Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next up, next to sign up and ask to speak is Megan Hardy, Megan Hedi, and Dr.
• Uh, next up, uh, next to sign up after.
• Yes. >> Follow up, Mr.
• </c> &gt;&gt; we can start wrapping up. &gt;&gt; we can start wrapping up.
• coming up.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> came up in 2023. came up in 2023.
• </c> up in. up in.
• </c> to shake things up. to shake things up.
• </c> Purple Caucus in 2013. Purple Caucus in 2013.
• up.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of gas has gone up a dollar a gallon. of gas has gone up a dollar a gallon.
• up in these hearings.
• Look, I I've given up. I'm angrier. Look, I I've given up.
• Two ways wages go up. Inflation, class. Two ways wages go up.
• He has repeatedly stood up in front of audiences, stood up in front of crowds, stood up in front of the

Bills: SB4138 , HB4638

Keywords: SB4138, S. 4138, Public Law 119-80, Captain Cody Khork, Cody Khork, United States Army, Army promotion, posthumous promotion, honorary promotion, major, military honors, veterans, memorial recognition, 10 U.S.C. 1563a, notice requirement waiver, Congressional tribute

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for the liberty of love to lift us up. for the liberty of love to lift us up.
• </c> four, eight, or nine, it's rounded up. four, eight, or nine, it's rounded up.
• President, I move..." and get up for the discussion. and get up for the discussion.
• </c> take up the amendment. take up the amendment.
• </c> can of worms you don't want to open up. can of worms you don't want to open up.

Transcript Highlights:

• I invited a guest up with me, Representative Cruz.
• He needs to come up and check it up. Senator Fesi? Senator Mike, Senator Fesi. On your SCR.
• Why are the rates going up?
• They came up with a number of 250.
• I haven't been up here in a long time.

Bills: SR116 , SR117 , SR118 , SR119 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR12 , HB682 , HB766 , HB769 , HB775 , HB783 , HB824 , HB926 , HB1186 , HB1201 , HB1223 , HB1245 , HB1247 , HB1253 , HB1258 , HB221 , HCR53 , HCR62 , HCR72 , HCR58 , HB54 , HB137 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB321 , HB396 , HB512 , HB552 , HB578 , HB638 , HB663 , HB708 , HB717 , HB718 , HB1009 , HB1082 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1194 , HB1198 , HB1246 , HB1250 , SB29 , SB30 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB43 , SB47 , SB84 , SB93 , SB113 , SB192 , SB199 , SB219 , SB220 , SB221 , SB222 , SB241 , SB253 , SB255 , SB289 , SB292 , SB306 , SB314 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB14 , SB102 , SB133 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB200 , SB217 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB330 , SB449 , SB489 , SB521 , SB424 , SCR9 , SB25 , SB250 , SB348 , SB405 , SB444 , SB485 , SB35 , SB65 , SB132 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR26 , HCR45 , HCR61 , HCR77 , HCR31 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , HB23 , HB136 , HB17 , HB21 , HB51 , HB55 , HB74 , HB106 , HB108 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB168 , HB215 , HB226 , HB263 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1239 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB210 , HB220 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB36 , HB73 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB166 , HB211 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB354 , HB399 , HB677 , HB712 , HB723 , HB726 , HB728 , HB759 , HB789 , HB850 , HB956 , HB966 , HB1036 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441 , HB258 , HB842

Keywords: SR116, Senate Resolution 116, Louisiana Senate, condolences, memorial resolution, tribute, Tyler Marie Grezaffi, law enforcement, corrections officer, deputy sheriff, master sergeant, investigator, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Pointe Coupee Parish, Iberville Parish, public service, bereavement, sympathy, SR117, Senate Resolution 117

Transcript Highlights:

• While she's coming up, we were able to tour two...
• It's like there might be a follow-up. Yeah, an additional follow-up.
• It's like there might be a follow-up. Yeah, an additional follow-up.
• pull up the pre-assessments and kind of pick up where we left off.
• Yeah, in next October, what they go up to, it goes up to a little bit of a different formula, and the

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Summary: The committee held a work session on juvenile rehabilitation capacity, services, staffing, and related county and early learning issues. DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redmond described Green Hill School, Echo Glen, Harbor Heights, community facilities, and community transition services, emphasizing that JR is operating above safe capacity, that long adult sentences and limited placement options are driving overcrowding, and that staffing, programming space, contraband control, and safety are all affected. She said Harbor Heights has opened as a short-term step-down facility, a new behavior management system has reduced law-enforcement referrals and use-of-force incidents, and staffing and injuries have improved somewhat, though Green Hill remains well above its safe operating capacity. Members asked about success metrics, developmental disabilities, mental health needs, college access at Echo Glen, future capacity planning, and a proposed mental health facility; Redmond said JR is seeking additional resources and is reviewing broader capacity options, including Mission Creek. The committee then heard from Team Child and youth advocate Gisela Gonzalez about the youth perspective. They argued that success should be measured by access to education, mental health care, family connection, safety, and community reintegration, not just confinement. They said community transition services and community facilities are underused, criticized sentence extensions and new criminal referrals from JR to Lewis County, and raised concerns about limited phone and visitation access, delayed or inadequate mental health treatment, lack of college opportunities for young women at Echo Glen, and the treatment of youth with disabilities. Gonzalez described her own experiences in county and state facilities, saying she felt mistreated, undereducated, and unable to access therapy without first reporting suicidal ideation. Members asked follow-up questions about telehealth, county-versus-state services, and educational access. The final major presentation came from juvenile court administrators Christine Simon Smeyer and Judge Rachel Anderson on county-level juvenile court services. They outlined the juvenile court continuum from prevention and truancy work through diversion, detention, and community supervision, stressing that courts aim to keep youth out of detention whenever possible and use evidence-based, trauma-informed, and restorative practices. Clark County was used as an example of a court with restorative justice programming, school partnerships, behavioral health probation, detention alternatives, and specialized supports such as a psychologist, educational advocates, and family-centered services. They also discussed funding, saying county juvenile court services are heavily dependent on local dollars, with state support averaging about 21 percent across courts, and warned that recent cuts to early intervention funding reduced staffing and services even though the need remained. Members asked about detention for status offenses, supports for youth with developmental disabilities, and restorative justice practices. The meeting concluded with DCYF Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Head Start/ECAP representative Katie Warren discussing early learning and child care. Rose said Fair Start for Kids Act investments increased child care access, provider participation, and kindergarten readiness, but recent budget reductions will raise co-pays for many families, delay eligibility expansions, reduce ECAP slots, eliminate some provider supports, and cut infant and early childhood mental health consultation capacity. Warren said ECAP remains an important two-generation anti-poverty and workforce-support program, but providers are seeing children and families with greater needs and more complex challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• While she's coming up, we were able to tour two...
• Excuse me, I'm getting a little bit mixed up here.
• It looks like there might be a follow-up. Yeah, an additional follow-up.
• pull up the pre-assessments and kind of pick up where we left off.
• Yeah, in next October, what they go up to, it goes up to a little bit of a different formula, and the

Summary: The committee began with a work session on juvenile rehabilitation institution capacity, services, and staffing. DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redmond described overcrowding at Green Hill School and Echo Glen, driven by longer adult-style sentences extending past age 25, limited community placements, and small facility sizes. She said Green Hill remains above safe operating capacity, but staffing, injuries, large-scale aggression, and use-of-force incidents have improved over the past year. She also discussed Harbor Heights, a new 46-bed flex facility that had opened with 22 youth and would expand once a medical trailer arrives, as well as community transition services, vocational programming, behavior management reforms, and a request for more resources for mental health-focused facilities and staffing. Members asked about success metrics, developmental disability screening and supports, college access at Echo Glen, Mission Creek planning, and gender-responsive programming; Redmond said JR uses assessments, family involvement, and specialized living units, and that some requested funding had already been secured for returning a girls’ program at Echo Glen. The committee then heard from Team Child and the Youth Action Coalition. Greta Schultz said youth perspectives should guide system reforms and identified key concerns: overuse of sentence extensions, underuse of community transition services, continued criminal referrals from Green Hill to Lewis County, limited family contact, inadequate mental health access, and unequal education opportunities, especially for young women at Echo Glen. Justella Gonzalez, a former system-involved youth, said her time in county and state facilities was harmful, with staff mistreatment, poor education, limited therapy access, and humiliating restraint practices; she also said girls at Echo Glen lacked the same college opportunities as boys at Green Hill. Committee members asked for follow-up on county versus state experiences and on telehealth mental health services. The next presentation covered county-level services for youth involved or at risk of involvement with the justice system, led by juvenile court administrators Christine Simon-Smeyer and Judge Rachel Anderson. They outlined the juvenile court continuum from prevention and truancy work through diversion, detention alternatives, community supervision, and disposition alternatives, emphasizing evidence-based, trauma-informed, and restorative practices. Clark County was used as an example of a court that partners closely with schools and community providers, uses risk assessments and wraparound behavioral health probation, and offers detention alternatives without electronic home monitoring. They said most courts do not use detention for status offenses, but instead use court involvement to connect youth to services. They also described funding, noting that courts rely on a mix of state block grant and local dollars, and that recent cuts to early intervention funding reduced programming and staff hours. Members asked about detention for truancy, developmental disability identification, restorative justice practices, and the juvenile block grant. Finally, DCYF Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Katie Warren of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECAP discussed child care and early learning impacts from recent policy and budget changes. Rose said Fair Start for Kids investments had increased child care access, provider participation, and kindergarten readiness, with more than 60,000 children in Working Connections care and rising ECAP enrollment and provider capacity. She said recent reductions will raise most family copays in 2026, delay eligibility expansions, eliminate some expanded eligibility categories, reduce ECAP slots by about 3,000, delay entitlement timelines, and cut provider supports such as rate increases for centers, complex-needs grants, trauma-informed and dual-language incentives, and infant/early childhood mental health consultation. Warren emphasized ECAP’s role in family stability, workforce participation, and reducing poverty, and noted its two-generation approach to supporting both children and parents.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee chairs make up that committee. Yes, the tag chairs do make up those committees.
• If I could add, I almost spoke up before.
• Did you have any follow-up?
• Did you any follow-up? No, that that answers. Exactly, yes. Did you any follow-up?
• I'm a Whitman County Commissioner, so when the planning stuff comes up, that perks my ears up, too, because

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The committee heard first from the City of Ferndale and FutureWise on city annexation planning. Ferndale officials argued that Washington’s Growth Management Act leaves too much of the annexation process open-ended, which they said allows counties to approve incremental development in urban growth areas without adequate infrastructure planning, impact fees, or coordination with cities. They described Ferndale’s “annexation blueprint” or phased annexation plan as a way to set conditions for annexation up front, align capital facilities and service extensions with annexation timing, and provide clearer expectations for residents, developers, schools, and fire districts. They also urged stronger county standards in UGAs, including larger minimum lot sizes, limits on land division, and application of city roadway and impact-fee standards. FutureWise supported phased annexation planning, suggested countywide planning policy changes and financial incentives to encourage annexation, and noted that interlocal revenue-sharing and pre-annexation agreements could help address county and special-district concerns. Committee members asked about fire district revenue loss, county incentives to develop before annexation, and how to improve coordination; no vote was taken. The committee then received a primer and update from the State Building Code Council. Staff explained the council’s membership, committees, technical advisory groups, and rulemaking process, including normal, expedited, and emergency rulemaking. They outlined the current code cycle, with Group 2 proposals moving to CR-102 in August, hearings planned for November, final adoption due by December 1, and publication and implementation dates in 2026. The council also updated members on Senate Bill 5491 and the related single-exit/multiplex housing work, describing the technical advisory group process, public proposal period, and target completion timeline. Members asked about the difference between prescriptive and performance-based code approaches, how the legislature can better communicate intent in future bills, and how the council handles regional differences, especially for energy code and EV charging requirements. Council members said they are advisory and technical, stressed the importance of clear legislative direction, and noted that the council is willing to engage earlier on bills to help avoid ambiguity and enforcement problems. No formal action or vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll get you trained up.
• We'll get you trained up.
• Representative Woodson, you have a follow-up? Yes, sir. One follow-up. Thank you.
• One more follow-up. Please get that. And let me, my second question, my follow-up question.
• Purple is where that one-time policyholder surcharge kicks in, of up to 15%.

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.

Transcript Highlights:

• The math just doesn't add up.
• It doesn’t keep up with inflation.
• I think you all know that utility costs are going up and up and up throughout the state of Washington
• I think you all know that the utility taxes, the utility costs are going up and up and up throughout
• You also have 46 pages of non-speakers signed up, with 25 individuals signed up per page.

Summary: The House Finance Committee heard briefings and public testimony on several bills related to local tax authority and exemptions. HB 2559 would let cities and counties impose an additional 4% lodging/short-term rental excise tax starting in 2027, with revenues dedicated to affordable housing programs and up to 15% for administration. Staff explained existing lodging tax limits and estimated substantial local collections, while the prime sponsor and supporters argued it would give local governments a needed tool to address housing shortages caused in part by short-term rentals. Opponents, including short-term rental owners and hosts, said the tax would hurt tourism communities, reduce supplemental income for owners, and should not single out one lodging segment. The hearing on HB 2559 was suspended and later reopened for additional testimony; no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 2133, which would make permanent the property tax exemption for multipurpose nonprofit senior citizen centers. Staff said the exemption is currently set to expire in 2028 and that the bill would remove it from the automatic 10-year sunset. The sponsor and a veteran/senior center perspective emphasized that the exemption helps keep senior centers open and supports isolated older adults. A question was raised about whether a broader nonprofit community center with senior-focused space would qualify, and staff said they would follow up. The hearing on HB 2133 was then closed. HB 2135 would increase and extend the adaptive housing sales and use tax remittance for disabled veterans, raising the individual lifetime cap from $2,500 to $5,000, increasing the statewide annual cap, and extending the program’s expiration to 2038. Staff said the fiscal impact would be minimal because use is low, and a veterans coalition representative supported the bill as a way to ensure more federal grant dollars go toward home modifications. The hearing on HB 2135 was closed. The committee spent the most time on HB 2442, an eight-part local government tax and fund-flexibility bill. It would expand uses of existing REET revenues, allow cities to adopt an affordable-housing REET under certain conditions, authorize county public utility taxes with a low-income assistance set-aside, create a new local sales tax for children and family services, broaden housing-related sales tax uses, restructure mental health and veterans property tax levies, extend levy lid lift periods, and allow rental car tax revenues to be used for criminal justice purposes. Supporters from counties, cities, housing groups, and some local officials said the bill would provide needed fiscal flexibility and new tools to address housing, public safety, and service demands. Opponents from utilities, realtors, water and sewer districts, wireless carriers, auto dealers, and tax critics argued the bill would raise regressive costs, especially on housing and utility customers, and that some provisions lacked a sufficient nexus to the original taxes. The hearing on HB 2442 was closed after extensive testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I grew up on a farm, so those were things I'd do.
• You're going to end up as mayor.
• We're made up of a number of offices.
• Last week, we've seen it go up 50 cents overnight.
• And you've got to go up 60.

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee took up several agriculture-related bills and first heard a series of presentations from Louisiana 4-H and FFA student leaders. The students described how those programs built leadership, public speaking, and career goals, and members from both parties responded with personal stories about their own 4-H/FFA experiences and support for agricultural education and youth development. On House Bill 715, the committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The bill requires aerial applicators using public airports or landing fields to carry radios and transponders, with the author and members framing it as a safety measure to prevent near-misses and improve communication during takeoff and landing. On House Bill 663, the committee adopted amendments changing the composition of the Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District board, including removing certain ex officio or agricultural-related members, and then reported the bill favorably; the author said the district has evolved beyond agriculture to include economic development, energy, transportation, and grant work. House Bill 717, dealing with labeling requirements for cell-cultured food products, was amended technically and reported favorably. The author said the bill simply increases and clarifies the font size and visibility of labels so consumers can more easily see that a product is lab-grown or cell-cultured, matching seafood labeling standards. House Bill 834 on animal shelters received 23 amendments, many technical, but also substantive changes preserving local control, allowing parishes and municipalities to designate or contract with shelters, setting a three-day hold period, clarifying transfer of ownership for stray animals, and providing good-faith liability protection; after discussion with the Police Jury Association and others, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. The committee also reported Senate Bill 349 favorably, which recreates the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and Senate Bill 350 favorably, which makes a technical name change related to the Louisiana soybean association and board membership. After those votes, Commissioner Mike Strain gave a lengthy sunset-review presentation on the department’s structure, duties, boards, and programs, emphasizing its role in agriculture, forestry, food safety, animal health, weights and measures, and related regulatory and promotional functions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we are up to our host. So, President Stewart, welcome to North Dakota and to NDSU.
• We're going to be setting that up again.
• I ended up coming all the way up north to NDSU.
• I ended up coming all the way up north to NDSU for two main reasons.
• Well, our next speaker is coming up.

Summary: The committee met at NDSU and approved the April 9 minutes. The main purpose of the meeting was an informational presentation from NDSU President David Stewart and university leaders on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research, commercialization, and use of New Horizons funding. Stewart emphasized a “One NDSU” approach, thanked legislators for past support, and said the university will focus on recruitment and retention, a new strategic plan, and growing research and tech transfer while serving North Dakota’s workforce needs. University leaders said NDSU is using tuition waivers more strategically and will work to reduce them over time through scholarship optimization. Provost Sherry Vale described academic portfolio reviews, program closures or consolidations, strategic hiring, and workload policies aimed at aligning resources with demand. They also highlighted student outcomes, including high completion rates, strong employment placement, and NDSU’s role in producing a large share of the state’s engineers, nurses, and agriculture graduates. Several students testified about how NDSU’s mentoring, internships, research, and support services helped them succeed. The committee also heard from partners on New Horizons-related collaborations: Gateway to Science described K-12 STEM outreach in rural and tribal areas, and Sanford Research discussed joint research efforts, including COBRE-related work, obesity and GLP-1 studies, and a joint biostatistics hire. Later speakers highlighted Governor’s School and NDSU’s research and commercialization efforts, including growth in research expenditures and invention disclosures. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not up to you when you sell it. It's up to the company.
• And you also give up the right to determine who you're going to sell it to, and you give up the right
• I'll sell you this piece, and I'm going to own the piece next to you, but you can't ever put up a purple
• So this is another right you've given up.
• given up.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3114, which would require operating railroads in Missouri to provide digital copies of valuation and station maps to the state land surveyor for inclusion in a public repository. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help surveyors locate abandoned railroad rights-of-way and determine center lines for adjoining landowners’ reversionary rights. Committee members asked about whether the bill would apply to active versus abandoned lines, whether records still exist for older railroads, and whether a deadline should be added for compliance. Railroad testimony raised concerns about the breadth of the request, potential security and proprietary issues, and the burden of compiling historical records, while indicating a willingness to continue discussions and possibly work with surveyors on a more targeted process. The committee then heard House Bill 2298, which would remove the current exemption for electric cooperatives from the requirement that condemning entities pay 150% of appraised value in eminent domain cases. The sponsor argued that co-ops should be treated the same as regulated utilities because landowners face the same burden when transmission lines cross their property, and he cited examples where co-op offers were far below what he believed comparable utility projects would pay. Landowners and a lawyer testifying in favor described alleged unfair treatment, uneven compensation, and the impact of transmission lines on farm operations and property value, while emphasizing that the bill would simply put co-ops on the same footing as other utilities. Opposition testimony from Associated Industries of Missouri and the Missouri Electric Cooperatives argued that the bill would interfere with the cooperative model, which is member-owned and governed by elected boards, and would reduce flexibility in negotiating easements. The co-op representative said the organizations are not partnered with Grain Belt Express, that any interconnection compensation is separate from the project itself, and that most easement acquisitions are settled by negotiation rather than condemnation. Committee members questioned whether co-ops already pay comparable amounts in practice, whether the bill would affect transmission projects tied to Grain Belt Express, and how co-op governance and member oversight should factor into eminent domain policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was filling the generator up. He was filling the generator up in between these two solar panels.
• It's not up to you when you sell it. It's up to the company.
• And you also give up the right to determine who you're going to sell it to, and you give up the right
• I'll sell you this piece, and I'm going to own the piece next to you, but you can't ever put up a purple
• given up.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• A group of folk got up early this morning; I can just tell.
• I also, I had a—oh, do you have a follow-up?
• I believe Nathan has not shown up yet.
• I believe Nathan has not shown up yet.
• Allison, this is your last time up today.

Bills: SB5911 , SB5940 , SB5942 , SB5957

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: children, youth, financial stability, care services, department of children and families, housing assistance, foster care, pilot program, social services, accountability, family services, state department, child welfare, homeless youth, youth homelessness, runaway youth, young adult homelessness, housing instability, family reunification, family stability

Transcript Highlights:

• Muni will reduce service by up to one-half, eliminating up to one-half of its bus lines, of its service
• And as we are trying to look at ways to stand up and...
• And then from there, it's up to them to earn it and to stay there.
• And then from there, it's up to them to earn it and to stay there.
• There were over 9,400 Purple Heart recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• I grew up on a farm, so those were things I'd do.
• You're going to end up as mayor.
• We're made up of a number of offices.
• So let's back it up. The United States is a net exporter of oil. So let's back it up.
• And you've got to go up 60. Price went up like 60 cents in the last hurricane a few years ago.

Committees: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development , House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee took up several agriculture-related bills and heard testimony on each. HB 715 by Representative Dezotel would require aerial applicators using public airports or landing fields to carry radios and transponders for safety; after a technical amendment was adopted, the bill was reported favorably. HB 663 by Vice Chairman Travis Johnson would update the board makeup of the Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District by removing certain ex officio members and reducing the board from 24 to 23; amendments were adopted and the bill was reported favorably. HB 717 by Representative Schamberhorn would increase and clarify labeling requirements for cell-cultured food products, including a larger, more visible font size; after a technical amendment, it was reported favorably with support from committee members and witnesses. The committee also considered HB 834 by Representative McMahon, a local-control bill on animal shelters and stray animals. A large amendment package of 23 amendments was adopted, revising hold periods, ownership transfer rules, local government discretion, liability protections, and the role of nonprofit or designated shelters. Testimony from the author, Police Jury Association representatives, and Michelle Hall emphasized that the bill is intended to fix a legal gap so shelters can transfer ownership to adopters, while preserving local control and limiting liability for good-faith actions. The bill was reported favorably with amendments. The committee then heard from Louisiana 4-H and FFA student leaders, who described how those programs developed leadership, public speaking, and agricultural career goals. Members responded with personal reflections and praise for the programs’ impact on rural youth and future agricultural leadership. Finally, the committee took up sunset review legislation: SB 349 to recreate the Department of Agriculture and Forestry was reported favorably, and SB 350, a technical change to the Louisiana Soybean Association/soybean board structure, was also reported favorably. Commissioner Mike Strain then began a lengthy presentation on the department’s functions, programs, boards, and commissions, but no further action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I also want to follow up on the CHIP program.
• ,” that’s why they don’t match up.
• Follow up question, Mr. Senator Gator? No. Okay.
• It's a quick follow-up. Yes.
• And also, what happens down the line if the property increases in value or ends up, if we end up in a

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several housing finance and permitting tools. Chattanooga described its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) affordable housing program, which ties property tax abatements to the number and affordability level of units provided, using a calculator based on market rents and HUD affordability levels. Senators asked about the 15-year term, auditing, and whether the program was attracting private market-rate developers; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would include 278 units with 42 affordable units and that annual compliance monitoring is conducted. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary housing approach, emphasizing that longer 20-year exemptions helped make projects pencil out and that most recent development has clustered around light rail station areas; city staff said they will study whether the program should be adjusted further and noted the importance of the new state inclusionary housing law. The Department of Commerce and MRSC discussed tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and the CHIP program. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, parks, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, but jurisdictions should only use it when development is likely to occur and the public benefit justifies the investment. On impact fees, Commerce said fees should be proportional to the actual infrastructure demand of a project and based on capital facility plans; it also noted that fee reductions for affordable housing must be backfilled through CHIP. Senators asked for more information on CHIP funding levels, project selection, and how much of it supports affordable housing. Commerce also presented the first annual permit-timelines report under the 2023 permitting reforms, saying 2024 data showed timelines still exceeding statutory goals and that future reports will examine factors such as paper versus electronic processing and local reform efforts. Auburn and Bellevue highlighted local permitting innovations. Auburn said it has moved to fully electronic review, uses MyBuildingPermit.com, has internal performance standards, and offers a stock-plan program that can cut later review to about a week; staff said most stamped plans still require at least two review cycles and that the city is watching how middle-housing code changes affect development. Bellevue described a pilot with GovStream AI to use artificial intelligence for pre-application assistance, document triage, and plan-review support, with the goal of reducing back-and-forth and improving application quality. Finally, Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would finance, build, and manage backyard ADUs for homeowners, with the owner eventually buying out the partner; senators raised questions about rent-setting, management fees, liability, and what happens if a homeowner sells early. The committee also heard from community land trust representatives, who explained how ground leases and resale restrictions keep homes permanently affordable and allow public subsidies to serve multiple generations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Muni will reduce service by up to one half, eliminating up to one half of its bus lines, of its service
• And as we are trying to look at ways to stand up and As we are trying to look at ways to stand up and
• And sometimes it's just because of neighborhoods where you grow up.
• And then from there, it's up to them to earn it and to stay there.
• There were over 9,400 Purple Heart recipients.

Summary: The Senate first took up two budget-related transportation trailer bills. AB 107 was described as a budget junior bill making technical corrections, updating federal appropriations by about $15 million, and exempting certain Proposition 4 appropriations from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed spending; Senator Niello objected to the transparency implications, but the bill passed 28-10. AB 117 then authorized a $590 million state loan from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to provide operating support to Bay Area transit agencies, with repayment secured by transit assistance revenues and interest; supporters called it an emergency bridge to prevent major service cuts at BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain, while critics questioned ridership recovery, governance, and accountability. The measure passed 28-9 after extensive debate, with several senators emphasizing both Bay Area urgency and the need for broader statewide transit funding and reform. The Senate then confirmed two California Air Resources Board appointees. Linda Hopkins, Sonoma County supervisor and air district chair, was confirmed after brief support from Senator Becker highlighting her rural North Bay perspective. Patricia Locke Dawson, Riverside mayor and South Bay air district representative, was also confirmed, with Senator Becker again praising her academic and practical background. Both confirmations passed on largely party-line votes with broad support from the majority and opposition from a small group of Republicans. The chamber next considered SCR 89, a resolution by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas condemning federal attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs under President Trump. Supporters from both parties and multiple caucuses framed DEI as essential to civil rights, education, workforce development, national defense, and inclusion for marginalized communities, while the author argued California must resist federal rollbacks. The resolution passed after a lengthy debate and roll call, with several senators also using the discussion to share personal experiences with educational access and discrimination. Finally, the Senate took up SCR 78, authored by Senator Cabaldon, commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and warning against repeating such abuses. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, citing the injustice of Executive Order 9066, the resilience and military service of Japanese Americans, and the importance of museums and historic sites such as Manzanar and the Japanese American National Museum. The resolution was presented as both remembrance and a caution against fear-driven policies and erosion of due process.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the chair will call up Michael.
• The chair calls up Terry Hall.
• The chair calls up David Carter. The chair calls up David Carter. Thank you.
• Here we'll call up Peter Licote.
• The chair calls up Adam Greenfield.

Bills: HJR58 , HJR63 , HB263 , HB542 , HB905 , HB 1288 , HB1402 , HB2003 , HB2262 , HB2323 , HB2429 , HB2876 , HB3019 , HB263

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access