Transcript Highlights:

• …record of a request to the Department of Health or the Department of Licensing to change the gender
• By way of background, in 2021 the Legislature created the transit support grant program to provide financial
• I am the mayor of the city of Bellevue, and I am here today to speak in support of HB 1980.
• to the insurer on the vehicle title or a release of interest form provided by the Department of Licensing
• Generally speaking, these forms, the release of interest, must be notarized.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several measures. ESHB 1980 would allow private employer shuttle services to use certain BAT lanes in King County under a two-year pilot, with local authority and transit-agency approval, performance standards, fee-for-use requirements, labor input, annual reporting, and a 10-year sunset. Supporters from Bellevue, transit employers, and business groups said it would improve commute options, reduce congestion, and support the upcoming RapidRide K Line; staff noted the bill differs from prior versions by adding the pilot, labor representation, vehicle markings, and reporting. The committee then heard SB 6252, which would extend the transit support grant program’s zero-fare requirement to degree- and certificate-seeking community and technical college students. Supporters said it would improve access to education and transit, especially for older and rural students, while transit groups raised concerns about fare revenue losses and implementation costs; staff estimated no state cost but significant local revenue impacts. The committee also heard SB 6081, a privacy bill that would restrict public disclosure of sex designation change records in Department of Licensing and Department of Health records, limit sharing with other jurisdictions, and keep updated credentials from showing that a change occurred. The sponsor and many supporters framed it as a safety measure for transgender Washingtonians, while opponents argued it would undermine accurate records; staff said the Department of Licensing would face about $1 million in implementation costs over four years, with other agencies expecting minimal impacts. Finally, SB 6265 would allow electronic, non-notarized signatures and printed copies for documents transferring a totaled salvage vehicle to an insurer; the sponsor and salvage-industry witnesses said it would modernize the process and reduce hardship, and staff reported no fiscal impact. No votes or executive actions were taken; the committee closed each public hearing and adjourned after a reminder about amendment deadlines for upcoming executive session bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:15.119><c> of</c> the political and personal interests of the political and personal interests
• > sense</c><00:57:09.200><c> of</c> was reminded of that sense of was reminded of that sense of independence
• Some have been taken over by ideologues doing things that are simply not in the interest of the American
• </c><04:51:25.520><c> Maybe</c> interest of the American people.
• Maybe interest of the American people.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will not, in the interest of time, recite every report here, because the point is not the length of
• So the SPI could focus on topics that are of greatest interest to the public.
• The SPI could focus on topics that are of greatest interest to the public.
• Obviously, your authority, your power, to me, I get a lot of conflicting statements.
• Actual input, not input—an interest on behalf of the administration. Correct.

Summary: The joint Senate Education and Budget Committee hearing focused on the Governor’s proposed education governance overhaul, which would shift day-to-day management of the California Department of Education from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to a new appointed education commissioner, while giving the Superintendent new voting roles on the State Board of Education and the Community College Board of Governors. Chair Perez opened by stressing that the proposal raises major policy questions beyond the budget process and should be evaluated for its effect on students, local control, and accountability. Brooks Allen of the State Board of Education argued the change would unify policymaking and implementation, reduce fragmented authority, and create clearer accountability, citing decades of reports criticizing California’s “crazy quilt” governance structure and noting the proposal is timed for the 2026 transition. Amber Alexander of the Department of Finance outlined the fiscal and staffing transfers, describing the plan as largely cost-neutral and explaining how positions would shift between the State Board, the Department, and the new Superintendent’s office over 2026-27 and 2027-28. Sarah Cortez of the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LAO supports shifting management to an appointed commissioner but recommended several refinements: preserving legislative oversight, requiring Senate confirmation of the commissioner, clearly defining the Superintendent’s duties as a public representative/advisor/evaluator, and refining the State Board’s role to focus on major policies requiring public input. She also said the fiscal plan should be cost-neutral and more fully specified. Senators raised concerns about the timing during an election year, the constitutional status of the Superintendent, whether the proposal should instead be a constitutional amendment, and whether governance changes actually improve student outcomes or simply rearrange the org chart. Some members questioned whether the proposal would confuse voters and undermine democratic accountability, while others said the current structure is already confusing and that the reform could improve clarity for districts and local boards. The discussion also covered how curriculum is set, with LAO explaining that the Legislature has broad authority but has delegated much curriculum work to the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission. Members asked how the new structure would affect local districts, who they would call for guidance, and whether the commissioner would have authority over policy; the presenters said policy authority would remain with the State Board, while the commissioner would handle administration and implementation. No votes were taken during the panel discussion, and the hearing was organized to continue with additional panels and public comment later in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Has shared with you, and I personally, besides the financial piece of it, I think it is absolutely unfair
• of life.
• In 2024, teachers received an average of $2,000 worth of...
• just the financial part of it but the involvement of the community, knowing that people waited in line
• add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Summary: The committee heard an interim study on expanding or simplifying sales tax exemptions for Oklahoma nonprofits. Representatives Stark and Schreiber said the issue has been filed repeatedly over several sessions and framed it as a bipartisan effort to keep more charitable dollars in service of communities rather than paying sales tax. Schreiber also suggested broader tax reform or an omnibus approach rather than continuing to add individual exemptions. Marnie Taylor of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits gave an overview of the sector, describing nonprofits as a major part of the state economy and safety net, and argued that many organizations are highly regulated, under-resourced, and facing declining donations and funding. She said the current patchwork of exemptions is uneven and that a blanket or broader exemption would help organizations serving public needs. Committee members asked for sources behind some of the poverty, education, and health rankings cited in her presentation. Several nonprofit leaders testified about how sales tax affects their operations. RG Foods described the cost of opening neighborhood grocery markets in food deserts and said sales tax on a Tulsa project would divert about $85,000 from programming. Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, the Pencil Box, the Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch, and Legacy Parenting Center each explained how exemption status or the lack of it affects food assistance, school supplies, public safety equipment, animal rescue, and diapers and family support. Members asked follow-up questions about food desert definitions, budgets, and how much sales tax savings would change operations. No vote was taken in the excerpt, but the study concluded with closing remarks emphasizing that the exemption would keep more money in direct services and support the nonprofit sector statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Very, very proud of the accomplishment of our team in doing so.
• Goal number one is to get our financial statements out on time.
• That's a result of the end of ARS funding from the feds.
• Next slide Shows it's a snapshot of our financial position. Again, it's a busy slide.
• So, as agencies have taken ownership of some of this, some of these will never fill, and we're never

Transcript Highlights:

• , I'm interested to know the geographic breakdown of where the individuals are getting some of the support
• I don't remember all of them. We're happy to follow up if you're interested.
• And the last and final stage of the progressive enforcement is around financial penalties.
• to the rural providers that are interested in moving to those kinds of care models.
• If this is of interest, in the first fiscal year, the breakdown between state and local funding is 52%

Transcript Highlights:

• of children.
• 2021 and March 2023, over 13,000 cases of online financial extortion targeting minors were reported.
• </c><00:25:57.120><c> online</c> 2023 over 13,000 cases of online 2023 over 13,000 cases of online Financial
• of privacy dissemination of for invasion of privacy dissemination of materials<00:42:19.000><c> in</
• </c> aware of that provision and and some of aware of that provision and and some of the<00:46:40.800

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Chair Storm, would protect parents and prospective parents with disabilities by barring disability alone from being the sole basis for denying an adoption petition or terminating parental rights. Testimony from Judge Marcus Vanover and Crystal Adams described the bill as a product of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health and its work groups, cited Kentucky and national cases and federal ADA guidance, and said the bill would require consideration of supportive services, clearer documentation, retention of records, and conforming language changes. Senator Carroll asked how the bill would apply to a hypothetical adult child with special needs; witnesses said the bill is aimed at adoption and termination proceedings where the Cabinet is already involved, not proactive service requests. The committee approved SB 26 by a unanimous 7-0 vote and sent it to the floor with favorable expression. The committee next considered Senate Bill 64, also sponsored by Chair Storm, which would expand the definition of key infrastructure assets to include telecommunications services such as telephone lines and broadband and make damaging, tampering with, or rendering those services inoperable a Class D felony. Representatives from Charter/Spectrum and AT&T testified that copper theft and vandalism have increasingly damaged fiber and other facilities, citing more than 20 incidents in Kentucky in 2024 affecting over 30,000 customers and diverting resources from broadband expansion. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then passed SB 64 by a 7-0 vote with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Senator Julie Adams, which would create a felony offense for sexual extortion, allow victims or their representatives to bring civil actions, include the offense in Kentucky’s sex-crime definitions, and require school-based notification and education efforts along with resource information for students. Senator Adams and witness Lady T. Thompson described sextortion as a fast-growing online crime targeting minors, often through social media, gaming, and messaging apps, and argued that stronger penalties and prevention efforts are needed. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on SB 73.

Transcript Highlights:

• You got to do the 990 hours of curriculum in the high school. That's an interesting question.
• interest</c> with the additional volume of interest with the additional volume of interest that<03:43
• partnerships that allow for students that may have an interest outside of the school day.
• partnerships that allow for students that may have an interest outside of the school day.
• partnerships that allow for students that may have an interest outside of the school day.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why you made it worse. side of the aisle is interested in side of the aisle is interested in preserving
• But what is also shocking is the brazenly false statements made by the governor of California.
• But what is also shocking is the brazenly false statements made by the governor of California.
• to cover interest this year for every dollar we take in, 16 pennies of it cover interest.
• 1% interest increase. We get up to 45% of all tax receipts is just covering the interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• statements.
• of.
• That's part of the language of the bills.
• out of SB 901.
• In terms of.

Committee: Assembly Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And the third component is the financial cost of traffic crashes.
• That's strictly the financial costs, but the real and human toll of losing loved ones on the state's
• Chairman, is a statement of our priorities. We're not prioritizing infrastructure.
• of it.
• Others are outside of, you know, outside of the six-year portion of the STIP.

Summary: The committee first heard TRIP’s annual New Mexico transportation report from Carolyn Boniface Kelly, which described deteriorating roads and bridges, congestion, safety concerns, and a large transportation funding gap. The report said more than half of major roads statewide are in poor or mediocre condition, over 170 bridges are rated poor, congestion costs drivers significant time and money, and traffic crashes and road conditions impose billions in annual costs. Members broadly agreed the report underscored the need for more stable transportation funding, with several noting the state’s recurring underinvestment and the safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2, a transportation bonding and revenue package. Senator Gonzales and Governor’s office and NMDOT representatives said the bill would authorize about $1.5 billion in additional bond debt for ready-to-go highway projects, while also increasing certain motor vehicle excise, registration, weight-distance, and EV-related fees to help support debt service and transportation funding. Supporters, including contractors, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, the Department of Finance and Administration, and transportation officials, argued the bill would improve safety, economic development, project delivery, and funding stability, and help preserve federal dollars. Opponents, including the Rio Grande Foundation and some committee members, objected to the tax and fee increases, argued the state should use existing surpluses or other funds instead, and raised concerns about impacts on families, businesses, and local governments. Committee members questioned how projects would be selected, how the new fees were calculated, how EV surcharges would work, and whether local government distributions would be affected. NMDOT said the projects would be reported to the legislature annually, selected using crash data, asset management, and project readiness, but bond approval would remain with the State Transportation Commission. After debate, Representative Romero moved do pass on SB 2 as amended, Representative Hochman-Vigil seconded, and the committee approved the bill 7-2, with Representatives Brown and Dow voting no and several members expressing reservations despite supporting the need for transportation investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• part of.
• One recent publication I would like to mention that may be of interest to the legislature is State-Level
• Meaning, if a CBC had less than the mean of 50% of the child months, or the median of it—I'm not sure
• I guess that jumps to the end of some of my questions.
• of millions of dollars.

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• of professional financial experience, and somebody with one year of policy advocacy or three years of
• But I think, as you've noted in some of your comments today, you've pointed out areas of interest.
• services, and the financial aspects of that.
• of the outcomes that we are expecting to have with... the best interest of the outcomes that we are
• Given that the quality of services is an area of legislative interest, the legislature could consider

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services heard testimony on Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and related budget and trailer bill proposals, with a major focus on the impacts of H.R. 1 on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). DDS and the Department of Social Services (DSS) said H.R. 1 could affect Medi-Cal and CalFresh access, but that people with disabilities and caregivers are exempt from the work requirements; the administration is working on data matching and automation through the statewide eligibility system to identify exemptions, with June 1, 2026 as the implementation date for CalFresh changes. Witnesses and advocates warned that any loss of Medi-Cal could create fiscal pressure on regional centers and households, while public commenters described the real-life consequences of losing services. Committee members repeatedly expressed concern about cost shifts to counties and asked for harm-mitigation strategies before the May Revision. The committee also reviewed the governor’s IHSS-related proposals. DSS said the budget would set a baseline for authorized hours, align IHSS disenrollment/reinstatement with Medi-Cal eligibility processes, and eliminate the IHSS backup provider system, while emphasizing that individual service hours would still be based on assessed need. DDS said if a person loses IHSS or Medi-Cal, regional centers may have to step in as payer of last resort for some services, potentially at higher state cost. Members and the Legislative Analyst’s Office questioned whether counties could absorb the proposed shifts without reducing services, and asked for more detail on implementation, data quality controls, and how regional centers could help families navigate disruptions. A separate trailer bill on DDS rate reform and the Quality Incentive Program drew mixed reactions. DDS proposed extending a contract exemption and delaying final rate reform regulations to 2030, saying the changes are budget-neutral and needed for implementation. DDS reported that about 81% of providers had completed the current Quality Incentive Program requirements, but providers and advocates argued the 90-10 structure can function like a penalty and may destabilize services if providers lose 10% of funding. Committee members asked for clearer assistance to providers, possible flexibility for good-faith efforts, and a redlined version of the language before the May Revision. The committee also heard DDS’s proposed trailer bill on regional center governance and provider capacity. DDS said the language would consolidate regional center contracts and performance measures, strengthen board training and oversight, require consumer advisory committees, expand independent legal support, raise the threshold for board approval of contracts, and remove barriers such as physical-office requirements and duplicate vendorization. DDS said the goal is to improve accountability and efficiency while preserving person-centered services, and members indicated they wanted further refinement and stakeholder input before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• > is</c> percentage of the interest that is percentage of the interest that is earned<00:12:57.160><c
• the past couple of years as a result of the change in the interest rate environment have caused us to
• the past couple of years as a result of the change in the interest rate environment have caused us to
• </c> lot of money in it and it's interesting lot of money in it and it's interesting to<00:28:42.480>
• We are usually two percentage points ahead of the IRS interest rate at a certain period of time.

Summary: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work. Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow. Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money. On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• the state's financial accounting, reporting, disbursement, and auditing of financial resources.
• In the interest of time, also aligning our comments with the previous speakers. Thank you.
• We're going to go back to item number 11, Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
• I'm the Chief Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
• There's people who are in house because of financial distress.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will not, in the interest of time, recite every report here, because the point is not the length of
• So, the SPI could focus on topics that are of greatest interest to the public.
• Obviously, your authority, your power, to me, I get a lot of conflicting statements.
• Actual input, not input—an interest on behalf of the administration. Correct.
• We are making decisions to move forward a policy that's in the best interest of students.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> idea of the breadth of the organization. idea of the breadth of the organization.
• And then we main sources of of of loans.
• </c><01:20:04.000><c> of</c> commissioner of the Department of commissioner of the Department of Agriculture
• </c> not, this is one of the areas of corre not, this is one of the areas of corre correction.<01:25:
• So of that of time.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> public</c> was Employee of of uh twinsy public was Employee of of uh twinsy public television<00:
• of one of the um a president or director of one of the branch<00:18:18.840><c> here</c><00:18:19.240
• It provides an access point to young people in ways that are kind of fun and interesting and hands-on
• Sarah Kunesh: I don't so much have a question as I'd just like to make a statement of support for the
• </c> end of the secret war in La a theater of end of the secret war in La a theater of war<00:45:09.200

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• reading that directly, just in the interest of time.
• reading that directly, just in the interest of time.
• I know there's been a lot of discussion around new nuclear and a lot of interest there, and so that is
• <c> there</c> nuclear um and a lot of interest there nuclear um and a lot of interest there and<00:41
• of interest in the there's been a lot of interest in the small<02:08:58.199><c> modu</c><02:08:58.679

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
• House File 3826 is a BCA policy bill related to the work of the BCA financial crimes and fraud section
• limitations in the banking statutes of limitations in the banking statutes for for for financial<02:
• Roman at 2, perform a financial reconciliation of grant expenditures before final payment, with quarterly
• Roman at 2, perform a financial reconciliation of grant expenditures before final payment, with quarterly