Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I would say that that child should be coming into the child welfare system if they do not have
• Because a child could answer a question that... ...be followed up on with a child because a child could
• child and suggesting to every single child that have you thought about committing suicide?
• and put their child in danger.
• That child is.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education took up SB 1288, a parental rights bill by Sen. Grall, which would expand the Parents Bill of Rights to require written parental consent for minors’ medical care and prescriptions, give parents access to medical records, require parental review/consent for surveys and questionnaires, and restrict use of biofeedback devices without parental permission. The sponsor said the bill is intended to restore parents’ role in major medical decisions and to address concerns about schools or providers collecting sensitive information from children without parents’ knowledge. She said she was open to clarifying language, especially around exceptions and definitions, but maintained that parents should generally be the decision-makers. Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would affect minors who are abused, homeless, estranged from parents, or otherwise without a safe guardian, as well as access to STI treatment, mental health care, contraception, and care after sexual assault. The sponsor repeatedly said children in unsafe situations should come into the child welfare or law enforcement system and that she was open to changes for truly unsafe or unavailable parents, but she rejected the idea that the bill was merely about notification rather than consent. She also defended the survey provisions as a way to stop routine questioning of children about suicide and other sensitive topics without parental awareness, and said the biofeedback language was aimed at school settings where data about children’s anxiety or stress is allegedly being shared with classmates. Public testimony was heavily divided, with many speakers opposing the bill and describing personal experiences with abuse, rape, mental health crises, lack of supportive parents, and the need for confidential access to birth control, STI testing, and counseling. Opponents argued the bill would delay care, endanger vulnerable minors, and reduce access to medically necessary services and surveys that can identify risk. Supporters said the bill would restore parental authority, improve transparency, and protect children from inappropriate surveys and biometric monitoring. During debate, Sen. Berman and Sen. Davis opposed the bill, saying it conflicts with existing law and could harm vulnerable youth, while Sen. Yarborough supported it, arguing that not all parents are bad actors and that the state should not treat all families as if they were. The transcript ends with debate underway and no final vote or action recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• , that child should be removed.
• I mean, it could be if the child is being abused, that the child is going to seek protection through
• If a child is abused that when the child reaches the age of 18, they have 10 years to bring, this has
• Sexual child abuse is easier to prove than physical child abuse.
• And so she took the child.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• if appropriate, obtaining testimony in cases of child fatalities while the child was in state custody
• I'm the founder and executive director of Child First. Child First. I'm a former foster parent.
• Experience in child welfare.
• well-being and child welfare.
• child welfare agencies.

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:40.080><c> care</c> continue to work on child care continue to work on child care throughout
• </c> with children with special needs, child with children with special needs, child care<00:04:53.120
• care funding and transparency and child care funding and spending,<00:05:01.120><c> child</c><00:05:
• You have your traditional child care centers, and then we have family child care homes.
• If you're a family child care home provider but your child is maybe a school-age child getting care somewhere

Committee: House Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to call him my man-child.
• So you'll have the 2024 child abuse and neglect report.
• It always has been substance abuse in child welfare.
• It always has been substance abuse in child welfare.
• They’re looking at all unexpected child deaths...

Transcript Highlights:

• child.
• I think they are trying to respect a child and allow that child to explore in a safe environment.
• Would this bill as is have affected any outcome with your child or the relationship with your child?
• Would this bill as is have affected any outcome with your child or the relationship with your child?
• Has the authority over the child.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a child safety and due process bill that improves how child protective investigations handle complex
• It's a child safety and due process bill that improves how child protective investigations handle complex
• It's a child safety and due process bill that improves how child protective investigations handle complex
• Your child gets sick.
• Your child is discharged on their normal regimen in stable... ...your child is discharged on their normal

Bills: S0042 , S0578 , S0624 , S7018

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first heard SB 624, which would codify DCF’s current practice of allowing batterers intervention programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities so long as participation is voluntary. The bill drew support from faith-based and family organizations, which argued it would restore access to effective rehabilitation options and remove discriminatory barriers. SB 624 was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 42, which would require child protective investigators and child protection teams to rely on qualified medical professionals when a child has a documented pre-existing diagnosis or when a parent requests an exam, and would require clearer notice to parents and custodians at the start of an investigation. Testimony overwhelmingly came from parents, advocates, and disability rights representatives describing cases in which medically complex children were allegedly misdiagnosed as abuse victims and families were separated unnecessarily. Members expressed sympathy and support, and SB 42 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 578, creating an Alzheimer’s disease awareness initiative within the Department of Elder Affairs to promote early detection, brain health education, research updates, and clinical trial awareness, with outreach focused on older adults and at-risk populations. An amendment was adopted to place the campaign within the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative. A caregiver testified about the need for public education and early diagnosis, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7018, a committee bill on child welfare that would extend the definition of “visitor” for foster homes to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success foster youth workforce pilot permanent and statewide, and create a program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to catalog best practices among community-based care lead agencies. The bill was approved as a committee bill and reported favorably. Finally, the Department of Children and Families presented its 2025-26 final funding methodology and rates report for community-based care. Members questioned the proposed tiered model, including insurance costs, risk corridors, prevention funding, performance measures, and regional funding disparities. No vote was taken on the presentation, but members discussed the possible need for follow-up legislation and additional stakeholder input.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> endangering the welfare of a child. endangering the welfare of a child.
• child safety child is there's you know child safety child is taught<01:08:05.680><c> how</c><01:08:05.839
• of the child.
• Her child was granted to her abusive ex. So she picked the child up and left.
• Her child was granted to her abusive ex. So she picked the child up and left.

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to the child care and development programs, the revised budget for child care includes $6.8 billion
• is to replace the Child Welfare Services case management system with a compliant, comprehensive child
• Sarah Batchez with Children Now and Child Poverty, on behalf of the early learning and child care item
• nurturing child care.
• Family child care providers are deeply concerned that in the May revision, it leaves major child care

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major topic was child care and early education, where the Department of Social Services and Department of Finance outlined proposed changes to absorb federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue reductions, shift some funding between child care programs, end funding for prospective pay implementation now that the federal requirement has been rescinded, adjust the alternative payment administration structure, and fund child care infrastructure grants and a Low-Income Investment Fund contract closeout. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the budget makes progress on the structural deficit but recommended maintaining the administration’s solution level, making reserve deposits, and avoiding new ongoing commitments; it also raised concerns about shifting reductions to the California Alternative Payment Program and about the proposed administrative-rate change. Committee members strongly criticized the proposed loss of child care slots and said they would oppose eliminating those slots, while also expressing support for child care as essential infrastructure. The committee then reviewed California State Preschool Program proposals. Finance and CDE described reductions to the preschool COLA from 2.41% to 2.01%, removal of prospective pay funding, and increases for the QRIS block grant, audit support, and rate reform implementation. Trailer bill language would codify age-based rate categories, inclusion-rate documentation, family fee collection rules, portability, and excused absences. CDE supported the QRIS increase and some attendance and family-fee changes, but warned that aligning three- and four-year-old rates could reduce support for three-year-olds and that the budget does not fully cover enrollment growth. Members also questioned whether the preschool and child care slot reductions should be reallocated rather than terminated, and the administration said the reductions were intended to reflect current utilization and avoid harm to currently enrolled families. The hearing then moved to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS said the May Revision includes a one-time CalFood augmentation, funding to cover federal SNAP administrative cost-share pressures, and additional staffing and technical assistance to implement HR 1 changes, including the able-bodied adults without dependents time limit and new non-citizen eligibility rules. The department estimated HR 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people, with roughly 806,000 adults potentially subject to the time limit and about 34,000 non-citizens expected to lose eligibility once fully implemented. Members pressed for stronger harm mitigation, including a $98 million backfill to protect families from losing food benefits, and raised concerns about county workload and the “chilling effect” on immigrant participation. The final portion of the transcript began the IHSS presentation, noting a revised budget of $33.7 billion total funds and $12.8 billion General Fund, with proposed reductions tied to Medi-Cal asset-limit changes and other federal conformity items.

Transcript Highlights:

• winds up in child welfare.
• was of a real child.
• It also increases the market of CSAM, child abuse, and child sex trafficking, even if the images are
• and child sex dolls.
• child sexual abuse.

Committee: Joint Protection and Victim Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• a child care center.
• a child care center.
• A child is taken a gets abducted? A child is taken a parent. parent. parent.
• </c> my child care, which was inh home child my child care, which was inh home child care<00:51:57.440
• </c> and a child fun and play play uh child and a child fun and play play uh child care<00:52:42.160>

Transcript Highlights:

• The state is investing high dollars to support an increased child care, yet family child care providers
• The topic of child care and family child care is complicated and as unique as the businesses and providers
• </c><00:03:30.640><c> care</c> child care yet family child care child care yet family child care providers
• child care and<00:04:09.360><c> family</c><00:04:09.680><c> child</c><00:04:10.000><c> care</c><00:04
• Look at child care provision.

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Now think of this child, the child that did not ask for these learning challenges, the child that did
• And we also work with child care and child protection professionals in our area.
• And we also work with child care and child protection professionals in our area.
• And we also work with child care and child protection professionals in our area.
• or involved child-on-child.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first heard SB 206, which would require cardiovascular pre-screening and blood pressure testing for student athletes beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Chairman Miller said the bill was prompted by concerns about undiagnosed hypertension and sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, and Coach Marcus Scott testified about his own kidney transplant after years of untreated high blood pressure. Members asked about who would perform the screenings and how follow-up would work; the American Heart Association said existing athletic physical processes and referral networks could handle it. An amendment was adopted, and the committee reported SB 206 favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 305, which would require a publicly available statewide career-alignment dashboard showing how degree programs connect to workforce outcomes, including completion, employment, wages, and high-demand jobs. Chairman Edmonds and student task force member Cruz Cassard said the goal was to help students understand job opportunities in Louisiana and reduce the number leaving the state after graduation. Workforce and higher education stakeholders supported the measure as a transparency and workforce-planning tool. The committee reported SB 305 favorably. Next, the committee considered HB 624, a school safety cleanup bill updating references from crisis management plans to emergency operations plans and aligning school emergency language with national standards. Representative Johnson and the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools said the bill would not create new mandates or costs, but would clarify existing requirements. The committee reported HB 624 favorably. The committee then heard HB 1022, as substituted, concerning school-based health care services. Representative Jackson said the bill was intended to clarify that medical decisions in school-based health centers should be made by licensed health professionals, not school staff, while preserving parental consent. Testimony from school-based health center providers supported the bill, but several members raised concerns about consent, parental authority, and whether the language shifted too much responsibility away from schools; the Charter School Association suggested adding more collaborative language. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute and reported HB 1022 favorably by a 10-4 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The previous version also included or interview a child. So the problem was interviewing the child.
• If the child is in harm or they feel the child is in danger, this is the term that the legal.
• We're talking about the child.
• The current policy is to take the child away from the parents or anyone and to take the child to the
• child abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• IF THE CHILD IS UNDER INVESTIGATION THEMSELVES AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE IF THE CHILD IS A VICTIM
• AND SAY THIS CHILD HAS MADE ERRORS IN JUDGMENT BUT WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW THIS CHILD TO FIND A DOCTOR
• OF THE COTTAGE CHILD?
• THE SURVEYS, IF THE CHILD KNOWS THE PARENT IS GOING TO SEE THEIR RESPONSE ON THE SURVEYS, THAT CHILD
• EVERY CHILD DOESN'T HAVE AN ADVOCATE THAT EVERY CHILD NEEDS AN ADVOCATE.

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:32.720><c> Care</c> things among just running a Child Care things among just running a Child
• It includes our child care licensing, child care center, and child care certification teams, and the
• It is for both child care centers and for family child care programs.
• </c> both family child care and Child Care both family child care and Child Care Centers<00:39:26.200
• child care this special family child child care this allows<01:18:11.320><c> for</c><01:18:11.719><c

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• care provider types, family child care and child care centers.
• </c><00:03:51.319><c> um</c> child care and Child Care Centers um child care and Child Care Centers um
• </c> to Child Care Centers and family child to Child Care Centers and family child care<00:05:12.199>
• /c><00:24:46.360><c> Centers</c><00:24:47.240><c> from</c> child care and Child Care Centers from child
• </c> child care centers and for family child child care centers and for family child care<00:41:56.079

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico now has a child welfare system inclusive of the Office of the Child Advocate and the Substitute
• That commitment continues under universal child care. Universal Child Care.
• We can't leave out the child.
• What we show below is child care.
• Child care. We do pull money out of it.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:29.840><c> could</c> child, we used to say that a child could child, we used to say that a
• So if a child goes and help that child.
• So when a child<01:38:44.080><c> um</c><01:38:44.400><c> has</c> child um has child um has um<01:38:46.639
• </c> my child during the day and my child my child during the day and my child again<02:49:58.080><c>
• Even when my child um is my child doing?

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that were mentioned earlier that a child that were mentioned earlier that a child and<00:10:08.480
• </c> Delinquency Statute, 169C of the Child Delinquency Statute, 169C of the Child Protection<00:27:45.279
• The department setting for the child.
• </c> an attorney for that child as well. an attorney for that child as well.
• . child. child. the<00:36:26.000><c> state</c><00:36:26.160><c> of</c><00:36:26.320><c> attorneys</c>

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law