Transcript Highlights:

• The department agreed with our findings and plans to implement all of our recommendations.
• So we find training throughout the year.
• and the school safety program audit findings.
• That was a glaring finding in the EOP plan.
• That was a glaring finding in the EOP plan, in the OPE audit.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But when we did the analysis, we did find that that was a gap, and so we have a mitigation measure to
• It's just hard to find. Thank you.
• The findings were based on data from one distributor, highlighting the years 2021 to 2022.
• And that was, again, one of the findings through WSU.
• We find a lot of plastic bags.

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:16.760> providers<00:18:17.159> and then um finding providers and then um finding
• <00:54:39.160> within reporting investigation findings within reporting investigation findings
• <00:58:02.440> that last up to a year but we're finding that last up to a year but we're finding
• doing assessments for folks and finding doing assessments for folks and finding um<00:59:29.240>
• we're building out our capacity to find we're building out our capacity to find such<01:36:59.639

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we find out it's littered with foreign enemy countries.
• What did you find in those inverters? You know my question, right?
• So that's probably but I will say that there wasn't no findings at all.
• There was just a varied range of findings.
• But at the same time, we need to find ways to incent new generation.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:46.080> that lower court first finds that lower court first finds that certification
• must be held within 30 days of a finding must be held within 30 days of a finding of<00:36:00.480
• I paraphrase what's in the finding section of chapter 2961.
• I paraphrase what's in the finding section of chapter 2961.
• that we're not going to be able to find that we're not going to be able to find counsel<00:40:21.920

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh we did find as we we're dealing with.
• <01:15:23.040> out also found that actually uh finding out also found that actually uh finding
• for multiple states and uh we did find for multiple states and uh we did find some<01:20:59.360>
• And that may be easier to find."
• I think if you hire my to find.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services. Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access. Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access. The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature has made numerous findings to ADU law in recent years, which have led to a tremendous
• noncompliance, the municipality must respond to those findings within 30 days.
• noncompliance, the municipality must respond to those. of adoption, and if HCD finds noncompliance,
• the municipality must respond to those findings within 30 days.
• This bill is intended to resolve a couple of issues simultaneously by finding a crosswalk between how

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee met with a quorum and announced that SB 340 would be moved to a later hearing. The consent calendar included HR 44, SB 233, and SB 410, which were later approved. The committee then heard several housing-related bills, with testimony largely focused on streamlining accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, regional planning, and homelessness response. SB 9 would require local agencies to submit ADU ordinances to HCD within 60 days and respond to HCD findings within 30 days, or the ordinance would become null and void and state standards would apply. Supporters, including California YIMBY, Casita Coalition, UnidosUS, Housing Action Coalition, and Power California, argued the bill would strengthen enforcement of existing ADU law and reduce local barriers. The bill passed 7-0 with two abstentions and was sent to the Assembly Local Government Committee. SB 486 would exempt UC and CSU projects from having to analyze a no-project alternative under CEQA while requiring the universities to share enrollment forecasting data and participate in regional sustainable communities planning. It passed 9-0 and was referred to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. SB 748, as amended, would expand funding and authority for safe parking sites and related services for people living in RVs or vehicles, using encampment resolution funding and requiring reporting by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. The City of Compton, the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, and the League of California Cities supported the measure, emphasizing public health, neighborhood safety, and humane alternatives to displacement. The committee members discussed the limits of current encampment cleanup approaches and the need for services and temporary shelter; the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to the Assembly Human Services Committee. SB 543, a cleanup bill for ADU and junior ADU law, clarified review timelines, size standards, and consistency with existing ADU statutes; it also passed unanimously and was referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I was able to find the things I needed to find at that time. Mr.
• You're able to find that by using an app called PulsePoint, which is free to anybody on your phone.
• When we install an AED or find an AED, we actually put it on their app, and then you're able to find
• I'm able to find the closest AED to me, if it's in that area.
• To meet our statutory requirements, we had to find an alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you find in your audit books that are in the curriculum as being separate?
• So the first finding, I know I'm not going to breathe, the first finding from the audit was about the
• The first finding from the audit was about the keyword filtering.
• But in looking at all of these findings holistically, we have two major policy...
• Findings holistically.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:04:23.800> real<00:04:24.160> solutions<00:04:24.759> by constituents to find
• It's really a battle over which one of us can find it first in the bill.
• It's really a battle over which one of us can find it first in the bill.
• It says may contract every three years and must make the findings available to the public.
• You'll find that starting on, I believe, page 25.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I support what my colleagues have all said before me and find this bill to be helpful for us.
• Maybe if people find that helpful.
• So maybe that's just a good balance that we've managed to find.
• the technology to do so...” “...if they’re able to find the technology to do so.
• Although I hear that getting back in is the heart of finding. I know. I'm watching the clock.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on Governor Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll’s Municipal Empowerment Act, with administration officials and municipal leaders broadly supporting the bill as a package of tools to help cities and towns manage rising costs, staffing shortages, and service demands. The administration highlighted procurement reforms, including raising Chapter 30B advertising thresholds, clarifying cooperative purchasing, and removing the Commbuys notice requirement; permanent authority to amortize emergency-related deficits over three years; expanded authority and enforcement for removing double poles; continued flexibility for hybrid and remote public meetings; regionalization options such as regional boards of assessors and intermunicipal agreements; cybersecurity reporting to EOTSS; and several local revenue options and other municipal finance changes. They said the bill was shaped by listening sessions with municipal officials and was intended to increase flexibility, efficiency, and stability without imposing broad mandates. Committee members asked about regionalization, cybersecurity costs, Commbuys, hybrid meetings, and double poles. Administration witnesses said cybersecurity reporting would help the state target resources and that existing Community Compact and capital grant programs, including IT and municipal fiber funding, could support local needs; they said EOTSS would absorb reporting within existing resources. On procurement, they said the Commbuys notice change would be optional and that other public notice methods would remain available. On hybrid meetings, they emphasized flexibility for different types of boards and the burdens a one-size-fits-all mandate could create for small towns and volunteer boards. On double poles, they said the bill’s main change from last session was to give utilities more time and improve the removal process while keeping enforcement mechanisms aimed at speeding removal rather than raising revenue. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and multiple mayors and town managers testified in support. They described the bill as a practical modernization measure that would help local governments operate more efficiently and respond to fiscal pressure. Witnesses from Northampton, Lynn, Gardner, Cambridge, Franklin, North Andover, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Ashland praised the hybrid meeting provisions, procurement changes, regional service-sharing, and emergency deficit amortization. Several also urged adoption of local revenue tools, including meals and lodging tax options and other local fees, as ways to preserve services and staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't read a lot of these things, but you can find them if you can get to a laptop.
• You can find them available on a much larger screen. So we'll start off.
• It took a bit to try to find a space during the summer to meet, but I think we should try to find some
• So thank you for bringing that up. ...to find some kind of face-to-face meeting as well.
• And you'll find...

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I can find my notes... So we reviewed yesterday the capital project referendum. Okay.
• <00:03:39.840> my<00:03:40.120> notes and if I can find my notes and if I can find
• we hear them, and we're trying to find we hear them, and we're trying to find solutions<00:21:22.960
• And so, I appreciate your insights, or your attempt to try to find some money somewhere.
• And so, I appreciate your insights, or your attempt to try to find some money somewhere.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, are we going to require the courts to make a finding first that they're a fit parent? >> Yes.
• first that they're a fit make a finding first that they're a fit parent?
• You got to find somebody out there who might be a relative.
• You got to find somebody type situation.
• But I can’t seem to find it right now. It’s fine if you don’t have it on the top of your mind.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see in Appendix E you'll be able to find all of those awards.
• did you find them?
• out who those companies are and find out where they're doing their work?
• And hopefully we can find a way to help you.
• Was unmodified with no findings indicated. And with that, Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So where will these individuals get support to find and maintain employment?
• We find it very difficult to continue to engage in agreements on budgets, only to find that the administration
• Thank you for the opportunity to share findings from our recent report.
• There are many significant key findings in the report, but the findings I want to highlight today are
• How long does it take to find somebody to give that service?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had to literally find people in the community to help translate what was happening.
• We had to literally find people in the community to help translate what was happening.
• You can find this website at publichealth.lacounty.gov. Go to the next slide, please.
• You can find this website at publichealth.lacounty.gov. Go to the next slide, please.
• And I don't, there's no dedicated website to it that I can find for sure.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the health impacts of wildfires and the effects on health care systems and access to care. The first panel focused on public health consequences, with testimony from UCLA and UCSF physicians, a community organizer, and an Altadena recovery leader. Witnesses described acute and long-term physical harms from wildfire smoke and ash, including asthma and COPD exacerbations, cardiovascular and stroke risks, pregnancy impacts, infection risk, and possible added hazards from lithium-ion battery fires. They also emphasized mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, “firebrain,” and the need for psychological first aid, trauma-informed community networks, and youth-focused resilience programs. Community advocates stressed that Latine, Indigenous, undocumented, and Black communities face disproportionate harm because of language barriers, unsafe work conditions, lack of insurance, and exclusion from disaster aid, and they called for stronger language access, worker protections, permanent disaster relief, and better outreach. Committee members asked about air monitoring, masks, wind events, lithium-ion batteries, and how to reach communities with translation and emergency information. Panelists said AQI is useful but incomplete, that N95s help for smoke but P100 masks are needed for ash/asbestos exposure, and that communities should be warned to stay indoors and avoid windy dust-ups after fires. They also discussed the importance of building relationships during non-emergency periods, using text alerts and trusted community organizations, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information. Several members and witnesses highlighted the need for more research on long-term health effects, especially for people with chronic lung disease, workers who cannot stay indoors, and residents exposed to repeated disasters. The second panel addressed health care system response and access to care. DHCS and DMHC described emergency flexibilities used during the Southern California fires, including federal waivers, extended Medi-Cal renewal deadlines, reinstated coverage for some disenrolled members, suspension of prior authorization and prescription refill barriers, out-of-network access at in-network cost-sharing, and communication through websites, toll-free numbers, and social media. Hospital and community health center leaders described major operational strain: emergency room surges, canceled surgeries, dialysis disruptions, staff displacement, temporary housing needs, and financial losses. Huntington Health and AltaMed reported using incident command systems, temporary care spaces, bilingual and culturally tailored services, mobile clinics, infection control measures, and community health workers to keep care going. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better disaster staffing pools, more flexible facility rules, stronger mental health coverage, child care planning, and statewide coordination for future emergencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Help us find those solutions.
• And it's I'm find those solutions.
• think I could find I could replicate it. think I could find I could replicate it.
• finding another one would be super hard. finding another one would be super hard.
• This committee will find out.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:48.959> it group today and I think you'll find it group today and I think you'll find
• They're looking at us to find ways to transform rural health care.
• <00:53:14.640> a things in here if we can just find a things in here if we can just find a
• I don't have any find that sweet spot.
• But we've got to find a for Kentucky.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• What they find is that Minnesota has a significant marriage penalty built into our tax code, and this
• <01:09:15.319> is is very credible and what they find is is very credible and what they find
• the marriage penalty but unless we find the marriage penalty but unless we find a<01:24:47.480><
• So we need to increase these thresholds, members, and we have to find a way to pay for it. So, Mr.
• So we have to find ways to cut spending and rightsize this state government.

Bills: HF1698, HF632, HF1352, HF2197, HF618, HF1248, HF1697

Keywords: property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor