Transcript Highlights:

• The CCAP program staff and compliance staff, that sort of light brown box in the middle, they have a
• </c><01:13:29.040><c> uh</c> investigation staff that I have. uh investigation staff that I have. uh
• That involves lawyers, the program staff, the investigative staff.
• </c> care providers uh on staff child ratios. care providers uh on staff child ratios.
• </c> to hire staff at a higher qualification. to hire staff at a higher qualification.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:20.799><c> attorneys</c> we have five wonderful staff attorneys we have five wonderful staff
• BMS staff recently spent a full day with FMCS staff to learn more about the program and ways we can offer
• ><c> learn</c><00:37:22.040><c> more</c> full day with fmcs staff to learn more full day with fmcs staff
• , very part-time PERB staff, and tireless board members.
• , very part-time PERB staff, and tireless board members.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> duties, meaning our first shift staff duties, meaning our first shift staff are<00:10:27.320><c>
• </c><00:14:04.320><c> Many</c> staff and program management. Many staff and program management.
• </c><00:17:42.480><c> Now</c> probably 12 to 13 staff members. Now probably 12 to 13 staff members.
• </c> they will manage about 25 staff members. they will manage about 25 staff members.
• Um so we reduced staff eliminated. Um so we reduced staff numbers<00:21:31.680><c> overall.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, and court facility projects. AOC leaders said they do not anticipate problems balancing the outgoing biennium or fiscal year 2026, and explained that the budget changes were driven by the need to reduce costs while preserving required constitutional, court-rule, and statutory services. They also said the new filing fee increases authorized by HB 504 took effect that day and are expected to generate up to $5 million, while the reorganization is projected to save about $3 million in general fund dollars. The bulk of the presentation focused on a major reorganization of the Office of Statewide Programs, which includes specialty courts, family and juvenile services, and pretrial services. AOC said the plan eliminates 170 positions and creates 109 new ones, mainly by reducing middle-management layers, expanding regional service delivery, and cross-training staff. Officials said 110 employees had already been offered or accepted placements, 24 had chosen voluntary separation, and the final number of employees leaving remains fluid until the process concludes around August 1. They emphasized that specialty court programs were not eliminated, but state-funded treatment court contracts and behavioral health liaison positions were removed, with treatment costs shifted to Medicaid or participants where appropriate. Members asked about the process, staffing impacts, specialty court participation, juvenile services, and how AOC will monitor the changes. AOC said the reorganization was developed by leadership, HR, and legal staff under direction of the Chief Justice and approved by the Supreme Court, and that it is intended to improve efficiency and frontline support rather than reduce services. They said specialty court participant levels are being watched closely, that CDW services will continue to use outside providers for programming, and that the agency will keep judges and stakeholders informed as the new structure goes into effect. No votes were taken, and the committee did not approve minutes because a quorum was not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• He recommended that I apply for a position on Senate research staff.
• I mean, because we do have turnover within the licensing staff.
• You start with your staff. But our staff is hundreds in licensing. That's great.
• You have a substantial claim of retaliation by your staff.
• We have a small staff. We get about 20,000 consumer complaints per year. We have a small staff.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go ahead to our excellent staff and ask them to go ahead and call the roll. Mr.
• , maybe your higher-paid staff.
• I'd also like to thank the PSFA staff that's with me today.
• , I had 10 field staff.
• What we usually do is have all of our staff taking notes.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strong foundation for improving student growth, like we're seeing right now in literacy, and your staff
• We talked about high impact tutoring in West Las Vegas, I believe, where LAC staff and PED staff spoke
• Staff always sends a memo to LFC.
• There are a couple of considerations that we as staff are looking at.
• Staff determined that I think you know there may be some...

Transcript Highlights:

• The estimated annual staff benefit cost is $154,000.
• Built by state staff for state staff, Poppy acts as an intelligent assistant to automate routine tasks
• Built by state staff for state staff, Poppy acts as an intelligent assistant to automate routine tasks
• Do staff like using this? Yes, ma'am. I'm going to invite up Shane Ewanavan.
• And with that, thank you again to all of the staff, sergeants, consultants.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you to the staff again for the presentation.
• Um, Thank you to the staff again for the presentation.
• Good afternoon, Chair Bennett and staff.
• Chair and staff.
• Good morning, Chair and staff.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> treatment programs and skilled staff treatment programs and skilled staff ultimately<00:09:12.000
• How many staff are you currently, like, are you at capacity with your staff right now?
• :25.600><c> right</c> you at capacity with your staff right you at capacity with your staff right now
• </c> you're still hiring for some staff you're still hiring for some staff currently<01:15:33.960><c>
• Thank you so much. staff by ensuring a centralized and staff by ensuring a centralized and consistent

