Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm so proud to be part of this committee.
• Great to be on this committee. I think it dovetails well under the committee that I get to chair.
• This is an incredibly important committee.
• Committee and the United States House Armed Services Committee.
• We answer questions from this committee.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session and received an overview of the Higher Education Appropriations budget from staff director Tim Elwell. He explained the committee’s broad jurisdiction over universities, state colleges, district workforce programs, vocational rehabilitation, blind services, student financial aid, private colleges, and the Board of Governors, and reviewed key budget concepts such as local funds, funds per FTE, performance funding, and the distinction between the total appropriation and the recurring base budget. He noted that higher education is funded largely through state and local sources, with substantial flexibility compared with other state budgets, and that the base budget is heavily weighted toward lump-sum allocations to the public systems. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of South Florida’s Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida), led by retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie and USF representative Mark Walsh. They described Cyber Florida as a statewide cybersecurity platform created by the Legislature in 2014 to support education, research, workforce development, public policy, and community engagement. McKenzie emphasized the growing cyber threat environment, Florida’s leadership role, and several funded initiatives, including K-12 outreach, workforce training, a cyber range for county governments, critical infrastructure assessments, grant development, and public conferences and outreach. Members asked about public cyber awareness, the lack of a national cyber defense strategy, school district participation in Cyber Launch, and which counties are most at risk; McKenzie said smaller counties with limited cybersecurity staffing are generally more vulnerable and offered to provide follow-up information. Finally, the committee heard from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida, led by Dr. Drew Andrews, along with program and parent representatives from participating institutions. Andrews explained the center’s role in coordinating Florida’s postsecondary comprehensive transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities, supporting program development, distributing grants and scholarships, and monitoring outcomes. He reported that the state now has 33 approved programs at 35 institutions, including universities, state colleges, and technical colleges, and that scholarship and grant funding has grown significantly. He said student retention is about 88 percent, many graduates are employed, and median hourly earnings have increased over time. A representative from Southeastern University described how the center’s support helped build and sustain SEU Link, including a new third-year employment-focused option for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 1105, a bill to
• Thank you for your service. Thank you for your service. Thank you, Mr. President.
• We are human.
• substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for Senate Bill
• Committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for committee

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• With Kahu Turner is his wife service.
• </c> On pages 44 to 48, Standing Committee On pages 44 to 48, Standing Committee Report<00:04:47.480>
• </c><00:04:55.120><c> Report</c> On page 49, Standing Committee Report On page 49, Standing Committee
• Committee Reports. 25 ayes.
• </c> Action Center, the Institute of Human Action Center, the Institute of Human Services,<00:15:20.400

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of standing committees and divisions.
• to the Committee on Housing Finance and Policy.
• on taxes and be reer to the committee on taxes and be reer to the<00:08:46.080><c> committee</c><00:
• </c> be re-referred to the committee on be re-referred to the committee on agriculture<00:10:19.000><
• They are missed, and our debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice will forever remain.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Any committee staff?
• Any committee staff?
• Any committee staff?
• Any committee Committee Member Alva. Any committee staff?
• </c> serviced, we also do a voter service serviced, we also do a voter service center<01:42:19.840><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2246, which would expand public financial disclosure requirements. The State Ethics Commission strongly supported the bill, saying broader disclosure could help restore public trust and potentially deter corruption, and it offered a clarifying amendment to make clear the requirement applies to board and commission members rather than all employees of listed agencies. Several organizations and individuals also testified in support. A committee member asked about the amendment, and the commission explained it was intended as a clarification rather than a substantive change. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2250, which would add homeless facilities to the locations covered by the drug-free-zone offense for promoting controlled substances. The Public Defender opposed the measure, arguing that many homeless facilities are unmarked and not easily identifiable, creating notice, fairness, and due process concerns and risking arbitrary enforcement. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying it targets distributors rather than users, that notice can be proven through evidence, and that the law is aimed at protecting vulnerable people in shelters and similar facilities. In questioning, senators asked how homeless facilities would be identified and whether the bill would cover all shelter models; the prosecutor said the definition is cross-referenced in statute and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and other groups testified in opposition, while several service and advocacy groups testified in support. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2325, which would allow courts to review and potentially reduce sentences for certain juvenile offenders after 15 years if the person is not a danger to the community. Judiciary staff said the court supports the bill’s intent but noted Hawaii’s indeterminate sentencing structure leaves no alternative sentence for a court to reduce to, suggesting the measure may need structural sentencing changes or could instead be directed to the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Public defender representatives and youth-justice advocates supported the bill, emphasizing rehabilitation, adolescent brain development, trauma, and the need for a meaningful opportunity for release. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee to order
• This bill mentions assessing... of Western Prairie Human Services and uh of Western Prairie Human Services
• hard when you're trying to do a budget for Health and Human Services and then this separately.
• Child welfare funding is one of the most complicated funding streams in all of Human Services.
• this</c><01:51:52.679><c> Bill</c><01:51:53.040><c> is</c> Human Services critical to this Bill is Human

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as Department of Health and Human Services stated earlier in their testimony, um, the cities and
• </c><01:46:06.560><c> Services</c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human
• We just had one last year that was licensed through the Department of Health and Human Services Food
• The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services have issued formal statements to health care
• </c><04:46:03.360><c> formal</c> Human Services uh have issued formal Human Services uh have issued formal

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, ladies and gentlemen, this meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee is hereby called to order.
• It would be the revised appropriation if this item were approved by the committee.
• What it does—human services, it does the staffing, human services—but anything else, or everything?
• In addition, food service is a challenge. And the third area is the physical plant.
• Thank you for that service. And thank you, Madam Governor. Thank you very much. All right.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes of its April 2 meeting and then took up three budget transfers. The first, FAC 2026-6 for the Office of the State Treasurer, moved $75,000 from personal services to other expenses to pay for consultant help applying for federal energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay provisions. Treasurer’s office staff said the agency had one open position and several others pending posting, and members discussed how the transfer related to vacant positions and the committee’s budget display. The second item, FAC 2026-7 for the Office of the State Controller, transferred $700,000 from personal services to other expenses to cover higher Core-CT software maintenance and licensing costs. Comptroller staff said the office had 21 open positions, most in Core-CT, and explained that the system, implemented in 2003, receives regular quarterly and monthly updates from Oracle. Members also discussed how the system serves payroll, HR, purchasing, accounting, and related functions for many state agencies, including UConn and the Board of Regents. The final item, FAC 2026-8 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, transferred $700,000 from personal services, the veterans opportunity pilot, and headstones accounts to other expenses for year-end operational needs. Commissioner Ron Welch said most vacancies were in the skilled nursing facility, food service, and physical plant, with staffing challenges especially for nurses and aides. He also explained that the veterans opportunity pilot never fully launched, that the Institutional General Welfare Fund has been depleted and the agency now relies more on general fund support, and that the department faces rising food, utility, and pharmaceutical costs, including a federal VA reimbursement change that will leave the state responsible for medication costs by 2027. All three transfers were approved, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of our select committee hearings, I want to say it was like the second one...
• And that's why I started the select committee, restarted the select committee in 2019 when I got into
• Then we had, 'Let's remember humanity.' And now we have hope.
• There are human impacts, as Ramon shared with us.
• And impacts are large, and they’re costly to human life, human connection, and our economy.

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy focused on infrastructure, pollution, climate resilience, public health, access, and economic impacts of sea level rise in California, with an emphasis on San Diego and the Bay Area. Chair Tasha Boerner Horvath opened by describing the committee’s purpose, the state’s sea level rise action planning, and the need for better monitoring and early warning systems. She also referenced her prior bills AB 66 and AB 72, which supported Scripps research on coastal bluff collapse warning capabilities. Assembly Members David Alvarez and Jessica Caloza later joined and emphasized that sea level rise affects not only coastal communities but inland areas as well, and that the issue should inform future legislative and budget decisions. In the first panel, Dr. Mark Merrifield of Scripps Institution of Oceanography described observed sea level rise of roughly 0.8 to 0.9 feet since the early 1900s, with acceleration expected by mid-century and potentially much greater rise by 2100 depending on emissions. He highlighted flooding, groundwater rise, beach and cliff erosion, salinization, and risks to transportation, sewage, ports, and national security. Dave Gibson of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board discussed how sea level rise affects wastewater systems, stormwater, contaminated sites, wetlands, and coastal groundwater basins, and said the board is requiring climate adaptation planning, updating stormwater permits, and seeking more flexible state permitting and mitigation tools. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better mapping, more monitoring, and more state funding, especially if federal support from NOAA and other agencies declines. The second panel addressed public health, equitable access, and local economies. Ramon Chiras of Un Mar de Colores described how sea level rise, pollution, and access barriers threaten the Tijuana River Valley and Imperial Beach, especially for underserved communities and youth programs that rely on safe, welcoming access to the ocean. He stressed the cultural and spiritual importance of coastal access and the need for water safety and environmental education. Jessica Fane of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission explained that the Bay Area faces major economic exposure from sea level rise, citing a regional estimate of $96 billion in adaptation costs versus $230 billion in potential losses from inaction, and said BCDC is working with local governments under SB 272 on shoreline adaptation planning, funding, and regulatory innovation. Members discussed the tension between environmental permitting and the need to move projects faster, including the possibility of planned retreat in some areas and the use of simultaneous permitting and longer-term state authority to streamline adaptation work. In the final panel, Philip Gibbons of the Port of San Diego described the port’s climate adaptation efforts and its vulnerability assessments under AB 691. He said the port manages state tidelands, supports maritime commerce and recreation, and is already seeing flooding at king tides and during El Niño events, including storm-drain backflow and damage to bikeways and parks. He explained that future sea level rise could inundate major port areas and disrupt operations, underscoring the need for continued planning, mitigation, and infrastructure investment. The hearing did not take formal votes, but it concluded with a clear call for more science, funding, coordination, and regulatory streamlining to prepare California’s coast and nearby communities for worsening sea level rise impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Education Committee.
• I think we heard through committee Solano is not one of those counties.
• This bill had bipartisan and unanimous support in committee.
• This bill had bipartisan and unanimous support in committee.
• These services are not luxuries.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 35 recognizing May as AAPI Heritage Month, with extensive floor remarks from caucus leaders and members highlighting AAPI history, contributions, and solidarity with other communities. The chamber then honored 14 AAPI honorees from across the state, including public servants, advocates, artists, health professionals, and community leaders, before moving to the regular file. On the floor, the Assembly passed a series of bills on social media harms to minors, labor privilege, foster care family-finding, low-impact camping areas, student body association governance, drink-spiking prevention at music festivals, behavioral health access, greenhouse gas recapture, physical therapy access, housing enforcement, insurance licensing, density bonus clarification, water district proxy voting, park district updates, secured transactions, and property tax relief during emergencies. Most measures passed with broad or unanimous support; notable votes included AB 2 on social media platform accountability passing 59-0, AB 1109 on union communications privilege passing 45-4, AB 409 on student body association open meetings passing 55-6, AB 518 on low-impact camping passing 55-0, AB 668 on drink-spiking protections passing 72-0, AB 348 on behavioral health access passing 69-0, AB 663 on HFC recapture passing 71-0, AB 574 on physical therapy access passing 68-0, AB 712 on housing enforcement passing 57-1, AB 943 on insurance pre-licensing reform passing 63-0, AB 87 on density bonus law clarification passing 63-0, AB 523 on Metropolitan Water District proxy voting passing 62-1, AB 769 on park district code cleanup passing 68-0, AB 771 on secured transactions passing 69-0, and AB 1416 on property tax installment deferrals passing 66-0. The Assembly also took up AB 446, the Surveillance Pricing Protection Act, which would prohibit businesses from using personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service. Supporters described the practice as predatory and discriminatory, while noting ongoing concerns about preserving legitimate discounts and loyalty programs. The bill was presented as a consumer protection measure aimed at preventing hidden price discrimination and reducing cost-of-living pressures. The transcript ends amid repeated and partially duplicated readings of AB 446, without a final vote shown for that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paula Stone, Director, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Department of Human Services.
• And Elizabeth Pittman, Director for Division of Medical Services, Department of Human Services.
• So this allows us to be able to reimburse for those services.
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paula Stone, Director, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Department of Human Services.
• And Elizabeth Pittman, Director for Division of Medical Services, Department of Human Services.
• So this allows us to be able to reimburse for those services.
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy

Summary: The committee opened with prayer, approved the January 7 meeting minutes, and then reviewed several Department of Human Services rules. One rule would allow rehabilitative hospitals to open psychiatric units, provide acute psychiatric services, and receive Medicaid reimbursement, addressing a service gap, especially in Jefferson County. Another rule would let DHS participate in a CMS cell and gene therapy model to support value-based payment agreements for treating sickle cell disorder with CGT therapy. A third DHS rule would exempt the state from the CMS recovery audit contractor requirement. DHS explained that recovery audit contractors typically work on contingency to identify fraud, waste, abuse, or overpayments, but Arkansas law prohibits contingency arrangements of that kind. DHS said the state already has multiple other program integrity layers, including internal reviews, an external payment integrity office, the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Members asked for clarification on the role of recovery audit contractors, and DHS responded that they perform post-payment audits and recoveries. All three DHS rules were reviewed without objection. Near the end of the meeting, Representative Pilkington asked about a reported increase in uninsured individuals in a DHS postpartum report, but DHS said it was not prepared to answer and would follow up offline. Representative Johnson also asked about a handout related to program integrity and Arkansas Medicaid. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:22.680><c> for</c> need to help provide those services for need to help provide those services
• Services.
• </c> a letter from Health and Human a letter from Health and Human Services<00:29:15.840><c> uh</c><00
• their</c> Health and Human Services to get their Health and Human Services to get their ideas<00:39:05.480
• </c> to the full committee to the full committee itl<00:52:18.799><c> a</c><00:52:19.040><c> second</

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the humans in that building.
• paid for the building that combines maybe housing support from Health and Human Services or a county
• Not seeing any, and so, Representative Nadeau, this bill has had its sort of vetting in the Human Services
• Committee.
• Sort of the policy and finance parts will be carried in the HHS or in the Human Services bill?

