Transcript Highlights:

• Number two, they're not widely understood.
• Number two, they're not widely understood.
• we can't get the ping and warrant, but that's families that have locations and pings on their phones
• We also appreciate the outreach by Madam Chair about and support... their phones.
• The technology is used by law enforcement to compare plate numbers against stolen cars or cars driven

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on four bills. SB 5925 would expand the Attorney General’s civil investigative demand authority to investigate possible violations of the U.S. and Washington constitutions, certain labor and civil rights laws, law enforcement use-of-force issues, and jail-related statutes. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s office, Teamsters 117, and Working Washington, said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases. Opponents, including police, sheriffs, cities, counties, and retail and business groups, argued it would give the AG broad investigative power without enough threshold showing, could burden local governments and employers, and raised constitutional concerns about speech and search protections. No vote was taken. SB 5906 would codify and expand protections for non-public spaces in schools, child care facilities, health care facilities, higher education institutions, and county auditor election areas by limiting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant or court order and restricting collection of immigration-related information about students and families. Supporters said the bill would reduce fear, protect privacy, and make existing Keep Washington Working policies clearer and more durable, with testimony from immigrant rights groups, faith organizations, students, PTA, and health advocates. Some organizations, including health care and child care stakeholders, supported the goal but asked for amendments to clarify definitions, create model policies, add training and enforcement provisions, and adjust warrant/subpoena language. The committee also heard strong opposition concerns about federal immigration enforcement, but no action was taken. SB 6070 would expand missing-person tools by allowing certain digital investigative tools to be used in missing endangered person cases, creating new Abney and Purple Alerts for missing Black people and people with disabilities, and broadening the definition of missing endangered person. Supporters included prosecutors, law enforcement, tribal and disability advocates, families of missing persons, and students who argued that faster alerts and better digital tools save lives and address racial and disability disparities in missing-person responses. Testimony described delays in prior cases and the need for more urgent, targeted alerts. The committee then heard SB 6002, which would regulate automated license plate reader systems, set registration, use, retention, audit, and disclosure rules, and prohibit certain uses such as immigration enforcement and surveillance near protected locations. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create statewide guardrails for a technology already in use, and testimony was expected to continue after the excerpt ended; no vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• “Yes, with that number of caveats.
• Issue number four.
• In 2024, that number increased to 1,300.
• We want to make sure, number one, that we are very impressed with the work, the number of people that
• Issue number six. The sun is still... Issue number six. The sun is still out. Wow. Good afternoon.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• A number of years ago, UCare was largely dropped from the Medicaid program when Medica gained a larger
• of years ago UK care was a number of years ago UK care was largely<00:03:50.080><c> dropped</c><00:03
• In my tens of thousands of clinic visits over the years, I can count on one hand the number of people
• </c><01:09:08.319><c> of</c> statistics you gave about the number of statistics you gave about the number
• phone phone um<01:09:37.799><c> navigating</c><01:09:38.560><c> you</c><01:09:38.679><c> know</c><01

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair Anderson: I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE TO SILENCE YOUR PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND I WANT
• QUALITY FORUM AND SO THE CORE Q METHODOLOGY ALLOWS A SURVEY TO ADMINISTER THE VARIOUS METHODS IN PERSON, PHONE
• THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF MMA SPECIFICALLY TO THE MMA PROGRAM.
• IT ALSO SHOWS THE NUMBER PROVIDER RECIPIENT SPECIFIC ISSUES RESOLVED IN THE SAME PERIOD.
• THIS LINE SHOWS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ISSUES RECEIVED BY THE AGENCY BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND OCTOBER 31 BY

Transcript Highlights:

• I wish everyone would turn their cell phones off, silence them.
• Amendment number nine creates the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund.
• One main change is that amendment number five does make a different change.
• It's set number 3771. It should be online, and it's being handed out right now.
• I think that number is going to be up there to where you can justify...

