Transcript Highlights:

• Most notably, in rail, $12 million for three projects that are capital projects that would help with
• The project list associated with this budget has a four-year itemized list of projects, and then all
• other projects that are shown are in the in the in the list of projects and then all the other projects
• think that those projects will be delivered.
• This delay has stalled the project segment, increased our costs, and will disrupt project continuity

Summary: The House Transportation Committee held public hearings on a proposed substitute for House Bill 2306, the 2026 transportation supplemental budget, and on proposed substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources bill. Staff described HB 2306 as revising the enacted 2025-27 transportation budget, increasing spending by about $1.1 billion to $16.5 billion, largely through reappropriations and new funding for preservation, maintenance, rail, transit, active transportation, ferries, licensing, and State Patrol needs. The chair and ranking member emphasized caution because of downward revenue forecasts, uncertainty around major project bids and future fish passage costs, and the decision to use existing bond authority without new bonding. Public testimony on HB 2306 generally supported preservation, maintenance, rail improvements, dredging, transit access, and local safety projects, while some witnesses urged more support for EV incentives and long-term transportation funding stability. For HB 2711, staff explained that the bill responds to administrative issues in last year’s transportation resources law, including fuel tax inflation adjustments, luxury vehicle/aircraft/vessel taxes, the indigent tow reimbursement program, tire fee language, and other tax administration provisions. The proposed substitute would repeal the luxury aircraft tax, adjust peer-to-peer rental car tax administration, restore authority for the Transportation Commission to exempt transit buses from tolls, waive certain penalties and interest tied to early compliance with the luxury vehicle tax, allow lease payments to be taxed incrementally, add exemptions for tribal members and nonresidents, change transfer timing between accounts, and create a Preserve Washington Account for highway preservation and maintenance. Fiscal notes projected additional revenue from aligning use tax with sales tax and modest administrative costs, while delaying the tow reimbursement program reduced near-term expenditures. Testimony on HB 2711 was mixed. RV dealers asked for a delay to the luxury vehicle tax, arguing the industry is already in decline and the tax could push sales out of state. WFSE supported the new Preserve Washington Account and urged higher bid limits for highway maintenance work. Committee members asked for clarification on the peer-to-peer rental car tax and the transit bus toll exemption. The chair announced that executive session on the bills, along with one other measure, would occur Wednesday, and members were told to submit amendment requests by the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:05.120><c> on</c> water, runoff, and manure management on water, runoff, and manure management
• And the Minnesota manage pollution.
• </c> about stopping projects. about stopping projects.
• </c><00:19:45.880><c> them</c> and vice versa, and we manage them and vice versa, and we manage them
• </c> fund some of these projects. fund some of these projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and manage this resource going forward? and manage this resource going forward?
• </c><03:39:44.560><c> Congress</c> Bureau of Land Management. Congress Bureau of Land Management.
• </c> approach to managing our public lands. approach to managing our public lands.
• project.
• </c> streamline proactive forest management. streamline proactive forest management.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then when it, what kind of criteria will say if it's going to a state project or a federal project
• management.
• Last year work on habitat projects.
• </c><00:25:05.440><c> in</c> put money towards these projects in put money towards these projects in
• </c> fuels reduction projects. fuels reduction projects.

Bills: SF0069 , SF0070 , SF0016 , HB0078 , HJ0002 , HB0085 , HB0086

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• We have, Two full-time drivers, a program manager, and a warehouse manager.
• We also manage that.
• And then managers and production coordinators.
• projects, national energy infrastructure, mining, and other projects related to that, wildlife refuge
• for you as this project goes along.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:34.720><c> which</c> of federal Awards management which of federal Awards management which
• </c> and that's primarily because we manage and that's primarily because we manage all<00:09:20.440><
• </c> high and so you know with the management high and so you know with the management uh<00:14:28.720
• </c> going but we do have a lot of projects going but we do have a lot of projects but<00:54:04.200><
• Is that a new project going to do that? And then the old projects we mentioned, we try to upgrade.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cities should be able to raise real project concerns.
• These projects are critical to serving our customers.
• They are still supportive of the project.
• The county approved the project in 2018, at which point the project was sued.
• It can appoint a temporary manager.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with testimony often centered on regional coordination, permitting reform, and local control. SB 802 by Senator Ashby would require Sacramento-area jurisdictions to form a joint powers authority to coordinate homelessness and housing response; supporters argued the region has long lacked accountability and coordination, while Sacramento County, Folsom, and others opposed the mandate as an unprecedented state-imposed JPA. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, business groups, service providers, and advocates, and opposition from county, city, and nonprofit representatives who said a local process was already underway. Committee members expressed support for the concept, but the bill was held pending a quorum and later discussed again with strong encouragement for regional collaboration. The committee also heard SB 222, SB 677, SB 908, SB 226, SB 828, and SB 1193. SB 222 would streamline permitting for residential heat pump and water heater installations; supporters said it would lower costs and speed clean-energy adoption, while local government groups argued the main barrier is upfront cost, not permits. SB 677 would curb what the author described as abusive appeals and delays in affordable housing approvals, with developers testifying about frivolous subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays; the California Native Plant Society sought an amendment to preserve appeals on habitat lands. SB 908 would simplify permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements, and SB 226 would clarify financing authority for a West Sacramento baseball stadium proposal; both passed unanimously. SB 828, prompted by the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion, would tighten fireworks storage and licensing rules, expand inspection and seizure authority, and increase fines; it also passed unanimously after testimony from fire officials and a pyrotechnic operator who opposed it unless amended. SB 1193, a county-specific Alameda County transparency bill, generated the sharpest debate. The author argued it would prevent waste, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in discretionary spending by requiring board approval, a public spending log, and clearer whistleblower procedures. Alameda County and county associations opposed it as overly broad and burdensome, saying existing processes already provide transparency and that the bill would reduce flexibility during fiscal stress. After committee questions about the bill’s purpose and the county’s current practices, the measure passed 7-0, with the author indicating willingness to accept an amendment restoring a four-fifths vote threshold. The committee then moved out of order to SB 1090, which would impose a temporary moratorium on state housing density laws in Altadena through 2030 in response to post-fire displacement concerns. The author said the bill is intended to protect long-term residents from investor-driven redevelopment after the Eaton Fire, while acknowledging amendments to align the moratorium with affordable housing development timelines. The transcript cuts off during the presentation of this bill, so no final action is shown for SB 1090 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will begin with our work session on some project updates on a couple of projects of interest to the
• East-West Connector project.
• It's critical that we deliver the project on time to not only manage the cost of it, which I know you're
• And a project like this is going to help support the continued growth of those housing projects.
• And so it's critical that we deliver the project on time to not only manage the cost of it, which I know

Bills: HB2495

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Five million for district threat management coordinators.
• . ...dollars for local emergency preparedness and response projects.
• What is the projection of this year after year?
• . ...is going forward into the future for future loss projections.
• Senator Davis, we are just aligning the existing managed care programs with the other managed care programs

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we're going to go ahead and start with tab number two, Senate Bill 636 on beach management by Senator
• and ACSC designations so that a shoreline can be maintained better, with a lower cost for planned projects
• , with the expansion of a new policy-based... ...of $50 million for those projects.
• Senate Bill 544 creates the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Act.
• State park unit management plans serve as the foundation for all planning, improvement, and management

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> that</c> custom project a commercial project that custom project a commercial project that issue
• And they basically will cover either individual types of projects, or it could manage one resource for
• or it could individual types of projects or it could manage<03:52:09.040><c> one</c><03:52:09.520><c
• managers could do a better job of making that initial determination for a project?
• So we can’t project-manage them. We just have to wait for them to submit stuff. Thank you.

Summary: The task force held its first meeting, beginning with roll call and introductions of members and participants in the room and on Zoom. The chair emphasized Sunshine Law transparency, noted the meeting was on September 11, and opened public testimony on the orientation report. No one testified in person or on Zoom, and the chair observed a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11 before moving into the agenda. The chair then reported on several orientation presentations given statewide between July 18 and September 5, including meetings with transit-oriented development, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the Kona-Kohala Chamber, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce on Hawaiʻi Island, the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaiʻi Island Native Hawaiian Chamber, and the Capo Chamber of Commerce. The main presentation item was a detailed overview from Kauaʻi County on its permitting process. County staff explained that zoning and building permits are handled separately on the outer islands, with zoning focused on form, character, and compatibility, and building permits focused on health and safety. They described a two-tier zoning system: ministerial permits that are automatically approved if not acted on within 30 days, and discretionary permits that go to the planning commission and can become lengthy contested cases if there is intervention. They also discussed special management area review in coastal areas, which can add time, and explained that building permits must conform to what was approved in zoning. Kauaʻi County staff also outlined the building permit process, including online and in-person submission, coordination with planning, engineering, water, wastewater, health, and fire agencies, and the county’s fully electronic review system using ProjectDox and related software. They noted that applicants are encouraged to check zoning, water, wastewater, and floodplain issues before hiring someone to prepare plans, especially for homeowners. The county shared permit and utility statistics and said the public can check permit history through Click2Gov. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; after the Kauaʻi presentation, the chair opened a question period for members.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> very large plan and a very large project very large plan and a very large project to<00:09:57.040
• Street elevation projects, again, not an overnight project.
• <00:26:09.600><c> project.
• </c> utilizing a incident management team. utilizing a incident management team.
• </c> community to do this kind of project? community to do this kind of project?

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on its hazard mitigation plan and recent emergency events on Oahu. Chair Dela Botti opened the meeting by explaining that the briefing was intended to review the mitigation planning process, the city’s hazard mitigation plan, and lessons learned from recent tsunami and wildfire threats, building on earlier briefings with state emergency management and transportation officials. Director Collins and hazard mitigation staff officer Ian Kio presented the plan, describing it as a five-year FEMA-required document focused on reducing long-term risk to people and property, not an operations plan for active disasters. Kio outlined how the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with a core team, steering committee, consultant support, and public input, and said it was formally adopted by the mayor’s office and approved by FEMA in July 2025. He said the updated plan was aligned more closely with the state hazard mitigation plan, expanded to cover 15 hazards including climate change and sea level rise, and organized around hazard risk rankings and mitigation strategies. He identified the highest-risk hazards as climate change and sea level rise, floods, health risks, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires, and said the plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions such as education, Firewise community planning, flood mapping, and major infrastructure projects like tsunami walls and street elevation work. He also emphasized that the plan will be maintained with yearly updates and ongoing public feedback. Collins then discussed after-action findings from the July 6 Meli fire and the recent tsunami response, noting that reviews are still ongoing. He said the fire response showed strong initiative and teamwork, including police officers helping with fire suppression support and door-to-door evacuation efforts before firefighters arrived, and a staff duty officer who initiated a wireless emergency alert without waiting for higher-level direction. He said these actions reflected a culture of rapid decision-making when lives are at stake. Collins also urged residents to prepare by making family plans, gathering supplies, checking flood and tsunami risk maps, retrofitting homes, and obtaining insurance before disasters occur. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a general manager responsible for our air pollutant, greenhouse... ...manager responsible for our
• So you do a project now and you're going to repay your project gradually over the upcoming 10 years of
• to get the project approved.
• Three types of projects are eligible: mitigation projects, so replacing existing...
• You can do CCS projects, and you can do research and development projects as well with that money.

Bills: HB2272 , HB2285 , HB2296

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes, carbon capture, clean energy, environmental regulation, sustainability, green technology, distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, energy policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> they uh produce a specific management they uh produce a specific management report<00:05:02.560>
• And then my third example is a wildlife crossing project known as the Dubois project on Highway 26.
• as the wildlife crossing project known as the Dubo<00:42:01.680><c> project</c><00:42:02.079><c> on<
• So our, um, in the fish division, we have fisheries management people, which I am a fisheries manager
• So our, um, in the fish division, we have fisheries management people, which I am a fisheries manager

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Once they are a customer, there is significant ongoing project management that occurs.
• Just the capital projects that are underway. It's about $40 million worth of projects right now.
• management.
• The other thing that we've also found is we're having to help manage basically our customers' projects
• The Columbus Flood Control Project is probably the biggest project that we have.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Item C is an alternative delivery method project.
• These are special projects that are over $5 million.
• Item C is an alternative delivery method project.
• What is the projected revenue for this $996,000? What is the projected revenue for this $996,000?
• And as we look to determine how... ...projects.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The review subcommittee met to consider a supplemental agenda, methods of finance, an alternative delivery project, discretionary grants, and a large slate of construction, out-of-state, and in-state contracts. The supplemental item was a $2.6 million out-of-state contract with Tyler Technologies for a mobile app that would let citizens access state services through a single sign-on, initially for DFA vehicle and licensing services, with possible expansion to other agencies. Members also reviewed five methods of finance, including University of Arkansas projects for roof and cooling tower replacements, a new $100 million academic classroom building at U of A Fayetteville, a police department renovation at UA Fort Smith, and a boiler/chiller replacement at Hope-Texarkana. Questions focused on project timing, why some items were being reviewed after work had begun, and the high estimated cost of the Fayetteville classroom building; DFA explained that projects under $250,000 are not reviewed and that the larger project was still in design and would later seek a guaranteed maximum price. The committee also reviewed two DHS discretionary grants: one for targeted youth advocacy in southwest Arkansas and another adding $582,000 for family-centered treatment training and implementation. In the services contract section, members discussed construction-related contracts, including an ASMSA electrical scope increase tied to three-phase power requirements and the U of A Fayetteville architect contract for the classroom building. Out-of-state contracts included major items such as ACT Education’s $17 million amendment to provide required pre-ACT testing for 9th and 10th graders, a $12.5 million DFA contract for rural health transformation grant management, DHS’s $16.5 million EBT services contract with updated chip-card and fraud-prevention features, and ADH’s special procurement for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The committee also reviewed U of A system consulting contracts for financial advisory and sponsorship strategy work, with university officials saying the outside expertise was needed for specialized planning and revenue-generation efforts. In-state contracts covered corrections reentry services, nursing board investigations, foster care and child welfare services, DHS office janitorial work, emergency management radio system expansion, veterans’ home nursing staffing, and UAMS grants consulting. A lengthy exchange centered on the Department of Corrections’ reentry housing contract, with members pressing officials about vacant beds and urging fuller use of the program, while corrections staff said placements depend on screening and eligibility. Another discussion addressed the balance between out-of-state and in-state contracting, with a member noting the large dollar volume going to out-of-state vendors and asking whether Arkansas vendors receive any preference; State Procurement said current law does not allow an in-state preference. The committee approved the supplemental agenda, the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, the discretionary grants, and the contract lists, and then received routine reports and an emergency action report before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, you will find reference to the managed aquifer. Let's see.
• There is reference to the Milner Dam Emergency Spillway Project.
• In Resolution, or in RS 33053, you'll find references for District 2 for projects.
• just thrown out a bunch of projects at you, and you're probably going, what's the connection?
• And then we also added some clarification link. management comments.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• area. ...Wildlife Management Area.
• “The wildlife management area.
• management area previous to that.”
• “We have to consider a lot of different things when we’re managing wildlife management areas.
• The Comite River Diversion Canal project is the largest project north of I-10.

Bills: SCR54 , SCR59 , HCR5 , HCR62 , HCR78 , HCR86 , HB595 , HB688 , HB802 , HB841 , HB1161 , HB1171 , HB1189 , HB1248 , HB1258

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• in addition to drinking water projects and water storage projects.
• It's a federally operated Project, and it's incorporated into the water rights management within the
• We don't take on really big projects or economic projects unless...
• in this case, and MNERD could manage the project, bid the project out.
• So, we don't finance solar projects just because they're solar projects.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, revenues have exceeded our projections.
• So starting with SB 41, the pharmacy benefit manager.
• Yeah, no, so plans can do utilization management today.
• Yeah, no, so plans can do utilization management today.
• a fee increase, which the $20 is the projection.

Summary: The hearing began with testimony from Let California Kids Hear and supporters urging action on pediatric hearing aid coverage. Advocates said California has repeatedly failed to enact a workable solution over the past eight years and argued that children need early access to sound to support development. The proposal discussed would limit the coverage mandate to the large-group market, which advocates said would cover roughly 70% to 80% of affected children and avoid the exchange-related cost issue that contributed to prior vetoes. Supporters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s health groups, backed the proposal, and the chair expressed sympathy and support while noting hope for a federal solution for exchange plans. The Department of Finance then gave opening remarks about the state’s structural deficit and the need to balance new investments against projected out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with a broad overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone initiatives, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, hospital seismic compliance, workforce programs, and the diaper access initiative. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, which HCAI said had reverted funds. The committee also discussed a proposed transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate to HCAI, new reporting on long-term care staffing and health coverage waiting periods, and a Behavioral Health Services Act workforce proposal that would use BHSA funds to support training, stipends, and technical assistance while offsetting $100 million in General Fund spending; members and LAO questioned the offset and asked for more detail, and the item was held open. HCAI also presented the Rural Health Transformation Program, explaining that California received $233.6 million in federal funds for the first year and had to revise its proposal so that $35 million in provider payments would be tied to specific transformative activities rather than general financial relief. The program will fund rural care model redesign, workforce development, and technology/infrastructure improvements, with grants to be rolled out on a tight timeline and subject to CMS approval. Members asked about the size of California’s award, the use of funds for maternity care, labor and delivery access, dialysis, tribal set-asides, and the role of a technical assistance contractor. The department said the program will use supply-and-demand workforce modeling to target funding and that all funds must be obligated by October 30. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined its budget and two major bill-related proposals: SB 41 on PBM reform and SB 306 on prior authorization transparency. DMHC said SB 41 would require PBM licensure, ban spread pricing, require rebate pass-through, and regulate pharmacy network practices, while SB 306 would require reporting on prior authorization and create a list of services exempt from prior authorization. DMHC requested additional positions and funding to implement both measures.