Transcript Highlights:

• mitigation program.
• mitigation program.
• Programs like the California wildfire mitigation program...
• program.
• program.

Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• child care program... ...the program rating levels for every child care program that receives a state
• The first is called a program profile area.
• The first is called a program profile area.
• So that helps our program keep everyone safe.
• they have from their program.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on Washington’s child care oversight and subsidy system, focusing on Working Connections Child Care, licensing, audits, and fraud prevention. DCYF officials said the program serves over 63,000 eligible families, with about 6,600 licensed providers and roughly 2,200 license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor providers. They described annual unannounced licensing visits, complaint investigations, attendance tracking, eligibility verification, random and focused audits, and referrals to the Office of Fraud and Accountability or Office of Financial Recovery when needed. Senators asked about voucher amounts, visit frequency, and what happens when children are not present; officials said the average subsidy is about $2,200 per month, providers are paid directly, and repeated failed visits can lead to license closure. Child Care Aware and provider testimony emphasized the quality system, Early Achievers, and a virtual provider described the practical realities of home-based care and unannounced inspections. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5952, which would standardize the process for waiving high school physical education requirements. The bill’s sponsor said the goal was to make PE waiver decisions consistent across districts so students who move schools are not disadvantaged, especially in six-period schedules with limited room for electives. Student supporters said a uniform process would improve fairness and help students fit in AP, career, or other coursework. Opponents, including PE teachers and the Washington Association of School Principals, argued that PE is a core academic subject, that athletics is not interchangeable with PE, and that local flexibility should remain. The State Board of Education supported the bill, saying current district policies vary widely and a standardized process would improve equity and transparency. Next, the committee took testimony on Senate Bill 5961, which would transfer the Imagination Library of Washington from DCYF to OSPI. The sponsor called it a simple administrative move to align the book-gifting program with early literacy and K-12 education, noting the program serves about 120,000 children in all 39 counties. OSPI and program representatives supported the transfer, saying it better fits the birth-to-grade-three literacy continuum and strengthens accountability. Testifiers highlighted the program’s role in school readiness, early brain development, and access to physical books for young children. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 5969, which would allow a student’s IEP transition plan to satisfy high school and beyond plan requirements if the IEP team chooses. The sponsor, a special education teacher, said the bill would reduce duplication and better support students with disabilities as they transition to postsecondary life. The committee then began hearing testimony on the proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what this program here does; it covers uncompensated care.
• The cancer hospitals are participating in the Florida Cancer Hospital program.
• Meyer, there's a separate supplemental funding program for the Florida Cancer Hospital program.
• all of our state-directed payment programs.
• And certainly looking at the cancer program, and I'm very familiar with the supplemental program that

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met with a quorum present and considered two Agency for Health Care Administration budget amendments related to Medicaid supplemental payments. The first amendment, EOGB 2026-0831, authorized $2.1 billion in budget authority for the Low-Income Pool to support safety-net providers with uncompensated charity care. Members asked about the timing of AHCA’s submission to CMS and whether the program addressed hospital shortfalls for insured patients and CHIP-related concerns. AHCA said approvals have generally been slower under the current federal review process, and the amendment was adopted without objection. The second amendment, EOGB 2026-0875, placed $7.9 billion in reserve for Florida’s Directed Payment Program for Hospitals pending final CMS approval. Senators and representatives questioned the role of hospital attestations regarding hold harmless agreements, whether any agreements had to be unwound, and how long final approval might take. AHCA said all hospitals had submitted attestations, no unwinding was known to be necessary, and approval was expected soon. Members also raised concerns about cancer hospitals, including Moffitt and the University of Miami, not participating in the directed payment program. AHCA responded that those institutions participate instead in a separate Florida Cancer Hospital supplemental payment program, which had already been approved. Both amendments were adopted without objection, and the commission then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is primarily for Title I programming, special education programming, and nutrition programming.
• So these would be programs like adult basic education, library programs, and community education programs
• So these would be programs like adult basic education, library programs, and community education programs
• So these would be programs like adult basic education, library programs, and community education programs
• So these would be programs like adult basic education, library programs, and community education programs

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , undergraduate programs, as well as graduate, non-traditional, and apprenticeship programs.
• programs.
• , and our SESTA programs.
• Last year in this committee, we talked about and voted on a literacy program, an additional program to
• We also have alternative programs.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These programs have to be program.
• program a registered teacher<00:11:56.560><c> apprentichip</c><00:11:57.120><c> program.
• </c> um and I think it's a very good program um and I think it's a very good program and<00:12:04.399
• </c> traditional preparation programs. traditional preparation programs.
• </c><00:26:07.360><c> You</c> You again, I like this program. You You again, I like this program.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:55 26RS SB 22 – 04:52 26RS SB 46 – 0:34:36, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and many programs provide value for non-majors.
• Discontinuing these programs would also produce little salary savings.
• , and all expenditures must be provided solely for the ECAP program.
• within each agency and sub-program within each program; and lastly, balance sheets for all public accounts
• Second, a list of expenditures by program within each agency and sub-program within each program.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held public hearings on several bills before moving into executive session. Substitute Senate Bill 6037 would change how single-city fire protection districts are funded by ending the requirement that a city reduce its levy dollar-for-dollar and instead reducing the city’s statutory maximum rate; testimony was generally supportive from cities and firefighters, while public hospital districts opposed it over prorationing concerns and some witnesses sought amendments on governance and accountability. Senate Bill 6194 would allow cost-based Medicaid reimbursement for rural hospitals on federally recognized Indian reservations, with strong support from Toppenish/Astria representatives and the Yakama Nation, who said the bill is needed to address severe funding inequities and preserve services. Senate Bill 5963 would make Passport to Careers students automatically income-eligible for the Washington College Grant; it drew support from student advocates and foster-youth advocates, with staff noting modest estimated costs. Senate Bill 5909 would require public universities to review and report low-enrollment undergraduate programs and potentially discontinue them after repeated low enrollment; Eastern Washington University supported it as an accountability measure, while faculty and student representatives opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and potentially politicized. Senate Bill 5826 would require public postsecondary student health centers to provide access to medication abortion or referrals and related web information; testimony was sharply divided between supporters who framed it as needed student health access and opponents who raised moral, safety, and budget objections. In executive session, staff briefed a series of bills, including measures on opioid treatment accreditation fees, a pre-K donation account, JLARC report elimination, retirement trust fund expense authority, pension lump-sum thresholds, port employee retirement exemptions, lemon law arbitration fees, LEAP website disclosures, limits on corporate ownership of single-family homes, a permanent senior center property tax exemption, timber tax distributions for school districts, capital project administration rules, and a real estate excise tax exemption for affordable housing. The committee then took action on the listed bills. The committee voted to give due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee for Senate Bills 5872, 5879, 5834, 5835, 5905, 5832, 6177, 5496, 5970, 5994, 6047, and 5647. Amendments were adopted on SB 5834, SB 5905, SB 6047, and SB 5647 before those bills were advanced as substitutes. SB 5988 was noted as taking action later, but no vote on it was recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are programs under our sister agencies, like farmer and the alternative ag burning programs under
• for the SAFER program.
• I've heard that from members at the Farmer Program, Sweet Program; they just are not efficient programs
• Whether or not they do proceed to be part of a program or workforce development certification program
• that program.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the state of agricultural production in California, with opening remarks from the Senate and Assembly Agriculture Committee chairs and Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry emphasizing agriculture’s economic importance and the need for stronger state investment. They highlighted concerns about water scarcity, labor shortages, rising costs, extreme weather, tariffs, pesticide and regulatory pressures, and the lack of agricultural funding in recent climate-related allocations. Aguiar-Curry also urged immediate action on the glassy-winged sharpshooter outbreak, which CDFA said would cost about $18.5 million annually to detect, monitor, and eradicate. The first panel featured CDFA and the Department of Water Resources. CDFA described California agriculture as a $61.2 billion industry producing more than 400 commodities, but also noted farm bankruptcies, rising input and compliance costs, climate stress, trade issues, and crop removals in vineyards and almonds. DWR focused on hydrologic variability, snowpack decline, groundwater overdraft, subsidence, and SGMA implementation, and discussed tools such as forecast-informed reservoir operations, groundwater recharge, basin characterization, and the 2028 water plan update. Members asked about immediate legislative priorities, flood response after 2023, Prop. 4 and greenhouse gas reduction funding, and regulatory alignment; officials pointed to pest control, science-based water management, affordability, infrastructure, and better coordination across agencies. The second panel examined water, climate, and resource sustainability. PPIC presented estimates that SGMA, climate change, and environmental regulations could reduce irrigation water in the San Joaquin Valley by about 20% by 2040, potentially requiring 500,000 to 900,000 acres of fallowing and affecting billions in agricultural GDP and tens of thousands of jobs. UC Merced discussed practical adaptation tools including FIRO, managed aquifer recharge, on-farm recharge, land repurposing, agrivoltaics, and crop flexibility. The Agricultural Energy Consumers Association argued that energy costs are unsustainable, that electricity and natural gas rates are rising sharply, and that state programs supporting climate-smart agriculture, biomass, and food processing need more funding and coordination. Members and witnesses discussed how limited Prop. 4 and GGRF dollars might be used for recharge, conveyance, subsidence mitigation, and regulatory improvements. The final panel addressed workforce innovation and the future of food production. Industry representatives said food and fiber processors cannot pass along rising costs from energy, labor, workers’ compensation, packaging rules, and compliance mandates, and warned that SGMA-driven land fallowing, pest pressure, and abandoned orchards threaten small farms and processing jobs. The Almond Alliance called for periodic review of regulations, stronger invasive species response, and targeted support for orchard removal, ag burn alternatives, and water efficiency. The California Farmworker Foundation described its work providing health, education, and civil assistance services to farmworkers in multiple counties, including health navigation, field-based clinics, and food support, and stressed the needs of an aging labor force and food insecurity in rural communities. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members and witnesses discussing possible future legislation and funding priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:21.160><c> that</c><00:04:21.320><c> was</c> program uh is a uh a program that was program
• Smooy's program, one of the programs that we were able to fund with the RFS program.
• Smooy's program, one of the programs that we were able to fund with the RFS program.
• Smooy's program, one of the programs that we were able to fund with the RFS program.
• </c><01:24:50.360><c> program</c> conservation stewardship program program conservation stewardship program

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's a very, very good program.
• Yes, so we do have a robust program.
• So if you want to get under this year's program, you would apply to the program.
• One advancement that we've made over the past two years is our vessel turn-in program, our V-TIP program
• The program, if you're trying to get in the program today, closes January 29th.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process. Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales. Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• runs, into one chapter titled Federal Welfare Programs.
• The chapter on TANF, which is our Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and our LIHEAP program
• And that said, if they were to go away, the program would cease in Idaho.
• But under the first program, under the eligibility, it only has residency.
• So we can't give these programs that our eligibility team does...

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> programming to post post-secary program programming to post post-secary program to<03:38:40.080>
• I don't want to say this program isn't a good program.
• It is a good program and it's a program we probably need, but we need a lot of programs and somehow we
• It is a program isn't a good program.
• ><c> a</c><03:49:45.520><c> program</c><03:49:45.760><c> we</c> good program and it's a program we good

Committee: House Education Funding

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is a cornerstone of DEED's small business programs.
• This program is a cornerstone of DEED's small business programs.
• This program is a cornerstone of DEED's small business programs.
• This program is a cornerstone of DEED's small business programs.
• This program is a cornerstone of DEED's small business programs.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this program will allow high school students that are in the teacher pathway apprenticeship program
• Um, but anyway, this program expands Kentucky dual credit scholarship program to support future teachers
• </c> Um but anyway, this this uh this program Um but anyway, this this uh this program expands<00:04:
• Own program to invest in schools.
• </c> but there are 26 programs. but there are 26 programs.

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're ineligible for the grant program.
• The upfront is, such as like a grant, similar to a grant program, to stand up the program, and then depending
• They already run really good programs.
• a covered entity in the program.
• The grant program for AI technology will provide a benefit to the state. The program is permissive.

Bills: HB2521 , HB2249 , HB1796

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• Compensated care grant program.
• In this current program or the current program that is already existing? The existing program.
• The Dobbs program. The uncompensated care program. The uncompensated program.
• This is not a separate program into itself. This is the uncompensated care program. Yeah.
• to go to that program and get it covered, instead of having a program that you're saying that you have

Summary: The Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard presentations on several bills, beginning without a quorum and later taking up the measures once a quorum was established. AB 2531 by Assemblymember Irwin would expand California’s uncompensated care grant program so veterans whose federal health coverage does not include abortion services can access abortion care, and would require CalVet to link to abortion.ca.gov. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Equality California, and Reproductive Freedom for All California, said the bill responds to federal restrictions on VA abortion care; opposition from the California Family Council argued it used taxpayer dollars to promote abortion and raised concerns about incomplete information and fraud. Committee members also questioned the bill’s use of “self-identify” for veteran status and the funding structure, with the author indicating openness to looking at proof-of-veteran options. AB 2054 by Assemblymember Gibson would update California’s paid family leave rules so relatives of military service members can qualify when those members are activated for state emergencies, disaster response, or other domestic duties, not just overseas deployment. The Department of Defense sponsored the bill, and Navy Region Southwest testified in support, saying it would improve stability for military families and reflect modern service demands. Members praised the bill and noted recent National Guard deployments for fires as an example of the gap it addresses. AB 2219, the Faster Service for Veterans Act, by Chair Schiavo, would require county veterans service officer vacancies to be filled within 12 months, set accreditation timelines, expand training and public awareness, create a statewide work queue, improve data collection, and require periodic reporting and a unified satisfaction survey. The California Association of County Veterans Service Officers supported the bill, saying it would improve timeliness, accountability, and resource planning. After discussion, the committee voted to pass all of the bills and move them to the next committees: the consent calendar bills AB 1702, AB 1765, AB 2203, and AB 2467 were approved 8-0; AB 2054 passed 8-0 and was re-referred to Insurance; AB 2219 passed 8-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations; and AB 2531 passed 6-2 and was re-referred to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• Through grant-making programs, Through grant-making programs like our California Documentary Project,
• These are outreach programs, education programs, youth programs, job training programs, incubators for
• These are outreach programs, education programs, youth programs, job training programs, incubators for
• These are outreach programs, education programs, youth programs, job training programs, incubators for

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:13.519><c> Sometimes</c> of the interlock program. Sometimes of the interlock program.
• </c> enter the ignition interlock program. enter the ignition interlock program.
• </c><00:20:06.480><c> works</c> interlock program works interlock program works well.<00:20:08.400><c
• </c><00:32:24.320><c> before</c> stay on the interlock program before stay on the interlock program before
• Um the the the language at program.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we compare this to other adult learning programs, the other adult learning programs provide a GED,
• If we compare this to other adult learning programs, the other adult learning programs provide a GED,
• The governor did fund the AEL program. The governor did fund the Goodwill program.
• The governor did fund the AEL program. The governor did fund the Goodwill program.
• So actually, the program has been deficit spending, borrowing money from other programs.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program. Uh, the DAV just met yesterday. program. Uh, the DAV just met yesterday.
• So this is a long program.
• So this is a long program.
• This is a long program.
• </c> creating a new program at MDVA. creating a new program at MDVA.

Keywords: 1183, house