Transcript Highlights:

• And there may be emergency workarounds that we could do.
• Structures and real operational impacts that the county and provider levels.
• We currently operate one county-operated mobile crisis team. We are on staff 24-7, 365 days a year.
• Janna Lord, and I'm the Chief Operating Officer of Sycamores.
• This includes referring to mobile crisis or emergency services.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on budget proposals and implementation updates. DSH outlined its proposed 2026-27 budget, including funding for patient operating expenses, IST solutions savings, conditional release program costs, LPS bed allocation changes, electrical infrastructure projects at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and expanded dental services at Metropolitan and Patton. DSH also reported that it has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks in the Stiavedi v. Clinton case, with average time to initiate treatment down to about five days and pending placements reduced to roughly 250, while noting that Proposition 36 could increase referrals and SB 1323 may divert some individuals earlier into community-based treatment. Members asked about rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, the timing and structure of capital projects, and whether IST solution funds are being fully used; DSH said the savings reflect slower-than-expected ramp-up of community programs and that the Central California FACT replacement program is still on track for January 2027 activation. The Commission for Behavioral Health described its role under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), including data, evaluation, grantmaking, technical assistance, and transparency work. It highlighted the new statewide Innovation Partnership Fund, a five-year, $20 million-per-year program with small and large grant categories; the first RFA drew strong interest, with more than 400 questions and over 1,000 bidders’ conference participants. The Commission also discussed a proposed extension to spend down about $4.1 million remaining for the Alcove Youth Drop-in Center grants so sites can finish implementation and Stanford can complete the final evaluation. Members asked about grant duration, whether projects can be renewed, what qualifies as innovation, and whether the fund could support service delivery rather than awareness campaigns or training; the Commission said awards are expected to be three-year contracts and that proposals must be new or meaningfully expanded approaches that support BHSA priority populations. DHCS reviewed major behavioral health changes under CalAIM and BH Connect, including peer support, mobile crisis, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, updated specialty mental health access criteria, and new substance use treatment standards based on ASAM’s fourth edition. DHCS reported strong contingency management results, with more than 13,000 members served and 95% testing negative for stimulant use during treatment, and said 21 Indian health care providers have been approved to offer traditional health care practices. It also described BH Connect initiatives such as the $1.9 billion access reform and outcomes incentive program, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation by four counties, and transitional rent services. On BHSA implementation, DHCS said it is not tracking individual county contract cuts but is monitoring county plans and statewide outcomes, while stakeholders raised concerns about local prevention and service gaps. DHCS also outlined its H.R. 1 implementation strategy, including outreach, streamlined renewals, exemptions for disabled, substance use, and medically frail individuals, and proposed clinic navigator and outreach funding; it said it has not yet produced a focused estimate of H.R. 1 impacts on behavioral health populations. The discussion ended with DHCS noting that B-CHIP bond funding has supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 new or expanded facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• Operations Center or the State Operations Center has been activated. for 62 days, so about 20% of the
• that stand ready with training individuals to operate them alongside county operators so that we are
• We've been operating since 1963, so 62 years of continuous operations.
• That's great for operators, it can also be a hindrance for operators because you don't know if you're
• I will say again as an operator that that's doing this at risk not having the follow-on work of operating

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Given that our hospitals are open 24/7, 365 days a year, the fact that our emergency rooms and emergency
• Our hospitals are open 24/7, 365 days a year, and our emergency rooms and emergency departments do not
• </c> this directly involved in emergency this directly involved in emergency situations<00:54:06.960>
• <01:29:18.639><c> margin</c><01:29:19.000><c> of</c> operating margin of operating margin of 20%<01:29
• </c> departments we do have m paa emergency departments we do have m paa emergency it's<01:34:25.639>

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Operations Center or the State Operations Center has been activated for 62 days, so about 20% of the
• You have to have trained operators.
• We've been operating since 1963, so 62 years of continuous operations.
• Uh, that's great for operators.
• In either case, Texas has operational control of the aircraft. The operator doesn't.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm grateful for our emergency services or the quick clinic in Mexico.
• My fear is that this could close more emergency rooms.
• I can tell you a town of 12,000 without an emergency room.
• And operate one of those facilities.
• Barely positive, break-even, lose a little bit from operations.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there may be emergency workarounds that we could...
• We currently operate one county-operated mobile crisis team. We are on staff 24-7, 365 days a year.
• Janna Lord, and I'm the Chief Operating Officer of Sycamores.
• We help decompress hospitals' emergency waiting rooms.
• This includes referring to mobile crisis or emergency services.

Summary: The subcommittee heard budget and policy updates from the Department of State Hospitals, the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services. DSH described its proposed 2026-27 budget of $3.2 billion, including savings tied to IST solutions, higher patient-driven operating costs, and a small increase in caseload projections. Officials said the department has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks, with wait times reduced from a pandemic peak of 1,953 pending placements to about 250, and average treatment initiation now around five days. Members asked about the effects of Proposition 36 and SB 1323, rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, and whether IST solution funding was being overbudgeted; DSH said referrals are slightly down overall, aging and medically complex patients are driving outside care costs, and the IST solution savings reflect slower-than-expected program activation rather than a service gap. The department also outlined proposed funding for CONREP cost increases, a new county-by-county LPS bed allocation model, electrical infrastructure upgrades at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and additional dental staffing and space at Metropolitan and Patton. The Commission for Behavioral Health reviewed its role in the Behavioral Health Services Act transition and its new Innovation Partnership Fund. Staff said the commission is shifting from county-level innovation oversight to a statewide grant strategy, with the first $20 million RFA drawing strong interest and awards expected in mid-June. Members asked how “innovation” would be defined, whether grants could be renewed after the initial three-year contracts, and how the state would ensure the money supports real service delivery rather than general outreach or training. The commission also sought a liquidation deadline extension for the Alcove youth drop-in center grants so remaining funds can be spent before they revert, allowing sites to finish implementation and support the final evaluation. DHCS provided an overview of CalAIM and BH Connect implementation, including updated specialty mental health access criteria, new ASAM-based substance use treatment standards, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation, and transitional rent services. The department also addressed BHSA implementation, saying it does not track specific local program cuts but will monitor county three-year plans, performance measures, and outcomes as counties shift to the new funding structure. On H.R. 1, DHCS said it is preparing outreach, eligibility simplification, and exemption strategies to reduce Medi-Cal coverage losses, including clinic navigators, a statewide outreach campaign, and possible employment supports through a future waiver. The department also reported that BH-CHIP bond funds have supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds, with additional outpatient capacity and tribal investments. Finally, DHCS outlined a proposed 988 trailer bill to create a statewide designation process for 988 centers and mobile crisis teams, with implementation no earlier than October 1, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• And anytime any kind of urgent or emerging threats are coming up, we'll do an emergency threat brief
• Moving on to recommended changes to the operating standards for emergency services communications.
• Moving on to recommended changes to the operating standards for emergency services communications.
• There's a lot of operational changes. There's a lot. There's a lot of operational changes.
• The system became operational in 2004, and debt service was paid The system became operational in 2004

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without the support, hospitals ...ambulances on the road, and emergency room doors open.
• According to RAND, the viability of emergency care, as we know, bill is Mr.
• According to RAND, the viability of emergency care, as we know it, is at risk.
• The already fragile emergency care system has no financial bandwidth to absorb this.
• He added that in an emergency, the doors must always stay open.

Summary: The committee heard AB 2575 on health care AI guardrails, with the author and supporters from the California Nurses Association and labor groups arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment. They said the bill would require basic disclosures about AI tools, protect workers from retaliation for overriding AI in good faith, and prevent developers or employers from shifting liability to frontline clinicians. Opponents including the California Medical Association, CalChamber, hospitals, and other health care organizations argued the bill would add costs, create uncertainty, and discourage useful AI applications. Committee members discussed bias in health care and accepted amendments narrowing the disclosure provisions; the bill was moved with a 7-1 vote and re-referred to Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. AB 634 would ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing tianeptine, described by supporters as “gas station heroin.” The author and law enforcement supporters said the substance is dangerous, easily accessible, and can cause opioid-like addiction, while no opposition came forward. The committee also heard AB 1607 to extend the Maddy EMS Fund, which reimburses emergency providers for uncompensated care. Supporters said the fund is essential to keeping emergency departments staffed, especially amid expected coverage losses; an ACLU representative opposed the funding source because it relies on criminal and traffic fines. Members supported the need for the fund but raised concerns about the fairness and long-term stability of the revenue source, and the bill advanced on a 8-0 vote. AB 1906 would require coverage of at-home cervical cancer screening tests without cost sharing, and the author said the bill would improve early detection and reduce disparities, especially for rural and working Californians. Support came from Planned Parenthood, Health Access, and several health and labor organizations; insurers said they appreciated the amendments and were reviewing their position. The committee adopted amendments aligning the bill with clinical guidelines and passed it 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also took up AB 2247, the Thrive Act, to create a pilot program for trauma and mental health services for youth affected by gun violence in four counties. Supporters described barriers survivors face in accessing counseling, while members questioned the narrow focus on gun violence, the choice of counties, documentation requirements, and whether the program should instead be housed in victim compensation. The bill passed 8-0 to Judiciary. Later, AB 2531 would expand California’s uncompensated care program so veterans denied abortion care through the federal VA system could receive coverage in California, and would add an abortion resources link for veterans. Supporters framed it as filling a gap created by federal restrictions; opponents argued state funds should not support abortion. Members noted the VA already provides many reproductive services but not this one, and the bill passed 7-0 to Military and Veterans Affairs. The committee also heard AB 1915, which would modernize restaurant facility rules and create a self-certification pathway for some equipment installations. Restaurant and business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce costly delays, while the Contractor State License Board opposed the self-certification provision over safety and inspection concerns. Members generally supported streamlining but echoed public safety concerns and indicated further work was needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 116, we have an operating adjustment.
• On line 124, we have their operating adjustment.
• Number one is the operating adjustment.
• DPS will also be unable to afford the rent costs for the new statewide Emergency Operations Center, which
• In a level of operational detail, the implications of funding the DOC's operating adjustment at the proposed

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• All Government Operations.
• With an emergency clause on their bill, that would work.
• We have, as an emergency clause, every biennium.
• The next item is an increase in just other operating expenses.
• That's kind of just all of the other operating expenses grouped together.

Committee: House Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations Division met to consider House amendments to Senate Bill 2001, the budget for the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Representative Meyer and Legislative Council staff reviewed the House changes, which included higher lodging funding tied to a prior bill, an increase for North Dakota legislators’ forum dues, a transfer of $290,000 for public printing from the Secretary of State to Legislative Council, a $650,000 reduction tied to the nuclear energy study because that funding was already provided elsewhere, and a new section allowing legislative space on the 15th floor of the Capitol to be used for additional Legislative Council employees. John Bjornson explained the 15th-floor space proposal and said staff would work with Facility Management and CTE to address relocation needs and timing, with CTE’s move potentially delayed until after its busy school-year period if necessary. The committee then reviewed the Senate version of the bill in more detail. Staff walked through the Legislative Assembly budget items, including per diem and compensation adjustments, lodging and mileage estimates, IT and audio/video funding, and dues increases for national and state legislative organizations. Members asked about mileage assumptions and the emergency clause, and staff said the emergency language is standard and allows flexibility for transfers, carryovers, and other budget actions. The committee also reviewed the Legislative Council budget, including funding for 25 new FTEs, interim travel, IT costs, professional services, public printing, and one-time items such as equipment and term limits consulting, while the advanced nuclear energy consulting item was removed in the House version. After discussion, the committee adopted the House amendment to Senate Bill 2001 and then voted to do pass the bill as amended. Both motions passed on roll call, and the amended bill was sent to the full Appropriations Committee. Near the end of the meeting, Representative Paula gave notice that she would bring a separate amendment later on the Industrial Commission budget related to homelessness grant funding, noting it would not use SIF or general fund dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then anytime any kind of urgent or emerging threats are coming up, we'll do an emergency threat brief
• And then other operational expenses, which was 12%, that covers the other operational expenses that would
• Moving on to recommended changes to the operating standards for emergency services communications.
• Moving on to recommended changes to the operating standards for emergency services communications.
• The system became operational in 2004, and debt service was paid The system became operational in 2004

Committee: Joint Information Technology Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> relating to animal health emergencies. relating to animal health emergencies.
• The state government emergency.
• ,</c> a fantasy sports operator, a fantasy sports operator, for<00:50:48.840><c> the</c><00:50:48.920
• It focuses on the training and certification of incident management teams and emergency operations centers
• </c> teams and emergency operations centers. teams and emergency operations centers.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Dominic Lucia, a board-certified physician in general emergency medicine as well as pediatric emergency
• Board certified in both general emergency medicine as well as pediatric emergency medicine, representing
• They did their emergency rulemaking.
• First, none of them operate the same way.
• This program also has reduced unnecessary emergency transports... Emergencies across our residents.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also want those operators to have that tool at their disposal.
• WellSpace Health has operated a suicide prevention...
• WellSpace Health has operated a suicide prevention line since 1953.
• Lastly, our Emergency Medical Services Authority operates really at the intersection of the 911 system
• You know, during that time, we declared that state of emergency.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in 2026, while also transitioning state efforts and resources toward more long-term emergency demand
• There's a second piece, which is the emergency load reduction piece and the CalSHAPE piece.
• This last year in 2025, DSGS is operated based on trying to avoid...
• DSGS is operated based on trying to avoid extreme emergency alerts.
• As Director Carrillo was explaining, demand-side grid support program and emergency...

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard six budget-related items and took no votes, holding all items open for a future hearing. The first item concerned a climate bond expenditure plan for the California Transmission Accelerator Revolving Fund under SB 254. GoBiz, IBank, and the Department of Finance described a request for nearly $26 million and 10 limited-term positions to develop financing strategies and evaluate transmission projects, while the LAO said the proposal was broadly consistent with Prop. 4 but noted that the Legislature may want to provide more direction on program design. Senators questioned how the proposal would lower ratepayer costs, protect state funds, and ensure accountability for billion-dollar transmission projects. The second item covered trailer bill language to redirect funding among demand-side reliability programs. Finance proposed moving $22 million from the DEPA program to DSGS for summer 2026 and using CalSHAPE interest funds for ELRP or an equivalent CPUC program in 2027-28, with CEC and CPUC coordinating the transition. Senators and LAO questioned why CalSHAPE funds should not continue supporting schools, and several members argued DSGS has been more successful and should continue rather than be shifted to ELRP. CEC and CPUC explained that DSGS and ELRP serve different reliability functions and do not address public safety power shutoffs. Public commenters, including school groups and clean energy advocates, split between extending CalSHAPE for school HVAC/plumbing projects and preserving or expanding DSGS. The committee also heard on petroleum market oversight implementation under SBX1-2 and ABX2-1, with the CEC and its Division of Petroleum Market Oversight requesting additional staffing to support inventory monitoring, refinery resupply analysis, and market oversight. Senators pressed for details on investigations, refinery margins, gasoline price spikes, and the transportation fuels transition plan, while staff said the draft plan would be released soon and that DPMO’s work on branded versus unbranded gasoline remains ongoing. Finally, the CPUC presented three additional proposals: implementing AB 1207’s climate credit reforms, studying large-load/data center cost impacts under SB 57, and preparing for regional market participation under AB 825. The LAO repeatedly cautioned that some of these requests may go beyond statutory minimums and urged the Legislature to decide how much policy direction and staffing it wants to provide. Public commenters supported DPMO funding, opposed ending CalSHAPE, and strongly favored continued DSGS funding over a new ELRP structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• lighting, while repairs to the emergency generator systems were underway.
• Just to give you an update on the emergency generator repairs, the emergency generator failure was determined
• This correction allowed the emergency generator to start successfully.
• of the emergency generator.
• A follow-up visit will be scheduled to verify the emergency generator operations under simulated blackout

Summary: The Louisiana Gaming Control Board met on January 15, 2026, and first approved the minutes from its December 18, 2025 meeting. Staff then reported strong December gaming revenues across riverboats, Caesars New Orleans, racetrack slots, video gaming, sports wagering, and daily fantasy sports, with several categories showing month-over-month and year-over-year increases. Board members noted the overall growth in the industry and did not raise questions on the revenue report. The board next approved a temporary certificate of compliance extension for Bally’s Shreveport Casino and Hotel. Officials said most life-safety deficiencies from the annual inspection had been corrected, and the remaining issue involved the emergency generator, which had recently been repaired and tested successfully, though a final verification inspection was still pending. The temporary certificate was extended through February 28, 2026. The board also approved a $1,500 settlement with MPL Enterprises for late submission of required annual forms and fees. In the final agenda item, the board heard an appeal from Thomas Rasko challenging the revocation of his non-key gaming employee permit. Rasko acknowledged the underlying violation and asked for a shorter penalty, while the Division argued his conduct during an arrest showed he lacked the suitability required for gaming participation. The board voted to affirm the hearing officer’s decision, revoking his permit and finding him unsuitable to participate in Louisiana’s gaming industry, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• “We could forsake the federal matching funds for emergency services.
• Emergency services.
• to support state operations costs for the Every Woman Counts program.
• If you're already, yeah, you can keep operating.
• In recognition of the challenges facing emergency departments and emergency physicians, the Legislature

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These programs can operate in two ways.
• This is not an emerging technology.
• But emergency preparedness in the EV sector during an active emergency remains unexplored, underscoring
• emergency.
• and standards governing operations.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the agency that we operate.
• and variety of redemption operations.
• For present-day hazardous waste operations, we oversee inspections and permits for hazardous waste operations
• When it comes to other emerging issues, I wouldn't call it emerging.
• Operational issues may contribute... ...set event. Operational issues may contribute to that.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the department's operating budget request for the upcoming biennium, it's relatively skinny.
• </c><00:05:10.800><c> requests</c> first one of our operational requests first one of our operational
• Francis, but that doesn't seem to be consistent with the emergency proclamation.
• was</c> okay so the emergency Proclamation was okay so the emergency Proclamation was really<00:29:15.760
• </c> to be consistent with the emergency to be consistent with the emergency proc<00:29:33.320><c> I<

Keywords: 912, senate, all