Transcript Highlights:

• that the 20% of the electorate that does vote in person, many of whom rely on language access and disability
• In fact— President Trump set up a commission during his first term, and the commission disbanded the

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on May 6, 2026, with a quorum present and heard one bill, SB 73. The author described the measure as a response to perceived threats to California elections, including restrictions on armed or non-uniformed personnel at polling places, protections for ballots and voting equipment, and limits on law enforcement access to election materials without a court order. The chair reviewed a set of agreed amendments, including removing a section conflicting with AB 1664, deleting proposed criminal penalties, clarifying the role of the Attorney General and Secretary of State, and refining language on signature challenges, law enforcement support, and certified voting technology. Supporters, including AAPI Force, CHIRLA, the League of Women Voters of California, and Common Cause, argued the bill would protect voters from intimidation and preserve election integrity. Opponents from CALA argued the bill was unnecessary, would hinder legitimate investigations, and reflected distrust of law enforcement and federal oversight. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the bill was responding to real-world threats and on the ballot seizure in Riverside County. Members questioned how the measure would affect signature challenges, chain of custody, and investigations into possible fraud. The author and supporters said ballots should remain in election officials’ custody and that federal or local agents should not be able to interfere with election materials or intimidate voters. The chair and other members also discussed the urgency clause and the need to move the bill quickly despite the proximity of the June election. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer SB 73 to the Committee on Public Safety. The roll call initially showed the bill passing 5-1, then after the absent member arrived, the final vote was 6-2, and the bill was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• that the 20% of the electorate that does vote in person, many of whom rely on language access and disability
• In fact— President Trump set up a commission during his first term, and the commission disbanded the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Disability Rights Center.
• for people with disabilities.
• I'm here to testify in opposition to this bill on behalf of the Disability Rights Center.
• I mean, there may be other kinds of disabilities.
• Thank you very much. may be other kinds of disabilities may be other kinds of disabilities perhaps<00

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a Disability Voices United ambassador.
• Every single person in my house has a disability.
• I'm the president of Disability Voices United, an organization led by and for people with disabilities
• Hi, Judy Mark again, President of Disability Voices United.
• Hi, Judy Mark again, President of Disability Voices United.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing focused on the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), related safety-net programs, and several administration trailer bill proposals. Members and witnesses discussed the impacts of H.R. 1 on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including changes to Medi-Cal and CalFresh eligibility, the need for automatic exemption processes for people with disabilities and caregivers, and the risk that loss of health coverage could shift costs to regional centers or reduce access to services. DDS and the Department of Social Services said they are working on data matching and automation to identify exemptions, with implementation for CalFresh set to begin June 1, 2026. Public testimony from consumers and advocates emphasized that Medi-Cal, IHSS, CalFresh, and regional center services are essential to community living and that cuts or administrative barriers could destabilize households and force people back into more restrictive settings. The committee also reviewed the governor’s IHSS proposals. CDSS described three budget items: setting a baseline for average authorized hours and shifting costs above that baseline to counties, automating IHSS disenrollment and reinstatement tied to Medi-Cal eligibility, and eliminating the IHSS backup provider system. The LAO noted that if Medi-Cal or IHSS access is reduced, regional centers may have to fill gaps as payer of last resort, potentially at higher cost. Several members expressed strong concern about cost shifts to counties and warned that counties are already under severe fiscal pressure. The chair requested a harm-mitigation strategy before the May Revision and asked for more information on how the administration would prevent service reductions or instability for clients. The committee then heard a trailer bill proposal on DDS rate reform and the Quality Incentive Program. DDS asked to extend the contract exemption through December 31, 2030 and extend the deadline for finalizing rate reform regulations to December 31, 2030, saying the changes are budget-neutral and would give the department more time to complete implementation. DDS reported that about 81% of providers met the current Quality Incentive Program prerequisites, while providers and advocates said the 90-10 structure can function like a penalty and may destabilize providers that fail to qualify. Members asked for clearer guidance, more technical assistance, and redlined language before the May Revision, and indicated they may reject the proposal if concerns are not addressed. Finally, DDS presented a trailer bill to revise regional center governance and operations, including consolidating multiple contracts into one, giving DDS more flexibility to allocate funds through fiscal letters, strengthening board training and oversight, and removing barriers to provider capacity such as outdated office-location requirements and courtesy vendorization. The hearing ended without any votes, but members repeatedly emphasized protecting consumers, avoiding harmful cost shifts, and ensuring that any policy changes preserve services and community living for people with developmental disabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Amateur Sports Commission has a $28,000 operating adjustment.
• The Amateur Sports Commission has a $28,000 operating adjustment.
• > has<00:31:41.519> a The Amateur Sports Commission has a The Amateur Sports Commission
• ,<01:19:42.320> the for the disabled, the for the disabled, the schools,<01:19:44.159>
• But our counties, who do a lot of our work for people with disabilities, they do most of the work for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:36:19.599> with compliance with the Americans with compliance with the Americans with Disability
• Act and for fire safety and Disability Act and for fire safety and life<00:36:23.839> safety<
• Act that that we American Disabilities Act that that we don't<00:36:44.560> have<00:36:44.720
• Um, and have interacted with the building commission, which is now DCM, and their inspectors in the course
• If it's not the building commission, and I'm sure there's other rural jurisdictions as well.

Bills: HB245, SB16, SB59, SB62, SB79, SB88

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, SB16, four-point restraint, hog-tie, hog tie, prone restraint, law enforcement, police, sheriff, use of force, restraint techniques, positional asphyxia, arrest procedures, detention

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wanted to say a few words about this, uh, having experience on the commission and the county,
• authority, uh, it has a board, um, uh, uh, board of directors of, of the different, um, of the commission
• The folks at um Disability Rights New Mexico and I asked them if they thought it was OK and they were
• Um, even in the sense of the people with, uh, deve developmental disabilities, um, to assure us that
• President, I speak with regards to the developmental disabilities experts.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the House announced the House amended and passed Senate Bill 194, updating the definition of disabled
• The House amendment only removes language limiting the expanded definition of disabled veteran taxpayer
• committee substitute for Senate Bill 672, relating to acts for which the West Virginia Real Estate Commission
• The House corrected the name of the commission in the bill. The House also... Thank you, Mr.
• The House corrected the name of the commission in the bill.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first handled several House amendments to Senate bills and passed them, including SB 194 updating the definition of disabled veteran taxpayer, SB 499 requiring toxicology tests in auto accidents, SB 672 on Real Estate Commission licensing discipline, SB 724 on home confinement officers and the EMS retirement system, SB 897 on alcohol and drug counselor licensure, and SB 982 creating the Neighborhood Access Road Program. In each case, the chamber agreed to the House changes and then passed the bill, with some measures also given effective dates, including SB 724 effective July 1, 2026 and SB 648 effective from passage. The Senate also concurred in amendments to SB 197, doubling penalties for sex crimes against minors, and SB 648, which removed restrictions on foreign entities in the Strategic and Critical Resources Act. The chamber then took up a series of additional bills and conference actions. It appointed a conference committee on HB 4588 after refusing to recede from its amendment. The Senate passed HB 4009, the Portable Benefit Account Act, after adopting a Banking and Insurance committee strike-and-insert amendment that moved the program to the Division of Labor, expanded portable benefit definitions, and made technical changes. Later, the Senate also passed SB 182 on annexation by minor boundary adjustment after amending the House changes to allow one annexation per year instead of one every two years, and it passed HB 5101 increasing strangulation penalties, HB 4364 on juvenile offender bail and counsel language, HB 4412 on age verification for certain websites, HB 5564 on deputy sheriff vacation carryover, HB 4138 on sex offender registration fees, HB 4951 after receding from its earlier amendment on continuing education, SB 4 after receding from its amendment, SB 389 after refusing to concur in a House amendment that would have stripped the bill, SB 927 on beekeeping and municipal regulation, and HB 5214 on drug testing for parents before reunification. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to Senate Resolution 67 honoring Senator Michael Andrew Woelfel and Senate Resolution 68 honoring Senator Charles Houston Clements. Numerous senators gave extended remarks praising Woelfel’s legal skill, candor, mentorship, and service, and Clements’s long service, institutional knowledge, steadiness, and friendship. Both resolutions were adopted by roll call votes, with SR 67 passing 34-0 and SR 68 passing 33-1. After the resolutions, the Senate recessed briefly to present the outgoing senators with resolutions and flags flown over the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the House announced the House amended and passed Senate Bill 194, updating the definition of a disabled
• The House amendment only removes language limiting the expanded definition of disabled veteran taxpayer
• committee substitute for Senate Bill 672, relating to acts for which the West Virginia Real Estate Commission
• The House corrected the name of the commission in the bill. The House also... Thank you, Mr.
• The House corrected the name of the commission in the bill.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• retired Air Force member, started off in the enlisted ranks, was a dental assistant, and then got commissioned
• The disability tax exemptions saw a 45% increase.
• The reason I ask is that I remember when I was on the county commission, we were looking at that in Sandoval
• How about VA disability, which is tax-free? Does that also count as income? Mr.
• Mexico Environment Department has issued advisories to hunters and anglers and the Contamination Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission or offices providing disability services.
• committee sub-addresses, but that also includes as As my colleague Mary said, the Texas Workforce Commission
• , DPS, Department of Aging and Disability services, public libraries, marriage license offices, if this
• And the county commission court waste it.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• are in college and my son is 14 in middle school, but my experience is teaching students with disabilities
• bureaus really work closely with our schools and districts to make sure that our students with disabilities
• We have also got the Florida Charter School Review Commission off the ground, which is the commission
• closely with Miami-Dade College, which is providing the support for the Florida Charter School Review Commission

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Special Olympics mission is to improve the lives of people with intellectual disability, and it does
• we want the 2026 USA games to disability we want the 2026 USA games to be<00:46:51.640> lifechanging
• Only 18.5% of people with intellectual disability are employed to their level of ability.
• employed to their level disability employed to their level ability<00:52:50.720> requires<00:
• Now I'm in a sales role, being paid salary and based on my efforts and commission.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Texas Public Health Commission, coalition, we are not a commission.
• Commission has higher standards that focus on programs which lead to higher paying jobs.
• A financial incentive to a college to join a particular Accrediting Commission Association that I do
• These are groups like the Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Commission, all vetted for quality
• So if a particular institution in Texas chooses... is to join the Higher Learning Commission route.

Bills: HB173, HB184, HB484, HB678, HB 1211, HB1507, HB1705, HB1868, HB2290, HB2851, HB2856, HB3041, HB3204, HB173, HB184

Keywords: foreign donations, higher education, public institutions, national security, funding, prohibition, Texas law, healthcare, insurance, affordability, access, public health, foreign influence, education policy, student loan repayment, prosecuting attorneys, border prosecution unit, financial assistance, tobacco, cigarettes

Transcript Highlights:

• Historical Commission of a program to identify and restore Rosenwald school structures referred to the
• the Committee on State Affairs HB 797 by Leach relating to the Discipline of Judges by the State Commission
• Oriented Education, HB805O Cortez, relating to the study of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and
• personal benefits under Medicaid and other programs administered by the Health and Human Services Commission
• HCR 17 by Cole, directing the Texas Facilities Commission to name the new state building being constructed

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Willfully making a false report of a crime causing great bodily harm, disfigure disability and second
• With disability study in the bill as amended is a measured step forward towards modernizing emergency
• limited TNT's ability to provide paratransit service is making it harder for seniors and it is a disability
• not going to open up any additional liability and particularly in the area of individuals with disabilities
• The dignity, the dignity of the human person is not lost even after the commission of a great deal.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• because of the participants disability because of the participants disability needs." needs." needs
• ,<01:23:00.560> sorry, committee commission, sorry, committee commission, sorry, transportation
• <01:23:01.600> commission<01:23:02.320> that<01:23:02.639> needed<01:23:02.880><
• c> to transportation commission that needed to transportation commission that needed to be<01:23:
• It repeals Transportation Commission District study, clarifies chain assist permit revenue allocation

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Recent findings from the Commission on the State of Hate show that as many as 8 percent of Californians
• The Commission on Hate has also recognized that hate-based rhetoric from political leaders has the power
• The Commission on the State of Hate, whose findings form the basis for this bill, relies on self-reported
• Jean Hearst, here today on behalf of the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions
• Today on behalf of the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions, we certainly don't

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several local government-related bills. AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson would require elected local and state officials to take anti-hate speech training through existing sexual harassment training. Supporters said hate rhetoric can embolden prejudice and officials should be accountable for their words; opponents argued the bill lacks a legal definition of hate speech and could chill protected speech. The chair indicated support, but no quorum was present at that point, so no vote was taken. AB 2083, also by Assembly Member Jackson, would authorize creation of a regional child care special district for Moreno Valley and Paris to expand child care programs and facilities. The author said the district would help underserved communities and support families with nontraditional work hours. The California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions opposed the bill’s mechanism, though it said it supported the goal and had been working with the author. The bill was discussed without a final vote in the excerpt. AB 1783 by Assembly Member DeMaio would prohibit state and local mileage taxes and block state agencies from studying or advancing them. The author argued Californians already pay too much in gas and car taxes and that mileage taxes would burden drivers. Opponents, including the State Building and Construction Trades Council, Transportation California, NRDC, and others, said the state needs to study road user charges as a fairer replacement for declining gas tax revenue. After quorum was established, the committee voted 3-2 to pass and re-refer the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee, with the roll left open. The committee also advanced AB 1693 by Assembly Member Suber, which would streamline retail tenant improvement permits by allowing qualified professionals to certify plans and imposing review deadlines on local building departments. Support came from retail, business, property, and chamber groups, and there was no opposition. The committee voted 5-0 to pass and re-refer the bill to the Business and Professions Committee. AB 1679 by Assembly Member Gonzales would create a temporary commercial activation permit for pop-up businesses in vacant storefronts; supporters said it would help revive downtowns and reduce barriers for small businesses, while local government groups had no position. The committee approved it 7-0 and re-referred it to the Health Committee. AB 2418 by Assembly Member Gonzales would set timelines for nonresidential plan checks and allow private plan checkers after delays; business groups supported it, local government associations had no position, and the committee passed it 7-0 to the Judiciary Committee. The committee also heard AB 1820 by Assembly Member Schiavo, which would cap EV charger permit fees and allow higher fees only with written findings; supporters said it would reduce barriers to charger deployment, while cities and counties argued current fees reflect actual costs and that the bill would shift costs to local governments. The discussion was extensive, but no vote is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• and other disabilities.
• Can we phone a friend, someone in the room, to explain who appoints those people to that commission?
• This commission was created with a serious mission to take a deep dive into our state’s mental health
• And thank you, President Passidomo, for appointing me to the commission, recognizing that my work was
• It has one change: it takes out the provision to disable a drone using reasonable force.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. Members then moved to the special order calendar after adopting a motion to reconsider the earlier failed vote on CS/SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. The chamber also temporarily postponed several bills during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, Brownfields, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills with little or no opposition, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included expedited DNA testing grants for law enforcement; additional aggravating factors in capital felony sentencing; fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients; commuter rail indemnification; disposition of migrant vessels; specialty license plates; an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign; relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University; charter school changes; registration rules for sexual predators and offenders; assault and battery penalties for utility workers; juvenile justice revisions; reporting of student mental health outcomes; foster home licensure transfers; water access facilities and boating-related funding; Florida Virtual School changes; school readiness program improvements; protections against lewd sexual images of children; age-related criminal offense provisions; tampering with electronic monitoring devices; certified recovery residences; and codification of the FSU Election Law Center. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly, though the charter school bill and the aggravating factors bill drew more divided votes. One of the most debated measures was SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office employees while on duty and using government resources, citing alleged election-related emails and concerns about mixing government and religious influence. Supporters argued the amendment was needed as a guardrail; opponents said existing law already covered the conduct and that the amendment could be confusing or overly broad. The amendment failed 13-23, and the underlying bill passed 27-9 after extended debate about faith, politics, and the office’s role. Another notable debate involved SB 954 on certified recovery residences, where senators emphasized the need for stable housing in addiction recovery and the bill passed unanimously after supportive remarks from members who had personal experience with recovery. The Senate also passed SB 674 on bonuses for county tax collector and property appraiser employees after questions about safeguards and the purpose of the bonuses.

Bills: HB20, HB463, HB469, HB649, HB963, HB1163, HB1334, HB1481, HB1509, HB1511, HB1514, HB1515, HB1516, HB1518, HB1519, HB1523, HB1524, HB1546, HB1548, HB1550, HB1553, HB1573, HB1574, HB1576, HB1588, HB1591, HB1618, HB1619, HB1628, HB1642, HB1643, HB1656, HB1658, HB1664, HB1667, HB1679, HB1682, HB1688, HB1692, HB1696, HB1700, HB1705, HB1707, HB1710, HB1711, HB1713, HB1716, HB1718, HB1721, HB1728, HB1737, HB1740, HB1741, HB1749, HB1752, HB1753, HB1768, HB1782, HB1800, HB1804, HB1810, HB1823, HB1839, HB1842, HB1854, HB1858, HB1864, HB1870, HB1875, HB1881, HB1886, HB1888, HB1890, HB1894, HB1897, HB1898, HB1920, HB1929, HB1946, HB1959, HB1961, HB1962, HB1973, HB1974, HB2001, HB2005, HB2020, HB2021, HB2022, HB2023, HB2062, HB2078, HB2093, HB2095, HB2096, HB2097, HB2101, HB2137, HB2152, HB2207, HCR137, HCR181

Keywords: lava insurance, homeowners, insurance market, subsidy, Hawaii, eviction, housing access, tenant rights, judicial reporting, disassociation, disability, parking, travel placard, accessibility, mobility, small boat harbors, moorage, harbor permits, commercial use permit, commercial fishing