of-home placements, and creating a best-practices program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. CS/SB 480 on state IT governance was reported favorably after amendments that strengthened vendor performance metrics and restored state data center security provisions; it creates a new central IT governance structure under the Governor’s office and aims to improve oversight of procurement, spending, and technical debt. SB 1066, addressing partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River and Kirkpatrick Dam, passed after a late-file amendment and extensive testimony from environmental, recreation, and local economic interests. SB 1216, which gives school districts more flexibility in educator compensation, and SB 1120, which increases oversight and reporting for water management district spending, were also reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 1366 on claims against the government, which raises sovereign immunity caps, ties future adjustments to CPI, shortens claim deadlines, and changes attorney-fee provisions. The bill drew support from local government and public-hospital groups as a compromise, but also significant concern from some senators about the impact on self-insured agencies and whether the fee changes would discourage attorneys from taking cases. The discussion remained ongoing, and the bill was still moving forward as the meeting continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is effective, proportionate, transparent, and aligned with legislative intent.
• with legislative intent. There is no demonstrated need to replace it.
• We have people—we have some plans here that I know we've showed some of the legislative staff.
• I'm past president of CLCID, which is the California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design.
• This statement was recorded and shared with legislative staff.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now request passage by the use of ready.
• We should be requested. Anyone object?
• </c> Immediate release has been requested. Immediate release has been requested.
• </c> Immediate release has been requested. Immediate release has been requested.
• Immediately following Appropriations. Immediately following Appropriations.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 2 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the appropriate time, I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.
• Clinically appropriate residential options.
• AB 2395 is a legislative hardship for families.
• going to request a motion on this bill, if that's okay with you.
• And I hear a co-authored request from Assemblymember Rubio, too.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child and family services bills, with testimony from authors, county officials, advocates, and members of the public. AB 2083 would authorize a regional child care special district for Marina Valley and Paris; there was no public opposition, but a vice chair raised concerns about lack of outreach to Riverside County and possible added fees for residents. The bill was held pending quorum and later noted as enjoying a due pass recommendation, though no final roll was taken in the excerpt. AB 1579, which expands the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to allow additional CDSS-approved residential models, drew strong support from San Francisco County, Seneca Family of Agencies, and several counties and advocacy groups, who argued the current crisis residential model is financially and operationally unworkable and leaves youth in hospitals or emergency departments. The Youth Law Center and allied organizations opposed the bill, saying it departs from the original small, community-based crisis model and could lead to more institutional care. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 1628 would extend California’s safe surrender window for newborns from 72 hours to 30 days. The author and fire service supporters said the change would better reflect postpartum recovery and help prevent unsafe abandonment; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 1634, dealing with the “Kids” specialty license plate program, sought to raise plate fees and revise distribution formulas to generate more revenue for child safety and child care programs. Supporters said the update would modernize outdated 1992 pricing and expand county access, while a committee member objected that the bill would reallocate funds away from state agencies and private nonprofits; the bill was moved on a 5-0 vote with some members not voting. AB 1643 would streamline child support enrollment by having courts transmit support orders directly to child support agencies unless a custodial parent opts out. Supporters said automatic enrollment would reduce poverty and remove paperwork barriers, while opponents warned it could undermine parent choice and create problems for families with sensitive circumstances. The committee passed the bill 6-0. AB 1708 would require regions receiving HHAP homelessness funds to more meaningfully engage smaller cities; many city officials supported it as a way to include jurisdictions that are doing local homelessness work, while Los Angeles’ mayor’s office opposed it. The bill passed 5-0. AB 2395 would standardize access to the child support debt reduction program; supporters described it as a way to help low-income obligors escape uncollectible government-owed debt, while receiving parents and child support agencies warned it could reduce money owed to families and needs more work. The bill passed 4-0. The committee then began AB 1914, which would require local governments to plan for child care in general plans; supporters framed child care as essential infrastructure, while at least one member raised concerns about state mandates on local jurisdictions, and the excerpt ends before any vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy to move the bill at the appropriate time. Okay.
• Okay, I'm going to make a request.
• Motion is due pass to the Appropriations Committee. AB 1755.
• Motion is due pass to the Appropriations Committee. A Chobogue: no.
• Motion is due pass to the Appropriations Committee. AB 2769.

Summary: The committee heard several child welfare, food assistance, child care, and developmental services bills. AB 308 would require a statewide evaluation of regional center safety training and crisis-response services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; supporters said it would help reduce reliance on law enforcement and improve de-escalation and emergency preparedness. AB 1049 would remove sponsor deeming from the California Food Assistance Program, with supporters from food banks and legal aid arguing the rule creates confusion, chilling effects, and wrongful denials, while one member raised concerns about accountability and fraud. AB 1201 would narrow when a parent’s prior violent felony can bar reunification services, limiting the bypass to offenses involving a child or a child’s other parent/guardian; county and advocacy witnesses said the bill preserves judicial discretion and avoids automatic denials, though a member expressed concern about child safety in violent or criminal environments. AB 2379 would require family child care providers to be notified of constitutional rights and receive multilingual training regarding immigration enforcement; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2429 would make ACEs screening optional and reduce required classroom observations in the early childhood mental health consultation program, with supporters saying it would reduce administrative burdens and expand participation. AB 1755 would eliminate CalWORKs’ 100-hour monthly work penalty for two-parent families, and supporters said it would reduce poverty and administrative burden without changing income eligibility. AB 1981, presented later, would advance “true cost of care” child care rate reform, with providers describing the current reimbursement system as unsustainable. AB 2478 would create a streamlined kinship family approval pathway for foster care placements with relatives and other kin, and AB 1969 and AB 1996 would create statewide structures to coordinate cradle-to-career services and reduce child poverty, respectively; both were presented as data-driven, place-based efforts to align services and set measurable reduction goals. Most bills received strong support from county agencies, advocacy organizations, and service providers, with little or no opposition testimony. Members generally praised the goals of the measures but asked questions about implementation, accountability, and child safety in the reunification and benefits bills. The committee took roll calls on the bills it heard, and the votes shown in the transcript were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, with several measures held on call after passing committee votes. AB 1049 was voted out 2-1, AB 1201 and AB 2379 were each voted out 3-0, AB 2429 and AB 1755 were voted out 2-0, and AB 2478, AB 1969, and AB 1996 were each voted out 2-0; the chair repeatedly noted that some bills would remain on call pending absent members. AB 1981 drew extensive support testimony from child care providers and allies, but the committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided because no motion was available at that moment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are requesting a transfer from CYFD of $1.1 million and requesting additional funding to fully
• Additionally, there's a legislative requirement.
• Again, I just want to hit on our budget request one last time.
• Monitoring them appropriately on the back end.
• The system only allows us to request funding for 15.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Edgar Cabral with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Good afternoon, Edgar Cabral with the legislative analyst office.
• I'm happy to answer any questions at the appropriate time. happen.
• I'm happy to answer any questions at the appropriate time. Thank you.
• Happy to take questions at the appropriate time.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a surprise, I filed an appropriation a surprise, I filed an appropriation bill<00:43:13.200><c>
• That request is for the engineers' requested authority to allocate 600,000 for their grant program for
• that request is for um the engineers requested<00:48:01.760><c> authority</c><00:48:02.240><c> to</c
• </c> of the receipt of the funds appropriated of the receipt of the funds appropriated in<00:53:34.800
• </c> us an an opportunity as a legislative us an an opportunity as a legislative body<00:54:08.160><c

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 12 March, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Respectfully, I ask for an aye vote at the appropriate time. Thank you.
• Seeing no other... ...on legislation in California in support.
• I respectfully request your support. Thank you. Thank you.
• And the audit that you mentioned is one that I requested.
• And with that, I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• needs to be done before we appropriate the money.
• needs to be done before we appropriate the money.
• dollars to spend that are sponsored by legislators.
• What question was, at one point, do the legislators get to weigh in because we gave you an appropriation
• The findings and any recommended legislation will be delivered, obviously, during the next 70th Legislative

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a natural question that we ask: Are you going to be responsive to legislators?
• I'm concerned that, given that request, the risk profile is probably greater than that.
• ...an audit that was bipartisan in its request through the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of some
• for information as a Public Records Act request.
• That's part of the transparency that is part of the legislation.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Deborah Garns, Davis Rabbit, Cindy Silva, Vincent Wells, and Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, all by 5-0 votes. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, each by unanimous 5-0 votes. The committee then heard testimony on the appointment of Trista Gonzalez as Director of the Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Gonzalez described her 33-year career in tax administration, emphasized taxpayer service, efficient collection, and support for small businesses, and answered questions about lithium extraction tax registration, online sales tax enforcement under Wayfair and AB 147, and CDTFA’s work with illicit cigarette, tobacco, and cannabis activity. Members praised her responsiveness to legislators and constituents, and public commenters from Ryan LLC and the California Society of Enrolled Agents supported her confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to send her nomination to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, on his confirmation. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention facility inspections, grant administration, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audits, implementation of SB 519, access to local agency records, standards for detention facilities, and conditions in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board is using inspections, technical assistance, and public reporting to improve compliance and transparency, and that additional trailer bill language clarified access to records. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. The committee approved his nomination 5-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I move the request for a fourth school safety special audit and/or the request for a special
• Although, within your request, Mr.
• , I move that we amend the Grasse special audit request to also include the Diaz special audit request
• , I move that we amend the Gress Special Audit Request to also include the Diaz Special Audit Request
• , I move that we amend the Gress Special Audit Request to also include the Diaz Special Audit Request

Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• There’s been a unanimous consent request.
• There’s a unanimous consent request.
• , making appropriations for the expense of the 57th Legislature, Second Session 2026, and for other legislative
• expenses, including the Legislative Council Service, the Legislative Finance Committee, the Legislative
• Legislative Council Service, the Legislative Finance Committee, the Legislative Education Study Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any other removals requested by committee members?
• Pursoon to RSA 21-M:11, A, 7, A and C requests the authorization to receive an additional appropriation
• appropriation from receive an additional appropriation from the<01:49:24.239><c> general</c><01:49:24.679
• I think requiring legislative change.
• Um, so I will be voting for the request.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on March 21, 2025, accepted the February 21 minutes, and approved a shortened consent calendar after removing Department of Safety item 2565 for separate discussion. That item concerned drone/UAS detection for special events and critical infrastructure. Department staff said the system would help locate drones and operators and support enforcement around temporary flight restrictions, but members pressed them on privacy versus security, and the department acknowledged the issue was primarily about security. The committee ultimately approved the item after discussion. Members also approved Department of Transportation item 2572 after a question about whether increased transfer requests would affect paving; DOT said the paving program would continue as normal. Judicial Council items 2566 and 2567 were also approved without discussion. During informational items, members asked for follow-up on Fish and Game’s Hike Safe card revenues versus search-and-rescue costs, and on DHHS reporting issues, including nursing home bed counts and declining community mental health center client numbers; DHHS said it would verify the bed-count methodology and provide a written update on the mental health data. The committee then entered non-public session to discuss an ongoing legal matter and related funding process. After returning, it considered a request under RSA 21-M:11 for an additional $5 million general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2025. Several members said they would have preferred the full $15 million request, but supported the smaller amount as a temporary step during the budget process, with expectations of monthly reporting back to the committee. The motion to approve $5 million passed 6-3. The committee set its next meeting for Friday, April 18 at 11:00 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in subsection three there, on lines 22, it requested that they accept the request to withdraw by
• an agency resolution or deny the request.
• And in subsection three there, on lines 22, it requested that they accept the request to withdraw by
• an agency resolution or deny the request.
• This legislation isn't specifically geared towards fixing a defective... ...legislation every year.

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee heard three House bills. House Bill 734, presented by Rep. Ben Furman, would change how wind and geothermal tax revenues are distributed to school districts that do not have supplemental levies, using the county levy rate instead. Furman said the bill closes an unintended loophole and does not change total revenue or affect solar. After brief questions, the committee voted to send HB 734 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 670, presented by Rep. Monks, would clarify last year’s urban renewal law regarding whether fire protection and ambulance districts may withdraw from existing or new urban renewal districts when there are no outstanding bonds or contractual obligations funded by district revenues. Monks said the bill is meant to reflect legislative intent and address ongoing litigation. Testimony from the Association of Idaho Cities, the Redevelopment Association of Idaho, and Garden City Urban Renewal Agency opposed the bill, arguing it could increase ambiguity and litigation and that the courts should resolve the current disputes first. The committee voted to send HB 670 to the 14th order for possible amendment. House Bill 658, also presented by Rep. Birch, would create a process for county commissioners to fill vacancies on cemetery maintenance district boards when a quorum is lost, and would allow counties to handle temporary district functions until a board is restored. Birch said the bill responds to a cemetery district board vacancy problem and has support from local government associations. The committee asked a few light questions and then passed HB 658 to the floor with a due pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before final action on the General Appropriations Bill.
• the General Appropriations Bill.
• the General Appropriations Bill.
• Some have said that this piece of legislation, Mr.
• At the request. At the request of Ms.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met in a floor session that began with routine procedural motions, including quorum checks, roll calls, and brief recesses. Members also welcomed guests and observed a moment of silent tribute for Frederick Pat Waller of Dracut, a 101-year-old World War II veteran and longtime farmer, before taking up the day’s major budget business. The principal item was the FY2026 appropriations legislation. House leaders described the conference report as a roughly $61 billion budget that reduces spending from earlier proposals while increasing Fair Share spending to $2.4 billion. They highlighted funding for education, including Chapter 70 aid, universal school meals, higher education financial aid, MassReconnect, and school clean energy projects; transportation, including MBTA and regional transit authority support; housing and homelessness programs; food assistance; and a new $5 million immigration legal assistance fund. Supporters emphasized fiscal stability, timely passage, and aid to cities and towns, while noting uncertainty from the federal government. The House first passed the supplemental appropriations bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 142-0, then later passed it on final enactment by 143-1. The House then accepted the conference report on the main FY2026 budget by a roll call vote of 139-6, adopted the emergency preamble by a recorded vote, and finally enacted the budget by another 139-6 vote. The session ended with adoption of an order to adjourn to the following Thursday at 11 a.m., and the House adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appropriations. Senator Senator Hobson. appropriations. Senator Senator Hobson.
• I haven't support this legislation?
• </c> has been requested. Anyone object? has been requested. Anyone object?
• </c><00:43:45.040><c> because</c> Uh this extension was requested because Uh this extension was requested
• And if your appropriated in years past.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My understanding is about a $100 million request.
• We request, the department requests, ongoing expenditure authority of $2,537,000 total fund, with the
• Why is this requested?
• So I can provide a brief overview of the requests for chapter legislation for Senate Bill 660.
• It's about a $62 million request over a full year.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Getting into our budget request, our FY27 budget requests for base and expansions is 15 billion dollars
• Our FY27 general fund total base request is $15 million.
• The expansion request, so that was the base, and then our expansion request is about close to two million
• We do have some special appropriation requests for ISD that include some system enhancements, some SNAP
• So we're requesting.