Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is Chairman Darby's bill, which relates to the election of certain school Chair: districts
• to participate in the uniform group coverage program for active school employees.
• had fraudulently taken customers' assets and without their knowledge had used them to make other purchases
• Furthermore, credit reports affect not only housing but other financial purchases like vehicles or securing

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Providing school districts the option to replace school buses with electric or zero-emission alternative
• fuel school buses.
• Allowing school districts to enter into agreements for the use of their electric school buses as electric
• energy storage for providing grid services or for use by schools.
• every high school to install an automated external defibrillator and requiring all high school employees

Transcript Highlights:

• of how many students are in the school.
• of how many students are in the school.
• of how many students are in the school.
• </c><03:38:58.880><c> districts,</c> used about um school districts, used about um school districts,
• school<03:39:00.960><c> district</c><03:39:01.600><c> proponents.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I went on to school, became a paramedic, which, um, Rep Johnson knows, that's a lot of school.
• . school. school.
• And let me tell you, medic school school school kicked<00:49:04.720><c> my</c><00:49:04.840><c> butt.
• of past credit or the purchasing of prior years.
• </c><01:16:10.440><c> of</c> it, please tell me, the purchasing of it, please tell me, the purchasing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in school right now, but I'm in support of this.
• We are now working on the school albuterol initiative.
• K-12 schools, yes.
• So oftentimes, you'll work while going to school.
• CDPH is required to provide training and technical assistance to school food professionals and school

Summary: The hearing began with a stakeholder presentation from Let California Kids Hear urging coverage of pediatric hearing aids for children in the large group market. Advocates described the issue as a long-running developmental emergency, argued that existing state efforts have been inefficient, and said the new proposal would cover about 70% to 80% of affected children without new spending by redirecting existing dollars. Public commenters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s advocates, strongly supported the proposal and emphasized the need for timely access to sound. The chair thanked the group and noted hope for a future fix, including continued work on the exchange market. The Department of Finance then gave a broad budget warning about the state’s more than $20 billion structural deficit and said new investments must be weighed against out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with an overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, seismic hospital compliance, workforce programs, and the Data Exchange Framework. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, behavioral health pipeline programs, the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, and future CalRx products such as EpiPens and GLP-1s. HCAI also described its enforcement approach for health care spending targets, saying the board would not change the targets in response to H.R. 1, and outlined the diaper access initiative, which will distribute diapers through hospitals in higher-need areas. Several HCAI budget items were discussed and held open, including additional expenditure authority, the transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate, long-term care payment transparency staffing, and reporting on health care worker waiting periods. The department also presented its Behavioral Health Services Act workforce initiative and a proposed $100 million General Fund offset, which both the LAO and the chair questioned as unclear and potentially one-time in nature. HCAI said the final workforce plan would be adjusted after stakeholder consultation if the offset proceeds. The department also described the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying California received $233.6 million in federal funds, had to revise its proposal to satisfy CMS, and must obligate the money by October 30; the program will fund rural care models, workforce development, and technology, with grants rolled out on a phased basis. The Department of Managed Health Care then presented its budget and three legislative implementation requests: SB 41 on PBM reform, SB 306 on prior authorization transparency, and AB 1041 on provider credentialing timelines. Finally, the administration outlined a menopause care proposal requiring coverage and education for menopause-related services, provider training, and an outreach campaign, with DMHC requesting staffing and funding to implement and enforce the new requirements. Throughout the hearing, most items were held open for later action, and no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in school right now, but I'm in support of this.
• We are now working on the school albuterol initiative.
• K-12 schools, yes, K-12 schools.
• So oftentimes, you'll work while going to school.
• CDPH is required to provide training and technical assistance to school food professionals and school

Summary: The hearing began with testimony from Let California Kids Hear and supporters urging action on pediatric hearing aid coverage. Advocates said California has repeatedly failed to enact a workable solution over the past eight years and argued that children need early access to sound to support development. The proposal discussed would limit the coverage mandate to the large-group market, which advocates said would cover roughly 70% to 80% of affected children and avoid the exchange-related cost issue that contributed to prior vetoes. Supporters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s health groups, backed the proposal, and the chair expressed sympathy and support while noting hope for a federal solution for exchange plans. The Department of Finance then gave opening remarks about the state’s structural deficit and the need to balance new investments against projected out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with a broad overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone initiatives, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, hospital seismic compliance, workforce programs, and the diaper access initiative. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, which HCAI said had reverted funds. The committee also discussed a proposed transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate to HCAI, new reporting on long-term care staffing and health coverage waiting periods, and a Behavioral Health Services Act workforce proposal that would use BHSA funds to support training, stipends, and technical assistance while offsetting $100 million in General Fund spending; members and LAO questioned the offset and asked for more detail, and the item was held open. HCAI also presented the Rural Health Transformation Program, explaining that California received $233.6 million in federal funds for the first year and had to revise its proposal so that $35 million in provider payments would be tied to specific transformative activities rather than general financial relief. The program will fund rural care model redesign, workforce development, and technology/infrastructure improvements, with grants to be rolled out on a tight timeline and subject to CMS approval. Members asked about the size of California’s award, the use of funds for maternity care, labor and delivery access, dialysis, tribal set-asides, and the role of a technical assistance contractor. The department said the program will use supply-and-demand workforce modeling to target funding and that all funds must be obligated by October 30. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined its budget and two major bill-related proposals: SB 41 on PBM reform and SB 306 on prior authorization transparency. DMHC said SB 41 would require PBM licensure, ban spread pricing, require rebate pass-through, and regulate pharmacy network practices, while SB 306 would require reporting on prior authorization and create a list of services exempt from prior authorization. DMHC requested additional positions and funding to implement both measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• First on the agenda is the waiver request, TIPS waiver by Stuttgart School District.
• Stuttgart School District. I guess we're going to see Mr. Jeff McKinney. Mr.
• I'm Jeff McKinney, superintendent at Stuttgart School District.
• architect's recommendation, the district determined that proceeding through the TIPS cooperative purchasing

Committee: All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There were 330 firearm incidents on school campuses in 2024.
• So hypothetically, and we've done this at schools, if a sex offender walks into a school, we would be
• So if a sex offender were to walk into a school, we would be able to inform the SRO within 60 seconds
• Specifically, Orangewood Elementary School.
• Think about all the places where we could have sensors like this, whether it's schools, subways, the

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met to hear several presentations and bills. First, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry presented on its K-9 program, describing staffing, specialized detection and trailing teams, and the need to replace retired dogs and modernize an aging, high-mileage vehicle fleet used to transport canines. The committee also heard a presentation from Biometrica on a privacy-focused facial recognition and sensor system designed to identify missing persons and known offenders using law-enforcement-only data; the presenters emphasized that the system does not store video or audio and is intended to balance public safety with privacy. The committee then considered HB 2134, which would prohibit Arizona governmental entities and critical infrastructure providers from contracting for critical infrastructure equipment or software from Chinese companies or the PRC. Supporters, including the sponsor and a national security witness, argued the bill would protect communications and other critical systems from foreign adversary access; concerns were raised about costs and implementation, but the bill was amended to be prospective and to rely on self-certification and risk-based audits. The committee passed HB 2134 with a due pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. HB 2404, which would shift most inter-facility transport of behavioral health patients from peace officers to authorized transporters, drew support from law enforcement and police association witnesses who said officers are not the right personnel for these transports; it passed unanimously, 7-0. HB 2402, dealing with ambulance certificate-of-necessity rules for small or underserved areas, was presented as a compromise measure after work with ambulance stakeholders and firefighters. The bill and a 15-page amendment would require the Department of Health Services to issue certificates in certain small-population areas, streamline applications, add reporting requirements, and address GPS coverage issues; it passed as amended, 7-0. HB 2673, which originally proposed mental health screening and treatment requirements for jail and prison inmates, was narrowed by amendment to create only a study committee on inmate mental health services; family members testified about tragic failures in the system, and the bill passed as amended, 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2253, protecting public employees from retaliation or obstruction when testifying in law enforcement disciplinary appeals, passed 5-0 with two not voting. HB 2270, expanding county protections over seals, logos, and sheriff’s posse naming rights, passed 6-0 with one not voting. Finally, HB 2941, which would treat certain unsafe motorcycle lane-splitting or passing behavior as reckless driving while preserving legal lane filtering, drew both support and concern about overbreadth; after testimony from the sponsor and members of the public, it passed 5-1 with one not voting, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were 330 firearm incidents on school campuses in 2024.
• So hypothetically, and we've done this at schools, if a sex offender walks into a school, we would be
• So if a sex offender were to walk into a school, we would be able to inform the SRO within 60 seconds
• of the sex offender walking into the school that you have a sex offender on campus.
• Specifically, Orangewood Elementary School.

Bills: HB2134 , HB2253 , HB2270 , HB2402 , HB2404 , HB2673 , HB2941

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, law enforcement, disciplinary action, administrative appeals, investigative files, due process, retaliation, county seal, law enforcement authority, sheriff's posse, public safety, county governance, ambulance services, certificate of necessity, emergency medical services, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• They help pay rent, purchase houses, and all that.
• We found $312 million last year to purchase a used prison in a very tight budget year.
• small number of schools who are incredibly wealthy and way off the funding formula to the detriment
• of every other school in the state.
• Does that then mean that my local schools lose out in this revenue neutral calculation?

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to answer that question, regional centers would be picking that up, and it would be funded out of purchase
• All purchase services must be compliant with federal funding requirements. This includes HCBS.
• We know from overall purchase of service data that top-line numbers about spending on one population
• compared to a purchase of service data that top-line numbers about spending on one population compared
• I worked as a teacher and then as a school principal, so I was many, many years working, and I couldn't

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or a school-linked setting.
• Health to provide specialty mental health to schools within Fresno County.
• Second, school districts must not inherit unnecessary administrative burdens.
• Sierra Cook with San Diego Unified School District.
• Sierra Cook with San Diego Unified School District.

Summary: The committee heard a budget oversight hearing on the Department of Health Care Services, focusing first on the overall Medi-Cal budget and a March General Fund loan to cover a current-year shortfall. DHCS said the 2025-26 budget proposal totals $193.4 billion, with Medi-Cal projected at $188.1 billion total funds and $42.1 billion General Fund, driven by higher enrollment, pharmacy costs, managed care growth, and costs tied to eligibility expansions and the COVID-era redetermination unwinding. The department said the $3.44 billion loan was needed to manage cash flow and ensure timely payments to providers and plans, while the LAO noted Medi-Cal’s cash-basis budgeting creates volatility and that more detailed estimates would come with the May Revision. Members discussed federal Medicaid threats, the need for transparency on cost drivers, and the impact of pharmacy spending, long-term care, and immigration-related coverage expansions. The second major topic was family health programs, including California Children’s Services, the continuous coverage unwinding, and opioid settlement fund spending. DHCS described CCS funding methodology changes, ongoing county stakeholder work, and a delayed rollout of CCS monitoring and oversight until July 1, 2025, while county representatives and advocates argued the program is underfunded and asked for more technical assistance and a delay in implementation. On the unwinding, the department explained that federal redetermination flexibilities helped maintain coverage after the pandemic, but the Governor’s budget proposes ending them at the end of June 2025; advocates urged making the flexibilities permanent to avoid coverage losses. For opioid settlement funds, DHCS and Finance said the budget increases funding for naloxone distribution while reducing other harm-reduction spending based on updated settlement revenues, prompting criticism from members and public commenters who argued the change would weaken effective harm-reduction programs. The hearing also included an update on Proposition 35 implementation. DHCS said the voter-approved measure continuously appropriates MCO tax revenues beginning in 2025, with up to $4.6 billion annually available for specified Medi-Cal and provider investments in 2025 and 2026, but implementation depends on consultation with the required stakeholder advisory committee. The department and LAO noted uncertainty about future federal rules affecting the MCO tax after 2026. Public testimony largely supported maintaining Medi-Cal expansions, protecting immigrant coverage, preserving harm-reduction funding, and increasing support for community health workers, pediatric dental care, and CCS county administration. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:14:13.680><c> duck</c> move my children attend black duck move my children attend black duck school
• it's a community with about 800 school it's a community with about 800 people<00:14:17.240><c> in</c
• I don't know if that back to our school I don't know if we're<00:14:30.560><c> still</c><00:14:30.720
• </c><00:14:31.560><c> I</c> we're still going to have that school I we're still going to have that school
• in March 2020 happy purchased in March 2020 happy coincidence<00:15:54.279><c> with</c><00:15:54.680

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before you is a simple addition to the current school district facility fund.
• We have known these funds that go out to the schools in a waterfall.
• The current school district facility fund sends money out to the schools in a waterfall.
• An amount of money goes out to the school districts.
• This would add to it that they would be able to use those funds for a lease purchase.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of seeking the waiver to exclude certain unhealthy foods from being able to be purchased
• For example, the WIC program, school lunch program, and other programs have more nutritional requirements
• Will this app have information about how to purchase and how to buy and how to cook budget-friendly healthy

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS out-of-state service contracts: a $690,000-plus sole-source contract for DCFS with Evident Change for maintenance and operation of the Child Welfare Structured Decision-Making practice hub; a $1.2 million sole-source contract for County Operations with Sifter Solutions to support a SNAP waiver compliance solution; and a $156,000 contract for Developmental Disabilities with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. The chair and staff explained the contracts and noted that the Evident Change and Sifter contracts were sole-source due to the proprietary nature of the systems or services involved. Most of the discussion focused on the Evident Change contract. Members questioned DCFS about long-term dependence on the vendor, the lack of a competitive bid, the absence of a clear off-ramp, and whether the state was paying more overall as the work was split into multiple contracts. DCFS said the contract before the committee was only for maintenance and operations of a web-based platform used daily for safety assessments and case planning, while a separate Evident Change contract covers case reviews, CQI work, and data management. The vendor said it was continuing to reduce its role and had begun off-ramp discussions, but members remained concerned that the state was too reliant on the vendor. Staff said the contract had to be approved by May 31 or the system could be turned off. The committee also discussed the Sifter Solutions contract, which supports Arkansas’s SNAP waiver pilot by providing a dynamic list of excluded products and a consumer app that scans barcodes and provides nutrition information. DHS said the waiver is intended to improve the nutritional value of SNAP benefits, that the contract is funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise be returned, and that the University of Pennsylvania will conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the benefit to Arkansas, whether the app would include nutrition and budgeting information, and whether the state would own the application or need future renewals. DHS said the two-year term was intentionally aligned with the waiver period and that future procurement options could change. After discussion, the committee noted the items as reviewed and adjourned without objections or votes recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• exercise, social connection, you know, reduced phone usage, you know, in the schools.
• Those vary in terms of what's a rural school and what's an urban school.
• I will tell you we're working out with CMS, you know, the purchase... So that is being worked out.
• You know, the purchase of new ambulances takes longer than this obligation and liquidation period.
• So it’s 14.5% of high school kids that have contemplated suicide. That is a call to action.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• So now the responsibility for advertising the programs to students comes from the UNM School of Law rather
• Representative Chavez: On middle or high school attendance for 1 year for eligibility.
• El Paso's got a population of 600,000 and a medical school, very large medical school on campus, and
• Senators, so with this provision, essentially it wouldn't be allowed to be possessed or purchased, right
• All natural products would still be available to manufacture. to purchase.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• For school-based, we have been very busy with our three legislative charges.
• And then we're going to be executing the marketing plan with the purchase of a lot of...
• And for high school students, most high schools have sports programs.
• It can be done in school. And the service is for 12- to 24-year-olds.
• Some caveats to that: they don't poll every school.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The meeting opened with approval of the April minutes and brief administrative updates, including notice that House Bill 5447 had passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Speakers reflected on the bill’s key provisions, which include eating-disorder working groups, an evidence-based screening requirement for school-based health centers beginning July 1, 2027, and a DSS-led feasibility process to explore an inpatient psychiatric facility for young adults ages 14 to 21. New staff introductions were also made for the Behavioral Health Advocate’s office and the TCB team. A major portion of the meeting focused on marketing and outreach for urgent crisis centers (UCCs) and the broader youth crisis continuum. Daydream Communications presented research showing low public awareness of UCCs but strong interest once families learn about them, with parents wanting specialized, compassionate care, clear expectations, insurance clarity, and bilingual support. United Way described its parallel work on a statewide crisis continuum marketing toolkit, using the SAMHSA framework of “someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go,” and outlined plans to distribute consistent messaging through websites, social media, flyers, and community venues. Members emphasized coordinating with existing platforms and ensuring the marketing reflects the actual experience at UCC sites. DCF then presented on adolescent substance use services, citing data showing high need and low treatment access among Connecticut youth. The department reviewed its ASAM-based continuum, SBIRT efforts in outpatient psychiatric clinics, medication-assisted treatment access, and statewide services such as MST, MST emerging adults, STRIDE, multidimensional family therapy, youth recovery supports, and the AIM matching tool. A new young people peer support program was highlighted, with referrals accepted from families, hospitals, community providers, DCF, youth diversion, and the judicial branch. Questions addressed parent consent, peer matching, and whether the AIM tool could be linked through 211. The meeting concluded with an update from the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board and its regional boards and grant-funded initiatives. Presenters reviewed the state suicide prevention plan, regional coalition work, postvention response, lethal means safety efforts, and the 988 capacity improvement grant that supports Connecticut’s centralized 988 contact center at United Way. They also shared youth suicide risk data from the Connecticut Youth Risk Behavior Survey, noting recent declines in reported suicidal ideation and attempts, and provided resources for training and materials. No formal votes were taken beyond the approval of the April minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, with our out-of-school time programs, both on-site and then at our local schools.
• I go to Cheyenne High School. I'm also a 2026 Governor's School scholar.
• I go to Cheyenne High School. I'm also a 2026 Governor's School scholar.
• I go to Cheyenne High School. I'm also a 2026 Governor's School scholar.
• Was it from the schools? Was it... ...where you got that response from? Was it from the schools?

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a lot of interactivity, both inside the museum as well as out on the road in schools and in
• </c><00:21:15.919><c> and</c> well as out on the road in schools and well as out on the road in schools
• They provide bots that they leave behind at those schools that they visit. So with that, Mr.
• </c> programming in over 150 public schools programming in over 150 public schools libraries<00:25:24.559
• </c> programming to more different schools programming to more different schools more<00:30:21.600><c

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all