Transcript Highlights:

• programs to ensure that when staff raise concerns about performance of a grantee, they are not retaliated
• But I am also concerned about whether or not someone who raised issues might be retaliated against.
• Someone who raised issues might be retaliated against. Thank you for that question.
• We did not put any specific recommendations related to that instance, as we believe that current retaliation

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee held a hybrid hearing to receive three State Auditor’s Office performance audits. The first audit examined implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act. Auditors said the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training, but six community/cultural topics were still unfinished, the patrol tactics curriculum was incomplete in one area, and the agency lacked a systematic project management approach. They reported that most officers had not completed the 40 required hours, with low participation in patrol tactics training, weak communication, limited data to track compliance, and ineffective incentives or consequences. Committee members questioned staffing, liability, and enforcement, and the Commission said it generally agreed with the findings and had begun implementing recommendations, including improving training development and communication. The second audit reviewed Washington’s digital equity planning. Auditors concluded the state lacked a comprehensive, unified digital equity strategy, a designated lead, and reliable funding. They said the existing PEAR/Impact Plan, BEAD five-year plan, and NTIA-approved digital equity plan each addressed parts of the issue but none provided a full statewide framework with clear authority across agencies. The Department of Commerce’s Broadband Office and the Office of Equity said they agreed with the findings and were open to working with the legislature and the Digital Equity Forum on a more structured approach. A public witness described local and regional digital equity planning efforts and emphasized the importance of coordination and community-based work. The third audit focused on Commerce’s management of the Digital Navigator Program. Auditors said Commerce did not consistently use a competitive process, did not adequately vet grantees and subgrantees, wrote contracts that lacked clear deliverables and monitoring requirements, failed to enforce reporting, and paid $10.7 million without sufficient documentation to verify reimbursement eligibility. They said agency staff had raised concerns that were ignored and that some payments and contract expansions occurred despite warnings. Commerce officials said new leadership had already begun major contract-management reforms, including centralized oversight, risk assessments, clearer documentation standards, and staff training, and they said they would pursue recapture where appropriate. Committee members expressed strong concern about accountability, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's something our police department was able to focus on, knowing that retaliation kind of leads to
• </c> they're fearful of retaliation. they're fearful of retaliation.
• This bill is one of the most important steps the state can take to solve these cycles of retaliation
• And that's one of retaliated against.
• So they don't want to retaliation.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• staff, and I don't want the facility picking their favorite staff that they know, so for fear of retaliation
• isolation, restraints, forced and incorrect medication, medical neglect, unsafe living conditions, and retaliation
• requiring clear oversight and confidential ways for youth to report this abuse without fear of retaliation

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• allow for a stronger business office um to double-check numbers um make sure um uh essentially whistleblow
• :35:31.760><c> um</c><00:35:32.160><c> uh</c><00:35:32.720><c> essentially</c><00:35:32.960><c> whistleblow
• </c> make sure um uh essentially whistleblow make sure um uh essentially whistleblow as<00:35:33.760>

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that it was retaliation because that afternoon, when I got evicted, the leasing manager posted
• So I know with that alone, it was retaliation. And this is why we need a bill to protect tenants.
• And the issues that they highlighted, which I want to reinforce, are retaliation and advocacy.
• Tenants, we have a situation where a tenant filed MCAD complaints, and the landlord decided to then retaliate
• several tenants and I started a tenant association, and we were met with harassment, bullying, and retaliation

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with much of the discussion focused on housing stability and maternal mental health. On H. 1924/S. 1171, supporters including Sen. Joan Lovely, Rep. Jim O’Day, physicians, advocates, and people with lived experience urged the committee to create legal protections and treatment pathways for defendants who experienced postpartum psychosis or other perinatal mood disorders within 12 months of giving birth. Testimony emphasized that these conditions are rare but severe, often treatable, and can lead to tragic outcomes if criminalized rather than addressed through screening, expert evaluation, treatment, and, in some cases, resentencing or mitigation. Committee members asked about diagnosis years after the fact and how the Illinois law has worked; witnesses said retrospective diagnosis is possible and that the Illinois model has led to some successful resentencing petitions and broader awareness. Housing-related bills drew substantial testimony. On H. 1983/S. 1071, witnesses described “zombie” subordinate mortgages that were sold years after borrowers believed they had been resolved, then resurfaced with large balances and foreclosure threats. Supporters said the bill would require disclosures and court review to prevent unlawful servicing and foreclosure practices. On H. 1952, advocates from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, tenants, and legal services providers backed a permanent statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, citing data showing strong tenant outcomes and the importance of quality control, multilingual outreach, and full representation. On H. 1895/S. 1184, testimony supported codifying a two-tier summary process in eviction court and prohibiting defaults at the initial case-management stage. On H. 1883, a small property owner supported rent escrow as a way to protect landlords from bad-faith nonpayment while preserving tenant rights. The committee also heard testimony on bills addressing discriminatory housing covenants, tenant oversight, and homelessness. On H. 1762/S. 1080, a housing advocate supported removing void restrictive covenants from deeds, describing the Dirty Deeds Project and the lingering harm of racist language in property records. On H. 1814, tenants and advocates described harassment, retaliation, security problems, and lack of accountability in subsidized housing, arguing for an Office of the Tenant Advocate within the Attorney General’s Office. On S. 1120, multiple witnesses supported a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness, saying it would affirm the right to rest and seek shelter, reduce criminalization, and extend anti-discrimination protections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Override the machine, risk retaliation.
• First, the bill prohibits employers from retaliating against a healthcare worker for using their professional
• I don't want my health care provider to be retaliated against. That is the purpose of AB 2575.
• Two is the freedom to be free from retaliation. And the second is ensuring fair accountability.
• I've also got concerns with the employer retaliation and liability provisions that need more clarity

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> protection against employer retaliation. protection against employer retaliation.
• expand the protection against It would expand the protection against employer<00:09:12.080><c> retaliation
• /c><00:09:13.279><c> provided</c><00:09:13.760><c> to</c><00:09:13.920><c> victims</c> employer retaliation
• provided to victims employer retaliation provided to victims of<00:09:14.480><c> crime</c><00:09:14.800
• </c> Now, skipping to section five, protection against employer retaliation.

Bills: HF4075 , HF3826 , HF3825 , HF3827 , HF3459 , HF3711 , HF4200 , HF3908 , HF3712

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: firearm restrictions, domestic violence, public safety, court orders, criminal convictions, identity theft, subpoena authority, fraud, statute of limitations, financial crime, victim notification, expungement, criminal justice, plea agreements, minor victims, identification protection, stalking, crime data, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, law enforcement grants

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's this, again, afraid of retaliation from the federal government.
• So it's this, again, afraid of retaliation from the um, values.
• So it's this, again, afraid of retaliation from the federal government.
• government autonomy and to ensure that students can speak, organize, and learn without fear or retaliation
• government autonomy and to ensure that students can speak, organize, and learn without fear or retaliation

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee held an oversight hearing on how federal actions are affecting California higher education, with opening remarks from the chair and members emphasizing the importance of state-federal shared governance and the need to protect access, affordability, and campus diversity. The first panel included leaders from the CSU, University of the Pacific, California Community Colleges, and UC, who described broad impacts from federal grant terminations, changes to student aid, loan limits, visa and immigration policy, and proposed reductions to research support. Testimony focused on the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, caps on Parent PLUS and Pell-related changes, the loss or suspension of hundreds of grants, and the resulting harm to student support services, research, workforce pipelines, food assistance, and health care training. UC and CSU representatives warned of major losses in research funding, indirect cost reimbursement, and student opportunities, while community college leaders highlighted uncertainty around federal grants and the need to maintain services for low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and other vulnerable students. Committee members asked how the state could respond, including through intersegmental partnerships, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and support for basic needs and nutrition programs. Witnesses said California could help by sustaining financial aid, protecting minority-serving institution programs, and investing in research, housing, and workforce development. Several speakers stressed that federal changes were creating instability for students and campuses, and that the effects would likely be long-lasting, especially in health care, teaching, STEM, and social work pipelines. A second panel then focused on equitable access. The California Student Aid Commission described state efforts such as the $3.9 billion investment in aid programs, the Cal Grant system, the Dream Act, and possible reforms to better serve adult learners, foster youth, undocumented students, and students with dependents. The Los Angeles Community College District reported that federal cuts and policy shifts are discouraging students from applying for aid, threatening TRIO and MSI/HSI-funded services, and reducing support for basic needs, counseling, and workforce programs. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the CSU Academic Senate echoed concerns about FAFSA confusion, international student restrictions, grant losses, and the erosion of equity-focused programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and discussed possible state responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Inspector General, it allows him to protect certain records that are related to whistleblower
• I think this is largely to do with whistleblower complaints that are provided directly to the Inspector
• So there are sinkholes out there and they're trying desperately to fix one of the—so is that whistleblower

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the tip line, we call it whistleblower. We do actually have that in place, right?
• On the tip line, we call it whistleblower. We do actually have that in place right now.
• On the tip line, we call it whistleblower. We do actually have that in place right now.

Summary: The committee first heard Issue 1 on trailer bill language to redirect funding for emergency demand-response programs. The Department of Finance proposed using about $26.9 million in General Fund originally set aside for the Distributed Energy Backup Assets program to bolster the Demand-Side Grid Support Program for summer 2026, and using about $70 million in CalCHAP interest to support ratepayer-funded demand response in summers 2027 and 2028. The CEC and CPUC said they are working on a transition from DSGS to ELRP or a successor program, while the LAO noted the General Fund money would otherwise revert to savings. Members pressed the administration on whether demand response remains important, whether DSGS has been successful, and whether the state should keep funding it through the CEC rather than shifting to a ratepayer-funded CPUC program. The CEC and CPUC said the programs are not directly comparable, emphasized different cost structures and enrollment metrics, and said a CPUC rulemaking is underway with a proposed decision expected in Q3 2026. No vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then took up Issue 2, a budget proposal tied to SB 254 and the new transmission accelerator. GoBiz and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank described a five-year, roughly $26 million request to staff and administer the accelerator and manage Proposition 4 and AB 1207 funds for transmission financing. Members asked about state liability, ownership of financed lines, FERC revenue requirements, and whether the program would help underserved regions and offshore wind development. Staff explained that the accelerator would only consider projects already identified through CAISO’s competitive transmission planning process, and that state financing would be a small portion of large projects intended to lower overall costs to ratepayers. The LAO said it had no specific concerns but urged the Legislature to ensure the final language matches its intent. The committee also heard Issue 3 on petroleum market oversight. The CEC and its Division of Petroleum Market Oversight requested additional positions and funding to implement ABX2-1 and continue work on supply stabilization, refinery monitoring, and transportation fuels analysis. Members questioned why the work was funded through the Energy Resources Programs Account, whether existing staff from the paused price-gouging work could be reassigned, and whether the program had produced evidence of price gouging or improved supply conditions. CEC and Finance said the new positions are needed because the workload has expanded, while some existing staff remain on related analysis and reporting duties. The discussion ended without a vote in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• assessments, disclose information regarding data used to train generative AI systems, and creates whistleblower

Committee: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We increased the whistleblower protections.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Speaker Lisa Demuth reflected on the 2025 session as a difficult but productive year in a closely divided House, saying the tie forced Republicans and Democrats to work together and empowered co-chairs and committee leaders to negotiate throughout the session. She said her partnership with former Speaker Melissa Hortman showed that both caucuses could still get work done even when neither side got everything it wanted, and she expects to continue that approach in 2026 if the House remains tied. She also said she has a workable relationship with DFL leader Zack Stevenson and wants to maintain respectful decorum while still allowing strong debate and committee input. On policy, Demuth said gun violence and public safety remain major concerns after the Hortman assassination, the Annunciation school shooting, and other high-profile violence. She said Republicans are focused on keeping communities safe, increasing penalties for firearm-related crimes, and expanding mental health supports across the state, especially outside densely populated areas. She also said anti-fraud legislation will be a major priority, noting prior bipartisan steps such as whistleblower protections and added staff for the Legislative Auditor, and she expects bipartisan action on fraud again this session. Demuth said immigration and ICE-related legislation will likely return, referencing last year’s House File 16 and saying cooperation with ICE would make Minnesota safer. She also pointed to budget concerns, saying the state moved from an $18 billion surplus to a tighter fiscal picture and that a $5 billion spending reduction last year was a step in the right direction. She said the February forecast will be important for setting responsible priorities and emphasized that the caucus’s goal is to keep working in a bipartisan way for Minnesotans.

Transcript Highlights:

• deficiencies, like a missing signature or a dot on a page, and the inspectors or surveyors would retaliate
• We had a whistleblower from within ICE explicitly say that they are training these masked-up, ...explicitly

Summary: The Senate met in multiple Committee of the Whole sessions and considered a large number of bills, many related to digital assets and cryptocurrency, including SB 1042, SB 1043, SB 1044, SB 1045, SB 1432, SCR 1003, SCR 1033, and SCR 1028. Members discussed whether the state should accept cryptocurrency for payments, tax or exempt virtual currency, ban central bank digital currency, and support digital assets in retirement systems. Senator Epstein repeatedly argued against the measures and tried to offer amendments targeting data center tax exemptions, but one such amendment was ruled not germane and the ruling was upheld on a division vote. The bills and resolutions in that group generally advanced with do-pass recommendations, with SB 1043 and SB 1044 amended before advancing. The Senate also advanced several bills on family law, public records, scholarship organizations, property conveyances, underground facilities, and environmental and energy issues, including SB 1039, SB 1139, SB 1147, SB 1148, SB 1328, SB 1078, SB 1142, SB 1184, SB 1254, SB 1278, SB 1281, SB 1418, SB 1445, and SB 1566. Some measures drew discussion and amendments: SB 1254 received a clarifying amendment for deeds handled by title and escrow professionals; SB 1278 had a floor amendment withdrawn; SB 1281 was amended by committee and floor changes; SB 1418 prompted questions about small modular reactors and concerns about uranium mining and health impacts; and SB 1566 was amended to address malicious delay enforcement and judicial review. Most of these bills received do-pass recommendations. In the health and human services calendar, the Senate advanced SB 1052, SB 1115, SB 1149, SB 1193, SB 1233, SB 1345, SB 1346, and SB 1631, with SB 1124 retained on the calendar. Debate centered on ACCESS and remote work, administrative deficiency cure periods, anonymous complaints, fee-for-service claims, and DCS-related hearings and investigations. Senator Gonzales opposed several ACCESS-related bills, arguing they lacked appropriations, could disrupt services, or conflicted with federal Medicaid law, while sponsors said the bills addressed agency performance and provider complaints. SB 1115, SB 1149, SB 1193, SB 1233, and SB 1345 were amended before receiving do-pass recommendations, and SB 1345’s sponsor said ACCESS was removed from the bill. The final calendar included regulatory and veterinary-related bills such as SB 1137, SB 1144, SB 1205, and SB 1286. SB 1205, dealing with motor vehicle booting fees, received a floor amendment requiring an appeals process for private parking lots. SB 1286, on veterinary telemedicine and prescriptions, drew the most extended debate, with a committee amendment and a Kavanagh floor amendment restoring a 14-day prescription extension and adding flea and tick treatment; Senator Leach opposed the floor amendment, describing prior stakeholder negotiations and changes in committee support. The transcript ends while that debate is still underway, after several bills have already been reported out with do-pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• deficiencies, like a missing signature or a dot on a page, and the inspectors or surveyors would retaliate
• We had a whistleblower from within ICE explicitly say that they are training these masked-up... ...explicitly

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• do not wish to participate because of these 2 individuals and their controlling interest fear of retaliation
• time, I want to respectfully note that Florida already has laws to protect homeowners from fraud, retaliation
• Are the H.O.A. responded with 3 at retaliation since that complaint, H.O.A.

Transcript Highlights:

• identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation
• for</c><00:56:55.880><c> those</c><00:56:56.240><c> are</c><00:56:56.559><c> prohibited</c> and retaliation
• for those are prohibited and retaliation for those are prohibited um<00:56:57.760><c> because</c><00
• Minnesotans reach out because they believe they were unlawfully discriminated against, harassed, or retaliated
• They reach out because they believe they were unlawfully discriminated against, harassed, or retaliated

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• states are facing an illegal reduction of about $8.9 billion in TANF and SSBG funds due to political retaliation
• </c> political retaliation. political retaliation.
• The volunteer nurse quit and filed these whistleblower complaints with the state, but nothing was ever
• complaints</c><04:49:00.400><c> with</c><04:49:00.638><c> the</c><04:49:00.798><c> state,</c> whistleblower
• complaints with the state, whistleblower complaints with the state, but<04:49:01.440><c> nothing</c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one of the things I used to retaliation one of the things I used to do<01:04:17.400><c> uh</c><01:04
• me the saddest ones of those retaliate me the saddest ones of those stories<01:04:32.640><c> were</c
• said they're stories were people who said they're going<01:04:34.200><c> to</c><01:04:34.319><c> retaliate
• </c><01:04:34.960><c> against</c><01:04:35.200><c> my</c><01:04:35.440><c> children</c> going to retaliate
• against my children going to retaliate against my children okay<01:04:36.880><c> because</c><01:04:37.119

Bills: HF1662 , HF1224 , HF1836 , HF1367 , HF1168 , HF1999 , HF1792 , HF102 , HF2127 , HF104

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, foreclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• without more, and we have what we would consider an abuse of power, and sometimes this is used in retaliation
• without more, and we have what we would consider an abuse of power, and sometimes this is used in retaliation
• , and we believe that's not in the best interest of the resident and we believe it is a form of retaliation
• , and we believe that's not in the best interest of the resident and we believe it is a form of retaliation
• and we believe that's not in the best interest of the resident, and we believe it is a form of retaliation

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the major minor league baseball players on minimum wage, removing some compliance order and retaliation
• :47.720><c> compliance</c><00:08:48.360><c> order</c><00:08:49.000><c> and</c><00:08:49.440><c> retaliation
• </c> com- compliance order and retaliation com- compliance order and retaliation provision<00:08:50.680

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all