Transcript Highlights:

• We understand that this would actually be better done through an agreement, but we'd ask the committee
• And I believe it was mentioned in UPW's testimony regarding an agreement to set up a program that's being
• The first is a supplemental agreement. The second is an MOU.
• The difference being the supplemental agreement expires with the expiration of the master contract, right
• The first is a supplemental agreement. The second is an MOU.

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• certified mail or by electronic mail to an address designated for notice in the lease or management agreement
• certified mail or by electronic mail to an address designated for notice in the lease or management agreement
• certified mail or by electronic mail to an address designated for notice in the lease or management agreement
• certified mail or by electronic mail to an address designated for notice in the lease or management agreement
• The lease or management agreement.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills related to bribery and public corruption. On SB 2249, which would increase penalties for bribery under certain circumstances, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the measure, arguing that Hawaii’s current class B felony penalty is probationable and too weak to secure cooperation in corruption cases, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Snyder decision narrowed federal bribery prosecutions. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that elevating bribery to a class A felony and making it non-probationable was excessive, overbroad, and would remove judicial discretion. Multiple individuals also testified in support. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about removing deferred acceptance of plea provisions and asked HPD about the $20,000 threshold; the prosecutor said alternative charges could still be used in plea bargaining, and HPD said the threshold aligns with first-degree theft. The committee also discussed how current law tolls the bribery statute of limitations while an official remains in office, with the prosecutor explaining it can extend up to six years total. The committee then heard SB 2494, which would set a nine-year statute of limitations for bribery offenses. The Public Defender opposed the extension, saying the justification based on the length of federal investigations was too broad and that bribery already has a longer limitations period than most felonies. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill, saying bribery cases often involve coordination with federal investigators, that federal and state evidence-gathering methods may differ, and that a longer period would help ensure admissible evidence and allow state prosecution when federal law no longer applies. Members asked whether there were public examples of cases lost to the current limitations period; the prosecutor said he was not aware of any publicly available examples, but maintained nine years was a reasonable period. The committee also considered SB 2737, which would create a misdemeanor for failure by a state or county elected official to report bribery. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and suggested changing the term to “public servant” for consistency with existing law. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the intent but warned the reporting requirement could create Fifth Amendment issues for witnesses who might otherwise be useful in grand jury proceedings. The bill drew broad public support, with 33 supporters and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up SB 3071, which revises sex trafficking and promoting prostitution statutes by redefining “profits from prostitution” and adding an affirmative defense for certain lawful transactions. The Public Defender opposed the measure, saying it still could reach people without the required criminal intent and that the affirmative defense language could be applied unevenly. The Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported the bill, saying it better addresses concerns raised by the State v. Ibarra decision while closing loopholes that allow traffickers to disguise profits as loans or gifts. The prosecutor emphasized that traffickers are sophisticated and can structure transactions to evade current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• It gets the department in line to an agreement.
• </c><00:02:16.239><c> It</c> department in line to an agreement.
• It department in line to an agreement.
• It's a simple direct agreement between a patient and their doctor.
• <00:04:56.080><c> a</c> simple direct agreement between a simple direct agreement between a patient<00

Bills: HF2400 , HF1724 , HF3437 , HF4333 , HF2874 , HF4052

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:22:25.120><c> um</c> a settlement, come to an agreement um a settlement, come to an agreement
• I think it requires both sides to come to an agreement that, okay, we need more time.
• </c><01:43:41.520><c> in</c> adjuster side, come to an agreement in adjuster side, come to an agreement
• </c> the state of non-contractual agreements the state of non-contractual agreements are<02:14:00.400
• </c><02:24:48.640><c> or</c> collective bargaining agreement or collective bargaining agreement or personnel

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Pro Tem, about the intent of preempting the court's decisions, but the agreement...
• The agreement that I just read actually speaks to the agreement from the state of Alabama not to appeal
• You, you sign an agreement... Order. You sign an agreement not to appeal?
• As leader Daniel stated, the court has not instructed Alabama to do anything but comply with the agreement
• In addition, the court adopts the recitation of the party's arguments and agreements, findings of fact

Transcript Highlights:

• But we were having a member prepared, the bill's going to change slightly, but it is an agreement between
• The bill's going to change slightly, but it is an agreement between the Indigent Defender Fund and LMA
• even understand that that was a contract that he pled guilty to, the understanding that was the agreement
• Again, I wasn't around four years ago in 2022 when they made that agreement, so I'm not privy to those
• to see more work done on this with people like you and ARC and others just to get to a place of agreement

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee first handled several housekeeping items, voluntarily deferring HB 123, HB 255, and HB 994 without objection. It then took up SCR 3 by Senator Brock Myers, which would delay and revise implementation of a state police rule affecting criminal history background checks for licensed ambulance personnel and certain health care workers. After adopting Amendment Set 434 to remove a provision involving parish and local law enforcement checks, the committee reported SCR 3 as amended favorably. The committee also heard HB 978 by Rep. Lecombe, which as amended raises the population threshold for municipalities required to remit certain special costs to the District Indigent Defender Fund from under 5,000 to under 9,000; with support from the town of Addis and related stakeholders, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 967 by Rep. Moore, which sought to remove language limiting parole eligibility for certain pre-July 2, 1973 life-sentenced offenders to those who had pleaded guilty, thereby allowing a small group of elderly inmates convicted at trial to seek parole consideration. Supporters argued the bill would only create an opportunity for review, not release, and cited rehabilitation and fairness concerns; opponents, including district attorneys and corrections officials, argued the 2022 law already addressed the intended group and that the current bill would reopen cases involving serious violent crimes. After extended debate, the motion to report HB 967 favorably failed on an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 1107 by Rep. Melerine, a bill on determining intellectual disability in capital cases. The bill, as amended, raised the burden of proof to clear and convincing evidence, set an IQ threshold framework, required expert reports and Daubert-type reliability review, and limited the article to post-conviction capital cases. The Attorney General’s office and district attorneys supported the bill as a way to create clearer procedures and speed resolution of Atkins claims, while criminal defense lawyers, disability advocates, clergy, and medical experts opposed it as inconsistent with current clinical standards and potentially unconstitutional, warning that rigid IQ cutoffs and presumptions could wrongly expose people with intellectual disabilities to execution. The transcript ends during closing remarks on HB 1107, with no final committee vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the work that you've done making sure that both parties are in agreement with all of the
• And what they do is they transfer that purchase agreement to this new buyer. for $200,000.
• And what they do is they transfer that purchase agreement to this new buyer. ...do is they transfer that
• purchase agreement to this new buyer.
• just trying to put a little clarity in this just to make sure that everybody knows what kind of agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota State is our community colleges, your regional comprehensives, and with the reciprocity agreements
• ><c> some</c><00:12:39.760><c> of</c><00:12:39.839><c> the</c><00:12:40.079><c> surrounding</c> agreements
• with some of the surrounding agreements with some of the surrounding states,<00:12:41.440><c> um</c>
• </c><00:15:00.320><c> I'm</c><00:15:00.560><c> looking</c><00:15:00.639><c> to</c> reciprocity agreements
• I'm looking to reciprocity agreements.

Transcript Highlights:

• working, and we have gotten some returns on the data-sharing agreements.
• On the Medicaid and... ...and we have gotten some returns on the data-sharing agreements.
• They’re going to take a plea agreement to come to the reentry court program.
• The DA has to consent to that plea agreement as well.
• We're redoing our MOU and updating our data-sharing agreement to get more of those codes.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee held an oversight discussion on Louisiana’s reentry landscape, with Chair Villio emphasizing that the hearing was informational only and that no bills were being considered. Department of Public Safety and Corrections officials outlined the state’s reentry mission and current programming in state facilities, local jails, regional reentry centers, and STEP facilities. They described services including literacy and GED preparation, career and technical education, industry certifications, postsecondary partnerships, mental health and substance abuse treatment, victim impact and trauma programming, and pre-release assistance such as state IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, Medicaid, SNAP, and driver’s licenses. Officials also discussed a new data-sharing MOU with DCFS for child support matters and a planned “return portal” with Louisiana Works to connect incarcerated people to jobs and training aligned with labor market needs. A major focus was the reentry court program at Angola for men and at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Assistant Secretary DeLouche and Assistant Warden Easley explained that the program is limited to nine judicial districts, requires judge and district attorney consent, and includes a two-year institutional phase followed by three years of intensive supervised probation. Participants must earn a HiSET if needed, complete multiple certifications and life-skills programs, and then petition for resentencing; officials said the program’s current recidivism rate is under 14 percent. They also highlighted specialized offerings such as vocational mentoring, a Braille transcription and repair program, and family-focused events like a father-daughter dance. Testimony from employers and local officials was broadly supportive. Eric Lane described hiring formerly incarcerated workers through the parole project and said the program solved problems he had seen with halfway-house placements by helping people secure housing, IDs, and licenses before release. Sheriff Kevin Cobb said sheriffs are active partners, with 51 of 64 parishes offering some form of programming and more than 75 percent of local facilities providing services; he stressed that local jail programming has grown over time and that data collection is improving. Members repeatedly asked for more data on recidivism, employment outcomes, and what programs are available by parish, and several praised the department and sheriffs for the work already being done. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• to control training data licensing markets, and that was an important issue on which they were in agreement
• It's difficult to enter a licensing agreement where you have no idea what the other side has actually
• Or it's Reddit, who signed a license agreement for content they don't themselves own, but they're getting
• And that agreement moves us closer.
• And that agreement moves us closer. confirmed match labeling within two hours have disputed and human

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and would not include a vote, but was intended to gather information ahead of the next legislative session. Opening remarks stressed the tension between protecting artists’ intellectual property and allowing AI innovation to continue in California, with several members noting the state’s outsized role in both the tech and entertainment sectors. The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits against generative AI companies, and explained that fair use will likely be central, especially the market-effects factor. She said state action is constrained by federal copyright preemption, but transparency, privacy, and deepfake-related regulation may still be possible. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and warned that disclosure rules face enforcement and design challenges. Members asked about market dilution theories, open-source models, user data, machine unlearning, and what California can do without conflicting with federal law. The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation is already harming careers, devaluing creative labor, and enabling digital replicas and style imitation; both supported stronger transparency so rights holders can identify when their work is used and negotiate licenses. Gray said AI is increasingly being used as a productivity tool and pointed to growing partnerships between AI companies and publishers, studios, and record labels, while acknowledging concerns about deepfakes and specific harmful uses. Committee members pressed him on labeling AI-generated content, training-data disclosure, and how to protect creators while still encouraging innovation. No formal action or vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this bill, Senate Bill 402FN, eliminates certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
• </c> agreements for physician associates. agreements for physician associates.
• And it eliminates, as Senator Gray said in his introduction, the non-compete agreements for physician
• This bill eliminates non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward with no impact on
• </c> that everybody's doing this in agreement that everybody's doing this in agreement in<03:05:39.120

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on Senate Bill 401, which DHHS described as a cleanup bill. Testimony from the department explained that the bill would repeal obsolete reporting requirements tied to a repealed municipal reimbursement program and to the now-repealed commission on demographic trends. No one testified in opposition, and the committee voted 12-0 ought to pass, placing the bill on the consent calendar. The committee then heard Senate Bill 402, which would eliminate certain non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward. Senator Gray introduced the bill, and a representative of the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates said it would improve workforce recruitment and access to care without changing scope of practice or affecting existing agreements. Committee members asked about the length of current restrictions and whether the change would make New Hampshire more attractive to PAs. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and sent the bill to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 426, which would repeal the permissible fireworks committee. Senator Uler and the deputy state fire marshal said the committee’s original purpose had been overtaken by later changes adopting federal fireworks standards, and that the fire marshal now has the necessary authority. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 469, a DMV modernization bill allowing electronic signatures in place of wet signatures for certain motor vehicle title and registration processes. Senator Lang, Carvana, the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, Copart, and DMV staff all supported the measure, saying it would reduce delays, errors, and paperwork burdens. Members asked about AI, consumer protections, costs, and how electronic signatures would work in practice, including in cases involving deceased owners. The transcript cuts off during that hearing before any committee action on SB 469.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> add in um joint maintenance agreements add in um joint maintenance agreements and<01:09:59.840><
• Um, the second is related to their agreement, the parents' agreement, with certain questions, and we
• Um, the second is related to their agreement, the parents' agreement, with certain questions, and we
• Um, the second is related to their agreement, the parents' agreement, with certain questions, and we
• c> certain</c><02:53:16.520><c> questions</c> agreement that is with certain questions agreement that

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think there is a bit of widespread agreement that there are changes that need to be made, and some
• agreement, I think, on what those changes are.
• But I think there is a bit of widespread agreement that there are changes that need to be made and some
• agreement, I think, on what those changes are.
• And what all of us were kind of in agreement on is these buildings that we have joint use space.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• structure for data exchange in California related to health care in that it includes a data sharing agreement
• database infrastructure that you could collect and share this information, although you do have agreements
• database infrastructure that you could collect and share this information, although you do have agreements
• treatment authorization processes, provide nursing support, process claims, negotiate provider agreements
• That's going to become more and more difficult as we try to broker these indigent care agreements with

Summary: The hearing focused on the expected health coverage losses tied to H.R. 1, the resulting pressure on California’s county indigent care systems, and what data and policy changes the Legislature may need before the next budget cycle. Chair Hart and Assemblymember Addis framed the issue as a major rollback in coverage that could leave more Californians uninsured and push more people into county safety-net programs. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for baseline, county-by-county data on eligibility, benefits, caseloads, and funding before making larger structural decisions. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained the history of county indigent care under Welfare and Institutions Code 17000, the shift in funding through 1991 realignment, and the later redirection of funds to CalWORKs. LAO said county programs vary widely in scope and eligibility, that current realignment funding does not automatically rise with demand, and that the Legislature faces tradeoffs if it changes the funding structure. Administration witnesses from Finance and DHCS projected large Medi-Cal and Covered California enrollment losses, with DHCS estimating more than 1 million Medi-Cal members could eventually lose coverage under work requirements and redeterminations, and noting that a new federal rule could make exemptions more restrictive. Officials also said there is no single statewide real-time data system for uninsured or indigent care populations, though some hospital and utilization data exists with significant lags. County representatives from Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Tulare described how their indigent care programs are being rebuilt or strained after years of low demand. They warned that many newly uninsured residents will need only basic, emergency-oriented care under county programs, not the preventive and continuous care available through Medi-Cal, and said that without new state support counties may have to divert funds from public health or reduce other services. Several counties asked for bridge funding, technical statutory changes, and flexibility to adjust realignment methodology. The California Health Care Foundation closed by arguing that the problem is statewide and needs a statewide solution rather than a patchwork county response.

Transcript Highlights:

• structure for data exchange in California related to health care in that it includes a data sharing agreement
• database infrastructure that you could collect and share this information, although you do have agreements
• database infrastructure that you could collect and share this information, although you do have agreements
• treatment authorization processes, provide nursing support, process claims, negotiate provider agreements
• That's going to become more and more difficult as we try to broker these indigent care agreements with

Transcript Highlights:

• Good news: we received our NEA partnership agreement. NEA partnership agreement: $942,208.
• , board membership, officers of the board, policy-making relationships, independent contractual agreements
• We have our NEA partnership agreement.
• With the relocation of VFTA to Lynchburg, we want to make sure that the organization is in agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• to address mandatory costs and then expand on priorities that I think the Legislature will be in agreement
• Our campuses must update the articulation agreements for each individual community college, even if the
• Articulation agreements for each individual community college, even if the courses are commonly numbered
• through their transfer evaluation process, again on a voluntary basis, and the updates to transfer agreements
• You have to have an agreement with every single community college because of just the way the system

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think probably one reason if you do it after five years and these hospitals have these agreements that
• mean as in the hospital in Sylacauga, Coosa Valley Medical Center, could enter into some form of an agreement
• Center, could enter into some form<00:23:16.280><c> of</c><00:23:16.440><c> an</c><00:23:16.520><c> agreement
• </c><00:23:17.320><c> with</c><00:23:18.320><c> um</c> form of an agreement with um form of an agreement

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I would respond to the gentleman that that was part of the substitute agreement that we made
• We made that agreement with the nursing home, what he's referring to.
• And so that was the agreement that we made. This is all part of a compromise.
• House Bill 746, which relates to physician assistants, authorization to practice without a practice agreement
• physician assistant after three years of full-time clinical practice to practice without a practice agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligible physicians may receive an award of up to $105,000 in exchange for a three-year service agreement
• Agreement.
• Per our revised agreement executed between CMSP and HCAI in 2025, we receive an annual amount of up to
• , because part of the challenge is a lot of the private insurance arrangements are confidential agreements
• the challenge is a lot of the private, a lot of private insurance, they're sort of confidential agreements

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held a hearing focused first on the impact of H.R. 1 on medical student financing and physician access, then on state residency-support programs. The chair framed the discussion around expected federal Medicaid and student loan changes, warning that higher borrowing barriers could reduce access to medical school for lower-income students and worsen physician shortages, especially in underserved regions. The LAO explained that H.R. 1 would cap federal loans for professional students, eliminate Grad PLUS for new borrowers, and likely shift more students toward private loans with less favorable terms; it said the bigger concern may be who can afford to attend medical school rather than a sharp drop in enrollment. HCAI described three physician loan repayment programs—the State Loan Repayment Program, the Stephen M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program, and the County Medical Services Program loan repayment program—and said retention data show many awardees remain in California and in underserved or safety-net settings after service obligations end. University of California and UCSF witnesses described California’s physician workforce shortages, especially on the Central Coast and in rural and agricultural communities, and said affordability, limited medical school capacity, and burnout are pushing some doctors into concierge practice or out of underserved areas. They emphasized that students from low-income backgrounds and underrepresented communities are more likely to be affected by loan limits and that residency location strongly influences where physicians ultimately practice. Members asked about medical school capacity, out-of-state students, residency retention, and whether the state could expand slots or better target aid to keep physicians in California and in high-need communities. Public commenters urged the Legislature to consider shortages in anesthesia, pediatric subspecialties, midwifery, and culturally concordant care, and to support broader workforce pathways and public-service loan programs. The second panel reviewed graduate medical education programs, especially CalMedForce, CalMedForce Plus, and Song-Brown. UC and HCAI said CalMedForce has supported new residency slots since 2018, while Song-Brown funds primary care residency training and has recently supported new programs in rural areas such as Del Norte County. The LAO said the state should decide whether residency support should remain a budget priority, whether these competitive grant programs are the best mechanism, and whether their structures are too rigid or duplicative. It noted that most awardees receive funding more than once and that the programs overlap substantially, suggesting possible coordination or consolidation. A family physician from the California Academy of Family Physicians argued that stable funding for primary care residencies is essential, that many California-trained physicians stay where they train, and that future funding should be more deliberately directed to primary care and high-need communities. The hearing ended with discussion of emergency room crowding, geographic inequities in residency distribution, and HCAI’s plan to develop supply-and-demand models to guide future funding decisions.