Transcript Highlights:

• counter at retail establishments such as gas stations, tobacco retailers, and small markets with no age
• Retailers and small markets with no age restrictions.
• This bill would eliminate all cost-sharing mechanisms. ...and respectful opposition to AB 298.
• This bill would eliminate all cost-sharing mechanisms such as co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance
• for in-network services provided to individuals under the age of 21 enrolled in a large-group plan.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a veteran, and I was an educator for 27 years before retiring in August 2021 at the age of 58.
• have had to delve deeper into our retirement to pay for the cost of health care before Medicare at age
• So in effect, this applies to childless adults age 19 to 64.
• I will say that there are some major impacts to state financing mechanisms that we rely on to fund the
• We do have a particular ongoing concern for those that age out of the CCS program at age 21 and what

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill as amended increases the mandatory retirement age for members of the State Police Retirement
• </c> participation in DROP until reaching age participation in DROP until reaching age 62<00:15:32.760
• So if, um, it’s the mechanical rapid fire.
• So if, um, it’s the mechanical rapid fire.
• It is the mechanical rate of fire. >> That's correct.

Transcript Highlights:

• An enforcement mechanism is essential to ensure manufacturer compliance with this legislation.
• An enforcement mechanism is essential to ensure manufacturer compliance with this legislation.
• Section 7 redefines the word child to include adults up to the age of 21.
• To include adults up to the age of 21.
• Body piercing is limited to specific ages, and you have to have parental consent for that.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5828, which would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending private, not-for-profit four-year institutions. Staff explained the bill would set the awards at 90 percent of the regional and state college rate rather than 50 percent of the research rate, with an estimated fiscal impact of $3.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and $18.6 million over four years. Testimony was largely in support from private college presidents, students, and school counselors, who said the bill would help low-income and first-generation students and preserve access and enrollment choices; some public college student representatives said they did not oppose the bill but argued that cuts to public-school aid should be restored first. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which would prohibit DCYF from using benefits or funds of youth in extended foster care as reimbursement for their cost of care beginning in 2027, while requiring support for benefit management and payee arrangements and allowing protected accounts such as ABLE accounts. Staff estimated a net fiscal impact of $608,000 in fiscal year 2027 and $2.2 million per biennium thereafter. Testimony in support said the bill would end the practice of withholding SSI and other benefits from youth in care and better support disabled youth transitioning to adulthood. Members asked questions about fiduciary responsibility and representative payee arrangements. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It adopted Amendment Clark 350 to House Bill 2689, raising the required provider response rate for the child care market rate survey to 65 percent, and then reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 18-11, with two excused. It adopted Amendment H-3743.1 to Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on retrospective prior authorization denials and reported that bill out unanimously. It also adopted Amendment Pool 272 to Senate Bill 5420 and reported that bill out unanimously. For Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5496, the committee adopted several amendments clarifying scope and penalties but rejected amendments that would have delayed the bill or replaced it with a study; the bill was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard amendment briefings on other bills, including 5981, 6026, 6160, 6184, and 6211, but deferred action on some items heard that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. radiators, and install a new mechanical radiators, and install a new mechanical system<00:
• ,</c> renovations to the mechanical, renovations to the mechanical, electrical<00:17:57.520><c> and</
• This project will replace the existing mechanical sludge handling system with four basins installed at
• sludge handling system with mechanical sludge handling system with four<00:32:38.399><c> basins</c><
• wax water treatment plant and the aging wax water treatment plant and the purchase<00:35:29.200><c>

Summary: The committee first approved the November minutes and received information items on University of Kentucky medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts reporting upcoming bond issues with no additional tax levies needed, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues for fiscal year 2026. It then considered an appropriation increase for a University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. University officials said the project is 100% federally funded and will construct a terminal building tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school. Members asked about the relationship to aviation expansion and whether the flight school would be publicly operated; the witnesses said EKU would operate it, public appropriations had already been applied, and student revenue would help offset costs. The committee approved the item by roll call vote. Next, the committee approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for property at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead, Rowan County, for $6.4 million. UK said the property, which includes an 85,000-square-foot facility on 9.6 acres, is directly across from UK St. Clair and was offered by the Rowan County Board of Education after it moved to a new location. Members questioned why the payment schedule was structured as quarterly installments and why the price was below two appraisals; UK said the board requested the arrangement and did not want the full amount upfront, and there was no interest on the purchase price. The committee also approved this item. The deputy state budget director then reported three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Ballard Wildlife Management Area pump station project, Lake Barkley State Resort Park emergency repairs, and Lake Barkley lodge wing exterior repairs. After questions, staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies because bids came in close to available funding. The committee approved the action items, then heard four no-action pool projects: HVAC upgrades at the FFA leadership training center in Hardinsburg, Kentucky School for the Blind’s McDaniel Scoggin building, KSD’s Brett Brady Hall, and a Kentucky State University Shanty Hall renovation for the School of Engineering Technology. Finally, the committee heard two real property items: a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the high per-square-foot cost and whether another county location could be used; CHFS said it maintains offices in every county seat, this lease would replace an existing 1977 office, and the new construction was negotiated down from a higher initial bid. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing space, with renovation costs partly absorbed by the lessor and the remainder amortized over the lease term.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even brief but engaging exposure to government rights, responsibilities, and politics from a young age
• And we’ve noticed that actual civic engagement should start at a younger age.
• And we’ve noticed that actual civic engagement should start at a younger age.
• This is a crisis in every age group in our country, in our state, and it's why the voters did approve
• Even at my young age, I knew this was not my responsibility, but it was for the school.

Summary: The Senate and Assembly Education Committees held their annual joint hearing with the California Association of Student Councils and SABLE, where student delegates presented policy ideas developed over two days. Committee members repeatedly praised student voice and noted that several past student proposals had become law. The hearing began with opening remarks from legislators and student organizers, who emphasized the importance of civic participation and the value of hearing directly from students. The chair also reviewed hearing rules and explained that the panels would be treated as peers in a formal policy discussion. The first panel proposed an annual civic engagement day for grades 7-12, with flexible activities such as mock elections, civic fairs, Socratic seminars, and public comment practice. Members asked about costs, grade-level flexibility, voter registration, and how the proposal would fit within existing curriculum time. The second panel proposed amending Education Code Section 35012 to require at least one student board member in every unified and high school district, with expanded training and motion rights. Legislators supported the concept but raised technical concerns about fiscal impact, the need for odd-numbered boards, the scope of motioning authority, and whether districts would need reimbursement if the mandate became statewide. A third panel proposed adding middle school financial literacy instruction by embedding it into existing classes, with curriculum and teacher training developed over time by state agencies. Members questioned how it would fit into adopted materials and whether the state should wait until the new high school financial literacy course is fully implemented before designing middle school instruction. The fourth panel proposed expanding restorative justice by creating a CDE task force and authorizing PPS-certified staff to use restorative justice training materials in discipline processes. Senators discussed prior legislation, confidentiality concerns in closed-session hearings, and the fiscal cost of a state task force, while expressing support for stronger restorative practices. The final panel proposed more active mental health education through short, twice-semester classroom sessions for grades 7-12 focused on coping skills, time management, and awareness of resources. Assemblymember Castillo and Senator Cortese questioned whether teachers and counselors could effectively deliver the program, whether it would duplicate or overburden existing efforts, and whether wellness centers or student-led awareness efforts might be more effective. Committee members generally agreed the topic was important but were skeptical that another curriculum mandate was the best solution, and no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a Deputy AG in the Office of Legislative Affairs for AG Rob Bonta, the sponsor of the bill.
• Arrest rates drop to about 2% in people ages 50 to 65 years old, which is the age range at issue related
• Nothing has changed about the science of aging and the science of aging out of crime that justifies rolling
• And I would agree that at age 60, a lot of those arguments apply; at age 50, between 50 and 60, not as
• It allows the AG to take full charge of any investigation or prosecution if the AG doesn't feel as though

Summary: The committee heard several bills, though no final votes were taken because a quorum had not yet been established. SB 493 by Senator Becker would add war or armed conflict to California’s price-gouging emergency triggers, with the author and supporters arguing it would protect consumers from gas-price spikes tied to international conflict. Opponents, including business and housing groups, warned the bill could over-trigger emergency powers and create broad, ongoing price controls. The chair indicated support for an aye-as-amended recommendation once quorum was reached. SB 1056 by Senator Grayson would require protective orders for disclosure of sexually explicit material involving adult victims in specified criminal cases. Denise Huskins-Quinn and Aaron Quinn testified in support, describing how sensitive evidence in their case was copied and handled without adequate safeguards; supporters said the bill would extend privacy protections similar to those already used for child sexual abuse material. Criminal defense attorneys supported the goal but raised concerns about notice procedures and how the bill would apply when material is in the public domain. The chair said the bill filled a gap in existing law and would receive an aye recommendation. SB 1208 by Senator Grayson would let law enforcement seize and return crypto assets used in scams and fraud to victims. The Attorney General’s office and law enforcement groups supported the bill as a tool to recover losses from transnational crypto fraud, while the ACLU and public defenders argued it lowered the burden of proof, raised constitutional concerns, and could be misused against unbanked or low-level defendants. The chair nevertheless said the bill aligned with existing law for stolen property and would be recommended aye. SB 874 by Senator Weber-Pearson would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, including requiring background checks for employees of providers and convening a stakeholder workgroup; it drew support from the California Association for Behavior Analysis and no opposition was heard. Later, SB 1266 by Senator Stern would change how the value of stolen copper and related infrastructure damage is calculated, aiming to address copper theft and its costs to cities and utilities. Supporters said the bill would better capture the real harm from thefts that disrupt streetlights, telecom, and emergency services, while opponents argued it would inflate charges, turn many misdemeanors into felonies, and increase court and incarceration costs. The author said he would continue discussions and accept the amendments. Senator Cervantes presented SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County sheriff and coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner; supporters cited in-custody death concerns and conflicts of interest, while opponents said the problem was not unique to Riverside and that the bill would override local control. Cervantes also presented SB 1418 to extend ballot-custody protections to other election records and equipment after a Riverside County ballot seizure, with support from the Attorney General’s office. Finally, Senator Blakespear began presenting SB 936 on nitrous oxide misuse, describing public health, impaired-driving, and disposal concerns, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the question isn't who's the AG.
• who's the AG, isn't who's the AG, the<00:35:48.360><c> question</c><00:35:48.800><c> is</c> the question
• </c> do you want to fund the mechanisms do you want to fund the mechanisms necessary<00:35:52.720><c>
• It doesn't matter who the AG is.
• </c> matter who the AG is. matter who the AG is.

Bills: HF4338

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• 13 to 21, with my four kids, now ages 13 to 21, via<01:09:08.400><c> trips</c><01:09:08.640><c> to</
• Um, as you know, our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is aging, and the cost of replacing
• </c> source and whether it's this mechanism source and whether it's this mechanism or<01:19:51.760><c
• Where we have concern is with the proposed funding mechanism, the plastic bottled excise tax.
• Where we have concern is with the proposed funding mechanism, the plastic bottled excise tax.

Bills: HF3793 , HF3699 , HF793 , HF3322 , HF3426

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment extends the qualifying ages from 18 to 26, but keeps the maximum at five years.
• It also changes age qualifications for the PESS programs.
• It also changes age qualifications. vulnerable children while maintaining strong safeguards.
• It also changes age qualifications for the P-E-S-S programs. That's so important for me.
• So we make very clear that this is only with regard to those who are under 18 years of age.

Bills: S0560 , S0590 , S0778 , S1010

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered four bills. SB 590, by Sen. Bradley, would toll the statute of limitations for failure to report suspected child abuse by mandatory reporters until the offense is known to law enforcement; an amendment clarified retroactive application for offenses not already time-barred by the bill’s effective date. Sen. Bradley said the bill is intended to ensure accountability in institutional abuse cases and not to change the reasonable-suspicion reporting standard. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 778, by Sen. Simon, which would update the definition of forensic client so certain individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed for incompetency can be housed with other Chapter 916 residents, reducing duplicative staffing and space needs at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Barney Bishop appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably without amendment. SB 560, by Sen. Garcia, would streamline procedures for psychotropic medication prescriptions for children in DCF custody, reduce duplicative background checks and reporting, and simplify consent documentation. Amendments removed language allowing licensed clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists to serve as evaluators and narrowed changes to the Road to Independence Program’s postsecondary education services and supports, extending eligibility ages from 18 to 26 while keeping the five-year cap. Senators discussed the fiscal impact and funding blend for the education stipend. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 1010, by Sen. Yarbrough, which adds criminal and civil enforcement for violations involving sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures for minors and related parental-rights provisions. An amendment clarified that the civil action authority applies to minors and that damages benefit the affected minor. Public testimony was heavily divided, with supporters saying the bill enforces existing protections and opponents warning it would chill care, counseling, and school-based support for transgender youth. Senators Harrell, Sharief, and Rouson raised concerns about vagueness, standing, and impacts on teachers and health professionals; Sharief voted no, while the bill was still reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• could not exceed those of other ag facilities.
• First, it removes the current provision in law which allows solar facilities by right on ag land, and
• So as part of decommissioning, going back to ag land, is there anything in the bill, or does the bill
• So if you decommission a plant, it defaults back to ag, is what you're saying in the bill.
• And now we have thousands of acres of ag land with a..." "...life, and now we have thousands of acres

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The committee began by postponing SB 1742 on condos until the following week, then took up SB 1298 on building construction. Senator Simon said the bill would require continued education for long-licensed building professionals, clarify interagency sharing of building officials, limit residential inspectors to one- and two-family homes, revive a paid internship for residential planning examiners, modernize permit signatures, and clarify contractor responsibility when work changes hands. The bill drew supportive waivers and was reported favorably. Members then considered SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms. A delete-everything amendment was adopted to target bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations, while preserving direct restaurant-platform relationships and requiring consumer contact information when reservations are made through noncontractual platforms. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the measure, and CS/SB 940 was reported favorably. SB 638 on home inspectors also passed after the sponsor explained it would raise education requirements from 120 to 200 hours, add instruction on building code, wind mitigation, four-point and insurance inspections, and require $300,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage; it was reported favorably. The committee next approved SB 960 on elevator accessibility, allowing additional shorter support rails while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was amended to address mRNA language and cosmetics safety standards, with the committee adopting amendments and then reporting the bill favorably. SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was amended to clarify the definition of heated tobacco products and exclude other forms such as hookah; it also passed favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees. Finally, SB 1262 on construction contracting was amended to add contractor continuing-education topics, strengthen penalties for unlicensed activity, create a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and require timely refunds and project completion standards; it was reported favorably with support from the Florida Home Builders Association. SB 1304 on solar facilities was then approved after extensive testimony from rural county commissioners and local officials who argued that utility-scale solar on agricultural land has grown without sufficient local oversight and that decommissioning rules are needed to protect farmland and communities. The bill would repeal the current by-right treatment of solar facilities on ag land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances; it was reported favorably after a technical amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it gets a younger crowd moving toward those products at an earlier age, so when they get to the
• What is the age, Representative, for someone to buy this product? Is it the same as alcohol, 21?
• You know, but what I guess is if somebody of age doesn’t buy the product, the underage has no chance
• It is a felony if you let a child under the age of 18 use this product. I mean, I do agree with Mr.
• I'm curious, so you use this kind of as a mechanism to attract business and fill up empty buildings that

Summary: The committee first took up HB 294, the Cannabis Product Packaging Regulation Act, with a committee substitute. The sponsor and Regulation and Licensing Department said the bill would tighten cannabis packaging rules to reduce appeal to minors by limiting colors, materials, and design elements, while allowing some color for warnings and approved logos; the substitute also addressed misbranding and third-party manufacturing liability. Public testimony was split: cannabis industry representatives and related businesses argued the bill would create major packaging costs, waste inventory, hurt small businesses and tertiary industries, and was better addressed through education, safe storage, and stronger enforcement; supporters from public schools, state police, and a cannabis company said the bill would help protect children and make violations easier to identify. Committee members debated whether “reasonably appealing” should be defined in statute or rulemaking, whether packaging changes would actually reduce youth access, and whether stronger penalties or warning labels would be more effective. The committee adopted the substitute and advanced HB 294 on an 8-3 do pass vote. The committee then heard HB 298, as amended, which would create a 50% state income tax credit for maintaining or replacing existing short-line railroad track, capped at $5,000 per mile, after an amendment removed a proposed credit for new rail and reduced the fiscal impact. The sponsor and railroad representatives said the measure would help preserve and improve short-line infrastructure that supports mines and other customers, while committee members asked about the amendment, the scope of the credit, and why the state should be involved in what they viewed as a local economic development tool. The bill drew no opposition in testimony and passed unanimously, 10-0, as amended. Finally, the committee considered SB 58, which would extend the property tax abatement period for metropolitan redevelopment areas from seven years to up to 14 years, with flexibility for shorter terms under the Senate amendment. Supporters from the City of Albuquerque, Realtors, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce said the change would improve project feasibility, attract investment, and help revitalize blighted areas; the sponsor explained that MRAs are locally designated redevelopment districts and that the longer abatement period reflects current construction costs and project timelines. Committee members asked about which areas qualify, how abatements work, why the state sets the term, and whether local governments could do this on their own. The bill passed on an 11-0 do pass vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It should be age-gated. Stuff should be kept behind the counter.
• We've been good at age-restricted products for decades.
• This is the mechanism that we have in the state that was approved by the voters.
• So now we should create a complete other mechanism... ...voters.
• There's nothing to stop them from selling that to any person of any age whatsoever.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> federal level but there is no mechanism federal level but there is no mechanism for<00:05:19.120
• </c> accreditation was to get that mechanism accreditation was to get that mechanism of<00:05:24.479>
• I'm going to ask us to sort of keep our focus in the ag land.
• I'm going to ask us to sort of keep our focus in the ag land.
• I'm going to ask us to sort of keep our focus in the ag land.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• It's clearly in the public interest to have homes at every age and every era of construction reduce fuels
• There are other questions with the legality and the mechanisms in the bill, such as the requirement of
• Most of those children were under the age of two.
• So I would prefer to keep it just DA and AG.
• But to put the responsibility on the AG to have to do all these cases is just not realistic.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We just don't have the mechanism to allow these businesses to come into our city.
• I respectfully ask you to vote in favor of age 5445. Thank you. Thank you, Rep. Mayor. Thank you.
• We just don't have the mechanism to allow these businesses to come into our city.
• It also provides a mechanism for consumers to find out when their products will stop receiving support
• 51 14 age 51 30 age 54 25 age 54 45 age 54 65 age 54 61 one.

Bills: S3082 , S3090 , H5425 , H5130 , H5114

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills, with testimony heard both in person and remotely. The committee reviewed several measures, including H. 355 and S. 3082 on veterinary telemedicine/telehealth, H. 5445 on additional liquor licenses for East Hampton, and S. 3090/H. 5114 on consumer-connected devices and software support disclosure. The chair outlined hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and written testimony submission, and noted that Lawrence High School students were present to observe. On the veterinary bills, supporters of H. 355 argued that allowing veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship remotely would improve access to care for pets whose owners face transportation, mobility, or anxiety-related barriers, and could help veterinarians continue practicing through telemedicine. Opponents of S. 3082, including the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and several veterinarians, said the initial in-person exam is essential to detect conditions that cannot be seen on video, avoid misdiagnosis, and preserve the standard of care; they emphasized that teletriage and follow-up telemedicine are already used after an in-person relationship is established. Committee members pressed both sides on the distinction between teletriage and establishing the relationship, the timing of annual exams, and whether limited exceptions for sedatives or other pre-visit needs might be workable. Senator Lovely testified in support, citing a recent Lyme case where follow-up telemedicine would have been useful. On H. 5445, Representative Gomez and East Hampton Mayor Salem Derby urged approval of the bill to authorize eight additional liquor licenses, saying the city has reached its current cap, needs economic development, and wants to support downtown revitalization and new restaurant growth. Members asked about public safety and the number of licenses sought; the mayor said local public safety officials support the request and that the licenses would be for restaurants, not bars. On S. 3090 and H. 5114, consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts supported requiring manufacturers of connected devices to disclose software support timelines, arguing it would improve consumer transparency, cybersecurity, and reduce e-waste. Industry groups opposed the bills, saying fixed disclosure requirements could be impractical, create confusion, burden small businesses, conflict with federal efforts, and be difficult to apply to appliances, lighting, and other products with long lifecycles. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; at the end, staff announced a forthcoming poll for House members, and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why do you know what happened in the mechanics? Why weren't they removed?
• Where we are in the mechanics of sessions. Thank you for your inquiry, lady. Absolutely.
• Not in this modern age.
• I'm out of Ag. It came through Rules, I believe, unanimously.
• I'm not in the ag area like you are. Just educate me on that paragraph.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are proven mechanisms, including manure haul-out, that have shown promising results.
• This mechanism ensures that tax relief will help deliver the greatest benefit to those in need while
• In today's digital age, access to standardized data is crucial for efficiency, transparency, and ease
• What I mean by that is that Korean and Vietnam veterans are aging out. then there'll be less and less
• Despite our central roles, ESDs are excluded from this stable and proven funding mechanism.

Bills: HB485 , HB1367 , HB1370 , HB1827 , HB1879 , HB2032 , HB2133 , HB2357 , HB3581 , HB3830 , HB4060 , HB4085 , HB4270 , HB4979 , HB5217 , HB5268 , HB5478 , HJR96 , HJR97 , HJR119 , HJR195 , HJR209 , SB4 , SB23 , SJR2 , SJR85 , SB 4 , SB 23 , SJR 2

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the founder, president, and CEO of the Aging and HIV Institute, and I'm a person aging with HIV.
• I'm the founder, president, and CEO of aging and age. My name is David Jacks Kelly.
• I'm the founder, president, and CEO of Aging and HIV Institute, and I'm a person aging with HIV.
• We have seen this in the California State Plan on Aging and the Master Plan for Aging.
• The master plan for aging aims to help us afford aging, yet our...

Summary: The Select Committee on Older LGBT Californians held an inaugural hearing focused on the health care and support needs of older LGBTQ Californians, including older adults living with HIV and transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex seniors. Committee members and state officials discussed the California Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide survey of LGBTQIA older adults, and the need to address discrimination, social isolation, housing insecurity, economic instability, and gaps in culturally competent care. Several speakers emphasized that older LGBTQ adults often lack traditional family caregiving supports and may face vulnerability in nursing homes or other institutional settings. Testimony from advocates and people with lived experience highlighted the impact of federal actions, including H.R. 1, on Medi-Cal, housing, and benefits, and called for stronger state action, outreach, and navigation services. Justice in Aging urged more investment in home- and community-based services and warned that Medicaid cuts could increase institutionalization. The Department of Aging described its survey findings and said it had convened a lived-experience advisory board, updated data tools, and incorporated HIV as a factor in local aging plans under SB 258, though members pressed for clearer implementation and accountability. CalHHS described coordination across departments, Medi-Cal coverage of gender-affirming care, PACE, and other services, while the Department of Public Health outlined Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP programs serving older adults with HIV. The hearing also featured extensive testimony from people aging with HIV, who described fragmented systems, benefits cliffs, housing costs, and the need for legal and case-management support. One witness urged funding for HIV-specific housing and navigation services, while another described how case management and safety-net programs help clients manage medication, food, transportation, and housing needs. In the final panel, the Department of Social Services reviewed protections for TGI seniors in licensed care facilities, including SB 219, nondiscrimination notices, resident rights postings, required staff training, and complaint investigations. No formal votes were taken; the chair repeatedly asked departments to follow up on implementation gaps, data visibility, and possible budget or policy responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:51.000><c> out</c> required to help kids who are aging out required to help kids who are aging
• I noticed reporting mechanism.
• </c> reporting mechanism in here. reporting mechanism in here.
• age of 18. 18. 18.
• Senator Westrom: Right now, an eviction notice is if the age is not known or under the age of 18, the

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety