Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to in your opening dialogue with us? to in your opening dialogue with us?
• </c> be open to that discussion. be open to that discussion. &gt;&gt; Thank<02:06:17.440><c> you.
• Thank you, and I'm open to any questions.
• Thank you, and I'm open to any questions.
• </c> Thank you and I'm open to any questions. Thank you and I'm open to any questions.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now open public testimony on House Bill 186.
• Sorry, promote my open mic.
• Chair opens public testimony for House Bill 5138.
• I'm sorry, too, because if we open it back up, then anybody that— I mean, it just kind of opens it back
• What wound of shame does my very existence open up to you?

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 186, which would require social media platforms to verify users are 18 or older before allowing account creation. Invited witnesses in support, including Mary Elizabeth Castle and David Dunmoyer, argued the bill would protect children from harmful algorithms, addictive design, bullying, sexual exploitation, and mental health harms, and emphasized parental rights and the idea that minors should not enter binding contracts with platforms. Committee members questioned them about how algorithms work, whether parents could realistically monitor content, and whether the bill would still allow educational use; the witnesses said the bill was narrowly aimed at harmful social media use and not educational content. Public testimony on HB 186 was largely in opposition, though several student witnesses said they supported the bill’s goals but wanted the age lowered to 16 or the bill amended to allow parental consent or joint accounts. Opponents argued the bill would be ineffective because teens could bypass age checks, would cut off access to educational tools, school communications, recruiting and NIL opportunities, and would burden free speech and privacy. Some witnesses also said social media helps teens with mental health, community, and creative or professional opportunities, while others warned the bill could disproportionately harm disabled and marginalized users. After public testimony closed, HB 186 was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 5138, which Chairman Hughes said would respond to a court ruling limiting the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes unless invited by local prosecutors by changing the statute to require AG prosecution. Public testimony on HB 5138 was brief and opposed by at least one witness who argued it would further erode local control and expand state preemption. The bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3225, a library bill aimed at keeping sexually explicit books and materials out of children’s sections in municipal libraries and requiring age verification for checkout, including digital access, with parental consent and other revisions added in the House. Supporters said the bill would protect children from explicit material and keep such content in adult sections, while opponents argued it would amount to censorship, be costly and difficult to implement, and could be used to target LGBTQ+ or other marginalized content. Library workers, parents, students, and advocates testified that existing library sections already separate age-appropriate materials and that the bill could reduce access to books, burden libraries, and infringe on parental choice and free expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the extended time between closed party primaries in the spring and the general election, which is
• We have candidates who die and we have to open qualifying the very next day, and so if we don't know
• I'm open to the suggestion of another word.
• As long as we know, as long as we have notice, then we can open qualifying the next day.
• So we're required to open qualifying, just so we can comply with the law. ...the death.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the March 11, 2025 meeting. Chair Nancy Landry explained that the board was reviewing proposed technical and administrative changes for the Department of State’s 2026 elections omnibus bill, which would later go to the House and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees for public hearing. No public comment cards were submitted, and the board reiterated that comments could also be emailed to the acting secretary. First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd presented items 1 through 39, with item 7 removed before consideration and item 37 later removed after board discussion. The proposals covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including registrar salary payment timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, clarifying party affiliation for voters who select “unaffiliated,” technical updates for voter registration transfers and precinct changes, protections for pre-registrants’ personal information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee ballot procedures, nomination petition certification, notice requirements when a candidate dies, watcher deadlines, over-voting, ballot curing, nursing home voting timing, procurement authority for voting equipment, and deadlines for contesting constitutional amendments and election irregularities. Several items were explained as cleanup or consistency changes to align the election code with current practice and prior omnibus revisions. Board members asked multiple clarifying questions, especially about the meaning of “unaffiliated,” the timing language for pre-registrants, what counts as actual notice of a candidate’s death, and whether proposed rules would follow the APA. The most substantive disagreement involved item 37, which would have allowed the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official; after discussion, the board agreed to remove that item from the omnibus recommendations. Members also discussed item 38, which would create a cause of action and deadline for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, which clarifies that election contests cannot be filed before election day. The board then approved the remaining provisions—items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 and 39—and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• travel far to be here, in respect of them and the author, please allow the author to complete their opening
• If a motion is made during the author's opening remarks, I will simply state that the motion will be
• Each member present today will have an opportunity to provide an opening statement, a closing statement
• We'll keep the roll open for additional members. Thank you so much. Thank you. Congratulations.
• We'll keep the roll open for three more minutes for any additional members that would like to add on.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Primary care is free. If I want specialist care, the co-pay is $40.
• c> is</c><00:03:53.319><c> free</c><00:03:54.319><c> uh</c><00:03:54.519><c> if</c> fitness uh uh Primary
• Care is free uh if fitness uh uh Primary Care is free uh if I<00:03:54.799><c> want</c><00:03:55.200
• </c> We're trying to work for in the primary insurance market, so thank you for your efforts on this,
• enrollment because my weekly open enrollment because my weekly legislative<00:15:36.079><c> bu</c><00

Bills: HF2335 , HF2400 , HF2401 , HF2522

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: Medicare, health insurance, supplement policies, preexisting conditions, medical assistance, premium classification, real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, continuing education, out-of-state, licensing, commerce, fraud prevention, automobile theft, law enforcement, insurance crimes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.
• Seeing none, staff please open the queue for a vote.
• Open the queue, please. Declare the vote. 60 nay.
• Open the queue. Staff, declare the vote, please.

Bills: SB667 , SB904 , SB1344 , SB1380 , SB1423 , SB1425 , SB1484 , SB1500 , SB1502 , SB1503 , SB1555 , SB1561 , SB1562 , SB1565 , SB1572 , SB1644 , SB1749 , SB1833 , SB2007 , SB2044 , SB2074

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: chiropractic, licensure, animal chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, licensing requirements, gender transition, gender-affirming care, transgender, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, hormone therapy, sex reassignment, transition surgery, Medicaid, public funds, state facilities, state hospital, Oklahoma, intersex, DSD

Transcript Highlights:

• The room is open for attendance. We expect everyone to behave.
• Any primary witnesses in opposition? Any additional witnesses in opposition?
• And with that, I also want to open up the committee hearing room to members of the public on any bill
• SB 1229 reflects a thoughtful and targeted approach, one that keeps the door open for disaster victims

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on July 1, 2026, and first heard SB 1055 by Senator Laird, which would authorize additional construction procurement methods for the Pajaro River levee/flood control project to speed delivery, improve quality control, and reduce costs after prior flooding and evacuations. The Nature Conservancy testified in support, and there was no opposition or committee questioning. The bill was later moved out of committee, with Republicans not voting and Assemblymembers Dixon and Tangipa voting no. The committee also heard SB 1000 by Senator Becker, a follow-up to California’s AI Transparency Act. The bill would update content provenance and disclosure rules for AI-generated and non-synthetic content, remove a user threshold for covered systems, add privacy protections, and create guardrails for third-party licenses, with the goal of aligning California’s rules with international standards. Adobe and Google supported the measure, and it was sent out on a roll call with Mr. Ta not voting. SB 1229, presented on behalf of Senator Allen, would limit an existing Coastal Act disaster-rebuild exemption to prevent speculative development from using the exemption to reduce public access to the coast. The Nature Conservancy supported the bill, there was no opposition, and it was moved out of committee. The committee also approved several bills on the consent and suspense calendars, and public comment included Imperial County concerns about SB 675, including board representation, implementation timing, county administrative control, and funding for mandated changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one deals with direct primary care arrangements.
• Primary care, I think, is something that will touch that.
• focus of providing primary care.
• So that the role of the primary care doctor, physician, could be even further focused on primary care
• , or excuse me, of private equity investment in primary ...primary or, excuse me, of private equity investment