Bills: HF1380, HF1166, HF487, HF1553, HF1472, HF258, HF1911

Keywords: psychiatric treatment, human services, mental health funding, per diem rate, Clay County, disability services, assistive technology, remote support, advocacy, training programs, HF487, Wellness in the Woods, Minnesota human services, grant funding, general fund appropriation, peer support, substance use recovery, addiction recovery, reentry services, reentry after incarceration

Transcript Highlights:

• If you recruit and evaluate staff, does the SAU recruit and evaluate staff also? Yes.
• </c> SAU recruit and evaluate staff also? SAU recruit and evaluate staff also?
• Because we're looking at this, it just says staff, but I would assume all staff." "Mhm."
• </c><00:34:24.800><c> in</c> schools, putting schools and staff in schools, putting schools and staff
• ><c> realize</c><00:35:17.040><c> their</c> students or staff realize their students or staff realize

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on school governance and a proposed shift in responsibilities related to SAU consolidation, with committee members first discussing how school board members and other local officials would be selected for future testimony. The main presentation came from the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, whose executive director Brady Belair and several principals argued that mandatory statewide administrative consolidation should be approached cautiously and that any consolidation should be voluntary and locally driven. They said anticipated savings may not materialize, citing possible higher personnel, transportation, and technology costs, and warned that forcing changes could create disruption without improving student outcomes. Principals testified that their jobs are already broad and demanding, centered on instructional leadership, student safety, staff supervision, family communication, and day-to-day crisis response. Kathleen Murphy of Amherst described working 60 to 70 hours a week and said principals spend substantial time coaching teachers, handling student issues, and supporting school climate; she said adding more administrative duties would compromise student learning and teacher growth. Adam Osborne of Bow Memorial School similarly described principals as daily problem-solvers who set school-level direction and create conditions for schools to thrive. The witnesses also emphasized that principals, superintendents, school boards, and business administrators have different training and responsibilities, and that specialized tasks such as special education compliance, FERPA/HIPAA issues, and labor matters require appropriate expertise. Committee members questioned the witnesses about overlap between superintendent and principal duties, the completeness of statutory responsibility lists, and whether some functions such as curriculum, discipline, hiring, and evaluation are shared. The principals acknowledged some overlap and collaboration, but said superintendents typically handle broader system-level, legal, and central-office responsibilities while principals focus on building-level leadership and teacher support. One member raised the earlier expectation that districts might move to a principal-plus-business-manager model, but the witnesses said that model did not develop as expected and that district structures vary widely. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for staff? Seeing none, sponsor, Chairwoman Griffin, please.
• Any questions for staff? Seeing none, the sponsor is not here.
• Any questions for staff? Seeing none, bill sponsor, Chairman Weninger, please.
• Any questions for the staff?
• Any questions for the staff? Seeing none, the sponsor is not available.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another recommendation around improper use is mandatory annual staff training for all special ed staff
• Another recommendation around improper use is mandatory annual staff training for all special ed staff
• staff, the unlicensed staff that's in that room as well.
• So first is the staff training. So first is the staff training.
• Um so this is the staff training.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:11.200><c> and</c> continue to be worried about staff and continue to be worried about staff
• </c><00:31:46.399><c> and</c> horrible things happened to staff and horrible things happened to staff
• </c><00:32:06.240><c> moving</c> safe in their rooms or staff moving safe in their rooms or staff moving
• </c> uh very near tragedies uh where staff uh very near tragedies uh where staff have<00:33:16.080><c
• </c> every everyone around there from staff every everyone around there from staff as<00:37:01.240><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, if you could please read in the bill.
• Staff, if you could please read in the bill. Staff, if you could please read in the bill.
• Staff, if you can. Parental control. Now, just remember, this is for Bessie. Staff, if you can.
• Staff, okay. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Staff.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 987, which would move the Louisiana Geological Survey under the LSU Energy Institute to streamline energy-related programs. The author and members described it as an efficiency measure, and the committee reported the bill favorably without objection. Members then heard HB 513 on name, image, and likeness rules for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes. The bill was presented as a product of a task force and was supported by the Attorney General’s office, coaches, and a student athlete, who emphasized the need for guardrails, education, and protections against exploitation by agents or third parties. Questions focused on high school enforcement, parental consent, and what students may legally do; the committee ultimately reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered HCR 26, which asks BESE to incorporate the science of human growth and development, including prenatal development, into science or health standards and to provide instructional materials. Supporters said it would improve science education and show fetal development more clearly, while opponents raised concerns about medical accuracy, political influence, and lack of safeguards. An amendment requiring parental consent for instruction was offered but failed on a roll call vote, and the resolution was then reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 608 favorably as amended to protect confidentiality of documents tied to intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing, while preserving public disclosure of overall institutional spending. It also advanced HB 380, creating a pilot program to expand CDL workforce training through a community college and school partnership, and HB 392, which would require suicide hotline information on school websites, student ID cards, and, through amendment, visible signs in schools. The committee then reported HB 476 as amended, requiring Safe Haven law flyers in school restrooms, and began discussion of HB 682 to authorize veterans as school resource officers, with amendments addressing qualifications and training.

