Transcript Highlights:

• And I noticed in the latest annual report the numbers of kits that we are collecting and testing well
• And I noticed in the latest annual report the numbers of kits that we are collecting and testing well
• over 500... ...the numbers of kits that we are collecting and testing well over 500, and we still, and

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee reviewed the Idaho State Police budget, including the Division of Idaho State Police, POST, and the Brand Inspection Division. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson outlined current staffing, fund sources, and proposed FY 2027 requests. For the Division of Idaho State Police, the major request was a $12.6 million commissioned officer pay plan funded by an increase in the vehicle registration-related Project Choice fee from $3 to $12, along with a $500,000 commercial vehicle safety grant increase, a $551,500 mobile live scan pilot, and $3.23 million in replacement items, including patrol vehicles and ballistic vests. Peterson and Colonel Gardner explained that the pay plan is intended to address long-standing recruitment and retention problems, especially in patrol districts with heavy vacancies. Colonel Gardner gave extensive testimony on staffing shortages, saying some districts require troopers to be temporarily housed in hotels to cover calls, and that pay compression and the current structure of project-choice compensation are driving officers away after about four to five years. He said the new plan would move more of trooper compensation into base pay and make future CEC increases apply to the full wage. Members asked about the fee increase, the effect on county and city agencies, unspent personnel funds, and whether the state is losing trained officers after investing heavily in them. Gardner and finance officer Christine Otto said overtime is absorbing some vacancy savings, and Otto later estimated the cost to train and equip an ISP trooper at about $231,600. The committee then reviewed POST, where Peterson said the academy has 31 FTP and no ongoing FY 2027 requests beyond $324,100 for replacement vehicles, building repairs, and equipment. Administrator Brad Johnson said a 14-week Patrol Academy costs about $10,700 per student, and explained that POST-certified academy graduates sign a two-year repayment agreement if they leave the profession. Members asked about agency-run academies, college academy programs, and whether POST costs are changing as more agencies develop their own training. Johnson said POST remains the state’s accredited basic-training provider and highlighted its national award of excellence. Finally, the Brand Inspection Division budget was presented. Peterson said the division has 41.42 FTP, is funded by the State Brand Board Fund, and is requesting $288,100 in replacement items, mainly six trucks and some laptops/tablets. Brand Inspector Cody Burlisle said most full-time inspectors are POST-certified and perform both regulatory inspections and law-enforcement duties. Members praised the division’s work and its practice of keeping vehicles in service for high mileage. The meeting ended with instructions about upcoming work groups and a reminder that budget votes would occur later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the medical side, that's what we run into, too, when you start looking at CNAs and MAs, the testing
• strong command of the English language, you may have the skills, but you won't be able to pass the test
• or the certification. ...may have the skills, but you won't be able to pass the test or the certification

Committee: House International Trade

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who, while many legally can take these days, often have to miss out on special events or critical tests
• who, while many legally can take these days, often have to miss out on special events or critical tests
• who, while many legally can take these days, often have to miss out on special events or critical tests

Summary: The committee heard six bills on January 27, 2026. Senate Bill 6084 would clarify the prohibition on voting more than once in an election, in response to a court ruling that interpreted “election” narrowly; the sponsor and Secretary of State’s office said the bill is meant to ensure a person votes only once in Washington or in one state and another on the same election date. Testimony was brief and supportive, and the hearing was closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying. Senate Bill 6044 would recognize Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as a legislatively recognized day, and Senate Bill 5950 would add several non-legal holidays, including Sikh, Baha’i, Jewish, and Buddhist observances. Sponsors and supporters described the bills as a way to acknowledge minority faith traditions, promote inclusion, and help communities feel seen; testimony came from Jewish, Sikh, multi-faith, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist representatives. The committee recorded substantial support for both measures, with no opposition testimony, and closed both hearings. Senate Bill 6046 would establish the Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department to better coordinate volunteer aviation support for disasters, search and rescue, cybersecurity, and other missions. The sponsor, Military Department, Civil Air Patrol, and veterans’ representatives said it would improve command and control and help the state use Civil Air Patrol more efficiently at no added cost. Senate Bill 5763 would create a grant program for local law enforcement aviation support units and expand wildfire-related aviation support to sheriff’s offices; sheriffs and police chiefs strongly supported it as a way to sustain helicopter-based search and rescue and disaster response, while DNR raised concerns about wildfire aviation standards, liability, and possible bill drafting issues. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5784, which would require agencies to collect and report more detailed demographic data under updated federal standards; the sponsor said better disaggregation is needed for accountability and to identify disparities, and the Office of Equity supported the policy while noting fiscal and privacy concerns and the need for possible amendments. The meeting ended after the final hearing, with no votes taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 465, Representative Gracel, an act relating to animal testing.
• House Bill 466, Representative Holloway, an act relating to immunizations. to animal testing.
• And House Bill 466, to animal testing.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:10 Calendar/2nd Readings 07:06 Report of Committees 07:47 Orders of the Day 08:52 HB 176 09:09 HB 178 12:19 HB 280 15:34 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 19:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 32:05 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 32:05 ConC and Rules Report 39:04 Adjournment 40:48, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How much more money do we need to provide to school districts in order for the test scores to increase
• Because, as you mentioned, Do we need to provide to school districts in order for the test scores to
• Because, as you mentioned, the test scores have been stagnant despite having more money than ever.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have the alcohol testing program. The current Toxilizer 8,000,000,000...
• Next, we have the alcohol testing program. The current toxilizer 8,000,000,000.
• Next, we have the alcohol testing program.

Summary: The committee received a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $8.2 billion for the public safety silo and includes funding for the Departments of Law Enforcement, Juvenile Justice, and Corrections, along with courts and legal affairs. The Governor’s Office highlighted recurring reductions and vacancy eliminations, while agency heads outlined their major requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert-system upgrades, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, additional staff, facility construction and maintenance, communications upgrades, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about immigration enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, capacity, mental health services, contraband, housing, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. Public testimony also urged better prison conditions and basic necessities for incarcerated people. The committee then took up and reported favorably CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would strengthen penalties and clarify that a person may not resist an officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties. An amendment conforming the bill to House language was adopted, and the bill passed with Senator Smith voting no. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported favorably CS/SB 54, which concerns use of substances affecting cognitive function and limits certain medical-record disclosures to information relevant to investigations of violent offenders; Senator Smith voted no on that measure as well. Next, the committee considered Senator Berman’s bills on domestic and dating violence. CS/SB 296 would direct a study of a secure web-based alert platform for victims, including a discreet phone-number/code system and geolocation support, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims. The bill drew emotional support testimony from survivors and advocates describing the dangers victims face when trying to leave abusive situations, and it was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, would extend public-records protections in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims; it was also reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have the alcohol testing program. The current Toxilizer 8,000,000,000. known.
• Next, we have the alcohol testing program. The current toxilizer 8,000,000,000.
• Next, we have the alcohol testing program.

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $117.4 billion overall and includes $8.2 billion for the public safety silo. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office outlined proposed funding and reductions across FDLE, DJJ, DOC, and related justice agencies. Agency heads then presented major budget requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, a career offender registry unit, a missing persons alert system upgrade, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and illegal immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested funds for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility repairs; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications technology, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about the scope of immigration-related enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, inmate health care, substance use treatment, prison capacity, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. A public commenter also urged attention to basic conditions in prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and facility maintenance. The committee then considered several bills. CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, was presented as a response to the killing of Daytona Beach Officer Jason Rayner and would clarify that a person may not use violence against an officer performing official duties, while also increasing penalties related to manslaughter involving law enforcement. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. CS/SB 54, dealing with substances affecting cognitive function and law enforcement access to certain medical records, also received an amendment clarifying that only records relevant to an investigation of a violent offender may be furnished; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next heard CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from advocates and survivors strongly supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, a public records exemption for victims of domestic and dating violence in the Address Confidentiality Program, was also reported favorably. The meeting concluded after the committee approved all four bills and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE TRIED THIS AND TESTED IT OUT AND IT FAILED.
• THIS CONDITION COULD'VE HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SURGICAL SMOKE HE SAID IT IS POSSIBLE BUT THERE IS NO TEST
• IT IS A SCIENTIFICALLY TESTED QUESTION THAT WILL BE USED IN THE SURVEY AND IT HAS STANDARDIZED MEASURES

Transcript Highlights:

• Testing contracts and just bureaucracy in general. They don't recognize that.
• The might have testing anxiety and they do not qualify enough for an IEP or a 504, to even be considered
• opportunities and those children, then our stock in a in a in a vacuum where if you couldn't pass one test

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides a method... for calculating homeschool class rank based on test scores so homeschool graduates
• It offers students an opportunity to put what they learned in the classroom to the test.
• Through clinical rotations, nursing students learn best practices from their preceptor, test their knowledge

Bills: HB173 , HB184 , HB484 , HB678 , HB 1211 , HB1507 , HB1705 , HB1868 , HB2290 , HB2851 , HB2856 , HB3041 , HB3204 , HB173 , HB184

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: foreign donations, higher education, public institutions, national security, funding, prohibition, Texas law, healthcare, insurance, affordability, access, public health, foreign influence, education policy, student loan repayment, prosecuting attorneys, border prosecution unit, financial assistance, tobacco, cigarettes

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to talk to you about school lunches, start times, mental health, cell phones, standardized tests
• It required special voting machines, moved elections to optical scan systems, and required public testing
• of Commerce Foundation, a survey discovered that over 70% of Americans fail a basic civic literacy test

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's my only concern, is that, you know, these tests... a lot of time and energy, and we really
• The reasonable assurance test is the test. But how we define...

Transcript Highlights:

• challenged with COVID and then one hurricane after another hurricane, so I think you've passed the test
• We have a suborbital launch site and test site in West Texas.
• Additionally, our engines business unit is constantly innovating the way to build American-made and tested

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session, with members introducing themselves and expressing support for veterans, military families, first responders, space industry growth, and domestic security. The first presentation was from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and recovery efforts. Officials described response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, including sheltering, meals, water, tarps, power restoration, flood control, debris removal, and public assistance funding. They emphasized that recovery is ongoing, that mitigation and resiliency investments are critical, and that Florida’s shelter space remains in deficit in many counties, especially for special needs populations. Senators asked about improving logistics capacity, technology for grant processing, HOA/private property debris issues, drainage and culvert maintenance, and ways to expand shelter capacity; the witness said more technology, better local coordination, and county-by-county planning would help, while noting limits on state authority over private property and county emergency manager qualifications. Committee members praised FDEM’s response and asked how the Legislature could help, including whether more logistical hubs, pumps, and flood-control equipment were needed. The witness said technology investments could reduce fatigue and improve grant and recovery processing, but that manpower would still be necessary. The committee also discussed the statewide emergency shelter plan, the use of schools as shelters, and the need to identify vacant commercial space and other facilities for future sheltering and special-needs needs. The witness said FDEM works with counties and commerce partners to identify available space and uses legislative funding for shelter retrofits and new construction when needed. The second presentation was from Blue Origin on its Florida operations. The company outlined its work in New Glenn, New Shepard, Blue Ring, lunar landers, and engine production, highlighting its Space Coast presence, more than 3,600 Florida employees, and over $3 billion invested in facilities. Blue Origin also described partnerships with Space Florida, public school Space Academies, internships, SkillBridge, and STEM outreach through Club for the Future. Members asked about the upcoming New Glenn launch window, which the company said was targeted for later that week, and the committee expressed interest in Blue Origin’s role in Florida’s space economy. The meeting ended with no further business and a motion to adjourn, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• instead for conducting long-term applied research on adaptive and sustainable management and for testing
• lab and others at Berkeley and elsewhere, are being targeted by the bill's sponsors, even though it tests
• of management strategies available to non-industrial landowners, and applying proven techniques or testing
• Testing novel or emerging management approaches is all still allowed in this bill.
• was a comment about how this would prevent people from being able to do additional research or to test

Summary: The committee heard a series of natural resources bills, with several measures accepted on committee amendments and moved forward on party-line or near-unanimous votes. AB 2461 on oil and gas bonding and well-closure financial assurance drew strong support from environmental groups and some legislators, while an industry representative was neutral and warned about unintended consequences and reduced transfers. Senators Laird and Cabaldon supported the bill as a clarification of AB 1167, and the committee voted do pass as amended to Appropriations, with the bill placed on call. The committee also approved a consent calendar of 10 bills, which was moved and held on call. AB 53 by Assemblymember Ramos, as amended, would expand tribal eligibility for conservation grants and loans and express legislative intent to create a process for returning ancestral lands to federally recognized tribes. Tribal and environmental supporters argued the bill recognizes tribal stewardship and helps remove barriers to conservation participation, while county, farm bureau, and habitat league witnesses raised concerns about long-term land management, public accountability, easements, and jurisdiction if lands are transferred. Committee members emphasized the importance of preserving conservation protections and continuing work on the land-return framework; the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations and held on call. AB 2679 on Lake Tahoe corridor safety and access was supported by local officials and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, who described dangerous parking, pedestrian conflicts, and a successful shuttle pilot, and the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 1666, creating biomass innovation parks and other incentives for non-combustion uses of forest and agricultural biomass, received broad support from business, conservation, and local government witnesses, with senators framing it as a way to address wildfire debris and create rural jobs; it also advanced do pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 2494, which would modernize the demonstration state forest system and elevate biodiversity, recreation, carbon storage, and tribal stewardship over maximum sustained production, drew strong support from environmental and tribal advocates but significant opposition from forest industry, county, and research witnesses who warned it could undermine research, sustainable forestry, and local economies; the author said he would continue negotiations, and the bill was moved do pass to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2234, which updates the definition of geothermal exploratory projects, and AB 2521, which seeks to use the California Council on Science and Technology for watershed-wide water availability analyses to help identify excess water for groundwater recharge. Both bills had support from sponsors and some stakeholders, while AB 2521 drew concerns from agricultural water interests about agency reliance, public trust considerations, and funding. Both measures were moved do pass as amended to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2410 would extend a CEQA exemption for certain fuels-reduction projects in high fire-risk areas; local government groups supported it as a wildfire-prevention tool, while environmental and other opponents argued the remaining exemption still weakens habitat protections and public review, and one witness sought to remove conventional herbicides from the exemption.

Transcript Highlights:

• procurement of snow hauling services, and support prevention of drug overdoses by ensuring that fentanyl test
• that we would urge you to continue to include a small section of this bill that removes fentanyl testing
• I think the second would love to hear that fentanyl test strips has been resolved.
• So confusing when we're trying to bid that out, and our contracts and testing that it is exempted already
• So confusing when we're trying to bid that out and our contracts are in his testing that it is exempted

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on Governor Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll’s Municipal Empowerment Act, with administration officials and municipal leaders broadly supporting the bill as a package of tools to help cities and towns manage rising costs, staffing shortages, and service demands. The administration highlighted procurement reforms, including raising Chapter 30B advertising thresholds, clarifying cooperative purchasing, and removing the Commbuys notice requirement; permanent authority to amortize emergency-related deficits over three years; expanded authority and enforcement for removing double poles; continued flexibility for hybrid and remote public meetings; regionalization options such as regional boards of assessors and intermunicipal agreements; cybersecurity reporting to EOTSS; and several local revenue options and other municipal finance changes. They said the bill was shaped by listening sessions with municipal officials and was intended to increase flexibility, efficiency, and stability without imposing broad mandates. Committee members asked about regionalization, cybersecurity costs, Commbuys, hybrid meetings, and double poles. Administration witnesses said cybersecurity reporting would help the state target resources and that existing Community Compact and capital grant programs, including IT and municipal fiber funding, could support local needs; they said EOTSS would absorb reporting within existing resources. On procurement, they said the Commbuys notice change would be optional and that other public notice methods would remain available. On hybrid meetings, they emphasized flexibility for different types of boards and the burdens a one-size-fits-all mandate could create for small towns and volunteer boards. On double poles, they said the bill’s main change from last session was to give utilities more time and improve the removal process while keeping enforcement mechanisms aimed at speeding removal rather than raising revenue. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and multiple mayors and town managers testified in support. They described the bill as a practical modernization measure that would help local governments operate more efficiently and respond to fiscal pressure. Witnesses from Northampton, Lynn, Gardner, Cambridge, Franklin, North Andover, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Ashland praised the hybrid meeting provisions, procurement changes, regional service-sharing, and emergency deficit amortization. Several also urged adoption of local revenue tools, including meals and lodging tax options and other local fees, as ways to preserve services and staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• products to be certified, not merely rated, to applicable UL standards by a nationally recognized testing
• products to be certified, not merely rated, to applicable UL standards by a nationally recognized testing
• This distinction is important because certification means independent, vetted third parties have tested
• products to be certified to the applicable UL standard by an OSHA-recognized, nationally recognized testing
• For that reason, we recommend the legislation specify that these products must be tested and certified

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on the governor’s Ride Safe Act, S. 3077, and related micromobility bills. Chairs and administration officials described the bill as a statewide, speed-based framework for e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and similar devices, intended to replace outdated device categories with clearer rules for age limits, helmets, equipment, operating locations, registration, insurance for higher-speed devices, and restrictions on tampering. They also emphasized improved crash-data collection, a working group for future updates, and battery safety standards such as UL certification to reduce fire risk. Committee members asked about enforcement, shared-use paths, commuter rail accommodations, battery storage, and how the bill would apply to other vehicles like quads; the administration said some issues would need further study or follow-up. Testimony from advocates, municipal officials, and commission members was mixed but generally supportive of clearer statewide rules. Transportation and safety advocates backed the speed-based tier system but urged additional measures, including a default speed limit on shared-use paths, automated enforcement, and more funding for Complete Streets and Shared Streets programs. Bike shop and police representatives said current laws are confusing for riders and law enforcement and that better definitions and data reporting are needed. Several speakers stressed that enforcement and education will be critical, and that local patchwork rules are difficult to apply consistently. Medical testimony strongly supported tighter protections for young riders. Pediatric emergency and trauma doctors described a sharp rise in serious injuries and deaths involving e-bikes and scooters, including severe pediatric cases, and urged amendments adding a minimum age for faster devices and a universal helmet requirement. They argued that the force and weight of these devices make crashes more dangerous than conventional bicycles and pointed to past Massachusetts safety laws as evidence that age and equipment restrictions can reduce injuries. Some public testimony opposed the bill as written, especially from moped commuters who argued that gas-powered mopeds are being treated differently from comparable electric devices and should be included in the framework. They called for clearer rules on bike-lane access, insurance, parking, and statewide standards for mopeds as vulnerable road users. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.

Transcript Highlights:

• transitions have proven beneficial in reducing costs for registrants while maintaining the same level of testing
• transitions have proven beneficial in reducing costs for registrants while maintaining the same level of testing
• I love this pilot, both the way it's been deployed and built and tested, and with the deep engagement
• I love this pilot, both the way it's been deployed and built and tested, and with the deep engagement
• This statutory change would allow departments to use DGS-established, tested procedures until such time

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have more, and you will be tested over and over.
• These, you're tested all the time and you're going to continue to be tested.
• Santa Cruz County became the test case at the intersection of a system in transition and a case that
• Assembly Bill 1965, a bill that strengthens the Department of Cannabis Control's authority on cannabis testing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They discussed HIV prevention and testing, knowledge, stigma, advocacy, MSM culture.
• Participants who posted about HIV and STI prevention and testing had substantially higher odds of requesting
• a home-based HIV self-testing kit, and adjusted odds of 11.
• community without peers, the intervention participants were more likely to report recent HIV self-testing
• one another, appeared associated with positive health behaviors like increased HIV prevention and testing

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• happier if that one provision were stricken and not requiring traveling against the flow to meet the test
• That just seems like an extra barrier that if you meet the test on everything else and you've caused
• happier if that one provision were stricken and not requiring traveling against the flow to meet the test
• That just seems like an extra barrier that if you meet the test on everything else and you've caused
• That just seems like an extra barrier that if you meet the test on everything else and you've caused

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 6, 2026, and considered a series of juvenile justice, criminal procedure, public corruption, domestic violence, sentencing, and victim-notification measures. Early in the meeting, SB 396 was amended and reported favorably to allow children in Office of Juvenile Justice custody to attend review hearings by secure video conference, with OJJ staff also participating virtually. SB 181 was amended and reported favorably to create a limited raffle license for nonprofit health care organizations within a single health system. SB 81, a bill requiring prosecutorial consent before a defendant may waive a jury trial in a non-capital felony case, drew extensive debate; supporters said it would align Louisiana with federal practice and other states, while opponents argued it would give the state more power and reduce defendants’ control over their own trial rights. After testimony from district attorneys, defense lawyers, and advocacy groups, the committee reported SB 81 favorably by a 7-3 vote. The committee then took up SB 207, which extends the prescriptive period for prosecuting certain corruption offenses committed by elected officials and public employees to 10 years after they leave office. Supporters said it would help prevent officials from using their influence to avoid prosecution; opponents raised concerns about optics and scope. The bill was reported favorably by an 8-3 vote. SB 92, requiring district attorneys to submit sexual assault kits to the statewide tracking system, was also reported favorably without objection. SB 156, which increases the maximum penalty for negligent homicide and includes special treatment for cases involving children under 13, was reported favorably after sponsors said they would make a technical fix before floor debate. SB 58, imposing a mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated flight from a law enforcement officer and dedicating fine revenue to pursuit training and technology, was reported favorably after supporters cited fatal high-speed pursuits and law enforcement backing. Later, the committee approved SB 97, the constitutional amendment companion to SB 81, after similar testimony for and against the proposal; it was reported favorably by a 7-3 vote. SB 141, moving the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Policy Board’s functions to the Louisiana Supreme Court, was reported favorably without objection. SB 410, increasing penalties for accessories after the fact to sex offenses, was also reported favorably. The committee then considered HB 251, which requires notice to victims or their families in resentencing proceedings; after amendments and testimony about post-conviction procedure and possible unintended consequences, it was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HCR 50, a resolution calling for reports on opioid abatement and treatment programs in correctional facilities and guidance on available funding; the sponsor described it as a study effort to improve access to treatment and recovery, and the resolution was moved favorably.