Summary: The Senate first considered several amendments to a primary care/health care bill. Amendment 1, on artificial intelligence in health care and mental health services, was withdrawn by unanimous consent. Amendment 37, which would have required a rate band for outpatient primary care reimbursement, was debated and then defeated on a roll call, 5-33. Amendment 39, on direct primary care arrangements and deductible credits, was also defeated 5-33. The chamber then took up and passed the conference report for An Act Relative to Teachers Preparation and Student Literacy (H. 5511), with senators emphasizing the need for evidence-based literacy instruction, universal screening, dyslexia screening, teacher training, and implementation funding; the bill was enacted and sent to the Governor after a 39-0 roll call. The Senate then returned to Amendment 60 on the primary care bill, which would have created a “safety valve” allowing alternative payment systems to be proposed to the Health Policy Commission. After debate over whether the bill already allowed flexibility, the amendment was defeated 5-33. Amendment 50, requiring stronger health equity reporting, was adopted. Amendment 66, a technical fix setting commercial payment rates for community health centers at the MassHealth PPS rate, was adopted. Amendment 24, excluding pharmaceutical spending from the primary care spending baseline and target, was adopted. Amendment 45, a study on expanding the role of allied health professionals, was withdrawn. Amendment 48, a group purchasing cooperative pilot, and amendments 53, 61, and 63 were also withdrawn. The Senate adopted Amendment 64, which prohibits prior authorization from delaying FDA-approved medications for serious mental illness, and rejected Amendment 68 on reporting private equity investment in primary and specialty care, as well as Amendments 71 and 72 on scope of practice and ownership disclosure. Amendment 62, a technical change modernizing the definition of primary care and clarifying the care team, was adopted. Amendment 21, the Senate Ways and Means amendment, was then adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading, and the Senate passed An Act relative to primary care for you (S. 3116) to be engrossed on a 35-4 roll call. The Senate then adjourned to a later date, with memorial references at adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one, deals with primary care, which is the focus of the bill.
• The first one deals with direct primary care arrangements.
• focus of providing primary care.
• So that the role of the primary care doctor, physician, could be even further focused on primary care
• ...primary or, excuse me, of private equity investment in primary and specialty care practices so that

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that, but we're open for questions now. that, but we're open for questions now.
• </c> beginning of the year, um, during open beginning of the year, um, during open houses.<01:01:57.680
• Most kids see their primary care provider once a year.
• Most kids see their primary attendance.
• our front door and see could just open our front door and see what's<01:12:35.840><c> happening.

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I should have opened with this, but I'm coming back to it anyway.
• I should have opened with direction.
• I should have opened with this,<00:09:14.320><c> but</c><00:09:14.640><c> be</c><00:09:15.760><c> I'm
• So other storefronts could<00:29:59.760><c> open</c><00:29:59.919><c> up</c><00:30:00.159><c> right</
• </c><00:53:22.240><c> lawful</c> not being in their primary lawful not being in their primary lawful

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that we had to file a suit with the Supreme Court, which allowed, I believe, seven sites that were open
• On every regular primary and general election day, schools operated by a school district must be closed
• So we're going out to these properties, and the majority of the burned-down structures, open cesspools
• His post-mortem toxicology identified mitragynine, the primary alkaloid in kratom leaf.
• Thank you so much for your consideration, and I'm open to any questions. Questions.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard a long series of bills, mostly from Senators Hoffman, Fernandez, and Bolick. Early action included SB 1436 on school bond/override ballot language, which passed 4-3 after brief debate over ballot length and transparency. SB 1568, requiring election systems to keep clocks within 60 seconds of official time and making violations a misdemeanor, was amended and passed 4-3 despite concerns about machine failures and the breadth of the penalty. SB 1569, limiting special election board members from collecting voter registrations while assisting confined voters, also passed 4-3 after testimony from county officials and a deputy registrar describing alleged misuse of SEBs. SB 1746, requiring schools to serve as polling places and closing schools on regular primary/general election days for staff training, passed 4-3 over objections about school autonomy and safety. SB 1295, allowing certain incarcerated people needing long-term care or treatment to be transferred to contracted medical institutions, passed unanimously after an amendment narrowing the medical eligibility language. The committee then took up SB 1067, a county blight/abatement bill allowing property tax bills to include assessments for removing rubbish, debris, and dilapidated structures; county officials from Gila and Pima Counties strongly supported it, and it passed 7-0. SB 1285, which would have repealed kratom protections and added kratom and its alkaloids to the narcotic-drug list, drew strong opposition from industry and a pharmacist and failed 3-4 after debate over safety, regulation, and criminal penalties. SB 1413, removing the $100,000 restitution cap for serious injury or death caused by a moving violation, passed after a short explanation that it was intended to conform statutes to a prior Arizona Supreme Court ruling. SB 1476, making prenatal exposure to dangerous or narcotic drugs and fetal alcohol syndrome a class six felony child neglect offense with an affirmative defense for mothers who completed treatment, drew emotional testimony from a foster/adoptive parent and opposition from reproductive justice and criminal defense advocates; it passed 4-2. Later, SB 1585, creating standards and funding mechanisms for sex offender-specific evaluations, treatment, and polygraphs, passed 4-2 after supporters argued it would improve oversight and opponents questioned the added surcharge and appropriation. SB 1662, requiring probation conditions to be the least restrictive necessary and tailored to risk and needs, passed 5-0 with support from justice reform advocates and defense attorneys. SB 1664, adjusting constable nomination signature requirements in Maricopa and Pima Counties, passed unanimously after county association support. The committee then began SB 1666 on in-state custodial interference, with the sponsor and a supporter describing repeated violations of custody orders and arguing for a tiered civil-penalty-to-felony structure; the transcript ends during questioning on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I want to open up to questions first to my colleagues.
• Um I want<00:27:03.279><c> to</c><00:27:03.440><c> open</c><00:27:03.600><c> up</c><00:27:03.760><c>
• One thing that this bill does is it opens it up to a lot more people.
• it up to a lot bill does is it opens it up to a lot more<00:41:57.920><c> people.
• </c> director to make sure that the primary director to make sure that the primary care<00:42:16.000>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on best practices for medical or compassionate release programs used by correctional systems nationwide and how Hawaii’s current approach compares. Kristen Johnson of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission introduced Molly Crane of Families for Justice Reform, noting that the commission, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Hawaii Paroling Authority have all been involved in developing proposed legislation, though the bill itself was written by community advocate Bob Merse. Crane described FAM’s work on justice reform and said the group has studied compassionate release programs across the country, including federal reforms, to help Hawaii align with best practices. Crane argued that compassionate release is intended for people who are too ill or cognitively impaired to pose a public-safety risk and who are often the most expensive and resource-intensive people to incarcerate. She said Hawaii is the only state without a compassionate release statute and currently relies on an agency policy, which she described as complex and slow. She cited examples of severe medical cases in custody, including people with advanced dementia, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, and hospice needs, and said the burden on correctional medical staff, overtime, off-site transport, and specialized care can consume a disproportionate share of staff time and state resources. She also said the recidivism rate for this population is under 1 percent, citing Vera Institute research. Members asked about the source of the recidivism figure, how a statute would streamline the process, and why the issue had not advanced in the past. Crane said the proposed bill would reduce layers in the process by moving cases from the medical director to the director and then to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, with a target timeline of about 30 business days from petition to hearing. Johnson said prior efforts failed in part because the agencies most affected were not included early in drafting and revision, and she said one attempt was vetoed, another was removed in conference committee, and another passed one chamber but did not advance. Johnson also explained that incarcerated people’s medical care is paid entirely by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with no private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare coverage while incarcerated, making severe cases a direct burden on state funds. No votes or formal actions were taken because the briefing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Murphy's district, and I hope you would support us in keeping the funding so these courts can stay open
• c><00:22:42.640><c> courts</c><00:22:42.960><c> can</c><00:22:43.200><c> stay</c><00:22:43.360><c> open
• </c> funding so these courts can stay open funding so these courts can stay open and<00:22:44.000><c>
• Could I just add that access to primary health care in the North Country is problematic.
• Could I just add that<00:52:06.880><c> access</c><00:52:07.559><c> to</c><00:52:08.559><c> primary</c

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker is about to open up the roll call machine.
• The Speaker has opened the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2219 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2343 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB2574 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2179 , HB2203 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2464 , HB2495 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2636 , HB2192 , HB2251 , HB2262 , HB2266 , HB2298 , HB2320 , HB2323 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2405 , HB2442 , HB2523 , HB2593 , HB2632 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2095 , HB2157 , HB2225 , HB2274 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2333 , HB2476 , HB2508 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1634 , HB1707 , HB1906 , HB1909 , HB2196 , HB2244 , HB2339 , HB2361 , HB2384 , HB2389 , HB2410 , HB2468 , HB2475 , HB2521 , HB2548 , HB2619 , HB2637 , HB2720

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House received a Senate message announcing passage of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5156, then moved to second reading and final passage on several House bills. Substitute House Bill 2244, which adopts recommendations from the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee/Sunshine Committee to clean up public records exemption statutes, was advanced and passed 70-26 after Representative Mena urged support and Representative Walsh expressed mixed concerns about exemptions from the Public Records Act and voted no. The House then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2196, a bill expanding coverage for treatment related to PANS/PANDAS. Members described the bill as helping families access expensive care such as IVIG, while opponents raised concerns about premium costs and the scope of coverage. Amendment 1883 narrowed the bill to large-group coverage and was adopted 54-36; Amendment 1943, which would have included PEBB and SEBB state insurance plans, failed. The bill then passed 83-13. The House also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which reorganizes Climate Commitment Act account uses and related allocations, after rejecting a proposal to direct more money to transportation and forest landowner compensation; the bill passed 56-41. Additional measures passed with broad support. Substitute House Bill 2339, a technical update to nursing regulation and Board of Nursing rulemaking authority, passed 94-3. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2274, modifying the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act to address misleading email solicitations while limiting penalties for good-faith actors, passed 86-11 after a striker amendment was adopted. Engrossed House Bill 2179, narrowed by amendment to a single port district, passed 96-1 to address retirement contribution issues for port workers. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2637, updating protections for personal information entrusted to agencies, passed 52-45 after an amendment clarifying disclosure language was adopted; supporters said it improves data protection, while opponents warned of added bureaucracy and reduced local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a restaurant that is going to be opening up here shortly. The movie theater is opening.
• We have a restaurant that is going to be opening up here shortly. The movie theater is opening.
• In addition, there are other public amenities such as Folkison Library, ...is opening.
• So the long-term solvency of the fund is of really primary importance.
• Thank you. ...of the fund is of really primary importance.

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee first heard HB 124, which would codify the Office of New Americans within the Workforce Solutions Department. The sponsor and Workforce Solutions officials said the office has already been operating on a grant and has become a key resource for businesses and immigrant workers, especially for workforce development, credential recognition, language access, and referrals. Supporters from immigrant advocacy, child care, conservation, and civic groups argued the office would help address labor shortages, improve integration, and strengthen economic growth. Several members questioned whether the office would serve people without legal status, what services would be provided, and whether it would create taxpayer costs; sponsors said eligibility would depend on specific programs, the office would mainly provide referrals and workforce support, and it is currently philanthropic grant-funded. The bill was ultimately passed on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee then considered SJR 6, a proposed constitutional amendment to change New Mexico’s pretrial detention standards. The sponsor argued the 2016 bail reform language has contributed to a “revolving door” for repeat offenders and that the current standard is too restrictive and inconsistently applied across judicial districts. Supporters from State Police said the resolution would give clearer direction and let voters revisit the issue. Opponents from the ACLU and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association warned it would expand pretrial detention, weaken the requirement that the state prove no release conditions are adequate, and disproportionately affect poor people and people of color. After extended debate over public safety, judicial discretion, and whether the proposal should include a clearer standard, the committee approved the resolution on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee also passed SJR 7, a land swap between the state and the City of Santa Fe involving the DPS site and part of the Midtown campus. The sponsor, the Department of Public Safety, and the Santa Fe mayor said the exchange had been discussed for years, would allow the state to own the land under its DPS facilities, and would help the city advance its Midtown redevelopment plan, including housing and public amenities. Members asked about the parcels involved, whether both sides agreed, and whether any member had a financial interest; the sponsor said the swap was non-monetary and fully agreed to by both parties. The resolution passed without opposition. Finally, the committee heard SM 31, which creates a workgroup with LFC, DFA, and PERA to study the loss of COLAs for PERA retirees and recommend solutions. Retiree advocates said the reduced COLA has significantly eroded pension value and that retirees relied on the statutory promise of a 2% COLA. Other speakers emphasized the need to protect long-term fund solvency while addressing retiree losses. The memorial passed unanimously by roll call. The meeting then recessed, with the chair noting the next day’s agenda would be posted later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• There was some pressure in the legislature to open the negotiations again and force one of them to be
• The Central Area Senior Center is right around the corner from me, and you have an open invitation to

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB1795 , HB2107 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2245 , HB2253 , HB2283 , HB2343 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB1170 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2360 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2525 , HB2605 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1710 , HB1750 , HB1903 , HB1941 , HB1974 , HB1982 , HB1983 , HB2006 , HB2034 , HB2105 , HB2179 , HB2203 , HB2215 , HB2223 , HB2239 , HB2247 , HB2297 , HB2303 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2334 , HB2338 , HB2345 , HB2348 , HB2350 , HB2353 , HB2355 , HB2363 , HB2367 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2418 , HB2420 , HB2428 , HB2441 , HB2462 , HB2464 , HB2467 , HB2495 , HB2505 , HB2534 , HB2539 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2554 , HB2557 , HB2575 , HB2577 , HB2588 , HB2594 , HB2604 , HB2636 , HB2714

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House took up several bills on second and third reading, beginning with House Bill 2360 on expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools. A motion to recommit the bill to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee failed on a roll call vote, 38 yeas to 56 nays. Supporters said the bill would help school nurses respond to students in respiratory distress and reflected input from nurses, OSPI, and the Department of Health. Opponents raised concerns about training, drug interactions, follow-up care, costs to districts, and schools making medical decisions without a diagnosis. The bill then passed 60-34. House Bill 2467, clarifying measurement rules for fifth-wheel travel trailers, passed 94-0 after sponsors said it would help Washington dealers and consumers. House Bill 1983, relating to timberland tax treatment when land is sold to DNR, passed 68-26 amid debate over whether it would help forest management or make it easier for DNR to acquire timberland. House Bill 2531, updating ambulance transport fund quality assurance rules to align with federal regulations and preserve matching funds, passed unanimously 94-0. The House also passed Substitute House Bill 1390, which phases out the Community Protection Program for certain developmentally disabled individuals with high-risk histories and transfers participants to other waiver programs. Supporters said the program was overly restrictive, out of compliance with federal law, and had trapped people in long-term confinement-like conditions; opponents argued it would weaken public safety and move dangerous individuals into community settings without adequate safeguards. The bill passed 52-44. House Bill 2367, eliminating a preferential treatment related to the former TransAlta coal plant in Centralia, passed 63-33 after supporters framed it as closing the book on coal and opponents warned about energy reliability, jobs, and an emergency clause. Substitute House Bill 2133, making a property tax exemption for certain senior centers permanent, passed 96-0. Substitute House Bill 2355, establishing labor protections for domestic workers, passed 57-39 after supporters emphasized dignity and long-standing worker abuse concerns, while opponents cited fiscal impacts. The House then passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2534, with a technical amendment, to improve educational stability for children in military families; it passed 96-0. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974, creating a land banking framework to support affordable housing, passed 59-37 after an amendment reduced fiscal impact by striking some tax preference sections. House Bill 2223, allowing certain irrigation district board service by farmers with spouses employed by the district, passed 93-3. Substitute House Bill 2239, allowing family burial grounds on private property, passed 96-0 after supporters cited rural needs, cultural traditions, and personal family stories. The session also included a brief congratulatory recognition for Representative David Stuebe after his first bill passed the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll have the opportunity to provide one to two minutes in your opening testimony to this committee
• We'll then open it up to the committee members to ask questions in advance.
• In your opening, you're welcome to introduce any guests that you'd like.
• He's a strong partner in county efforts and always open to counties working together.
• We'll then open it up for committee members to ask questions in advance of comments in your opening.

