Transcript Highlights:

• concerning because school meal programs are designed to ensure that children are well-nourished and ready
• Charlie started kindergarten this year and we wanted him to get school lunch a few days a week so he
• I was diagnosed with celiac disease when I was six years old in the summer after kindergarten.
• When I first started first grade, I was six years old in the summer after kindergarten.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held a hearing on two late-filed bills, S. 2927 and H. 5012, titled An Act Relative to Students Accessing Food and Nutritional Information, filed by Senator Joan Lovely and Representative Michelle Badger. The bills would require schools to make clear, centralized online information available about gluten-free and allergen-free meals, including menus, food safety procedures, and contact information, so students with celiac disease and other medically necessary dietary restrictions can safely participate in universal school meal programs. Committee members and the bill sponsors emphasized that the measure is intended to improve transparency, equity, and access within the Commonwealth’s universal free breakfast and lunch program. Testimony came from students, parents, physicians, and advocates, many of whom described celiac disease as a serious autoimmune condition requiring a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. Witnesses said families often struggle to find reliable school meal information, and that lack of communication between school administrators, nurses, and food service staff can lead families to opt out of school meals even when safe options exist. Medical witnesses from Boston Children’s, Mass General, and Beth Israel said the bill addresses a real barrier identified in research and could help prevent health problems, missed school, and long-term complications from gluten exposure. Several witnesses also noted that the bill’s approach could benefit students with food allergies more broadly. Committee members praised the testimony, especially from young student witnesses, and discussed practical issues such as cross-contamination, 504 plans, and whether schools already have the underlying information needed to comply. One member suggested the Department of Public Health might be able to address some of the issue through regulations, similar to a prior restaurant allergy-protocol change. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee closed after hearing from all panels and the bill sponsors, who asked for favorable consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, all amendments that have not been printed will not be ready for hearing.
• And so because of that, I can tell you firsthand as a parent of a kindergartener, a student in kindergarten
• , who I have to pay for full-day kindergarten, and then as a parent of a preschooler that I have to pay

Transcript Highlights:

• I started kindergarten one month after... Welcome to introduce any guests.
• I started kindergarten one month after we emigrated, not yet speaking any English, except for four years
• I started kindergarten one month after we emigrated, not yet speaking any English, except for four years
• pre-planning and having a plan ready because help may not be quick to come as happens.
• And I am ready for questions that you may have. Thank you so much. Thank you for that.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone, with everyone's ready to close, please. Thank you. You heard the stories from...
• Someone, with everyone's ready to close, please. Thank you.
• I am a proud product of California public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and an alumnus
• And working with... ...public school from kindergarten to community college, a free transit pass.
• Pollack and Draco, kindergarten teacher in Hesperia Unified, and I strongly support this bill.

Summary: The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you ready for the question? If so, all those in favor, please say aye.
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> Are you ready for the question? Are you ready for the question?
• </c> you ready for the question? you ready for the question?
• Are you ready for Economic Development? Are you ready for the<00:18:20.640><c> question?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:29.520><c> Aid</c> it's been used yeah um kindergarten Aid it's been used yeah um kindergarten
• Some of these positions, one of them I can think of, collects College and Career Readiness indicators
• Some of these positions, one of them I can think of, collects College and Career Readiness indicators
• Some of these positions, one of them I can think of, collects College and Career Readiness indicators
• kindergarten startup grants.

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said, once the chair is ready, go ahead and present the bill.
• As a mom of four kids who is still paying child care costs until our youngest starts kindergarten in
• I have a six-year-old son who is in kindergarten and a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
• and a 2 and a half-year-old kindergarten and a 2 and a half-year-old daughter<00:58:14.680><c> I</c>
• Um, we are going to be laying your bill over, so when you are ready, uh, feel free to kick it off.

Bills: HF1367 , HF2732 , HF1897 , HF1424 , HF1383 , HF2728 , HF2863 , HF1685 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He passed in an Arizona kindergarten classroom three years ago.
• And truly, I believe that when we start age-appropriate sex ed at kindergarten, talking about consent
• For education specifically, our work starts before children even enter kindergarten.
• for kindergarten, and whether that's more parental education support or what have you.
• It's kind of like what you get with the pension is what you better be ready for when you retire.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• And our testifiers are ready to come up.
• So, section one is the definition of kindergarten.
• So, just &gt;&gt; Well, you're already ready.
• And kindergarten through grade eight.
• Pranav, if you're ready to go, we're ready. >> Absolutely. Um, thank you, Mr.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You're ready to go. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.
• </c> record and begin when you're ready. record and begin when you're ready.
• </c> uh Senate File 1844, when you are ready. uh Senate File 1844, when you are ready.
• </c> and begin when you're ready. and begin when you're ready.
• </c><00:54:23.440><c> and</c> children from birth to kindergarten and children from birth to kindergarten

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , what it does is it removes a mandate from the state onto school districts that have half-day kindergarten
• So, there's a busing kindergarten.
• .<00:04:57.080><c> So</c> kindergarten.
• So kindergarten.
• </c> districts went to full day kindergarten. districts went to full day kindergarten.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, go ahead when you're ready, sir. Thank you.
• You can go ahead when you're ready.
• Go ahead when you're ready. Thank you. Good morning, Chairman Paulson, members of the committee.
• Okay, go ahead when you're ready. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
• The new requirements currently focus on grades 4 through 8 and expand to kindergarten.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 3 minutes, then heard a request from the Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice to amend its proposed rule on exempt test methods to add certain closed-system DNA/RNA tests, including rhinovirus. After testimony explaining that the board had considered late comments from BioMérieux and wanted the rule record to reflect that review, the committee agreed to a limited amendment and passed the motion unanimously. The Department of Agriculture then outlined broad rule updates affecting dairy, eggs, poultry, pesticides, animal health, environmental mitigation, and the Egg Product Utilization Commission. The commissioner said the changes mostly clarified existing requirements, updated references, and reduced some burdens, such as easing dairy hauler training/licensing timing and clarifying out-of-state grade A milk language. Members asked about dairy industry decline, the APUC scoring system, and the rationale for the milk-hauler and out-of-state milk provisions. The State Board of Dental Examiners presented extensive rule changes tied to recent legislation and workforce issues, including a new professional health program for dentists, expanded duties for assistants and hygienists, broader local anesthetic authority for hygienists, and fee increases to fund the program and cover administrative costs. Testimony from Dr. Edward May strongly supported the professional health program based on his own recovery experience. The committee also heard from Game and Fish on rules easing some guide/outfitter experience requirements, allowing electronic exams, and modifying boating safety equipment rules, with no public comment and no fiscal impact. Later, Health and Human Services received approval for an extension to update tattoo/body art rules and a separate motion to repeal an obsolete nurse aide training chapter. HHS also described nursing facility rule updates, lodging sanitation revisions, and related clarifications on licensing, safety, pest control, and fire requirements. The Department of Environmental Quality received an extension for septic-system installer rules, and also presented rules for above-ground storage tanks and water/wastewater operator certification, including new fees and third-party testing options. The Industrial Commission’s oil and gas division described multiple rule changes, some withdrawn after comments, including drilling unit flexibility, site stability, wildfire authority, and streamlined transport/reporting procedures. Finally, DPI began presenting several rule packages, including school construction loan limits, school bus standards, cooperative agreements, special education rules for public charter schools, and new math curriculum and intervention requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• SO, WHEN HE BEGAN SCHOOL IN KINDERGARTEN AND AFTER HE SPENT TIME AT SCHOOLS AND IN IDAHO, JAPAN, ALABAMA
• ON AVERAGE MILITARY STUDENTS WILL TEND SIX TO NINE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12th GRADE
• STANDARDIZATION OF EDUCATION RECORDS OF PROSTATE AND ALLOWS FOR IMMUNIZATION STANDARDIZATION AS WELL AS KINDERGARTEN
• THAT WE HAVE SMALL SOLUTIONS BUT I ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH I'M A COCHAIR FOR CAREER READINESS
• JUST SO THAT WE DO PUT THE FACES WHERE THE MISSION READINESS. >> Chair: THANK YOU.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen the full funding of transitional kindergarten.
• The preliminary data Most of that increase reflecting the expansion of transitional kindergarten.
• I'll give you all a chance to settle in, and you can begin whenever you're ready.
• I'll give you all a chance to settle in, and you can begin whenever you're ready.
• And so we're certainly ready and prepared to support them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 441 by Senator Mizell, concerning programs for pre-kindergarten-age children and nonpublic
• Senate Bill 441 by Senator Mizell, concerning programs for pre-kindergarten-age children and nonpublic
• We have about 10 to 15 minutes before we are ready to adjourn.
• We should be ready in just a minute. Thank you.
• Members, don't forget we do have food that's going to be ready in just a couple of minutes.

Bills: HR159 , HR160 , HR161 , HR162 , HR163 , HR164 , HCR60 , HCR61 , HCR62 , HCR63 , HCR64 , HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , SB124 , SB399 , SB441 , SB447 , SB460 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB175 , HB330 , HB364 , HB414 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB628 , HB786 , HB909 , HB1008 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1041 , HB1052 , HB1062 , HB1070 , HB1079 , HB1112 , HB1118 , HB1139 , HB1151 , HB1154 , HB1176 , HB1182 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1231 , HB1241 , SB244 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , SB127 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB750 , HB911 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB193 , HB310 , HB635 , HB690 , HB961 , HB1003 , HB1146 , HB864 , HB977 , HB181 , HB31 , HB664 , HB615 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB284 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1236

