Transcript Highlights:

• as something that was a little bit hopeful has now become very serious, with strong ties that could lead
• Amendment 1 is a technical change to the title, and Amendment 2 provides that if any federal law leads
• Amendment 2 provides that if any federal law leads to the licensure of virtual currency businesses, activities
• Representative Wright, you mentioned that if this were to be adopted, it would lead to a decrease in

Bills: HB744 , HR197 , SB54 , SB79 , SB163 , SB287 , SB375 , SB386 , SB398 , SB469 , SCR5

Committee: House Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Black-led organizations, doulas, midwives, birth workers, and advocates have long been leading with wisdom
• workers, and advocates have<00:20:08.240><c> long</c><00:20:08.560><c> been</c><00:20:08.760><c> leading
• </c><00:20:09.120><c> with</c><00:20:09.320><c> wisdom,</c> have long been leading with wisdom, have
• long been leading with wisdom, compassion,<00:20:10.720><c> and</c><00:20:10.800><c> innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the president and CEO of Bold Moves Worldwide and founder of the Bold Futures Foundation, he leads
• We can either lead with a clear and balanced standard, or we can continue to let technology outpace us
• Maybe it's redundant, but, you know, sometimes the ambiguous nature of language like this could lead
• Maybe it's redundant, but, you know, sometimes the ambiguous nature of language like this could lead

Transcript Highlights:

• Lead by example, maybe, huh? Give me a break. Lead by example, maybe, huh?
• And all three lead me to voting no on this. It's not just about Aaron Dore and all that stuff.
• And that's my concern, is that we're leading our constituents and manufacturers that may be in our areas

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Marchman, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Yes, Mr. President.
• ,<00:27:45.560><c> would</c><00:27:45.720><c> you</c><00:27:45.800><c> please</c><00:27:46.080><c> lead
• </c><00:27:46.320><c> us</c><00:27:46.520><c> in</c> Marchman, would you please lead us in Marchman,
• would you please lead us in the<00:27:47.160><c> pledge</c><00:27:47.560><c> of</c><00:27:47.679><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• 62% of hunters were moderately concerned to extremely concerned that advanced hunting technology may lead
• have far more controlled hunts now than we did in the 1960s, meaning we have fewer available tags, leading
• Failure to regulate advancements in technology will eventually lead to further limits... Days.
• Failure to regulate advancements in technology will eventually lead to further limits on the number of

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• And I say all that to lead up to this: this board was really established and created this whole program
• And say<00:02:05.480><c> all</c><00:02:05.600><c> that</c><00:02:05.800><c> to</c><00:02:05.960><c> lead
• </c><00:02:06.200><c> up</c><00:02:06.360><c> to</c><00:02:07.200><c> um</c> say all that to lead up
• to um say all that to lead up to um this<00:02:08.320><c> board</c><00:02:08.720><c> was</c><00:02:08.880

Committee: Joint Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Transcript Highlights:

• Could lead to eviction. Um, also late fees. Those are all punishments.
• </c><00:16:19.839><c> Could</c><00:16:20.000><c> lead</c><00:16:20.200><c> to</c> paying um on time.
• Could lead to paying um on time.
• Could lead to eviction.<00:16:21.839><c> Um</c><00:16:22.280><c> also</c><00:16:23.480><c> late</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• Approval of this request will allow the department to lead ongoing monitoring, training, and technical
• Approval of this request will allow the department to lead ongoing monitoring, training, and technical
• Approval of this request will allow the department to lead ongoing monitoring, training, and technical
• However, it's too early for us to determine whether this will lead to savings, but we are monitoring

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services heard an overview from the California Department of Aging on the state’s Master Plan for Aging, including progress at the five-year midpoint, local aging and disability action plans, HCBS gap analysis, workforce work, and stakeholder engagement. The Legislative Analyst’s Office noted the department’s budget was relatively flat but flagged federal H.R. 1 pressure on nutrition-related programs. Members discussed how H.R. 1 and broader federal and state budget pressures could affect older adults through other programs, even where the Department of Aging itself had no direct cut. The committee also heard a stakeholder request from the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging for $62.3 million to support Older Californians Act services, with Finance cautioning that any added ongoing spending would worsen out-year deficits. The committee then reviewed several Department of Aging proposals, including HICAP modernization to add paid counselors and reduce reliance on volunteers, and senior meal program oversight for virtual congregate/to-go meals under AB 1476. Members also discussed the status of area agencies on aging in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, including a new RFP process in the Central Coast and the need to protect service continuity during transitions. Finance clarified that remaining modernizing Older Californians Act nutrition funds can still be used through June 2029. The Department of Social Services presented a series of items. These included new federal Medicaid Access Rule implementation for IHSS grievance and critical incident systems; housing and homelessness programs for CalWORKs Housing Support, HDAP, Home Safe, and Bringing Families Home, with testimony that one-time funds are expiring and service levels will likely decline; permanent position authority for housing and homelessness administration; a facility management system to replace aging licensing systems; home care services branch solvency and regulations; child care centers in multifamily housing; the Seizure Emergency Response Act; licensing during emergencies and disasters; and the Family Preparedness Plan Act. The committee also heard a detailed exchange about the Autumn Oaks facility in Tulare County, where Senator Grove raised concerns about 53 complaints and the handling of unsafe conditions; CDSS said it is reviewing the matter and has authority to take administrative action even after a license surrender. No votes were taken, and items were held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please remain standing after the prayer as the junior senator from the second leads us in the reciting
• support for new modern electric transmission lines that support an America First economy and will lead
• support for new modern electric transmission lines that support an America First economy and will lead
• support for new modern electric transmission lines that support an America First economy that will lead

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• address the medical at all, but solely just means that they didn't see it just independent, but it also leads
• and if we don't hold the prosecuting attorney to a time requirement for filing the motion, this will lead
• What the department did was take the lead, working with an outside sentencing advisory commission that
• in the population, and then have a boilerplate response to say, as this impacts capacity, it could lead

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but it's good then it's going to lead to probably some bill that says we need $100 million or we
• </c><00:12:14.360><c> it's</c><00:12:14.480><c> going</c><00:12:14.640><c> to</c><00:12:14.760><c> lead
• </c> Um but it's good then it's going to lead Um but it's good then it's going to lead to<00:12:15.480

Transcript Highlights:

• , Representative Dames, and Senator, excuse me, Senator Dames and Senator Klene all are either the leads
• Dames and Senator Klene all are either Dames and Senator Klene all are either the<00:04:17.359><c> leads
• ><c> chairs</c><00:04:18.639><c> of</c><00:04:18.799><c> the</c><00:04:18.959><c> Commerce</c> the leads
• or the chairs of the Commerce the leads or the chairs of the Commerce Committee<00:04:19.680><c> are

Transcript Highlights:

• I could share really bad stories about what that leads to.
• 04.960><c> that</c> share really bad stories about what that share really bad stories about what that leads
• </c> leads to. leads to.

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first took up Senate Joint Resolution 116, sponsored by President Stivers. The resolution directs the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to work over the next year on a statewide framework to improve health care access, especially in underserved and unserved areas. Members discussed physician shortages, maldistribution of doctors, recruitment and retention, loan forgiveness, scholarships, technology, and the connection between health care access and economic development in rural Kentucky. The resolution was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 116, relating to physician assistants and a shift from a supervisory to a collaborative practice model. The sponsor and PA witnesses explained that the bill was heavily revised through a committee substitute after discussions with the Kentucky Medical Association, physicians, and hospitals. They said the substitute keeps physician supervision in place while allowing health care teams to function more efficiently, and they emphasized that the bill is intended to improve access to care, particularly in rural areas with few doctors. Some members supported the compromise and the collaboration, while others raised concerns that expanding PA practice could worsen long-term physician shortages or reduce incentives for doctors to practice in rural Kentucky. The bill passed the committee 7-2 with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed $513 million for the program would lead, on average, to a reduction of about $1,600 per
• This deficit, driven by expanded eligibility and inflation, could lead to cuts in aid for our low- and
• The shortfall could lead to reduced maximum award amounts, stricter eligibility requirements, a reduction
• continue to lose value and supports Californians in efficiently earning higher education credentials that lead

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed $513 million for the program would lead, on average, to a reduction of about $1,600 per
• This deficit, driven by expanded eligibility and inflation, could lead to cuts in aid for our low- and
• The shortfall could lead to reduced maximum award amounts, stricter eligibility requirements, a reduction
• continue to lose value and supports Californians in efficiently earning higher education credentials that lead

Summary: The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action. The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open. In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, they will jointly host the National Civics and Debate Championship and lead major civics immersion
• that every young person in the state of Florida has access to opportunities that can help them grow, lead
• It teaches us how to think, lead, and serve. Programs like this are not extracurricular luxuries.
• It teaches us how to think, lead, and serve. Programs like this are not extracurricular luxuries.

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for CS for HB 1279, a higher education bill focused on Florida’s preeminent universities. The sponsor said the measure would increase access for Florida students, strengthen accountability and transparency, update accreditation references, adjust performance metrics, and address issues such as GPA weighting, engineering credit-hour differences, and certain fee-waiver and dental-program provisions. Members raised questions about the 95% Florida-resident enrollment target, possible funding impacts, Pell Grant metrics, and whether the bill would affect community college pathways; the sponsor said the bill was aimed at first-time-in-college students and that the 95% standard would be measured on a three-year rolling average. After an amendment removing an adjustment to the four-year graduation metric was adopted, the bill was reported favorably by a 17-2 vote. The committee then heard PCS for CS for HB 1059, which would strengthen speech and debate education by designating the Florida Debate Initiative as the statewide organization, supporting coach and judge training, statewide data collection, tournaments, and a Florida Speech and Debate Week. The sponsor and several students and advocates testified that speech and debate builds confidence, civics knowledge, leadership, and opportunities for English learners and other students, with multiple speakers describing how the program changed their lives. Members from both parties spoke strongly in support, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition. Finally, the committee considered PCS for HB 725 on political activity at public institutions of higher education. The sponsor said the bill would standardize campus policies, require notice to students and employees about free-expression and political-campaign rules, and align state practice with federal guidelines while preserving free speech and nonpartisan voter engagement. An opponent argued the bill could create barriers to civic engagement and student organizing, while supporters said it would clarify existing rules and prevent institutions from favoring one viewpoint over another. The sponsor closed by emphasizing that the bill was about information and neutrality rather than restricting speech.

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect this could lead to reduced awards, which would require more funders, more time, and greater
• increase in the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools grant, which enables districts to address water and lead
• We strongly urge you to follow the lead of the House and include this level of funding in your version
• I encourage you to follow their lead and agree with them in supporting the community forest program.

Bills: SB6003 , HB2353 , HB2431 , HB1983

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in New Mexico, and if Oklahoma takes the lead, maybe New Mexico will follow because we're having
• It was, you manage things and you lead people. And so, a principal has to be able to do both.
• But they're the lead people. And that's an extraordinarily different skill set.
• nature of this bill is the structure of the program, and who's going to development, who's going to lead

Bills: SB1632 , SB1594 , SB2045 , SB1251 , SB1884 , SB1250 , SB1630 , SB1262 , SB1374 , SB1292 , SB1432 , SB1199 , SB1790 , SB1481 , SB1614 , SB1734 , SB1437 , SB1489 , SB1718 , SB1778

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• cost increases, also 18.3 million to address food service inflation, and 19.8 million for technology leads
• parameters for the Medicaid nursing home quality incentive program, and revises community-based care lead
• parameters for the Medicaid nursing home quality incentive program, and revises community-based care lead
• the chairs, and Chair Hooper, it's just fantastic to watch the development process over the months leading

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.