Transcript Highlights:

• looking forward to helping you all get this through this session and hopefully get signed by the governor
• looking forward to helping you all get this through this session and hopefully get signed by the governor
• I do everything in my power to be safe on that journey, but I'm aware that 101 New Mexicans lost their
• I do know that the governor signed a bill prohibiting texting while driving in 1950.
• so, and not for us to give extra appropriations to a district because they've got more legislative power

Bills: SB23 , SB73 , SB210 , SB234 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• Both the Department of Licensing and State Patrol are kind of governed by the appointees of the governor
• bill, we heard the DOT come in and testify that by giving the Secretary of Transportation emergency powers
• bill, we heard the DOT come in and testify that by giving the Secretary of Transportation, emergency powers
• ultimately, what number of constituents is enough to make this a large enough emergency that the governor
• I have asked the governor to publicly acknowledge the severity of this situation and to commit to working

Bills: SJM8016 , SB6230 , SB5234 , SB6081 , SB6265 , SB6170 , SB6131 , SB6155 , SB6176 , SB6238 , SB6253 , SB6311 , SB6032 , SB6262

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: bridge repair, infrastructure, emergency funding, transportation, public safety, cash transactions, pennies, currency, economic efficiency, financial regulation, snowmobile, snowmobile registration, vehicle registration fees, registration fee, Department of Licensing, DOL, recreational vehicles, winter recreation, vintage snowmobile, parks and recreation

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, this summer we met With the Chief of Staff of the Governor, we met with their legislative liaison
• and asked that the Governor put this concept of land grants and the secular trust fund, as well as the
• Very powerful. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.
• Seeing none, the only comment I want to make is thank you so much for that powerful opening, Mr.
• A mighty and powerful New Mexico State Park system.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not something that we've passed in the legislature that the governor signed.
• Also, our ability as an agency to leverage purchasing power is going to be more limited as the power
• It's because the elephant in the room is that our governor is not addressing this.
• And I'm going to say the governor should be doing the same. We should.
• Including them at the table in decision-making and policy work shifts power from a top-down approach

