Video & Transcript : 'conservation futures program' :

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ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 61 Mar 13th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 566 by the Resources and Conservation Committee.
  • House Bill 568 by the Resources and Conservation Committee.
  • House Bill 678 by the Resources and Conservation Committee.
  • House Bill 566 by the Resources and Conservation Committee.
  • House Bill 568 by the Resources and Conservation Committee.
Keywords: 989, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division I (03/03/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • expenditure, for future grants?
  • for future<03:54:58.080><c> expenditure</c><03:54:58.640><c> for</c><03:54:58.800><c> future</c><03:
  • 54:59.199><c> grants</c><03:55:00.120><c> so</c> future expenditure for future grants so future expenditure
  • year to fund this program.
  • program?
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first heard from the Personnel Appeals Board, which explained that it became an independent state agency after Senate Bill 487 and was presenting its first standalone operating budget. The board described its quasi-judicial role in hearing appeals from classified state employees over disciplinary actions such as warnings, suspensions, and terminations, and said it handles about 25 to 35 cases a year, with some cases lasting longer because of their complexity. Members also outlined the need for a chair and vice chair who are attorneys, the board’s current staffing and space needs, and its plan to move away from reliance on Administrative Services for office support and website functions. The board requested about $353,500 for fiscal year 2026, including startup costs, routine operating expenses, and two new part-time positions: a program director and a paralegal. Members said the budget reflects the new independent status, includes funding for only four board members rather than the authorized five, and is designed to avoid full-time staffing costs and benefits. Legislators asked about the cost per case, the board’s relationship to DAS, whether appeals must go through the board before court, and how often cases are appealed further. The board said appeals must first go through it, that court appeals are infrequent but have increased recently, and that the board’s process is intended to resolve disputes more quickly and less expensively than court litigation. Committee members also asked about the board’s caseload, outcomes, and staffing. The board said that in the prior year there were 22 cases, with four decisions overturned in favor of employees, nine dismissals, and nine settlements, and that many disputes are resolved before reaching the board through a multi-step internal process. A member noted the governor and council had recently approved a new board member and were expected to approve a fifth soon. The discussion ended with questions about the board’s website and records access, which members said would need to be moved from Administrative Services as part of the agency’s transition. The committee then moved to the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. The executive director explained that the council is 100 percent federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and develops a five-year plan to address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She said the council works with state agencies and advocacy organizations on quality-of-life issues, accessibility, voter rights training, and plain-language or easy-to-read materials, and that 60 percent of its membership must be individuals with disabilities or family members/guardians. She also described the council’s funding structure, including reimbursement to the state for operating costs, and noted that it currently has three full-time and three part-time positions, with no new positions requested but one full-time position being eliminated and replaced after a pandemic-era staffing change did not work out as planned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 02/13/25

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:15:54.240><c> easements</c><00:15:55.240><c> funding</c> conservation easements funding conservation
  • </c><00:19:47.600><c> for</c> so this is a reimbursement program for so this is a reimbursement program
  • the natural and Scenic area program the natural and Scenic area grant<00:36:32.839><c> program</c><00
  • and then the local Trails grant program and then the local Trails connection<00:36:35.119><c> program
  • </c><00:36:36.119><c> and</c><00:36:36.400><c> I</c> connection program and I connection program and
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • Over $60 million a year goes into training, continuing education, and apprenticeship programs that meet
  • It is great to see communities coming together, working collaboratively for our future.
  • We must think out of the box for our future.
  • In the future, thank you, Ms. Jeruso.
  • Just last year, we did obtain an efficiency and regionalization grant to create a regional conservation
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The joint committee held a public hearing on several bills covering state administration, land/public housing redevelopment, construction safety, memorialization, records management, rural grant equity, and animal research. Testimony in support of H. 3329 described an inequity in the Governor’s Council reimbursement statute, which currently cuts off travel, meals, and lodging reimbursement after four terms; the witnesses argued this disproportionately burdens members from western Massachusetts and creates geographic and economic barriers to service. The Boston Housing Authority supported legislation for the Brighton/Faneuil Gardens area, saying it would allow a mixed-use redevelopment that replaces all existing public housing units one-for-one, adds new affordable housing, creates replacement rehearsal space for displaced musicians, and preserves prevailing wage standards. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2112, a construction safety bill. Suffolk Construction, Boston building trade representatives, and local inspectors testified that the measure would strengthen training, site safety standards, oversight of high-risk work, and enforcement, while helping protect workers and the public and improving retention and recruitment of inspectors. Witnesses said the bill would align Massachusetts more closely with higher safety standards in other states and build on lessons from past construction-related incidents. The committee also heard support for S. 2162, which would create a COVID-19 memorial; the witness emphasized the scale of pandemic deaths in Massachusetts and the educational value of public memorials. Other testimony addressed H. 3321, which would modernize records preservation for registers of deeds by reducing reliance on costly microfilm in an increasingly electronic system; the witness said current law is outdated and expensive. H. 3311, aimed at advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants, drew support from town officials in Leyden and Ashfield, who said small towns lack staff for grant writing and should be evaluated more on need and regional impact, especially for climate and public safety projects. Finally, S. 2117, concerning animal research, was supported by an animal welfare advocate who urged prohibiting state funds for animal experiments and shifting to non-animal research methods. After the hearing concluded, the chairs noted that additional hearings and polling votes would follow, and the committee then adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Finance - 05/06/26

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> enhance these habitats for future enhance these habitats for future generations<00:10:00.640><c>
  • </c> cannabis program. cannabis program.
  • </c> on that have gone through this program on that have gone through this program in<01:19:19.920><c
  • Um Senator Um Verbatim had program.
  • </c><01:22:00.120><c> bill,</c> pilot program bill, pilot program bill, um<01:22:01.720><c> and</c> um
Committee: Senate Finance
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> we need to deal with it in future we need to deal with it in future legislation.<05:46:45.760><c
  • stewardship program.
  • that program.
  • And there are multiple programs, so it's not just enriching one program.
  • . program. program.
Keywords: 10am HB 1 & HB 2, 928, house, all
Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed comparison documents and worked through a long list of House and Senate positions, agreeing on some technical or already-enacted items while setting aside others for later discussion. Early on, members agreed to delete a House Bill 2 section tied to a bill already passed into law, and a representative explained a technical amendment to the EFA provisions clarifying enrollment-cap repeal language and compulsory attendance rules for EFA students. That amendment was discussed but a vote was postponed because not all members were present. The committee also noted that the overall EFA budget numbers had already been settled separately. Several items were either agreed to or held for further negotiation. Members agreed to delete sections already covered by other enacted bills, including BTLA-related language, and to accept a technical amendment changing "municipalities" to "political subdivisions" in a section affecting funding eligibility. They also agreed on some items involving workers’ compensation second injuries, certain pilot-program language, and some sections related to state loan repayment and other technical corrections. In contrast, they set aside or disputed items involving site evaluation, lottery-related provisions, opioid abatement, the Commission on Aging, Granite Advantage premium costs, renewable energy/offshore wind funding, special education funding, and several education trust fund and unique-fund provisions. The committee spent substantial time on policy disputes. The House side argued against keeping money in dedicated Fish and Game funds rather than increasing the main Fish and Game fund, while the Senate side defended its approach and raised concerns about fee impacts, including one tied to the fishing license. The members also discussed a housing appeals board proposal, with one member suggesting a possible compromise that would preserve some function while shifting duties and possibly sunsetting the arrangement later; the contracts for the positions were noted as running through June 30, 2028 and June 30, 2029. Another extended discussion concerned the child advocate records-access section, which one side wanted removed as policy that should go through the normal bill process, while another member asked to hold it and suggested a possible middle-ground, time-limited approach. Later, the committee agreed to remove sections already handled in other bills, including House sections 254 and 255, and discussed but did not resolve disputes over liquor licensing functions, cannabis-related language, cost containment, special education, and several fee and fund provisions. The Senate explained its position on the governor’s commission language, saying opioid abatement trust funds could not be used for that purpose and that the commission should continue to be funded through 5% of gross liquor profits; it also described renaming the body the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention and expanding its scope to include problem gambling. The meeting ended with several major items still open for later negotiation.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • She won the 2025 Governor's Celebration of Innovation Award in the Future Innovators of the Year category
  • The University of Arizona has a graduate legislative fellows program, and with me is Jake Pacheco.
  • aggravated driving, 2501 appraisal management, 2502 SCRs retirement, 2519 appropriation water conservation
  • public schools, 2578 failure to secure weapon, 2579 appropriation free school, 2581 health insurance program
  • child care assistance, 2649 unborn children's rights, 2650 rainwater harvesting, 2651 blue envelope program
Keywords: 1182, all
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 113 May 7th, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Board operations and in Conservation Board operations and in connection<01:11:22.560><c> there</c><01
  • </c> something that I think future something that I think future legislators<02:26:37.040><c> will</c
  • And if we can address in their future.
  • This will increase litigation on the workers’ compensation program if they bring claims.
  • , not for us because it's not future, not for us because it's not going<03:26:55.760><c> to</c><03:26
Keywords: 981, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • County and Palisades fires last year and ensures similar responses will be undertaken for all future
  • This bill will help to ensure that no wildfire-disaster-affected communities get overlooked in the future
  • It does not create a hydrogen deployment program.
  • It does not create a hydrogen deployment program.
  • Third, the bill also eliminates the existing flexibility within the CalARP program that was mentioned
Summary: The Assembly Emergency Management Committee met late in the evening and first approved a consent calendar containing SB 837, SB 894, SB 973, and SB 1079, sending those bills to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 904, which would codify coordinated state response and permitting review efforts for wildfire recovery, and SB 1263, which would limit post-disaster debris removal work to properly licensed contractors with required hazardous-materials training. Both bills drew support from the authors and industry/public-safety witnesses, with SB 1263 also drawing an opposed-unless-amended position from contractors who said they were working toward agreement on final language. Both measures passed to Appropriations on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee next heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, which would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for interstate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific safety standards. The author and supporters from building trades and pipe trades argued the bill would provide clear safety rules before hydrogen infrastructure expands, while one industry witness said the correct agency had been identified but that some concerns remained. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations, with Assemblymember DeMaio voting no. Finally, the committee considered SB 883, which would impose additional oversight on facilities storing methyl methacrylate and other reactive chemicals after a recent Orange County evacuation tied to a potential explosion risk. Supporters, including community, environmental, and public-health groups, said the bill would improve transparency, emergency planning, and safety protections near homes and schools. Chemical and manufacturing groups opposed the bill in its current form, citing undefined terms, concerns about mandated cooling systems, and possible conflicts with existing regulatory frameworks, but said they were willing to continue working on the measure. The bill passed to the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials on a 4-2 vote, with Assemblymembers Hadwick and DeMaio voting no.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-16 (2:00PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • SOUGHT KNOWLEDGE AND COUNSEL AND WISDOM FROM MANY SOURCES THAT WILL HELP US FORGE AHEAD INTO THE FUTURE
  • SHOW THE BILL PASSES, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE REGULARS GET SCHEDULED PROGRAM OF CS FOR SENATE BILL 232
  • WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAMS AND ENSURE ALL CHILDREN ARE AWARE OF
  • THIS GOAL IS AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE GRADUATED SOME AMAZING STUDENTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO
  • STATE PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID ARE BURDENED WITH RISING DENTAL COSTS.
Keywords: 998, house, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Friday, February 7, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> to protect against the future to protect against the future anti-oil<00:45:11.000><c> and</c><00
  • That never happens for the future of this great nation.
  • </c> the states and prevents any future the states and prevents any future president<01:15:39.400><c>
  • </c> bill makes crystal clear that no future bill makes crystal clear that no future Administration<01
  • Conservative, white, wealthy men have power and where they're willing to use it.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • There are already many reusable devices that could be used for tobacco cessation programs.
  • We've been struggling with how we could do an EPR program for this.
  • But there's an existing embedded battery program as well.
  • AB 1704 does not suspend the embodied carbon program.
  • It could delay the program for at least five years before it's even begun.
Summary: The committee heard AB 839, which would allow up to three sustainable aviation fuel projects to qualify for expedited CEQA judicial review. The author and airline and airport supporters argued SAF is a key emissions-reduction strategy for aviation and that California needs to signal investment certainty after prior project litigation. Environmental Justice and Earthjustice opposed, saying the bill weakens the public’s ability to challenge polluting projects and that SAF facilities can harm already overburdened communities. The committee later took a roll call on the bill and it was held on call after a 3-0 vote, with the motion being due pass to Judiciary. Members then took up AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes in California. The author and a broad coalition of waste, public health, local government, and environmental groups said the devices create fire hazards, add lithium batteries to the waste stream, and burden local recycling and hazardous waste systems. Opponents, including retailers and business groups, argued the bill would mainly affect a small legal market while the illicit market would continue to supply most disposable vapes, and warned of unintended consequences. After discussion about illicit sales, EPR ideas, and reuse alternatives, the committee voted 2-2 on the motion to pass as amended to Revenue and Taxation, so the bill was kept on call. The committee also heard AB 907, which would compensate the six local air district representatives who serve on the California Air Resources Board the same as other board members. The author and supporters said the change would improve equity and help ensure local representation on CARB, and no opposition was presented. The chair expressed support, noting similar legislation had passed the committee previously, and the bill was held for a later vote once quorum issues were resolved.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Law & Justice Jan 27th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, we also think that you need to take future steps.
  • WCRP was formed to provide our 24 member counties programs of joint self-insurance, joint purchasing
  • I'm a program administrator for the SIW and Yusuf school insurance pools serving 186 school districts
  • I am the founder and executive director of a program called Out Impact Coalition.
  • I've developed a very intentional program that helps individuals address their underlying causes.
Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6239, which would require civil arbitration for tort claims against the state and its subdivisions before trial. Staff explained current tort-claim procedures and said the bill would apply arbitration to claims of any dollar amount, with a fiscal note pending. The sponsor said Washington’s liability exposure is unusually high and argued the bill would promote early resolution without limiting jury trials, damage caps, or attorney fees. Members asked who pays for arbitration and whether trial rights are preserved; staff said costs are generally split and the bill preserves a jury trial de novo. Testimony on SB 6239 was sharply divided. Counties, cities, school districts, risk pools, and some public-safety groups supported the bill, saying rising liability and insurance costs are straining budgets and threatening core services. Opponents included trial lawyers, legal aid groups, victim advocates, journalists, and survivors of abuse, who argued the bill would create barriers to justice, delay relief, increase costs for claimants, reduce transparency, and retraumatize survivors by forcing private arbitration before a public trial. Several witnesses said the bill was too broad because it would cover employment, contract, and other claims, not just torts involving abuse or negligence. After public testimony closed, the committee noted the large number of sign-ins, with far more in opposition than in support. The committee then took up Senate Bill 6074, which would reinstate parole for certain felony offenses committed on or after July 1, 2027, allow eligible incarcerated people to petition the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board after serving 60% of their sentence, and create a parole implementation work group. Supporters said it would recognize rehabilitation and improve reentry, while some witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s prospective-only application, the 60% threshold, and the need to address racial disparities and parole criteria more fully. The sponsor said the parole bill was paired with tort-liability reform because criminal justice reform advocates have said liability changes are needed to restore parole in Washington.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Early Learning & Human Services Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Early Learning & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Working Connections Child Care Program is a federally and state-funded program administered by DCYF
  • Yeah, because I remember in my master's program, the average age in the program, I came straight out
  • maybe the undergrad program.
  • So we're hopeful to explore that option in future years and maybe make programs like this more accessible
  • in the future.
Bills: HB1873 , HB2600 , SB5957
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 3rd, 2026

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that million was funding a lot of different programs and even staff.
  • that are facilitated... ...through programs at the Public Education Department.
  • On page two, I just want to highlight our small local public body program.
  • Future outlook: with BEAD program approval in January 2026, New Mexico is positioned to achieve 100%
  • Future outlook with BED program approval on January 2026, New Mexico is positioned to achieve 100% broadband
Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the State Land Office, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State said its requested general fund budget of $15.88 million was intended to maintain baseline operations, replace lost federal cyber and election support, and address a 12% vacancy rate. Officials warned that the House recommendation still left major gaps for election security, tabulator replacement, campaign finance system upgrades, overseas and military ballot services, ballot tracking, and a new tax lien filing system. Senators pressed about the election fund, county burdens, and the risk of underfunding election administration; the office said the House had provided $15 million for the election fund for the primary and another $15 million for the general election, but not enough for operations or all capital needs. The State Land Office said it was satisfied with the House budget action and had no additional request. Staff described the office’s record revenues, low vacancy rate, clean audits, and proposed new positions tied to forestry, economic development, petroleum, geothermal, and royalty compliance work. Senators asked about long-term revenue trends, forest thinning and biomass opportunities, and bookkeeping around the land maintenance fund; the office said the new positions were intended to generate revenue and support land management, including fire mitigation. The Attorney General’s office presented a budget built around a 0% general fund increase, greater use of the Consumer Settlement Fund, and $4.5 million in special/extraordinary litigation funding. The AG emphasized active litigation and investigations involving consumer fraud, Medicaid fraud, federal funding cuts, Meta and other technology platforms, AI and child safety, gaming compacts, tobacco, and possible litigation over abandoned uranium mine cleanup. Senators asked about scam enforcement, the structure of settlement funds, and whether the office could take on uranium-related litigation; the AG said the office could prepare a litigation budget but warned such efforts would require sustained funding. The State Auditor said the House budget added only modest increases while the office faced about a 40% vacancy rate, difficulty recruiting auditors, and a shrinking pool of public accounting firms, creating risks for constitutional audit responsibilities.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Fiscal Policy Apr 2nd, 2025

Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • programs.
  • Funds, which reward excellence nursing programs, to be used for healthcare industry-related programs,
  • It’s in a specific program.
  • For example, the College Reach-Out Program, in which we’re changing the College Reach-Out Program to
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's grant programs that are funded by the Fuel Tax
Summary: The committee first heard CS for CS for SB 344, which would modernize the Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 based on Public Service Commission recommendations. The bill drew no opposition and was reported favorably. Members then took up several Senator Burton measures: CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives, which was amended to create a Department of Health website access point for a voluntary form allowing patients to notify providers they do not want opioid medications; CS for SB 738 on child care and early learning providers, which streamlines and updates child care regulation and was supported by industry and business groups; CS for SB 756 on health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, which removes the age-8 diagnosis limit and age cap for mandated autism-related coverage; and CS for CS for SB 1356, creating a Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn genetic testing pilot, later amended to add FIU and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to the board and remove specific appropriations. All of these bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 1624 on higher education, a broad bill affecting tuition policies, workforce programs, institutional governance, and naming changes. The bill generated extended discussion over replacing references to “minority” with “underrepresented,” with the sponsor explaining the intent was to focus on low-income access and student support, while members raised concerns about impacts on majority-minority institutions and preeminence pathways. An amendment added guardrails for private religious postsecondary institutions by requiring public review of affidavits of compliance and giving the Commission for Independent Education enforcement authority. After debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then passed CS for SB 1626 on child welfare, which addresses military-family investigations, emergency shelter certification, children’s services council appointments, criminal-background exemptions, group-home rates, licensing extensions, small residential group homes, missing-children procedures, and psychotropic medication refills; it was amended to adjust council board composition and then reported favorably. Additional bills approved included SB 178, directing Florida A&M University to conduct an agronomic study on emerging crops for land taken out of production; SB 1162, expanding boating improvement funding for trailer parking and offering lease incentives for clean marine manufacturers; CS for CS for SB 958, creating a type 1 diabetes early detection information program for parents and schools; CS for CS for CS for SB 1070, requiring ECGs for student athletes with phased implementation and exemptions, after extensive testimony from parents and advocates about sudden cardiac arrest; CS for SB 774, requiring electronic transmission of certain court orders to sheriffs within six hours; SB 1516, creating an International Aerospace Innovation Fund administered by Space Florida; SB 994, revising driver education requirements and prompting a commitment to add distracted-driving instruction; and CS for CS for SB 1402, expanding eligibility for dropout retrieval programs. The committee also took up SB 810 on stormwater management systems, amending it to focus annual inspections on vulnerable MS4 infrastructure. That bill drew significant opposition from the Florida League of Cities, counties, and stormwater groups, who argued the mandate would duplicate existing permit requirements and impose major costs, but supporters said it was a basic flood-prevention measure. The transcript ends during debate on SB 810, before a final vote is shown.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environmental Quality Committee Apr 22nd, 2026

Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:
  • Fusion energy is going to be a very big economic driver in the future.
  • SB 925 tasks the Energy Commission with creating a strategic roadmap for the future of the industry,
  • and it could allow a massive expansion of hydrogen under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard program
  • the author to continue working with the opposition, moving forward to see if there's any room for future
  • Implementation of the area plan will require multiple future discretionary development approvals over
Keywords: 987, senate, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Commerce Jan 21st, 2026 at 08:00 am

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • There'll be new in the future. They're out of luck unless we come back here and change it.
  • In Kansas City, after the adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, single-family
  • I care a lot about the future of our state.
  • Like I said, Some of the additional provisions from future codes.
  • Around how they want to move forward, future forward, energy codes.
Committee: House Commerce
Keywords: 959, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • , including an engineering program.
  • and our Upward Bound program.
  • , our upward-bound program.
  • science programs, including our geology program, where new programs would include internship elements
  • That was a religious studies program and an international studies program.
Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Mar 17th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • State Department-sponsored program that began after 9-11 to bring students from countries with significant
  • We must continue to support policies that support our number one industry so that the future of farming
  • And thriving pillar of our state's future.
  • Through the guest worker program, laboring under the hot sun to provide for his family.
  • His work opened doors for future leaders, ensuring that San Diego continues moving toward a future built
Keywords: 988, house, all