Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, that launch has already gained significant traction from its earned media value.
• </c><00:10:20.320><c> our</c> Heritage, we launched our Heritage, we launched our African-American<00
• ><c> gained</c><00:10:25.200><c> significant</c> launch um has already gained significant launch um has
• We're looking at our messaging for our fall campaign, which is about to launch.
• Um, you saw those 23 about to launch.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Tourism on the 1% Tourism Meeting and Convention Marketing Fund. Officials said Kentucky tourism is a $14.3 billion industry that welcomed more than 80 million travelers last year, supports nearly 97,000 jobs, and uses the fund solely for tourism marketing and promotion, not capital projects. They noted the fund received additional appropriations in the enacted budget and also supports several designated tourism-related initiatives. Commissioner Mike Manet described how the fund is used for paid media, public relations, international marketing, cultural heritage promotion, website content, regional matching grants, research, trade shows, and travel expenses. He said the department spent $10.8 million on paid media in 23 markets in 2024, focused on seven tourism pillars, and used research and advertising ROI studies to guide spending. He reported 180 PR placements, 3.2 billion earned impressions, 3% growth in international visitation, and 12% growth in international spending to $257 million. He also highlighted the African-American Heritage Trail and said the regional matching funds program distributed $2 million to 87 local tourism commissions. Members asked about the rise of AI in search results, how domestic and international visitor data are collected, how ad agencies are selected, and how regional matching funds are allocated. The commissioner said the department uses GPS-based and federal data, including National Travel and Tourism Office figures, and that ad agencies are chosen through an RFP process. Representative McDaniel raised concerns about bourbon tourism and Canadian visitation; the commissioner said Canadian travel is down significantly, bourbon-related visitation has softened, and the department is shifting more spending toward in-state and closer drive markets while emphasizing bourbon’s heritage story. Representative Fugate asked about eastern Kentucky tourism and ATV trails, and the commissioner said those trails are included in advertising, social media, and earned media efforts. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• These internal controls, it's not rocket science. Do a reconciliation before you cut the check.
• These internal controls, it's not rocket science. Do a reconciliation before you cut the check.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the director of regulatory affairs with Rocket Mortgage.
• Rocket Mortgage appreciates the opportunity to provide testimony in support of the proposed amendments

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• And the expectations are not rocket science. I'm just going to say it.
• And the expectations are not rocket science. I'm just going to say it.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to send you to Alton Air Base where you're going to get rocketed by Iraqi militia because
• We're going to send you to Alton Air Base where you're going to get rocketed by Iraqi militia because

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2025, we were able to launch our $1.9 billion access reform and outcomes incentive program.
• Finally, we anticipate launching our activity funds initiative by July as well.
• Round three was launch ready, four was children, and then five was crisis.
• Rounds three was launch ready, four was children, and then five was crisis.
• That's a 57% increase since its launch.

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:

• It launched in 2014.
• And as the deputy director said, we're starting to launch CA Rise 2.0.
• As we launch CA Rise 2.0, we'll be sure to invite you and welcome you to that launch, and we'll be happy
• They might launch next year.
• To provide a quick review, the Cal Competes Tax Credit first launched in 2014.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arkansas Launch is something that you probably have all heard about.
• Launch is something that you probably have all heard about.
• Launch is essentially an ability to have what's called the talent marketplace, where you're able to bring
• The backbone behind the virtual platform, Launch is a tool. It's not a system.
• And again, that's even with some of the referral work with Launch, Or six different people.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:04:03.800><c> also</c><00:04:04.080><c> going</c><00:04:04.320><c> to</c><00:04:04.480><c> launch
• </c> And this bill is also going to launch And this bill is also going to launch the<00:04:04.960><c>
• 00:04:33.360><c> full</c> secure the state funds for the full secure the state funds for the full launch
• </c> launch of the full program. launch of the full program.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> projects since I started was to launch projects since I started was to launch um<01:37:37.119><c
• When do you expect to launch your website? Oh, the website will be launched by the end of February.
• </c> to launch your website? to launch your website?
• So launch a fully online degree program.
• For example, the online course that we're launching, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• the coming weeks and months as I learn more and make those decisions that will ultimately hopefully launch
• I heard several... ...decisions that will ultimately hopefully launch this place to that next level.
• It's going to launch us in a new way. And strategy sounds different than plan.
• It's going to launch us in a new way. And strategy sounds different than plan.
• And so working with a great team here, I made a video yesterday with folks here to kind of launch that

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> recruitment phase with work to launch recruitment phase with work to launch this<00:13:09.959><c
• In August of 2022, Minnesota State launched a centralized basic needs resource hub accessible to all
• </c> August of 2022 Minnesota state launched August of 2022 Minnesota state launched a<00:17:20.600><
• Minnesota State launched a partnership with Mantra Health in September of 2024.
• Since the launch of the program, we have dispersed over $3 million to students across our system.

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we launched a new survey. We partnered with Wilder Research.
• So we launched a new survey. We partnered with Wilder Research.
• So we launched a new survey. We partnered with Wilder Research.
• So we launched a new survey. We partnered with Wilder Research.
• So we launched a new survey. We partnered with Wilder Research.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Row, I just heard early on some concerns about the system not being ready for a 2026 launch, and I wonder
• Yes, we are very confident that we will be ready for a full launch on January 1, 2026.
• </c><00:03:59.200><c> and</c><00:03:59.280><c> I</c><00:03:59.400><c> wonder</c> 2026 launch and I wonder
• ><00:04:11.599><c> on</c><00:04:11.799><c> January</c><00:04:12.200><c> 1</c> be ready for a full launch
• on January 1 be ready for a full launch on January 1 2026<00:04:13.680><c> um</c><00:04:13.840><c> I

Bills: HF11

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• That is more than twice the number originally projected for this launch period, only one element of a
• That is more than twice the number originally projected for this launch period, only one element of a
• Three, to meet the CSU Generative AI Committee's request for universal training and tools, we launched
• For example, we have just launched a new AI Faculty Fellows program.
• The launch of ChatGPT EDU represents an innovative milestone for the CSU and will be highly beneficial

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system. CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts. Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Three, launch public awareness campaigns.
• Three, launch public awareness campaigns.
• Three, launch public awareness campaigns.
• Three, launch public awareness campaigns.
• Launch public awareness campaigns.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the role of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), CalVet’s support for them, and the growing problem of for-profit, unaccredited claims companies. Committee leaders and witnesses emphasized that CVSOs are often the first point of contact for veterans and their families, helping with disability claims, education benefits, survivor benefits, housing, health care, and other wraparound services. Testimony highlighted the return on investment from CVSO work, with witnesses citing hundreds of millions in new federal benefits secured for California veterans and arguing that current state funding is too low relative to the workload and need. County representatives from Nevada, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo described local models of service. Los Angeles County highlighted a “no wrong door” approach, peer navigators, suicide review work, justice-involved veteran services, and homelessness coordination, while San Luis Obispo described rural outreach, mental health partnerships, and high suicide rates in its county. Nevada County stressed that smaller counties can be disadvantaged by workload-based formulas and that additional funding would expand access, especially in rural areas. Several witnesses said veterans often need more than claims help and should be connected to mental health, employment, food, and family supports. Much of the discussion centered on predatory claims consultants, which witnesses said charge veterans for services that accredited CVSOs provide free. Members and witnesses described cases involving requests for VA and banking logins, misleading advertising, and contracts that can take a percentage of veterans’ benefits. Committee members expressed support for legislation to curb these practices and for increased funding for CVSOs, including the Legislature’s intent to fund 50% of county veterans’ services operations. A CalVet deputy secretary also testified that California’s accreditation and training system improves claim quality and appeal outcomes, and that CalVet works with CVSOs through training, district offices, and appeals representation.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the 2023-24 school year, she partnered with the city's Department of Transportation Services to launch
• She also launched the county's first Hawaii-based college fair and spearheaded Maui County's first annual
• /c><00:25:31.840><c> walking</c><00:25:32.440><c> school</c><00:25:33.000><c> bus</c> Services to launch
• a walking school bus Services to launch a walking school bus route<00:25:34.040><c> expanding</c><00
• ><c> first</c> also launched the county's first also launched the county's first Hawaii-based<00:27:01.760

Bills: HB1576 , HB2490 , HB1546 , HB1588

Transcript Highlights:

• decade or so, which has been the responsibility of institutions to help their successful students launch
• 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:

• A year later, she launched the Freedom Farm Cooperative, buying up land that Black people could own and
• With the assistance of donors, among them Harry Belafonte, she purchased 640 acres and launched a co-op
• </c><00:29:43.919><c> the</c><00:29:44.320><c> Freedom</c> A year later, she launched the Freedom A year
• later, she launched the Freedom Farm<00:29:45.279><c> Cooperative,</c><00:29:46.480><c> buying</c><00
• </c><00:30:01.760><c> a</c> she purchased 640 acres and launched a she purchased 640 acres and launched

Transcript Highlights:

• the state toward rebuilding application rates this year after a very challenging 2024 due to the launch
• That new FAFSA launched on January 1, 2024, and as your agenda notes, had technical issues that prevented
• The FAFSA launch was delayed again this year from October 1 to December 1.
• December itself is not an ideal month to launch an aid application given the holidays.
• Directly impacted by technical issues and data privacy concerns, while the FAFSA launched with relatively