Transcript Highlights:

• Rats need to be taken care of.
• Miller thank you can can you tell us how long is this Norway rat been around in the treasure of As long
• They created basically a manifold system that through power, system.
• In terms of dollars or in terms of however you want to split the pie, the dollars went to the product
• We don't know for how long.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Districts can't afford to sustain that long term. So there's that tradeoff.
• Districts can't afford to sustain it long term, so there's that tradeoff.
• Maybe should not, should be addressed more near-term rather than long-term, and they're just essentially
• structure...” “...long-term apportionment program, a successful long-term apportioning program might
• should look like in the certification process...” “...to develop what this long-term accountability

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But Senator DeRazzo has long followed this judge's career. and Senator Durazo has long followed this
• And so is there a long-term plan for that region to add?
• 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 first on courthouse facility funding and then on the Governor’s proposed court facilities budget. Legislative Analyst’s Office staff outlined the state’s court-facilities funding structure, including the 2002 shift of trial court facility responsibility from counties to the state, the main funding accounts, the insolvency of the construction fund, the move to General Fund support, the backlog of deferred maintenance, and the large estimated cost of needed new construction and repairs. Judicial Council representatives and judges from Los Angeles and Mendocino described severe seismic, safety, ADA, security, and maintenance problems, with examples of floods, elevator failures, asbestos-related closures, and long-delayed or underfunded projects. They argued that chronic underinvestment is making facilities less safe and more expensive to maintain, and that courthouse conditions directly affect access to justice and public confidence. Committee members pressed witnesses on how projects are prioritized, whether population and filing volume are adequately reflected, why reassessments have not been updated since 2019, how long acquisitions and construction take, and what level of funding would actually close the gap. Members also questioned the fixed county contribution, the use of General Fund backfills, and whether the state should set a clearer long-term funding target for the judicial branch. LAO staff emphasized that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other budget priorities and said the Legislature must decide its appetite for funding. Judicial Council staff said the current prioritization was based on the 2019 reassessment and trailer bill language, that a new reassessment would cost about $14 million, and that acquisition delays are often driven by willing-seller issues and CEQA requirements. The chair asked for written testimony and indicated the committee would consider a future field hearing. In the second panel, Judicial Council and Department of Finance representatives reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for court facilities. They said the proposal includes continued backfill for the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, several new construction and reappropriation items, relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building, and completion of a fire/life-safety project in Orange County. A court executive from Ventura testified that courthouse conditions affect public trust, employee morale, and the quality of service, citing roof leaks, elevator breakdowns, and HVAC failures as examples of why sustained facilities funding is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• can order long-term care and supervision.
• ><00:25:55.160><c> courts</c><00:25:55.520><c> can</c><00:25:55.760><c> order</c><00:25:56.360><c> long-term
• </c> system where courts can order long-term system where courts can order long-term care<00:25:57.200
• There are 6,246 short-term certification and 126, 100, 120 long-term certification cases per year.
• </c><01:06:36.000><c> certification</c> and 126 100 120 long-term certification and 126 100 120 long-term

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seniors wouldn't be able to pay for their care, won't care whether it be any kind of care for them.
• Given still what seems to me as a bit of a two-tier system, ensuring that everyone has health care, but
• We recognize the significant pressure that H.R. 1 has created on our health care system and, as a result
• intend to vote on it, but what we don't have clearly is a revenue strategy that speaks to the direct long-term
• Our state looks at ways that we can help advance childcare, health care, and ensure that our long-term

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important that we recognize the autonomy of adults in the extended foster care system.
• To ensure long-term housing stability, we must shift service providers from renting to owning the properties
• By extending initial contract terms to 10 years, this bill empowers providers to invest in long-lasting
• moment about an experience that we've had with some of the housing units that we do own through some long-term
• income programs are effective in fighting poverty, giving people a floor from which to pursue better long-term

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard and advanced a series of foster care, benefits, housing, and poverty-related bills. AB 373 would require appointed counsel for nonminor dependents in dependency proceedings to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute counsel’s judgment; supporters said it would respect autonomy for foster youth ages 18 to 21, and the bill passed 4-0, later updated to 6-0 and then 7-0 as absent members were added. AB 42 would exempt merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and fellowships from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh and align the two programs’ exclusions; student and anti-poverty advocates said it would prevent students from losing benefits when they pursue education, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 534 would encourage transitional housing providers serving foster youth to move from leasing to owning properties by extending contract terms and improving access to financing; witnesses said ownership would improve stability and reduce landlord barriers, and it passed 4-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 562 would require counties below the state average for family placements to use a family-finding checklist and best-practice support; supporters emphasized family-first placements for foster youth, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop an implementation plan for a permanent statewide guaranteed basic income program; supporters described positive results from pilot programs and the bill passed 5-2, later updated to 7-0. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're also superior heat insulators, which lead to long-term savings in energy costs.
• For many first-time in moderate income homeowners, the ability to construct an ADU can increase long-term
• They lock states and localities into long-term detention, and they tie local communities to an industry
• They're not meant for human beings to be there long-term, and we want to ensure that land use policies
• You open up the state to long-term fiscal risk, because CEQA is not just an environmental review process

