Transcript Highlights:

• Last week, against universally recommended guidelines, the Department of Health and Human Services slashed
• Referred to the committees on Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Natural Resources
• </c> behavioral services. behavioral services.
• Services.
• </c> to the Department of Health and Human to the Department of Health and Human Services.<09:14:25.278

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services issues.
• Services Agency, and the PEI Committee began forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee.
• It is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency and a designee of the Chief
• human service agencies.
• Jackson, I'm here to implore the human services body. Ms.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome Senator Ralph Massullo to the committee, brand new.
• Thank the committee for their participation there.
• As you can see, the largest portion is dedicated to health and human services, followed by education,
• As you can see, the largest portion is dedicated to health and human services, followed by education,
• This is broken into two categories, $170,000 for contracted services.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, services and emergency service network costs acquired through year-to-year pricing are 25
• The committee before you is RS 32996.
• Thank you, Senator, the committee. Senator Harris. Mr.
• So does the earth serve humanity, or does humanity serve the earth?
• Thank you, committee, and thank you so much.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Services purview.
• We also partnered with our council member departments in the Health and Human Services Agency to begin
• , Secretary Johnson of the California Health and Human Services Agency, are deeply... ...Secretary Johnson
• of the California Health and Human Services Agency are deeply committed to developing workforce measures
• So that was the most significant, really bringing in those Health and Human Services departments closer

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met to hear an information-only agenda focused on homelessness. The chair and vice chair opened with remarks about affordability, accountability, and the need for flexible but effective state responses. The committee then heard an update from Dr. Ryan Finnegan of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center on homelessness trends, data limitations, and program impacts. He said homelessness remains high, with 2024 point-in-time counts showing about 187,000 people experiencing homelessness statewide, though unsheltered homelessness has declined somewhat as shelter capacity expanded. He emphasized that California’s high housing costs and shortage of affordable housing are the main drivers, while also noting persistent racial disparities, high chronic homelessness, and the importance of coordinated housing, health, and social services. He also warned that cuts or changes to federal programs and state funding streams like HAP could threaten progress. Members questioned Dr. Finnegan about the 9% decline in unsheltered homelessness, the timing and methodology of point-in-time counts, how to interpret trends over time, and the role of policy changes such as Housing First, Proposition 47, and Martin v. Boise. He explained that the 9% figure came from 30 continuums of care that had completed 2025 counts, and that HUD’s eventual statewide number would likely differ because not all regions counted that year. He also discussed how different funding sources are layered in local programs, including HAP, local funds, philanthropic support, federal funds, and CalAIM reimbursements. Several members stressed the need for clearer, more comparable measures of effectiveness and outcomes, including whether programs reduce long-term homelessness and move people toward self-sufficiency. The committee then heard from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness on statewide data systems, especially the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS). Staff described HDIS as the first state-level integrated homelessness data system, built from local HMIS data and used to track demographics, services, outcomes, and program performance across all 44 continuums of care. They said HDIS has enabled statewide dashboards, system performance measures, and new accountability tools under AB 977 and AB 799. Cal ICH also said HAP Round 4 was highly cost-effective under the State Auditor’s methodology, estimating a cost of about $9,172 per person permanently housed, and that new AB 799 dashboards are intended to provide clearer public reporting on outcomes, fiscal data, and progress toward statewide goals. Members asked about measuring self-sufficiency, identifying the best local partners, detecting fraud, and whether the new dashboards will allow better comparisons among program types and funding uses. No votes were taken, and the one scheduled vote was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:20.680><c> Services</c><00:03:21.080><c> to</c> the Department of Human Services to the Department
• of Human Services to raise<00:03:21.480><c> awareness</c><00:03:21.959><c> of</c><00:03:22.519><c> and
• </c><00:08:53.720><c> Services</c> form of bankes and Human Services form of bankes and Human Services
• </c><00:13:52.360><c> Services</c><00:13:53.360><c> Minnesota</c> cost State and Human Services Minnesota
• </c><00:47:11.000><c> Services</c> has to go to Health and Human Services has to go to Health and Human

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Murphy, for a motion committees.
• The bill creates that protective services unit that would provide security and protective services for
• </c><01:27:07.199><c> individuals</c> patrol protective services individuals patrol protective services
• </c> public services, and then education. public services, and then education.
• </c> listed in the human rights statutes now. listed in the human rights statutes now.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pending before this committee is the committee substitute for the committee substitute for House Bill
• This bill exempts employees of the Department of Health, health facilities, and human services from the
• This bill will affect the Department of Transportation, Revenue, Human Services, and the Division of
• familiar to this committee.
• of Human Services to actually explain how this would work?

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered and advanced several bills. House Bill 4995, concerning video cameras in special education classrooms, was explained as requiring parents to be notified of recording interruptions, providing written notice of the law to parents and school employees, shortening the required random review of recordings from every 90 days to every 30 days, and clarifying that school boards must still conduct independent investigations even if DHS or prosecutors do not act. The committee adopted the motion to report the bill to the full Senate. House Bill 5214, dealing with drug testing in child abuse and neglect cases, would allow courts to order testing of parents in certain cases, require laboratory confirmation of positives, and require DHS to notify the court and other parties; the committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, then reported the bill as amended and adopted a title amendment. The committee also advanced House Bill 4025 and House Bill 5441, both restructuring state personnel systems. HB 4025 would exempt employees of the Department of Health, health facilities, and human services from classified civil service and grievance procedures beginning July 1, 2026, while preserving status for some current employees and allowing exemptions to comply with federal requirements; the committee adopted a piecemeal amendment and reported it as amended. HB 5441 would eliminate separate civil service systems for Transportation, Revenue, and the Bureau for Social Services and move classifications and compensation structures to the Division of Personnel, with testimony from the governor’s counsel emphasizing faster hiring and more flexibility; the committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment and reported the bill as amended. House Bill 4602, a child welfare pilot program creating a private community-based system for post-removal services, drew testimony from DHS about concerns over costs, continuity, oversight, and child well-being outcomes, while supporters argued it could reduce caseloads and improve flexibility. The chair amended the bill to remove one of the two pilot regions, leaving only the Berkeley/Jefferson County pilot, and the committee then reported the bill as amended despite opposition from the senator from Marion. House Bill 4106, removing the provisional concealed handgun license requirement for ages 18 to 21, heard testimony from a pediatrician opposing the change and from a gun rights advocate supporting it; an amendment requiring firearms training for under-21 carriers failed by a 1-14 roll call, and the committee then reported the bill as amended. Finally, House Bill 4198, after a subcommittee rewrite, was advanced with a strike-and-insert amendment that refined E-Verify requirements for public and private employers, added exemptions for certain small or new employers and sole proprietors, clarified recordkeeping and notice requirements, and adjusted penalties and enforcement procedures. After a motion for the previous question, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 4198 as amended. House Bill 5319 was removed from the agenda, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Companies prior to a vote in policy committees.
• These are human values.
• During and after their public service.
• We continue to ensure that our agencies, their services and laws, and services that are available to
• This bill, which would be administered by the California Health and Human Services Agency, would ensure

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When I had a hearing yesterday in the Committee on Human Services, the Office of Inspector General is
• When I had a hearing yesterday in the Committee on Human Services, the Office of Inspector General is
• When I had a hearing yesterday in the Committee on Human Services, the Office of Inspector General is
• When I had a hearing yesterday in the Committee on Human Services, the Office of Inspector General is
• in the committee on Human Services<00:51:19.040><c> the</c><00:51:19.200><c> office</c><00:51:19.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pending before this committee is the committee substitute for the committee substitute for House Bill
• This bill exempts employees of the Department of Health, health facilities, and human services from the
• This bill exempts employees of the Department of Health, health facilities, and human services from the
• This bill will affect the Department of Transportation, Revenue, Human Services, and the Division of
• of Human Services to actually explain how this would work?

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill is to create a permanent Health and Human Services Committee.
• I had Allegra from LFC pull the numbers that the state spent on Health and Human Services in fiscal year
• I mean, obviously, health care is really important to everyone in the state, as are the human services
• I mean, obviously, health care is really important to everyone in the state, as are the human services
• services is about. ...basically the gamut of what health and human services is about.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: During the legislative meeting, House Bill 287 was discussed, which proposes the establishment of a permanent Health and Human Services Committee to oversee the state's $14.4 billion expenditure in this area. An amendment to the bill was adopted, which clarified funding and operational details. Public comments were solicited, but no one spoke in opposition. The committee ultimately voted, with some members expressing concerns about budget implications, but the motion to pass the bill as amended was made and seconded, with several members opposing it. House Bill 371 was also addressed, which focuses on creating an Acequia Infrastructure Fund to support land grant and Acequia communities. The bill aims to provide a financial mechanism for these communities to access funds for infrastructure projects without relying on capital outlay requests. The committee discussed the bill's implications, potential funding sources, and the need for further amendments regarding representation and oversight. A motion to pass the bill was made, with some opposition noted, particularly regarding the lack of specificity in the bill's provisions. Lastly, Senate Bill 143 was presented, which seeks to raise the caps on inspection fees under the Egg Grading Act, among other agricultural regulations. Supportive testimony was provided by representatives from agricultural organizations, emphasizing the need for updated fee structures. The committee engaged in discussions about the bill's implications for consumers and the agricultural sector, ultimately moving towards a vote to pass the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the committee. Jonathan Richardson, welcome to the committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Representative Tanner, welcome to committee. Thank you, Madam Chair, and members of the committee.
• Committee chair: “Okay, committee. Do we have any questions from the committee?”
• The life-saving mission of blood services within the mission of the Red Cross is to alleviate human suffering
• The mission of blood services within the mission of the Red Cross is to alleviate human suffering and

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee will meet in the Majority Caucus Room immediately following the Rules Committee
• The answer to that question changed the world and the course of human history.
• or the use of utility services based on the source of energy for that service.
• The bill was reported out of committee unanimously, out of the Labor and Industry Committee, and the
• House Resolution 583, Human Services. House Bill 268, Legal Control.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests, including a student advocate and family members connected to a resolution on scoliosis awareness. The chamber first took up committee reports from Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tourism and Recreation and Economic Development, and later Appropriations, Rules, Commerce, and Environmental and Natural Resource Protection, agreeing to the reported bills and resolutions. House Resolution 531, designating June 2026 as Scoliosis Awareness Month, was adopted 201-1 after remarks describing the condition and the advocacy of a young constituent. The House also adopted resolutions designating Diaper Need Awareness Week, directing a study on PANS/PANDAS, recognizing 717 Day, Little League World Series Week, and commemorating America 250 in Pennsylvania, with broad bipartisan support. The House then considered several bills on final passage. House Bill 2146, updating the Sunshine Act’s 24-hour agenda notice rule after a court ruling, and Senate Bills 130, 511, 971, 972, 1181, and 1235 were agreed to. House Bill 1239, limiting HOA restrictions on rooftop solar, drew multiple amendments; some were withdrawn, and others failed on tied votes, after debate over HOA governance, native plants, and net metering. House Bill 2219, on license plates and transportation provisions, had an amendment agreed to removing indemnification language for elected officials at special events, and then passed as amended. House Bill 2558, banning non-compete agreements for broadcast workers, saw an amendment to preserve limited non-competes fail, and the bill passed. House Bill 2359, prohibiting government NDAs related to data centers, passed 171-31 after extensive debate over transparency and local control. The chamber also passed House Bill 2455, granting Pittsburgh school administrators collective bargaining rights, despite objections that existing appeal protections already exist; it passed 106-96. House Bill 2460, creating hunting and trapping education provisions, passed 180-22 after debate over whether it duplicated existing law and imposed a mandate. House Bill 2499, expanding the State Workers’ Insurance Fund’s equity investment authority, passed 173-29. House Bill 2529, scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule III controlled substance, passed 198-4 amid testimony about overdose risks and concerns about criminalization. Senate Bill 604, joining the Counseling Compact, passed 188-14, and Senate Bill 1259, clarifying parole record privilege and expanding notice to denied parole applicants, passed unanimously 202-0. The House then made referrals and committee assignments, signed the two Senate bills for presentation to the Governor, and adjourned until July 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you all for being here for our first meeting of the Social Services Committee, as I like to say
• It is the best committee that anyone can be a part of because it's a committee where we are trying to
• So first we have Dennis Weekly, our committee director.
• And that concludes our Social Services Committee meeting for today.
• The bill is reported, and that concludes our Social Services Committee meeting for today.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Social Services Committee met for its first meeting of the session, with Chair Senator Roxanne Persaud noting a quorum and reviewing the committee’s prior-year activity. She said the committee handled 87 referred bills in 2025, reported 31, passed 25 committee bills in the Senate, and saw five bills pass both houses, with two signed and three vetoed. She also highlighted stakeholder workshops and hearings on rental assistance, youth employment, and human trafficking in the transportation sector, and said the annual report would be posted soon. The committee then heard from Paul Brady of the New York Public Welfare Association and Dave Lucas of the New York State Association of Counties. They focused on federal and state budget pressures, including the HHS withholding letter, TANF, child care, Social Services Block Grant funding, and the implications of HR1 for SNAP and Medicaid work requirements. They warned about staffing shortages, county budget strain, and the need for more time, training, and technology to implement new requirements. Both also emphasized housing instability, supporting rental assistance and shelter-related programs, and Brady urged attention to shelter allowances and safety-net cost sharing. The committee reported several bills to Finance: S.180B to increase enhanced residential care eligibility amounts; S.182 to raise the federal poverty level threshold for a one-time income disregard after job entry; S.184 to establish a full-year youth and young adult employment immersion program, with members questioning how it would be funded; S.1465 to implement an electronic benefit transfer system, which members strongly supported as a fraud-prevention measure; S.3787 to eliminate rent for homeless shelters; and S.7730 to authorize reimbursement for shelters housing a single individual in a double-occupancy room. The committee also advanced S.8570, creating a Fiscal Cliff Task Force to study public assistance program funding shortfalls, despite discussion of prior gubernatorial vetoes of similar measures. All bills were reported, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• She'll be here momentarily, but making appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services
• </c><00:24:38.520><c> Services</c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human
• Services to support Health and Human Services to support community<01:11:53.560><c> and</c><01:11:53.719
• As you may know, one of the key elements of the Department of Health and Human Services Mission Zero
• Senate Bill 113, that's Health and Human Services. Pass."

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call this Health and Human Services Committee to order. Uh, we do have a quorum.
• </c> multiple systems, including human multiple systems, including human services<00:09:48.640><c> and
• in human services.
• So just hearing in in human services.
• Whole bill is going to have to come to Human Services.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, next item for committee members: because the Health and Human Services bill is very thick and a lot
• </c> to end with Senator Hoffman's human to end with Senator Hoffman's human services<00:01:06.479><c
• Uh the committee sentencing to service.
• We'll come back and finish the transportation bill and then the human services bill.
• With that, then the human services bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Dave Foley, and I'm the president of SEIU Local 509, representing more than 28,000 human service
• I know human service workers who bring a deep on-the-ground understanding of the unique challenges and
• And thank you for your service, too, on behalf of the committee and the legislature.
• And thank you for your service, too, on behalf of the committee and the legislature, I have thank you
• for your service.

Bills: H5008

Keywords: rent control, housing stability, tenants rights, affordability crisis, consumer protection, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• promoting human trafficking.
• </c><00:32:08.320><c> rules</c> committee on committees and the rules committee on committees and the
• Next order of business, report the Committee on Committees and Rules Committee.
• The Committee on Committees also reports the following committee change: remove from the 2026 Committee
• Committee, House Bill 348. To Committee, House Bill 348.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:10 Calendar/2nd Readings 07:06 Report of Committees 07:47 Orders of the Day 08:52 HB 176 09:09 HB 178 12:19 HB 280 15:34 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 19:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 32:05 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 32:05 ConC and Rules Report 39:04 Adjournment 40:48, 958, all