Transcript Highlights:

• So we don't fund based on students; we fund based on units.
• Students for that funding.
• a Funding Formula Technical Committee every year in order to discuss the funding formula.
• for the funding of RPSPs.
• Funding as the adequacy modeling for the base funding.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They finally did it in 2024 under threat of losing federal highway funds.
• This funding goes toward really being able to do what Senator Schmick talked about.
• and funds allocation.
• While these bikes increase mobility, they work more like motorcycles, and kids are simply too young and
• While these bikes increase mobility, they work more like motorcycles, and kids are simply too young and

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on impaired driving, beginning with data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and a discussion of a proposed reduction in the legal per se blood alcohol concentration limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Mark McKekney presented crash and fatality data showing that about half of traffic fatalities involve an impaired driver, that alcohol remains the most common substance involved, and that impairment is strongly associated with speeding and higher crash risk. He also summarized a Washington/AAA survey finding support for lowering the limit rose from 54% to 71% after respondents received information about safety impacts, and he said the most persuasive arguments were that the change would save lives and reduce impaired driving. Committee members asked about how much alcohol can produce a 0.05 BAC, enforcement practices, blood testing in fatal crashes, and whether other states or countries use lower limits. The committee then heard emotional testimony from Joshua Jackman, who described severe injuries and long-term consequences from being struck by a drunk driver in 2007, and said the proposed law could help prevent similar tragedies by encouraging people to plan ahead. A panel followed with testimony from AAA Washington, the Washington State Patrol, and the Department of Transportation. AAA supported a 0.05 standard and cited research and international experience showing fewer fatalities and serious injuries without major effects on arrests or the hospitality industry. The State Patrol said the bill is intended to prevent crashes rather than increase arrests and would not change stop standards or DUI investigative practices. WSDOT described the safety, work-zone, congestion, equipment-damage, and liability costs caused by impaired driving, including recent crashes involving snowplows and road crews. No vote was taken on the impaired-driving discussion. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5234, which would raise snowmobile registration fees from $50 to $75 and vintage snowmobile fees from $12 to $18, with additional revenue going to the snowmobile account for grooming, plowing, sanitation, and other State Parks snowmobile programs. State Parks said the program has seen declining registrations and reduced services, while supporters from the snowmobile community said the increase is needed to stabilize the program and keep trails open. Some testimony supported the need for more revenue but opposed the fee increase as the wrong solution, arguing the program needs broader reform and that many snowmobiles remain unregistered. The hearing record noted 3 people signed in pro and 105 con. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6110, which would clarify the definition of e-bikes, exclude vehicles capable of exceeding 20 mph solely on motor power or easily modified to do so, and direct the Department of Licensing to convene a work group to develop recommendations for regulating electric motorcycles. Committee discussion focused on the distinction between legal e-bikes and faster e-motos, with questions about wattage, speed, youth use, and whether the bill should define e-motorcycles more directly. Students, local officials, city representatives, trail advocates, and bicycle groups testified in support, describing safety concerns, injuries, and confusion in enforcement, while also emphasizing that true e-bikes improve mobility and access. Several local government and advocacy witnesses asked for a clearer statutory definition of e-motorcycles and a civil enforcement path for juveniles. No final action was taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first step of that process is to tender, in cash or certified funds, an amount equal to all taxes
• Could you walk through what fund account that goes to at the county level, just so everyone's clear?
• When my father's brother died in January of 2025, he lived in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
• They had moved to Texas with my parents. They had moved to Texas. So, no, no one told them that.
• So it was an empty house when your grandparents moved to Texas, or wherever? Their stuff was gone?

Committee: All JBC-CLAIMS REVIEW/LITIGATION REPORTS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Joint Budget Committee’s Claims Review and Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee met to consider two proposed Department of Corrections litigation settlements and one appealed claim from the Claims Commission. The first settlement, Caroline Arnett v. Larry Norris et al., involved allegations of long-term sexual abuse by a corrections employee. Committee members asked about PREA audits, facility practices, and whether the inmate had been placed at the proper facility. The department said audits and other safeguards were underway, and the committee approved the settlement. The second settlement, Latasha Ridgel v. Arkansas Department of Corrections, also involved sexual harassment/assault allegations. Members questioned the seven-year delay in the case and whether the issue was systemic; the department cited attorney turnover, COVID delays, and legislative changes making inmate exposure a felony. The committee approved that settlement as well. The committee then heard an appeal in Sharon Greer and Deanna Hayes v. Commissioner of State Lands, a denied and dismissed claim involving a tax-delinquent sale of family property in Crittenden County. Staff and the Commissioner of State Lands’ office said the property was certified in 2000, sold in 2009 after notice was sent, and that excess proceeds were available for a limited period before escheating to the county. The claimants argued they were not properly notified of the sale or the excess proceeds and only learned of the matter in 2025 after receiving the deed at a family funeral. Committee members discussed the notice process, statute of limitations, and the handling of excess proceeds, with several noting the issue may call for legislative review rather than relief in this case. After debate, the committee voted to affirm the Claims Commission’s dismissal of the Greer/Hayes claim. Members also discussed broader concerns about how excess proceeds from tax sales are handled and whether the current statutory process should be revisited in future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the savings are within uh the transit funds, not general funds.
• That relates specifically to the general fund um, uh, forecast appropriation for Metro Mobility. um uh
• And that is funding operations. It's funding a little bit of buildout.
• It is funding safety in our transit system. It's funding a lot of different things.
• It's funding a lot of different things. It's funding a lot of different things.

Bills: HF3676 , HF3593 , HF3785 , HF3774 , HF4111 , HF3513

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• well as the second injury fund surcharge amounts.
• One thing I forgot to mention: I'm from Beaumont, Texas.
• We experience a catastrophic flood in Texas.
• so, then they can lose state funding.
• So, and then it's all about the government funded. Yeah, private schools are government funded now.

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:

• We otherwise are resorting back to our revolving funds.
• The state of Texas has gotten a ton of attention.
• The state of Texas has a dramatic need for employment of people.
• That those funds immediately become encumbered. They sit so that no one touches those funds.
• not receive any federal funding.

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from Texas seek recognition? from Texas seek recognition?
• </c> the budget committee from Texas, Mr. the budget committee from Texas, Mr. Arrington.
• In plain view, Texas. CMS That's fraud. In plain view, Texas.
• So he doesn't have the funds to keep California safe. He doesn't have the funds for foster kids.
• So he doesn't have the funds to keep California safe. He doesn't have the funds for foster kids.

Bills: HR747 , HR719 , HB5371

Keywords: courthouse construction, federal regulations, urban development, government spending, judicial facilities, political violence, Charlie Kirk, civil discourse, freedom of speech, unity, political extremism, condemnation, Civic engagement, continuing resolution, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, omnibus, government funding, federal budget, USDA

Transcript Highlights:

• And you mentioned Texas.
• So Texas, one of the things that is unique about Texas...
• So Texas, one of the things that is unique about Texas is—and I want to say, you know, I think Texas
• So Texas was been brought up.
• Texas in their regulated areas, Texas has lower prices than the deregulated areas.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• The needs for affordable housing are urgent, and I want to make sure that we fund it when we come back
• </c><00:18:26.160><c> like</c> problem for me when a hedge fund like problem for me when a hedge fund
• years, they're not particularly mobile.
• </c><00:23:47.919><c> And</c><00:23:48.080><c> so</c> they're not particularly mobile.
• And so they're not particularly mobile.

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding that we're spending to mitigate climate change, you know, we should be spending that funding
• We don't get direct federal funding from U.S.
• to fund the efforts.
• Garrett, being from Texas—I like to rib him about it.
• Garrett, being from Texas, I like to rib him about.

Summary: The committee first considered several local property-transfer and wildlife/fisheries bills, including SB 229 (Bojeur Parish property transfer), SB 71 (Lafayette Parish property transfer), and a series of Department of Wildlife and Fisheries measures. SB 203 simplified possession rules for fish on multi-day trips and remote camps; SB 429 created an administrative path to register “orphan” boats with lapsed registrations; SB 204 removed a residency-based restriction on certain commercial fishing gear licenses; SB 205 reduced duplicate registration requirements for federally documented boats; SB 213 clarified titling rules for vessels and outboard motors; and SB 257 removed Social Security number requirements from certain commercial fishing tags. Each of these bills was reported favorable, generally without objection, after brief explanations from sponsors and department counsel about reducing red tape, improving enforcement, or modernizing records. The committee also heard SB 214, which would allow the Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District to stop pumping during an imminent flood threat identified by the National Weather Service or GOSEP, addressing liability concerns and giving local officials more flexibility in emergencies. SB 274, as amended, required lead hazard risk assessments for certain child care, early learning, and pre-kindergarten facilities and required hazards found in assessments to be addressed before licensing. Both bills were reported favorable. SB 379, a technical reorganization bill for the Department of Conservation and Energy, received two amendment sets: one changing investment language and another standardizing judicial-review procedures and online notice requirements; it was reported favorable after those amendments. The committee then adopted HCR 62, urging FEMA to review flood maps every five years instead of every ten and to better account for local flood-protection projects, with members discussing the burden of flood insurance and the need for FEMA to recognize levees, pump stations, and elevated homes. HCR 78 was also reported favorable, memorializing Congress to pass the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026 in support of Louisiana’s seafood industry. HB 662, as substituted, was reported favorable after being rewritten to codify the department’s internal protocol for seized sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, prioritizing release, rehabilitation, placement, and euthanasia as a last resort. Finally, the committee considered two more contentious items. HR 216, which urged repudiation of the Louisiana Climate Action Plan of 2022, drew extended debate over whether the plan had been adopted without legislative input and whether it could affect permits or future policy; after discussion, the sponsor voluntarily deferred the resolution to return with a revised approach focused on a legislative hearing or review. SCR 24, dealing with chronic wasting disease rules, was introduced with amendments that would raise the prevalence threshold, cap samples, allow zone removal after three years without new detections, and lift baiting/feed prohibitions above a higher prevalence level; the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Counties are instrumental in funding local health ability to provide direct services such as mobile clinics
• We need more funding for transportation, more funding for water and sewer, and more funding for other
• 609 funds.
• That group was funded $136,000 General Fund-State in fiscal year 2026.
• That's why funding matters.

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1576 makes necessary reforms to the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund.
• AB 1576 makes necessary reforms to the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund.
• and the importance of the fund to the workers who need it, those that it was intended for.
• The inability to mobilize appropriate teams will impact organ viability and patient survival.
• We started with, I think, about 62% funded, and I think today we're about 86% funded.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:28.680><c> to</c><00:09:28.880><c> build</c> offering funds to build offering funds to build
• The gentlewoman from Texas seeks recognition.
• </c><00:22:37.600><c> doing</c> later that day in Mission Texas doing later that day in Mission Texas
• They're getting funding for medical research.
• The gentleman from Texas seeks recognition.

Bills: HR35

Keywords: Delta Sigma Theta, sorority, anniversary, community service, historical recognition

Transcript Highlights:

• They should be able to fund the government. But they won't.
• Comer: I yield another minute to the gentleman from Texas.
• COMER: I YIELD ANOTHER MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
• And the rest comes out of the general fund.
• AND THE REST COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

Bills: HB1670 , HR493 , HR492 , HR491 , HB5140 , HB4922 , HR713 , HR721 , HB2721 , HR707

Keywords: fertility, health benefits, family planning, assisted reproductive technology, employees, fertility treatment, ART, in vitro fertilization, IVF, infertility, family building, reproductive health, oocyte preservation, sperm preservation, embryo preservation, artificial insemination, gamete donation, embryo genetic testing, federal employee health benefits, FEHB

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a little bit tricky when you talk about the encampment funds, because that is where this would
• be funded.
• And the encampment funds in the California state budget have been a topic of conversation many times
• because there has been a question of what are these funds actually being used for, and are they being
• So just the encampment fund, I think, in this current budget is about $100 million.

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:

• be funded.
• be funded.
• be funded.
• be funded.
• be funded.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills, with most focused on accessory dwelling units, homelessness, and higher education planning. SB 9 would make a local ADU ordinance null and void if a city or county fails to submit it to HCD within 60 days or respond to HCD findings within 30 days, reverting the jurisdiction to state ADU standards until it complies. Supporters said the bill would strengthen statewide consistency and reduce local barriers to ADU construction; there was no opposition testimony. The committee passed SB 9 as amended to the Assembly Committee on Local Government on a 7-0 vote, with two members not voting. The committee also heard SB 486, which would exempt UC and CSU enrollment commitments from CEQA no-project alternative analysis while requiring campuses to participate in regional planning and share enrollment forecasts with regional agencies. The author said the bill would align environmental review with the state’s higher education commitments and improve regional housing planning. The measure had support from the Chamber of Progress and no opposition, and it passed 9-0 to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. SB 543, a cleanup bill to clarify ADU and junior ADU rules, including review timelines and size standards, also drew support from Casita Coalition, UnidosUS, and California YIMBY, with no opposition, and passed unanimously as amended to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. SB 748 addressed RV encampments and safe parking sites by expanding the encampment resolution funding program to help local jurisdictions acquire and operate safe parking areas, provide services, and extend site hours. The author and supporters from the City of Compton, the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, and the League of California Cities argued the bill would offer a more humane and practical response to RV homelessness while reducing neighborhood impacts. Several committee members voiced support but raised concerns about how encampment funds are used and the need for reporting and accountability. The bill passed 11-0 to the Assembly Committee on Human Services. The consent calendar, including HR 44, SB 233, and SB 410, was later approved 11-0, and SB 340 was moved to a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• a concentration-funded district.
• This brings total DA funding in the current year to $126.5 million Proposition 98 General Fund.
• Recess. funding.
• the funding gap in the system.
• funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the goal of it. pull those funds from where it was generated.
• , and when they swept excess funds or swept funds out of the account, the money that had been raised
• locally was swept with those funds.
• We don't have a way to distinguish between those funds.
• And distinguish between those funds.

Bills: HB3239 , HB3391 , HB3557 , HB4128

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Summary: The Agriculture Committee first considered two executive nominations and approved both unanimously. Rebecca Hartfield was re-nominated to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, where she described her rural mixed-animal veterinary work and efforts to encourage future veterinarians. James Harrell was then nominated to the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medical Authority; supporters emphasized his commitment to rural Oklahoma and addressing the shortage of large-animal veterinarians, and he discussed efforts to improve veterinary education and recruit more Oklahoma students. Both nominations passed 13-0. The committee then took up House Bill 3391, which would add improper advertising as a basis for revoking a commercial pet breeder license and define advertising to include digital and social media. Members asked about the definition and scope of commercial pet breeders. The bill passed on a 9-4 vote. House Bill 4128, dealing with black bear hunting season and harvest limits, drew extensive debate. An amendment to move the opener to September 21, expand counties, and let the Wildlife Commission set quotas failed 6-7. The underlying bill, which would have kept the September 15 opener and a 200-bear limit, also failed 3-9 after testimony and debate focused on bear population data, nuisance complaints, and concerns about out-of-state hunters and impacts on female bears. House Bill 3557, which would keep locally raised county extension funds in separate accounts so they are not swept into state accounts, passed 10-2 after questions about how local, state, and federal funds would be handled. Finally, House Bill 3239 on veterinary telemedicine passed 9-3. The bill defines the veterinarian-client relationship needed before telemedicine can be used, with supporters saying it would provide needed structure while preserving access for rural livestock care; opponents worried it could restrict access in emergencies. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fund deficit.
• Highway Account to fund the Vulnerable Road Users GenAI project and the Traffic Mobility Insights GenAI
• that with state transportation funds rather than General Fund.
• that with state transportation funds rather than General Fund.
• And so those could also be funded by General Fund.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department described funding for EDD Next document management work, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit increases, WIOA adjustments, UI and school employee benefit changes, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to an EDD Next reversion. PERB discussed reduced funding requests for AB 288 due to litigation and a proposal to implement AB 1 covering legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and removing a salary cap for the DWC administrative director. CalHR proposed consolidating employee assistance services into a statewide contract with enhanced support for first responders, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs, state contributions, and benefit overpayments. Members focused heavily on the unemployment insurance debt and interest payments, asking why the administration had no concrete plan to pay down principal. Finance and LAO explained that the state’s UI tax structure has long been insufficient and that any long-term solution would need to address both the outstanding federal loan and the structural imbalance in employer taxes. Questions also centered on EDD Next costs and timelines, with the chair asking for clearer long-term project cost estimates and Finance noting that future maintenance and operations costs will continue after implementation. On DIR’s emerging technologies unit, members asked whether it would address AI-driven workplace harms; DIR said the unit would focus on physical workplace safety issues involving AI, robotics, autonomous equipment, and related guardrails, while LAO noted broader labor-practice questions would likely fall outside Cal/OSHA’s scope. In the CalPERS discussion, members raised concerns about transparency in private equity and external management fees, while CalPERS said higher fees reflect a strategy of greater private-market and active-management exposure and are offset by higher net returns. Members urged more information on specific investments and future reporting. For CalSTRS, Finance presented routine contribution and overpayment adjustments, but members also raised broader transparency concerns that CalSTRS staff said they would follow up on separately. Public comment in Part A was dominated by strong support for an immigrant worker emergency relief fund, along with support for apprenticeship and workforce proposals and PERB staffing. The chair and members said they would follow up on where the immigrant relief proposal should be considered, noting it may belong in another policy area. The hearing then moved into Part B with an overview of Judicial Branch-related May Revision items, including court interpreter funding, appellate court security, workload cap changes, lactation room implementation delays, and a reduction to the state court facility construction backfill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:21.160><c> 11th</c> I thank the gentlemen from Texas 11th I thank the gentlemen from Texas
• </c><01:04:59.359><c> August</c> bill my colleague from Texas August bill my colleague from Texas August
• </c><01:11:11.960><c> Mr</c> minutes to the gentleman from Texas Mr minutes to the gentleman from Texas
• ><c> for</c><01:11:15.120><c> two</c> Weber Texas is recognized for two Weber Texas is recognized for
• Social Security trust fund is empty.

Bills: HR26

Keywords: domestic terrorism, Antifa, law enforcement, criminal activity, violent protests, political ideology, federal response, socio-political conflict