Transcript Highlights:

• Olga Shiloh, on behalf of the California Association of Health Plans.
• Angela Pontes, on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, representing the seven Planned
• Angela Pontes, on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, representing the seven Planned
• And I had a student who was a volunteer at Planned Parenthood.
• She was a volunteer at Planned Parenthood, and Planned Parenthood wasn't on the list.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our plan.
• And then as part of the transformation plan, our rural health transformation plan, we're developing regional
• Probably planning our next meeting.
• I can't do... well, let's plan the 18th, August 18th. Let's plan the 18th, August 18th.
• Okay, so tentatively, let's plan for August 18, Tamara. Okay. Let's plan for August 18th, Tamara.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee approved the minutes from its May 28 meeting and received an update from DHW Director Juliet Sharon on the status of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Sharon said the department has posted a public funding-opportunities page with a subscribe feature, is using an expedited committee review process for solicitations and subgrant opportunities, and plans to provide monthly summaries, award information, and federal progress reports. Members asked for clearer access to information on applicants and awards, and Sharon said the department is open to posting more complete listings in SharePoint and to simplifying provider-facing applications. The committee also discussed outreach to rural providers and the need to ensure smaller organizations know about opportunities and can apply within the short timelines. The committee then heard from the Idaho Military Division on its portion of the program. Bureau Chief Wayne Denny said the division is working with DHW on modernizing state communications and emergency systems, including next-generation 911, relocating backup communications infrastructure, coordinating exercises, and supporting rural health extenders such as community health workers and community health EMS providers. Members asked how those roles would function, how counties would participate, and how the work would be sustained after the five-year funding period; Denny said the goal is to demonstrate return on investment so counties and payers can support the services long term. Jennifer White of the State Board of Education described higher education and graduate medical education proposals. She said Idaho’s institutions are coordinating on statewide strategies for rural health workforce training, including mobile simulation, shared clinical infrastructure, learn-in-place programs, and targeted equipment and facilities. She also outlined GME and medical education options, including a strategic rural GME incubator, a rural training site network, and possible support for undergraduate medical education such as expanded seats or the University of Idaho–University of Utah partnership. Members debated sustainability and whether rural health funds should support only GME or broader medical education; some supported using the funds to build Idaho-based training capacity, while others cautioned against creating long-term state obligations without broader legislative approval. No formal votes were taken on those policy questions. In closing, Sharon said the department expects more provider subgrants, ongoing assessments, the first federal reporting deadline at the end of August, and the creation of a governor-appointed rural health transformation task force with legislative and rural representation. The committee tentatively scheduled an additional meeting for August 18 and discussed a later September meeting, likely around September 23-25, to review the federal report and any emerging issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• This plan is already showing results, accelerating progress on hundreds of long-awaited bridge repairs
• And as much as I would love to say yes, because I understand that the cities and towns want to plan..
• Give us the time to actually plan the right repair at the right time versus being reactive.
• of Regional Planning Agencies in strong support of House Bill 4987 filed by the Governor.
• MPC is the regional planning agency for Greater Boston.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4987, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s transportation bond bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Administration officials said the bill would authorize more than $5 billion overall, including $1.2 billion for Chapter 90 over four years, $500 million for accelerated road and bridge repairs, $200 million for MBTA rail modernization and reliability, $200 million for transportation projects supporting housing development, $200 million for a new DCR parkway resilience and safety program, and reauthorizations for federal-aid highway projects, non-federal highway projects, municipal pavement, and Shared Streets and Spaces. They emphasized that the proposal is backed by Commonwealth Transportation Fund revenues, including registry fees, gas tax, and Fair Share surtax revenue, and said it would improve safety, reliability, housing production, and regional equity. Committee members asked about the four-year Chapter 90 authorization, the housing-related transportation funding, federal funding uncertainty, and how the MBTA money would support commuter rail electrification and regional rail. Administration witnesses said the multi-year structure would help municipalities plan and avoid more expensive deferred maintenance, that the housing funds would be flexible for infrastructure needs tied to development, and that the state is pursuing federal grants while relying on state-backed capital financing. They also described process improvements at MassDOT that have reduced project bid-to-notice timelines by 60% and said the rail modernization funds would support locomotive procurement, including battery-electric and Tier 4 diesel locomotives. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and local officials from Sherborn, Conway, and Yarmouth strongly supported the bill, saying the increased Chapter 90 funding and road-mile formula have made a major difference for small and rural communities and that four-year funding would improve predictability, project bundling, and cost savings. They cited local road, bridge, culvert, and gravel-road needs and urged favorable action. A Better City and MAPC also supported the bill but urged the committee to use it for broader transportation policy changes and new revenue tools, including possible reforms to TNC fees, regional pricing, and other funding mechanisms. The committee took no vote during the hearing and adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Community engagement plans. This was a key piece, one of our earliest pieces of advice.
• As agencies redevelop their strategic plans on different timelines, this has been integrated and noted
• We strive to apply an equity lens to our agency activities, including strategic planning, licensing,
• First and foremost is by integrating environmental justice principles into our strategic plan.
• We are building from the previous strategic plan, which also integrated environmental justice goals.

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two weeks ago, we got the direction to submit the plans, and that's the summary here.
• Two weeks ago, we got the direction to submit the plans, and that's the summary here.
• , or who, for whatever reason, have not decided to participate in a mitigation plan.
• The majority of irrigation is covered under a mitigation plan.
• We went in and looked at the different components of the plan that needed to be amended.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, those two things is my, my request today to put in the work plan.
• On the 3rd page of the work plan.
• That's the work plan and uh I stand for any questions you have at this time.
• they're lettered in the work plan recommendations.
• If not, then we have a work plan, and I just wanna thank all of you for being here.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, there was Before the agency's plans are solidified.
• Requiring public involvement plans?
• And then the 1,598 that there's no plan yet, whose jurisdiction are those?
• Level of risk or, you know, it helps us understand how to figure out a plan.
• And then the 1,598 that there's no plan yet, whose jurisdiction are those?

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups. Auditors said Ecology directly conducts or supervises cleanup at only about 8% of active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that Ecology generally met legal requirements at the sites it oversees, but community engagement varied, was not consistently tailored to local needs, and lacked a systematic “lessons learned” process. Auditors also found inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and limited guidance for staff on when to collaborate. Tribal feedback was mixed: some tribes said engagement met their needs, while others wanted earlier and more tailored outreach. Committee members pressed the auditors on why many third-party-managed sites appeared to have little or no public involvement, and whether Ecology has broader authority to require public engagement and oversight. The auditors responded that their review focused on community engagement requirements, not the full cleanup permitting process, and said the gap they identified was the lack of required oversight for third-party engagement. Members also asked about tribal engagement, exposure scenarios, and the meaning of “active” and “planless” sites. Ecology officials said they agreed with many of the findings, were already taking steps to improve community research, lessons-learned reviews, tribal guidance, and coordination with Health, and had recently launched a public email notification system for site status changes. They also said some recommendations would require additional funding or staff resources. Public testimony supported stronger community engagement and more resources for Ecology. Washington Conservation Action said contaminated sites disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, praised the audit for highlighting the need for better site-specific engagement, and urged full funding for MTCA-related work. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there actually an effort to come up with a long-term plan?
• So basically, the authority is required annually to provide plans.
• That's still, there's no update to that plan.
• There was also a small grant that was received after the last business plan.
• We have no plan.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, incentives that you will likely see in that action plan range from emphasizing regional planning
• So to me, that's, you know, I hear some great plans, but plans aren't what's going to reduce the risk
• But the problem is also the Fair Plan.
• And I think the Fair Plan would have...
• And I think the Fair Plan would have stayed a little bit.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to keep their plan affordable.
• Health plans in general, what do you think? Sure.
• If the vertically owned PBMs or insurance plans...
• A health benefit plan on page three, a health benefit plan issuer that provides prescription drug benefits
• They are also administering the drug plans for the health plans that are paying the full costs.

Bills: HB712 , HB722 , HB946 , HB1687 , HB1809 , HB1899 , HB2528 , HB2583 , HB2741 , HB2750 , HB3021 , HB3150 , HB3265 , HB3658 , HB3812 , HB3960 , HB4392 , HB4432

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• They're the people that were responsible for accepting the plans.
• We have a plan check denial process, and in the last four years there have been 16 plan check denials
• Of those, 14 were resolved favorably for the plans to be submitted.
• I do permit-ready plans for residential at this time in my career.
• In January 2025, the board used feedback to help develop its latest strategic plan.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a plan check denial process, and in the last four years there have been 16 plan check denials
• My mom's an engineer, and I went through the planning process, so I understand that.
• We have people—we have some plans here that I know we've showed some of the ledge staff.
• I do permit-ready plans for residential at this time in my career. I support what CID has.
• In January 2025, the board used feedback to help develop its latest strategic plan.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five California regulatory entities: the Respiratory Care Board, the California Council for Interior Design Certification, the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, the Board of Occupational Therapy, and the Board of Naturopathic Medicine. Each agency described its licensing, enforcement, modernization, and consumer-protection work since the last review, and committee members focused heavily on workforce access, public safety, transparency, and fee authority. For the Respiratory Care Board, the main issues were a possible move from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree for licensure, fee structure changes, and ongoing work on LVNs performing respiratory tasks. Board representatives said the degree proposal was intended to strengthen competency and could be phased in without harming access, but several public commenters—especially respiratory therapists and families of medically fragile children—argued it would worsen shortages, particularly in rural and low-income areas. Other stakeholders supported clarifying LVN authority in congregate living health facilities, while the California Medical Association flagged the proposed Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist classification as having limited current workforce impact. The interior design segment drew the most debate. CCIDC leaders defended the current voluntary certification/title-act model, saying it establishes competency, has produced minimal complaints, and that licensure would unnecessarily disrupt the workforce and create barriers without demonstrated public harm. Committee members questioned the lack of state-style enforcement authority, transparency, and Bagley-Keene compliance, and some public commenters criticized the private structure and inconsistent plan acceptance in local jurisdictions. Supporters of the current system said the certification and commercial designation help educate building officials and allow qualified designers to work safely, while opponents argued licensure would provide clearer accountability and reduce confusion. The speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensers board reported major modernization gains, including online licensure processing, faster turnaround times, and new continuing education audits and advertising rules. The board supported creating a licensed audiology assistant category to improve access to care, and public commenters generally backed the board while urging continued modernization. The occupational therapy board described steady growth, improved enforcement and licensing performance, and requested additional fee authority to address rising costs; the main public comment supported the sunset extension and a reduction in advanced practice hand therapy training hours. The naturopathic medicine board emphasized consumer protection, enforcement against unlicensed practice, and the need to clarify statutes; it said most licensed naturopathic doctors practice in underserved areas and welcomed legislative collaboration on scope and enforcement issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, $100 million planned for 2027-29.
• It could be part of your 2026 plan.
• We all hope to benefit from those plans.
• And so commuting connections are one part of the planning.
• Finance and planning staff still kind of hard to find.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on October 16, 2025, for a budget and revenue overview, a traffic safety presentation, and a discussion of potential transit and active transportation grant programs. Committee staff reviewed the adopted 2025-27 transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, the large share for WSDOT, and the mix of revenue sources including fuel tax, vehicle-related fees, federal funds, Climate Commitment Act revenue, and new 2025 revenues from SB 5801 and SB 5802. Staff said the 2025 session produced a balanced four-year plan, preserved major project schedules, maintained highway preservation funding, and added money for culverts, local preservation, and other priorities. They also described a September forecast showing lower motor fuel consumption than previously expected, but still enough revenue growth to keep the transportation plan balanced. For the 2026 supplemental, staff said agency requests were relatively modest overall, with most capital requests reflecting reappropriations and timing shifts rather than new projects, while WSDOT’s addendum identified much larger future needs for maintenance, preservation, paving, culverts, and safety work. Senators asked for more detail on how revenues are distributed by fund type and geography, how much of the maintenance and preservation request is actual maintenance versus equipment, whether paving needs could be supported through bonding, and how electric vehicle sales trends might affect forecasts. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chikino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She said U.S. traffic fatalities have risen sharply over the past decade, with especially large increases for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and argued that the U.S. lags other high-income countries in roadway safety. Her presentation highlighted IIHS’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce fatalities 30% by 2030 through safer speeds, stronger impaired-driving countermeasures, better pedestrian protection, and safer commercial vehicles. She discussed research linking higher speed limits to higher fatality risk, the benefits of lower urban speed limits, speed safety cameras, traffic calming, lighting, pedestrian beacons, and safer intersection design. She also described ongoing work with Bellevue on smart signal technology and pedestrian safety pilots. Committee members thanked her for the presentation and said they would share the materials with others. In the final work session, the committee revisited transit and active transportation grant concepts that had been included in the Senate budget proposal but did not advance in 2025. Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division explained how grant programs need runway, staff capacity, applicant readiness, and clear criteria, and compared program design to getting a plane off the ground. She discussed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting that some projects could be structured as funding-first programs while others would work better as project-line or project-first models. She said regional trail projects are already eligible under existing programs but often score lower because current criteria emphasize safety and population served. Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association then reviewed transit grant programs and argued that transit safety and security needs remain underfunded, including operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health coordination, and non-uniformed security staff. He said many transit capital programs are oversubscribed, that operator barrier retrofits alone could cost $20 million to $30 million, and that agencies face uncertainty about how recent sales tax changes apply to security-related contracts. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• type of planning and centralized planning.
• type of planning and centralized planning.
• </c><00:39:34.400><c> and</c><00:39:34.640><c> and</c> uh of planning and and uh of planning and and
• centralized<00:39:36.200><c> planning.
• So um centralized planning.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It started out at uh, fair plan there.
• <00:10:49.839><c> would</c><00:10:50.079><c> not</c> plan would not plan would not insure<00:10:51.839
• So, I would ask us ask fair plan.
• on proceeding with changing our state benchmark plan. plan is changing our state benchmark plan is changing
• </c><00:16:03.920><c> to</c> governor's budget, there is a plan to governor's budget, there is a plan

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Five-year spending plan. That's important.
• It is the nine-and-a-half-year plan. And on the next, plan. It is the nine-and-a-half-year plan.
• And on the non-state, we've built it up so much that the five-year plan is now a 19.2-year plan.
• It was more like a five-year state plan and a 10-year.
• Matt Baker, Director of Office Facility Planning and Control for the Division.

Bills: HB2 , HB3 , HB799 , HB1039

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, boiler safety, inspection, licensing, state fire marshal, operating certificate, regulations, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE ACTIVELY BUILDING OUR TRAINING PLANS IN THE SYSTEM AS WELL.
• OUR PLAN IS TO WRAP UP THOSE NEXT SUMMER.
• THAT IS THE PLAN TO THEN INTEGRATE. WE ARE ALREADY ON THEM HOW TO DO THAT.
• FOR FX, JUST TO YOUR POINT, WE PLAN TO FOLLOW THE SAME MODEL.
• THAT WILL BE THE PLAN ON HOW WE WOULD DO THAT. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is the retirement plan for EMTs and county sheriffs through OPERS.
• Explain the benefits of this plan.
• Explain the benefits of this plan.
• Back in the '90s, we went to a DROP plan and a forward DROP plan.
• We went to a DROP plan and a forward DROP plan for those people going forward.

Bills: HB1784 , HB1245 , HB1268 , HB2116 , HB2193 , HB2206 , HB1739 , HB1889 , HB1904 , HB3172 , HB4225 , HB4352 , HB3625 , HB4263

Committee: House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions

Keywords: education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, retirement, pension, public employees, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, benefits, survivorship, contribution rates, disability retirement, deferred option plan, service credit, contributions, distributions, HB2116, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, OLERS

Summary: The Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee heard a series of retirement, banking, and school finance bills after announcing that several measures would be laid over or sent back to Rules and that the committee would recess briefly because of quorum and scheduling conflicts. The chair also explained the committee’s OPLA/safe-harbor process for pension bills and noted that many of the measures would still need oversight and floor consideration. Among the bills advanced were HB 1245, allowing certain DHS CLEET-commissioned agents to join the law enforcement retirement system; HB 4352, helping people refinance homes or businesses while protecting lenders; HB 4263, giving certain retired teachers who go to work for CareerTech a choice between TRS and OPERS; HB 1268, creating a five-year DROP option for EMTs and county sheriffs in OPERS; HB 1739, reinstating a half-pay provision in the law enforcement retirement system for OHP recruitment and retention; HB 2116, expanding OLERS eligibility to certain Office of State Fire Marshal officers; HB 2206, allowing newly hired school resource officers into OLERS; HB 3625, expanding school district investment options; HB 1889, providing a catch-up COLA for older police and fire retirees; and HB 1784, requiring TRS’s assumed rate of return not fall below its past 20-year annualized return. HB 3172, the “Fair Banking Act,” would restrict adverse actions by very large financial institutions based on lawful economic activity and require explanations on request; members asked whether it would affect Oklahoma banks and whether it mirrored a presidential executive order. HB 2193 proposed a COLA for state retirement systems with caps on eligible benefits and salaries, and members raised concerns about differing actuarial estimates and the need for more work before oversight. Most bills were reported out by committee votes ranging from 8-0 to 4-3. The chair and members repeatedly noted that several measures, especially the pension bills, would need further work with actuaries and oversight committees. The meeting ended with a brief acknowledgment of committee staff and support personnel before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• who opted into transfer to Plan 3 from Plan 2 prior to 2002.
• From Plan 2 prior to 2002. This is a class action that's been going on since 2005.
• Aaron’s planning, as he mentioned earlier, to close out the left one study.
• Three of them were related to Plan 1 COLAs.
• And then the third one just is endorsing Plan 1 COLAs in general.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy Executive Committee approved the September minutes and received updates on two court cases, Fowler and Dolan. Staff explained that Fowler concerns interest calculations for members who transferred from Plan 2 to Plan 3 before 2002; the Ninth Circuit has already found liability, and the remaining issue is damages, which could be significant depending on the expert-driven calculation. Dolan was described as quieter, with briefing completed at the Court of Appeals and oral argument possible later this year or early next year. The committee also heard an actuarial update on the interim work plan, including planned informational briefings on month-of-death policy, a Plan 1 ad hoc COLA, and the OSA demographic experience study, which is still under external audit. Members asked whether updated fiscal notes had been prepared for two bills under study; staff said preliminary analysis had been done and full updates would come if the bills move forward. The committee then discussed how to handle the ad hoc COLA item and agreed to have staff draft a letter endorsing House Bill 1474 and any similar Senate bill for a one-year ad hoc COLA, to be brought back for full committee consideration in November. Staff reviewed the draft November and December work plan. The committee adopted the November agenda, which includes annual updates from the State Investment Board and Retirement Systems, the left one study closeout, and the ad hoc COLA action item. Members also discussed whether excess compensation and 2026 session prep should be handled by email rather than in a meeting, with general agreement to move the session prep to electronic communication and possibly handle excess compensation as an informational item, depending on availability. Constituent correspondence included several messages on climate change and Plan 1 COLAs, including support for the merger bill and COLAs in general. Jacob White of the LEOFF 2 Board reported that the board had only held an educational briefing on excess compensation and overtime, found the data limited, and took no further action. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and an adjournment vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, sir, and we plan to take full advantage.
• This council awarded planning and design phase.
• As you recall, our strategic plan was approved in January of this year by the council.
• Strategic plan meetings have been implemented.
• Our new planning and design manager, Mr.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force