Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, that leads to the next big jump to page 55, line 17. Mr.
• Chairman, that leads to the next big jump to page 55, line 17.
• Chairman, that leads to the next big Mr.
• </c><01:57:06.800><c> I</c> lead me to what I'm going to say next.
• I lead me to what I'm going to say next.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you've got the federal ban in certain ways.
• So our audits and investigation, which is one of our primary leads on program integrity, they are part
• tax, the infrastructure and the financial benefit for the state budget is at risk, and so there will lead
• We know that that will also lead to coverage losses and other federal funding reduction.
• I was leading De Enthus when California eliminated adult dental benefits in 2009.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health began with a hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California health programs, focusing first on reproductive health state investments. HCAI outlined five state-funded reproductive health programs created after Dobbs, including uncompensated care, practical support, capital and clinical infrastructure, and workforce programs. Essential Access Health and Planned Parenthood testified that these funds have served hundreds of thousands of patients, but warned that the uncompensated care program is fully awarded and needs renewal, and that Title X and Medicaid-related federal uncertainty continues to threaten access. Members questioned who the uncompensated care program serves, why Medi-Cal covers a large share of abortions, and whether Planned Parenthood could expand prenatal services; public commenters urged continued support for reproductive health access. The committee then took up long-term care services and supports, starting with the HCBA and Assisted Living Waiver programs. DHCS reported large wait lists for both programs and said enrollment is limited by workforce and provider capacity, while LAO noted that increasing slots alone may not increase access without additional programmatic changes. Members pressed the department on whether more slots should be added given the lower cost of home- and community-based care compared with skilled nursing facilities, and public testimony argued that the wait lists should be reduced and that staffing concerns do not fully explain unused capacity. The committee also heard testimony on congregate living health facilities, where providers and a patient family described the homes as critical, lower-cost alternatives to nursing facilities for younger, medically complex people. Witnesses requested short-term bridge funding, while DHCS said it is proposing to transition CLFs into a managed care benefit by January 1, 2028, which would remove caps and expand access statewide. The final long-term care topic was PACE. DHCS explained that it has paused new PACE applications and service expansions for at least two years to reassess oversight capacity and develop a statewide strategic growth framework, while existing programs continue operating. CalPACE supported the pause as a planning measure but asked for four additional state nurse positions to reduce delays in level-of-care determinations and speed enrollment for frail older adults. Members shared personal stories about how PACE has helped family members and asked how the state will meet growing demand; DHCS said stakeholder engagement will begin later in the year and that some existing applications already in process will continue. Public commenters broadly supported PACE, HCBA, and CLF funding requests. The hearing then moved to the Department of Health Care Services’ 2026-27 Medi-Cal budget and related trailer bills. DHCS said Medi-Cal spending has grown due to coverage expansions, higher acuity, rising utilization, and especially pharmacy costs, and it described proposals to extend the current skilled nursing facility financing framework for one year while the state develops a new value-based payment strategy. LAO said most recent Medi-Cal spending growth has been driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload growth, with pharmacy spending growing especially quickly, and recommended better and more timely data to analyze the drivers. Members expressed concern about the rapid rise in Medi-Cal spending and asked for more detail on the largest cost increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• Among the different transmission and distribution components, if you look at lead times, transformers
• are the outliers with lead times exceeding over 100 weeks.
• So even in normal times, the unit lead times are well over a year.
• They own the land, they've got the long lead time equipment already procured.
• It also is beneficial because it leads to less transmission requirements being built.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• But Dan Engeman leads our policy shop, and I'm really lucky he stayed.
• You know, this one in particular with the ban of cell phones in schools for the students, and some school
• There may be items and conversations that could lead us to, you know, shed more light on the situation
• And let us make the determination whether Whether, you know, it leads somewhere or not.
• “So there's things that lead into, we have two wings in St.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to turn to any witnesses for lead testimony.
• Are there any lead witnesses in opposition? Good morning.
• Regulatory uncertainty raises the cost of capital that leads to higher financing costs, that leads to
• higher customer bills, ...the cost of capital that leads to higher financing costs, that leads to higher
• Do we have two lead opposition witnesses? Do we have two lead opposition witnesses? Mr.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But a general rule to put these out unto the public leads to situations like the story we just heard
• But a general rule to put these out unto the public leads to situations like the story we just heard
• Hampshire right to the way that New Hampshire right to privacy<02:18:37.840><c> laws</c><02:18:38.240><c> ban
• from</c><02:18:38.960><c> using</c><02:18:39.280><c> like</c><02:18:40.240><c> uh</c> privacy laws ban
• us from using like uh privacy laws ban us from using like uh video<02:18:41.120><c> recordings</c><02

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to turn to any witnesses for lead testimony.
• We'll now move to the lead witness.
• Are there any lead witnesses in opposition? Good morning.
• Regulatory uncertainty raises the cost of capital that leads to higher financing costs, that leads to
• Do we have two lead opposition witnesses? Do we have two lead opposition witnesses? Mr.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that will officially ban slavery in all forms from our California State Constitution.
• And I think that would lead to misleading conclusions.
• Gretchen Bernsbergman, lead organizer of Moms United to End the War on Drugs, thank you.
• Brinzbergman lead organizer of Moms United to end the war on drugs and strong support.
• to more overdose... ...and lengthy incarceration leads to more overdose deaths.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. AB 837 by Assemblymember Davies would add ketamine transportation to existing drug trafficking law; supporters, including district attorneys and peace officer groups, said it would address a growing and dangerous drug trend, while opponents argued increased penalties do not reduce drug supply and can worsen health harms. The bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote and sent to Appropriations. AB 352 by Assemblymember Pacheco would make threats against judges and court commissioners an aggravating factor in sentencing; judicial and law enforcement groups supported it as a response to rising threats, while ACLU and criminal justice advocates said existing law already covers threats and the bill is unnecessary. It also passed to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 938 by Assemblymember Bonta, which expands vacatur and affirmative-defense relief for survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, including for some violent offenses. Survivors and advocates testified that the bill would allow people coerced into crimes to tell their full stories and seek relief, while district attorneys and sheriffs warned it could sweep too broadly and affect public safety. The chair and several members strongly supported the measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 475 by Assemblymember Wilson would make prison work assignments voluntary and is tied to a broader effort to remove involuntary servitude language from the state constitution; supporters framed it as a rehabilitation and dignity issue, while one member objected to the premise and cited the defeat of a related ballot measure. The bill was voted out to Appropriations but left on call pending additional votes. Assemblymember Lowenthal presented AB 704, which would allow people convicted of low-level offenses before age 26 to petition to seal and destroy records after a waiting period. Supporters said the bill addresses the limits of expungement in the digital age and recognizes young adult brain development; prosecutors and police groups raised Brady/disclosure concerns and objected to treating 18- to 25-year-olds like children. The committee debated those issues at length before sending the bill to Appropriations. Lowenthal also presented AB 812, which would expand resentencing opportunities for incarcerated firefighters who serve on conservation fire crews; supporters emphasized rehabilitation, wildfire response, and reduced recidivism, and the hearing continued with support testimony and the start of opposition testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, writing, having things in writing, is just so important when you have something that could lead
• I mean, writing, having things in writing, is just so important when you have something that could lead
• that could lead to jail time<01:01:11.760><c> such</c><01:01:12.000><c> as</c><01:01:12.160><c> in</
• If you write you are banned from all public school property, that is specific. >> Okay. Thank you.
• from all uh If you write you are banned from all uh public<01:15:51.600><c> school</c><01:15:52.000>

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, of course, we have Melissa Miranda Johnson, who's our legislative lead, just to talk a little
• And then, of course, we have Melissa Miranda Johnson, who's our legislative lead, just to talk a little
• The reason we're focusing on trespassing as a crime is it is the crime that leads to bigger crimes.
• The reason we're focusing on trespassing as a crime is it is the crime that leads to bigger crimes.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:30.320><c> to</c> outlined in this bill will lead to outlined in this bill will lead to delays
• </c> making that happen and that could lead making that happen and that could lead to<00:19:10.840><c
• This drug has more of an effect, and it can lead to negative consequences if not used properly.
• This drug has more of an effect, and it can lead to negative consequences if not used properly.
• </c><02:42:20.160><c> to</c> effect and it has it can lead to effect and it has it can lead to negative

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:39.519><c> to</c><00:09:39.680><c> an</c> healthier people and that leads to an healthier
• That leads to treatment delays and reliance on really expensive sites of care like emergency rooms or
• And we all know that this will lead to delayed and foregone care, greater ED use, greater medical debt
• to delayed and that this will lead to delayed and foregone<00:48:48.480><c> care,</c><00:48:48.960><
• Of about $2,500 per encounter, leading to about $60 million of that total number that we came up with

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• such a meeting section 41-1401, out of advice session meaning title 41, chapter 9, o'clock statute banning
• I really want to acknowledge the 9th floor, OSPB, really focusing on Ben Henderson, leading his team,
• And for the ESAs and for all the kinds of education, because that's what the system is leading us to.
• this dry, arid state, it will be because of the universities, because of Arizona State University leading

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Eternal Spirit of God, who is ever speaking to us and always seeking to lead Your children into the ways
• and this courageous spirit, Eternal Spirit of God, who is ever speaking to us and always seeking to lead
• During Women's History Month, it's especially meaningful to recognize women and girls who are leading
• A couple things: the ban on local control, the AI tech that's still learning, the surveillance and mapping

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Eternal Spirit of God, who is ever speaking to us and always seeking to lead your children into the ways
• Eternal Spirit of God, who is ever speaking to us and always seeking to lead your children into the ways
• During Women's History Month, it's especially meaningful to recognize women and girls who are leading
• A couple things: the ban on local control, the AI tech that’s still learning, the surveillance and mapping

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by a 118-1 vote, and a series of special guest introductions, including family members, student groups, a basketball team, University of Missouri undergraduate researchers, and other visitors. The chamber also received Senate messages and committee reports, including recommendations that several House bills and joint resolutions “do pass.” The main floor debate centered on Senate Substitute No. 3 for Senate Bill 888, a broad juvenile justice and sentencing measure that combined juvenile reform with sentencing transparency and other criminal justice provisions. Supporters said it would improve public safety, clarify sentencing, address serious offenses, and add collaboration between prosecutors and juvenile systems. Opponents argued it was an oversized omnibus bill rushed through the process, warned it would increase prison time, expand adult-court involvement in juvenile matters, and could harm children and rehabilitation efforts. Members also debated the fiscal note, with supporters saying the large prison-cost estimate was speculative and opponents calling it evidence of a major new prison expense. After extended debate, the House invoked the previous question and SB 888 was finally passed 97-53. The House then took up House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174, a proposal to change Missouri’s tax structure by reducing and potentially eliminating the state income tax and broadening the sales tax base to transactions involving goods and services. Supporters framed it as a modernization effort that would promote growth, increase take-home pay, and send the question to voters. Opponents said it would be the largest sales tax hike in state history, shift the burden onto working families and seniors, and create a large budget hole. After debate, the previous question was adopted 101-49, and the joint resolutions were third read and passed 98-54. The House then moved on to third-reading business, including House Bill 269 on autonomous vehicles, which was introduced as a transportation and economic development measure and then questioned on liability and taxation issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Duran, would you lead us?
• He said that recently the reservations in his district have banned pull tabs altogether.
• thank you and I know the chair sorry you thank you and I know the chair sorry uh<00:56:17.400><c> lead
• Also, I'm not just the lead here, but I'm also a non-voting member, so I cannot vote to oppose this action

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much to those who came to speak as lead witnesses and support.
• California can lead by offering competitive pricing through CalRX at an affordable price.
• Finally, we do remain opposed to legislation that bans the use of step therapy.
• Those in opposition, if there's lead witnesses in our... Thank you. Anyone else?
• You have two lead witnesses. You have two minutes each. Please proceed when ready.

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Igo and Lead Howard, you know, this is an amendment I know Lead Howard will be familiar with from
• </c> Amendment um chair iigo and uh lead Amendment um chair iigo and uh lead Howard<00:59:17.480><c>
• </c><01:07:54.680><c> to</c> onerous um restrictions that lead to onerous um restrictions that lead to
• Of course, thank you to both Chair Igo and Lead Howard.
• </c><01:18:07.600><c> Howard</c> the Bill thank you lead Howard the Bill thank you lead Howard representative

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• whatever day to the date of their primary—after that, I mean, one of the options is that is a complete ban

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The meeting focused on ethics guidance for legislators’ official newsletters and social media posts about a major tax bill that has since become a ballot measure. Members and staff debated whether existing board guidance, which allowed comments on legislation previously before the legislature, should also apply to social media and to the current biennium rather than only the immediately preceding session. Several members argued that legislators should be able to state how they voted on the bill and discuss it as part of their legislative record, while others stressed that using state resources to advocate for or against a ballot measure is prohibited and that posts could become an indirect appeal to voters. The discussion also covered whether there should be a bright-line cutoff tied to the primary election date, after which official communications should stop discussing the bill if it is now a ballot measure. Staff and members raised concerns about tone, tenor, and proximity to the election, and whether official social media, caucus communications, and newsletters should be treated differently. One motion to extend the prior rule to the full biennium and apply it to social media failed. A second motion then passed establishing the primary date as a date certain for monitoring these discussions, with the understanding that official communications should be more limited after that point. Members noted that personal social media and campaign resources remain separate from official legislative resources. The meeting then moved toward adjournment of the public portion, with no public testimony offered, before a brief break and executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• After that, I mean, one of the options is that is a complete ban, right?

Summary: The meeting focused on whether legislators and legislative staff may use official resources, including newsletters and social media, to comment on a bill that has since become a ballot measure. Members discussed older ethics guidance allowing comments on legislation previously before the legislature, but questioned whether that rule still applies to modern social media posts and to ballot measures, especially when the language is strong or could be seen as an indirect appeal to voters. Several members argued that once a bill becomes a ballot measure, using state resources to advocate for or against it is prohibited, while others emphasized the importance of allowing officials to explain their votes and speak to their legislative record. The group debated possible guardrails, including whether comments should be limited to the bill itself, whether tone and timing should matter, and whether the rule should apply only to members not subject to election-year restrictions. One motion proposed extending the prior ethics guidance from the immediately preceding legislative session to the full biennium and applying it to social media, but that motion failed. Members then shifted toward a brighter-line approach tied to the primary election date, with discussion that after the primary officials should not use state resources to talk about a bill that became a ballot measure or is subject to ballot challenge. A second motion to use the primary date as the cutoff for monitoring these discussions was made, seconded, and passed. The chair then noted that officials are still free to speak on personal or campaign accounts, and to respond to questions, but the board’s guidance would help distinguish permissible official communications from campaign-like advocacy. The meeting then moved toward adjournment of the public portion, with no public testimony offered.