Transcript Highlights:

• Child care homes are essential to California's child care system, especially for working-class and immigrant
• are essential and part of California's child care system.
• before and long after any outside system does.
• I entered the foster care system at 14 years old and aged out at 21.
• I personally have experienced the foster care system in both my teen years and as a child.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So probably not a sustainable long-term budget at 3, but it's basically this gives you an idea of what
• And apparently, we are running the old system and the new system, the new Tercoy system.
• term.
• And then you go to that broader, more indiscriminate shaving of spending that has more detrimental long-term
• HCI, or the Health Care Authority, has a closed-loop referral system, which should Allow for clients

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is designed to enhance permanent, see promote stability and support the long-term well-being
• Foster care also known as professional foster care places the child in a family like setting.
• of care.
• takes up a lot of time and energy of the child welfare system because child welfare system has it really
• system.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's near- and long-term economic forecast is helpful and necessary for the legislature and the governor
• </c> it worse today's near and long-term it worse today's near and long-term economic<00:05:24.960><c
• Some of the stuff you do in the short term has an impact in the long term, and that's why we're here
• long</c><00:14:49.680><c> term</c><00:14:50.199><c> and</c><00:14:50.320><c> that's</c><00:14:50.519
• ><c> why</c> impact in the long term and that's why impact in the long term and that's why we're<00:14

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• run if we don't take care of it at the front end.
• So is there a long-term plan for that region to add?
• care of the whole state and make sure we have the same judicial system throughout the state.
• We're also recommending that the judicial branch provide a long-term plan for its facilities based on
• We're also recommending that the judicial branch provide a long-term plan for its facilities based on

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused on courthouse facility funding and the Governor’s budget proposals for the judicial branch. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the state’s courthouse funding structure, including the Trial Court Facilities Act, the main facility funds, the fixed county facility payment, and the heavy reliance on General Fund backfill. LAO also explained that the state’s construction funds were depleted after large transfers and declining fine-and-fee revenue, leaving a backlog of roughly 80 construction projects and more than 22,000 deferred maintenance projects statewide. Members and witnesses discussed the long timelines for capital projects, the need for reassessments, and the impact of inflation, CEQA, and site acquisition delays. Judicial branch representatives, including Justice Hill, Judge Moorman, and Judge Tapia, testified that courthouses across the state face serious seismic, ADA, security, and maintenance problems. They described cost-cutting efforts in design and construction, but emphasized that many facilities are aging and unsafe, with examples from Los Angeles, Compton, Ukiah, and other courts involving flooding, elevator failures, asbestos issues, and closures that disrupted thousands of cases. Judge Moorman highlighted the Ukiah courthouse replacement as an example of a project that is on time and on budget and would improve access, safety, and community services. Judge Tapia stressed that deferred maintenance in Los Angeles County alone exceeds $1.4 billion and argued that preventive maintenance is fiscally prudent because emergency repairs and closures are more costly. Committee members pressed the panel on how priorities are set, whether caseload and population growth are adequately reflected, how quickly projects can be accelerated, and what level of funding would actually meet statewide needs. The Department of Finance and Judicial Council staff explained that the county contribution is fixed and not inflation-adjusted, that acquisitions require willing sellers and can be delayed by CEQA and market conditions, and that the Judicial Council’s prioritization process was based on 2019 criteria that may need updating. LAO cautioned that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other state priorities and suggested the Legislature decide what level of funding it is willing to support. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for courthouse facilities, which include backfill for the construction fund, selected new construction and judgeship-related projects, and major facility modifications such as the Orange County Central Justice Center and relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members write the life, disability income, and long-term care policies that AB 1798 would impact.
• Our members write the life disability income and long-term care policies that AB 1798 would impact.
• This bill does not regulate the actions of the federal government or create long-term burdens even if
• But in the short term, we have to make sure... ...more care.
• This rapid deployment is happening in the background of huge upheaval in our health care system.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s been a long, long time. But he asserted, “I get to do this.
• I was going to say a new system, but a different system.
• California has piecemeal together various programs to support literacy, but has never had a statewide, long-term
• And I question what the long term...
• But I wonder if, you know, some of you mentioned the long-term plan. What is the long-term plan?

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee first heard two bills. AB 1665 by Assemblymember Pacheco would require school sports coaches to complete approved mental health training. Supporters said coaches are trusted adults who are often first to notice student-athlete distress, and a witness described personal experience with body image and disordered eating pressures in athletics. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved out of committee on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, ultimately passing 9-0 after add-on votes. AB 2316 by Assemblymember Hoover would allow charter schools to apply for the same financial hardship relief in the state school facilities program that traditional districts can seek. Supporters argued this would improve parity and help smaller and low-income charter schools access permanent facilities; some initially opposed agencies said their concerns were addressed by amendments. The bill also passed unanimously, 9-0, to Appropriations. The committee then took up a consent calendar containing 12 additional measures, including bills on education funding, facilities, and other school-related matters, plus a resolution. Those items were approved on a 7-0 vote, with the roll left open for add-on votes. After the bill hearing portion was recessed and later reconvened, additional members added votes to AB 1665, AB 2316, and the consent calendar, bringing each to 9-0. The committee then held an informational hearing on state-level education governance, centered on Governor Newsom’s proposal to restructure the California Department of Education and the role of the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, with AB 2117 serving as a policy vehicle carrying the same language and no action to be taken. Testimony came from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Education Commission of the States, and former CDE chief deputy Richard Zager. Witnesses reviewed the history of California’s governance structure, compared it with other states, and discussed accountability, legislative oversight, and the role of the superintendent under the proposal. Committee members raised concerns about preserving checks and balances, the fiscal implementation plan, county-office relationships, and whether the superintendent’s role would be reduced too far; no vote was taken at the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• ACEs are associated with long-term system impacts. There's a vast agreement in the research.
• So they're long-term.
• So sometimes that's a real important piece to talk about because we know that that long-term relationship
• And it started long before AI was in the system, because critical thought kind of really started with
• But our hope is that long term, those numbers will go down as children get out of the hell that they're

Committee: Joint Protection and Victim Services Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:18.200><c> structural</c> that it's a long-term structural that it's a long-term structural
• , we're not going to be able to truly address this need in the long term.
• </c> to truly address this need in the long to truly address this need in the long term. term. term.
• </c><00:31:45.320><c> um</c> more sort of dependability long-term um more sort of dependability long-term
• /c><00:36:56.520><c> housing</c> serious about the long-term housing serious about the long-term housing

Bills: HF3279 , HF1879 , HF1417 , HF2462

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing, sales tax, homeownership, rent assistance, community stability, education, counseling, financial assistance, housing development, culturally appropriate services, HF1417, manufactured home parks, manufactured housing, mobile home parks, housing development fund, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, infrastructure grants, infrastructure loans, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:12:30.320><c> initiatives</c><01:12:30.960><c> that</c> short and long-term initiatives that
• Our faculty work with businesses across the state to inform long-term curriculum needs for workforce
• and innovation over the long term.
• </c><01:16:38.199><c> curriculum</c> state to inform long-term curriculum state to inform long-term curriculum
• </c> the long the long term<01:16:43.360><c> we</c><01:16:43.520><c> have</c><01:16:43.719><c> relationships

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was the first session of a newly created House Education Funding Committee, which also handles career technical education and higher education legislation. The chair explained that the committee was split off from the larger education committee because of the high volume of bills in the prior biennium, and said its focus would be on education funding policy and related fiscal issues. He noted that the committee had already reviewed major topics with the Department of Education, including the foundation formula, building aid, career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid, and higher education funding, and that chancellors from the university and community college systems were scheduled to appear later that morning. The bulk of the meeting was an orientation on committee procedures and decorum. The chair reviewed attendance and replacement rules, hearing procedures, time limits for testimony, and how the committee would handle crowded hearings, early bills, and fiscal notes. He emphasized that hearings are not debates, that sponsors and co-sponsors may present but should not use their position to dominate questioning, and that the chair controls whether additional technical questions are asked of witnesses. He also stressed neutrality, saying members should not display buttons or placards or engage in running debates with testifiers, and that the committee should treat all testimony respectfully regardless of party or viewpoint. Additional housekeeping guidance covered security procedures, use of cell phones and computers during hearings, breaks and hydration in the dry hearing rooms, and courtesy toward the clerk and other staff. The chair also asked members to notify leadership in advance of absences and explained that some bills may require larger rooms or overflow arrangements. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• but in the areas where people were willing to work together, particularly in the world of aging and long-term
• In areas where groups were not interested in working with the long-term care imperative or others, those
• </c><00:03:21.600><c> care,</c><00:03:22.440><c> uh</c> world of aging and long-term care, uh world of
• aging and long-term care, uh those<00:03:22.760><c> pieces</c><00:03:23.200><c> in</c><00:03:23.320>
• ,</c> long-term care imperative or others, long-term care imperative or others, those<00:03:35.360><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center has been the regional leader in providing long-term housing and
• ><00:04:05.840><c> providing</c> the regional leader in providing the regional leader in providing long-term
• housing and support today long-term housing and support today we're<00:04:08.840><c> the</c><00:04:08.920
• </c><00:24:27.520><c> services</c> that we can fulfill long-term services that we can fulfill long-term
• So I know the system on the inside and the outside. Kylin requires 24-hour care.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are confronted with impending deep health care cuts from the federal government, particularly in terms
• rather than long-term fiscal solutions.
• Through our partnership on the Stabilization Fund and Long-Term Liability Task Force, we have begun to
• So both related to the budget and more broadly, I think we're all aware that we have a health care system
• So both related to the budget and more broadly, I think we're all aware that we have a health care system

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate and House Ways and Means chairs opened the FY 2027 consensus revenue hearing by emphasizing the need for a balanced, fiscally responsible budget amid federal funding cuts, health care cost pressures, and uncertainty around the federal tax law changes referred to as OB3. They also noted the state’s current revenue performance is slightly above benchmark and paid tribute to the late Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorkowitz echoed the call for caution, saying Massachusetts has protected core services while building reserves and that the FY27 budget process begins with a careful revenue estimate. Department of Revenue Commissioner Jeff Snyder, along with DOR staff, presented FY26 and FY27 tax forecasts and identified major drivers and risks: OB3’s negative impact on state revenue, surtax collections, labor market conditions, capital gains, and corporate/business excise taxes. DOR estimated OB3 would reduce FY26 revenue by about $664 million and FY27 by about $282 million, while surtax and capital gains were expected to remain strong in FY26 but soften in FY27. Members questioned the outlook for surtax, capital gains, and the potential fiscal effect of a ballot question reducing the income tax rate from 5% to 4%; DOR said that proposal could cost roughly $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion annually, with a smaller but still significant impact in FY27 because of phase-in timing. Treasurer Deb Goldberg testified next on the stabilization fund, lottery, PRIM, unclaimed property, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. She reported the rainy day fund at about $8.1 billion, said the lottery was on track for $1.5 billion in FY26 net profit and projected $1.25 billion in FY27, and highlighted that iLottery is expected to launch in summer 2026 with revenue beginning in FY27 and dedicated to child care initiatives. She also described strong PRIM performance and record unclaimed property returns, while members asked about the child care use of iLottery revenue, multilingual outreach, and the economic impact of expanded liquor licensing. Mass Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate and Tufts’ Evan Horowitz then offered differing revenue outlooks and policy warnings. Howgate projected modest growth, cautioned against overusing reserves for ongoing obligations, and urged caution on federal tax conformity changes and health care spending pressures. Horowitz projected higher FY26 and FY27 revenues than other witnesses, warned that the surtax and capital gains make the tax system more volatile, and said a 4% income tax ballot question could reduce FY27 revenues by roughly $800 million to $1 billion. He also flagged the rent control ballot question as a potential risk to municipal finance and suggested the state consider giving a permanent home to the independent revenue model used by Alan Clayton-Matthews.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I can tell you in the long-term care world what that means because we faced it.
• And I can tell you in the long-term care world what that means because we faced it.
• doctors,</c> long-term care facilities, the doctors, long-term care facilities, the doctors, the<02:
• </c><02:25:48.399><c> care</c><02:25:48.800><c> hours</c> having their long-term care hours having their
• long-term care hours cut<02:25:50.640><c> in</c><02:25:50.960><c> half.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some other changes in long-term care related to nursing homes: we're seeing the average payment operating
• I know we've talked a lot about long-term care and how those things impact the forecast.
• I know we've talked a lot about long-term care and how those things impact the forecast.
• What's that long-term cost savings from a healthier, more lean group of folks? Thank you.
• What's that long-term cost savings from a healthier, more lean group of folks? Thank you.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• How much long-term money does the State Treasury have? Do they hold part of our pension funds?
• </c> assets that belong in a long-term assets that belong in a long-term investment<01:12:24.280><c>
• ><c> does</c> investment how much long-term money does investment how much long-term money does the<01
• There might be some long-term possibility with a very small amount.
• There might be some long-term possibility with a very small amount.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 310, sponsored by Representative Keith Ammon, which would create a study commission to develop a legal framework for stable tokens and tokenized real-world assets. Ammon described stable tokens as blockchain-based digital tokens backed by U.S. dollars or treasuries, and tokenized real-world assets as representations of ownership in items such as gold, real estate, or artwork. He said the bill is intended to help New Hampshire get ahead of emerging financial markets while waiting to see how federal legislation develops. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, the difference between this proposal and Bitcoin, whether state regulation could be preempted by federal law, and whether the commission could be balanced and avoid becoming a vehicle for fraud or money laundering. Ammon said the proposal is blockchain-agnostic, could apply to multiple networks, and is meant to regulate asset-backed tokens rather than create a state-issued coin. He emphasized that the state would not be guaranteeing the underlying assets, but would set rules requiring audits, proof of reserves, and honest representation of backing, with the Secretary of State’s securities office involved in oversight. Several members raised concerns about the risks of stablecoins, including money laundering, tax evasion, and possible harm to the dollar or confusion about whether the state was endorsing a new currency. Ammon responded that the bill would not undermine the dollar and argued that tokenization could actually expand demand for U.S. currency by making it easier to use globally. He also said the state would not be in the business of weighing assets or directly valuing them, only ensuring a valid audit trail and one-to-one backing. The discussion ended with general agreement that the subject is complex and that a commission could help develop future legislation, but no vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a place designed to prepare students for long-term success.
• This long-term impact extends far beyond individual classrooms.
• We need long-term continuation of TIA and TRA.
• So this is actually a school that I'm a long-term volunteer at. I live like two blocks from it.
• It should mean meaningful access to learning, communication, and long-term success.

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• values that our state should be, you know, prioritizing by cutting off our immediate future and our long-term
• values that our state should be, you know, prioritizing by cutting off our immediate future and our long-term
• values that our state should be, you know, prioritizing by cutting off our immediate future and our long-term
• ><c> future</c><00:38:44.480><c> by</c><00:38:44.680><c> not</c><00:38:45.000><c> properly</c> our long-term
• future by not properly our long-term future by not properly funding<00:38:45.800><c> the</c><00:38:45.960

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered an amendment to add a new “Lakes” license plate to HB 2, with proceeds directed to the cyanobacteria fund for lake cleanup. Representative McGuire said the bill had already passed on consent and asked that it be included in HB 2; members discussed that it had also gone to the Senate. The motion to adopt the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote. The committee then took up an amendment imposing a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds, with several exemptions for funds that could not legally or appropriately be charged, such as those involving federal money or bequests. Supporters said it would make the treatment of dedicated funds more consistent and raise roughly $31 million over the biennium for the general fund, while opponents questioned the number of carve-outs and who currently pays the administrative costs. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Next, the committee reconsidered and then adopted an amendment changing the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, reducing the share going to the Education Trust Fund from 41% to 30% and increasing the General Fund share. Supporters argued the Senate had overfunded the Education Trust Fund and that the change would help balance the budget without changing education spending levels; opponents said they could not support taking money from the Education Trust Fund. The amendment passed 5-3. The committee also adopted, by the same 5-3 margin, an amendment incorporating HB 741 language on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools, with supporters calling it House policy and opponents noting it had been a close, partly partisan vote in the House. Finally, the committee considered a change to the University System of New Hampshire budget that would reduce general fund appropriations by $40 million per year, offset in part by $15 million in previously approved unique dollars for a net reduction of $25 million per year. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that other options had been exhausted; opponents called it harmful to the university system and argued the committee should instead look to other areas, including education freedom accounts, for savings. The discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on the UNH item.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> interest certain cases have long-term interest certain cases have long-term implications<00:11:43.120
• This is what the town of Marac considers to be a long-term solution.
• </c><03:44:13.520><c> system</c> that relatives or the Health Care system that relatives or the Health
• He then shifted to another term in the bill: 'health care entity.'
• Care entities the term considered Health Care entities the term that<03:52:06.720><c> you</c><03:52:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 199, which would extend the statute of limitations for civil actions seeking damages from PFAS contamination from six years to 20 years. The prime sponsor and other supporters argued that PFAS contamination in southern New Hampshire has long-term and often delayed health and property impacts, making the current six-year period too short for victims to discover harm, connect it to exposure, and seek relief. Supporters described contamination in places such as Merrimack and surrounding communities, cited health concerns including cancer, developmental issues, and other illnesses, and said a longer period would better preserve legal rights while still requiring proof of causation. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but acknowledged the contamination and ongoing work to address it. The Business and Industry Association opposed the bill, arguing that evidence becomes stale over time, memories and documents fade, and a longer window would make it harder to determine causation when other exposures or intervening factors may be involved. Committee members questioned both sides about causation, the difficulty of proving PFAS-related illness, and whether a 20-year period was necessary if a plaintiff already knows of the injury and its source. Supporters responded that PFAS effects can emerge slowly, that scientific understanding continues to develop, and that current knowledge is still incomplete. Opponents said the existing discovery rule already starts the clock when harm and causal connection are known, and that extending the period would reduce clarity and fairness in litigation. After testimony and questions, the chair closed the hearing on HB 199. The committee then opened House Bill 268 FN, which was described as a technical measure to confirm that the Board of Tax and Land Appeals may hold hearings in its Concord hearing rooms. The sponsor indicated the bill reflects current practice and does not require additional facilities. With only one witness listed and no apparent opposition, the discussion was brief and focused on why the authorization should be placed in statute rather than left to practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• injured workers and has put forward a proposal to comprehensively reform the program to ensure its long-term
• This provision is necessary to reduce liabilities and ensure long-term viability of the program.
• With these comprehensive reforms, California will be able to ensure the ongoing viability and long-term
• The department focused on eliminating long-term vacancies and positions that were more administrative
• And almost everybody who has graduated from our program... ...is currently employed in long-term sustainable

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget and trailer bill presentations focused on labor and public employment programs. The first item covered EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on customer service improvements, fraud prevention, language access, and the Integrated Claims Management System. The LAO urged stronger legislative oversight as the project enters its most difficult phase, and members questioned the revised schedule, total cost, change orders, stress testing, SB 1090 implementation, and how race and ethnicity data will be protected. EDD said the overall project cost remains about $1.2 billion, that the work is being phased with disability insurance and paid family leave first, and that fraud has been greatly reduced since pandemic-era programs ended. Members also asked for follow-up information on SB 590 outreach and equity impacts. The committee then reviewed the California Workforce Development Board’s request to reduce staffing as one-time grant workloads wind down, along with trailer bill language to streamline reporting requirements. The board and Department of Finance said the staffing reductions reflect the end of surge funding and that the proposal would consolidate roughly 10 to 12 reports into one annual report, with additional reporting only if new funds are appropriated for certain programs. Senator Durazo questioned the policy direction of reducing workforce staffing, while the administration said the positions were tied to temporary grant programs and that current staffing is sufficient for ongoing duties. Members also asked about the board’s role in AI-related workforce planning and the rationale for using state funds for the High Road Construction Careers Program. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund reforms and related staffing request at DIR. The administration and LAO described rapid growth in applications, backlog, and liabilities, saying the program’s eligibility has expanded beyond its original intent and that liabilities could reach about $30 billion by 2030 without reform. The trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply the changes to open cases, and use the QME process and contemporaneous evidence to document preexisting disabilities. Members raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, evaluator capacity, and the relationship to other SIBTF legislation, while the LAO said the proposal largely aligns with its prior recommendations. DIR also presented a request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, which drew criticism from members who argued the cuts could weaken enforcement and backlog reduction efforts; the committee asked DIR to return with more detail on impacts and on its use of temporary-help authority. The final items addressed a request for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff and a trailer bill to make permanent the revised Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition timeline. DIR said the BOI staffing would help investigate fatalities and serious injuries more quickly, while members emphasized the importance of family contact and timely investigations. For the WCAB item, the chair explained that the 2024 change to Labor Code section 5909, which starts the 60-day decision clock when a case is transmitted rather than when a petition is filed, has reduced pending cases and should be made permanent; the remaining backlog was reported at 460 cases, down from 637 before the change.