Transcript Highlights:

• I know, again, some of the workers I'm looking at, too, It's a coal-to-nuclear conversion.
• 1,600 workers at the site.
• First, the availability of skilled trade and craft workers for construction.
• Well, we have all the plant workers. We have homes everywhere.
• I did speak to a subset of this group back last fall remotely.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to have the most effective and efficient government in the state, we need to involve the frontline workers
• So this bill is meant to listen to our frontline workers that are helping our citizens, give them that
• for efficiency, meant for savings, but also importantly is meant for listening to the voice of the workers
• This bill is meant to listen to our frontline workers that are helping our citizens, give them that voice
• of our state that are working workers of our state that are working with<00:02:44.519> our<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• than those of licensed professionals such as our psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers
• There also were changes to the ability to appear remotely, and that was essential to have that language
• incorporated to appear remotely, specifically for facility staff, for patients, for physicians, because
• In the Marchman Act, there also was work around discharge... appear remotely.
• And that was essential to have that language incorporated to appear remotely, specifically for facility

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to review implementation of House Bill 7021, the recent overhaul of Florida’s Baker Act and Marchman Act, and to hear from DCF Assistant Secretary Erica Floyd Thomas about how the department is using the $50 million appropriation tied to the bill. Representative Maney, the bill sponsor, gave a lengthy background on why he pursued the reforms and emphasized that the goal was to improve access, reduce unnecessary crisis interventions, and give agencies the resources needed to carry out their responsibilities. He and the chair both noted that the bill was the product of many years of work and broad bipartisan support. DCF reported several early outcomes and implementation steps, including a statewide reduction in Baker Act initiations over the past five years, strong diversion rates from crisis through 988, mobile response teams, care coordination, and forensic multidisciplinary teams, and the creation of new tools such as a Baker Act dashboard and the first annual Marchman Act report. The department described key statutory changes: law enforcement discretion in initiating Baker Acts, a single-petition process, remote appearances, stronger discharge planning, interim services, updated parent notification and hold-period rules, an ombudsman office for children’s behavioral health, and regional collaboratives to identify local service gaps. DCF said it has updated manuals, FAQs, trainings, and rules, and that the managing entities have begun contracting for services. Members asked about how the $50 million was allocated, why much of it went to crisis capacity rather than outpatient care, how much has been spent so far, whether administrative costs are capped, and how the department will measure success. DCF said most of the money was used to preserve and expand crisis beds, detox beds, CSU beds, short-term residential treatment, discharge planning, and outpatient supports, with $1.3 million for the ombudsman and regional collaboratives and $48.3 million to managing entities. The assistant secretary said the department tracks readmissions, utilization, provider capacity, and monthly and quarterly reports from managing entities, but it is still early to see full effects because contracts were only recently executed. Members also raised concerns about children, families, veterans, workforce shortages, transparency, and gaps for hard-to-place individuals, including those with developmental disabilities or dementia. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond adjournment after questions were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This can very much be a cost-saving item when you're talking about very remote properties that have to
• So it's really a task to hire enough people to get to these remote spots.
• So do we have any provisions in place to make sure that the engineers that we are hiring aren't remote
• have any provisions in place to make sure that it's for those who are actually working here, not remoting
• It's not for the remote workers. But to be sure, I'll go check on it. Any further questions?

Bills: SB1280, SB1392, SB1393, SB1395, SB1400, SB1405, SB1832, SB1839, SB1989, SB2001, SB2143

Keywords: excise tax, oil tax, natural gas tax, state revenue, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, income tax, tax credit, aerospace sector, employment, economic development, adaptive reuse, affordable housing, urban renewal, economic impact, program, housing, revitalization, urban development, income tax credit, manufacturing

Transcript Highlights:

• So we can actually do remote diagnostic testing and we can do remote treating and thereby help improve
• can do remote treating and thereby help improve the health of the state.
• for me to assume that supervision could be remote?
• Madam Chair, Representative, I don't think the intention would be for it to be remote.
• Do you know, in your amendment, was your intent for it to be in person or remote or any of—?

Bills: HB2176, HB2333, HB2435, HB2447, HB2617, HB2683, HB2686, HB2725, HB2726, HB2906, HB2953, HB2958

Keywords: health care, licensure, complaints, investigation, safety, patient care, regulatory compliance, prosthetics, orthotics, health insurance, Medicare, medical necessity, disability rights, coverage, reimbursement, internationally trained physicians, medical board, clinical training, provisional license, healthcare workforce

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several health care bills. HB 2726 would require Access contractors to cover diagnosis and treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea, including a new prescription tongue-stimulation device; supporters said it offers an effective, less burdensome alternative to CPAP and could improve adherence and outcomes, while Access was neutral and raised concerns about cost and bypassing its normal clinical review. The committee adopted the Bliss amendment and then approved HB 2726 as amended on an 8-4 due-pass vote. HB 2435 would create a pathway for internationally trained physicians to receive a provisional Arizona medical license, with a later amendment adding a four-year supervised rural practice requirement and automatic conversion to a full license if criteria are met. Supporters argued it would help address severe physician shortages in rural and underserved areas, especially for cardiology and other specialties, and several doctors testified about their experience and the need for more access. Opponents, including the Arizona Medical Board, said the state already has a case-by-case licensure process for foreign-trained physicians and warned the bill could weaken safeguards and allow insufficiently vetted applicants. After adopting the amendment, the committee approved HB 2435 as amended on a due-pass recommendation. HB 2958 would require Access to cover comprehensive dental care for pregnant women age 21 and older, with a $500,000 pilot program and reporting requirements. The sponsor and public health advocates said preventive dental care during pregnancy can reduce infections and improve maternal and infant outcomes, and the bill drew broad support from health and advocacy groups. The committee passed HB 2958 on an 11-1 due-pass vote. The committee also approved HB 2176, which changes criteria and timelines for health care institution licensing complaints and informal dispute resolution, with supporters saying it would improve transparency and predictability for hospitals while preserving enforcement authority. Finally, the committee heard HB 2447, which would bar insurers from paying certified registered nurse anesthetists less than physicians for the same anesthesia service; opponents argued it would interfere with contract negotiations and raise costs, while supporters said insurer reimbursement cuts are harming rural access and shifting costs to hospitals. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 2447, before any committee vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for a couple of teams, we had entirely remote operations because we did not have a place to put their
• When we look at workforce housing, we consider specific workers, including middle income workers whose
• the education committee, small rural schools, rural schools, this and that, and we added the term remote
• because people kept saying, "Well, I live in a remote rural area; there's my hay farmer just down the
• So that is a remote. rural area, and that is actually, if you'll look at later legislation in education

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start with Chris Hicks, who I believe is joining us remotely.
• Hicks that is still on board remotely. Senator Koran. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Hicks that is still on board remotely. Senator Koran. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Hicks that is still on board remotely. Senator Koran. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Hicks that is still on board remotely. remotely. remotely. Senator<01:08:43.759> Koran.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely: Olsen.
• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. House File 14, Olsen votes no.
• operating adjustments, removed the repeal of the unemployment insurance for our integral school hourly workers
• increase in student support personnel aid from last year, and continues to take care of our hourly workers
• The member participating remotely: Olsen. House File 5. Olsen votes no. Olsen votes no.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chief Clerk will call the names of the people participating remotely today. Angan.
• accomplishments over the decades in office include fighting for the minimum wage. wage for tipped workers
• Serving and fighting for workers' rights, Mary really had emotional intelligence (EQ) and intelligence
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Hill. Go for it. Hill, yes.
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Hill. Go ahead.

Transcript Highlights:

• end of town to the other end of town, so it does ring with a lot of not just recreationalists but workers
• end of town to the other end of town, so it does ring with a lot of not just recreationalists but workers
• end of town to the other end of town, so it does ring with a lot of not just recreationalists but workers
• He noted that each area presents challenges, such as a lack of public land or remote areas where there
• Maybe it is a lack of public land, or it is a remote area where there is not a club to make things happen

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . of our next generation of workers.
• I'm one of those old workers they're talking about.
• Craft Worker Power to complete these projects on time and on budget.
• And so workers are also looking for an opportunity. To make higher wages if they can.
• I also spent five years as a border patrol agent working these remote areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• county clerks, to the folks who are actually there at the polls helping you vote, and all of the workers
• That is not remotely legal under federal law.
• Clerks or election workers to be able to call law enforcement in to help them when they need it.
• Keep in mind this date belongs to the workers.
• You think about law enforcement, household members, and health care workers.

Bills: SB23, SB221, SB261, SB264

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, misappropriation, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, racketeering, criminal penalties, New Mexico, public safety, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms, election integrity, voter coercion, emergency procedures, polling place security

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligibility determinations are made by the counties and tribal workers with system support from DHS.
• It puts so much burden on the county and frontline workers, both at the state and at the county.
• And Representative Hudson touched on it, but I am incredibly concerned about our frontline workers.
• These are frontline workers within DHS. I am so incredibly concerned about that.
• I heard about the amount of minutes county. workers spend.

Transcript Highlights:

• are. and we know. ...not bill for the work that their mental health workers are doing.
• And we know that there's a shortage of mental health workers.
• The farm workers we represent...
• workers, we know they don't work traditional hours.
• workers, we know they don't work traditional hours.

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have individuals physically present in the hearing room and also individuals joining us remotely.
• For those of you who are joining us remotely, please keep in mind two things: one, you should be muted
• Only members of the committee may ask questions, and any committee members participating remotely should
• , teachers, students, office clerks, postal service workers, delivery workers, health care workers, and
• , teachers, students, office clerks, postal service workers, delivery workers, health care workers, and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 172, introduced by Senator Flores, prescribes certain rights for agricultural workers.
• Senate Bill 172, introduced by Senator Flores, prescribes certain rights for agricultural workers.
• I just want to take a moment to recognize the thousands of state workers that are working tirelessly
• And I think all of us would like to have done much more to recognize and honor those workers.
• And I think all of us would like to have done much more to recognize and honor those workers.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then working remotely, right?
• Child care providers are still among the lowest paid workers in our state. 98% of child care workers
• Workers' wages? 8%. Yep, 8%. Workers' wages? 8%. Yep, 8%.
• , delivery drivers, health care workers, and so many other essential workers.
• The children of grocery workers, delivery drivers, healthcare workers, and so many other essential workers

Summary: The California State Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its first hearing to examine the state of child care access, affordability, and provider compensation. Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and other members described child care as essential infrastructure for working families and the economy, noting that costs are unaffordable for many households and that providers are underpaid. Early testimony came from a San Francisco parent, Quinn Chung, who described the difficulty of finding safe care and the financial and career sacrifices caused by lack of child care, and from Tuolumne County provider Anita Viscini, who detailed her monthly costs, low margins, and the need to work weekends and teach CPR classes to make ends meet. Assemblymembers also emphasized the crisis in rural communities and the need for a long-term strategy. The first policy panel featured Jennifer Troia of the California Department of Social Services, Laura Pryor of the California Budget and Policy Center, and Alexa Frankenberg of Child Care Providers United. Troia said the state has nearly doubled child care funding in five years, expanded subsidy slots, and reached a new tentative three-year agreement with providers that includes cost-of-living adjustments, stabilization payments, and continued work on an alternative rate methodology and single rate structure. Pryor argued that despite funding gains, child care remains too expensive, only a fraction of eligible children receive subsidies, and provider wages remain far below comparable jobs, worsening racial and gender inequities. Frankenberg said the tentative agreement is progress but not enough, calling for a true cost-of-care system, fair wages, paid time off, better support for emergency and nontraditional care, and stronger integration of family child care into the mixed-delivery system. Members asked about why the crisis persists, how the alternative methodology will work, how family fees and sliding-scale help are being used, and why middle-income families still struggle. The panel said the problem reflects long-term underinvestment, a broken market, and a system that still leaves many families without access. The committee also heard an economic panel from Ashley Hoffman of the California Chamber of Commerce and Sarah Bone of the Public Policy Institute of California. Hoffman described employer child care benefits and public-private partnership models in other states, including shared-cost programs and local chamber efforts. Bone said child care costs reduce family financial security and labor force participation, especially for mothers of young children, and estimated that if mothers of young children worked at the same rate as mothers of older children, more than 80,000 additional women could be in the workforce each year. In the final panel, parent and provider advocates, including Jennifer Greppie and Black Californians United for Early Care and Education co-founder Keisha Doyle, argued for fully funding child care, ending waiting lists, protecting culturally affirming care, and addressing racial inequities and private equity’s role in the sector.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chief clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Green.
• The chief clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Green.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Green. Go ahead.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. [Clears throat] Green.
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. [clears throat] Green.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package, and first adopted an amendment to insert House language into the Senate file. Members then heard brief explanations of several included provisions, including a section from House File 3870 that would make Office of Justice Programs research and victim-related data private, clarify privacy for data collected by the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls office and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office, and remove outdated statutory language. Representative Novotny also described the package as combining a number of previously passed stand-alone bills and a few additional provisions. The chamber then adopted amendments A5, A7, and A8. A5 inserted House language and adjusted an effective date related to public employer discretion in hiring; A7 allowed the Office of Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprinting and federal tax information as required by federal rules; and A8 clarified language affecting jail medical services and custody-related safeguards after collaboration among Representative Witty, the sheriffs association, the Department of Corrections, and advocates. Representatives Hansen, Moller, and Witty all urged support for those changes. A proposed A3 amendment from Representative Duran, which would have kept the current age of delinquency rather than implementing the previously enacted change, drew extensive debate. Supporters argued counties, law enforcement, and other stakeholders were not ready for the change and lacked infrastructure, while opponents said the 2024 law was intended to address serious gaps in juvenile justice and child welfare and should take effect as planned. After a roll call, the House rejected A3 by a vote of 66 yeas to 67 nays. The transcript then indicates another Duran amendment, A2, was called up, but the excerpt ends before its disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will have one panelist appearing remotely.
• We will have one panelist appearing remotely.
• Cooper, Supervising Judge, Collaborative Courts, Orange County Superior Court, will be appearing remotely
• I really appreciate your time and consideration today, and thank you again for letting me appear remotely
• Thank you for your testimony and for the remote testimony.

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Proposition 36 and its implementation, with judicial and budget officials describing it as a major shift from misdemeanor to felony processing for repeat drug possession and certain theft offenses. Witnesses explained that the law creates a treatment-mandated felony process that can lead to dismissal if a defendant completes treatment, but also requires evaluations, court monitoring, and potentially long, open-ended supervision. Judicial representatives said the new law is already generating large numbers of filings, creating workload, staffing, courtroom, and facility pressures, and that access to treatment beds, housing, and evaluation capacity is limiting participation. Several speakers emphasized that collaborative courts are effective but are not a perfect fit for Prop. 36 because those programs are typically probation-based and serve different risk/need populations. Court officials from San Bernardino and Orange counties said the impacts vary by county but are severe, with some counties seeing hundreds or more filings in a short period and others moving more slowly to build treatment infrastructure first. They argued that Prop. 36 is effectively an unfunded mandate unless the state provides more resources for judges, staff, facilities, treatment, housing, and supervision. The Legislative Analyst’s Office noted that Prop. 36 will reduce the Proposition 47 savings that fund mental health and substance use treatment grants, but said the near-term reduction is relatively modest and that the full effect will take time to appear because of the way those savings are calculated. Members of the committee repeatedly raised concerns that the state is underfunding the courts and counties needed to carry out the new law. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s proposed trial court operations budget, including a partial restoration of a prior $97 million cut and additional ongoing funding. Judicial branch officials said the restoration helped avoid furloughs, hiring freezes, and service reductions, and supported cybersecurity, technology, staffing, and records management. The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more detail on how midyear restorations are handled and consider clarifying language for transferring unspent trial court trust fund monies to the General Fund. Finance said the flexibility in the ongoing funding was intentional and would be taken back for consideration. In a separate item, the committee heard testimony on a $6.3 million increase for Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal appointed counsel programs. Judicial officials and appellate project representatives said the system is facing a crisis because indigent appeals have risen sharply while the number of panel attorneys has fallen, leaving many cases waiting months for counsel. They argued the proposed increase would help but is still below what is needed to recruit and retain attorneys and prevent delays that affect criminal, juvenile, and child welfare cases. The committee also discussed the Tracy courthouse project in San Joaquin County, where local officials said reopening a courthouse closed since 2011 is necessary to serve a growing population and relieve overcrowding elsewhere. The LAO and Finance both noted the project is next in line under the facilities plan, though LAO suggested the Legislature could consider whether other facility priorities should come first.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're the party of the worker who showers before and after work, tradesmen, people who are working with
• We're the party of the worker who showers before and after work, tradesmen, people who are working with
• We're the party of the worker who showers before and after work, tradesmen, people who are working with
• We're the party of the worker who showers before and after work, tradesmen, people who are working with
• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Gander votes aye. Hicks votes aye.

Keywords: 1183, house