Transcript Highlights:

• Is that a fair assessment? That's indeed the goal of this.
• I heard you say it twice, so I practiced in my head a couple of times.
• A defense attorney, anyone in practice, the court itself. Just want to be sure that that's clear.
• A defense attorney, anyone in practice, the court itself does not get access to these rap sheets.
• A defense attorney, anyone in practice, the court itself. just want to be sure that that's clear.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first deferred Senate Bill 49, which would remove the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the list of offices subject to closed party primary elections, after the sponsor said additional amendments were being prepared. It then took up House Bill 1247, which creates a statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator within the Department of Justice to improve access, evidence collection, and coordination for sexual assault survivors. Members adopted a committee amendment package that clarified the coordinating structure, geographic response considerations, reimbursement language, and related public records issues, and the bill was reported favorably as amended with support from health care and law enforcement-related groups. House Bill 1245, also dealing with public records, was amended to protect certain personal identifying information in criminal history records of criminal justice agency employees who serve as witnesses in criminal proceedings. The discussion focused on limiting release of Social Security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth while preserving disclosure required for court proceedings and impeachment-related purposes. The committee adopted a further amendment narrowing the protection to those PII items in records held by the clerk of court, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1011, allowing jurors to donate per diem compensation to CASA, and House Bill 1186, which standardizes construction code and inspector licensing records while protecting inspectors’ personal information, were also reported favorably. Senate Bill 425, which implements the constitutional mandate for removal by suit of certain elected officials for felony conviction, malfeasance, or gross misconduct, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it creates a civil process to address serious misconduct when criminal prosecution is unavailable or incomplete, while opponents warned it could be abused for political targeting, duplicate existing remedies, and rely on vague standards. After amendments clarifying the process and standards, the committee voted 10-5 to report the bill favorably as amended. The committee also adopted amendments and reported favorably House Bill 1057, extending absentee-by-mail eligibility for overseas service members from one year to two years, and began discussion of House Bill 709, which would create a rulemaking notification system, a 10-year sunset for certain rules, and an Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the governor’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts typically plan far in advance and routinely assess and purchase property where we may
• School districts typically plan far in advance and routinely assess and purchase property where we may
• House Bill 2480 is a practical, targeted tool.
• rules actually favoring agritourism functions to the detriment or limitation of typical farming practices
• on the activities happening on that agritourism facility, or are they allowed to continue their practices

Bills: HB2459 , HB2480 , HB2530 , HB2129 , HB2223

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: school siting, urban growth, education policy, zoning regulations, community planning, residential development, commercial zones, mixed-use zoning, urban planning, state regulations, public facilities district, regional aquatics, sports facilities, local government, infrastructure, agritourism, agriculture, tourism, economic development, local businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a practice in line with a national best practice from the Association of Student Conduct Administrators
• This is also in line with national best practice, and the recommendation from the task force, should
• I'm wondering what this would look like in practice and if it would just be the Prevent Zone modules
• And I'm sure LSU will share with us their best practices. Thank you. Dr. Moore is recognized.
• They can assess penalties to their members.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The task force met with a quorum to continue work on Caleb Wilson hazing-prevention recommendations, with the Wilson family present and repeatedly acknowledged. Members discussed Southern University’s expulsion of Omega Psi Phi and the family pressed for clarity on whether the fraternity could return; counsel said the expulsion appears permanent on its face but there is legal ambiguity, prompting legislators to say a statutory fix is needed to define suspension versus expulsion more clearly. The group also reviewed data on hazing-related suspensions since 2018 and hearing-panel practices across the public postsecondary systems, including panel composition, annual training, and appeals processes. The task force adopted several recommendations focused on prevention and accountability. These included annual hazing-prevention training for students, advisors, and faculty/staff; a state-provided training framework with campus-specific flexibility; stronger attention to mandatory reporting; an amnesty policy to encourage reporting and help-seeking; reverting hazing proceedings back to a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard; adding hazing to the annual power-based violence report; tying noncompliance penalties to loss of State Bond Commission borrowing authority; and identifying sustainable funding for training and reporting. Members debated scope and implementation, especially whether training should cover all employees or only those who interact with students, whether external advisors and graduate advisors should be included, and how to avoid unintended consequences for advisor recruitment. Several amendments were made, including narrowing one recommendation from “all” to “appropriate,” and the amnesty discussion was clarified to avoid creating a loophole for misconduct. The task force also discussed K-12 considerations, including applying bullying and hazing materials to nonpublic schools, updating prevention materials, and improving data collection. In closing remarks, student members and family representatives emphasized that hazing is about power, not tradition, and called for culture change, accountability, and earlier education. University leaders from the University of Louisiana System, Southern University System, and LSU said they support the effort and will implement the recommendations if enacted, while also urging stronger individual and organizational accountability beyond training alone. A public commenter from Nicholls State’s SGA praised the task force’s work before the meeting moved into public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's nothing in any bill that would say this can no longer be a practice of the legislature.
• 17:35.600><c> a</c> that would say this can no longer be a that would say this can no longer be a practice
• </c><00:17:37.120><c> Is</c><00:17:37.360><c> that</c> practice of the legislature.
• Is that practice of the legislature. Is that correct?
• regarding the legislatively named grants, uh, it doesn't appear the Senate has adopted the same practice

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Chair Kristen Robbins and Vice Chair Patti Anderson reviewed the committee’s first session, saying its work focused on exposing fraud, identifying gaps in statute and agency tools, and creating a public whistleblower portal (mnfraud.com). Robbins said the committee helped drive bipartisan opposition to legislatively named grants/earmarks, and that committee testimony from agencies, the Office of Legislative Auditor, and the Office of Grants Management led to late-session committee bills on issues such as a state kickback statute and required grants-management training. She also said the portal received 530 submissions in its first week, which the committee will review over the interim. Members emphasized the need for stronger statewide oversight of grants and fraud prevention. Anderson said existing agency inspector general structures have not worked well and described a bipartisan effort to create a statewide Office of Inspector General with full investigatory authority. Robbins said the Senate version was moving through finance and expected on the floor soon, with the governor indicating he would sign it. Walter Hudson argued that hearings showed agencies often focus on paperwork and compliance checkboxes rather than actually preventing fraud, citing conflict-of-interest attestations and the Feeding Our Future-related testimony as examples. Jim Nash said the state government finance bill includes funding for anti-fraud efforts through the Office of the Auditor and related provisions. In response to questions, Robbins said the committee tried to remain bipartisan despite a 5-3 Republican majority, and that members had handed significant allegations to law enforcement when appropriate. She said the committee did not need subpoena power this session because it is an oversight body, not a law-enforcement body. On legislatively named grants, Robbins said the goal is to change legislative culture rather than impose a formal ban, and she expects future policy to require front-end risk review, 990 review, and capacity checks before such grants are approved. Anderson added that the House and Senate versions of the inspector general bill differ on branch placement and law-enforcement authority, and that the House will decide whether to accept the Senate version once it comes back from finance and the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m not sure how much influence we had practically speaking.
• However, you know, this solution is essentially ideological and not practical in nature.
• </c> assessed value um in the municipality. assessed value um in the municipality.
• </c><01:27:03.320><c> and</c> do more practical problem-solving and do more practical problem-solving
• slip something in on the practically slip something in on the other<01:49:49.920><c> end.

Keywords: 9:00am HB 158 9:10am HB 281 9:20am HB 317 9:30am HB 340 9:40am HB 1062 9:50am HB 1187 10:00am HB 1234 10:10am HB 1300 10:20am HB 1306 10:30am HB 1381 10:40am HB 1541, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first resolved House Bill 158, which concerns public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained a revised approach that removed the broader bill language and instead directed the Secretary of State to review absentee ballot data after each general election for patterns such as common addresses and to report findings to the committees of jurisdiction. The House agreed to the Senate position, and the conference committee voted unanimously to concur. The committee then took up House Bill 281, dealing with a sortable electronic voter checklist. Members debated the Senate’s removal of language that would have included the absentee ballot mailing address when different from the voter’s registration address. Concerns were raised that releasing mailing addresses could expose where voters are not home and could affect overseas and military voters. The committee also discussed a related form for election officials who personally know a voter, including how long the form would be retained and whether it would be subject to public records law. After further discussion, the House agreed to the Senate changes with an additional requirement that the form be signed, and the committee voted to proceed with the amended Senate position. House Bill 317, concerning verification of a person’s identity by a supervisor of the checklist without identification, was also discussed at length. The Senate’s version preserved the ability for election officials to identify people they know, but required a signed form under penalty of perjury and added a nursing home-related provision. Members described the measure as balancing community-based identification with tighter documentation, and a House witness described local problems with inconsistent ID checks and concerns about voting in nursing homes. The House sought one additional change requiring the nursing home verification form to be signed, and the Senate accepted that addition; the committee then voted to move the bill forward on the consent calendar. The conference committee next considered House Bill 340 on electioneering by public employees. The chair presented a replace-all amendment that tied the definition of electioneering to existing law, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty of up to $1,000 alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Members discussed clarifying when the misdemeanor versus civil penalty would apply and which categories of public employees were covered. After caucus, the Senate agreed to the House’s replace-all approach with the clarifying changes, and the bill was closed. The committee also resolved House Bill 1062 by agreeing to strike a sunset clause from the Senate version authorizing random audits of citizenship qualifications, and it began discussion of House Bill 1187 on the filing window for special-election candidates, where the House proposed requiring local election officials to arrange a filing time on the same day or next business day after being contacted.

Transcript Highlights:

• that it's creating this great growth opportunity economically, but it's also helping us in Pablo: Practical
• From a practical point of view, you know, we are consistently evaluating the infrastructure's ability
• These are best practices. This is what we're doing.
• Liz Schwab: Early in the development process, we use a science-based framework to assess and protect
• In practical terms, that could mean infrastructure is moving forward based on Marshall Cooper: expected

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman: From a practical point of view, you know, we are consistently evaluating the infrastructure's
• These are best practices. This is what we're doing.
• Early in the development process, we use a science-based framework to assess and protect the health of
• In practical terms, that could mean infrastructure is moving forward based on expected load, while the
• Recognizing RPG aligned projects as a valid pathway for inclusion in the initial batch is a practical

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's always a dichotomy for us to manage government and practical application on the ground.
• Specifically, the bill requires training and protocols to assess. ...for the treatment of blood clots
• Has any assessment been done that has gotten us to this point with this bill?
• Has any assessment been done that has gotten us to this point with this bill?
• Has any assessment been done that has gotten us to this point with this bill?

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman on Democratic priorities and introductions of military leaders and an intern. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with many bills substituted to House companions, amended, and passed, while several others were temporarily postponed. Major measures approved included the dangerous dogs/Pam Rock Act (SB 572/HB 593), which tightened penalties and procedures for dog attacks and passed 36-0; local government land regulation (SB 1080), which was amended to remove agricultural enclave language and passed 26-8; vessel/freedom-related legislation (SB 1388/HB 1137), which passed 35-0; blood clot screening and treatment (SB 890/HB 1421), which added registry and training provisions and passed 36-0; fleeing or eluding law enforcement (SB 468/HB 113), which increased offense levels and passed 36-0; concealed carry/licensing for certain officers and service members (SB 490/HB 383), which passed 33-3; timeshare management (SB 496/HB 897), which clarified governance and annual meeting requirements and passed 36-0; background screening education (SB 614/HB 531), which created a public webpage and passed 36-0; utility service restrictions (SB 1002/HB 1137), which preempted local energy-source restrictions and passed 36-0; Medicaid oversight (SB 1060), which created a joint oversight committee and passed 35-0; health facilities authorities (SB 68), amended to make fentanyl urine screening more discretionary, and passed 36-0; and veterans’ nursing home beds (SB 78/HB 797), which authorized veteran- and spouse-designated beds and passed 36-0. The chamber also passed disability history and awareness instruction (SB 540/HB 447), a highly personal bill honoring Evan Hartzell that drew extended debate about disability language, inclusion, and education; it passed 35-0 after 35 co-sponsors were added. Manufacturing policy bills SB 600 and SB 602 were approved after amendments to add reporting, ranking metrics, and fee-use restrictions, both passing 35-0. Educational opportunities for military children (SB 1528) passed 36-0 after testimony from student sponsors and senators praising the bill’s origin. Several other bills, including Medicaid oversight, mammograms, Parkinson’s disease, condominium/cooperative associations, waste management, human trafficking, and Bright Futures, were postponed or not taken up during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see, the schools we reviewed adopted most of these practices.
• We would like to go through three of the practices in more detail.
• Practice one: small groups, because it's a straightforward example to describe.
• We saw various culturally responsive practices at all of the schools that we visited.
• Two of the practices that stand out to me that I've seen firsthand.

Summary: The committee meeting began with a brief explanation of the renamed Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee subcommittee, now called the Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits, and a presentation from the State Auditor’s Office on its current biennium performance audit work plan. The auditor described how topics are selected from a large pool of potential audits and highlighted several ongoing or planned audits, including the Liquor and Cannabis Board, oversight of authorized entities serving students with disabilities, the Quality Home Care Initiative, Medicaid managed care versus fee-for-service costs, the Housing Commission tenant ownership follow-up, DSHS vendor payment patterns, implementation of the Since Time Memorial curriculum, and the Washington State ferry system. Members asked about coordination with JLARC to avoid duplication, and the auditor said the offices exchange work plans, monthly updates, and quarterly coordination meetings. The committee then heard the State Auditor’s performance audit on how charter schools identify and support at-risk students. Auditors reviewed four charter schools—Catalyst Public Schools, Innovation High School, Pinnacles Prep, and Rainier Prep—and focused on English language learners, homeless students, and special education students. The audit found the schools met nearly all legal requirements reviewed, with only one area where two schools partially met a language-access requirement. The schools also used several promising practices, including small-group instruction, culturally responsive environments, and multi-tiered systems of support, though the auditors recommended better documentation of procedures to improve consistency. Families interviewed generally reported positive experiences, while noting resource constraints. Committee members asked about how the four schools were selected, whether the audit compared charter populations to home districts, and how MTSS requirements applied to the schools reviewed. The State Auditor’s Office said the sample was chosen for geographic diversity, student population characteristics, and representation from both authorizers, and that K-2 MTSS requirements were not evaluated because they applied to only one school. Representatives from the Charter School Commission and charter school advocates responded positively, emphasizing technical assistance, collaboration, and sharing best practices across schools. Two public testifiers also supported the report and said it highlighted effective practices that could be expanded across charter and traditional public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been using the practice of restorative practices in Yellow Medicine County for almost 25 years
• We use a practice called Circle.
• We have been using the practice of restorative practices in Yellow Medicine County for almost 25 years
• We use a practice called Circle.
• </c> substantial change in existing practice substantial change in existing practice not<02:17:29.639

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to share two examples from my practice.
• I would like to share two examples from my practice.
• Industry data indicates that practices utilize only 42.6% of authorized hours on average.
• Could you get into that a little bit more, maybe in real practice, what’s...
• This bill can assess a $10,000 per incident penalty against an insurance carrier per...

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the bill is to expand the scope of practice for optometrists and improve patient access
• Uh, it expands the scope of practice for optometrists to include laser applications to the lens capsule
• We always see these scope of practice bills, and I tell you, they're the most troubling for me, and we
• absolutely not because I would be competent to do that and I know better to stay in, in my later practice
• Experts will assess range conditions, oversee fertility control, and when available, arrange for adoption

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE AND THE SIGNS OF HOW STUDENTS LEARN, THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES
• SOME OF THE FSU HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TO PUT INTO PRACTICE.
• WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING, A LOT OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF THE ARTICULATION PATTERNS THAT WE
• OF REBUILDING OUR MAPS AND BEST PRACTICES AND THAT IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT THEY DO ALREADY IN TERMS OF
• IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES AND DISSEMINATING THEM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It broadly interferes with routine, common-sense health practices.
• 909, 13-132, 14-1919, 14-1920, 16-1914, 17-1914, and related provisions, relating to prostitution assessment
• House Bill 2720, relating to prostitution assessment and the anti-human trafficking fund, submits the
• But in practice, it only replenishes a fraction of what is being pumped. So there goes safe yield.
• aligns with their religious beliefs so that they can be treated with the dignity of the freedom to practice

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recorded roll call showing 28 present, 0 absent, and 2 excused. The chamber approved the journal and then took up several motions to reconsider or return bills, including requests to return HB 2035 and HB 2249 to the House and to reconsider HB 2192. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole for calendar items. In Committee of the Whole, members considered HB 2248, a public health mandates bill; HB 2313, concerning school employee/teacher strike and remote instruction issues; HB 2379, relating to school district governing board training; HB 2380, relating to school district board meetings and expenditures; and HB 2720, relating to prostitution assessments and the anti-human trafficking fund. HB 2248 drew the most debate over whether it would prohibit schools, employers, and medical facilities from requiring medical interventions such as vaccines; an amendment narrowing the definition of medical intervention was adopted, and the bill advanced. HB 2379 and HB 2380 both received committee and floor amendments focused on school board training and livestreaming/meeting transparency requirements, and HB 2313 and HB 2720 also advanced. The Committee of the Whole reported all four bills as do pass, with HB 2248, HB 2379, and HB 2380 as amended. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report after defeating an amendment that would have changed the HB 2248 recommendation to fail. The chamber next considered HCM 2001 and HCM 2002, memorials urging federal terrorist designations for the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR, and HCR 2047, recognizing Judea and Samaria; all three passed despite strong opposition speeches criticizing them as targeting Muslim communities or advancing religious/political messaging. The Senate also passed HB 2118 on mobile food vendors, HCM 2009 on mineral access and federal land withdrawals, HCR 2015 on school physical activity and dietary guidelines, HCR 2020 on housing outside designated provider service areas with assured water supply, and HCR 2057 supporting next-generation geothermal energy. Finally, the Senate passed HB 2248, HB 2379, and HB 2380 on third reading, approved the House’s request to adjourn, and adjourned until April 21, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what does that capacity really look like in everyday practice?
• the federally required application and recertification interview, review and act on paperwork, and assess
• In a needs assessment conducted in 300 schools throughout the Commonwealth, it was found that 95% of
• If it does, the amendment says, as soon as practicable, to allow for some emergency where something may
• In practice, this could mean that tax changes might go into effect for only part of the year, only to

Summary: The Senate considered a supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments focused on education, health, transportation, and tax administration. Senator Kennedy spoke in support of increasing funding for DTA caseworkers to improve SNAP access and reduce errors, citing food insecurity and staffing shortages, but then withdrew the amendment by unanimous consent. Senator O’Connor’s amendment providing $500,000 for Free Period to supply menstrual products in public schools was adopted, as was Senator Miranda’s $1 million METCO transportation and student support amendment. Senator Collins withdrew an amendment to extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Other adopted amendments included funding for Bridgewater Middle School water filtration, Randolph High School restroom improvements, Uffum’s Corner Health Center, and NeighborHealth’s student pharmacy technician program. Several amendments were debated and rejected after standing votes. Senator Tarr proposed oversight and reporting requirements for the Group Insurance Commission and the MBTA deficiency fund, as well as a 90-day notice requirement for tax-code decoupling with major fiscal impacts; all were opposed and not adopted. Senator Rodrigues and Senator Crighton argued that the GIC and MBTA already have oversight mechanisms and need flexibility, while Tarr argued the measures would improve transparency and fiscal discipline. Senator DiDomenico withdrew a Chapter 70 education funding amendment after speaking about declining enrollment, school funding losses, and the need to protect gateway city districts; he also used the opportunity to reaffirm support for gender-affirming care funding. Senators Collins and others echoed concerns about school funding inequities and the need for future action. The Senate also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, a former Quincy mayor, state representative, state senator, and longtime clerk magistrate of Quincy District Court, with a detailed tribute to his public service and military record. After all amendments were resolved, the Senate substituted the new draft, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed House No. 5280 to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 35-4. The chamber then agreed to adjourn until the following Monday at 11 a.m., with the clerk directed not to print a calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you know, I'm a huge fan of aquifer recharge, and by my assessment, we're about 2.5 million acre-feet
• we'd be happy to come back to JFAC and the legislature as a whole on how we're doing and what we assess
• working with individual producers to carry out locally led, voluntary, non-regulatory conservation practices
• There would continue to be an emphasis on non-regulatory, voluntary, locally led conservation practices
• management area, this becomes a significant, or could be a significant, conservation of groundwater practice

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Water Resources budget. Analysts and Director Matthew Weaver explained the agency’s staffing, continuously appropriated funds, and the effect of ARPA and other one-time infrastructure dollars on the budget. Members asked about efforts to stabilize the Snake River Plain aquifer, the impact of budget holdbacks, groundwater monitoring, and the status of major recharge and conversion projects. Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould said the state is working to reduce groundwater pumping, expand recharge, and build infrastructure to reach a long-term managed recharge goal of 350,000 acre-feet annually, with current recharge averaging about 251,000 acre-feet and capacity potentially exceeding 500,000 acre-feet in good water years. They also discussed project delays caused by permitting, federal land access, and coordination with multiple landowners, and said the $30 million infrastructure appropriation was fully obligated and largely spent. The committee also discussed water projects in other basins, including the Palouse Basin, Mountain Home, Elmore County, and the Bear River. Raybould said the board is considering a Bear River study to identify storage, recharge, and irrigation opportunities under the Bear River compact, and estimated that some future projects, such as a Moscow-area pump station and pipeline, could be very expensive. Members raised concerns about data centers, water quality in the Snake River Plain aquifer, and the role of private and local matching funds in water infrastructure. Weaver said data center water use is a public-interest issue that depends on scale and location, and that groundwater contamination issues are generally handled by the Department of Environmental Quality. The committee then heard the Soil and Water Conservation Commission presentation, which focused on the proposed merger/affiliation with the Department of Water Resources and on funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Weaver, serving as interim administrator, said a stakeholder review recommended moving the commission’s affiliation from Agriculture to Water Resources while preserving its current duties, nonregulatory mission, and resources. He said related legislation and a concurrent resolution would support that transition and allow time for further code review and a combined budget in 2027. Analysts also explained a supplemental and FY 2027 enhancement for CREP funding, noting that rising land values increased the state match needed for enrolled acres. Weaver said CREP can help reduce groundwater pumping, that about 11,000 of the 50,000-acre statewide cap are currently enrolled, and that full enrollment could significantly aid aquifer conservation. The committee adjourned after thanking the agencies and noting the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you know, I'm a huge fan of aquifer recharge, and by my assessment, we're about 2.5 million acre-feet
• we'd be happy to come back to JFAC and the legislature as a whole on how we're doing and what we assess
• working with individual producers to carry out locally led, voluntary, non-regulatory conservation practices
• There would continue to be an emphasis on non-regulatory, voluntary, locally led conservation practices
• management area, this becomes a significant, or could be a significant, conservation of groundwater practice

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation for the Department of Water Resources. Analysts explained the agency’s structure, continuously appropriated funds, and the large budget increases tied to ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds and the ongoing $30 million infrastructure appropriation. Director Matthew Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould described the department’s role in managing water rights, aquifer recharge, stream gauges, groundwater monitoring, and major projects in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA), the Palouse area, Mountain Home, and the Bear River basin. Members asked about aquifer stabilization, the impact of budget holdbacks on field work and monitoring, water quality concerns, project delays caused by easements and federal coordination, and the effect of data centers on water use. Weaver said reductions are being managed through cuts to travel, training, maintenance, and some stream gauge funding, and that the department is working toward a long-term goal of stabilizing the ESPA through reduced pumping, increased recharge, and expanded management areas. Chairman Raybould and Director Weaver also discussed the use of the prior $30 million appropriation, saying it has been fully obligated for recharge, conversion from groundwater to surface water irrigation, telemetry, and related projects. They said the next $30 million would likely support additional ESPA work, a Bear River study, and other emerging needs, but that major projects can take years because of engineering, landowner, state, and federal coordination. Questions also covered recharge capacity, the current average recharge level, and whether the state could reach a 350,000 acre-foot annual recharge goal; the witnesses said current infrastructure could handle well over 500,000 acre-feet in a good year, but more capacity is needed. The committee also discussed private and local matching funds for aging irrigation infrastructure and the role of groundwater quality monitoring, with Weaver noting that contamination issues are referred to the Department of Environmental Quality. The committee then moved to the Soil and Water Conservation Commission budget. Analysts said the agency’s budget is driven largely by one-time water quality appropriations in recent years and a small ongoing base, with a supplemental and enhancement request tied to CREP funding. Weaver, serving as interim administrator, and two commissioners explained that the commission supports local conservation districts and that a stakeholder process led by the Langdon Group recommended merging the commission with the Department of Water Resources. Weaver said the merger would preserve the commission’s non-regulatory, locally led mission while creating administrative efficiencies, and that related legislation and a concurrent resolution are moving through the Legislature. Members asked about CREP data, acreage, and water savings; Weaver said the program is a voluntary federal-state partnership, mainly in southern Idaho and parts of the eastern Snake Plain, with about 11,000 acres enrolled out of a 50,000-acre cap. He said a fully utilized CREP program could significantly reduce groundwater diversions, and the committee adjourned after discussing the historical shift from soil conservation toward water conservation priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• locations, and giving the Fire Prevention Bureau the information needed to conduct inspections and assess
• In our initial assessment of these impacted areas in California, approximately 5,442 mobile homes in
• with over 40 building departments within a 50-mile radius, so I see the full spectrum of permitting practices
• California cities support sustainable building practices, but we disagree with the premise of this bill
• heat pump systems, cities have not adapted their standards and their kind of building department practices

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard six bills. SB 828 by Senator Cabaldon would require fireworks license applicants to disclose storage locations and prove they have local permits, with the state fire marshal notifying local agencies when permits are denied or revoked. Supporters, including fire chiefs and fire marshals, said it would close dangerous enforcement gaps exposed by recent fireworks explosions; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 799 by Senator Allen would make technical and governance changes to the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, including more flexibility on board leadership and allowing non-elected alternates under certain conditions. Supporters said the changes would help the new housing trust function more effectively; questions focused on accountability for non-elected alternates, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Senate Floor. SB 762 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the city of Hercules to ask voters to approve up to a 1% sales tax increase to fund local services and infrastructure. Supporters said Hercules has limited revenue options, while some senators cautioned about how such measures are presented to voters; the bill passed 5-2 to the Senate Floor. SB 722 by Senator Wahab would add protections for mobile home residents from displacement tied to transit-oriented development and redevelopment, with supporters describing it as an urgent cleanup to protect vulnerable seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. There was broad support and no opposition, and it passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 222 by Senator Wiener would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, with supporters arguing it would reduce costs and speed electrification, and opponents raising concerns about local control, fees, liability, and HOA authority. After extended debate, it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 677 by Senator Wiener would make technical clarifications to SB 79’s transit-oriented housing provisions; local government groups opposed or opposed unless amended, warning it could expand SB 79’s scope, but the bill passed 5-2 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to share with you my lived experience having practiced medicine for 10 years on the front lines
• I want to share with you my lived experience having practiced medicine for 10 years on the front lines
• It gives us some time, I am heartened, to assess the decisions and the impacts that our budget will have
• , to assess and understand the likely devastating impacts that this budget will have. ...and understand
• Let's be practical.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and proceeded to floor business, with the main item being SB 101, the state budget bill. Before debate on the bill, Assembly Member Sanchez offered amendments to redirect funding toward Proposition 36 implementation, wildfire prevention, Medi-Cal provider reimbursement, developmental services, and other priorities; the majority moved to lay those amendments on the table, and the motion passed 43-18. The chamber then took up SB 101 as the budget bill for immediate effect. Debate on the budget was extensive and sharply divided. Supporters, including Assembly Member Gabriel and several committee chairs, described the budget as a difficult but responsible compromise that protects Medi-Cal, IHSS, child care, housing, wildfire prevention, and other safety-net programs while responding to a projected deficit and federal uncertainty. Opponents criticized the budget as fiscally unsound and argued it relied on accounting gimmicks, did not adequately fund Proposition 36 or wildfire prevention, and continued spending on high-speed rail and Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants. Several members also raised concerns about gas taxes, provider reimbursement, probation funding, and the impact on vulnerable Californians. After debate, the Assembly voted on SB 101 and passed it 57-19. The measure was sent immediately to the Senate. The body then announced upcoming session schedules, with no floor or check-in sessions on June 14 and 15, and a floor session set for June 16 at 1 p.m., before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know how much you see this in your practice, but it seems to me, or one of the things that I
• Do you see that in your practice? I think it's rising right now.
• I'm neutral on the bill because we have had the practice at TCFV of working with an author on a substitute
• As a professor, I taught violence risk assessment at the graduate level.
• In my consulting business, I specialize in violence assessment and prevention, all of which informs my

Keywords: 1184, house, all