Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm going to launch right into it just for purposes of familiarity.
• So I'm going to launch right into it just for purposes of familiarity.
• We launched a fare pilot in July of 2025. I will not go into all the details here.
• Ridership is up 57% year over year since we launched new electric service.
• Ridership is up 57% year over year since we launched new electric service, and that puts us at about

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope that you have had a chance to look at our Web site.
• I want our Web site could be the premier site that if somebody needs services for a loved one, they come
• There's a there's a site on the on the website called Florida Health Finder.
• And so we launched in December 2020 for our first online applications for eligibility.
• My experience on the senior long-term care site is they are responsive company for services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thankfully, 75% of our school sites are on a community eligibility provision, and so that really does
• Thankfully, 75% of our school sites are on a community eligibility provision, and so that really does
• Thankfully, 75% of our school sites are on a community eligibility provision.
• Many of those districts are also receiving ASES funding that they receive funding for specific sites.
• On community schools, we encourage a system of investment to support existing sites and expand access

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools. On universal meals, the Department of Education supported continued funding for the Universal School Meals Program and a fourth round of Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grants, citing meal-count growth, improved meal service, and the need to offset federal uncertainty, inflation, and reduced direct certification tied to immigration-related policy changes. The LAO recommended rejecting another kitchen grant round, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and the state has not clearly defined unmet need. Members also raised concerns about the state’s ability to backfill federal meal funding and about how federal requirements affect programs like Summer EBT/SUN Bucks. Public commenters largely supported school meals and kitchen investments, with some urging support for plant-based milk options and continued infrastructure funding. For ELOP, the Department of Finance proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding, including $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended going further and fully fixing the Tier 2 rate, saying rate uncertainty complicates district planning. CDE supported the proposal and said the program has improved attendance and academic outcomes, while noting new CalPADS reporting will provide more data soon. Senators discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, and whether the state should require stronger outcome reporting. Public testimony generally backed stabilizing Tier 2 funding, but some speakers urged more support for older youth and more timely, user-friendly reporting. On community schools, the administration proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing grantees, along with stronger technical assistance, statewide alignment, and an accreditation/self-certification framework. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger cohort. CDE supported the ongoing investment but asked for additional county office and technical assistance funding. Senators and public commenters were broadly supportive of community schools, emphasizing improved attendance, graduation, and student engagement, while also debating accountability, accreditation, and whether non-classroom-based charter schools should be eligible. Public testimony strongly favored ongoing funding and highlighted community schools’ role in mental health, family engagement, and wraparound supports.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thankfully, 75% of our school sites are on a community eligibility provision, and so that really does
• Thankfully, 75% of our school sites are on a community eligibility provision.
• Many of those districts are also receiving ASES funding at specific sites.
• On community schools, we encourage a system of investment to support existing sites and expand access
• Community School Partnership Program funding is launching meaningful changes in student learning and

Transcript Highlights:

• We give them special software to mine social media sites to look for any threats from organizations or
• so that if you went to any school site in Tulare County, you would know exactly where Building A1 is
• so that if you went to any school site in Tulare County, you know that you would know exactly where
• In July 2022, we launched the Reduce the Risk Initiative as a statewide outreach and education effort
• In July 2022, we launched the Reduce the Risk Initiative as a statewide outreach and education effort

Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So USFS was able to look at visual of the column and launch aerial attack before responders... ...from
• I know I'd only have just a couple... ...perspective than shellfish farmers and on-site land managers
• I hope to see you all out at some of our beaver restoration sites or beaver relocation sites in the future
• We'd love to see, in our state-funded restoration sites where beavers are a priority to bring back for
• We'd love to see, in our state-funded restoration sites where beavers are a priority to bring back for

Bills: SB6104 , SB6241 , SJM8015 , SB6318

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: agriculture, protection, state regulation, farmers, land use, sustainability, steelhead, conservation, wildlife, fishing, environmental protection, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, fees, fishing industry, regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• So back in 2021 we launched a number of programs. One is a Promise of Hope.
• So back in 2021 we launched a number of programs. One is a Promise of Hope.
• Um, we launched a phones anymore.
• </c> pantries um on our clinic sites as well. pantries um on our clinic sites as well. things<01:55:43.040
• Use all of our sites just redetermined.

Summary: The joint informational briefing by the Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees focused on projected impacts to Hawaii consumers from federal changes affecting Med-QUEST and the ACA marketplace, including the loss of ACA premium tax credits, OBVA/HR1-related Medicaid changes, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and new Medicaid work/community engagement requirements. Committee members noted the meeting was being streamed live and emphasized the need to explain potential coverage losses affecting a significant share of the state population. Med-QUEST administrators reported current enrollment at 390,766, about 27% of Hawaii’s population, and broke that down into major groups including roughly 128,000 ACA expansion adults and about 52,000 parent/caretaker relatives. They said the expansion adult population would be most affected by the new federal requirements, which will shorten renewal periods from 12 months to 6 months and impose community engagement rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027. They described the work requirement as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work program participation, or half-time education, with an income-based pathway tied to $580 per month at the federal minimum wage; they also noted a long list of exemptions, but said many details are still awaiting federal guidance and rulemaking. The administrators said federal changes to immigrant eligibility would eliminate Medicaid coverage for certain noncitizen categories, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,400 people affected, though about 200 may remain covered through a state-funded program for otherwise eligible individuals. They also said marketplace subsidies would no longer be available for some immigrants under 100% of the federal poverty level starting January 1, 2026, with further restrictions expected in 2027. For Hawaii overall, they estimated the new Medicaid work and renewal rules could push an additional 19,000 to 38,000 people into uninsured status, with another estimated 6,000 at risk from the six-month renewal process alone. Members asked about how exemptions would be determined, especially for medically frail and seriously mentally ill individuals, and administrators said they were still awaiting detailed federal rules and were working on data-matching and verification processes to reduce coverage losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• a whole new industry with to Launch a whole new industry with fairly<00:10:01.279><c> minimal</c><00
• But to put it in context, it took about $150,000 to bring the site online, and the seed cleaner alone
• But to put it in context, it took about $150,000 to bring the site online, and the seed cleaner alone
• </c><00:46:01.680><c> if</c><00:46:01.839><c> needed</c> could service multiple sites if needed could
• </c> agriculture we currently have four sites agriculture we currently have four sites across<01:01:04.039

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• That's approximately $15,000 per home site for that preservation.
• </c><00:09:09.839><c> this</c> Uh we will hope to be launching this Uh we will hope to be launching this
• > before</c><00:10:20.000><c> we</c> important launching point before we important launching point before
• </c> minute interviews at 400 sites minute interviews at 400 sites throughout<00:21:23.520><c> our</c
• </c><01:59:32.480><c> visit,</c> coming in and doing a a site visit, coming in and doing a a site visit

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• It enables people, like Steve with Ford, his executives, they can go visit six sites in a day.
• We were able to configure, test, and launch this pilot within weeks, so there was no need for any gantry
• Flexibility, of course, as we mentioned, this was a very easy-to-configure, launch, and operate pilot
• Again, just a few weeks to launch for both the single-point toll and the segment tolling concept.
• you, having run a lot of pilots with a lot of different technology, with the speed that we had to launch

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on House Bill 2410, which would establish a commercial truck safety and education council, increase the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32, and direct the new revenue to a dedicated account for truck safety and training programs. Committee staff outlined the bill’s CDL and training requirements, council structure, confidentiality provisions, and fiscal impacts. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to improve truck safety through industry-led education and noted that a substitute was expected because details still needed work. Testimony from the Washington Trucking Associations, insurers, the Association of Washington Business, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission was generally supportive of the safety goals, though the commission said operational details and agency roles still needed clarification. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2347, which would repeal the recently enacted luxury aircraft tax on non-commercial aircraft valued above $500,000. Staff explained that the tax is scheduled to take effect April 1 and that repeal would reduce revenue to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel account. Representative Dent, the sponsor, argued the tax is harming business aviation, emergency services, wildfire response, agricultural operations, and rural access, and said aircraft and related jobs were already leaving the state. Most public testimony came from aviation businesses, airport operators, industry associations, and related employers, all urging repeal and warning of aircraft departures, lost hangar tenants, reduced fuel sales, and job losses. One witness from the Port of Seattle supported addressing the tax’s impact but urged working toward a narrower fix rather than full repeal so sustainable aviation fuel funding would remain stable. After closing the hearing on HB 2347, the committee received a work session on tolling technology. Transportation Commission staff presented the results of a pilot using a smartphone app to support toll collection, explaining that the current tolling system remains accurate but that new technologies could reduce costs and improve flexibility over time. The pilot found high accuracy when the app was paired to a vehicle by Bluetooth, lower accuracy without pairing, strong customer satisfaction, and some privacy concerns. The commission recommended keeping the current system in place for now, conducting a more fully operational smartphone-based pilot in the near term, and eventually developing a broader technology marketplace for future tolling systems. Members asked about the role of tags versus apps, video tolling accuracy, and the timeline for replacing existing tolling methods. The meeting ended with adjournment for caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• Learning is learning whether it happens in the classroom or on the job site, in an apprenticeship program
• their careers, launch successful careers, get jobs,” “Careers, launch successful careers, get jobs,
• It increases engagement, increases the opportunity for successful launching of first jobs.
• So we’re power,” “There is the opportunity for successful launching of first jobs.
• We’ve just launched the first undergraduate AI degree at one of our campuses near you.”

Transcript Highlights:

• If they would receive federal grant programs, it's used in conjunction with the UAS test site up near
• I know you mentioned Grand Sky, also the test site.
• At well sites and ensuring downstream markets for the CNG and NGLs produced.
• Okay, so I mentioned the governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, which launched in June 2025.
• The site will serve as a web-based front door to the workforce system, and we hope to have an MVP of

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• on it, this is going to be a presentation on our brand new Capital Outlay Dashboard that we are launching
• Well, I went to the gym at 5:30, and there were no hard hats on site.
• They named two new flight test sites last week, but we are now one of nine.
• We were the first UAS flight test sites in the country.
• That should be launched. It should go through.

Bills: HB1 , HB1

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• In some cases, That limit what businesses can operate on a site.
• Sacred sites are still being desecrated, developed, or made inaccessible.
• Sacred sites are still being desecrated, devout.
• Sacred sites are still being desecrated, developed, or made inaccessible.
• Our sacred sites hold our history, our prayers, and teachings that guide us.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this year, one of the things CDFA is going to be doing is launching a task force to look at the
• And so this year, one of the things CDFA is going to be doing is launching a task force to look at the
• And so this year, one of the things CDFA is going to be doing is launching a task force to look at the
• Farms are applying for AMP practices even when they have digesters on site. Okay. There. Oh.
• On site. Okay. Anybody else want to answer that?

Transcript Highlights:

• and look forward to continuing our partnership with you to ensure California remains the world's launch
• On her first day in office, she immediately declared a state of emergency on homelessness and launched
• On her first day in office, she immediately declared a state of emergency on homelessness and launched
• Many become sites of drug activity and human trafficking, discharging hazardous substances into storm
• This includes deploying crisis responses to vehicle sites, gray water sanitation pumping, clean water

Committee: House Transportation

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard a series of bills, beginning with AB 431, which would create a statewide framework for advanced air mobility infrastructure and planning. The author and supporters from AUVSI, Joby Aviation, United Airlines, Wisk Aero, the City of Long Beach, and Archer argued the bill would help California lead in eVTOL technology, support jobs, reduce congestion, and improve sustainability. The committee accepted amendments, and AB 431 passed on a do-pass-as-amended vote to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered AB 630, dealing with abandoned and hazardous RVs. The author and supporters, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office, said the bill would help local governments address unsafe RVs, curb “van-lording,” and improve notice and reporting requirements before dismantling certain unclaimed vehicles. Opponents from the Western Center on Law and Poverty and ACLU California Action argued the bill would destroy needed shelter for unhoused people and that the notice and valuation process could harm vulnerable residents. Members discussed the bill’s focus on dismantling rather than towing, and AB 630 passed as amended. Other measures taken up included AB 314 on transit-oriented development around high-speed rail stations, AB 1223 on Sacramento County transportation funding flexibility, AB 1111 on flexibility for zero-emission school bus mandates, AB 1190 on limiting fees charged by DMV online business partners, AB 987 on predatory towing fees, and AB 911 on a narrow exemption from zero-emission fleet rules for telecommunications bucket trucks and sail-on wheels. Testimony generally split between supporters emphasizing affordability, local flexibility, consumer protection, or emergency readiness, and opponents raising concerns about implementation, mandates, or unintended consequences. Several bills were advanced by committee vote, with some members recording no votes or abstentions on measures they said needed further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• That way, hopefully, people could click on a particular site in the state and then obtain the permit
• Would be to integrate some of the inspection reporting of our inspectors while they're on the mine sites
• So every site and every project is a little bit different. But we're moving forward on that.
• I'll just launch right into the discussion.
• District says identified as a potential lake site, which creeker river is at.

Transcript Highlights:

• them into adulthood um we can launch them into adulthood um into<00:31:11.760><c> independent</c><00
• The response was that the body scanner has been purchased and is on site at the facility.
• </c> hygienist and a dentist who come on site hygienist and a dentist who come on site to<01:45:13.440
• So ancillary services to support adolescents who are launching to adulthood.
• </c><01:56:08.719><c> to</c> adolescents um who are launching to adolescents um who are launching to

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• They arrange for the collection from the collection sites, and they bring it to a recycling facility.
• and they bring it to a Collection sites and they bring it to a recycling<00:18:32.200><c> facility</
• We are currently working on two other states at the moment that will come online and launch programs
• They're all hazardous waste-certified haulers and transporters that will go to those collection sites
• pick up all of those collection sites pick up all of the<00:48:10.200><c> postc</c><00:48:10.559><c>

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 451, which would create a postconsumer paint stewardship program in New Hampshire. Prime sponsor Representative Karen Ebel described the bill as a bipartisan, broadly supported model based on PaintCare programs used in other states. She said consumers and businesses could drop off leftover paint at participating retailers or municipal household hazardous waste sites, with the paint then collected and recycled by the stewardship organization. She emphasized that the program is intended to reduce landfill disposal, improper dumping, and contamination of groundwater and soil, while also helping municipalities save on hazardous waste handling costs. Members asked several questions about how the program would work and how it would be funded. Ebel explained that the program would be financed by a small fee charged at the point of sale on paint products, not a general sales tax, and that retailers could either list it separately or roll it into the price. She said the fee would cover the Department of Environmental Services’ administrative costs, which were described as minimal, and that the program’s structure was developed with DES and industry input. Questions also addressed whether cans would be recycled and how collected paint would be processed; Ebel said the ACA and PaintCare representatives could provide more detail, but that the paint and containers would be handled through recycling or other approved disposal methods rather than landfilled. Representative Judy Aron, a co-sponsor and chair of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, testified in support, saying the bill had been developed over several years with stakeholders and would keep toxic paint out of landfills while saving municipalities and taxpayers money. Representative Peter Bixby, the ranking member of Environment and Agriculture, also supported the bill, saying his committee had heard it many times and that it had strong bipartisan enthusiasm. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The democratization of space has spurred growth, reduced launch and satellite costs, and fostered the
• Likewise, the Artemis mission, launched during President Trump's first term, is set to return American
• It includes a lunar lander, redundancy, NASA space launch SLS.
• The Stennis Space Center is home to NASA's largest rocket propulsion test site.
• As you know, the TRACS system, Traffic Coordination System for Space, was launched in 2024.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: state policy, governance, legislative processes, public concerns, policy improvement

Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.