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Chair Ramos and committee.
• I hope the committee can look into this on my behalf.
• I want us just to all be human for a moment.
• We're providing services to the incarcerated person, whether it's mental health services, a victim advocate
• service of their choice.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then there's $6 million for helping to integrate behavioral health services.
• It's about 0.28 years of service credit that a female...
• And it's about 0.28 years of service credit that a female And that it's about 0.28 years of service credit
• There is an increase of $20 million one-time General Fund to support immigration legal services.
• it's homeless, and the wraparound services are so desperately needed.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Human Services and they usually get that Human Services and they usually get that information<00:33:59.919
• services and other health and human services and other departments.<00:37:49.040><c> We</c><00:37:49.200
• Human Services, Division of Health and Human Services, Division of Public<01:11:19.920><c> Health</c>
• </c> And lastly, we have the Department of Health and Human Services back with us, Mr. Roberge.
• Human Services, Division of Health and Human Services, Division of Public<01:27:49.679><c> Health</c>

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the legislative director for Health and Human Services, and I just want to thank you for allowing
• I'd just like to thank the Department of Health and Human Services for the review that they did with
• I'm the legislative director for Health and Human Services, and I just want to thank you for allowing
• I'd just like to thank the Department of Health and Human Services for the review that they did with
• review</c> Health and Human Services for the review Health and Human Services for the review that<01

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 155, which drew a lengthy debate over an amendment to delay implementation until tax year 2027. Supporters said the delay would give lawmakers time to see whether projected revenues materialize and to reconsider the policy if needed; opponents argued it would reduce money available to services and local governments at a time of tightening revenues. Members also discussed broader revenue trends, including tobacco, rooms-and-meals, real estate transfer, and lottery revenues, and disagreed over whether tax cuts tend to increase revenue. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2983H on an 11-9 vote, then voted 11-9 to report HB 155 ought to pass as amended. The bill was sent to the consent calendar, with a majority and minority report to be filed. The committee then considered HB 224, with members expressing concern that the bill would redirect money collected for one purpose to another and should receive more study. A motion for interim study was made and seconded, and the committee approved interim study unanimously, 20-0, sending HB 224 to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up SB 83, which the Lottery described as a vehicle for technical corrections to gaming law. The Lottery requested changes to remove a bond cap, reconcile inconsistent free-play/promotional-play language, redirect problem-gambling funds to the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention, and revise background-check language after the FBI declined to conduct checks under the existing wording. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2984 unanimously, 20-0, then voted 20-0 to report SB 83 ought to pass as amended and placed it on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began work on HB 524, a bill to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Representative Yuli said members had received many emails and calls both supporting and opposing the program and that he had questions about transparency and the dollars involved. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 524.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know what services work.
• Good morning, Chair and Committee. Good morning, Chair and Committee members.
• I'll bring it back to committee. Any questions or comments from committee members?
• They provide a service.
• Good afternoon, committee.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Rules will come to order.
• Recently, we are partnering with other departments in the California Health and Human Services Agency
• Welcome to the Rules Committee. I do have some questions.
• Welcome to the Rules Committee.
• “Toxicology study, sometimes human studies, but it’s real data.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointees and routine committee actions. Members approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, three not-required-to-appear appointments: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. The committee also approved references of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, each by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access for 14 million Californians, navigating federal changes, and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, Medi-Cal redeterminations, work requirements, provider reimbursement, fraud oversight, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the effectiveness of CalAIM and community supports. Public commenters from county, hospital, and provider groups largely supported the nomination, citing his experience and collaborative approach. The committee voted 5-0 to send his appointment to the full Senate. The committee also considered Chris Thayer’s appointment as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, science-based health assessments, improving risk communication, and supporting tools such as CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 guidance. Senators raised concerns about reliance on models versus real-world data, PFAS, environmental justice, wildfire and battery-fire impacts, and whether CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 are working as intended. Public testimony from environmental and health organizations supported the nomination and highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role. The committee approved Thayer’s appointment 3-1, with one senator not voting, and forwarded it to the Senate floor.