Transcript Highlights:

• I'm pleased to present SB 1021, a bill that directs the California Fish and Game Commission to adopt
• I'm the founder and CEO of Field of Dreams, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in California.
• It's a game changer. We get these kids out in the field for that one day.
• We have the utmost respect for our fish and game and, most importantly, our wildlife.
• So we always base our hunts on our fish and game and, most importantly, our wildlife.

Committee: House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and we are all happy to be here with so many people, almost right on time, to talk about home-based
• At the heart of the initiative are the home and community-based service hospital liaisons.
• Talk with us about the need for place-based services and support for seniors.
• Talk with us about the need for place-based services and support for seniors.
• Better yet, Need for place-based services and support for seniors.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several aging-related bills, with most speakers focusing on housing stability, home-based services, and care transitions. Representative Badger and a commissioner testified in support of H4039, which would create a universal breakfast and lunch program at senior centers funded through a new Senior Breakfast and Lunch Fund, arguing it would reduce food insecurity and social isolation among older adults. Representative Lipper-Garabedian and multiple providers then supported H780/S495, the hospital-to-home partnership program, describing how embedded aging-services liaisons help older patients transition safely from hospitals to home, reduce readmissions, and avoid nursing facility placement; witnesses from Mystic Valley Elder Services and Mass Aging Access cited pilot results, including hundreds of patients served and examples of substantial cost savings and successful discharge planning. The committee also took testimony on S478, which would require continuing care retirement communities to disclose entrance-fee refund policies more clearly at enrollment. Senator Lovely and LeadingAge Massachusetts said the bill would improve transparency for residents and families, while a consumer witness said her family experienced delays and confusion in getting a refund after her mother left a CCRC. Members noted the issue is also being examined by a special commission on CCRCs. A large portion of the hearing focused on S475, a statewide bridge subsidy program for older adults facing housing instability. Advocates from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Western Massachusetts, Somerville, Northampton, East Hampton, Old Colony Elder Services, and Somerville’s Office of Housing Stability described rising senior homelessness, long waitlists for subsidized housing, and cases where short-term rental assistance kept older adults housed while they waited for permanent housing. Somerville witnesses said the pilot program helped nine households remain housed and that some participants have since moved into permanent housing. Members asked about wait times, program design, and how to prioritize applicants; witnesses emphasized flexibility, emergency risk, and the need for a statewide expansion. The hearing also included testimony on S465, an ALS bill that would expand home care access regardless of age and bar the use of quality-adjusted life-year metrics in coverage decisions, with the sponsor and ALS Association arguing the measure would reduce discriminatory treatment and better center patient care. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will provide the state board flexibility to select counsel based on specific case needs.
• These rules affect only lands owned or managed by Fish and Game.
• Director of Programs and Policy Department of Fish and Game.
• These rules affect only lands owned or managed by fishing game.
• Chairman, so we have campgrounds here in Region 3 that are Fish and Game-owned properties.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• solely on a prediction, score, or classification generated by an automated decision system, or based
• Additional review includes indicator-based program review as Domain areas.
• Additional review includes indicator-based program review, as staff briefed, in which programs annually
• Then, turning to the second component of Substitute Senate Bill 5346, the web-based location at OSPI
• Just one of what I believe I have it with me, Representative Callan. ...based off of this bill.

Bills: SB6278

Committee: House Education

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Proposition 4 has the potential to be a game changer.
• They weren't based on science originally.
• I'm here to support science-based management decisions.
• The Nature Conservancy is a science-based organization.
• By now, you know, you're dealing with a zero-sum game.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• Scouting also gives young people something that's harder to find today: real-world skills and real confidence
• Those skills don't just help us in scouting.
• Real-world skills and real confidence.
• Those skills don't just help us in scouting.
• House Bill 417 adopts the federal definition of family resource centers with the addition of faith-based

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we hear from Game and Fish? Are they signed in? Game and Fish signed in?
• Can we hear from Game and Fish? Are they signed in? Game of Fish signed in?
• Not every range is managed by Game and Fish.
• Not every range is going to have that extra layer of Game and Fish.
• They're based out of Washington.