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee established quorum and first approved several non-appearing gubernatorial appointees and procedural items on unanimous 5-0 votes, including Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board, references of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgements. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access and equity, continuing CalAIM and behavioral health transformation, and drawing on personal experience with family members needing care. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, eligibility redeterminations, fraud oversight, provider reimbursement, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the impact of federal changes; Sadwith said the department is working on expedited payments, monitoring distressed hospitals, county technical assistance, and strategies to reduce disenrollments and improve program integrity. Public commenters from county, hospital, and care organizations supported his confirmation, and the committee advanced his nomination to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee next considered Chris Thayer, PhD, for Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, scientifically rigorous health assessments and supporting tools such as Prop 65, CalEnviroScreen, and risk communication. Senators pressed him on the use of models versus real-world data, fenceline monitoring, PFAS, wildfire health impacts, and whether OEHHA’s work adequately reflects lived experience and local conditions. Thayer responded that the office often must rely on the best available evidence, including animal, human, and alternative methods, while continuing to improve communication and community engagement; he also discussed EnviroScreen updates, Prop 65 warning reforms, and research gaps. Public testimony in support highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role and the importance of biomonitoring and PFAS work. The committee approved Thayer’s nomination to the full Senate on a 3-1 vote, with Senator Grove voting no and Senator Jones not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1493 would require school board special elections to be consolidated with the next primary or the
• So I would be open to working with you all because you all clearly have subject matter expertise, and
• So I'm open.
• There is evidence, and I stated it in my opening. U.S.
• And, again, I'm definitely open to continue to change it. I say this a lot. I'm a Republican.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met at the start of the 2026 session and heard four bills. AB 673 (Jackson) would create a five-year Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program for 16- and 17-year-old homeless students who are not in a parent or guardian’s custody, with grants to local education agencies for housing referrals, basic needs, tutoring, employment readiness, and related services. Support came from the Department of Education and an Alameda County Office of Education representative. Members raised questions about funding, reporting burdens on small districts, and coordination with county and nonprofit services, but the bill was approved 6-0 and sent to Human Services as amended. AB 1493 (Avila Farías) would have required school board special elections to be consolidated with the next primary or general election. The author argued this would reduce costs and increase turnout, while opponents including CFT and the California School Boards Association said it would reduce local accountability and preserve too much time for appointed members without voter input. Committee members debated turnout, democracy, costs, and whether the bill should instead address signature thresholds; the author said she was open to further work, but the measure failed on a 2-2 vote and did not advance. AB 68 (Gallagher) would require rural school districts, as defined in the bill, to have at least one school resource officer on campus, with a good-cause exception and a compliance plan if a district cannot meet the requirement. The author and a Glenn County superintendent said rural schools face long response times and need more protection, while CSBA, the Small School Districts Association, and several advocacy groups opposed the mandate, citing local control, costs, and evidence that SROs can increase anxiety and disciplinary actions without improving safety. After a lengthy debate over safety, local control, and funding, the bill passed 5-2 and was sent to Public Safety. AB 296 (Davies), which would create a standalone website for schools to buy and sell used career technical education equipment, drew support from construction industry groups and passed unanimously 8-0 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• 10% isn't really a good top 10% and this program opens it up for them to go get additional people that
• What I want to make sure that the bill does is... is that it opens up the opportunity for you at this
• The geographic diversity was the primary diversity that we were seeing as a result of top percentage.
• Would it open up more opportunities for people who may not have the opportunity to go to the school?
• And it's really kind of about opening them up to potential. Great. Okay. Thank you, members.

Bills: HB42 , HB 125 , HB 1233 , HB2853 , HB3148 , HB3326 , HB3701 , HB4066 , HB4361 , HB4762 , HB4909 , HB4912 , HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso