Transcript Highlights:

• A budget is a moral document.
• A budget is a moral document.
• A budget is a moral document.
• A budget is a moral document.
• A budget is a moral document.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the opportunity to sit on the budget committee dealing with California’s health care budget.
• with California's health care budget.
• I happen to sit on the budget subcommittee that deals on health.
• Our budget relies on it.
• The Budget Subcommittee on Health is not meeting right now.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long Daily File with several guest introductions and floor speeches. Members recognized visiting student leaders, championship football teams from Tuolumne County, Alpha Kappa Alpha members at their Capitol day, and later a descendant of Wong Kim Ark. The chamber also adopted a procedural motion allowing certain members to host guests in the rear of the chamber. Among the major policy items, AB 578 on food delivery platform refund practices passed 47-2, AB 344 on successor beer manufacturer definitions passed 61-0, AB 454 to make California’s migratory bird protections permanent passed 55-12 on the urgency clause, AB 482 updating the Table Grape Commission passed 64-1, AB 1237 to support transit access for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders passed 56-15 on the urgency clause, AB 738 on wildfire rebuild solar exemptions passed 42-2, AB 1460 on 340B pharmacy access for clinics passed 41-5, AB 750 on homeless shelter oversight passed 49-1, AB 1061 on housing in historic districts passed 41-13, AB 1523 on expanding mandatory mediation thresholds passed 65-0, and AB 316 on AI-related civil liability passed 56-0. AB 761 authorizing the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to seek a sales tax ballot measure passed 47-12. The chamber also adopted several resolutions. AJR 3 urging protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid passed 53-2 after extensive debate that included criticism of federal cuts and counterarguments focused on state Medi-Cal policy and budget decisions. ACR 65 proclaiming California Tourism Month was adopted by voice vote after coauthors were added, and ACR 62 recognizing California Nonprofits Day was also adopted by voice vote with 65 coauthors. AJR 5 affirming birthright citizenship and opposing efforts to end it passed 58-1 after a lengthy, highly partisan debate centered on the 14th Amendment and the Wong Kim Ark precedent. The session also included passage of AB 571, a CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, which was presented as a long-running bipartisan effort to create a final resting place for Orange County veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you'll see that this budget is a direct result of that hard work.
• And are we shortfalls in the budgets.
• So, this budget, like every other budget, represents a series of choices. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• So, this budget, like every other budget, represents a series of choices.
• House Republican budget plan, it was announced, will cancel the U.S.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that's for the budget side.
• </c> and I think that's for the the budget and I think that's for the the budget side.<00:32:09.200><
• I into great detail about their budgets.
• </c> that maybe there might be tight budgets that maybe there might be tight budgets uh<00:43:16.240>
• and, you know, budget within our individual divisions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That allows us to stretch our budgets that we have and allow more opportunities for our attorneys.
• That allows us to stretch our budgets that we have and allow more opportunities for our attorneys.
• or the Judiciary budget.
• or the Judiciary budget.
• Uh, we do need to ask the question and be mindful of that as we're putting together the budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, members, this is the budget bill from the agency, which would serve to be a vehicle for any budget
• </c> a walkth through of all their budget a walkth through of all their budget recommendations<01:09:
• While that's not included within the agency's budget bill, it is within our budget jurisdiction, so the
• With that, that concludes my walkthrough of the budget, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
• ><c> our</c><01:13:52.360><c> budget</c> will it is within our budget will it is within our budget jurisdiction

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And senators, again, this is a good budget. And, Senators, again, this is a good budget.
• This is the Division of Medicaid at the 2027 enhancement budget. The 2027 enhancement budget.
• This is the Medicaid budget.
• President, yes, that's reflected in this budget.
• We already passed the maintenance budget, so we're not talking about that budget now.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, approved the journal, and moved through messages and committee reports before taking up several bills on third reading. Early actions included transmitting enrolled bills to the House, filing gubernatorial and House messages, and introducing new appropriation bills. The chamber then debated and passed Senate Bill 1420, which creates a long-term funding source for medical education by dedicating 1% of certain insurance premium tax revenue beginning in 2028; the bill passed 18-16. Senate Bill 1430, revising firearms preemption enforcement and adding penalties and remedies against local laws, rules, executive orders, or policies that conflict with state firearms law, also passed, 31-3. Senate Bill 1432, the Health and Welfare indirect support budget, passed 23-11, and Senate Bill 1433, the Medicaid enhancement budget, passed 20-15 after extensive debate over rising costs, federal-state funding shares, and the effects of House Bill 345 and federal policy changes. Senate Bill 1434, the Welfare division budget, passed 24-10, and Senate Bill 1437, an appropriation for Idaho State Police tied to DNA collection for sexual battery and domestic violence offenses, passed as well. Senate Bill 1439, which delays a school facilities model report deadline to 2027, passed unanimously. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1264 as amended, creating a rural health transformation account and oversight committee for federal rural health funds, after debate over legislative control versus executive administration of the funds; it passed 25-10. The latter part of the meeting focused heavily on Senate Bill 1418, the Kratom Consumer Protection and Safety Act. Supporters described kratom as a legal botanical product that needs consumer protections, age limits, labeling, manufacturing standards, and restrictions on synthetic or highly concentrated 7-OH products, citing concerns from physicians, law enforcement, and addiction specialists. Opponents argued the bill could amount to de facto legalization, questioned the lack of input from the State Board of Pharmacy, raised concerns about warrantless inspections, and urged either a full ban or further study. The debate remained ongoing in the transcript, with multiple senators asking questions and offering contrasting views on regulation versus prohibition.

Transcript Highlights:

• That makes our vote on the budget very powerful.
• the budget, and then express what you desire to have.
• Pre-funding or paying upfront strains local budgets even more.
• That is a huge amount in these budget times.
• We know what the budget is.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct AHCCCS to seek federal approval for a home- and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with quarterly implementation updates, a stakeholder work group, and a cap on enrollment. The sponsor and advocates from Arizona Mad Moms argued the bill would create a Medicaid-funded long-term care option for the most disabled SMI patients, reduce costly hospital and state-only care, and improve continuity of care. A committee amendment narrowed eligibility to individuals needing a long-term SMI level of care, changed reporting to semiannual, reduced the initial cap to 250 members with possible growth tied to savings, and required AHCCCS to keep pursuing approval if CMS denies it. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1630 as amended passed 10-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1131, which originally required every school district and charter school to adopt a cardiac emergency response plan and appropriated $1 million for implementation. A Warner amendment replaced the mandate with a reporting requirement on AED counts, CPR/AED-trained staff, and whether a plan exists, while shifting the appropriation toward AED grants and limiting school spending to purchasing and maintaining AEDs. The American Heart Association supported the amendment as a way to gather baseline data and target resources, while some members questioned the funding split and the rural-school priority. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1131 as amended passed 9-1. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 1582, dealing with the school safety interoperability fund. The amendment changed the appropriation from ADE to ADOA and allocated funds to specific county sheriff’s offices to continue existing interoperable communication systems linking schools and first responders; supporters said the systems had been used in drills and some real incidents, and were important for school safety. One member raised concerns about the auditor general’s report and whether the program should continue, but sheriffs and school officials described it as a useful communication tool. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1582 as amended passed 6-4. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 1504, which would change retirement rules for Tier 2 and Tier 3 public safety personnel and reduce the waiting period for cost-of-living adjustments. The sponsor, police and fire representatives, and pension consultants argued the bill would improve recruitment and retention and align benefits more closely with what employees were promised, while cities, counties, and taxpayer groups warned it would add substantial unfunded liabilities and undermine the 2016 pension reforms. The committee spent extensive time on actuarial costs, funding status, and the effect of the amendment exempting the bill from statutory pre-funding requirements; the transcript ends during that discussion before a final vote on SB 1504 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh budget jurisdiction Miss this year.
• Um the base is the budget last year.
• </c> we do believe that we have uh budget we do believe that we have uh budget authority<00:43:41.839
• Some of them I have communities that have very small budgets and communities that have very large budgets
• Some of them I have communities that have very small budgets and communities that have very large budgets

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• comes from the general state's budget comes from the general fund<00:37:35.640><c> reflecting</c><00
• The DOC did not request a supplemental budget last year, as we have traditionally done in many of the
• non-budget years in the past.
• The governor's budget recommendation includes $43.3 million for FY 26 and $66.9 million for FY 27 and
• The remaining proposals are budget neutral.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before you is a proposed substitute Senate Bill 6005, the 2006 supplemental transportation budget, heard
• We just passed the budget. This is how we pay for those investments, encouraging a yes vote.
• I just wanted to recognize our staff as we passed this budget and the bond bill.
• We have a great group of people that we get to work with as we put this budget together.
• We have a great group of people that we get to work with as we put this budget together.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in executive session to brief and act on three measures: proposed substitute Senate Bill 6005, the 2006 supplemental transportation budget; proposed substitute Senate Bill 6225, authorizing transportation bonds; and engrossed substitute House Bill 2508, relating to the Office of Independent Investigations. Staff first reviewed eight amendments to SB 6005, including technical corrections and several funding changes for ferry service, rail projects, transit electrification, and other transportation programs. The committee then adopted all eight amendments, rolled them into the bill, and advanced SB 6005 with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. For SB 6225, staff explained that the bill would authorize additional transportation bonds, including $1.1 billion in general bonds backed by gas tax and vehicle-related revenues, $400 million for potential cost increases on Move Ahead Washington projects, and a $500 million increase in SR 520 bond authorization, while repealing some older bond authority. With no amendments offered, the committee advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The committee also considered engrossed substitute House Bill 2508, which would clarify the scope of authority of the Office of Independent Investigations and add public disclosure and privacy provisions. The committee moved the bill without recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Members concluded by thanking staff for their work on the budget and bond package before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the consequence of not complying with this is that they would make our budget situation in Medicaid
• this now, given the state's fiscal situation, hoping to not present you with more problems, more budget
• I intend to support it today with the understanding that we are in a current budget crisis.
• We've been directed to remove approximately $22 million from the health and welfare budget.
• We've been directed to remove approximately $22 million from the health and welfare budget, and I believe

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the minutes from January 28 and 29, then took up a Department of Health and Welfare administrative rule docket on reportable diseases. Jared Larson explained that the docket mainly reorganizes existing provisions, with two substantive updates involving lead and hemorrhagic fevers. In response to questions, state epidemiologist Dr. Christine Hahn clarified that the “suspected case” definition applies when a physician believes a patient may have a serious communicable disease, such as measles or tuberculosis, even before lab confirmation, so public health can respond quickly. The committee then adopted the rule docket. The committee next heard RS 32849, which would direct Idaho to seek a federal waiver and prepare to provide 30 days of Medicaid case management services for juveniles under 19 leaving correctional or detention settings, subject to legislative appropriation. Larson said the proposal is intended to comply with a federal mandate tied to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and that failure to comply could risk Medicaid funding, though the exact penalty is unknown. Members questioned who qualifies as an eligible juvenile, whether youth with private insurance would be forced onto Medicaid, and what the fiscal and penalty impacts might be. Larson said the services would not displace private insurance and that incarcerated entities generally bear medical costs under constitutional requirements. The committee voted to introduce the RS. House Bill 497 was held pending further discussion on the Senate side about concerns with the bill. The chair also noted the committee would likely meet at 8:30 a.m. on Friday because the House is scheduled to go to the floor at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has everything to do with the budget. And it has nothing to do with the bill.
• It has everything to do with the budget.
• And I know we share leadership on the budget subcommittee together.
• And I don't see this as an either-or where if we fund this, we have to expand the budget.
• In the grand scheme of the budget, it is about priority setting.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are waiting for the budget to close.
• we will circulate drafts um that both reflect a blank appropriation if it doesn't make it into the budget
• that will just kind of be in obeyance as we wait for conference uh to move forward. waiting for the budget
• Uh waiting for the budget to close.
• </c><00:03:18.239><c> and</c> it doesn't make it into the budget and it doesn't make it into the budget

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate conference committee met on April 17, 2025, and discussed three measures. For SB 88 HD1, relating to the Hawaii National Guard, and SB 1377 SD2 HD1, relating to veteran cemeteries, conferees said proposed conference drafts had been circulated, but both bills still needed WHAM and Finance approval and an effective-date adjustment, so each was rolled over to Monday, April 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room 16. For HB 433 HD1 SD1, relating to public safety and re-entry services, members said they were waiting for the budget to close. The Senate indicated it was agreeable to a reporting addition in the Senate draft, and staff would circulate alternate drafts depending on whether an appropriation was included in the final budget. That bill was also held over to April 21 at 1:30 p.m. At the 3:30 p.m. conference, the committee took up SB 1452 SD1 HD2, relating to the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Conferees agreed to the House version with an effective date of July 1, 2025, and noted no WHAM or Finance referral was needed. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the proposed conference draft, with Senate and House conferees all voting aye except one excused Senate member, and the bill was reported out successfully.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we are also taking up the special amendment deadlines and procedures for the budget and related
• Members, we are also taking up the special amendment deadlines and procedures for the budget and related
• That no later than Friday, March the 28th of this year, the Budget Committee will publish the proposed
• committee amendments by all, and I mean all, underlying members, including those appointed to the Budget
• Committee, must be filed by 5 p.m. the day before the Budget Committee meets.

Summary: The House Rules Committee met on March 20, 2025, with a quorum present and moved quickly through a full agenda. The committee first heard HB 399 by Representative Maney, an ethics bill aimed at prohibiting employees, candidates, and public officers from falsely claiming military service or decorations for material benefit and establishing civil penalties. An amendment was adopted to conform the House bill to the Senate version and clarify collection of penalties, including delinquency after 90 days and Attorney General collection authority. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified in support, saying the added civil-penalty language would improve enforcement. The bill was reported favorably by a 16-0 vote. The committee then adopted the special order letter for the March 26 session and approved special amendment deadlines and procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. The budget procedures set deadlines for publication of the proposed GAA and related bills, committee amendment filing, and floor amendment filing, and required amendment requests to come from the sponsoring member or a House employee with written authorization. The chair also noted that some line-item veto reinstatements recommended by work groups would be considered on March 26. Finally, the committee considered four proposed committee bills sponsored by Vice Chair Barrero: PCB REC-25-01, the Adoption Act for recent statutes and reviser changes; PCB REC-25-02, a directive bill updating statutory references from the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to the Division of Criminal Investigations; PCB REC-25-03, a cleanup bill repealing inoperative or expired provisions; and PCB REC-25-04, the annual general reviser bill making technical, non-substantive, and conforming changes. None drew questions, testimony, or debate, and all four were reported favorably by unanimous 16-0 votes before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:12.840><c> for</c> back and actually amend our budget for back and actually amend our budget
• Anyway, we revised the budget.
• Then the budget cycle repeats on October the 31st; we'll be informed what our allocation is for budget
• </c> So again the way this works is budget So again the way this works is budget period<00:13:28.520>
• </c> budget review. budget review.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We fully anticipate having full transparency in the budgeting process.
• budget.
• You can see on the hydrograph, which is a bar chart of the budget.
• The blue part represents our state budget.
• Happy to work with you on that budget item again, Representative.

Transcript Highlights:

• AIS Budget, good afternoon. AIS Budget would like to offer a few amendments on this bill.
• AIS Budget, good afternoon. AIS Budget would like to offer a few amendments on this bill.
• AIS Budget, good afternoon. AIS Budget would like to offer a few amendments on this bill.
• </c><01:32:34.719><c> and</c> able to uh have uh their own budget and able to uh have uh their own budget
• </c> into the budget into the budget they<01:35:54.440><c> may</c><01:35:54.679><c> just</c><01:35:54.840

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees first heard House Bill 229, which would establish a statewide speed restriction for motor vehicles under certain circumstances. Testimony on the bill was limited and came in support from the City and County of Honolulu’s transportation services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. No one testified in opposition, and there were no questions. The committees then took up House Bill 860, which would grant immunity from liability to the state or counties when they repair or maintain a street whose ownership or jurisdiction is disputed between them. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted written testimony, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee, Hawaii County Council member Heather Kimble, and the Iolani Homestead Community Association for Justice testified in support. The Ho Association for Justice opposed the bill, arguing the immunity was too broad and that the issue had already been addressed by prior legislation. In discussion, members raised concerns about liability and asked whether a different approach, such as extending the 2017 law transferring Oahu roads in limbo to the counties, would be acceptable; county representatives said that path could be considered if immunity were removed. House Bill 1161, which would authorize counties to use a road usage charge mechanism similar to the state’s, drew support from the Department of Transportation, the Energy Office, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, several county and city offices, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. Rental car companies and industry groups supported the concept but asked for amendments, including a flat fee instead of a per-mile charge, relief for plug-in hybrid vehicles, and a delayed implementation date. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii also supported relief for hybrids. Members questioned the rental car representatives about the flat-fee proposal, and they said a per-mile charge would be difficult to calculate and pass on to customers. At the end of the joint agenda, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1161 to Tuesday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m., and the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee also deferred the three measures to that date and time. The Transportation and Culture and the Arts committee then began hearing House Bill 925, which would create a Performing Arts Special Fund, and House Bill 1378, which would establish a Performing Arts Grants Program and Special Fund and revise the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ responsibilities and funding sources. HB 925 received support from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and written support or comments from DBEDT, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, and others. HB 1378 drew extensive testimony and discussion focused on preserving arts funding while addressing concerns about the use of Works of Art Special Fund dollars for positions and programming. The Governor’s office said it supported the intent but had concerns; the Attorney General warned that the bill’s cap and transfer provisions were unclear and could affect the tax-exempt status of bond-funded dollars; and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts opposed the measure, urging an audit, tracking of deposits, and a shift of positions and programs to general funds instead of changing the law. The chair explained that the bill was intended to protect arts funding while tightening the legal guardrails around bond-financed dollars and preserving federal support, and asked testimony to focus on new points as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:01.720><c> itself</c><00:07:02.720><c> yes</c> budget itself yes budget itself yes um<00:07:05.479
• </c> 11 months away from the next budget 11 months away from the next budget cycle<01:06:58.279><c> and
• is adequate until our next budget request.
• 01.000><c> uh</c> until our next budget request okay uh until our next budget request okay uh with<01
• </c><01:38:41.840><c> was</c> know when I came in 2017 the budget was know when I came in 2017 the budget

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that, as the committee was digging through the budget and looking at available dollars to help
• </c><00:29:17.320><c> to</c> Mayo clct does provide a base budget to Mayo clct does provide a base budget
• uh the 2023 house budget Bill house file<00:33:32.799><c> 2890</c><00:33:33.799><c> allowed</c><00:33
• </c> okay because it would be in their budget okay because it would be in their budget and<00:37:00.000
• I will then uh withdraw our budget I will then uh withdraw withdraw<00:48:01.960><c> that</c><00:48:

Keywords: 1183, house