Transcript Highlights:

• We truly need this additional staff.
• And I have to have that additional staff.
• We've got unbelievable staff over there working, but I've got to have more staff.
• And we have... ...staff over there working, but I've got to have more staff.
• We sincerely appreciate the hard work of the LBB staff and the committee staff and the committee members

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• “All new Corps members, all new staff.
• staff for that service center?”
• And it’ll take some time for those staff to hire their...” “...subordinate staff.
• I would assume that finding staff members would be less—” “I would assume that finding staff members
• And one dozer, in addition to prevention staff and prevention law enforcement-type investigation staff

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The remaining 702 cities do not have any dedicated IT staff and on average only have about a total of
• </c> grants because it would take more staff grants because it would take more staff time<00:23:40.080
• that do have dedicated staff?
• I think, based on your testimony, this is meant indeed for cities without dedicated staff.
• Maybe fiscal staff can give us a little overview of it. Yeah, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyways, we'll start with staff report on House Bill 2548.
• I mean, this could be a question for you, but probably for staff.
• All right, staff will call the roll. Taylor: Representative Taylor votes aye.
• Staff will announce the vote.
• With that, staff will call, will announce the vote.

Bills: HB2548, HB2453, HB2640, HB2095, HB2386, HB2239

Keywords: health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change, nonprofit conversion, for-profit conversion, health care acquisition, asset sale, Washington RCW, health care competition, price transparency, market oversight, premerger notification, antitrust revolving fund

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee staff and I are the staff for the Joint Committee for the Senate.
• Cochran Keating, Policy Chief for the Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, and his staff are the staff
• Our six attorneys and our staff are going to take on this.
• And I was encouraging staff to step into the space and say, look, I'm sorry, commission staff, but we
• opinion, and we're much more successful if we get staff on board than if we're opposing a staff recommendation

Summary: The joint committee met with a quorum present and first received an overview of its jurisdiction and duties related to appointing the Florida Public Counsel. Staff explained the committee’s authority under joint rules and state law, noted that the current Public Counsel’s term expires February 28, 2025, and that applications for the next four-year term were open with a February 6, 2025 deadline. The committee then heard an extensive update from Public Counsel Walt Truerweiler on the Office of Public Counsel’s work representing utility ratepayers before the Public Service Commission and in appeals. Truerweiler described the office’s caseload and priorities, including electric, gas, water, and wastewater rate cases; storm recovery dockets; cost-recovery clauses; rulemakings; and customer service hearings. He emphasized that the office seeks to challenge unsupported or imprudent costs, find value for customers, and use expert analysis and customer testimony to shape outcomes. He highlighted recent and ongoing matters, including major Duke, TECO, Sunshine water/wastewater, and hurricane recovery proceedings, and said the office had fully litigated four of its last five rate cases, while also achieving a major settlement in Duke that reduced a requested increase and imposed cost controls on solar projects. Members praised the office’s work and asked about the benefits of settlements, staffing and compensation, and how the office decides when to fully intervene versus provide guidance or monitor a case. Truerweiler said settlements can create predictability, reduce uncertainty and expense, and produce tangible value for both customers and utilities. He also acknowledged recruitment challenges, including lower pay than comparable agencies and difficulty attracting attorneys who do not want in-person litigation work. The committee took no substantive action beyond receiving the presentations, and adjourned after a motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• The same staff member was later caught using cocaine in the bathroom.
• I just want to take a moment to thank all of our staff.
• I just want to take a moment to thank all of our staff.
• It's been really an honor to work with you and the staff.
• It's been really an honor to work with you and the staff.

Bills: HB2035, HB2086, HB2434, HB2611, HB2732, HB2733, HB2830, HB2923, HB2932, HB4004

Keywords: kinship care, child welfare, foster care, relative placement, child protection, vaccination mandates, mask requirements, public health, government entities, COVID-19, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, group homes, children's rights, safety protocols, employee training, mental health