Transcript Highlights:

• Then we have higher education and counties and municipalities. Just one more question.
• That was a good education. I appreciate that background.
• Thank you for your presentation and educating us on this. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Got a little education, and that's what we want. We appreciate it.
• Mainly STEM, but outreach we've done since April.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• of Education, and it's a community education program for children birth through kindergarten, their
• of Education, and it's a community education program for children birth through kindergarten, their
• of Education, and it's a community education program for children birth through kindergarten, their
• So this one's a little bit education.
• </c><01:27:06.719><c> is</c> Um recipient and enrolly outreach is Um recipient and enrolly outreach is

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Fah and the clerk will read: It acts to amend the Public Health Law in relation to providing education
• and outreach programs related to home visiting programs.
• It acts to amend the Public Health Law in relation to providing education and outreach programs related

Committee: Senate Women's Issues

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Women’s Issues Committee met on May 13 at 9:34 a.m. with a quorum present and several members voting by sheet. The committee first considered S-845, which would prohibit drug, cannabis, or alcohol testing and screening of pregnant or postpartum individuals and newborns without informed consent. Supporters emphasized that the bill is about requiring written or oral consent and addressing disproportionate impacts on Black and brown mothers. The bill was reported to the Committee on Alcoholism, with Senator Weik voting no and several members recorded as aye without recommendation or in favor. The committee then advanced several public health measures. S-2121, on education and outreach related to home visiting programs, and a bill directing the Department of Health to create an informational pamphlet about liposcopic power motion surgery technique both moved to first reading. S-3576A, establishing a statewide fibroid study program, was approved and referred to finance. S-8584, requiring two EBT cards for certain WIC households, and S-9084, creating a maternal health monitoring pilot program, were also approved and referred to finance, with Senator Weik recorded as without recommendation on both and one opposition noted on S-9084. The final bill, S-9733, would require maternal mortality review boards to share annual information with New York City and county health departments, including patterns, best practices, and data related to maternal mortality and morbidity. It was approved and referred to health, again with Senator Weik recorded as without recommendation. The meeting ended at 9:49 a.m., and the chair noted another Women’s Issues Committee meeting would be held the following week with bills and a guest speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think it's important in this kind of outreach that we're thinking about those.
• And so I think it's important in this kind of outreach that we're thinking about those.
• We're putting, I think, close to $21 million into outreach the $17.5 and the $4.something.
• , those...” ...more user-friendly, more reminders, more outreach, those types of things.
• We have navigators; we have outreach happening in different systems across our state.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She is the daughter of educators. She has siblings that are educators.
• It's important to the education community that a secretary is an educator.
• I come from a family of educators who have served across all sectors of education and communities throughout
• Educational challenges.
• I'm happy to know that the person who's leading public education is also a former educator.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education?
• And finally, strategic recruitment and outreach, engaging educational institutions and community partners
• You mentioned the cuts at the Department of Education, the federal Department of Education, about a..
• . ...cuts at the Department of Education, the federal Department of Education, about a, in the fall,
• That includes partners and outreach.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held an FY27 Health and Human Services budget hearing in Mattapan, hosted at the Boston Public Library branch. Chairs Lydia Edwards and Russell Holmes, along with Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid, emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing ever in Mattapan and highlighted the importance of bringing state budget deliberations into a majority-Black neighborhood. Several legislators introduced themselves as they joined, and the committee noted that public testimony was not part of the format, though agencies were invited to discuss priorities and challenges. MassAbility opened the agency testimony. Leadership described the agency’s mission to support people with disabilities through employment, training, home and community life services, and disability determination. They said Governor Healey’s FY27 budget funds MassAbility at $93.3 million, a 1% reduction from FY26, and explained that the agency is responding to federal funding uncertainty and shifting program needs by redesigning services internally. Members questioned a proposed $1.3 million reduction to the Home Care Program, staffing changes, and whether services could be maintained with fewer resources. MassAbility said it was reviewing data on who uses the program, that it does not provide nursing or personal care, and that it is working with a transition plan and a working group. The agency also discussed federal uncertainty around vocational rehabilitation funding and said it had received delayed federal awards but remained in contact with national associations and federal partners. The testimony included a personal story from a participant, Joshua Corcoran, to illustrate the impact of services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing testified next, requesting $11.27 million, about a 6% increase over FY26. The commission said it serves about 1.4 million residents and focuses on communication access in health care, courts, public safety, and other public systems. It highlighted interpreter and captioner workforce shortages, a mentorship program to expand the provider pool, and a modernized referral platform funded through capital contingency money. Members asked about interpreter availability, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL access for students and families, and training for police and emergency responders. The commission said staffing remains limited, especially for after-hours services, but that it is expanding training, school outreach, and partnerships with DCF and other agencies. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind then presented its FY27 budget request of $30.8 million. The commissioner said the agency serves nearly 9,000 legally blind residents, provides training and peer support, and placed 190 consumers in competitive integrated employment this year. It also described services for older adults, vocational rehabilitation, and the Turning 22 program for young adults with additional disabilities. Members raised concerns about a 7% cut from the prior year and asked how the agency could maintain services; the commissioner said the agency had no waiting list, had trimmed overhead, and could manage the budget through internal efficiencies and strong partnerships. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the session, describing expanded legal and support services for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, citizenship and financial literacy programs, and the Family Welcome Center in Mattapan. Members asked about federal funding losses and the structure of the new legal services program; ORI said FY26 funding is stable but FY27 federal cuts remain uncertain, and that the legal program uses a centralized intake system with priority for emergencies and first-come, first-served access.

Transcript Highlights:

• private post-secondary higher education in California.
• We know that private post-secondary educational institutions play a critical role in training and educating
• Department of Education remains uncertain, but we do know a few things.
• We are teaching and educating California's workforce.
• We are teaching and educating California's workforce.

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, with committee chairs and members emphasizing the Bureau’s role in protecting students, overseeing private postsecondary schools, and responding to a changing federal higher education landscape. BPPE and the Department of Consumer Affairs reported that the Bureau has modernized data systems, improved enforcement, increased citations and inspections, reduced pending complaints, and is now meeting its statutory inspection mandate. They also said the Bureau faces a structural budget deficit and has reduced costs through staffing cuts, streamlined inspections, and shifting some student-relief functions to the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF).

Transcript Highlights:

• They are there at the moments that matter, from leaving service to seeking employment and education,
• California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education, or CSAVE.
• CalVet contains CSAVE, which approves programs of higher education across the state so that veterans
• can use their education benefits such as the GI Bill, and CSAVE also helps in ensuring that these programs
• And of course, making sure through our outreach efforts that we are staying attuned.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It gave me the chance to pursue an education that I wouldn't have had without it.
• opportunities that other the educational opportunities that other stu<00:04:54.000><c> students</c><
• </c><00:05:02.720><c> that</c><00:05:02.960><c> I</c> chance to pursue an education that I chance to
• pursue an education that I wouldn't<00:05:03.280><c> have</c><00:05:03.360><c> had</c><00:05:03.600><
• and support and training to outreach and support and training to help<00:10:06.720><c> folks</c><00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• private post-secondary higher education in California.
• We know that private post-secondary educational institutions play a critical role in training and educating
• to regulate private post-secondary education institutions in California.
• The Department of Education remains uncertain. But we do know a few things.
• We are teaching and educating California's workforce.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Education in Washington cannot go with less.
• Cheryl, within this bill, where does it say it funds education?
• And if so, how many dollars go directly to K-12 education?
• I’m the chair of the Association for Higher Education with the Washington Education Association.
• The first pertains to educational service districts, or ESDs.

Bills: SB6346 , SB6347 , SB6147 , SB6246 , SB5940 , SB5882 , SB6223 , SJR8206 , SB5762 , SB5828

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: millionaires tax, wealth tax, income tax, state revenue, tax reform, Washington estate tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, death tax, probate, decedent, gross estate, taxable estate, exclusion amount, tax rate, estate planning, heirs, beneficiaries, RCW 83.100, Department of Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Megan Fitzgibbon again with the Office of Higher Education.
• We do outreach like we do other competitive grants.
• We do outreach like we do other competitive grants.
• </c><01:01:23.640><c> and</c> all benefit from higher education and all benefit from higher education
• <01:30:42.560><c> repr</c> education repr education repr Robins<01:30:44.960><c> okay</c><01:30:45.600

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to take a multimodal approach that includes educating the public on why they should be
• We have prioritized education and outreach because we only have 54 detectives, which, with 58 counties
• and education.
• and education, strategic planning, things of that nature.
• It's about educating consumers, educating contractors, and making sure that everyone's aware of the consumer

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several CalVet budget updates first. CalVet reported progress on the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, explaining that DGS is revising the earlier feasibility study to reflect a smaller footprint and lower grading costs, with updated numbers expected by the end of April. Members and public commenters emphasized the project’s importance and asked whether additional budget authority or trailer bill language was needed; CalVet said it may need more spending authority but wanted to return after the revised study is complete. The committee also reviewed the Yountville skilled nursing facility replacement project, where CalVet said construction is nearing completion, a certificate of occupancy was received, and the new 240-bed facility will replace Holderman Hospital while older buildings will be repurposed for lower levels of care. CalVet also defended eliminating about 178 vacant positions at Yountville and West Los Angeles as a fiscal and staffing efficiency measure, saying current care levels can still be met and that retention and hiring efforts are improving. The committee then took up the Department of Cannabis Control’s enforcement and legal affairs proposal. DCC described the size of the illicit cannabis market, said enforcement alone cannot solve the problem, and asked for additional sworn staff, a new Redding-area field office, and more analysts to focus on distribution networks, organized crime, environmental harms, and high-priority public safety cases. Finance supported the proposal as a targeted investment, while the LAO had no additional comment. Members asked about funding impacts and local co-location options, and DCC said the request would be funded from cannabis excise tax revenues and could help shift sales into the legal market. Public testimony from the cannabis industry strongly supported more enforcement against illicit retail and said it would help legal operators compete. DCC also presented its hemp enforcement and regulation proposal tied to AB 8. The department said the law closes loopholes around intoxicating hemp products, strengthens enforcement across agencies, and prepares for hemp to enter the cannabis regulatory framework in 2028. DCC requested staff for a civil enforcement unit, field-testing equipment, lab capacity to detect synthetic cannabinoids, a track-and-trace specialist, and a policy specialist. Members asked about enforcement in informal retail settings and consumer confusion, and DCC said the biggest problems have been smoke shops and online sales. Public commenters from the legal cannabis industry supported the proposal, saying intoxicating hemp has harmed the regulated market and created public safety risks. The Cannabis Control Appeals Panel then requested ongoing funding of $3.4 million to support 12 positions and its quasi-judicial appeals function. The panel said that with provisional licenses largely phased out, more annual licensees now have appeal rights and the workload is beginning to increase, with two cases currently on the docket. The LAO recommended limiting funding to three years and requiring a workload and comparative analysis before making the funding permanent, while Finance supported ongoing funding as consistent with the panel’s permanent statutory role. Members questioned the panel’s compensation and workload, noting that the five-member body is paid at a high statutory rate despite historically meeting only quarterly, though panel staff said the work now includes substantial case preparation and monthly hearings. Finally, the Department of Consumer Affairs introduced two proposals: $2 million ongoing for the Contractors State License Board’s IT needs and $251,000 plus one limited-term position for the Board of Pharmacy to implement Proposition 34-related licensing policy and reduce barriers to licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to take a multimodal approach that includes educating the public on why they should be
• We have prioritized education and outreach because we only have 54 detectives, which, with 58 counties
• and education.
• and education, strategic planning, things of that nature.
• It's about educating consumers, educating contractors, and making sure that everyone's aware of the consumer

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bois, who is the Executive Director of the Salon Task Force, and Yasmin Waheed, who's a community outreach
• One of our goals will be heavy outreach and engagement and education for our community to ensure all
• I'm the community outreach and engagement specialist working in partnership with the Salon Task Force
• She's chair of the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. Senator Nobles.

Summary: Sen. Manka Dhingra held a press conference focused on Washington’s ongoing efforts to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, and other gender-based violence, while warning that state victim-services funding is at risk amid budget pressures. She highlighted past legislative actions such as extending sexual-assault statutes of limitation, keeping firearms from abusers, protecting survivors from discrimination, improving civil protection orders, and addressing female genital mutilation, and said the state must continue funding trauma-informed, victim-centered services. Several advocates and service providers testified that the system is at a breaking point without restored funding. Colleen McIngles of the Children’s Justice Center said programs statewide could close if the Legislature does not restore roughly $10 million in additional victim-services funding, while Kate Garvey of KSARC said $21.38 million is needed just to maintain current services after federal VOCA cuts and staff layoffs. They argued that losing forensic interviewers, advocates, and coordinated response teams would leave survivors without support and increase harm. Legislators also discussed several bills. Sen. T’wina Nobles described SB 5169, aimed at protecting children from having to relive trauma in court. Rep. Jamila Taylor and Rep. Roger Goodman discussed HB 1591, which would address “defendant survivors” by recognizing coercion and allowing mitigation, resentencing, and vacatur in some cases. Rep. Chris Stearns and Sen. Tina Orwall discussed a bill to make court proceedings less retraumatizing for sexual-assault survivors and to address female genital mutilation, and Dhingra noted the Senate had unanimously passed the Ebony Alert bill. Rep. Lauren Davis shared her personal experience relying on victim services and said the state must fully fund both community-based and system-based advocacy. In response to a question, Dhingra said funding discussions were ongoing but emphasized the need to secure about $21.5 million for survivors and to create a more stable statutory funding mechanism.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for nearly the last 30 years, IDEPSCA has served, educated, and outreached to the day labor and household
• We provide education. ...any type of needs that they may have, we provide education, we train them, we're
• Higher education.
• Right now is: is higher education really worth it, right?
• Our goal of educating 70% of our student population by 2030.

Summary: The Select Committee on Latina Inequities met at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar, hosted by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and joined by Assemblymember Mia Bonta. Rodriguez opened by framing the committee’s work around the economic status of Latinas and the effects of federal policies on the economy and social safety net, while the college president welcomed the committee and described campus services for undocumented and housing-insecure students. Rodriguez also emphasized the local impact of immigration enforcement in the San Fernando Valley and said the hearing would focus on Latinas’ economic conditions, immigration enforcement impacts on the workforce and safety, and H.R. 1’s effects on the safety net. The first panel featured HOPE’s Maria Morales and Dr. Elsa Macias, who presented findings from HOPE’s National Economic Status of Latinas report. They said Latinas are a major and growing part of California’s population and workforce, but face persistent inequities, including a large wage gap, higher unemployment, high uninsured rates, student debt, and affordability pressures around child care, housing, and education. They also discussed entrepreneurship, noting both the growth of Latina-owned businesses and barriers such as limited access to capital, technical assistance, and retirement and health coverage. In response to committee questions, they said higher education can still offer a strong return on investment, but only if students can complete degrees without being overwhelmed by debt and care costs; they also pointed to policy solutions such as SB 642, mentorship, financial literacy, CalSavers access, and support for community development financial institutions. The second panel focused on immigration enforcement and Latina safety in the workforce. Luis Nolasco of the ACLU described arrests tied to apparent ethnicity and Spanish-speaking, the chilling effect on families, and the loss of wages, school attendance, and mobility. Dr. Amada Armenta said immigration enforcement harms California’s economy, public health, and mixed-status families, and noted that undocumented workers are concentrated in agriculture, construction, and child care. SEIU’s Jen Baca Beltran said raids and school-based enforcement traumatize children and families and highlighted the need for Know Your Rights trainings. Megan Ortiz of IDEPSCA described repeated Border Patrol raids on day labor centers, injuries to staff, and the need to protect worker centers, domestic workers, and street vendors. Inclusive Action’s Shannon Camacho said raids have forced many informal workers to stop working, prompted emergency cash assistance and rent relief efforts, and strengthened advocacy for vendor protections and CDFI support. CHIRLA’s Jeanette Zanipatine said the rapid response network has expanded, documented widespread arrests and detention conditions, and is providing direct support and legal referrals; committee members asked about detention, maternal health, and what the state can do, and panelists urged stronger oversight, more legal representation, and protections for pregnant and detained people.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Cradle to Career is, you know, it's mainly a family of educational institutions with a few friends
• And so that conversation, obviously, CTC is not just the educational institutions and all of that, but
• This language reinstates repealed language from the former Education Code Section 10858 and clarifies
• One of our strategies with this is that, as part of Cal EITC, we already do outreach and marketing.
• So if we were to do these enhancements, then we would... ...outreach and marketing.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We started our public hearing in the Joint Committee on Education.
• I come to you as an education attorney who works to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.
• I’m an independent educational watchdog and forum initiative.
• Many different families reach out to me because of the outreach that I’ve done.
• Many different families reach out to me because of the outreach that I’ve done.

Bills: H3895 , H5157

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: career education, technical training, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, pilot program, youth education, school safety, education, mental health, children, security measures, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Title X funds are leveraged for nonreimbursable health services provided, community outreach and education
• and education and activities like that that link community members to care, including backfilling the
• On the marketing and outreach front, we have contracted with a firm to create specific marketing and
• outreach campaigns for hard-to-recruit and hard-to-fill positions to increase the number of applicants
• But then we've done other outreach, like how can we help you get an application in?

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program also provides educational materials.
• They also, we're educating them to understand our concerns.
• As far as public outreach, we do have a strategy on that.
• And then the public open houses, that's always part of our public outreach as well.
• So I think we're a lot more educated, a lot more progressive on a lot of our rules.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.