Transcript Highlights:

• consolidation as it relates to low-producing programs.
• Yeah, so as it's noted there, they can choose to grant exemptions to those programs.
• I've separated no-cost and low-cost programs from that. So they can still grant those exemptions.
• Why they were granted an exemption because they're going to grow the program.
• There's a shared program, whatever it may be.

Summary: The Postsecondary Education Committee met and adopted PCS working drafts for several bills before hearing them. House Bill 2210, by Representative Lay, would modernize Oklahoma’s youth apprenticeship system by allowing earlier entry, expanding eligibility to ages 16-25, assigning implementation to CareerTech, and adding paid-work protections and statewide ROI reporting; it passed 9-0. House Bill 4363, by Pro Tem Moore, would update outdated statutory references to reflect current operations and governance; it also passed 9-0. House Bill 2398, by Representative Hill, would create a “credential of value” framework to align higher education, CareerTech, and workforce systems, with safeguards for high-need fields and regional wage considerations. Supporters said it would help students understand the earning value of programs before enrolling, while concerns were raised about possible effects on humanities and other lower-paying fields; the bill passed 8-1. House Bill 3557, by Representative Danny Williams, would clarify that 4-H and county extension fundraising money remains locally controlled and protected rather than being swept into a state-level account. Members discussed how the funds are currently handled and who would control them under the proposal; the bill passed 6-2. House Bill 3701, by Representative Caldwell, would codify the State Regents’ existing process for reviewing and potentially consolidating low-producing higher education programs, including mandatory action after repeated low-producing status while preserving exemption authority. Questions focused on whether the bill merely formalized current practice and whether reporting back to the legislature should be added; the chair offered to include a reporting requirement if desired. The bill passed 6-2, and the chair announced this was the committee’s last House bill meeting for the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program was launched under the California Outdoors for All initiative as a third The program was
• The Division of Boating and Waterways runs that program with the hyacinth control program.
• Program, which is, by the way, California's oldest outdoor education and outdoor access program.
• Program, as mentioned earlier.
• Program, as mentioned earlier.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy convened for its first hearing and heard an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency. The LAO emphasized California’s strong current revenues but warned of a structural budget problem, projected out-year deficits, and the need for a high bar on new spending. It generally supported the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plan as reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, while urging legislative oversight and caution about using special funds and adding ongoing commitments. Secretary Wade Crowfoot responded with an overview of climate, wildfire, water, coastal, and conservation challenges and highlighted progress under the Newsom administration, including clean energy growth, wildfire resilience investments, land conservation, tribal co-management, and outdoor access initiatives. He also discussed federal staffing cuts affecting California’s response capacity and said the state has had to fill gaps in flood forecasting, land management, and park access. Members then questioned the secretary about the Delta conveyance tunnel and broader water reliability issues. Crowfoot said the project remains important, is being pursued as a beneficiary-pays project, and is moving through the State Water Resources Control Board’s permitting process, while also stressing that it is only one part of a broader water strategy that includes levee strengthening, subsidence, groundwater storage, recycling, and conservation. Senators also raised concerns about permitting delays, invasive species, and the impact of position cuts on agency capacity; Crowfoot said streamlining is needed but that staffing remains essential. The committee then moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation, where Director Armando Quintero described the state park system, tribal agreements, wildfire and deferred maintenance work, and outdoor access programs such as the State Library Park Pass and Adventure Pass. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing $6.75 million General Fund transfer for the library park pass, arguing it did not meet the high bar for new ongoing spending, but several senators strongly supported the program as a low-cost way to expand access. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and campsite no-shows. Department staff said they are updating website guidance, working with the reservation vendor, and implementing new no-show and reservation-modification rules effective July 1, including penalties for repeated no-shows and immediate reopening of vacant sites. The committee then heard a low-cost accommodations proposal, which Parks said would fund planning and construction at several sites using Proposition 68, reimbursements, and donations; the LAO said it had no concerns. Finally, the new director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Megan Hurdle, introduced herself and outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 requests, including funding for salmon genetic tagging, hatchery repairs, and public access improvements. She said the department is focused on biodiversity, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict prevention, and noted that the agency is still updating its service-based budgeting analysis to identify gaps and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• program.
• We also have grants.
• we also have match um for those programs we also have grants<00:23:08.880><c> um</c><00:23:09.240><c
• </c><01:05:07.960><c> and</c> programs or long-term care programs and programs or long-term care programs

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You have an opportunity to make this BEAD grant program work, as you heard Senator Thune indicate and
• But we have legislation to eliminate the tax, and it seems to me that if you want the BEAD grant program
• Yesterday, President Trump paused disbursement of federal grants and loans, including grants that have
• If the President asks you to cut an infrastructure program, will you cut the program?
• under this program.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• </c> grant program. Is that an AP request? grant program. Is that an AP request?
• This is a bill that would establish a statewide emergency shelter facility grant program to, of course
• capital investments in emergency shelter infrastructure, to establish a grant program administered by
• </c><01:31:54.920><c> program</c> to establish a grant program to establish a grant program administered

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program is a program of implementation.
• Next, the MDI program—again, this is a potentially big program.
• The MDI program, again, is a potentially big program.
• and the farmer program.
• and the SAFER program.

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant to the University of million grant to the University of Minnesota<00:32:38.880><c> for</c><00:
• </c> or assessment and mitigation program. or assessment and mitigation program.
• programming.
• We have applied for FRA's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program.
• </c> to our construction program. to our construction program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> block grant state plan. block grant state plan.
• </c> community services block grant. Yeah. community services block grant. Yeah.
• are</c> programs.
• Our member programs are programs.
• This is a program that provides program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Modeled after successful legislation and a program that's been implemented in the state of Nebraska,
• This program is going to go a long ways for recruitment and retention of police officers in the state
• that's been implemented in the program that's been implemented in the state<00:02:03.920><c> of</c><
• And it has to go to a degree or program related to law enforcement or criminal justice.
• You mentioned the program is modeled after something in Nebraska.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I designed and developed interrogation training programs.
• Many of these treaties use similar language with respect to granting these rights.
• We returned up to $15 million last year from either ramping down programs.
• We gave... ...million dollars last year from either ramping down programs.
• So, for example... ...to investigate is limited to the authority of the granting entity.

Bills: HB1982, HB2156

Keywords: Indian rights, treaty rights, convictions, tribal members, criminal justice reform, Attorney General, AG investigators, limited authority peace officer, peace officer certification, economic crimes, financial crimes, white-collar crime, fraud investigation, search warrant service, electronic service, business records, law enforcement authority, criminal background check, training requirements, Washington RCW

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the program. the program.
• program.
• ,</c><01:11:02.640><c> a</c> program, a temporary federal program, a program, a temporary federal program
• program and it's a and a necessary program and it's a program<02:43:11.680><c> that</c><02:43:11.920
• Uh, this bill reduces our sexual and reproductive health care services grant program by $1 million per

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill, an act authorizing the grant of easements in or takings of certain parcels
• Altogether, the bill proposes approximately $4.58 billion in bonding for transportation programs.
• capacity for pedestrians and cyclists. $12 million for grants for the Shared Streets Program for improvements
• This includes $500 million for the lifecycle asset management program, which aids non-federally aided
• Bonds issued through this fund are AAA rated by S&P, the highest possible mark that can be granted.

Summary: The House convened, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and received a gubernatorial message on fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations, which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. The House also approved several resolutions, including honoring Abby Goodman, reaffirming Massachusetts-Taiwan friendship, recognizing the Cambodian American Khmer New Year celebration, and observing Elks National Youth Week. Senate petitions on assisted living residences and medication administration in rest homes were referred to the Committee on Aging and Independence, and the House concurred with those referrals. The main legislative business was House Bill 5279/5375, the transportation bond bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Ways and Means recommended an amended substitute bill, and the House adopted the amendment and advanced the bill to third reading. Later, the House took up the substitute bill, House 5375, and members spoke in support of the Chapter 90 transportation package, emphasizing municipal road and bridge funding, rural road mileage distribution, housing-related infrastructure, lifecycle asset management, DCR deferred maintenance, and MBTA electrified locomotives. A roll call vote was ordered, and the bill was passed to be engrossed by a vote of 155 in favor and 0 against. The House also passed to be engrossed a bill authorizing the grant of easements or takings of certain parcels of land to the city of Boston. In addition, the chamber received the certified returns for the 5th Essex District special election and adopted an order creating a special committee to escort the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Executive Council for the swearing-in of Representative-elect Andrew Francis Robert Tarr. Tarr was then administered the oaths of office by Governor Maura Healey and seated. The House later adopted an order to adjourn and recessed until the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill, an act authorizing the grant of easements in or takings of certain parcels
• Altogether, the bill proposes approximately $4.58 billion in bonding for transportation programs.
• for the Shared Streets Program for improving. $12 million for grants for the Shared Streets Program,
• Then, for the Chapter 90 program, specifically, similarly to last year, the bill proposes a one-year
• Bonds issued through this fund are AAA rated by S&P, the highest possible mark that can be granted.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funds come into the state, funding a lot of programs.
• Nick Cochran was awarded a five-year, $3.5 million grant.
• program for Alzheimer's and dementia-related diseases.
• Do you know how long their program has been in place?
• I just got so excited to talk about what Georgia was doing about the research grant program for the Action

