Transcript Highlights:

• And I noticed that a lot of this is related expenses that you need for the skilled nursing facility.
• So I'm curious: were most of the empty positions in the skilled nursing facility, or where were they?
• So, good afternoon. ...in the skilled nursing facility, or where were they?
• A majority are in the skilled care facility. In addition, food service is a challenge.
• I think that the job market for skilled nursing staff is competitive all across the Northeast, and I.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes of its April 2 meeting and then took up three budget transfers. The first, FAC 2026-6 for the Office of the State Treasurer, moved $75,000 from personal services to other expenses to pay for consultant help applying for federal energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay provisions. Treasurer’s office staff said the agency had one open position and several others pending posting, and members discussed how the transfer related to vacant positions and the committee’s budget display. The second item, FAC 2026-7 for the Office of the State Controller, transferred $700,000 from personal services to other expenses to cover higher Core-CT software maintenance and licensing costs. Comptroller staff said the office had 21 open positions, most in Core-CT, and explained that the system, implemented in 2003, receives regular quarterly and monthly updates from Oracle. Members also discussed how the system serves payroll, HR, purchasing, accounting, and related functions for many state agencies, including UConn and the Board of Regents. The final item, FAC 2026-8 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, transferred $700,000 from personal services, the veterans opportunity pilot, and headstones accounts to other expenses for year-end operational needs. Commissioner Ron Welch said most vacancies were in the skilled nursing facility, food service, and physical plant, with staffing challenges especially for nurses and aides. He also explained that the veterans opportunity pilot never fully launched, that the Institutional General Welfare Fund has been depleted and the agency now relies more on general fund support, and that the department faces rising food, utility, and pharmaceutical costs, including a federal VA reimbursement change that will leave the state responsible for medication costs by 2027. All three transfers were approved, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But most people in business do some type of cost-benefit analysis based on their own needs.
• Based on their own specific needs. Yes, absolutely. Why would we put a threshold...
• Based on their own specific needs. Yes, absolutely.
• Some big World Cup game is happening right now that everybody's like, “Oh, my God, goal.”
• California must prioritize evidence-based solutions that are proven to work at scale.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So by way of background, Palo Alto is a California-based cybersecurity company.
• Finally, there's a skills gap, and I'll revisit this in my comments later on. There's a skills gap.
• There's a skills gap. The issue of expertise is a significant contributor.
• I think on the skills front, there aren't enough people to do cyber jobs.
• Cybersecurity skills are coveted.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity and the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management held a joint informational hearing focused on maximizing the value of state cybersecurity investments, especially by fully using security features already included in existing vendor contracts. The first panel included representatives from Microsoft, Zscaler, and Palo Alto Networks, who described the products and services they provide to California and generally agreed that agencies often have strong adoption in some areas but still face challenges from tool overlap, limited staff, lack of awareness of available features, and the need for ongoing training and configuration support. They also discussed major threats such as ransomware, data loss, attack-surface exposure, IoT/OT vulnerabilities, and the growing role of AI in both attacks and defenses. Members pressed the vendors on whether state departments underuse purchased cybersecurity tools, how to improve utilization, and how to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage. The vendors said utilization is often constrained by staffing, procurement complexity, and the need to align tools with agency missions and maturity levels, but emphasized that training, leadership buy-in, and regular vendor-agency collaboration can improve results. They also discussed how AI can help with phishing triage, data-loss prevention, and security operations, while warning that agencies must manage AI safely and with human oversight. The second panel featured officials from the Department of Technology, Cal OES/CalSIC, and the California Military Department. They described statewide oversight efforts including audits, independent security assessments, continuous monitoring, advisory services, vulnerability disclosure programs, and workforce development initiatives such as the Information Security Leadership Academy and Cybersecurity Education Summit. Officials said some underutilization is real, but it is often tied to differing agency maturity, overlapping tools, and deliberate feature restrictions to reduce attack surface and complexity; they emphasized a balanced approach using people, process, and technology, with plans of action and milestones to hold departments accountable. They also noted federal uncertainty around MS-ISAC and the state and local cybersecurity grant program, saying California is advocating through federal partners and monitoring the impact. The hearing ended after public comment and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:03.200><c> I</c> the evidence evidence-based model. I the evidence evidence-based model.
• </c> Recall in October, your base motion was to forward the evidence-based model, and then you modified
• the evidence-based model.
• the evidence-based models Under the evidence-based models recommendations,<00:09:21.600><c> uh</c><00
• And I think it was the last game or next to the last game, Alice finally made her first basket.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it seems like we also want them to know the skills that they need.
• So shouldn't it be changed to laws and skills?
• To laws and skills?
• And then the skills is to help them get a head start.
• The course would teach important real-world skills such as budgeting, Before graduation.

Committee: All GIRLS STATE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this particular grant with the University of... ...community-based services.
• This is for conducting a statewide skills assessment for information technology personnel.
• Based on this information now, price today I think was $23,000 a ton.
• This is also for skilled nursing at the Arkansas Health Center and other agency facilities.
• This is also for skilled nursing at the Arkansas Health Center and other agency facilities.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ABA is the most effective and evidence-based treatment for people with...
• Untreated individuals experience regression and skill erosion.
• So based on his income, he has to pay the deductible.
• Our school-based Medicaid program should be a powerful tool to leverage.
• in the school-based Medicaid program for many years.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing focused on two broad sets of issues: home- and community-based care, and school-based Medicaid reimbursement. In the morning session, legislators and advocates testified on bills affecting children and disabled enrollees, including proposals to clarify rate-setting for home health and home care services (H. 767/S. 870), allow family members and spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth (H. 1394/S. 886 and related bills), extend MassHealth coverage for applied behavior analysis and other therapies beyond age 21 for adults with autism and developmental disabilities (H. 1351/S. 871), and protect medically fragile children by improving access to continuous skilled nursing. In the later portion of the hearing, testimony shifted to a bill to improve MassHealth reimbursement for schools (S. 862), with speakers describing the school mental health crisis and the need to reinvest Medicaid funds directly into school health services. Witnesses on the home care rate-setting bill said current reimbursement methods are opaque and outdated, contributing to workforce shortages, unfilled shifts, long waitlists, and patients remaining in hospitals longer than necessary. Home care providers and trade groups argued the bill would not set rates directly but would require more transparent methodology and fuller consideration of real costs such as wages, benefits, taxes, training, and technology. On caregiver bills, many family members and provider organizations described the financial and emotional strain of caring for disabled or medically fragile relatives, especially when parents, spouses, or guardians are barred from being paid caregivers. They argued the bills would recognize existing unpaid care, help families remain at home, and reduce reliance on more expensive institutional care. Advocates for adult ABA coverage said services remain medically necessary after age 21 and that ending coverage at that age creates an inequitable “cliff” for MassHealth members compared with those with private insurance. For the PACE/community care bill, elder law attorneys and PACE advocates said current MassHealth income rules force some older adults with modestly higher incomes to spend down to $542 per month, making community living unrealistic and pushing people toward nursing homes. They supported changing the eligibility structure to a premium-based approach that would allow more people to remain in the community. On the school Medicaid bill, advocates said schools are providing effective, preventive mental health care, but reimbursement currently flows to municipalities rather than directly back to school health budgets, limiting districts’ ability to hire and retain staff. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and several witnesses requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> learn and practice team-based learn and practice team-based care<00:34:56.639><c> um</c><00:34:56.919
• </c><00:43:23.599><c> therapies</c> ultimately novel cell-based therapies ultimately novel cell-based
• decreases to that base based on how much money we have available and other revenues and the process
• decreases to that base based on how much money we have available and other revenues and the process
• </c> decreases to that base based on how much decreases to that base based on how much money<01:14:23.880

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , base housing to a home loan program.
• It directly affects whether veterans like me remain in California or take our skills, experience, and
• And again, the skills—I talk to trades and, you know, the average age...
• And again, the skills—I talk to trades and, you know, the average age for a tradesperson is 38 years
• All we have to do is look at the skills, the economy growth that would come in here that we would keep

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs heard several veteran-focused measures, with extensive testimony in support from veterans’ organizations and individual veterans. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income calculations for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, addressing a situation where disability benefits can disqualify veterans from tax relief. SB 1354 would prohibit military personnel from another state, territory, or district from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the Governor’s express permission, while preserving Title X activity, training, and mutual aid arrangements. SB 623 would place the Veterans Bond Act of 2026 on the ballot to authorize a $1.25 billion general obligation bond for the CalVet Home Loan Program, which supporters said is nearing depletion of bond authority and remains a critical path to homeownership for veterans and military families. SB 1407 would increase the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits to the first $40,000, subject to income caps, as a retention measure to keep military retirees in California. Supporters for the bills emphasized housing stability, affordability, retention of veterans in California, and the economic benefits of keeping military retirees and their income in the state. SB 888 and SB 623 drew broad support from veterans’ groups, county veterans service officers, and related organizations, with no opposition testimony. SB 1354 also received support from veterans’ advocates, while committee members sought clarification on training, mutual aid, and the bill’s scope, and the author agreed to work on amendments. SB 1407 drew strong support from veterans and military organizations, but also formal opposition from the California Tax Reform Association, which argued the state already provides generous veteran benefits and that the tax break would be unfair to other public servants. The committee voted to advance all four measures. SB 888 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation; SB 1354 was approved as amended and re-referred to Public Safety; SB 623 was approved as amended, given urgency, and re-referred to Housing and Community Development; and SB 1407 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation. The consent item, SCR 143, was adopted unanimously. After the initial votes, the committee later took add-on votes to confirm passage of SB 888 and SB 1354, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• this time that showed that detention was more expensive and created poorer outcomes, while community-based
• It is also on kind of an external website, but I do know just based off of very initial conversations
• Leading community-based programs and have that knowledge.
• So we invest so much in our partners to help them be with us to build these skills of young people.
• But it needs to be based on the nature of their crime.

Bills: SB6062

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: juvenile justice, criminal offense, minors, rehabilitation, legal provisions, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the 911 emergency communications grant fee is insufficient for the long-term funding of modern IP-based
• Next Generation 911 is an internet-based protocol.
• This enables science-based response, not reduced oversight.
• So he's got technical skills and leadership skills.
• So he's got technical skills and leadership skills.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'M CHRISTOPHER SMALL AND I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF TALLAHASSEE BASED.
• TO AIR FORCE BASES AND THE US COAST GUARD STATIONS WITHIN THESE EVERY ASPECT LEVERAGING THE STRENGTHS
• ALSO, EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AS THE OTHER AREA THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK ON.
• MEDICAL SKILLS AND SERVICES. HEALTH SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS. FITNESS LIFESTYLE AND DESIGN.
• WE DO A LOT OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP BASED.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll provide... ...the committee amendments in the analysis, but we continue to oppose the bill based
• I think it's important to make public policy decisions that are based in data.
• These are incredibly skilled, highly educated... ...why payment was reduced.
• , that's a skill set they often delegate to other people.
• And I see you're just trying to get its skills here. So I would move the bill. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Existing law provides that the property tax base year value of real property that is substantially damaged
• January 1, 2026, until January 1, 2034, to extend the five-year time period to transfer property tax base
• They, in turn, come in with experience, knowledge, and skill that the state of California cannot lose
• Remember, these men and women, when they retire, take the job skills and this retirement pay elsewhere
• So it keeps industries and their workforce in California, their knowledge and their skills.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> restaurants businesses hospitals based restaurants businesses hospitals based on<00:47:55.960><c
• </c> activity as everyone else these skills activity as everyone else these skills are<01:29:59.639><
• </c><01:54:47.159><c> on</c> organizations to discriminate based on organizations to discriminate based
• </c> Pathways to other discrimination based Pathways to other discrimination based on<02:01:08.880><c
• </c> hole pretty darn hard this bill is based hole pretty darn hard this bill is based on<02:37:59.720

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude. Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored. Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports local tax bases, providing revenue for schools and other critical services.
• math skills are at middle school level.
• math skills are at middle school level.
• Part of that packaging can be the skilled workforce.
• And I do think, part of that packaging can be the skilled workforce.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill No. 828, by the Health and Welfare Committee, is an act relating to the Merit-Based Health
• House Bill 774, by the Ways and Means Committee, relates to Fish and Game.
• House Bill 788 builds on that by providing a performance-based incentive for medical professionals in
• That related party would have to have the necessary skills and qualifications for that position.
• Hearing none, hearing no negative debate, base closed.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal, then received several Senate messages and committee reports. A number of bills were introduced or advanced, including measures on health care, elections, schools, water districts, crime victims, and animal protection, along with several resolutions and memorials. The House also took up a constitutional resolution on parental rights in education, but House Joint Resolution 9 failed because it did not receive the required two-thirds vote, finishing at 44 ayes and 25 nays. The chamber then considered and passed several bills on third reading. House Bill 585 would impose a 48-hour deadline for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections and allow refunds and third-party inspections if the deadline is missed; members disclosed Rule 80 conflicts because of permit-related businesses, and the bill passed 69-1. House Bill 736 lowered the voter threshold for ballot rotation requirements to expand rotation to more elections and passed 68-1. House Bill 626 changed county impact-fee language from “may” to “shall,” House Bill 749 addressed annexation-related septic system costs, House Bill 650 affirmed federalism principles, House Bill 788 created a pilot incentive for medical preceptors, House Bill 738 added an LLC filing option using a commercial registered agent address, House Bill 685 added a sentencing enhancement for crimes committed while masked, House Bill 696 updated prison sexual-contact language, House Bill 686 created a narrow nepotism exception for small towns, House Bill 670 clarified urban renewal/fire district opt-out rules, House Bill 734 fixed a wind/geothermal tax distribution formula, and House Bill 570 increased penalties for reckless driving in active construction zones. Most of these bills passed with comfortable majorities, though House Bill 685 passed narrowly at 38-31 and House Bill 570 passed 68-1. Later, the House passed House Bill 561 on flag displays by government entities, despite debate that it was aimed at restricting certain local flags; it passed 58-11. The House also passed House Bill 692 on foster-care court proceedings and House Bill 575 on centralized civil asset forfeiture reporting, both after debate about transparency and court procedure. Additional bills passed included House Bill 562, extending the notice period for insurance nonrenewals to 60 days; House Bill 810, setting residency requirements for legislative candidates with exemptions for military service and missions; House Bill 593, repealing obsolete waste-management and Big Payette Lake provisions; House Bill 714, updating hazardous waste siting law; and House Bill 507, revising Idaho National Guard military justice procedures to restore non-judicial punishment authority. The House recessed and later returned to continue business, with several bills transmitted to the Senate after passage and no title corrections on the measures considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• a higher base fine of $18,000.
• Cal OSHA's practices are largely hard-copy based.
• This program allows Cal/OSHA, employers, and community-based organizations and faith-based groups to
• I'm saying the Title VIII outlines the base, the gravity base of the penalty base of the penalty.
• I'm saying that Title VIII outlines the base, the gravity base of the penalty, and that's what—and those

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the review that Mr. based on the review that Mr.
• The table to the right is showing how many orders were filed based on each circuit.
• The table to the right is showing how many orders were filed based on each circuit.
• Especially on misdemeanors, that is generally the ideal waiting period based on data.
• </c><01:10:34.800><c> So</c> based on real world data points. So based on real world data points.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held an information briefing on expungement and record clearance, with Chair David Tarnis and Vice Chair Mahina Poo Poy emphasizing second chances and the legislature’s recent work on state-initiated relief. The chair reviewed prior measures, including Act 62 (2024), which created Hawaii’s first state-initiated expungement pilot for certain non-conviction cannabis-related arrests, Act 159 (2023), which required automatic sealing or removal of expunged records from the judiciary’s public database, and Act 241 (2024), which created the Clean Slate Task Force. He said the committee invited the Clean Slate Initiative and Code for America because of their national experience with state-initiated record clearance systems. Phil Hickden of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and Attorney General’s office reported that Act 62 was implemented using existing resources and no new funding, initially covering single-charge, pre-2020 arrests in Hawaii County for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and later expanded by Act 005 (2025) to all arrests under HRS 712-1249 regardless of drug type. He said the project identified 2,268 potentially eligible records, with 1,072 processed so far, 989 granted and 83 denied, and that the work has taken about 872 staff hours and roughly 45 days per expungement. He also said the office has identified about 412,000 people who could potentially qualify for expungement under broader legislation, though that estimate does not include case-by-case research. Michelle Acasta of the judiciary explained that Act 159 changed the process so HCJDC now digitally transmits expungement certificates to the court, eliminating the applicant’s second step of filing paperwork with the court. She said the courts still manually review eligibility, but the process is easier because certificates now include a case ID and HCJDC provides additional information to help locate records. She reported that since implementation the courts received 125 certificates in July and 87 in August, with 17 court orders filed in July and August, including 81 in the First Circuit, 14 in Maui, 7 in the Third Circuit, and 15 in the Fifth Circuit. She also noted that the Hawaii Supreme Court’s State v. Rogan decision affects procedure by requiring a written request or motion, an opportunity to be heard, and written findings for sealing court records, and that new Supreme Court rules are expected for public comment. Members asked about qualitative outcomes and whether the process could be expanded statewide; staff said they do not track recidivism or personal stories, and the chair encouraged further discussion before the next session to identify barriers and capacity needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the first bianium and removed their base the first bianium and removed their base funding<00:03:
• So they are working full-time in the setting that they need to know the skills of special ed.
• So they are working full-time in the setting that they need to know the skills of special ed.
• </c> literacy, numeracy, science, and skill literacy, numeracy, science, and skill training<00:42:37.760
• </c> prioritizes evidence evidence-based prioritizes evidence evidence-based practices<00:42:49.119><

Keywords: 1183, house