Transcript Highlights:

• of the state of Louisiana and making sure that we have quality health care provided to all.
• This would just provide dental for that.
• This would just provide dental for that.
• Not to another physician or provider, no, sir.
• And Secretary Harris is here and will provide information if asked.

Committee: Senate Health & Welfare

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present. After adopting the April 28 minutes, the committee heard a brief presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, which is intended to bring together health care, business, policy, and education leaders to study Louisiana health challenges and build a network for action. Members expressed support for the program and its potential value to health policy work. The committee then advanced several bills, often with technical or substantive amendments. SB 57, a nutrition-labeling bill, was amended to push its effective date to December 31, 2028 and reported as amended. HB 62 increased the membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission to 27 members and was reported as amended. HB 193 updated membership rules for the sickle cell commission foundations so long-serving executive directors would not have to reapply repeatedly, and it was reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help families manage accounts after a death; it was reported favorably after a question about state-licensed banks. SB 405 was substantially revised to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing-facility quality initiative, including statewide quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, reporting requirements, and tools such as dashboards and surveys; after reconsidering prior action and adopting the new amendment, the bill was reported as amended. The committee also approved HB 222, which provides Medicaid dental coverage when needed for another covered medical procedure, and HB 420, which requires background checks for all DCFS employees with access to sensitive information. HB 475 requires verbal consent when AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit and was reported favorably after a technical question. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council on grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police superintendent or designee. HB 486 would enter Louisiana into the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact to expand access to mental health care, and HB 574 updated outdated board names on the Mental Health Advisory Services Board; both were reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 949, which creates a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address imaging workforce shortages, especially in rural areas, and HB 584, which requires foster children to be provided luggage instead of trash bags for their belongings and restores “rights” language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. The committee also reported HB 1214, restructuring certain LDH facilities into a single system under the secretary’s office; HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill; and HB 203, which adds members to the uterine fibroids commission. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses emphasized access to care, workforce shortages, child welfare, and quality improvement, and the committee repeatedly adopted amendments and reported the bills favorably or as amended before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides an Representative Maney: option for making the hearings public instead of private, but the
• Veteran survivor benefits provided by the U.S.
• If healthcare providers are not taking care of patients, they need to be educated.
• if the cost is no more than the cost of care by in-network providers.
• That is what this program does because we have providers at home helping my twins at home.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides a uniform grading system for honors acceleration courses.
• This is not a licensed provider.
• nuances in the legislation versus offices that provide associations that provide individual dentists
• We've also provided the spreadsheets as part of the packet.
• If you could help me with that, does the budget provide support for staff?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows child care operators and at-home child care facilities to provide assistance or to provide
• Because child care providers spend their earnings locally.
• A study of how this service should be provided in a way that provides revenues to the state government
• Providing affordable, reliable service is long overdue.
• And I think it creates false hope that we, I'd rather provide real hope.

Bills: HB303 , SB96 , HM6

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Keywords: public utility, certificate of public convenience and necessity, certificate of need, Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility regulation, ratemaking, energy storage, battery storage, grid reliability, renewable energy, transmission, distribution, generation plant, utility expansion, service territory, mutual domestic water consumer association, economic development department, clean energy, fossil fuel reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Bakofsky: DID PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHY THEY WERE LEAVING THE MARKET.
• PROVIDE.
• SOMETIME AROUND MAY OR JUNE THAT TELLS THEM WHAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE.
• RATES HAVE TO BE REASONABLE AS TO THE BENEFITS BEING PROVIDED.
• Bakofsky: WE DO HAVE AND CAN PROVIDE THAT TO THE COMMITTEE.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't cut off choice; it doesn't cut off the ability to go with a private provider.
• I'm also available to answer any questions and provide any clarity. Thank you.
• So the benefits piece is only one part of what we provide. We also work with the families.
• The services a CVSO provides are completely free to the veteran and their families.
• So perhaps there are service providers who are providing reasonable fees.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• a two for one efficiency provide a two for one opportunity<00:03:05.760><c> for</c><00:03:05.959><c>
• There are agencies that provide educational services to our schools and our teachers and therefore are
• You'll see on page four that currently it is not included in the list of member providers.
• We Lead CS provides services that local school districts cannot easily provide on their own at a cost-efficient
• </c> of member providers we lead CS provide of member providers we lead CS provide services<00:04:26.600

Keywords: Consideration of HB 73 02:23 Consideration of HB 441 07:24 Consideration of HB 462 18:44, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and considered three bills. House Bill 73, as amended by committee substitute, added We Lead CS to the list of agencies participating in the Teachers’ Retirement System administrative provisions. The sponsor explained the bill corrects an oversight involving a computer science education service provider established in 2022. A question about fiscal impact was answered with no expected fiscal note or actuarial impact. The committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 73 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 441 addressed teacher shortages by expanding the number of retired teachers and critical-shortage-area teachers school districts may hire. The sponsor said districts could hire retired teachers up to 10% of staff and critical shortage area teachers up to 10%, replacing lower current limits and a temporary COVID-era provision that had expired. Members asked about work limits, salary rules, and how often shortage areas are identified; the sponsor said retired teachers remain subject to existing earnings limits, critical shortage teachers are paid at least a rank-two, 10-year salary, and shortage areas are identified annually by the Commissioner of Education. Supportive comments noted the bill was a stopgap and that long-term solutions should include recruitment, retention, and pay. The committee passed HB 441 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 462 would allow county clerks to correct marriage applications or licenses by affidavit, without requiring a lawsuit in circuit court, when there are obvious errors or omissions. The Kenton County clerk and another clerk testified that the change would help people who need corrected records for Social Security, Real ID, inheritance, and other legal purposes, while still preserving data needed by Vital Statistics. Members described the bill as a practical efficiency measure. The committee passed HB 462 19-0 with favorable expression, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also provides strict guidelines for dissolution, which is a The bill also provides strict guidelines
• The strike-all provides numerous exceptions.
• Can you provide a definition of that? Can you provide a definition of that?
• And you said, if you're providing those, those would be allowable if you're providing those services
• And you said, if you're providing those, those would be allowable if you're providing those services

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Summary: The committee first considered CS/HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation. The sponsor said the bill would strengthen OIR’s tools to oversee property insurance, including market conduct and solvency exams, claims handling oversight, mandatory discounts for certain mitigation measures, storage of mitigation inspection forms, and clearer authority over pharmacy benefit managers. An amendment narrowing fingerprinting requirements was adopted, and the bill passed favorably after supportive testimony from OIR and others. Members then heard CS/HB 527, which would require a human review before an insurance claim can be denied or reduced when artificial intelligence or automated systems are used. After an amendment removing the term “algorithm” was adopted, the bill drew opposition from several insurance industry groups, while consumer and labor witnesses supported it. The sponsor argued the measure was needed after reports of AI-driven claim denials, and the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved CS/HB 637 on farm equipment “lemon law” protections, with an amendment clarifying who qualifies as a consumer, refund rights, repair timelines, and an effective date. The committee next took up CS/HB 1007 on data centers, which would create a regulatory framework for siting and operating large data centers, limit NDAs in some circumstances, set PSC tariff requirements, and restrict certain locations near homes and schools. After an amendment narrowing the five-mile buffer to data centers over 50 megawatts and adding noise-study requirements, the bill drew mixed testimony from business, consumer, and local-government groups, with supporters emphasizing guardrails and opponents warning about competitiveness and site restrictions. The bill passed favorably despite several no votes. Later, the committee approved CS/HB 1291 on the NICA birth-related neurological injury compensation program after a strike-all amendment revised reimbursement and assessment provisions; testimony included support from NICA and concerns from the Florida Justice Association and a family affected by the program. The committee also passed CS/HB 185 on a sales tax exemption for home-hardening products, CS/HB 425 on a historic African-American cemetery preservation program, CS/CS/CS/HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations, CS/CS/CS/HB 657 on community associations and HOA/condo reforms, and CS/CS/HB 1221, the DFS agency package. The final bill discussed was CS/HB 1001, which would restrict county and municipal DEI-related actions and contracting; the sponsor explained the strike-all, and members began questioning its definitions and exceptions, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s final disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did not consider the need to provide that information. I did provide that information...
• And to have a bit of a more comparable amount, we do provide that.
• But in terms of the projections and things like that, they provide that in—I don't know if they provide
• I wanted to provide an example of what I’m saying here.
• I'm telling you that they're not asking schools to provide that.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in their work, not threatened with criminal penalties as this bill provides.
• Texas non-profits provide a conduit to the preferences of your constituents.
• They can provide a form under this bill.
• If the entity doesn't provide documents, the entity can be shut down.
• I think this provides...

Bills: HB256 , HCR19 , HB256 , HB1308 , HB1554 , HB1743 , HB2308 , HB2351 , HB2858 , HB3676 , HB3784 , HB4312 , HB4552 , HB4823 , HB4852 , HB5007 , HB5010 , HB5520 , HB5524 , HCR19

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: severe weather, adaptation plan, vulnerability assessment, environmental protection, state agencies, federal agents, transparency, law enforcement, identification, public trust, immigration enforcement, HCR 19, Texas concurrent resolution, federal immigration enforcement, masked agents, facial coverings, visible identification, uniforms, badges, name tags

Transcript Highlights:

• We also subsequently provided funding for $10 million. happened on the 14th floor in s High happened
• resources to provide life-saving resources to affordable<00:04:05.599><c> housing</c><00:04:06.319><
• Low-cost, high-impact ways to provide long-term, safe, and stable housing for older adults.
• </c> furthermore the majority of home provid furthermore the majority of home provid provider<00:37:27.920
• </c><00:37:39.079><c> Express</c> uh for which some providers Express uh for which some providers Express

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It should provide real protection backed by real enforcement.
• The providers performing this care, many of whom are shield law providers, are an essential part of the
• While some states work to ban care and target patients and providers, shield providers take on great
• Current law provides for ways to ensure accountability.
• It provides clear guidance on what notification must be provided to patients and strengthens confidentiality

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took action on multiple measures. AB 1662 by Assemblymember Wilson, which would require notice to the DMV when a defendant receives diversion in certain driving-related cases so points can still be assessed administratively, drew support from law enforcement, district attorneys, AAA, and road safety advocates, with opposition from the Western Center on Law and Poverty. The bill passed on a due pass motion to Transportation and was held on call. AB 1741 by Assemblymember Pacheco, as amended, would allow sexual battery committed during an unlawful residential intrusion to be charged as a wobbler; prosecutors and victim advocates supported it, while public defender organizations argued existing law already covers the conduct and warned the bill was overbroad. It passed due pass as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. AB 2760 by Assemblymember Sharp Collins would let counties with an Office of Inspector General expand that office’s oversight to probation and animal control departments. Supporters, including the author, an Ella Baker Center representative, and San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, said it would improve transparency and help counties lacking capacity. Probation officials and Fresno County opposed, citing existing oversight structures and concerns about conflicts, confidentiality, and duplication. The bill passed due pass to Local Government, with some no votes, and was held on call. AB 1753 by Assemblymember Wix, the Survivor Pathways to Safety Act, would strengthen firearm relinquishment and protection-order enforcement, expand firearm prohibitions for certain threats and violations, and broaden remote hearing and notification provisions. Support came from gun violence prevention, victim, medical, and law enforcement groups; gun rights organizations opposed on due process grounds. It passed due pass as amended to Judiciary and was held on call. The committee also heard AB 1743 by Assemblymember Wix, which would allow local governments and certain universities to request firearm trace data from DOJ for research and policy purposes. Supporters said the data would help identify trafficking patterns and inform evidence-based policy, while opponents warned about privacy, misuse, and stigmatizing lawful dealers. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was held on call. AB 2164, the Care Without Fear Act, would strengthen California’s shield-law protections for reproductive health care providers against extradition and related enforcement; supporters framed it as protecting lawful care in California, while opponents raised concerns about abortion and gender-affirming care and due process. It passed due pass to Judiciary and was held open. AB 2664, the Safe Worship Zone Act, would create a narrow buffer around houses of worship to prevent harassment of people entering or exiting; faith-based and anti-hate groups supported it, while civil liberties and some community groups opposed it as an unconstitutional speech restriction. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was held on call. The committee then began hearing AB 2122 by Assemblymember Kalra, which would prohibit bench warrants for Vehicle Code infractions and allow noncustodial warrants for other infractions, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumer by the service provider and remitted to the Department of Revenue.
• They provide an essential service in communities, as you've heard from other folks.
• They don't just provide food for everyone, but they also provide other necessities like diapers, cleaning
• But they also provide essentials in the community because they provide jobs.
• They provide essential goods, support the local economy, and act as community hubs.

Summary: The committee heard briefings, sponsor presentations, and public testimony on several finance bills. HB 2038 would impose an additional B&O tax on businesses operating social media platforms beginning in 2027 and create a youth behavioral health account funded by the tax. The sponsor argued the bill would help address youth mental health harms linked to social media and support implementation of the Washington Thriving plan. Supporters in testimony, including youth advocates and some public health voices, said social media contributes to youth anxiety and addiction and that the revenue should be used for behavioral health services. Opponents, including technology and business groups, argued the tax unfairly singles out one sector, could be passed on to consumers, and may violate federal internet tax law. The hearing on HB 2038 was suspended and later reopened for public testimony; no vote was taken. HB 2297 would create tax incentives for grocery stores in underserved communities, including local B&O preferences, a sales tax exemption for security services, a 30-year property tax exemption program, a B&O tax credit, and a B&O exemption for certain locally owned or employee-owned stores. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to preserve and attract grocery stores in food deserts, especially after recent store closures, and to help communities with limited transportation and access to healthy food. County representatives supported the goal but raised concern about the bill’s sales tax exemption and its effect on local revenues. Public testimony was largely supportive, with advocates, local officials, grocers, and residents describing grocery stores as essential community infrastructure. No action was taken. HB 2382 would raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack, restructure vapor and other tobacco product taxes, and dedicate portions of the revenue to a time-sensitive emergency system, tobacco enforcement, and the foundational public health services account. The sponsor said the bill would generate needed revenue, support cancer research funding, and strengthen public health and enforcement. Supporters said higher tobacco taxes reduce use and help cover long-term health costs, while some public health witnesses supported the revenue but suggested directing more funds to existing tobacco prevention accounts. Opponents from retail and industry groups argued the proposal is regressive, could increase illicit sales and cross-border purchasing, and would hurt small businesses and low-income consumers. The committee also heard HB 2487, a Department of Revenue request bill that would narrow the B&O exemption for insurers to clarify that it applies only to premium income subject to insurance premium tax, and apply the change retroactively to 2019. The sponsor and supporters said the bill closes a loophole created by a recent Supreme Court ruling and preserves tax equity, while insurers and business groups objected to the retroactive application, warning of higher premiums and unfair taxation. Finally, HB 2018 would increase the solid waste tax by 0.5% per year for five years and direct the new revenue to a local government solid waste assistance account for county and city waste management plans. County officials supported the bill as a way to stabilize funding for solid waste systems, and testimony emphasized rising disposal and infrastructure costs. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• or discharge be capped at $100 and limited to the lowest option provided.
• Sentencing alternatives have provided opportunities for people to, Sentencing alternatives have provided
• We also... ...ability to provide certain types of programming.
• We will certainly provide you additional information.
• And it's providing clarity because I believe right now it's a, it's a, And it's providing clarity because

Bills: SB5873 , SB5895 , SB5945

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: incarcerated individuals, escorted leaves, criminal justice, rehabilitation, state law, healthcare, incarcerated, extraordinary medical placement, criminal justice reform, medical care, persistent offender, three strikes, resentencing, juvenile conviction, youth offender, juvenile sentencing, life without parole, LWOP, most serious offense, sentencing reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Recommendations provide 153.8 million at account 5155.
• This team will provide us the resources to do so.
• make it where we can provide greater service to our stakeholders.
• and provide timely response to potential disease threats.
• disease and provide timely response to potential disease threats.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provided our written testimony previously. I'm available for any questions. Thank you.
• We don't actually have that type of report itself to provide any information.
• I can look into it for you and provide you more of that information and the actual report.
• We don't actually have that type of report itself to provide any information.
• I can look into it for you and provide you more of that information and the actual report.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint AEN-PSM hearing on February 7, 2025 focused primarily on three agriculture-related measures and one animal welfare bill, with additional discussion of pesticide drift monitoring, coffee labeling, and a gas-pump labeling bill. SB 762 would create an Agricultural Crimes Council and authorize agricultural crime investigators; testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and several members of the public was generally supportive, with repeated calls for stronger enforcement, community involvement, and in some cases allowing investigators to be armed. Some testifiers also urged changes to the appointment process for council members, preferring neighborhood boards or local officials over gubernatorial appointments. The committee discussed combining related agricultural crime bills and noted concerns about investigator safety in remote areas. SB 763 would establish an agriculture enforcement program within the Department of Law Enforcement and a special fund. Testimony was strongly supportive from state agencies and farm groups, with speakers emphasizing the need for more effective response to agricultural theft, poaching, and related crimes. Several public testifiers linked the bill to broader community safety and asked for clearer funding, training, coordination, performance metrics, and technology use. The committee also heard SB 1022, which would prohibit leaving pets in dangerous conditions in vehicles and allow officers, firefighters, animal control, and in some cases private citizens to rescue animals; the Attorney General said existing cruelty statutes may already cover the conduct and suggested amendments, while HPD opposed the bill. Members asked about liability for rescuers and whether the proposal might affect property-crime enforcement. The committee also heard SB 1304 on pesticide drift monitoring funding, with the Department of Agriculture supporting the measure and explaining it was needed to complete a required project under an EPA-related agreement. A Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action representative raised concerns about the methodology of prior studies, and a public testifier described a recent odor incident near a roadway and school. SB 1015, requiring labels on gas dispensing equipment warning about fossil fuel impacts, drew support from the Department of Agriculture and the Public Utilities Commission but opposition from the Hawaii Energy Marketers Association. SB 500 on coffee labeling and regional origin was also heard, with the Department of Agriculture in support. In decision-making, the committees adopted recommendations to pass SB 762 with amendments, SB 763 with amendments, SB 1022 with technical amendments, SB 1304 with technical amendments, and SB 1015 as is; SB 500 was not acted on in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:14.519><c> the</c> towards initiatives that provide the towards initiatives that provide the
• </c> new all Minnesota solution that provides new all Minnesota solution that provides seamless<00:03
• Etc and then they provide a percent over Etc and then they provide a percent over and<00:14:49.480><c
• So when a donor provides funds, they provide funds they want to give to a scholarship fund or they provide
• </c> donor provides funds uh they provide donor provides funds uh they provide funds<00:34:10.919><c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We like to think we provide some security as well. Good afternoon.
• It recognizes Waypoint as a vital service provider for homeless services for 18- to 24-year-olds.
• </c> Health and Human Services May provide Health and Human Services May provide some<01:39:27.560><c
• </c> with the hospital to provide with the hospital to provide services<01:43:26.760><c> um</c><01:43
• </c> Representative, between Medicaid providers providing Medicaid services and then the hospitals that

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Heavy-duty service vehicles, including those providing essential solid waste and recycling services,
• Cities, labor groups, and service providers like waste haulers are in joint support of this effort.
• So just to be clear, Utility service provider agreements.
• And here to provide testimony is Ben Truffo, representing the League of California Cities, and Luffy
• certainty for both local governments and service providers, and allows cities to provide the safe streets

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met and first adopted a consent calendar covering SB 1005, SB 1080, SB 935, and S.J.R. 11 by a 4-0 vote, with those items remaining on call until later in the hearing. SB 992 was pulled at the author’s request. The committee then heard SB 922, which would clarify that local governments may recover street maintenance and repair costs caused by public service operations, such as waste hauling, through rates, fees, or franchise agreements. Supporters included the League of California Cities, county groups, cities, waste haulers, and legal counsel who argued the bill restores a long-standing practice and reduces litigation risk after a recent court decision; the California Building Industry Association opposed unless amended, warning the bill could affect construction impact fees. The bill passed the committee 7-0 to the Senate floor. The committee also heard SB 1078, which would allow Santa Cruz County voters to consider raising the county’s local tax cap to help fund health care, food assistance, and other safety-net services in response to federal cuts. The County of Santa Cruz and the Central California Alliance for Health supported the measure, emphasizing Medi-Cal enrollment, CalFresh needs, and potential impacts on hospitals and clinics. Senator Choi raised concerns that the bill effectively authorizes a tax increase and questioned the fairness of county-by-county exceptions, while other members supported giving local voters the choice. The bill passed 5-2 and was sent to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. After those actions, the committee returned to and approved the consent calendar items 7-0. The meeting concluded with thanks to the public and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Heavy-duty service vehicles, including those providing essential solid waste and recycling services,
• Cities, labor groups, and service providers like waste haulers are in joint support of this effort.
• And second, the fees associated with providing public services and public works can recover the street
• maintenance costs tied to delivering those Fees associated with providing public services and public
• for both local governments and service providers, and allows cities to provide the safe streets the

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 987, senate, all