Transcript Highlights:

• Those that are affected by high-voltage transmission lines have considerable environmental concerns.
• Those that are affected by high voltage transmission lines have considerable environmental concerns.
• Representative Dye: Have considerable environmental concerns, and I think it's important that we have
• There's a significant environmental impact. There's a significant tax implication.
• There's a significant environmental impact, there's a significant tax implication by taking those lands

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on three bills. For Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, staff explained it would create an abortion savings program funded by a new assessment on health carriers to support grants for abortion clinical care access. Representative Marshall offered amendments to limit grants to Washington residents, expand eligibility to IVF and fertility providers, prioritize medically underserved areas, and add a 2031 sunset; all were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then voted 18-10 to report the bill out with a do pass recommendation. For Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, staff briefed a striking amendment that would reduce savings in K-12 spending by changing local effort assistance and Running Start limits, prioritizing some transition-to-kindergarten funding, and eliminating inflation increases for National Board bonuses. Members debated a series of amendments on bus depreciation, charter school LEA payments, transition-to-kindergarten funding, and Running Start. Some amendments were adopted, including a bus depreciation change and a Running Start adjustment, while others were rejected. The committee then adopted the striker as amended and reported the bill out 17-12 with a due pass recommendation. For Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would establish the Washington Electric Transmission Authority and related board and advisory structures, members considered amendments on rural land-use expertise, eastern Washington board representation, corridor review standards, tribal workgroup removal, and payments in lieu of taxes for transmission facilities. One amendment was withdrawn and the others were rejected except for a landowner/rural expertise amendment that passed. The committee then reported the bill out 18-11 with a due pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, members exchanged closing remarks thanking staff and colleagues, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is one of the primary constituents of environmental contamination related to PFAS chemicals, which
• That expansion risks stifling legitimate public discussion about environmental impacts, public health
• They're the backbone of South Florida, environmental, and economic stability.
• Being on the water every day gives me a front-row seat to the environmental changes, which have direct
• Protecting the public includes protecting their ability to speak openly about environmental concerns

Transcript Highlights:

• This will be followed by a presentation by the Department of Environmental Protection regarding the decision
• I'm an attorney with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
• I'm an attorney with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Resoundingly, everybody—all the stakeholders across the spectrum, from environmental interests to home
• interests, Whether it be environmental interests or builders and developers and industry and commercial

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee met on February 3, 2025, with a quorum present and took up three main items. First, the committee considered a large set of recommended objections to Agency for Health Care Administration rules, all centered on sunset provisions stating the rules would expire after five years. AHCA asked for another deferral while it reviewed the rules, arguing the sunset language was a form of self-restraint rather than an invalid exercise of rulemaking authority. Committee leadership disagreed that further delay would resolve the issue and moved to a single vote covering all objections. The motion passed by roll call, and the committee informed AHCA that an objection would be filed unless the agency amended the rules within 30 days. The committee then heard an informational briefing from the Department of Environmental Protection on its Outstanding Florida Springs rule and stormwater rule. DEP explained that it did not prepare a statement of estimated regulatory cost for the springs rule because the proposed standards largely mirror existing water management district rules and the Central Florida Water Initiative framework, so DEP said there was no new regulatory burden. Members asked about permit authority, costs, and whether the rules were functionally different from prior rules. DEP maintained the rules set minimum standards and did not add costs beyond what regulated parties were already doing. DEP also described implementation of the stormwater rule adopted under the 2020 Clean Waterways Act and later ratified by the Legislature in 2024. DEP said the rule was the product of years of workshops and technical advisory committee meetings, and that the final version included lower-cost alternatives, grandfathering, and phased implementation. DEP estimated the rule’s cost at about $2,600 per acre in the revised CERC, while industry witnesses said the real cost could be much higher, especially if land costs are included. A home builders representative argued the estimate understated impacts, while a stormwater engineer said the rule gives more flexible, performance-based tools and could become more cost-effective over time. Finally, Senator Graal presented proposed Chapter 120 changes in SB 108, aimed at tightening and modernizing rulemaking. The proposal would require five-year rule reviews, annual agency reporting, faster notice of proposed rulemaking after authorizing legislation, electronic filing, public access to incorporated materials, clearer tracking of technical changes, and limits on how long rules can remain pending ratification. Members discussed whether the Legislature should be more specific in statutes about rulemaking deadlines and whether agencies should be more accountable when rules stall. No formal action was taken on the Chapter 120 proposals, and the committee adjourned after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• number eight on the agenda is a review of an amendment to the contract between the Department of Environmental
• Teresa Delafos with the Department of Environmental Quality.
• number eight on the agenda is a review of an amendment to the contract between the Department of Environmental
• Teresa Delafos with the Department of Environmental Quality. We are seeking your review.
• Teresa Delafos with the Department of Environmental Quality.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received unchanged fiscal status and five-year baseline budget reports from the Office of Planning and Budget; the fiscal status statement was approved without objection, and the baseline budget required no action. The committee then approved a request from Facility Planning and Control to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the eligible list under Act 751, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes only. Members approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget after testimony highlighted projected gross revenue of $610 million, 29 years without legislative auditor findings, and continued support for the MFP. The committee also approved, en bloc, the operating budgets for LASERS, the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Retirement officials described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and ongoing efforts to reduce unfunded liabilities; members discussed the impact of surplus payments toward UAL debt and the possibility of future COLAs, including a 2% COLA if the legislature reaches the required two-thirds vote. The committee approved payment of $20,262.32 in prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures from the current-year budget. It also approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including changes involving Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish School System-related funding. In addition, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for $2.8 million in additional funding for four ongoing water and sewer projects was approved. The remaining items were reviewed without action: an RTI International contract extension for DEQ air-quality filter weighing, amendments to four Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism marketing contracts to extend and supplement funding, and the fifth-year amendment to the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration contract, valued at $21.1 million. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• like to stop from moving forward, because I think it has long-term harm for our state, is the environmental
• Commissioner, if you look at the Attorney General's office, and I think Senator Braun brought environmental
• Senator Braun brought up environmental crimes, which is a really bad bill because it creates all these
• Many of these bills, even environmental crimes, are expanding that authority and really centralizing
• And I want to be clear on that: it's not that we're opposed to good environmental outcomes, and our state

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: At this Republican media availability, Senate and House GOP leaders focused on affordability, taxes, and government accountability as the session approached cutoff. Senate Republican Leader John Braun criticized the Senate’s income tax bill and a range of other tax proposals, arguing they would raise costs for food, health care, prescription drugs, data centers, startups, grocery bags, and employers of Apple Health/Medicaid users. House Republican leaders Peter Abbarno and April Connors echoed those concerns, saying the latest revenue forecast did not justify new taxes and that Democrats were relying on tax increases rather than relief for families and small businesses. A major topic was the income tax bill that had passed the Senate and was headed to the House. Republicans said they opposed it on constitutional and policy grounds, argued it would eventually expand beyond high earners, and said the bill should be amended to remove the necessity clause so it could be referred to voters. They also said any meaningful tax reform should include broader relief such as property or sales tax reductions, not just narrow carveouts. Braun also said he hoped Governor Inslee would reconsider support for the measure, while House Republicans said they would try to stop it from advancing. The lawmakers also discussed child welfare and public safety bills, especially efforts to force votes on legislation related to DCYF and child deaths. They criticized House Democrats for not hearing or advancing several Republican-backed bills and said process objections were being used to avoid accountability. Braun noted that a bipartisan bill to add fentanyl to the endangerment statute, HB 5071, remained alive in the House. Other bills mentioned as priorities to oppose included an environmental crimes bill, a juvenile release bill, a real estate excise tax measure, and a bottle bill, all of which Republicans said would increase costs or expand state authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• which has been vital in doing artificial reef planting and then also just a number of different environmental
• Tant: chosen, do you know how many of those are assessed for environmentally sensitive species, plant
• solutions that work with natural systems to protect Florida shorelines and directs the Department of Environmental
• Steve Shale, Environmental Defense Fund waives in support.
• speed up that process for removal of those derelict vessels as well as improve the safety and environmental

