Transcript Highlights:

• It repeals the nursing facility direct care staff rate enhancement program.
• because it would have had a significant negative fiscal impact on the program.
• And then, Lynn Cowles, you are. with Health and Food Justice Program Managers Everett Texan.
• , for TANF, and other public benefits programs.
• HB 2734 is a vital measure to safeguard the Integrity of our public assistance programs.

Bills: HB660 , HB4845 , HB3902 , HB5396 , HB4615 , HB1825 , HB1403 , HB4336 , HB4585 , HB4371 , HB863 , SB1589 , HB5223 , HB3195 , HB2734

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• I had follow-up meetings IPS program.
• to the IPS in funding from the e program to the IPS program<00:10:13.040><c> because</c><00:10:13.279
• program program firsthand<00:47:53.599><c> and</c><00:47:54.400><c> it</c><00:47:54.720><c> was</c><
• </c> but it's an incredibly important program but it's an incredibly important program to<00:48:19.599
• </c><00:49:06.720><c> And</c> It's a great program. It's working. And It's a great program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 74 criminal justice programs we have today.
• The program is now implemented throughout the state of Massachusetts.
• that started as a pilot program.
• started as a pilot program.
• So I covered every basis of this program.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its third hearing of the 194th General Court session, taking testimony on several individual bills and home rule petitions, mostly involving retirement and pension-related relief. The committee chair outlined hearing procedures, including three-minute limits for individuals, ten-minute limits for panels, livestreaming, and the deadline for written testimony. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that House matters heard that day must be reported by Friday, July 11, 2025, subject to extensions, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded. Several witnesses supported bills seeking retirement credit or pension adjustments for public employees. These included H. 2917 for Dedham-Westwood Water District employees seeking pension buy-in credit; H. 2976 for Eileen Mullen to purchase creditable service for teaching in a criminal justice pilot program; H. 2996 for Virginia Cummings, a retired Department of Correction lieutenant seeking greater pension parity; H. 2977 for Wendy Lopieri to buy back part-time community college service; and H. 2989 for Wayne Taylor, who said he was mistakenly credited for fewer years of select board service than he expected. Testimony emphasized long public service, injuries, and what witnesses described as unfair denials or flawed interpretations of retirement law. The committee also heard testimony on bills involving post-retirement earnings and disability-related relief. Kevin Blanchett testified in opposition to H. 2931, arguing it would improperly reduce money owed to a regional retirement system and its members, while the bill’s sponsor argued the retirement board was seeking an excessive recovery based on law firm gross earnings rather than the individual’s earnings. Jamie Magarian described severe injuries from a 2018 crash and urged favorable action on his bill, with support from the State Police Association. Michael Palmer testified in favor of S. 1841, seeking to extend prior violent-crime retirement income-cap relief to his case after being shot on duty and later finding that even part-time private-sector work exceeded his retirement earnings limit.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas beginning with her initial roles as program manager and program administrator at the Department
• And whereas in her roles as program manager and program administrator at the Department of Human Services
• I have family who is a potential vendor for likely participants in the program.
• The State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee met on Wednesday, June 17th.
• I have family who is a potential vendor for likely participants in the program.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• So usually the Medicaid program... ...related to eligibility determination.
• And we've also finalized some program goals.
• programs as ones that have been doing a good job out there for a long time.
• And then our 50 program design decisions under each... ...program design pillars and then our 50 program
• So here are program design pillars, as I mentioned, 50 of them.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee received an update from the Department of Health and Welfare on House Bill 345 and Idaho’s transition to comprehensive Medicaid managed care. Medicaid administrator Sasha O’Connell reviewed the bill’s directives, including rural hospital designation, work reporting and community engagement requirements, eligibility redeterminations for expansion adults every six months, changes to renewal processes, the choice waiver, state-directed payments, discontinuation of Healthy Connections Value Care and primary care case management, site-neutral payments, practice authority protections, and expanded cost-sharing. She also explained that the department is awaiting some CMS guidance and is pursuing federal approvals and public comment on several state plan amendments and waivers. A major focus was the planned move to comprehensive managed care, under which one managed care organization would coordinate most services for each enrollee, with Idaho planning three statewide plans rather than regional contracts. O’Connell said the department has held listening sessions, tribal consultation, and a request-for-information process, and that feedback has centered on continuity of care, timely provider payment, network adequacy, behavioral health and developmental disability services, and the need for clear, consistent contract standards. She said the department is using other states’ contracts and a set of program design pillars to shape the upcoming request for proposals, with a phased rollout planned for January 2029 for most services and January 2031 for developmental disability services. Senator Wintrow asked about EPSDT after a related statutory repeal in House Bill 345, expressing concern that families might think the protection had been removed. O’Connell responded that EPSDT remains a federal requirement for children and youth and that the department has not changed that obligation. The committee took no vote or formal action and adjourned after the update and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the summer program, which colleges were able to institute, may be in trouble.
• We are still very much supporting that program. So let's go to today's session.
• And so the summer program, which colleges were able to institute, maybe, um, program which colleges were
• And so we are still very much supporting that program.
• So let's go to today's session. and we are going to have a public supporting that program.

Summary: The Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee began with a clarification about a prior budget bill affecting Running Start, emphasizing that it would reduce per-student funding to colleges but would not reduce student participation in the program. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6277, which would promote educational stability for children of military families by easing enrollment rules, extending proof-of-residency deadlines to 90 days, allowing conditional enrollment before arrival, and requiring timely transfer and implementation of IEPs and 504 plans. Support came from the bill sponsor, students, school psychologists, military family advocates, and veterans groups, while school district representatives raised concerns about accelerated special education timelines and related costs. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on a first packet of bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5992 creating a youth development fund account and prioritizing tribal and American Indian/Alaska Native youth, and advanced the bill to Rules. It passed Senate Bill 6078 on child care provider supports, advanced Senate Bill 6089 on P20W education data with a substitute that added stakeholder intent language, limited nonprofit authority, and FERPA protections, and adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 5918 increasing school materials, supplies, and operating costs funding, then sent it to Ways and Means. In the second packet, the committee considered Senate Bill 5861 on school board director districts, but rejected an amendment that would have required candidates to be elected only by voters in their director district rather than at large. It then adopted a substitute and advanced the bill. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 6118 requiring cardiac emergency response plans in schools, with a substitute making implementation contingent on state funding; Senate Bill 6065 allowing certain financially distressed districts to use transportation vehicle funds under limited conditions; and Senate Bill 6052 directing development of a statewide digital transcript exchange system, which was sent to Ways and Means. The meeting ended with adjournment after all scheduled executive action was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• cumbersome and expensive program.
• So for a lot of our smaller producers, it's just not feasible for them to utilize that program.
• This program is deeply personal to the State Auditor.
• If you go on to the next page, I think I've got my timeline of the program history.
• You'll have the annual report from the FY 24 program.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• programs top out at about 5,300 hours.
• The clinical hours are just for that program, okay, for the nurse practitioner's program.
• nurse practitioner programs.
• So I started the program, and we've had a very successful program in terms of quality, achieving 100%
• So this is about a program—a nurse practitioner program. Right?

Bills: SB1888 , SB3003 , SB2417 , SB2459 , SB3055 , HB1393 , HB2884 , SB2943

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: grand jury, jury qualifications, jury wheel, small counties, Texas legislation, age verification, obscene devices, online sales, juvenile protection, penalties, antitrust, attorney general, Texas Free Enterprise, business regulations, legal confidentiality, personal identifying information, data brokers, judicial safety, civil rights, data privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 31-3502 established criteria for the county medical indigent program.
• The entire program was repealed in 2022 through House Bill 735 and was amended.
• were stopped and may not realize why the programs ended and how these services have been funded ever
• Ending eligibility for these programs was estimated to result in savings of over $20 million.
• Since 2021, uncompensated care for hospitals for state programs has risen by over 16%.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The CPP program, the community placement program, existed to develop community homes as an alternative
• into one the CPP program the community placement program existed to develop community homes as an alternative
• Individual program plans.
• Essentially, instead of maintaining two separate programs, we are proposing one program with one name
• He was in the early intervention program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and variety development program at Aberdeen.
• Those programs are ongoing.
• These are nationally important programs.
• This was a federal program that began in 2022.
• , very well with the IAMP program.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from University of Idaho representatives on the university’s land-grant mission and its role in federalism, followed by detailed overviews of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Speakers described the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts, the university’s history, and examples of research, extension, and workforce training in agriculture, engineering, law, forestry, fire science, and youth programs such as 4-H. They highlighted facilities and programs including research stations, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the deep soil ecotron, the Wildland Fire Center, the experimental forest, and the policy analysis group, while also noting the impact of federal and state funding delays and cuts on staffing and research capacity. Committee members asked about several current issues, including quagga mussels, screw worm, chronic wasting disease, and the effects of funding cuts. University officials said they were not actively researching some of those wildlife and livestock disease issues but were willing to help if capacity and funding allowed. They also said budget reductions had caused real losses, including layoffs and reduced programs, and that federal grant delays had disrupted research timelines. The committee also raised questions about conflicts of interest and university employees’ outside work; the university said it has annual conflict-of-interest and conflict-of-commitment training and review procedures. The committee then heard from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse and the Idaho Sheriffs Association on the federal 287(g) immigration partnership program. Hulse argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, describing the different 287(g) models, the training and liability concerns, and the distinction between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. He said Idaho agencies already cooperate with ICE in other ways and that mandatory participation could create staffing, legal, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, liability, detention standards, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements; Hulse said the answer depends on the specific model and operation, and he emphasized the need for local discretion. Later, the committee took testimony on the long-running bighorn sheep and domestic sheep conflict affecting western Idaho grazing allotments. Idaho Wool Growers representatives and affected ranchers described the history of state legislation, federal litigation, and the closure of grazing areas after bighorn sheep transplants, which they said cut livestock operations in half and caused major financial and personal hardship. They argued that the state and federal agencies had not lived up to assurances that permittees would be held harmless, and they urged continued attention to the issue. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> running the New Hampshire saves program running the New Hampshire saves program well<00:26:32.279
• </c> regard to the Energy Efficiency programs regard to the Energy Efficiency programs representative
• design programs uh consistent programs design programs uh so<00:29:05.399><c> that</c><00:29:05.600>
• of that program so that all of that program design<00:29:08.960><c> um</c><00:29:09.960><c> planning
• invent their own programs and Implement their<00:29:19.120><c> own</c><00:29:19.320><c> programs</c><

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reporting requirement timelines to various grant programs.
• As a father of a son with severe disabilities, I know these programs are lifelines.
• And they say to us, basically, if you fund this program, I will probably live longer.
• And it funds care for seniors through the PACE program and through other nutrition programs and important
• And it funds care for seniors through the PACE program and through other nutrition programs and important

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I think the program is well run, it's just a little bit tired.
• Because I think the program is, it's well run, it's just a little bit tired.
• One of them would be to codify a rural set-aside in that LIHTC program.
• This really lowers our ability to reach out to those programs, even programs like Housing Works, to get
• We also need to keep making investments in programs like Raft and HomeBASE.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held its second introductory hearing to frame the session’s housing agenda. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty described the hearing as a chance to hear a wide range of perspectives on Massachusetts’ housing crisis, including underbuilding, zoning and permitting barriers, rising costs, and the need for both state and local action. The committee heard from court, municipal, advocacy, and regional housing leaders, with recurring themes of increasing supply, preserving existing housing, preventing displacement, and expanding resources for renters and homeowners. Chief Justice Diana Horan of the Housing Court said the court is handling more than 40,000 new filings annually with only 15 judges, and estimated the court would need about 21 judges to meet demand. She described complications from RAFT-related stays, mental health and guardianship issues, aging housing stock, and the new eviction sealing law, which she said was being implemented smoothly but may require additional resources if filings continue to rise. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and MAPC emphasized that municipalities need flexibility, funding, and better tools such as MassWorks, Housing Works, H-DIP, 40R reforms, inclusionary zoning changes, and a local option transfer fee; they also said local control concerns and long permitting timelines remain major barriers. MAPC and others stressed that supply growth alone will not solve the crisis and urged continued support for subsidized housing, access to counsel, and modular/off-site construction. Advocates and housing providers focused on displacement, preservation, and tenant protections. Homes for All Massachusetts and Mass Law Reform Institute called for rent stabilization, stronger tenant protections, foreclosure prevention, elimination of junk fees, continued funding for RAFT and HomeBASE, and expanded access to counsel. Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants said the state needs far more extremely low-income housing, more operating subsidy, and major investment to repair public housing, while also supporting tenant technical assistance during redevelopment. Franklin County’s housing authority warned that rural communities are being left out of many state programs and asked for a rural LIHTC set-aside, a permanent rural credit boost, and a review of housing choice programs. A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation researcher presented findings that communities that add housing generally see stronger municipal finances, and that housing growth can improve property tax and state aid outcomes. Seasonal community representatives from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket described extreme affordability pressures and the need for tailored tools. Nantucket’s housing trust chair said the island has made progress through local funding, inclusionary zoning, and deed-restricted units, but still needs a real estate transfer fee and faster ways to preserve year-round housing. Across the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly returned to the need for a mix of production, preservation, tenant protections, and local flexibility, rather than relying on any single policy solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the two largest programs<00:07:33.199><c> for</c> programs for programs for DMA.<00:07:35.280
• and services program, you'll see the first is reducing the homelessness prevention programs.
• and services uh to the services programs and services uh program.<00:08:04.160><c> You'll</c><00:08:
• You'll see the first is program.
• </c> that includes $60.3 million for programs that includes $60.3 million for programs and<00:10:51.200

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• providers and the actual and the program providers and the actual and the programs<00:42:00.520><c>
• um a teacher programs themselves um a teacher preparation<00:42:02.720><c> program</c><00:42:03.119>
• </c> districts and preparation program districts and preparation program providers<00:43:07.400><c> so
• There's kindergarten through grade 12 programming as well as transitions programming.
• well as grade 12 programming as well as transitions<00:48:33.680><c> programming</c><00:48:34.240><c

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um there's uh, layout of our program.
• If programs well-connected students.
• And it can in one of these programs.
• </c><01:20:32.960><c> such</c> has recognized this with programs such has recognized this with programs
• </c><01:21:44.640><c> to</c> community needs these programs to community needs these programs to succeed

Bills: HF3650 , HF1791 , HF3489 , HF4231 , HF4232 , HF4269 , HF4270 , HF3490

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, career and technical education, CTE, postsecondary scholarship, postsecondary grant, school district funding, cooperative unit, Minnesota high school, apprenticeship, certificate program, tuition assistance, workforce training, military transition, education finance, student aid, career pathways

Transcript Highlights:

• Prescription Assistance Program, the Kentucky Asthma Management Program, the COPD program, Education
• </c> programs that we have here in Kentucky. programs that we have here in Kentucky.
• . program. program.
• For licensed programs, there is the Child Care Aware program.
• There are programs, and the Division of Child Care has programs and coaches.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first heard brief presentations on Kentucky’s 2025 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant and Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. Department for Public Health staff explained that the preventive health block grant provides about $2.3 million annually and supports programs such as accreditation and performance improvement, local health department grants, community health workers, prescription assistance, asthma and COPD programs, workforce development, and a sexual assault programs set-aside. They said the Title V block grant provides about $11.7 million, with 35% directed to children and youth with special health care needs and 65% to maternal and child health populations, largely through local health departments and a five-year needs assessment process. After no questions, a motion was made and seconded to approve both block grants. The roll call vote passed 19-0, and the two block grants were approved. The committee then approved the minutes from the prior meeting. The next item was a discussion of the child waiver created in House Bill 6. Committee members raised concerns that the proposed 1915(c) waiver did not match the legislature’s intent, which they said was to move children from the Michelle P. waiver to free slots for adults. Cabinet officials from DCBS, behavioral health, and Medicaid described the proposed “Community Health for Improved Lives and Development” waiver as a targeted home- and community-based program for children under 21 with severe behavioral health or developmental needs, including those stepping down from inpatient or residential care or at risk of out-of-home placement. They said the waiver is designed for about 100 slots, uses a standardized needs-based assessment, and includes case management, community living supports, home modifications, respite, supervised residential care, and clinical therapeutic services. Officials said the public comment period ended July 15, responses are being compiled for August submission to CMS, and the waiver is part of the broader Families First initiative.

Transcript Highlights:

• As with the bill we just heard about, there are times when tweaks to programs or making programs more
• Senate Bill 1006, An Act Creating the Homeworks Program.
• Why aren't they in after-school programs?
• does not qualify for these programs.
• We operate high-impact savings and financial coaching programs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing bills, with much of the discussion focused on seasonal communities and funding for year-round housing in places like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. Speakers supported bills including H. 4410/S. 966 and related seasonal communities legislation, which would allow local option real estate transfer fees and expand tools for towns to preserve and create affordable housing. Testimony emphasized severe housing shortages, high home prices, workforce displacement, and impacts on public safety, schools, health care, and local businesses. Many witnesses said the transfer fee would provide a sustainable local revenue stream, citing prior land bank models on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as proof the approach can work. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3989 regarding seasonal community designation, with supporters arguing that towns should be included automatically or through a simpler opt-in process, and on H. 4568 to expand the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which would broaden access to a federal voucher-based savings and self-sufficiency model. Senator Edwards testified in support of a bill to create training for municipal board members, describing it as a toolkit to improve informed local decision-making. Senator O’Connor testified for a bed bug bill, saying it would create clearer landlord and tenant notification and treatment requirements and provide needed legal guidance after his family’s experience with an infestation. Senator Lovely also testified for the Homeworks program, which provides transportation so homeless children in motels and shelters can attend after-school activities. The committee further heard testimony on a bill to fund housing in seasonal communities through a transfer fee and on a companion measure to expand the seasonal communities toolkit, with repeated calls for favorable reports. Witnesses from public safety, health care, housing nonprofits, schools, and local government described staffing shortages and housing insecurity as urgent problems. Later, the committee took testimony on H. 1559/S. 102 to maintain stable housing for families with pets, with animal welfare groups supporting protections against eviction, breed discrimination, and excessive pet rent. They said housing-related pet surrenders are a major driver of shelter intake. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1498 to limit criminalization of homelessness, which would restrict citations, fines, and related consequences for outdoor camping tied solely to homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• than relying on individual districts to hopefully submit program.
• than relying on individual districts to helpfully submit program.
• After graduating, I became a fellow in the Assembly Fellowship Program.
• It will serve to validate program impact.
• We have programs that help look at credit recovery or after-school programs.

Summary: The hearing opened with several procedural announcements and then took up AB 2148, which would prohibit artificial intelligence from replacing education workers. The author and supporters from the California Federation of Teachers and California School Employees Association argued the bill was a modest first step to protect human educators, students’ social-emotional development, and teacher agency in classroom technology decisions. Public support came from labor and education groups, while some school administrator and county office representatives said they were moving to neutral or awaiting the printed amendments. The committee discussed teacher shortages and the role of AI as a supplement rather than a replacement, then passed AB 2148 as amended to Higher Education on a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to advise the State Board of Education. The author and sponsors said the commission would improve coordination between state and local education leaders and help the state better support local efforts to close achievement gaps. Support came from CSBA, CFT, charter schools, and many district leaders. Members raised questions about early childhood representation on the commission, and the author said he would discuss that with the sponsor. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. The consent calendar, including AB 1569, AB 2071, AB 2206, AB 2298, AB 2467, AB 2580, AB 2652, and AB 2726, was also approved. AB 2555 was then heard as a special order bill to reform English learner reclassification. The author said the current system is outdated, inconsistent, and too subjective, and proposed a more automatic, transparent process with stronger parent involvement and post-reclassification monitoring. Testimony in support emphasized personal experiences of delayed reclassification and the need to recognize biliteracy; there was no opposition. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 6-0 vote. The committee also approved AB 1860, which would extend design-build authority to county offices of education while preserving prevailing wage, apprenticeship, and skilled workforce requirements; opposition from county superintendent and facilities groups was removed after amendments, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Later, the committee passed AB 2514, which would create a State of Achievement Gap Dashboard to track state-level progress in closing achievement gaps, and AB 2149, which would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to publicly assess the state’s progress and recommend actions. Both bills were presented as part of a broader package to improve state accountability for student outcomes, and both passed as amended to Appropriations on 7-0 votes. Finally, AB 2490 was heard, proposing to allow longer-term substitute assignments with added training, mentorship, and parent notification to address teacher shortages and classroom instability. Supporters said it would reduce “subchurn” and help maintain continuity, especially in special education; opponents, including CTA, Public Advocates, and CTC staff, argued the bill was unnecessary given existing rulemaking and could create legal and training concerns. The transcript cuts off during committee discussion of AB 2490, so no final vote is shown for that bill.