Transcript Highlights:

• .. ...such a small percentage of surgeries that involve minors; the vast majority of those entail adults
• You won’t want to give adults hormone replacement therapy.
• It is irreversible and also irresponsible for adults to look through these children.
• have emerged as a young adult who is ready to go, healthy, responsible, and capable.
• I've lived and thrived for 15 years, my whole adult life, because of gender-affirming care.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on access to gender-affirming care in California, with opening remarks from the subcommittee chairs emphasizing the importance of protecting transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex Californians and asking for decorum during public comment. The first panel from the Department of Justice, Department of Managed Health Care, and Department of Health Care Services described existing state protections, including nondiscrimination rules, privacy protections, shield laws, and Medi-Cal and commercial coverage requirements for medically necessary gender-affirming care. State officials also outlined ongoing litigation against federal actions and against hospital decisions to end or restrict care, including the Rady Children’s case and challenges to federal proposed rules and declarations affecting Medicaid, Medicare, and provider participation. Members questioned state agencies about why some hospitals that had stopped providing care had not been sued, how network adequacy is measured, whether the state can track actual access to gender-affirming care, and what legislative changes might strengthen protections. DMHC said it monitors complaints and independent medical reviews but does not track gender-affirming care as a separate provider category or collect utilization data, while DHCS said Medi-Cal continues to cover medically necessary care and that the state is preparing for possible federal rule changes. Finance staff said the previously approved $15 million for gender-affirming care was still being implemented through Covered California. The second panel featured a physician, clinic leaders, a parent, and a transgender teen describing how care is delivered and the effects of hospital closures and federal pressure. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy described the history and medical basis for gender-affirming care, said minors need parental consent for medical interventions, and argued that care should be individualized and supported by families. Providers and families testified that hospital closures and insurance barriers have disrupted continuity of care, forced patients to travel farther, and shifted demand to community clinics that lack sufficient funding and contracting support. Several witnesses asked the Legislature to provide new funding, strengthen insurance enforcement, and stabilize access to care for transgender youth and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of adults think we spend too much time on our phones, too.
• A lot of adults spend too much time on video games.
• Adults, you know, we think we spend too much time on our phones, too.
• A lot of adults spend too much time on video games. They gamble too much.
• Adults are allowed to do things that are bad for themselves.

Summary: The hearing was the inaugural meeting of the Assembly Select Committee on Developing Pathways to Purpose for Young Men, chaired by Assembly Member Avelino Valencia. In opening remarks, Valencia and several committee members described concerns about boys’ and young men’s disconnection from school, work, and relationships, and tied the committee’s work to technology, mentorship, education, and suicide prevention. Members repeatedly noted the effects of COVID-era screen use, the importance of positive male role models, and the need to think beyond funding alone toward broader policy and cultural changes. The first panel focused on the state of men online. Testimony from David Sakaki of the American Institute for Boys and Men, Vihon Bardwaj of Generation Up, and Dr. Alok Kanojia (“Dr. K”) emphasized that pornography, gaming, gambling, social media, and AI can meet real needs for belonging, status, and relief, while also encouraging addiction, isolation, distorted sexual expectations, and harmful comparisons. Witnesses argued that young men are especially vulnerable to algorithm-driven content, that online systems often amplify misogyny and other harmful behavior, and that public policy should address design defaults, age-appropriate sex education, gambling-like game mechanics, and offline alternatives such as sports, mentorship, and social-emotional skill building. Committee members asked about pornography, loot boxes, gambling ads, and how to create healthier substitutes for the immediate gratification these products provide. Witnesses said the answer is not to match the addictive pull of harmful content, but to build more fulfilling offline pathways and teach practical social and emotional skills. Assembly Member Brian also spoke about the need for policy frameworks that help young men and boys be seen and supported, while acknowledging that these issues affect women and girls as well. The second panel shifted to design and health impacts. Dr. Ravi Iyer, drawing on his experience at Meta, said platforms are often optimized for engagement rather than users’ aspirations, which can increase exposure to nudity, violence, hate, and unwanted sexual content; he also warned about emotionally manipulative chatbot interactions and suggested stronger rules and public tracking of app harms. Dr. Jason Nagata of UCSF described research linking problematic social media use to later ADHD symptoms in boys, and explained how social media can intensify muscularity pressures, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and risky appearance-modification trends such as “looksmaxxing.” No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of adults think we spend too much time on our phones too.
• A lot of adults spend too much time on video games... partnerships.
• A lot of adults spend too much time on video games.
• Adults, you know, we think we spend too much time on our phones too.
• Adults are allowed to do things that are bad for themselves.

