Transcript Highlights:

• </c> represent all our parts of nine counties represent all our parts of nine counties in<00:01:34.759
• And then we’re the primary agency, which is a little different than other state agencies, where we are
• Just an overview of our agency. It's a little different than a lot of the agencies you deal with.
• Just an overview of our agency. It's a little different than a lot of the agencies you deal with.
• Just an overview of our agency. It's a little different than a lot of the agencies you deal with.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• uh in the northern part of County uh in the northern part of Clearwater<00:04:50.160><c> County</c><
• </c> below as many of our inter agency below as many of our inter agency Partnerships<00:13:39.680><c
• The other thing I'll say is I'm also an Aitkin County commissioner, and in Aitkin County we're one of
• county veteran service officers, who by statute are required to be in every county in the state.
• county veteran service officers, who by statute are required to be in every county in the state.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Idaho State Senator Kevin Cook from Legislative District 32 in Bonneville County.
• This bill just clarifies the timeline if an agency falls short.
• This bill just clarifies the timeline if an agency falls short.
• I always get jealous when I hear of people saying all the counties they represent.
• I only represent part of Ada County.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Director of Agency Projects with the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• Or they've got several counties in and around Midland or even down south.
• They have the county jurisdiction of what they have.
• They actually go to other agencies that pay better within the state.
• The Lindy project is a great project for Jefferson County.

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Costa and Lake Counties.
• wildfires in that county.
• Costa and Lake Counties.
• wildfires in that county.
• counties statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• :14:15.839><c> have</c><00:14:16.000><c> an</c> counties are mandated to have an counties are mandated
• It's just that agency would collectively be able to delineate, you know, how much came from certain counties
• That agency would collectively be able to delineate, you know, how much came from certain counties and
• Chair and members, the the agency Mr.
• </c> a final agency decision on an appeal. a final agency decision on an appeal.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I’ve talked with my city and county, and they are supportive of the intent of this bill.
• These rules were created by the 87 counties and the 156 state aid cities.
• Every county in the state has roads and projects that have received county state aid or municipal state
• I'm the Washington County traffic engineer, and I'm here today as a member of the Minnesota County Engineers
• </c> for roadway design cities and counties for roadway design cities and counties that<01:42:44.800>

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, it's Galveston County Day.
• You were the last county treasurer of Galveston County, so it's also not every day that we have a...
• Aimed for the railroad's vice president, Pearsall became the county seat of Frio County in 1880. and
• We have County Commissioner. Jorge Aguilar, Commissioner Aguilar, we have our county clerk, JCP.
• County to jurisprudence.

Bills: SJR34 , SB10 , SB18 , SB19 , SB21 , SB72 , SB140 , SB262 , SB370 , SB480 , SB495 , SB627 , SB703 , SB767 , SB790

Transcript Highlights:

• This agency responds to calls within Becker, Otter Tail, and Clearwater counties, and should have the
• Our agency pays for programs such as rapid deploy, and the counties are provided with little or no cost
• This agency responds to calls within Becker, Otter Tail, and Clearwater counties, and should have the
• Our agency pays for programs such as rapid deploy, and the counties are provided with little or no cost
• And they partner better with county law enforcement agencies.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• would be diverted in a different county.
• would be diverted in a different county.
• The program is currently in 10 out of 11 court counties, so we're almost statewide.
• I am a diversion coordinator in Worcester County.
• It’s through the court system, and so we get that at a county level at best.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice

Summary: The Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice held an informational hearing focused on diversion programs and services for high-risk youth, with no bills before the committee and no votes taken. The chair and members emphasized that the session was intended to hear from invited testimony and discuss how to strengthen diversion, reduce court involvement, and improve outcomes for youth. The committee heard first from the Office of the Child Advocate and diversion providers, who described the Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program, its statewide expansion to 10 of 11 court counties, and its reported success rate of about 80% completion without reoffending. Testimony highlighted that diversion keeps youth out of court, connects them more quickly to community-based services, and can address needs such as mental health, education, and substance use. Witnesses also pointed to racial and ethnic disparities in arrests versus summonses, regional variation in diversion access, and the need for clearer statutory authority, more funding, and broader use of pre-arrest diversion. Committee members asked about the difference between arrest and summons, who can initiate diversion, why arrest rates have increased relative to summonses, and how diversion might prevent harmful downstream consequences such as detention or immigration enforcement involvement. Witnesses said police, clerk magistrates, district attorneys, and judges can refer youth to diversion, and argued that local policy, training, and legislative changes could expand use. They also discussed the impact of detention on youth, including stigma, lost school time, and the lack of credit for time served in the juvenile system. Testimony from Citizens for Juvenile Justice focused on prevention, school discipline, and the school-to-prison pipeline, arguing for more restorative practices, better data, and legislation to limit suspensions and expulsions, especially for younger students and nonviolent conduct. They also raised concerns about DCF-involved and foster youth, who are disproportionately represented in the juvenile system. The final panel, the Children's League of Massachusetts and transition-age youth providers, shifted to child welfare and young adult supports. They supported reducing court involvement in child requiring assistance cases, expanding family resource centers, and strengthening services for transition-age youth leaving DCF or DYS custody. Providers described housing instability, homelessness, and the need for education, employment, behavioral health, and supportive housing services for young adults ages 18 to 23. Across the hearing, witnesses consistently argued that early intervention, community-based supports, and diversion are more effective than court processing or detention for most youth, and that the legislature can help through funding, statutory clarity, expanded eligibility, and stronger data collection.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it includes health care agencies like the Health Care Authority.
• This is by county.
• Douglas County, big bright red one, costs a lot. They're a higher-risk population.
• Snohomish County.
• I serve as health officer for Tacoma and Pierce County.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee opened its 2026 session with a work session focused on the committee’s priorities of access, quality, and affordability. Health Care Authority staff Michelle Needham and Ross Florey reviewed the Health Care Cost Transparency Board’s work, noting Washington’s uninsured rate has fallen from 15% in 2010 to 5%, but health care spending growth remains above the benchmark. They said 2023 spending grew 6.2% versus a 3.2% target, with prescription drugs, hospital outpatient care, professional services, and non-claims spending driving growth. They highlighted ongoing work on market transparency, hospital spending, primary care, and federal policy changes that could reduce coverage and increase uncompensated care. Dr. Drew Oliva of the Washington Health Alliance added quality and safety data, saying many measures remain below top national performance, primary care attachment is weak, hospital pricing varies widely, and behavioral health data are limited. He urged stronger primary care investment, more transparency, and better patient safety oversight. Committee members then introduced themselves and staff before moving to public hearings. The committee first heard Senate Bill 5877, a technical fix expanding the physician health program surcharge to certified anesthesiologist assistants so they can participate in the Washington Physicians Health Program and related educational resources. The bill sponsor and witnesses from the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and the Washington Physicians Health Program all supported the measure, describing it as a consistency and access fix for a newly licensed profession. The bill drew 12 pro, 2 con, and 0 other sign-ins. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5967, which would preserve access to preventive services by allowing the Department of Health to issue immunization recommendations based on multiple expert sources and by freezing state insurance coverage protections for preventive services and vaccines as of mid-2025, with OIC rulemaking authority to keep coverage at least as favorable. The sponsor, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham, and Governor’s office staff said the bill is intended to protect existing coverage, not create new vaccine mandates, and to keep recommendations grounded in science amid federal uncertainty. Supporters included Dr. Helen Chu, Dr. Beth Harvey, Dr. Maria Huang, Dr. J. Miller, and Dr. Matt LaGalbo, who emphasized vaccine safety, rising vaccine-preventable diseases, and the importance of no-cost preventive care. Opponents, including Bob Runnels and Natalie Chavez, argued the bill politicizes vaccines, reduces transparency, and expands state authority without adequate fiscal detail. The hearing continued with additional testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Blue Earth County utilizes SCORE funding to operate its county recycling center in Blue Earth County.
• </c> 35% and greater Minnesota's County 35% and greater Minnesota's County average<00:15:07.880><c> of
• </c> commissioner from Washington County commissioner from Washington County please<00:18:00.120><c>
• for funding to counties.
• </c><00:24:35.720><c> I</c> control Agency for funding to counties I control Agency for funding to counties

Bills: HF1359 , HF1829 , HF290 , HF1933 , HF926

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• are not from Ramsey County.
• are not from Ramsey County.
• are not from Ramsey County.
• Ramsey County are not from Ramsey County.
• </c><00:20:42.520><c> metro</c> county metro, but the seven county metro county metro, but the seven

Bills: HF3425

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state agencies. state agencies.
• c> tribal</c> state agencies, the counties, and tribal state agencies, the counties, and tribal nations
• </c> effect on county-based purchasing. effect on county-based purchasing.
• Counties appreciate the our 87 counties.
• . counties. counties.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll also be requiring agencies to submit regulatory plans, specifying which 20% of their rules will
• We'll also be requiring agencies to submit regulatory plans, specifying which 20% of their rules will
• We'll also bring increased efficiency, requiring agencies to publish a notice of intended agency action
• Requiring agencies to publish a notice of intended agency action within 90 days of the effective date
• seven days before its intended agency... ...drafting errors.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 108 on administrative procedures. That bill, as amended, would require agencies to review all rules on a five-year cycle, submit regulatory plans and annual reports, publish intended agency action within 90 days of new rulemaking authority, improve public access to incorporated materials, and streamline rule publication and correction procedures. After brief testimony from the Florida Bar’s Administrative Law Section and support from Americans for Prosperity and the James Madison Institute, the committee adopted two amendments and reported CS for SB 108 favorably. The committee then approved several other measures, including the Senate veterans package (CS for CS for SB 116), which made technical changes and was supported by veterans and advocacy groups; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempts local barriers while preserving state and federal law and building codes; CS for SB 126 allowing mail distribution of prescription hearing aids after a Florida-licensed professional examination; CS for SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” making it a third-degree felony to abandon restrained animals during declared disasters; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice expansion for complex cardiac conditions; SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure; CS for SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process to remove unauthorized persons from commercial property; CS for SB 348 on ethics, addressing false military rank claims and delinquent ethics fines; SB 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day; CS for SB 160 expanding CPA licensure pathways and clarifying administrative outsourcing; and CS for SB 50 promoting nature-based coastal resilience measures. Most of these bills received supportive testimony and were reported favorably. The committee also considered and reported favorably the annual reviser bills SB 36, SB 38, SB 40, and SB 42, which adopt the 2025 Florida Statutes, conform statutory names, remove expired provisions, and clean up obsolete language and cross-references. Throughout the meeting, members asked questions on a few bills, but no roll-call votes were recorded as opposed; each measure was approved and reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested that a few missed affirmative votes be recorded, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Johns County, home of historic St.
• I represent southern Clay County, Putnam County, and parts of St.
• I'm from Tallahassee, represent the city of Tallahassee as well as Gadsden County, Wakulla County, and
• Jefferson County.
• line area in Miami-Dade County.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding. Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• And today... cross-departmental and multi-agency effort.
• San Diego Regional Center serves two counties, San Diego and Imperial Counties—two neighboring counties
• We support about 4,500 individuals in Imperial County.
• One that is kind of a combination of family-directed and agency- or participant-directed, and agency
• Staffing, from a staffing agency perspective, is difficult.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eric Lurie speaking on behalf of the California State Association of Counties, representing all 58 counties
• Eric Lurie speaking on behalf of the California State Association of counties, representing all 58 counties
• We see members in Los Angeles County as well as San Joaquin County.
• County?
• Thank you. $16.3 million in Monterey County.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Ventura County is tied to economic recovery regionally.
• wage of Ventura County.
• What's more to the point, we recently completed a regional analysis of Ventura County and five counties
• Government agencies like cities, counties, school districts, and even legacy agencies like Caltrans are
• in Kern County.

