Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, request consent. House for >> Mr. Speaker, request consent.
• This marks the first conference on major appropriations legislation in close to a decade, and it's a
• I request the yeas and nays. >> The gentlelady requests the yeas and nays.
• ><c> secured</c> legislation.
• We've indeed secured legislation.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, September 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in my eyes, AB 1538 is an essential piece of legislation.
• Questions, comments, motions, all appropriate at this time.
• Members, I ask for your aye vote at the appropriate time.
• I'm a legislative advocate with ACLU Cal Action.
• Before we break for lunch, at the request of Dr.

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee heard a long agenda of bills, with several authors presenting measures focused on probation, prison conditions, public safety, diversion, and infrastructure theft. Early in the hearing, AB 1816 by Assembly Member Davies proposed allowing courts to extend probation for up to one additional year for people convicted of registrable sex offenses who have not completed required treatment. Supporters, including the Chief Probation Officers of California, argued the bill would improve rehabilitation and public safety by allowing treatment to be completed; opponents, including public defenders and civil liberties groups, said existing revocation tools already address noncompliance and warned the bill was vague and would prolong supervision. The bill was later moved on call with an aye recommendation. The committee also heard AB 2593, which would prohibit non-medical staff from interfering with prescribed care for incarcerated patients; it drew broad support from medical, disability, public defender, and justice reform groups and passed to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including AB 1927 and AB 2502, was adopted without controversy. The committee then considered AB 1538 by Assembly Member Krell, which would bar elected or appointed officials from using political power for retaliation. Support came from a student activist and the California News Publishers Association, with additional support from education, law enforcement, and civil liberties groups; no opposition testimony was offered, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2584 by Assembly Member Flora, as amended, would narrow civil liability for lawful defensive force; supporters framed it as protecting self-defense, while one opposition witness objected on behalf of labor and justice groups. The chair noted concerns about eliminating civil liability but still recommended aye, and the bill passed to Judiciary. AB 2217 by Assembly Member Zbur would rename and expand the LEAD diversion program as “Alternatives to Arrest,” broaden eligible offenses, and continue grant funding for local diversion efforts. Supporters emphasized reduced recidivism and service connections, and the bill was moved on call to Appropriations. Later, the committee took up AB 1941 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez, which would create an organized metal theft offense and a statewide data-sharing system to address copper theft and damage to public infrastructure. Supporters from utilities, cities, transit, telecom, and law enforcement described widespread outages, costly repairs, and public safety risks; opponents argued the bill would deepen criminalization and racial disparities and that non-carceral solutions were preferable. The author and supporters responded that the bill was needed to address repeated thefts that leave communities without lights, power, or 911 service, and the measure passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2499 by Assembly Member Gibson sought stronger protections for incarcerated people and workers from extreme heat and inadequate ventilation in state prisons. The bill was backed by incarcerated workers, family members of a woman who died from heat-related causes, and a wide coalition of public defender, civil rights, and prisoner advocacy groups. Members spoke emotionally about prison conditions and the need for humane treatment, and the bill passed to Labor and Employment with strong support.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's 500,000 left of that appropriation. appropriation. appropriation.
• This was part of 2024 appropriation legislation.
• This was part of 2024 appropriation legislation.
• </c> the intent of the 2023 legislation. the intent of the 2023 legislation.
• </c><02:30:31.280><c> Uh</c> legislators in a budget year. Uh legislators in a budget year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we certainly want to work with our partners in the legislative partners as well as our providers
• One of the department's legislative budget request items which is a 50.6 million fun shift from federal
• The fiscal impact can be separated into 4 appropriation categories that are visible per the General Appropriations
• Any change in the legislative budget requests to 50.6 million could directly impact the state's overall
• They're going to sort fall. >> We put in our legislative budget request, which, you know, but by doing

Transcript Highlights:

• And for any of you, the, if rate requests have some padded or built in particular, If rate requests have
• But the legislation, if you could help us, you know, send us copies of the legislation that y'all pass
• In 2025, we advocated for consumer-protection legislation in more than 25 states and helped enact legislation
• In fact, some of the states that have passed legislation are going back to revise the legislation that
• Obviously, in September, the General Appropriations Act became effective and appropriated $10 million

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Appropriations Committee. The committee is called to order.
• And the challenge that I have is that this really was an ongoing appropriation when we appropriated it
• a specific appropriation for ESA administration.
• a specific appropriation for an ESA administration other states use ...to request a specific appropriation
• more money or vote for appropriating more money.

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2584, which would prohibit public monies from being used for genetic sequencing procedures involving devices made by companies owned or substantially controlled by entities domiciled in a foreign adversary. The sponsor said the bill is intended to protect genetic data from being sold or used against the United States. There was no public testimony, and the committee approved the bill on a 13-5 vote for a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up HB 2804, which creates a rural development and housing tax credit capped at $2 million per year and tied to federal low-income housing tax credit projects in counties under 800,000 population. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Flagstaff mayor, and housing investors/developers, argued it would leverage private capital to address rural affordable housing shortages, especially for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. Opponents, including the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, argued state LIHTC programs are inefficient, costly, hard to oversee, and can add complexity and higher per-unit costs. The bill passed 13-4 with one not voting. HB 2388, as amended, appropriates $100,000 for the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers, with a report due June 30, 2027. Supporters said the study would help Arizona plan for energy demand and data center growth, while opponents argued the agency should use existing funds instead of a new appropriation. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 10-7 with one not voting. The committee also received a presentation from the Auditor General on county treasurer procedural reviews, including the response to the Santa Cruz County treasurer embezzlement case and the office’s ramp-up plan for reviews and staffing. Later, the committee approved HB 2352, which appropriates $2,385,900 in FY2029 to make the Auditor General’s county treasurer review funding ongoing. Members supporting the bill said the office needs certainty to plan audits and retain staff, while opponents objected to funding it so far in advance during budget uncertainty. The bill passed 11-7. The committee also approved HB 2418, as amended, which directs $600,000 to be evenly distributed among five county sheriff task forces in Cochise, Coconino, Navajo, Pinal, and Yuma counties; supporters said it codifies the long-standing distribution practice, and it passed 17-1. Finally, the committee heard HB 2499, which would provide $2.6 million and 12 FTEs to the Department of Education for ESA administration; supporters argued the program’s rapid growth requires more staff for enrollment, reviews, and accountability, while members questioned the lack of standardized testing data and how to measure student outcomes. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on HB 2499.

Transcript Highlights:

• The items that we can't complete without funding include two legislative budget requests that I'll go
• And then in September, DMS submitted legislative budget requests to increase fleet transparency and efficiency
• So right now there are that many procurement actions, that many legislative budget requests, that many
• budget appropriations, and that many procurements that go out against the state term contract.
• And we'll submit it to the Legislature for funding requests for next year.

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met for its first meeting of the session, took roll, and heard a presentation from Ken Plant of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee on SB 108, the 2025 law overhauling Florida rulemaking. The presentation focused on new deadlines for agencies to begin and publish rules, limits on automatic sunset provisions, changes to emergency rule procedures, expanded public input on statements of estimated regulatory costs, a five-year review cycle for existing rules, and new licensing-reporting requirements. Members asked about the review timeline and emphasized the need to keep agencies accountable for meeting the new requirements. The committee then reviewed the Department of Management Services’ response to Auditor General Report 2025-1096 on fleet management. DMS said the audit found 10 issues, most of which it believes it has addressed, and described the statewide fleet system as tracking about 27,000 assets with limited staff. DMS highlighted two major improvement ideas that would require funding: an enterprise telematics system to automate vehicle data and improve tracking, and centralized fleet procurement to reduce duplication and save money. Members questioned the status of FleetWave implementation, missing vehicle records, integration with other state systems, and access controls for separated employees. DMS explained that FleetWave is fully implemented but still relies on manual data entry, that discrepancies with the state accounting system largely reflect mismatched or inconsistent entries, and that policies and procedures were updated after the audit. The department said it now works more closely with People First to deactivate access when employees leave. After discussion, no further business was raised, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Most notably, we support legislative Most notably, we support legislative action<00:32:11.200><c
• </c><00:37:55.680><c> around</c> experience working on legislation around experience working on legislation
• legislation legislation and<00:40:04.800><c> and</c><00:40:05.280><c> making</c><00:40:05.599><c> the
• request directly from DCYF.
• :03.039><c> direct</c> proposed legislation is for direct proposed legislation is for direct access<01

