Transcript Highlights:

• So progress and great strides continue to be made as a result of some of the thoughtful legislation you've
• We at the department appreciate the legislators' continued commitment to strengthening Florida's behavioral
• continued dissemination of the department's Baker Act training to law enforcement agencies, this legislative
• They're the first responders, but now they, thanks to your legislation, have been afforded additional
• As you'll notice, the department did post on the fiscal portal a couple of items, legislative budget

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive an update from the Florida Department of Children and Families on implementation of House Bill 7021, which revised the Baker Act and Marchman Act and was funded with a $50 million appropriation. Deputy Assistant Secretary Bill Hardin reported that the department has updated reference guides, training, administrative rules, and forms; launched regional behavioral health collaboratives; and created the Office of Children’s Behavioral Health Ombudsman. He said early data show continued declines in Baker Act use, high diversion rates from involuntary examinations through 988, mobile response teams, and care coordination, along with generally positive provider feedback on changes such as allowing psychiatric nurses to initiate emergency treatment orders and clarifying the 72-hour examination period. Hardin also described Marchman Act changes, including a streamlined petition process, remote testimony, improved discharge planning, and a new annual data report. He said the department has completed or is completing multiple training courses for providers and law enforcement, and has adopted or is finalizing numerous rules and forms. He reported that the regional collaboratives are identifying common statewide needs such as service capacity, resource sharing, funding flexibility, and peer support, while the ombudsman office is handling complaints and helping families navigate services. Members asked about whether the current funding is sufficient, future budget needs, outreach for the new ombudsman office, and services for juveniles. Hardin said DCF has posted legislative budget requests for additional forensic FACT services and short-term residential treatment beds, including children’s beds, and noted the ombudsman office is staffed with two FTEs and supported through existing complaint-management and regional systems. He said outreach is being done through regional collaboratives and coordination with other agencies, especially the Department of Education, and that juvenile transport and placement issues have improved with the new law. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not talking about hard bid because that's not legislated the same way.
• We just had the meeting with the legislative committee two weeks ago.
• You know, where that legislation happens, what is, you know, give us the steps to do that.
• But I think in this case, one of the things that—and we're in agreement, I think all of our legislative
• You know, as far as necessarily expecting to walk away from this meeting with three pieces of legislation

Committee: House A&B General Government Subcommittee

Summary: The committee held an interim study on retainage in public construction projects, with representatives from the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma, the Subcontractors Association of Oklahoma, and construction firms discussing how retainage works and whether current law should be changed. AGC speakers said retainage is a statutory tool that helps ensure completion and closeout, and warned that eliminating it could create more problems by shifting leverage to owners or general contractors and leaving contractors with fewer remedies. Subcontractor representatives said retainage often functions as delayed profit, can tie up cash flow for one to two years, and can be especially burdensome for early-phase trades such as dirt work, concrete, and demolition. Several participants explained that retainage is typically withheld from monthly progress payments and paid at final closeout, with current law generally allowing retainage to drop from 5% to 2.5% after 50% completion on public projects. Subcontractors said that in practice they often still have to fight to get the reduced rate applied, and that some owners or construction managers do not follow the statute consistently. They also noted that bonding companies are a last resort but still an important enforcement tool, while AGC cautioned that bond claims and litigation are not ideal substitutes for a workable retainage process. The discussion focused on possible benchmarks or compromise approaches, including line-item or trade-specific release of retainage when work is complete, especially for demolition or other early-finish subcontractors. Committee members emphasized that owner, GC/CM, and subcontractor issues may need different solutions and that the study was intended to gather perspectives rather than produce immediate legislation. No vote was taken, and no formal action was announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• myself privately back in '19 when we were called back for that one-day special session as a new legislator
• 00:03:30.480><c> from</c><00:03:30.799><c> during</c><00:03:31.120><c> the</c><00:03:31.280><c> legislative
• </c> break from during the legislative break from during the legislative session<00:03:32.560><c> uh<
• 26.400><c> always</c><00:04:26.560><c> said</c><00:04:26.639><c> is</c><00:04:27.120><c> if</c> legislator
• What I had always said is if legislator.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation addresses a critical gap in state law by extending existing buffer zone protections
• We agree and think that this legislation ensures that both protestants and applicants have a clear and
• I want to thank the chairman for introducing the proposed legislation and thank the committee staff for
• Waste Management supports this legislation because the proposal is limited to the scope of discovery,
• Because of this, we believe the legislation will provide a more efficient, transparent, and equitable

Bills: SB2082 , SB2203 , SB2351 , SB2550 , SCR48

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: concrete crushing, hospital proximity, environmental regulation, public health, zoning laws, SB 2203, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, contested case, administrative law judge, ALJ, discovery, scope of discovery, certification, administrative procedure, permit dispute, agency rules, Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen legislation enacted in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York State, Oregon, Tennessee
• See none, moving to our last reso, HR 147, establishing a legislative working group for the continued
• our last reso hr1 147<00:23:38.120><c> establishing</c><00:23:38.640><c> a</c><00:23:38.799><c> legislative
• </c><00:23:39.360><c> working</c> 147 establishing a legislative working 147 establishing a legislative
• Moving on to our last resolution, HR 47, establishing a legislative working group for the continued oversight

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing met on March 21, 2025, first taking testimony on several resolutions related to housing policy and building codes. HCR 1/HR 1 urged HHFDC to continue working with the City and County of Honolulu to transfer roads in the Villages of Kapolei; the committee noted one supportive testimony from HHFDC. HCR 66/HR 60 sought action by the State Building Code Council to authorize point access block, or single-stair, residential construction up to six stories; testimony included support from Housing Hawaiʻi Future and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaiʻi, and opposition from the AIA Hawaiʻi State Council. HCR 67 asked state and county officials to develop a comprehensive strategy for updated building codes; Grassroots Institute testimony was in support and AIA Hawaiʻi State Council was in opposition. HCR 78 addressed housing credits under Act 31, clarifying that qualifying projects approved before July 1, 2031, would remain eligible after repeal; HHFDC and Na Uho testified in support. HR 147 proposed a legislative working group to oversee DHHL’s use of Act 279 funds; DHHL supported the measure, along with one individual supporter who was not present. No public testimony was offered beyond those submissions, and the committee moved to decision-making after a short recess. In decision-making, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HCR 1/HR 1 as is, with several members excused. HCR 66/HR 60 was also passed as is after discussion emphasizing the potential for lower construction costs, more design flexibility, and better ventilation from single-stair buildings. HCR 67 was passed with amendments, including removing the housing committee chairs from the recipient list and adding language calling for reinstating and adequately funding the State Building Code Council so it can carry out its mandate. HCR 78 was passed as is, and HR 147 was passed as is after brief supportive comments about DHHL accountability. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motor Vehicle Commission, the Kentucky Sheriff's Association, our county clerks, and absolutely our legislators
• And absolutely our legislators to help us get these things to where they need to be.
• forget exactly what portion of the bill results in a felony, but when you put the felony in the legislation
• in in the but um when you put the felony in in the in<00:13:51.320><c> the</c><00:13:51.560><c> legislation
• it it does give it in the legislation it it does give it some<00:13:53.920><c> teeth</c><00:13:54.920

Keywords: Roll Call 00:15 HJR 46 Discussion 00:43 HJR 46 Vote 2:58 HB 546 Discussion 04:10 HB 546 Vote 06:00 HB 443 Discussion 07:30 HB 443 Vote 09:35 HB 783 Discussion 10:29 HB 783 Vote 15:29, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered House Joint Resolution 46, a county priority projects resolution. Members approved a committee substitute that added $1.47 million and included Butler, Carroll, Casey, Cumberland, McGoffin, Monroe, and Nicholas counties. The resolution was then reported favorably with a title amendment and an expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee next took up House Bill 546, which creates the local assistance road program and related rules. The committee substitute moved $47 million from the state-supported construction program back to priority projects and amended the Transportation Cabinet budget to unlock I-69 funding tied to Garvey bonds. After discussion about continuing to refine the program, the committee approved the substitute, adopted a title amendment, and reported the bill favorably with an expression of opinion that it should pass. House Bill 443 was then heard, extending the Hal Rogers Parkway from Hazard along Kentucky Route 80 to Perry and Floyd to support future federal funding and four-laning of the corridor. The committee reported it favorably with the expression of opinion that it should pass. Finally, House Bill 783 was presented as a response to temporary tag fraud in auto sales, with testimony from Representative Jackson, Warren County Sheriff Brad Hightower, and the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association. Supporters said the bill adds enforcement tools, including felony penalties for serious violations and discretion for the Motor Vehicle Commission so mistakes are not treated the same as deliberate fraud. The committee voted to report the bill favorably with the expression of opinion that it should pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• Use all of us this day in this new legislative session for your purposes and for Your glory.
• Speaker, I move the reading of the journal at length for the second legislative day be dispensed with
• Next Tuesday, the Alabama Agri-Business Council and Sweet Grown Alabama have their legislative lunch
• at 11:30. ...have their legislative lunch at 11:30 in RSA Plaza next Tuesday.
• We present Him on the wall, but we legislate against everything that is... ...legislate against everything

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Previously, she worked as a legislative research assistant for the Office of Economic and Demographic
• Steve Gros is our chief legislative analyst, and Steve has been with the Florida Senate for 10 years.
• So Marina's our senior legislative analyst. This is Marina's second year with the Florida Senate.
• Auto title and lien fees shows a downward trend, but that's due to legislative changes that moved funds
• It's due to legislative changes. Any further questions for our staff director?

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• We, as a House legislative body, have never had any oversight of this, and it's honestly been very shocking
• We, as a House legislative body, have never had any oversight of this, and it's honestly been very shocking
• The legislative branch should be providing oversight of the executive branch, and so I hope our colleagues
• branch should be providing legislative branch should be providing oversight<00:05:14.039><c> of</c><
• Internally, I think this is the legislative branch doing our work. Our caucus has shown up.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We support this legislation.
• We do support this legislation.
• </c> We do support this legislation. We do support this legislation.
• </c> So you see this is enabling legislation So you see this is enabling legislation basically.<01:06
• , legislation, legislation, would<01:07:14.080><c> it</c><01:07:14.240><c> be</c><01:07:14.360><c> a<

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Buck... what we wanted to do in the legislation. what we wanted to do in the legislation
• </c> unfortunately, we can't always legislate unfortunately, we can't always legislate for<00:26:37.400
• Um and I believe uh legislative report.
• </c> we believe that any legislative we believe that any legislative proposals<01:41:53.200><c> which
• ><c> legislature</c> I encourage this legislator legislature I encourage this legislator legislature

Bills: HF4110 , HF4101 , HF4144 , HF3546

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, medical assistance, data matching, eligibility, reporting, human services, assisted living, health regulations, inspection authority, vulnerable adults, local government, program integrity, high-risk providers, enrollment requirements, fraud prevention, compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it's specified and they're enabling legislation.
• I have complete faith in the legislative system.
• The fair share needs to be mitigated in legislation.
• a reason the governor added water to be a strategic legislative priority this legislative session in
• . towards starting to solve the problem this legislative session.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Considering the same legislation that you are considering today.
• Is there anyone else wishing to testify for or against the legislation?
• In support of the legislation, is that all correct? That is correct.
• The risk to the state is significant without legislative action.
• It's just simply a legislative council draft for House Bill 3353.

Bills: HB4011 , HB2680 , HB4325 , HB4327 , HB4944 , HB1761 , HB4688 , HB3453 , HB40 , HB1707 , HB4749 , HB2322 , HB3647 , HB4139 , HB4081 , HB2203 , HB2100 , HB4170 , HB3104 , HB4623 , HB40

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked on it off and on in a number of legislative sessions.
• We worked on it off and on in a number of legislative sessions.
• The motion is inexpedient to legislate. Is anybody would like to discuss?
• Okay, the motion is inexpedient to legislate. Clerk will call the roll.
• </c><04:04:03.640><c> and</c> business and obviously legislators and business and obviously legislators

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 451, which would create a postconsumer paint stewardship program in New Hampshire. Prime sponsor Representative Karen Ebel described the bill as a bipartisan, broadly supported model based on PaintCare programs used in other states. She said consumers and businesses could drop off leftover paint at participating retailers or municipal household hazardous waste sites, with the paint then collected and recycled by the stewardship organization. She emphasized that the program is intended to reduce landfill disposal, improper dumping, and contamination of groundwater and soil, while also helping municipalities save on hazardous waste handling costs. Members asked several questions about how the program would work and how it would be funded. Ebel explained that the program would be financed by a small fee charged at the point of sale on paint products, not a general sales tax, and that retailers could either list it separately or roll it into the price. She said the fee would cover the Department of Environmental Services’ administrative costs, which were described as minimal, and that the program’s structure was developed with DES and industry input. Questions also addressed whether cans would be recycled and how collected paint would be processed; Ebel said the ACA and PaintCare representatives could provide more detail, but that the paint and containers would be handled through recycling or other approved disposal methods rather than landfilled. Representative Judy Aron, a co-sponsor and chair of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, testified in support, saying the bill had been developed over several years with stakeholders and would keep toxic paint out of landfills while saving municipalities and taxpayers money. Representative Peter Bixby, the ranking member of Environment and Agriculture, also supported the bill, saying his committee had heard it many times and that it had strong bipartisan enthusiasm. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:31.120><c> the</c> legislators intent to allow the legislators intent to allow the authorizing
• </c> legislation, though. legislation, though. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:08:45.359><c> you.
• </c> I got a lot of calls from legislators I got a lot of calls from legislators wondering<02:14:43.199
• </c> specific legislation. That's correct. specific legislation. That's correct.
• </c> was entered into before this legislation was entered into before this legislation was<02:57:08.160

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was like, city of LA, I'm a legislator. I'm going to try to fix this issue.
• It's a rare piece of legislation that will include... It closes this loophole.
• And SB 1349 will direct the LAO, the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• They are back to normal, and this legislation is not needed.
• We've done that work with a couple pieces of legislation.

Summary: The Senate began with a roll call, a moment of silence for the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The body then moved through gubernatorial appointments, confirming Julia Montgomery as General Counsel for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and reappointing Dr. Cynthia Glover Woods, Dr. Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez to the State Board of Education, and George Cardona as Chief Trial Counsel for the State Bar. The Senate also heard a guest introduction welcoming Cal Lutheran University students, faculty, and staff to the gallery. The chamber then took up several resolutions, including SR 111 recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Phobia, and Transphobia; SCR 129 designating part of Highway 152 as the Rusty Arraes Highway; SCR 169 proclaiming October 2026 as Women's Small Business Month; and SCR 173 designating May 2026 as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. All of these resolutions passed, with members speaking in support of Arraes, women-owned businesses, and the public safety and community roles of fairgrounds. The Senate also passed a series of policy bills. These included SB 1154 on best-value procurement for community college public works, SB 1369 on judicial recall safeguards, SB 1106 shortening the data broker deletion timeline under the Delete Act, SB 1417 increasing transparency for mutual water companies, SB 1408 authorizing a future Contra Costa transportation sales tax measure, SB 1172 adding guardrails to local tax sharing agreements, SB 1383 protecting locally adopted labor standards in density bonus projects, SB 1371 barring waste haulers from suspending service during lawful labor disputes, SB 908 streamlining residential window replacement permits, SB 1361 limiting actions taken solely to avoid transit-oriented housing standards, SB 1014 requiring early fee and improvement estimates for housing projects, SB 1272 giving homeowners more time to fix preexisting code violations, SB 1406 targeting the Montana tax loophole, SB 1238 increasing HOA transparency and oversight, and SB 868 creating a plug-in solar framework. Most passed on largely party-line votes, with some Republican members objecting to labor-related or regulatory measures. Later in the day, the Senate approved additional health, education, privacy, and AI measures, including SB 950 on early-onset Alzheimer’s treatment coverage, SB 874 on Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment oversight, SB 1049 on correcting health plan claims, SB 1067 on early math screening, SB 1202 on Medi-Cal outreach amid federal changes, SB 944 on acupuncture coverage, SB 957 on notice for federal subpoenas to social media companies, SB 998 on discrimination prevention coordinators, and SB 1000 on AI content transparency. The final item shown, SB 1056 on protective orders for sexually explicit material involving adult victims, was introduced with the author noting ongoing work on amendments, but the transcript cuts off before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• They may require legislation, and... I think are a little bit more involved.
• They may require legislation.
• There was legislation.
• We also know that legislators are preparing amendments throughout the session.
• We also know that legislators are preparing amendments throughout the session.

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We give them as much direction as we can through legislation.
• But I don't want us, as legislators, to be hit with...
• We've revised our process in response to your legislation, making things more efficient.
• That is something that industry supported during the legislative debate.
• This happened in the legislative session last time about a lot of things.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our speakers are Andrew March, Department of Finance; Helen Kirstein, Legislative Analyst's Office; and
• Our speakers are Andrew March, Department of Finance; Helen Kirstein, Legislative Analyst's Office; and
• One example is chaptered legislation.
• So most of it's chaptered legislation.
• And this new legislation requires us to update that every five years.

Summary: The subcommittee heard extensive testimony on the governor’s proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit, which would provide a $1 to $2 per gallon credit against the diesel excise tax for SAF sold for use in California from 2026 to 2036. The Department of Finance and CARB argued the proposal would help decarbonize aviation, support a long-term transition in the fuel sector, and encourage in-state investment and jobs. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and several outside witnesses recommended rejecting the proposal, saying it is a relatively expensive way to reduce greenhouse gases, could have uncertain or limited net climate benefits, and may shift limited feedstocks away from renewable diesel rather than create additional fuel supply. A major point of debate was whether the credit would mainly benefit California refineries and workers or instead subsidize out-of-state producers while reducing revenue for transportation programs. Supporters, including union members, refinery workers, airlines, Boeing, and airport representatives, said SAF is one of the few viable near-term options for aviation, that California should keep fuel production and jobs in-state, and that the credit would help maintain refinery operations and support the industry’s transition. Opponents, including the LAO, trucking and fuels groups, environmental organizations, and county/road advocates, warned that the proposal could raise gasoline and diesel prices, reduce diesel excise tax revenue for highways and local streets and roads, and provide limited climate benefit compared with other uses of state funds. Some members also raised concerns about feedstock availability, food-system impacts, and whether the policy should be more narrowly targeted if the goal is to support a specific refinery. No vote was taken. The chair stated at the outset that all items on the agenda were being held open for a future hearing, and public comment was taken after the first item because of the level of interest. The hearing then continued with public testimony, which was split between strong support from labor and industry and strong opposition from environmental, transportation, and local government groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• Caitlin O'Neill with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Drew Saldberg, Legislative Analyst, Office.
• We're hopeful the legislators will act to extend this.
• Drew Saldberg, Legislative Analyst's Office.
• The initial report by the Legislative Analyst's Office could be an upwards of 85% reduction.

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear budget-related updates from the Judicial Branch and the Office of Emergency Services, with no votes taken. The Judicial Council supported the Governor’s proposed budget, highlighting $70 million for increased trial court operating costs, additional funding for court-appointed counsel, Court of Appeal case processing, and courthouse construction and facilities. Trial court representatives emphasized staffing retention problems, especially in counties like San Bernardino, and said stable funding is needed to avoid delays and maintain access to justice. Members also discussed the branch’s remote proceedings program, which has been used in more than 6 million hearings statewide since 2022 and was described as especially important in rural areas and for vulnerable litigants; several members urged making the authority permanent rather than extending it temporarily. A major portion of the hearing focused on Proposition 36 implementation. Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains the $130 million provided in the 2025 Budget Act for court workload and pretrial services, but adds no new Prop. 36 court funding. Judicial Council staff reported nearly 35,000 felony Prop. 36 filings in 2025, with most cases still pending and only a small share of treatment-mandated cases already dismissed after treatment. Witnesses said courts are using the funds for staffing, coordinators, clerks, and treatment-court operations, but that workload varies widely by county and that data collection is limited because courts report aggregate information rather than case-level outcomes. The LAO raised a technical concern about the Department of Finance’s Prop. 47 savings estimate and recommended revising the methodology at May Revision. The committee also reviewed the Orange Central Justice Center facility modification project, where the Judicial Council explained that hidden construction deficiencies and fire-life-safety issues caused costs to rise substantially after demolition began. The LAO said the project itself was supportable but recommended that the Legislature set an ongoing funding level for court facilities, require a long-term facilities plan, and consider more oversight of facility modification projects. Finance said it continues to fund courthouse projects individually and through the State Public Works Board, while acknowledging project delays and cost increases. Finally, Cal OES and advocates discussed victim services funding. Cal OES said it administers about $315 million annually for victim service programs, including VOCA-funded services, but federal VOCA allocations have fluctuated sharply and the state has used one-time General Fund backfills to maintain services. Trauma recovery center advocates warned that an 85% reduction in funding would sharply reduce services for survivors of violent crime, while human trafficking advocates urged reauthorization of the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program before funding reverts to pre-pandemic levels in July 2026. Members asked about federal and state funding stability, referral pathways, and the long-term value of these programs in preventing worse outcomes and reducing public costs.