Transcript Highlights:

• They invest in very liquid funds, very secure liquid funds.
• But if they have over $300,000... ...secure liquid funds.
• This was the original staff recommendation for the State Ethics Commission: they can get additional bar
• This is for the Rio Grande Trail Commission that's planning the cross-j trail, and this is funding to
• help operate the commission itself, literally.

Bills: SB241 , SB145

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• They invest in very liquid funds, very secure liquid funds.
• But if they have over $300,000, secure liquid funds.
• This was the original staff recommendation for the State Ethics Commission: they can get additional BAR
• This is for the Rio Grande Trail Commission that's planning the cross-j trail, and this is funding to
• help operate the commission itself, literally.

Bills: SB241 , SB145 , HB2

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 241 and reviewed a Senate Finance Committee substitute that incorporated several amendments. Staff explained changes related to the child care fund, residency determinations for federally eligible applicants, expanded child care assistance eligibility for grandparents raising grandchildren and foster parents, updated payment-rate rulemaking, tribal child care sovereignty and culturally appropriate services, limits on land grant permanent fund use for nonsectarian/non-denominational services, provider licensure pathways, and reporting clarifications. Members also discussed whether the bill would maximize federal and state child care tax benefits and how the nonsectarian language would apply to faith-based child care providers. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed it on a 7-3 vote. The committee then moved into House Bill 2 budget language review, focusing on budget adjustment authority and other fiscal provisions. Members discussed proposed BAR language for the State Investment Council, State Treasurer, PERA, and the Economic Development Department, with concerns about caps, whether the language was too broad, and whether some items should revert to existing law or be removed. The committee approved some of the BAR language items, but flagged the Treasurer and Economic Development provisions for later review. Members also discussed extending certain appropriations and project timelines, including a Rio Grande Trail Commission item and several IT and public safety projects, generally favoring extensions where work was still underway. The committee then debated proposed public school support language that would bar PED from approving budgets for schools with fewer than 180 instructional days and from approving new moves to four-day school weeks. Several members argued the 180-day language conflicted with existing statute, which is based on instructional hours, and that the four-day-week restriction could have unintended consequences. The committee ultimately voted down both public school support provisions. The meeting ended with a brief discussion of reviewing the rest of House Bill 2 and related supplemental and language items in the next session, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, the bill establishes a commission to examine apprenticeship participation and challenges
• And finally, the bill establishes a commission to examine apprenticeship participation and challenges
• are wages that allow working families to afford to pay for childcare and build long-term economic security
• That allow working families to afford to pay for child care and build long-term economic security.
• The Paths Act also establishes a commission on apprenticeships in the Commonwealth to study and make

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we go on, what is the Blue Ribbon Commission? Sure.
• Now we are on item number 12, the Commission on State Mandates.
• I have none, except for you're called the Commission on State Mandates.
• And I hope this last budget that you have, you can secure this funding for youth.
• And I hope this last budget that you have, you can secure this funding for you. Thank you.

Summary: The committee opened with the State Controller’s Office May Revision requests, including funding for Fiscal book-of-record stabilization, a Broadcom IDMS licensing adjustment, the California State Payroll System, ACFR reporting automation, and $3 million for unclaimed property outreach. Testimony emphasized progress on Fiscal becoming the state’s accounting book of record in July, faster ACFR publication, and the move to electronic unclaimed property claims. Members asked about the size of the unclaimed property fund and how quickly money is transferred to the General Fund; the Controller’s office said about $15 billion is held, with most excess transferred regularly, and the LAO noted the fund is the General Fund’s fourth-largest revenue source. No concerns were raised by Finance or the LAO, and the item was closed after no public comment. The committee then heard the administration’s proposal to tax prewritten digital software and software-as-a-service, with Finance saying it would modernize sales tax treatment and raise an estimated $450 million General Fund and $560 million local revenue in 2026-27. The LAO supported modernizing the tax but suggested broader digital goods coverage and a business-use exemption; industry and taxpayer groups opposed the proposal, warning of higher costs for consumers and businesses. Members also heard CDTFA’s administrative request tied to the proposal, plus a separate CDTFA budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs; that reduction was presented as a savings item and drew positive reactions. Next, the committee considered federal conformity for “Trump accounts,” which would align California tax treatment with federal rules for tax-deferred children’s accounts and avoid tracking burdens for families. The LAO recommended approval, and the item drew no opposition. The committee also heard a proposal to cut the first-year $800 annual business tax to $400 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs; Finance argued it would lower startup costs and encourage new business formation, while the LAO said the benefit was not well targeted and could subsidize entities that would form anyway. Members discussed the policy tradeoff, and public commenters split between support for small business relief and concern about revenue loss. The final major revenue item was a permanent business tax credit limitation, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability, while excluding the low-income housing tax credit and personal income tax credits. Finance said it would raise significant revenue from large profitable corporations, and the LAO said it was a reasonable option but noted it would mainly affect the R&D credit and could have future implications for programs like California Competes. Public testimony was sharply divided, with business groups opposing the cap and anti-poverty advocates supporting it as a way to recapture revenue. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment request, which would return most of the direct-file-related resources to the General Fund while retaining a smaller staff to improve CalFile, and the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which members and advocates supported despite relatively modest annual donations. The hearing continued with GoBiz proposals on civic media funding, CA RISE reappropriation, and a semiconductor facility reversion, with the LAO supporting the latter two and members raising questions about the civic media program’s scope, outreach, and inclusion of broadcast and ethnic media.

Transcript Highlights:

• CISO, Chief Information Security Officer. Greg Rockstro, our CIO. Jesse. Gutierrez, our Deputy CIO.
• And what that means is, as Madam Secretary has mentioned, is the security and Anna L Cannell.
• We also increase the cyber security.
• One's a secure line, where you can always get out. Another one is just a regular phone.
• And then I'm hesitant about cyber security because I don't know how many years we've had cyber security

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commission and alters reporting dates. commission and alters reporting dates.
• </c><00:29:28.080><c> staffing</c> technology and cyber security staffing technology and cyber security
• </c> scales for IT and cyber security scales for IT and cyber security professionals<00:29:38.320><c>
• ,</c><03:01:45.040><c> Environmental</c> Regulatory Commission, Environmental Regulatory Commission,
• ,</c><03:15:24.479><c> studies</c> work on boards and commissions, studies work on boards and commissions

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill increases fees for the California State Athletic Commission.
• Additionally, we've secured... that we assure them of.
• Additionally, we've secured.
• Additionally, we've secured an ongoing $1.8 billion increase for special education base rates.
• We are disappointed that Social Security numbers will continue to be shared.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> If they try to go to the securities commission, sort of file a complaint, but they can also go to
• the securities commission, sort of &gt;&gt; go to the securities commission, sort of file<01:02:48.240
• House Bill 492, Courtroom Security Minimum Adequate Security Standard.
• Mary's County Metropolitan<02:00:48.800><c> Commission.</c> Metropolitan Commission.
• Metropolitan Commission.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Gillamardo here, we're at an undisclosed location with a Florida gaming commission.
• I'm just going to say the gaming commission. We should get out of this damn thing.
• Housing stability is fundamental to employment, education, and family security.
• Because they're going to need to get commissioned appraisals under your bill.
• Because they're going to need to get commissioned appraisals under your bill. Representative Nix.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recognition of FSU Police Officer Cody Popple for his actions during the April campus shooting. The Speaker also outlined the final week of session, noting the House would focus on Senate bills and returning messages, and that the 2026-27 budget would not be completed by the end of the week. The chamber then adopted the special order calendar for the day. The House passed several technical and open-government bills, mostly on strong bipartisan votes. These included SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes and reviser changes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004, which extended or preserved various public records or meeting exemptions involving the Public Service Commission, social media investigations, military affairs, highway safety investigations, cybersecurity, small business loan records, trade secrets, emergency shelter locations, and conviction integrity units. Members asked questions on several of these bills, especially about the scope and purpose of the exemptions, but the bills generally advanced with little opposition. The chamber also took up more substantive measures. SB 7040 recreated the emergency preparedness and response trust fund and drew extended debate over whether the fund had been misused for the Everglades detention facility; an Escamani amendment to let the fund expire failed, while a Griffiths amendment adding limits and oversight was adopted, and the bill ultimately passed 82-25. CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency passed unanimously after supporters highlighted nature-based shoreline protection and a Biscayne Bay provision. CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits passed after a House amendment aligned it with the House version. CS/SB 474 on military affairs passed unanimously after an amendment allowing local governments to extend Guard leave. SB 488 on the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles was debated extensively over vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and I-94 documentation, with amendments including one for disabled veterans and another on dealer allocation; the transcript cuts off before final disposition of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Gillamardo here, we're at an undisclosed location with a Florida gaming commission.
• I'm just going to say the gaming commission. We should get out of this damn thing.
• So what this bill does, what preserving this exemption allows is that if the Public Service Commission
• Housing stability is fundamental to employment, education, and family security.
• Because they're going to need to get commissioned appraisals under your bill. Representative Nix.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just out of curiosity, is there an issue with having an even number of members on a commission?
• Thank you for working with my committee, the California Student Aid Commission, and other states.
• I'm a California college student and Chair of the California Youth Empowerment Commission.
• online portal... ...they can provide this on a secure online portal or printed statements.
• They also, teachers don't have Social Security, right?

