Transcript Highlights:

• However, it does recognize that there are out-year long-term structural imbalances, as has also been
• This is certainly a long-term perspective and not a short-term perspective, given that the state, you
• of the long-term and the short-term, coming up with solutions to bridge that gap.
• When I represented the Long Beach...
• And that is with regards to the court system.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget and presentations from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Chair Laird described the proposal as roughly balanced with $23 billion in reserves, while Vice Chair Niello argued the revenue estimates were overly optimistic and warned of a structural deficit, calling for a deeper review of programs and concern over the state’s $20 billion unemployment insurance debt. Finance said the budget is balanced in the budget year but still leaves a roughly $2.9 billion deficit, with out-year gaps above $20 billion, and characterized the plan as largely a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. The LAO said its office sees substantial downside risk to the revenue forecast, emphasized the volatility of stock-market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to begin addressing the structural deficit now rather than waiting until May. Members focused on the implications of federal policy changes, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and the MCO tax, as well as the state’s reserve strategy. Senators Menjivar and Richardson raised concerns about health coverage reductions, county costs, hospital finances, and the lack of a broader revenue solution, while Finance said the state cannot fully backfill federal cuts and is still assessing the impacts. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal to suspend the rainy day fund deposit and setting aside the proposed Proposition 98 settle-up rather than using it for spending. Finance defended both proposals as necessary to balance the budget year and said it plans to begin discussions with legislative leaders before the May Revision. The committee also discussed climate and transportation funding, including cap-and-trade/GGRF allocations for Cal Fire, interest earnings from the fund, zero-emission vehicle incentives, and AB 617 air quality investments. Senator Reyes questioned the focus on light-duty ZEV incentives instead of heavy-duty vehicles, and Finance said the proposal is intended to partially replace the federal consumer tax credit and that some heavy-duty funding remains from prior years. Senator Richardson also raised concerns about Olympics-related infrastructure, courthouse repairs, and displaced workers, while other members stressed homelessness funding and the need for more immediate action on out-year budget problems. No formal votes or actions were taken during the portion provided; the hearing was informational and moved into member questions after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have long-term information for each one of these creeks that we monitor—250 of them around the state
• That's where we need to make the shift—to not only care about what is being put into the system, but
• So in... ...your opinion, over the medium to long term, what would that look like, and what would be
• I get why you've done it this way for 10 years, but in the long term that doesn't make sense; it's...
• So throughout the transformation plan, we've put lots of those long-term things, also investment based

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.

Transcript Highlights:

• California high-speed rail project can serve as a catalyst for economic growth, business expansion, and long-term
• It's a long-term vision that turns mobility into momentum for our local economies.
• This has been an issue for a long time in terms of structural operating challenges for our transit systems
• I think what we've noticed from the last Trump term, the first Trump term, was the Port of L.A. experience
• There has been a bit of an approach-avoidance, for lack of a better term, in terms of dealing with the

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 86, which would extend and expand the CAEATFA sales and use tax exclusion program through 2031, raise the annual cap from $100 million to $200 million, and add fusion energy. Supporters, including the State Treasurer and industry and labor representatives, cited billions in clean-tech investment, job creation, and environmental benefits; county groups opposed the bill over local revenue losses. The committee approved SB 86 on a 12-0 roll, holding the roll open for additional members. The committee then heard SB 545, which would require Go-Biz to study economic development opportunities along the California high-speed rail corridor, including land value, development incentives, and public-private partnerships. Labor, Fresno’s mayor’s office, and other stakeholders supported the bill as a way to spur corridor development and future funding opportunities, while one business group moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. The bill passed on a 9-1 vote, with the roll held open. Members next considered SB 63, a Bay Area transit funding measure authorizing a regional revenue measure to support transit operations amid looming fiscal shortfalls. The author and witnesses described severe service cuts that could follow without new funding, while committee members raised concerns about the bill’s structure, county participation, polling, and whether other revenue options should be considered. The bill advanced on a 9-3 vote, with the roll held open, and the committee also approved SB 263, directing a state study of tariff impacts on California’s economy and supply chains, on an 11-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard SB 661, which would redirect aviation-related tax revenues back to airports for aviation purposes and bring the state into compliance with federal requirements; testimony focused on airport modernization, rural access, and allocation formulas, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• success let's work and fostter long-term success let's work together<00:37:58.599><c> to</c><00:37:58.839
• </c> I urge you to consider the long-term I urge you to consider the long-term consequences<01:07:59.520
• setbacks Dallas goes causing long-term setbacks Dallas goes on<01:10:20.120><c> to</c><01:10:20.320>
• It harms long-term outcomes, including graduation rates.
• </c><01:15:46.239><c> outcomes</c> Behavior it harms long-term outcomes Behavior it harms long-term outcomes

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the tribute my friend Peter Douglas, who is the long-term executive director of the Coastal Commission
• Commission's work helps navigate challenges like protecting homes and infrastructure while defending the long-term
• have experienced gender-based violence, I've seen firsthand how that abuse is rarely random and the long-term
• local governments must better align and coordinate limited resources to invest in both interim and long-term
• California's juvenile justice system is designed to rehabilitate youth and eliminate long-term collateral

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through privileges of the floor recognizing Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program students and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The body also approved the Senate journals and took up several gubernatorial appointments, including confirmations to the Court Reporters Board and the California Law Revision Commission, each approved by roll call vote. The chamber then considered SCR 136 marking the 50th anniversaries of the California Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy. Supporters emphasized coastal access, habitat protection, public trails, and resilience, while one senator argued the commission can overrule local control and slow development. The resolution passed 27-4. The Senate also adopted SR 68 for Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with broad support focused on survivor advocacy and accountability, and SCR 130 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, which passed unanimously. Several bills were then approved on unanimous roll call, including SB 1058 on school nutrition procurement, SB 930 on encryption for school exam proctoring, SB 917 on winery sales at farmers’ markets, SB 1002 on continuity of out-of-state telehealth care, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment, SB 1285 on juvenile record dismissals, and SB 969 on remote developmental services. Later, SCR 131 called for an urgent, coordinated response to unsheltered homelessness, emphasizing interim shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services. Supporters said the state must stop normalizing encampments and better coordinate resources; one senator objected that the resolution did not sufficiently address self-sufficiency or alternatives to housing-first approaches. The resolution passed 34-0. The Senate also adopted SCR 157 honoring school bus drivers, approved the consent calendar, heard committee announcements, and adjourned in memory of Sandy Steers, a conservation advocate and longtime executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> including what I described as a systemic including what I described as a systemic problem<00:15:
• It's a basic in computer system.
• It's a basic in computer system. brakes. It's a basic in computer system.
• This system did not.
• Would you care to just Yes.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• certainly the construction, you know, certainly the construction, you know, certainly the the the mental long-term
• mental health the the mental long-term mental health the the mental long-term mental health beds are
• . facility of the the system. facility of the the system.
• you don't have kids or you don't sick or you don't have kids or you don't have other retirement or long-term
• have other retirement or long-term have other retirement or long-term plans.

Bills: HJR 4 , HJR 6 , HB 195 , HB 13 , HB 143 , HB 135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• kulana responsibility to that land that comes with the long-term lease, then they can actually just
• </c> climate change from the long-term climate change from the long-term stressors<01:32:26.360><c> like
• Having shocks in that management can be really detrimental to long-term efforts.
• long term it's important collected for long term it's important to<01:36:15.119><c> have</c><01:36:15.960
• </c> can be really detrimental to long-term can be really detrimental to long-term efforts<01:36:25.880

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:01:36.240><c> relationships,</c> long-term relationships, long-term relationships, which<03:01:38.160
• So often I hear from these care system.
• Austin State University who came out of the foster care system.
• </c><03:18:14.800><c> Hearing</c> of the foster care system. Hearing of the foster care system.
• </c><03:44:32.720><c> funding</c> trust land, provides long-term funding trust land, provides long-term

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nevertheless, as legislators, it is our responsibility to build systems that make support and care more
• We know that some successful programs face long-term funding questions, and we know that access alone
• is not enough if we cannot... ...long-term funding questions, and we know that access alone is not enough
• We are integrating education, behavioral health, and health care into one coordinated system of care
• We've asked schools to redesign themselves to fit a health care billing system.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• can we shift around some of these funds, at least to sustain it for a year, so we can figure out a long-term
• One, we have Yazi Martinez, which we need to take care of, and it's been going on far too long.
• It is an elections management system, but not the voter registration system.
• And so with that, we can move on to the last line for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department.
• And we'll keep working through in the interim for long-term sustainability. [member_12748] Great.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The meeting began as an informal education budget work group focused on reviewing a revised House Appropriations and Finance Committee scenario and flagging concerns rather than taking votes. Staff outlined the main changes from the LFC recommendation, including moving the statewide student information system appropriation, adding funding for the Black, Bilingual, Multicultural and Hispanic Education Act, universal school meals overrun costs, an evidence-based CTE pilot with a 50% local match, STEM network funding, wellness room pilots, Martinez-Yazzie action plan items, and changes to innovation zone and out-of-school time appropriations. A separate handout on the seven-year CTE pilot explained spending patterns, reversions, and possible federal maintenance-of-effort concerns if the state continues funding beyond a true pilot. Members then debated CTE extensively, with several arguing it improves attendance, graduation, and career readiness and should be sustained or expanded, especially in rural areas, while staff and others emphasized that much of the current funding has gone to general operational costs rather than intentional program design and that regional or matched funding models may be more effective. Members also discussed STEM and math initiatives, the need for more industry involvement, and whether the proposed match requirements would be too burdensome for smaller districts and BIE schools. The discussion also covered the Black, Hispanic, and Multilingual Education Acts and the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit. Some members stressed that the acts should be explicitly named in the budget language and not merely implied, while staff said the scenario reaffirms prior commitments by building the costs into agency operating budgets. Members raised concerns about charter school hold-harmless funding, declining enrollment, and the need to align spending with the needs of at-risk students. The work group ended the education portion without any votes, with staff noting they would incorporate the feedback and return with clarifications, including on CTE funding, the educational acts, and the charter hold-harmless item. The meeting then shifted to the child well-being and early childhood work group, where staff presented a revised Early Childhood Education and Care Department scenario. The proposal moved money toward child care assistance and early pre-K, kept the FIT program funding level unchanged, and used a mix of trust fund, TANF, federal, and operating-budget adjustments to close part of the gap between the executive and LFC recommendations. Members questioned the policy direction, especially the shift toward infant and toddler care and pre-K expansion, the impact on school-age child care, and the implications for continuity of care and provider costs. Staff explained that the scenario prioritizes younger children and at-risk families, includes language for a wage and career ladder, and would require legislation to raise the early childhood trust fund distribution cap from 500 to 525. Members also discussed a separate proposed CYFD pilot bill (HB 65), which would be distinct from ECECD funding. No votes were taken, and staff said they would return with more cost information on full pre-K plus wraparound care. A final work group reviewed C2 and Department of Information Technology-related appropriations. Staff compared the LFC and executive recommendations for new funding and reauthorizations, noting that the LFC generally limited new projects while the executive funded more. Members discussed several IT modernization requests, including the Secretary of State’s voter registration and election management systems, the Spaceport Authority, Game and Fish, the State Engineer’s WATERS system, ECECD’s FitKids and EPIC replacement discovery, and Aging and Long-Term Services’ enterprise system modernization. The main themes were whether to fund planning versus full replacement, how to avoid piecemeal spending, and whether new systems should wait for incoming leadership. The Secretary of State’s office said its system is nearing end of life and the planning funds would help prepare a realistic replacement request, while other agencies described aging infrastructure, cybersecurity risks, and the need for modernization. The work group did not vote on any of the items and ended with staff noting additional follow-up on funding needs and reauthorization details.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in terms, in terms, in terms...
• to new communities, ensuring long-term success and stability.
• helps schools. existing sites and expand access to new communities ensuring long-term success and stability
• It is essential to set our students up for long-term success. Thank you.
• a community-based organization advancing a whole-family approach to support healing, wellness, and long-term

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools. On universal meals, the Department of Education supported continued funding for the Universal School Meals Program and a fourth round of Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grants, citing meal-count growth, improved meal service, and the need to offset federal uncertainty, inflation, and reduced direct certification tied to immigration-related policy changes. The LAO recommended rejecting another kitchen grant round, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and the state has not clearly defined unmet need. Members also raised concerns about the state’s ability to backfill federal meal funding and about how federal requirements affect programs like Summer EBT/SUN Bucks. Public commenters largely supported school meals and kitchen investments, with some urging support for plant-based milk options and continued infrastructure funding. For ELOP, the Department of Finance proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding, including $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended going further and fully fixing the Tier 2 rate, saying rate uncertainty complicates district planning. CDE supported the proposal and said the program has improved attendance and academic outcomes, while noting new CalPADS reporting will provide more data soon. Senators discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, and whether the state should require stronger outcome reporting. Public testimony generally backed stabilizing Tier 2 funding, but some speakers urged more support for older youth and more timely, user-friendly reporting. On community schools, the administration proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing grantees, along with stronger technical assistance, statewide alignment, and an accreditation/self-certification framework. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger cohort. CDE supported the ongoing investment but asked for additional county office and technical assistance funding. Senators and public commenters were broadly supportive of community schools, emphasizing improved attendance, graduation, and student engagement, while also debating accountability, accreditation, and whether non-classroom-based charter schools should be eligible. Public testimony strongly favored ongoing funding and highlighted community schools’ role in mental health, family engagement, and wraparound supports.

Transcript Highlights:

• From the perspective<00:34:50.879><c> of</c><00:34:50.960><c> a</c><00:34:51.200><c> long-term</c><00
• :34:51.599><c> owner</c><00:34:51.839><c> and</c> perspective of a long-term owner and perspective of
• a long-term owner and developer,<00:34:52.639><c> this</c><00:34:52.800><c> resource</c><00:34:53.200
• </c> development tool um for the long term. development tool um for the long term. and<01:07:28.319><
• steward of affordable and and long-term steward of affordable and supportive<01:13:51.840><c> housing

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'd say it's not really a health care system.
• </c> work for a particular health care work for a particular health care system,<01:01:13.680><c> I</
• </c><01:09:20.719><c> system</c><01:09:20.960><c> to</c><01:09:21.279><c> deliver</c> health care system
• health care in changing this system?
• Our health care system will bankrupt this company. It's just a matter of time.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard testimony from Dr. Jack on behalf of the American Beverage Association and Kentucky Beverage Association. Dr. Jack argued that the “totality of the science” supports low- and no-calorie sweeteners as safe and useful tools for reducing sugar and calories, citing FDA and other domestic and international reviews, clinical trials, and the FDA’s recent healthy-label rule. He also described the industry’s transparency efforts, including a “Good to Know” database compiling ingredient and safety information, and said the beverage industry has voluntarily worked to offer more choices with less sugar. Members questioned him about whether beverage ingredients are restricted in other countries, possible health effects beyond weight and cancer, concerns about metabolic issues and gut microbiome effects, whether sweeteners are addictive, and why companies do not simply remove sweeteners. Dr. Jack responded that most ingredients are permitted in many jurisdictions, that broad food-safety reviews have looked at multiple endpoints and found the ingredients safe, that the gut microbiome is still being studied, and that recent clinical evidence does not show increased sweetness preference. He also said business decisions about formulations are up to companies and noted that cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are metabolically similar. The committee also discussed consumer apps and ingredient-scoring tools; Dr. Jack said the industry’s website presents facts without interpretation and is based on food-safety agency assessments. At the end of his testimony, the chair accepted additional fact sheets for the committee. The meeting then moved on to introduce Dr. Gary Huber, who began testimony by emphasizing integrative medicine, metabolic syndrome, and the role of diet, exercise, sleep, and stress in health, but his full presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the long-term transportation funding shortfall facing the state, regions, cities, and counties,
• These alterations are made despite the unknown long-term health risks to the animals themselves.
• The most effective tool to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk is responsible long-term forest management
• Working forest management plans developed by landowners serve as living long-term plans for sustainable
• formulas, increasing retirement ages, and requiring greater employee contributions to protect the long-term

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Long-term store vessels are often rendered barely by hurricanes in 2024. 500 vessels were rendered derelict
• addition to vessels identified prior to the Hurricanes as derelict, I'll go into more detail on the long-term
• There's also a new long-term, a green permit system that will go live in January of 2026, which will
• allow us to better track and hold accountable long-term stored vessels.
• This is important because of the direct correlation between long long-term storage vessels.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:13.160><c> vision</c><00:26:13.560><c> for</c><00:26:13.720><c> systems</c> long-term vision for
• systems long-term vision for systems replacement. replacement. replacement.
• </c> That is not going to be sustainable long That is not going to be sustainable long term. term. term
• </c><03:14:59.360><c> be</c><03:14:59.560><c> solved</c> care system will not simply be solved care system
• Family Family child care is not a Family Family child care is not a system. system. system.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill makes revisions relating to mental health care.
• And so when we looked at the portions of our health care delivery system that we're missing in terms
• of individuals that are seeking care, we noticed that rehabilitative residential mental health care is
• system.
• How long has it taken to get these waivers approved? I was wondering how long the process is.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And being able to purchase and maintain school buses, that's going to be a greater challenge long term
• that they need to, when they're making their procurement decisions, it needs to be a little bit more long-term
• This is a long.
• system in California.
• We strongly support, and as an individual, I am a long-term paying member of AFT Guild 1931. affiliate

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is important to focus on the greatest long-term threat to the United States, that being China.
• , long time.
• Look, when I look at the CCP, what I was alluding to was a long-term set of ambitions and clarity.
• In 2021, you wrote a piece in War on the Rocks, explaining Communist China's long-term strategy and ambition
• I would say, if anything, my appreciation for the clarity and long-term thinking of the CCP and its focus

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee