Transcript Highlights:

• When a child comes into foster care, they are surrounded by adults who begin to make decisions for them
• When a child comes into foster care, they are surrounded by adults who begin to make decisions for them
• Best for children and not necessarily what this particular child needs.
• Andrew Shane, Grace and Child Poverty, in support, and thanks for your determination.
• Sam Wilkinson with Grace and in Child Poverty in California, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard and advanced a series of foster care, benefits, housing, and poverty-related bills. AB 373 would require appointed counsel for nonminor dependents in dependency proceedings to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute counsel’s judgment; supporters said it would respect autonomy for foster youth ages 18 to 21, and the bill passed 4-0, later updated to 6-0 and then 7-0 as absent members were added. AB 42 would exempt merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and fellowships from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh and align the two programs’ exclusions; student and anti-poverty advocates said it would prevent students from losing benefits when they pursue education, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 534 would encourage transitional housing providers serving foster youth to move from leasing to owning properties by extending contract terms and improving access to financing; witnesses said ownership would improve stability and reduce landlord barriers, and it passed 4-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 562 would require counties below the state average for family placements to use a family-finding checklist and best-practice support; supporters emphasized family-first placements for foster youth, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop an implementation plan for a permanent statewide guaranteed basic income program; supporters described positive results from pilot programs and the bill passed 5-2, later updated to 7-0. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• In developing the program, we had input from health system and hospital leaders statewide, insurance
• This program wasn't developed in a vacuum.
• Is it more of developing leaders, educating them on health care?
• It will bring together key stakeholders to develop standardized, evidence-based orientation programs
• And I know that’s not ideal, and no one wants a situation where the parent is preventing a child from

Summary: The committee heard a personal privilege update on HB 1227, which Representative DeWitt said would return next week as a proposed HCR for a two-year study of the three-doctor panel after discussions with Dr. Nia Colotta. Better Louisiana also presented its new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, describing it as a data-driven leadership initiative focused on health care workforce, rural access, chronic disease, and other system issues; members discussed whether the program could also help generate policy research, including on managed care organizations. The committee then considered SB 427 on anatomical gifts. After adopting technical amendments, Senator Presley and Dr. Jeff White explained that the bill would strengthen organ donation law by creating a decision registry that records both yes and no choices, clarifying the legal effect of refusal, and codifying ethical principles such as the dead donor rule. Questions focused on organ viability, registry procedures, minors, and a Monroe case involving a disputed donor designation. Supporters included LOPA and the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 946, dealing with hospital price transparency and compliance with federal pricing rules, drew extensive testimony. Representative Landry and a witness from Patient Rights Advocate described it as a consumer transparency measure, but the Louisiana Hospital Association opposed the bill’s state-level enforcement and debt-collection provisions. Landry offered an amendment removing the debt-collection and affirmative-defense language, but after debate the substitute failed on a 5-6 vote and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also reported favorably on SB 109, which revises membership qualifications for the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission; SCR 20, urging federal flexibility on Medicaid redetermination for elderly and disabled beneficiaries; SB 216, allowing coroners to rely on licensed practical nurses for medical pronouncements of death; and SB 45, exempting certain gratuitous hospice houses from licensure, with testimony from hospice house operators and supporters. Finally, HCR 71 by Representative Chasson sought an LDH study of how Louisiana’s law and guidance on pregnancy-related emergency medications is working in hospitals, urgent care, and retail settings. Supporters said providers are hesitant to use medications such as misoprostol because of stigma and uncertainty, while opponents from Louisiana Right to Life argued the resolution was unnecessary and could create controversy. The discussion centered on whether the study should be narrowed or made more objective, but no final action on the resolution was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know in Santa Fe, there's a lot of housing and development units being put up.
• Some of the office units, then just new developments, infill.
• And it's workforce, but it's also just general housing development needs.
• I think Matt is like our forever child. Go ahead whenever you're ready.
• Thanks to Superintendent Gutierrez for gifting us a building to utilize for every child.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just minutes before the fire, she and I spoke about having another child.
• That child in our future was taken away from me. weekend with my wife, daughter, and son, and to also
• Just minutes before the fire, she and I spoke about having another child.
• That child in our future was taken away from me. She and I spoke about having another child.
• That child in our future was taken away from me. I grieve for that child.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on a range of public safety bills, with especially emotional testimony on the Maggie Hubbard Rental Safety Act, which would require short-term rentals to be inspected for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and require platforms or agents to verify compliance before listing. Rep. Hadley Luddy, Sen. Julian Cyr, and the Hubbard and Waldron families described the fatal Airbnb fire that killed Shannon Hubbard and her daughter Maggie in New York, saying the deaths were preventable and that the bill would save lives. Committee members expressed sympathy and support for the families’ efforts to turn their loss into legislation. The committee also heard testimony on a proposed peace officer oath (S. 1680), described by Sen. Lydia Edwards as a binding ethical standard tied to certification and recertification, with discipline and annual reporting to promote accountability and de-escalation. Rep. Tom Walsh testified for a bill requiring hotel and motel workers to be trained to recognize human trafficking and to post hotline signage, and later testimony supported a school safety data grant program to provide first responders with standardized, up-to-date school maps for emergencies. Another major topic was a bill to allow temporary door-locking devices in public buildings; supporters said the devices are removable, do not alter fire code, and could improve lockdown response during active shooter events. Additional bills discussed included measures to transfer the Office of Emergency Medical Services to EOPSS, increase penalties for unlicensed hood-system cleaning, expand membership on the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, and strengthen confidentiality for peer support and critical incident stress debriefings. Firefighters and fire chiefs also supported a bill to tighten penalties for violations of hot-work regulations, citing the 2014 Beacon Street fire that killed Lt. Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy. Law enforcement groups backed a package including a Blue Star plate and Blue Alert system for fallen officers’ families, stronger move-over penalties, and a memorial fund, while the State Police Association supported the move-over provisions but asked for further work on the special state police officer bill before final action. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• act relating to Indian child welfare.
• Representative Brown, Chairman. 58, Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act, 58, Wyoming Indian Child Welfare
• <00:28:05.919> strong goal that every student develops strong goal that every student develops
• <00:30:46.960> is job embedded professional development is job embedded professional development
• > the<00:55:54.079> next child interventions till the next child interventions till the

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the contentment and fulfillment of a parent holding close to a child.
• When our minds are right, we feel the contentment and happiness of a parent holding their child.
• Speaker and members, AB 2071 requires the Department of Education to develop a plan to expand digital
• So then, working with victims, child victims, I'm also a trauma therapist.
• So then, working with victims, child victims, I'm also a trauma therapist.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving through the daily file. Several measures were taken up and passed, including bills on county jail accountability (AB 2257), claims against public agencies (AB 2529), affordable housing management metrics (AB 2689), digital wellness instruction in schools (AB 2071), pedestrian and bicycle safety project streamlining (AB 1976), manufactured home transport permits (AB 2012), a Surplus Land Act amendment tied to an Inland Empire soccer project (AB 2139), a Monterey Bay stewardship authority (AB 1548), online electrician licensing (AB 1707), a Caltrans study of navigation apps’ traffic impacts (AB 2105), coastal resiliency permitting reforms (AB 2051), downtown housing streamlining and financing (AB 2074), Cal Fire compensation (AB 2129), emergency care authority for Del Puerto Health Care District (AB 2282), charter school facilities hardship relief (AB 2316), theft by a peace officer under color of authority as serious misconduct (AB 2337), an Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander-serving institution designation (AB 2374), energy and cannabis support bills (AB 2464, AB 2537), and a suicide prevention plan requirement for treatment facilities (AB 2562). Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan margins, and several were described as support bills with no opposition. The floor also debated a major criminal justice measure, AB 2727, which would raise the threshold for elderly parole eligibility for people serving sentences for violent sex offenses and add screening safeguards. Supporters from both parties emphasized child protection, survivor trauma, and specific local cases involving offenders who had become eligible for release; the bill passed 66-0. Another significant debate centered on AB 1958, which would clarify procedures under the California Racial Justice Act by refining how disparity claims are established and rebutted; the author said he would take Senate amendments to address concerns from district attorneys. The Assembly also considered AB 2313, a gas-to-electric transition bill allowing customers with planned service line replacements to opt out of gas service and use funds to electrify their homes. Members raised concerns about cost shifts and equity, and the author responded that the bill includes no-cost-shift language, larger credits for disadvantaged communities, and would not proceed if the math does not work; it passed 41-21. The final major item was AB 1709, a high-profile social media safety bill creating a minimum age of 16 for accounts on platforms using addictive features and establishing an e-safety commission. The author and many supporters from both parties framed the bill as a response to youth mental health harms, addictive design, and the need for age-based safeguards, while some members raised concerns about impacts on LGBTQ youth and other isolated young people who rely on online spaces. Supporters said the bill targets addictive design rather than speech and is intended to preserve safe online connection while limiting harmful features. The measure drew extensive bipartisan support and was still under debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:34.720> the scientist who found it and developed the scientist who found it and developed
• Second, when child care is unavailable, it’s generally women who stay out of the workforce.
• <01:16:53.800> care, the lack of capacity in child care, the lack of capacity in child care
• c> is<01:17:11.200> unavailable, Second, when child care is unavailable, Second, when child
• Madam President, if I note that child Madam President, if I note that child care<01:23:57.440>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are reducing the hours on the training that would not be appropriate for that individual child.
• The whole program is geared to taking care of the individual child.
• It also requires AHCA to develop a comprehensive plan to redesign the Medicaid model waiver.
• Another key reform was data-driven policy and workforce development.
• Another key reform was data-driven policy and workforce development.

Summary: The committee met to consider a large agenda of health and human services bills, moving quickly because of a two-hour time limit. Early measures reported favorably included SB 976 on challenges to court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, SB 306 on Medicaid provider network access and after-hours availability, and SB 584 on housing supports for college students and youth in extended foster care. SB 1412 on home health regulation modernization also passed, with one support appearance from the Home Care Association. Members then approved several bills focused on research and care delivery, including SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF with an adopted amendment adding academic medical centers, SB 524 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 1156 revising a Medicaid home health aide program for medically fragile children, and SB 1490 transferring and redesigning the managed care program for critically ill children. SB 1174 on foster home licensure transfers, SB 1620 implementing mental health and substance use commission recommendations, SB 1568 revising e-prescribing exemptions, and SB 788 on veterans nursing home beds were also reported favorably. The committee had more extensive debate on SB 1270, the Department of Health agency package, which included provisions on vaccination status, medical marijuana background screening, licensing and compact issues, and sovereign immunity for volunteer dental workers; it passed after an amendment and several members voiced concerns about patient treatment and “voting power” language. SB 1606 on patient access to records drew strong opposition from providers and health information professionals over privacy, HIPAA, and administrative burdens; it was initially reported unfavorably, then reconsidered and ultimately passed after a motion to reconsider. Other bills reported favorably included SB 1736 on insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives, SB 1808 on patient refunds from providers, SB 1842 on referral disclosure of network status, SB 1354 on behavioral health managing entity oversight, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies with informed consent requirements, and SPB 7032 on presumptive Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals, which was submitted and reported as a committee bill. The meeting ended after all agenda items were handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This principle drove the development of the plan.
• We need to learn from them what's happening and what we can better develop.
• Paid for child care support services in the past for many of our areas.
• It was developed so that both K-12 education...
• Development programs to create more jobs more quickly.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But still has that one IT developer position to fill.
• And the truth is that our developers are constantly creating...
• And then, you know, we mentioned it to one of our developers.
• We're in the process of completion of that big child care evaluation.
• We just created a new $90 million of new spending for child care.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what this does is it adds clearer definitions for terms like board and child care provider, limits
• certain counties, renames the fund the Early Childhood Education Fund, expands the fund to include child
• They're not currently collecting sales tax on these services for early childhood development.
• They're not currently collecting sales tax on these services for early childhood development.
• And so the purpose of the bill is to lower the cost of early childhood development, especially to those

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met in executive session and took up House Bill 2379, which had a House Committee Substitute. The sponsor, Rep. Cecily Williams, explained that the substitute was intended to align the bill with a Senate version and to clarify how local early childhood sales tax revenues would be handled. The bill would define key terms, limit application to certain counties, rename the fund the Early Childhood Education Fund, expand eligible uses to include child care services, move fund custody to the county treasurer, broaden the types of eligible providers, and prioritize children with the greatest financial need. Members spent much of the discussion clarifying that the bill does not create a new tax. Instead, it would require that if a city or county already authorized to seek an early childhood sales tax places the measure on the ballot and voters approve it, the revenue would be deposited into a dedicated Children’s Service Fund rather than general revenue. Supporters said this would improve transparency and ensure the money is used for early childhood education and licensed providers, while some members raised questions about whether the bill changed existing tax authority or simply redirected funds. Rep. Taylor and others expressed support for the clarified licensing and dedicated-fund provisions. The committee first adopted the House Committee Substitute by voice vote, then voted on the bill itself. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2379 was reported do pass by a roll call vote of 7 ayes and 2 noes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• sold at pet stores, providing a civil penalty for the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development
• HB 3478 by David Lowe relates to the definitions of child abuse and neglect, and addresses the state's
• Button relating to the regulation of parental reunification therapy in a suit affecting the parent-child
• HB 3533 by Gary Gates relating to multifamily residential developments financed, owned, or operated by
• HB 3534 by Gary Gates relating to multifamily residential developments financed, owned, or operated by

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to work with child care in their area. There's not enough child care in treating.
• I'm not tracking any of the DOE developments.
• because you're dealing with housing and child care.
• We'd also like to thank you for the state subsidy for child care.
• This helps make it easier to get more people into child care or daycare.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sadly, a child is placed in foster care in foster care children in our state.
• Sadly, a child is placed in foster care nearly 100 times a day in the state of California.
• We should send a strong message: get back to the basics, do transit, not housing development.
• We should send a strong message: get back to the basics, do transit, not housing development.
• AB 2231 supports the timely development of two... ...system must keep pace.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now they'll provide vouchers for families with any income to get child care.
• Also allow for more embedded professional development. What's happened with that policy?
• And that's where you'll see things like tourism advertising, all those economic development...
• Chair, is on the universal child care You had mentioned vouchers.
• But we do have an inventory of economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• My faith and my family's faith tradition seemed to me when I was a child to be one of attendance.
• Members, earlier today the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development reported favorable with an
• We'll be hearing from Secretary Curley of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and Stacy
• We'll be hearing from Secretary Curley of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and Stacy
• S. 239, an act relating to the child abuse and neglect reporting working group.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Tom Stevens of Waterbury, who reflected on the Sermon on the Mount as a call to resist exclusion, greed, and coercion and to focus on blessing and care for those in need. After the devotional, the chamber suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 313, relating to transforming Vermont’s career and technical education system, and committed it to the Committee on Education. The House also adopted HCR 241, a concurrent resolution congratulating University of Vermont Distinguished Professor and Vermont State Climatologist Dr. Leslie Ann Dupigny-Giroux on receiving the Manny L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science, with members offering remarks about her climate work and public service. On the action calendar, the House passed Senate Bill 157 on recovery residence certification in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and Senate Bill 239 on the child abuse and neglect reporting working group in concurrence with proposal of amendment. During discussion of S. 239, a member explained that the House amendment was a technical correction adding the Vermont School Counselor Association and the Agency of Education as stakeholders for the working group to consult. The House also concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 410, which concerns the calculation of recidivism and other criminology measures; the Judiciary Committee said the Senate change was a clarifying wording revision and supported it. The chamber then moved through announcements, including recognition of visiting family members, a UVM intern, and notice of a caucus discussion on permitting modernization. A member also invited colleagues to view Vermont Railways’ train in Montpelier. The House completed its orders of the day and adjourned until the next morning at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:04.759> intervention relationship development intervention relationship development
• We want to develop and monitor that ITP.
• really horrible practices where a child really horrible practices where a child was<00:26:35.559
• <00:26:37.360> who's was being physically abused child who's was being physically abused child
• education U is there a plan to develop education U is there a plan to develop something<00:57:11.839

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to talk ask you a few questions about research and development.
• I also have experience in finance and I own a real estate business, so I'm familiar with development
• The lowest income level can get a maximum of $7,500 per child.
• And so that to me speaks to the parents' Opinion that this is successful for their child.
• This program exists for parents to make what they think is the best choice for their child.

Bills: HB1675, HB3242, HB1739, HB3320, HB3047, HB4434, HJR1089, HB4432, HB3718, HB3705

Keywords: emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan

Transcript Highlights:

• early learning partners and believe it is necessary to provide an additional amount in non-recurring child
• care and development funds to ensure that no child is disenrolled from the school readiness program
• early learning partners and believe it is necessary to provide an additional amount in non-recurring child
• care and development funds to ensure that no child is disenrolled from the school readiness program

Summary: The House Pre-K through 12 Education Budget Conference convened and organized by naming Rep. Persons-Mulicka as chair and Sen. Burgess as vice chair, with both selections approved without objection. Members also agreed, without objection, that ties are not allowed in committee meetings. Opening remarks from both chairs emphasized working together to resolve outstanding budget issues for the 2026-27 Pre-K-12 education budget. The House then presented its first budget offer. The chair highlighted several points: additional non-recurring child care and development funding to help prevent any child from being disenrolled from the school readiness program in fiscal year 2026-27; agreement to the Senate’s position on $200,000 for patriotic portraits in classrooms; continued support for a $100 million teacher salary increase focused on veteran teachers; and an adjustment to the base student allocation increase to match the Senate’s $50 increase. The offer also included project funding, FEFP summary changes, and proviso/back-of-the-bill items aligned with the House budget offer. No public testimony was offered and no questions were raised on the House offer. The chair reminded attendees that the conference was operating on a one-hour meeting notice. The meeting then adjourned on a motion to rise, without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• By publishers and content developers.
• school literacy programs, employ and develop literacy coaches and specialists, and develop and implement
• Engaging in professional development, developing plans, and selecting instruments for their board so
• Aging in professional development, developing plans, and selecting instruments for their board so they
• development programs.

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget proposals focused on education finance, with repeated questions about whether the state’s investments are coordinated, targeted to the highest-need students, and likely to produce measurable results. On the first item, the administration proposed $1 million for a study of California’s curriculum framework, standards, and instructional materials process, plus $250,000 for supplemental ELA/ELD guidance. CDE and Finance said the study would examine how other states organize standards, frameworks, and adoptions, while the chair and members questioned why California has gone so long without updating some standards, what the study would actually accomplish, and whether the proposal was too vague to justify the cost. The issue was held open. The committee then took up a proposed $25 million statewide literacy network within the system of support. CCEE and CDE said the network would coordinate multiple existing literacy leads, create a clearinghouse of evidence-based resources, and improve coherence across the state’s many literacy initiatives. Members pressed on how a one-time, five-year allocation could support a long-term system, how the work would reach distressed and rural districts, and whether the proposal would translate into classroom change rather than just another layer of coordination. The issue was also held open. Next, the committee reviewed a $500 million proposal to expand literacy coaches and reading specialists and to create a math coaches program. CDE described the existing literacy coach cohorts as producing positive reports from participating LEAs, while the LAO recommended modifications, especially for the math coach portion, including limiting eligibility to elementary schools, setting minimum grant amounts, directing funds to eligible school sites, and making eligibility automatic rather than application-based. Members focused on whether coaches were actually being placed at the schools with the greatest need and whether the state has a coherent long-term strategy for literacy and math investments. The committee also heard a $40 million proposal for training and implementation of K-2 reading difficulty screeners, which the LAO said was reasonable but could be reduced because $25 million had already been provided for training; CDE said the new funds were needed for full implementation, procurement, and sustainability. Finally, the committee heard a $10 million proposal for a developmentally appropriate TK multilingual learner screener, with CDE explaining why the preschool language-identification process is different from K-12 EL assessment and the chair asking staff to explore whether a single, more consistent approach could be developed. The meeting concluded with a presentation on universal school meals and kitchen infrastructure, including a $31.5 million backfill, an $84.1 million increase for projected meal growth, a COLA adjustment, and $150 million for kitchen upgrades and training to support freshly prepared meals.