Transcript Highlights:

• we will, in order to allow as many people to testify as possible, there will be a two-minute time limit
• contributions, which are now at 41% of pay for police and fire, if those contributions are ceased, that
• 18:53.679> contributions<00:18:54.679> by<00:18:54.880> the would terminate contributions
• and the assumption is that contributions and the assumption is that employer<00:19:14.159> contributions
• if these uh benefits if contributions if these uh benefits if contributions are<00:19:33.760>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After 2029, beginning in 2030, the state would have a new permanent tax limit.
• The Governor proposed a 50% limit at the May Revision.
• So it is more of a limit than in current law, but not as much of a limit as in the May Revision.
• We really appreciate it, and I know this budget is better because of your contribution.
• We also in support of the fair share contribution.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:52.319> to a big increase in um um contributions to a big increase in um um contributions
• The second number is the $1.1 billion in contributions to TRS.
• So, we've got contributions that benefit active teachers like me, and we've got contributions that benefit
• <00:36:46.720> resources we're going to have limited resources we're going to have limited
• contributing to their home communities. contributing to their home communities.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met without a quorum, so the minutes were not approved. The main presentation was from retired economics professors John Garren and Dr. Kums, who discussed their Bluegrass Institute research on teacher compensation in Kentucky since the Kentucky Education Reform Act era. They said teacher base salaries, adjusted for inflation, have declined over the last decade, while state-paid “on-behalf” benefits such as pension and health insurance contributions have risen sharply; they argued total teacher compensation has increased modestly overall, but less than per-pupil funding. They also presented broader context on staffing growth, declining average daily attendance, Kentucky’s low share of teachers among total school staff, and flat or weak NAEP and ACT performance trends, including widening white-Black score gaps on NAEP. Members questioned the methodology and interpretation of the compensation figures. Representative Bojanowski argued the on-behalf calculations may overstate teacher compensation because they include insurance and pension costs that also benefit classified employees and retirees, and he asked for clarification on the denominator used to derive the per-teacher amount. Representative Truit said the presentation could be misleading if it implies teachers earn $94,000 in salary, and he objected to framing pension stabilization payments as teacher pay. The presenters responded that they were using total compensation, not salary alone, said they had divided total personnel-related on-behalf payments by the relevant staff count, and promised to review and send a technical explanation. Representative Truit and Chairman Typton both emphasized that compensation should be viewed as salary plus benefits, not salary alone, and noted that pension contributions are part of the cost of employing teachers. The presenters said their intent was to show the full compensation package and its relevance to labor supply and teacher shortages, not to claim that individual teachers earn the total compensation figure as salary. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the decision to revisit the minutes at a later meeting due to the lack of quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• existing PEPRA limits.
• It would allow a small contribution to those plans, allow the union to negotiate a small contribution
• Requiring public employees to contribute more to their own retirement benefits.
• Current law limits our ability... Hours, and working conditions.
• And finally, you know, the opportunity to contribute to a defined contribution plan is also there as

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public employment, retirement, and recognition of cultural and public service issues. AB 569 would allow local governments and unions to negotiate supplemental pension contributions for certain employees; AB 989 would make California Native American Day an official paid state holiday; AB 268 would recognize Diwali as an official state holiday; AJR 3 would urge protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal from federal cuts; AB 1067 would require misconduct investigations to continue even if an employee retires during the process; AB 1510 made technical and conforming changes to state employee pay and benefits laws and to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority labor law; and AB 1233 would create a statewide database of classified school employee employment history and serious misconduct records. The committee also took up AB 1383, which would lower the retirement age for certain first responders and restore some bargaining rights over retirement benefits, drawing extensive testimony for and against. Supporters of the holiday bills emphasized long-overdue recognition of Native American and South Asian communities and the importance of honoring California’s diversity. Supporters of AJR 3 described the reliance of seniors, people with disabilities, and families on federal and state health and retirement programs, warning that cuts would cause serious harm. AB 1067 was presented as a way to prevent employees from retiring to avoid accountability, while AB 1233 was framed as a student-safety measure to help schools identify applicants with prior egregious misconduct. Opposition to AB 1233 focused on due process and the breadth of the misconduct records, and opposition to AB 1383 argued it would reverse PEPRA reforms, raise pension costs, and strain local budgets, while supporters said firefighters and other first responders face unique health and safety risks and deserve earlier retirement. Most bills were reported out of committee on unanimous or near-unanimous votes and placed on hold for add-ons or referral to Appropriations or another committee. AB 912 was taken up on the consent calendar and held; AB 569, AB 989, AB 268, AJR 3, AB 1067, and AB 1510 all advanced with do-pass recommendations and were placed on hold. AB 1233 was moved to the Committee on Education. AB 1383 drew the most extensive debate, with many witnesses in support and opposition, and committee members largely expressing support for first responders while also noting concerns about cost and pension policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• As stated on the hearing notice, there will be a time limit.
• You know, that would somehow suffice the online campaign contribution.
• Contributions report, even if it's $1, you gotta put their name, address.
• I'm talking yeah, this is this is about the ones contributing.
• Lastly, this will unknown necessarily strain limited DPS resources.

Bills: HB256, HB1308, HB1554, HB1743, HB2308, HB2351, HB2858, HB3676, HB3784, HB4312, HB4552, HB4823, HB4852, HB5007, HB5010, HB5520, HB5524, HCR19, HB256, HCR19

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, illegal employment, state contracts, government entities, license suspension, immigration compliance, state grant funding, E-Verify, compliance, penalties, immigration, government contracts, employee status, state contractors, E-verify program, legally present, employment practices, legal services, public money

Transcript Highlights:

• And their history, achievements, and contributions.
• Their contributions are both profound and enduring.
• Distinguished honorees for their invaluable contributions to our state and country.
• The state's density bonus laws were intended to contribute.
• Spencer, whose contributions will forever be etched in history.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Congress to adopt legislation that limits, regulates, or prohibits contributions and expenditures, including
• it to contributions of $100, etc.
• it to contributions of $100, etc.
• it to contributions of $100, etc.
• They challenged it because it was going to limit their ability to make big contributions and independent

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, it would be less than the 13.75% that they are required to contribute to TRS.
• <00:13:49.000> to contribute to contribute to TRS<00:13:50.839> this<00:13:51.040> results
• <00:15:22.360> and offered Beyond TRS coverage limits and offered Beyond TRS coverage limits
• We're always limited by the amount of resources we have.
• quite some time uh we're always limited quite some time uh we're always limited by<00:38:48.079>

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:44 Attendance Roll Call: 00:55 SB 193 (Sen. Girdler): 01:53 SB 9 (Sen. Higdon): 03:22 SB 257 (Sen. Tichenor): 34:14 Adjournment: 50:57, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first took up Senate Bill 193, a simple measure described as restoring wallet cards for jailers to carry when they are outside the jail. The sponsor noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee approved the bill 9-0 for passage to the Senate floor. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Higdon, which would change how the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) treats sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave in retirement calculations. The sponsor argued the bill is intended to address TRS’s financial challenges by standardizing leave rules statewide, limiting TRS retirement credit to 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, requiring districts to pay the actuarial cost for any leave beyond the cap, and adding reporting and oversight requirements for participating agencies. He also said the bill would add 30 days of maternity leave, allow voluntary district contributions for tier four teachers, and direct the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agencies. Committee members asked about how overages would be audited and billed, the cost of a sick day, and how the bill would interact with local leave policies, including paid parental leave in some districts. The sponsor clarified that existing accumulated leave would not be affected, that the bill applies going forward, and that districts could still offer more leave but would bear the added cost. Members also discussed whether the maternity leave language set a cap or a minimum, and one senator noted the bill was intended to preserve personal days while stopping annual leave from being converted into pension credit. No vote on Senate Bill 9 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The new parent loan limits are also a concern.
• That would set a $20,500 annual limit, which is the current limit for graduate loans, and a $100,000
• aggregate limit for the non-professional graduate programs.
• That would set a $20,500 annual limit, which is the current limit for graduate loans, and a $100,000
• As defined, would exceed the borrowing limit. Okay.

Summary: The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action. The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open. In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• it keeps those corporate contributions in an account separate from... ...contributions from individuals
• It operates in multiple states and uses the corporate contributions in states where corporate contributions
• are permissible to make direct contributions.
• cannot make contributions to Texas candidates.
• Numbers of contributions in and expenditures out do not total with the contributions remaining on the

Keywords: Texas Ethics Commission, legislative recommendations, general counsel appointment, foreign lobbying, political contributions, quarterly meetings, public testimony, rule amendments

Summary: The meeting focused on the Texas Ethics Commission's (TEC) evaluation of legislative recommendations and personnel updates, including the appointment of a new general counsel and discussions about upcoming quarterly meetings. Commissioner Schmidt reported on the progress of various bills, including amendments to existing laws, the need for increased regulation on foreign lobbying, and the publication of new rules in the Texas Register. Public testimonies were heard regarding compliance issues and proposed changes in political contribution regulations. The Commission agreed to schedule further review on the legislative items discussed and the proposed rule amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a reason we have contribution limits in campaigns so people cannot be just in effect dumping
• There's a reason we have contribution limits in campaigns so people cannot be just in effect dumping
• There's a reason we have contribution limits in campaigns so people cannot be just in effect dumping
• There's a reason we have contribution limits in campaigns so people cannot be just in effect dumping
• There's a reason we have contribution limits in campaigns so people cannot be just in effect dumping

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:10.480> competition may argue this bill limits competition may argue this bill limits
• uh rightfully so that the contributions uh rightfully so that the contributions for<00:20:37.919
• investigators uh should be contributing investigators uh should be contributing uh<00:20:47.840>
• 154,000 family caregivers who contribute 154,000 family caregivers who contribute in<00:32:48.399
• <01:37:49.639> for<01:37:49.880> the contribution for the contribution for the employer

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > throughout employee contribution rate throughout employee contribution rate throughout the<00
• our folks will be contributing in July. our folks will be contributing in July.
• <01:31:35.199> And contribution relatively close. And contribution relatively close.
• The bill increases the annual limit on employer matching contributions to the higher education supplemental
• Um, the bill increases the annual limit on employer matching contributions to the higher education supplemental

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a prop, the waiver itself has limitations, and at the very least... ...limitations.
• Contributing, so the language would be: prohibit foreign nationals from contributing or expending money
• It does not limit it just to school districts.
• It's going to limit the enrollment eligibility.
• And would limit enrollment eligibility is accurate.

Summary: The committee met to review and adopt Legislative Council ballot measure analyses, with members repeatedly reminded that the hearing was limited to the accuracy, clarity, and impartiality of the summaries and not the merits of the underlying proposals. Steve Premack explained the statutory role of the analyses in the publicity pamphlet, and staff presented draft language for several measures. The committee considered and voted on multiple amendments, often debating whether proposed wording was clearer or instead crossed into advocacy or added unnecessary legal detail. For SCR 1004, members debated amendments to more closely mirror the measure’s text and to add language about electric vehicles and mileage, but several proposed changes were rejected. The analysis was ultimately adopted by an 8-6 roll call. HCR 2021 was then adopted without amendment by the same 8-6 margin. For HCR 2055, members debated whether the summary should say the Department of Homeland Security must “do everything” or “use all lawful means available,” and whether to add language about cartels acting “individually or collectively”; both amendments were rejected and the analysis was adopted 8-6. The committee next took up SCR 1004 on photo enforcement systems, where members proposed amendments to clarify that the measure would apply to red light cameras, to add “thereafter” regarding recurring voter approval, and to specify that approval would occur at the general election; those amendments failed, and the analysis was adopted 8-6. On SCR 1032, dealing with instructional expenses and classroom site fund reductions, members debated adding a definition of the Classroom Site Fund and spelling out the waiver process in more detail; both amendments failed, and the analysis was adopted 8-6. Finally, on HCR 2001 regarding citizenship identification and early voting, members rejected amendments that would have added background on current law, clarified that mail voting would be affected, added severability and revenue-source language, and struck the measure’s short title; the discussion was lengthy and at times contentious, but the transcript ends before a final roll-call vote on that measure is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, included but not limited to list.
• <00:07:29.360> benefit contribution to a portable benefit contribution to a portable benefit
• , how much we would contribute, and these are the reasons why we would stop contributing.
• , how much we would contribute, and these are the reasons why we would stop contributing.
• , how much we would contribute, and these are the reasons why we would stop contributing, I think that

Bills: HB0028, HB0080

Keywords: sexual exploitation, child protection, law amendment, explicit conduct, sex crimes, identification cards, nursing facilities, assisted living, renewal process, resident rights, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:37.320> that dlnr understands the contribution that dlnr understands the contribution
• So, Chair and Kurt, is that the contributions that the state, um, we contribute our annual funding for
• <00:29:41.440> our that the state um we contribute our that the state um we contribute our
• I just want to make sure that DLNR, you know, has contributed and it continues to contribute under its
• know is um you know it has contributed know is um you know it has contributed and<00:35:43.520><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on Senate Bill 4, which would transfer stewardship of Mauna ʻAla from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Committee chairs opened the meeting with housekeeping and noted the hearing was live-streamed, with a two-minute limit for testimony. Director Don Chang of the Board of Land and Natural Resources said DLNR had been working with OHA and had agreed to transfer certain lands subject to due diligence, including Kahana Valley and a parcel in Waimānalo, but urged the committee to finalize those mutually agreed parcels before taking on something new. He also described the current arrangement at Mauna ʻAla as a collaborative one involving the state and the royal trusts, with the state handling routine maintenance and the trusts contributing to larger repairs and improvements on a project-by-project basis rather than through direct annual appropriations. Testimony was mixed. Supporters argued that OHA is better positioned to steward the site because of its cultural mission, Native Hawaiian governance, and ability to protect sacred places with greater cultural competency and accountability. Several speakers emphasized that Mauna ʻAla is not a state park and should be cared for by those with direct cultural ties and experience, and some cited OHA’s recent financial reforms and partnerships as reasons for confidence. Others, including representatives of the Daughters and Sons of the Hawaiian Warriors Makakoa, opposed the bill, citing concerns about OHA’s past financial management, transparency, and the need for more public information and testimony before any transfer. One testifier also argued the land transfer itself was unlawful and rooted in the history of the overthrow and annexation. Members and testifiers also discussed the historical role of the royal trusts and family caretakers at Mauna ʻAla, with one descendant describing a long family stewardship and supporting OHA only if amended language preserved checks and balances and protected iwi and burial grounds. Another speaker said the family recognized James Mayo as kahu of Mauna ʻAla and supported the bill because prior DLNR efforts had not sufficiently protected traditional and customary rights. The hearing ended after public testimony and committee questions, with no vote or final action taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:09.519> its 1976 to modify the law to limit its 1976 to modify the law to limit its
• and in other cases drastically limiting and in other cases drastically limiting the<00:32:17.200
• <00:42:15.800> structure<00:42:16.359> remains contribution structure remains contribution
• , with an option for employees to contribute more if they choose.
• <01:41:20.560> communication be honest um about limited communication be honest um about limited

Bills: HF1976

Keywords: paid leave, family leave, employment law, Minnesota statute, benefit eligibility, seasonal employment, workforce, labor rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The county level figures are in the report, 'Getting' into the impacts and contributions, the job contribution
• Totaling these up, the total impacts and contributions.
• We agree that that limit shouldn't be there.
• was only for city limits.
• Madam Chair, Representative there are limits based on overall capacity, and there are also limits based

Transcript Highlights:

• As it currently is in the advanced tech fund, it's limited in how it can be used within the courts.
• little more limited. little more limited.
• on amount of service limitation on amount of service retirement<00:19:32.480> allowance<00:19
• your remarks to opponent, and limit your remarks to three<00:22:12.640> minutes<00:22:12.880>
• >> And again, it's just based on limited >> And again, it's just based on limited number

Bills: HB304, HB285, HB312, HB311, SB60

Keywords: impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, law enforcement, HB285, TJ's Law, traffic infraction, traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket and complaint, minor driver, juvenile driver, parent notification, guardian notification, emergency contact, citing agency, traffic citation, driver safety, youth safety, Alabama traffic law

Transcript Highlights:

• from 5,000 to 10,000, and it increases the cash contribution limit from 100 to $200.
• <00:10:30.760> limits<00:10:31.480> to campaign finance contribution limits to campaign
• It changes contribution<00:10:34.920> limits<00:10:35.360> to<00:10:35.520> the<
• 00:10:35.640> state contribution limits to the state contribution limits to the state executive
• contribution limit from 100 to $200. contribution limit from 100 to $200.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:10 Attendance Roll Call: 00:19 HB 10 Discussion: 02:19 HB 10 Vote: 06:24 HB 139 Discussion: 08:23 HB 139 Vote: 19:50 HB 607 Discussion: 21:29 HB 607 Vote: 25:55 HB 642 Discussion: 28:15 HB 642 Vote: 32:06 Adjournment: 33:25, 958, all