Summary: The committee heard several labor-related bills, with AB 1424, AB 1340, AB 288, and AB 746 all advancing on due-pass motions to Appropriations after testimony and roll calls. AB 1424 would require climate resiliency and extreme-heat protections in CDCR facilities; supporters described dangerous heat conditions for incarcerated workers and staff, while no opposition testified. AB 1340 would allow rideshare drivers to unionize and collectively bargain; drivers, labor groups, and researchers testified that app-based work is low-paid and unstable, while TechNet, Uber, Lyft, and other business groups argued the bill conflicts with Proposition 22 and could raise costs. AB 288 would let PERB step in when federal labor remedies are unavailable; supporters said it is needed because of NLRB dysfunction, while the Chamber of Commerce raised preemption and enforcement concerns. AB 746 would create an inmate cooperative program and a green reentry reserve; supporters framed it as a recidivism-reduction and reentry strategy, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee also heard AB 858, which would extend hotel and hospitality worker recall rights after declared emergencies and extend existing COVID-era protections. Hospitality workers and unions supported the bill as a way to protect jobs after pandemics, wildfires, and other disasters, while hotel, chamber, retail, restaurant, trucking, travel, and attractions groups opposed it, saying the current recall rules were meant to sunset and that the bill would create broad liabilities and hiring complications. The bill was moved to Appropriations but remained on call after the roll. AB 291, creating a credentialed educator apprenticeship program to address teacher shortages and improve diversity, drew support from education groups and stakeholders who said apprenticeships could lower preparation costs and provide better support; it was also moved to Appropriations and placed on call. Later, the committee took up AB 1104, a solar-energy bill intended to clarify that private solar customers are not “awarding bodies” and to ease certain business-to-business solar transactions while preserving prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements for contractors. Supporters said the current interpretation has chilled commercial solar adoption and harmed jobs, while opponents from electrical workers, PG&E, and others warned about expanded “over-the-fence” power sales and the need for clearer limits. Members questioned the lack of a definition of “small,” and the bill was held without a second. The committee also heard AB 338, which seeks $50 million for Los Angeles and Ventura wildfire workforce recovery; the author and county officials described major job loss and business destruction and said the funds would support displaced workers and rebuilding, with the testimony continuing beyond the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harbor City, California, Los Angeles County.
• wage of Ventura County.
• What's more to the point, we recently completed a regional analysis of Ventura County and five counties
• Government agencies like cities, counties, school districts, and even legacy agencies like Caltrans are
• in Kern County.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Summary: The committee heard several labor and employment bills, with most of the discussion focused on worker protections, collective bargaining, and reentry programs. AB 1424, by Assemblymember Rodriguez, would require climate resiliency measures in CDCR facilities and direct Cal/OSHA to propose extreme-temperature rules for correctional workplaces. Supporters, including NELP, WorkSafe, and formerly incarcerated workers, described dangerous heat conditions in prisons and argued incarcerated workers deserve the same health and safety protections as other workers. There was no opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations with one no vote. AB 1340, by Assemblymembers Wix and Berman, would give rideshare drivers the choice to unionize and collectively bargain. Supporters, including many drivers and labor organizations, said drivers face low pay, deactivations without due process, and lack basic protections; a UC Berkeley researcher cited data showing very low net earnings. Opponents from TechNet, Uber, Lyft, and business groups argued the bill conflicts with Proposition 22 and could raise costs and reduce service. After committee debate over legal authority and state-action immunity, the bill passed to Appropriations with bipartisan support. AB 288 would authorize PERB to act when the NLRB cannot timely resolve labor claims, in response to federal labor board dysfunction. Supporters said California must protect workers’ organizing rights if federal remedies are unavailable, while the Chamber of Commerce raised preemption and enforcement concerns. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 746, a prison cooperative program bill, would let incarcerated people form worker cooperatives and direct a share of earnings to a Green Reentry Cooperative Reserve; it passed to Public Safety with no opposition. AB 1104, on commercial solar projects, drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would clarify that private solar customers are not “awarding bodies” and would help reverse a steep drop in commercial solar applications, while opponents warned about over-the-fence power sales and unclear scope. The bill was held after committee members requested further clarification. AB 858, extending hospitality worker recall rights after declared emergencies, drew strong labor support and business opposition; the committee voted it out to Appropriations, but it remained on call after a no vote from one member.