Transcript Highlights:

• can we do for the League of Cities, for the local municipalities, for our planning, for our departments
• AB 2074 will create a streamlined ministerial pathway for high-rise, mixed-income housing in transit-rich
• It will help... ...for high-rise mixed-income housing in transit-rich city centers.
• We hope that we can work together to ensure that we provide financing opportunities for early-stage development
• for within SB 79.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills, with most of the discussion focused on streamlining approvals, clarifying housing law, and expanding planning resources. AB 2005 would expand SB 9 urban lot split eligibility to homeowners using living trusts or LLCs and allow partnerships with small builders; supporters said it would help owner-occupants create more homeownership opportunities, while members raised concerns about enforceability and possible loopholes for corporate investors. AB 2676 would clarify the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 to make clear that referendums or initiatives cannot be used as de facto moratoriums on approved housing projects in affected cities and counties; the author said it codifies existing intent and court rulings, and members discussed retroactivity and pending actions before moving it forward. AB 1621 sought to tighten timelines and accountability for post-entitlement permits by limiting repeated plan checks and preventing local agencies from requiring changes that deviate from already approved plans, with supporters from the building industry and apartment sector saying delays add major costs. Cities and counties opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could limit their ability to ensure compliance with local and state standards and create unintended loopholes. The committee also heard AB 2002, which would codify and expand the REAP 1.0 regional planning grant program to support RHNA-related planning, housing elements, technical assistance, and some housing trust fund activities; supporters emphasized its value for under-resourced jurisdictions, while the building industry sought guardrails against grant conditions that exceed state standards. AB 2118 would refine the AB 2011 streamlined pathway for mixed-income housing by clarifying that state permits are ministerial when objective standards are met and limiting local standards that block mixed-use projects; it drew broad support from housing and planning groups and no opposition. AB 2074 proposed a ministerial pathway for high-rise mixed-income housing in major transit-rich downtowns, paired with labor standards and a state-backed revolving loan fund; supporters said it could revitalize downtowns and leverage private capital, while housing advocates and some members questioned whether public financing should prioritize mostly market-rate high-rise projects and raised budget concerns. The committee took roll-call votes and advanced the bills, with AB 2676, AB 1621, AB 2002, AB 2118, and AB 2074 all moving out on majority or unanimous votes, and consent items AB 1899 and AB 2390 also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the expectation for current leadership and for incoming leadership, and for the hospital as a
• For the GEI patient journey, again, GEI stands for guilty except insanity.
• I know that's for Dr. Hathi.
• That's been a huge focus for this leadership team and for me.
• But anyway, no, thank you all for being here. Thanks for everyone's work today.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committee met for informational presentations on the Oregon State Hospital and civil commitment, followed by a planned tour of the hospital. Oregon Health Authority and Oregon State Hospital leaders reported that Sean Murphy will become the next permanent superintendent on July 13, with Sarah Castle to follow as permanent chief nursing officer on July 20. They described recent leadership turnover, a major organizational restructure, and efforts to build a culture of safety, transparency, and accountability. Officials said the hospital regained Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and they highlighted daily safety huddles, incident review processes, stronger escalation procedures, and improved management of seclusion and restraint. Committee members pressed hospital leaders on past prolonged seclusion practices, falls, staffing, and the need for better public reporting; OHA said it is building a public dashboard of key safety and workforce metrics. The committee then heard a civil commitment overview from the Oregon Judicial Department. The presenter explained that civil commitment is a separate legal process from criminal cases, usually beginning with a hospital hold, investigation, court review, appointed counsel, and a hearing within five days. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised standards for danger to self, danger to others, and basic-needs commitments, plus a second 14-day diversion option. She cautioned that the new law has only been in effect since January and that it is too early to draw firm conclusions from the data, though there has been a recent uptick in commitments and a decrease in diversions. Testimony from NAMI Oregon and a forensic psychiatrist emphasized that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospitals because community services, housing, and outpatient supports are insufficient. They argued that the state needs more less-restrictive alternatives, including better use of assisted outpatient treatment or outpatient civil commitment, and more supported housing so people do not cycle between homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization. A family member described a relative remaining psychotic in jail for more than 120 days before ending up back at the state hospital, urging faster intervention and better collaboration among courts, counties, hospitals, and state agencies. Committee members and witnesses also discussed workforce shortages, the expansion of secure residential treatment beds, and the need for broader system reforms beyond the hospital itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are hopeful that we will get additional resources for addressing eviction cases in our court.
• We are hopeful that we will get additional resources for addressing eviction cases in our court.
• or prior to appointment for office for appointed sheriffs, as there is for chiefs and for marshals.
• people actually holding office are just as high as for those who are merely applying for it.
• people actually holding office are just as high as for those who are merely applying for it.

