Transcript Highlights:

• For comparison, 120 terabytes of standard-quality video would consist of 10 to 50,000 hours of material
• and potentially trade in tens of thousands of hours of CSAM, then the state arguably has a responsibility
• They started to do that, and we had additional hundreds of hours of tape to watch.
• We got the body cam, and now we have thousands of hours of body cam to review.
• The example I gave of over the 10,000, 50,000 hours of footage, that's not every case.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. AB 837 by Assemblymember Davies would add ketamine transportation to existing drug trafficking law; supporters, including district attorneys and peace officer groups, said it would address a growing and dangerous drug trend, while opponents argued increased penalties do not reduce drug supply and can worsen health harms. The bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote and sent to Appropriations. AB 352 by Assemblymember Pacheco would make threats against judges and court commissioners an aggravating factor in sentencing; judicial and law enforcement groups supported it as a response to rising threats, while ACLU and criminal justice advocates said existing law already covers threats and the bill is unnecessary. It also passed to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 938 by Assemblymember Bonta, which expands vacatur and affirmative-defense relief for survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, including for some violent offenses. Survivors and advocates testified that the bill would allow people coerced into crimes to tell their full stories and seek relief, while district attorneys and sheriffs warned it could sweep too broadly and affect public safety. The chair and several members strongly supported the measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 475 by Assemblymember Wilson would make prison work assignments voluntary and is tied to a broader effort to remove involuntary servitude language from the state constitution; supporters framed it as a rehabilitation and dignity issue, while one member objected to the premise and cited the defeat of a related ballot measure. The bill was voted out to Appropriations but left on call pending additional votes. Assemblymember Lowenthal presented AB 704, which would allow people convicted of low-level offenses before age 26 to petition to seal and destroy records after a waiting period. Supporters said the bill addresses the limits of expungement in the digital age and recognizes young adult brain development; prosecutors and police groups raised Brady/disclosure concerns and objected to treating 18- to 25-year-olds like children. The committee debated those issues at length before sending the bill to Appropriations. Lowenthal also presented AB 812, which would expand resentencing opportunities for incarcerated firefighters who serve on conservation fire crews; supporters emphasized rehabilitation, wildfire response, and reduced recidivism, and the hearing continued with support testimony and the start of opposition testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was just curious because it seems like that's a core part of the operation of that of that entity to
• me. you know of the operation of that of that entity to me you know you get your employees you get your
• a little less latitude at the hour of 8 p.m. now.
• And they operate... ...for the benefit of the St. Louis area.
• orphanage operating in the city of St.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The House Budget Committee met with a quorum and began by taking up a series of budget bills and committee substitutes, including House Bills 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, which were laid over. The chair then walked members through a committee amendment package, explaining a mix of technical corrections, fund swaps, and adjustments involving highway patrol fringe costs, summary budget timing, rural health care, the CCBHO FMAP correction, and marijuana-fund reallocations. Members adopted the chair’s decrease amendments and later adopted the corresponding increase amendments, including partial restoration for Care to Learn, a Title I grant language change, an Overpass and Seymour road project, technical corrections for DPS and health-related items, and restorations for Jordan Valley and FQHC substance abuse funding. After a brief recess for session and lunch, the committee returned to House Bill 2 and began considering member amendments. On House Bill 2, the committee adopted Representative Lewis’s amendment making the curriculum transparency and parent portal item a pilot program, and Representative Davidson’s amendment adding $2 million in federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds for One-Time Wonder School. Representative Steinhoff’s attempt to shift funding from Missouri Star Solutions and WorkKeys to the Success Ready Student Assessment failed, as did Representative Taylor’s proposal to move $1.2 million from career ladder to community college nursing programs. The committee then rejected Representative Steinhoff’s attempt to redirect Title I Innovation and Improvement Grant funds back to the governor’s recommendation, and later adopted Representative Steinhoff’s vocational rehabilitation amendment, which restored the department’s request and drew down additional federal matching funds. The committee also adopted Representative Hyne’s language amendment to allow flexibility between the MOQPK pre-K grant program and the Child Care Works tri-share program, though members discussed concerns about cross-bill flexibility and whether funds would actually be available. Representative Fogle’s amendment to require budget communications sent to committee chairs to also go to the full Budget Committee was defeated after members expressed concern about information overload and the difference between required distribution and requested information. The committee then took up a lengthy debate over Representative Fogle’s amendment to remove language barring Parents as Teachers participation for children already enrolled in public pre-K. Supporters argued the programs serve different purposes and that families should not be forced to choose between them, while opponents said the language was intended to prevent duplication of services and preserve resources for children without other options. After extensive discussion, the amendment failed. The committee continued with additional House Bill 2 amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on the remaining items.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who is inside the heart of the earth, inside the life of the sky, and inside the soul of heaven.
• of life.
• This bill discusses increasing the speed limit by five miles per hour for towed implements of husbandry
• And it discusses increasing the speed limit by five miles per hour for towed implements of husbandry.
• So they've got some pieces of equipment that require a 30-mile-an-hour speed limit and some of them that

Transcript Highlights:

• So under operating, we have had to make, we did have to transfer out $9.9 million of operating.
• our summer EBT activities were actually on the operating line instead of the grants line. ...we transferred
• EBT activities were actually on the operating line instead of the grants line.
• I want to give you an example of one, like, for instance, in the walking campaigns, in the zero-hour
• I'm the director of clinic operations.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3729, the House bill relative to the safe operation of motor vehicles.
• An Act relative to the safe operation of motor vehicles, House No. 3748.
• An Act relative to the safe operation of motor vehicles, House No. 3748.
• Bethum of Spencer now moved that the House stand in recess until the hour of 1 p.m.
• The proposed Palmer Renewable Energy Biomass Facility would operate right in the heart of my district

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters, including adopting a resolution recognizing the work of Ukraine Forward and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a number of petitions. The chamber also scheduled several bills for later consideration, including measures on unemployment insurance for fluctuating work schedules, the Medical Society mission statement, a youth training wage, bridge and intersection namings, handicapped parking fines, public-way safety, excavation restoration, motor vehicle safety, and a Newton police age requirement. Two engrossed local bills were passed to be enacted: one authorizing retired police officers as special police in Plainville and another allowing Orange to increase its Board of Selectmen membership. The main policy debate centered on House No. 5151, An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness. Supporters described it as a broad affordability and clean-energy package that would cut costs for ratepayers, reform Mass Save, speed clean-energy procurement and interconnection, return a portion of alternative compliance payments to customers, and address biomass and other energy issues. Opponents argued the bill relied too heavily on long-term programs and new administrative structures while offering little immediate relief, and raised concerns about costs being shifted to consumers, impacts on natural gas, and the pace of implementation. Several amendments were debated and rejected, including proposals to shift public benefit charges away from peak hours, pause public benefit charges for a year, require greater utility disclosure before rate increases, and add a forest-clearing penalty for solar development. One amendment to the energy bill was adopted: a consolidated amendment that included budget-billing consumer protections for gas customers, requiring notice and conservation recommendations when usage rises significantly. The House also adopted an amendment to a separate conservation-restriction bill for Hanson, changing a figure in the underlying law, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. The energy bill’s consolidated amendment passed by roll call, while several other amendments failed by roll call votes. The House observed multiple moments of silence honoring Jaden Booker, Thomas Skip Karam, former Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott, and former Representative and Senator William Q. “Biff” McLean, Jr.

Transcript Highlights:

• of life?
• Department of Agriculture operates Wildlife Services under a memorandum of understanding with the Animal
• the mechanics of the budgeting process the only because of the mechanics of the budgeting process.
• They've done a great job of, I mean, think of someone in a check station in the early morning hours or
• the late night hours, all alone out in the middle of nowhere.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard reports from the House and Senate Health and Welfare chairs on budget issues and related policy concerns. Senator Van Orden said the department’s non-Medicaid budget had been presented and that members were focused on scrutinizing public health contracts, avoiding broad across-the-board cuts, and preserving essential services. She also said she was not in favor of moving 988 suicide crisis hotline services into the behavioral health managed care contract at this time, while Representative Tanner noted prior intent language had only required a cost-benefit analysis and that any change would need more detail. Representative Van der Woude said the House committee was committed to a bill holding back about $21 million for RESHAB, with audit and oversight provisions, and raised concerns about rural health fund oversight, provider rate reductions, and Medicaid expansion spending. Members then questioned the chairs about possible policy changes to reduce costs, including reviewing programs not in Idaho Code, restoring provider rates if revenues improve, and adding work requirements or enrollment caps to Medicaid expansion. Van der Woude said he was drafting a bill that would let Medicaid expansion expire and restart with work requirements and a cap, and he said he would support an asset-based waiver request for people with substantial assets. Several members raised concerns about the human impact of cuts, especially in adult dental and developmental services, while others emphasized the need for clearer evaluation tools and better return-on-investment data for programs. Van der Woude explained that RESHAB funding concerns stemmed from unclear assessment standards and the loss of a prior evaluation tool in litigation, and Senator Wintrow cautioned that a straight $21 million reduction could harm services and providers. The committee then heard from House Agricultural Affairs Chair Gerald Raymond, who reviewed agriculture-related budget items and emphasized the importance of dedicated funds, research, and invasive species prevention. He highlighted funding for quagga mussel prevention, Mormon cricket control, Japanese beetles, and carnal bunt response through a deficiency warrant, and said prevention at boat check stations is cheaper than treatment. He also discussed the University of Idaho dairy/cafe project, saying the facility was nearing completion and expected to have about 400 cows milking by the end of the summer. Members asked about the impact of recent cuts on check stations, and Raymond said his committee had not yet discussed that issue but would consider it, and that the Snake River Basin study had mostly been left to the resource committees. The meeting ended with notice that work groups would meet immediately after adjournment and that budget-setting would begin the next day, with the committee reconvening at 7:15 a.m. and the full committee at 8:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a long time, uh, you know, a good couple of hours we had in this discussion, and we certainly
• /c><00:11:38.399><c> this</c> good couple of hours we had in this good couple of hours we had in this
• </c> of of of somebody doing something wrong. of of of somebody doing something wrong.
• Um, because I am a fan of separation of duties, separation of conflict of interest, of power, financial
• of all of you grateful for the work of all of you colleagues<00:32:57.600><c> on</c><00:32:57.840><c>

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the two hours of DUI in statute is the minimum.”
• So the two hours of DUI in statute is the minimum.
• “Let’s say, 30 credit hours of classroom instruction if the course includes a minimum of seven hours
• Chairman, that scares the heck out of me: seven hours behind-the-wheel training. Seven hours.
• credit hours of classroom instruction, minimum of seven hours behind the wheel training.

Bills: SB23 , SB73 , SB210 , SB234 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16

Committee: Senate House Education

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 23, which would require school districts and charter schools to adopt and implement policies prohibiting student use of wireless communication devices during the school day, with exceptions for medical needs, assistive technology, emergencies, and educator-approved instructional use. The sponsors and PED/Broadband officials said the bill builds on last year’s law, responds to classroom distraction and cyberbullying concerns, and pairs the mandate with access to the Education Technology Infrastructure Fund for implementation support. Supporters included NEA-NM, AFT-NM, Teach Plus, New Mexico Kids Can, higher education, ECED, and others, who said the bill would improve focus, classroom culture, and student readiness. Some members questioned the three-year phase-in, local control over consequences, effects on recess/lunch and after-school programs, charter and virtual school enforcement, and whether statewide mandates were necessary; the committee ultimately advanced the bill on a 6-3 vote, with Senators Pope and Soules voting no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 73, which would add a requirement that driver education include instruction on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and others outside vehicles. The sponsor and supporters from APS, NEA-NM, AFT-NM, PED, Albuquerque city officials, cycling and pedestrian advocates, and individuals affected by traffic violence said New Mexico’s high pedestrian and bicyclist fatality rates make the training necessary and that better education could improve safety and awareness. Some testimony connected the bill to broader public health, climate, and Vision Zero efforts, while several speakers shared personal stories of crashes and losses. Committee members asked about the three-hour requirement, whether it would apply to existing drivers, how it would be implemented by DOT and MVD, and whether the bill should also address training for vulnerable road users themselves; concerns were also raised about rural road conditions and the limited behind-the-wheel training currently required. The committee passed SB 73 on a 6-3 vote, with Senator Thornton voting no. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 234, an appropriation of $1.2 million to Albuquerque Public Schools for transportation of students in foster care. The sponsor and an expert witness, a former CYFD caseworker, described serious transportation failures after contracts were terminated, saying caseworkers were forced to drive children themselves and that missed or late rides disrupted schooling and overburdened staff. APS, New Mexico Child First Network, and CYFD all supported the bill, saying it would clarify responsibility, relieve caseworkers, and ensure continuity of transportation for foster youth. Committee questions focused on why the appropriation was limited to APS rather than other districts with transportation shortfalls, whether $1.2 million would be enough, who would provide the rides, and what safety/background-check standards would apply if contractors were used. The bill was still under discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, a regular bachelor's degree worth of credit hours, not the additional 30 hours of accounting that
• , not the additional 30 credit hours, not the additional 30 hours<04:49:51.760><c> of</c><04:49:52.000
• of 150 credit hours.
• </c> have a minimum of 150 credit hours. have a minimum of 150 credit hours.
• </c> bachelor's degree of 120 hours and then bachelor's degree of 120 hours and then go<04:58:54.480>

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, because a simple Missourian cannot obtain one of those licenses to operate in that space.
• No, I don't feel that we operate under any kind of loopholes. It's the exact verbiage of the law.
• They are legally operating with the license of business in this state.
• That is her daughter that had unrelenting seizures about 45 minutes out of every hour.
• It was that strain of hemp. about 45 minutes out of every hour.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, as a result of that, the need for more efficient cafeteria operations has arisen.
• Minnesota, an hour and a half south of the Canadian border, and four and a half hours north of St.
• of the Minnesota, hour and a half south of the Canadian<01:19:40.560><c> border,</c><01:19:40.800><c
• </c><01:19:43.360><c> I</c><01:19:43.600><c> served</c><01:19:43.840><c> the</c> hours north of St.
• I served the hours north of St. Paul.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 8 hours of work a week, I will tell you that when businesses contracted with these providers are told
• Last year, Lifeworks day support staff and clients volunteered a total of 6,772 1/2 hours.
• the 40-hour workweek, and the establishment of overtime protections.
• are no longer working, are working fewer hours, or doing volunteer work instead of paid work.
• are no longer working, are working fewer hours, or doing volunteer work instead of paid work.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be a bill that could operate as a device where we could roll three of the bills that we heard
• And the amount of hours that they're not...
• Unfortunately, the Highway Patrol doesn't get a choice in that matter and the amount of hours that they
• when we talk about the price of equipment and the operational costs for that division and the needs to
• Those fees are collected, and those fees help with the operational cost of that training academy.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you were in the Appropriations Committee yesterday, some of you voluntarily for all six hours.
• G, allowing ad valorem to fund the operations administration of county officers and expenditures they
• G, allowing Ad Valerum to fund the operations administration of county officers and expenditures they
• Conspicuously absent yesterday in that long six hours or six and a half hours that we had, none of the
• It takes me four hours to get here, as it takes a lot of us a lot of time to get here.

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment on property tax reform. The measure would increase the homestead exemption in stages, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses such as public safety, education, infrastructure, natural resources, debt service, employee benefits, and certain administrative costs. Supporters, led by Senator Avila, argued the proposal would provide meaningful property tax relief and push local governments to rein in spending, while opponents warned it would shift costs to fees, reduce local flexibility, and threaten funding for core services. Several amendments were offered and rejected. Senator Sharief proposed an income-based circuit breaker for property tax relief; Senator Smith offered a sunset clause; and Senator Berman proposed revising the ballot statement to better match the amended proposal and remove outdated references. Each amendment failed on recorded votes. During questioning and debate, senators pressed Avila on the ballot language, the effect on local services, whether the legislature could later restrict local spending by statute, and whether renters would benefit. Avila said the ballot language was not his and repeatedly stated he was presenting the governor’s proposal, while also saying local governments would need to prioritize budgets and that future legislatures could address implementation details. After the amendment votes, the joint resolution was read a third time and moved into final debate. Supporters said the proposal would give homeowners relief and force fiscal discipline at the local level. Opponents, including Senators Nathan, Bracey Davis, Smith, Polsky, and Errington, argued the measure was rushed, lacked a completed fiscal analysis or replacement revenue, and could harm police, fire, libraries, parks, housing, and other local services. They also criticized the ballot summary as misleading, especially regarding the staged homestead exemption increase. The transcript ends during debate, before any final vote on the joint resolution itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the determination of which telecom services companies can operate has fallen to the FCC, but
• They have run out of hours. They have to stop.
• They have run out of hours. They have to stop.
• I don't see how any of us could legitimately vote on this, given the hour, given the situation.
• to regulate the location, design, and operation of cannabis establishments within their borders.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But many of those posts and clubs operate with limited resources.
• But I also represent the Coin Machine Association of Massachusetts, which is a group of operators who
• But I also represent the Coin Machine Association of Massachusetts, which are a group of operators who
• That allow them to continue operating in the shadows of the black markets?
• In its first year of operation, UMass Donahue Institute found that the largest single source of new economic

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Rep. Carole Fiola and Sen. Barry Finegold, held a lengthy hearing on a range of gambling-related bills. Testimony first focused on H. 496 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to authorize Plain Ridge Park Casino to add table games and more slot machines. Supporters, including Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Sen. Finegold, Rep. Barry R. Finegold, Rep. Brian Vaughn, and Plainville officials, argued the change was needed to keep Massachusetts gaming dollars from flowing to Rhode Island, protect jobs, and preserve local tax revenue. They described Plain Ridge as a strong community partner and cited host-community benefits such as municipal infrastructure projects and local aid. Opponents or skeptical witnesses later argued that expanded gambling, especially online, would increase harm and cannibalize existing casinos and local economies. The committee also heard testimony on bills related to sports betting restrictions and online gambling. Sen. John Keenan presented a “Better Health Act” proposal to ban prop bets and in-play bets, require affordability checks, prohibit hosts, raise the sports betting excise tax, expand funding for problem-gambling services, and increase research and data sharing. He and supporters framed the bill as a public-health response to addiction, suicide, bankruptcy, and other harms. Rep. David Nangle, speaking from personal experience with gambling addiction, strongly opposed internet gaming, warning that it would intensify addiction and expose children and families to 24/7 gambling on phones. In contrast, Rep. David Moradian and industry witnesses supported H. 4431 to legalize and regulate internet gaming, arguing it would bring illegal activity into a regulated market, generate new revenue, and include consumer protections such as age verification, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and responsible-gaming tools. The committee also took testimony on H. 4238, which would expand fundraising options for fraternal organizations, especially the Elks. Rep. Bruce Ayers and Elks representatives said the bill would help lodges raise money for scholarships, veterans’ services, and community programs after COVID-related losses and declining membership. On H. 480, Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, Rep. Badger, and representatives of veterans organizations and gaming-machine operators urged allowing qualified veterans groups to participate in certain video gaming activity, saying it would provide a sustainable revenue source to keep posts open and support veterans’ services. Dr. Rachel Volberg testified that expanding gambling, especially online gambling and slot machines at veterans organizations, would likely increase gambling harm, and she urged stronger harm-prevention measures, data reporting, and research funding. Other witnesses, including anti-gambling advocates and industry representatives, sharply disagreed over whether legalization would reduce illegal gambling or worsen addiction and social costs. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, CNAs earn a median wage of $17.19 an hour, while PCAs earn just $15.41 an hour.
• </c> That for 16 years, and because of declining enrollment, we wound up in statutory operating debt.
• I'm the former Vice President of Operations for Gateway Recovery Centers, two withdrawal management programs
• of of of of of Minnesota<01:04:36.960><c> Dr</c><01:04:37.279><c> zider</c><01:04:38.279><c> thank</
• at a time waiting and often for hours at a time waiting and some<01:05:14.160><c> of</c><01:05:14.319

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rainfall in four hours in San Diego... ...our entire year's worth of rainfall in four hours in San Diego
• Army Corps of Engineers sets the maintenance and operations standards, and then it's deferred to state
• And so I remind you that it is the Army Corps of Engineers which sets the standards for how to operate
• that when the state took on responsibility for the operations and maintenance of those levees, if we
• that when the state took on responsibility for the operations and maintenance of those levies, if we

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, we are committed to continuity of operations and continuity of business, so we will take that
• At the backbone of Texas ranching, the smaller family-run operations that TSCRA represents will feel
• ...operations to manage this when many of them do not have access to full-time labor.
• amount of resources required to operate and manage it.
• If we don't get a plan implemented very soon, we first of all need to know how we need to operate.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> miles hour and it's amazing how many of miles hour and it's amazing how many of the<01:06:12.599
• 100 miles an hour so what we found is of 100 miles an hour so what we found is that<03:53:49.279><c>
• </c> miles an hour again on that stretch of miles an hour again on that stretch of highway<04:04:10.279
• hours of the night drive around at all hours of the night and<05:32:51.400><c> we</c><05:32:51.520><c
• The attack of pain can last anywhere between 10 minutes to 3 hours.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all