Bills: HB2014 , HB2055 , HB2145 , HB2150 , HB2696 , HB2755 , HB2763 , HB2781 , HB2782 , HB2787 , HB2795 , HB2889 , HB2975 , HB2985 , HB2986 , HCM2009 , HCR2020 , HCR2038

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals

Transcript Highlights:

• He has gone to every game, and the team is doing well, and he's been able to pay cash at the gate for
• I go to CDSC soccer games in St. Louis.
• Well, again, I can't go down the street to watch another MLS game in St. Louis.
• And my biggest concern, if we do go to no cash and it's all based upon digital, who controls that?
• The way that I read this right now, could we consider an app-based purchase a retail purchase?

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He has gone to every game, and the team is doing well, and he's been able to pay cash at the gate for
• I go to City SC soccer games in St. Louis.
• Well, again, I can't go down the street to watch another MLS game in St.
• And my biggest concern, if we do go to no cash and it's all based upon digital, who controls that?
• The way that I read this right now, could we consider an app-based purchase a retail purchase?

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3256, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Dernel, which would require businesses to accept U.S. cash and prohibit cashless-only establishments, with exceptions such as unattended fuel pumps, card security deposits, and businesses that convert cash to a no-fee prepaid card for on-site use. Dernel argued the bill protects seniors, veterans, children, and unbanked or underbanked consumers who may be excluded by cashless policies, and said cash is legal tender and important for privacy and access. She also said she would remove an outdated subsection referencing banks or credit unions. Members raised concerns about whether the bill improperly limits business discretion, whether cashless policies can improve safety and reduce costs, and whether the bill’s definitions were too broad or unclear. Questions focused on what counts as a “retail establishment,” whether the bill would apply to schools, doctors, apps, and event venues, and who would be liable for violations. One member noted possible conflict with existing Missouri law on legal tender and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions and revisions. Testimony was mixed. The Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association supported the bill, saying cashless trends and credit card fees hurt gas stations and convenience stores, though they asked for practical exceptions. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry opposed the bill, arguing businesses should decide their own payment policies, especially for safety and operational reasons, and objected to the proposed Class D misdemeanor penalty, which they said is harsher than penalties in other states. Additional witnesses from consumer and advocacy groups spoke in favor, emphasizing consumer choice and the continued need for cash. No final vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I, and all of a sudden the students themselves, through no um none of my skills, they would just
• ><00:05:19.440><c> my</c> themselves through no um none of my themselves through no um none of my skills
• c> would</c><00:05:20.479><c> just</c><00:05:20.720><c> start</c><00:05:20.960><c> discussing</c> skills
• they would just start discussing skills they would just start discussing that<00:05:22.080><c> it</c
• and what the tax base looks like, how<00:37:15.200><c> do</c><00:37:15.280><c> you</c><00:37:15.359>

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members back in the game.
• c> evidence-based</c> family court on evidence-based family court on evidence-based interventions.<02
• And then they're going to find out I call it shell game shenanigans at the budget.
• It's a shell game. It's about losing our democracy.
• We're tightening or eliminating broader-based...

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there the gaming revenue, is it low, is it that gaming I think.
• Is there—the gaming revenue, is it low? Is it that gaming revenue from that site?
• Any other Is there, the gaming revenue is it low, is it that gaming revenue from that site?
• Any changes are fair game in the package.
• . ...was really based on the tithe from the church.

Bills: SB36 , SB88 , SB92 , SB97 , SB48 , SB55 , SB58 , SB76 , SB93 , SB89 , SB60

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: quantum technology, tax credit, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, foster care, income tax, guardianship, youth services, financial relief, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, tax credits

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, and improve their skills.
• That's what skilled labor is going to do for our state.
• bases here in New Mexico.
• President, will these infrastructure projects be located On base?
• I got elected to the Border Soil and Water Conservation Board based there in L.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:55:28.119><c> on</c> different policy decisions based on different policy decisions based on
• So they're built into web-based systems.
• </c> of Public Health those are school-based of Public Health those are school-based clinics<04:03:44.120
• </c> 100,000 increase what's that based 100,000 increase what's that based on<04:08:27.439><c> I'm</c
• </c> to know if there's a distinction based to know if there's a distinction based on<04:09:15.479><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the statute that's currently in place, it's based on longevity, it's based on commitments, not
• on longevity, is based on commitments, not convictions.
• Yes, the escalations of the parole percentages are conviction-based, not commitment-based, Representative
• We calculate and submit our fiscal note responses based on the total cost, based on the change in the
• And so you're assigned to different institutions based on your custody level.

Summary: The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions heard Senate Substitute No. 3 to Senate Bill 888, a broad criminal justice measure sponsored by Sen. Nick Schroer. The bill would change juvenile procedures, including fingerprinting certain offenders under 18, sealing those records for law enforcement and prosecutors, closing juvenile proceedings to the public in some cases, allowing shackling in limited circumstances, and revising the juvenile detention assessment form. It also revises sentencing rules for certain felonies by increasing minimum time-served thresholds, limiting or eliminating conditional release for some offenses, changing how jail-time credit is calculated and challenged, and adding or reclassifying several offenses as dangerous felonies, including some sex offenses, trafficking-related crimes, and endangering the welfare of a child. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve consistency, public safety, and transparency for victims and offenders, while clarifying that it did not change the elements of endangering the welfare of a child or create a vaccination-based offense. Testimony was mixed. The Missouri Prosecutors Association and Missouri Sheriffs’ United supported the bill, emphasizing clearer sentencing information for victims and stronger consequences for violent and repeat offenders. The Missouri Department of Corrections also supported the sentencing portion, saying the bill’s parole-percentage changes were conviction-based and that the department’s main goal was transparency at sentencing. Opponents, including the Missouri Justice Coalition, the Public Defender System, and several juvenile justice advocates, argued that the juvenile provisions would push more children into adult court, undermine Missouri’s nationally recognized juvenile model, and increase racial disparities and recidivism. They also criticized the mandatory minimums and longer sentences as costly and punitive, warning of higher prison populations and possible new prison construction. Several witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s treatment of vaccination status in the child endangerment section. Committee members questioned the sponsor and witnesses extensively about whether the bill changed commitments versus convictions, the fiscal note, prison capacity, juvenile detention bed space, and whether the measure would apply retroactively. The sponsor and DOC said the sentencing changes were forward-looking and that the bill was meant to provide more certainty at sentencing, though some details were left to experts and later cleanup. The committee recessed during testimony to return after session, then reconvened in executive session. Representative Davis offered an amendment clarifying that vaccination status alone cannot prove endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, and the committee discussed the amendment before continuing consideration of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Joining me today for our discussion of the Department of Game and Fish, soon to be the Department of
• But as you may know, the Department of Game and Fish is not a general fund agency.
• Mike Sloan, the Director of the Department of Game and Fish.
• That's based on appropriation. So that would be why it changed from FY24, the 119 down to 34.
• So those are based on... like what we get from the appropriations.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, as a small community with a small tax base, finding nearly $2 million it would take to sprinkler
• professionals who install 400 skilled professionals who install maintain<00:20:56.520><c> and</c><00
• I'm assuming, based on the numbers and the number of units, that $10 million may be sufficient at this
• I'm assuming, based on the numbers and the number of units, that $10 million may be sufficient at this
• that</c><00:33:01.039><c> need</c><00:33:01.519><c> a</c> Students going to school that need a rent base

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• direction, demonstration, and recommendations to Senator Jones: help the mentees develop necessary skills
• must provide direction, advice, and a neutral sounding board to mentees and must help them develop skills
• The principal will make the decision based off of the teacher's current workload that they have and then
• they will be assigned to be able to mentor a teacher based off of what the principal assignment is.
• We went to a performance-based model and moved away from the scale of the grandfather scale and during

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm always inspired by this team of committed and talented and skilled.
• You know, Ron Riggnney whom you skilled.
• This would get us to $57 million base.
• </c> achieve competition based on that scope. achieve competition based on that scope. where<00:55:09.920
• It is more based on a defined scope.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They decide our budget and our unit size based on the size of our state Medicaid budget.
• </c> with the with the right skill sets. with the with the right skill sets.
• </c> We need a a a group of highly skilled We need a a a group of highly skilled people<00:52:42.920>
• So, that's the base, and that has a slight inflation factor of 2 and 1/2%.
• </c> impact on top of the base. impact on top of the base.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all