Transcript Highlights:

• of our educational systems, and kids are on all kinds of educational platforms, as well as young adults
• Finally, extending these rules to adult students in higher education ignores their right to informed
• Supporting this bill aligns with efforts to protect vulnerable animals and ease the burden on shelters
• We represent the 58 counties' human services agencies, which also includes adult protective services.
• Oftentimes in APS, we see our seniors and vulnerable adults who have been taken advantage of by these

Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused on public safety, privacy, animal welfare, and elder protection. AB 634 by Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez would ban the manufacture, distribution, and sale of tianeptine, described as “gas station heroin,” with supporters citing addiction and hospitalization risks and noting the bill had been narrowed to civil penalties and research exceptions. AB 1159 by Senator Addis would expand student data privacy protections to higher education and limit how ed tech companies use student information, including a narrow private right of action; supporters emphasized student privacy and opponents warned it could chill innovation and create litigation risk. AB 1382 by Assemblymember Castillo would prohibit the sale of genetically modified animals for cosmetic purposes, with supporters pointing to animal welfare and shelter overpopulation concerns and opponents seeking a narrower exemption for glowfish and other already regulated aquatic species. The committee also heard AB 871, which would strengthen reporting and training requirements for financial institutions responding to suspected elder financial abuse and scams, including reporting to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and encouraging rapid client reporting. Supporters said the bill could help recover funds and improve pattern detection across jurisdictions, while one member raised concerns about duplication with existing suspicious activity reporting and bank procedures. In discussion, members generally supported the bill but noted the need to refine it; the author said it was intended as a practical step to improve existing processes. All four bills were moved out of committee with do pass recommendations, with AB 634, AB 1159, AB 1382, and AB 871 each passing on recorded votes after discussion and amendments. The committee also adopted consent calendar items and ended with a recognition of Republican caucus judiciary consultant Daryl Thomas, who is retiring after more than 20 years of service.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a life-saving shift in how we recognize and respond to signs of crisis in this already vulnerable
• At the end of the day, these facilities serve vulnerable children, and the last thing we want is for
• It's extremely difficult to fault the children for not respecting boundaries when the adults employed
• I just want to make sure that we are highlighting the needs of Texans with disabilities and older adults
• that are IDD adults or are over 65. Their employment is not going to change.

Bills: HB1531 , HB2667 , HB2809 , HB2865 , HB3589 , HB3151 , HB3748 , HB3750 , HB4419 , HB4643 , HB3597 , HB4129 , HB4130 , HB4131

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• from mushrooms to, of course, cannabis, but many products that looked like items that many young adults
• So what's different for an adult with a disability is that a lot of them, they're not really in a service
• It's something that happens as an adult, as opposed to like development disability like mine.
• This is definitely worthy in the sense of we know it's some of our most vulnerable community that any
• I'm an advocate for many of our vulnerable communities getting the support they need.

Transcript Highlights:

• , middle-aged adults, and LGBTQ+ youth, transgender adults, middle-aged adults, and our first people.
• Let us lift up our most vulnerable.
• I tell you this story, and some call it vulnerability, but I call it my job as a leader.
• It's my job as a leader to display my vulnerabilities and our vulnerabilities because there are people
• It's always been about targeting our vulnerable communities, especially people who look like us.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a busy floor session with several procedural motions and bill actions. Members suspended rules to allow speeches and guests, withdrew AB 362 from Appropriations to the second reading file, and voted 41-13 to suspend the rules for that motion. The body also took up a number of items on the daily and third reading files, with several measures passed, retained, or moved to inactive file. The main policy focus was ACR 70, designating September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Assembly Member Pellerin presented the resolution with a personal account of losing her husband to suicide and urged greater use of 988, secure firearm storage, and open conversations about mental health. Many members from both parties and caucuses spoke in support, sharing personal experiences with suicide and emphasizing stigma reduction, access to care, and the importance of checking in on others. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, Senate amendments were concurred in, and suicide awareness pins were distributed to members. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 977 on Native American human remains, with unanimous support and a 68-0 vote, and to AB 1510, the Assembly PERS Committee bill, which passed 66-1. Members then adopted H.R. 65, recognizing October as Filipino American History Month, after extensive remarks celebrating Filipino American history, labor organizing, public service, and community contributions; 63 co-authors were added without objection before the voice vote. Later, the chamber passed SB 81, protecting access to health care facilities from immigration enforcement, and SB 98, requiring schools and campuses to notify communities when immigration enforcement is present; both were framed as part of a broader package to protect immigrant communities and passed on urgency votes. The session concluded with debate on SJR 9, a resolution condemning mass immigration raids and defending civil liberties, which drew sharply divided remarks from supporters and opponents, with no final action shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so as the chair said, there is a law that protects vulnerable adults this way and banks can reach
• and</c> protects vulnerable adults this way and protects vulnerable adults this way and banks<00:04:25.680
• them is protecting seniors and them is protecting seniors and vulnerable<00:06:43.440><c> adults</c><
• adults and now this bill will vulnerable adults and now this bill will protect<00:06:46.160><c> them
• Please vote yes on House File adults.

