Transcript Highlights:

• So the big factors that impact the November forecast are really updated data on actual spending and enrollment
• The same factors as the current biennium drive the negative balance.
• This higher balance is explained by a couple of factors.
• </c><00:43:44.880><c> that</c> Bailey uh and some of those factors that Bailey uh and some of those factors
• Those uh same factors uh discussed.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• provider or money transmitter operating in the state from allowing a user to log in without using two-factor
• authentication or multi-factor authentication for any login.
• Two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication for any login by that user.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> replacement value cost factor replacement value cost factor for<00:31:07.560><c> each</c><00:31:
• </c> which is a condition factor. which is a condition factor.
• </c><00:31:50.680><c> by</c><00:31:50.880><c> 2.5%,</c> cost factor by 2.5%, cost factor by 2.5%, we<
• </c><00:51:09.640><c> by</c><00:51:09.800><c> the</c> factor factor is established by the factor factor
• </c> the geographic, economic, social factors the geographic, economic, social factors of of of a<01:

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Facilities

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:53.680><c> These</c> by a factor that included that.
• These by a factor that included that.
• Here, you have thousands of different factors feeding into it.
• have thousands of different factors feeding<00:25:26.640><c> into</c><00:25:26.960><c> it.
• ><c> there's</c><00:25:38.600><c> thousands</c> of those factors, and there's thousands of those factors

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The growth factor was added on in. Situation at that time.
• The growth factor was added on into there.
• And what's interesting about the growth factor is if you have a major business come into your community
• No, it's got a de-escalating factor figured in there so that it makes sense. I don't know.
• No, it's got a de-escalating factor figured in there so that it makes sense.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I look at the statutory factors, I look at the criminal history of that defendant, those are major factors
• All of those factor into my decision. All right. Thank you. very much. Members, Senator Eckhardt.
• Well, one deals with the factors of what's involved. And certainly those are very important.
• But initially the bail is set based on those factors and of course I can if I find it insufficient I
• I believe that's the factor. I mean, I know the rule is not always is the numbers. Right.

Committee: Senate Nominations

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we go look at the primary factor, the collision factor, and if it is speed or inattentive driving,
• With speed, according to NHTSA, being the number one factor in fatalities and car crashes in the country
• So I've seen both sides of that factor.
• And there are a lot of factors driving the fact that we just don't have the resources.
• And like I said, it was excruciating, but at the same time, I think the speed is a factor when you come

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Times, their years of service, and times 2.3%, and that 2.3% has has been the factor that we've used
• So I there we have two competing factors here.
• It seems like most of the motivating factors for teachers leaving has to do with their experience.
• There's no minimum salary schedule. no other factors that could reduce the amount that is being paid
• But there's another factor here in that the change was made retroactive to last January.

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are still some factors that some people, I should say, we're not really comfortable with yet, and
• The nature of mother nature of being able to control that situation, those are some factors that can
• c><00:12:28.639><c> are</c><00:12:28.800><c> still</c><00:12:29.360><c> some</c><00:12:30.480><c> factors
• </c> that sense there are still some factors that sense there are still some factors that<00:12:32.000
• that can come up those are some factors that can come up off<00:12:51.720><c> the</c><00:12:51.880><

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Culture and the Arts met on January 29 at 10:30 a.m. and heard four bills. HB 133, relating to surfing, drew testimony from the Department of Education and one individual in support. Committee discussion focused on the department’s estimated cost of about $44,000 per event, including judges, lifeguards, security, and administrative expenses. Members also asked about why surfing has been difficult to implement statewide and were told safety concerns, open-water conditions, and league-level decisions were among the barriers. The committee moved the bill forward with amendments, including blanking out the appropriation, and noted it wanted the Education Committee to review the cost breakdown further. HB 307, relating to special license plates for the island of Kahoʻolawe, received strong support from Protect K Ohana, the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, and other supporters in person and via Zoom. Testimony clarified the name of the receiving entity and noted a recent petition showing significant public interest. The bill was advanced with technical amendments, and the chair said the fund name was already correct and that the measure would not reflect DCCA but the bank account designation. HB 450 would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBEDT and move authority over the Works of Art Special Fund to DBEDT’s director. The State Foundation and DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division supported the measure. In response to questions, the State Foundation said it had researched the transfer, believed funding would not be lost, and requested about a year for the transition to avoid payroll and payment disruptions, along with consideration of an additional DBEDT staff position. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, including adding the requested FTE and noting a two-year transition period in the report. HB 663, authorizing a special license plate commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, had little testimony and no one signed up to speak. The chair said OHA advocacy testimony was on file but that support for the measure appeared limited, and the bill was deferred. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes the Governor's budget proposal impacting the guarantee calculation, the maintenance factor
• So contributing to the increase in 2024-25 is a $7.8 billion maintenance factor payment, which is an
• The remaining maintenance factor balance at the end of the three-year window is now approximately $584
• estimate will be reassessed at the May revision and updated, if necessary, based on revised Prop 98 factors
• Yeah, there are a lot of factors you could consider.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held its first hearing of the year on Proposition 98, focusing on the Governor’s budget estimates for the three-year budget window, the Public School System Stabilization Account (PSSA), and repayment of education deferrals. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee would rise by about $21.7 billion over the 2025 Budget Act, with increases in each year, full repayment of the existing settle-up obligation in 2024-25, a new $5.6 billion settle-up obligation proposed for 2025-26, and a higher guarantee in 2026-27. Finance also noted revised downward estimates for transitional kindergarten attendance and Los Angeles County property tax reimbursements, and said community colleges would be funded above the split because of enrollment growth. The Legislative Analyst’s Office emphasized fiscal risk and volatility, warning that recent revenue gains are tied heavily to the stock market and tech sector and could reverse quickly. The LAO argued the Governor’s proposed $5.6 billion delay shifts risk into future years and recommended instead fully funding the current estimate, making a larger reserve deposit, considering advance payments or pension-related uses, and finding additional non-Prop 98 solutions to reduce the state’s structural deficit. On the reserve and deferral items, Finance described revised PSSA deposits and withdrawals that would leave about $4.1 billion in the reserve by 2026-27, and both Finance and the LAO supported paying off the remaining LCFF and SCFF deferrals as good fiscal practice. Committee members questioned the size of the settle-up amount, the degree of revenue volatility, the use of the reserve, and the ongoing K-12/community college split. Finance said the proposal is meant to avoid overappropriation if revenues fall, while the LAO said a buffer of roughly $3.5 billion would address typical forecasting risk. Public commenters, including school boards, county offices of education, teachers, and advocacy groups, largely opposed the $5.6 billion withholding or settle-up delay, calling it a manipulation of Prop. 98 and urging full funding and more stable revenue solutions. Several speakers also urged dedicated funding for students experiencing homelessness. The hearing ended with no vote, and the chair announced that broader program discussions would occur in later hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• safety countermeasures, and include in the design things that we can do that might identify human factors
• By building a deeper understanding of the Contributing factors, we can respond better.
• There are a number of factors to consider.
• Chairman, it's one of the most prevalent contributing factors to accidents and fatalities.
• Right now we know that the number two cause of contributing factors in crashes is the failure to yield

Transcript Highlights:

• or whenever they choose to access it, so they will suck cash receipts out. ...So that's one of the factors
• And when you suck that cash out, some of them may be factoring receivables, which are very transparent
• All we're saying is if you're going to be in this business, it's no different than lenders or factors
• I have been representing banks, lenders, and factoring companies for almost 30 years now.
• Financing on regulatory compliance obligations, including factoring companies and lenders.

Bills: HB12 , HB149 , SB229 , SB1361 , SB1749 , SB1897 , SB2113 , SB2566 , SB2677 , SB1652 , SB2327 , SB2344 , SB2696 , HB12 , HB149

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, automobile sales, finance, retail seller, motor vehicle purchase, motor vehicle sales, pricing restrictions, third-party financing, education, funding, student assessment, accountability, standards, motor vehicle, financing

Transcript Highlights:

• So those factors into the forecast and the cost going up.
• </c> previous Trends um so those factor previous Trends um so those factor into<00:20:55.679><c> the<
• So that's related to the absence and utilization factor for day services, so bringing that down from
• for day services so utilization factor for day services so bringing<00:34:51.560><c> that</c><00:34:
• that same concept applies for day factor that same concept applies for day Services<00:35:16.560><c>

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But even these factors depend on whether systems are designed to recognize and respond to the populations
• And I will say that we have factored into that people who live in the rural regions to ensure that the
• The area agencies on aging are required to prioritize resources according to factors outlined in the
• So SB 258 updated the definition for social factors to include HIV status, adding to existing factors
• We do also have some preliminary data that indicates that there may be an elevated risk factor for the

Summary: The Select Committee on Older LGBTQ Californians held an inaugural hearing focused on the health care and support landscape for older LGBTQ Californians, including people aging with HIV and transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex seniors. Opening remarks emphasized the long history of discrimination faced by older LGBTQ adults, the growth of the aging LGBTQ population, and the need to translate existing state commitments into concrete services. Senators highlighted concerns about nursing home vulnerability, the aging of people living with HIV, and the impact of federal actions and Medicaid cuts on California’s safety net. The first panel featured Justice in Aging, CalHHS, the Department of Aging, and the Aging and HIV Institute. Testimony described widespread inequities, including discrimination, social isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in culturally competent care. State officials outlined the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide survey of LGBTQIA older adults, gender-affirming care protections in Medi-Cal, and efforts to improve coordination across departments. Advocates argued the state has been too slow to respond to federal threats and that services are often hard to find or fragmented. Committee members pressed the departments on how survey findings are being turned into action, how rural and underserved communities are being reached, and whether more formal stakeholder coordination or “no wrong door” access systems are needed. The second panel focused on seniors living with HIV. A long-term survivor gave emotional testimony about the “survivorship penalty,” loss of benefits, housing insecurity, and the need for legal and navigation support, housing assistance, and protection from outdated disability standards. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, which added HIV status to the definition of greatest social need for area agencies on aging; it said 20 of 33 area plans now identify HIV as a target population and many include specific strategies, such as LGBTQIA mental health connections programs. The Office of AIDS described Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, the Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and rely on whole-person case management. Case management testimony underscored persistent needs for medication subsidies, transportation, food, and housing. Committee members questioned how ADAP rebate funds might be used, how SB 258 is enforced across local agencies, and how to reduce administrative barriers and auto-connect eligible people to benefits. The final panel began with the Department of Social Services outlining protections for TGI seniors in licensed care facilities, including SB 219’s nondiscrimination requirements and related provider notices and resident rights materials. The hearing remained focused on identifying service gaps, improving coordination across aging, health, and social service systems, and ensuring state programs better reflect the lived experience of older LGBTQ Californians.

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase in Cal Grant recipients, one factor we believe driving this increase, is the CCC expanded
• Additionally, with earlier setting of the phasing factor, our campuses are able to include the Middle
• We don't have, you know, we are actively trying to understand all of the factors that have gone into
• And at least one of those factors has to be the Middle Class Scholarship.
• But it is possible that, due to inflation and other factors, the longer it takes to bring the project

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard updates on higher education issues, beginning with California State University’s turnaround plans for seven campuses with enrollment declines. CSU said overall enrollment is growing systemwide, but some campuses, especially in Northern California, face structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. The plans focus on reengaging stopped-out and adult learners, expanding partnerships and guaranteed admissions, improving retention and student support, and reducing costs through program suspensions, hiring freezes, shared services, and procurement consolidation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the strategies were reasonable but urged regular legislative updates, and the Department of Finance had no additional comments. Committee members emphasized the need for implementation oversight, written updates, and attention to student outreach, financial aid, and privacy concerns around AI tools used in recruitment. The committee then reviewed the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s request for a $10 million General Fund appropriation to repay litigation-related borrowing. Department of Consumer Affairs and bureau staff said the bureau has a long-standing structural deficit, has already cut positions and shifted some costs, and that the General Fund backfill would reduce future fee increases on institutions. The LAO opposed the request, arguing the bureau can cover near-term costs with its existing loan and that litigation costs should remain the responsibility of the regulated entities through fees. Finance supported the one-time backfill as a unique situation that would lower fee increases and avoid passing litigation costs on to schools and students. Members asked about preventing a repeat of the problem, and bureau staff said they are pursuing fee increases through the sunset review and have strengthened internal policies and disability accommodation practices. The subcommittee also heard a broad update on Cal Grant funding and student aid. The California Student Aid Commission, UC, CSU, and the community colleges described Cal Grant as essential to affordability, but the LAO noted spending has grown faster than historical averages and said the state likely lacks capacity for major expansion in the near term. The segments highlighted the importance of state aid in covering tuition and living costs, and raised concerns about federal changes to student loans and Pell Grants, especially the elimination of Grad PLUS for some graduate students and limits on part-time borrowing. Committee members pressed for data on students who are eligible but not served by current Cal Grant rules, including adult learners and students affected by age and merit restrictions, and asked for analysis of phased-in implementation of the Cal Grant Equity Framework. Finance said full implementation would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and that affordability remains part of the state’s multi-year compact with the segments. Finally, the committee began discussion of the Middle Class Scholarship Program. CSAC and the UC and CSU said the program is a key part of affordability and debt reduction, especially after the 2022 reforms that expanded awards to total cost of attendance and improved administration. They warned that cutting funding by more than half would reduce award coverage from 35% to 17.5% of cost of attendance and could affect enrollment and persistence, particularly for middle-income students who do not qualify for other need-based aid. The segments also noted that recent administrative changes have reduced award revisions and campus workload, but that data exchange and award volatility remain challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our numbers communicate that even with a growth factor, our numbers communicate that students leave us
• We've experienced what's called the Hobbs factor before in our construction experience.
• And the legislature has done that recently with the secondary factor as well, right, That there's an
• Exhibit D is essentially the deficiency categories and associated weight factors that the AMS and the
• Looking at that applied weight factor, which is the furthest right...

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's kind of why I'm talking through a lot of these different factors and facets.
• </c><00:15:49.600><c> and</c> lot of these different factors and lot of these different factors and facets
• Those<00:28:21.760><c> are</c><00:28:21.919><c> factors</c><00:28:22.320><c> to</c><00:28:22.559><c>
• be</c><00:28:22.720><c> considered</c><00:28:23.039><c> as</c> Those are factors to be considered as
• Those are factors to be considered as we're<00:28:23.600><c> trying</c><00:28:23.760><c> to</c><00:28

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:20 Road Projects 46:30 Approval of Minutes 46:50 Railroads 57:26 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum, so it could not approve the minutes. The chair announced an Eastern Kentucky University health forum later that day and then proceeded with testimony on alternative delivery methods for road projects. Jason Sawala of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Chad Laroo of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors were sworn in and introduced themselves. Sawala explained KYTC’s use of alternative delivery tools, including design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and public-private partnerships (P3s). He said the cabinet’s goal is to deliver the best value to taxpayers in terms of quality, cost, and time, and emphasized that alternative delivery is most useful on projects with special circumstances such as innovation needs, specialized technology, complex constructibility, schedule pressure, or early contractor input. He cited the cabinet’s wrong-way driving prevention project as an example where design-build helped evaluate technologies and coordinate with stakeholders such as EMS and first responders. He also outlined the main tradeoffs: alternative delivery can improve collaboration and sometimes accelerate schedules, but it also brings risks related to right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, changing scope, and the need for dedicated staff and compressed decision-making. He stressed that these methods are not a cure-all and are not appropriate for every project, while noting that traditional design-bid-build remains effective for most of KYTC’s work. Representative Branscum responded favorably, saying early contractor involvement is valuable and consistent with his experience in the vertical construction world. No votes or formal actions were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• Structural factors may slow responsiveness to labor market changes.
• So all of those will factor into your determination.
• We usually start early with them because they do have interest arbitration, and we need to factor that
• those who have offers at R1 universities, by remaining competitive with an array of non-economic factors
• The factor that has the largest impact on the university is the fund split.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Employment Relations

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met on May 8, 2026, to review goals and objectives for the 2027–2029 master collective bargaining cycle and to hear updates on higher education and Washington Management Service bargaining. OFM’s Jenny Sheehan outlined the state workforce, noting that most employees are represented, the workforce remains heavily governed by civil service rules and CBAs, and the state is entering bargaining under a constrained hiring and budget environment. She described the bargaining timeline, the role of the June revenue forecasts in determining whether targeted compensation increases can be funded, and the state’s goals of affordability, maintaining labor relations, supporting equity, and addressing non-economic issues such as AI use, leave, immigration-related workplace concerns, and union access in a hybrid work environment. Sheehan also reviewed the 2025–2027 bargaining cycle, including the prior WPEA ratification issue and the requirement that tentative agreements be submitted by October 1 for financial feasibility review and possible legislative funding. She said the 2025–27 agreements cost about $1.2 billion in general funds and $1.7 billion total, excluding the later-funded WPEA agreements. In response to a question, she explained that paid family and medical leave is not bargained over directly because it is governed by statute and ESD rules. She then presented on Washington Management Service bargaining, explaining that only certain WMS employees are eligible to bargain, that representation remains small, and that current WMS contracts are handled through addenda to existing agreements. She also described interest arbitration for certain groups, including ferries and public safety-related employees, and said arbitration awards still must be financially feasible and submitted by October 1. The committee also heard from Western Washington University and the University of Washington on higher education bargaining. Western described its locally bargained contracts, the importance of local bargaining for workload, tenure, grievance, and safety issues, and the impact of the state fund split on budget planning. Western said it has no state funding for student compensation and has requested inclusion of student employees in the wage base. UW outlined its large workforce and the different bargaining frameworks under RCW 41.56 and 41.80, emphasizing that state funding and tuition make up only a portion of its budget and that the fund split and health care cost increases significantly affect compensation planning. UW also highlighted its request for state funding for academic student employee compensation, saying rising costs are reducing the number of positions and affecting class sizes and the academic pipeline. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members discussed the upcoming bargaining and arbitration timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6210, which is the bill that authorizes the health benefit exchange to develop market factor
• amendment, H-3659 by Representative Stonier, requires the exchange to provide preliminary market factor
• This amendment modifies the authority for the health benefit exchange to adopt market factor certification
• exchange from defining meaningfully different to include subjective, quantitative, or discretionary factors
• exchange from defining meaningfully different to include subjective quantitative or discretionary factors

Summary: The Health Care and Wellness Committee heard executive action on seven bills, with discussion focused on prior authorization, the 340B drug pricing program, biosimilars, HIV drug coverage, exchange certification criteria, and hearing/speech board authority. Members also considered several amendments, including a date change to prior authorization reporting in SB 5395, a large striking amendment and multiple policy amendments on SB 5981, and market-criteria amendments on SB 6210. Testimony and debate centered on transparency, administrative costs, rural access, patient care spending, market stability, and the balance between state authority and federal law. SB 5395 on prior authorization received Amendment 247, which moved the carrier reporting deadline to the Office of Insurance Commissioner from January 1, 2027 to October 1, 2026, and was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing adopted a striking amendment creating reporting and fee structures, but rejected amendments that would have removed filing fees, required 90% of revenues to go to direct patient care, limited additional contract pharmacies to rural or underserved areas, or delayed the bill’s effective date; the bill then passed out of committee 11-7. Supporters emphasized transparency and safety-net funding, while opponents raised concerns about federal preemption, litigation, costs, and administrative burden. SB 5594 on biosimilar substitution, SB 5877 on certified anesthesiology assistants and the physician health program, and SB 6183 on coverage of FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without utilization management all advanced with broad support and due pass recommendations. SB 6210 on health benefit exchange market factor criteria adopted a striking amendment but rejected amendments that would have limited updates to every two years, narrowly defined “meaningfully different,” or changed implementation timelines; it also passed 11-7. SB 6226 on the Board of Speech and Hearing adopted Amendment 313 to expand standards-of-care authority for hearing aid fitting and dispensing, then passed 17-1 after debate about patient safety, tele-audiology, and access to care.

Transcript Highlights:

• this underlying study in the bill identify the risk of harm to a child when domestic violence is a factor
• It also includes factors affecting households with a military member parent in the prioritization system
• It adds the prioritization criteria for military families to the general list of risk factors currently
• This amendment requires a study to incorporate domestic violence as a factor in the home.
• Bringing in some culturally relevant factors, making sure that we broaden the scope, we look at all forms

Summary: The committee met to brief amendments and then took executive action on nine bills related to child care, DCYF oversight, and services for children and vulnerable populations. Before voting, members reviewed proposed substitutes and amendments for HB 1544, 2099, 2219, 2253, 2319, and 2350, with brief discussion on issues such as child welfare risk assessment tools, military family child care access, child care provider flexibility, licensing and monitoring requirements, and residential habilitation center terminology and notice requirements. The committee then reported HB 2099, HB 2185, HB 2219 as amended, HB 2253 as amended, HB 2317, HB 2318, HB 2319 as amended, and HB 2350 as amended out of committee with do pass recommendations. HB 2253 saw one amendment adopted to restore state monitoring and health/safety reviews at the Washington School for the Deaf, while other proposed amendments were withdrawn or rejected. HB 2319 was amended to correct technical language regarding Eastern State Hospital and Interlake School. HB 2350’s substitute changed notice procedures for residential habilitation center noncompliance to emphasize posted notices, email, preferred language, and plain-language summaries. HB 1544 drew the most debate. Amendments to add domestic violence, define “safe,” require an audit of missing safety-plan data, and prohibit use of an unvalidated risk tool to screen out referrals were considered; only the domestic-violence amendment was adopted, while the others failed. Members discussed concerns about the current DCYF risk assessment tool, cultural bias, and the need to improve validation, but also cautioned against narrowing the study too much. The committee ultimately reported the second substitute HB 1544 out with a do pass recommendation by a 9-0-2 vote, with two members voting no without recommendation.