Transcript Highlights:

• Alan Berdick, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, in support.
• Alan Berdick, Environmental<00:18:23.760><c> Caucus</c><00:18:24.160><c> of</c><00:18:24.320><c> the<
• /c><00:18:24.480><c> Democratic</c> Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of the
• We’re also going to add to the working group Zero Waste USA, a Hawaii-based environmental nonprofit advocating

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health, Human Services, and Agriculture and Environment heard testimony on SR 85, which requests the Department of Health to form a working group on solid waste management, and on SCR 19, which asks the Tax Review Commission to identify ways to implement Hawaii’s long-term care financing program. SR 85 drew broad support from the Department of Health, the Board of Water Supply, environmental groups, and numerous individuals, with one commenter asking that a military representative be added to address possible landfill use of military lands. For SCR 19, testimony came in support from the Executive Office on Aging and another supporter. For SR 85, the chair recommended passage with amendments. The amendments revised landfill-location language, removed certain lines, expanded the report’s scope to include materials management policies, environmental protections, and alternative technologies for waste that cannot be recycled or composted, and changed the working group membership language to include representatives from specified sectors. The committee also agreed to add invited participants such as Zero Waste USA, the reuse and deconstruction industries, a landfill leachate expert, a unit-based pricing expert, and a military representative, and to require the governor or designee to convene the initial meeting. The committee adopted the recommendation by vote, with members voting aye and one member excused. For SCR 19, the chair recommended passage with an amendment adding reference to findings in a 1991 report on financing long-term care. The committee approved the measure with amendments by vote, again with members voting aye and one member excused. The joint session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wood is a professional engineer with more than 35 years experience. materials remediation, environmental
• compliance, water resources, hydraulics and hydropower. and geo-environmental services.
• In addition to environmental engineering position, he also serves as an adjunct professor, has been affiliated
• infrastructure. to continue the state's economic prosperity, increase public safety, and improve improve environmental
• resilience in the design and maintenance of our infrastructure. systems, they need to account for environmental

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:31.440><c> with</c><00:18:31.679><c> the</c> have to enter into an agreement with the have
• to enter into an agreement with the town<00:18:32.080><c> to</c><00:18:32.320><c> pay</c><00:18:32.559
• Um, you know, you need developable parcels with no environmental contamination, with frontage and access
• <00:28:21.760><c> contamination</c> environmental contamination environmental contamination with<00:28
• So, while in the past we have, the state has already utilized lease agreements of this type.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um hospitals have environmental quality.
• And this is something you’ve consulted with and worked with the department, and they’re in agreement
• And this is something you’ve consulted with and worked with the department, and they’re in agreement
• And this is something you’ve consulted with and worked with the department, and they’re in agreement
• The bill does address, I believe, that they have to sign a memorandum of agreement, an MOA, with each

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: Education - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in other engagements, so they'll be here as soon as possible and appreciate your agreement to
• to break the law and dump at illegal sites than it is to take trash to a landfill where we have environmental
• Locals are regularly updating our franchise agreements to add bulky waste pickup opportunities, but those
• Locals are regularly updating our franchise agreements to add bulky waste pickup opportunities, but those
• In addition to the environmental impacts, folks dump their furniture there and expect Caltrans to pick

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took testimony on each, with members often noting amendments and continuing negotiations. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require juvenile courts to find that less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable before ordering detention, and would require periodic review of continued detention and consideration of alternatives at disposition. Supporters argued it would reduce unnecessary youth detention and improve transparency; probation, judges, and police groups opposed it as an undue limit on judicial discretion and potentially unsafe in serious cases. The chair said he would recommend an aye with amendments, but the bill was held pending quorum and later remained on call. SB 1130 by Senator Gomez Reyes would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses, requiring consent before recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and banning devices or accessories designed to defeat recording indicators. Supporters said the bill addresses secret recording and invasive surveillance; opponents from tech and hospitality groups sought clarification to avoid unintended liability for businesses and exempt workplace communication devices. Members discussed those exemptions, and the chair recommended an aye, but the measure also remained on call. Senator Blake Spear presented SB 99, which would let courts consider military protective orders in domestic violence proceedings and require better communication between civilian law enforcement and military authorities. Supporters from the Department of Defense, local officials, and military representatives said it would close protection gaps for military families; the ACLU opposed it on due process grounds because MPOs are issued without judicial process. The chair and author emphasized that the bill only allows consideration of MPOs and does not require civilian enforcement of them. The bill passed out on a vote, though it remained on call for additional members. The committee also heard SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, restricting flashbang use for crowd control and banning flashbangs and explosive breaching charges in immigration enforcement, and SB 1022, creating a statewide anti-trafficking task force. SB 937 drew support from civil rights and community groups and opposition from police and sheriffs over the use-of-force standard and limits on tactics; it passed out on a vote but remained on call. SB 1022 was supported by survivor and faith groups and opposed by public defenders and sex worker advocates who raised concerns about racial disparities and enforcement harms; it also passed out on a vote. Later, SB 1395, extending criminal protective orders for certain felony sex offenses against minors up to 20 years, and SB 1230, increasing penalties for repeat illegal dumping, were both heard with mixed testimony and were held on call after committee votes. The committee also adopted a consent calendar and several bills were moved forward with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a multi-year process of building transfers based on agreements between the county, the court,
• I think we're all in agreement.
• You need very good agreements, and you need oversight to bring this into fruition.
• your understanding that control section 90.00B—” “90.00B, does it allow for funds to be used for environmental
• 90.00B, does it allow for funds to be used for environmental testing and other actions to protect public

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear budget-related updates from the Judicial Branch and the Office of Emergency Services, with no votes taken. The Judicial Council supported the Governor’s proposed budget, highlighting $70 million for increased trial court operating costs, additional funding for court-appointed counsel, Court of Appeal case processing, and courthouse construction and facilities. Trial court representatives emphasized staffing retention problems, especially in counties like San Bernardino, and said stable funding is needed to avoid delays and maintain access to justice. Members also discussed the branch’s remote proceedings program, which has been used in more than 6 million hearings statewide since 2022 and was described as especially important in rural areas and for vulnerable litigants; several members urged making the authority permanent rather than extending it temporarily. A major portion of the hearing focused on Proposition 36 implementation. Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains the $130 million provided in the 2025 Budget Act for court workload and pretrial services, but adds no new Prop. 36 court funding. Judicial Council staff reported nearly 35,000 felony Prop. 36 filings in 2025, with most cases still pending and only a small share of treatment-mandated cases already dismissed after treatment. Witnesses said courts are using the funds for staffing, coordinators, clerks, and treatment-court operations, but that workload varies widely by county and that data collection is limited because courts report aggregate information rather than case-level outcomes. The LAO raised a technical concern about the Department of Finance’s Prop. 47 savings estimate and recommended revising the methodology at May Revision. The committee also reviewed the Orange Central Justice Center facility modification project, where the Judicial Council explained that hidden construction deficiencies and fire-life-safety issues caused costs to rise substantially after demolition began. The LAO said the project itself was supportable but recommended that the Legislature set an ongoing funding level for court facilities, require a long-term facilities plan, and consider more oversight of facility modification projects. Finance said it continues to fund courthouse projects individually and through the State Public Works Board, while acknowledging project delays and cost increases. Finally, Cal OES and advocates discussed victim services funding. Cal OES said it administers about $315 million annually for victim service programs, including VOCA-funded services, but federal VOCA allocations have fluctuated sharply and the state has used one-time General Fund backfills to maintain services. Trauma recovery center advocates warned that an 85% reduction in funding would sharply reduce services for survivors of violent crime, while human trafficking advocates urged reauthorization of the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program before funding reverts to pre-pandemic levels in July 2026. Members asked about federal and state funding stability, referral pathways, and the long-term value of these programs in preventing worse outcomes and reducing public costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• protection, environmental health, or environmental science.
• agreement? agreement?
• </c> local uh contract or agreement. local uh contract or agreement.
• health background rather than environmental protection or environmental science, so that we really have
• The bill is amended, expands the prohibition to include agreements funded directly or indirectly by a

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse me, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
• We, along with others in the environmental community, will follow up with more written comment.
• These grants help support large-scale, complex environmental cleanups, and we hope you'll consider the
• Kent is one of the most diverse and environmentally burdened It's more than solar panels.
• Kent is one of the most diverse and environmentally burdened cities in Washington.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held a hearing on Proposed Substitute House Bill 2295, the supplemental capital budget. Staff said the proposal totals nearly $911 million, including about $400 million in bonds and $511 million from other state and federal sources, with much of the increase over the governor’s proposal coming from Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. Major spending areas include housing and homelessness, K-12 construction, human services facilities, and CCA-funded clean energy, decarbonization, and habitat restoration projects. The chair said the committee would not take amendments at the hearing and planned to vote out the budget on Thursday, with a technical fix striker expected. Testimony was largely supportive of the House proposal, with many witnesses asking the committee to preserve or increase specific items in final negotiations. Housing advocates urged support for the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and projects such as Alliance Place, Cloverdale Cottages, Cherry Street Village, Somos, and the Thrive Center. Education and public facility witnesses backed investments in school seismic safety, small district modernization, Healthy Kids Healthy Schools, community college and university maintenance, and projects at Cascadia College, WSU, CWU, and UW. Health and human services testimony supported behavioral health, Tubman Center, HealthPoint, pregnant parenting treatment, and the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub. Natural resources, climate, and infrastructure witnesses praised funding for Flood Plains by Design, community forests, trust land transfer, salmon recovery, the Skokomish land purchase, and the Lower Columbia River dredging project. Several local governments and organizations requested additional support or Senate-level funding for specific projects, while Climate Solutions cautioned against using CCA dollars to backfill existing obligations. The committee heard no votes during the hearing, and the chair closed by saying the budget would be executed on Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are calling this hearing of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee to order
• Jenny Sheerston, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, who wrote this
• Marianthe, Anna Kaya Murtzaglu, environmental health scientists at Columbia University, Michigan State
• Marianthe, Anna Kaya Murtzaglu, environmental health scientists at Columbia University, Michigan State
• Environmental Protection Agency's standard for total chromium allowed.

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three bills after beginning without a quorum and later establishing one. SB 328 would cap DTSC hazardous waste generation and handling fees for infill housing and master development projects and set response timelines for cleanup reviews. Supporters said the current fee structure has made some housing and remediation projects infeasible, while opponents warned that capping fees for one sector could shift costs to other hazardous waste generators. The committee discussed the need for broader DTSC fee reform, and SB 328 was approved on a 7-0 vote and sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. SB 754 would require manufacturers of disposable menstrual products to test for and disclose concentrations of certain contaminants, with DTSC able to verify results and publish them. Supporters framed the bill as a transparency and public health measure, citing recent studies finding toxic metals in tampons and emphasizing consumer right-to-know. Opponents, including manufacturers and hygiene product groups, argued the bill adds duplicative testing, vague requirements, and public disclosure that could be misinterpreted, and urged amendments. The committee members generally supported the goal of transparency, and the bill passed 5-2 with not voting members, moving to Appropriations. SB 466 would provide temporary legal protections for public water systems that are complying with approved chromium-6 compliance plans while they work toward the new drinking water standard. Supporters from Los Banos, Coachella Valley Water District, and other water agencies said the measure would help avoid costly litigation during a lengthy and expensive compliance period, especially for systems dealing with naturally occurring chromium-6. Committee members raised concerns about limiting recourse for harmed individuals and discussed possible alternative language, but the author said the bill would not affect state enforcement authority. SB 466 passed 7-0 and was sent to the Committee on Judiciary. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of additional measures by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, sir, we have you registered as an Environmental Defense Fund.
• I'm representing the Environmental Defense Fund, and I'm here to testify in favor of HB 2612.
• Uh, House Bill 3158 is legislation updates the Railroad Commission of Texas fee structure for environmental
• These efforts, these efforts included a major update to its environmental protection pollution prevention
• rules, the first substantial revision in over 40 years, as well as the expansion of its environmental

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Environmental.
• In New Mexico, we face a serious series of emergencies because of environmental pollution accumulating
• Considering health and environmental factors is crucial to protecting the climate, water, and future
• Focusing on environmental protection also helps mitigate the impacts of climate change. safeguarding
• My name is Felicia Guillen, and I'm an environmental justice organizer with UNM LEAF, where we work with

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Factors such as chronic stress, unequal access to quality perinatal and postpartum care, environmental
• Every icon you see here represents a policy decision: housing, transportation, environmental quality,
• Every icon you see here represent a policy decision, housing, transportation, environmental quality,
• food access, and economic opportunity. transportation, environmental quality, food access, and economic
• , Sustainable funding for community health workers and doulas, strengthen environmental protections,

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities opened with remarks framing the discussion around reproductive and maternal health disparities affecting Latina, Black, and Indigenous women in California. Members emphasized the need to connect state data with lived experience, and the committee heard historical context on coercive sterilization, language access, and the ways immigration status, poverty, and racism continue to shape reproductive health care. The first panel featured Clarissa Ramirez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Sophia Pedrosa of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Kim Robinson of Black Women for Wellness, who described reproductive justice principles, the legacy of eugenics and forced sterilization, community education efforts, promotoras, and the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive care. They also raised concerns about federal funding cuts, fear related to ICE and public charge, and the loss of education and outreach programs that support patients and families. The second part of the hearing focused on maternal health. Matt Green of the California Department of Public Health described persistent racial disparities, including Black birthing people being three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and outlined state efforts such as the Black Infant Health Program, the Perinatal Equity Initiative, the Centering Black Mothers in California report, and a new Black birth equity action plan. Chris Esgera of the Department of Health Care Services explained the state’s birthing care pathway, postpartum care pathway, and Transforming Maternal Health model, including policy changes to support doulas, community health workers, transitional care, and postpartum coverage. He said the department is working through policy updates and payment reforms, with Medi-Cal coverage for pregnant people and 12 months postpartum remaining protected. The final panel included Dr. Nicole Economo and Dr. Kelly McHugh of ACOG, who discussed provider education, anti-racism and implicit bias training, and the need for quality improvement projects focused on closing equity gaps at individual hospitals. They highlighted tools such as the CLEAR Initiative, the Elevate Toolkit, and use of CMQCC data to track outcomes by race and ethnicity. Across the hearing, members repeatedly stressed that community-led solutions, sustained funding, better data, and accountability are needed to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve reproductive health outcomes. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during the hearing, though several policy priorities and ongoing legislative efforts were referenced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> littering to fostering environmental littering to fostering environmental responsibility,<00:17:
• Uh, this bill is a request from the Department of Environmental Services and seeks to amend language
• Uh, this bill is a request from the Department of Environmental Services and seeks to amend language
• It clearly defines the Department of Environmental Services' authority over industrial discharges and
• <00:38:07.359><c> practices</c><00:38:08.160><c> and</c> environmental practices and environmental practices

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Education and one of my Environmental Education and one of my volunteers<00:20:43.640><c> who</c><00
• In these times when the current cruel, despotic, anti-environmental federal administration is gutting
• environmental pollution protections and just destroying entities like the EPA, it is imperative that
• </c><00:59:24.280><c> uh</c><00:59:24.440><c> Policy</c> under the Hawaii environmental uh Policy under
• the Hawaii environmental uh Policy Act<00:59:25.440><c> we</c><00:59:26.119><c> depend</c><00:59:26.839

Keywords: 910, house, all