Transcript Highlights:

• Brooks, on behalf of the University of California, UC Health serves patients from 99% of California zip codes
• There are other provisions in the Business and Professions Code related to increased continuing medical
• would benefit from these services, and we urge they not be treated differently than those with commercial
• would benefit from these services, and we urge they not be treated differently than those with commercial

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard updates on five health-related budget items. First, members reviewed state support for distressed hospitals and health facilities. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority and HCAI described the Distressed Hospital Loan Program as a lifeline for 16 hospitals, many of which remain financially strained and are expected to seek loan forgiveness rather than repayment. Speakers cited reduced contract labor, new service lines, strategic partnerships, and the reopening of Madera Hospital as signs of progress, but also warned that federal policy changes under H.R. 1 will likely increase uncompensated care and pressure emergency departments. Public commenters from hospital, dental, and consumer groups supported additional funding, including a request to refresh the program with another $300 million. The committee then heard HCAI’s update on the California Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded at $233.6 million for California. HCAI said the program will focus on rural care models, workforce development, and health technology, with grants to be rolled out on a fast timeline and all funds obligated by October 30, 2026. Members raised concerns about rural provider capacity to apply for grants, and HCAI said it will use a third-party administrator, a technical assistance center, webinars, and other supports to help applicants. HCAI also presented its budget request for the health care payments database, seeking ongoing non-General Fund support to continue operations and expand data, including pharmacy benefit manager data. The Emergency Medical Services Authority presented three budget change proposals: funding to replace disaster medical services fleet vehicles, funding for IT security work, and additional positions for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. A member also raised concern that EMSA has not yet completed the annual ambulance rate reporting required by AB 716, and EMSA said it remains committed to the requirement but lost prior funding through later budget reductions. Covered California reported that it is still finalizing its own budget, but expects a lower operating budget due to efforts to reduce baseline costs and align spending with actual expenditures; it also projected enrollment declines tied to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and federal rule changes, while noting that revenues may still rise because premiums are expected to increase. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined budget proposals tied to menopause coverage and education, PBM licensure and enforcement under AB 116 and SB 41, credentialing reforms under AB 1041, and prior authorization reporting under SB 306. Public testimony generally supported the menopause and PBM proposals, while also urging clearer language and attention to Medi-Cal parity. The hearing concluded after public comment, including additional advocacy for sickle cell services and rural health workforce funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• behalf of the University of California, said UC Health serves patients from 99% of California zip codes
• There are other provisions in the Business and Professions Code related to increased continuing medical
• would benefit from these services, and we urge they not be treated differently than those with commercial
• would benefit from these services, and we urge they not be treated differently than those with commercial

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your ZIP code unfortunately determines destiny in too many communities across our country and in our
• that where you live impacts the length of your life and the healthiness your communities have zip code
• The program conducts inspections on fuel pumps and commercial weighing and measuring devices to ensure
• The program conducts inspections on fuel pumps and commercial weighing and measuring devices to ensure

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On set, they build sets, and they're not building things up to codes, but they have to have some kind
• like commercial construction that would that would parlay into the film industry.
• So you're not doing commercial lighting.
• You're not running up to code standard. lighting, you're just running.

Bills: HB232

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• know, guys come on set, they, they build sets, and, and, you know, they're not building things up to codes
• schools, what is the different skill set that they would need if they're mostly involved in like commercial
• Commercial lighting, you're not running up to code standard lighting. You're just running.

Bills: HB232

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• THEIR STORIES REMIND US THAT THE LANGUAGE IN OUR LEGAL CODE HAS REAL CONSEQUENCES, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
• YOUNG PEOPLE GROWING UP IN ZIP Codes that are underfunded, over-policed, and underserved are already
• WE REALIZE AT 18 YEARS OLD YOU CAN GET A COMMERCIAL PILOT'S LICENSE?
• YOU CAN GET AT 18 YEARS OLD A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO HURTLE DOWN THE ROAD

Keywords: sales tax reduction, budget cuts, boating safety, water treatment, municipal utilities, school safety, medical malpractice, firearm purchase age, cursive writing instruction, first responder support, veto overrides, veterans funding, infrastructure projects

Summary: The Florida House convened for regular business, with Speaker Perez announcing historic budget plans including the largest state tax cut in Florida history - a permanent 0.75% sales tax reduction from 6% to 5.25%, saving Floridians nearly $5 billion annually. The House will propose a budget lower than both the Governor's proposal and last year's budget. Several bills passed including Lucy's Law (boating safety), water access facilities funding, municipal utility rate corrections, hazardous walking conditions for schools, and medical malpractice 'Free Kill Law' repeal. The controversial firearm purchase age bill (HB 759) passed 78-34, lowering the minimum age from 21 to 18, despite emotional opposition citing the Parkland shooting. Other bills addressed cursive writing instruction, peer support for first responders, and government sunset reviews. Multiple veto override motions were approved unanimously, reinstating funding for veterans programs and infrastructure projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• ahead and move House File 2498 be laid over for possible inclusion and There's an author's amendment coded
• This bill focuses mostly on the bigger parcels, so commercial, multifamily buildings that I feel would
• Commercial buildings and multifamily residences to move past planning and into building and benefiting
• Representative Kraft does have an author's amendment, coded the DE 2.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's why we changed, that's why we changed the amendment so that it would not be in the penal code
• , in the penal code.
• pertains to communication infrastructures; provide for an exemption for use of unmanned aircraft for commercial
• exemption communication infrastructures provides for an exemption for use of unmanned aircraft for commercial

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee first considered the appointment of Michelle Whitworth to the Florida Commission on Offender Review. Whitworth described her 30 years of criminal justice experience, and the committee voted to recommend her confirmation favorably. The committee then took up SB 1692 on material harmful to minors, adopting a delete-all amendment that shifted the focus to K-12 instructional materials and objections by parents or residents. Supporters argued it would create clearer standards and protect children from pornographic content, while opponents warned it would worsen book bans and remove consideration of literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. After extensive debate and public testimony, the bill as amended was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on several criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 1422 increased penalties for certain drone-related offenses near critical infrastructure and for weaponized drones; SB 1360 clarified xylazine’s veterinary use while creating stronger trafficking penalties; and SB 1732 increased penalties for animal cruelty involving minors and for contributing to a minor’s delinquency. SB 776 added an aggravating factor for the assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, and SB 984 added aggravating factors for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for religious, school, or government activities. SB 1640 made domestic violence lethality assessment forms confidential, and SB 1268 updated FDLE operations and increased reimbursement for retired police dogs. All of these bills were reported favorably after brief debate and mostly supportive testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1084 on sexual cyber harassment, with a strike-all amendment addressing digitally forged intimate images and extending prosecution time limits. SB 1654 updated sexual offender and predator registration rules, including definitions of residence and online reporting for in-state travel, though one witness raised concerns about vague language and employer privacy. SB 1774 created a rebuttable presumption in certain second-degree murder cases when the victim had a controlled substance in their system, drawing criticism that it could devalue victims who used drugs. Finally, SB 1838 strengthened protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, with an amendment adding magistrates, hearing officers, and related staff; defense attorneys warned the tampering language could inadvertently reach zealous advocacy. Each of these measures was ultimately reported favorably, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two fees that commercial vehicles could pay. The tax is on mileage driven in New Mexico.
• So any commercial vehicle, I think the trip tax the minimum is 12,000 pounds, and for weight distance
• Secretary, is there a fee for non-commercial traffic to come across? Mr.
• So would that be something that DOT would consider, is adding a fee to non-commercial traffic. Mr.
• And last year 781,000 private non-commercial vehicles crossed north from Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the color-coded org chart for Health and Welfare that you've seen before.
• Previously, you could go up to average commercial rate, which is like three times higher than Medicare
• We used to be able to go all the way up to average commercial rate.
• We used to be able to go all the way up to average commercial rate.
• And it's certainly true that the... ...assessment if we had gone up to average commercial rates, and

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing on the Division of Medicaid within the Department of Health and Welfare. Legislative Services analyst Alex Williamson reviewed Medicaid’s five budgeted programs, enrollment groups, staffing, historic spending growth, and the distinction between ongoing base adjustments and one-time enhancements. She explained that most Medicaid spending is in trust and benefit payments, discussed the large FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget changes, and walked through the governor’s recommendations, including hospital assessment fund alignment, claims forecast updates, MMIS procurement funding, estate recovery, program integrity support, and population forecast adjustments. Members asked extensive questions about the 4% provider rate reduction, the expansion population, federal match rates, and the effect of House Bill 345 and federal changes on Medicaid costs and eligibility. Williamson and Deputy Director Sasha O’Connell said the expansion population has declined, but costs are driven by utilization, provider rates, pharmacy, hospital, developmental disability, behavioral health, and long-term care services. They said the department is pursuing cost containment through prior authorization, redeterminations, higher cost sharing, and program integrity efforts, while noting that expansion is codified in law and any repeal or major eligibility change would require legislative action and could affect hospital assessment revenue and other offsets. The committee also discussed the MMIS replacement project, with lawmakers emphasizing milestone-based funding and risk control. O’Connell explained the estate recovery request as a replacement case management system plus contractor support to help recover Medicaid costs from estates, and said the program is federally required and revenue-generating. Several members raised concerns about backlogs, contractor costs, and whether AI or other technology could improve efficiency in program integrity and estate recovery. No votes were taken during the hearing; the discussion remained informational and focused on the governor’s budget recommendations and possible future reductions or policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the opportunity to ask not to follow two types of fire codes.
• We really want to set a precedent that the state fire code is the minimum standard.
• The fire code that they actually just add adopted amendments, things like that.
• Okay, and currently we have the 2018 International Fire Code as the current state fire code, and there
• The other two days they were actually in classroom learning the code, the electrical code or the code

Committee: House Government

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• may apply if they are a target for threats or harassment, as that term is defined under a criminal code
• They don't have Amazon or anyone else come to their door because there are commercial databases that
• That data is sold commercially, and you have a whole larger problem to attack in that way.
• And you're impacting all sorts of processes and commercial aspects and news gathering aspects and all
• So I would ask you to raise the level of enforcement without mingling the downstream commercial aspects

Bills: HB2176 , HB2244 , HB2120 , HB2333

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: drug therapy, public records, confidentiality, healthcare, collaborative practice, transparency, accountability, exemptions, government accountability, audit, legislative review, resource efficiency, committee work, political violence, elected officials, election officials, criminal justice, protection, safety, threats

Transcript Highlights:

• They have different codes, they have different modifiers, they have different portals.
• Well, we closed the power plant, which had commercial insurance.
• We closed the coal mine, which had commercial insurance. Insurance.
• Halliburton left, which had commercial insurance.
• ConocoPhillips left, which had commercial insurance.

Committee: Joint Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• current speed limit for roads, but also language that sections of the highway with residents in commercial
• current speed limit for roads, but also language that sections of the highway with residents in commercial
• sections of the highway with residents sections of the highway with residents in<00:41:28.079><c> commercial
• areas or schools shall be in commercial areas or schools shall be for<00:41:31.760><c> consideration
• Okay. code<01:04:37.920><c> to</c><01:04:38.000><c> vote</c><01:04:38.160><c> on.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation is not meant to interfere with commercial poultry operations, poultry hobbyists, schools
• There are common-sense exemptions for commercial poultry operations, hobbyists, rescues, and 4-H and
• There are common-sense exemptions for commercial poultry operations, hobbyists, rescues, and 4-H and
• 168 million domestic birds, and California has been especially hard hit, with nearly 23 million commercial
• I think that it should probably be better left to the penal codes as to birds and penalties.