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 5, 2026, and first approved a large consent calendar of bills, then heard and voted on a long series of measures covering health care, housing, energy, labor, public safety, insurance, and immigration-related issues. Several bills were moved on roll call with no or limited opposition, including SB 999 on delaying the Health Minimum Essential Coverage report deadline, SB 931 on Diablo Canyon’s mitigation fund, SB 952 on State Water Project clean energy procurement, SB 1288 on nonprobate asset beneficiary notification, SB 1371 on solid waste labor-dispute contract clauses, SB 1014 on housing development fee estimates, SB 1283 on EV charging station permitting, SB 1209 and SB 1244 on insurance enforcement and broker compensation disclosure, SB 1359 on gas utility infrastructure oversight, SB 677 and SB 908 on housing streamlining, SB 1323 on medical facility procedures for people in immigration custody, SB 938 on peace officer training waivers for former federal immigration officers, SB 1272 on code-violation enforcement timelines for new homeowners, SB 1117 on ADU impact fees, SB 1196 on utility hookups for small energy projects, SB 1299 on sprinkler fitter certification, and AB 2597 appropriating funds for state legal settlements. The committee also approved its suspense calendar and later lifted SB 1359 from call with an added aye vote. Testimony generally followed the bills’ themes. Supporters argued that the measures would improve transparency, reduce costs, streamline housing and energy projects, protect consumers, and strengthen public safety or worker protections. Opponents or “opposed unless amended” witnesses raised concerns about implementation burdens, disclosure mandates, labor and compliance issues, local government costs, and the scope of some proposals. Notable points of contention included SB 869, where restaurant groups objected to the on-menu sugar warning approach and urged more flexible disclosure methods, and SB 1244, where insurance industry representatives argued the bill would impose unworkable disclosure obligations on brokers and agents. SB 1272 drew opposition from code enforcement and county groups who warned it could delay health-and-safety enforcement, while SB 1117 drew opposition from special districts, counties, and fire-related groups concerned about reduced fee revenue for infrastructure. The committee also heard public comment on several bills not presented that day, including opposition to wildfire mitigation/CEQA-related legislation, staffing regulation fees, and education and demographic-data bills. Overall, the hearing was dominated by fiscal and policy debates over housing affordability, energy infrastructure, consumer transparency, and the balance between regulatory streamlining and local or industry compliance costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• How long does it last? Thank you.
• And I believe that's true in the criminal justice system as well.
• AB 91 recognizes these situations and creates a long overdue remedy.
• You know, I'm taking care of my family, and I just know that You know, I'm taking care of my family,
• There are other ways to fix our criminal justice system.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am concerned that this is not a recipe for clear-headed strategic long-term decision-making.
• We need a strong public school system. We need a strong public school system.
• Lipsky of Stow. >> Logan of Burlington. >> Yes. >> Long, Fain. >> Yes. >> Long, Milton. >> Long, Milton
• We've continued to work to strengthen access to health care and child care and to health care and child
• For years, many avoided difficult conversations about the long-term sustainability of our education system

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't care. They're in denial.
• And therefore, they should understand and have short-term and long-term plans that include... your co-author
• And therefore, they should understand and have short-term and long-term plans that include Thank you.
• Therefore, they should understand and have short-term and long-term plans that include what ongoing support
• Security systems.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• system to take care of every man, woman, and child in this country if we spend it the right way.
• system to take care of every man, woman, and child in this country if we spend it the right way.
• There's enough money already in the health care delivery system to take care of every man, woman, and
• They go a long way in reducing barriers to coverage, care, and economic security.
• the years into something a really long-term program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider the Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2, a major Medicaid bill. Members first adopted the substitute and then adopted Amendment 9770. The bill was described as a lengthy rewrite aimed at aligning Kentucky Medicaid policy with federal requirements under HR 1, while also preserving program integrity and addressing due process concerns. Senators and staff repeatedly emphasized that the measure was the product of extensive meetings with providers, associations, and work groups. The sponsor’s section-by-section summary highlighted several key changes: delaying and reducing cost-sharing requirements; pushing eligibility redetermination deadlines to the federal date; restoring some flexibility for hardship waivers; allowing self-attestation as a last resort; modifying MCO audit provisions; clarifying non-emergency medical transport GPS costs; expanding waiver attestation authority to nurse practitioners and licensed psychologists; adding qualified aliens to waiver eligibility to comply with federal law; requiring Medicaid data sharing with the oversight board; limiting changes to Medicaid benefits without General Assembly authorization; narrowing the prescription drug exclusion to drugs prescribed primarily for weight loss; and delaying the dental ASO transition until 2029. The substitute also deleted a proposed auditor review requirement and retained an emergency clause. Committee discussion focused heavily on the policy and fiscal implications of the cost-sharing and recertification provisions. Senators raised concerns about whether the co-pays would be effective or simply shift costs to providers, whether the recertification process would burden the Cabinet and cause eligible people to lose coverage, and how the bill would affect people transitioning from Medicaid into work. Supporters said the lower cost-sharing amounts were intended to encourage appropriate use of care, protect providers, and comply with federal law, and they noted that the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board would help shape future changes. A public witness, Maggie Chisholm, gave emotional testimony about her daughter’s experience with a Medicaid waiver and argued that policy delays and administrative disconnects can harm vulnerable families. No final vote on the bill itself was recorded in the excerpt, but the substitute and amendment were adopted and testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico's health care needs.
• And two, the device can be set up wrong, which would cause long-term cost to that device when it breaks
• We also need to mirror that same custom care and specialty care for complex rehab. Okay.
• care system, right?
• It’s not ideal, but it’s a long time. A year. That’s a long time. Okay, thank you.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• system in the state.
• system in the state.
• So it's all part of that one upgrade, which is a long-term upgrade, which is why we got the bond for
• This is for ongoing assessments of the quality of care provided through the trauma system.
• and management system.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a long-term, first-of-kind project that was launched actually in 1991 to study cancer and heart
• This is a very long-term... study, not a five-year grant, something where they've been following women
• indeed one of the aspects of our research in the SAR Act is the fact that we have required them do long-term
• Schlechtman, what are the long-term implications of these actions on the next generation of scientists
• Robert Califf about the long-term effects of this legislation, should it go into effect, and its ability

Committee: Senate Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Continuum of Care funding.
• So that's what I've got in terms of where we've been and where we're at right now in terms of implementing
• We will try to work our way through the system.
• Step housing creates the stability required for treatment, recovery, employment, and long-term housing
• This snowballed into years-long addiction that was exacerbating some long-term health conditions that

Bills: HB2266 , HB2489

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing, supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, public space, local governance, life-sustaining activities, statewide standards, regulation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• side and over $110 million in long-term capacity on the clean water side.
• </c> that would be our our uh long-term that would be our our uh long-term continuing continuing continuing
• </c><01:20:36.000><c> planning</c> budgeting practices long-term planning budgeting practices long-term
• </c> you're doing are you looking long-term you're doing are you looking long-term for<01:20:50.320><
• </c><01:43:01.520><c> purpose</c> are important uh what long-term purpose are important uh what long-term

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many campuses now have referral systems and care teams, and some are exploring contracted telehealth
• Finally, our colleges are also part of the long-term workforce solution.
• And then finally, our colleges are also part of the long-term workforce solution.
• In helping, speaking of K-16, connecting our K-12 system with our post-secondary system, and we have
• The red, of course, is our two-year system.

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been long recognized by Congress and reaffirmed by the United States.
• would ensure that Native education programs are shielded from budgetary disruptions, allowing for long-term
• As a function of our health equity, we know how to take care of our own.
• But the sooner we get there, I think the better things will be. in the long term.
• It's not that long. It's 80... There's a lot of index to it.

Committee: Senate Indian Affairs Committee

Keywords: tribal sovereignty, healthcare, education, public safety, Economic Development, Tax Parity Act, PROTECT Act, trust obligations, bipartisan support, Indian Health Services

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial issues facing tribal nations, particularly emphasizing the federal government's trust and treaty obligations. The discussions highlighted ongoing challenges such as disparities in healthcare, education, and public safety within Native communities. Chair Murkowski underscored the importance of listening to Native leaders and aligning congressional efforts with community needs, advocating for legislative actions that support tribal sovereignty and economic development. Various initiatives, including the Tax Parity Act and the PROTECT Act, aimed at addressing jurisdictional and financial disparities, were discussed in detail. A call for bipartisan support to alleviate the funding shortages affecting Indian Health Services was made several times during the meeting. Testimonies from tribal leaders and representatives emphasized the dire need for legislative support to enhance infrastructure, healthcare access, and public safety initiatives in tribal communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, not just about facility stabilization, but really about prevention, connectivity, and long-term
• We’re looking at transformation in health care, long-term sustainability.
• And again, I think I’ve said it five or six times already, but we’re seeking a commitment to long-term
• It's a pretty long list.
• Yeah, I mean, we need to have more coordination and collaboration across the whole health care system

Summary: The committee heard extensive public testimony from youth advocates and public health speakers urging action on vaping. Witnesses said flavored products and social media are driving youth use in Arkansas, described nicotine addiction and health harms, and asked lawmakers to prohibit vaping in public indoor spaces, align vape rules with smoke-free laws, and expand prevention efforts. Committee members thanked the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation. The main presentation was an overview of Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded through CMS. State officials said Arkansas received about $209 million for the first year and may receive roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is intended for targeted, locally driven transformation rather than general operating support, debt relief, or new construction, and outlined four initiatives: Heart, PACT, Rise, and Thrive, focused on prevention, access and coordination, workforce development, and technology. Officials said applications would open in the spring, with a reimbursement-based process and a goal of launching all four initiatives by June. Members asked detailed questions about eligibility, rural definitions, school gardens, faith-based and nonprofit partnerships, mobile clinics, EMS, behavioral health, residency slots, and whether urban providers serving rural patients could apply. Officials said the program would favor regional collaboration, could support targeted renovations and expansion of existing programs, and would allow residency growth and some equipment or infrastructure purchases, but not food purchases or permanent new construction. They also said a committee of state health and finance officials would review applications, with heavy technical assistance and an expectation of quick turnaround. The committee also reviewed two DHS/Health Department rules. One implemented Medicaid and CHIP coverage and care coordination for eligible incarcerated youth before and after release, including targeted case management and screening services, with no public comments received. The other updated audiology licensing rules to reflect recent acts expanding scope of practice and changing the renewal deadline. Both rules were reviewed without objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> cover in Medicaid like the long-term cover in Medicaid like the long-term supports<01:43:07.480>
• Technically, there was legislation passed that prohibited managed care in this long-term services and
• in this in what we call Managed Care in this in what we call long-term<01:45:02.000><c> services</c>
• That concern again there that, you know, if the managed care companies are involved in long-term service
• care companies are<01:49:04.920><c> involved</c><01:49:05.280><c> in</c><01:49:05.400><c> long-term</

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division III held an informational hearing on Medicaid, Medicare, Choices for Independence, and related financing, while postponing nursing facility financing and the county cap discussion to a later date. DHHS officials Ann Landry, Jonathan Ballard, and Medicaid Director Henry Litman provided an overview of Medicaid’s role, noting it is a federal-state partnership with state-specific eligibility and benefits, and emphasizing that Medicaid is a major funding and programmatic support for other DHHS initiatives. They also distinguished Medicaid from Medicare and explained that Medicaid funding is not the same as grant funding, though some providers may also receive federal grants through other channels. The presentation focused on New Hampshire’s relatively small Medicaid program and why it differs from national averages. Officials said about 184,000 residents are covered, roughly one in seven Granite Staters compared with one in five nationally, and attributed the difference largely to the state’s higher per-capita income and older population. They highlighted that about 65% of Medicaid-enrolled adults in New Hampshire are working, that only 22% of births are covered by Medicaid versus 42% nationally, and that the state’s uninsured rate is lower than the national rate. Members asked about covered services, income limits, federal matching rates, and the names of optional eligibility groups; staff explained that New Hampshire offers the optional groups discussed, with matching rates varying by category, including 90% for Granite Advantage and certain other groups, and 65% for children above the required level. A substantial portion of the hearing covered eligibility rules and recent policy changes. Officials reviewed the history of Medicaid, including HCBS waivers, the CFI program, Katie Beckett, the Olmstead decision, the ACA, and the end of continuous enrollment after the public health emergency. They also discussed the 2023 legislative expansion of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and child eligibility changes. In response to questions, DHHS said it is tracking utilization and costs for the postpartum expansion and reported that many maternal deaths occur after the prior 60-day coverage period, often involving substance use disorder or suicide; they said the longer coverage is intended to improve access to treatment and prevention. The committee also walked through household-income examples, clarified that Medicaid eligibility is based on household income and categorical rules, and confirmed that Granite Advantage ends at 138% of the federal poverty level unless another categorical basis applies. No votes were taken, and the hearing remained informational.