Transcript Highlights:

• In essence, like, if Project A, we wanted to set up a 100-bed nursing home in this particular area...
• ” “...we want to set up a 100-bed nursing home in St.
• We want to set up a 150-bed nursing home in Kansas City.
• We've got a couple details to figure out, but we're all on board.
• This will be probably the main page, home page for everybody to access for now.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee, I'd just like to welcome the Boise State nursing students who are here in our front row.
• Redundant standards that previously appeared in multiple sections have been removed, and duplicative
• And that's the standard for most practices. You've got to be in this space.”
• I've not heard any complaints of any sort from the boards on these kinds of issues.
• So it's very uncommon to have an actual complaint go to the licensing boards.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> recommendations of the mobile home recommendations of the mobile home taxation<00:46:23.920><c>
• owners and clarifying that a mobile home owners and clarifying that a mobile<00:46:34.319><c> home</
• under</c> mobile home mobile home owner under mobile home mobile home owner under legal<00:46:36.000>
• <00:48:43.440><c> their</c><00:48:43.760><c> exemption</c> home their exemption home their exemption
• We need balanced labor and workforce. workforce. workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lewis first joined the board in 2022.
• Division of Apprenticeship Standards is California law.
• workforce and provide livable wages.
• state's current health and safety standards.
• SB 947 sets a common-sense standard.

Transcript Highlights:

• Development Board.
• The new standards were approved by the State Board of Education in 2025 and serve as an industry skills
• with workforce needs.
• , Director Kina Pereira of the California Workforce Development Board, Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova
• I'm here representing the California Workforce Development Board, a department within the Labor and Workforce

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on the Arts

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Arts held an informational hearing on California’s first sector-specific creative economy strategic plan, developed under AB 127 by the California Arts Council with an interagency work group and outside research support. Committee members and panelists described the plan’s purpose as strengthening the state’s creative workforce, stabilizing creative businesses, expanding equity and access, and building infrastructure for long-term implementation. The opening presentation highlighted major forces shaping the sector over the next decade, including AI, climate disruption, affordability, access to capital, and social cohesion, and outlined six action areas: workforce preparation, business growth, cultural tourism and identity, cross-sector incentives, ROI/data tracking, and state capacity-building. Testimony from the California Department of Education and the Workforce Development Board focused on existing workforce pipelines, including updated arts/entertainment/design CTE standards, the Entertainment Equity Alliance, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways, and High Road Training Partnership investments. Speakers said these efforts are producing strong placement outcomes, including paid on-the-job training, union placements, and support for workers facing barriers, while also emphasizing the need for entrepreneurship training and wraparound supports. Committee discussion also centered on a major unresolved issue: how to define and measure the creative economy consistently across agencies, since current labor data often misses gig, contract, nonprofit, and business activity. A second panel of practitioners and advocates described local examples of the plan in action. The Handy Foundation, Arts for LA’s Creative Jobs Collective, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and the California Arts Council chair all argued that artists and creative workers should be treated as essential contributors to education, community health, local economies, and resilience, not as peripheral workers. They urged stronger school partnerships, more arts access, and better recognition of creative careers. Members also discussed AI’s impact on creative work, with panelists saying it should be treated as a tool that requires guardrails, training, and union and educator involvement rather than as a replacement for human creativity. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members expressed support for continued implementation, better data systems, and additional funding in future budget and policy actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Further, it supports 30 boards and commissions.
• , and the base budget for the Campaign Finance Board.
• If the nursing homes are not funded and they have three-digit millions of cuts, which is what's going
• They're not choosing to work in the nursing homes.
• I hear from our nursing home and our disability homes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also going to talk with the Franchise Tax Board.
• I am Roger Lackey with the Franchise Tax Board. Thank you for inviting me today.
• are received by Franchise Tax Board are from professional tax software.
• It's devastating, depressing, and causing great anxiety on my board.
• County home.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Transparency held a hearing focused on three issues: federal funding cuts and delays, possible state revenue impacts from reduced IRS enforcement, and the fiscal effects of AB 218 on local governments. The Franchise Tax Board described how state and federal tax systems are closely linked, how most returns are filed electronically through software, and how FTB relies on IRS information sharing for compliance, fraud prevention, offsets, and nonfiler work. Members raised concerns that federal staffing cuts at the IRS could weaken audits of large corporations and reduce California revenue, and asked about VITA and ITIN filers; FTB said it was not aware of VITA reductions, noted ITIN returns are processed the same as other returns, and said ITIN filing appeared slightly down this year. The Department of Finance said it is monitoring federal developments, summarized the continuing resolution and reconciliation process, and noted that California lost nearly $940 million in earmarked federal projects under the CR, while major federal budget decisions remain uncertain until the President’s budget and later congressional action. The University of California reported substantial federal pressure on research, student aid, and health care. UC said hundreds of millions of dollars in federal awards have already been canceled, with additional threats to NIH and DOE facilities-and-administration rates, graduate fellowships, student loan repayment plans, international student visas, Pell Grants, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal funding. Committee members pressed UC on the effects of DEIA-related federal restrictions, the loss of clinical trials and research staff, and the impact on low-income students and patients. UC said it is pursuing litigation with the Attorney General and other institutions, but emphasized that court action is only a temporary solution and that sustained state and private support may be needed. The second panel addressed the fiscal consequences of AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims against public agencies. FCMAT presented a report with 22 recommendations, including better statewide data collection, financing mechanisms, a possible victims compensation fund, and prevention measures. Los Angeles County described a tentative $4 billion settlement tied to AB 218 claims, saying it will require reserves, borrowing, and long-term annual payments through 2050, while also forcing curtailments and cuts to vacant positions to preserve services. Members discussed insurance pools, retroactive premiums, unidentified future claims, and the need for a compensation fund or other financing tools. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with public comment, including testimony from local health officials about nearly $400 million in terminated federal public health grants and the resulting layoffs and service impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vance Aherns: Thank you Chair and members of the board.
• Charlie Kirk's rhetoric did not meet this standard.
• Edward Briggs with Highland Homes speaking for.
• Edward Briggs on behalf of Highland Homes.
• The additional standard ALF license.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• WE KNOW IF WE SHOULD STAY HOME AND NOT GO TO SCHOOL LEGITIMATELY.
• THERE'S A PLACE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH AUTISM IN THE WORKFORCE.
• WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REPLACING THE LAWFUL DUTY STANDARD HERE WITH THE UNIFORM STANDARD IN 940.1 WHICH
• STANDARD WILL BE THERE.
• WITH THAT 943.10, THERE IS NO STANDARD IN THAT SECTION.

Transcript Highlights:

• Development Board.
• The new standards were approved by the State Board of Education in 2025 and serve as an industry skills
• with workforce needs.
• , Director Kina Pereira of the California Workforce Development Board, Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova
• I'm here representing the California Workforce Development Board, a department within the Labor and Workforce

Committee: House Joint Committee on the Arts

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Arts held an informational hearing on California’s first sector-specific creative economy strategic plan, “California’s Future Is Creative,” developed under AB 127 and related legislation. Chair Allen framed the plan as a response to California’s large but vulnerable creative economy, citing workforce losses, federal funding headwinds, and the need to support artists, cultural organizations, public media, museums, cultural districts, and film/TV production. He also highlighted budget asks including support for California Humanities, museums, public media, cultural districts, a post-production incentive proposal (AB 2319), and funding to implement the strategic plan. California Arts Council Director Danielle Brazel, Institute for the Future’s Rachel Hatch, CDE’s Allison Frenzel, and CWDB’s Michael Weoff described the planning process, which included a 30-plus-member work group, interagency coordination, and a phased approach from framework development to implementation and evaluation. They identified major forces shaping the sector over the next decade, including AI, climate disruption, affordability, access to capital, and social cohesion, and outlined six action areas: workforce preparation, business stabilization, cultural identity/tourism, cross-sector incentives, ROI/data tracking, and state capacity/infrastructure. Members and panelists repeatedly emphasized that the plan must be resourced and integrated across agencies rather than left siloed. A second panel of practitioners and advocates focused on workforce pathways and local implementation. Ricarlo Handy described the Handy Foundation’s registered apprenticeship pipeline into film and TV jobs and argued that current data systems undercount gig, 1099, and LLC-based creative work. Joanna Reynolds discussed Arts for LA’s Creative Jobs Collective, which aims to create 10,000 living-wage creative jobs in Los Angeles County by 2030, while Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez urged embedding artists in health, aging, and behavioral health systems as community problem-solvers. Roxanne Messina Kaptur spoke about the need to normalize arts careers and expand residency and school-based models. Senator Rubio, who joined later, shared her own arts and teaching background, supported arts access in schools and small theaters, and raised concerns about AI, asking how schools and educators can adapt. In the final panel, Rebecca Ratzkin reported on 26 statewide town halls with more than 1,100 attendees, which confirmed support for the plan but also highlighted needs for better information access, new financial models, stronger definitions and data, and more partnerships. Julie Baker of California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates urged sustained public funding, saying the plan is actionable only if the Legislature and administration provide resources, including increased California Arts Council funding and support for implementation. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with calls for continued legislative and cross-agency collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, the geographic adequacy threshold for nursing homes should not be broader than a managed
• The Health Care Authority must obtain feedback from stakeholders such as hospitals, nursing homes, and
• In addition, the geographic adequacy threshold for nursing homes should not be broader than a managed
• The health care authority must obtain feedback from stakeholders such as hospitals, nursing homes, and
• managed care organizations when developing the network adequacy standard. hospitals, nursing homes,

Summary: The Health Care and Wellness Committee met on February 10 at 8:30 a.m. and heard two bills. On Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5594, staff explained that the bill would expand state policy on biosimilars by allowing health carriers to require patients to try a biosimilar before covering the equivalent brand drug starting in 2027, directing exchange plans to increase biosimilar utilization, and changing pharmacist substitution rules so substitution is generally allowed unless the prescriber says not to substitute. The prime sponsor, Sen. Harris, said the bill would lower costs and noted many other states already allow similar substitution. Supporters from health plans and generic/biosimilar manufacturers said biosimilars are safe, effective, and can save consumers and the system money, while a patient advocate raised concerns that the bill may not guarantee lower out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter and suggested preferred formulary placement as a fix. AAM supported the bill with a technical amendment to place biosimilars in the same section as generics and interchangeable products, and the hearing on the bill was closed with no vote taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5142 on Medicaid network adequacy for post-acute care. Staff said the bill would require the Health Care Authority to adopt network adequacy standards for nursing homes and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, considering community access, regional availability, timeliness, and federal Medicaid rules, with standards due by January 1, 2028 and implementation by July 1, 2028. Sen. Muzzall described it as a follow-up to last year’s bill that would create a pre-approved pathway for patients who are difficult to discharge because continuing care is hard to secure. Testimony from hospital and health system representatives strongly supported the bill, saying patients often remain in hospitals longer than medically necessary because of delays in finding skilled nursing or rehab placements and because single-case agreements are time-consuming and unpredictable, especially in rural areas. Public testimony on SB 5142 was then closed, and the meeting adjourned without any recorded votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:53.600><c> so</c> make New Hampshire their new home so make New Hampshire their new home so
• </c> Department of Ed to our local boards Department of Ed to our local boards even<00:49:46.079><c>
• Their parents recently brought them home to learn in the security of their home, where the closeness
• </c><03:00:42.359><c> school</c> have the privilege to use home school have the privilege to use home
• </c> budget committees and school boards budget committees and school boards responsible<03:52:37.600

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 115-FN, which would remove the income cap from New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account eligibility rules. Representative Valerie McDonnell, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure is intended to fund students rather than systems and to expand educational choice regardless of income or zip code. She described the change as a small statutory edit but argued it would have significant benefits, including helping families afford alternative education settings and testing costs such as AP exams. She also cited testimony from families who said EFAs helped children with special needs or difficult circumstances, and she argued the program is popular and cost-effective. Committee members questioned McDonnell about the bill’s fiscal impact and administration. One member asked whether removing the income cap would extend vouchers to families above the statewide median income and whether the change could cost more than $100 million annually; McDonnell said she did not agree with that estimate and pointed to Arizona as a comparison. Representative Wendy Thomas asked whether the bill should require stronger data-sharing from the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which administers the program, so the Department of Education and taxpayers could better track spending; McDonnell said the program already uses ClassWallet and regulated expenditures, and that the question was better directed to the administrator. Several members testified in opposition. Representative Wendy Thomas said the bill would increase costs for public schools, raise local property taxes, and worsen oversight problems. Representative Heath Howard argued the proposal would function as a subsidy for wealthy families already paying private tuition and said public education and special education should be funded first. Representative Megan Murray also opposed the bill, emphasizing the lack of a legal reporting requirement for EFA spending and the need for transparency, accountability, and attention to special education needs. Representative Sam Farrington supported expansion, sharing a constituent story about a student who left public school after harassment and benefited from private school placement. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members of the board.
• Charlie Kirk's rhetoric did not meet that standard.
• Charlie Kirk's rhetoric did not meet that standard.
• Edward Briggs on behalf of Highland Homes.
• Highland Homes is a Florida-based home builder operating throughout the state, part of the Berkshire

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and considered a large agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, limited public testimony, and roll-call votes. Early actions included CSSB 1062 creating Florida Speech and Debate Week and the Florida Debate Initiative with a recurring $2.4 million appropriation, and CS for SB 196 establishing the Uterine Fibroid Research Database. The committee also approved the companion public-records bill, CS for SB 864, to keep sensitive fibroid database information confidential. Other health and public-safety measures reported favorably included CS for SB 432, which was amended to address xylazine and restrict recreational nitrous oxide sales by tobacco-permit retailers; CS for SB 646, narrowing drug-paraphernalia testing equipment exemptions to fentanyl, its analogs, and xylazine; and CS for SB 1684 and CS for SB 1686, creating and exempting records for a Parkinson’s Disease Registry at the University of South Florida. The committee also advanced several workforce, regulatory, and local-governance bills. SB 1112 on the Florida Labor Pool Act passed with testimony emphasizing removal of placement fees, annual labor-pool registration, and stronger enforcement to help workers, including returning citizens. CS for SB 524 updated Department of Law Enforcement duties and medical examiner procedures; CS for SB 530 revised lottery operations and security rules; CS for SB 676 expanded animal-cruelty penalties and the public abuser database; CS for SB 1180 created a recall framework for community development district supervisors and updated CDD rules; and CS for SB 800 increased penalties for unlicensed engineering practice after removing a student-loan assistance provision to align with the House version. CS for SB 1404 created a memory-care specialty license for assisted living facilities, with amendments extending rulemaking deadlines and clarifying advertising and resident-choice provisions. SB 1072 created an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s office, and CS for SB 1630 modernized aging and disability services, guardianship oversight, and dementia-related policy. Two memorialization bills generated the most extended debate and public comment. SB 194 would designate October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, and SB 174 would name a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Both drew strong support from some speakers who framed them as recognition of civic engagement and free expression, and strong opposition from others who criticized Kirk’s rhetoric and argued the state should instead honor broader civic values or other figures. A late-file amendment to SB 194 that would have converted it into a general day of remembrance for victims of political violence was withdrawn. Despite the controversy, both bills were reported favorably. The committee adjourned after members requested to be recorded on various bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a board able to be in person.
• </c><00:10:29.600><c> in</c> think having a high high standard in think having a high high standard in
• </c> um adopt or consider higher standards um adopt or consider higher standards than<00:20:44.400><c
• /c><00:32:58.640><c> I</c> fortified standards um for homes, I I fortified standards um for homes, I
• , their homes were destroyed.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Long before I walked the halls of this chamber, I spent my days in people's homes, I walked the halls
• I want to begin by offering my thanks... ...and support of a strong, skilled workforce.
• I'm going to... ...Massachusetts and for a better prepared, more resilient, skilled workforce.
• Apprenticeships have been a cornerstone of workforce development in the Commonwealth.
• My father was one of 11 siblings in a working-class home, and he was able to attain home ownership because

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a very good bill. budget reserve, $100 million in workforce and safety training to implement
• And $20 million to improve workforce recruitment and retention at our regional transit authorities.
• The number one thing that comes up constantly is workforce, workforce, workforce.
• The number one thing that comes up constantly is workforce, workforce, workforce.
• The Milton Planning Board has an updated local plan, and it's in HLC's hands as of Monday.

Summary: The Senate took up Senate House No. 4010, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill funded largely by surplus Fair Share revenues. The Ways and Means chair described the bill as a $1.28 billion package, with major investments in education and transportation, including special education circuit breaker aid, higher education deferred maintenance, career technical education capital grants, school construction relief, high-dosage tutoring, English language learning grants, MBTA reserve replenishment and safety training, commuter rail maintenance, Chapter 90 local road aid, regional transit authority support, ferry and micro-transit funding, and a small World Cup transportation appropriation. Members from both parties generally praised the bill’s one-time, regionally balanced approach while emphasizing fiscal discipline and the limited, surplus-based funding source. The minority leader and others questioned the fund balances and the use of the education and transportation innovation and capital fund, the Student Opportunity Act trust fund, and the transitional escrow account; the chair said the bill would zero out the innovation and capital fund, leave about $430 million in the SOA trust, and about $200 million in the escrow account. Several members highlighted specific priorities. Senator Cronin and Senator Feeney strongly supported the $100 million career technical education investment, arguing it would expand vocational opportunities in comprehensive high schools and help meet workforce needs. Senator Feeney also emphasized MBTA funding, special education, local road repairs, English language learning tied to workforce needs, and World Cup preparations in Foxborough. Senator Comerford praised the bill’s regional equity, higher education maintenance funding, special education support, and transportation investments, while also noting the need for broader future work on Chapter 70 and school finance. Senator Tarr supported the bill but repeatedly stressed that the spending was a unique one-time opportunity and that the Commonwealth should preserve fiscal reserves and continue to address school funding inequities and MBTA finances more broadly. The chamber then considered numerous amendments. Amendment 1 on tariff pricing transparency was withdrawn after brief remarks, and Amendment 14, proposing a DESE study on educational outcomes for young men and boys, was rejected. Amendment 182, funding Worcester Regional Transit Authority capital expenses, was adopted. Amendment 228, adding $500,000 for Free Period to expand access to menstrual products in schools, was adopted. Amendment 257, funding Springfield Public Schools communication and safety systems, was also adopted. Other amendments, including Tarr amendments on supplemental district aid, MBTA reporting, and the Foundation Budget Review Commission, were rejected. Amendment 308 concerning MBTA Communities and Milton was withdrawn, after which Senator Driscoll began a presentation arguing Milton was being misclassified under the MBTA Communities Act and should be treated fairly under the law.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, to Rachel. board uh in postmortem toxicology. The board uh in postmortem toxicology.
• </c> National Association of School Nurses. National Association of School Nurses.
• school nurses, especially secondary school<00:37:43.280><c> nurses,</c><00:37:43.760><c> are</c><00:
• I see alcohol death at the funeral home.
• </c><00:53:34.720><c> So,</c> funeral home, but that's legal. So, funeral home, but that's legal.

Bills: HB0103 , HB0070 , HB0091

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The board of trustees are okay with this. >> The board gave us this, I'm assuming. >> Okay.
• </c> &gt;&gt; The board gave us this I'm assuming. &gt;&gt; The board gave us this I'm assuming.
• </c><00:41:01.200><c> So</c> by the state board of education. So by the state board of education.
• The state board of following. G.
• &gt;&gt; That would be up to what the standards &gt;&gt; That would be up to what the standards of<00

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm on the Grass Valley School Board.
• Boards approve and adopt agenda items.
• Board members are locally elected and accountable for the actions taken by the board.
• favor of the school board.
• I hold school board members responsible for that.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Force veteran, her a registered nurse. Force veteran, her a registered nurse.
• He served on the medical center's governing board as chairman and on the MHMR board, helping those with
• I sat next to the board.
• Not to standardize curriculum, but to standardize the worth of children.
• This week, the Supreme Court board.