Video & Transcript : 'access to services' :
Page 451 of 500
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/29/2026 - Joint Legislative Budget Committee
Joint Legislative Budget Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So those are funding staff to do the state-only case management services, and we would be able to move
- And the letter on the 30th you're referring to, it just gets posted for everybody to have access to?
- It just gets posted for everybody to have access to. Mr.
- We're able to isolate that supplemental issue to the Home and Community-Based Services.
- The bills that are paid to these contractors will not be paid, and our access to these services might
Committee:
Joint Joint Legislative Budget Committee
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The next proposal is a governor's proposal authorizing the commissioner of human services access to records
- The next proposal is a governor's proposal authorizing the commissioner of human services access to records
- The next proposal is a governor's proposal authorizing the commissioner of human services access to records
- The next proposal is a governor's proposal authorizing the commissioner of human services access to records
- /c><00:42:47.839><c> request</c><00:42:48.160><c> to</c> services to refer the appeal request to services
Committee:
Senate Finance
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- services in their rural community instead of sending them all the way to Boise to get their MRIs.
- to improve access to care.
- But to have the access to these, I'm not saying that their bills should be paid, but to be able to have
- But to have the access to these, I'm not saying that their bills should be paid, but to be able to have
- And so that's going to harm folks being able to access services. So there are two different things.
Committee:
Senate Health and Welfare
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Five - Thursday, May 7
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- These agencies know how to connect to other agencies to provide access, but not all communities have
- to help more easily access those types of services for those folks in emergency situations, such as emergency
- These agencies know how to connect to other agencies to provide access.
- These agencies know how to connect to other agencies to provide access, but not all communities have
- Speaker, we have the opportunity to see hearing continued to be accessible. Mr.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal by a 125-0 roll call vote. Members then spent a large portion of the morning recognizing special guests, interns, students, and constituents, including school groups, interns, a Savannah Bananas player, and several birthday and personal privilege announcements.
On legislation, the House agreed to conference on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1421. The chamber then took up Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, a bipartisan measure to reauthorize the Missouri Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund and continue support for the Division of Tourism and Missouri Film Office. Supporters from both parties emphasized tourism’s economic importance statewide; the bill passed 136-6.
The House next debated House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1020, an omnibus Department of Revenue bill covering fee office contracting, vehicle registration penalties, Real ID document retention, and other DOR changes. The body adopted an amendment lowering late registration penalties, making document retention opt-in, and restoring a five-year plate option, followed by a second amendment removing cosmetic damage as a basis for rejecting rebuilt-vehicle inspections. The bill then passed 130-10. Later, the House began debate on a combined judiciary/civil legislation bill involving insurance assignment-of-benefits restrictions, anti-SLAPP protections, workers’ compensation and court administration changes, and expungement-related funding; members adopted a title change and several amendments, including one to make attorney-fee awards more even in anti-SLAPP motions, while also debating a proposed St. Louis police legal expense fund amendment and whether it had been properly vetted.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Fifty Three - Thursday, April 16
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, people with disabilities must be assured equal opportunities to full access to public accommodation
- They're empowered to enforce the right to equal access through litigation if necessary.
- We all want those with disabilities to have access, but the process of getting there must be fair to
- We all want those with disabilities to have access, but the process of getting there must be fair to
- That adds 57-08-009 to the part about dogs owned and in service, exempting them from 57-08-009.
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by a vote of 126-2. Members then observed a moment of silence for former Representative Barney Fisher, who was remembered for his Marine Corps service, business career, and House service from 2005 to 2013. The chamber also welcomed several guest groups, including Southern Boone third graders, Lake of the Ozarks Day visitors, and guests connected to autism awareness and other local interests.
The House then took up several third-reading bills. Senate Bill 907, the “Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation,” was amended and passed 148-0; supporters said it would curb predatory ADA website lawsuits and give businesses 90 days to fix problems before suit, while still preserving access rights. House Joint Resolution 159, which would modernize investment authority for the state treasurer and potentially generate about $15 million annually, passed 100-34 after debate over investment safeguards and whether it was too broad. House Bill 2741, requiring CDL holders and applicants to be able to read and speak English sufficiently for safety-related tasks and imposing penalties on operators and carriers, passed 104-22 amid concerns about subjectivity and immigration impacts.
The House also passed House Bill 2474, adding progressive design-build as an optional project delivery method for local governments, by 141-5; House Bill 3076, a Department of Natural Resources cleanup bill exempting agricultural non-point sources from water permitting, by 102-41 after sharp debate over environmental protections; House Bill 2436, revising animal abuse/neglect and impoundment procedures, by 88-54; House Bill 2576, a naming/recognition bill, by 140-3; and House Bill 3175, “Mason’s Law,” allowing health-condition information to be shared with law enforcement during traffic stops, by 147-0. The chamber then announced upcoming committee work and adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2026.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Feb 16th, 2026
Washington Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So what happened during that period when they had high taxation, but high services and resources to put
- We can access it much quicker for our farms to protect the crops that are growing there.
- An act relating to critical access hospital designations in Skagit County and amending...
- This is another hospital bill that we have to change to a critical access hospital so that it can receive
- This is another hospital bill that we have to change it to a critical access hospital so that it can
Summary:
The Senate considered and passed a series of tax, economic, judicial, education, and health-related bills, often after adopting technical or clarifying amendments. Major measures included Engrossed Senate Bill 6347, which restores recent estate tax changes while preserving last year’s increase in the exclusion amount and inflation adjustment; Substitute Senate Bill 6289, directing the Department of Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6162, expanding and simplifying senior citizen property tax relief. Senators supporting these bills emphasized tax administration, economic growth, and relief for seniors, while opponents raised concerns about regressivity, revenue losses, and tax shifts to other taxpayers.
The chamber also passed bills extending or clarifying tax preferences and fees, including Senate Bill 6244 (extending a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products), Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6113 (technical corrections to Department of Revenue tax law guidance, after removing a disputed section on advertising tax invalidation), Senate Bill 6114 (defining “fixture” and “affixed” for real estate excise tax purposes), Senate Bill 5970 (making a senior citizen center property tax exemption permanent), Senate Bill 5832 (raising the motor vehicle arbitration fee to support the Lemon Law program), and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6262 (expanding the vehicle weight threshold for transportation benefit district fees). Debate on these measures centered on whether they were modest administrative updates or additional burdens on taxpayers and businesses.
Several non-tax bills also advanced. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6086 strengthened security for judicial officers and court personnel, with amendments clarifying terminology and adding industrial appeals judges to the definition of judicial officers. Substitute Senate Bill 5961 transferred early literacy programs, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read, from DCYF to OSPI. Senate Bill 5868 added one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties, and Substitute Senate Bill 5923 reclassified a Skagit County hospital as a critical access hospital to improve reimbursement and help it remain viable. The Senate also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5520, revising the Wrongly Convicted Persons Act to improve compensation procedures, despite debate over whether to include civil detention-related claims. Most bills passed by constitutional majorities, with a few recorded nays and one division vote on an amendment; the Senate then adjourned until the next scheduled session.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Access to capital is very important.
- Access to capital is very important.
- Access to capital is very important.
- Access to capital is very important.
- and to provide better our local farmers like access to capital our local farmers like access to capital
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Environment
Summary:
The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes.
The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge.
Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Each of the three provider types offers comparable services to individuals with disabilities.
- It says the unlicensed employee may not have one-to-one contact with a resident or access their personal
- So it looks like we're removing the requirement for that person to maintain direct line-of-sight access
- And to that, I would like to see background checks being conducted prior to them being able to work in
- His recommendation is to eliminate one piece of a rate increase, so it's not getting rid of the service
Committee:
House Health and Welfare
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Banking and Finance Committee Apr 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- AB 2116 does not eliminate access to capital. It does not ban merchant cash advances.
- It ensures that access to capital is fair, transparent, and responsible.
- while preserving their access to needed capital.
- And we have to get very creative when it comes to the emerging technologies and the access to capital
- Services Association, certainly we're opposed to the bill in print.
Summary:
The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met and first approved the consent calendar, which included AB 2028, AB 2425, and committee bill AB 2795, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also noted that AB 2558 and AB 2746 had been pulled from the agenda. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including acceptance of written testimony and rules against disruptive conduct.
The committee then heard AB 2116, which would require registration and basic conduct standards for certain small-business financing providers, including merchant cash advance companies, and prohibit confessions of judgment and power-of-attorney provisions before default. Supporters argued the bill would close an oversight gap and improve transparency for small businesses; a small business owner testified that a purported 13% loan turned out to have a 235% APR. Opponents said the bill mixed consumer and commercial regulation and could restrict access to capital, though they supported banning confessions of judgment. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations.
AB 2243, by Assembly Member Haney, proposed creating a state bank commission to study whether California should establish a state bank or other public financing tools. Supporters said a public banking model could reduce borrowing costs, keep more public money in-state, and better finance housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities; opponents from banking groups raised concerns about taxpayer exposure, deposit guarantees, and the use of public funds and existing lending structures. The bill passed and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2350, which would set guardrails on rent-now-pay-later products for rental housing; supporters said these products can lead to high fees, debt, and eviction risk, while industry groups opposed the bill unless amended. AB 2350 passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 11:25 am
West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- and $449,429 to the CHIP services appropriation.
- the Department of Human Services, Division of Human Services, in the following manner: $1,630,466 to
- The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services to develop a statewide prevention
- for convenient access to services within a reasonable distance from a child and family's home, and shall
- area for the child and family to access services.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required.
The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments.
The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Five - Thursday, May 7
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- These agencies know how to connect to other agencies to provide access, but not all communities have
- to help more easily access those types of services for those types of folks in emergency situations,
- of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing continue to be accessible.
- These agencies know how to connect to other agencies to provide access, but not all communities have
- to help more easily access those type of services for those type of folks in emergency. those type of
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 119 May 13th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Bright, also Representative Bacon, concerning creating a task force to study how to expand access to
- Um, and so while this bill is creating a task force to study how to expand access to effective public
- access to recordings.
- Families deserve timely access to information.
- able to... ...the Department of Human Services is able to has the capacity to take this program on now
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education. (3-4-26)
Primary and Secondary Education
Transcript Highlights:
- , that allows for individuals with an honorable discharge from the military to use that service to become
- , that allows for individuals with an honorable discharge from the military to use that service to become
- , that allows for individuals with an honorable discharge from the military to use that service to become
- </c><01:15:06.000><c> to</c> that children having access to that children having access to highquality
- access it. do sacrifice quality to do so.
Committee:
House Primary and Secondary Education
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 26th, 2026 at 01:39 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- And we also brought a social service lens to this work.
- make sure people are getting connected to services.
- make sure people are getting connected to services.
- But we will see, you know, some curtailment in services to go back to mom's shopping list.
- being able to easily... ...access contact information for your delays, just to be able to find the contact
Committee:
House House Appropriations & Finance
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- to was significant increases in federal support. ...other states had access to was significant increases
- Health, 40th in access to health care and performance based on access as well as the number of medical
- energy costs, and reduced access to more affordable early child care.
- It causes cuts in the social services that we're relying on to make us attractive.
- We saw cuts to education, human services, and public health.
Summary:
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on two proposed ballot initiatives: one to reduce the state personal income tax rate from 5% to 4% over three years, and another to revise the state’s tax collection cap/62F process so it would be based on prior-year collections plus wage growth and include surtax revenue. The committee chair and House co-chair outlined the hearing process, and the first witness was Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, who testified as the committee’s subject-matter expert on both measures. He said the income tax proposal would lower taxes broadly but would reduce state revenue by about $5.4 billion when fully implemented, with an estimated $800 million hit in FY27, and he discussed possible effects on competitiveness, taxpayer savings, and public finances. On the 62F proposal, he said the revised cap would make refunds more likely, could have produced several large refunds in recent years, and would reduce stabilization fund deposits and constrain recovery after recessions.
Committee members questioned Howgate about competitiveness, outmigration, prior tax ballot measures, spending growth, MassHealth, and the interaction between the income tax and surtax. He emphasized that taxes are only one part of the state’s overall competitiveness and that housing, public services, and other factors also matter. He also noted that the surtax is constitutionally restricted but can still support ongoing spending choices. After his testimony, the committee moved to the proponents’ panel.
Proponents of both initiatives, including representatives from Taxpayers for an Affordable Massachusetts, the National Federation of Independent Business, Pioneer Institute, and the Mass Opportunity Alliance, argued that the measures would improve affordability, help retain residents and businesses, and support job growth. They cited polling support, outmigration, small-business reinvestment, and comparisons to lower-tax states such as North Carolina. Their economist, Rebecca Paxton, said her model showed smaller revenue losses than critics claim and projected that the revised revenue cap would not create additional annual revenue losses while producing more regular taxpayer refunds. Committee members pressed the panel on competitiveness, prior ballot initiative implementation, and whether the measures would actually address broader affordability pressures; the hearing ended with the committee continuing to take questions from the proponents.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 04/14/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- to that service.
- tied to that health insurance coverage tied to that service. service. service.
- to my community, my family's in service to my community, my family's access<00:35:33.640><c> to</c><
- to to continue in to incent them to to continue in service. service. service.
- </c> ought to have access to. ought to have access to.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Session Mar 12th, 2026 at 11:34 am
West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the Department of Human Services to establish a pilot program to contract for supplemental caseworker
- program to contract for supplemental caseworker aid services for the Bureau for Social Services.
- program to contract for supplemental caseworker aid services for the Bureau for Social Services.
- program to contract for supplemental caseworker aid services for the Bureau for Social Services.
- The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS Care Services
Summary:
The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules.
The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill.
Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee May 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, 21 hours of not having access to water, healthy food, and having to plan for other survival mechanisms
- Twenty-one hours of not having access to water, healthy food, and having to plan for other survival mechanisms
- , but you're not able to provide services, so that becomes a loss of revenue.
- Not having access to water, I think that's very hard to quantify.
- This would be an impact to the General Fund, which means cuts to other general services.
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several tax and revenue measures, beginning with SB 1329 on solar property tax assessment. The author and solar industry witnesses argued the bill would create a uniform statewide method, provide certainty for developers, and exclude tax credits and other intangibles from valuation; county assessors and several counties opposed it, saying it would reduce assessed value and depart from market-based appraisal. The bill was moved to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1406 to close the “Montana tax loophole” used to avoid California vehicle taxes, with support from the California Teachers Association and no registered opposition; it passed 2-0 and was placed on call. SB 984, conforming California law to the federal tipped-income deduction, drew support from the restaurant industry, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and enrolled agents, and passed 3-0 to Appropriations, on call.
Later, the committee considered wildfire- and energy-related tax credits. SB 1084 would create a fire-safe home tax credit for home hardening and defensible space improvements; supporters said it would reduce wildfire losses and insurance costs, and it passed 3-0 on call. SB 1118 would provide credits for backup generators and solar battery systems in high fire-threat areas; the author framed it as a resilience measure for households and small businesses, but members raised concerns about cost, diesel use, and whether the credit would reach lower-income households. The bill was moved 1-0 and placed on call, with the chair and other members noting unresolved budget and policy concerns. SB 1424, expanding a partial sales tax exemption to zero-emission vehicle refueling equipment, received support from hydrogen and electric transportation groups and passed 4-0 on call.
The committee also advanced SB 1249, a senior tax deduction for taxpayers ages 86 to 90, with support from LeadingAge California and senior advocates; members noted it was narrowly targeted and passed 4-0 on call. SB 1113, conforming California tax law to the federal tonnage tax regime for U.S.-flag international shipping companies, drew support from maritime industry groups and opposition from ILWU over the fiscal impact; it passed 4-0 on call. SB 1137, the Medical Expense Deduction Act, would allow a targeted deduction for medical expenses for lower-income taxpayers; supporters said it would help families facing high out-of-pocket costs, and it passed 4-0 on call. Finally, SB 1415 would extend a partial welfare property tax exemption to mixed-income housing that includes moderate-income units; supporters said it would help finance “missing middle” housing, while assessors and housing stakeholders requested amendments and guardrails. The bill was also moved forward on a committee vote and placed on call.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Health Committee Apr 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The people that are part of those cancer registries who are qualified to have access to this information
- while expanding access to FDA-approved drugs that are safe and effective.
- Access to FDA-approved drugs that are safe and effective.
- 70%, and that's due to access.
- It is imperative that we take action to ensure that all patients have access to the care they need without
Summary:
The committee heard several health-related bills, beginning with SB 1124, which would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco point-of-sale locations. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to raise awareness of a screening that many eligible Californians do not know exists; retailers raised concerns about signage size, distribution, and notice to stores. The bill was presented while the committee lacked quorum, so no vote was taken at that time.
Members then heard SB 1150, which would require clearer patient notice when cancer cases are reported to the California Cancer Registry. The author and committee chair emphasized patient awareness and privacy, while registry and university stakeholders said they appreciated the amendments and would continue working on the language. SB 1400 followed, proposing changes to Alameda Health System governance to give Alameda County more flexibility and direct oversight; county and labor supporters said the current structure is too rigid for today’s health care environment, and no opposition was heard.
The committee also heard SB 1094, which would expand substitution of biosimilars and generics to lower prescription drug costs. Supporters, including health plans and Sharp Health Care, said the bill would reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs, while opponents from biotechnology and rheumatology groups raised concerns about pharmacist substitution, patient switching, and therapeutic equivalence. After quorum was established, SB 1094 passed 6-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1314, which would create a statewide definition for smoke shops, impose a 600-foot buffer from sensitive sites, and restrict nitrous oxide sales; it drew broad support from local government, pediatric, and law enforcement groups and passed 6-0 on call. SB 1309, which would eliminate cost-sharing for medically appropriate lung cancer screening follow-up care, also passed 7-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations after testimony from clinicians, advocates, and insurers. Finally, SB 1199 was introduced to ban copay accumulators, with the sponsor and author arguing it would ensure patient assistance counts toward out-of-pocket maximums and improve medication access.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- forward, particularly around how to best balance scale, costs, and access, and, of course, How to best
- At its core, this bill is about making sure that access to EV charging is not limited to single-family
- of access to charging.
- the PG&E service territory to be able to form their own municipal, publicly owned utility.
- the state constitution to provide their own service.
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications