Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Madam Chair and staff. I'm here to present EB-23.
• Thank you so much, Madam Chair and staff.
• Municipalities are seeing large-scale requests that require substantial staff time.
• We have a motion and a... of actual working days when staff are available to process requests.
• I want to thank committee staff for your work on this bill.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and first took up a large consent calendar. It moved a set of bills to the Assembly Floor consent calendar by unanimous vote, including AB 1773, 1785, 1828, 1873, 1918, 2001, 2085, 2173, 2412, 2536, 2644, and 2781, and separately approved another group of unanimous bills not eligible for floor consent, including AB 1544, 1555, 1614, 1621, 1637, 1704, 1816, 1933, 2529, 2559, 2663, and 2731. The committee then heard several individual bills, with each author describing the measure and witnesses generally testifying in support; no organized opposition was recorded on the bills discussed. Among the measures heard, AB 2393 would create fixed statutory damages for certain false imprisonment and arrest claims, while exempting peace officers, custodial officers, and public entities. AB 1697 would delay implementation of a recently enacted prohibition on employment contracts that require workers to repay employer debts if they leave a job, and AB 2534 would extend Domestic Violence Prevention Act restraining order protections to attempted forced marriages and survivors of forced marriages. AB 1608 would strengthen the High-Speed Rail Inspector General’s office by adding staffing and contracting authority, requiring public reports, and allowing limited temporary confidentiality for sensitive information; the bill drew questions from members about transparency and whether information could be withheld, but the author and Inspector General said the measure would increase accountability and only allow narrow, time-limited confidentiality. The committee also approved AB 1916, which would allow American Sign Language interpreters to participate in the same collective bargaining process as other certified court interpreters, and AB 1803, which would require anti-hate speech training as part of workplace harassment prevention training for employers with five or more employees. AB 1821 would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days, with local government sponsors arguing it would better reflect actual processing time for broad and complex requests without reducing access. AB 1919 would establish election procedures to let voters decide the future of Santa Cruz Metro service funding after a one-time grant expires. Each of these bills was moved forward on due pass votes, with some members not voting on certain measures. The committee then approved a long suspense file, and the remaining suspense bills were deemed approved without further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Madam Chair and staff. I'm here to present AB 2393.
• Municipalities are seeing large-scale requests that require substantial staff time.
• It does not of actual working days when staff are available to process requests.
• We have a motion and a of actual working days when staff are available to process requests.
• I want to thank committee staff for your work on this bill.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh did a lot of having to lay off staff.
• There are 26 adult education programs, and there's a staff of 41 overseeing that.
• There are 26 adult education programs, and there's a staff of 41 overseeing that.
• There are 26 adult education programs, and there's a staff of 41 overseeing that.
• There are 26 adult education programs, and there's a staff of 41 overseeing that.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But today we also lift up all those wonderful staff people who have lifted these individuals for years
• As we do every year, we are recognizing the committed and brilliant work of Senate staff for their 5,
• /c><00:08:54.080><c> work</c><00:08:54.880><c> of</c><00:08:55.200><c> Senate</c><00:08:55.600><c> staff
• </c><00:08:56.080><c> for</c> and brilliant work of Senate staff for and brilliant work of Senate staff
• </c> staff who work as session only. staff who work as session only.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I would like to thank you, Madam Speaker, and the Speaker of the House and his staff, the Chair
• of Ways and Means, the Speaker of the House and his staff, the Chair of Ways and Means, and his staff
• I'd like to thank my staff of election laws, my chief of staff, Aaron Walsh, Karen Rooney, My chief of
• staff, Aaron Walsh, Karen Rooney, and Matt O'Brien for their hard work as we navigate this important
• And certainly to my staff who have dug into these issues that, quite frankly, are pretty common.

Summary: The House first suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition naming the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse to the Judiciary Committee. It then took up two Ways and Means bills on election integrity: House Bill 76, renamed House Bill 5093, to protect against election misinformation, and House Bill 846, renamed House Bill 5094, to enhance disclosure requirements for synthetic media in political advertising. Supporters said both bills were a response to AI-generated deepfakes and misleading election content, emphasizing transparency, disclosure, and protection of voters without banning political speech. Opponents argued the measures could be overbroad and raise First Amendment concerns, especially for smaller campaigns and organizations. House Bill 5094 was amended to exempt certain broadcasters and streaming services when paid to air materially deceptive election-related communications, and a separate amendment to move Massachusetts primaries earlier was rejected 131-25. Another amendment narrowing the bill’s scope was also defeated 145-12. After debate, House Bill 5094 passed to be engrossed by a vote of 153-3. House Bill 5093, which prohibits deceptive AI use in the 90 days before an election, also passed to be engrossed after debate and the defeat of amendments. The House also passed several engrossed local bills to enact: a Rockland charter amendment, a Williamstown senior property tax exemption measure, and a Rochester bill allowing continued employment of Fire Chief Scott Royal. Later, the House rejected Senate amendments on a teacher preparation and student literacy bill, declined concurrence, and appointed a conference committee. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Quincy public servant Arthur Tobin before adjourning until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I would like to thank you, Madam Speaker, and the Speaker of the House and his staff, the Chair
• The Speaker of the House and his staff, the Chair of Ways and Means and his staff, my vice chair, the
• I'd like to thank my staff of election laws, my chief of staff, Aaron Walsh, Karen Rooney, My chief of
• staff, Aaron Walsh, Karen Rooney, and Matt O'Brien for their hard work as we navigate this important
• And certainly to my staff who have dug into these issues that, quite frankly, are pretty common.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're looking forward to talking with the Senator and staff about the effort.
• We're looking forward to talking with the Senator and staff about the effort.
• amazing staff—and all of them really had a hand in this bill, really focusing on making sure that those
• way to not only think about all of the problems that exist in our rural communities, but with our staff
• , our problems that exist in our rural communities, but with our staff, our amazing staff, and all of

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first considered CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, presented by Senator Graal. The bill addressed three areas: child welfare workforce shortages, higher-acuity children in out-of-home care, and services/data for commercially sexually exploited children. It would create a CPI and case manager recruitment program aimed at former public safety and service workers, convene a workforce work group, establish a four-year treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits identified by DCF based on removal and placement data, and require more detailed, extractable child-level data on commercially sexually exploited children along with a bed capacity study and service gap analysis. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified record retention for redacted assessments, and another attached the appropriation. The committee then heard CS/SB 110 on rural communities from Senator Simon. The bill proposed a broad rural development package, including a state office of rural prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for counties with declining populations, increased housing support, major rural road funding, school consortium funding, and additional health care resources for rural facilities and training. A delete-all amendment was adopted that expanded and refined several provisions, including local sales tax trust fund distributions, county connectivity projects, agritourism marketing support, disaster-impacted rural infrastructure eligibility, insurance and provider eligibility changes, and increased funding for critical access hospitals and rural medical education reimbursement. Both bills drew broad support from local government, education, health care, housing, and rural advocacy representatives. Supporters said the rural bill was especially comprehensive and would help small counties, schools, roads, housing, and health care, while one witness cautioned that road expansion should be balanced with protection of agricultural and natural lands. Senator Bradley and Senator Simon emphasized local control and the importance of strengthening rural Florida without imposing mandates. CS/SB 7012 and CS/SB 110 were both reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a quorum, so I would like the committee staff to establish a quorum real quick, and then we'll
• SB 991 gives Community Care Licensing staff the language and the tools they need to accurately report
• Thank you to my entire staff for coming and offering their support to this bill on my first hearing.
• This building is nothing without our amazing staff. So thank you. Any in opposition?
• We have our final committee member here, and with that, I will turn it back to committee staff to open

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That wouldn't be able to happen without the amazing staff that encouraged me.
• And that happened with her encouragement to say give grace and thanks to your staff.
• /c><00:02:40.640><c> thanks</c><00:02:40.959><c> to</c><00:02:41.080><c> your</c><00:02:41.280><c> staff
• </c> give grace and thanks to your staff. give grace and thanks to your staff.
• so that we can about the overall staff so that we can grow<00:03:39.120><c> in</c><00:03:39.280><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll get a staff report and then have Senator Peterson tell us about it.
• Audrey Vasek, staff to the committee.
• For the record, Serena Dolly, staff to the committee.
• Staff report.
• Any questions for staff?

Summary: The committee heard three housing-related bills. SB 5937 would regulate smart access systems in rental housing by requiring landlords, on tenant request, to provide non-biometric and non-app-based alternatives such as physical keys, key fobs, or key cards, and by adding privacy-policy and data-minimization requirements for smart access systems. The bill’s sponsor and a tenant testified in support, describing concerns about app-based entry systems tracking movement and collecting personal data. The Washington Multifamily Housing Association testified neutral, saying the bill had been improved through stakeholder work and amendments that allowed privacy-policy links and delayed implementation until January 1, 2027. The hearing on the bill was closed with no vote taken. The committee then heard ESSB 5156, which directs the State Building Code Council to allow smaller elevators in apartment buildings up to six stories and 24 units and creates a technical advisory group to review certain elevator safety requirements. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill would reduce elevator costs, improve feasibility for small multifamily and middle-housing projects, and increase accessibility and age-friendly housing. The National Elevator Industry opposed the bill’s harmonization language in Section 2, paragraph 2, warning it could create ambiguity, multiple standards, and litigation, but said it would be neutral if that language were removed. Other industry and housing advocates supported the measure as a way to lower costs and expand housing supply. No action was taken during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard SB 6237, which would require landlords to disclose flood risk information to tenants for leases entered into after December 31, 2026. The disclosure would note whether a property may be in a flood hazard area, where tenants can find county flood information, and that the landlord’s insurance does not cover tenants’ belongings. The Washington Multifamily Housing Association testified neutral, saying the bill had been narrowed to a more manageable disclosure and that removing a requirement to recommend flood insurance addressed concerns about landlords acting as insurance advisers. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the chair announced the committee would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• All technical and conservation work has been carried out by the Commission staff, who have reported to
• All technical and conservation work has been carried out by the Commission staff, who have reported to
• With this merger, those staff now have a broader organizational chart to look for opportunities to grow
• Retain the seasoned and experienced Soil and Water Conservation Commission staff that have bought into
• Retain the season and experienced solar water conservation commission staff that have bought into the

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we have staff please provide summaries on the bill scheduled for executive action, including the
• While they're busy working, they may not have sufficient staff to help create this while they're working
• I want to thank our wonderful staff.
• It's all the support of staff. It's all the support of staff.
• It's all the support of staff, so I thank you very much. And can we give a round of applause?

Bills: HB2272

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:09.879><c> and</c> is also means more trained staff and is also means more trained staff and
• We need more beds, but we also need more staff.
• </c><01:28:10.920><c> qualification</c> outdated staff qualification outdated staff qualification requirements
• </c> for tracking evaluating staff for tracking evaluating staff competencies<01:31:12.600><c> Regional
• </c> recruiting and training competent staff recruiting and training competent staff the<01:39:12.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> staff injuries. staff injuries.
• That's like one patient to one staff, or two staff to one patient, or even three staff to one patient
• The staff were punched.
• How would we even staff it?
• staff it? Because all I hear every time staff it?

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:05 25 RS HB 534 - AN ACT relating to actions for forcible entry and detainer: 00:01:45 25 RS SB 111 - AN ACT relating to juvenile justice: 00:23:46 Children's Advocacy Centers of Kentucky: 01:13:26 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment in State and County Correctional Facilities: 01:25:28, 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the September 18 minutes and then heard testimony on House Bill 534, which would automatically seal dismissed eviction filings and protect youth from public disclosure in forcible detainer cases. Rep. Susan Tyler Whitten and George Ecklan of the Coalition for the Homeless said the bill is aimed at reducing housing barriers for Kentuckians, especially those with dismissed cases, while preserving landlords’ rights to pursue rent, collections, damages, and other legal remedies. They said the proposal was developed with input from landlords, clerks, judges, AOC, and service providers, and noted that similar laws exist in other states. Several members, including Sen. Neimes, Rep. Deetsz, Rep. Cole Carney, and Sen. Thomas, expressed support while emphasizing that the bill is narrowly tailored to dismissed cases and should not affect legitimate landlord claims; Sen. Wheeler raised concerns about cases involving settlements or delays and whether future landlords should know about them. The sponsors responded that the bill only covers dismissed actions, that dismissals require a judge’s order, and that the goal is to remove barriers created by records that remain publicly visible even when a case is resolved. The committee then took up Senate Bill 111 on juvenile justice. Commissioner Randy White, Kentucky Hospital Association President Nancy Galvanny, and Dr. Clark Lester of the University of Kentucky said the bill would require a secure state-run facility for youth with high-acuity mental health needs in detention and, until that is built, create a process with incentives for private hospitals to provide inpatient treatment with safeguards and increased compensation. They argued that detention is not an appropriate setting for severely mentally ill, violent youth and that private psychiatric hospitals often refuse these referrals or discharge them early. Dr. Lester cited recent referral data showing high denial rates for juvenile justice youth in private hospitals in August and September, often due to aggression, and described a case in which repeated placement attempts failed because of violent and self-harming behavior. The presenters said the bill is intended to fill a service gap and improve safety and outcomes for youth, staff, and hospitals, but no vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The police station did not have enough staff to help provide transportation.
• </c> Board of civil legal aid and um staff Board of civil legal aid and um staff who<00:37:16.160><c>
• Good afternoon, Senators, committee staff. Thank you for your time.
• We also have staff attorneys.
• </c> foundations um we have our staff foundations um we have our staff attorneys<01:36:42.920><c> serve

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> form in the Senate language and so staff form in the Senate language and so staff to<00:12:52.320
• </c><00:15:30.880><c> the</c><00:15:31.279><c> the</c> and staff has uh recommended the the and staff
• c> house</c><00:18:41.919><c> language</c> Um staff recommends the house language Um staff recommends
• ><c> is</c><01:15:54.400><c> that</c> my understanding from staff is that my understanding from staff
• Uh it was a staff provision. Uh it was a staff recommendation. recommendation. recommendation.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education. After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed. During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you need any further accommodation, please communicate with the sergeant staff.
• </c> communicate with the sergeant staff. communicate with the sergeant staff.
• I have absolute respect and appreciation for these staff members.
• </c> and appreciation for these staff and appreciation for these staff members.<00:25:51.600><c> However
• </c><00:53:19.680><c> to</c> secure building allows library staff to secure building allows library staff

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair, committee, and staff.
• Thank you, Chair, committee, and staff.
• DYD is uniquely... ...management, even if their staff is.
• They have a lot of management staff.
• They just don't have enough staff, Assembly Member.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nope, I appreciate staff for giving us the recap of the bill. Thank you very much.
• support staff who directly contribute<00:15:24.160><c> to</c><00:15:24.320><c> the</c><00:15:24.440>
• Different types of support staff as well, from counselors to social workers, because they really help
• Student Support Personnel Aid was created as a targeted stream to address a serious deficit in staff
• </c><00:29:01.519><c> that</c> address a serious deficit in staff that address a serious deficit in staff

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• meetings on at least the House majority research staff and the House majority policy staff.
• and the House majority policy staff.
• Oh, and I need to let staff say that I need to—I didn't mention this, see, and as we all know now, staff
• Oh and I need to let staff said that I need to I didn't mention this see and as we all know now staff
• Seeing none, I think staff described this well.

Keywords: 1182, all