Bills: HF4502 , HF3388 , HF4106 , HF400 , HF4138 , HF4118 , HF4203

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He now struggles to trust adults. He would not trust any of us.
• He believes adults let it happen, and that we failed him.
• </c> He now struggles to trust adults. He now struggles to trust adults.
• adults let it happen. and that we<00:04:26.320><c> failed</c><00:04:26.720><c> him.
• ,</c> answer these questions, but as an adult, answer these questions, but as an adult, I<00:32:26.000

Bills: HF3668 , HF2779 , HF2771

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• know that when you have a dog or a cat, It has demonstrated impacts for both youth and our elder adults
• Is tailored to older adults' needs, even if not all types of care are available on the same single campus
• Facilities as well as services designed to meet the unique needs of older adults.
• Since 1879, Buckner has been committed to protecting vulnerable children, strengthening families, and
• serving seniors and adults through Christ-centered values.

Bills: HB 103 , HB 1256 , HB1587 , HB1632 , HB2027 , HB2525 , HJR88 , HJR138 , HB103

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Commonwealth's most vulnerable Commonwealth's most vulnerable populations. populations. populations
• adults in child<00:31:38.880><c> protection</c><00:31:39.519><c> cases.
• They're all concerned about whether it's best for the adults.
• And so that's something I just for the most vulnerable children.
• </c> for the for the most vulnerable for the for the most vulnerable children.<00:54:37.680><c> And</

Committee: House Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:

• We support transparency and protecting vulnerable populations.
• Please protect our disabled and vulnerable children and vote no on this bill. Thank you.
• It also protects medically vulnerable children and reduces misinformation.
• Now, more than ever, it is important to protect the most vulnerable.
• A February poll by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults...

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• of subminimum wage and successfully transition and expand employment and other opportunities for adults
• And when we at the State Council ask the public, ask adults with developmental disabilities, what do
• in the law stating this is what the outcome, the 10-year employment rate stays about the same for adults
• Additionally, there's now 1,117 adults with developmental disabilities who are earning minimum wage,
• Now adults in their late 30s and 40s who use all of the services we're talking about here today.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• This floor amendment protects our most vulnerable children by ensuring that if they tell an adult at
• </c> us to prioritize their safety over adult us to prioritize their safety over adult fears<00:55:59.920
• </c> used and in some cases abused by adults. used and in some cases abused by adults.
• Are parents trusted adults? adults? adults?
• </c> Hampshire one trusted adult Hampshire one trusted adult program.<04:55:21.600><c> Not</c><04:55:

Transcript Highlights:

• What makes a difference for them is having trusted adults they can turn to when they need support."
• He was at a very vulnerable time in his life as he was experiencing his parents' divorce.
• My son could have been reached if the adults in his schools had not lied to us and taught him to hide
• With civil penalties for adults who do not comply.
• And it's not, I think it's adults who are sexualizing our children rather than, not, I think it's adults

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Protection Act, which made it the first state in the nation to ban prior authorization for inpatient adult
• AB 573 is a bill to prevent enforcement of our state's flavored tobacco ban to protect kids and adult
• This program was designed first and foremost to support the covered entities that support vulnerable
• This program was designed first and foremost to support the covered entities that support vulnerable
• ABC. ...beyond the incarceration of our most vulnerable and underserved populations.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• cigarettes, adult smokers.
• adults.
• </c><03:24:58.800><c> adults.
• </c><03:24:59.760><c> However,</c><03:25:00.160><c> we</c> other vulnerable adults.
• However, we other vulnerable adults.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard testimony on two immigration-enforcement bills: HB 1886 HD1 and HB 2540 HD1. HB 1886 would limit state and federal collaboration in immigration enforcement, require visible identification and restrictions on facial coverings for law enforcement officers, and create offenses for improper masking, lack of identification, and unauthorized civil immigration interrogation, arrest, or detention. HB 2540 would also limit state and federal collaboration, require law enforcement agencies to adopt and publicly post written civil immigration enforcement policies, prohibit stops or arrests based solely on immigration status, and restrict state and county participation in civil immigration enforcement in certain places. Most testimony supported both measures. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and several private individuals said the bills would increase transparency, accountability, and community trust, and would help protect constitutional rights and reduce fear among immigrants and other community members. Several testifiers emphasized Hawaii’s history and the need to keep local law enforcement separate from federal immigration enforcement, while others said the bills would help people feel safer going to court, school, work, or public protests. A retired police officer also supported visible identification and uniform standards for officers, including federal agents operating in Hawaii. A few testifiers opposed the use of masked or unidentified officers and argued that local police should not be diverted from ordinary public safety duties to immigration enforcement. One ACLU witness noted that the federal government has increasingly used local and state agencies to expand immigration enforcement, and said the task-force provisions in the bills are important to prevent blurred lines between agencies. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the meeting provided, but it recorded very large numbers of supportive testimonies for both bills, with only a small number in opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we know, age is a preexisting condition, and many older adults are unable to move out of a plan
• So this is again about choice and about increasing consumer protections for those older adults.
• And I absolutely recognize we wouldn't be sitting here if we weren't concerned about vulnerable adults
• Just to refer to the calls you're getting, and you guys work with, like you said, the most vulnerable
• According to KSF polling, four in ten insured adults with chronic illness... Thank you.

Bills: SB101 , SB21 , HM52 , HB132 , SB14 , SB20

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• bill and include threat of suicide or homicide, information relating to the abuse of a child or vulnerable
• adult, information of conduct likely to pose a risk to public safety, and any admission of a plan to
• abuse of a information relating to the abuse of a child<00:20:12.960><c> or</c><00:20:13.200><c> vulnerable
• </c><00:20:13.760><c> adult,</c><00:20:15.120><c> information</c> child or vulnerable adult, information
• child or vulnerable adult, information of<00:20:15.919><c> conduct</c><00:20:16.400><c> likely</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• It's SB 106, Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults.
• SB 106, Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults.
• more regulation, and likely at a cost to the taxpayer, all to increase profits at the expense of vulnerable
• The changes proposed would come at the expense of vulnerable Floridians who rely on Florida legal aid
• Other states have included opt-out provisions in similar legislation to protect vulnerable renters.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered several bills. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults would allow service of process on scammers through the same nontraditional communication methods they use; it passed 8-0. CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and a private right of action to disqualify noncompliant candidates; it passed unanimously. CS/SB 948 on flood disclosures was amended to extend disclosure requirements to residential leases, condo developer leases, and mobile homes, with tenant remedies if disclosures are not provided and flooding causes major losses; it passed 8-0. The committee also advanced CS/SB 498 on IOTA interest rates after a lengthy debate over legal aid funding and bank regulation. Supporters argued the bill would restore sustainability and fairness to the program by setting alternative interest-rate benchmarks, while opponents said it would cut funding for civil legal aid and that banks participate voluntarily. After testimony from legal aid leaders and bankers, the bill passed 7-2. SB 774, requiring clerks to electronically transmit certain mental health, substance abuse, and risk protection orders to sheriffs within six hours, was presented in response to a fatal Volusia County incident and passed 11-0. CS/SB 752 on defamation and online publication was amended to require removal from a website rather than the internet, then passed 8-2 after testimony from the media, a private attorney, and supporters who said it would help people harmed by false online reports. The committee also heard SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, which would create a narrow defense against strict liability claims if notice and gamma radiation survey requirements are met. The bill was amended to clarify notice provisions and received support from industry and technical witnesses describing radiation surveys and reclamation practices. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 832, so no committee action on that bill is shown in the excerpt.