Video & Transcript Research : 'fee sunset'
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WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session-Day 8, February 18, 2026-AM
Wyoming Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate File 58, Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act sunset repeal.
- President, we need to flat out raise our fees.
- We had a big to flat out raise our fees.
- Um anyway, we should look at those<01:21:13.120>
fees. - those fees. We should look at this bill. those fees. We should look at this bill.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 14 Feb 24th, 2026 at 09:30 am
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm like, my electric bill, my this bill, my that bill, the fees on this, the fees on that—I'm sick of
- Members, House Bill 3465 is a request from the Oklahoma Petroleum Alliance that extends a sunset for
- House Bill 4426 will extend the sunset on the...
- House Bill 4426 will extend the sunset on the strategic industrial development enhancement sales tax
Bills:
HB1411, HB3143, HB3144, HB3901, HCR1019, HB3981, HB4248, HB3194, HB3849, HB4095, HB4302, HB3342, HB3344, HB3287, HB3645, HB3647, HB3930, HB3931, HB1818, HB4454, HB4336
Keywords:
True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- surety fee as determined by a formula. surety fee as determined by a formula.
- uh the fees uh the fees uh<00:16:23.880>
as <00:16:24.080>we <00:16:24.160>get< - <00:16:30.360>
uh uh able to collect fees uh uh able to collect fees uh or<00:16:31.480> <02:08:25.080>- President. have a sunset um date placed on them so have a sunset um date placed on them so that<02:02
as to add the sunset as to add the sunset as the<02:08:26.160>senator
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- So in the bill currently, the sunset date is July 1, 2031. This moves the date to July 1, 2028.
- It provides for the termination of the sunset provision for the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board.
- So this bill eliminates one of those sunset provisions, which is under RS 37, column 37...
- And out of that, one of the outcomes was they were asking for an increase in the fee schedule.
- Out of that, one of the outcomes was that they were asking for an increase in the fee schedule for fees
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 20, 2026, with eight members present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first advanced SB 1224, which requires DCFS to look into cases where a child under 17 is involved in a pregnancy, with added oversight for children under 12; it was reported favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 1100, described as repealing an outdated statute. White Coat Day remarks welcomed physicians to the Capitol and thanked them for their service, including efforts to improve Medicaid reimbursement.
Several health-related bills were then heard and advanced. HB 1220, a continuation of prior work to codify provisions related to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and physician licensure, was reported favorably. HB 1231 clarified that Medicaid coverage for continuous glucose monitoring applies to insulin-dependent patients, including those with gestational diabetes, and was also reported favorably. HB 198, which sets reimbursement rates for ambulatory surgery centers for certain Medicaid procedures such as colonoscopies, eye, ENT, and gastroenterology services, passed favorably. HB 1160, creating a streamlined restricted license pathway for qualified international medical graduates, prompted a lengthy exchange about delayed rulemaking and whether the board had added requirements beyond statute; despite concerns, it was reported favorably.
The committee also advanced several resolutions and oversight measures. HCR 67, prompted by a personal family experience with a special-needs child’s acute care needs, creates a task force to study gaps in acute care for special-needs adults and children; it was amended and reported favorably. HCR 27, calling for a statewide evaluation of autism services by LDH and the Department of Education, was reported favorably. HB 223, which recreates DCFS, was amended to shorten the sunset date and require law enforcement reporting through a secure web platform, then reported favorably. HCR 28, creating a task force on school nurse orientation and training for new graduates, was reported favorably after testimony from school nurses about the lack of standardized orientation and the risks of placing inexperienced nurses alone in schools.
The committee also took up HB 469, which would allow pharmacy license renewal applicants to designate a portion of fees to eligible schools including Xavier University’s College of Pharmacy; after opposition from Senator Cloud and a roll call, the bill was deferred. HB 1182, a cleanup bill changing the occupational therapy certifying entity and adjusting fees, and HB 1076, eliminating one of two sunset provisions for the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board, were both reported favorably. HB 1216, a major rewrite of clinical laboratory personnel rules, was deferred after concerns that it would restrict existing phlebotomy and lab functions in ways that could conflict with recent law. Finally, HB 457 and HB 616, both by Representative Knox and focused on homelessness, drew extensive testimony: HB 457 established minimum standards for shelters and similar facilities and was reported favorably as amended, while HB 616 would allow audits of homelessness-related funding and databases; after debate over privacy, federal funding oversight, and accountability, the committee adopted an amendment changing enforcement language from "may" to "shall" and continued hearing testimony from opponents and supporters.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, again, HB137 will remove the sunset and let this continue.
- It's going to sunset, and yes, ma'am, we're taking the sunset off.
- The tag would get half of the fees, and then the handicap would get all.
- What this amendment does is it sunsets in three years so we can...
- What this amendment does is it sunsets in three years so we can measure if there's a...
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members the committee substitute just the sunset safety nets dates to abolish the agencies on September
- Texans make up about 10% of the market, but pay over half of the fees at about $2.5 billion.
- Do you guys charge origination fees? Do you charge all sorts of- of other fees on top points.
- The other fees we're allowed to charge are enshrined in statute.
- to the consumer price index, meaning that that fee is able to go up, which we just believe indicates
Bills:
SB 1113, SB 1117, SB 1206, SB 1460, SB 1802, SB 1906, SB 1917, SB 2340, SB 2455, SB 2680, SB 2690, SB 705, SB 748
Keywords:
SB 1113, converter's license, converter license, motor vehicle dealer, auto dealer, vehicle conversion, converted vehicles, direct sales, retail sales, trailer, semitrailer, manufactured trailer, chassis, manufacturer's statement of origin, MSO, Occupations Code, Transportation Code, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, dealer licensing, general distinguishing number
Summary:
The meeting of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee was marked by discussions on several significant bills, with a keen emphasis on legislative updates and committee substitutes. Notably, Senator Blanco presented a new committee substitute for SB2610, which modifies the employee cap from 100 to 250 and extends the update timeline for cyber security programs for small businesses. This substitute was adopted unanimously, reflecting a collaborative agreement among the committee members. Additionally, there were discussions surrounding SB1856 as Senator Crayton provided insights into how stakeholder feedback influenced the bill's committee substitute. The committee ultimately voted in favor, pushing it towards the local and contested calendar, indicating the bill's progression through legislative channels.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN DEFER, CPN Public Hearings 02-04-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- It also has a sunset of February 4, 2027. First up, the Mediation Center of the Pacific in support.
- it<00:14:31.000>
also <00:14:31.199>has <00:14:31.320>a <00:14:31.440>sunset - It also provides for reasonable attorney fees and recovery for the cost of the suit.
- It also provides for reasonable attorney fees and recovery for the cost of the suit.
- and recovery for the cost attorney fees and recovery for the cost of<00:18:07.679>
the of the
Summary:
The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held decision-making and hearing sessions on February 4, 2025, covering a range of bills on public funds, cremation contracts, condominium insurance, insurance protections, veterinarians, landlord-tenant issues, agriculture, sex offender licensing restrictions, and service animals. In decision-making, SB 69 on deposits of public funds was passed with a defective effective date, SB 525 on cremation service contracts was deferred for later work on a concurrent resolution, SB 805 on condominium insurance was passed with amendments incorporating Attorney General recommendations, and SB 1141 on insurance protections was passed with amendments expanding the bill to catastrophic disasters and adding insurer response and loss-run reporting requirements. All of those measures were adopted by committee votes, with some members excused.
During the hearing portion, SB 493 on veterinarians drew mixed testimony: state agencies and animal welfare groups supported efforts to create a workforce development fund and scholarship/loan repayment program, while the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association opposed the bill as written, arguing the board lacked capacity to administer the program, suggesting more WICHE funding instead, and objecting to new licensing fees. SB 606 on online business registration received comments from DCCA, SB 822 on landlord-tenant injunctions drew opposition from HPD and comments from the Judiciary, and SB 825 on eviction mediation received broad support from mediation advocates, the Judiciary, and others. Other measures heard included SB 276 on false labeling of Hawaii-grown roasted coffee, SB 1293 on tenant recovery in disaster areas, SB 1369 on solvency reporting for insurers and mutual benefit societies, and SB 1373 on automatic license actions against registered sex offenders, which received support from DCCA and several licensing boards.
The committee also heard SB 1493 on emotional support animals, where the Attorney General raised constitutional and enforcement concerns, while disability advocates and others supported the bill and suggested clearer enforcement and disclosure language. SB 1662 on landlord application fees was also heard with comments from Hawaii Realtors and support testimony from individuals. In the later decision-making session, SB 493 was passed with amendments removing the proposed licensing fees and blanking appropriations, while SB 606 was deferred. SB 822 was passed with amendments adopting Judiciary recommendations, adding a Judiciary-facilitated working group to review the landlord-tenant code, and setting a defective effective date of July 1, 2050.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Financial Services Committee Apr 9th, 2025
Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- One of these ideas was a wire transfer fee, and this whole idea...
- This bill has a sunset.
- It would have a 4% fee on a cash transfer. If you're a taxpaying...
- This fee does not affect businesses. This was vetted.
- for the fee was that it would prevent laundering.
Bills:
HB297
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, on the floor, they left our cultivator fee decrease.
- So, we cut cultivated outdoor cultivator fees in half.
- Um, they pushed out the effective date of local license fees.
- We do have some concerns that doing away with the contingency and the lowering of the small grower fees
- We have a 2-year sunset, and with that I signed our committee of conference report, and uh I I would
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 035 Feb 18th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Sunset. Oh, we'll see you there. Sunset. Oh, we'll see you there.
- >> And I please I beg to have my $1 fee >> And I please I beg to have my $1 fee waved
- So, as I was saying, this is a very simple technical cleanup to last year's junk fees bill.
- , or class action exposure under fees, or class action exposure under other<00:38:23.520>
laws. - large fee to the secretary of state. large fee to the secretary of state.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from February 13, 2026, and heard several announcements and introductions, including recognition of student guests and notices about upcoming committee meetings. Members also shared informal remarks tied to Lunar New Year celebrations, a water policy breakfast, and other caucus or committee updates. The chamber then took up special orders for several bills, including House Bill 1013 and House Bill 1064.
House Bill 1013, concerning ratio utility billing systems used by landlords to allocate utility charges to tenants, was presented as a technical cleanup to last year’s House Bill 1090. Supporters said it was intended to clarify that such billing practices remain allowable and to align the statute with legislative intent. Amendment L002, offered to state that the bill created no private right of action and to limit litigation, was debated at length but defeated. Opponents argued it would restrict existing rights under consumer protection law, while supporters said it would reduce unnecessary lawsuits. The bill then passed the committee.
House Bill 1064, concerning modifications to the youthful offender system, was also heard. Supporters said the bill codifies existing Department of Corrections practices, updates language to promote effective communication, and reflects evidence-informed, trauma-informed rehabilitation aimed at reducing recidivism. Amendment L003, which adjusted language to be more inclusive of the YOS community, was adopted. Several members opposed the bill, arguing it codified practices already in place, lacked clarity on evaluators and costs, and did not sufficiently account for victims’ perspectives. Despite that opposition, the committee report was adopted and the bill advanced with the amendment.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- The good news is this year's bill does not contain a fee increase and holds the fees flat.
- They should not have to worry about surprising fees, unclear rules, or arbitrary enforcement.
- date. ...which again repeals the sunset date.
- I am the owner of Ex-City Fee and a proud member of the Hmong community in California.
- , administrative fee, management fee, or similar fee based on reducing or resolving a client's medical
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee, February 27, 2026
Labor, Health & Social Services
Transcript Highlights:
- And then there's also some hospitals will pay a big fee to other places that will come in and survey
- It gives us a sunset date over in the Senate that was put on.
- And the thought there from the bringer of that is that this is changing, and if we put a sunset date
- date over in the Senate give us a sunset date over in the Senate that<00:46:21.920>
was <00:46 - rules would expire with the sunset date. rules would expire with the sunset date.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Or establish fees?
- When we talk about increasing user fees, user fees are capped, I'm just... ...be through ad valorem taxes
- When we talk about increasing user fees, user fees are capped to a certain amount because of Medicare
- The Children's Services Council can't assess fees. Who are you going to assess your fee on?
- The Children's Services Council can't assess fees. Who are you going to assess your fee on?
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- It also removed the sunset for the also removed the sunset for the also removed the sunset for the reimbursement
- Okay, part of their administrative fee. Okay, part of their administrative fee.
- That that has administrative fee, right? That that has administrative fee, right?
- The fee is collected by the state 911 The fee is collected by the state 911 The fee is collected by the
- So we'll have data to see is it sunsets. So we'll have data to see is it sunsets.
Keywords:
regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Feb 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The fund is a special fund, funded by fees from renewals for foresters and application fees for people
- After 30 years, we had to increase fees.
- We've run up against that in one of our fees, the application fees, and so we're asking that we can get
- You don't think the fees have an impact? I don't either.
- If we look at the history of the fee and where we are currently, as proposed with this new fee for this
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Session Mar 13th, 2026 at 01:31 pm
West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- is corrected to ensure that county fees for fire and ambulance services are also paid.
- Applicants must provide a list of locations at the time of application and include the appropriate fee
- Applicants must provide a list of locations at the time of application and include the appropriate fee
- removed the sunset altogether.
- It is just a placed-in-the-sunset provision. I urge adoption. Questions on passage of the bill.
Summary:
The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment.
The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies.
Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 01/28/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Is that where the fee changes are?
- fees for our DPM licenses.
- Those are our proposed fees. It's page nine, but there's the proposed fee for the fiscal year 26.
- Um, yes, I see the proposed fees.
- Our fee is around the initial application fee and the annual renewal fees to cover regulating HMOs.
Summary:
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations.
The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less.
The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed.
The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation May 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The May revision proposes statutory changes to authorize a fee to be used for documents submitted to
- It includes $8.4 million General Fund one-time to offset lower-than-anticipated fee revenues in recent
- It includes $8.4 million General Fund one-time to offset lower-than-anticipated fee revenues in recent
- , like, parking, but I have never seen exorbitant fees at East Bay Parks.
- The sunset is on January 1st, 2027.
Summary:
The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure.
The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Basically, what this amendment is doing is putting a sunset on it and a cap.
- Now speaking about long term, I noticed that you're eliminating a sunset.
- So let's not get too excited about sunsets in bills because we know what happens with sunsets.
- The other thing, I know there's not sunsets in here.
- This bill does remove a sunset that is in place, so it's just one, but there is one sunset that it would
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services Apr 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Issue number seven is child care family fees deduction.
- providers collect the fee directly and therefore deduct it from the providers' fee.
- . ...and 350 families who are currently paying fees.
- And it's supposed to sunset June 30th of this year.
- We do, it's a fee for service.
Summary:
The committee heard an extensive Department of Social Services presentation on child care budget issues, including the Governor’s proposed 2026-27 budget, federal CCDF changes, Prop. 64 revenue adjustments, and a one-time $11.5 million disaster-related infrastructure grant for licensed child care facilities affected by 2025 declared disasters. DSS said federal formula updates and lower Prop. 64 revenues would reduce funding and could result in about 4,176 CCTR slots being reduced, but the department said it was working to avoid impacts to currently enrolled children. The LAO supported aligning general child care funding with lower revenues and asked for more detail on the disaster grant. Members pressed DSS and Finance on why reductions were not being backfilled and why so many awarded slots remain uncontracted or unused; DSS said delays are largely due to providers building new infrastructure, licensing, staffing, and enrollment challenges, and that some unspent funds revert to the General Fund. The committee also discussed whether some contract dollars should be shifted to vouchers and whether more flexibility should be allowed for infrastructure and expansion costs.
A second panel focused on the state’s commitment to expand child care and on rate reform. DSS reported that nearly 125,000 new slots have been awarded since 2021-22, but speakers from Stanislaus County Office of Education, Parent Voices California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that unmet need remains large and that the system still leaves many families without access. Stanislaus County described a large local shortage of infant and toddler care and said reimbursement disparities between child care programs and state preschool create disincentives for providers. Parent Voices gave testimony about the burdens and instability families face when trying to access care, especially for survivors and low-income parents, and called for a universal, publicly funded system. The Budget Center said only about 16% of eligible children were enrolled in 2024, urged expansion across the mixed delivery system rather than concentrating investment in TK, and called for faster rate reform and new revenue. LAO estimated that bringing certain CCTR adjustment factors up to CSPP levels would cost $88 million to $131 million ongoing. Members and witnesses discussed the single rate structure, automation needs, and the need for deadlines and a ramp-up plan; DSS said the goal is to eliminate disparities, but that policy decisions are still needed before automation can proceed.
The committee then reviewed several trailer bill proposals. DSS outlined a 2026-27 COLA proposal that would apply a 2.41% increase through cost-of-care-plus payments, though the department said it had inadvertently excluded CalWORKs Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program and would revise the proposal; LAO recommended making the COLA methodology uniform across programs. DSS also proposed replacing the market rate survey with the federally approved alternative methodology on a triennial schedule, limiting temporary absences in family child care homes to 20% of monthly hours, defining excessive unexplained absences as more than 30 days in a year, and aligning family fee deductions with new federal requirements so providers receive the full voucher value. Members generally supported the temporary absence change and asked about implementation timing for the family fee deduction, with DSS saying it was in contact with Riverside County. The committee also heard a brief update on the Early Childhood Policy Council reappropriation, which would extend unused funds through June 30, 2028 because prior costs came in higher than expected.