Transcript Highlights:

• I bring this amendment to address some of the financial concerns that I have with it.
• I bring this amendment to address some of the financial concerns that I have with it.
• While the Board of Regents is tasked with a number of responsibilities, the financial oversight has been
• to do what's in the best interest of our nursing homes throughout the state.
• There are a lot of instruments that have been done. ...interest of our nursing homes throughout the state

Bills: SB524 , SR108 , SR109 , SCR56 , SCR57 , SCR12 , HB227 , HB398 , HB689 , HB897 , HB1029 , HB1107 , HB1217 , HB221 , HCR58 , HB136 , SB162 , SB382 , SCR33 , SCR30 , SB112 , SB194 , SB307 , SB341 , SB346 , SB363 , SB495 , SB503 , SB507 , SB509 , SB513 , SB408 , SB131 , SB145 , SB333 , SB464 , SB466 , SB500 , SB283 , SB338 , SB488 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB228 , SB246 , SB249 , SB268 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB312 , SB319 , SB323 , SB369 , SB431 , SB474 , SB484 , SB490 , SB492 , SB501 , HCR14 , HB537 , HB652 , HB653 , HB661 , HB726 , HB756 , HB851 , HB964 , HB966 , HB34 , HB35 , HB48 , HB474 , HB553 , HB758 , HB852 , HB10 , HB16 , HB36 , HB44 , HB46 , HB52 , HB61 , HB78 , HB98 , HB102 , HB124 , HB126 , HB131 , HB135 , HB141 , HB142 , HB164 , HB170 , HB171 , HB179 , HB194 , HB231 , HB245 , HB280 , HB292 , HB294 , HB297 , HB305 , HB336 , HB337 , HB351 , HB436 , HB594 , HB789 , HB956 , HB957 , HB995 , HB1040 , HB50 , HB117 , HB120 , HB122 , HB139 , HB148 , HB149 , HB185 , HB199 , HB247 , HB271 , HB286 , HB301 , HB358 , HB359 , HB384 , HB413 , HB428 , HB450 , HB462 , HB547 , HB613 , HB631 , HB657 , HB669 , HB675 , HB680 , HB691 , HB712 , HB716 , HB720 , HB723 , HB727 , HB728 , HB735 , HB747 , HB759 , HB825 , HB842 , HB845 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB907 , HB923 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB965 , HB1036 , HB287 , HB370 , HB515 , HB521 , HB570 , HB1200 , HB29 , HB39 , HB58 , HB67 , HB73 , HB76 , HB77 , HB82 , HB112 , HB121 , HB125 , HB132 , HB134 , HB151 , HB154 , HB155 , HB161 , HB166 , HB187 , HB191 , HB207 , HB211 , HB224 , HB238 , HB241 , HB242 , HB250 , HB260 , HB265 , HB275 , HB300 , HB320 , HB338 , HB339 , HB349 , HB379 , HB399 , HB427 , HB463 , HB464 , HB468 , HB545 , HB550 , HB551 , HB565 , HB588 , HB639 , HB725 , HB782 , HB805 , HB808 , HB834 , HB847 , HB853 , HB858 , HB861 , HB883 , HB916 , HB937 , HB977 , HB1012 , HB1027 , HB1044 , HB1054 , HB1071 , HB1091 , HB1117 , HB119 , HB129 , HB677 , HB850 , SB68 , SB149

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, a guest minister prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a St. Charles Parish presentation featuring a youth national anthem singer. The chamber then moved through a large number of House and Senate messages, committee reports, and introductions, including measures on career and technical education, flood risk maps, public-private partnership contracting, arts day, and a task force on work-based learning. Several resolutions were adopted, including SCR 56 honoring the YMCA and SCR 57 honoring Jonathan Nicole, both by unanimous votes. A House concurrent resolution supporting elimination of the U.S. Department of Education also passed 26-9. On Senate bills, the chamber gave final passage to SB 112 on voluntary release time for K-12 religious instruction with a criminal background check amendment, SB 194 on public assistance and citizenship verification, SB 307 on public displays of historical/religious documents, SB 341 expanding church and nonprofit religious self-insurance coverage, SB 346 prohibiting deepfake materials used against students, SB 495 on campaign finance reporting and unitemized contributions, SB 503 on age assurance for minors using mobile apps, SB 507 creating a statewide process for determining non-enrollment, SB 509 on bank-owned life insurance, SB 131 limiting attorney fee recovery in occupational licensing disciplinary cases, SB 145 requiring backup power for adult residential care providers, SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and federal reimbursement, SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage, SB 466 on expropriation and foreign adversaries, SB 488 on a school safety drone response pilot program, SB 312 on union dues and withholding procedures, and SB 319 on voter identification and provisional ballot procedures. Most passed with little or no opposition, though SB 194, SB 307, SB 503, SB 131, SB 333, and SB 319 drew some dissenting votes. The chamber also passed multiple House bills, including HB 1071 on public records exceptions for aerospace critical infrastructure, HB 537 repealing the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, HB 652 and HB 653 adjusting Oyster Task Force membership, HB 661 narrowing nepotism restrictions for certain school board hires with an amendment, HB 756 aligning watercraft enforcement with Coast Guard standards, HB 851 banning intentional balloon releases, HB 964 authorizing a Caddo Parish property transfer, and HB 34 and HB 35 on sheriff pension fund eligibility and contribution rules. Several items were returned to the calendar or referred to committees. A major discussion centered on SB 484, which would restructure parts of higher education governance and transfer certain Board of Regents functions; it drew extensive questioning and amendments, including a new Lumcon board structure and financial reporting requirements, but was returned to the calendar for further work rather than final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• lot of uh commercial interest not have a lot of uh commercial interest to<00:23:25.919><c> sustain</
• Additionally, they could save $1,000 of interest over the life of their contract.
• Additionally, they could save $1,000 of interest over the life of their contract.
• </c> interesting um approach for a way of interesting um approach for a way of uh<00:38:29.280><c> modifying
• </c><00:44:06.960><c> Interest</c><00:44:07.359><c> than</c> paying a higher amount of Interest than

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicles of interest maintained through the FBI’s NCIC system.
• We are a statewide coalition that advocates for safeguards and guardrails in the interest of privacy
• It's more of a macro statement just about importance of this industry in California.
• More of a macro statement just about importance of this industry in California, maybe not specifically
• I wanted to begin my statement by quoting from Adam Smith from The Wealth of Nations, 1776.

Summary: The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations. SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open. Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testimony on any such bill will be limited to a statement of name, organization, if any, and position
• Testimony on any such bill will be limited to a statement of name, organization, if any, and position
• This bill supports the fiscal interests of the state at a time when you see cannabis revenues in sharp
• To focus on the fiscal impact of the legislation, this bill will provide financial support for arts programs
• Proud sponsor of AB 2650 and proud sponsor of AB 2123. Sponsor of AB 2123.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• For homeowners trying to make sense of whether staying put still fits their financial situation or whether
• In fact, if I look at HOA statements, if you look at the financials that you get from HOAs, they are
• They have to state all stated salaries and financially interested either partners, associates, or profit-sharing
• staffing agencies together with the amount of the respective interest.
• The financial status of the staffing agency, that's not even, I don't want to say relevant, The financial

Transcript Highlights:

• Chase is particularly interested in space policy and is the founder of the Space Policy, Economic, and
• the interest of a foreign government or designated foreign terrorist organization.
• help those families is to keep taxes low, limit the financial burden of taxes and regulations, and what
• bill relating to the financial oversight of the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation
• His interests are entertainment, social welfare, law, and politics, of course.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, staff, visitors, and a military veteran. After routine announcements, the chamber took up several House-returned bills and special-order measures, with most motions to concur or refuse to concur adopted without objection. Early actions included unanimous concurrence in House amendments to SB 118 on RV park special assessments and SB 572 on ethics rules for public officers and employees, both passing 38-0. The Senate then debated and passed CS/CS/HB 991 on election integrity by a 27-12 vote after extensive opposition focused on voter registration documentation, student IDs, provisional ballots, and potential disenfranchisement; the sponsor defended the bill as a citizenship-verification and election-security measure. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 182, an education package combining several related provisions, by 37-0, and later approved SB 474 on military affairs by 39-0 after a technical amendment restoring certain retirement eligibility positions. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service, and refused to concur in the House strike-all amendment to SB 598 after the House had added composting language to the cremation definition. Several other messages were temporarily postponed. On the special-order calendar, the Senate passed CS/CS/HB 425 on historic cemeteries by 39-0, allowing historic Black cemetery boards to sell surplus property not used for burial to fund maintenance. It also passed HB 929 on chickee regulation by 39-0, limiting local restrictions on chickee construction and setting spacing, fire-safety, and permitting rules. SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation was substituted with identical CS/HB 35 and passed 39-0, expanding habitual offender treatment to repeated driving without a valid license. The chamber then returned to CS/CS/CS/SB 902, the Department of Health package, which was substituted with CS/HB 733 and amended to retain the Senate’s medical marijuana location limits, adjust NICU nutrition language, modify the dental student loan repayment program, and require a pediatric trauma center designation for certain specialty children’s hospitals; it passed 37-0. The Senate also moved CS/CS/CS/HB 905 on foreign influence to the special-order calendar and began debate on a strike-all amendment defining foreign terrorist organizations and foreign countries of concern, restricting gifts and business ties, tightening sister-city affiliations, and adding ethics training and reporting requirements, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, of course, we have lastly a statement of obligation that sort of outlines for homeowners when
• And then, of course, we have lastly a statement of obligation that sort of outlines for homeowners when
• course we have lastly um a statement of course we have lastly um a statement of obligation<02:11:15.040
• </c> uh very well and in the best interests uh very well and in the best interests of<03:56:15.920><c
• of interests, creating more conflicts of interests, creating more ability<03:56:36.160><c> for</c><03

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's more than just financial accountability that's involved; it's also conditions of the units.
• Okay, and so we look at the financial piece of it, but we also look at the operational.
• The reason I seek a rate to refinance is to lower my interest rate, and when I go for this type of...
• financial obligations by the Laguna Madre Water District during a time of disaster declaration.
• The intent is to enhance the financial capabilities of this district in managing water-related issues

Bills: HB1342 , HB2889 , HB3002 , HB3254 , HB4820 , HJR40 , HJR40

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:09:34.240><c> then</c> statement of a charge and then statement of a charge and then proceeding<00
• It seems to me, yes, it's for any violation of 84-117, but 8417 is specific to financial disclosures.
• But if we have a statement from the Legislature that they're interested, or a resolution, we'll look
• "If we have a statement from the Legislature that they're interested, or a resolution, we'll look at
• from the ledge that they're a statement from the ledge that they're interested<00:57:09.760><c> or</

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several bills on January 30. SB 286 and SB 287 both concerned supplemental funding for the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney: SB 286 for the career criminal prosecution unit and SB 287 for the victim witness assistance program. Testimony from the department explained that these bills are filed each year because the Attorney General’s core budget allocation may not be sufficient, though the department said the core had recently been increased and the supplemental request might no longer be necessary. For SB 287, the department also warned of a possible federal Victims of Crime Act funding freeze that could cut about $1.88 million and severely harm victim services. Both bills drew support from county and community witnesses, and members asked about prior-year funding and why the requests were limited to fiscal 2025-26; no votes were taken in the excerpt. SB 289, from the State Ethics Commission, would create a more uniform administrative fine process under the ethics code and lobbyist law. The commission said the measure would not change substantive enforcement but would let it issue a notice and order of fine first, with the respondent able to request a hearing within 20 days, which would speed up cases that are not factually disputed. Members questioned whether the bill would deny due process or function like an automatic parking ticket, and the commission responded that respondents could still challenge the fine and that the process would apply to violations with fines under $1,000. The committee also heard SB 304, which would add 11 positions for the First Circuit Adult Client Services Branch; Judiciary testimony said probation caseloads are high, with an average of 116 cases per officer, and the added staff would help meet national supervision standards and better serve higher-risk clients. Members asked whether the positions were already in the budget and about current staffing ratios; the witness said the positions were not already funded and that the Judiciary supported the bill with amendments. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude spending money to influence elections from protected free speech. Testimony was strongly divided: supporters argued that Citizens United has distorted elections and empowered special interests, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could affect nonprofit advocacy and grassroots groups. Finally, SB 313 would impose a 1% wealth asset tax on individuals with $20 million or more in assets. The Department of Taxation said it had concerns about the bill’s ambiguity and administration and noted it would require annual valuation and likely additional resources; opponents, including family business representatives and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued the tax would be difficult and costly to administer, would require sensitive business disclosures, and could force family businesses to pay from company cash. Supporters said wealthy residents should pay a fair share. The committee heard testimony and questions on these bills, but the excerpt does not show final committee votes or actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill, I'd say, is almost more of a statement of our values and of our intent to some extent,
• statement of saying, great, we're moving in the right direction.
• I'm Adam Wilson on behalf of Gun Owners of California, Gun Owners of America.
• This isn't safety; it's a financial wall placed in front of minorities and low-income citizens who would
• While I echo many of the concerns of my associate here, especially when it comes to financial barriers

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety met on March 17, 2026, beginning without a quorum and hearing several bills and a resolution. SB 936 by Senator Blakespear would prohibit retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Supporters, including prosecutors, county officials, and local government groups, described rising misuse among youth, impaired driving crashes, deaths, and environmental waste from large flavored canisters. The ACLU opposed unless amended, arguing the bill was too broad and should use a regulatory approach rather than criminal penalties; the author said amendments were being considered to narrow the language. Committee members largely expressed support, though some raised concerns about wording and implementation. SB 941 by Senator Padilla would extend a prison commissary price cap framework to private for-profit immigration detention facilities under federal contract in California. Supporters said detainees and their families face extreme markups on basic necessities and that the bill would curb exploitation. There was broad support from immigrant justice, civil rights, and disability rights organizations, and no opposition testimony was presented. SCR 118 by Senator Gonzalez urged release of unclassified Jeffrey Epstein investigation files. Supporters framed it as a transparency and survivor-accountability measure, with testimony from CAST and a survivor statement. One committee member voiced concern about incomplete facts and the risk of political overreach, while others supported the resolution as part of broader anti-trafficking efforts. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require clear and convincing evidence before detaining youth in juvenile proceedings and would emphasize less restrictive alternatives. The author and supporters argued that detention harms youth, increases recidivism, and is overused, citing a personal witness who described spending more than 200 days in juvenile detention before her case was resolved. Probation, district attorneys, and AFSCME raised concerns that the bill could limit judicial discretion, strain county resources, and create public safety risks or uneven implementation. Committee members were split, with some supporting the bill as a needed safeguard and others saying the system needs more resources before changing the standard. AB 46 by Assemblymember Nguyen would narrow mental health diversion by allowing judges to deny diversion when public safety is at risk. Supporters, including district attorneys and a crime victim’s family, said current law is too restrictive and has allowed dangerous offenders to reoffend; opponents, including public defenders and the ACLU, argued diversion is already limited and effective and that the bill would reduce access to treatment. Finally, SB 948 by Senator Aegian would require more comprehensive firearm safety training for firearm safety certificates and require new California residents to register firearms and obtain a certificate within 60 days. Supporters, including Brady and youth gun violence advocates, said the bill would close loopholes and improve safety; gun rights groups opposed, calling it an unconstitutional financial barrier and a burden on new residents.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that was the basis of your statement.
• And so individuals, I think in the sort of beginning of your statement, you were referencing older individuals
• of additional costs related to the software tax for California's hospitals. of millions of dollars of
• In the interest of time, I'll align my comments with our colleagues at CAP, Kaiser Permanente, and CHI
• of AB 110.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Drug Policy, the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Division of Financial Management, the Division
• Essentially, what we're seeing right now is audited financial statements, and you can find those on the
• Senators, this is kind of an interesting bill, if you like science and geothermal, I guess.
• If you look on page two of the bill, I think it's a therefore statement in subsection B...
• If you look on page two of the bill, I think this is a therefore statement in subsection B, and I'm just

Transcript Highlights:

• access to supportive care that can meaningfully improve their quality of their financial well-being
• In the interest of time, I would just like to align my comments with my colleague at CAP and quickly
• Lizzie Guantzone, on behalf of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in support.
• Lizzie Guantzone on behalf of the Center for Science and the Public Interest in Support.
• That is not necessarily in their best interest or the best interest of their child.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Sort of what we've done in the last six or seven months. It's been a long, interesting time.
• </c><02:07:45.440><c> And</c> statement of not valuing education.
• And statement of not valuing education.
• concern with this recommendation is our lack of understanding of the unlimited financial risk of such
• </c> All factors considered, those changes had significant negative financial impacts on the state of

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's kind of an interesting mix to the portfolio, and um, we've got a lot of new members who
• We believe it's in the best interest of our members, and we think it's going to be to the benefit of
• </c><00:19:28.360><c> we</c> best interest of our members and we best interest of our members and we
• What's interesting is that only 99.4% of that was mandated by statute.
• I guess I had a question for Auditor Blaha and her team with the moving of the financial statement reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• To my right, your left, out of respect to the viewers interested in all the bills set for today's hearing
• We have public ownership of the line, proof of concept of the line's viability, and a generation of community
• I do submit this statement in support of House Bill 3080.
• And so one of the core functions of government is infrastructure, and we still have a ton of roads in
• This, of course, places pressure on other interests to say, "Okay, we'll let...

Bills: HB1589 , HB2208 , HB2297 , HB2560 , HB2725 , HB3080 , HB4417 , HB4473 , HB4520 , HB4662 , HB4888 , HB4905 , HB4906

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• c> of</c><00:02:28.000><c> felony</c> Because of the severity of felony Because of the severity of felony
• 10:01.960><c> 30th,</c> Kentucky's, as of date of June 30th, Kentucky's, as of date of June 30th, 2025
• > because of all of the paperwork that because of all of the paperwork that goes<00:33:31.200><c> into
• the goals of AI, um BBCE is one one of the goals of AI, um BBCE is one of<00:36:46.560><c> the</c><00
• </c> of an asset test. of an asset test.

Committee: Senate Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:

• HCSMs are made up of communities of faith-centered people who support one another financially and prayerfully
• Existing oversight by the Attorney General, the Department of Financial Services, and the Office of Insurance
• I'll waive close in the interest of time. Thank you.
• Senate Bill 540 on Office of Financial Regulation by Senator Martin.
• Senate Bill 540 on Office of Financial Regulation by Senator Martin.

Bills: S0266 , S0394 , S0540 , S0632 , S0642 , S0832 , S0834 , S1028

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum and took up several bills, beginning with SB 834 on insurance requirements for nonprofit religious organizations and health care sharing ministries. The bill repeals a recent restriction on licensed insurance agents marketing or selling faith-based health care sharing programs. Supporters argued the change restores free speech and consumer education while preserving existing fraud and disclosure protections; opponents said allowing agents and brokers could create consumer confusion and has been associated with bad actors. A title amendment was adopted, and after debate the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard and passed SB 642, which extends reporting and duty requirements to foreign and alien bail bond insurers, and SB 394, a technical bill updating reinsurance intermediary manager law to match current DFS practice. SB 266, which lets vulnerable adults rescind public adjuster contracts without penalty, was reported favorably after testimony from supporters in the insurance and elder law communities and a public adjuster who said the intent was good but the bill may need refinement. SB 832, a residential property insurance transparency bill requiring rate breakdown reports and a consumer resource center, also passed after discussion about consumer clarity and whether the required cost categories can be compiled as written. Later, the committee approved SB 540, which creates cybersecurity requirements for mortgage and money service businesses, closes a regulatory gap for certain investment advisers, adjusts OFR examination-payment deadlines, changes de novo charter requirements, allows virtual credit union meetings, and makes other financial regulation updates. Several amendments were adopted, including a substitute amendment removing fintech sandbox provisions. Finally, SB 1028 on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation was reported favorably after debate over a commercial lines clearinghouse intended to reduce Citizens’ exposure and shift more business to the private market; members discussed taxpayer risk, market competition, and consumer protections. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• After some discussion with a few of the members and with quite a few financial folks, I decided to offer
• The provisions relating to orders of garnishment of account funds held by financial institutions shall
• act relating to orders of garnishment for funds held by financial institutions shall be effective on
• Or you can say this person owns an undivided half interest in all of this stuff.
• But in the interest of brevity, I kind of finish the rest of my comments and welcome any questions that

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• One is that a lot of us are concerned about the financial health of hospitals, and some of us, in particular
• And so while you just made a very articulate statement of all the programs that you work with, I think
• And so while you just made a very articulate statement of all the programs that you work with, I think
• of several financially distressed hospitals in the area, which have a large Medi-Cal population rate
• Of course, some of the... A lot of times, most of the time, frivolous lawsuits.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first handled several routine items, approving three gubernatorial appointees not required to appear: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. It also approved referral of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith said his priorities would be protecting Medi-Cal access amid federal changes and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators questioned him extensively about rural and financially distressed hospitals, Medi-Cal reimbursement, eligibility redeterminations, work requirements, fraud controls, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and CalAIM’s evaluation. He said DHCS is working on expedited payments, hospital monitoring, county technical assistance, targeted audits, and community supports such as medically tailored meals. Public commenters from county, hospital, and care organizations supported his confirmation, and the committee voted 5-0 to send the appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Dr. Chris Thayer, nominated to lead the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, scientifically rigorous health assessments and risk communication to inform other agencies and policymakers. Senators focused on the agency’s use of models versus real-world data, CalEnviroScreen, Prop 65, PFAS, wildfire health impacts, and how OEHHA communicates risk to the public. Thayer said the office relies on a mix of data sources where direct evidence is limited, is updating CalEnviroScreen, and is working to reduce Prop 65 over-warning through guidance and outreach. The discussion did not reach a final vote on his appointment in the portion provided.