Transcript Highlights:

• this bill, and I support the governor's veto.
• this bill, and I support the governor's veto.
• Uh, I rise in support of the governor's veto.
• </c> agencies, and other stateup supported agencies, and other stateup supported activities.<00:56:58.160
• We all want support our dentist.

Bills: SB141, SB124, SB56, SJR116, SB94, SB37, SB127, SB197, SB66, SB70, SB133, SB160, SB214, SB312, SB52, SJR62, SJR75

Keywords: legal advertisements, tax rates, public hearings, transparency, local government, sick leave, education, teacher retirement, benefits, employee compensation, Medicaid, nonopioid analgesics, pain management, health care regulation, utilization controls, physician shortage, health care access, medically underserved areas, medical education, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, support, support bills. Remember, support bills. Let's move. Support bills.
• In particular, in Los Angeles, this bill is a support bill and has received bipartisan support.
• This bill has support, support, respectfully ask, but I vote. Thank you, Assembly Member Gibson.
• This is a support, support bill. Please vote aye. Thank you, Assembly Member Harbidian.
• This is a support, support bill. Please vote aye. Thank you, Assembly Member Harbinion.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:10.800><c> workforce</c> quality child care to support workforce quality child care to support
• It supports children with special needs and child care.
• </c> 100,000 young children and supporting 100,000 young children and supporting workforce<00:11:41.440
• I'd like to express my support for this bill.
• </c> historic Selma demonstrations. historic Selma demonstrations.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:26 Report of Committees 05:13 Orders of the Day/ HB 6 06:22 HB 480 14:13 HB 562 17:55 HB 136 25:53 HB 257 29:47 HB 490 35:54 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 40:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 52:44 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 53:49 ConC/Rules Report 57:12 Floor Amendments 58:49 Adjournment 58:59, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are very much in support of this bill.
• I would ask you all to vote in support.
• But once supports were in place, everything changed. He went back to school.
• And I am in support of House Bill 624.
• I urge you at this time to support House Bill 624. Thank you.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 531, which updates Idaho school code language on epinephrine delivery systems so schools are not limited to referencing only auto-injectors like EpiPens. The sponsor and school nurse testimony said the change would allow newer FDA-approved options, such as nasal spray, without creating new staffing, training, reporting, or fiscal requirements. Members confirmed the bill does not require schools or LEAs to keep epinephrine on hand. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1288, which creates the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to help reimburse districts and charter schools for unusually high special education costs tied to a student’s IEP. The bill sets a $30,000 threshold, reimburses 100% of costs from $30,000 to $80,000 and 80% above that up to $100,000 per student, and reserves funding between rural and non-rural districts with flexibility to use unused funds where needed. Testimony from school boards, districts, educators, and parent advocates described the bill as a way to stabilize budgets and protect services for students with complex medical, behavioral, and sensory needs. After questions about the funding split and current special education shortfall, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 624, which revises rules for virtual education programs and Idaho Home Learning Academy. The bill requires school board approval of contracts with education service providers, verification of Idaho residency, alignment of curricular materials with state standards, conflict-of-interest safeguards, limits on direct payments to parents, clearer rules for eligible supplemental learning expenses, and district/charter control over hiring and evaluation of teachers. Supporters from Idaho Home Learning Academy, school districts, and parents said the changes preserve virtual school choice while adding transparency and accountability. The committee voted to send House Bill 624 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Protocol within a multi-tiered system of supports.
• or different support would also be difficult to collect.
• with learning to read with the support they need.
• And I'm urging your support.
• Asking for the committee's support on this bill.

Summary: The House Education Committee first briefed several bills and amendments before going into caucus, then returned for executive action. House Bill 1295, on comprehensive literacy programs, was amended to require aligned literacy curricula and reporting, with one proposed substitute withdrawn and several amendments debated; the committee rejected amendments that would have added implementation deadlines and reporting, adopted an amendment requiring a 2032 OSPI report on literacy outcomes, and advanced the bill with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2262, which adds cursive signature instruction to mandatory high school civics and requires election-related reporting on signature mismatches, was amended to recognize culturally specific signatures, include historical context about marginalized communities, remove a graduation-credit condition, and drop State Board monitoring language; the committee rejected a null-and-void amendment and advanced the bill. House Bill 2551, allowing certain school districts to sell real property with superintendent authorization, was debated as a fiscal flexibility measure and passed out of committee on a 10-4 vote. The committee also considered House Bill 2593 on school district fund balances and monthly financial reporting. A proposed substitute shifted the bill away from mandatory minimum fund balances toward formal financial monitoring for districts below required levels, technical assistance from OSPI, and possible withholding of apportionment payments for reporting failures; an amendment removed the withholding provision, and the substitute bill was then advanced with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2594, establishing state-based protections for homeless students and aligning state requirements with McKinney-Vento, received a technical amendment to avoid duplicative provisions and was reported out unanimously. House Bill 2636, creating a Public Education Performance Operations and Funding Review Commission, was substantially revised into a Public Education Review Advisory Council that would work with JLARC to review education policy requirements and funding; a null-and-void amendment failed, and the committee advanced the substitute bill unanimously. Throughout the meeting, sponsors and members emphasized literacy improvement, student access, district fiscal stability, and reducing or reviewing unfunded mandates. Several members spoke in support of the bills as tools to improve outcomes or provide flexibility, while others raised concerns about mandates, reporting burdens, and the practicality of implementation. Final actions included multiple do pass recommendations, with recorded votes on HB 2551, HB 2593, HB 2594, and HB 2636, and unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other measures after amendment debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I rise in support of SB 499.
• Today I rise in support of SB 499.
• park land SB 499 is designed to support.
• I rise in strong support of SB 92.
• I rise in support of AB 652.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed visiting students from De La Salle High School and a guest for Assembly Member Kalra, and then moved through a lengthy concurrence and third-reading agenda. Early actions included concurrence on ACR 21 honoring fallen Galt Police Officer Herminda Grewal, followed by a series of mostly noncontroversial bills on utilities, reclamation districts, housing, wildfire relief, mobile homes, environmental quality, health care coverage, and local government. Several measures were presented as technical, clarifying, or urgency bills, and many passed with unanimous or near-unanimous votes; notable items included AB 238 (wildfire mortgage forbearance), AB 571 (Southern California Veterans Cemetery permitting/CEQA exemption), AB 574 (health care coverage), AB 696 (lithium-ion battery safety advisory group), AB 1150 (airport car rental facility maintenance), AB 1154 (ADU parking standards), and SB 499 (impact fee deferrals for emergency-related parkland and utility infrastructure). SB 499 drew the most debate, with supporters emphasizing disaster resilience and dual-use parkland and an opponent arguing it would worsen housing-related fee burdens; it ultimately passed after a call was lifted. The chamber also adopted SJR 4 urging restoration of NIH funding, and passed SB 230 expanding workers’ compensation presumptions to additional firefighters, SB 92 tightening density bonus law to curb loopholes, SB 782 creating disaster relief financing districts, SB 40 capping insulin copays at $35 and limiting step therapy, SB 362 strengthening small-business financing disclosures, SB 513 requiring workers access to training records, SB 489 requiring public agencies involved in housing approvals to post requirements online, SB 31 promoting recycled water use, SB 551 introducing normalization and dynamic security concepts in corrections, SB 639 extending flood-protection deadlines for Sacramento/Yuba projects, SB 653 defining environmentally sensitive vegetation management, AB 652 on air pollution, and SB 221 updating stalking law to include threats to pets. Several bills received recorded opposition or split votes, including SB 551, SB 439, SB 782, and SB 499, but most measures passed comfortably. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments on AB 516 and AB 1523, and later lifted the call on SB 499 to complete passage. The session included an adjournment in memory of Rick Bryson of Long Beach, with Assembly Member Lowenthal highlighting Bryson’s athletic, business, and civic contributions. The day ended with reminders to secure floor managers for pending bills, a notice of the next day’s 10 a.m. floor session, and adjournment until Thursday, September 4th.

Transcript Highlights:

• I fully support it.
• Michelle Austin Rodriguez is waiving in support. Emily Gaventas is waiving in support.
• Rachel Miller, waives in support, and Victoria Smith waives in support.
• Amber Wiggins waives in support. Rachel Miller waives in support. Victoria Smith waives in support.
• Paul Scott waives in support. Paul Scott waives in support.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and advanced six bills. The first, PCS/HB 1073 by Rep. Koster, would give individual school board members timely, free access to district documents and budget information, require agendas and supporting materials to be kept as public records, and prohibit school districts from requiring or incentivizing nondisclosure agreements. Testimony from a Volusia County school board member and a former educator described difficulty obtaining records and concerns about NDAs; some members raised chain-of-command concerns, while others argued the bill was needed for transparency. The bill passed 15-3. The committee then approved HB 4049, a local bill for Jacksonville/Duval County that changes how the Duval County School Board’s attorney is selected, and OGSR/HB 7021, which extends and clarifies the public-records exemption for education examination and assessment instruments through 2031. HB 4049 passed 17-1 after debate over whether the board should use the city’s general counsel process; HB 7021 passed unanimously with no debate. Members also approved CS/HB 753 on school counselors, which removes certain certification barriers while keeping degree and counseling requirements in place and allows districts to choose whether to require the removed certificates. Supporters said the bill could help address counselor shortages and free counselors to focus on students; it passed 18-0. Finally, HB 157 created a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program for D- and F-rated schools, using high-performing current or retired teachers as mentors with stipends funded from an existing allocation. Members discussed mentor limits, funding, and oversight, but the bill passed unanimously, 18-0. The meeting adjourned after committee members recognized visiting officials and students.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do urge you to actually support House Bill 21.
• Doug Wheeler, James Madison Institute, waves in support.
• And let me tell you a demonstration of safety.
• Members, I strongly encourage you to support America and support this bill. Thank you.
• So I would ask you, members, please support this bill.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced three bills. HB 21 would create a new licensed profession of dental therapy under the Department of Health and Board of Dentistry, allowing trained dental therapists to provide a limited scope of care under a supervising Florida-licensed dentist through a collaborative management agreement. Sponsor Rep. Cheney argued the bill would help address severe dental shortages and improve access in underserved areas; opponents from the Florida Dental Association and oral surgery groups warned that the bill would allow irreversible procedures by less-educated providers and could compromise patient safety. Supporters, including dentists, hygienists, and community health center leaders, said dental therapists would expand access and free dentists to handle more complex care. An amendment was adopted to require proof of local anesthesia training, adverse-incident reporting, and updated background screening language. The bill was reported favorably as amended by a 14-1 vote. The committee then considered HB 27, which creates the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact to allow licensed social workers to practice across member states, including through telehealth, and to help military families and address workforce shortages. Supporters from the National Association of Social Workers and other advocates said the compact would improve mobility, reduce administrative burdens, and expand access to mental health services, especially in underserved and rural areas. A technical amendment restoring model language and setting an effective date of July 1, 2025 was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as amended on a 15-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 29, the public-records companion to the social work compact, which creates exemptions needed for compact compliance and allows the compact commission or its committees to meet in closed session when discussing information exempt under law. After a technical amendment authorizing closed meetings for exempt matters was adopted, the bill was reported favorably as amended on a 15-0 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's incredible support for us as well.
• Of course, [University of Florida] is my regional school in my district, and we certainly support them
• First, let me say thank you so much for your support.
• That's where we need those operational dollars to come in to support that long-term trajectory.
• They compare those outcomes and student mastery demonstration specific to those courses.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have advocate here to support the appropriations requested by the Florida Supreme Court.
• The bar that investigated investigate investigates it and supported by K case law prosecutes lawyers.
• The Florida bar also says the court with investigating what supported by K saw civically prosecuting
• supported by K saw civically prosecuting license, the unlicensed practice of law.
• The bar engage and all that sort of program in all sorts of programs that support these 3 primary duties

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have they weighed in in support or not in support of the particular bill based on the way that it affects
• Have they weighed in in support or not in support of the particular bill based on the way that it affects
• They are supportive of this.
• We are in support of this bill.
• We are in support of this bill.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee considered a full agenda of transportation, utility, aviation, and energy bills. HB 4045, amending the Jacksonville Aviation Authority charter, passed without questions or debate. HB 1075, which would require municipal utilities to allow outside property owners to connect when capacity exists and fees are paid, drew testimony from local government and municipal advocates who warned about conflicts with existing agreements, long infrastructure payback periods, and the risk of subsidizing nonresidents; despite concerns from Rep. Smith and others about municipal boundaries and cost, the bill passed, with Smith voting no. HB 519, as amended, authorizes golf cart crossings at signalized intersections on designated golf cart roads; it passed unanimously after lighthearted debate about golf carts and pedestrian crossings. The committee then took up HB 919, which creates a state definition for major commercial service airports and preempts airport naming authority, including renaming Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to FAA, county, and trademark-related conditions. Palm Beach County supported the bill and an amendment clarifying implementation and trademark language, while Rep. Eskamani and others raised concerns about preemption and the timing of honoring a sitting president; the bill passed with several no votes, including Eskamani, Skidmore, and the ranking member. HB 1093, the Advanced Air Mobility and Infrastructure Act, would support eVTOL/vertiport development through tax exemptions, infrastructure funding flexibility, and statewide siting standards while preserving local zoning; supporters framed it as an economic-development and workforce bill, while Rep. Cheney raised taxpayer concerns. An amendment narrowing liability protections for vertiports co-located with public airports was adopted, and the bill passed with Cheney voting no. Finally, HB 1461 established a regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactors, assigning oversight roles to the PSC, DOH, and DEP. Supporters argued the bill would improve energy reliability, affordability, and Florida’s leadership in clean, advanced energy, while an opponent from Deploy US urged strong consumer protections and cautioned against overbroad deregulation. Rep. Eskamani emphasized preserving PSC prudency review for ratepayer protection, and the sponsor said the bill was refined through committee discussion. After an amendment fixing technical issues and clarifying that one section applied to all nuclear, the bill passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . support. support.
• the support, Mr.
• the support, Mr.
• I'd ask for members support. support. support.
• ><c> support</c><02:43:05.439><c> your</c> support this bill and support your support this bill and support

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> will</c> The state's financial support will The state's financial support will ensure<00:04:55.000
• </c><00:32:37.800><c> that</c> issues, and so providing support that issues, and so providing support
• </c> this is still a demonstration project. this is still a demonstration project.
• Please support House File 3476.
• </c> support House File 3476. Thank you, Mr. support House File 3476. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House File 3939, a bill to support a Helping Paws service-dog litter named in honor of Gilbert and the Hortman family. Testimony from Helping Paws and service-dog graduate Angie Foley described the organization’s work, the significance of the “Guided by Gilbert” litter, and how the funding would help train dogs that provide independence and support to people with disabilities, veterans, and others. Members from both parties spoke warmly about Speaker Hortman’s connection to the organization and Gilbert, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then considered House File 3769, the Department of Corrections’ technical omnibus bill, with an A1 amendment adopted to clarify tuberculosis testing language. The bill updates TB screening procedures in correctional facilities, including how refusals are handled, and adds Quantiferon Gold Plus testing as an option alongside existing methods. Members discussed whether the bill would create costs for counties and jails, with some noting added testing and segregation costs and others arguing the changes would improve accuracy and reduce time in restrictive housing. The bill, as amended, was recommended to the general register. House File 3978 was next, a technical cleanup bill for a provider wellness program created last year. The bill expands eligibility and confidentiality protections from physicians to all health care providers, while supporters said the program is meant to address burnout and mental health strain in the workforce and does not require new money. Some members questioned whether the change was redundant or would broaden the program without additional funding, but the Minnesota Medical Association testified that the program is separate from insurance and was intended to serve all providers. The bill was recommended to the general register. Finally, the committee began House File 3476, which Rep. Liebling described as a cleanup bill related to Minnesota’s Medicaid managed care system and public program oversight. She argued that the state spends billions through managed care organizations and that the system has never been proven better than direct payment, setting up a broader discussion of the bill’s purpose and the state’s oversight of public health care spending.

Transcript Highlights:

• There just should be something else that they have to demonstrate.
• There just should be something else that they have to demonstrate.
• There just should be something else that they have to demonstrate.
• There just should be something else that they have to demonstrate.
• Unsafe practices, unsafe to demonstrate.

Keywords: Ports and Marine Resources - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if the department can demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the act occurred, then
• As Julie might demonstrate to you, if you have further questions about this, oftentimes where this occurs
• Of course, the department has to demonstrate that by a preponderance of the evidence.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first considered the gubernatorial reappointment of Clayton Steele to the Board of Environmental Quality. Senator Harris moved to send the reappointment to the Senate floor with a recommendation for confirmation, Senator Blaylock seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote. The committee then reviewed docket 16-0602-2501, foster care licensing rules, presented by Jared Larson of the Department of Health and Welfare with program manager Julie Subcheck available for technical questions. Larson highlighted implementation of kin-specific licensure, a change clarifying that a background check clearance does not prevent later revocation of a license, and a foster parent suitability standard allowing the department to deny licensure based on criminal conduct shown by a preponderance of the evidence even without a conviction. Senators asked about the 2023 age change from 21 to 23 for the program; Larson said participation had increased, he had not heard downsides, and the department would provide a written summary. The committee then approved the foster care licensing docket by voice vote. Finally, the committee considered docket 16-0613-2501, a pending rule repealing the Emergency Assistance for Families and Children chapter. Larson and division administrator Laura Denner explained the program is entirely federally funded and the existing state rules were essentially a copy of federal law, so the department was repealing the docket to avoid duplicating higher authority. With no questions from the committee, Senator Shippy moved to approve the repeal docket, Senator Blaylock seconded, and it passed by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• You feel free to demonstrate that. It's the leadership of our commissioners.
• You feel free to demonstrate that leadership in any way that you want, and you have our support.
• Our next subcommittee to report is Workforce Supports with Andrew Levald.
• We deeply appreciate your commitment and look forward to your support.
• So I thought they were just opportunities to show our support.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly meeting virtually and in person at the State House. The commission approved the March minutes and elected its officers by unanimous roll call vote: Denise Garlick as chair, Chris White as vice chair, Carl Richardson as treasurer, and Osmondahar as secretary. The meeting also welcomed several new commissioners, including Rep. Jay Livingstone, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. John Marzi, and Leo Sarkisian, with brief introductions from the new legislative members. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the commission’s current work and the broader policy environment affecting people with disabilities. Commissioners and subcommittee leaders raised concerns about federal threats to Medicaid/MassHealth, Section 504 accessibility protections, DEI-related rollbacks, immigration policy impacts on the direct care workforce, and the loss of funding for youth employment and vocational rehabilitation programs. Members also discussed ableist language in public discourse and the need for stronger advocacy and communication in response to these developments. Subcommittee reports highlighted recent activity on disability employment, workforce supports, and long-term services and supports/health equity. Presentations included veterans with disabilities, employment programming for young adults with disabilities, immigration and labor protections, MassHealth’s PCA working group, and a health equity roundtable. The commission also discussed future plans to create an advisory board, develop successor and mentoring planning, and launch regional “meeting the moment” listening sessions across the Commonwealth to strengthen outreach and leadership development. The meeting ended with an open invitation for commissioners to share urgent information with staff for broader distribution and a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in support of this legislation specifically because it also has the support of the Senate Committee
• supportive of price transparency.
• So I'm here to testify in support. Thank you again for the... opportunity to support this bill.
• We support this bill.
• I support Senate Bill 2024.

Bills: SB2024, SB227, SB268, SB1467, SB1580, HB5537, SB1313, SB1677, SB918, SB331, SB2207, SB2721

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• We're very supportive of this APA exemption and will continue to support the legislative effort to exempt
• We urge your strong support for AB 117.
• And we are asking for your support on the Bay Area transit loans.
• And we respectfully ask that you support this. Thank you very much.
• Of course, we're in support for Cal Fire funding moving forward. Good morning.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he would support the bill today.
• I'll support you today.
• , also appeared in support.
• Bethany McAllister with Walmart, waving in support. Taylor Beale with Zipline, waving in support.
• Steve Shale with Waymo, waving in support.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee considered several bills focused on aviation innovation, electric vehicles, motor vehicle administration, and broader FDOT policy. SB 1362 on advanced air mobility was presented as a framework for vertiports and EVTOL aircraft, with an amendment removing sales tax exemptions and narrowing sovereign immunity to vertiports co-located at airports. Supporters said the bill would help Florida lead in emerging aviation technology, while opponents urged caution on extending immunity to unproven facilities. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 260 on storage of damaged electric vehicles. An amendment narrowed the bill to EVs with visible battery damage or saltwater submersion and clarified that the fee applies to storage, not towing. Insurance and rental industry representatives raised concerns about cost shifting, lack of data, and the need for reporting and safeguards, while the sponsor argued the bill responds to fire-safety rules and the reduced storage capacity required for damaged EVs. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Members then approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizure/confiscation processing, allows disabled veterans to retain their plate designation, authorizes immediate issuance of disabled veteran plates by tax collectors, bans license plate covers that obscure plates, and routes certain online driver license transactions through county tax collectors. SB 1370, addressing habitual traffic offender treatment for people who drive without ever having had a license, was also reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 1220, a broad FDOT package covering trails, seaports, airports, drone delivery, research authority, federal funding coordination, LIDAR procurement, toll programming, and penalties for damaging autonomous vehicles. After amendment and testimony from local governments and industry, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I know there's been an issue about financial support...
• continue to support him, as his tenure at the State Bar has been positive.
• Anybody else in the room wishing to speak in support of the appointee?
• Thank you very much for your support. Thank you.
• We are here in support of the confirmation of Ms. Enderton's speed.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established a quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Trinidad Solis, M.D., and Gerald Talbert, M.D., to the Medical Board of California. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments before moving to State Bar appointments requiring testimony. The committee heard from George Cardona, reappointed as Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar, who described reforms made after the Girardi matter, efforts to reduce discipline disparities, backlog reduction measures, and staffing shortages tied to a vacancy rate and increased incoming complaints. Senators questioned him about safeguards against misconduct, the John Eastman disbarment case, discipline disparities affecting Black and Latino attorneys, unauthorized practice of law by notarios, and the use of AI in complaints and pleadings. Public witnesses from the State Bar, SEIU Local 1000, and others supported his confirmation, and the committee voted 3-0 to advance him to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Laura Enderton Speed, nominated as Executive Director of the State Bar. She emphasized restoring public trust, improving operations, addressing the February 2025 bar exam problems, and strengthening discipline and admissions processes. Senators asked about the State Bar’s structural budget deficit, the ongoing audit and investigations related to the bar exam, conflict-of-interest safeguards after Girardi, and plans for the future of the bar exam. Public testimony was uniformly supportive, and the committee voted 5-0 to advance her nomination to the Senate floor. The meeting concluded with final votes on the earlier items, thanks to Senator Jones for his service on the committee, and adjournment to executive session after a cake presentation.