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's the goal with this program.
• And as I read the bill, I'm not seeing that anything is automatically granted.
• Granted, you can ask for the moon, and it's irrelevant as to whether that is granted.
• of Education on the waivers that have been granted.
• To provide some background, E-CAP is the state's voluntary preschool program.

Summary: The Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee heard three bills. Senate Bill 6052 would create a statewide digital transcript data-sharing environment for K-12 and postsecondary institutions, with student or parent permission required for disclosure. Supporters from universities, OSPI, school districts, counselors, and education groups said the bill would reduce paper handling, staff time, errors, and delays in admissions and enrollment, while improving security and student access; members asked about alignment with the High School and Beyond Plan, FERPA, apprenticeships, and out-of-state transfer issues. Senate Bill 6051 would allow local school boards to grant waivers or partial waivers of certain state laws and rules to individual schools, while excluding health and safety, civil rights, parental rights, basic education, and other protected areas. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give districts flexibility and surface recurring regulatory burdens, but OSPI, the State Board of Education, WEA, and school board groups raised concerns about broad scope, lack of definitions, possible impacts on special education and basic education compliance, and added complexity or legal costs. Some district representatives supported the idea of flexibility and relief from unfunded mandates, but suggested the bill needed more work. Senate Bill 5907 would expand ECEAP access for military families with incomes below 60% of state median income and prioritize children with deployed or single custodial military parents. The sponsor and supporters from ESDs, school districts, Head Start/ECEAP, child advocacy groups, and veterans organizations said military families face frequent moves, deployments, child care instability, and related stress, and that the bill would provide a modest, cost-effective benefit without state fiscal impact. In executive session, the committee adopted a proposed substitute and passed SB 5860 to Ways and Means, and adopted a proposed substitute and passed SB 5574 to Rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> On line 8, Office of Justice Programs, On line 8, Office of Justice Programs, House<00:01:30.560
• There's also a change to the way in which the grants must be prioritized.
• </c> violence program in the area. violence program in the area.
• Fewer advocates, longer waits, whole programs absorbed or eliminated.
• </c> whole programs absorbed or eliminated. whole programs absorbed or eliminated.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 1082 as a vehicle for the public safety finance bill and laid it over without taking official action. Staff walked through the DE6 amendment, which combines funding and policy provisions from several bills. The spreadsheet and bill summary showed appropriations for non-fatal shooting clearance grants, a domestic violence task force, a first responder uniform ID task force, and an increase to the Philando Castile training reimbursement fund, along with felony-related policy changes involving impersonating a police officer, medical facility security, theft from a vulnerable adult, and grooming offenses. The amendment also includes a $12 million transfer to the Minnesota victims of crime account, bringing the DE6 total to about $15.443 million for the biennium, with additional tail costs. Testimony focused heavily on the need to stabilize crime victim services funding. Katie Kramer of Violence Free Minnesota, speaking for multiple crime victims coalitions, urged support for the $12 million transfer, warning that flat funding and inflation have already forced program cuts, staff reductions, and service limits, and that a 20% cut could eliminate programs in rural areas. Tina Bronson of Alexandra House gave a similar account, describing how years of flat funding had reduced staff and programs and saying another cut would mean fewer advocates, longer waits, and less access for survivors. Both witnesses argued that victim services are an essential part of public safety and asked lawmakers to maintain existing services rather than expand them. In member discussion, the chair said the $12 million was intended as one-time funding to keep victim services at roughly prior-year levels and explained that the money would be distributed through the existing competitive grant process. A member asked about the grooming language and whether it could affect teenage relationships; nonpartisan staff clarified that the school-related offense applies only when there is a position of authority, and that existing criminal sexual conduct law already addresses age-differential situations. Members and the chair closed by describing the package as bipartisan and expressing appreciation for the committee’s work, with the chair noting the bill was being laid over for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• This establishes the abortion savings program, which provides grants to maintain access to direct patient
• The first fiscal note is written. savings program, which provides grants to maintain access to direct
• Senate Bill 5828 concerns the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship Program for students
• Senate Bill 5828 concerns the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship Program for students
• Senate Bill 5828, concerning the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship Program.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on February 9, 2026, first hearing a staff briefing on Senate Bill 6346, which would impose a tax on individuals earning over $1 million. Staff described the bill’s revenue and spending impacts and reviewed a proposed substitute and 11 amendments addressing items such as public defense funding, charitable deductions, out-of-state tax credits, small business credits, diapers, constitutional issues, and a contingent constitutional amendment. The committee later took up the bill and rejected all of the offered amendments, then advanced the substitute bill with a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. Members supporting the bill argued it would help address tax fairness and fund public services, while opponents raised concerns about constitutionality, economic harm, and the effect on businesses and charitable giving. The committee also acted on a series of policy bills. It advanced a substitute bill on grocery store closures in food deserts after adopting a narrower substitute, despite concerns from some members about burdening grocers. It approved a substitute bill expanding voting access for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters, adopting a second substitute that removed a cybersecurity review requirement. The committee also advanced bills on tort claim arbitration against governments, victim and witness protections in sexual assault and domestic violence cases, JLARC review of student aid fraud, agricultural collective bargaining, labor relations if federal preemption ends, a cost-of-living adjustment for Plan 1 retirees, workers’ compensation and medical care access, line-of-duty death reimbursements, law enforcement background checks and eligibility, veterans’ discharge definitions, and extraordinary medical placement. Several of these bills had amendments adopted, including changes to tort claim oversight, victim-requested standby counsel, agricultural labor definitions, workers’ compensation penalties, law enforcement volunteer support, and extraordinary medical placement criteria. In the second group of bills, staff briefed measures affecting property taxes, housing, cannabis, disaster-related tax relief, technical tax code changes, aircraft fuel tax revenues, the estate tax, and a pesticide tax exemption. The committee heard that a substitute for the fire protection district bill would alter how city or town levy capacity is reduced and include consultation requirements and board-creation provisions. It also heard that the property tax relief expansion for seniors and disabled retirees needed a substitute to make the consolidated school levy revenue-neutral. Other bills would expand tax exemptions for low-income housing and nonprofit homeownership, authorize local cannabis excise taxes, extend disaster repair tax relief, expand housing-related local sales tax uses, make technical tax code changes, redirect aircraft fuel tax revenues to aeronautics, reduce the estate tax rate, and extend a pesticide tax exemption. The transcript ends during the committee’s consideration of Senate Bill 6346, with the committee debating and rejecting amendments before moving the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code by adding subsection C, which makes a clarification regarding the requirements for loans and grants
• This is one of the 10 states that participates in this program in which the state on behalf of the FAA
• program.
• And this would direct the use of appropriations to establish the revolving loan program.
• Or during bill referral permission is granted by the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• and our loan programs.
• leverage our grants and our loan<00:23:55.919><c> programs</c><00:23:56.919><c> B</c><00:23:57.200><
• , which is a federal matching program, and the manufacturing assistance program.
• from that program ID.
• There is a high-demand program.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A big one is our institutional aid: the State University Grant Program is more than $800 million that
• The Rapid Rehousing Program provides emergency grants, rental subsidies, short- and long-term housing
• One of the federal research grants that was cut was a program called SNAP-Ed, which a lot of campuses
• That program has been cut.
• One of the federal research grants that was cut was a program called SNAP-Ed, which a lot of campuses

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.