Transcript Highlights:

• You're going to have shares of different products because everything doesn't move at once.
• </c><00:40:01.240><c> of</c><00:40:01.880><c> different</c><00:40:02.319><c> products</c> have shares
• </c> project and the vision for this shared project and the vision for this shared you<01:55:51.599><
• </c> shared more a better shared shared more a better shared understanding<01:56:35.119><c> of</c><01
• Has the department done so yet, and is there anything you could share with us? Sure.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to have sharing agreements with them to provide the services.
• Two of our facilities do have sharing agreements with the VA.
• You have to have sharing agreements.
• >> We will be sharing it.
• </c> &gt;&gt; We will be sharing it. Yes, sir. &gt;&gt; We will be sharing it. Yes, sir.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, we all share that concern.
• If they are brave enough to come here to share their pain, To share their loss, and certainly be brave
• Members, first, I want to again share my deepest condolences to the families that have shared their stories
• But I want to share that.
• But I want to share that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So Jennifer, maybe just share a little bit about yourself before we get the day started.
• Also, data sharing agreements pursuant to legislation, we know we have new data sharing agreements that
• So higher ed's very good at sharing that information.
• We've been sharing both of those pieces of information with our boards and commissions as well.
• We've met with the League of Cities, and we've shared some of the information.

Summary: The committee received several informational reports from NDIT and DPI. Justin Data reviewed the quarterly major IT project portfolio, noting the portfolio was slightly under budget and behind schedule overall, with three red schedule items: Bed Management System and Vital Records were essentially complete and being closed out, and the Roadway Capital Planning Project was delayed by vendor bug fixes after testing. He also summarized recent project startups and closeouts, including the Victim Notification System, Medicaid data exchange, Highway Patrol’s motor carrier permit system, and several completed HHS and RIMS projects. Members asked for follow-up on ADA compliance work, the public-facing RIO website, and the state’s mainframe retirement timeline, and staff agreed to provide updates later. Craig Falkley reported on coordination of services with political subdivisions and higher education, including StageNet, cybersecurity, radio/911 services, and PeopleSoft coordination. He also explained distributed ledger technology as a tool for transparency and fraud prevention, but said it is not widely used in state government and suggested the report be modernized to focus more broadly on emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. The committee generally agreed that the topic should be updated. Chris Gurgan presented the mandatory cybersecurity incident reporting program created by HB 1314, explaining how agencies and political subdivisions report incidents through NDIT’s website or service desk. He said 77 incidents had been reported since 2021, 47 met the statutory definition, and most were phishing-related; most reported incidents were resolved, with one recent ransomware matter still open. He also reviewed notable incidents since the last report, including the PowerSchool compromise, a SimpleHelp intrusion at a school district, a court intrusion, a WSUS vulnerability, a business email compromise, and a recent ransomware incident involving a non-state critical infrastructure entity. Members asked about recovery of stolen funds, early warning signs, smishing, training, MFA, conditional access, and cybersecurity maturity assessments; Gurgan said the state uses MFA and conditional access, provides awareness training to state employees, and would return with more information on maturity assessments. Tony Ambrose then updated the committee on the K-12 student information system bridge project. He said district implementation of Infinite Campus had begun statewide, but the data migration vendor originally selected was terminated for poor performance and replaced by Aurora Educational Technology, which had experience with similar statewide migrations. He also said DPI is migrating special education data from Tynet into Infinite Campus, and that some SLDS-based tools such as e-transcripts and Choice Ready may not function exactly as they do now at July 1, requiring interim or alternative solutions. Members raised concerns about summer school disruptions, the timing of the cutover, and whether the new system would support existing reporting and transcript functions; DPI said it was working on identity, authentication, data-sharing agreements, and post-go-live integrations, and would continue to refine the plan beyond June 30.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:26:08.080><c> some</c> the opportunity uh to share some the opportunity uh to share some thoughts
• </c> patients to be heard, providers to share patients to be heard, providers to share real<02:12:12.560
• </c> there's hard hardly any shared there's hard hardly any shared investment.<04:32:36.000><c> Families
• And then the second part here is related to the child care scholarship cost share.
• And then the second part here is related to the child care scholarship cost share.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now it is not uncommon for a driver share to dip below 50%.
• Now it is not uncommon for a driver share to dip below 50%.
• Um, one was that one of these larger ride shares had made $10 billion.
• Uh, asking folks shares.
• </c><00:29:20.480><c> had</c> uh one of these larger ride shares had uh one of these larger ride shares