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor has just been elected.
• The governor has put out there $1 million.
• This came from the governor. The governor has put this in the budget.
• </c><00:13:55.240><c> this</c> budget the governor has put this budget the governor has put this specific
• </c> but did that give the parents the power but did that give the parents the power to<01:01:30.640>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee work session of the Education Policy and Administration Committee focused on House Bill 131 and House Bill 781, which were described as nearly identical bills addressing student cell phone use in schools. Members noted that HB 781 is an early bill and therefore needed committee action by Wednesday, while HB 131 did not face that deadline. The chair and members discussed the bills’ shared goal of requiring school boards to develop and adopt policies on student personal device use, with debate over whether the state should set minimum standards or leave more to local control. A major topic was funding. One member urged the committee to avoid creating an unfunded mandate and asked for some funding support, while others argued it was too early to commit money and that the committee should first establish the policy framework. The governor’s proposed funding was discussed, including a $1 million figure in the budget and a separate $250,000 amount referenced in the bill, but several members said the money would likely be insufficient to cover all students or pouch systems statewide. The committee also reviewed a handout reflecting proposed budget language that would require school boards to adopt policies on personal device use during the school day, with schoolwide implementation and exceptions for medical disability or language proficiency needs, and a DOE-administered grant program. Members spent considerable time on drafting details, especially deadlines and exceptions. They debated whether the bills should require school boards to “develop,” “adopt,” or also “implement” policies, and whether the effective date of the act should also serve as the deadline for school boards. They also discussed whether exceptions for classroom instructional use should be mandatory or merely encouraged, and whether the bills should explicitly include or exclude charter schools. Additional proposed exceptions included IEPs, 504 plans, English learners, and medical needs such as glucose sensors or insulin pumps, with some members suggesting medical issues be certified by a physician. No final vote or formal action was taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget proposal before you from the Governor is still relying on borrowing, as well as...
• Thanks to you, thanks to our Governor.
• And the Governor.
• But Governor Newsom is very clear on this infrastructure or other water infrastructure.
• Clearly, the Legislature and the Governor are really focused on that.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy opened its first hearing with remarks from the chair and members emphasizing climate change, resiliency, clean energy, natural resources, and the need to make careful budget choices in a constrained fiscal environment. The Legislative Analyst’s Office presented an overview of the natural resources and environmental protection budget, warning that although current revenues are strong, the state faces significant out-year deficits and should apply a high bar to new ongoing spending, use special funds and fees carefully, and focus on critical health and safety needs. The LAO said the Governor’s Proposition 4 spending plan was generally reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, but urged legislative oversight and reporting, especially where bond funds interact with General Fund proposals. Secretary Wade Crowfoot then described the Natural Resources Agency’s recent accomplishments and priorities, including wildfire resilience, water reliability, coastal protection, outdoor access, biodiversity, tribal partnerships, and streamlining project delivery. He highlighted major investments in climate and resilience, the role of Proposition 4 in continuing those efforts, and the need to modernize water infrastructure, including Delta conveyance and other regional conveyance projects. Members asked about Delta conveyance, invasive species, permitting delays, and the impact of federal staffing cuts; Crowfoot said the administration is pushing projects forward, supports a beneficiary-pays approach for conveyance, and is filling gaps left by federal reductions where necessary. The committee then heard from the Department of Parks and Recreation. Director Armando Quintero reviewed the state park system, outdoor access programs, tribal agreements, wildfire and forest resilience work, and deferred maintenance funded by the climate bond. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing General Fund transfer for the California State Parks Library Pass program, saying it did not meet the high bar for new spending, while several members strongly supported the program as a low-cost, high-value access tool. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and no-show vacancies; staff said new rules and enforcement will take effect July 1 and that vacancies are being opened up sooner. The department also presented low-cost accommodation projects, which the LAO supported. Finally, the Department of Fish and Wildlife introduced its new director, Megan Hurdle, who outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 proposals for salmon tagging, hatchery improvements, and public access lands. She emphasized the department’s role in biodiversity conservation, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict outreach, and said the agency is working to close a service gap identified in its budgeting analysis. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Powers: Here. Representatives Anderson: Here. Belts: Here. Brandenburg: Here.
• Senator Powers. Thank you, Chairman.
• Senator Powers. Thank you, Chairman.
• The Fish and Wildlife Service had also, the governor.
• Senator Powers. Thank you, Chairwoman.

Summary: The committee opened its third interim meeting with roll call, approved the November 13, 2025 minutes, and the chair reviewed prior committee work, including a denied request for a fertilizer-capacity study and a planned later discussion of the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger issue. Commissioner Doug Goring then presented Department of Agriculture updates on uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, the state’s irrigation potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and supply in North Dakota. Members asked about funding sources, fertilizer storage and availability, natural gas and water needs for future fertilizer plants, and how the model zoning website would help counties and townships apply setback and odor tools. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the department is proposing changes to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and updated hydrologic data, while still limiting the model to direct, demonstrable costs and benefits. He said the goal is to make the analysis more realistic and consistent without changing statute, and he provided examples of how project benefits could change as drains age or as rainfall and flood data evolve. Committee members and water-user representatives generally supported continued work on the proposal, while raising concerns about downstream impacts, closed-basin projects, and whether the changes would meaningfully affect project approvals. The committee then heard from John Paskowski, state engineer, on Devil’s Lake, the West End and East End outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. He reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow limits, and explained that the control structure is intended to prevent a catastrophic uncontrolled release by slowing erosion and head cutting. Members asked about water quality trends, the length of the downstream flow constraint, and whether the Tolna Coulee area had been studied for possible natural overflow or silt buildup. The discussion emphasized ongoing flooding concerns, mitigation for affected landowners, and the need to balance outlet operations with downstream water quality and infrastructure protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• of arrest and don't have many of the other powers that come from being a sworn peace officer.
• </c><00:18:57.840><c> of</c> that actually don't have the power of that actually don't have the power
• that come from being a sworn uh powers that come from being a sworn peace<00:19:02.640><c> officer.
• </c><00:54:36.319><c> Wallace</c> from the era of Governor Wallace from the era of Governor Wallace Wilkinson
• We will have representatives from Kairos Power, based out of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and also X-energy

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if we cannot power those lines, then we cannot get power into the city under the previous configuration
• So if we cannot power those lines, then we cannot get power into the city under the previous configuration
• There's enough liquid hydrogen there to power the town for at least 48 hours during a public safety power
• There's enough liquid hydrogen there to power the town for at least 48 hours during a public safety power
• The Northern California Power Agency is a not-for-profit joint powers agency that represents and helps

Summary: The Select Committee on Climate Innovation and Infrastructure held a hearing focused on emerging technologies for climate resilience and infrastructure. The first panel discussed the Calistoga Resiliency Center, a utility-driven microgrid that keeps the city powered during public safety power shutoffs using hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and liquid hydrogen storage. PG&E described microgrids as a resilience tool but emphasized that cost remains the main barrier to wider deployment. Energy Vault explained the project’s design, its ability to provide at least 48 hours of backup power on a small parcel of land, and its use of green hydrogen and battery storage to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. A Calistoga councilmember and NCPA representative also discussed the Lodi Energy Center hydrogen project, saying it could help decarbonize power generation and transportation, but that federal and state funding changes, tax credit timing, and other policy shifts have made the project difficult to advance. The Green Hydrogen Coalition supported the Calistoga model as a blueprint and urged policy changes to create demand and reduce barriers for renewable hydrogen, including addressing behind-the-meter rules and recognizing hydrogen in state energy planning. The second panel focused on water resilience and desalination, with the California Desal Association and Oneka Technologies discussing wave-powered desalination for the City of Fort Bragg. Cal Desal said California’s changing hydrology, reduced snowpack, and drought conditions make local water supply options increasingly important, but noted that conventional desalination is expensive and slow to permit. Oneka described its offshore, wave-powered system as a zero-electricity desalination technology that produces drinking water without greenhouse gas emissions and with limited land use, and said the Fort Bragg pilot is intended to demonstrate the technology under California conditions. The company and Cal Desal both stressed that permitting is a major obstacle, with the project requiring multiple agencies and a timeline far longer than in other jurisdictions. They also said the technology’s autonomous operation could improve water resilience because it does not depend on the electrical grid. The final panel featured the Climate Foundation’s marine permaculture proposal, which aims to restore kelp forests and support carbon removal and coastal food systems. The presenter said warming oceans and nutrient loss have devastated kelp forests along the California coast and argued that offshore platforms that raise and lower seaweed to access nutrients and sunlight could help regenerate ecosystems while producing food, feed, fertilizer, and carbon benefits. He said the technology has shown strong growth rates and storm resilience in other regions, but that California permitting remains a major hurdle, involving 17 state and federal agencies. He proposed a streamlined, code-based permitting approach for smaller projects and said the group is seeking matching funds to complete a first California pilot. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly highlighted the tension between innovation and the high cost, complexity, and length of California’s permitting and funding processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mackay Tran, on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Lenny Kudalakis, in support. Thank you. Good evening.
• This is a discipline in which one size does not fit all, and so the data can be really powerful.
• This is a discipline in which one size does not fit all, and so the data can be really powerful.
• Generative AI is an incredibly powerful tool that can decrease staging costs for agents and landlords
• Colorado's bill was vetoed by the governor in that statement that came out from him.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, the governor passed an executive order, and the legislature codified into law the change of
• And then the provision that, of course, if money's going to be expended, it would go through Governor
• Hey, if I have a guy with the governor.
• And um, talked to the governor this morning about both these bills.
• </c> the governor in the enrolling process. the governor in the enrolling process.

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has zero impact on any customer who's a part of Xcel Energy or Minnesota Power or Otter Tail Power
• or Minnesota Power or Autotail Power<00:44:50.240><c> in</c><00:44:50.599><c> Minnesota.
• on nuclear power.
• </c> energy, otherwise known as hydro power. energy, otherwise known as hydro power. for<01:38:16.480
• </c> slow down the growth of solar power slow down the growth of solar power generation<01:53:50.639>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also recognize that the governor had a very high spending level because we had put in an ending fund
• We were thrilled to see the $7 million included in Governor Ferguson's budget for the cultural anchor
• We were thrilled to see the $7 million included in Governor Ferguson's budget for the cultural anchor
• We want to see how we can help to include this budget into the Governor and the House capital budget.
• We want to see how we can help to include this budget into the Governor and the House capital budget.

Summary: The committee first heard a briefing on the proposed Senate capital budget, Substitute Senate Bill 6003, which would spend about $723 million total using debt-limit bonds, Climate Commitment Act funds, and other cash resources. Staff described major investments in housing and homelessness, human services, local infrastructure, flood response, water conservation and clean energy, K-12 school modernization and seismic work, and higher education projects. Members then took public testimony from a wide range of advocates and project sponsors, most of whom urged the Senate to preserve or increase funding for specific projects in the final budget, including affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, child care facilities, food banks, behavioral health and substance use treatment centers, tribal courthouse relocation, school modernization, community colleges, university projects, floodplain restoration, community forests, and local civic or cultural facilities. Several witnesses also asked the Senate to match or approach House funding levels on items such as the Housing Trust Fund, permanent supportive housing, the Community Forest Program, Floodplains by Design, and CCA-supported clean energy and water projects. The chair noted that amendments to the capital budget were due the next day at noon. The committee then received a briefing on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which would restructure Climate Commitment Act accounts by repealing three existing accounts and replacing them with two new accounts: a CCA operating account and a CCA capital account. Staff explained that the bill would preserve most existing uses while changing revenue distribution formulas, capping Ecology administrative costs, expanding allowable uses for EV-related costs, housing, and carbon capture/sequestration, and changing reporting and tribal consultation provisions. The bill also shifts some reporting from annual to biannual and modifies the thresholds for tribal-supported and overburdened-community investments. The fiscal note was described as relatively small, with the main impact being the revised revenue allocation structure. Public testimony on the CCA bill was mixed. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, said the restructuring better aligns spending with the intent of the CCA and could improve investments for tribes and overburdened communities. Critics, including the Washington Policy Center, argued the bill still lacks strong requirements to ensure CCA spending is effective and objected to reducing the frequency of the state’s climate-spending report. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do recognize that the governor has issued a commission as of this summer to review, but this issue
• We applaud Governor Healey for putting forward this bond bill and the work of the Joint Committee on
• This is why Governor Healey’s environmental bond bill is so important.
• So having more data gives residents more power to advocate for the changes that they need.
• We want to thank Governor Healey for filing S. 2542 and for advocating for this impactful investment

Bills: S2542

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste

Transcript Highlights:

• Central Valley, you find in just the county of Fresno concentrated about 90,000 alumni are here powering
• California's economy stands as a powerful engine of growth and creativity.
• And so those dollars that we had very... ...fortunately through the legislature and the governor two
• And so there's real-world ways that the Governor and others are trying to get there.
• And, you know, we’ll have a governor, a new governor soon too, and for just next year.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact and Agriculture, held at Fresno State, focused on cost pressures in California’s food system, household affordability, and the Central Valley’s role in agriculture. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s regional importance, the Central Valley’s outsized contribution to food production, and the connection between agricultural health, food security, and the broader economy. Members also noted the impact of the federal shutdown on CalFresh benefits and the state’s efforts to respond with food assistance funding and National Guard support for food banks. The first panel featured academic and policy experts who described agriculture’s economic importance in the San Joaquin Valley and the rising pressures on farms and households. Dr. Conduro highlighted agriculture’s large share of regional GDP, farm receipts, jobs, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market volatility, invasive pests, and production cost inflation as major barriers. Caroline Danielson of PPIC said food prices remain about 30% above 2019 levels, food insecurity affects about 1.8 million California households, and nutrition programs such as CalFresh, WIC, and school meals are essential in reducing poverty, especially in the Central Valley. Susie Pryor of the Central California Small Business Development Center described technical assistance, capital access, and training for small food and farm businesses, while warning that reduced funding limits support for rural and immigrant entrepreneurs. The second panel brought testimony from a small produce business owner, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. They said input costs for fertilizer, fuel, irrigation, labor, land leases, and compliance have risen sharply while commodity prices have remained flat or fallen, squeezing small farms and food businesses. Panelists stressed the need for small-batch processing facilities, local supply chains, education on food manufacturing compliance, land access for small farmers, and more pathways into agriculture through trade programs, community colleges, and FFA. Ryan Jacobson said California agriculture is facing a prolonged downturn, with farm bankruptcies, weak commodity prices, export-market uncertainty, water reliability problems, and costly ag-burning rules all contributing to financial strain. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible policy solutions and continued engagement with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just want to thank the legislature and the governor for taking a thoughtful and proactive approach
• We'd like to thank the legislature and the governor for including AB 617 program funding.
• We'd like to thank the legislature and the governor for including AB617 program funding.
• Kim Delfino on behalf of Audubon California, California Native Plant Society, and the Power and Nature
• Kim Delfino on behalf of Audubon, California, California Native Plant Society and the Power and Nature

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number three, messages from the governor. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the governor?
• you're all telling us, the minority, that our appointments have to be approved by the majority party in power
• 19.799><c> example</c> believe should also apply uh example believe should also apply uh example Governor
• 21.720><c> council</c><00:33:22.080><c> and</c><00:33:22.240><c> the</c><00:33:22.600><c> like</c> Governor
• mayor city council and the like Governor mayor city council and the like I<00:33:23.720><c> believe<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Even Governor Nuome, about the first week or two he was in office as governor, for a moment there, he
• Even Governor Nuome, about the first week or two he was in office as governor, for a moment there, he
• We must always limit federal power and protect state power.
• </c><00:42:40.640><c> Now</c><00:42:40.960><c> the</c> power and protect state power.
• Now the power and protect state power.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe we have a lot of power down here, and with great power requires great responsibility.
• I believe we have a lot of power down here, and with great power requires great responsibility.
• I believe we have a lot of power down here, and with great power requires great responsibility.
• And with great power requires great responsibility.
• that takes away power and opportunity for<01:10:03.679><c> motans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• services organization's program integrity functions do not supersede Access's fraud investigation powers
• services organization's program integrity functions do not supersede Access's fraud investigation powers
• So if this bill were to pass on May 1st and be signed by the governor, it would take effect May 1st,
• so if this bill were to pass in on May 1st and be signed by the governor it would take effect May 1st
• . ...be moot if SB 1611 passes and is signed by the governor.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes, then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain lab services when a member was referred by a contracting provider and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address unpaid claims and improve access, while Access testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create a fiscal impact. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement rates to no more than contracting rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require Access to contract with an administrative services organization for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping Access ultimately responsible for administration. The chair’s amendment expanded ASO duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed Access claims-payment authority, added tribal observers to the selection committee, and exempted IHS and tribal-facility services. The sponsor and tribal witnesses described the bill as a response to fraud, provider nonpayment, and harm to Native communities, while Access raised concerns about the fast timeline, tribal consultation requirements, possible duplication of program-integrity functions, and fiscal uncertainty. After debate over the emergency clause and tribal consultation, the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct Access to seek federal approval for a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness. Supporters said the bill would create a long-term community-care option for the sickest SMI members, reduce cycling through hospitals, jails, and homelessness, and potentially save state general fund dollars; family members and advocates testified in support. Access was neutral and said it was finalizing a fiscal estimate. The Angus amendment narrowed eligibility to long-term SMI, reduced the enrollment cap from 500 to 250, changed reporting to semiannual, and removed priority-order language; the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 as amended unanimously. Later, the committee passed Senate Bill 1193, which protects emergency medical care technicians’ personal identifying information from sale or disclosure by the Department of Health Services, after adopting a clarifying amendment expanding the protected information and addressing commercial requests. It then heard Senate Bill 1318, which repeals the state’s separate dense-breast notification requirement so Arizona law aligns with the FDA’s newer mammography notice standard; the sponsor and DHS said the change would reduce confusion from duplicate, slightly different notices, and the bill was moving forward with discussion of possible future amendment language.