Transcript Highlights:

• Please give me information about this deceased person's account.
• And then we spend the next year to three years trying to get information, trying to collect accounts.
• Please give me information about this deceased person's account.
• And then we spend the next year to three years trying to get information, trying to collect accounts.
• And maybe we make sure that it has in there that you must freeze the accounts.

Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee met without quorum for part of the hearing and proceeded on several bills, with testimony focused on probate access, domestic violence protections, child support services, and an immigration resolution. On AB 1660, the author and county public administrators said financial institutions often delay or refuse lawful requests for account information and assets, causing harm to estates and vulnerable people; banks and credit union representatives opposed the new penalties, arguing the underlying statute may be outdated and that fraud concerns require more verification. The author agreed to amend the bill to make penalties discretionary rather than mandatory, and the bill ultimately passed out of committee to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and later add-on approval. AB 1657, by Assembly Member Rogers, would bar courts from requiring domestic violence survivors seeking temporary restraining orders to notify the alleged abuser before filing; the Sonoma County district attorney and others supported it as a safety measure, and it passed unanimously to the floor with multiple members requesting coauthor status. The committee also heard AB 1643, which would automatically enroll custodial parents in child support services after a support order is entered unless they opt out. The author and child support officials argued the bill would increase access to free enforcement and collection services, reduce child poverty, and help families who do not complete the current application process; some members raised concerns about fees, opt-out clarity, and whether automatic enrollment could interfere with amicable co-parenting arrangements. After discussion about the program’s funding and the need for a clear opt-out process, the bill was moved to the Human Services Committee, with some members voting no or not voting and later add-on action placing it on call and then advancing it. The committee also considered SJR 8, urging Congress to modernize the federal immigration registry so long-term undocumented residents could qualify for lawful permanent residency on a rolling basis; supporters described it as a long-overdue pathway for immigrant families and workers, and the resolution was adopted to the floor after a vote and later add-on action. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly emphasized the need to balance enforcement, fraud prevention, and access to services. Several members supported the domestic violence and probate bills as necessary fixes to existing systems, while others urged continued work with stakeholders on standardized forms, clearer procedures, and modernized safeguards. The committee also took up consent items and add-ons, including AB 1597, AB 1651, and AB 1652 on consent, and later finalized votes on the measures discussed above.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, it updates the Community Reinvestment Account.
• These cases are all occurring in tax-exempt units with no accountability for landlords.
• Thank you, Melissa. covenant home ownership accounts.
• Limiting access does not promote accountability.
• I understand the concerns of regulatory oversight and accountability.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard several housing-related bills and gubernatorial appointments. SB 6201 would create property tax and REET exemptions for property used as affordable housing by social housing agencies, with testimony from the sponsor and supporters from Seattle Social Housing and House Our Neighbors emphasizing lower development costs and deeper affordability. Senator Gildon questioned how the 50% occupancy requirement would work at purchase, and staff explained the covenant and compliance requirements. The committee also heard SB 6205, which would add conflict-of-interest restrictions and reporting requirements for the Community Reinvestment Account, Affordable Housing Program, and Covenant Homeownership Program; Senator Braun said the bill responds to reports of misuse and is intended to improve transparency and trust. The committee heard gubernatorial appointments Pedro Espinoza and Diana H. Perez to the Housing Finance Commission, both of whom described their construction, local government, and housing experience and were supported by committee members. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and passed SB 6001 on scissors stairs, SB 6026 on allowing residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, and SB 6054 on fire-hardened building materials. SB 6026 drew the most debate, with amendments added and others rejected; supporters said it would expand housing supply, while opponents and local governments raised concerns about historic districts, main street areas, and limits on local planning authority. SB 6054 was amended to remove the 10% cap on fire-hardened materials, with members saying it would help homeowners protect against wildfire risk. The committee then moved to public hearings on SB 6069, which would require cities and counties to allow emergency shelters, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing in more zones and limit local restrictions to objective standards and administrative review. Supporters, including housing providers, the Attorney General’s Office, King County, and Disability Rights Washington, said local barriers are delaying needed housing, while cities and the Association of Washington Cities argued the bill is too broad and would limit operational agreements and local flexibility. The committee also heard SB 6167, which would bar homebuyers from receiving multiple state-funded down payment assistance loans or grants. The sponsor said the bill is meant to maximize limited assistance dollars for more households, but opponents from housing nonprofits, advocates, and a homeless veteran said it would reduce access to homeownership, especially for Black households and families needing layered assistance in high-cost markets. Finally, the committee returned to SB 6205 testimony, where supporters said the bill would prevent self-dealing and misuse of grant funds, while one testifier urged more investigation and oversight resources. No final action was taken on the public hearing bills during the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the dedicated accounts. the dedicated accounts.
• </c> own uh private account. Only a portion. own uh private account. Only a portion.
• They could retain it in a account.
• </c> patient account at a nursing facility. patient account at a nursing facility.
• </c> this personal account. It's Medicaid. this personal account. It's Medicaid.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 118, as amended, which contains several unrelated provisions with a modest fiscal note. Nathan White of the Department of Health and Human Services explained that section 1 would change the personal needs allowance for Medicaid-eligible residents of private and county nursing homes from an adjustment every five years to an annual adjustment, increasing the state cost by about $50,000 per year. He also described section 2, a one-time appropriation of about $160,000 to make certain Hampstead employees whole for missed bonuses and lost leave during the state’s transition of the facility to Dartmouth management. White then outlined sections 3 through 5, which would create a dedicated fund for Hampstead lease revenue to cover the state’s contractual obligation to match Dartmouth capital improvements dollar-for-dollar up to $3 million. He said the state receives about $1.141 million in lease revenue in the first year, with a 3% annual escalator, and that the fund would hold lease revenue until needed for reimbursement. Members questioned how the matching arrangement would work, what happens if Dartmouth spends before the fund has enough money, and whether the state could refuse to match certain improvements. White said Dartmouth has final determination under the agreement if disputes arise, and that if the bill does not pass the state could face difficulty meeting the obligation without cutting services or finding other general funds. Several members also raised policy concerns about the personal needs allowance becoming an automatic cost driver. Brian Clark, attorney for the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, clarified that current law requires the allowance to be updated at least every five years, but the legislature could change it in an off year if it chose. He also explained that the allowance is money residents retain from their own income, such as Social Security, as part of Medicaid cost-of-care calculations, and that the department does not regulate how residents keep those funds. No vote was taken during the discussion, and the committee paused to correct the bill copy before continuing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This $2.57 million ask is from the renewable development account.
• Agreement last year on renewable development account funds.
• </c> account, part of a larger conversation. account, part of a larger conversation.
• May not be within development account.
• I'll also renewable development account.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• So the way it's explained to me is that if they decrypt one account, then everybody's accounts are open
• can find those accounts.
• That gives parental rights over those accounts. proactive that gives parental rights over those accounts
• can find those accounts.
• This is just something: if you want these accounts, these are the rules and how it works on these accounts

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft systems. The bill increases penalties for flying drones over critical infrastructure, prohibits drones equipped with weapons or explosives, creates a first-degree felony for drones carrying a weapon of mass destruction, and includes a law enforcement exception. A lay-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo warning against the use of force to shoot down drones was debated but failed, and the bill was then reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 846 addressing notary public fraud in immigration-related services, SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions for school transportation, SB 922 on employment agreements including non-compete and garden leave provisions, and SB 1820 on motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer relations, covering performance measures, retaliation, and franchise termination standards. Several bills focused on education, health care, and disability issues. SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, would require disability history and awareness instruction across grade levels; it drew emotional testimony from the bill sponsor, family members, and supporters, and was reported favorably. SB 998 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify deaths and file death certificates in hospice settings under physician protocol, and SB 1412 would modernize home health agency rules by expanding administrative flexibility and contract service use; both passed. SB 1736 would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several regulatory and court-related measures. SB 1650 expands Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including allowing designation based on conduct in a single case and extending the look-back period, while SB 1652 creates a public records exemption for certain stricken non-criminal court filings; both were approved. SB 1076 on roofing contractors was amended to require continuing education for roof-to-wall connections and then passed, and SB 1078 on fire prevention was amended with stakeholder-agreed language before being reported favorably. SB 1080 on local government land regulations, after multiple amendments and significant debate over agricultural enclaves and local control, was also approved. Other major measures included SB 818 on utility relocation, which creates a relocation fund funded by a portion of communications services tax revenue and was supported by multiple industry and local-government groups after a compromise amendment; SB 868 on social media use by minors, which would require a decryption mechanism for law enforcement access under subpoena and prohibit disappearing messages for minors, remained under discussion as the transcript ended. The committee also heard SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers against the City of Gainesville, and reported it favorably after testimony that the city would pay the settlement amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• for on proxy voting accountability for on proxy voting advice,<00:07:24.479><c> particularly</c><00:
• ,<00:07:57.280><c> pension</c><00:07:57.680><c> investments,</c><00:07:58.800><c> mutual</c> accounts
• , pension investments, mutual accounts, pension investments, mutual funds,<00:08:00.000><c> and</c><00
• </c> transparency without accountability. transparency without accountability.
• </c> accountable when they are not. accountable when they are not. talking<00:10:06.640><c> a</c><00:

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• THE BILL ALSO SUGGESTS A NEED FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY BUT OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS ALREADY ACCOUNTABLE
• ACCOUNTABILITY EXISTS WITHOUT TURNING THE POSITION INTO A CAMPAIGN OFFICE MAKING THE SUPERINTENDENT A
• THE SUPERINTENDENT IS VETTED PUBLICLY AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.
• I HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
• COULD YOU THINK SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE.

Transcript Highlights:

• California's school accountability system is long overdue for modernization.
• School Dashboard and the School Accountability Report Card, known as SARC.
• For years, California has operated with two parallel systems: the School Accountability Report Card,
• Not take any local control into account. And it created a lot of havoc for our local communities.
• When accountability is unclear, students and families bear the cost.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This program will serve 100,000 students with education savings accounts, ESAs.
• Also members, this is a fully universal education savings account program.
• If you take into account the attendance that will be lost, okay?
• savings account.
• If they do not use the total amount of the education service. account savings account as the bill states

Bills: SB2 , SJR36 , SB2 , SB2 , SR29 , SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• They were struck down years ago, so we have empowerment scholarship accounts.
• Once it's fulfilled, it'll go into another account.
• DeLatino, I'm just thinking of this from the perspective of nonprofit accounting.
• This bill was about accountability. This bill is about safety.
• So for all these reasons, respect the teacher, school safety, accountability.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Not all balances in the account are available to spend.
• number A detailed breakdown of the sub-accounts and allowable uses of each sub-account in Fund IX are
• Page 12, on page 12, there's a list of game, fish, and water safety account number nine, sub-account.
• Does this request take into account all the boats and the trucks?
• Also an accounting team lead that will help oversee the daily operations of the accountants in addition

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And then this is the trust account.
• So last year, at the end of the fiscal year, we had 343,418,113 in the trust account.
• We have this reserve account.
• It goes to the scholarship trust account.
• I can't help by myself being the accountant I am here.

Committee: All ALC-LOTTERY OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the branch chief for homelessness programs and accountability at HCD.
• This trailer bill seeks to establish those accountability and performance metrics.
• We need real accountability about the outcomes that people care about.
• The other thing is the accountability side, and I absolutely agree: we need to hold people accountable
• It is highly leveraged with private dollars, and there is accountability.

Summary: The subcommittee heard several May Revision proposals related to the state’s housing and homelessness reorganization. On the first item, administration and Finance staff described technical adjustments to move administrative positions and resources between the California Housing and Homelessness Agency, HCD, and Cal ICH, plus authority for a chief deputy director at the new Housing Development Finance Committee. The LAO recommended approval but asked for clarification on funding for the chief deputy position. Several senators questioned whether the staffing shifts would reduce Cal ICH’s capacity and whether adding communications support and a new executive position was appropriate absent new housing funding; the item was held open. The second item proposed a new $100 million CalHFA Disaster Rebuilding Fund, with $56 million General Fund and $44 million in existing National Mortgage Settlement funds, to help disaster-impacted homeowners access construction financing through tools such as a loan loss guarantee and interest rate buy-downs. CalHFA said the fund would help close the gap between insurance proceeds and rebuilding costs and would work through approved lenders. The LAO raised concerns about the lack of alternatives analysis, the broad delegation in the trailer bill, and the General Fund cost. Senators pressed for more detail on the estimated number of homeowners served, lender and homeowner eligibility, equity safeguards, and the role of the Legislature in program design; the item was held open. The third item was trailer bill language for HAP Round 7, including accountability metrics, pro-housing designation requirements for certain large cities and counties, local match requirements, and a mechanism to recapture unspent funds. HCD said the proposal would streamline reporting by using one consistent set of system performance measures and would phase in the new requirements. The LAO questioned the timing, the burden of pro-housing designation, the size and source of the local match, and whether the proposal conflicted with the Legislature’s prior goal of getting funds out quickly. Several senators criticized the added requirements and the lack of new funding, while others said the proposal could improve accountability and reduce administrative burden by reusing existing plans. The item was also held open. The fourth item began a proposal to reduce local development impact fees on state-funded affordable housing projects, framed as a condition on competitive multifamily funding rather than a statewide mandate. The presentation started but the transcript cuts off before questions or action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• No racial data was taken into account, sir.
• Was it, in fact, taken into account?
• So how does that account for population growth? Thank you, Madam Chair.
• So how does that account for population growth? Thank you, Madam Chair.
• We didn't take racial data into account.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this is a non-appropriated account, funding for this bill is not included in the House budget
• The bill creates the wage recovery program and a wage recovery account.
• Under the program, beginning July 1, 2028, or when the account contains at least $130,000, whichever
• Those revenues are deposited into the newly created local investment distribution account.
• of the account?

Bills: HB2521 , HB2249 , HB1796

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have one other testifier, Chelsea Olsen. accountability for outcomes.
• I ask for accountability for outcomes.
• </c> demand transparency and accountability demand transparency and accountability from<00:35:39.119>
• I am a big fan of having more transparency and accountability.
• accountability accountability um<00:48:41.920><c> and</c><00:48:42.400><c> try</c><00:48:42.640><c>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• at 12:58 p.m., constitutionally prohibits the state from confiscating monies from any scholarship account
• who is a child of a military family if the following two conditions are met: one, the scholarship account
• by the voters on or after November 1, 2026, violates the prohibition on confiscating scholarship account
• So when it tells those families, you are eligible for an education scholarship account, we should not
• Chair, if I may, so this is about money that would be in the account not used.

Bills: HCR2048

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Higher Education Accountability and Governance Act. It is straightforward.
• At the heart of this legislation is public accountability.
• At the heart of this legislation is public accountability.
• At the heart of this legislation is public accountability.
• Louisiana taxpayers deserve institutions that are accountable for that result.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several higher education and K-12 bills. SB 234 by Sen. Presley, which would provide grading for medical school students, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142 by Sen. Reese, dealing with continued management and oversight of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in unmatched requests; it was also reported favorably without objection. SB 482 by Sen. Reese, expanding the role of career coaches in middle and high school graduation planning and reporting on career development fund spending, received support from BESE and others, with committee members discussing counselor workload and district flexibility; it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up SB 64 by Sen. Hodges, which would require two people to review initial video/audio recordings from cameras in self-contained classrooms when complaints arise, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 1063 by Rep. Owen, a broad higher education governance bill that would increase board oversight of curriculum, hiring, faculty senates, and discipline, generated extensive discussion and testimony from Rep. Owen and a representative of Parents Defending Education Action, but the author said he did not want to vote on it yet and moved to voluntarily defer it; the committee agreed without objection. HB 818 by Rep. Riser, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments, with Cynthia Posey of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers explaining the amendments; the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with one opposition card noted. Finally, SB 28 by Sen. McMath, carried by Rep. Carver, would lower the age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage; Department of Education staff said the change could expand the pipeline, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee also announced it would meet the following week on Wednesday, May 6, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have the normal checks and balances for holding bad actors accountable who are driving cars
• Nobody's held accountable. So so what? What's the natural solution or than the next natural step?
• But this is a problem that we keep having because no one's held accountable was held accountable for
• accountability anymore.
• I'm all for increased accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• This accounts for the fact that some of our fees are collected on a biennial basis, causing our revenues
• Right now, our primary focus is to reach the federal funding account grant awardees.
• , commonly referred to as Trump accounts, which are tax-deferred accounts established for children under
• These Section 530A accounts were created under federal H.R. 1 and enacted in July 2025.
• Camille Wagner, representing the big four accounting firms: EY, PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.