Transcript Highlights:

• The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee will come to order. Santa, please call the roll.
• quorum being present, I want to welcome everyone to our second regular session, Pre-K through 12 Budget
• Florida requested a waiver to delay implementation of the 2024 CCDF rule, and therefore Florida's CCDF
• Florida requested a waiver to delay implementation of the 2024 CCDF rule, and therefore Florida's CCDF
• The number of SR cases that B-PF is actively investigating or where a request was made for overpayment

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and first heard House Bill 731, which would address coach and extracurricular sponsor compensation and change how student-athlete transfer eligibility is determined. The bill would allow local school boards to adopt policies letting booster clubs or similar associations support coaches and activity sponsors, and it would let superintendents treat certain coaches and athletic leaders as administrative personnel for compensation purposes. It would also shift eligibility decisions for transferred student-athletes to the governing athletic association and require clearer bylaws and timelines for those determinations. Members raised questions about booster club oversight, pay equity, the new athletic administrator language, and safeguards against abuse or unequal treatment, while supporters argued the bill would help retain coaches and better support student athletics. The bill was debated and then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received presentations from the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning and the Florida Association of Early Learning Coalitions on school readiness fraud prevention and mitigation. Speakers explained that Florida’s school readiness program pays providers based on verified attendance rather than enrollment, requires daily parent sign-in/sign-out records, and uses multiple layers of oversight including coalition anti-fraud plans, annual audits, programmatic monitoring, DCF inspections, and referrals to state fraud investigators when needed. They emphasized that Florida delayed implementation of a federal rule that would have required prospective enrollment-based payments, and said the state’s current system makes fraud difficult. Members asked about military and grandparent guardianship situations, audit findings, and the number of fraud referrals; presenters said fraud cases are relatively limited and that the existing controls and public enforcement act as deterrents. The meeting ended after members thanked the presenters and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll stand for any questions and respectfully request that you send House Bill 777 to the floor with
• I'll stand for any questions and respectfully request that you send House Bill 777 to the floor with
• Because we are actually working side by side with Health and Welfare to do a request for information,
• and now we are in the phase of doing what's called a request for proposal, which is the heart of the
• I looked just now, and the Medicaid budget that was approved this year is $5.5 billion.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that budgets are moral documents that reflect the government's values and choices.
• urging support for California Coalition for Women Prisoners, California United for a Responsible Budget
• We know that budgets are moral documents that reflect the government's values and choices.
• Curb, Secure Justice, a New Path, California's United for Responsible Budget, Curb, Secure Justice,
• I've submitted a pending budget request to establish separate funding for this post-production tax credit

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills, most of them referred to the suspense file because of their fiscal impact. AB 2465 and AB 1675 would deny state grants, loans, tax credits, or other benefits to companies doing business with ICE or related immigration-enforcement agencies; both drew strong support from immigrant-rights, labor, and community groups, and opposition from CalChamber and industry groups that argued the bills were overly broad and could affect unrelated federal contracts. AB 1633 would impose a 50% gross receipts tax on for-profit private immigration detention facilities, with supporters saying it would hold companies accountable for dangerous conditions and opponents warning it was punitive and could disrupt detention operations. The committee also heard AB 2089, which would streamline the welfare property tax exemption process for affordable housing, and AB 2250, a cleanup bill to clarify hemp enforcement laws; both were supported by affected industry and advocacy groups, while county assessors and tax collectors opposed AB 2089 unless amended over workload and implementation concerns. AB 2172, which would allow counties to use a single-member assessment appeals commissioner for complex property tax appeals, was the only bill taken up for a vote during the meeting. Supporters, including Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, said the change would reduce a large backlog and speed resolution of appeals; the committee adopted amendments and passed the bill 4-0 to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2319, creating a proposed post-production tax credit to keep film and television post-production work in California, with support from labor and industry representatives who said jobs and spending were leaving the state; the author said the bill still needed work on labor standards and the annual credit cap. Finally, AB 2403 was presented to create a commercial production tax credit to keep commercial shoots in California. The author and supporters said commercial production has declined sharply in the state and that other states are winning work through targeted incentives, while labor-backed witnesses argued the bill would protect middle-class jobs and local spending. The transcript ends during the presentation of AB 2403, before any vote or final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, in 2022, the Legislature crafted a budget deal that transitioned the Division of Juvenile Justice
• This bill will minimize risk and uncertainty, particularly in these difficult budget times.
• Given the testimony, the Senate Democrats rolled out our budget proposal at the end of last week, and
• where ongoing funding to food banks is $8 million, and that's where the governor started in his budget
• After the bill passed at the federal level, after our budget was adopted, we put another $20 million

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, and welcome to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight.
• Therefore, I'm going to make a quick remark and then ask the chair and vice chairs of the Budget Committee
• I also wanted to just appreciate those of you who have supported the HAP budget in ERF and tell you a
• So let me start by saying I fully support HAP, and I'm advocating for more resources in the budget.
• But I think whether it's on this budget subcommittee or the housing committee or, you know, the other

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on California’s homelessness funding, focusing on the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HAP) Grant and the Encampment Resolution Grant Program. HCD described new accountability requirements, including regional action plans, stronger reporting and expenditure conditions, housing-element compliance, encampment response plans, and public dashboards that track fiscal spending, service outcomes, and encampment resolution status. Officials said the goal is to use the data to identify underperforming grantees, provide technical assistance, and, if needed, withhold or reallocate funds. Local officials from San Diego, Fresno, and Santa Cruz said the programs have helped expand shelter, outreach, and permanent housing, and that state dollars have leveraged local and federal resources. Mayor Todd Gloria said San Diego has used HAP to expand shelter and safe sleeping options, reduce downtown encampments, and increase housing production, but argued the state’s new accountability website is too high-level and does not fully reflect countywide conditions, behavioral health outcomes, or the role of continuum-of-care partners. Fresno officials said HAP and other state funds helped the city add shelter beds and reduce homelessness, while Santa Cruz emphasized that state funding helped build local coordination and draw in federal vouchers. Members pressed the panel on whether HAP is actually reducing homelessness, what the best success metrics should be, and whether the state is getting full, usable data from grantees and subcontractors. Several members asked for more granular jurisdiction-level reporting, better tracking of nonprofit spending, and clearer measures beyond point-in-time counts and “people served.” HCD said it is still improving HMIS participation and data quality, but can already show outcomes such as exits to permanent housing and returns to homelessness. The hearing ended with broad agreement that transparency is important, but disagreement remained over the best measures of success and how much emphasis should be placed on housing, prevention, shelter, and treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is my last policy bill, so I request your support. Thank you.
• So to clarify, my request was to actually TP this bill, okay?
• So to clarify, my request was to actually TP this bill, okay?
• Its culture is not the other, but also its budget is not the other.
• I request that the rules be waived in CS for SB 297.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. Members approved the journal and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber also recognized Sheriff Mike Chitwood as law enforcement officer of the day and later held several introductions and farewell remarks, including lengthy closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service and legislative priorities. The House then took up and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting House strike-all or conforming amendments. CS/SB 590 on mandatory child abuse reporting was clarified to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism was amended to incorporate House language, including blue-envelope provisions, and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was amended to preserve House provisions and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund was amended to expand eligible health science programs and allow certain non-health-care contributions, then passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care passed 111-0. Later bills also advanced with broad support: CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences passed 168-0 after debate over medication-assisted treatment; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed 112-0 after amendments allowing limited coach support for student-athletes with parental consent; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts passed 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services passed 111-0 after an amendment on exclusive arrangements. The chamber then began debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, which would restrict counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and contracting practices. Members questioned its scope and exceptions, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, we're the ones advocating for bills and budget requests to backfill H.R. 1's cuts, so the
• service priorities like immigrant legal aid and food and health care benefits were funded in the state budget
• Meanwhile, we're the ones advocating for bills and budget requests to backfill HR1's cuts, so the working
• We are also grateful that the state budget included funding to ensure Medi-Cal providers can continue
• We are also grateful that the state budget included funding to ensure Medi-Cal providers can continue

Summary: The committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to review California hate-crime trends and hear from state agencies and community organizations about current impacts and policy responses. The California Department of Justice reported that 2025 hate-crime events declined modestly from 2024 but remained historically elevated, with race and ethnicity still the largest category, anti-Black bias the most frequently reported, and notable increases in anti-Hispanic/Latino and citizenship/immigration-status bias. The California Commission on the State of Hate said its research and victimization studies show hate is broader than official crime data alone, with millions of Californians experiencing hate incidents and many victims needing services beyond law enforcement, including mental health care, legal help, and workplace protections. The commission also emphasized online radicalization, the need for better data infrastructure, and stronger training and support systems. Members then heard from the NAACP, LULAC, Jewish California, CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, CAIR California, and Equality California. Testimony described fear, underreporting, and the effects of rhetoric, federal policy changes, and online misinformation on Black, Latino, Jewish, immigrant, Asian American, Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities. Witnesses urged sustained funding for Stop the Hate and nonprofit security grants, stronger language access, civic education, and community-based reporting and victim services. Several groups also called for specific legislation, including measures on racial profiling, immigration detention oversight, Jewish ethnicity recognition, safe worship zones, anti-Muslim hate prevention, and LGBTQ+ data privacy and health protections. Committee discussion focused on the conditions that fuel hate, especially political polarization, social media radicalization, and the role of public figures and institutions in normalizing dehumanizing language. Members and witnesses discussed the limits of current data, the need for long-term research and prevention strategies, and the importance of solidarity across communities. No formal votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, though members referenced existing and pending bills and ongoing efforts to expand training, funding, and anti-hate infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that budgets are moral documents that reflect a government's values and choices.
• also urging support for California Coalition for Women Prisoners, California United for Responsible Budget
• rushing support for California Coalition for Women and Prisoners, California's United for Responsible Budget
• Curb, Secure Justice, a New Path, California's United for Responsible Budget, CURB, Secure Justice,
• I've submitted a pending budget request to establish separate funding for this post-production tax credit

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the commissioner said, we respectfully request that you continue to consider the trust obligation
• An estimated $5 million will impact the state's budget over the next four years.
• An estimated $5 million will impact the state's budget over the next four years.
• Second, the cost to implement the bill far exceeds our budget.
• So you had funding and then during the budget cuts of legislature cut the funding Thank you. funding

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5838, which would add a federally recognized tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources. The Department of Natural Resources commissioner and tribal leaders said the change would bring Indigenous knowledge and a voting voice to decisions on trust lands, while preserving existing tribal consultation. Some county and economic interests said they were not opposed to tribal participation but stressed the board’s fiduciary duty to trust beneficiaries and asked for more review of the board’s purpose; one witness questioned whether the beneficiaries had been consulted. The prime sponsor, Senator Claudia Kaufman, said the bill is about inclusion and equity and indicated openness to an amendment adding both eastside and westside tribal representation. The hearing closed with 142 written comments reported: 33 pro, 107 con, and 2 other. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5960, which would require Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and take predator mitigation actions when populations fall below specified benchmarks. Senator Shelley Short said the bill responds to declining deer and elk numbers and a lack of management, especially in northeast Washington. Supporters argued the bill would codify existing agency plans and restore balance in wildlife management, while opponents—including conservation groups, the Sierra Club, and several scientists and advocates—said the state’s predator-prey study found wolves were not the main driver of ungulate declines, pointing instead to habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions. Ranching and farm groups supported the overall goal but objected to the bill’s in-state wolf translocation provisions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said it recognized the bill’s intent but opposed it because some directives were impractical, costly, or would require legislative approval. The hearing closed with 1,197 written comments reported: 843 pro, 352 con, and 2 other. The committee then held a work session on Lake Washington salmon predation. Larry Phillips and Muckleshoot Fisheries Director Jason Schaffler described a coalition effort to reduce predation on juvenile salmon in the Lake Washington system, saying invasive and predatory fish such as walleye, rock bass, American shad, northern pike, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass are harming sockeye and Chinook recovery. They said sockeye returns have fallen from hundreds of thousands to about 18,000 in recent years, ending tribal and sport fisheries, and argued that targeted predator removal, supported by prior state and county funding, could help restore runs. Senators asked about the methods and funding, and the presenters said fishing and netting are being used to suppress larger predatory fish and that more sustained investment is needed. Finally, the committee began public hearing on Senate Bill 1697, which would make federally recognized tribes eligible recipients for county conservation futures funds. Testifiers from the Washington Farmland Trust and the Tulalip Tribe said the bill would expand voluntary conservation partnerships, help tribes steward farmland and habitat, and make it easier to leverage county funds with other grants. They described past projects where tribal participation improved conservation outcomes but said tribes could not directly access conservation futures dollars under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I've got a request in.
• So I have got a request in to have ivermectin, uh, being, uh, as as an emergency measure to use as a
• That wasn't in my appropriation request this last time.
• So I, I do have, uh, enough money in my biosecurity, uh, budget to, to buy enough fly traps to get us
• So the request has gone in.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• I spent six hours yesterday in the budget subhearing on health, where we are going to make some very
• With that, I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you very much. Do you accept the amendments?
• Downcoding is done without requests for review of actual medical records.
• Downcoding is done without requests for review of actual medical records.
• With that, I respectfully request your aye vote.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• returned as amended by the Senate, in which amendments the concurrence of the House is respectfully requested
• I recognize the member from Anoka, Representative Kaggel. requested.
• House file number 1290, an requested.
• The Senate respectfully requests that a conference committee be appointed.
• ><01:10:06.880><c> conference</c> respectfully requests that a conference respectfully requests that

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, we're going to be having a budget release over the weekend.
• And the committee amendment deadlines are requests. Yes.
• The committee amendment deadlines are requests to staff by Tuesday, February 24th, the day after the

Bills: SB6103

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: rural healthcare, emergency services, hospital payments, state appropriation, public health, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a written request to separate the end block vote for the Quality Education Commission has been received
• The written request will be placed in the original documents file and recorded in the journal.
• Senator Sollman requests unanimous consent to return to the order of courtesies, and then we'll go to
• on Idaho's federal delegation to lead the Congress of the United States in balancing the federal budget
• on Idaho's federal delegation to lead the Congress of the United States in balancing the federal budget

Summary: The Senate convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Senator Starr, followed by several courtesies recognizing Pride Month, a staff birthday, and later a retirement and a community celebration. Senator Robinson then used remonstrances to warn against expanding surveillance through school bus camera systems, arguing that leaked plans from a vendor could create commercial databases of drivers’ movements and erode privacy. The main business was confirmation of numerous gubernatorial appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions. Senators debated the process at length, with several minority members objecting that the volume of nominees, limited hearing time, and lack of transparency made meaningful advice-and-consent review difficult. Supporters responded that the nominees were qualified public servants and that the Senate should work with the Governor’s office on reforms. The Senate first confirmed a large block of appointments, then confirmed two Sustainability Board appointees, and later confirmed three Quality Education Commission appointees after extended debate. The Quality Education Commission nominations drew the most substantive policy discussion. Opponents argued the commission needs more technical research expertise and broader representation, while supporters emphasized the nominees’ education experience and direct knowledge of Oregon schools. Several senators described Oregon’s education system as in crisis, citing low reading and math proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and the need for urgent reform of the Quality Education Model and school funding. The Senate also received a proposed rule amendment creating an official Senate seal, which was distributed and held on the table, and the chamber adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155, and request
• has moved that the House refuse to adopt the Senate substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155 and request
• has moved that the House refuse to adopt the Senate substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155 and request
• hereby appoints the following conference committee to act with a like committee on the following budget
• For the budget bills 2002 through 2013, the Speaker appoints Deaton, Davidson, and Fogle to all committees

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 57th day by roll call vote, 125-0. Members then used points of personal privilege to honor former Representative Ken Waller and to remember Keaton O’Neill, a Rawls County teenager who died after a battle with brain cancer; the chamber observed a moment of silence for O’Neill. The House also welcomed several special guests, including a deployed Marine’s family, a Greater Springfield Board of Realtors leadership class, family members of a member, and an intern and family members of another member. Committee reports recommended passage of several bills, and the House took up multiple Senate-amended measures. On House Bills 2637 and 3155, members discussed technical corrections and added provisions involving sentencing effective dates, sex offender registry procedures, drone restrictions, health care treatment orders, and prosecutor salaries; the House voted to refuse the Senate substitute and request a conference. House Bill 2593, a bipartisan military and veterans bill, was described as expanding military leave, adding cybersecurity and emergency-response protections, strengthening TRICARE and Service Members Civil Relief Act-related provisions, and supporting National Guard benefits; it was adopted 137-1 and then truly agreed to and finally passed 138-1. House Bill 2974, dealing with license reciprocity and telehealth, was amended to include interstate compacts for athletic trainers, dietitians, and physician assistants; it passed the Senate substitute 109-29 and was finally passed 108-30. The House also adopted and finally passed House Bill 2108, a Jefferson City land conveyance and infrastructure measure tied to the viaduct area, safety improvements, and an added property provision for Northwest Missouri State University land in Nodaway County; the Senate substitute was adopted 138-1 and the bill was finally passed 138-2. Afterward, the chamber received Senate messages stating that the Senate refused to recede on House Bills 2596 and 2637/3155 and appointed conference committees. The Speaker appointed House conferees for those bills and named conferees for budget bills 2002 through 2013. The House then announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• it's also very important to know that when we have government unions here, it is important we pass a budget
• it's also very important to know that when we have government unions here, it is important we pass a budget
• Speaker, I move that the House request that the Senate return House Bill 4027, the Charlie Kirk Highway
• Speaker Pro Tem, I move that the House request that the Senate return House Bill 2444 for the purpose
• Speaker Pro Tem, I move that the House request that the Senate return House Bill 2444 for the purpose

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jasleen Chatwal. Members also introduced a number of guests and visiting groups, including Irish dignitaries for St. Patrick’s Day recognition, labor organizations such as AFSCME and CWA, the Arizona Farm Bureau, the Arizona chapter of the American College of Surgeons for Stop the Bleed training, and advocates for rare skeletal conditions. A proclamation recognizing St. Patrick’s Day was read, and the House later heard a proclamation honoring AFSCME Arizona. On the floor, the House took up several procedural motions, including requests to have the Senate return HB 4027 and HB 2444 for reconsideration, and received multiple Senate bills on first and second reading. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole and approved HB 2750 with a friendly floor amendment, sending it forward as amended. The House also sent HB 2999 to an additional Committee of the Whole, adopted a floor amendment, and advanced it as amended for engrossing. During third reading, HB 2197, relating to water access and camping near water sources, failed on reconsideration after members debated whether it imposed unnecessary criminal penalties and enforcement concerns. HB 2429, relating to vacation and short-term rentals, passed after supporters said it restored local control to cities and towns. HB 2950, creating special districts for tourism improvement areas, passed after amendments made participation voluntary and added notice requirements. HB 4001, relating to nicotine products, also passed after debate over youth vaping, enforcement authority, and whether the bill struck the right balance between regulation and parental responsibility. The House then made committee announcements and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to accept the committee's amendments, which bring the bill in line with Governor Newsom's request
• for more clarity, information, and accountability regarding the applicant's request and distribution
• I think it's critically important that this program, the ERF, was founded during the budget process last
• According to the California Budget and Policy Center, California sanctions families by removing up to
• thousands of older adults and people with disabilities who depend on these programs, I respectfully request

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard several homelessness, public benefits, and aging-related bills. SB 748 would expand Encampment Resolution Funding to support safe parking sites for people living in cars or RVs, require quarterly reporting from HCD on outcomes, and direct LAO evaluation; supporters said it would help local governments reduce RV encampments while connecting people to housing and services. SB 290 would repeal the CalWORKs immunization sanction that reduces aid when parents cannot provide acceptable proof of a child’s vaccination; supporters argued the penalty unfairly harms families already in poverty and can worsen instability, while no opposition testified. SB 606 would define “functional zero” for overall and unsheltered homelessness and require local jurisdictions to plan for and report on the housing and interim shelter needed to reach that goal; supporters said it would add accountability and focus on reducing unsheltered homelessness, and one group moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. SB 433 would create an income-based room-and-board cap and personal needs allowance for all Medi-Cal assisted living participants in residential care facilities for the elderly, not just SSI recipients; supporters said it would prevent eviction and homelessness among low-income seniors and people with disabilities, and facility groups withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. SB 761 would require students applying for Cal Grants to be notified that they may be eligible for CalFresh and given information on how to apply; supporters said it would address widespread student food insecurity and low enrollment among eligible students. The committee accepted amendments on the bills, and all of the measures discussed were reported out on 7-0 or similar unanimous votes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with the consent calendar also approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now I humbly ask and request that you vote in favor of this legislation.
• Now I humbly ask and request that you vote in favor of this legislation.
• .. ...as we believe approved some funding for this, and of course there's still hope in the state budget
• Members, the committee substitute adds further clarifying language requested by the Texas Hotel and Lodging
• Over the past couple of bienniums in the state budget, there have been post-Harvey-related dredging funding

Bills: HB1532 , HB2731 , HB3483 , HB4308 , HB4580 , HB4582 , HB5509 , HB5663

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: Lake Houston, dredging, maintenance district, flood control, environment, public works, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code, unincorporated areas, right-of-way, public highway, parking lot, livestock sales, live animals, vendor regulation

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several local-government-related bills, mostly with committee substitutes. House Bill 2731 would let certain border counties regulate roadside vendors selling live animals in unincorporated areas and along public rights-of-way; the substitute narrowed the bill to live animal sales only and excluded livestock and other roadside commerce. House Bill 3483 would streamline TCEQ review of special utility district revenue bonds by removing tax-bond requirements that do not apply to SUDs. House Bill 4308 would create a county industrial development district framework, limited in the substitute to certain counties including Fort Bend County, to help finance industrial sites and related infrastructure. House Bill 5663 would create a Wood County Hospital District memory-care-focused district with no taxing power, intended to help pursue grants and other funding for a new facility. House Bill 4582 addressed attainable housing in Dallas and Tarrant counties, allowing local reimbursement tools for developers under a uniform, optional framework. House Bill 5509 would let municipalities suspend or revoke a hotel’s certificate of occupancy if law enforcement and a criminal court both find probable cause of human trafficking, with the substitute adding due-process protections. House Bill 1532 created a Lake Houston dredging and maintenance district funded by revenue from dredged material sales and revenue bonds, with no taxing authority or eminent domain. House Bill 23, heard as pending business, would revise the process for local governments to rescind development documents and adjust third-party reviewer liability and eligibility rules. House Bill 4580, concerning property tax exemptions for charitable organizations such as the Houston Rodeo, was amended to remove language about exempting revenue from property use and instead focus on land used for agricultural, youth, and educational support. Public testimony was generally supportive on the bills heard, with witnesses including county officials, utility and water association representatives, hotel industry representatives, and housing developers. Several speakers emphasized the need for faster financing or permitting tools, flood mitigation, housing affordability, anti-trafficking enforcement, or local economic development. Some members raised concerns about scope, precedent, consultation with affected senators, and due process, particularly on House Bill 4582 and House Bill 5509, but the committee largely accepted the committee substitutes as improvements. No public testimony was offered on several bills, and most measures were left pending before later being voted out. The committee took recorded votes on multiple pending bills and reported them favorably, often with committee substitutes adopted in lieu of the filed versions. House Bills 1532, 2731, 3483, 5509, 5663, and 4580 were reported out, with 1532 and 5663 passing unanimously and 3483, 2731, and 5509 also receiving favorable votes despite one present-not-voting on 3483. House Bill 23 and House Bill 4582 were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until adjournment or later.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> $150,000 annually uh which is budgeted $150,000 annually uh which is budgeted it's<00:55:04.400>
• as a bud it's budgeted from our revenues as a bud budget<00:55:08.440><c> item</c><00:55:09.400><c> uh
• in the third year we did the budget in the third year we did the normal<04:38:10.480><c> budget</c><
• in the fourth year we did normal budget in the fourth year we did another<04:38:12.600><c> budget</c
• Have you read the entire budget, and do you know what other places in the budget are losing money or

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The public hearing opened on HB 728-FN, which would authorize video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities and repeal historic horse racing licensing. Representative Om explained that the bill would convert the current historic horse racing terminals into true video lottery terminals/slot machines and change the revenue split, reducing the operator share from 75% to 70% while increasing the state share from 25% to 30%. He also noted the bill would increase the amount going to charities and other state beneficiaries. Former State Rep. Pat Brammy, who had served on the Charitable Gaming Study Commission, testified in support of the bill’s basic structure. He said a consultant’s report found historic racing machines cost facilities 12% to 18% more to operate because of totalizer and track-related fees, and that slot machines would be cheaper because there are more manufacturers and more competition. He argued that although the operator share drops by 5%, facilities could still benefit from lower operating costs, and he said the commission concluded that moving to slot machines would increase revenues to facilities, charities, and the state. He also said the bill would create a more stable stream of funding for problem gambling, since the current HHR “breakage” funding mechanism is limited and dependent on a single vendor. Brammy also discussed the commission’s concerns about market concentration in HHR machines, saying the commission found the market was dominated by only a few manufacturers and recommended legislation to address that issue under Article 83 of the state constitution. He interpreted the bill as allowing a phase-in of slot machines upon passage, with the remaining HHR provisions phasing out by January 1, 2028, and said facilities would likely transition as leases expire. Committee members asked about HHR contracts, machine programming, testing, and whether removing HHR would reduce competition; Brammy said he believed leases were likely short-term, machines are tested by a lab, and the legislature could decide whether the change is appropriate. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislature had the foresight to establish the higher education capital working group in last year's budget
• This tool integrates the annual budget, the five-year forecast, and capital plan to estimate the impact
• And I can tell you, in the time that I've been president, we have taken $422 million from our budget
• And even with the budget we have, we've left... ...that, and even with the budget we have, we've left
• It 100% is at Bridgewater State. 5 to 8% of our entire university budget goes to deferred maintenance

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the BRIGHT Act, a higher education capital bill that would use Fair Share surtax revenue to fund major repairs, modernization, and decarbonization projects across UMass, state universities, and community colleges. UMass leadership described a $4.8 billion deferred maintenance backlog, aging buildings, and the need to modernize facilities, improve accessibility, and reduce emissions. Administration officials said the bill would authorize $2.5 billion in capital funding, split roughly 50-50 between UMass and the rest of public higher education, plus additional targeted funding for housing planning, smaller modernization projects, campus master plans, and workforce skills grants. They emphasized that the financing structure is modeled on the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and would not raise student costs, while also supporting affordability through financial aid and free community college. Members raised questions about regional equity, the distribution of funds among the five UMass campuses and the 24 state university/community college campuses, project labor agreements, whether the bill would unlock private or federal matching funds, and how the system is preparing for AI and changing workforce needs. UMass officials said project selection is data-driven, based on deferred maintenance, safety, accessibility, sustainability, and programmatic needs, and that the flagship campus in Western Massachusetts would likely receive a large share because of its size and needs. They also said UMass Boston would receive its own share and would not be shortchanged by the Bayside project. On labor, they said PLAs are commonly used and they would follow existing board and building authority policies. On affordability, they said the university has shifted hundreds of millions into need-based aid and that the state’s recent support has helped keep tuition low for many students. DCAMM and higher education officials said the state’s public campuses account for a large share of state-owned building space and a disproportionate share of operational carbon emissions, making decarbonization a major driver of the bill. They said the legislation would allow larger, more comprehensive projects that can address deferred maintenance, energy efficiency, and program needs at the same time, while also making some projects shovel-ready through the Fair Share supplemental funding already appropriated. A later panel from the State Universities Council of Presidents argued the bill’s authorization is still too small to meet long-term needs and urged the committee to increase the bond cap and ensure a more equitable distribution among segments. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.