Transcript Highlights:

• Protect my benefit.'
• benefits.
• benefits.
• own supplements.
• Many people are buying supplements to Medicare, so they have to buy their own supplements.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So making this benefit permanent ensures stability for both patients and providers and reinforces California's
• And it's had such a tremendous benefit for my family.
• So sorry, Shane, where he needed an increased dosage and he...
• food product that is a protein supplement premixed with water.
• We think this should be focused on supplements and supplements themselves, and this one still has beverages

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The Senate Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, research funding, consumer protection, and insurance administration. SB 895 by Sen. Wiener would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research and place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to support scientific and health research in California; supporters from UC, labor, and patient groups said it would protect jobs, public health, and the state’s research leadership amid federal funding cuts, while the committee later voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Natural Resources and Water. SB 944 would make acupuncture a permanent Medi-Cal benefit regardless of federal matching funds; acupuncture providers, patients, health systems, and API community advocates testified in strong support, and the committee voted 6-0 to pass it as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 987, which would create a California Health Access Fund to capture state savings if federal Medicaid changes under H.R. 1 reduce Medi-Cal enrollment and redirect those funds to care for people who lose coverage and to reimburse safety-net providers. Support came from disability, consumer, family physician, emergency physician, hospital, and reproductive health groups; members discussed prioritizing indigent care, prevention, and safety-net needs, and the bill was moved on a unanimous vote to Appropriations. SB 964 would let a licensed provider adjust the dose or frequency of an already covered medication up to two times without prior authorization when clinically appropriate, with Crohn’s and Colitis advocates describing delays that harmed patients and insurers warning about safety and cost concerns; after committee discussion about off-label use and clinical safeguards, the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to Appropriations. Later, SB 1099 clarified local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA, with city and county counsel and local officials saying it would preserve flexibility for homeless outreach, street medicine, crisis lines, and other low-barrier services; it passed 11-0 and was re-referred to Human Services. SB 1033 would require protein product manufacturers to test for heavy metals and disclose results, prompted by Consumer Reports findings and supported by consumer, health, and women’s health groups; industry witnesses asked for narrower scope and source-level testing, and the committee voted 11-0 to pass it as amended and send it to Environmental Quality. The committee then began SB 1049, which would give providers a 90-day window after a plan’s latest action to correct certain claim errors and prevent denials based solely on missed filing deadlines; the author said it would address honest billing mistakes and recoupments, and the bill was introduced with support from medical groups and ongoing discussions with health plans.

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates strong middle-class, often union jobs that benefit entire regions.
• So making this benefit permanent ensures stability for both patients and providers and reinforces California's
• And it's had such a tremendous benefit for my family.
• So sorry, Shane, where he needed an increased dosage and he...
• We think this should be focused on supplements and supplements themselves, and this one still has beverages

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• In 19, we did add and clarify that land grant permanent fund, so this is line 10 and 11, land grant permanent
• We pay for it from the land grant permanent fund. That's that extra distribution.
• And that's if the Medicaid rate increases from money that they put up comes in.
• And so their base budget has an increase.
• It's above a certain level, then it will flow and benefit the general fund.

Bills: SB241 , SB145 , HB2

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 241 and reviewed a Senate Finance Committee substitute that incorporated several amendments. Staff explained changes related to the child care fund, residency determinations for federally eligible applicants, expanded child care assistance eligibility for grandparents raising grandchildren and foster parents, updated payment-rate rulemaking, tribal child care sovereignty and culturally appropriate services, limits on land grant permanent fund use for nonsectarian/non-denominational services, provider licensure pathways, and reporting clarifications. Members also discussed whether the bill would maximize federal and state child care tax benefits and how the nonsectarian language would apply to faith-based child care providers. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed it on a 7-3 vote. The committee then moved into House Bill 2 budget language review, focusing on budget adjustment authority and other fiscal provisions. Members discussed proposed BAR language for the State Investment Council, State Treasurer, PERA, and the Economic Development Department, with concerns about caps, whether the language was too broad, and whether some items should revert to existing law or be removed. The committee approved some of the BAR language items, but flagged the Treasurer and Economic Development provisions for later review. Members also discussed extending certain appropriations and project timelines, including a Rio Grande Trail Commission item and several IT and public safety projects, generally favoring extensions where work was still underway. The committee then debated proposed public school support language that would bar PED from approving budgets for schools with fewer than 180 instructional days and from approving new moves to four-day school weeks. Several members argued the 180-day language conflicted with existing statute, which is based on instructional hours, and that the four-day-week restriction could have unintended consequences. The committee ultimately voted down both public school support provisions. The meeting ended with a brief discussion of reviewing the rest of House Bill 2 and related supplemental and language items in the next session, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This change and increase to Lease Assistance Awards will greatly help schools and kids.
• So for line three, we updated the SSTB notes, that's Supplemental Severance Tax Funds.
• the MEM every year, increase it by the CPI.
• We want to make this permanent. It makes sense for both entities to make this transition permanent.
• So I believe it's gonna bring a lot of benefit.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Benefits because of their immigration status.
• We were never able to find permanency, which makes sense because he had a home.
• It increases educational attainment, both secondary and post-secondary; increases employment and earnings
• ; increases assets, savings, and social support.
• Importantly, we don't find that it just benefits young people that are doing the most.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll all benefit from that.
• They'll all benefit from that.
• It adds in use safety and permanency on two of those. safety and permanency on two of those adoption
• That's called a supplemental.
• Well, they had a $13 or $18 million supplemental and a $36 million increase in 2027 for population increase

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1689 increases the defined loan amounts for consumer loans and consumer
• Okay, as far as the fee increase, I do want to speak to that.
• What is the need for increased interest rates?
• the federal definition of the, in the ACA, there's the essential health benefits list?
• What does it do practically and functionally that benefits chiropractors? Mr.

Bills: SB1165 , SB1206 , SB1212 , SB1291 , SB1347 , SB1516 , SB1554 , SB1649 , SB1689 , SB1812

Committees: Senate Finance , Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Keywords: breast cancer, screening services, health insurance, cost sharing, preventive care, storm damage, catastrophic storm, hail damage, wind damage, roof repair, roof replacement, post-storm repairs, insurance claim, property and casualty insurance, adjuster, public adjuster, contractor licensing, homeowner protections, deductible waiver, insurance fraud prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as well as Minnesota supplemental as well as Minnesota supplemental Minnesota<00:14:29.199><c> supplemental
• three-quarters of this increase was due to increased utilization and about one quarter was due to the
• three-quarters of this increase was due to increased utilization and about one quarter was due to the
• </c> disabilities was around 3% increase. disabilities was around 3% increase.
• We're reducing the increased cost.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It hasn't increased at all.
• How much increase?
• It is holding them at a maximum. increase, or an average increase of 10 percent.
• That's where they get most of their benefit from, but they also contribute and benefit from a supplemental
• Which means that there won't be increases in co-pays and co-insurance. and or other benefit reductions

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• benefits wherever our mobile clinic is going.
• are called Enhancing Detection and Expansion Supplements.
• These supplemental funds were provided to sustain and strengthen vaccine access.
• The CDPH is a sub-recipient of these ELC supplements.
• It should continue to lift up vulnerable populations and benefit the entire state.

Transcript Highlights:

• would benefit.
• Not a single company will get any benefit, not a penny of benefit, from moving out of the state just
• So please, decouple permanently.
• That starts with permanently decoupling our...
• This is the benefit.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on H. 4975, Governor Healey’s bill to manage the impact of federal tax changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3) on Massachusetts. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorowitz said the bill would phase in selected corporate tax changes over time, avoid a $442 million FY26 revenue hit, preserve the current-year budget, and add a few related changes, including expanding the pass-through entity excise to income subject to the 4% surtax, delaying large federal tax changes over $20 million by one year, limiting opportunity zone benefits to Massachusetts investments, adjusting DFML contributions to match IRS guidance, and aligning casino slot-winnings reporting thresholds with federal law. Committee members questioned the administration about why it chose phased conformity rather than full decoupling, the effect on the budget if the bill does not pass, the purpose of the pass-through entity change, opportunity zones, and the slot-machine threshold and family leave provisions. Public testimony was sharply divided. MassBudget, Progressive Massachusetts, and Don Griswold of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities urged the committee to go further and permanently decouple from the five most costly OB3 corporate tax provisions, arguing that automatic conformity is fiscally risky, rewards investment outside Massachusetts, and has already caused or could cause large revenue losses. Labor and public-sector witnesses, including leaders from the Massachusetts Teachers Association, AFT Massachusetts, SEIU 509, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and building trades unions, also called for permanent decoupling, warning that the federal law will deepen state budget pressures, harm schools, health care, human services, and infrastructure, and shift costs onto workers and public programs. Several speakers said Massachusetts should not adopt federal corporate tax cuts that mainly benefit wealthy individuals and corporations. Other testimony focused on specific provisions. Unite Here Local 26 asked the committee to strike the casino slot-winnings threshold change from $1,200 to $2,000, saying the current limit helps identify problem gambling, creates an opportunity for intervention, and supports union jobs. The Massachusetts Society of CPAs supported the administration’s phased approach, especially the research and experimental expense deduction, citing the importance of certainty for business filers and Massachusetts’ strong R&D economy. Greater Boston Legal Services testified on the paid family and medical leave sections, explaining that the bill’s changes would align PFML payroll contributions with new IRS guidance and, if paired with administrative action, would be cost-neutral for workers and employers. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to services, it is also permanently affordable.
• Operating costs for permanent supportive housing have increased due to inflation and rising costs, outpacing
• We are prioritized away from permanent housing.
• Our public benefit is that a portion of those homes are affordable.
• One would be increasing the project cap from 20% to 50%.

Bills: SB6018 , SB6026 , SB6027 , SB6028 , SB5937 , SB5938

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: housing, finance, commission, state funding, affordable housing, residential development, zoning reform, mixed-use zoning, commercial zones, Growth Management Act, GMA, state preemption, local land use, development regulations, ground-floor retail, ground-floor commercial, permit waiver, waiver process, density, urban growth area

Transcript Highlights:

• Um if we have a supplemental coming.
• </c><00:29:03.279><c> the</c><00:29:03.440><c> regional</c> increase to MDE and the regional increase
• school supplemental aid.
• school uh uh program for the permanent school uh uh supplemental<01:24:36.400><c> aid.
• </c> supplemental aid. Thank you, Mr. Stum. supplemental aid. Thank you, Mr. Stum.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which would benefit.
• Not a single company will get any benefit, not a penny of benefit, from moving out of the state just
• We're not done in Massachusetts, and we benefit.
• So please, decouple permanently.
• This is the benefit.

Bills: H4975

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• That was increased in 2014.
• road fund, the rate itself was increased by 1%.
• It would increase about 0.07 or 0.08.
• And 25 million of that goes to salaries And benefits.
• They're going to benefit economically.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's some supplementals for the Idaho Department of Corrections. Mr.
• Next up, we have a supplemental request in the Medical Services Division.
• This motion also makes the supplemental increase one-time, and so this adds that amount and then adds
• for the increase for fiscal year 2027.
• The specific supplemental we're about to look at is on page 2-104.

Summary: The committee took up a series of Idaho Department of Corrections budget supplementals and FY 2027 enhancement requests. Members approved supplemental or ongoing funding for Hepatitis C treatment authority, county and out-of-state placement costs, medical services, management services replacement items and IT hardware, state prisons replacement items, and community corrections replacement items, with several motions passing by due pass recommendation after roll calls. In community corrections, the committee approved a reduced amount that excluded some vehicle replacements. The committee also approved a technical correction to the college and university budget to restore four FTP that had been omitted from yesterday’s motion. The committee then considered several Department of Health and Welfare items. It approved a budget-neutral fund source change for substance abuse treatment and prevention, moving $650,000 from the Liquor Control Fund to the Cooperative Welfare Dedicated Fund. In the Division of Welfare, members discussed SNAP administrative cost changes tied to H.R. 1, Medicaid expansion work requirements, and Medicaid eligibility system changes; the motion to fund all three items failed in the House committee, so no language advanced. The committee also approved psychiatric hospitalization supplemental funding to shift Idaho Behavioral Health Plan revenue from federal funds to dedicated funds. For FY 2027 mental health services, the committee approved a compromise package that reduced funding for a juvenile corrections clinical transfer and restored some mental health services staffing and Idaho Behavioral Health Plan costs, while adding Allenbaugh House funding through opioid settlement dollars. It also adopted language allowing certain transfers under state law and requiring separate reporting for children’s and adult mental health spending under the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. For psychiatric hospitalization, the committee approved ongoing fund shifts for employee benefits, the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan, replacement items, and endowment fund adjustments. The meeting ended with notice of upcoming budget-setting work and a reminder for members to get any new motions to staff by early afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill proposes salary increases for judges across the state by making the 2024 and 2025 supplement
• stipend permanent.
• Permanent supportive housing is what helps.
• “Permanent supportive housing is housing.
• This is not going to increase the filing fees.

Bills: HB29 , HB39 , HB77 , HB153 , HB183 , HB211 , HB263 , HB299 , HB324 , HB519 , HB520 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB805 , HB823 , HB1004 , HB1011 , HB1018

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• base increase aligned with inflation.
• The proposed base increases.
• Exactly. and increase revenues for those same increasing costs.
• It allows them to go and do wage increases, benefits, et cetera.
• And students who do not meet those hours would have three months of CalFresh benefits and then be permanently

Transcript Highlights:

• ADR promised to then supplement the published forms and instructions.
• So with this bill, 60% of the people want a fee increase—that's the majority.
• They should be able to, or 50, 51% want a fee increase.
• The majority wants a fee increase, 51%; they should get it.
• Are they going to invite us out there because it's to their benefit?

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several tax, retirement, and property-related measures. SB 1215, the so-called “comma bill,” was described as a technical correction to firefighters’ cancer coverage language: it reorganizes the listed cancers into a column format to avoid comma-delimitation confusion, and an amendment removed unintended police-officer language. The bill was amended and passed 6-1. SB 1180 would codify the Department of Revenue’s practice of assuming federal tax conformity for above-the-line items when preparing state tax forms; DOR said it would not have changed this year’s executive-order-driven changes, and the bill passed 7-0. SCR 1028, a referral to voters, would narrow an existing exception under Prop. 108 for agency-set fees and assessments; supporters said it would curb delegation of taxing authority, while opponents warned it could hinder public services and business operations. The resolution passed 4-3. The committee also advanced several other measures. SB 1292 clarifies that the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System’s 5% ownership cap applies only to publicly traded corporations, to avoid problems with investment funds being classified as corporations; PSPRS supported it, and it passed. SB 1294 restores county assessors’ authority to prorate property value for property destroyed in any manner, while preserving the five-year classification protection for property destroyed by verifiable accident; it passed 6-1. SB 1430, the annual tax corrections act, made minor cleanup changes and codified current practice, and passed unanimously. SB 1270 would allow CORP employers to make optional supplemental defined-contribution incentive payments of up to $5,000 to certain Tier 3 corrections employees to aid recruitment and retention; supporters called it an optional tool, while some members raised concerns about county costs and pension policy, and it passed 6-1. SB 1290 drew the most extended debate. It requires advance notice and inspection reports for property inspections by DOR and county assessors and bars repeat on-site inspections of agricultural property for three years after an inspection. Farm and ranch groups said the bill would improve transparency and reduce repeated disputes over agricultural classification, while county assessors opposed it, arguing it would add costs, create inconsistent reporting, and interfere with their duty to inspect and value property annually. The bill passed 4-2 with one member not voting, and the chair noted it would likely remain a work in progress.