Transcript Highlights:

• number of rate-paid programs.
• We conduct tabletop exercises both here within the state, with the state agencies and the utilities.
• And so we have generators, imports, and demand response programs under contract for resource adequacy
• We have a number of programs, and... Yeah, we have a number of programs.
• The state has many important policy goals, and this comes at us as an alphabet soup of important programs

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1026 by Assembly Member Wilson, which would require investor-owned utilities to provide clearer front-end information and follow more consistent timelines for post-entitlement energization applications tied to housing projects. The author and supporters from the Housing Action Coalition and Mission Housing said utility delays can hold up approved housing, add costs, and create uncertainty, and they argued the bill would align utility processes with recent state efforts to streamline local permitting. PG&E and Southern California Edison opposed the bill, saying existing CPUC timelines and the ongoing energization rulemaking already address the issue, that the bill could be duplicative or premature, and that some proposed timelines were too short. The committee discussed the bill’s relationship to the CPUC’s September 2024 decision, and AB 1026 was ultimately approved on a 15-0 vote, with the consent calendar also passing. The second half of the hearing was the committee’s annual oversight hearing on electric reliability. Representatives from the CPUC, CEC, CAISO, and DWR reviewed lessons from the 2020 and 2022 heat emergencies, emphasizing that California has since added significant resources, improved planning, and created backstop programs such as the strategic reliability reserve. They said the summer 2025 outlook is cautiously optimistic, with no expected shortfalls under traditional planning conditions and a projected surplus, though wildfire and extreme heat remain risks. The agencies also described major changes in planning and operations, including more battery storage, updated resource adequacy rules, expanded transmission planning, and reforms to the interconnection queue. Members asked about data center load, Diablo Canyon’s future, the strategic reliability reserve, demand response, wildfire mitigation costs, affordability, and regional market expansion. Witnesses said data center demand is a major variable but can be managed through better forecasting, flexible service arrangements, and siting in areas with existing capacity; they also said firm clean resources remain valuable while planning continues around Diablo Canyon’s scheduled retirement. On affordability, they said the agencies try to balance reliability with least-cost procurement, and that new resources can lower market prices even as they require upfront investment. CAISO also highlighted the value of the Western Energy Imbalance Market and the planned day-ahead market, saying regional coordination improves both reliability and cost savings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to present this bill that seeks to expand California's extended producer responsibility program
• for loose batteries to include medium-format batteries. ...responsibility program for loose batteries
• By creating the state-funded program that will be administered by the State Water Resources Control Board
• It's our responsibility as this state.
• It's our responsibility as a state to require these plans and estimates so we can do right by our communities

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• department of state and related programs<02:36:35.760> bill.
• State and related programs Department of State and related programs appropriations<04:18:35.600>
• Chairman, as chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Program Subcommittee
• Department of State and Related Program<04:22:52.080> Subcommittee,<04:22:53.040> I<04
• I rise in support of the fiscal year 2026 National Security Department of State and Related Programs

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > different state does have many different state does have many different employment<00:02:04.799
• state agencies, Across all state agencies, there<00:05:10.800> were<00:05:11.039> 219<00
• And so since theseUS program.
• However, upon continue the program.
• The employees payroll in the state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than a competitive grant program.
• This modifies the TEACH scholarship program, which is a scholarship program for the early care and education
• amounts that are consistent with the national teaching program requirements. program requirements.
• In Minnesota, or the FAME program.
• Program integrity.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• The Employee Assistance Program is a union-negotiated benefit for all state employees.
• The state is required to maintain a continuous employee assistance program under various authorities.
• The state is required to maintain a continuous employee assistance program under various authorities.
• There's other programs such as a local partnership program and the State Transportation Improvement Program
• Or we can program a project within the State Highway Operation and Protection Program, which is a major

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• processes across the agency's programs. processes across the agency's programs.
• 41:04.960> program.
• who was responsible for what. who was responsible for what.
• government programs? Mm-m. government programs? Mm-m.
• the state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I invite the Secretary of State up—the State's office. Not the Secretary of State, just the office.
• In response to Secretary Reid's direction, the hotline program has been revised substantially to add
• , and abuse of state resources.
• by state agencies, state employees, or persons under contract with state agencies.
• Thank you again for the opportunity to provide a response to the Secretary of State audit today.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The Joint Interim Committee on Legislative Audits met on June 17 for informational presentations. The Department of Administrative Services, through Chief Audit Executive Eli Ritchie, gave an overview of statewide internal audit requirements and the fiscal year 2025 report. He explained the difference between internal and external audit, described Oregon’s statutory and rule-based internal audit structure, and reported that 30 agencies had internal audit functions, with most meeting required standards. He said 73 audits and 49 advisory/consulting engagements were completed statewide, with strong compliance overall, though a few agencies were rebuilding audit committees after vacancies. No committee questions were raised after the presentation. The Secretary of State’s Audits Division then presented its Government Waste Hotline annual report. Director Steve Bergman and audit manager Olivia Rekhed described changes made to align the hotline with statute, including renaming it the Government Waste Hotline, creating a review panel, improving anonymity protections, removing fraud reporting from the hotline’s scope, and adjusting reporting timelines. They said hotline volume increased modestly in 2025, most reports were referred elsewhere or closed for insufficient evidence, and two reports were substantiated, including questioned costs of about $856 for personal use of a state vehicle and about $2.9 million tied to the Preschool Promise program. Committee members asked about hotline staffing, cost, anonymity, and follow-up on findings; staff said the hotline is lightly resourced, uses a contracted intake service, and referrals or recommendations are followed up through management letters and later reviews. The committee also heard an audit of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s safety inspections and asset tracking. The Secretary of State’s office reported that OPRD had not consistently conducted or documented quarterly OSHA safety inspections and had incomplete asset records, including missing acquisition dates and costs for many assets. The audit made eight recommendations covering safety inspection policies, asset management guidance, tagging, reconciliations, disposition controls, training, and a new asset management system; OPRD agreed to all recommendations. OPRD officials said they had already begun training staff, improving inspection procedures, and working toward a replacement asset system, while noting operational challenges from a large, dispersed park system and manual processes. Committee members asked about what kinds of assets are tracked, how tagging works, whether items were actually being lost, and how much tracking is necessary for low-value tools; OPRD said the main issue was inconsistent classification and documentation rather than widespread loss. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be a purely state-funded program, right?
• So they're looking out for federal programs, but we as a state are flipping the bill.
• that the state was responsible for.
• So I that the state was responsible for.
• <04:48:46.160> funding one program for with the state funding one program for with the state

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State.
• Please just state your name. There is a big group. Just state your name. Come forward.
• The response was thanks.
• The response was that the Homeland Security Advisor is an official designation and all 50 states have
• So it's going from the state of California to a neighboring state, as opposed to going from the state

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is therefore our belief that the state must use a triage response to this crisis, meaning that programs
• There are programs in the state of Massachusetts.
• Supporting reentry programming is fiscally responsible and saves taxpayers money.
• Parents like me across the state are not told DMH's residential programs even exist.
• IRTP program for adolescents and the only existing residential program in the state with the capacity

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was stated in committee that program.
• state education freedom account program state education freedom account program every<03:30:35.840
• the state. This is a state program. the state. This is a state program.
• Again, this is a state program. Towns cannot simply cut them or adjust them.
• All simply to say this is a state program. It's not discretionary for the communities.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, core programs were largely spared, and last year's budget helped position the state on a more
• Certainly, he will be doing in terms of other programs that the state wishes to have.
• I think $3.3 billion from the federal-state partnership and $260 million from the Christie program.
• , and ensuring that our state-subsidized child care programs will have ongoing funding.
• are Funded in the state budget, including the state low-income housing tax credit program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and recommend policy responses.
• States that strike the right balance between responsible innovation and workforce adaptation will be
• States that strike the right balance between responsible innovation and workforce adaptation will be
• that strike the right balance states that strike the right balance between<00:48:01.400> responsible
• workers uh State ethics for the state workers uh State work<01:13:55.080> work<01:13:55.239><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the Secretary of State Safe at Home Program before harm occurs.
• The state has a responsibility to be able to help protect them, and the good news is that we already
• is leaving our state to competing jurisdictions that already offer standalone tax credit programs.
• No, let's take our responsibility for state... ...shift the blame.
• No, let's take our responsibility for state policies.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida Commerce is the governor-designated state authority responsible for administering all of the
• It is not a state program. from focusing on elevation, or I'm sorry, it takes the focus off of buyouts
• This is a federal program. It is not a state program. Accessible to Floridians.
• This is a federal program. It is not a state program. It's 100% federal dollars.
• Program eligibility: These are federal guidelines. These are not state guidelines.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard several housing and disaster-recovery items. The committee heard SB 48 by Senator Gates, which would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead treatment for the owner-occupied portion of the property, limit undue parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum rentals, extend certain density bonuses for military families, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 34 by Senator Sharif, creating a historic cemeteries program to help preserve historic African-American cemeteries and allow sale of excess vacant land if proceeds are used for long-term maintenance; it was also reported favorably. The committee then considered and recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Members also received a presentation from the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida. Deputy Secretary Justin Domer described the state’s administration of HUD disaster recovery funds, including more than $4.3 billion received since 2017, housing repair and replacement programs that have completed 5,271 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects such as sewer conversion in Alford, the new Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, and the Florida Keys desalination plant. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and audit procedures; Domer said the department uses inspections, vendor oversight, and financial penalties, and noted stricter contract consequences in newer programs. The Division of Emergency Management also presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition/demolition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is designed to reduce repetitive flood losses and keep homeowners in place, and that it has received more than 12,000 applications, with about 1,500 prioritized, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about the 25% match for seniors, the wait list, contractor procurement, and how projects are classified; Guthrie said the program uses insurance proceeds where available, has competitively procured 27 contractors, and may shift projects from elevation to reconstruction depending on damage and flood rules. The committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida Medicaid is a state-federal program which costs the taxpayers $35 billion this year, or about
• through ACHA, and thereby it would become a state-federal program, and we would receive federal funds
• training program that's actually leading to a job. ...intellectual pursuits, but a training program
• And thank you for that response.
• The response: “Lost contacts. Who's this, please?” And thank you included in that response.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including a resolution honoring Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a special-order calendar with multiple bills, many of them paired with House companions and amended before final passage. Early action included adoption of a tax conformity bill tied to federal changes in the Internal Revenue Code, with a 34-0 vote. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described provisions to strengthen fraud enforcement, impose work requirements for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid drug purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Democrats offered amendments to delay work requirements until Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP users such as caregivers, seniors, disabled individuals, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators also questioned implementation details, exemptions, and potential effects on vulnerable populations. After debate, the bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a public records exemption and related Parkinson’s Disease Registry measures, designation of the SS American Victory as the state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on legal tender recognition for gold and silver, public records protections for financial and digital-asset custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government budget transparency, digital voyeurism, insurance customer representative licensing, and a medical freedom bill with amendments on vaccine-related materials and anti-kickback provisions. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though the public records bill for gold/silver custodians and the legal tender repeal drew a few dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• PART OF THE STATE THAT WERE NOT AS FAMILIAR OR ACCLIMATED WITH THE HURRICANE DISASTER RESPONSE.
• GRANT PROGRAM.
• WE AS A STATE HAVE HAD TRAILERS DONATED TO US FROM OTHER STATES. TEXAS, LOUISIANA FOR EXAMPLE.
• THE MORE WE MAKE THE OTHER STATES OPERATE STATES AND OTHER STATES ARE COMING HERE.
• THE STATE, CORRECT?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state regulations. state regulations.
• clinical doctoral training at programs clinical doctoral training at programs such<00:03:49.120>
• How many other states are doing it? Do you know? >> Okay. How many other states are doing it?
• . program. program.
• states have different costs.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the October 23 meeting minutes and then heard testimony on a planned 2026 bill to modernize Kentucky’s audiology practice act. Witnesses from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology and a Kentucky audiologist said the proposal would largely codify existing authority and add new powers to order certain imaging and lab tests related to auditory and vestibular conditions, as well as prescribe topical ear medications. They argued the changes would reduce delays, especially in rural areas, improve access to hearing and balance care, and help address provider shortages. Committee members asked about evidence for the expansion, responsibility for reviewing imaging results and incidental findings, and whether the changes might affect referrals or scope of practice. The witnesses said they could provide evidence, that the audiologist would be responsible for obtaining and reviewing radiology reports and following up with patients and primary care providers, and that the goal was to speed treatment and streamline referrals when needed. The committee then heard a separate proposal to update the Kentucky Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy statutes by licensing MRI technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers, who are not currently required to be licensed in Kentucky. The bill would create a transition period through January 1, 2028 for current practitioners, require national credentialing for new applicants after that date, expand the board from 9 to 11 members, and clarify scope and enforcement provisions. Supporters said the measure would improve patient safety, align Kentucky with most other states, and recognize national credentials. Members questioned how many workers would be affected, whether the state currently meets national standards, the cost of licensure, and whether the bill could worsen staffing shortages, especially in rural areas. The witnesses said about 800 MRI technologists and 1,600 sonographers in Kentucky are currently certified, initial licensure would cost $100, and existing licensees would not pay an additional fee. They also said the board viewed the change as a safety measure and noted increasing portability of MRI services across state lines. Finally, the committee began hearing a respiratory care interstate compact proposal. The sponsor and respiratory care representatives described the compact as a way to allow licensed respiratory therapists from member states to practice across state lines. They outlined the profession’s role in hospitals, emergency departments, home care, pulmonary labs, long-term care, and telehealth, and said the compact would help with workforce flexibility and access to care. The transcript cuts off before the discussion concluded or any action was taken on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• program rule.
• the state.
• the state. the state.
• new program? new program?
• The rule state what the rule is stating.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and consent calendar, then moved through several Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid-related rules. Rule 25-220 from the Department of Energy was postponed until June so stakeholders would have more time to review revised language. Rule 25-240, involving Medicaid income verification and deductible provisions for medically needy applicants, was adopted after staff noted the cited sections had expired but the agency said it had continued operating under federal law and the state plan; the agency also said it had begun rulemaking on the cited provision. Rules 25-265 and 2633 were also adopted, with staff explaining that although parts of the rules had expired, the agency had continued implementing the policies through the Medicaid state plan, billing manuals, and related rules. The most extended discussion centered on rule 25-304 from the Bureau of Aging and Adult Services, which covers case management services for the CFI program. Staff and the agency explained that the amended conditional approval request clarified how case management agencies indicate staffing capacity, how telehealth decisions are evaluated, and that the department—not the case management agencies—sets the timeline for accepting or denying cases. The agency said the rule is intended to ensure participants are not pushed into telehealth when they do not want it or cannot use it, while leaving technical and clinical telehealth decisions to the provider. A case management provider testified in opposition to parts of the rule, arguing that the committee should not require agencies to admit unverified patients, that reimbursement-rate issues belong in legislation, that the quality-management section duplicates existing licensure oversight, and that the telehealth language improperly gives case managers authority over how other licensed providers deliver services. Committee members questioned whether the telehealth language was simply allowing case managers to determine whether telehealth fits a person’s care plan, and agency representatives responded that this was the intent. No final vote on rule 25-304 is shown in the transcript excerpt.