Bills: HB316 , HB549 , HB646 , HB752 , HB824 , HB873 , HB1129 , HB1157 , HB1170

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and first considered Chairman Beaulieu’s House Bill 646, a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year. After adopting a set of amendments creating the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund and making conforming changes, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The companion bill, House Bill 824, which establishes the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change, was also amended and reported favorably as amended. Supporters framed both measures as a way to keep spending within recurring revenues and create a path toward reducing or eliminating the state income tax. The committee then reported favorably as amended House Bill 1157, creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to help finance infrastructure-related projects, with testimony that it would leverage private and federal dollars and initially focus on rail, port, road, and bridge projects. House Bill 316, which provides a framework for student literacy reforms for grades four through eight, was presented as having no new cost because the Department of Education said the work was already covered by existing resources; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549, creating the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide employer-based training grants, also received support from business groups and was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor; it was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology through a $2 driver’s license fee, generated significant concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the proposed technologies and training, the committee deferred the bill voluntarily to work on alternatives, including a possible sunset and other funding options. Finally, House Bill 752, which would change the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure that all cell phones and other communication devices are turned off or placed on silent
• Members, the highlighted numbers on the right side of the budget spreadsheet indicate where the Senate

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference Committee convened and was formally organized by adopting motions naming Representative Snyder as chair and Senator Brodeur as vice chair. Members were told that an original side-by-side packet had been provided showing the starting positions for the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bills. Senator Brodeur then presented the Senate’s offer to the House on the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, projects, and the Senate conforming bill, SB 2506E, which relates to fuel taxes. He noted that highlighted figures in the budget spreadsheet showed where the Senate had moved. The House said it would review the offer and return with a response, and both sides expressed a willingness to continue working through the budget issues. There was no public comment. Members were advised to watch for notice of the next meeting, likely the following day, with one-hour notice. Senator Truenow moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• And is that number pretty consistent year over year?
• So that's why I want to find out what is the actual number.
• , probably a good number.
• , probably a good number.
• "Well, number one, U.S.

Summary: The committee opened its third interim meeting with roll call, approved the November 13, 2025 minutes, and the chair reviewed prior committee work, including a denied request for a fertilizer-capacity study and a planned later discussion of the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger issue. Commissioner Doug Goring then presented Department of Agriculture updates on uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, the state’s irrigation potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and supply in North Dakota. Members asked about funding sources, fertilizer storage and availability, natural gas and water needs for future fertilizer plants, and how the model zoning website would help counties and townships apply setback and odor tools. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the department is proposing changes to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and updated hydrologic data, while still limiting the model to direct, demonstrable costs and benefits. He said the goal is to make the analysis more realistic and consistent without changing statute, and he provided examples of how project benefits could change as drains age or as rainfall and flood data evolve. Committee members and water-user representatives generally supported continued work on the proposal, while raising concerns about downstream impacts, closed-basin projects, and whether the changes would meaningfully affect project approvals. The committee then heard from John Paskowski, state engineer, on Devil’s Lake, the West End and East End outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. He reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow limits, and explained that the control structure is intended to prevent a catastrophic uncontrolled release by slowing erosion and head cutting. Members asked about water quality trends, the length of the downstream flow constraint, and whether the Tolna Coulee area had been studied for possible natural overflow or silt buildup. The discussion emphasized ongoing flooding concerns, mitigation for affected landowners, and the need to balance outlet operations with downstream water quality and infrastructure protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did get stuck in the numbers. So, and uh I mean you're right. The number four. Yes.
• I did get stuck in the numbers. So, and uh I mean you're right. The number four. Yes.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Pouring over the numbers. &gt;&gt; Pouring over the numbers.
• </c> numbers, which doesn't make sense. numbers, which doesn't make sense.
• Amendment number is 0709.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• one policy and number two number one policy and number two investigative<00:23:53.679><c> data</c><00
• Examples of that might be an employee's home address or home phone number.
• If you were to request my home address and home phone number from my employer, they will say you can't
• phone number so if home address or home phone number so if you<01:29:57.800><c> were</c><01:29:57.960
• </c> and home phone number from my employer and home phone number from my employer they<01:30:01.639>

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to go to your page number one, then discuss number one, and then adopt.
• I really appreciate number one here.
• I asked to be on the board before we decided to go number by number, but is there a desire to fully fund
• So that's all number three is.
• I want to go to number two.

Transcript Highlights:

• The race to see which company gets us to that number—I mean, think about that.
• And today, a record number of companies have filed for rate decreases, and given the reforms that we've
• House Bill by Representative Boyd, personal leave for certain teachers, number of days, personal leave
• House Bill by Representative Zeringue: temporary release of an inmate for limited purposes; number of
• Next, House Bill by Representative Egan, a district attorney's number of assistants in each judicial

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And let's see, and you mentioned in the best interest of the child, and that should be our number one
• </c><00:19:48.400><c> Yet</c><00:19:49.520><c> on</c> should be our number one concern.
• Yet on should be our number one concern.
• Now it is every person that has a phone across the world.
• And it is phone across the world.

Bills: HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174 , HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, HB170, supplemental appropriations, Education Trust Fund, Alabama education budget, school funding, K-12 education, local boards of education, textbook adoption, school buses, school safety, charter schools, summer programs, afterschool programs, reading intervention, college and career readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• These numbers are alarming.
• And when we said bye, like the last time, I fully expected either to get a phone call that he wasn't
• And while I'm watching this movie, my phone dings. I look at my phone.
• It was after all that, getting a phone call that I had prostate cancer. I was broken.
• It was after all that, getting a phone call that I had prostate cancer. I was broken.

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:

• That was relative to increasing the number of handicapped license plates and placards the Department
• or more miles from the site of the accident or breakdown and then refers the location through the phone
• > call</c><00:18:45.280><c> uh</c><00:18:45.440><c> with</c><00:18:45.679><c> such</c> through the phone
• call uh with such through the phone call uh with such vague<00:18:46.400><c> terms</c><00:18:46.799>
• So whether you're there on a phone making a call or whether you're had to drive a few miles to make a

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we love the numbers, right?
• Let me see some numbers.
• And again, these are preliminary numbers. These are not final numbers by any means.
• Numbers are changing hourly.
• So we have a number, and I can get back to you... So we have a number, and I can get back to you.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly labor committees held a hearing on the Los Angeles wildfires and their impact on workers, employers, and recovery efforts. Chairs and members emphasized that rebuilding should prioritize worker safety, equity, local hiring, and strong labor standards rather than simply moving quickly or relying on the lowest bidder. They also stressed the need to learn from past disasters and to create a more coordinated state response for future emergencies. Worker advocates described how domestic workers, day laborers, firefighters, and other frontline workers were affected by the fires. Testimony focused on workers being trapped in evacuation zones, lacking timely information in Spanish, losing jobs and income, and facing exposure to toxic debris without adequate PPE. Speakers called for expanded outreach and education, stronger Cal/OSHA enforcement, broader occupational safety coverage for domestic workers and day laborers, recall and transfer rights, childcare and transportation support, and a centralized disaster relief system that can quickly deliver cash aid and equipment regardless of immigration status. Firefighter Derek Irwin said California firefighters face serious carcinogenic exposure and urged continued funding for the firefighter cancer prevention and research program, along with a long-term state health monitoring and research effort similar to the World Trade Center Health Program. Building trades and labor representatives argued that cleanup and rebuilding should be done through community workforce agreements, prevailing wage, apprenticeship requirements, and local hire provisions, and said the state already has trained workers available. They also said federal debris-removal work through the Army Corps has limited the state’s ability to impose some standards, but that state and local funding or subsidies should trigger labor requirements. Employer and business representatives described major losses to property, inventory, revenue, and jobs, especially in Altadena and nearby areas. The Altadena Chamber said it is coordinating recovery resources, while a construction business owner said small local firms are being shut out of disaster contracts and proposed a more accessible procurement process for local and minority businesses. LAEDC presented preliminary estimates of billions in property damage and business disruption, tens of thousands of potential job losses, and a recovery timeline of five to ten years, warning that low-income communities will be disproportionately affected and that workforce retraining and upskilling will be needed alongside the broader economic recovery.

Transcript Highlights:

• Taxes on cell phones, storage units, fuel—you name it—hit hardest on the least able to pay.
• Taxes on cell phones. stories. that, regressive.
• Taxes on cell phones, storage units, fuel, you name it, hit hardest on the least able to pay.

Summary: This was a Republican response to the Governor’s State of the State address, delivered by Sen. Keith Wagoner. The speaker argued that Washington is facing an affordability crisis driven by recent tax increases, high living costs, and what he described as unsustainable state spending. He cited inflation in housing, fuel, food, and other essentials, along with concerns about crime, homelessness, drug overdoses, and declining student outcomes, as evidence that the state is failing residents. A major focus was the state budget and tax policy. The speaker criticized Governor Ferguson and the Democratic majority for signing a budget he said included the largest tax increase in state history, followed by a projected revenue shortfall. He also objected to proposed new taxes on items like fuel, cell phones, storage units, and employers, warning that these measures would be regressive and could pave the way for a state income tax. He said Republicans support property tax relief and a spending limit, and he accused Democrats of rejecting those ideas. The response also highlighted cuts to Medicaid in the 2025 budget, saying reductions disproportionately affected people with disabilities, seniors, and long-term care services. The speaker framed this as inconsistent with claims of compassion and said the state should not raise taxes while cutting care for vulnerable residents. He urged viewers to testify on legislation, contact lawmakers and the governor, and support what he called fiscally responsible, common-sense policies during the short legislative session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first thing will be the agenda, and they will have numbers. Items that are on the agenda.
• And they will have numbers so that they are in the sequence that you will see them on the agenda.
• Especially for contentious legislation, it can be very healthy as far as the numbers of written testimony
• Well, what she didn't realize is my phone was there, too, in my office.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Telephones early on—why not just listening on phones? Is there an expectation of privacy?
• We need to start looking into total privacy and what is expected from the phones to the car readers to
• And put the phones in an area that they're not listening to us. That's my choice.
• And I do think that if there's a way for us to get the number down from 21 days retention, but still
• You might have a health care app on your phone for your health care like I do, and you can chat with

Bills: SB5223 , SB5286 , SB6002 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5874 , SB5863 , SB5972 , SB5941 , SB5203 , SB6014 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB5825

