Transcript Highlights:

• So we use a variety of tools to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place.
• I have first a request, and that request is that, maybe a little odd here, but so important, so important
• through legislation or through funding.
• Funding requests come in all the time, and in the end they are approved.
• Because today, like every day, legislative oversight matters.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on DTSC’s implementation of SB 158 reforms, including enforcement, community engagement, fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, permitting backlogs, and the Safer Consumer Products program. Senators and Assembly members emphasized protecting overburdened communities and asked how DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety are using their authority to improve accountability, reduce delays, and address hazardous waste facilities and consumer product chemicals. The hearing also included discussion of extended producer responsibility programs and whether DTSC can support them more efficiently, including through coordination with CalRecycle. DTSC Director Katie Butler said the department is now more transparent, accountable, and fiscally stable, citing stronger enforcement actions, an interactive inspections map, expanded community outreach, and emergency response work on the Los Angeles wildfire cleanup. She said DTSC has made progress on fee reform, the hazardous waste management plan, cleanup grants, permit renewals, and safer consumer products rulemaking, including adding microplastics to the candidate chemical list. Board Chair Andrew Rakestraw said the board has held multiple public meetings and hearings, is working on fee rates and performance metrics, and is revising the hazardous waste management plan after public comment, including removing a proposal to send certain contaminated soil to municipal landfills. He also noted remaining concerns about fee structure, permit delays, and the pace of the safer consumer products program. Public witnesses offered sharply different views. A representative of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance said SB 158 reforms have improved permitting and transparency, but urged more attention to risk-based decision-making, reduced duplication, and possible General Fund support for plan implementation rather than relying only on fees. Earthjustice argued DTSC remains too slow and that communities continue to suffer from long-delayed permits and weak protections, urging the Legislature to take a more active role and to prioritize eliminating hazardous substances rather than minimizing costs. Committee members pressed the witnesses on permit renewals, community impacts, and the pace of the safer consumer products program, while DTSC defended its progress and said further legislative collaboration may be needed on hazardous waste management and emerging waste streams.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we finally have a quorum and welcome to the Appropriations Committee on higher education.
• chair, the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education.
• Are you getting support from industry to help fund that has an appropriations committee?
• We are going to request an extension. So we have plenty of time to discuss things.
• And I would request that you do that as you move forward and is Senator Calatayud a remark?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to commend Speaker Rivas for launching a powerful new tool in the legislative toolbox to help
• In the decades since, a steady stream of legislative, administrative, and advocacy efforts built the
• As legislators, we sometimes focus on passing a bill and forget that implementation is where the real
• If someone needs to come... ...that it's being used appropriately, right?
• This review will inform any future legislative work on this topic.

Summary: The committee held an outcomes review hearing on AB 744 and AB 32, two telehealth bills authored by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. Members and witnesses discussed how AB 744 established payment parity for telehealth in the commercial market and how AB 32 expanded Medi-Cal access to audio-only telehealth in appropriate circumstances, especially for patients facing broadband, transportation, language, and other access barriers. The hearing framed telehealth as a permanent part of California’s health care system rather than a temporary pandemic measure, while noting that disparities and implementation gaps remain. First-panel testimony from the California Health Care Foundation and the Center for Connected Health Policy reviewed telehealth trends, evidence of patient satisfaction, and the effectiveness of telehealth for behavioral health, chronic care, and e-consults. Witnesses said audio-only care remains important for patients without reliable internet, but Medi-Cal still has gaps in asynchronous care, FQHC/RHC billing, and remote-only provider participation. Committee members asked about reimbursement, data collection, clinical safeguards, broadband access, language access, and whether telehealth is being used to speed up appointments or reduce disparities. A second panel of providers and advocates described how telehealth has changed practice. A family physician said parity allowed his health system to invest in staffing and scheduling, and that virtual visits help seniors, working patients, and those with mobility or transportation barriers, while still allowing escalation to in-person care or emergency services when needed. Planned Parenthood said telehealth is essential for sensitive sexual and reproductive health services and urged broader Medi-Cal coverage for asynchronous care. A behavioral health clinician from Shasta County said telehealth has been critical for rural patients, though broadband and affordability remain barriers. Public comment from hospital, telemedicine, and consumer groups generally supported telehealth expansion while urging fixes to remaining Medi-Cal gaps and continued access to in-person care.

Transcript Highlights:

• It seems only fitting and totally It seems only fitting and totally appropriate that one of our final
• We worked diligently and hard to move forward legislation that would move forward legislation that would
• In moments like these, I have a simple request: Stay in touch with your request.
• Our Legislative Council and Joint Fiscal Office, whose work this biennium was...
• A chief of staff, a strategic partner, a partner in legislative crime.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the appropriate time, I'd like to move favorable.
• I have the appropriate time and ask we move favorably on this piece of legislation.
• At the appropriate time, I'd like to move favorably on Senate Bill 21.
• Thank you, and now is the appropriate time.
• Okay, this is the appropriate time, so I don't see any more questions.

Bills: SB8 , SB10 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB14 , SB16 , SB17 , SB18 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB416 , SB455 , SB456 , SB477

Committee: House Retirement

Keywords: Municipal Employees' Retirement System, Louisiana, participation, employer, retirement, SB 10, Act 222, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, state police retirement, retirement system funding, employer contributions, actuarial gains, amortization, Permanent Benefit Increase, PBI account, benefit increase reserve, supplemental permanent benefit increase, public retirement systems, state pension, pension funding

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on April 29, 2026, established a quorum, and heard a series of retirement-related bills, mostly cleanup or technical measures affecting various public retirement systems. SB 22 would extend Municipal Employees Retirement System eligibility to certain positions in the Second City Court constable’s office in New Orleans. SB 17 would create a funding deposit account for cost-of-living adjustments for registrars of voters’ employees’ retirement system. SB 455 would allow certain district and parish courts to participate in the Parochial Employees Retirement System. SB 456 would update compensation rules for assigned retired judges, and SB 8 would add the Louisiana Asset Management Pool as a participating employer in MERS. All of these bills were described as aligning statutes with current practice or expanding participation options, and each was reported favorably without objection. The committee also heard several Louisiana State Police retirement bills. SB 10 would repeal outdated priority allocation and retiree raise rules and adjust handling of surplus employee contributions; SB 11 would increase the funding cap for benefit increases from 2.5% to 3.5%; and SB 12 would update membership and definition language to reflect the State Police Commission rather than the Civil Service Commission. SB 18 would repeal a special exception allowing certain MERS retirees to return to part-time work while collecting full benefits, while protecting roughly 30 current participants. SB 20 and SB 21 would update actuarial gain/loss and unfunded liability funding rules for school employees’ retirement and LASERS, respectively, in light of the new permanent benefit increase funding structure. Each of these bills was supported by system officials as cleanup or modernization measures and was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on education and return-to-work issues for teachers and public employees. SB 16 would reduce annual trustee training requirements for retirement system boards from 16 hours back to 12 hours, which witnesses said would better fit smaller systems and match the original intent of the law. SB 13 would similarly update TRSL’s actuarial funding rules after the sunset of the experience account. SB 14, based on a 2025 study work group, would consolidate and simplify TRSL return-to-work rules and expand options for retired teachers, with witnesses emphasizing teacher shortages and the need to retain experienced educators. All three were reported favorably. Finally, SB 416 would allow certain Department of Public Safety and Corrections retirees to return to critical shortage positions after one year, and SB 477 would classify the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as a full-time state employee for retirement purposes. Both bills drew questions and discussion, especially SB 416, and both were reported favorably. The chair announced the committee’s next meeting would be moved from Monday to Tuesday, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He sat next to me for his first two years as a legislator, and we had a kinship.
• And I worked with him, and we passed legislation out of here to exempt houses of worship from that.
• for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155, and request
• has moved that the House refuse to adopt the Senate substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155 and request
• Quit riding our constituents that are just coming here to see their legislative process these unjust

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Out-of-pocket costs at the point of service are a barrier to getting appropriate care.
• In terms of how they might do their calculations, it was taken out at their request, some of them, but
• I would like to hear your response to the request to extend the sunset.
• I've only met or know of one person who actually was a legislator who had a natural LDL in higher age
• I just want to make a request when you're going through your studies.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I request the yeas and nays. Yeas and nays are requested.
• Yay and are request the yays and nays. Yay and are requested. requested. requested.
• </c> important work on this legislation. important work on this legislation.
• I'd request the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays are requested.
• </c> This legislation, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 23, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:38.559><c> personal</c> I request a moment of personal I request a moment of personal privilege
• We move SB5 in the committee reports from Judiciary and Appropriations to the appropriations committee
• </c> uh under the legislation. uh under the legislation.
• Seeing none, a division has been requested. Good. Division has been requested.
• </c> or any other appropriate relief. or any other appropriate relief.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've done. numerous public information requests.
• We are spending precious legislative time toward the end of this legislative session on a bill called
• Well, it's subject to appropriation, but...
• Is that appropriate?
• he requested to God.

Bills: HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24 , HB4 , HB54 , HB775 , HB850 , HB 1122 , HB 1249 , HB1405 , HB2336 , HB2757 , HB3372 , HB3622 , HB4442 , HB4687 , HB4893 , HB5089 , HB5515 , HB5606 , SB10 , SB24 , HB1573 , HB3369

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• We respectfully urge you to support legislation that prohibits vaping in public places.
• If there's legislation, you'll have to testify for it in the public health...
• You had a request?
• Just real quickly, appropriation-wise, we will have an appropriation request before the General Assembly
• Diagnoses and issues so that we ensure that they have the appropriate services when they leave.

Summary: The committee heard extensive public testimony from youth advocates and public health speakers urging action on vaping. Witnesses said flavored products and social media are driving youth use in Arkansas, described nicotine addiction and health harms, and asked lawmakers to prohibit vaping in public indoor spaces, align vape rules with smoke-free laws, and expand prevention efforts. Committee members thanked the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation. The main presentation was an overview of Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded through CMS. State officials said Arkansas received about $209 million for the first year and may receive roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is intended for targeted, locally driven transformation rather than general operating support, debt relief, or new construction, and outlined four initiatives: Heart, PACT, Rise, and Thrive, focused on prevention, access and coordination, workforce development, and technology. Officials said applications would open in the spring, with a reimbursement-based process and a goal of launching all four initiatives by June. Members asked detailed questions about eligibility, rural definitions, school gardens, faith-based and nonprofit partnerships, mobile clinics, EMS, behavioral health, residency slots, and whether urban providers serving rural patients could apply. Officials said the program would favor regional collaboration, could support targeted renovations and expansion of existing programs, and would allow residency growth and some equipment or infrastructure purchases, but not food purchases or permanent new construction. They also said a committee of state health and finance officials would review applications, with heavy technical assistance and an expectation of quick turnaround. The committee also reviewed two DHS/Health Department rules. One implemented Medicaid and CHIP coverage and care coordination for eligible incarcerated youth before and after release, including targeted case management and screening services, with no public comments received. The other updated audiology licensing rules to reflect recent acts expanding scope of practice and changing the renewal deadline. Both rules were reviewed without objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to review the legislation and the language of the legislation before they vote on that language.
• I want it to be fair, I want everybody to have, but it is appropriate for legislative bodies at some
• When it comes to the transparency, it is always appropriate for the chair to identify when an appropriate
• Again, this is not a appropriations committee.
• legislative session.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also IT Special Appropriations C2 requests.
• The I.O. deems a project appropriate for certification.
• I think we can do here getting briefs to the appropriate level. I know there.
• Legislative staff can attend. Us and watch.
• and district legislators.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan Woolsey with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• At the appropriate time, I'm happy to take your questions.
• I am introducing legislation today.
• I am introducing legislation today.
• So if you could, if you're willing, I guess it's a request.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s safety net, focusing on Medi-Cal and CalFresh. The chair and vice chair framed the discussion around major federal changes to work requirements, eligibility redeterminations, immigrant eligibility, and financing rules, while noting the state’s own structural budget deficit and the need for a second hearing later in March on county and safety-net impacts. The first panel included the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Finance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and the Food Research and Action Center. LAO and Finance described H.R. 1 as driving major enrollment losses and cost shifts. LAO estimated that Medi-Cal work requirements and six-month redeterminations could affect 3.5 million people, with 1 to 2 million potentially disenrolled, while CalFresh changes could subject more than 800,000 people to work requirements and cause over 600,000 to lose food assistance. They also highlighted new ineligibility for certain non-citizens, reduced federal matching for emergency Medi-Cal services, tighter provider tax rules, and higher state and county administrative costs for CalFresh. Finance said the governor’s budget reflects about $1.4 billion in new General Fund costs in 2026-27 and a $2.4 billion reduction in federal funds, with larger out-year impacts and up to 2 million Medi-Cal disenrollments by 2029-30. The UC Berkeley Labor Center projected up to 3 million Californians could lose full-scope Medi-Cal by 2028 when H.R. 1 is combined with state budget changes, though it said the state could limit losses by choosing not to apply some new requirements to state-funded populations and by keeping some immigrants in full-scope state-funded coverage. The Food Research and Action Center argued that CalFresh cuts and time limits would increase hunger, homelessness risk, and health costs, while also hurting local economies and increasing administrative burden. Committee members from both parties questioned the fiscal sustainability of Medi-Cal growth, the 11% CalFresh error rate and possible $2 billion penalty, county indigent care costs, and the effect of work requirements; several Democratic members argued the federal changes and state cuts would disproportionately harm low-income Californians, immigrants, and communities of color, while Republican members emphasized program growth, work incentives, and the need for budget restraint. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the consent calendar, I have a request from Representative Maguire to remove 2547 in the OPLC off
• However, the department did provide a conditional approval request.
• It's an unclear legislative intent comment.
• The first was a legislative intent authority comment because the forms do request the applicant or the
• Um they informed me of approval request.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, approving the consent calendar and the minutes. It then took up a Department of Employment Security rule, 24193, where the only issue was that a form had not been incorporated by reference. The department submitted an oral conditional approval request with revised language, and the committee approved the rule conditionally. A second Employment Security rule, 195, raised concerns that the notice language was too broad and vague and could amount to oral rulemaking; because the agency had not yet finalized revised language, the committee granted a one-month waiver so the rule could return next month with a conditional approval proposal. The Department of Safety’s contact person notification program rule, 24237, drew comments about Social Security number collection, unclear drafting on one section, and ambiguity about which application needed a signature. The agency agreed to remove Social Security number references from the rules and forms and to adopt the suggested clarifying language with minor edits. After discussion about why the identifiers were needed, the committee approved the rule conditionally with the oral changes. The committee then moved a previously consent-calendar item, OPLC rule 2547, off consent after Representative Maguire objected that the renewal application form was too health-care-focused and user-unfriendly for other professions; the agency said it would revisit the form, and the committee postponed action until next month without needing a waiver. The final major item was Fish and Game’s HB 2548, which changes licensing and permit rules for taking deer, bear, moose, turkey, and furbearing animals. Staff noted extensive public testimony, including a coalition submission, and said the main dispute was over what data the agency should rely on in setting seasons and take limits. Fish and Game explained that declining trapper participation made capture-per-unit-effort data less reliable, so it also uses hunter surveys and UNH research projects funded in part by federal money; the agency said current trapping removals are very low and do not appear to threaten populations. Committee members and public witnesses questioned whether the agency’s responses to comments were sufficiently specific under the new public-comment law, but no final vote on the Fish and Game rule was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:38.760><c> to</c><00:13:38.880><c> identify</c> uh legislators to identify uh legislators
• have</c><00:25:29.760><c> an</c> My special request to have an My special request to have an informational
• ><c> before</c><00:31:04.560><c> you,</c> Uh the legislation that's before you, Uh the legislation that's
• </c><00:41:31.520><c> That's</c> and other appropriate relief. That's and other appropriate relief.
• :05:09.600><c> this</c><01:05:09.840><c> is</c> similar legislation like this is similar legislation

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We wouldn't be good as legislators.
• That does not include any state appropriated dollars, whether it's straight appropriation or through
• That's appropriating. We are not appropriating. That $7,000 means nothing.
• But I've talked to a few, and I can only commit, because that would be a legislative process and appropriations
• It just is that, from a legislative appropriator standpoint, something doesn't...

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also we've got a new legislative analyst, Ms. Trinity Johnson.
• So this was at the request of the Division of Administrative Law.
• I'd just like to move favor with the appropriate time. Okay. And Rep. Benberg. Yeah, Rep.
• So I would request that we adopt the substitute bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I had legislation last year that worked on fraudulent license plates and tags.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Corrections um at their request. Corrections um at their request.
• </c> it is a request of the JCEC. it is a request of the JCEC.
• </c> not anything that could be legislated. not anything that could be legislated. Correct.
• Um, I'm curious if you feel that it would be appropriate for, uh, given the legislation sets the floor
• </c> sponsors and other legislators? sponsors and other legislators?

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe you requested to have that in your committee.
• </c><00:20:02.720><c> and</c> terms of DHS versus legislators and terms of DHS versus legislators and
• </c> with stakeholders to draft legislation with stakeholders to draft legislation to<00:42:13.560><c
• </c> Laren Hoffman and I provide legislative Laren Hoffman and I provide legislative Council<01:12:26.440
• </c><01:14:45.520><c> still</c> processes that were appropriate still processes that were appropriate

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all