Transcript Highlights:

• It was part of a three-part strategy.
• I understood the first part of that. I did not know about the second part.
• I understood the first part of that. I did not know about the second part. So So, um, Got it.
• I understood the first part of that. I did not know about the second part.
• Because I think in part...

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation on LSU Health Care Services Division and Lallie Kemp Medical Center. Staff reviewed HCSD’s roughly $74.7 million budget, much of it tied to legacy obligations for former LSU hospital systems and support for Lallie Kemp. Committee members asked about prisoner care, risk management costs, declining admissions and emergency visits, and the hospital’s 340B drug program. Lallie Kemp officials explained that prisoner care serves multiple state and local facilities, that lower admissions largely reflect more patients being placed in observation status, and that the in-house 340B program provides major savings to patients and the prison system. Members also asked about care for unhoused patients and the hospital’s discharge practices, and the hospital said social services works to find placement when possible. The committee then moved to the Louisiana Department of Health budget, which was presented as just under $23.5 billion, with Medicaid making up more than 90 percent of the total. The presentation covered the Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Medicaid. Major items included the new Rural Health Transformation Program, the transfer of several functions from DCFS to LDH under the One Door initiative, changes to SNAP administration, and large Medicaid adjustments driven by enrollment, utilization, and federal policy changes. Testimony also highlighted the statewide crisis hub and 988, the commodity food program for seniors, women’s health and maternal outcomes, and the department’s efforts to modernize technology and reorganize services. Members questioned LDH officials on a wide range of budget and policy issues, including the rural health grant, crisis services, Medicaid redeterminations, provider taxes, physician and hospital supplemental payments, nursing home rates, HCBS funding, and the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. LDH said the rural health grant would support workforce, technology, and care-delivery improvements; that the crisis hub and mobile crisis units are being expanded to improve access and reduce emergency room use; and that the department is working to keep the SNAP error rate below 6 percent to avoid a projected state cost increase. Officials also said they expect to return next year with additional funding requests for HCBS and other programs, while emphasizing that current budget changes are largely meant to realign funding with actual expenditures and new federal requirements. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm part of the California that I am, and the part of California that I'm from.
• The other truth to this is that taxpayers are doing their part. Consumers are doing their part.
• Don't ask us to do our part.
• Taxpayers have done their part. Consumers are more than doing their part.
• Taxpayers have done their part. Consumers are more than doing their part.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm part of the California that I am, and the part of California that I'm from.
• The other truth is that taxpayers are doing their part. Consumers are doing their part.
• Don't ask us to do our part.
• Taxpayers have done their part. Consumers are more than doing their part.
• Taxpayers have done their part. Consumers are more than doing their part.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also are part of a number of networks.
• Now, I'm not speaking about the finance part. I understand that the fiscal part along those lines.
• Now, I'm not speaking about the finance part. I understand that the fiscal part along those lines.
• That is what makes them in part so successful.
• That is one piece of a bigger part. Okay. Okay. Is one piece of a bigger part. Okay.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on coherence in California’s education planning and reporting systems, especially the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and related grant plans. Committee chairs and members described widespread frustration with duplicative, lengthy, and sometimes conflicting reporting requirements, while emphasizing that the goal was not to reduce accountability but to make planning more useful, stable, and student-centered. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond also previewed the Governor’s education budget priorities, including expanded learning, community schools, universal transitional kindergarten, literacy supports, and concerns about the proposed Prop. 98 deferral. Panelists from the State Board of Education, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LCAP was intended to balance local flexibility with statewide transparency, but has become overloaded by repeated revisions and additional requirements. They argued for fewer core reporting elements, more stability over time, better alignment of planning cycles, and integrated systems that reduce duplication. Fresno County staff described a multi-year calendar and support tools that help districts manage timelines, but said these tools only ease the burden rather than solve the underlying problem. The LAO noted that some newer plans, such as expanded learning and transportation plans, are narrative-heavy and often less informative than separate reporting requirements. Local district leaders and county officials described the practical effects of the current system: staff time diverted from instruction, multiple portals and forms, audit risk aversion, and planning documents that can exceed 100 pages. Several superintendents said coherent systems work best when districts have clear priorities, stable governance, and aligned budgets, and when state requirements are predictable and tied to outcomes like literacy, attendance, and student achievement. The California Federation of Teachers added that coherence also depends on meaningful collaboration with educators, classified staff, parents, and communities. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the state should streamline reporting, create a uniform portal, or develop a more unified grant-reporting structure, and Thurmond said the department was piloting a simplified common form and was willing to work with the Legislature and districts on broader solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a lot of moving parts in that.
• So, is part of your consideration capacity?
• We do have, as part of the Early Access Fund.
• I think that's a big important part of this budget.
• However, that was part of the initial budget request.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, there's all these different moving parts, right?
• Marine desal needs to be part of that.
• That is an important component and part of the desalination.
• That is an important component and part of the desalination.
• Ambient salinity is around 15 parts per thousand, 18 parts per thousand in Galveston Bay.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of that contractor's duties—I want to be sure my mic was on—part of that contractor's duties is
• That is part of the process that we do.
• And part of that is because of I-44.
• And so that's a significant part of the cost.
• This is part of our core.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can have a waiver on part of your deductible, and you can save up to $850 by taking part in this
• and be part of the wellness program.
• That was part of my question.
• That was part of my question.
• So that was part of the changes that were made to House Bill 1248.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our amendments are actually requiring cities to be part of the same regional planning process that's
• And I represent a part of San Diego.
• So all of that is part of those.
• And I also, I mean, a big part of belonging to an HOA is you have to participate.
• Part of any housing law.

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related measures. SB 866 by Senator Blakespear would require jurisdictions that do not receive HAP homelessness grants to include homelessness data strategies and regional coordination in their housing elements. Supporters said the bill would close a planning gap and improve transparency and accountability; opponents, including the League of California Cities and several cities, argued it would impose costly, duplicative reporting requirements and ask cities to collect data outside their control. Members raised concerns about burden on small cities and possible amendments for lower-population or low-homelessness jurisdictions, but no final vote was taken because the committee initially lacked a quorum. SB 967, also by Senator Blakespear, would allow qualifying interim housing units to count toward a portion of a jurisdiction’s RHNA obligation for acutely low-income housing, with safeguards against double counting and reporting requirements. Supporters said the bill would incentivize rapid, dignified interim housing and help move people out of encampments; opponents warned it would blur the line between temporary shelter and permanent housing and could reduce pressure to build deeply affordable permanent units. After extensive debate, the committee reached quorum and voted the bill out on a due pass basis to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with members noting continued work on amendments. The committee also considered SCR 131, a resolution calling for a coordinated state effort to end unsheltered homelessness and prioritize a broad range of interventions, including interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and prevention. Supporters emphasized the scale and urgency of unsheltered homelessness and the need for clearer state goals and funding. One member said the resolution’s language was too broad and abstained, but the author agreed to consider wording changes. The resolution was adopted on a roll call vote and held on call for absent members. Finally, SB 1238 by Senator Wahab would increase oversight and transparency for homeowners associations and HOA managers, including disclosures, reserve-fund rules, and a proposed fiduciary-duty standard. Realtors and homeowner supporters backed the bill as a way to improve accountability, while community-manager groups opposed the fiduciary-duty provision and raised concerns about litigation and insurance costs. Members discussed the reserve-fund language and fiduciary-duty issue, noting that further changes would be considered in the Judiciary Committee; the bill was not yet voted on in this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's a very important part of this.
• That’s a part of the history in my case. I have never said no.
• That's a part of you.
• That's a part of this. It's not the whole of it.
• We're from different parts of the state.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bolstering other parts of the curriculum.
• bolstering other parts of the curriculum.
• And lastly, let me just say part of that is not just conceptual thinking on my part, but in Santa Clara
• And I understand that part of it.
• And I understand that part of it.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the part that I On the next slide, we looked at OBGYNs.
• Building the economy is certainly a big part of what we have to do.
• Because that's a tax issue, it'd be part of a tax package.
• And again, that's part of why we're even trying to move forward and work with them.
• And lately, Microsoft has bought part of the land.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion. The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care. The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't, why do they not have to be part of it?
• We host everything through Amazon Web Services, and so being able to part.
• at all, including law enforcement and ICE, so it's a two-part question. Mr.
• That is included as part of that $8.5 million. Thank you for that.
• And then also just new efforts on the part of the department.

Transcript Highlights:

• How does that affect the part that whoever is moving this?
• So that's a part of it.
• So that's part of the history. historical review.
• So that's another part of this fight.
• You know, when is contamination going to be as big a part of that?

Transcript Highlights:

• This piece has a lot of moving parts, but there are two main overall effects.
• All of those resources are part of the planning process.
• .some weeks and months of close attention in the early part of this year.
• Okay, we certainly understand the fluid part of it.
• These projects would be built in the latter part of that eight-year cycle.

Summary: The hearing was an informational budget session on energy agency proposals, with no votes taken. Early discussion focused on Proposition 4 climate bond implementation, including funding for demand-side grid support, offshore wind development, and transmission financing. The Department of Finance said the budget includes allocations for demand-side grid support and offshore wind, but not yet for the $325 million transmission financing piece pending a required study. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to consider whether to wait on offshore wind funding, whether to keep shifting funds into demand-side grid support, and how to direct future transmission financing. Members also raised concerns about local technical assistance for offshore wind, Salton Sea priorities, and the need for more information before final decisions. The California Energy Commission and CPUC then reviewed the broader energy package. The CEC highlighted the demand-side grid support program’s growth, distributed energy backup assets, long-duration storage, hydrogen grants, and the SIRP clean energy reliability program. CPUC testimony emphasized affordability, wildfire mitigation costs, rooftop solar cost shifts, and efforts to reduce rates while maintaining reliability and clean energy goals. Members questioned CPUC staffing, delays in proceedings, coordination with the CEC and CAISO, and the impact of rate increases on customers. The agencies also discussed the AB 3264 transmission financing study, with CPUC saying work on the study had already begun and was on track for the July 1 deadline. Several trailer bill and implementation items were also discussed. The committee reviewed a proposal to extend the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program surcharge, with members split over whether it should be handled in budget trailer bill language or policy legislation; the administration said the surcharge supports a critical program serving about three-quarters of a million Californians. The committee also heard a CPUC data-sharing proposal to allow nondisclosure agreements for transmission and reliability data, which members generally supported as a technical fix. DWR explained a proposal to clarify language for the Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve so it can potentially sell three gas-fired units it owns, and the CEC presented a federal transmission grant proposal tied to grid-enhancing technologies and ratepayer cost recovery. Finally, the committee discussed California Lifeline and possible broadband pilot reforms in light of uncertainty around federal Universal Service Fund support, with CPUC saying it is exploring a statewide standalone broadband option for eligible customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We come from very different parts of Idaho.
• Swenson will forever be part of our family story.
• The second part of the three-circle model is FFA, and that also encompasses our CDEs and our LDEs.
• Community service is another big, important part of this organization.
• For FFA members, service is a part of who we are. In fact, it's in our motto: living to serve.

Summary: The House Education Committee heard first from the Idaho School Board Association, whose chair Jason Sevy gave a personal account of how public schools, local governance, and school-based supports shaped his life and his family. He argued that school board training and state support for local control are important, citing the value of ISBA training funds and examples of districts using grants and partnerships to improve early literacy, mental health supports, and student outcomes. Members asked how urban districts could build stronger parent/community ties, and Sevy said community engagement should begin at the elementary level. The committee then received a presentation from Idaho FFA state officers, who described FFA’s three-circle model of classroom instruction, career and leadership development events, and supervised agricultural experiences. The officers highlighted their own agricultural and education pathways, the statewide reach of FFA chapters, leadership camps and conferences, community service hours, and the economic impact of SAE projects. They emphasized that FFA builds public speaking, parliamentary procedure, job interview, and leadership skills in addition to agricultural knowledge, and invited legislators to the state convention in Twin Falls in April. Members responded positively to both presentations. Representative Pickett asked about strengthening community engagement in larger districts and how FFA can attract students beyond agriculture; officers said the program’s broader leadership and workplace skills are a major draw. Other members praised the students’ confidence and articulation, and one suggested FFA should be considered as a minimum high school offering. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We thought that was a really important part.
• We're just not saying that you don't have to do that, because that have-to part is the part that's been
• We're just not saying that you don't have to do that, because that have to part is the part that's been
• We're just not saying that you don't have to do that because that half to part is the part that's been
• Importantly, we have savers all over every part of Idaho.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1225, which would codify a more standardized, partially public process for university and higher education presidential searches. The bill requires a search committee, periodic public updates, and a 10-business-day public comment period after a sole finalist is named, while aiming to protect applicants’ current employment from being jeopardized by early disclosure. The sponsor said the bill passed the Senate 34-0. The Idaho Press Club testified in opposition, arguing the measure reduces transparency under the Public Records Act, though it acknowledged the search committee structure itself was reasonable. Members discussed whether alternative approaches, such as releasing multiple finalists, might preserve more public input, but the sponsor said that would still deter applicants. The committee then voted to send the bill, as amended, to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee also received an informational update from Dawn Hall, executive director of IDEAL, Idaho’s 529 education savings program. She reviewed the program’s history, tax advantages, investment options, recent app updates, and expanded uses under federal changes, including broader K-12 and credentialing expenses. Hall said IDEAL accounts are growing, new accounts were up 11% over the prior year, and the program is working to increase awareness, employer participation, and contributions statewide. Members asked about the relationship between savings accounts and later educational attainment, and Hall said the accounts help start family conversations about higher education and are especially valued by lower-income families. Finally, Representative Pickett presented RS 33205, a cleanup bill for the public school facilities cooperative fund. He said the proposal would clarify interest calculations, update language about when the state can step in on unsafe school buildings, and ensure any remaining funds are properly returned or redirected. A member asked who would pay a state-appointed district supervisor’s salary and whether the district would have input, but Pickett said he had not researched that specific point and would follow up. The committee voted to introduce the RS.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as a part of the the budget uh bill. as a part of the the budget uh bill.
• So it's only part of it of phase Yes. So it's only part of it of phase two. two. two.
• part of the $15 million?
• part of our strategy I hope is &gt;&gt; Well part part of our strategy I hope is that<02:30:54.720><
• </c><03:00:58.399><c> of</c> um that that part of the um that part of um that that part of the um that

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a commercial part of that area, which is part of the César Chávez Memorial.
• Do you think that part of the reason why is wildfire risk?
• They are not part of the joint proposal. They are not.
• They are not part of the joint proposal. They are not.
• And that's part of what we're asking for.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, reliability, and wildfire-related costs. The chair framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while keeping bills affordable and the system reliable, and noted the hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and Public Advocates Office. Professor Severin Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining the split between deregulated generation and regulated transmission/distribution, the basics of cost-of-service regulation, and the role of return on equity. He argued that high allowed returns can encourage capital-intensive spending and that many public policy costs now embedded in rates would be better funded through the state budget, while warning that price caps or performance-based regulation are not silver bullets. CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds described the commission’s role as economic regulator of investor-owned utilities and said affordability is being addressed through rate case scrutiny, reasonableness reviews, and legislative direction. She said wildfire mitigation and insurance costs have been major drivers of rate increases, but some wildfire-related costs are time-limited and will roll off rates over time. She also highlighted progress on clean energy procurement, battery storage growth, and integrated resource planning to meet climate goals while maintaining reliability. Reynolds said the CPUC is reviewing utility spending, disallowing imprudent costs where appropriate, and litigating at FERC to challenge transmission costs. Members pressed both witnesses on several issues, including whether rates are being inflated by legislative mandates and balancing accounts, whether utility returns are too high, and whether the state should shift more public-policy costs off electric bills and into the General Fund. Senators also raised concerns about load growth from data centers and ports, gas-system stranded assets as electrification advances, and whether the CPUC is over-regulating or discouraging innovation. Reynolds said the CPUC is working with the Energy Commission, CAISO, and the Air Resources Board on a holistic planning process, and pointed to tools such as interconnection reforms and demand flexibility. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up requests for reports and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other part, Mr. Chairman, is Mr.
• The last part, Mr.
• You know, we depend on the economic part of the tourism, the recreation part.
• You know, we depend on the economic part of the tourism, the recreation part.
• Now you take other parts of the. the recreation part now you take other parts of the state that is the

Keywords: 996, all