Transcript Highlights:

• </c> So, we would ask you to rather than pass So, we would ask you to rather than pass this<00:55:06.640
• Um, I passed out early this morning. >> Yeah. On the um the alcohol. Where is that?
• I think it should be a year, same as if you take the test and fail.
• But I know we won't get that passed, so I'll bend to the lower amount for now.
• I move ought to pass. >> Seconded by Representative Murphy. I'll speak to my motion.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , saving the system from failing completely, but unfortunately it was not enough.
• We then pass that on to the LBB of what is used.
• We then pass that on to the LBB of what is used.
• Just 10 months after his diagnosis, at the age of 53, he passed away.
• You passed legislation last session that provided coverage for biomarker testing.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill has already passed out of the Senate. It was carried by Senator Shelnut.
• It passed unanimously out of the Education Policy Committee and on the Senate floor.
• Um, I'm here to introduce SB 209, which is passed out of the Senate by Senator Shelnutt.
• The bill also passed off the House floor two years ago. time to think about what you have to time to
• bill 209 which is passed out of the<00:34:23.280><c> Senate</c><00:34:24.000><c> by</c><00:34:24.320

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be additional public hearings if and when a bill is passed.
• For the 89th Legislature, the committee rules are identical to what the redistricting committee passed
• ...that was passed in the regular session or new census data that require us to do so.
• You want to pass a map that we haven't seen.
• If our communities had real representation, that bill might not have passed.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, the legislature passed Senate Bill 1273. 1665 by Senator Hughes which directed each university
• the chancellor and holding the chancellor responsible for complying with all of the edicts that we pass
• Yes, as I answered before, they can still passed a vote of no confidence.
• Because the voters are here to pass. bill.
• Let's get them passed out. All right. So who do I have at the table?

Bills: SB37 , SB1489 , SB452 , SB724 , SB1067 , SB1741 , SB1273

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the biggest reasons why we're losing slots is because childcare is, some have said, a failed business

Bills: HF2436 , HF470 , HF2643 , HF2456 , HF102 , HF1367

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, early education, scholarships, funding, children, families, Minnesota education, child care licensing, family child care, child care center, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, correction order, conditional license, fix-it ticket, documented technical assistance, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• Assuming the passage of this trailer bill, assuming that we do pass it, right, does your office have
• We strongly support the funding for transit passes in the GGRF.
• When California passed AB 60, the state made a...
• Next, SANDAG supports SB 840's proposed $125 million allocation for transit passes.
• Kansas has passed discriminatory laws revoking driver's licenses of transgender people.

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they don't pass that, they're not in this formula. Choice they make.
• We don't hope people fail. Let's help people get a good roll out there.
• So if they bring it in at 90% of market value, they would pass.
• If they bring it in at 95% of market value, they'd pass.
• If they bring it in at 99% of value, the market would pass.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved. Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP. Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns. The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in 2021, House Bill 3767 was offered and passed. to codify certain elements of the tri-agency initiative
• How many schools in Texas were failing back in 2016, rated D or F, versus what we have now?
• You passed but wasn't funded.
• The NCLEX pass rate for all of those veterans thus far has been 100 percent.
• And sometimes we'll pass laws that have second and third orders of magnitude.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> either has or will be passing either has or will be passing legislation<01:41:18.760><c> to</c><
• </c><02:37:39.479><c> hb36</c> ask for your support to pass hb36 ask for your support to pass hb36 relating
• <02:49:26.279><c> with</c> pass with pass with amendments<02:49:28.200><c> uh</c><02:49:28.399><c> noting
• </c><02:50:55.359><c> with</c> recommendation is to pass with recommendation is to pass with amendments
• </c><02:52:54.479><c> with</c> recommendation is to PA pass with recommendation is to PA pass with amendments

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state funds allow for a smaller share of the building cost to be passed on to the students as rent
• I passed out a chart, and you can see on that chart that we obviously had significant declines during
• Senator Cabaldon obviously passed a bill that allows for automatic enrollment so that students who are
• We help students pass their classes. You know, we are the ones who... Students graduate.
• We help students pass their classes.

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we saw that last year when we passed the whistleblower bill and several other bills that came from
• the whistleblower bill and passed the whistleblower bill and several<00:57:58.520><c> other</c><00:57
• And a lot of the fraud was enabled by the MEALS Act, which was passed by Representative Ilhan Omar and
• </c><01:32:07.840><c> by</c> the MEALS Act, which was passed by the MEALS Act, which was passed by Representative
• </c> Washington have the chance to pass Washington have the chance to pass reforms<01:34:37.680><c> to

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to pass that along to Ken. I'm happy to pass that along to Ken.
• And I know the next item is the budget change proposal, but I'm happy to pass it along to my colleague
• So all of these costs are passed on to all employers in the state. To what degree?
• was conducted utilized actuarial analysis and had a full team of researchers, and so I'm happy to pass
• And I'll pass that question over to my colleague, Ken Lau. Sure.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard presentations on the Department of Industrial Relations’ labor-related budget items, with the main focus on proposed trailer bill language to reform the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and a related budget change proposal for staffing. DIR said SIBTF has grown far beyond its original purpose, citing the 2020 Todd decision, expanded eligibility based on chronic or asymptomatic conditions, and a backlog that has grown to more than 30,000 pending cases. The administration argued the reforms would restore guardrails, reduce liabilities and employer assessments, and speed processing for severely injured workers; the LAO said the proposal was largely consistent with its prior recommendations. Members raised concerns about using trailer bill language for major policy changes, the retroactive application to open cases, and the impact on workers already in the queue, while supporters from employer groups and public agencies backed the proposal as necessary to control costs and restore sustainability. Public comment was split, with injured-worker advocates opposing the retroactive changes and business/public employer representatives supporting the reforms. The committee then heard the SIBTF workload request, which would phase in 177 positions over five years at a cost of $36.5 million, including staff for the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Office of the Director Legal Unit, and administrative support. DIR said the additional staffing is intended to address very high caseloads and reduce processing times, but emphasized that the request assumes the reform package is adopted; LAO agreed the staffing increase made sense if paired with reforms. Members asked about vacancy rates, current staffing, and whether the workload request would become the new normal, and DIR said it would monitor caseload trends and adjust future requests as needed. Finally, the committee received an update on the California Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP), which DIR described as a partnership with community-based organizations to educate workers and help employers comply with labor laws. DIR reported that CWOP has reached 1.75 million workers and employers and made 8 million touchpoints since 2020, with the current round awarding $50.7 million to 87 partners for a two-year period through June 2027. Members and public commenters highlighted the program’s role in reaching immigrant, farmworker, janitorial, nail salon, and other vulnerable communities, and several speakers urged continued funding at $30 million per year for five years. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Um, as amended. >> Ought to pass as amended. >> Yeah. Pass. Okay.
• </c> would need to if this bill were to pass. would need to if this bill were to pass.
• If this bill passes, public.
• </c> preference to see the bill passes is. preference to see the bill passes is.
• </c> students do not want this bill to pass. students do not want this bill to pass.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it is hard, but they pass just like a TSA, just like when you go through... ...the airport.
• I pass it every day. Do you have a cost to rebuild the new building in my district?
• I pass it every day. Do you have a cost to rebuild the new building in my district?
• I absolutely couldn't let it pass.
• I absolutely couldn't let it pass.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard FY27 budget presentations for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, beginning with Public Safety Services. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the department’s recommended budget of $645.9 million, including supplemental pay, State Police, Motor Vehicles, and the State Fire Marshal. Officials explained that the overall budget reflects a net decrease from FY26, driven largely by shifts in funding sources, removal of one-time statutory dedications, and adjustments tied to undercollections in fees and self-generated revenues. State Police was recommended at $459.7 million, OMV at $86.7 million, and the Fire Marshal at $41.1 million. Department leaders also described ongoing modernization efforts, staffing vacancies, and the use of efficiencies identified internally. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burns and agency heads testified about State Police operations, including increased cadet graduations, improved Mardi Gras security, progress on APHIS and OMV modernization, and the new crime lab under construction. Members asked about undercollections, vacancies, the role of public tag agents, and whether the agency could expand counter-drone capabilities. Burns said the department has identified about $11 million in efficiencies, but warned that counter-drone work would require additional funding, citing a $4.5 million fiscal note for HB 940 and roughly $9 million more for a robust unit. OMV officials said staffing and retention remain difficult, but modernization should improve service and reduce lines; they also said the agency continues to rely on public tag agents and is working through reinstatement fee collection issues. The committee then reviewed the Department of Corrections FY27 budget, recommended at $902.3 million, with most funding from State General Fund and a large increase tied to higher incarceration costs, medical needs, overtime, and added capacity at Louisiana State Penitentiary. DOC officials said the department remains under pressure from vacancies, turnover, contraband, and medical costs, and that the budget includes funding to add 150 correctional officers at Angola and to house ICE detainees at Camp J. They also discussed criminal justice reinvestment savings, prison enterprises, and reentry programs funded through the Second Chance Act. Members asked about staffing, inmate deaths at Elaine Hunt, work-release pay, and whether the department is tracking the true long-term cost of incarceration. Officials said they are pursuing pay increases, recruitment, expanded training and reentry programs, and more data-driven workforce alignment, while acknowledging that many budget pressures remain unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to pass that along to Ken. I'm happy to pass that along to Ken.
• And I know the next item is the budget change proposal, but I'm happy to pass it along to my colleague
• So all of these costs are passed on to all employers in the state. To what degree?
• And so I'm happy to pass it off to Josh.
• And I'll pass that question over to my colleague, Ken Lau. Sure.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, EQ heard, and the Legislature passed SB 237, Last year, EQ heard, and the Legislature passed
• This is a contractor who cannot pass along the diesel cost without losing the bid.
• I can pass it back to the Chair and answer any questions, but thank you for your time.
• I can pass it back to the Chair and answer any questions, but thank you for your time.
• The first major federal environmental regulation was passed in 1969, 50 years afterward.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Summary: The Senate Environmental Quality Committee held an informational hearing on the environmental impacts and planning considerations associated with refinery closures. In opening remarks, the chair framed refinery shutdowns as a complex part of California’s decarbonization transition and said the committee would focus on environmental and land-use issues, while Vice Chair Gunda argued closures reflect years of policy-driven disinvestment and warned that supply disruptions and higher prices could harm working families. State agency witnesses from the Energy Commission, CARB, and the Water Boards described the state as being in a “mid-transition,” with declining gasoline demand, growing zero-emission vehicle adoption, and increasing conversion of some refinery assets to renewable fuels, but also with abrupt capacity losses that can force greater reliance on imports and storage. They emphasized the need for proactive planning, transparency, and coordination across agencies, and noted that refinery closures can stress pipelines, terminals, and other linked infrastructure, with potential liabilities falling to the state if those assets are not financially supported. The Water Boards explained their cleanup authorities and tools for refinery decommissioning, including investigation, monitoring, remediation, and enforcement under the Water Code, and said site-specific cleanup plans depend on contamination, groundwater conditions, and future land use. They noted that decommissioning can reveal previously inaccessible areas and require additional sampling or wells, and that cleanup costs can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Committee members pressed the witnesses on whether the state has enough information to plan for land transitions, whether current tools are adequate, and whether more standardized procedures or financial assurances are needed. The witnesses generally said existing tools are useful but that more transparency and better data sharing would help communities and policymakers understand liabilities and long-term redevelopment opportunities. Members also questioned the relationship between California policy, refinery closures, imports, and global emissions. CARB said its programs apply to transportation fuel suppliers whether fuel is refined in-state or imported, and that its climate and air-quality rules are designed to reduce emissions and avoid leakage. Some senators argued that California’s policies have accelerated closures and that demand has not fallen fast enough to offset lost refining capacity, while agency witnesses responded that closures are also driven by global market forces, aging infrastructure, crude quality, and changing fuel demand. The committee then heard from outside experts, including a Notre Dame professor who said closure costs are often underestimated and that stronger financial assurance requirements can shift company behavior, a Stanford/SLAC researcher who outlined five drivers of refinery closures, and an environmental attorney who discussed community impacts and lessons from the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery closure. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational and focused on testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the individuals, the students. sat in this office setting, learning how to pass the test.
• And then we also have the pass-through with the workforce, and what is the? TPAP.
• I'm not asking you guys to give me a blank check for a bad rule that we have passed.
• Your counterparts on Florida's medical board recently passed rules to.
• And then you can only do what we tell you to do, an implementation of... whatever statute is passed.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The measure passes. The measure passes. There's...
• The measure passes. File item 64. The measure passes.
• The measure passes. Pass and retain on file item 17.
• The measure passes. Pass and retain file item 32.
• That measure passes. Ayes 12, that measure passes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill, um, if it's passed out of this committee and passed by the full legislature, makes that abundantly
• passed by the full committee and passed by the full legislature,<00:04:54.320><c> makes</c><00:04:54.560
• So, motion to table fails.
• Have they are they passed a bill?
• </c> uh that the state of Utah passed uh that the state of Utah passed legislation<01:20:39.040><c> that

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all