Summary: The Senate convened with opening ceremonies, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new bill introductions to the designated committees, including sending SB 6118 and SB 6292 to Ways and Means. The chamber then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to college boards: Glenn F. Ellis to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, Suzanne Donaldson to the Clark College Board of Trustees, and Jesse E. Johnson to the Highline College Board of Trustees, all by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The Senate then considered and passed several bills. SB 6014, a technical cleanup to pregnancy and postpartum accommodation laws, passed 41-8 after supporters said it clarified privacy protections and removed barriers for workers. SB 5863, dealing with preservation and inspection of state historical records tied to Lakeland Village, passed 49-0. SB 5825, authorizing the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, passed 33-16 after two proposed amendments to limit administrative costs and cap contributions were rejected. SB 5874, allowing employers to correct certain unemployment insurance reporting errors, passed 49-0, and SB 5286, setting a statutory reimbursement cap for local police and fire services provided to state hospitals, passed 49-0 after an amendment set a $750,000 per-biennium maximum per facility. The Senate also passed SB 5904, requiring nursing titles to be used only by licensed human persons, and SB 5915, updating the health technology assessment process used for coverage decisions, both unanimously. SB 5919, creating voluntary wildfire-prevention incentives for agricultural producers and fire districts, also passed 49-0. SB 5938, making adjustments to foreclosure prevention fees and exemptions, passed 49-0. SB 5957, expanding the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Program and its advisory committee, was taken up near the end of the transcript, with supporters emphasizing youth safety and trafficking prevention; the roll call was underway when the transcript ended. A major policy debate centered on SB 6002, which regulates automated license plate reader systems and driver privacy protections. After a proposed amendment to expand authorized uses was rejected, the bill’s striker was adopted. Supporters described the measure as a bipartisan privacy-and-public-safety balance that limits misuse and unauthorized sharing of ALPR data while preserving law enforcement utility; opponents argued it still needed more work or broader privacy protections. The engrossed second substitute passed 48-9. Another significant debate involved SB 5972, expanding interest arbitration for correctional employees in local city and county governments; supporters cited consistency and labor stability, while opponents warned of burdens on smaller counties. That bill passed 34-15. SB 5203, creating a wildlife connectivity planning and funding framework, passed 31-18 after supporters argued it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve grant competitiveness, while critics said it was too prescriptive and could affect rural land use and agriculture.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the Emergency Number Association.
• That's the Emergency Number Association.
• Issue number four. Thank you for being here.
• We're now going to move to issue number five.
• We're now going to move to issue number five.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Cal OES on disaster response, LA wildfire recovery, federal FEMA reimbursements, security monitoring, and the state’s 911 transition. Cal OES said its budget supports disaster preparedness and recovery, including ongoing work in Los Angeles, where it reported about 700 FEMA public assistance applications totaling roughly $1.2 billion and about $545 million in state wildfire response and recovery funding already allocated under AB 100. Members pressed for more detail on FEMA delays, hazard mitigation grants, federal event planning, and the status of Operation Stonegarden, while also raising concerns about small-disaster recovery, federal shutdown impacts, and the need for more timely reporting. A major portion of the hearing focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES described problems with the current regional deployment, especially call-routing and transfer failures, and said it now plans to shift to a statewide provider as an interim step, then run an open procurement for a long-term vendor. The agency said it expects to execute a bridging contract in the coming weeks, release an RFP in the second quarter of 2026, award a long-term contract in the fall, begin transitioning Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and complete statewide migration by summer 2030. The LAO urged the Legislature to pause further implementation until it has more information on the problems, alternatives, costs, privacy/security issues, and oversight needs, and recommended quarterly and monthly reporting if the project proceeds. Several senators echoed concerns about cost, redundancy, cybersecurity, and whether the statewide model could create new risks, and the chair said she would pursue a joint oversight hearing with the Emergency Management Committee and seek input from the State Auditor. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload and budget pressures. DOJ highlighted its work on fentanyl enforcement, human trafficking, firearms recovery, housing enforcement, consumer protection, environmental and civil rights litigation, and a large federal litigation workload, saying it has filed 59 lawsuits against the Trump administration and won most of them. DOJ said the added federal cases and other mandates have strained existing staff, though 44 additional hires have been made. Members praised DOJ’s work on immigration, housing, and federal accountability, and asked for more information on detention facilities and staffing. The committee also reviewed DOJ’s firearms-related budget proposals. DOJ requested funding for continued firearms IT modernization, implementation of SB 704 on firearm barrels, and a temporary shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO supported the IT modernization request but recommended funding SB 704 from the Dealer’s Record of Sale Special Account, with startup costs covered by a loan from the Firearm Safety and Enforcement Special Fund, and suggested limiting the General Fund shift to one year and treating it as a loan. The LAO also asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 10, 2027, for deciding which firearm and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue rather than the General Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, before you do so, let's all make sure we've got our cell phones either silenced or turned off.
• 16.480><c> cell</c> let's all make sure we've got our cell let's all make sure we've got our cell phones
• </c> phones either silenced or turned off. phones either silenced or turned off.

Summary: The House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee met with a quorum and opened with the pledge and prayer, followed by routine reminders about microphones, cell phones, and the 24-hour rule for committee substitutes. The only item on the agenda was House Bill 136, sponsored by Representative Wade Williams of Hopkins County. The committee first considered and adopted a committee substitute for HB 136 without opposition. Williams explained that the substitute removes a $15,000 cap that had been added in the Senate, saying the cap was arbitrary and created more problems than it solved. He then presented the bill as amended, describing it as a campaign finance modernization measure that would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security costs for a state candidate or officeholder, their family, campaign employees, or office staff. He cited recent political violence and threats as reasons for the change and said the language aligns with federal election guidance and a recent KURF recommendation. Members asked about whether threats and security concerns are common in Kentucky, and Williams responded that such threats do occur and that the issue is not limited to one party or office level. The committee then took a roll-call vote on HB 136 as amended by the substitute, and it passed favorably 15-0. Afterward, the committee had no further business and adjourned without objection.