Transcript Highlights:

• For the past 20 years, I’ve served as a researcher, therapist, and, most importantly, cheerleader for
• This contradicts decades of research showing that the earliest years of life are critical in building
• This contradicts decades of research showing that the earliest years of life are critical in building
• There has been research since the 1970s documenting that assertive community treatment is more cost-effective
• There has been research since the 1970s documenting that assertive community treatment is more cost-effective

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on a large group of behavioral health and insurance-related bills. Topics included expanding access to mental health services by allowing physician assistants to authorize Section 12 emergency holds and be recognized as licensed mental health professionals (H. 1131/S. 773); improving coverage for community behavioral health centers so commercial insurance matches MassHealth’s bundled outpatient and crisis services (H. 1276/S. 703); eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services (S. 718); extending detox and clinical stabilization coverage from 14 to 30 days and adding transitional support services (H. 1319/S. 772); requiring coverage for dual-diagnosis treatment in psychiatric facilities (H. 1277/S. 771); and preserving access to treatment for serious mental illness through coverage of coordinated specialty care and assertive community treatment (H. 1135/S. 709). The committee also heard bills on preventive behavioral health services for children (H. 1228/S. 802) and post-pregnancy mental health care, including postpartum depression and pregnancy loss-related care (H. 1314/S. 823).

Transcript Highlights:

• We also know from research that these courses centered on diverse history and perspectives improve student
• I appreciate that because that was one of the things that I found in my research, that it's not just
• At least that's what the research says.
• There's lots of research about longevity and school administrators and continuing that work; the longer
• There's lots of research about longevity and school administrators and continuing that work, the longer

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that immigration arrests can result in tens of thousands of dollars in financial loss
• Research continues to show that the best outcomes happen when consultation is consistent, relationship-based
• Research continues to show that the best outcomes happen when consultation is consistent, relationship-based
• Now, we know that research tells us that a child's brain develops rapidly from zero to five, and exposure
• But one thing was for sure: we know through research that the best thing to do is to push vulnerable

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee heard a lengthy agenda focused largely on CalWORKs, child care access, early childhood supports, and family stability. Measures discussed included AB 1655, which would protect CalWORKs benefits for families when a child or family member is temporarily absent due to immigration detention; AB 1746, which would require counties to give CalWORKs applicants the actual child care request form and respond within 10 days; and AB 1755, which would repeal the CalWORKs 100-hour work penalty for two-parent families. Supporters across these bills emphasized reducing poverty, preventing administrative barriers, and avoiding punishments that can destabilize working families. No opposition witnesses appeared on these items. All three bills were moved forward on party-line or near-unanimous votes, with committee amendments accepted where noted. The committee also heard AB 2072, creating a state contingency fund to keep CalFresh and WIC benefits flowing during a federal shutdown, with support from the California Retailers Association and anti-poverty groups; AB 2429, which would make targeted changes to the early childhood mental health consultation model by making one screener optional and reducing required observations; AB 1969, the "It Takes a Village Act," establishing a grant program for cradle-to-career place-based partnerships; and AB 2092, giving the Department of Social Services lead authority over an early childhood integrated data system and creating an interagency governance structure. Testimony on these bills stressed the need for coordinated services, better data, and more flexible implementation. Each advanced out of committee, with AB 1969 receiving the most discussion and a split vote before later being finalized on the record. Two additional bills addressed county administration and emergency aid. AB 2278 would authorize a Contra Costa County pilot to test technology to speed IHSS eligibility and reassessments amid heavy caseloads and penalties, while AB 2567 would let counties issue emergency CalWORKs aid without first requiring applicants to apply for all other potentially available income sources. Both were presented as ways to reduce delays and help families in crisis faster. The committee also approved a consent calendar containing several other measures. At the end of the hearing, the committee returned to open votes and finalized the roll on all items before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research consistently shows that students who participate in high school athletics often achieve higher
• share some information with you, and I'll share it with committee members as well, on some of the research
• there something about having an at-home library, having books at your home that are yours, that the research
• We know that from research in terms of family engagement: when you give parents tools on how to use these
• We know that from research in terms of family engagement, when you give parents tools on how to use these

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 24, 2026, with a quorum present and announced that HB 690 would not be heard. The committee first advanced HB 350, which would extend the grades served by Ecole Ponashan in Terrebonne Parish from pre-K through 4th grade to 8th grade; members spoke in support of the school’s role in French immersion, Cajun heritage, and local educational access, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 434, which shifts certain probationary employment authority over school bus operators from school boards to superintendents, also received favorable passage without objection, with support from the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. The committee then considered HB 445 on the Louisiana STEM Advisory Council. The bill would move the STEM Commission from the Board of Regents to Louisiana Works, reduce and reorganize membership, and cut the number of meetings from four to two while keeping funding in place. Supporters said the change would better align the council with workforce needs and economic development, while members asked about the loss of some education representatives and the continued role of employers and K-12 stakeholders. After discussion, the bill was reported favorably. HB 386, which would allow local school districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own local education agency under district rules, was also reported favorably after extensive discussion of charter types, LEA status, federal funding, special education liability, and the difference between local and state authorization. HB 363, which would let students enrolled in virtual schools participate in extracurricular activities and athletics at their zoned public school, drew strong support from members and testimony from students and families. Witnesses described the bill as a fairness measure that would give online students the same opportunity to try out for sports and activities as home study students, subject to the same eligibility rules, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 256, clarifying that school employees are mandatory reporters and subject to existing DCFS training requirements, was also reported favorably, with members emphasizing child protection and the need to simplify reporting obligations. Finally, HB 272, which expands eligibility for the READ literacy program to students in D- and F-rated schools, was supported by the sponsor, Scholastic, and literacy advocates who cited Florida data showing improved reading outcomes and stronger family engagement; members raised questions about the fiscal note, parent literacy, and program overlap, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that immigration arrests can result in tens of thousands of dollars in financial loss
• Research continues to show that the best outcomes happen when consultation is consistent, relationship-based
• Now, we know that research tells us that a child’s brain develops rapidly from zero to five.
• Now, we know that research tells us that a child's brain develops rapidly from zero to five.
• But one thing was for sure: we know through research that the best thing to do is to push vulnerable

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie Chan, and I am the Director of Data and Research for Stop AAPI Hate.
• Based on the latest data from the California Health Interview Survey conducted by UCLA, researchers estimate
• Research further shows menopause-related challenges attribute to $1.8 billion in annual work loss, leading
• You know, as our medical research tries to catch up with this issue, I appreciate you bringing, trying
• But that bill's out. you know, as our medical research tries to catch up with this issue, I appreciate

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, research shows that some workers with short-term certificates earn $30,000 a year or less, and
• They manage crises, protect campus safety, steward public resources, manage research enterprises, ensure
• understanding the academic enterprise and the importance of the academic enterprise when thinking about the research
• enterprise, which is really something that is unique to the CSU, our work with applied research and
• Students are bound in place by community, and research shows that 90% of community college students go

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met for a policy hearing on several higher education bills. AB 1534 (Irwin) would create a California approval process for short-term workforce Pell Grant programs; supporters said it would expand access to job training with consumer protections, while a neutral witness urged more work on implementation. Members raised concerns about the bill’s $4,000 tuition cap, but the measure passed 5-1 with an urgency clause and was sent to Labor and Employment. AB 1831 (Irwin) would cap compensation for certain CSU administrators, bar raises in years when tuition rises, and repeal a 2025 executive pay resolution; the author said she would amend the bill to remove retroactive repeal, narrow the scope, and clarify that it applies to base salary and non-represented managers. CFA, students, and labor groups supported the bill as an accountability measure, while CSU opposed it, arguing the cap would hurt recruitment and retention. The committee approved the bill 4-1-3 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee also advanced AB 1555 (Hadwick), which would allow up to 200 students to qualify for in-state tuition at College of the Siskiyous under a cross-border regional arrangement; it passed unanimously to Appropriations. AB 1552 (Jackson), requiring the community colleges and CSU and requesting UC to report recommendations on civic engagement and democracy education, also passed to Appropriations after some members objected that such programs could be used for partisan activity. AB 1829, which expands CalWORKs student-parent support by allowing more direct aid and waiving a 25% work-study employer match at the colleges’ discretion, passed 8-1 and was re-referred to Human Services. The committee later added on consent items and adjourned after announcing its next hearing date.

Transcript Highlights:

• And her research into infants born to HIV-positive mothers was groundbreaking.
• And<00:16:05.680><c> her</c><00:16:05.800><c> research</c><00:16:06.280><c> into</c><00:16:06.480><c>
• infants</c><00:16:06.920><c> born</c><00:16:07.240><c> to</c> And her research into infants born to
• And her research into infants born to HIV-positive<00:16:08.360><c> mothers</c><00:16:08.839><c> was<
• </c> When I started my research, I had no idea the list would be so long. This is great.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 9, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Revenues from the vapor products tax are evenly split between the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and
• stable, reliable funding for foundational public health services and ongoing investment in cancer research
• Part of the revenue that's being generated by this tax was to go into the Andy Hill Cancer Research account
• Lizak-Gadena, representing the Evergreen Social Impact, the administrator to the Andy Hill Cancer Research
• Traditionally, the House in their operating budget does sweep funding for the Andy Hill Cancer Research

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And part of the job of that professional is to research the budget of the entities involved, maybe the
• They do a lot of research.
• You know, they, They do a lot of research.
• They do a lot of research.
• I've sat through many arbitrations, you know, and from the labor system, They do a lot of research.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Revenues from the vapor products tax are evenly split between the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and
• stable, reliable funding for foundational public health services and ongoing investment in cancer research
• Part of the revenue that's being generated by this tax was to go into the Andy Hill Cancer Research account
• Lizak-Gadena, representing the Evergreen Social Impact, the administrator to the Andy Hill Cancer Research
• Traditionally, the House, in their operating, does sweep funding for the Andy Hill Cancer Research, but

Summary: House Finance held public hearings on three Senate bills. SB 6129 would raise cigarette taxes, replace current nicotine/vapor product taxes with a 95% tax on nicotine products, and adjust revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account, the Foundational Public Health Services account, and a youth prevention account; staff and supporters said it would correct an unintended loss of public health funding and reduce youth nicotine use, while opponents argued it would be highly regressive, harm retailers and wholesalers, and push sales into illicit markets. SB 6231 would repeal the data center sales tax exemption for refurbishment and end replacement server equipment eligibility; the sponsor and staff said it would raise roughly $200 million and remove an obsolete preference, while labor, port, business, and data center representatives opposed it, citing lost jobs, reduced investment, and concerns about upsetting existing contracts and rural economic development. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for warehousing and reselling prescription drugs and create a lower preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; the sponsor said it would restore horizontal equity in the tax code and offset impacts on rural pharmacies, but pharmacy groups, wholesalers, retailers, and business organizations warned it would raise medication costs, worsen pharmacy closures, and be passed through to patients. The committee heard extensive public testimony on all three bills. Supporters of SB 6129 included public health, cancer, pediatric, and emergency medicine advocates who emphasized youth prevention, cessation funding, and long-term health savings; opponents included tobacco, vape, retail, and business groups who said the bill would increase black-market activity and burden small businesses. SB 6231 drew opposition from construction trades, ports, local governments, chambers, and data center interests, who argued the tax preference supports ongoing construction, permanent jobs, and local tax bases, while committee questions focused on whether the bill would affect existing refurbishment contracts. SB 6228 was opposed by pharmacy associations, independent pharmacists, wholesalers, grocery retailers, and AWB, who said the tax increase would be passed through and could accelerate pharmacy desert conditions; the sponsor and supporters framed the bill as a correction to an outdated preference and a way to protect critical access pharmacies. No votes were taken; each hearing was closed, and the chair announced amendment requests were due Thursday at 5 p.m. and amendments posted by Friday at 5 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• size and this complexity of a system would be making a minimum of 10% investment in innovation and research
• The vendor community, as part of our market research, as part of our negotiation-suiting evaluation process
• to a claimant that are really claims that are extremely complex in nature that require extensive research
• is a claimant that are really claims that are extremely complex in nature that require extensive research
• I think that the that require extensive research for need to decide to administer the benefits.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration held an informational hearing on whether the Employment Development Department is ready for the next recession, with a focus on EDD Next, the department’s long-running technology modernization effort. The Legislative Analyst’s Office reviewed EDD’s major benefit programs, the history of prior modernization attempts, the current Integrated Claims Management System work, and the department’s remaining risks, including continued reliance on a COBOL-era mainframe and the challenge of adapting quickly to future federal or state policy changes during a downturn. The LAO also explained that most pandemic-era fraud was tied to temporary federal unemployment programs rather than California’s core UI system, and that the state’s UI loan repayment is not largely attributable to fraud. Members raised concerns about the cost of repeated modernization efforts, paper versus online claims, appeal overturn rates, WARN notices, and legislative oversight of the project. EDD’s panel said the department has made substantial customer-service and processing improvements, including online self-service tools, improved call center features, identity verification, fraud controls, language access upgrades, and a new document management system. Officials reported that as of early 2026, about 83% to 85% of claims across programs were being processed timely within two weeks, and said paid family leave delays in 2024 were tied to the transition into the disability insurance online platform and seasonal workload patterns. They also said EDD is working with the Department of Technology on EDD Next and that the project will proceed in phases, with paid family leave and disability insurance first and unemployment insurance later. Members pressed EDD on persistent paid family leave backlogs, the share of paper applications, response times for constituents, and whether the department tracks long-running cases and WARN notice trends. EDD said its service standard is generally immediate response through phone, chat, or callback tools, while more complex cases can take longer because the department may be waiting on claimants or medical providers. The department also said it tracks call outcomes and outstanding cases, and that it can provide additional data on WARN notices. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with plans to continue discussing EDD Next and paid family leave at a later March 10 budget hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speech and debate instruction supports literacy, research skills, structured reasoning, public speaking
• , supports literacy, research skills, structured reasoning, public speaking, and civic participation.
• It helped me become a better researcher and speaker, and it presented new It helped me become a better
• researcher and speaker, and it presented new ways for me to communicate with my friends.
• These programs teach students how to research, think critically, communicate clearly, and also participate

Bills: S1062 , S1718 , S7038

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Keywords: speech education, debate, high school, Florida Debate Initiative, civics, competitive teams, student participation, educational advancement, educator preparation, certification, professional development, temporary certificate, military service, collaboration, teaching effectiveness, education, Florida College System, tuition waivers, vocational rehabilitation, state universities

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met to consider several education bills and the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 Department of Education budget. The committee first took up CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate, which would formalize Florida’s Speech and Debate Week, strengthen the partnership between the Department of Education and the Florida Debate Initiative, require annual public reporting, and support statewide speech and debate programming. The bill drew extensive supportive testimony from students, alumni, and advocates who said debate improved civic engagement, literacy, confidence, and school performance, while also noting the need for equitable access and funding for travel and competition. The committee adopted a delete-everything amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended by a unanimous vote of members present. The committee then heard SB 1718 on educator preparation and certification, which expands access to educator preparation coursework, broadens eligibility for temporary certification for some formerly certified professionals, and allows prior subject-area exam results to satisfy requirements. Public testimony largely supported easing barriers for experienced educators while emphasizing that certification changes are only a partial solution to teacher shortages and should be paired with better pay, retention, and professional respect. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 7038 on education, which included a wide range of higher education and workforce-related changes, including a tuition waiver for Florida State Guard members, residency clarifications, oversight changes for blind services and vocational rehabilitation providers, licensure updates for private colleges, dual enrollment and assessment revisions, scholarship and funding changes, and reserve-fund requirements. An amendment restored the Classical Learning Test as a qualifying option for a grandparent tuition waiver, adjusted a Pell Grant performance metric, changed accreditation timing, and made other technical revisions. A dental education stakeholder raised concerns that one provision could disrupt long-standing exemptions for dental assisting programs, and the Florida Dental Association said it was working with the sponsor to avoid unintended impacts. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. The final major item was a high-level review of the proposed pre-K-12 budget, totaling $34.9 billion with local funds. Highlights included $30 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, a $50 increase in the base student allocation, a 1.64% increase in total funds per FTE, $4.5 billion for family empowerment scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, $25 million for districts facing future enrollment declines, $65.3 million to help districts with current-year enrollment losses, $432.8 million for VPK, and $30.4 million for regional education consortia. Senators asked about reductions or flat funding in some allocations, teacher pay, declining enrollment support, Schools of Hope funding, and support for non-teaching school staff. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on concerns about charter and voucher funding, especially the $6 million for Schools of Hope, with speakers urging more investment in traditional public schools, teacher compensation, and school infrastructure. The committee concluded the meeting by adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington College Grant award is 50% of the average award granted to students at Washington's public research
• the maximum College Bound Scholarship is 50% of the average award granted to students at public research
• Washington College Grant Award is 50% of the average award granted to students at Washington's public research
• institutions. of the average award granted to students at Washington's public research institutions.
• the maximum college-bound scholarship is 50% of the average award granted to students at public research

Bills: HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2567 , HB2363 , HB2422

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: nursing education, nursing program standards, board of nursing, state board, national accreditation, accreditation body, nursing school, nurse educator, clinical simulation, simulation director, lead nurse educator, NCLEX, licensure exam pass rate, corrective action plan, technical assistance, higher education, program approval, Washington RCW, professional development, nursing licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• establishes, as you heard, a public-facing P-20 data dashboard in partnership with the Education Research
• By bringing together philanthropy, public agencies, and research partners, we're building the infrastructure
• If early learning is not substantively included in the data, research, and policy agenda, we risk reinforcing
• We urge that philanthropies, researchers, and agencies that are addressed in this bill be held accountable
• to meaningfully include early learning data, research, and policy organizations at every stage.

Bills: SB6078 , SB6089 , SB5859 , SB5861 , SB6065 , SB5956 , SB5901

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: SB 6078, child care, childcare, daycare, licensed child care provider, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, prelicensing, licensing support, resource guide, child care center, family home child care, family home provider, outdoor nature-based child care, school-age child care, early learning, provider application, local permit notice, city permit, county permit

Transcript Highlights:

• I do not know the answer to that either, Senator, but I'm happy to research it and let you know.
• I would consider that, Senator, but I'd like to research and get answers to your first two questions
• I would need to research who can qualify, Senator, to answer the first part of your question and then
• I need to research that, Senator.
• The Family Research Council published a report in 2024 that documented a total of 450 hostile acts against

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They get some research there. The students get experience.
• legislature talking about our activities and suggesting policy, looking at other states, doing the research
• Looking at other states, doing the research specifically to help small businesses and entrepreneurs that
• We were using all hosted, server-hosted, you know, legal research tools.
• We're using all hosted, server-hosted, you know, legal research tools, et cetera, document retention

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State’s office described its FY27 budget, emphasizing efficiency gains from technology, election security work, and business services. It said it is operating with fewer staff than a decade ago, but rising costs and outdated statutory fees are creating deficits in service of process and other operations. The office asked the committee to consider either increasing fees or allowing it to retain a larger share of business-service revenue, and it also proposed creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to help small businesses navigate state government, grants, permits, and related services. Committee members questioned the Secretary of State’s office about fee increases, the current 50-50 split of certain revenues with general revenue, and whether the proposed entrepreneurship office would duplicate existing services. The office said it would complement, not replace, Commerce, SBDC, or grant programs, and would report metrics and policy recommendations to the legislature. The Attorney General then requested a one-time $2 million special revenue appropriation to hire additional lawyers and support staff, citing increased litigation, federal and state legal work, and the need to defend new laws. He also discussed embedded DMV lawyers handling DUI revocation hearings and said the arrangement costs the office just over $200,000. The State Auditor reported that his office is largely self-funded through special revenue and said he wants to reduce reliance on general revenue over time. He highlighted savings from renegotiated leases and an open government contract, discussed the need for more auditors in the Chief Inspector’s Division, and described fraud recovery and P-card operations. A major topic was delinquent land sales: the auditor said the office sold about 17,000 parcels last year and believes online bidding and better marketing could generate substantially more revenue, with the surplus potentially shared among counties, the state, and other programs. Members also asked about securities fee changes, fairness hearings, fire department audits, IT/cybersecurity, and how surplus proceeds from delinquent land sales should be handled. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next slide highlights some of the national research.
• There's a great deal of research out there about distance learning.
• We have looked at over 1,700 articles and research studies that have been conducted to help us learn
• remain inadequate nationally; states really don't have strong virtual policies, and little if any research
• We know not just from national research that comes out constantly; we know the problems with virtual

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So first we start with research and science, and at the same time, we work with those advisory boards
• That, coupled with science and research and the input of community, is really vital, and then we pilot
• Roland Moore from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
• I'm center director and senior research scientist there, also serving as part of the Native American
• of the LGBTQTA Center for the California Reducing Disparities Project with the Center for Applied Research

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established quorum and approved several routine items on the agenda, including governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee noted that some 2026 committee changes would take effect February 1, 2026, and that new committees would depend on adoption of a Senate resolution. The committee then heard from Dr. Hernando Garson, nominated as chief medical officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. He described his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, and EMS leadership, and members questioned him about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, statewide standards versus local flexibility, ambulance patient offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and emergency response coordination. Dr. Garson emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local agencies, collaboration with hospitals and EMS stakeholders, and the need for safer alternatives to routine ambulance transport such as community paramedicine, telehealth, and nurse triage. He also discussed disaster preparedness for vulnerable and rural communities and the use of regional and state assets, including ambulance strike teams, during fires and floods. The committee approved his appointment 4-0. The final item was Stephanie Weldon’s nomination as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. Weldon, who identified as Yurok-Tolowa and Karuk, spoke about her tribal, county, nonprofit, and state experience, her role as the first Native American woman in the position, and her commitment to health equity, rural communities, and culturally responsive public health work. Senators asked about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, addresses behavioral health, tribal consultation, youth mental health, and how it responds to political pressure around DEI language; Weldon said the office focuses on community-driven, data-informed work and transparency. Public commenters strongly supported her confirmation, citing her leadership on the California Reducing Disparities Project and related equity efforts. The committee approved her appointment 4-0, sending it to the full Senate for confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So first we start with research and science, and at the same time, we work with those advisory boards
• That coupled with science and research and the input of community is really vital, and then we pilot
• Roland Moore from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
• I'm center director and senior research scientist there, also serving as part of the Native American
• of the LGBTQTA Center for the California Reducing Disparities Project with the Center for Applied Research

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all