Summary: The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was on the City Commission in Coral Springs that had about half the student body at the time.
• And so the Supreme Court created a work group on judicial security.
• It's looking both at the security of judges and staff in the court system. That effort is underway.
• And so the Supreme Court created a work group on judicial security.
• It's looking both at the security of judges and staff in the court system. That effort is underway.

Summary: The committee first heard HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor said the bill restores the rights of law-abiding 18-year-olds. Public testimony was sharply divided, with supporters from Gun Owners of America and Florida Carry arguing that adults 18 and older should have equal Second Amendment rights and that current law is inconsistent with other adult responsibilities, while opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates, students, parents, and Parkland-related speakers, said the bill would reverse a post-Parkland safety measure and increase risks of suicide, accidental shootings, and school violence. Several members debated the bill, with opponents emphasizing Parkland, the Florida State shooting, and public polling showing broad opposition; supporters stressed parental responsibility, mental health, and constitutional rights. HB 133 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote of 13 yeas, with several members voting no. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, which would revise Florida’s wrongful death law to allow parents to recover damages for the death of an unborn child. The sponsor said the bill is intended to let grieving parents seek civil remedies, and members questioned how it would apply in situations involving surrogacy, rape, ectopic pregnancy, medical care, and damages calculations. The sponsor said the bill would not allow suits against the mother, would not apply to lawful non-negligent medical care, and would be handled through ordinary wrongful death damage proof before a jury. Public testimony was again split: supporters from pro-life and faith groups said the bill recognizes unborn children and aligns Florida with many other states, while opponents from civil liberties, reproductive rights, and advocacy groups warned it could be used to target abortion providers, helpers, and even families or businesses in miscarriage-related cases, and could be weaponized by abusive partners. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 289, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Pueblo is working to secure funding for construction, utility, and site infrastructure.
• Providing safety and security for our growing community is essential and a priority.
• The public has been involved in a major court battle to secure its senior water rights.
• We are able to secure additional funding this past session with the help of Chairman Small.
• , water security, and the strategic um position.

Transcript Highlights:

• Net metering 2.0 utilities commission.
• </c> public utilities commission public utilities commission &gt;&gt; by<00:50:46.000><c> the</c><00:
• I was not on the commission, but I was working at the commission at the time, and the political pressure
• I would also point out that the public utilities commission has to approve any PPAs.
• </c> commission has to approve any PPAs. commission has to approve any PPAs.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we did ask Homes Commission.
• </c> &gt;&gt; cuz is the high is it the high security &gt;&gt; cuz is the high is it the high security
• high security on Halava? Is it closed? high security site. site. site.
• a safe, secure, and thriving state<00:47:55.040><c> and</c><00:47:55.280><c> nation.
• It may be throughout uh the commission.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.
• We are shovel ready and we commission.
• </c> They could be reappropriated to the commission to help offset some of these costs.
• These structures pose active safety and security risks.
• Now, that's still well within the secure perimeter and the razor wire and all of that.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And you say, what is domestic security?
• Really, we do meet with the DSOC, the Domestic Security Oversight Commission, but we are really tasked
• The senior security engineer’s job is data security.
• But our security model is one thing over here.
• They're accessing data using the standard secure sign-on, which is the same level of security from here

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the commission would do an investigation, and by the report, the report would come to the commission
• The Commission entered into negotiated rulemaking, and on August 12 the Commission held a negotiated
• At the meeting, the Commission presented a concept of a hybrid rule.
• This commission... ...may be considered for removal. So that's all this is.
• There is no functional women's commission.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: Senate State Affairs began with a budget update from Senator Groh and Keith Bybee of Legislative Services. They discussed Idaho’s revenue outlook, tax conformity uncertainty, and structural balance concerns, noting that revised revenue forecasts were lower than expected due to softness in sales tax, income tax, and corporate tax collections. Bybee reviewed general fund growth trends, major budget drivers such as Medicaid, public schools, corrections, and other state-directed spending, and said the state still has substantial cash reserves but only a relatively small projected bottom-line cushion. Several senators asked about per-capita spending, population growth, Medicaid growth, and the effect of prior education appropriations. No budget votes were taken during this portion, but members emphasized caution and the need for a larger ending balance. The committee then considered the gubernatorial reappointment of Estella Zamora to the Idaho Commission on Human Rights. Zamora described her background in Idaho, her long service in the courts and on the commission, and her interest in continuing to serve. Senators asked about the commission’s caseload, with Zamora saying disability-related matters are common and that she did not recall immigration cases coming before the commission recently. The committee also unanimously approved the gubernatorial appointment of David Dean to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board. Next, the committee heard and approved a pending rule from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission on pole attachments, implementing House Bill 180A. The administrator explained that the rule was developed through negotiated rulemaking with utilities and attaching entities and sets standardized timelines, non-discriminatory access requirements, make-ready work procedures, and dispute resolution processes to support broadband expansion. After questions about stakeholder input, including landowners, the committee voted to approve the rule docket. Finally, the committee took up three RS requests from Senator Brian Lenney: RS 3-2874 to eliminate the personal voter affidavit process, RS 3-2868 to repeal obsolete code related to the Idaho Women’s Commission, and RS 3-2970 to impose a 12-month moratorium on reappointing a gubernatorial appointee rejected by the Senate. All three RSs were introduced by committee vote, with some members noting possible future questions about the wording and effective date of the appointment moratorium. The meeting adjourned after a brief recognition of visiting county officials from Caribou County.

Transcript Highlights:

• Same dynamic around security infrastructure and the prison's inadequate cameras, inadequate staffing,
• I am the coordinator of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
• I am the coordinator of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
• So just a quick bit about the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
• So in some states, it's a sentencing guidelines commission that develops the parole guidelines.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• Military Affairs and Border Security.
• Military Affairs and Border Security. SB 1521, Appropriation, Dine College Remedial Education.
• SB 1457, Air Mobility Fund Border Security. SB 1458, Pharmacy Board Civil Penalties.
• SCR 1023, Independent Redistricting Commission Membership.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge of allegiance, and an electronic roll call showing 26 members present and four excused. The journal for January 29, 2026, was approved, and the chamber recognized Lucid Motors Day at the Capitol, highlighting the company’s Arizona operations, investment, and job creation. The Senate also received a gubernatorial nomination for Troy L. Campbell to the State Liquor Board, which was referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency. A large number of bills were introduced and read for the first time, covering topics such as commerce, E-Verify, municipal self-certification, voter registration text notices, immigration enforcement training, school eligibility and testing, campaign finance, vulnerable adults, temporary vehicle plates, tribal flags, water projects, public works apprenticeships, housing and water supply, special plates, controlled substances research, and election-related resolutions. One bill, SB 1429, was further referred to the Committee on Finance. The Senate also placed many measures on second reading, including bills on roads, labor and collective bargaining, tax relief, education data, assisted living, liquor policy, public pensions, housing, utilities, and election and redistricting proposals. The President noted that it was the final day to submit bills by the 5:00 p.m. deadline and announced upcoming caucus and committee meetings for February 3. During a personal privilege statement, the Majority Leader criticized the Attorney General’s recent remarks as dangerous and confusing, argued she should retract them, and said elected officials should lower the temperature around rhetoric that could contribute to violence. The Senate then adjourned by motion until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.