Summary: The Assembly Agriculture Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then adopted its committee rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session by a 5-0 vote. The committee heard a series of agriculture-related bills, with most measures receiving broad support and moving forward. AB 1142 by Assemblymember Hoover would raise the fee thresholds for small public horse events that are exempt from equine medication monitoring rules; supporters said the current limits are outdated and hurt small riding clubs, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 411 by Assemblymember Papin would allow ranchers to compost livestock carcasses on-farm; supporters cited cost, environmental, and predator-control benefits, while rendering industry representatives asked for amendments to protect existing services and limit the bill’s scope. The bill passed to Natural Resources. AB 482 by Assemblymember Solache would modernize the California Table Grape Commission law and raise assessment caps without increasing assessments themselves; it passed to Appropriations. AB 312 by Vice Chair Alanis would shorten the holding period for ag theft property from six months to three months; it also passed to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 937 and AB 947 by Assemblymember Connolly. AB 937 would make technical changes to the Organic Transition Pilot Program to improve access to organic transition support, with testimony from a farmer who said the program helped him pursue organic certification; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 947 would expand and refine technical assistance under the Healthy Soils/Climate Smart Agriculture programs, including training, grant writing, matching funds coordination, equipment sharing, and outcome monitoring; supporters said the changes would help small and organic producers access state climate programs, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 1486, presented by the chair, would use Proposition 4 funding to start grants for public postsecondary agricultural research farms focused on climate resiliency; members praised the role of CSU and UC research farms, and the bill passed to Natural Resources as amended. The most extensive discussion centered on AB 928 by Assemblymember Rogers, the California Cockfighting Cruelty Act. Supporters argued the bill would help law enforcement target cockfighting and rooster trafficking, reduce avian disease risks, and protect public health and animal welfare; opponents, including poultry hobbyists, breeders, and 4-H-related participants, said it would overreach into lawful poultry keeping and harm heritage-breed and youth programs, urging instead that cockfighting penalties be increased to a felony. Committee members echoed concerns about unintended impacts on legitimate poultry owners and requested continued work on exemptions and language. The bill passed to Judiciary on a 5-2-1 vote, with one no vote and one abstention, and the chair noted that further committee review would continue as the bill advances.

Transcript Highlights:

• codes and DNR codes.
• One part of that that we do have concerns about is commercial harvesting or commercial sale.
• or commercial commercial harvesting or commercial sale.<00:59:34.319><c> Um</c><00:59:34.559><c> there's
• And I'm setting commercial aside.
• And I'm setting commercial aside.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for the criminal history, the criminal justice data transparency, the uniform arrest affidavit
• This is for the criminal history, the criminal justice data transparency, the uniform arrest affidavit
• We'll take up Tab Two now: Department of Law Enforcement Update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit, the
• In order to provide a more robust view of crime data, the FBI's voluntary Uniform Crime Reports program
• Now, the Uniform Arrest Affidavit Initiative is an effort to standardize the data elements collected