Bills: HF3901, HF962, HF4428, HF4478, HF1775

Keywords: foster care, ombudsperson, investigative powers, children's rights, complaint process, HF4428, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, community engagement, work requirement, work mandate, employment requirement, community service, 80 hours, half-time student, income threshold, federal minimum wage, eligibility verification, benefit suspension, benefit termination

Transcript Highlights:

• our necessary state match and maintenance of effort funding are The 2027 incremental appropriation request
• We had a request of $1.4 million. And so now this is compounded. Now we're at a $3 million request.
• Is that included in this budget request?
• Oh, OK, so we've got a $3 million request.
• We had a request of $1.4 million. And now this is compounded. Now we're at a $3 million request.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a special appropriation that was needed. That's no need that appropriate.
• It was a special appropriation that was needed. That's no need that appropriate.
• So that's the request this year?
• And then when the legislative body creates or passes legislation that reduces those fees, it creates
• So any of the pieces of legislation like Senator McMath's legislation, we do attach a fiscal note to

Summary: The committee heard FY27 budget presentations for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, beginning with Public Safety Services. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the department’s recommended budget of $645.9 million, including supplemental pay, State Police, Motor Vehicles, and the State Fire Marshal. Officials explained that the overall budget reflects a net decrease from FY26, driven largely by shifts in funding sources, removal of one-time statutory dedications, and adjustments tied to undercollections in fees and self-generated revenues. State Police was recommended at $459.7 million, OMV at $86.7 million, and the Fire Marshal at $41.1 million. Department leaders also described ongoing modernization efforts, staffing vacancies, and the use of efficiencies identified internally. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burns and agency heads testified about State Police operations, including increased cadet graduations, improved Mardi Gras security, progress on APHIS and OMV modernization, and the new crime lab under construction. Members asked about undercollections, vacancies, the role of public tag agents, and whether the agency could expand counter-drone capabilities. Burns said the department has identified about $11 million in efficiencies, but warned that counter-drone work would require additional funding, citing a $4.5 million fiscal note for HB 940 and roughly $9 million more for a robust unit. OMV officials said staffing and retention remain difficult, but modernization should improve service and reduce lines; they also said the agency continues to rely on public tag agents and is working through reinstatement fee collection issues. The committee then reviewed the Department of Corrections FY27 budget, recommended at $902.3 million, with most funding from State General Fund and a large increase tied to higher incarceration costs, medical needs, overtime, and added capacity at Louisiana State Penitentiary. DOC officials said the department remains under pressure from vacancies, turnover, contraband, and medical costs, and that the budget includes funding to add 150 correctional officers at Angola and to house ICE detainees at Camp J. They also discussed criminal justice reinvestment savings, prison enterprises, and reentry programs funded through the Second Chance Act. Members asked about staffing, inmate deaths at Elaine Hunt, work-release pay, and whether the department is tracking the true long-term cost of incarceration. Officials said they are pursuing pay increases, recruitment, expanded training and reentry programs, and more data-driven workforce alignment, while acknowledging that many budget pressures remain unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> United with a focus on legislative United with a focus on legislative affairs<00:12:03.200><c> I
• </c> UMB um emergency grants appropriation UMB um emergency grants appropriation welcome<00:18:41.320
• </c><00:30:14.720><c> and</c> was a part of the um mstate request and was a part of the um mstate request
• I think the original appropriation request was $5 million, but it’s changed with the amendment. Mr.
• I think the original appropriation request was $5 million, but it’s changed with the amendment. Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• As legislators, we get to vote on policies and legislation, and we hope that it would make positive changes
• And decided to introduce legislation on the subject in the context... ...introduced legislation on the
• Just request an aye vote. Thank you.
• Today, as this legislative term peace and safety.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving through the daily file. Several measures were taken up and passed, including bills on county jail accountability (AB 2257), claims against public agencies (AB 2529), affordable housing management metrics (AB 2689), digital wellness instruction in schools (AB 2071), pedestrian and bicycle safety project streamlining (AB 1976), manufactured home transport permits (AB 2012), a Surplus Land Act amendment tied to an Inland Empire soccer project (AB 2139), a Monterey Bay stewardship authority (AB 1548), online electrician licensing (AB 1707), a Caltrans study of navigation apps’ traffic impacts (AB 2105), coastal resiliency permitting reforms (AB 2051), downtown housing streamlining and financing (AB 2074), Cal Fire compensation (AB 2129), emergency care authority for Del Puerto Health Care District (AB 2282), charter school facilities hardship relief (AB 2316), theft by a peace officer under color of authority as serious misconduct (AB 2337), an Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander-serving institution designation (AB 2374), energy and cannabis support bills (AB 2464, AB 2537), and a suicide prevention plan requirement for treatment facilities (AB 2562). Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan margins, and several were described as support bills with no opposition. The floor also debated a major criminal justice measure, AB 2727, which would raise the threshold for elderly parole eligibility for people serving sentences for violent sex offenses and add screening safeguards. Supporters from both parties emphasized child protection, survivor trauma, and specific local cases involving offenders who had become eligible for release; the bill passed 66-0. Another significant debate centered on AB 1958, which would clarify procedures under the California Racial Justice Act by refining how disparity claims are established and rebutted; the author said he would take Senate amendments to address concerns from district attorneys. The Assembly also considered AB 2313, a gas-to-electric transition bill allowing customers with planned service line replacements to opt out of gas service and use funds to electrify their homes. Members raised concerns about cost shifts and equity, and the author responded that the bill includes no-cost-shift language, larger credits for disadvantaged communities, and would not proceed if the math does not work; it passed 41-21. The final major item was AB 1709, a high-profile social media safety bill creating a minimum age of 16 for accounts on platforms using addictive features and establishing an e-safety commission. The author and many supporters from both parties framed the bill as a response to youth mental health harms, addictive design, and the need for age-based safeguards, while some members raised concerns about impacts on LGBTQ youth and other isolated young people who rely on online spaces. Supporters said the bill targets addictive design rather than speech and is intended to preserve safe online connection while limiting harmful features. The measure drew extensive bipartisan support and was still under debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specific to water appropriation...
• I appear before you today to request the committee consider having Legislative Council gather what other
• I appear before you today to request the committee, consider having legislative council gather what other
• Also, periodically during legislative sessions, I would say you've appropriated dollars specifically
• Also periodically during legislative sessions, I would say you've appropriated dollars specifically to

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for overseeing such a large and legislatively important program.
• And I also am a legislator now and am accountable to my community.
• I come from the 24th Legislative District. I'm a single father of two.
• I'm with the Veterans Legislative Coalition.
• I am also here on behalf of the Veterans Legislative Coalition.

Bills: HB2523, HB2606, HB2684, HJM4012

Keywords: community reinvestment, housing, local funding, urban development, economic revitalization, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy, social disadvantage, business certification, state guidelines, economic equity, minority-owned businesses, combat veterans, support, military service, injury compensation, veteran affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?

Summary: The House convened with 66 members present, approved the journal, and received a Senate message transmitting enrolled House Bill 504 to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for delivery to the Governor. Committee reports followed, including several bills recommended do pass and referred to the appropriate committees or calendars, along with House Bill 562 being placed on general orders without objection. During third reading, the House first took up House Joint Memorial 14, which urges federal agencies to advance water-storage research and planning in Idaho, including small and medium reservoir feasibility, basin studies, and a long-term goal of 750,000 acre-feet of new storage by 2100; it passed by voice vote and was sent to the Senate. The House then passed House Bills 676, 737, 615, 683, 684, 645, 703, 560, and 637, with recorded votes on several measures. The bills addressed geothermal utility water-right planning, consolidation of state agency functions, disturbing the peace at religious services, sex-offender residency clarification, reimbursement for counties retrieving escaped prisoners, portable benefits for independent contractors, consolidation of DOPL disciplinary provisions, allowing prospective jurors to serve as poll workers, and recognizing foreign gold and silver coin as legal tender in Idaho. House Bill 637 passed on a narrower 55-13 vote; the others passed with larger margins. Members also agreed to hold the remaining third-reading bills one legislative day. In announcements, committees scheduled upcoming meetings, the Energy Caucus and construction industry reception were noted, and members were reminded to submit amendments before the next general orders calendar. The House then adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are eight states that distribute this information upon request.
• Of those states, Delaware is the only one that mandates a FOIA request.
• The other seven states may easily request that information, Mandates a FOIA request.
• The other seven states may easily request that information via an in-person visit or email.
• They reflect read. ...and turnout highlighted in this legislation are not just statistics.

Bills: HB344

Keywords: campaign finance, elections, transparency, political committees, reporting requirements, enforcement

Summary: The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee heard several election- and campaign-related bills. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 155 would make Public Integrity Commission reports publicly available on the commission’s website, add a specific travel-expense reporting category, and remove the FOIA requirement for accessing reports; Senator Richardson said he supported the transparency measure and asked to be added as a co-sponsor. The committee also took up House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would create state protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, expand language access, prohibit intimidation and deception, and allow court remedies for violations. The bill drew strong support from advocacy groups including YWCA Delaware, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and the Legal Defense Fund, and several senators voiced support and interest in moving it quickly. House Bill 430, a constitutional amendment proposal, would make explicit that only natural persons may vote in Delaware elections, including municipal elections, in response to concerns about corporate or other artificial-entity voting in some towns. The discussion focused heavily on Fenwick Island, where the mayor testified that the town’s charter has long allowed certain artificial entities to vote in local elections and said the system is limited and has worked for years; other speakers argued the bill was needed to prevent corporate dilution of residents’ votes. Senator Richardson expressed concern about restricting entities with a local stake, while Senator Hoffner and others emphasized the principle of one person, one vote. Senator Townsend presented House Bill 344, which would tighten campaign finance rules by requiring Delaware bank accounts for candidates and committees, recurring training, better documentation of candidate loans, longer record retention, automatic filing extensions, and inactive status for noncompliant committees; one public commenter opposed the bill on cost grounds. He also presented House Bill 448, which would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security expenses for candidates and elected officials, with guardrails, and a commenter suggested allowing electronic security systems without a cap. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 472, a local de-annexation measure for Noble’s Pond in Cheswold to remove scattered residential lots from town boundaries and resolve uneven tax treatment; Senator Hoffner noted local law enforcement supported the change. The committee adjourned after hearing no further public comment on HB 472, and the vote to adjourn was unanimous.

Transcript Highlights:

• And although the Joint Legislative Budget Committee has recommended a decrease in our appropriation,
• we would respectfully appropriation, we would respectfully request<00:09:11.760><c> full</c><00:09:12.080
• So, we’re not requesting any general fund appropriations.
• so we're not requesting any general fund<00:49:23.839><c> appropriations.
• . request.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of testimony, legislators will be taken out of turn.
• We respectfully request We respectfully request a favorable recommendation.
• All were defeated by our legislators.
• power away from the legislative body undoes nearly 400 years of town meeting,” “...and to take the legislative
• I urge your support of 8.5. legislative body at that time.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, yes, we requested two positions.
• </c> than what we already have appropriated than what we already have appropriated so<00:53:32.720><c
• </c> yes okay what's the the next request yes okay what's the the next request 4.25<01:00:02.680><c>
• Is there any request coming in? There was a request, but it didn't end up being in the budget.
• Okay, can I ask a CIP request?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair thanked her, and roll call was requested. The clerk took the roll.
• with the dollar these Appropriations with the dollar figures<00:16:04.839><c> are</c><00:16:05.079><
• are based on Appropriations that figures are based on Appropriations that were<00:16:07.560><c> provided
• I would request everyone vote on it simply because it is that extensive, and what we're really trying
• I would request everyone vote on it simply because it is that extensive, and what we're really trying

Keywords: 1183, house