Transcript Highlights:

• This includes a deficit for the Child Protective Services Department.
• that the federal government requires versus the services that Mississippi does provide?
• Because I believe we provide some services that are not required by the federal government.
• </c><00:02:17.520><c> that</c> believe we provide some services that believe we provide some services
• , some services that are not required, correct?

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 16 March, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provide services provide services with<00:17:57.920><c> again</c><00:17:58.280><c> too</c><00:17
• </c> require special education services. require special education services.
• services such as primary care, mental services such as primary care, mental health<05:26:38.000><c> services
• , sexual health services, health services, sexual health services, gender-affirming<05:26:41.440><c>
• . services. services.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A native throughout his service.
• </c> strengthen tribal health services. strengthen tribal health services.
• Throughout her service corps.
• service medal, joint service meritorious service medal, joint service commenation<00:45:13.839><c> medal
• </c> service and I wish him the very best. service and I wish him the very best.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Health and Human Services Health and Human Services committee<00:26:32.159><c> so</c><00:26:32.360
• </c> comprehensive Rel intervention services comprehensive Rel intervention services for<00:35:29.280
• , while services are provided via local school districts and have local control over services.
• </c> Education Health Human Services Education Health Human Services developmental<00:37:31.880><c> disabilities
• Services are required to be provided in a child's natural environment, meaning that many of the services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the division of public health services. the division of public health services.
• and Human Services, Division of Public<01:11:19.920><c> Health</c><01:11:20.159><c> Services.
• </c> food service food service establishment.<01:15:52.159><c> Last</c><01:15:52.480><c> year</c><01:
• And but there are um food service.
• and Human Services, Division of Public<01:27:49.679><c> Health</c><01:27:49.920><c> Services.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we thank him very much for his service we thank him very much for his service again again again
• </c> continue my state service. continue my state service.
• Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Chair. public public service. service. service.
• ,</c><00:25:11.840><c> and</c> continuing your public service, and continuing your public service, and
• </c><01:18:30.160><c> to</c> getting the professional services to getting the professional services to

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several gubernatorial nominations for confirmation, beginning with GM 788 for Karen Knudsen to the Hawaii Sister State and International Partnerships Commission. DBEDT strongly supported her nomination, describing her decades of Asia-Pacific and East-West Center experience. Senators asked about the new commission structure, confirming that the old committee was abolished and replaced by a five-voting-member commission with two governor appointees before the Senate, other ex officio and legislative appointees, and one OHA vacancy still pending. Knudsen said the commission would help review new sister-state and international partnership proposals, while existing relationships would remain in place. Members also discussed the commission’s lack of a separate budget and its use of DBEDT international relations funding. The committee then moved to GM 789 for Wesley Fong to the same commission; DBEDT supported him based on his military, legal, and international trade background. A concern was raised that he also served on the State Ethics Commission, and Fong stated he had resigned from that post effective the 20th of the month to avoid a conflict. Senators questioned his reasons for leaving ethics, and he explained that his term was ending and he wanted to continue public service in a role aligned with his background in international agreements, education, and Indo-Pacific relations. No votes were taken in the portion provided. The committee next considered GM 769 for Patrick Branco to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The foundation and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both testified in strong support. Branco appeared by Zoom and said he was currently on temporary military orders on the East Coast, but had prior experience in public diplomacy as cultural attaché in Caracas and had worked on Fulbright and cultural exchange efforts. The committee then took up GM 770 for Makanani Salā to the same board. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported her nomination, and Noe Wong-Wilson testified in person, citing Salā’s work at Windward Community College and her role in organizing the Best Fest festival, saying she would bring Hawaiian cultural perspective to the foundation. Salā said her county experience included arts, culture, and sister-city work, and that she would emphasize public-private partnerships and helping other agencies use the foundation’s expertise. Members briefly discussed FESTPAC and its rotating international location. Finally, the committee heard GM 767 for Miles Miyatso to the Land Use Commission. The Land Use Commission and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both supported the nomination, and Avalon Development Company was listed but did not appear on Zoom. The discussion in the provided transcript ended during this item, with no vote or final action shown for the nominations covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:18:36.679><c> that</c> programs for de and grid services that programs for de and grid services
• </c> program which is the grid service program which is the grid service program<01:21:48.440><c> that
• </c> and and compensation for good services and and compensation for good services that<01:25:27.679>
• We're only calling for that for a grid service event during a grid service program when the utility and
• </c> encourage participation in Grid Services encourage participation in Grid Services programs<01:42

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard testimony on Senate Bill 897, which would create a Wildlife Liability Trust Fund within DCCA for administrative purposes. The chair opened by noting the hearing had to end by noon because of floor session, and that written testimony would be considered if not all witnesses could speak. Testimony included support from DCCA, the Attorney General’s office, the Public Utilities Commission, Charter Communications, Ulupono Initiative, AES Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Clearway Energy Group, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaiian Telcom, and IBW Local 1260, with opposition or concerns from the Hawaii Association for Justice and some others. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill and asked for amendments, saying the fund would help address wildfire liability, protect customers and the economy, and support restoration of investment-grade credit; it also proposed a larger shareholder contribution and said the bill was part of a broader effort to raise settlement funds and improve grid safety and resiliency. Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would actually lower costs for ratepayers and improve credit ratings. DCCA said there was a nexus between limiting liability, creating a sufficiently large wildfire fund, and transparent mitigation requirements, but acknowledged there was no guarantee of a credit-rating improvement or precise estimate of rate impacts. Members questioned Hawaiian Electric about the assumptions in its cost comparisons, the 30-year securitization structure, and whether funding could be shifted later to shareholders after credit was restored. Hawaiian Electric responded that the bill assumes the fund is paid through securitization, that removing that presumption could undermine the credit-rating benefit, and that its models suggest credit-spread savings could offset the customer charge over time; it also said it would follow up with additional analysis. The company and Ulupono both described the measure as a difficult but potentially necessary way to socialize wildfire risk and avoid a larger crisis later. The Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the bill’s liability caps and raised concerns about consumer rights, oversight discretion, statute-of-limitations changes, and evidence rules. Hawaiian Telcom suggested amendments to clarify compliance with FCC pole-attachment agreements. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and members indicated they wanted more analysis before being comfortable with the bill’s long-term ratepayer impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 6,500 are veterans and service 6,500 are veterans and service members<00:04:19.120><c> our</c><00
• </c><01:12:08.920><c> and</c> of our model um student services and of our model um student services and
• </c><01:13:05.239><c> makes</c> then research and public service makes then research and public service
• a</c><01:18:10.639><c> lot</c><01:18:10.800><c> of</c> Legal Services Tax Services um a lot of Legal
• Services Tax Services um a lot of the<01:18:11.120><c> things</c><01:18:11.360><c> that</c><01:18:11.560

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we provide an array of social services, including housing supports, Child Protection Services, Family
• um including housing Social Services um including housing Social Services<00:04:56.280><c> supports<
• /c><00:04:56.800><c> Child</c><00:04:57.160><c> Protection</c> Services supports Child Protection Services
• ><c> health</c><00:04:59.479><c> and</c> Family Services mental health and Family Services mental health
• </c> coming on basic government services coming on basic government services that's<01:09:08.839><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> such</c><00:04:23.120><c> services</c><00:04:23.800><c> in</c> individuals who receive such services
• Service Study, favorable.
• ,<00:24:55.720><c> Implementation</c><00:24:56.440><c> Dates,</c> Services, Implementation Dates, Services
• </c> Uniform Services Spouses Act, favorable. Uniform Services Spouses Act, favorable.
• Washington, Public Service Commission, broadband and voice over internet protocol service study.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Great constituent services are a must.
• The true measure of our worth is always the value of our service, especially our service to others.
• The true measure of our worth is always the value of our service, especially our service to others.
• unique disabilities, including residential services, adult training, and school services.
• unique disabilities, including residential services, adult training, and school services.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. Members approved the journal and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber also recognized Sheriff Mike Chitwood as law enforcement officer of the day and later held several introductions and farewell remarks, including lengthy closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service and legislative priorities. The House then took up and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting House strike-all or conforming amendments. CS/SB 590 on mandatory child abuse reporting was clarified to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism was amended to incorporate House language, including blue-envelope provisions, and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was amended to preserve House provisions and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund was amended to expand eligible health science programs and allow certain non-health-care contributions, then passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care passed 111-0. Later bills also advanced with broad support: CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences passed 168-0 after debate over medication-assisted treatment; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed 112-0 after amendments allowing limited coach support for student-athletes with parental consent; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts passed 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services passed 111-0 after an amendment on exclusive arrangements. The chamber then began debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, which would restrict counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and contracting practices. Members questioned its scope and exceptions, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks for your service. Senator Rouson, thank you very much, Mr. President.
• commodities and cybersecurity services and provide those services to eligible governments.
• Data-sharing agreements with participating governments and the Florida Digital Service.
• We feel that Florida Digital Service is the better place to do it.
• They have bus service. You live in dorms, you walk. These kids don't have cars.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, heard an opening prayer and pledge, and included a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a doctor of the day, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to special order business, with several bills temporarily postponed before taking up a series of measures on health care, public records, cybersecurity, court clerks, trademarks, septic permits, and elections. The first major bill, CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, would require hospitals with emergency departments to adopt evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, train staff, designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator, complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment, and have AHCA publish scores and adopt minimum standards. Senator Harrell said the bill was intended to ensure emergency rooms are prepared for children, and it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, which protects victim identities and temporarily exempts the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim from disclosure, after questions about access for victims of police misconduct; it passed 33-4. The chamber then approved CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, after adopting an amendment and an amendment to the amendment that kept the program within Florida Digital Service and extended the grant-award timeline; Harrell said it would help local governments defend against ransomware and hacking, and it passed 37-0. CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments that let clerks retain more excess revenue and adjusted related fee distributions, though Leader Berman warned it would shift revenue away from municipalities and law enforcement. CS/HB 679 on trademark registration and CS/HB 589 on septic system permits also passed unanimously after technical amendments, with the septic bill intended to reduce permit delays and clarify liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. The most extensive debate came on the elections bill, CS/HB 991, which incorporated citizenship verification using Real ID data, changed candidate-qualifying rules, altered acceptable voter IDs, and added other election-related provisions. Multiple amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to preserve student and senior IDs for voting, exempt some seniors from citizenship-document requirements, rely on human review rather than automated systems, and delay implementation. Supporters argued the bill would improve election integrity and address non-citizen registration and voting, citing state reports and examples of prosecutions; opponents argued it would disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors, and create barriers based on access to documents. The amendment package was adopted, and debate on the underlying bill continued with questions about federal law, documentation, and whether voters could still participate if state verification failed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jobs that are high-paying jobs, not just service industry jobs.
• We have four service stations, convenience... stores.
• People need access to services in their community.
• I went to college, worked there, worked for the Forest Service, fought fires with the Forest Service,
• Eight of these are USDA inspected by the Food Service Inspection Service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Director of Victim Services for Crime Stoppers of Houston.
• I'm the Chief Behavioral Health Disability and Aging Service Officer at the Health and Human Services
• And that is all of those other wraparound services.
• And that is all of those other wraparound services.
• By comparison, NGRIs get all of these wraparound services.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public service demands much from a family, and you gave that.
• Because public service is not about power, it’s about people.
• Service was a must.
• or has a service-related disability at the time of death.
• of the bill, or the wastewater service portion of the bill?

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recognition of FSU Police Officer Cody Popple for his actions during the April campus shooting. The Speaker also outlined the final week of session, noting the House would focus on Senate bills and returning messages, and that the 2026-27 budget would not be completed by the end of the week. The chamber then adopted the special order calendar for the day. The House passed several technical and open-government bills, mostly on strong bipartisan votes. These included SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes and reviser changes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004, which extended or preserved various public records or meeting exemptions involving the Public Service Commission, social media investigations, military affairs, highway safety investigations, cybersecurity, small business loan records, trade secrets, emergency shelter locations, and conviction integrity units. Members asked questions on several of these bills, especially about the scope and purpose of the exemptions, but the bills generally advanced with little opposition. The chamber also took up more substantive measures. SB 7040 recreated the emergency preparedness and response trust fund and drew extended debate over whether the fund had been misused for the Everglades detention facility; an Escamani amendment to let the fund expire failed, while a Griffiths amendment adding limits and oversight was adopted, and the bill ultimately passed 82-25. CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency passed unanimously after supporters highlighted nature-based shoreline protection and a Biscayne Bay provision. CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits passed after a House amendment aligned it with the House version. CS/SB 474 on military affairs passed unanimously after an amendment allowing local governments to extend Guard leave. SB 488 on the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles was debated extensively over vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and I-94 documentation, with amendments including one for disabled veterans and another on dealer allocation; the transcript cuts off before final disposition of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires a deep knowledge of the waiver services, of budgets, cost plans, non-waiver services in one's
• When families are properly guided, services and funding are used appropriately.
• I'm proud of my public service.
• Thank you, Superintendent, for your service.
• Navy and a public service worker.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with several measures that were amended and reported favorably, including a strike-all to SB 4 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, SB 1570 restoring a statewide missing-persons project for individuals with special needs, and SB 182 creating a teacher training and mentoring program for schools needing improvement. Members also advanced SB 794 on APD background screening and support coordination standards, SB 1168 on background screening for athletic coaches and related entities, and SB 214 to let rural special districts pay verified invoices directly for state- and federally funded work. Supporters emphasized improved child welfare investigations, help for families of vulnerable individuals, teacher retention, and better administrative efficiency; the APD bill drew especially strong testimony from waiver clients and providers about the importance of competent support coordinators and stable services. The committee also favorably reported SB 1376 on grants for genetic counseling education, SB 1574 requiring newborn screening for biliary atresia, SB 1510 as the DEP agency package with environmental, septic, water quality, solar, and permitting changes, and SB 598 updating funeral and cemetery licensing and consumer protections. SB 688, after a delete-all amendment, would create licensure for naturopathic doctors and a board of naturopathic medicine; it drew strong support from naturopathic advocates and sharp opposition from a critic who argued the bill would authorize diagnosis and treatment beyond appropriate limits. SB 1318 made a technical change to scholarship account reversion language, with senators clarifying that remaining funds would return to the scholarship funding organization for future use rather than to the state. Later, the committee approved SB 682 on domestic violence and protective injunctions, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local Act iteration expanding affordable housing options and limiting local barriers. It also reported favorably SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria after extensive debate about constitutional issues and modern gang activity, SB 762 allowing cross-jurisdiction assignment of capital cases among regional conflict counsel offices, SB 1332 strengthening career offender registration requirements, SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a minor, and SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The most contentious discussion came on SB 1226, which would overhaul Public Employee Relations Commission rules, require majority support for union certification, and impose new limits on union activities and dues-related practices; members debated constitutional concerns, differences between first responders and other public employees, and the bill’s impact on union representation and public-sector labor rights. Most bills were reported favorably by roll call, with SB 536 drawing several no votes and SB 1226 still under active debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank you for your service.
• We are truly going to miss you, but 40 years of service...
• Thank you very much for your service. Thank you.
• to do cost recovery on the services that are rendered.
• service if the local government chooses to charge a fee.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving through the daily file. Several measures were taken up and passed, including bills on county jail accountability (AB 2257), claims against public agencies (AB 2529), affordable housing management metrics (AB 2689), digital wellness instruction in schools (AB 2071), pedestrian and bicycle safety project streamlining (AB 1976), manufactured home transport permits (AB 2012), a Surplus Land Act amendment tied to an Inland Empire soccer project (AB 2139), a Monterey Bay stewardship authority (AB 1548), online electrician licensing (AB 1707), a Caltrans study of navigation apps’ traffic impacts (AB 2105), coastal resiliency permitting reforms (AB 2051), downtown housing streamlining and financing (AB 2074), Cal Fire compensation (AB 2129), emergency care authority for Del Puerto Health Care District (AB 2282), charter school facilities hardship relief (AB 2316), theft by a peace officer under color of authority as serious misconduct (AB 2337), an Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander-serving institution designation (AB 2374), energy and cannabis support bills (AB 2464, AB 2537), and a suicide prevention plan requirement for treatment facilities (AB 2562). Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan margins, and several were described as support bills with no opposition. The floor also debated a major criminal justice measure, AB 2727, which would raise the threshold for elderly parole eligibility for people serving sentences for violent sex offenses and add screening safeguards. Supporters from both parties emphasized child protection, survivor trauma, and specific local cases involving offenders who had become eligible for release; the bill passed 66-0. Another significant debate centered on AB 1958, which would clarify procedures under the California Racial Justice Act by refining how disparity claims are established and rebutted; the author said he would take Senate amendments to address concerns from district attorneys. The Assembly also considered AB 2313, a gas-to-electric transition bill allowing customers with planned service line replacements to opt out of gas service and use funds to electrify their homes. Members raised concerns about cost shifts and equity, and the author responded that the bill includes no-cost-shift language, larger credits for disadvantaged communities, and would not proceed if the math does not work; it passed 41-21. The final major item was AB 1709, a high-profile social media safety bill creating a minimum age of 16 for accounts on platforms using addictive features and establishing an e-safety commission. The author and many supporters from both parties framed the bill as a response to youth mental health harms, addictive design, and the need for age-based safeguards, while some members raised concerns about impacts on LGBTQ youth and other isolated young people who rely on online spaces. Supporters said the bill targets addictive design rather than speech and is intended to preserve safe online connection while limiting harmful features. The measure drew extensive bipartisan support and was still under debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill services for our providers.
• And as we heard the board services.
• service service &gt;&gt; and<00:16:10.320><c> not</c><00:16:10.720><c> at</c><00:16:11.040><c> a</c>
• ,</c> &gt;&gt; and not at a higher level of service, &gt;&gt; and not at a higher level of service, which
• </c> department of med medicaid services department of med medicaid services recognize<00:37:40.320><

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 4, interagency procurement and forensic laboratory services.
• Now that will impact the services that we offer to Texans.
• We've got quite a few customer service.
• Number 8, Online service enhancements. We work with, with, uh, with DIR.
• We don't get reimbursed for services afterwards.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we said it needed to be done in a way that minimizes impacts to public services.
• It really supports critical activities and services.
• And as already noted, these are statutory responsibilities and core state services. Thank you.
• Do you plan to hire the National Weather Service staff that was let go at the federal level?
• The National Weather Service staff that was let go at the federal level?

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.