Summary: The committee held a work session in Mill Creek focused first on the eviction process. Judge Michael Scott of King County Superior Court described historic highs in unlawful detainer filings across Washington, especially in urban counties, and said King County has reduced its backlog and average time to resolution to about 60 days by adding two dedicated eviction judges and using more judges when needed. He also described how King County and other counties are implementing the right to counsel for indigent tenants, and noted that additional housing commissioners may help. Office of Civil Legal Aid representatives Philippe Knapp and Jane Paxe said the statewide appointed counsel program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, referred clients to social services, and helped many remain housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without representation. A landlord-side panel argued that eviction timelines remain too long and fragmented, creating unpaid rent, safety issues, and uncertainty for both landlords and tenants; they urged more uniform procedures, streamlined rental assistance, and procedural changes to reduce refiling and delays. The second work session addressed theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff reviewed existing criminal and regulatory laws covering malicious mischief, theft, scrap metal businesses, and metal property deception. Comcast, Mason Public Utility District, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft of aerial cable and copper has become a crisis affecting power, internet, 911 service, schools, hospitals, and line-worker safety. Utility representatives described outages, hazards, and rising costs, and asked for stronger audits of scrapyards, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, and tighter rules on payment and identification. Recyclers said they oppose the thefts and already operate under heavy regulation, but acknowledged enforcement gaps and the need for better coordination; committee members discussed possible bill concepts and asked for written recommendations. The final work session covered standards for law enforcement personnel. Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained current certification and decertification rules, including background checks, training requirements, mandatory and discretionary grounds for decertification, and the hearing process. They said elected sheriffs are not currently required to undergo the same pre-election background check as other applicants, though they can still be decertified if already certified, and they reported a backlog of more than 1,000 cases with about 70 to 80 new cases coming in each month. Retired Judge Ann Levinson then outlined ways the legislature could strengthen and align standards for chiefs, sheriffs, and marshals, including requiring certification within a set time, setting a minimum age, requiring recent state background checks, and making loss of certification a vacancy in office. Committee members asked questions about accountability for elected sheriffs, background-check administration, and decertification outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, knowing that we are running a little later in the day than we hope for, but we do have a really
• Also, knowing that we are running a little later in the day than we hope for, but we do have a really
• for.
• I imagine if, for example, eggs, right? The prices went up so high.
• them to utilize their funding on high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables just like they do for all

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on food insecurity in California and how state and federal nutrition programs, agricultural production, and food distribution systems intersect. Assemblymembers emphasized that many Californians, including farmworkers, seniors, children, and communities of color, remain food insecure despite California’s agricultural abundance. Panelists and members discussed CalFresh, WIC, school meals, Sun Bucks, food banks, and the impact of federal policy changes, including possible nutrition cuts, tariffs, and immigration enforcement, on access to food and the agricultural workforce. Secretary Karen Ross described CDFA programs aimed at improving access to fresh food and supporting local agriculture, including the senior farmers’ market program, California Nutrition Incentive Program, Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, Community Food Hubs, Farm to School, urban agriculture, and a proposed tribal food sovereignty program. She said these efforts help connect local producers to consumers, expand healthy food access, and build infrastructure such as refrigeration, mobile markets, and aggregation hubs. Department of Social Services Deputy Director Alexis Fernandez Garcia outlined CalFresh, CFAP, Sun Bucks, CACFP, emergency food programs, and tribal nutrition assistance, noting that CalFresh and related programs significantly reduce poverty and food insecurity, but participation gaps remain for non-English speakers, some Asian American communities, and undocumented households. PPIC researcher Tess Thorman presented data showing that 13% of California households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and Latino, Black, and other households. She said nutrition programs reduce poverty and food hardship, but federal rules, income thresholds, immigration restrictions, and high living costs limit their reach. Members asked about simplifying applications, improving call center access, increasing outreach in multiple languages, and adjusting benefits for inflation. Officials said the state has used available federal options to streamline enrollment, improve customer service, and target outreach, but many core rules and benefit levels are set federally. The second panel shifted to food production and market access. A farmer, a UC food systems leader, and a produce distributor described efforts to connect small and medium farms with food banks, schools, universities, and Medi-Cal food-as-medicine programs. They highlighted programs such as Farms Together, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Farm to School, food hubs, and climate-smart infrastructure grants as ways to create stable markets for local growers while improving food access. Speakers also raised concerns about land tenure, consolidation, regulatory burdens, labor constraints, and the loss of federal funding, and members discussed whether state investments and Prop. 4 funds could help sustain and expand these efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've set a very high standard for that work, and I'm very grateful for that.
• We definitely need to have high-quality care for sickle cell warriors.
• On child care, we hope that a final budget can include a right-sized COLA for providers.
• On behalf of the promotas of Vision and Compromiso, we hope to see some support for community-based organizations
• On behalf of the promotas of Vision and Compromiso, we hope to see some support for community-based organizations

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's too high of a dosage for some veterans.
• people just for recreational use getting high.
• people just for recreational use getting high.
• I became that voice of hope for my patients. Fast forward to 2019.
• That would leave me down for the count for three or four days because the high-power muscle relaxer that

Bills: SB 3 , HB28 , SB3

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• Riverton Riverton uh uh uh for<00:12:48.960><c> example</c> for example for example that<00:12:51.080
• major</c> for for their long-term major for for their long-term major maintenance. maintenance. maintenance
• </c> Jeremy Revell or our data specialist for Jeremy Revell or our data specialist for for<00:15:18.600
• high high school. school. school.
• There's no for for that purpose.

Bills: HB0034 , HB0035 , HB0036 , HB0106

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: HB0034, Wyoming retirement system, Wyoming Retirement Act, firefighter retirement, public employee retirement, retirement benefits, state pension, wildland firefighting, wildland firefighter, crash and rescue, Wyoming National Guard, Office of State Lands and Investments, Wyoming Retirement Board, correctional forestry crew, correctional crew supervisor, correctional forestry crew manager, general fund appropriation, state agency employees, service credit, benefit eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and their high ideals. and their high ideals.
• </c> House Files have been offered for House Files have been offered for introduction<00:06:45.360><c
• So, I hope Minnesotans are paying attention. I hope Minnesotans heard you, governor.
• </c> Trump is for them. Trump is for them.
• It's time for who deserve those.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• housing<00:07:46.000><c> and</c><00:07:46.319><c> for</c> housing and for housing and for uh<00:07:48.479
• </c><00:27:55.520><c> we</c> proud of uh for for the work that we proud of uh for for the work that we
• We're not here for a game or for numbers of profit.
• And they're going to be starting their lives and looking for places to live. Costs are too high.
• </c><00:42:10.720><c> for</c><00:42:11.359><c> home</c> to they have that desire for for home to they

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank you for your consideration and hope for an early and favorable recommendation.
• So I hope you do the right thing. Please support these bills. Thank you for desperately...
• So I hope you do the right thing. Please support these bills. Thank you for desperately...
• So I hope you do the right thing. Please support these bills. Thank you for testimony.
• Thank you for listening to me. I hope you will make the right decision.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, the incentive is really helpful for the very high capital cost to put in these systems.
• It has a high energy content, and it usually has much lower costs for them to bring it to us.
• We're hoping that when the wood yard opens up for deliveries again, they can rush over there and get
• This figure is very high for many Minnesotans, as Representative Kraft said, particularly in rural areas
• burden in 2020 and found that high energy burdens are correlated with greater risk for respiratory diseases

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• for those college is willing to pay for for those credits.<00:03:20.240><c> And</c><00:03:20.360><c>
• for for all students statewide screeners for for all students and<00:10:58.760><c> so</c><00:10:58.880
• I hope you will choose this study so that we can find a solution that works for our parents, our schools
• for preparing students for is essential for preparing students for adulthood.<00:54:01.840><c> Many<
• I I think that's a high<01:27:54.760><c> priority.</c> high priority. high priority.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee heard from Superintendent Megan Degenfelder on several interim topics centered on student-centered learning. She highlighted work-based learning and dual/concurrent enrollment, saying the state is updating accountability measures and should examine whether these programs are helping students progress, avoid duplicative costs, and reduce the need for remedial college coursework. She also discussed broader life-skills education, including financial literacy and soft skills, and said districts vary widely in what they offer. On gifted and talented programs, she noted that districts are statutorily required to provide them but the state does not have a clear picture of how consistently they are implemented, and she suggested the committee may want to study that area further. Members asked follow-up questions about whether dual enrollment should be evaluated only by time-to-degree, and Degenfelder said the analysis should also consider additional credentials and remedial coursework. Senator Schuler and others raised the idea of making financial literacy or other life-skills content more common, though Degenfelder said she did not favor a statewide mandate and instead preferred incentives and district-level implementation. The committee also discussed artificial intelligence in schools as an information-sharing topic, with Degenfelder saying the department is beginning a landscape analysis with districts and teachers. She then reviewed NAEP results, noting Wyoming performs strongly in fourth grade but drops sharply by eighth grade, and said the state wants to understand where students are falling off. Members also raised concerns about international comparisons and the need to improve literacy and math outcomes. The committee then moved to member-submitted topics. Representative Strock proposed reviewing the governance structure of state education, arguing that the current split among the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and other boards creates inefficiency and confusion, especially for licensure and programs like CTE. Senator Scott noted that turnover in the superintendent’s office could be a practical issue in any restructuring, and Strock responded that administrative staff could handle day-to-day operations. Representative Williams then introduced a discussion of common core standards and literacy, arguing that standards may be too broad and not specific enough, especially in early grades, and that Wyoming should emphasize phonics, basic reading, math, and civics more directly. Representative Guggenmos agreed that narrowing early-grade focus to math and literacy could improve outcomes. Finally, Representative Williams raised virtual education, saying it is growing quickly and the committee should study funding, accountability, and student support more closely; the chair opened that topic for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been awarding associates degrees. to students before they finish high school for two decades,
• And so House Bill 8 created incentives for high-demand fields.
• a TEKS-based CTE course at high school, then you have the kids hop on a bus for, you know, half the
• or TSTC, there's something for our community college, there's something for our high school vocational
• for a community college to do dual credit with maybe a dozen high schools, maybe a couple dozen high

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As an update for that, again, I'd like to say thank you all for the appropriate coordination for the
• Thank you for that. Okay, thank you so much for your presentation.
• We certainly have a need for additional adult beds, not just for substance use disorder, but for those
• I'm really glad for the work that my colleagues have done in high schools and in different places, schools
• I mean, we have been asking for single credentialing for the MCOs for many, many years.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got to keep in mind that these codes are written for nationwide application, high sensitivity
• “There is a high cost to cheap construction, and that’s been known for a very long time.
• of the material, but it's that the, you know, I wrote it down high margins for builders.
• of the material, but it's that the, you know, I wrote it down high margins for builders.
• And that's what we're hoping for.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not for everybody.
• , for enforcement, for education, for wildfire building codes, as I've mentioned, fire hazard severity
• Okay, thank you for that. For Mr.
• We need funding both for wildfire fuel reduction in the forest context and also for home hardening for
• We need funding both for wildfire fuel reduction in the forest context and also for home hardening for

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it establishes requirements for the evaluations for the programs in it.
• What's that for? Um, Mr.
• I hope we do.
• Representative, I have some high finance questions and I hope you have some answers.
• I hope that these dollars will be used to sustain and protect basic services, critical services for our

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• trying to create greater consistency, predictability for voters—not just for voting for president, but
• It is the League's hope that by offering resources for eligible voters to make informed decisions and
• The bar set pretty high. Yes, I do. Thank you for being in committee. Appreciate it.
• Students are provided alternative sites for learning, we hope, be told that voting is so important that
• Students are provided alternative sites for learning, will we hope, be told that voting is so important

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> so</c><00:10:29.079><c> for</c> nets for for everybody involved so for nets for for everybody involved
• for</c><00:22:14.600><c> that</c> then I'm on the hook for that for that then I'm on the hook for that
• /c> children is it fair for them to pay for children is it fair for them to pay for your<00:33:24.840
• </c> high include a presentation of high high include a presentation of high quality<05:10:53.760><c>
• That RSA is for high school. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for this testimony.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when we have a mechanism for more kids to access it, I think you're going to see high quality private
• And so I hope for those folks who've traveled here to the Capitol, we're looking forward to hearing your
• Simply put, passing HB3 will put Texas on a path to achieving ultimately what Milton Friedman hoped for
• I hope none of our concerns about using taxpayer funds for private schools ever comes across as degrading
• So could a request for a waiver for the application fee be a stand- in for income? No.

Bills: HB 3

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management, public safety infrastructure, Project 25, P25, broadband emergency alerting, outdoor warning sirens, homeland security, disaster response