Transcript Highlights:

• It's on the fourth floor of the Capitol building.
• But what is happening in the state is very overwhelming.
• But what is happening in the state is very overwhelming.
• Chairman, members of the council, just in your packet.
• I am the State Historian with the Idaho State Historical Society, and I'm happy to give the federal and

Summary: The America 250 Advisory Council met with a quorum and approved the prior meeting minutes. Staff gave a financial update showing about $344,310.88 in total expenditures to date, with roughly $64,987.14 remaining in the bottom line and an estimated $9,147 returning to the commemorative fund after two outstanding grants are resolved. Members thanked staff for getting grant money out to cities and counties and for tracking the celebration fund carefully. The council then received legal guidance from the Attorney General’s Office on how to handle contracts. Counsel Yvonne Dunbar explained that the full committee, not subcommittees alone, must decide how America 250 funds are spent and should clearly designate who is authorized to sign contracts and carry out delegated tasks. The committee voted to authorize the co-chairs to sign agreements approved by the council and to send signed agreements to the Legislative Services Office and Treasurer’s Office for recordkeeping and payment processing, with questions routed back to the co-chairs. Members also discussed a specific $20,000 celebration fund contract, but were advised no new motion was needed because the expenditure had already been approved; the contract would simply be returned for signature once finalized. An ambassador program update highlighted strong public participation, including nearly 2,000 ambassadors, 170 cities, 44 counties, 47 businesses, and 29 schools using customized logos. The council also heard about the Capitol quilt display, which grew from an expected 12 quilts to 62 and has drawn significant public attention, along with progress on the Liberty Bell carriage and a fountain project. The governor’s task force report covered upcoming America 250 initiatives such as the July 8 “Sharing the Spirit of America” reading event, the youth art project “My America, From Ground Zero to Common Ground,” America’s Potluck, and the updated Idaho and federal event websites. The federal report summarized national America 250 activities, including Idaho’s submission to the America’s Time Capsule project, the Flag Sojourn, America’s Field Trip, America Innovates, the growing congressional America 250 caucus, and the planned Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. Finally, the council approved disbursement of grant awards requested by Power County, the City of Nampa, the City of Heyburn, and Jerome County. Members discussed scheduling the next meeting for April 20 and adjourned after brief closing remarks thanking staff and partners for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• United States.
• We have our core state hospitals that are owned and operated by the state: Austin State Hospital, Kerrville
• These are policy choices that are baked into your state code right now.
• In civil commitment, Texas state law has enshrined in its state code a bias toward the least restrictive
• There's a bunch of statutes, there's a bunch of parts of the state code here that do that.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The APATH building, those are ongoing discussions between the district board, the state fairground, and
• So generally, in the case of this building, it's the Legislative Council that would have that sort of
• million in item, oh gosh, 109, the State Engineer's Water Security Planning Act. so that we can build
• up those regional water councils all through the state.
• the buildings?

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Combined with strong building codes in the coastal counties, insurance incentives, and engagement with
• Improve building codes. Wildfire prepared standards, fortified building standards.
• Newman I've got two words for you senator building codes. Yeah, it is basic low hanging fruit.
• We know that building codes work.
• The Florida building code, we believe prevented about 1 to $3 billion from additional losses associated

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: homeowners insurance, natural disasters, insurance costs, climate change, disaster preparedness, federal policies, bipartisan solutions

Summary: The meeting reviewed critical issues surrounding the rising costs and accessibility of homeowners insurance across the United States, particularly in light of increasing natural disasters linked to climate change. Members engaged in extensive discussions regarding the implications for families and the economy, citing significant increases in premiums and decreasing availability of policies in high-risk areas. Supervisor Peysko highlighted the direct impact of federal policies on local communities, emphasizing the growing burden on homeowners as they face skyrocketing insurance costs amidst a backdrop of environmental challenges and regulatory constraints. The committee expressed a unified call to action for bipartisan solutions, focusing on improving building codes and enhancing disaster preparedness measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's right, there are no state guidelines.
• Barclay, please state your name and who you represent.
• I didn't hear much about the build out of transmission.
• How do those timelines match with transmission building?
• So the transmission build-out is typically about a four to five year build-out.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• county in this state.
• And our state, of course, as it stands in all of the United States, because it seems... ...as it stands
• Wett Engineering Building.
• And that's certainly with Pensacola State being such an important workforce engine in the... ...state
• My niece is a freshman at Florida State.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Council Member Nick Harnes, Chair of the Altadena Town Council, and total loss survivor, showing strong
• Please come forward and state your name and affiliation.
• But we also want to make sure that we go up to code because we haven't updated these codes in 40 years
• on what the states call it.
• So that's how insurance is regulated in the United States, through the states, through the departments

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pipe Trades Council, and the Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers, in support.
• building trades.
• California, SEIU, as well as the state building trades. Thank you.
• the state.
• AB 2705 mirrors the State Controller's unclaimed property framework under the Civil Code and Code of

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills dealing with tax policy, local revenue authority, consumer protections, and incentives for development. AB 1726 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax dollars for disaster mitigation and recovery costs; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, while the California Teachers Association opposed it because of the General Fund and Prop. 98 impact. The bill was referred to suspense. AB 1768 would authorize Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties to ask voters to approve local transaction and use taxes to offset projected federal funding cuts affecting health care and safety-net services; it received broad support from health providers and county representatives, opposition from one member and a resident, and passed the committee 5-2 to the Assembly Local Government Committee. The committee also considered AB 1790, which would repeal the Waters Edge corporate tax election and require worldwide combined reporting for multinational corporations. The author and supporters argued it would close a loophole, raise several billion dollars annually, and help fund schools, Medi-Cal, and other programs; opponents warned of double taxation, compliance burdens, retaliation from foreign governments, and job losses. After extensive testimony and member debate, the bill was referred to suspense. AB 2020 would provide a full property tax exemption for the primary residence of 100% disabled veterans and surviving spouses, and AB 2069 would create a targeted sales and use tax exemption to spur development projects at fairgrounds; both measures had support from sponsors and related organizations, no opposition, and were referred to suspense. Finally, AB 2705 would regulate third-party “asset finders” who help claim excess proceeds from tax sales by requiring written agreements, disclosure that claims can be filed free with the county, and a cap on fees at 10%. County officials and local government groups supported the bill as a consumer protection measure, while recovery companies and related firms opposed it, arguing the work is complex and the cap would reduce access to services. The committee moved AB 2705 to the Assembly floor on a 4-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• them tremendously, as other states don't also have funds to be able to backfill what they were building
• you know, red and blue states across the United States to try to, you know, open up that economy for
• This is a United States problem.
• about how we do prospective pay as a state to make sure we are being good state stewards of federal
• about how we do prospective pay as a state to make sure we are being good state stewards of federal

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Council Member Nick Harnes, Chair of the Altadena Town Council, and total loss survivor, showing strong
• Please come forward and state your name and affiliation.
• We also want to make sure that we go up to code because we haven't updated these codes in 40 years.
• depending on what the states call it.
• So that's how insurance is regulated in the United States: through the states, through the departments

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on insurance transparency, claims handling, privacy, and regulatory enforcement. SB 877 and SB 878 by Senator Pérez addressed post-disaster claims practices: SB 877 would require insurers to disclose original and revised loss estimates and related claim materials to policyholders, while SB 878 would add automatic interest penalties for delayed claim decisions or payments and require written identification of disputed items. Fire survivors, consumer groups, AARP, the Department of Insurance, and other advocates supported both bills, while insurer groups moved to neutral after amendments. Both bills were voted out on roll call and reported to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 1054 by Senator Cabaldon, which would expand data sharing and reporting to improve workforce program evaluation and help counties verify work requirements for Medi-Cal and CalFresh using employer-reported hours worked. County officials, workforce advocates, and the Department of Insurance supported the measure, and no opposition was heard. The bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to the Committee on Labor and Employment. SB 1209 by Senator Allen, presented with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, would give the commissioner stronger enforcement tools to require insurers to carry out corrective actions identified in market conduct examinations, including fines and hearings for noncompliance. The commissioner and author said the bill would close an enforcement gap and improve accountability; there was no opposition testimony, but the bill was left on call after the roll. The committee also heard SB 354 on insurance privacy, presented by Senator Padilla on behalf of Pro Tem Limón, which would modernize insurance privacy rules by expanding consumer rights over personal data, limiting sale and use of sensitive information, and increasing disclosure requirements. Supporters said the bill updates outdated 1980s-era rules, while insurers, agents, and business groups raised concerns about scope, compliance burdens, and small-business impacts. Members indicated the bill was still being negotiated and would return in a revised form in the Privacy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• by state.
• Madam Chair and members, Mike West, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of
• So if you are a resident in the state of California and you are in another state, you buy something and
• been provided to other states and law enforcement in other states.
• What other states are able to do successfully—some states, as we know, I think it was New Hampshire,

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional costs for the state.
• And it was stated that it would have just gone out of state or out of the nation even during that time
• But I mean, can the state—Charles wants to answer this—can the state set some of these qualifications
• State.
• A quick note: my understanding is that Legislative Council is going to be taking up sort of a building-wide

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is because our National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the company that administers the
• So I work with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• So I work with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• Issue number seven, out-of-state, related to out-of-state nurse practitioners.
• So prior to 1989, when the BPPE, or then the council, was created, our state board had sole oversight

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with committee chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and economic mobility. BRN leaders reported improvements since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, higher consumer satisfaction, growth in pre-licensure enrollment, and expanded data collection. Members questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international and military pathways to licensure, online nursing education and clinical requirements, rural workforce shortages, and the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option. BRN staff explained California’s tiered advanced practice system, the NCLEX and certification requirements, English proficiency rules, clinical hour standards, and the board’s role in approving programs and supporting schools through nursing education consultants. Several members and the board president also discussed the need to retain new graduates, improve diversity in the workforce, and better support nontraditional students and rural placements. Public comment on the BRN sunset review was extensive and largely supportive of the board, while also urging policy changes. Nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nursing education groups generally supported the BRN report and especially backed clarification of APRN-to-RN delegation authority under issue 13. Other commenters asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, more flexibility for clinical nurse specialists, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and changes to federal loan limits affecting graduate nursing education. Higher education representatives and private nursing schools raised concerns about duplicative BRN documentation, clinical placement bottlenecks, and barriers faced by out-of-state and online programs seeking to serve California students. The California Medical Association and some physician groups opposed easing transition-to-practice requirements for out-of-state nurse practitioners and cautioned against changes to specialty and delegation rules, while the California Nurses Association and others stressed the importance of community college pathways, new graduate support, and workforce retention. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California. Board leadership reported that the board oversees more than 41,000 active licensees, has seen about 15% growth since 2021, and continues to maintain high exam pass rates among California physical therapy and physical therapist assistant programs. The board described its mission as consumer protection through licensing, enforcement, continuing competency oversight, and stakeholder engagement. The vice president’s remote testimony encountered technical problems, so the executive officer continued with a brief overview of the board’s work and its commitment to efficient service and public protection. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is because our National Council of State Boards of Nursing—the company that administers the
• So I work with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. We work with...
• So I work with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• Issue number seven, out-of-state, related to out-of-state nurse practitioners.
• So prior to 1989, when the BPPE, or then the council, was created, our state board had sole oversight

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• finances and state workforce.
• </c> prevent Bad actors from getting State prevent Bad actors from getting State contracts<00:04:15.519
• </c> to debar entities from receiving State to debar entities from receiving State funds<00:04:22.120
• c> Workforce</c> to State finances and State Workforce to State finances and State Workforce highlighted
• ><c> state</c> of compliance across state of compliance across state agencies<00:05:15.039><c> the</c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Ethan, the silver fox, the Speaker pro tem, and the state legislature, we welcome you to the State
• the state of California.
• And on being. 15 years as city clerk, previously as mayor, and now as a member of the council, and on
• It builds upon existing protections against elder fraud and financial It builds upon existing protections
• Rubio of the United States Marine Corps.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Routine procedural motions followed, including unanimous-consent actions to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks, guest introductions, and expedited floor processing of certain bills and committee reports. The chamber also recognized several guests, including Sacramento Police Detective Jason Collins, student musician Ethan Shue, and Glendale Councilmember Artie Kasakian. On the floor file, AB 1184 by Assembly Member Patterson, the Homeowner Association Accountability and Transparency Act of 2026, was presented as a measure to add basic transparency requirements for HOAs; it passed 56-0. AB 871 by Assembly Member Stephanie, addressing financial elder abuse and scam reporting/training for financial institutions, also passed 56-0. On the Senate side, SB 25 by Senator Umberg, which would give the California Attorney General earlier access to federal merger-notification filings to streamline merger review, passed 43-14 after the Majority Leader presented it. The Assembly then held several adjournment-in-memory tributes, including Paul R. Ignatius, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy and Glendale native; Oxnard Police Commander Scott Aaron; Private First Class Tanner F. Rubio of the U.S. Marine Corps; and former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand. Members and family guests offered remarks honoring their service and legacies, followed by a moment of silence for PFC Rubio. The session concluded with announcements about upcoming floor and committee deadlines and adjourned until Monday, January 26 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• or state colleges.
• Or state colleges.
• Code.
• as long as all the parties are United States citizens or United States residents?
• States Attorney or the United States District Court for the applicable district in this state has waived

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, staff, visitors, and a military veteran. After routine announcements, the chamber took up several House-returned bills and special-order measures, with most motions to concur or refuse to concur adopted without objection. Early actions included unanimous concurrence in House amendments to SB 118 on RV park special assessments and SB 572 on ethics rules for public officers and employees, both passing 38-0. The Senate then debated and passed CS/CS/HB 991 on election integrity by a 27-12 vote after extensive opposition focused on voter registration documentation, student IDs, provisional ballots, and potential disenfranchisement; the sponsor defended the bill as a citizenship-verification and election-security measure. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 182, an education package combining several related provisions, by 37-0, and later approved SB 474 on military affairs by 39-0 after a technical amendment restoring certain retirement eligibility positions. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service, and refused to concur in the House strike-all amendment to SB 598 after the House had added composting language to the cremation definition. Several other messages were temporarily postponed. On the special-order calendar, the Senate passed CS/CS/HB 425 on historic cemeteries by 39-0, allowing historic Black cemetery boards to sell surplus property not used for burial to fund maintenance. It also passed HB 929 on chickee regulation by 39-0, limiting local restrictions on chickee construction and setting spacing, fire-safety, and permitting rules. SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation was substituted with identical CS/HB 35 and passed 39-0, expanding habitual offender treatment to repeated driving without a valid license. The chamber then returned to CS/CS/CS/SB 902, the Department of Health package, which was substituted with CS/HB 733 and amended to retain the Senate’s medical marijuana location limits, adjust NICU nutrition language, modify the dental student loan repayment program, and require a pediatric trauma center designation for certain specialty children’s hospitals; it passed 37-0. The Senate also moved CS/CS/CS/HB 905 on foreign influence to the special-order calendar and began debate on a strike-all amendment defining foreign terrorist organizations and foreign countries of concern, restricting gifts and business ties, tightening sister-city affiliations, and adding ethics training and reporting requirements, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you stated, this is House Bill 259 by Representative DeWitt.
• As you stated, this is amendment set 2746.
• Ma'am, just state your name so I can see your card.
• Okay, and this is a problem if we have standards already in our Louisiana Building Code that aren't being
• codes that we have in this state.

Bills: HB220 , HB259 , HB463 , HB536 , HB750 , HB830 , HB950

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: child exploitation, online reporting, platforms, cyber crime, PROTECT Act, excavation, demolition, infrastructure repair, BEAD Program, utility damage, construction coordination, contact point, emergency services, telephone charge, wireless service, reporting requirements, communications district, wireless communication, school safety, community permits

Transcript Highlights:

• Sen for nursing the Hawaii Hawaii state Sen for nursing the Hawaii state<00:13:01.160><c> Center</c>
• </c> significant impact the Hawaii state significant impact the Hawaii state Center<00:13:24.279><c>
• </c><00:19:29.960><c> to</c> nurses through a staffing Council to nurses through a staffing Council to
• Conditions in this state.
• Instead, it defers to state law in the relevant state where the couple will reside.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're increasing the building renewal fund.
• So we're formally stating that we are not transferring.
• The State of Arizona general obligations are responsible for, but we have additional debt that the state
• For the tax year 2025 that just ended, it conforms Arizona state statute to the Internal Revenue Code
• We're going to see an increase of veterans in this state.

Summary: The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members. Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board. The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.