Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members of the committee, I am the chairman of the board of veterinary medicine.
• The Animal and Veterinary Board.
• As anticipated, when the board voted to distribute funds, opponents attempted to add the board to the
• As anticipated, when the board voted to distribute funds, opponents attempted to add the board to the
• When the board voted to distribute funds, opponents attempted to add the board to the litigation.

Bills: HB25 , SB38 , SB101 , HB199

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members of the board.
• Chairman, members of the board, we appreciate it.
• I'm a resident and also a board member at the Concord Estates CDD.
• It's been about four or five years with the current board members, right?
• That's six years with the current board member that has been taking advantage of it.

Summary: The Legislative Auditing Committee heard several local-government audit requests and unanimously approved each one. The first item was Baker County, where county commissioners asked for an operational and financial audit because of repeated late audits, concerns about the finance office, and lack of confidence in county financial reporting. The county clerk supported an audit but argued it should be countywide and include all constitutional officers; she also described a dispute over access to the county finance system and pending litigation. After brief questions, the committee adopted a 9-0 motion directing the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of Baker County’s financial operations and records, with scope to be finalized during the audit. The committee then approved an audit request for the Concord Estates Community Development District in Osceola County. Senator Arrington said residents alleged excessive board compensation, large unexplained spending, missing financial reports, and refusal to provide records or hold open meetings. Residents and a board member testified about rising assessments, deteriorating amenities, and lack of transparency. The committee voted 10-0 to direct an operational audit of the CDD. It also approved, by 10-0 votes, operational audits of the town of Melbourne Beach, based on allegations of fiscal and operational improprieties and lawsuits that had cost the town more than $150,000, and the city of Apalachicola, where Senator Simon said longstanding water utility failures, grant issues, and consent-order problems warranted review. The final request was for a financial and operational audit of Cape Coral’s Building Department. Representative G. Lombardo said building-fee revenues appeared to be transferred for non-building purposes, permit processing was inconsistent, and the department relied heavily on a private firm while the building official had prior ties to that firm. Industry representatives testified that building funds were being diverted, service levels were suffering, and private-provider inspections were not always reflected in fee reductions. The committee adopted the motion 10-0. After completing all agenda items, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, again, the purpose is to allow the board members who are... ...overseeing the program to be able
• board.
• Difficulty of maintaining the nine-member board is for individuals who are actually familiar with the
• I have had two members approach me to address this issue on maintaining existing nine-member boards.
• Obviously, it's less expensive. ...issue on maintaining existing nine-member boards.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Not members. Any resolution HCR96? Not members. Any questions?
• I've talked with some of the board members, and they expressed, you know, it being very rewarding to
• </c><00:35:23.520><c> members</c> appreciate and all your board members appreciate and all your board
• Thank you members. He did um appreciate. Thank you members.
• Should it be all the members on the board?

Summary: The committee first heard HCR 96, which encourages the University of Hawaiʻi to evaluate and expand student mental health services. University of Hawaiʻi Associate Vice President Farah Marie Gomes testified in support and noted the system’s mental health and basic-needs efforts across all 10 campuses. Members discussed staffing and funding constraints, including that the system had 27 adult mental health positions, 21 filled and six vacant, with one vacancy open for about four years. The resolution was adopted unanimously, unamended. The committee then took up several gubernatorial appointments. GM 785 nominated Wendo Hensel to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and GM 784 nominated Terry George to the same body. Both nominees testified about the value of Hawaiʻi’s participation in WICHE; Hensel emphasized the importance of sharing policy ideas and best practices, while George highlighted Hawaiʻi’s unique higher education needs and the benefits of learning from other western states. Both nominations were supported and moved forward. The committee also considered multiple appointments to the Hawaiʻi Commission for National and Community Service. Kylie Alakard described wanting to serve as a youth voice and role model, and Ray Galas spoke about his prior volunteer board experience and desire to help people connect through service. Sandra Larson said volunteerism and community service were important to her and that she wanted to give back. The committee then heard GM 771 and GM 772 for Ken Kawahara to the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi; Kawahara said he would bring business and government experience to help with internal operations, education, and strategic goals, though he acknowledged he was still learning the organization’s details. Members also began hearing GM 624 for Joshua Famuina to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents, with student caucus testimony in strong support emphasizing his attendance, communication, and engagement with students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, especially those who are former school board members on this committee
• on my board earns just $240, the same stipend board members received 40 years ago before I was born.
• community advocates. school board members, school boards stronger.
• They're all board members serving on their respective boards.
• As a school board member.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe in your packet you guys do have a list of school board members.
• Our resolution committee consists of 24 school board members throughout the state of New Mexico.
• school board members to express their opinions on current educational issues.
• board members.
• Second, reinstates full funding per diem for school board members.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state board was established in 1939. and is governed by a seven-member board of actively engaged
• classification for your board members? They're currently group six.
• Okay, there's two board members, right?
• We currently have two board members, but we're actually a three-person board.
• And then the board members are in group six? Yes, ma'am.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel that the relationship between the school superintendent and the board members is inappropriate
• , not because I think that they're saying... ...board members is inappropriate.
• I'm saying that the school board members sitting on that school board do everything the school superintendent
• We've made progress on several of these matters already, creating forms, training staff and board members
• We've had a three-member board, and in some cases a two-member board forever, and at no point in time

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, especially those who are former school board members on this committee
• The same stipend board members received 40 years ago, before I was born.
• They're all board members serving on their respective boards.
• And I'm just very, very empowered to support our school board members.
• And I'm just very, very empowered to support our school board members.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several education bills, with AB 887 by Assemblymember Berman proposing that every school district and charter school adopt a plan so all high schools offer at least one computer science course by 2029-30. Supporters, including a teacher and student, argued California is falling behind other states and that computer science is essential for student opportunity and workforce readiness. ACSA opposed the bill, citing the shortage of qualified computer science teachers and administrative burden. The bill passed the committee on a 6-0 vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1390 by Assemblymember Solache, which would allow local and county school boards to raise trustee compensation above long-standing statutory minimums that have not changed in decades. Supporters said the current stipends are too low to make board service accessible to working families and younger community members. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with five votes, with the roll left open for additional members. AB 865 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would create a $5 million, three-year grant program for dual-language immersion instructional materials, split between high-demand languages and other languages. Supporters said districts often lack standards-aligned materials in languages beyond Spanish, forcing teachers to create their own. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 857 by Assemblymember Gibson, requiring annual cultural competency training for K-12 staff, also passed 5-1 after supporters linked it to the state reparations task force report and argued it would improve trust and student outcomes. The committee additionally approved AB 677 by Assemblymember Bryan, which would make it easier for unhoused students to access school-based vision and dental screenings by allowing directory information to be used for that purpose with an opt-out process; it passed 8-0. AB 903 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, directing the Department of Education to develop best practices on education technology and digital equity, passed after amendments and with some opponents indicating they would remove opposition once the amendments were in print. Finally, AB 917 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, extending permanent-status protections to certain educators in small districts and county programs, drew significant opposition from small districts and regional occupational programs over flexibility and funding concerns; the bill still passed 5-2 with the roll held open for additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• You said that, and you called it the Applesauce Board, but I think I know which board you're talking
• He is not on the board, but he represents the board for the governor.
• He is not on the board, but he represents the board for the governor.
• I believe you're talking to the administration of the board, not the board itself.
• We talked to Bob Hartnett, Chad Greer, and numerous members of that board.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Summary: The Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing met with a quorum and held a public hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1083, which focused primarily on respiratory care licensure. The sponsor explained that the bill would require respiratory therapists in Missouri to hold an active RRT credential rather than a CRT, while preserving a grandfather clause for current CRT licensees, and would also add random audits at renewal to confirm credentials remain active. The bill was also described as carrying several other professional licensing provisions added on the Senate floor, including changes affecting interior designers, physician licensure background checks and disclosure requirements, social worker supervision standards, and speech-language pathologist clinical fellowship supervision rules. Testimony in support came from representatives of the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, the Interior Designers Association, the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Missouri chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and Burrell Behavioral Health, and FGA Action. The respiratory care witness said the bill would improve patient care and close a loophole in current law. Interior design supporters said they had negotiated changes with the board, while a committee member disputed that the board was fully in agreement. Speech-language and social work witnesses described their provisions as technical fixes that would help recruit and license more professionals, especially in rural areas. One witness also urged adding unrelated legislation as an amendment. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive session on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 183 and adopted an amendment that addressed residential care and assisted living facility accreditation, a temporary licensure issue tied to work experience, a cleanup fix for osteopathic college language, and clarification that the speech-language pathologist provision applies to supervision from any state. The committee then rolled the amendment into the substitute and voted do pass House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1083 by a roll call vote of 21 yes and 1 no, with Representative Nolte voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, members.
• to appoint members to that board.
• uh</c><04:31:53.359><c> by</c> ethics board a partisan board uh by ethics board a partisan board uh
• </c><04:31:59.279><c> And</c><04:31:59.439><c> so</c> appoint uh members to that board.
• And so appoint uh members to that board.

Bills: HB567 , HB776 , HB2 , HB568 , HB619

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 1A, the appointment of Jereen DiD. as a member of the State Water Resources Control Board.
• And then, of course, we have nine regional boards, and we split them up amongst the five board members
• But I do want board members who are outraged about this crisis in the Bay-Delta and the way it affects
• But I do want board members.
• But I do want board members who are outraged about this crisis in the Bay Delta and the way it affects

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first handled several routine actions, including approving three governor’s appointments not required to appear: Anthony Surich as Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency, Craig Snelling J.D. to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and Nicholas Mueller to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. The committee also approved referral of bills to committees, all by 4-0 votes. It then took up appointments requiring testimony, beginning with Jereen DiAdamo to the State Water Resources Control Board. DiAdamo focused her remarks on safe drinking water, groundwater sustainability, conservation, and Bay-Delta restoration. She said the number of Californians without safe drinking water has fallen from 1.6 million to 800,000 since 2019, credited the SAFER program, technical assistance, and mandatory consolidation authority, and described ongoing work on failing and at-risk systems, domestic well mitigation, SGMA implementation, and the Bay-Delta Plan. Senators pressed her on audit follow-up, measurable goals for reducing the remaining unsafe systems, funding uncertainty, and concerns from environmental and tribal groups that the board has favored water users over ecosystem protections. Supporters from water, agriculture, business, and local agencies praised her collaborative style and consensus-building, while opponents argued she had not done enough to protect the Delta and called for new leadership. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Sivagunda Gunda for reappointment to the California Energy Commission. He highlighted progress on grid reliability, zero-carbon generation, and planning for California’s energy transition, including transportation fuels, building electrification, and the eventual retirement of Diablo Canyon. Senators questioned him about the future of Kern Energy and small refineries, the state’s transportation fuels plan, fuel imports and costs, and whether California can retire Diablo Canyon by 2030 without harming reliability. Gunda said the state is planning as if Diablo Canyon retires in 2030, that current resource additions make reliability manageable, and that affordability and market coordination remain key issues. The committee then voted 4-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate, and the hearing recessed afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Paul, ranking member of our and members of the committee.
• Thank you, Chair Paul, Ranking Member Ibarra, members of the committee.
• I'm a tenured nursing faculty member of the Washington State Board of Nursing.
• Thank you, Chairman Paul and members of the committee. limiting the authority of the Washington Board
• Shelley Price, and I'm here as a member of the Executive Board of the Council on Nursing Education in

Bills: HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2567 , HB2363 , HB2422

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you tell me what your role is as a member of the Board of Medicine please? Dr.
• John Lapel: I'm one of 13 members on the Board of Medicine right now and I can tell you honestly I'm
• John Lapel: It is not something I believe is going to happen during my role as a member of the Board
• Chair: or derive your decision as a member of the Board of Medicine if the CDC guidance conflicts with
• John Lapel: Again, I'm doing this for educational purposes not as a member of the Board of Medicine and

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Who's on the board? We have nine members on the board.
• Who's on the board? We have nine members on the board.
• Uh three are nine members on the board.
• Miss Solo, Chair, Senator, I think there was, you know, having as not a board member but having staff
• </c><00:19:53.360><c> member</c><00:19:53.679><c> but</c> having as as not a board member but having

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Member of the board of trustees for the University of Northern Colorado effective January 1st, 2026,
• Members of the board of governors of the Colorado State University system effective January 1st, 2026
• Members of the board of governors of the Colorado State University system effective January 1st, 2026
• Members of the State Board of Health for terms expiring March 1, 2029.
• Members of the Workers' Compensation Cost Containment Board for terms expiring December 13, 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want the members to know that the standards board is comprised of three members.
• Members, a reminder that the way the board is set up is a management structure that I think should make
• Members, to have this amendment go forward would, in fact, stymie the actions of the board altogether
• But this board has that authority to do that. So please, members, vote green on my A-17. Thank you.
• Members, this should be a green board across, up and down, north and south, east and west.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not a single board member showed up to that public hearing.
• They only had eight board members that showed up. None of them except Dr.
• They only had eight<00:51:15.200><c> board</c><00:51:15.520><c> members</c><00:51:15.839><c> that</c>
• </c><00:51:17.359><c> None</c> eight board members that showed up.
• None eight board members that showed up.

Summary: The subcommittee met on October 14, approved the minutes, and then took up a large group of staff-suggested amendments to multiple regulations. Those staff amendments were approved without objection and were described as technical changes needed to comply with KRS Chapter 13A and other governing law. The committee then moved out of order to consider Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure regulation 2011 KAR 9:270, which governs buprenorphine prescribing and related standards. Board representatives said the regulation has been updated over time since 2015 and that the current amendments are intended to streamline the rule, remove outdated federal references such as the X-waiver, narrow education requirements to addiction-related topics, and create exceptions for settings like emergency rooms and certain pain treatment situations. The agency amendment would also allow buprenorphine monoproduct for up to 30 days when a patient is transitioning from a full opioid agonist, and would add physicians certified in addiction medicine as eligible specialty consultants. Board officials said the regulation was developed through a two-year process with a work group, informal outreach to medical organizations, and multiple comment periods, and they argued the rule is working because overdose deaths have declined and provider numbers have increased. Several witnesses and committee members raised concerns that the regulation remains too restrictive. Senator Rocky Adams noted that major medical organizations had said the proposed language could restrict access and worsen overdose risk, and he questioned whether the committee was being asked to choose between conflicting expert views. Opponents, including a medical student, a recovery advocate, and Dr. Colleen Ryan of the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine, argued the rule is outdated, creates unnecessary barriers to buprenorphine treatment, and should be repealed or substantially revised to align with federal guidance and evidence-based care. They said rigid requirements can discourage treatment and that addiction should be treated like other chronic illnesses. No final vote on the medical licensure regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, and the discussion ended with the chair preparing to hear from additional opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, from the perspective of a school board member, there are two significant areas of this legislation
• trust eroded, board members were recalled, and yet the district remained contractually bound to the
• Board members are also, to our knowledge, the only elected officials required by statute to take training
• Unanimous votes are not that uncommon on a five-member school board, so I'll save the rest for discussion
• Now, we still have a board. The board is, in a sense, the board.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and to members of the conference committee, I am Moren Schneider and I chair the Minnesota Board
• My name is Kathleen Kelso, and I'm a board member of the organization Elder Voice Advocates.
• </c><00:17:52.559><c> member</c><00:17:52.880><c> of</c> Kathleen Kelso and I'm a board member of Kathleen
• Kelso and I'm a board member of the<00:17:53.360><c> organization</c><00:17:54.080><c> Elder</c><00:
• member</c> discussion?