Transcript Highlights:

• And when we talk about water supply, there are multiple factors that we look at to evaluate the water
• drought declaration was predominantly driven by low snowpack and low reservoir storage, multiple factors
• These conditions also impact soil moisture and other factors that impact water supply and demand.
• These conditions also impact soil moisture and other factors that impact water supply and demand.
• And there are a number of factors we need to come together to not be in drought next year.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Summary: The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs. Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT ARE INCREASING THE RATE YOU SEE TODAY, 34% IS NOT THE TYPICAL
• THE ANTICIPATED CHANGES ENROLLMENT IS A FACTOR THAT IMPACTS THESE RATES AND OTHER FACTORS, THERE ARE
• OTHER FACTORS AS WELL WHICH IS THE DELAYED IMPACT OF INFLATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.
• MORBIDITY OF THE RISK POOL GETS WORSE SO IT'S CONSIDERED TO THAT EXTENT THAT'S REALLY THE DRIVING FACTOR

Transcript Highlights:

• What if we took money out of the factor?
• Money wasn't a factor, getting the right people in there that were voted in is more important than the
• The start program, you know, I know they have a lot of factors to evaluate that in order... ...to award
• the funding, everything, but it's the safety of the child, part of the factors evaluated.
• care regulation through their child care minimum standards looks at all of the health and safety factors

Bills: HB 1087 , HB2504 , HB4113 , HB5144 , HB5146 , HB5377 , HB5543 , SB140 , SB264 , SB1244 , SB1343 , SB2121 , HR868

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: property owners, board vacancy, special election, association governance, community management, property owners' association, resale certificate, fees, real estate regulation, homeowners, HB 4113, Texas Rising Star Program, child care, child-care providers, Texas Workforce Commission, TWC, safety barriers, crash-rated bollards, bollards, playground safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Those factors haven't been adequately considered.
• If costs go up, et cetera, inflation, or any factor, then we would come in and adjust the rates.
• So, you know, there's a lot of factors in that cost of service for operators, but the intent is through
• Additionally, there could be unanticipated cost factors at play, such as an unexpected increase in the
• These factors may or may not rise to the level of 20% and could necessitate a filing more than once in

Bills: HB29 , HB685 , HB1633 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB1918 , HB2010 , HB2500 , HB2608 , HB2626 , HB29

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• basis by the Federal Housing Administration and adjusted based on cost of living and other market factors
• So, that's another factor that is making this issue, this problem bigger for our health care practitioners
• It's not one single factor; it's a variety of factors—a variety of things that we need to address.
• change, and I think in the comments we heard a lot of the other reasons that probably play a major factor

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Groundwater recharge could be the major factor in finding water solutions.
• This is the case despite the fact that the key prerequisite factors of induced vehicle miles traveled
• While various factors have contributed to these closures, the Energy Commission has cited, as one of
• the significant factors, inconsistency and high compliance costs in California's system that allows the
• While various factors have been contributed to these closures, the Energy Commission has cited as one

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:29.279><c> doubt</c><00:11:29.440><c> that</c><00:11:29.680><c> these</c><00:11:30.000><c> factors
• </c> And there's no doubt that these factors And there's no doubt that these factors are<00:11:30.959
• It's shaped by cultural norms, social values, political ideologies, and economic factors.
• .<01:00:24.559><c> Yes,</c> factors.
• Yes, factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those lines can be caused by many factors the day.
• Those lines can be caused by many factors in a general election.
• In this primary, they were caused by one factor, the removal of countywide voting at the insistence of

Transcript Highlights:

• awarding spousal maintenance for a period of more than four years and modifies the list of relevant factors
• But yeah, and it's ticketed events also because, along with the safety factor, they also don't want..
• Yeah, and it's ticketed events also, because along with the safety factor, they also don't want people

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of bills spanning health care, education, tax, elections, firearms, and public safety. HB 283, as amended, would require diabetes-related supplies and monitoring equipment to be covered for people with diabetes. SB 1126 would require schools to provide records and information to Department of Child Safety caseworkers and allow school employees to speak with DCS investigators; it was on consent, though some members said they wanted to study it further. SB 1210 would require certain out-of-state private postsecondary institutions to register with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education to protect students, especially those taking online courses. SCR 1006, which would create causes of action related to restroom, changing facility, and pronoun policies in schools, drew strong opposition and was requested to be pulled from consent. Several tax and property bills were discussed. HB 2308 would prohibit dental insurers from owning dental practices, and members noted the committee and Senate had not supported it. SB 1294 would clarify county assessors’ authority to prorate destroyed property for property tax purposes; members said they were still researching whether the bill was necessary. SB 1430, the Tax Corrections Act of 2026, would make technical tax changes and remove redundant language, but members said they wanted Department of Revenue-requested corrections restored. SB 1049 would cap spousal maintenance at four years and change the factors used in setting support; it was pulled from consent. SB 1053 would reduce concealed weapons permit fees for Arizona residents, and members raised concerns about state fee impacts and asked to pull it. The caucus also considered several election and public safety measures. SB 1006 would allow campaign committees to aggregate donations under $200 instead of $100, but members questioned the higher threshold and pulled it. SB 1029 would address committee termination after a candidate’s death. SB 1038 would make cast vote records public, and SB 1057 would add fraud countermeasures for paper ballots; both were noted as vetoed in the prior year. SB 1237 would require the Secretary of State to consult county recorders and legislative election leaders before issuing the elections procedures manual. Other measures included SB 1058, which would restrict government recordkeeping on firearms and merchant category codes and was pulled after members cited a prior veto, SB 1093 on riot, conspiracy, and racketeering definitions, SB 1160 limiting drone operations near ticketed entertainment events with public safety arguments offered in support, and SB 1211 expanding lifetime injunction eligibility for aggravated harassment involving domestic violence. The caucus ended by moving into closed session.

Transcript Highlights:

• In establishing these standards, the Health Care Authority must consider several factors such as keeping
• In establishing these standards, the health care authority must consider several factors such as keeping
• last year I suggested a new bill draft to enable a more robust discussion... ...about the different factors

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Transcript Highlights:

• And the narrow projected decline comes from a combination of factors.
• I think there would probably be a number of factors that might go into how long it would take to set
• know, I, to be honest, I understand we're saving 45,000 people, but I'm looking at the more broad factor
• So I think a couple of factors come into play.
• Together, these factors are likely to increase demand for county-funded services while further straining

Summary: The hearing focused on the expected health coverage losses tied to H.R. 1, the resulting pressure on California’s county indigent care systems, and what data and policy changes the Legislature may need before the next budget cycle. Chair Hart and Assemblymember Addis framed the issue as a major rollback in coverage that could leave more Californians uninsured and push more people into county safety-net programs. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for baseline, county-by-county data on eligibility, benefits, caseloads, and funding before making larger structural decisions. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained the history of county indigent care under Welfare and Institutions Code 17000, the shift in funding through 1991 realignment, and the later redirection of funds to CalWORKs. LAO said county programs vary widely in scope and eligibility, that current realignment funding does not automatically rise with demand, and that the Legislature faces tradeoffs if it changes the funding structure. Administration witnesses from Finance and DHCS projected large Medi-Cal and Covered California enrollment losses, with DHCS estimating more than 1 million Medi-Cal members could eventually lose coverage under work requirements and redeterminations, and noting that a new federal rule could make exemptions more restrictive. Officials also said there is no single statewide real-time data system for uninsured or indigent care populations, though some hospital and utilization data exists with significant lags. County representatives from Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Tulare described how their indigent care programs are being rebuilt or strained after years of low demand. They warned that many newly uninsured residents will need only basic, emergency-oriented care under county programs, not the preventive and continuous care available through Medi-Cal, and said that without new state support counties may have to divert funds from public health or reduce other services. Several counties asked for bridge funding, technical statutory changes, and flexibility to adjust realignment methodology. The California Health Care Foundation closed by arguing that the problem is statewide and needs a statewide solution rather than a patchwork county response.

Transcript Highlights:

• Normally, you would say you would have an inflation factor of 3% to 5% in these areas.
• One contributing factor is the documentation, which has been slow to be generated and then slow to revise
• or environmental factors like high humidity, consecutive days of heat, or sudden exposure to very high
• That was one of the biggest factors in the 2021 heat dome deaths, or are in communities with less shade
• Even if they now qualify, the deciding factor of whether they will engage in it or engage in a larger

Summary: The committee met for a series of information sessions focused on housing stabilization, rental assistance, senior housing, and heat resilience. In the first panel, OHCS and NOAA described the state’s affordable housing preservation work, including the $35 million in 2025 stabilization funding used to reduce debt and keep distressed affordable rental projects operating, plus manufactured home park preservation efforts. OHCS said the portfolio remains under strain, with about a third of projects at debt coverage ratios of 1.0 or less and rising insurance and operating costs. NOAA urged faster closings on the stabilization awards, more funding in 2027, and broader rent assistance and process reforms. Committee members asked about the gap between current appropriations and need, and OHCS explained that the new Article 11-Q bond preservation program is structured differently and requires full refinancing rather than simple cash infusions. The committee then heard a detailed discussion of the state’s eviction prevention and rental assistance program, ORDAP. OHCS said the program is administered through community action agencies, prioritizes households at imminent risk of eviction, and is now funded at a much lower level than in the prior biennium, reducing expected service to about 8,200 households this biennium. The Oregon Law Center, a county community action agency, and Multifamily Northwest all agreed the program prevents homelessness and is effective, but they differed on whether assistance should be tied so closely to eviction court. Legal aid and community action witnesses said the current system is underfunded and that eviction filings are the clearest indicator of need, while Multifamily Northwest argued the process can push people into court unnecessarily and should be moved earlier when possible. Legislators raised questions about whether a pre-eviction model could be developed and about the costs of court involvement; one member shared a personal story about how rental assistance helped keep their family housed. Next, the governor’s office, OHCS, and OHA presented on the new senior housing initiative and healthy homes work. The governor’s housing director said Oregon is making progress on homelessness and housing production, with reductions in homelessness outside Multnomah County and an estimated 50,000 future units added to the pipeline through recent state actions. OHCS outlined the senior housing programs launched in May: a debt-financing program using elderly and disabled bond authority, an older adult housing development program funded through the senior property tax deferral revolving account, and a rehousing program for older adults that will use bridge funding and services to move at least 400 unsheltered older Oregonians into housing. OHA also described its Healthy Homes Grant Program, including $24.6 million already awarded, a new $5 million grant round for seniors and people with disabilities, and examples of home repairs and weatherization that help people remain safely housed. The final information session focused on home cooling and heat resilience. OHA presented data showing rising extreme heat days, more heat-related emergency visits, and likely undercounted heat deaths, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities, and people without access to healthy homes. ODOE reviewed implementation of Senate Bill 1536, including a cooling needs study that found 58% of surveyed households in the studied housing types needed permanent cooling, with estimated statewide costs of $582 million to $1 billion. ODOE said its rental home heat pump and community heat pump programs have supported 4,638 installations so far, with a temporary reopening planned using remaining funds. The session ended with a remote presentation from a Community Action Partnership of Oregon representative, continuing the discussion of how community action agencies help deliver energy and anti-poverty services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't, however, think these fees are likely to be a major factor in determining tuition charges at
• We don't, however, think these fees are likely to be a major factor in determining tuition charges at
• And there are some factors that we discussed earlier in the spring that could contribute to additional
• As we know, a great teacher is one of the most important factors in a child's success.
• As we know, a great teacher is one of the most important factors in a child success.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals for higher education, beginning with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Finance proposed a one-time $10 million General Fund backfill to repay a special fund loan used to cover litigation costs, plus provisional language to allow budget flexibility for a remaining legal expense and to repay the loan without interest. The LAO opposed shifting the litigation costs to the General Fund and raised legal concerns about waiving interest on the loan, noting that special fund loans have historically been repaid with interest. Members asked about the litigation amount and the estimated interest savings, which Finance said would be about $245,000. The committee then discussed University of California funding, including the Governor’s proposed compact funding and a $1.5 million one-time increase for the First Star foster youth program at UC campuses. UC said the program has strong outcomes at UCLA, including a 100% college-going rate and high college completion rates, and that the new funding would expand the program to additional campuses and eventually be self-supporting through fundraising. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that UC already has overlapping outreach programs, including the Early Academic Outreach Program, and that the new initiative would duplicate existing services. Several senators questioned whether the state should expand a new program instead of strengthening existing ones, while UC and Finance emphasized the program’s focus on foster youth and its high success rates. For the California Community Colleges, Finance outlined the May Revision’s increase to the Student-Centered Funding Formula COLA from 2.41% to 4.31%, along with enrollment growth funding, categorical COLAs, deferred maintenance, and other ongoing and one-time investments. The Chancellor’s Office supported the flexible “super COLA” approach and asked for more enrollment growth funding, arguing that many districts are already above current targets and that unfunded growth restricts access. The LAO recommended funding at least the statutory COLA, redirecting some ongoing funds to enrollment growth or one-time priorities, and rejecting the $9.7 million Adult Learner Demonstration Project because districts already have incentives to do similar work. Senators pressed Finance and the Chancellor’s Office on the use of COLA funds to cover the new paid pregnancy disability leave requirement, the impact on hold-harmless and basic-aid districts, and whether the state should fund actual enrollment growth rather than a flat COLA. The committee also reviewed California Student Aid Commission proposals, including adjustments to Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship funding, continued Golden State Teacher Grant funding, and implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance said the Middle Class Scholarship changes reflected updated caseload estimates and that the higher 35% unmet-need level had been one-time funding, while CSAC urged continued support and noted the importance of financial aid for student success. The LAO recommended rejecting additional Golden State Teacher Grant funding as not well-targeted and urged caution on Workforce Pell trailer bill language, citing uncertainty about federal rules, ongoing administrative workload, and the need for clearer implementation planning. Members also raised concerns about declining CADAA applications and the need to better promote state aid for undocumented and mixed-status students. No votes were taken during the transcripted portion, and the committee moved through the agenda items with questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• They can be based on a variety of factors: mental health court, what we used to call drug court, various
• Access to counsel remains Access to counsel remains one of the most significant factors influencing the
• We are aware of their needs, and we factor those needs as we build the Governor's budget and as we're
• Do you think there are certain factors that are, you know, going to keep it growing?
• Do you think there's certain factors that are, you know, going to keep it growing?

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard presentations on the Office of the State Public Defender, civil legal aid funding, and Judicial Branch operations. The State Public Defender requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the workload has grown substantially through retroactive capital-case briefing, habeas proceedings, data requests, and related statistical analysis. She also presented findings from a public defense workload and staffing report showing that California’s county-based public defense system is under-resourced, with too few attorneys, investigators, and support staff, especially in rural counties, and that statewide standards and funding are lacking. Committee members asked about the scope of racial bias claims, the impact of collaborative courts and Prop. 36, and the need for statewide cost estimates and phased funding options. The committee then heard from legal aid advocates and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge in support of increased civil legal aid funding. Witnesses described the Equal Access Fund, homelessness prevention services, health care access, and immigration detention defense as cost-effective ways to prevent evictions, stabilize families, and reduce downstream public costs. They requested a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, along with additional targeted investments from the California Access to Justice Commission. Testimony emphasized the severe shortage of legal aid attorneys, the high demand for immigration representation, and the role of legal aid in domestic violence, housing, and family law matters. Senators asked for more information on service locations, outreach, funding losses, and how the requested amounts were calculated. In the Judicial Branch overview, Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including a $70 million increase for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel and case processing. They said the money is needed to offset inflation, supply chain costs, and staffing pressures, and to preserve access to justice. Senators pressed the branch and Department of Finance on interpreter shortages, midyear funding flexibility, courthouse facilities needs, and judgeship needs in inland counties. Finance officials said they were aware of the broader facilities backlog, and the committee requested follow-up information on the full capital and maintenance needs, interpreter funding, and updated judgeship and workload data. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The jury must make specific findings on the record based on the prescribed factors relating to a child's
• has to go in front of a jury and pay to go in front of a jury, that's going to be a self-limiting factor
• has to go in front of a jury and pay to go in front of a jury, that's going to be a self-limiting factor
• There always are, but it's going to be costly to them, so another self-limiting factor.
• The point is, and I want to put a fine point on Another self-limiting factor.

Bills: SB1285 , SB1289 , SB1326 , SB1328 , SB1329 , SB1330 , SB1392 , SB1402 , SB1425 , SCR1013 , SCR1014

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: sentencing, correctional facilities, multiple sentences, death penalty, aggravating circumstances, juvenile offenses, class 2 felony, foreign donations, election administration, certification, Arizona Revised Statutes, transparency, public disclosure, parents' rights, family law, shared parenting, best interest of the child, state interference, family court, custody

Transcript Highlights:

• previous one whether it would be a friendly amendment to ask for a report every six months on those factors
• previous one whether it would be a friendly amendment to ask for a report every six months on those factors
• previous one whether it would be a friendly amendment to ask for a report every six months on those factors
• previous one whether it would be a friendly amendment to ask for a report every six months on those factors
• </c><00:39:03.040><c> as</c> every six months on on those factors as every six months on on those factors

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we also included in House Bill 63, um, a specific standalone factor for English learners, along with
• the legislature and the state has made overall to support those students in increasing the at-risk factor
• I mean, are we factoring that into the, to the. There's a two part question there. Uh.
• Those, those job positions that they need to hire may be a lot less factoring in saying we're going to
• And, and so I think that's something else we need to factor maybe with you and him too, I mean.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the driving factors is And one of the driving factors for these proposals is it allows us
• So that's benefit number one, Rep., you're absolutely right that one of the constraining factors—not
• the only constraining factor, but one of them—is the Commonwealth's statutory direct debt limit, which

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, State Assets, and Capital Expenditures held its first public hearing on House Bill 4257, a transportation bonding bill. The administration testified in support, describing the bill as a $1.185 billion authorization: $300 million for Chapter 90 municipal road funding and $885 million for statewide transportation capital programs. Officials said the bill would increase municipal aid by 50%, with $200 million distributed under the traditional Chapter 90 formula and $100 million based solely on road mileage to better help rural communities. They also highlighted $500 million for bridge and pavement lifecycle asset management, $200 million for culverts and small bridges, and $185 million for congestion, safety, ADA, sidewalk, and multimodal improvements. Committee members asked about how municipalities would apply, how the road-mile formula would affect rural towns, and how the bill would interact with federal funding uncertainty and debt financing. Administration witnesses explained that projects would be administered through MassDOT district offices and Grant Central, that the bill would not backfill rescinded federal funds, and that the proposal would likely use special obligation bonds backed by Fair Share revenues to reduce pressure on the Commonwealth’s general obligation debt limit. Members also pressed the administration on the shift from general obligation to special obligation financing and on whether the Chapter 90 increase keeps pace with inflation. Administration officials said the special obligation structure would be credit-rated separately and was intended to expand available capital without affecting the GO bond cap, while acknowledging that the Commonwealth’s debt portfolio would grow. They said the Chapter 90 increase would roughly restore purchasing power lost since 2012, though construction inflation has outpaced general inflation. Several members and witnesses emphasized the importance of the road-mile formula for rural communities and the need for technical assistance for small towns. The Massachusetts Municipal Association testified in strong support of the bill, calling Chapter 90 and the new infrastructure authorizations critical for cities and towns facing federal uncertainty and rising costs. The Massachusetts Aggregate and Asphalt Pavement Association also supported the bill, citing the importance of the funding for road and bridge work, the construction season, and the industry’s economic impact. A committee member asked about asphalt price inflation, and the witness said liquid asphalt costs rose sharply after COVID, including increases of around 20% in some years. At the end of the hearing, the chair said members would receive a poll by email to move the bill out quickly, and the committee then voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Department, having under consideration House Bill 2756, relating to utilities and high-load factor
• sir: It does a handful of things, extending reporting requirement deadlines for new extra high-load factor
• sir: It does a handful of things, extending reporting requirement deadlines for new extra high-load factor
• For new extra high load factor customers, et cetera, exempts the electric public service corporations

Transcript Highlights:

• wonder if we could get a copy of the Agriculture Department paraquat ban wording, just so we could factor
• dates<00:08:43.240><c> and</c><00:08:43.560><c> and</c><00:08:43.680><c> other</c><00:08:43.880><c> factors
• </c><00:08:44.400><c> that</c><00:08:45.000><c> are</c> dates and and other factors that are dates and
• and other factors that are being<00:08:45.400><c> worked</c><00:08:45.640><c> on</c><00:08:45.760><c