Transcript Highlights:

• So I just want to reiterate strong tax incentives that are competitive.
• We have grown because of the tax incentive.
• He said incentives matter.
• </c><02:59:55.840><c> talk</c> want to say that incentives talk want to say that incentives talk Jurassic
• </c> forgive the pun right this tax incentive forgive the pun right this tax incentive will<03:07:09.520

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MassHealth is paying a $1,000 incentive to try to get service to improve, because we need you. $1,000
• incentive to try to get service to improve because they don't have the levers they're telling us they
• When you live at the intersection of disability and race, systems don't just forget you.
• Susan Racing from Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility. Hi, Doctor.
• The successful use of labels should be a strong incentive for putting a label on gas stoves, clearly

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure opened with logistical remarks about testimony procedures, time limits, accessibility supports, and the large number of witnesses. The first bill discussed was H. 451, which would allow professional license applicants who do not have a Social Security number to use an ITIN instead. Supporters said the bill would help qualified workers, especially immigrants, enter licensed trades and professions without lowering training or testing standards, while addressing workforce shortages. Committee members asked a few questions, and the bill was framed as a uniform statewide licensing reform. The bulk of the hearing focused on S. 210 and H. 1278, two bills aimed at improving wheelchair repair and warranty protections. Supporters included the Attorney General’s Office, disability advocates, wheelchair users, clinicians, and legislators, who described long repair delays, missed work and medical appointments, loss of independence, hospitalizations, pressure injuries, and other harms caused by broken wheelchairs and slow service. They argued for stronger timelines, two-year warranties, required parts availability, loaner chairs, and enforcement mechanisms, with H. 1278 modeled on a Connecticut-style repair deadline and S. 210 focused on warranty protections. Several witnesses emphasized that wheelchairs are essential medical equipment, not ordinary consumer goods. Opposition came from NCart, which said it supports solutions but raised concerns that the bills, as written, could be difficult to implement for complex rehab technology. NCart said some warranty provisions may not fit wear-and-tear components and noted that MassHealth has already taken steps such as preventive maintenance, reduced prior authorization, and transportation support. Other witnesses and advocates countered that the current market is dominated by a few profitable companies and that the legislature needs to impose clear standards because voluntary fixes have not worked. The committee also heard testimony on S. 195, a toxic-free kids bill from Senator Comerford and Representative Hawkins, which would restrict PFAS and other toxic chemicals in children’s products and create disclosure and phase-out requirements. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what it is is currently right now, and we're under this same structure, that it's more incentive pay
• But I did ask for a lifeline: creating hope, opportunity, and incentives for career employment is the
• my district that when we raise the pay, especially for the ISP, that leads to essentially an arms race

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 26, March 3, and March 5, 2026. It then heard Senate Bill 1379, which would raise Idaho State Police’s Project Choice fee from $3 to $8 to help fund trooper pay and recruitment/retention. Senator Woodward and ISP Director Bill Gardner said the agency is understaffed, behind other law enforcement agencies in pay, and losing recruits and experienced troopers; several law enforcement association representatives testified in support. Senator Cole opposed the bill, arguing it could trigger pay increases for local agencies and ultimately higher property taxes, but the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee next advanced House Bill 742, which modernizes vehicle titling by expanding electronic records and shortening lien-release timelines for Idaho dealers; it passed with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 664, dealing with truck speed differentials and allowing more uniform traffic speeds, also passed after testimony from Rep. Pickett and a Farm Bureau representative in support, despite concerns from one senator about truck safety and traffic conditions. House Bill 716, an Idaho Transportation Department cleanup bill, was sent to the floor as well; it updates gas-tax distribution language after ISP’s funding shift to the general fund and increases funding for the local bridge inspection program from $175,000 to $300,000. The committee then considered House Bill 825, which would remove a mandatory 50-cent license plate fee going to the Idaho Heritage Trust and replace it with a specialty plate option tied to America 250; the bill was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. Finally, the committee reconsidered House Bill 629 and adopted an amendment package that would allow electronic vehicle registration while still requiring a physical copy in the vehicle, addressing law enforcement concerns and preserving the bill’s cost-saving goal. The amended bill was then sent to the 14th order for possible amendment, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• side as well, which again, similarly voluntary market, added property coverage, about what the incentives
• to know if you've seen either in the Hawaii market or in other places that you've been working, incentives
• side as well, which again, similarly voluntary market, added property coverage, about what the incentives
• to know if you've seen either in the Hawaii market or in other places that you've been working, incentives
• A quick aside: our model accounts for individual characteristics like age, race, and sex, and we account

Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the goal is to win the long-term economic race, especially against China, the path is clear: more
• and with partners on both sides of the border to identify opportunities to align tax and trade incentives
• and with partners on both sides of the border to identify opportunities to align tax and trade incentives
• And I think you can all be a great partner, Opportunities to align tax and trade incentives, and I think
• exciting operations, Toyota's North American hydrogen headquarters is located in Gardena, Toyota Racing

Summary: The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review. Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund. Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, race- and ethnicity-based bias remain the largest category of reported hate crime in the state
• Race and ethnicity continue to account for the largest share of reported hate crimes.
• Race and ethnicity continue to account for the largest share of reported hate crimes.
• , you know, I see these systems in politics and Wall Street and otherwise where there is so much incentive

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Dentistry was not part of the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program or the High Tech Act as much
• year, we did a five-year analysis of utilization across multiple different cuts of data in terms of race
• When we break it out by race and ethnicity, the Hispanic population continues to be the number one utilizer
• have a dashboard that you can see yearly utilization data that's broken out by geography, zip code, race

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Care Management Meeting opened with a DSS update on the PCMH program. Staff reported the program remained steady at 124 practices, 553 sites, and 2,548 providers, with some month-to-month fluctuation driven by practice consolidation, retirements, and a few practices leaving the program because NCQA requirements were burdensome. Members asked about declining provider and site counts, member attribution trends, and whether PCMH practices overlap with behavioral health homes; DSS said attribution changes are largely due to members becoming ineligible, moving, or getting other insurance, and that PCMH and behavioral health homes are separate programs that coordinate informally. The committee also discussed why some smaller practices leave the program and whether the requirements could be made easier to support retention. The committee then resumed a detailed presentation on the Husky Dental program. The presenter described the dental benefit’s history, the importance of preventive oral health, workforce and consolidation pressures in dentistry, and the lack of interoperability between dental and medical records. Network data showed year-over-year declines in enrolled dental practitioners and service locations, with access gaps concentrated in rural and eastern parts of the state. Appointment availability surveys showed average waits of 38 days for adults and 23 days for children, but much longer waits at FQHCs than private fee-for-service practices. The presenter said Connecticut remains above the national median on CMS pediatric dental quality measures, though sealant rates remain a concern, and noted that preventive care is associated with lower per-member costs. Members raised concerns about provider participation, large practices dropping Medicaid, mobile dental care, and whether the public directory accurately reflects which dentists are actually accepting new patients. The presenter said the plan uses secret-shopper calls, tracks appointment availability, and has begun using place-of-service coding to better identify school-based dental care. She also noted a new MOU with 20 Head Start programs to share data and provide oral health literacy and navigation support. The final major topic was implementation planning for HR1. DSS said CMS guidance was expected in early June and proposed using upcoming meetings to cover medical frailty, communication strategy, and data integration/ex parte verification. Committee members urged the department to create a dashboard to track disenrollments and other impacts of HR1, to build a process for complaints and problem resolution, and to think through cost-sharing, caregiver verification, exemptions, and notices. Members also asked about using existing eligibility structures such as the working-disabled program as a model. The committee agreed to move the next meeting to June 10 by Zoom, with the agenda to be circulated in advance and any PCMH Plus quality data shared if available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another element of our retention strategy is the National Board Certified Teacher Incentive Program.
• And then that board-certified incentive program is a meaningful incentive and compensation boost to our
• And as you see in the report on the race and ethnicity, that we are encouraging students to pursue these
• So the Computer Science Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant provides one-time grant awards of
• The Golden State Teacher Grant gave me a financial incentive to go and to stay where I’m needed rather

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two out of three people who have dementia are women, regardless of race.
• They would have more incentives built into the contract to move children to a more appropriate setting
• It was easier for us to get data because there was less of an incentive to withhold it from us."
• I think there is an incentive.
• So you're always balancing the concern with fee-for-service that there is a perverse incentive to do

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We know these disparities are not caused by race.
• These disparities are not about race.
• Joya Kera Perry, who is the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative: “Race is
• , who is an American law professor and anthropologist that specializes in the intersectionality of race
• But then you can also filter that data already based on race and ethnicity.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know these disparities are not caused by race.
• These disparities are not about race.
• Joya Krayer Perry, who's the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative, 'Race
• , who is an American law professor and anthropologist that specializes in the intersectionality of race
• But then you can also filter that data already based on race and ethnicity.

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities opened with remarks framing the discussion around reproductive and maternal health disparities affecting Latina, Black, and Indigenous women in California. Members emphasized the need to connect state data with lived experience, and the committee heard historical context on coercive sterilization, language access, and the ways immigration status, poverty, and racism continue to shape reproductive health care. The first panel featured Clarissa Ramirez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Sophia Pedrosa of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Kim Robinson of Black Women for Wellness, who described reproductive justice principles, the legacy of eugenics and forced sterilization, community education efforts, promotoras, and the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive care. They also raised concerns about federal funding cuts, fear related to ICE and public charge, and the loss of education and outreach programs that support patients and families. The second part of the hearing focused on maternal health. Matt Green of the California Department of Public Health described persistent racial disparities, including Black birthing people being three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and outlined state efforts such as the Black Infant Health Program, the Perinatal Equity Initiative, the Centering Black Mothers in California report, and a new Black birth equity action plan. Chris Esgera of the Department of Health Care Services explained the state’s birthing care pathway, postpartum care pathway, and Transforming Maternal Health model, including policy changes to support doulas, community health workers, transitional care, and postpartum coverage. He said the department is working through policy updates and payment reforms, with Medi-Cal coverage for pregnant people and 12 months postpartum remaining protected. The final panel included Dr. Nicole Economo and Dr. Kelly McHugh of ACOG, who discussed provider education, anti-racism and implicit bias training, and the need for quality improvement projects focused on closing equity gaps at individual hospitals. They highlighted tools such as the CLEAR Initiative, the Elevate Toolkit, and use of CMQCC data to track outcomes by race and ethnicity. Across the hearing, members repeatedly stressed that community-led solutions, sustained funding, better data, and accountability are needed to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve reproductive health outcomes. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during the hearing, though several policy priorities and ongoing legislative efforts were referenced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll notice that the statistics are broken down for arrests and convictions by race, gender, age group
• So that is just an example of what the data provides for one specific race, gender, and age group among
• And even if our loitering laws are race-neutral on paper, they are highly discriminatory in practice.
• Loitering laws are race-neutral on paper.
• And I do believe that both races are well represented in Johns, all races.

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety held an informational hearing in Pomona on sex work-related crimes and efforts to combat human trafficking. The chair and Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez framed the issue as a major public safety and victim-protection concern, referencing the repeal of the loitering law in SB 357 and the recent enactment of AB 379, which targets buyers of sex rather than sex workers. The hearing was organized into three panels: data and research, policing and anti-trafficking efforts, and courtroom/prosecution impacts. In the first panel, the California Department of Justice presented arrest and conviction data for the repealed loitering statute, noting overall declines from 2019 to 2022 but also explaining that the data did not distinguish clearly between people selling sex, people loitering to sell, and people purchasing sex. USC law professor Hannah Gary summarized a 2021 report finding that law enforcement stings and raids often lack transparency, disproportionately harm Black women, minors, LGBTQ+ people, and undocumented migrants, and rarely achieve the stated goals of protecting victims, prosecuting traffickers, or preventing trafficking. The ACLU of Southern California argued that criminalization of sex work is discriminatory and historically used to police women and people of color, and that laws aimed at buyers still harm sex workers and can increase immigration consequences. Committee members asked about data collection, racial disparities, and whether the new law could worsen profiling; the panelists urged public health approaches, better data, and more survivor services. The second panel featured the California DOJ human trafficking coordinator, Pomona Police Chief Mike Ellis, and survivor advocate Jess Torres of Rising Worldwide. DOJ described its regional trafficking teams, task forces, victim services, and prosecutions, emphasizing a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach. Chief Ellis said SB 357 limited police intervention and contributed to visible open-air prostitution near schools and other sensitive locations, citing complaints from residents and a reported drop in juvenile rescues in Pomona after the law changed; he supported AB 63-style enforcement with safeguards and service referrals. Torres, speaking as a survivor, argued that anti-trafficking policy must be survivor-led, that many youth in the sex trade are boys or LGBTQ youth, and that criminalization and street enforcement often worsen harm and displacement rather than solving the underlying problems. In the final panel, a Riverside County deputy district attorney said AB 63 could help law enforcement make earlier contact with potential victims and identify traffickers, while stressing the need for training, documentation, and oversight. A Los Angeles County public defender argued that prosecuting trafficked people reinforces traffickers’ control, creates lifelong barriers, and retraumatizes survivors, and pointed to diversion programs as a better model. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking began its testimony by describing its survivor services and crisis response work. The hearing ended without any vote or formal action, but with committee members and witnesses continuing to debate the balance between enforcement, data collection, and survivor-centered services.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way our laws work, there’s an incentive.
• If you’re driving drunk and you get into a crash, there’s an incentive to flee because the punishment
• reflected in various state statutes, including prohibiting police from singling people out based on race
• reflected in various state statutes, including prohibiting police from singling people out based on race
• communities through roving patrols that illegally stop, kidnap, and disappear people based on their race

Summary: The committee first heard SB 907, which would strengthen California DUI laws in several ways, including mandatory Watson advisements when DUI charges are reduced, judicial discretion for consecutive sentences in cases with multiple victims, enhancements for repeat felony DUI offenders and certain hit-and-run cases, and adding vehicular manslaughter offenses to the violent felony list. The author and supporters, including prosecutors, law enforcement, and victims’ family members, described the bill as a response to repeated, preventable tragedies and argued it would close loopholes and increase accountability. Opponents, including criminal defense and civil liberties groups, raised concerns about duplicative penalties, legal overreach, and the violent-felony and sentencing provisions. Committee members were divided but generally supportive of stronger DUI enforcement; the bill was moved out on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with the three-strikes provision removed and the bill kept on call. The committee then heard SB 1015, aimed at online child exploitation and extortion networks. The bill would create a new offense for adults who recruit, direct, coerce, or use minors to harm or exploit other children, and it would also allow limited misdemeanor or felony charges for minors engaged in extreme coercive conduct, with diversion available for juveniles. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, and child-safety advocates, said the bill addresses a fast-growing cybercrime problem involving grooming, blackmail, self-harm, and organized online groups using minors as intermediaries. Opponents argued existing laws already cover much of the conduct and warned against criminalizing adolescent behavior, urging the Legislature instead to focus on platform accountability. The committee nevertheless advanced the bill on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with members emphasizing the need to address evolving online harms. The committee also heard SB 1285, which would clarify that juvenile court dismissals under Welfare and Institutions Code section 782 remain a broad “general dismissal” remedy, separate from record sealing, so that eligible youth can more fully avoid future collateral consequences. Supporters said the bill would restore the intended effect of prior juvenile justice reforms and help young people access employment, education, military service, and licensure without lingering barriers. There was no opposition after one group withdrew its objection, and the bill was moved to the floor on a do-pass motion. SB 1342 followed, a technical cleanup measure for automatic record clearance laws that would prevent outdated pending charges from blocking relief, require local court records to match DOJ updates, and create a way for people to obtain written proof of clearance; it also advanced to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1330 was heard to extend existing assault-and-battery protections for certain workers to utility workers; supporters described rising assaults and even shootings against crews, while one utility worker opposed the bill as only increasing penalties after the fact rather than preventing attacks. The bill was moved out on a do-pass motion and left on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way our laws work, there's an incentive.
• If you're driving drunk and you get into a crash, there's an incentive to flee because the punishment
• reflected in various state statutes, including prohibiting police from singling people out based on race
• reflected in various state statutes, including prohibiting police from singling people out based on race
• communities through roving patrols that illegally stop, kidnap, and disappear people based on their race

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• high-profile instances of election fraud, which would assist his profile in the Republican primary race
• If he were to win it, he would then have the same power for the remainder of the year in his race in.
• If he wins, we'll be in a contested race for the U.S. Senate in November of 2026.
• This is the bill we passed earlier today that creates the opportunity and the incentive for political
• subdivisions to work with developers, the business community, builders, and developers to provide an incentive

Bills: HB8 , HB12 , SB 3 , HJR1 , SB 11 , SB 16 , SB 14 , HB 8 , HB 12 , SB 3 , HJR 1 , SB 11 , SB 16 , SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• high profile instances of election fraud which would assist his profile in the Republican primary race
• If he were to win it, he would then have the same power for the remainder of the year in his race in
• Senate and if he wins will be in a contested race for the U.S. Senate in November of 2026.
• Members, this is the bill we passed earlier today that creates the opportunity and the incentive for
• subdivisions to work with developers, business community, builders and developers to provide an incentive

Bills: HB8 , HB12 , SB 3 , HJR1 , SB 11 , SB 16 , SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• and asked to pay back for a training course or are highly paid professionals asked to pay back incentives
• Among them, 83% encountered verbal abuse or insults, 55% were targeted because of their race, and 20%
• detail, we found that 46% of AAPI adults in California, or about 2.8 million AAPI adults, experienced a race-based

Summary: The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee heard and advanced several bills covering workers’ compensation transparency, public pensions, prevailing wage, workplace harassment training, and employee benefits. AB 1048 would require disclosure of the contract justifying reduced workers’ compensation payments to medical providers; supporters said it would improve transparency without changing reimbursement rates, while opponents argued the problem was overstated and existing dispute remedies were sufficient. AB 1601 would give Sonoma County flexibility to target a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees rather than requiring an all-or-nothing COLA; county and union witnesses said retirees have gone without a COLA since 2008 and have lost purchasing power, and the bill passed unanimously. AB 1439 would commission a UC Berkeley study on labor standards in pension-funded real estate and infrastructure projects; labor groups supported it, while local governments, housing, and industry groups opposed it, and it passed on a 4-1 vote after one senator voted no in committee. The committee also heard AB 1697, which would delay implementation of a prior law restricting certain employment debt and pay-to-quit arrangements until 2027; the author said the delay would give employers, including professional sports leagues, time to adjust, while a financial services group sought a further delay to 2028. AB 1803 would require anti-hate speech content in existing workplace harassment training for employers with five or more employees; supporters cited rising antisemitic and other hate incidents and said the bill would help workers recognize and report hate, while opponents raised First Amendment concerns and argued existing harassment law already covers hostile conduct. AB 2120 would extend Los Angeles Unified’s selective certification hiring authority and allow retention of specialized employees in layoffs, and AB 2292 would bar providers from charging administrative fees for disability insurance and paid family leave certification forms; both drew support and were advanced without opposition testimony. AB 1198, the Fair Pay for Construction Workers Act, would require prevailing wage to be based on the time work is performed rather than the date a project is advertised for bid. Labor and contractor supporters said the current rule can lock in outdated wages and underpay workers on long projects and change orders, while cities, counties, and contractor groups warned it would create uncertainty, raise costs, and jeopardize projects funded by fixed grants or bonds. After testimony and questions, the committee voted to send all of the bills forward, with final recorded votes later showing unanimous or near-unanimous approval and several measures placed on call before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and asked to pay back for a training course, or are highly paid professionals asked to pay back incentives
• Among them, 83% encountered verbal abuse or insults, 55% were targeted because of their race, and 20%
• detail, we found that 46% of AAPI adults in California, or about 2.8 million AAPI adults, experienced a race-based

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Beverage Control Administration, the Division of Financial Institutions, the Insurance Commission, Racing
• and the tax. ...administration, the Division of Financial Institutions, the Insurance Commission, Racing
• So this bill provides a significant incentive to use E-Verify, but it doesn't require it.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed House Bill 4245, the Department of Revenue rules bundle covering 27 rules from six agencies. Members withdrew the committee amendment, adopted a floor amendment making changes to two lottery rules and one tax rule related to pre-need cemetery companies, then passed the bill 30-1. The Senate also adopted a title amendment and made the bill effective from passage by a 31-0 vote. Later, when the House rejected the Senate’s amendments, the Senate receded from its amendments and again passed the bill, making it effective from passage. The chamber also adopted several concurrent resolutions from the Rules Committee, including studies on school finance transparency, divorce grounds, the Southern West Virginia water crisis, athletic trainer access in public secondary schools, the eastern gray fox population, upland game bird stamp purchases, and the Public Service Commission. Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, calling for a study of the PSC, was also adopted. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 5381, which expands the Office of Energy’s role to develop a comprehensive energy policy and grid stabilization plan, and House Bill 5412, the Future Ready Education Act, after amending it to require annual vocational and agriculture offerings unless not viable and to set science-of-reading training requirements for K-5 literacy teachers by 2028-29. The Senate passed House Bill 845, a supplemental appropriation to the Governor’s Office Civil Contingent Fund, after concurring in a House amendment that reappropriated federal match grant funds and increased the civil contingency surplus fund from $15 million to $25 million; it was made effective from passage. The chamber also concurred in House amendments to House Bill 4106 on constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program, House Bill 5453 revising the school aid funding formula for special education weighting, and other measures including House Bill 4009 on portable benefits, Senate Bill 164 on substitute teacher definitions, and House Bill 4606 on pretrial release for certain felonies. A lengthy debate centered on House Bill 4198, the E-Verify Safe Harbor Act. The Judiciary Committee amendment would have required public and certain private employers to use E-Verify, while a further amendment from the Senator from Randolph would have limited the mandate to public employers and made E-Verify optional for private employers with liability protections for good-faith use. After extensive discussion about small business impacts, federal-state conflicts, and enforcement, the Senate adopted the Randolph amendment and then passed the bill 31-3, with a title amendment also adopted. The Senate later refused to concur in House amendments to House Bill 4010, concurred in House amendments to House Bill 5438, receded from amendments to House Bill 4765, and adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• going in because I don't want to get back home and it be misinterpreted by anyone, regardless of their race
• going in because I don't want to get back home and it be misinterpreted by anyone, regardless of their race
• The delete-all amendment adds charter schools to the eligibility for the workforce capitalization incentive

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and advanced a series of education-related bills, beginning with SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, which would require age-appropriate disability history and awareness instruction across grade bands. The committee adopted a delete-all amendment, heard emotional testimony from Melissa Hartzell about her son Evan’s experience with disability and inclusion, and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1296, creating a pilot study on school cellphone bans; SB 1590, creating a task force to review educator preparation, certification, and professional learning; SB 1702, a broad education bill with provisions on private school facilities, marching band credit, school readiness reimbursements, and charter school monitoring tools; SB 1150, exempting school social workers from certain certification testing requirements; SB 1708, revising School of Hope rules and adding a Miami-Dade co-location framework; SB 822, updating charter school governance and operations; SB 444, requiring annual human trafficking awareness training for school personnel; and SB 742, expanding workforce development and money-back guarantee programs. Most of these bills were amended before being reported favorably by committee vote. The committee also considered and reported favorably SB 8, a claims bill providing a $1.2 million settlement for Marcus Button and his family arising from a 2006 Pasco County school bus crash that caused severe lifelong injuries. Senator Gaetz opposed claims bills in general, arguing the sovereign immunity cap should be raised so such cases can be resolved locally. Several bills drew questions and debate over implementation details, including concerns about charter school dress and hair policies under SB 822, the scope of human trafficking training under SB 444, and the zoning implications of private school facility provisions in SB 1702. Sponsor responses generally emphasized that the bills were intended to clarify existing policy or improve student safety, access, or educational outcomes. The committee also took up confirmation appointments. It recommended confirmation of the slate of appointees on Tabs 12 and 14 through 21 by voice vote, and separately recommended confirmation of Daniel Fogunoli to the State Board of Education after debate in which Senator Davis and Senator Osgood opposed the appointment. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes, including Senator Burgess’s affirmative vote on SB 1150, and then adjourned.