Transcript Highlights:

• tackles these challenges by requiring the Department of Water Resources to develop best management practices
• Data centers prioritize water efficiency through best practices, innovative strategies, and collaboration
• Chair, committee members, for allowing me to present Assembly Bill 610, Fair Housing Practices Act.
• Over time, the management, governance, or sustainable environmental practices.
• This includes updating administrative and governance practices to increase efficiency and responsiveness

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of housing, water, and local finance bills, with the chair repeatedly reminding attendees about hearing rules and noting that several measures were being heard without a quorum at first. Early items included AB 407, which would broaden eligibility for state-run loan and financing programs to help small businesses fund environmental, seismic, and ADA upgrades, and AB 93, which would require data centers to estimate and report water use and follow state best practices. AB 93 drew support from water advocates and local government groups, while the Data Center Coalition opposed it, arguing the bill could be overly restrictive, difficult to retrofit, and raise trade secret or security concerns. The committee also heard AB 650 on housing element review, AB 1044 on creating a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency, and AB 523 on allowing proxy voting for single-representative member agencies on the Metropolitan Water District board; all drew broad support from local agencies and related stakeholders and no recorded opposition in the room. Several housing bills were presented as part of a broader fast-track housing package. AB 507 would streamline adaptive reuse of office buildings into housing, especially in downtowns with high vacancy; supporters said it would revive urban cores and help meet housing and climate goals, while the League of California Cities and a few cities opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about one-size-fits-all by-right approval and fee limitations. AB 1294 would create a universal housing application and limit early application requirements; it drew strong support from housing and business groups, with the American Planning Association and League of California Cities seeking more flexibility and input. AB 610 would require local governments to disclose housing constraints in their housing elements and limit new constraints after certification for three years unless disclosed; supporters said it would improve transparency and certainty, while opponents warned it could chill legitimate local policy choices and inclusionary housing requirements. Both AB 610 and AB 698, which would require analysis of the housing and property tax impacts of proposed transfer taxes, were moved out of committee on 7-0 votes after discussion and amendments. The committee also heard AB 1112, which would repeal an outdated Riverside County property tax provision affecting Rancho Mirage; the city argued it was the only qualifying no-low property tax city not receiving the standard minimum and sought equal treatment. After quorum was established, the bill was passed 6-0 with amendments and sent to Appropriations. AB 1021, heard later, would make it easier for school districts and other local education agencies to build employee housing, with the author citing teacher recruitment and retention problems and support from education stakeholders. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance housing production, local fiscal tools, and infrastructure needs, and several authors accepted committee amendments and committed to continued negotiations with opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Severson could kind of walk through the amendment and what the practical impact would be, because as
• to set the limits that an individual claimant can obtain, and I just want to understand what the practical
• </c><00:21:03.760><c> impact</c><00:21:04.240><c> would</c><00:21:04.520><c> be</c> the what the Practical
• impact would be the what the Practical impact would be because<00:21:05.520><c> as</c><00:21:05.640>
• by unlawful persons directly impacted by unlawful acts<00:52:06.839><c> and</c><00:52:07.319><c> practices

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the years and my experience in this body and in the practice of law.
• What we haven't done is practically going in and, and dug holes to identify specific locations to update
• Not necessarily against it, just want to talk about, um, practical application and kind of follow up
• Hopefully, I can offer up some things to consider as far as practical solutions that would help us, um
• Um, those are all normal practices in a suburb and a sub of a sub, those.

Bills: HB206

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Taxpayers should no longer be forced to fund such practices, however well intended.
• <00:12:03.880><c> however</c><00:12:04.200><c> well</c> practices however well practices however well
• If unconstitutional practices are part of what they have set up, that's not legal.
• If unconstitutional practices are part of what they have set up, that's not legal.
• If unconstitutional practices are part of what they have set up, that's not legal.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education met to consider House Bill 4, relating to postsecondary education. Before taking up the bill, the committee adopted a committee substitute. The substitute removed language creating a private right of action and immunity provisions, added a definition of “indoctrinate,” revised language tied to the Attorney General, and added a new section directing the Auditor of Public Accounts to review compliance every four years. If an institution is found out of compliance, it would have 180 days to cure the issue or become ineligible for formula funding increases in the following fiscal year, with an opportunity to petition the Attorney General. The substitute also added language barring licensing authorities from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion training as a condition of initial or renewal licensure. Representative Decker presented the bill as an effort to end what she described as unconstitutional DEI practices in Kentucky’s postsecondary system and to refocus colleges on academic instruction, equal opportunity, and affordability. She argued that DEI offices and initiatives have cost taxpayers heavily and have not improved enrollment outcomes for low-income and underrepresented students. Michael Frasier, testifying in support, framed the bill as an equal-protection measure rather than simply an anti-DEI bill, saying it targets preferential treatment and discrimination while exempting traditional civil-rights compliance offices such as Title IX, disability, and other anti-discrimination functions. He also argued that the bill aligns with recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent and that Kentucky should shift toward socioeconomic-based approaches. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s assumptions and effects. Representative Willner questioned the claim that DEI initiatives caused enrollment declines and asked why the state would not make such programs more inclusive instead of eliminating them. Representative Stalker argued that the bill ignored decades of exclusion in higher education and asked what would replace DEI efforts aimed at closing achievement gaps and preventing brain drain. Supporters responded that the bill addresses unconstitutional preferences and that the state should move toward equal treatment and socioeconomic factors rather than race-based criteria. After discussion, the committee substitute was adopted, and the committee continued consideration of House Bill 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will stop that practice.
• :42.000><c> stop</c><00:08:42.519><c> that</c> this bill will stop that this bill will stop that practice
• :45.600><c> there</c><00:08:45.720><c> are</c><00:08:45.880><c> over</c><00:08:46.160><c> 30</c> practice
• additionally there are over 30 practice additionally there are over 30 state<00:08:46.839><c> agencies
• </c><00:35:37.000><c> for</c> will develop and recommend practices for will develop and recommend practices

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:44 Attendance Roll Call: 00:55 SB 193 (Sen. Girdler): 01:53 SB 9 (Sen. Higdon): 03:22 SB 257 (Sen. Tichenor): 34:14 Adjournment: 50:57, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first took up Senate Bill 193, a simple measure described as restoring wallet cards for jailers to carry when they are outside the jail. The sponsor noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee approved the bill 9-0 for passage to the Senate floor. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Higdon, which would change how the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) treats sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave in retirement calculations. The sponsor argued the bill is intended to address TRS’s financial challenges by standardizing leave rules statewide, limiting TRS retirement credit to 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, requiring districts to pay the actuarial cost for any leave beyond the cap, and adding reporting and oversight requirements for participating agencies. He also said the bill would add 30 days of maternity leave, allow voluntary district contributions for tier four teachers, and direct the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agencies. Committee members asked about how overages would be audited and billed, the cost of a sick day, and how the bill would interact with local leave policies, including paid parental leave in some districts. The sponsor clarified that existing accumulated leave would not be affected, that the bill applies going forward, and that districts could still offer more leave but would bear the added cost. Members also discussed whether the maternity leave language set a cap or a minimum, and one senator noted the bill was intended to preserve personal days while stopping annual leave from being converted into pension credit. No vote on Senate Bill 9 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• values of professional care for children, not to the people that break the rules and avoid best practices
• /c><00:04:54.240><c> human</c><00:04:54.560><c> error</c><00:04:55.120><c> in</c> and avoid best practices
• human error in and avoid best practices human error in this<00:04:55.479><c> field</c><00:04:56.039>
• to hear that this committee takes them seriously and is willing to work hard to figure out some practical
• </c> work hard to figure out some practical work hard to figure out some practical solutions<00:56:36.359

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not practical, that's not reasonable. That is what we are proposing here.
• That's not practical, that's not reasonable.
• That's not practical, that's not reasonable.
• That's not practical, that's not reasonable.
• That's not practical, that's not reasonable.

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Tangible property transactions, practically everything impacts it: national, state, and local legislative
• </c> property transactions practically property transactions practically everything<00:15:12.839><c>
• six-year-old comes in or a 5-year-old as a severe student, they're going to be at that district practically
• ><c> forever</c><00:24:02.159><c> and</c><00:24:02.320><c> they</c><00:24:02.440><c> should</c> practically
• um forever and they should practically um forever and they should just<00:24:02.799><c> be</c><00:24

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development received a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education officials on the final SEEK estimate for fiscal year 2025. Commissioner Robbie Fletcher, Matt Ross, and Chay Ritter explained that SEEK is developed through a consensus process with the Office of the State Budget Director using multiple models and district-level inputs, and that the estimate is a projection made well before actual data are available. They emphasized that the discussion was separate from the pending education-funding lawsuit and described SEEK as one part of a much larger K-12 budget picture. The presenters said the current SEEK estimate shows a statutory shortfall of about $14.7 million, or roughly 0.53% of the appropriation, with additional optional items that could bring the total to about $40.5 million if funds are available. They noted that prior years have sometimes produced excess funds, which are redirected according to budget language rather than automatically flowing back through SEEK. They also reviewed the main drivers of the estimate, including property assessments, average daily attendance, free lunch counts, exceptional child counts, home hospital, and limited English proficiency, and said property assessments have been especially volatile while exceptional child counts and ELL populations are difficult to predict. Members asked about why the estimate missed on some categories, especially special education and ELL, and whether district-level changes were being monitored closely enough. The presenters said KDE does monitor special education counts and will review larger districts and districts with unusual growth, and they acknowledged that exceptional child growth has been hard to forecast. Representative Bojanowski asked about the Cloverport virtual school, and staff said its growth was much larger than projected and accounted for a significant portion of the shortfall. Members also discussed the impact of property value growth, population shifts, illness, and legislative changes on SEEK projections. No vote or formal action was taken, and the meeting ended after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Office of Information Practices with comments. Attorney General with comments.
• 19.520><c> information</c> thank you uh office of information thank you uh office of information practices
• <00:37:20.599><c> with</c> practices with practices with comments<00:37:22.359><c> attorney</c><00:37
• That it is already clear in state law that they can do that, so this is not changing that practice.
• </c><01:13:57.960><c> um</c> so this is not changing that practice um so this is not changing that practice

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a wide range of housing-related bills. HB 295 on Hawaiian homelands drew support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and individual testifiers who described long waits for DHHL housing, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands offered comments noting that lowering the Native Hawaiian blood quantum from 50% to 25% would require multiple legal and federal review steps. The committee also heard testimony on several Hawaii Public Housing Authority measures, including HB 99, HB 1096, HB 1097, HB 1095, HB 1093, and HB 1094, which generally received agency support and little or no public opposition during the hearing. HB 1094 prompted questions about the handling and sale or donation of seized property, and the agency said it lacked capacity to manage that work directly and would need to consult the Attorney General on liability concerns. The committee then heard HB 1056 and HB 1467, both related to a proposed Hawaii Homes or housing resiliency program. DCCA, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported HB 1056, while the Attorney General requested clarification on fund language. The Insurance Commissioner said DCCA was willing to run the program and that strengthening homes would help keep insurance available in Hawaii. For HB 1467, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and Climate Advisory Team also supported the measure, with the Attorney General raising concerns about delegation, the special fund, and extension authority. Testimony on both bills emphasized hurricane retrofits, with some witnesses urging harmonization of the two similar proposals and one witness warning that the bills could conflict with efforts to reduce building-code minimum standards. Other measures included HB 1013 on important agricultural lands, which received support from HHFDC, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, DBEDT, the Agri-Business Development Corporation, and Purple Maiʻa Foundation, with some agencies offering comments. HB 1294 on agricultural workforce housing drew comments from the Attorney General, who said commissions may be established by law rather than by the department itself, along with support from OHA, a council member, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. HB 89 on teacher housing received support from OHA and education groups, while the Attorney General said the bill may have constitutional issues and suggested amendments to set standards for voucher applications. HB 276 on condominiums and HB 528 on residential leases also drew support, with no testimony in opposition. HB 415 on public safety and fire sprinklers generated the most clear split in testimony: the State Fire Council, a fire department representative, and an individual supported the bill, arguing sprinklers improve safety and can prevent major losses, while BIA Hawaii, Pacific Home and Appliance Distribution, NAAP Hawaii, Gentry Holmes, and DR Horton Hawaii opposed it, saying the added cost would worsen housing affordability and that existing codes already address safety. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly closed each bill after testimony and questions, and the hearing moved through the agenda without recorded committee votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• well aware of the consequences of climate change if we do not take any action consistent with past practices
• well aware of the consequences of climate change if we do not take any action consistent with past practices
• well aware of the consequences of climate change if we do not take any action consistent with past practices
• well aware of the consequences of climate change if we do not take any action consistent with past practices
• well aware of the consequences of climate change if we do not take any action consistent with past practices

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1819 is a practical, cost-effective way to protect seniors while keeping them active and connected
• AB 1983 provides a practical solution by allowing CCRCs to adopt a sequential order repayment method

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on April 21 and heard three bills. AB 1819 by Assemblymember Sanchez would require buildings serving 50 or more people to have an automated external defibrillator on site. Sanchez said the bill is intended to protect older adults and other community members by improving access to life-saving emergency equipment; supporters included recreation and park districts and respiratory care professionals. The committee members present voted in favor, and the bill was passed as amended and re-referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. AB 1983 by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio would create an optional sequential repayment method for continuing care retirement communities, allowing entrance fee repayments to be made in the order residents leave rather than waiting for a specific unit to be reoccupied. Rubio and Erickson Senior Living argued the change would make repayments more predictable and equitable while preserving consumer protections. Support also came from LeadingAge California and the California Assisted Living Association. The committee approved the bill and sent it to Human Services, again holding the roll open for later votes. AB 2037 by Assemblymember Patterson would establish a pilot grant program to help seniors and people with disabilities harden their homes against wildfire risk, with Patterson describing it as a way to support property maintenance and reduce wildfire spread. The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, AARP California, and local officials testified in support, and committee members accepted amendments to add another county to the pilot. The committee voted to pass the bill as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. After the initial votes, add-on votes were recorded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such designation shall be made as soon as practical by the appropriate co-chair after providing notice
• SUCH DESIGNATION SHALL BE MADE AS SOON AS PRACTICAL BY THE APPROPRIATE CO-CHAIR AFTER PROVIDING NOTICE

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Budget Subcommittee on Health convened as part of the 2026 Annual Budget Committee, with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members, alternates, and the meeting rules. The chairs reviewed subcommittee procedures, including limits on alternates’ voting rights, no proxy participation, germane-topic restrictions, and the requirement that any report receive an affirmative majority vote from each house’s delegation. The co-chairs outlined the main health budget issues under discussion: the global cap, capital funding, hospital and safety-net hospital funding, early intervention, reproductive health, the Medical Indemnity Fund, aging issues, insurance prior authorization, EMS biomarkers, and nursing home funding. The chair emphasized the state’s responsibility to families affected by the Medical Indemnity Fund. Minority members raised support for restoring the full 15 percent capital Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes, increasing aid for financially distressed hospitals, and addressing home care funding shortfalls. They also urged stronger measures against Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse, warning against budget gimmicks and emphasizing long-term fiscal sustainability, including careful use of any Medicaid savings tied to the federal 1331 health program. The meeting ended with members saying they would continue consultations with each other and staff to work toward a final, on-time budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whatever rule set that is in front of you, that's my general practice, is to bring someone like that
• of a technical nature that maybe I'm not as precisely familiar with. ...of you, that's my general practice

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first considered the gubernatorial reappointment of Clayton Steele to the Board of Environmental Quality. After a motion by Senator Harris and a second by Senator Blaylock, the committee voted by voice vote to send the reappointment to the Senate floor with a recommendation that he be confirmed. The committee then reviewed docket 16-0602-2501 on foster care licensing, presented by Jared Larson of the Department of Health and Welfare. Larson said the temporary and pending rules implement last year’s kin-specific licensure legislation, make a largely cosmetic change to suspension/revocation language, and add a substantive standard allowing the department to deny licensure if it can show by a preponderance of the evidence that an applicant committed disqualifying conduct even without a conviction. Senators asked about the effect of raising the foster parent age limit from 21 to 23 under prior legislation; Larson said participation has increased, he had not heard of downsides, and the department would provide a written summary of the impact. The committee approved the docket by voice vote. Finally, the committee took up docket 16-0613-2501, a pending rule repealing the Emergency Assistance for Families and Children chapter. Larson explained the program is entirely federally funded and the existing state rules were essentially a word-for-word copy of federal law, so the department was repealing the redundant chapter in line with its broader effort to remove rules already covered by higher authority. After no questions, the committee approved the repeal docket by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry, I'm out of practice. Is there any questions for Representative Green?
• Sorry, I see how I'm out of practice. Is there any questions for Representative Green?

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum, welcomed new members and a page, and reviewed digital meeting procedures before taking up three RS introductions. Representative Hill presented RS 32835, an update to the Idaho Code of Military Justice for the Idaho National Guard. He said the proposal would better align military justice procedures with Title 32 Guard operations, improve commanders’ ability to maintain good order and discipline, expand constitutional protections for accused service members, and remove outdated language. The committee asked a few questions about the changes, then moved to introduce the RS, which passed unanimously. Representative Green introduced RS 32973, a follow-up to last year’s transportation-related legislation. She said it would allow government entities receiving federal or other grant funding to make standalone bike and pedestrian facility improvements, and would narrow a violation provision to apply only to elected officials or officers. She declared a Rule 80 conflict because she works as a transportation planner. The committee voted to introduce the RS without opposition. Representative Dygert presented RS 32991, which would make truck inspections valid for 72 hours so vehicles making repeated trips during harvest or logging operations would not be subjected to full inspections each time they pass a port of entry. He emphasized that the bill would not eliminate weigh stops or driver credential checks, only repeated full vehicle inspections. Members discussed the practical impact on farmers and logging trucks, the lack of a current time limit, and the rationale for choosing 72 hours. The committee then voted to introduce the RS, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I first met her when I was in private practice as an attorney, defending a case along with Raul Labrador
• , who was in private practice, defending the protection of American women's sports.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think for auto policyholders, because there are very few practical options for them on property damage
• In a homeowner's case or a commercial case, the practice is to start the litigation and see how the litigation

Bills: HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• I miss practice. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have our clerk, Representative Bello Brook.
• I miss practice. Thank you. Good morning. Um, my name is Marie Bell.
• I miss practice. Thank you.
• <00:17:57.880><c> I</c><00:17:58.080><c> miss</c> practice I miss practice I miss thank<00:18:00.600>
• So the law says we're not liable for it, but in all practicality we have paid the bills.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's anchored in existing law and an existing practice.
• Um, our volunteers and practical exams.
• You know, practically, I think this exists outside of the school day.
• You know, practically, I think this exists outside of the school day.
• You have practically no more than the public<05:40:17.760><c> does.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 40.880><c> nefarious</c> restructuring to continue nefarious restructuring to continue nefarious practices
• . practices. practices.
• To the extent that is public, the Data Practices Act allows us to get it to you.
• act allows us to get it to practices act allows us to get it to you,<01:16:20.440><c> I'm</c><01:16:
• They asked under the Data Practices Practices Practices uh<01:32:20.360><c> Act</c><01:32:20.640><c>

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• has been to have a representative of the The practice has been to have a representative of the group
• This just puts in some really common-sense, practical safeguards for our employees so we know that the
• This just puts in some really common-sense, practical safeguards for our employees so we know that the
• This just puts in some really common-sense, practical safeguards for our employees so we know that the
• </c><00:26:52.400><c> for</c> common-sense, practical safeguards for common-sense, practical safeguards

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all