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you for sharing that. I know that's personal to share, and so I appreciate you doing that.
• We have a spring meeting where we share ideas, share things that happen at our camp, things to improve
• And I say camp because it is one camp with shared facilities, shared management, same entity, and most
• Again, these changes were made intentionally and not shared with parents.
• trauma, ...to share their grief, their trauma, and Mr.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for the opportunity to share testimony today.
• Please share. Good afternoon, everyone.
• That's a goal that I believe everyone shares.
• That's what they share.
• Thank you for sharing your story, the story of Bailey. Okay.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up House Bill 4852, a strike-and-insert bill revising West Virginia’s food additive restrictions. Counsel explained that it moved the existing additive list into a new code section, kept the 2028 effective date, added exceptions for dietary supplements, alcoholic liquor, non-intoxicating beer, and small sellers under $5,000 per month, and created civil penalties for knowing violations. Testimony split between industry witnesses, who argued the bill and last year’s law would raise costs, burden interstate commerce, and conflict with federal regulation, and advocates who said the law is already prompting companies to reformulate and that the bill clarifies vague language tied to a federal injunction. Several amendments were offered to tie the law to FDA action or exempt soda, pepperoni rolls, frozen confections, and snack foods; some were adopted and others failed. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment as amended and reported HB 4852 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 5484, which creates felony offenses for interfering with a victim’s access to medical treatment or forensic care related to a sexual offense, or for forcing a victim of a sexual offense who becomes pregnant to have an illegal abortion, along with a conspiracy offense. Counsel said the strike-and-insert added clarifying language and definitions. Members raised concerns that the conspiracy language could be read to include the victim herself, and the bill sponsor said the intent was to target traffickers and abusers who keep victims from medical care and force abortions outside medical facilities. An amendment was adopted clarifying that nothing in the subsection imposes criminal liability on the victim of the sexual offense. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported HB 5484 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and adopted a title amendment. The final bill discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 4468, which narrows confidentiality protections for victims in criminal complaints by limiting redaction to names and addresses, while still allowing disclosure to other governmental entities and permitting victims to request redaction of addresses from appellate decisions after July 1, 2026. Counsel said the bill would replace broader existing confidentiality language and remove provisions allowing disclosure upon a showing of justice or by subpoena. Members questioned whether the change would weaken victim privacy protections, noting that identifying information can include much more than names and addresses. The committee then began hearing testimony from a county prosecutor on the bill, but the excerpt ends before any vote or final action on HB 4468.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you share if there has been an uptick in on-campus violence in the last couple of years?
• I'm hoping to take a moment to just share a few highlights.
• We submitted, of share a few highlights.
• </c> we have shared them with the A as well. we have shared them with the A as well.
• Shared vice chair vote with amendments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2185, which would add protections for sports officials. The Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, HSTA, HGA, school administrators, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Hawaii State Basketball Officials Association, and several individuals testified in support. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and recommended amendments, especially on the bill’s civil-action provisions and criminal language, saying the measure should be made more consistent and narrowed to clarify who is covered. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the increased criminal penalties but said its concerns were limited to that portion of the bill. The chair repeatedly noted the committee’s education-policy focus and limited discussion of legal issues. The committee then took up HB 2621 on student misconduct. The Department of Education testified and answered questions about its student discipline data, explaining that much of the information is kept in the department’s internal Infinite Campus system and is not public, but that some additional information could be added to the annual report while still protecting student privacy. Members discussed whether the department tracks incidents consistently across schools and whether more public reporting would help identify where violence or discipline issues are occurring. The department said it was not seeing an increase in suspensions in the data it had, though it acknowledged internal data showed more detail than the annual report. HB 2179, concerning DOE and e-pipes, drew comments from the Department of Education, support from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Bicycling League, and other individuals. The committee then heard HB 2534, which would recognize robotics in schools as an interscholastic sport. The Department of Education offered comments, the State Public Charter School Commission supported the bill, and multiple students and robotics participants testified in strong support, arguing that robotics provides STEM opportunities, competition, and career pathways, and that formal recognition and funding would help sustain teams and compensate mentors. No votes or final actions were taken on the bills in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to share briefly with you who they were.
• They are asking to share data with us and, um, it's...
• But we don't send, we don't share information with them. They do send us... information with them.
• A legal entity that shares common branding with one... that shares common branding with one another legal
• But that's just my opinion, and I appreciate the opportunity to share it.

Bills: HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684, HJR 99, HB 1399, HJR 5, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 2, HJR 6, HB 1587, HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, to share the scouting report to the Commonwealth with us is Molly Murphy.
• It is truly an honor to share the impact that scouting has had not only on my life but on communities
• Scout camp taught me that friendship is built in moments of shared challenge, and unity is what turns
• Now I would like to share the scouting statistics.
• And Molly, thank you for sharing your personal story about your journey in scouting, which is inspiring

Summary: The Senate met in an informal session that mixed brief legislative business with a special program recognizing Scouting America. Early in the session, senators recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Scout Oath/Law with visiting scouts, and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr helped lead the chamber through the scouting presentation. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to meet again on Monday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. On legislative matters, the Senate gave final passage to House No. 4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and House No. 4584, further regulating the appointment of a special police officer in Malden. The chamber also adopted a resolution commending the IBS patient support group on recognition of April 19, 2026, as World IBS Day. In addition, the Senate considered and adopted amendments and then engrossed House No. 4234, providing for the appointment of retired police officers as special police officers in Fairhaven, and engrossed House No. 4057, increasing the Haverhill Board of Health from three to five members. The main feature of the session was the annual scouting report to the Commonwealth. Eagle Scout Molly Murphy delivered remarks describing her experience in scouting, including leadership roles, an Eagle project, and the challenges and benefits of being one of the early female scouts in the program. She and other scouts presented statewide statistics for 2025, including 19,761 youth in 872 units, more than 23,500 merit badges earned, 482 Eagle Scouts, and over 203,000 hours of community service valued at about $3.06 million. The Senate voted to enter the scouting report into the Journal and received a gubernatorial proclamation designating April 23, 2026, as Scout Appreciation Day in Massachusetts.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, they do plan on collaborating on exhibits and sharing those, and I think it will actually enhance
• the one in Eveleth with that shared partnership. have um have um had<00:07:02.280><c> significant</c
• collaborating<00:07:13.680><c> on</c><00:07:14.080><c> exhibits</c><00:07:15.040><c> and</c><00:07:15.280><c> sharing
• </c> collaborating on exhibits and sharing collaborating on exhibits and sharing those,<00:07:16.160>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Clardy introduced House File 4238, seeking a $5 million state general obligation investment for roads and infrastructure in Inver Grove Heights tied to the planned Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame project, along with a separate requested $20 million cash appropriation for the facility itself. He described the bill as having statewide value and asked to focus first on the $5 million GO request. Mayor Brenda Dietrich and Community Development Director Jason Ziemer testified in support, calling the Hall of Fame a once-in-a-lifetime, transformative project for the city, the Twin Cities region, and the state. They said Inver Grove Heights expects to invest $14 million to $17 million locally for land acquisition and site improvements, and that the state funds would help pay for roads, utilities, stormwater work, grading, and right-of-way needs. They also emphasized that the public investment would support broader economic development in the area and accommodate a future I-494 interchange. Members asked about long-term ownership and maintenance, and were told the facility would be privately owned, with a developer owning about half and the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame nonprofit owning the ice arena portion. Another question raised whether the project would compete with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame; testifiers said it would instead work in tandem, with collaboration on exhibits and a potential benefit to the Eveleth institution. No vote or formal action was taken in the portion of the meeting shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Concerns with it is the possibility of, I mean, because the majority of the people who share AI images
• don't know that they're doing it or are sharing it, Facebook, things like that, and that they could
• you know, if everybody's running around spouting negativity, you know, or falsehoods, then we all share
• Then we all share a little bit of the blame in that.
• also apply to, like, hypothetically, an elected official or government agency if they were to, say, share

Summary: The committee met in executive session and first adopted a House committee substitute for House Bill 1611, then voted the bill do pass on a roll call vote. House Bill 2032 was also taken up in executive session; after adopting a substitute, members discussed concerns about liability, age verification, data retention, and the $100,000 per-case aggregate, and the committee voted the bill do pass by a 9-3 roll call. The committee then considered House Bills 3393 and 2392 together, adopted a committee substitute and a further amendment after a point of order challenge was rejected, and voted the combined substitute do pass by 12-1. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 1747, which would address AI-generated images, video, and audio by creating a cause of action for damages when realistic synthetic content causes harm, while also allowing optional labeling or watermarking to provide legal protection. The sponsor said he intended to change the labeling requirement from mandatory to permissive, partly due to First Amendment and cost concerns, and emphasized that the bill was aimed at photorealistic content that could be mistaken for reality. Members asked about standing, global enforcement, the definition of artificial intelligence, incidental sharing by users, and possible application to political content. Testifying in opposition, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it appreciated the sponsor’s willingness to work on the bill but argued that even a permissive watermarking approach would still create significant liability and uncertainty for businesses unless the cause of action was also narrowed or removed. The chamber also raised concerns about retroactive application and the burden of going back to watermark existing AI-generated content. After public testimony, the chair closed the hearing and adjourned the committee, noting there might be a quick hearing later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• others, this bill would direct the department to do that on an annual basis, and also make sure that a share
• of those responses are audited so that we can be sure that the information that's being shared is accurate
• The information that's being shared is accurate. Perfect.
• The goal of having a share of those responses to be audited would be to just ensure that all of the information
• that's being shared is accurate.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from February 26 and March 2, and then took up several measures. RS 33677, a reintroduction of House Bill 759, was presented as a revised proposal to adjust Medicaid provider rate-setting and cost surveys. The sponsor said the draft clarified the intended spending reduction, identified the services to be cost surveyed, moved the implementation date to December of next year, and added language stating rates are subject to legislative appropriation. Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid administrator Sasha O’Connell explained the department would conduct annual cost surveys similar to current practice, with a random 15% audit of responses and continued use of the existing auditor, Myers and Stauffer. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal impact and whether providers might be forced to close, and the committee voted to introduce RS 33677 and send it to the Second Reading Calendar. The committee then considered RS 33626, which would create a legislative oversight committee for Idaho’s rural health transformation funds awarded under the federal rural health program. Representative Redmond said the bill was meant to provide legislative oversight of nearly $1 billion in federal funds over five years. Members asked about minority-party representation and whether the proposal overlapped with Senate Bill 1264; Redmond said leadership had discussed the membership issue and that the Senate bill was not moving. Some members supported the oversight framework, while one member raised concerns about accepting additional federal money and national debt. The committee nevertheless voted to introduce RS 33626. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 758, described as cleanup legislation related to prior child care law changes. Representative Earhart said the bill was intended to clarify issues requested by the committee and to avoid unintended consequences for home daycare providers. A member of the public, Elizabeth Nune, testified against the bill, arguing that the nap-time supervision changes and the treatment of providers’ own children would weaken child care standards and professionalism. Earhart responded that the requested changes were clarifying only and that reversing them would effectively put home daycare providers out of business. The committee then voted to send House Bill 758 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't need to come forward, but I just want to make a statement, and if you'd share it with your
• that this department conducts themselves and presents to this committee the information that they share
• Thank you so much, again, for all of your hard work and for sharing your knowledge with us.
• that this department conducts themselves and presents to this committee the information that they share
• Thank you so much, again, for all of your hard work and for sharing your knowledge with us.

Summary: The House Agricultural Affairs Committee approved the minutes from February 2, 2026, and then considered five Idaho State Department of Agriculture rule dockets, all of which were approved. Andrea Thompson, administrator for the Plant Industries Division, presented the first three dockets: rules on seed production and distribution, commercial feed/fertilizer/soil and plant amendments registration and licensing, and planting of beans. She described mostly housekeeping updates, incorporation by reference of national and international standards, clarification of licensing and testing requirements, and a minor bean rule change confirming that edible bean seed brought into Idaho for planting must have an approved green tag rather than a yellow tag. The committee then reviewed invasive species and noxious weeds rules, including both a temporary and pending docket. Thompson explained the temporary Snake River quarantine and decontamination measures related to quagga mussel treatment, and the pending addition of golden mussel to Idaho’s emergency detection and rapid response list. She said Idaho has not found golden mussel in the state, and outlined the 2025 mussel response, including delimiting surveys, treatment, and a reduction in the impacted river area from 7.2 miles to 3.5 miles. Members asked questions about how golden mussel may have spread, whether it was intentional, what zebra mussels look like, and whether federal agencies were doing more at source waters such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell. All five dockets were moved and approved by voice vote, including the temporary and pending invasive species rules. The chair closed by thanking the department for its work and expertise, noted that the committee would not meet on Friday, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Pinto. of Hope, Senator Ramos, Senator Sanchez, Senator Scott, Senator Sedilla-Lopez, Senator Share
• Before I recite this prayer, I just want to share with you that this is one of the favorite prayers of
• whips for excusals and cameras, I just want to thank resident teacher Hendrick for being here for sharing
• I rise today to share some really good news for both local school districts across New Mexico and for
• Purchasing Act, the Public Assistance Act, and sections of the New Mexico Insurance Code to prohibit cost sharing

Transcript Highlights:

• public comment are available on the website under this committee meeting's notice, but will also be shared
• As my colleagues have so powerfully shared, we are the mental health providers in our schools, yet we
• When your name is called, you will have the opportunity to unmute yourself and share your comment.
• When your name is called, you will have the opportunity to unmute yourself and share your comments.
• Samantha, you should be able to unmute and share your comments. Great. Can you hear me? Yes. Yes.

Bills: SB231

Keywords: school social workers, salary supplement, LCSW, mental health, education funding, Delaware Code, certification, professional standards

Summary: The House Administration Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 231, which would extend the existing 6% salary supplement for school-based mental health professionals with advanced credentials to school social workers who hold licensed clinical social worker credentials and have passed the national exam. The bill sponsor and multiple witnesses described school social workers as essential to student mental health, crisis response, attendance, and family support, and argued the measure corrects an oversight and inequity in the current salary supplement structure. Public testimony was uniformly supportive, and the committee voted to release the bill. The committee then heard Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 212, a constitutional amendment to protect the rights to hunt, fish, and trap. Supporters, including sportsmen’s groups and individual residents, said the amendment would preserve longstanding traditions, support wildlife management, and guard against future threats to hunting and trapping. An opposing witness argued there was no current threat in Delaware and said the Constitution should not be used to protect trapping or elevate hunting and trapping over other wildlife management approaches. Despite the opposition, the committee voted to release the substitute bill. Finally, the committee took up Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 284, the First State Emergency Response Act, which would create a 25-foot buffer around first responders at emergency scenes after warning, with misdemeanor penalties for knowingly entering or remaining in the zone to interfere with duties. Supporters said the bill would protect police, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics from interference, while opponents from the ACLU and the Office of Defense Services raised concerns about vague terms, potential First Amendment impacts, enforcement clarity, and jurisdictional issues. Committee members also questioned how the buffer would be marked and enforced. The sponsor and staff said they would continue working on the language, and the committee voted to release the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state could pay for supplemental payments into the state's share of the CalSTRS liability if it wished
• And a few years ago, there was a plan developed to pre-fund that benefit, and the state's share of that
• And a few years ago, there was a plan developed to pre-fund that benefit, and the state's share of that
• Like New York or I know New York is comparable in size, but in terms of our reserves as a share of state
• They are above California relative to their share of expenditures for their reserves.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review held an informational hearing on ACA 20, the Save for California’s Future Act, and took no votes. The chair described the measure as a way to strengthen the state’s Rainy Day Fund by increasing reserves during strong revenue years and helping pay down long-term obligations. The vice chair said he preferred a broader spending rule tied to a rolling average of revenues, rather than the proposal’s reserve-focused approach. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained how Proposition 2 currently requires deposits into the Budget Stabilization Account and debt payments when revenues are strong, and how ACA 20 would change those rules by increasing required reserve deposits, raising the BSA target from 10% to 20% of General Fund revenues, creating a “super excess capital gains” deposit requirement, extending debt-payment requirements through 2040, and expanding eligible debt uses to include Proposition 98 settle-up, budgetary borrowing, and federal unemployment insurance debt. The Department of Finance said the administration supports the measure and believes it improves Proposition 2. Members asked about the Gann limit, whether the measure would allow more spending or simply change how deposits are counted, the impact on infrastructure and other programs, the size of the UI debt, and how the proposal would affect future budget flexibility. Several senators supported the goal of saving more in good years and using reserves to avoid painful cuts in downturns, while others questioned whether the proposal was sufficiently simple or whether a larger structural spending rule would be better. Public comment largely supported the measure, with one former legislative staffer arguing it follows earlier reserve reforms and helps address the state’s UI debt. The chair closed by noting the committee would not act that day and that the measure would be considered on the Senate floor the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to share our research and for your consideration of this important bill
• As Brandon shared, we are fortunate to live in a community where communication around gluten-free meals
• I have a photo here that I would like to share with the 10 of you.
• I hesitantly share this photo, not for sympathy, but to illustrate the seriousness of the condition and
• We are happy for the chairs and the committee to share it, and deeply grateful that you would share it

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held a hearing on two late-filed bills, S. 2927 and H. 5012, titled An Act Relative to Students Accessing Food and Nutritional Information, filed by Senator Joan Lovely and Representative Michelle Badger. The bills would require schools to make clear, centralized online information available about gluten-free and allergen-free meals, including menus, food safety procedures, and contact information, so students with celiac disease and other medically necessary dietary restrictions can safely participate in universal school meal programs. Committee members and the bill sponsors emphasized that the measure is intended to improve transparency, equity, and access within the Commonwealth’s universal free breakfast and lunch program. Testimony came from students, parents, physicians, and advocates, many of whom described celiac disease as a serious autoimmune condition requiring a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. Witnesses said families often struggle to find reliable school meal information, and that lack of communication between school administrators, nurses, and food service staff can lead families to opt out of school meals even when safe options exist. Medical witnesses from Boston Children’s, Mass General, and Beth Israel said the bill addresses a real barrier identified in research and could help prevent health problems, missed school, and long-term complications from gluten exposure. Several witnesses also noted that the bill’s approach could benefit students with food allergies more broadly. Committee members praised the testimony, especially from young student witnesses, and discussed practical issues such as cross-contamination, 504 plans, and whether schools already have the underlying information needed to comply. One member suggested the Department of Public Health might be able to address some of the issue through regulations, similar to a prior restaurant allergy-protocol change. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee closed after hearing from all panels and the bill sponsors, who asked for favorable consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 2, Audit 111, law enforcement agencies information sharing, submitted by Senator Archuleta.
• I really want to share... ...Caltrans in different roles.
• I really want to share, on behalf of the chairman of my board, the staff, as well as myself and Don,
• We are excited to share that effective January 1, 2027, we will offer two dental carriers, Delta Dental
• of California Library Resources, amendment Mary Succi; 26-11, law enforcement agency information sharing

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to consider new audit requests. The State Auditor reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, with several expected to be published over the coming months, and noted that litigation is delaying the Huntington Beach air show audit. The committee approved a consent calendar of four audit requests covering UC library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. The committee then heard Assembly Member DeMaio’s request for an audit of SANDAG’s road project management and use of transportation funds. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to restore public trust and examine whether restricted funds, voter-approved revenues, and project commitments were properly handled. SANDAG’s CEO and CFO said the agency manages many funding sources, undergoes frequent audits, and has strengthened internal controls; they said the requested review would be duplicative of existing oversight. After debate, the committee voted the request down. Next, Senator Valadares presented an audit of the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration, focusing on whether grantees and BSCC are accurately reporting outcomes and recidivism data and whether oversight is sufficient. BSCC said the program already has multiple oversight layers, including Controller audits, and cited reported improvements in homelessness, employment, and recidivism outcomes. The committee approved the audit. Finally, Senator Cortese’s audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and contract oversight was heard, with supporters citing long-standing benefit caps, provider network problems, and retirees’ out-of-pocket costs. CalHR said its network remains strong, that it recently ran an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier starting in 2027, and that it uses performance guarantees. The committee approved that audit as well, then completed add-on votes approving the earlier consent calendar items before adjourning.