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the clerks of court. FDLE outlined 28 legislative budget requests for fiscal year 2026-27, including funding for a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology and data system upgrades, moving several programs off uncertain federal grants, expanding the wellness office, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, cybersecurity, forensic equipment, digital forensics, criminal history modernization, training, and the SAFE fentanyl enforcement program. Members asked about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, the role of body cameras and masking, public records request burdens on local agencies, and the status of Fibers and the Uniform Arrest Affidavit systems. FDLE said the misconduct data covers all sworn officers and corrections personnel, that many cases would not be affected by body cameras because they involve off-duty conduct or internal matters, and that it is working with agencies and vendors to improve participation in reporting systems. DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh updated the committee on the Florida Scholars Academy, describing the new unified education system across 39 residential facilities. He reported first-year enrollment, course completions, graduations, and compliance results, and said the program now provides in-person and blended instruction, individualized support, mental health services, and career and technical education. He also discussed staffing shortages in some detention facilities, the need for more residential beds, and the importance of recognizing and supporting staff. In response to questions, he explained how the program addresses students with disabilities and behavioral needs through one-on-one instruction, paraprofessionals, and immediate mental health support. The clerks of court presented a budget request centered on funding shortfalls and rising costs. Clerk and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels despite increased statutory duties, higher postage and staffing costs, and growing workloads in priority case types such as injunctions for protection and other high-risk matters. The clerks requested $22 million in direct appropriations, including support for due process costs, jury management, and staffing for 37 new judges approved last session. Members also asked about Senate Bill 532, which Butterfield described as a CPI-based measure to update court fines and fees that have remained unchanged since 2008. The committee took no votes on the presentations and adjourned after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• They want intersection improvements to meet their new current code requirements.
• and our Hawaii Housing commercialization and our Hawaii Housing Finance<05:15:52.680><c> development
• , nor do they have the capacity to take in that commercialization.
• </c><05:22:52.920><c> space</c><05:22:53.200><c> to</c> they don't have the commercial space to they
• </c> they're not set up for commercialization they're not set up for commercialization nor<05:23:03.160

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you remember, a few years ago we put that into code. That's one of the exceptions.
• Amending Chapter 30, Title 67, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new Section 67-3015, Idaho Code, to establish
• , to revise a code reference; and amending Section 67-6533, Idaho Code, to revise a reference, and declaring
• Senate Bill 1448 continues: amending Section 18-40105, Idaho Code, to revise a code reference; and amending
• No other highway district, all uniform today, would be changed for just one.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance, because we see both commercial insurance individuals as well as Medicaid Access patients
• insurance, because we see both commercial insurance individuals, as well as Medicaid access patients
• So they were impersonating these people, getting their data, signing them up for a commercial health
• Certain dialysis providers will pull people off and put them in the commercial health plans.
• They do not apply to many fully insured state-regulated commercial plans in Arizona, as outlined in the

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to radiation protection in cardiac catheterization labs and later a stem cell/regenerative therapy bill. On SB 1121, which would allow hospitals with radiation protection systems to let clinicians forgo lead aprons if they work in the designated safety area and use real-time dosimetry, testimony was largely supportive or neutral after a late amendment gave radiation safety officers discretion to require protective gear if exposures approach thresholds. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1121 on a 9-1 vote. SB 1120, a more prescriptive bill requiring at least 50% of cath lab rooms in hospitals to be equipped with the radiation protection system, drew divided testimony: sponsors and several physicians argued it would reduce orthopedic injury and radiation exposure and improve recruitment and retention, while hospital and radiology groups objected to the mandate, cost, limited vendor pool, and lack of clarity in the bill’s definitions. After adopting an amendment excluding children’s hospitals, the committee deadlocked 6-6 and SB 1120 failed to pass. The committee then considered SB 1118, which would appropriate $3 million to help rural hospitals install radiation protection systems in cath lab rooms. The sponsor said the funding would help rural facilities meet the same safety goals, and the committee passed the bill 6-5. The committee also heard SB 1214, a “guardrails” bill regulating non-FDA-approved stem cell and regenerative therapies, requiring informed consent, sourcing and reporting standards, advertising limits, and civil penalties for violations. Supporters said it would protect patients while allowing access to promising therapies; some members raised concerns about evidence and commercialization, but after adopting a technical amendment, the bill passed 9-3. The transcript ended as the committee moved on to SB 1630, which would seek federal approval for a home- and community-based service benefit for adults with serious mental illness; the sponsor described it as a capped, Medicaid-based community care option, and Access testified neutral while estimating a fiscal impact, but no final action on SB 1630 appears in the excerpt.