Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:09:18.800> in senate's carrying $150,000 increase in senate's carrying $150,000 increase
• It's a $200,000 increase only item.
• Then the House is carrying a $300,000 increase in FY 26-27 and a $300,000 increase in FY 28-29.
• $300,000 increase in FY2829. $300,000 increase in FY2829.
• This would allow MDA to and 23.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and nine FTEs, an increase of 1 FTE.
• The additional 10% salary increase would allow us to provide competitive compensation, retain our current
• So our, our workload increases as a result of this increased number of licenses.
• This is a net increase of approximately $500,000 or a biennial increase of about 16.8%.
• only increased by 23.5%.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows it; it does not mandate. Is that correct? It allows it, Mr. Chairman. Great, thank you.
• it's not a tax increase.
• of Revenue to increase taxes on the forms.
• In allowing the Department of Revenue to increase taxes on the forms, and it's his understanding that
• To allow for that. We might. We might not.

Bills: SB1042, SB1043, SB1067, SB1180, SB1221, SB1292, SB1503, SCR1033

Keywords: public funds, virtual currency, bitcoin, investment, Arizona Strategic Digital Asset Reserve Act, state treasurer, retirement system, state payments, cryptocurrency, Arizona law, payment methods, government transactions, tax lien, property tax lien, real property tax lien, foreclosure, right of redemption, redeem, excess proceeds, county abatement lien

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee considered a series of Senate bills and one concurrent resolution, with several measures involving virtual currency, county tax liens, tax conformity, and retirement system investments. The chair announced that Senate Bill 1503 would be held at the sponsor’s request and noted this was likely the committee’s last meeting of the session. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1042, which would allow state treasurer and retirement system funds to invest up to 10% in virtual currency holdings, and Senate Bill 1043, which would allow state agencies to accept virtual currency payments through agreements with providers. Members raised concerns about volatility and government involvement, but both bills were described as permissive rather than mandatory and were returned with due pass recommendations by 5-3 votes. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1067, dealing with county cleanup assessments for blighted properties in unincorporated areas. Chairman Olson offered an amendment removing the bill’s property-tax-bill mechanism and instead preserving county liens so cleanup costs could survive a tax lien sale. County representatives and the County Supervisors Association supported the amended approach as a way to recover costs and make counties whole. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the bill as amended passed 8-0. Senate Bill 1292, clarifying that the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System’s 5% voting-stock cap applies to publicly traded corporations, also passed with broad support after testimony from PSPRS. Two tax-administration bills prompted extended debate. Senate Bill 1180 would direct the Department of Revenue to prepare tax forms based on conformity to the Internal Revenue Code unless the legislature enacts nonconformity; Chairman Olson’s amendment limited the presumption to provisions that reduce federal adjusted gross income or taxable income, reflecting concerns about automatic tax increases. The sponsor said the bill was meant to clarify legislative intent and prevent executive overreach, while several members said the amended version was materially different from the original. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed 5-3. Senate Bill 1221 would require DOR to notify the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance chairs before adopting new interpretations or applications of tax law that adversely affect taxpayers and to testify if hearings are held; an intent amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 5-3 amid debate over the meaning of “adversely.” Finally, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1033, which encourages the Arizona State Retirement System and PSPRS to monitor digital asset exchange-traded funds and report on feasibility, risks, and benefits before the next session, was approved 5-3. Some members objected to the use of “encourage” and to the underlying cryptocurrency policy, while supporters said the resolution simply sought information and did not mandate investment. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• To allow, from when the bill was heard in committee, those were modified to allow annual filing without
• This is a vendor allowance.
• I appreciate last biennium's increase in state funding to the $15 million level, which allowed our districts
• That is allowing for an extension on a redevelopment district that was stifled by the pandemic and increasing
• That tax base erosion is causing tax increases.

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• By law, the statute allows for a municipality to charge us.
• By law, the statute allows for a municipality to charge us.
• as close as possible to the risk-free rate of return, and that rate increases, which are allowed, have
• as close as possible to the risk-free rate of return, and that rate increases, which are allowed, have
• Florida Power and Light has requested a rate increase.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several bills, reporting each favorably after hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and member questions. SB 578 would allow wine to be sold in recyclable containers, aligning wine with beer container rules; it received support from Americans for Prosperity and passed without debate. SB 606 clarified when guests in public lodging or food service establishments may be removed for nonpayment, updated notice and checkout provisions, and removed a mandatory arrest requirement, with support from hotel and restaurant industry groups; it also passed favorably. Members then heard SB 202, which addresses a municipal water utility surcharge issue affecting Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach by requiring the utility to charge residents where the plant sits the same rate it charges its own residents. The sponsor and supporters described it as a fairness issue, while North Miami Beach argued it would shift costs and threaten utility finances; the bill was reported favorably. SB 570 modernized and clarified the scope of work for swimming pool and spa contractors, and SB 928, as amended, regulated non-approved disposable nicotine devices by restricting advertising and display, increasing inspections and penalties, and adding a school-buffer provision; both were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 346, which repeals state preemption over local regulation of hoisting equipment and cranes, prompted by concerns after Hurricane Milton and a crane collapse in St. Petersburg. Supporters said local governments need authority to address storm-related crane safety, while industry representatives warned against patchwork regulation and said local oversight already exists in some areas. Finally, the committee took up SB 652, creating Veterinary Professional Associates to perform certain tasks, including limited surgeries under veterinarian supervision; animal welfare groups supported it as a way to expand access, while some veterinarians opposed the surgery provisions. The bill was reported favorably after amendment. The committee then began SB 354, a major overhaul of Public Service Commission oversight, including expanding the commission, adding financial expertise, tightening rate-setting and storm-hardening review, and increasing transparency for nonprofit water and wastewater utilities; the substitute amendment was adopted and public testimony was heard from consumer advocates and utility-related groups, but the transcript ends before final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• for increased participation.
• This will allow us to expand our programming to more schools throughout the state and to increase our
• It increased and it increased funding in the state preschool program for those purposes.
• Please allow us to stay open.
• With $30 million, it would have allowed us to increase the amount of grant funds that were being provided

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase in the cap will allow Caltrans to repair and sell more homes on the motor vehicle account
• Will allow for increased emissions and increased polluting, with no guarantees that it's going to actually
• allowances or to create a program as such to avoid the cost increase that would be associated therewith
• Adding these MDI allowances is basically a new source of allowances, essentially increases supply, could
• We did increase the number of free allowances given to utilities in order to reduce cost pass-throughs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the Department of Finance’s May Revision overview and the LAO’s budget assessment, then questioned administration officials on several natural resources and transportation proposals. Finance described the state’s improved near-term fiscal picture, but also highlighted continued budget balancing measures, including use of the temporary surplus holding account, climate bond spending, transportation and DMV/CHP augmentations, and changes affecting CEQA filing systems, water programs, CalRecycle, and food and agriculture. The LAO argued the budget still relies heavily on reserves and borrowing, recommended rejecting or delaying many new discretionary proposals, and urged caution about ongoing costs and future-year impacts, especially for the General Fund, Motor Vehicle Account, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance officials said the $25 million request would support early implementation of an enforceable program combining environmental flows, habitat restoration, and scientific monitoring, with the State Water Board retaining regulatory authority. The LAO said the proposal was premature because the updated Bay-Delta plan had not yet been adopted and asked for more clarity on the state’s existing commitments and future funding expectations. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce long-running conflict over water policy, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquisition of the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat restoration. State agencies said the project had a completed appraisal, was moving through a rolling grant process, and would leverage philanthropic and local funding, while members questioned why it was being elevated ahead of other park and conservation requests and whether it was the best use of limited bond dollars. The hearing then turned to transportation items, including $40 million for Clean California litter abatement, $6.2 million for Caltrans homeless coordinators, $73.4 million in DMV/Motor Vehicle Account requests, and funding for the 2028 Games route network. The LAO generally recommended rejecting or delaying the Clean California and homeless coordinator proposals pending more information, while members debated the need to preserve essential CHP and DMV operations despite the Motor Vehicle Account’s structural imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think that someone with a 16% increase should have an opportunity to get a 0% increase, while
• He said someone with a 16% increase should not have an opportunity to get a 0% increase while someone
• One of those is the stacking of increases whereby one increase would be set to expire, and then they
• It allows, it opens up the authorization for counties to allow partial payments throughout the year for
• Just the tax increase proposals.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the past five years, we've been very encouraged to see an increase in centers, a 20% increase in
• The planned CBAS rate increase would have increased the CBAS rate by approximately 2.7 percent.
• That's an increase of 33.1%.
• This is an increase of 30.3%.
• This has allowed for an increase of 2 million additional meals each year.

Summary: The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk. The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care. The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• that increase in the revenue was going to be.
• And if we're increasing taxes in government or we're increasing fees in government, the elected officials
• This program also allows taxpayers to give up to $1,700.
• It only allows K-12 students to get scholarships.
• It only allows K-12 students to get scholarships.

Bills: SB1142, SCR1028

Keywords: scholarships, tax credit, education funding, nonprofit organizations, Arizona Revised Statutes, constitutional amendment, state revenue, tax policy, legislative approval, two-thirds vote, 1182, all

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 1028, which would send to voters a constitutional change narrowing an existing exception to Arizona’s two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases. The resolution would require legislative approval for increases in state revenue through fees and assessments that are authorized by statute before January 1, 2027, and set by a state officer or agency without a prescribed formula, amount, or limit. The sponsor argued the measure would close a loophole that has allowed agencies to raise fees without direct legislative accountability, while opponents said it would make it harder for agencies to adjust fees for inflation, operations, and regulatory costs and could shift costs to taxpayers or slow services. After testimony and debate, the committee voted 5-3 with one absent to return SCR 1028 with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1142, which would have Arizona opt into a federal tax credit program for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. Supporters said the measure would bring new private scholarship funding into Arizona at no cost to the state, expand school choice, and help students with tutoring, special needs services, transportation, and other educational expenses. Opponents argued the federal program was not yet fully written, lacked clear guardrails, and could further strain public schools by diverting resources away from the majority of students who remain in the public system. Committee members debated whether the program would benefit Arizona students without affecting state funds, and whether more transparency and rules were needed before adoption. After discussion, the committee voted 5-3 with one absent to return SB 1142 with a do pass recommendation. Several members explained their votes on both measures, with supporters emphasizing voter choice, accountability, and limiting fee increases, and opponents emphasizing the need for revenue, public school funding, and caution about the unresolved federal scholarship rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase of 3% for the district towns.
• Increased funding would also allow the district to expand after-school tutoring and credit recovery programs
• Increased funding would allow Leominster to hire additional adjustment counselors so that all of our
• So we're going to be asking them to do small increases.
• I suspect if anything, the amount of non-need-based aid will have increased a lot because of the increase

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education opened a hybrid public hearing on a large slate of bills related to school buildings, school finance, technology, data privacy, safety, and related education issues. Chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlined procedures for the hearing, including two-minute testimony limits and the plan to group similar bills together. Several bills drew no testimony and were closed without further discussion, while others drew extensive testimony from legislators, school officials, parents, advocates, and educators. A major theme was school safety and student well-being. Lori Al-Hadeth testified in support of bills on alert systems in public schools, describing the loss of her daughter in the Parkland shooting and urging adoption of Alyssa’s Law-style panic alert technology. Representative Gallagher and disability advocates also supported a bill authorizing, but not requiring, airway clearance devices in schools, arguing they could save lives in choking emergencies and provide an option for people who cannot use the Heimlich maneuver. Another bill on reducing cafeteria waste drew support from a legislator and a Lexington sustainability official, who said installing dishwashers during construction would reduce waste and long-term costs. Much of the hearing focused on Chapter 70 school funding and the inflation cap. Senator Pavel Payano, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Senna, and multiple local officials and school committee members from Bridgewater, Chelsea, Groton-Dunstable, and other districts argued that the 4.5% cap on inflation adjustments has left schools underfunded during years of high inflation, forcing layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs and student supports. They urged bills to eliminate the cap, restore lost funding, increase the Commonwealth’s share of the foundation budget, or create commissions to study reforms. Testimony also highlighted the impact on special education, English learners, and low-income students, with Chelsea witnesses saying the cap has cost their district about $7 million annually. School construction and MSBA reform were the other major topic. AIA Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools, Lynn officials, and AFT Massachusetts described aging facilities, overcrowding, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of financing new schools under current reimbursement rules. Boston officials said the district has many pre-World War II buildings and has only built a handful of new schools in decades, while Lynn leaders said reimbursement rates have fallen well below the statutory 80% because of caps and ineligible costs. Witnesses urged modernization of the MSBA program, higher reimbursement rates, and more resources for school construction. The committee also heard support for a bill to study the adequacy and equity of the school building program, and chairs indicated some bills would be closed after no one signed up to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases the administration fee only to the same price as what is currently allowed under the federal
• CMS came back and told us that that was not allowed, to define an increased benefit limit tied to a diagnosis
• or budgetary increases right now.
• , and what would that increase be?
• Have you seen any increase in number of failures due to the increased amount of water usage?

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:39.279> me point just raised if you would allow me point just raised if you would allow
• <00:17:23.319> in that if my property inre increases in that if my property inre increases
• , stick-built, allowed in the town?
• <01:09:52.520> in<01:09:52.640> the allowed uh stick built allowed in the allowed uh
• things like that you should be allowed things like that you should be allowed to<01:10:21.840>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on HB 577, a bill to expand accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in New Hampshire. The sponsor and supporters described the state’s housing shortage and argued the bill would make it easier for property owners to build ADUs by right, up to 950 square feet, either attached or detached, while still requiring compliance with building codes, septic/water limits, and other local requirements. Supporters said the measure would help seniors age in place, provide housing for young adults, caregivers, and workers, and make better use of existing property such as garages and barns. Representative Reed raised concern that removing language related to short-term rentals could allow ADUs to be used for that purpose rather than long-term housing. The sponsor said he was open to clarifying language on short-term rentals, and another witness explained that current law already allows municipalities some choice on ingress/egress requirements, while the bill would standardize that and leave the design choice to the property owner. Several supportive witnesses followed, including the New Hampshire Home Builders Association, the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, the Business and Industry Association, AARP, Housing Action New Hampshire, 603 Forward, and New Hampshire Youth Movement. They emphasized affordability, property rights, workforce housing, intergenerational living, and the need for statewide consistency. A Derry resident testified that his existing garage space could be converted into an ADU under HB 577, but current local rules prevent that because it is detached; he said the bill would let him rent it affordably. Supporters also argued that ADUs can increase property values and help homeowners cover mortgages and taxes. In opposition, the New Hampshire Municipal Association said the bill would impose a local zoning mandate, could add density pressure on already stressed infrastructure, and did not guarantee that new units would be affordable or workforce housing. No vote or final committee action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Allowing the budget increase provides the flexibility necessary to deploy available funds quickly. just
• Allowing the budget increase provides the flexibility necessary to deploy available funds quickly We
• Allowing the budget increase provides the flexibility necessary to deploy available funds quickly to
• We increased that to $1.2 million.
• Um, okay, so a $5 increase is a $20 million increase.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This allows them to do it. And by making...
• We're seeing double-digit rate increases.
• The other purpose of this legislation, though, is to allow for choice and to allow those plans to compete
• annual increases?
• Will their amount they pay every month increase? Will their amount they pay every month increase?

Bills: SB101, SB21, HM52, HB132, SB14, SB20

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:45.720> the that over time we want to increase the that over time we want to increase
• an allowance there. an allowance there.
• <00:09:19.080> the lives or to potentially increase the lives or to potentially increase the
• <00:26:10.800> ridership, improving service, increasing ridership, improving service, increasing
• 47.200> of<00:26:47.360> people should increase the number of people should increase the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• retroactive to the September date that was out there, allows everything to move into place, but increases
• The pediatric rate increase for children's dental services.
• Have you submitted in writing case and points what you believe would allow them, allow DHS, to comply
• Chair, if you'll allow, I'd like Trevor to answer that.
• One is the rate increase.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council reviewed several agency rules and requests. The Insurance Department’s amendment to its holding company system rule was reviewed and approved, as were two State Board of Election Commissioners rules: one clarifying poll watcher conduct, vote challenges, and provisional voting, and another increasing pay for certified election monitors and defining training, observation, and report-writing compensation. The Arkansas Financial Education Commission also had its rule reviewed and approved after removing membership requirements tied to DEI language to comply with Act 938. The committee held over the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for one month to allow further discussion about who should write or implement the rules. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Human Services’ request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025. DHS said CMS had raised comparability and other federal approval concerns, especially for the dental and diagnostic lab provisions, and that it might not be able to meet the acts’ effective dates. DHS described several possible paths forward, including broader benefit changes, waivers, or splitting the dental provisions so the pediatric rate increase could move separately from the special-needs adult cap increase. The Arkansas State Dental Association disputed DHS’s conclusion that the acts could not be implemented as written, argued that Act 1025 is workable, and urged DHS to continue pursuing implementation and preserve the September 1 effective date where possible. Public testimony also supported expanded dental access for adults with disabilities and special needs. After discussion, the committee voted not to exclude DHS from reporting requirements for those acts. The committee then reviewed the Division of Higher Education’s Act 781 report. The division said it has 32 rules in effect, asked to repeal three rules—two replaced by new rules and one no longer supported by authority or current law—and to continue the remaining 29 rules. The committee approved that request, with the repeals effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on January 16, 2026. The meeting concluded with no questions on the remaining written rulemaking updates from prior and current sessions, which were filed without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, why this huge increase in premiums?
• More drastic increases in more recent years.
• Projecting increased rate increases in the future, and I know that you're—I hope that you're all going
• We can't get away from these increased PCF fees.
• When you delay settlement of cases, you increase the attorney's costs for the defense lawyers, you increase

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a 95% increase. Last October, our rent was increased. $27.80. That's a 95% increase.
• That's a 95% increase. Last October, our rent was increased. $27.80. That's a 95% increase.
• For at least the last 10 years, the allowed increase has hovered around 3%.
• Well, we're here because the rent increases too much. They increase me.
• Social housing allows for economic mobility without displacing residents as their incomes increase, and

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1157, the Affordable Rent Act, which would lower California’s annual rent cap, remove the single-family home exemption, and eliminate the sunset on existing tenant protections. The author and supporters argued that renters are facing severe affordability pressures, especially in single-family rentals, and that stronger statewide rent stabilization is needed to prevent displacement and homelessness. Opponents, including apartment, building, and property-owner groups, said the bill would discourage housing production, harm small landlords, and override a deal they said was intended to be temporary while the state focused on building more housing. Public testimony on AB 1157 was extensive, with many renters, tenant advocates, labor groups, and community organizations speaking in support, while many landlords, business groups, and property-owner representatives spoke in opposition. Committee members were split: some praised the bill as a necessary response to the rent crisis, while others warned it could reduce investment and worsen the housing shortage. The committee ultimately voted 7-5 to pass AB 1157 to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The committee then approved the consent calendar, including AB 413, AB 1152, and AB 1275, on a 9-0 vote. It also heard ACA 3, which would require the University of California to make available a limited number of down payment loans for eligible long-term support staff who are first-time homebuyers. Supporters said the measure would help lower-wage UC workers afford homeownership and improve retention, while UC and other opponents argued the proposal was duplicative of existing state programs, unnecessary, and potentially harmful to UC finances. The discussion focused on financing mechanics and the relationship to CalHFA, but no final vote on ACA 3 was included in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you can see we've had a slow increase in FTEs and an increase in actual cases. Gotcha.
• So as you see an increase in the number of cases and the increase of number of attorneys, that allows
• That number has increased. The value of the things that we are insuring has also increased.
• Um, they ask you for some money for an increase, salary increase for the deputy public counsel.
• This is a net increase of approximately 290,000 or a biennial increase of 1.6%.