Transcript Highlights:

• of free, prior, operates on the system of free, prior, and<00:29:34.560><c> informed</c><00:29:34.880
• ><c> systems</c><00:47:24.000><c> of</c> We're operating on broken systems of We're operating on broken
• </c><01:09:09.920><c> of</c><01:09:10.160><c> the</c> juggle child care at odd hours of the juggle child
• </c><01:52:43.320><c> their</c> cases losing 30 to 40% of their cases losing 30 to 40% of their operating
• This was a seismic shift that erased 30% of our operating budget.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the cost of the loan in what is called a dealer fee.
• We've had a lot of conversations with a lot of members of the committee and with the author, and we look
• I think that's one of the reasons why you have a lot of folks to a neutral position.
• of potentially inhibiting.
• of these things.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we will defer parts of the rest of the questions to the Department of Social Services.
• We've done a lot of webinars, office hours, and provided online resources focused on strategies to maximize
• I want to echo some of the sentiments of the Chair.
• I mean, all of those different things that come with... ...making a child care slot available and operational
• This would increase the amount of time that a provider could be absent from 20% of the hours per day

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittees on early childhood education heard a broad review of the Governor’s child care and preschool budget proposals, with testimony from the Department of Finance, the Department of Social Services (CDSS), the California Department of Education (CDE), and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). The main topics were cost-of-care-plus and COLA adjustments, the California State Preschool Program, child care slot reductions tied to federal and Proposition 64 funding changes, disaster recovery grants for child care facilities, trailer bill proposals on family fees and absences, prospective pay, and several budget change proposals for departmental staffing and licensing. Officials also discussed the state’s transition toward an alternative methodology for setting rates based on the true cost of care. On rate reform, CDSS and CDE said the current reimbursement system remains below the alternative methodology in many counties and that providers continue to struggle with recruitment and retention. The LAO recommended aligning cost-of-care-plus increases across provider types, while CDE urged that any COLA be added to base rates rather than cost-of-care-plus payments because providers view the latter as less ongoing. CDSS said the next alternative methodology update will be developed with a contractor during fiscal year 2026-27, with public engagement and legislative input, and estimated that fully transitioning to rates informed by the methodology would take about 24 months once policy and funding are in place. CDSS also said the direct-service cost of care under the methodology was estimated at about $18.7 billion in a July 2025 report. A major point of contention was the proposed reduction of 4,167 child care slots due to lower federal CCDF funding and reduced Proposition 64 revenue. CDSS said it expects to absorb the reduction through unspent funds and relinquishments so currently enrolled children are not disrupted, while the LAO supported the reduction as a way to avoid worsening the structural deficit. Members strongly objected to the slot cuts, arguing the administration has repeatedly proposed reductions after prior budget agreements and emphasizing the economic and family benefits of child care. The committee also discussed preschool enrollment trends, including growth in three-year-old enrollment and a sharp increase in two-year-olds served under a temporary provision, with CDE warning that the temporary two-year-old authority expires in 2027. The committee also reviewed an $11.5 million Proposition 64 proposal for child care infrastructure grants for facilities impacted by 2025 state disasters, especially the Los Angeles fires, and members asked for trailer bill language to make the funds flexible for repairs, equipment, insurance, and permitting. On trailer bill items, the panel discussed codifying family fee reimbursement rules, defining excessive unexplained absences to allow disenrollment after prolonged nonuse, and expanding temporary provider absences; CDSS said the absence policy is meant to mirror federal CCDF rules, while CDE said it is already pursuing its own rulemaking. The hearing also covered prospective pay, with CDSS and CDE saying they are waiting for final federal guidance before moving ahead; LAO said the state could save ongoing costs if the federal requirement is rescinded. Finally, the committee reviewed staffing and support budget requests for CDSS and other implementation items, and held several items open for further discussion before the May Revision. Public comment overwhelmingly urged full funding for child care slots, true cost-of-care payments, and ongoing support for early education programs and county offices of education.

Transcript Highlights:

• operations and levies, and then just some of our priorities as we look to this session. in a property
• and levies and then just some operations and levies and then just some of<00:02:41.400><c> our</c><00
• <c> of</c> governments and the state of of of governments and the state of of of Highways<00:04:30.759
• </c><00:05:25.120><c> us</c><00:05:25.680><c> as</c> You wouldn't actually think of us as operating that
• </c><01:02:45.240><c> employees</c> to four hours of a person's of employees to four hours of a person's

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for, if you'll forgive an analogy here, for induced seismicity operations, this is kind of like
• And so there's a lot of requirements that the operators are to do when there's an event.
• We just had our first 24-hour operations-centered exercise in GOSEP for probably at least 10 years.
• And we've never had a 24-hour operation where we're testing the ability of the Louisiana Office of Emergency
• rewrite of their emergency operations plan.

Summary: The committee met on May 26, 2026, and first approved the minutes from the May 22, 2025 meeting. The main topic was the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with testimony from Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy staff, LSU and Tulane geoscientists, and later LSU law professor Keith Hall. Witnesses said the cause of the swarm has not been definitively identified, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection or hydraulic fracturing remains a concern. They described 50 earthquakes reported by the USGS in Red River, Bienville, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Parishes, including a magnitude 4.9 event on March 5, 2026, and explained that Louisiana’s sparse seismic network limits detection and depth/location estimates. C&E said it inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the events, found no violations, now requires more frequent injection reporting, and is working with researchers and LSU on a possible state monitoring network and future policy changes. Committee members asked about injection depths, fault locations, whether the activity could be natural, and whether Louisiana should adopt stronger monitoring or a traffic-light regulatory system like other states. The witnesses said more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, but that denser monitoring can detect smaller quakes and help identify patterns. Professor Hall summarized responses in other states, including more frequent reporting, increased monitoring, injection reductions, moratoria, and traffic-light systems in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. Members also discussed whether operators should share more seismic and geologic data, and several said the state should avoid jumping to conclusions while still improving oversight. The committee then heard from William Berger, a Texas geoscientist, who described using AI and operator data to model wastewater injection and seismic risk, and said broader data sharing would improve forecasting and siting decisions. He and another witness emphasized that many earthquakes arise from clusters of wells rather than a single well, and that proprietary concerns limit voluntary disclosure. The committee also received a brief update from GOSEP and the Louisiana National Guard on the Barksdale Air Force Base drone incursions. GOSEP said it logged the incident in WebEOC and shared releasable information, while State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose. Officers said a task force has been formed, some personnel have received federal drone-mitigation training, and House Bill 940 is intended to mirror the task force MOU. Finally, Major General Thomas Friloux and Brigadier General Jason Maffus updated the committee on the merger of GOSEP into the Louisiana Military Department. They said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, brought back employees to in-person work, modernized the state’s common operating picture, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance through staffing and contract changes. They also noted the planned transfer of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, ongoing hurricane preparedness, and continued coordination with parish emergency managers. No votes were taken on the substantive topics, and the meeting ended with the committee moving through its agenda items and receiving informational testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of 0.9%. of 0.9%.
• Initially, she was hired to do things like continuity of operations plans and policy planning, but unfortunately
• </c> level of hostility and the number of level of hostility and the number of threats<00:12:49.200><
• of reports I have heard are examples of of reports I have heard before. before. before.
• Don't know what was happening in those final hours, but to leave your branch out of those talks, um,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You and I probably have different operational definitions of emotional distress.
• You and I probably have different operational definitions of emotional distress.
• And it's saying on line 8, a person commits the offense of operating a commercial motor vehicle.
• So to my point, it says right here in the underlying bill, an operator of a commercial motor vehicle.
• Page one, line two and three: 'An operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall be able to read and speak

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She has produced 100 hours of television, including on American Masters, Biography, American Experience
• But those of us who were part of that class of 2019...
• requiring an operator of a social media platform to ensure the social media platform provides a streamlined
• [cheering] at the hour of 7:17...
• At the hour of 7:17 p.m., with both the House of Representatives and the Senate being in agreement and

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• leader that operates. by Derek Swartz, Vice President of Operations at Aramark, the global food services
• operations of our supervised self-checkout stations at Fenway Park.
• I serve as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations for TD Garden, and on behalf of TD Garden
• I serve as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations for TD Garden, and on behalf of TD Garden
• I'm the owner and operator of Rubber Duck Tech Repair in Greenfield.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 452, a right-to-repair bill for agricultural equipment. Farm Bureau and several manufacturers’ representatives opposed the bill, arguing that existing memorandums of understanding already provide farmers access to parts, diagnostics, and repair information, and warning that broader software access could increase emissions tampering and safety risks. Supporters, including repair advocates, a legislator, and a farmer representative, argued that the MOUs are not binding, that farmers need enforceable repair rights to avoid costly delays during critical harvest periods, and that owners should be able to repair equipment they bought without dealer lock-in. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills to limit or eliminate “grab-and-go” alcohol sales at large venues, including House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 225. Union workers from Fenway Park and the TD Garden described self-checkout alcohol kiosks as creating public safety and compliance problems, including underage access, over-serving, theft, and difficulty monitoring intoxication in crowded settings. They said workers are often understaffed and bear discipline when violations occur. In contrast, the Boston Red Sox and Aramark defended the supervised self-checkout model, saying it speeds service, is widely used, and operates with multiple layers of supervision, training, and regulatory oversight; they said they had not received violation notices and that any incidents are isolated. Senator Edwards also testified in support of House Bill 369, aimed at restricting marketing of certain harsh cosmetic products to children, and in support of the grab-and-go bill. She argued that children should not be targeted with products containing toxic chemicals and that alcohol service should remain supervised by trained staff to protect consumers and jobs. Senator Collins and other legislators also spoke in favor of restricting grab-and-go alcohol service, citing concerns about underage drinking and overconsumption. The hearing additionally included a separate bill on Sunday morning alcohol service, with Representatives Scanlon and Lewis arguing for allowing sales beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays rather than 10 a.m., but that bill was only discussed briefly and no action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Smola of Warren, formerly of Three Rivers, moved that the House stand and recess till the hour of 1 p.m
• The House stands in recess till the hour of 1 p.m. Mr.
• You're saying to the working-class taxpayers of this Commonwealth, the folks working 40 hours a week
• Substance Addiction Services and $8.1 million for operation of homeless programs.
• Question hours on the bill of being engrossed pending with Mr.

Summary: The House first handled a series of routine actions from the Committee on Rules, including adoption of several congratulatory resolutions and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to allow petitions to proceed, including a Hingham land transfer petition and a veteran rental assistance bridge program petition. The Ways and Means Committee then reported out several bills, including a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill, a bill on hot work/fire safety regulation, a free expression/library bill, a bill on ownership and maintenance of certain culverts and dams, a Walsh-Kennedy Commission implementation bill, and a Billerica land transfer for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path. Each was advanced through second or third reading, with the House adopting committee amendments and ordering the bills to third reading or engrossment as appropriate. The most extensive debate centered on S. 2726, an act regarding free expression, which would address book challenges in public and school libraries, require reporting of challenges, protect age-appropriate materials, and establish review procedures. Supporters argued the bill protects intellectual freedom, librarians’ professional judgment, and access to books amid rising censorship efforts; opponents raised concerns about parental rights, local control, and exposure of minors to explicit material. Several amendments were offered and voted on, including one to strike a criminal-law protection, one to streamline the school review process, one clarifying that challenged material is considered in its entirety, and one narrowing who may initiate complaints to parents or guardians; some were rejected and others adopted. The bill ultimately passed to be engrossed by a 151-3 vote. The House also took up H. 5491 implementing the Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendations on hot work safety after the 2014 Beacon Street fire. Members emphasized firefighter safety, certification and training requirements, stronger penalties for violations, and public notification of violations; the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously. The supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill, H. 5493, covering snow and ice costs, no-cost calls, substance use services, homeless programs, and several outside sections, also passed after amendment votes. Finally, the House enacted two local bills on Holyoke City Council special meetings and the Reading town charter, and then adjourned to meet the next day in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Smola of Warren, formerly of Three Rivers, moved that the House stand and recess until the hour of 1
• The House stands and recesses until the hour of 1 p.m. Mr.
• You're saying to the working-class taxpayers of this Commonwealth, the folks working 40 hours a week
• Substance Addiction Services and $8.1 million for operation of homeless programs.
• Question hour on the bill being engrossed pending with Mr. Jones of North Reading.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill relative to the safe operation of motor vehicles, House No. 3748.
• An act relative to the safe operation of motor vehicles, House No. 3748.
• An act relative to the safe operation of motor vehicles, House No. 3748.
• Bethune of Spencer now moves that the House stand in recess until the hour of 1 p.m.
• The proposed Palmer Renewable Energy Biomass Facility would operate right in the heart of my district

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• high operational costs of coastal districts.
• , and they must also absorb the added operational cost of maintaining insurance that is far more expensive
• Members, the changes made in the substitute reflect many hours of work with our office and with the stakeholders
• The fine will start accruing 48 hours after a principal or superintendent becomes aware of the misconduct
• Will start accruing 48 hours after a principal or superintendent becomes aware of the misconduct.

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The Committee on Education K-16 heard testimony on SB 1635, which would give certain coastal, recapture-paying school districts a credit against recapture payments for mandatory windstorm and hail insurance costs. Senator Hinojosa said the bill is intended to offset unusually high insurance expenses for districts in Tier 1 or Tier 2 coastal zones, and he estimated about a $12 million impact to state revenue. Witnesses from Port Aransas ISD and Gregory-Portland ISD described sharp premium increases, reduced coverage, higher deductibles, and the effect on teacher pay and classroom spending. Senators asked about the number of affected districts, the accuracy of the fiscal estimate, and whether the bill might encourage districts to maintain coverage. Public testimony was closed and SB 1635 was left pending. The committee then took up several other bills and committee substitutes, adopting and reporting favorably SB 2786, SB 2623, SB 646, SB 843, SB 2392, SB 1998, SB 1418, SB 2788, and SB 2076, with most votes unanimous or near-unanimous. SB 2392 was amended to add improper relationship between educator and student to mandatory reporting offenses and to authorize an attorney general civil penalty for failure to report. SB 2623 was revised to clarify duties and exemptions related to the Safe Schools and Neighborhood Task Force and school proximity restrictions. SB 843 would create a TEA database of school district bonds and related projects, and SB 2788 would exempt certain PSAT scorers from the Texas Success Initiative assessment. The committee also heard SB 2929, which would allow referees and other officials at school athletic events to immediately eject disruptive spectators. The Texas Association of Sports Officials testified in support, citing abusive spectator behavior and a shortage of officials. SB 2929 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard a substitute for SB 2927 on 1882 partnerships and a substitute for SB 2619, which would require more transparency and accountability for failing school districts, superintendent hiring, trustee training, and takeover timelines. Testimony on SB 2619 was mixed, with one witness from Texas 2036 supporting parts of the bill’s accountability provisions. The committee adopted the substitute for SB 2619, left it pending, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• fiscal side of it.
• Many of you have said on various committees with me have heard me ask many times about inner operability
• Is it going to be part of a system systemwide approach that's really going to be in or operable and integrate
• >> Because of many of the operations of the state court system, we are usually asking questions about
• We're not part of that.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• safety of officers working in sensitive undercover operations that are vital to communities, security
• They are in operation, sometimes for a couple of years, and there is no threat because nobody knows who
• Then, by operation of procedures, the bill dies. Sorry, bill is held. Thank you. The bill dies.
• of the length of the sentence.
• My son was one of multiple victims, identified in one of the largest perverse cases of sexual abuse of

Summary: The committee heard AB 82, which would expand privacy and safety protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care. The author and supporters said the bill is needed because of rising harassment, doxing, and threats, and because sensitive health data could be used by hostile actors; opponents argued it would create constitutional problems, enable abuse of safe-at-home protections, and improperly shield providers and records from scrutiny. Public testimony was heavily divided, with many advocates in support and many privacy, civil liberties, and anti-trafficking or sex-based policy groups in opposition. The bill was moved on a due pass recommendation and remained on call. The committee then heard AB 331, which would clarify that county election certification is a ministerial duty, prohibit misleading ballot return envelopes, and require voter information guides to be delivered to jails in an acceptable format. The Department of Justice and several good-government groups supported the measure, the Secretary of State had no position after amendments, and a committee member noted ongoing concerns but supported it after the changes. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1178 followed, proposing to protect undercover peace officers’ names, images, and likenesses in public records while preserving disclosure of sustained misconduct records. Law enforcement and public safety groups supported the bill as a needed safety measure, while journalists, transparency advocates, and civil liberties groups opposed it, saying existing law already protects officers and the new language could lead to overbroad withholding. After discussion about the scope of undercover status and the need for judicial discretion, the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar. Later, AB 981 was heard, creating a five-county pilot program requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for certain reckless driving convictions. Supporters, including traffic safety advocates and crash victims, said the bill could reduce repeat speeding and save lives; opponents raised concerns about cost, installer oversight, liability for automakers, and the breadth of the pilot. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 22, which would repeal Proposition 57 and restrict release of sexually violent predators and certain sex offenders, drew strong opposition from youth justice, public defender, and civil liberties groups who said it would be unconstitutional and harmful; the chair recommended no, no motion was made, and the bill was held. Finally, AB 897, a squatter-removal bill, was presented with the author arguing it would protect property owners through a faster due-process process; the transcript cuts off during early support testimony and does not show a final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please welcome two of the leaders, Chris James, the chief operations officer, and Carlos Hernandez, the
• of the state of New Mexico.
• But if they do, they can have the option of having full-time 24-hour service.
• It can have the option of having full-time 24-hour service. Thank you for that, Mr.
• Eunice is going to look and say we found operations. Eunice in the next couple of years.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need a legal structure that matches the operational reality of disaster response.
• Private treatment providers have long operated under different sets of expectations than their public
• The $14 million we received allowed us to maintain operations during a period of dangerously low cash
• Nearly 45% of our hospitals operate at a deficit.
• workers have been held at part-time hours just out of reach of coverage.

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost and complexity of permanent construction has pushed too many operators out before they even
• I've spent the last 15 years of my career managing, owning, and operating small, multi-tenant retail
• If it took you 10 hours because of whatever reason, I'm going to give you the 10 hours and the other
• If it took you 10 hours because of whatever reason, I'm going to give you the 10 hours and the other
• Given the hour, I won't reiterate all of the important points that the author outlined.

Summary: The committee heard several local government-related bills, with testimony focused on permitting, transportation funding, EV infrastructure, and commercial revitalization. AB 1578 by Assembly Member Jackson would require elected local and state officials to take anti-hate speech training through existing sexual harassment training. Supporters said elected officials should understand the impact of their words on hate and democracy; opponents argued the bill lacked a definition of hate speech and could chill protected speech, especially around sex-based issues. AB 2083, also by Jackson, would authorize a regional child care special district serving Moreno Valley and Paris to expand child care facilities and programs for five years. The California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions opposed the bill’s mechanism but said it was working with the author. AB 1693 by Assembly Member Suber would streamline retail tenant improvement permits by extending a process similar to a prior restaurant permitting law, with qualified professional certification and tighter local review timelines. It drew broad support from retail, business, and property groups and no opposition. Assembly Member Gonzalez presented AB 1679, which would create a temporary commercial activation permit for pop-up businesses to operate in vacant storefronts for up to 120 days. Supporters said it would help fill vacancies and lower barriers for small businesses; there was no opposition, and the bill advanced. Gonzalez also presented AB 2418, which would set timelines for nonresidential plan checks and inspections and allow private plan checkers after excessive delay. Business groups supported it as a way to reduce costly delays, while local government groups had no position but continued discussions with the author; the bill advanced with amendments. Assembly Member Shevlin presented AB 1820, which would cap local permit fees for EV charging installations and create a statewide fee schedule. Supporters said fees vary too widely and can deter charger deployment, while cities and counties argued existing law already requires reasonable cost recovery and that the bill could undercut local budgets and public safety review. Assembly Member DeMaio presented AB 1783, which would prohibit state and local mileage taxes or road user charges. Supporters framed it as a defense against a new tax burden, while opponents said studying road user charges is necessary to address declining gas tax revenue and future transportation funding needs. AB 1693, AB 1679, and AB 2418 were moved forward with motions and roll calls; AB 1783 was taken up with a motion and roll call left open, and AB 1820 remained under discussion at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The only kind of people who are going to these homes are maybe family members for a few hours or nurses
• his point of view.
• Kirk, the fundamental piece in this is the right of freedom of speak. in this is the right of freedom
• of speech.
• King, do they have a right of freedom of speech?

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Committee on Government heard and advanced several bills. SB 1479 would require photo identification for certain documents recorded at county recorder offices, add identifying measures for notarized real property documents, and increase the penalty for knowingly submitting a false claim or forgery related to real property from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony. Testimony from a deed fraud victim, county assessors, the Attorney General’s office, and an online notary representative emphasized the bill’s role in preventing deed fraud; the chair also said he would run a floor amendment to tighten the ID-recording provisions. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1479 a due pass recommendation. SB 1473 would prohibit counties and municipalities from capping the number of residents in assisted living homes, restricting such homes on residentially zoned property, or requiring extra administrative documents based solely on resident count. Supporters from the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association and a Paradise Valley operator said local occupancy reductions from 10 beds to 6 could force closures, worsen the shortage of senior care beds, and undermine affordable residential care; members discussed parking concerns and the growing need for assisted living. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1473 a due pass recommendation. The committee also considered SB 1663, which creates a Freedom of Speech Monument Committee to nominate two deceased individuals each year for the Freedom of Speech Monument and allows placement of a monument in the governmental mall. After limited testimony, including one opponent, the committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill. Finally, SB 1686, which would rename Wesley Bolin Plaza the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza and authorize memorials for Charlie Kirk and Don Bowles, drew extended debate and an unsuccessful amendment to separate the Charlie Kirk and Don Bowles provisions. After testimony for and against, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1686 a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Physicians spend an average of 13 hours each week completing prior authorizations instead of caring for
• One call takes our unit offline and out of our response area for two hours or longer.
• public entities operating this for the good of the consumer.
• The cost and complexity of permanent construction has pushed too many operators out before they open.
• The cost and complexity of permanent construction has pushed too many operators out before they open.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1887, which would speed prior authorization for FDA-approved rare disease treatments prescribed by specialists and, if a plan does not act within 30 days, deem the request approved. The author and supporters, including patients and clinicians, said delays can cause irreversible harm, hospitalizations, and death, especially for children and people with progressive rare diseases. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill’s automatic-approval provision and said the measure lacked safeguards for incomplete requests and shared responsibility for timely information. The chair encouraged continued work with opponents, and the author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier version that would have waived prior authorization entirely. The committee also heard AB 1979 on artificial intelligence in health care, AB 2161 on Medi-Cal work requirements, AB 539 on extending approved prior authorizations, AB 2311 on physician employment at public hospital districts, AB 1148 on banning phthalates and bisphenols in food packaging, AB 1825 on mental health offender reentry coordination, and AB 2282 on a temporary emergency stabilization unit in Patterson. AB 1979 would preserve licensed clinicians’ professional judgment, bar AI from directing unlicensed clinical functions, and protect medical records used by consumer chatbots; after amendments, several hospital, medical, and industry groups moved from opposition to neutral. AB 2161 would limit the harm of federal Medi-Cal work-reporting rules by using existing data, improving notices, and protecting due process; it drew broad support from patient, provider, and advocacy groups. AB 539 would keep prior authorization approvals valid for up to one year or the course of treatment, with supporters citing continuity of care and opponents warning about utilization, fraud, and cost concerns. AB 2311, as amended, would let certain high-payer-mix or distressed public health care districts directly employ physicians; CMA withdrew opposition after the bill was narrowed, while some hospital interests still objected to the carve-out. AB 1148 would prohibit two chemicals commonly used in food packaging, with supporters citing cancer and endocrine-disruption risks and opponents arguing DTSC should handle the issue through its existing regulatory process. AB 1825 would improve transition planning and Medi-Cal enrollment for offenders with mental health disorders leaving state hospitals, and AB 2282 would authorize a temporary rural emergency stabilization care unit in Patterson until a permanent hospital is built. Several bills were held for later action because the committee lacked a quorum, and the chair repeatedly noted that motions would be taken once enough members returned.