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and received Senate messages, including several Senate bills and resolutions that were referred or laid over. The chamber also adopted a series of House resolutions honoring local organizations, commemorations, and community events, and referred one resolution on climate action to Natural Resources. Several Senate bills were read and referred to the appropriate committees, including measures on peer review confidentiality, higher education research security, pre-K program standards, police civil service, and a memorial highway designation. The main floor business was the budget. The House considered House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill, in Committee of the Whole and reviewed major funding levels and committee changes across state government. The bill included significant funding for early childhood education, higher education, TOPS, health care, corrections, public safety, transportation, and other agencies, along with adjustments tied to LASERS debt payoff, Medicaid, MFP, and various one-time or recurring items. Members heard brief questions on higher education funding and DOTD road needs, but no amendments were offered on the floor during the schedule-by-schedule review. HB 1 was reported from Committee of the Whole with amendments and then finally passed by a vote of 104 yeas. The House then took up House Bills 2 and 3, the capital outlay bill and the omnibus bond authorization act, both of which were explained as the financing measures for the capital program. HB 2 emphasized limited member project funding, reallocation of dormant projects, and bundling of projects to move them forward more efficiently; HB 3 authorized the bond sales needed to fund HB 2. Both bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The chamber also passed supplemental and fiscal bills including HB 312, HB 313, HB 383, HB 314, HCR 3, HB 983, and HB 1126, covering supplemental appropriations, treasury fund transfers, ancillary funds, hospital assessments, judiciary funding, and legislative expenses. The meeting ended with personal privileges, staff recognition, announcements, and adjournment to Monday at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Lord, as we get ready to prepare for To bless them, to bless their families.
• And Lord, as we get ready to prepare for our summer, we ask you, Lord, to continue to bless us.
• And Lord, as we get ready to finalize the final bills of this session, we thank you, Lord, that your
• to provide contact information for the accrediting entity for each non-public school with a pre-kindergarten
• to provide contact information for the accrediting entity for each non-public school with a pre-kindergarten

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , SB78 , SB25 , SB80 , SB132 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB228 , SB250 , SB414 , SB433 , SB479 , SB513 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR32 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB776 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB208 , SB312 , SB382 , SB389 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB368 , HB468 , HB552 , HB732 , HB784 , HB870 , HB953 , HB1117 , HB1236

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Transcript Highlights:

• Please go ahead when you are ready. Thank you, Chair Taylor, Vice Chair Dondero-Loop.
• So they might be teaching kindergarten, but getting eighth-grade math assessment that they may be struggling
• So they might be teaching kindergarten, but getting eighth-grade math assessment that they may be struggling
• Please go ahead and begin when you're ready. Thank you. So great... ...to see you all here.
• Mineral during the interim talked about how they are getting rid of all their agencies when they're ready

Bills: SB175 , SB277 , SB374 , SB400

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• But they don't mesh, so our kids when they leave here aren't ready to graduate the next So that's something
• So I'm concerned. that we make sure the scores of our pre-kindergarten testing and things also get into
• the system. especially for kindergarten and first grade teachers.
• And Secretary, I think we're ready whenever you are. Good afternoon, Mr.
• When would you be ready to do that and based on what? Mr. Chair, thank you for your questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 479 by Arreguín, and so you may come up to present when you're ready.
• All right, you can begin whenever you're ready. Well, thank you very much, Mr.
• All right, Senator, whenever you're ready, you may begin. Thank you.
• Whenever you're ready, you may begin. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
• You may begin when you're ready. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard several bills focused on homelessness, child care, food security, public assistance, immigration legal services, and veterans’ benefits. SB 479 would allow city-based local health jurisdictions, including Berkeley and Oakland, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across departments; supporters said the change would improve coordination and outcomes, and no opposition testified. SB 902 would allow electronic signatures for child care and development services paperwork while preserving paper options; supporters said it would reduce burdens on families and providers, and the bill passed to the Assembly Education Committee 4-0. The committee also heard SB 1025, creating an Office of Food Security and Affordability to coordinate California’s food assistance efforts, and SB 1030, repealing the CalWORKs “man-in-the-house” rule. Supporters of SB 1025 said the state’s food system is fragmented and needs a coordinated strategy; SB 1030 supporters argued the rule is outdated, redundant, and rooted in racist and sexist assumptions. Both bills received no opposition testimony and were approved on 4-0 votes, with SB 1025 sent to the Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee and SB 1030 to Appropriations. The committee then approved SB 1077, which would require CDSS to create a communications and contingency plan for CalFresh disruptions during federal government shutdowns, including a public webpage and planning for state-funded benefits; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1194 would codify the Immigration Legal Fellowship Project to expand immigration legal services in underserved areas, and supporters emphasized the need for legal representation in rural and Central Valley communities; it passed 4-1 to Judiciary. SB 1201 would seek federal waivers to protect veterans from CalFresh time limits, require referrals to county veterans service officers, and adjust treatment of job-search expenses; it passed unanimously 6-0 to Military and Veterans Affairs. The consent calendar, including SB 557 and SB 1051, also passed unanimously. After all items were heard, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• From a different perspective, are we ready, Madam Chair? Mr.
• All right, Madam Chair, when you're ready, please. Thank you, Mr.
• I've listened to most of my colleagues here, and we're ready to win.
• We're ready to see the Public Education Department (PED) get a touchdown.
• Madam Vice Chair, when you're ready, please.

Committee: House House Education