Transcript Highlights:

• be a space for more programming.
• And this means programs.
• As I said before, we're seeing phenomenal results on certain programs like college programming, very,
• very low recidivism. ...results on certain programs, like college programming, very, very low recidivism
• and our safety programming.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) budget, with a focus on prison population trends, spending, facility closures, and efforts to find savings. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) presented data showing the prison and parole populations have fallen sharply over the past 20 years while CDCR spending has remained high, driven largely by security, health care, litigation-related requirements, and aging infrastructure. The LAO also said the state is likely to have several thousand empty beds by 2030 and recommended closing another prison, identifying the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as the strongest candidate, while also urging more transparency around facility deactivations and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) efficiency contract. CDCR Secretary Jeff McCumber said the department faces structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, overtime, medical transport, aging facilities, and violence in prisons, but emphasized declining recidivism, expanding reentry beds, and the need for more single-celling and rehabilitation. Department of Finance representative Anthony Franzoa said the administration is not proposing another prison closure at this time, opposed new reporting requirements on deactivations, and said the BCG contract is intended to produce long-term savings even if near-term estimates are being revised downward. Amber Rose Howard of California United for Responsible Budget argued the state should close more prisons, redirect funds to community services, and stop spending on excess prison capacity. Members questioned why CDCR still relies on vacancy savings, why rehabilitation is only a small share of the budget, and whether the department should be more transparent about capacity reductions and legal liabilities. Several members criticized the $20 million BCG contract and the lack of competitive bidding, while others pressed CDCR on staffing levels, single-celling, suicide prevention, and health care costs for older incarcerated people. The hearing did not take a formal vote, but it ended with clear committee concern about CDCR’s budget transparency, the pace of prison closures, and the need to align spending more closely with the declining prison population and the department’s stated rehabilitation mission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Defense cooperate in a program to properly assist military men and women as they depart active duty.
• Construction becomes.
• This 96-bed facility was ranked number 12 on the Veterans State Home Construction Grant Program priority
• veteran suicide prevention program.
• The program is Yield Rent Pairs Rental Assistance through Housing Vouchers targeted at veterans specifically

Committee: Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• had more on the floor, but Senators, I also want to recognize another very special birthday, Chief Assistant
• , mental health counseling, family court assistance, and much, much more.
• As policymakers, we must continue to support victims and assist in our lives.
• As policymakers, we must continue to support victims and assist with these programs and community-based
• In addition, he was executive director of the California State Sheriff's Association, assistant city

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled several procedural matters, including referral of AB 686 to Rules, approval of motions to advance Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures and adopt authors’ amendments, and requests to move AB 28 and AB 2539 to the inactive file. The chamber also confirmed two gubernatorial appointments: Maggie Hallahan to the Bodina Waterways Commission and Kansasaki to the Building Standards Commission. On the floor, members took up two resolutions focused on public awareness and policy messaging. SCR 181 designated June 10 as Family Justice Center Day and highlighted the work of Family Justice Centers serving survivors of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking; it passed 36-0. SR 112 declared June 14-20 as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Awareness Week to encourage awareness, family health-history sharing, and early screening; it also passed unanimously. SJR 18, a resolution opposing the Citizens United decision and calling for limits on corporate influence and dark money in elections, generated extended debate over campaign finance, transparency, unions, nonprofits, and corporate political spending before passing 28-8. The consent calendar was then adopted on a 35-0 vote. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including Larry Mazzola, Sr., Steve Zaley, and James J. McClain, Sr., followed by announcements that the Senate would recess and reconvene on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sacramento, and its continued investment in the next generation through the return of youth state program
• Through the return of youth state program and extends our very best wishes on behalf of the state for
• Prior to this role, she served as CDCR's Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs since 2021, and
• The program... ...responsibly in other parts of the state.
• . ...campuses, and two labor occupational safety and health programs at UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for student success incentives to support college career education programs and their two-plus-two programs
• You know, we have a great program with a... ...like the gentleman said before me, our school is really
• You know, we have a great program with a nursing program.
• I was someone that went back for graduate school.
• And we have an internship program each summer.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office and the Commissioner of Education on the proposed higher education budget. The presentation highlighted a $117.4 billion overall state budget, with education at $32.5 billion and higher education receiving a modest overall increase. Key items included no tuition or fee increases for Florida residents, major financial aid funding such as Bright Futures, Benacquisto, EASE, Open Door, and first responder scholarships, as well as workforce investments including apprenticeship programs, career and technical education, nursing pipeline funding, and performance-based funding for colleges and universities. Committee members asked questions about the proposed expansion of the Guardian program at state colleges and the $100 million university recruitment and retention fund. Officials said the Guardian funding would give colleges flexibility to use trained personnel for campus safety, sometimes alongside or in place of campus police or private security. The Chancellor explained that the recruitment and retention money would be distributed to universities with no specific directives beyond using it for faculty recruitment and retention, emphasizing Florida’s favorable demographics and the opportunity to attract faculty from states facing enrollment declines. The committee then heard testimony from multiple appointees and reappointees to boards of trustees at state colleges and universities, including Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Miami Dade College, Northwest Florida State College, and St. Johns River State College. Each described their backgrounds and stressed themes of affordability, workforce alignment, nursing and technical programs, dual enrollment, and local community needs. Several cited strong nursing licensure pass rates and college outcomes. After hearing all appointees, the committee voted unanimously to confirm the full block of nominees, and the confirmations were reported favorably before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• construction trades, our automotive programs, our manufacturing, law and protective services.
• Uh, but I still firmly believe that the Milford community supports the CTE programs in our school district
• </c> CTE uh programs in our school district.
• CTE uh programs in our school district. the<00:37:56.880><c> board.
• </c> question for budget assistant Sheay. question for budget assistant Sheay.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on proposed improvements to the New Hampshire State Police gun range and training facility. Commissioner Robert Quinn and Major Brendan Davy said the range is used for realistic, scenario-based training that cannot be replicated at a standard static range, including movement, use of cover, vehicle-based drills, elevation, and training under elevated heart rates and stress. They said the facility is important not only for state troopers but also for local and federal partners, and that it is used regularly for qualifications, requalification, and special unit training. Members asked about specific limitations and costs. Major Davy said the PSTC range is handgun-caliber only because the backstop is not rifle-rated, and local law enforcement can use the State Police range for qualification. Representative Kazinski questioned the size and cost of the project, and Public Works Director Theodore Copper then explained the estimate: $1.5 million for building and site work, plus soft costs, utilities, design, and inflation, bringing the total to $2.3 million. He said the proposed facility would include office space, two classrooms, restrooms, and heating and air conditioning, and that the estimate was reasonable. The committee also heard from Milford School District Superintendent Christy Misho in support of CTE funding. She said Milford has been working for years to secure support for an applied technology center renovation, that prior local bond efforts fell short of the required threshold, and that the district now plans a CTE-only local bond of about $4 million while seeking $10 million from the state. She argued the investment is needed to modernize outdated equipment and support workforce training, and said the district remains committed to the project. In work session action, the committee corrected a prior vote on the Pease Development Authority warehouse removal and replacement project, increasing the amount by $353,300 to $1,973,300 and raising the agency subtotal to $4,155,300. The committee also approved adding two Community College System items: $500,000 for an energy management system and $1.3 million for critical maintenance, for a total addition of $1.8 million. No objections were raised to these motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program specifically would allow for nonprofits and other groups to assist in the CRV program.
• Local food assistance purchasing program, connecting farmers to food banks, maintaining positions and
• Next, the MDI program—again, this is a potentially big program.
• The MDI program, again, is a potentially big program.
• the SAFER Program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• today, Fresno County transportation services that residents depend on for getting to work, attending school
• Several years ago, our community partnered to create a transportation program that allows Kerman students
• That program has changed lives.
• Genoveva Isla, board president of Fresno Unified School District and executive director of Cultiva La
• I'm a resident of Fresno, also a member of the Fresno Unified School Board, and I support.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He had issues at school, behavior problems. I mean, it was bad.
• So, talk about the day at school. What happened? Take it from the school forward. Okay.
• They left school and went to a pawn shop? Yes, sir.
• Who's at school?
• I'll just put this to you: this construct will be across the entire state.

Bills: HB285 , HB795 , HB1795 , HB1871 , HB2407 , HB2461 , HB2695 , HB3507 , HB4911 , HB200

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: animal cruelty, nonlivestock, prosecution, veterinary defense, animal welfare, aggravated assault, penal code, public servant, deadly weapon, mass shooting, Penal Code, penalties, felony, Texas Penal Code, felony enhancement, first-degree felony, second-degree felony, violent crime, assault punishment, serious bodily injury

Transcript Highlights:

• buses, schools, and at home.
• What does assistance to ICE look like?
• Did we go to middle school and high school together? And I'm not in school.
• Oh, Al and Mitchell School, too.
• Oh, yeah, I'm a middle school too.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The hearing covered several public safety bills and related testimony. On S. 2681, “Colby’s Law,” which would establish safety standards for BMX/motocross tracks, the committee heard emotional testimony from the family of a teen killed at a track and from advocates who said minimum standards are needed for barriers, medical staff, emergency planning, insurance, and oversight. A track owner and rider also testified that safety is important but argued the bill was incomplete and should better distinguish between BMX and motocross and include more specific equipment and weather-related rules. On S. 2680, a bill to expand emergency planning around aging nuclear plants and high-level nuclear waste sites, supporters from Cape Cod, medical groups, and anti-nuclear organizations urged a 50-mile emergency planning radius and stronger state preparedness, citing risks from long-term waste storage and inadequate federal oversight. The committee also heard testimony on a Barnstable home rule petition to allow certain emergency response vehicles to use red lights, with the town supporting the change to improve response times on the water. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on H. 5158, the Protect Act, which would limit state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. County sheriffs testified about how ICE notifications and detainers work in practice, distinguishing between criminal warrants and civil immigration requests to notify, and describing their discretion when people are released on bail or at the end of a sentence. Sheriffs said they generally notify ICE when requested, especially in cases involving serious charges, but emphasized the need to balance public safety, victim notification, and due process. Committee members pressed them on the impact of ICE pickups at courthouses and jails, and several lawmakers and witnesses argued that pretrial detainees taken by ICE can disrupt prosecutions and deny victims their day in court. Supporters of the Protect Act included labor, education, health care, and immigrant advocacy groups. They said immigrants and mixed-status families are living in fear of routine interactions with police, schools, courts, and hospitals, and urged the committee to ban 287(g) agreements, prohibit law enforcement from asking about immigration status or providing operational assistance to ICE, and add stronger protections for sensitive locations such as schools and health care facilities. Medical witnesses described patients and families avoiding care because of ICE presence, and educators said students are missing school out of fear. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and indicated it would continue receiving written testimony before taking action later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Orcutt, and this removes the state and local property tax program from the bill.
• It creates a state and local property tax program.
• Orcutt, and this removes the state and local property tax program from the bill.
• and cost-sharing reduction program.
• It also directs 20% instead of 10% Cost-sharing reduction program.

Bills: HB2713 , HB2730 , HB2297 , HB2487 , HB2382 , HB2089 , HB2431 , HB2451 , HB2590 , HB2325 , HB2278 , HB2224 , HB2322

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• buses, schools, and at home.
• Did we go to middle school and high school together? And I'm not in school.
• Oh, Al and Mitchell School, too.
• Do we go to middle school and high school together? And I'm not in school.
• Oh, Al and Mitchell School, too.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on several public safety bills, with testimony first on S.2681, Colby’s Law, which would establish safety standards for BMX and motocross tracks. Supporters, including the family of a child killed at a track, argued the bill is needed because some tracks lack basic protections such as barriers, emergency plans, on-site medical staff, and adequate track maintenance. A motocross track representative opposed the bill as overregulation that could impose major costs and argued existing safety efforts and voluntary safety committees are preferable. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S.2680, which would expand emergency preparedness requirements around aging nuclear power plants and nuclear waste sites from a 10-mile to a 50-mile radius. Supporters from Cape Cod Downwinders, Massachusetts Peace Action, physicians, and other advocates said current law is outdated and insufficient, citing risks from radioactive waste storage, limited federal oversight, and the need for broader evacuation and emergency planning. Testifiers urged the bill’s passage, and no action was taken. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Protect Act, H.5158, dealing with limits on cooperation between state/local agencies and federal civil immigration enforcement. Sheriffs testified about how ICE detainers and notification requests work in practice, emphasizing discretion, public safety, and the difference between sentenced prisoners and pretrial detainees. Supporters from labor, education, and health care groups said immigrant communities are living in fear and asked for stronger protections, including bans on 287(g) agreements and clearer limits on ICE activity in schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations. The hearing also included testimony on H.4697 regarding training and certification of constables and civil deputy sheriffs, with the Hampshire County sheriff saying sheriffs are already working with POST and MPTC on training standards and that the bill may be duplicative.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:25:57.039><c> and</c> water systems, schools, and water systems, schools, and environmental<
• My background is in highway building and construction.
• We've owned stick-built constructions.
• We've owned stick-built constructions.
• We've owned stick-built constructions.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal program for skilled nursing care and domiciliary care, assisted living facilities, but not for
• The state non-congregate sheltering program assisted survivors in 18 counties impacted by Idalia, and
• Our state home repair connection program assisted, mainly supported by and run by our volunteer organizations
• Our state home repair connection program assisted, mainly supported by and run by our volunteer organizations
• Elevate Florida is a program that is funded by the Flood Mitigation Assistance and Swift Current and

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, our district implemented a comprehensive employee identification program.
• When neighboring systems were impacted by the fire, we were called upon to assist.
• In 2019, our district implemented a comprehensive employee identification program.
• Each employee carries an ID card clearly identifying them as old. program.
• When neighboring systems were impacted by the fire, we were called upon to assist.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have schools that are blended programs, meaning some of the courses are online and then on campus
• Virtual programs really, all of our schools are very community-based, student-centered, and a few of
• And then we can again, our pre-apprenticeship programs in those high schools as well.
• But then they find out that a program will close if the school gives them their incentive.
• </c><01:55:41.159><c> and</c> programming of the those schools and programming of the those schools and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > guidance</c><01:07:40.160><c> and</c> liaison program provides guidance and liaison program provides
• program.
• </c><02:04:21.679><c> program.
• </c><02:04:22.320><c> I'm</c> their emergency assistance program.
• I'm their emergency assistance program.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I oversee the court designated worker program, or CDW program.
• harmed at school.
• Hardin County schools, um, within the first month of this school year, we had 18 school personnel who
• And so what Senate Bill 170 does very briefly is it sets up a pilot program in 10 school districts, and
• 00:53:23.440><c> districts</c><00:53:24.400><c> and</c> program in in 10 school districts and program

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programs. keep people on Medicaid.
• . take your programs that you ruled.
• is actually contrary. to the entire purpose of the SNAP program, the food stamp program. states have
• , the food stamp program.
• SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also we have $6 million to administer under SB 2, the Permanent Housing Local Assistance Program,
• and programs that will be coming in the future. ...infrastructure to administer these programs and programs
• in 2025-26 from the six prior rounds of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program grants
• program.
• Facilities Fund for mandated audit work related to the school facilities programs.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an informational presentation on the May Revision’s proposed reorganization of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into separate housing-focused and consumer/business-focused entities. Administration officials said the split would improve oversight, streamline decision-making, and create a dedicated California Housing and Homelessness Agency with a new housing development and finance committee. The Department of Finance said funding was needed in 2025-26 to begin implementation, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal without prejudice because the Little Hoover Commission review was still pending and the plan would require ongoing General Fund costs. Members raised concerns about the timing, the lack of alignment with the budget process, and whether the reorganization would improve accountability for homelessness spending; several public witnesses supported the concept but stressed it could not substitute for new housing and homelessness dollars. The committee then took up the Department of Veterans Affairs. CalVet requested funding for phase three of its electronic health care record project and a trailer bill to preserve authority for federal background checks, but the May Revision withdrew requests for deferred maintenance and additional administrative support. The LAO noted deferred maintenance can prevent larger future costs, and the chair criticized the withdrawal of less than $1 million for veterans’ homes as short-sighted given existing repair needs. No vote was taken. Next, the Department of Housing and Community Development presented its budget. HCD said the May Revision provides no new affordable housing or homelessness funding, but does retain existing rounds of funding and proposes a $31.7 million reversion from undersubscribed housing programs. Members from both parties expressed concern about zeroing out ongoing housing and homelessness investments, especially for LIHTC, the Multifamily Housing Program, and HAP. HCD also defended its homelessness accountability and compliance work, saying the unit includes about 30 program staff and six attorneys, with three additional attorneys requested mainly to handle public records and litigation workload. Public commenters largely opposed the lack of new funding and urged continued support for housing and homelessness programs, while some supported the reorganization and accountability efforts. Finally, the committee heard Go-Biz proposals. The administration requested authority to increase funding for a federal trade program match if needed, plus reappropriations for administrative funds tied to the Containerized Ports Interoperability Grant Program, zero-emission vehicle operations, and the Women’s Business Center Enhancement Program. It also proposed withdrawing the Cal Competes grant request and reverting remaining funds from the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The LAO said Cal Competes is generally effective but could be cut as a budget solution, while warning that the performing arts fund was close to awards and should be considered carefully. Members objected to pulling back committed funds for performing arts organizations and questioned why the state would withdraw support after applications had already been submitted.