Transcript Highlights:

• So it's 70-year-old pipes that are being replaced, renovated.
• And then in '23 we replaced the chilling pipes.
• Old pipes that are being replaced, renovated.
• And then in '23 we replaced the chilling pipes.
• And then 23 we replaced the chilling pipes.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held an informational hearing on budget issues for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the California Arts Council. The chair noted there would be no votes. CalVet gave an overview of its programs serving veterans and families, including transition assistance, county veterans service officers, education approvals, housing and homelessness programs, home loans, long-term care homes, and state veterans cemeteries. Members asked about future long-term care needs for aging veterans, staffing and recruitment challenges at veterans homes, and the Yountville steam infrastructure replacement project, for which CalVet sought a $38.8 million reappropriation and said federal reimbursement was expected. CalVet also discussed the role of county veterans service officers in helping veterans file claims and avoid predatory unaccredited representatives. The Department of Cannabis Control described its regulatory role from seed to sale and requested one position to implement SB 1064’s combined activities license. Members and public witnesses focused heavily on the illicit cannabis market, enforcement staffing, and the impact of taxes and fees on the legal market. DCC said it had roughly 87 enforcement positions with about a 15% vacancy rate and more than 200 compliance staff. Its economist presented the 2024 cannabis market report, which found licensed production and retail quantity were up, but retail value and prices were down, with an estimated 11.4 million pounds of illicit production and about 60% of California consumption still coming from the illicit market. Industry witnesses argued the legal market is in crisis, urged repeal of the scheduled excise tax increase, stronger enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicants, and expanded retail access. The Department of Consumer Affairs briefly presented nine budget proposals, including a $2.6 million ongoing request to maintain a business modernization system for several boards and bureaus. The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls described its work on economic and educational equity, health care, violence prevention, student rights, and archival and outreach projects, and said its budget request would convert limited-term positions to permanent. A member urged the commission to narrow its priorities toward current issues such as affordability, child care, and women’s health. The California Arts Council outlined its role as the state’s only statewide arts funder and requested restoration of $5 million in local assistance; supporters testified that the funding would leverage additional local investment and help sustain arts access, especially in rural communities. The hearing ended after the non-presentation items were noted and no further public comment was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• You keep saying it's not a repeal, but I don't see any other replacement here, so I kind of am looking
• You keep saying it's not a repeal, but I don't see any other replacement here, so I kind of am looking
• You keep saying it's not a repeal, but I don't see any other replacement here, so I kind of am looking
• You keep saying it's not a repeal, but I don't see any other replacement here, so I kind of am looking
• You keep saying it's not a repeal, but I don't see any other replacement here, so I kind of am looking

Bills: HF11

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Transcript Highlights:

• $10 million in the fund be transferred to the newly created Foreign Adversary Technology Rip and Replace
• The Department of Homeland Security is directed to administer the Rip and Replace Fund, which shall be
• used to replace...
• The Department of Homeland Security is directed to administer the Rip and Replace Fund, which shall be
• used to replace any technology that is produced by a foreign adversary from any critical infrastructure

Bills: SB1097, SB1308

Keywords: appropriation, claims, relief, state funding, named claimants, foreign adversary, consumer fraud, technology security, critical infrastructure, Arizona attorney general, fraud office, appropriations, 1182, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on March 11, 2026, and considered two bills. The first, SB 1097, was described as the annual name claimants’ bill, appropriating $370,211.08 from the General Fund and $33,021.08 from other specified funds to pay claims against state agencies in fiscal year 2026. There was no public testimony, no questions from members, and the committee voted 14-0 to give the bill a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard SB 1308, which would create a Foreign Adversary Fraud Office and Fund in the Attorney General’s Office to pursue consumer fraud involving technology produced by foreign adversaries. The bill also appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 and establishes a mechanism to transfer excess fund balances to a new Foreign Adversary Technology Rip and Replace Fund administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Kelly Curry testified in support on behalf of State Armor, arguing the bill addresses both consumer fraud and national security risks tied to connected technologies and foreign-made surveillance equipment. Members asked about similar cases and settlements in other states, and Curry cited recent filings in Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas, as well as a Missouri case that reportedly settled in the tens of millions. During the vote, some members explained support while expressing general caution about creating new funds or appropriations outside the budget process. The committee approved SB 1308 on a 10-4-2 vote and sent it forward with a due pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're requiring replacement of plates.
• We're requiring replacement of plates.
• at that time unless the new owner decided to replace the plate, and any Minnesotan can choose to replace
• the the new owner decided to to replace the the new owner decided to to replace the<01:22:34.520
• at that time unless the new owner decided to replace the plate, and any Minnesotan can choose to replace

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate File 75, a pilot project to test autonomous or semi-autonomous mowing and vegetation management along state highways. Senator Jasinski said the bill is intended to reduce traffic delays caused by ditch mowing and improve worker safety by moving crews out of active traffic. An A1 amendment was adopted to shift the funding source from the general fund to trunk highway funds. Testifiers from Bot Crew described robotic mowing technology, including remote piloting, autonomous navigation using LiDAR, cameras, GIS data, and obstacle detection, and said the machines could work at night and potentially reduce labor needs while improving safety. Members asked about mowing around guardrails, bridge features, and sensitive plants; the company said the system could be programmed to identify and avoid certain vegetation and could also be used for seeding. The committee then approved the bill, as amended, and re-referred it to finance. The committee next received the Department of Public Safety’s presentation on the governor’s budget request. Commissioner Bob Jacobson outlined an operating adjustment for DPS divisions, a request for grant administration authority to allow a portion of grant funds to cover oversight costs, and then turned to division-specific items. State Patrol Colonel Christina Bovich presented a request for $48.5 million in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for a new metro headquarters, plus a recruitment proposal that would provide $1 million in each of 2026 and 2027 and $10 million in later years to expand recruiting, advertising, and academy capacity. She also proposed a change to the excessive-speed penalty so that driving more than 35 miles per hour over the limit would trigger a six-month license revocation, regardless of the posted speed zone. Members questioned the headquarters funding source, the cost of recruitment efforts, and academy expenses; Bovich said the academy costs about $350,000 per person and that the recruitment request would support broader outreach, including nationwide recruiting. Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hansen then presented a request for an additional $485,000 per year in trunk highway funds for planning and administration. He said the money is needed to cover rising operating costs, maintain the federal match for traffic safety grants, and support new federal public participation and engagement requirements tied to traffic safety funding. No votes were taken on the DPS budget items during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• undersized and deteriorating drainage infrastructure with more resilient replacements.
• Will help to replace undersized and deteriorating drainage infrastructure with more resilient replacements
• I mean, I get it that the cost to replace a certain section of roadway is the same, whether it's an urban
• area or a rural area, but the reality is in the heavier-used area, you've got to replace it more often
• In the heavier-used area, you've got to replace it more often because of usage.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season. The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets. Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the chair indicated, I'm here to request funding to replace a 99-foot deteriorated floating dock at
• your consideration for this request and for access to the harbor dredge and pier maintenance fund to replace
• <00:06:33.039> of maintenance fund for the purpose of maintenance fund for the purpose of replacing
• the floating docks the replacing the floating docks the recreational<00:06:36.319> pier<00:06
• I'm happy to answer to replace the dock. I'm happy to answer any<00:07:44.319> questions.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 30 meeting and then considered Capital Project 2515, a request from the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors to spend up to $125,000 from the Harbor Dredging and Pier Maintenance Fund to replace a deteriorated 99-foot floating dock at Rye Harbor. Acting Director Richard Hartley said the dock is used for passenger loading and unloading for charters and whale-watching tours and is in poor condition. Representative Edgar moved approval, Representative Wiler seconded, and the motion carried. The committee then received several informational items, including quarterly and maintenance reports from the Department of Administrative Services, the Community College System of New Hampshire, and the Pease Development Authority. It also heard a presentation from the Department of Health and Human Services on Capital Project 2516, the Beneficiary Service Improvement project supporting closed-loop referrals and related systems. DHHS described the project as a mix of Medicaid enterprise functions and New Hampshire Care Connections tools, including provider modules, third-party liability, event notifications, and closed-loop referrals to connect health and human service providers. Officials said the project is largely federally funded, with capital funds representing only part of the overall effort. Members asked about the accounting breakdown, prior committee review, provider participation, patient experience, and public response. Representative Burr questioned whether the project had been fully presented previously and raised concerns about the scope and necessity of the $8 million effort; DHHS responded that earlier work was discussed in other committees and that the current presentation covered only capital funds. Senator Waters asked about user response and patient experience, and DHHS said feedback has been generally positive but the system is still in design and implementation. In response to questions about participation, DHHS said 84 providers are currently on the network and clarified that a “provider” generally means an individual organization or health system, not each individual clinician. The committee also set its next meeting for December 9 at 9:00 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the text on page one lines 8 replacing the text on page one lines 8 through<00:26:40.080> 11<
• page<00:27:00.080> four<00:27:00.480> line<00:27:00.840> 15<00:27:01.360> replace
• <00:27:02.279> as<00:27:02.399> a<00:27:02.559> school page four line 15 replace
• as a school page four line 15 replace as a school resource<00:27:03.399> officer<00:27:03.960
• or at with and page five line n replace or at with and<00:27:30.279> and<00:27:30.520> we're

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology met on March 12 in Room 224 at the Hawaii State Capitol and heard testimony on several labor, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, collective bargaining, and related measures. On House Bill 202, which would revise the definition of the adequate reserve fund for calendar year 2026 and beyond, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations strongly supported the bill, saying it would protect the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance trust fund. The department explained that the reserve standard had been lowered from 1.5% to 1% in 2010 and argued that restoring it would better prepare the fund for future shocks. Questions focused on whether the change would affect employers’ costs and whether the trust fund had recovered fraud losses from the pandemic; the department said some fraud had been recovered and additional fraud tools were now in place. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and a defective date, and adopted the recommendation. The committee also heard House Bill 477 on the Hawaii Employment Security Law, which the department supported as a modernization of the UI system but asked to amend for clarity, especially on registration-for-work language. The committee accepted those requested amendments and recommended passage with amendments. It then took up House Bill 1026 and House Bills 1027 through 1039, covering emergency appropriations for public employment cost items and collective bargaining for units 1 through 14. Testimony from the Budget and Finance director, United Public Workers, the University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, UHSC, and others was generally in strong support, with one opposition noted on HB 1038. The committee moved all of those measures together and recommended passage with amendments. In its later decision-making agenda, the committee approved several previously heard bills with technical amendments and defective dates, including House Bill 423 on workers’ compensation, House Bill 480 on workers’ compensation, House Bill 162 on collective bargaining arbitration procedures, House Bill 164 on indebtedness to the state, and House Bill 1152 on tax administration. House Bill 214, relating to government and school resource officers, drew discussion about labor shortages and whether the bill should help train existing school resource officers into law enforcement roles; the committee still passed it with amendments. House Bill 874 on child performers was amended to require trust accounts for certain minors’ earnings and place oversight with DLIR’s Wage Standards Division, and House Bill 159 on qualified community rehabilitation programs was passed with amendments after the committee blanked the $850,000 cap for further discussion. All recommendations were adopted without recorded opposition, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Transmission distribution inspect full inspections and replacement include replacing with poles with
• concrete steel replacement include replacing with poles with concrete steel distribution, feeder hardening
• And we were proposing that we replace this proactively into a submersible gear.
• So it is evidence that replacing those. It's going to be it's very helpful for us.
• So our legacy hardening programs, distribution, pull inspections and replacements.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• benefits<01:50:03.239> have 54% wage replacement and benefits have 54% wage replacement and
• maintain the existing wage replacement maintain the existing wage replacement rates<01:50:50.280
• $86,000 a year that's a wage replacement $86,000 a year that's a wage replacement rate<01:54:10.119
• <02:11:05.079> rate<02:11:05.320> of replacement rate of replacement rate of 50%<02:11:
• we want to maintain a wage replacement we want to maintain a wage replacement rate<02:20:59.240>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has directly affected Becker's ability to replace the tax base and jobs that will be lost as the
• > tax<00:10:26.920> base<00:10:27.200> and<00:10:27.320> jobs ability to replace
• the tax base and jobs ability to replace the tax base and jobs that<00:10:28.120> will<00:10:
• plan, wasn't their plan, but<00:15:41.760> not<00:15:42.000> only<00:15:42.200> replace
• the jobs, but also but not only replace the jobs, but also um<00:15:44.880> backfill<00:15:45.400

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• shut off and replacing bare steel pipes with modern materials.
• What this bill does is it makes accounting consistent whether I am replacing existing pipe or putting
• For almost two decades, I have accounted for replacing pipe in a way that's consistent with this bill
• It's taking simply the process that has applied for almost two decades for replacement pipe, and that
• So, the bill adopts the same process that exists in current law that we use for the replacement pipe

Bills: HB1237, HB2663, HB3071, HB4384

Keywords: occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029

Summary: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard several House bills dealing with environmental regulation, oil and gas safety, landfill permits, and utility cost recovery. HB 1237, by Rep. Geren and sponsored by Sen. Zaffirini, would extend TCEQ occupational license renewal deadlines from 30 days to 90 days, allow renewal up to one year with higher fees, and require a new application after longer expiration; the committee substitute clarified that applicants may continue working only until renewal is approved or denied and set a 180-day cutoff for renewal. HB 3071, sponsored by Sen. Hancock, would require TCEQ to cancel certain long-dormant municipal solid waste permits; members discussed concerns about precedent, ownership changes, and whether the bill should be narrowed, and the bill was left pending with a committee substitute expected. The committee also heard HB 2663, sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, which would require operators of inactive oil and gas wells to remove or de-energize electrical equipment after 10 years and authorize Railroad Commission penalties for false compliance. Testimony from landowners, cattle raisers, and the Sierra Club supported the bill as a wildfire-prevention measure, and the bill was left pending. HB 4384, also by Rep. Darby and sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, would let natural gas utilities defer certain infrastructure costs for later recovery through the GRIP process; utility representatives supported it as credit-positive and consistent with existing accounting, while consumer advocates opposed it as increasing rates without enough oversight. The committee discussed possible amendments to add more cost controls, and the bill was left pending. Later, the committee voted HB 2563, the companion to SB 2510, favorably to the full Senate by a 5-0 vote and ordered it certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up HB 143, which would codify interagency procedures for addressing electrical power line safety at well sites and related facilities after wildfire concerns; members said a committee substitute had been negotiated with agencies and stakeholders to clarify responsibilities, timelines, and inspection authority while reducing fiscal impact. No final vote was taken on HB 143, and the committee recessed with several bills still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• > replace human discretionary replace human discretionary decision-making.<00:56:41.280> And<00
• or fully replace human discretionary decision-making.
• or fully replace human discretionary decision-making.
• or replacement of assist to partially or fully<01:14:53.040> replace<01:14:53.600> human
• c><01:14:53.840> discretionary fully replace human discretionary fully replace human discretionary

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding mechanism is replacement.
• to ensure funds are available to replace to ensure funds are available to replace the<00:04:07.040
• necessary major purchases, replacements necessary major purchases, replacements that<00:04:23.520
• <00:04:31.759> a city council and you need to replace a city council and you need to replace
• And from a a suitable replacement.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• fund fund and finally the replacement fund fund and the<01:38:22.239> replacement<01:38:22.560
• Is that I think the replacement fund.
• <01:54:32.159> fund to do is control the replacement fund to do is control the replacement
• <01:55:20.800> fund of the repairs in the replacement fund of the repairs in the replacement
• <02:00:45.280> projects the from previous replacement projects the from previous replacement

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I know that you're aware, the cost of a lot of our one-for-one replacements—for example, replacing
• a rooftop mechanical unit, roof replacements, window replacements, masonry restoration—a lot of these
• If we're replacing a simple rooftop unit with another, more modern piece of equipment to replace what's
• And then what is the replacement of them? I don't know.
• And then what is the replacement of them?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our preference would be to replace them at 100,000 miles.
• So, our goal would be to try to replace them at 100,000 miles. Mr. Chair, well, Mr.
• On line 59, the Secretary of State asked for $6.4 million for tabulators to replace.
• Used to replace 812 tabulators that have been in use since 2014.
• So they've reached the end of their life, and this would allow for that replacement.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• operator's license, or replacement learner's permit.
• non-driver obtain a state-issued non-driver identification<00:07:07.560> card,<00:07:08.400> replacement
• identification card, replacement identification card, replacement operator's<00:07:09.560> license
• ,<00:07:10.120> or<00:07:10.280> replacement operator's license, or replacement operator's
• license, or replacement learner's<00:07:11.320> permit.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• such as... that can detect dangerous conditions and automatically shut off, as well as replacing bare
• What this bill does is it makes accounting consistent, whether I am replacing existing pipe or putting
• It's taking simply the process that has applied for almost two decades for replacement, and that same
• So, the bill adopts the same process that exists in current law that we use for the replacement pipe
• So I think that this process that exists for replacement pipe is going to work really well for new pipe

Bills: HB1237, HB2663, HB3071, HB4384

Keywords: occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029

Transcript Highlights:

• Replace lines 128 through 129 on manner.
• >> Amendment number two is to replace line 70 on page three with the following: ... >> Mr.
• <01:16:27.679> Replace<01:16:28.080> lines to be technical in nature.
• Replace lines to be technical in nature.
• Replace line 471 on not to exceed 12.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you come and replace my roof, that's pretty awesome.
• When the next replacement of a parallel fence is considered, the replacement cannot be combustible.
• For me, my brain goes to: if we have to replace everybody's roofs, replace everybody's windows, replace
• When you replace your roof, you replace it with a Class A roof.
• When you replace your roof, you replace it with a Class A roof.

Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.