Video & Transcript Research : 'affordability'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is not a bill on refinery affordability or whatsoever.
- This is not a bill on refinery affordability or whatsoever.
- You're going to be able to afford money for schools, for roads.
- But we also need affordability. We need reliability.
- Health insurance isn't affordable today for so many.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Friday, November 21, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- When President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, he promised affordable coverage for all.
- So, I prepared a speech on affordability.
- So, I prepared a speech on affordability.
- So, I prepared a speech on affordability.
- <01:09:02.239>
by <01:09:02.480>defining Affordable Care Act. by defining Affordable
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary (7-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- confidence that we'll be able to afford confidence that we'll be able to afford those<00:03:54.720
- This is what we can afford to pay our new lawyers.
- This is what we can afford to pay our new lawyers.
- This is what we can afford to pay our new lawyers.
- This is what we can afford to pay our new lawyers.
Keywords:
0:00:04 Call to Order
0:00:50 Dept for Public Advocacy
0:51:31 Life Learning Center
1:21:06 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget.
Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%.
Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult.
Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/23/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- affordability, not just short-term<00:12:35.560>
relief. - This is about affordability, certainty, and it's about taking control of our supply chain.
- The goal is simple: to help more Minnesotans afford their home energy costs year-round.
- 6% affordability threshold. 6% affordability threshold.
- energy waste and higher, less affordable energy waste and higher, less affordable monthly<00:55:
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee Feb 10th, 2026
Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure
Transcript Highlights:
- anywhere in this bill is affordability anywhere in this bill is affordability and<00:27:30.400><
- setting process and affordability. setting process and affordability.
- steps to improve rates and affordability steps to improve rates and affordability for<00:55:55.760
- affordable energy. affordable energy.
- affordable in the current system? affordable in the current system?
Keywords:
criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, Lamar County, property auction, county commission, online auction, public notice, HB392, Lauderdale County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant district attorney, assistant district attorneys, prosecutor, prosecutorial compensation, salary supplement
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Mar 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We cannot have affordable higher education without affordable housing.
- We cannot have affordable higher education without affordable housing.
- I also am a big supporter of, especially of education workforce housing, as well as affordable housing
- We cannot afford inaction by passing AB 335.
- students who depend on financial aid to afford rent, groceries, and textbooks.
Summary:
The committee first adopted its 2025-26 rules on a 7-0 roll call, then approved three consent items—AB 88, AB 240, and AB 313—on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. The hearing then moved to AB 648, which would give community college districts the same zoning authority as the UC and CSU systems to build student and staff housing on property they own or lease. The author and supporters argued the bill would help address severe housing insecurity and homelessness among community college students, while opponents and some members raised concerns about local control, zoning exemptions, and the impact on nearby communities. AB 648 passed the committee on a 5-2 vote and was sent to the Local Government Committee.
The committee next heard AB 466, which would require California Community Colleges and CSU campuses to provide organ and tissue donor registry information during student orientation, and request UC campuses to do the same. Supporters shared personal stories about transplants and donation, saying college orientation is a good opportunity to increase registrations. Some members worried about information overload during orientation and suggested campuses have flexibility in how they present the material, but the bill advanced on a unanimous 7-0 vote to Appropriations.
AB 326 followed, proposing campus-by-campus external audits of the CSU every three years and public release of the audits. The author, faculty supporters, and a student argued that systemwide audits do not provide enough transparency about how money is spent at individual campuses, citing examples of financial mismanagement and fee increases. CSU opposed the bill, saying it already conducts annual consolidated external audits and that campus-level audits would add cost without added benefit. After extensive discussion about transparency, audit scope, and implementation, the bill passed 6-1 to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 335, which would create a California Black-Serving Institution Grant Program to support Black student success and broader underserved student services; supporters emphasized persistent equity gaps and low completion rates, while an opponent argued the bill needed to be carefully amended to comply with Proposition 209 and equal protection requirements. The transcript ends during that item’s discussion, before a final vote is shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- and reliability for energy affordability and reliability for energy um<00:01:32.920>
so <00:01 - To go into their schools, you need to have affordable and reliable power, and sometimes that's going
- To go into their schools, you need to have affordable and reliable power, and sometimes that's going
- To go into their schools, you need to have affordable and reliable power, and sometimes that's going
- To go into their schools, you need to have affordable and reliable power, and sometimes that's going
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Apr 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And so the Commission right now is really focused on affordability for customers and trying to put forth
- And item two is energy and modernization affordability, SB 254, transmission accelerator program, Prop
- And item two is energy and modernization affordability, SB 254, transmission accelerator program, Prop
- Say we need seven permanent positions because the statute said maximize customer affordability.
- And so, as you know, the federal Affordable Connectivity Program has, you know, a sunset in 2024, and
Summary:
The committee first heard Issue 1 on trailer bill language to redirect funding for emergency demand-response programs. The Department of Finance proposed using about $26.9 million in General Fund originally set aside for the Distributed Energy Backup Assets program to bolster the Demand-Side Grid Support Program for summer 2026, and using about $70 million in CalCHAP interest to support ratepayer-funded demand response in summers 2027 and 2028. The CEC and CPUC said they are working on a transition from DSGS to ELRP or a successor program, while the LAO noted the General Fund money would otherwise revert to savings. Members pressed the administration on whether demand response remains important, whether DSGS has been successful, and whether the state should keep funding it through the CEC rather than shifting to a ratepayer-funded CPUC program. The CEC and CPUC said the programs are not directly comparable, emphasized different cost structures and enrollment metrics, and said a CPUC rulemaking is underway with a proposed decision expected in Q3 2026. No vote was taken in the transcript.
The committee then took up Issue 2, a budget proposal tied to SB 254 and the new transmission accelerator. GoBiz and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank described a five-year, roughly $26 million request to staff and administer the accelerator and manage Proposition 4 and AB 1207 funds for transmission financing. Members asked about state liability, ownership of financed lines, FERC revenue requirements, and whether the program would help underserved regions and offshore wind development. Staff explained that the accelerator would only consider projects already identified through CAISO’s competitive transmission planning process, and that state financing would be a small portion of large projects intended to lower overall costs to ratepayers. The LAO said it had no specific concerns but urged the Legislature to ensure the final language matches its intent.
The committee also heard Issue 3 on petroleum market oversight. The CEC and its Division of Petroleum Market Oversight requested additional positions and funding to implement ABX2-1 and continue work on supply stabilization, refinery monitoring, and transportation fuels analysis. Members questioned why the work was funded through the Energy Resources Programs Account, whether existing staff from the paused price-gouging work could be reassigned, and whether the program had produced evidence of price gouging or improved supply conditions. CEC and Finance said the new positions are needed because the workload has expanded, while some existing staff remain on related analysis and reporting duties. The discussion ended without a vote in the transcript.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
HOU, HOU-HHS, HOU DEFER Public Hearings 02-10-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- um increase of affordable rental housing options<00:03:55.960>
for <00:03:56.080>Native - And so having them be able to afford And so having them be able to afford housing<00:33:01.200><
- qualify for both GET and RPT exemptions for the duration that the housing remains affordable.
- agreement with an affordability agreement with an affordability requirement<00:51:24.560>
qualify - housing remains affordable. housing remains affordable.
Summary:
The Committee on Housing, meeting jointly with the Committee on Health and Human Services, heard testimony on Senate Bill 2787, which would expand use of the rental housing revolving fund to provide loans or grants for purchasing rental units, and Senate Bill 2957, which addresses tenant displacement and relocation protections, as well as Senate Bill 2866, which would make the state rent supplement program for kupuna permanent and appropriate funds for it. Testimony on SB 2787 included support from DHHL, HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, and others, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying language and standards for grants, and the Tax Foundation questioned whether grants fit the revolving-fund structure. On SB 2957, supporters including OHA, PACT, medical-legal advocates, and tenant representatives emphasized relocation hardships from the KPT redevelopment, language access, and the need for clearer minimum safeguards; the Attorney General suggested defining “comparable units” and correcting a drafting error. On SB 2866, HPHA, Catholic Charities, AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the kupuna rent supplement program permanent to prevent homelessness among low-income seniors.
During discussion on SB 2957, members questioned HPHA and tenant counsel about the KPT low-rise relocation process and what “comparable housing” meant in practice. HPHA said all tenants were relocated, but counsel described disputes over comparability, disability and family-size issues, and at least one offered unit that was not livable. For SB 2787, members questioned DHHL about why it sought funding from the rental housing revolving fund rather than other sources; DHHL said it was still exploring options and had mostly used its funds for infrastructure, with only a small portion used as revolving funds. The chair expressed concern about relying on scarce housing funds and urged more efficient use of DHHL’s existing resources.
In decision-making, the committees voted to pass SB 2957 with amendments and SB 2866 with amendments. For SB 2957, the amendments would replace the bill with a working group on tenant displacement and relocation, include a blank appropriation and defective date, and request $75,000 for the working group; the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present, with Senator Favela excused. For SB 2866, the amended version would include a blank appropriation, defective date, and committee report language noting requests for $110,160 for two HPHA public housing specialist positions and $2.16 million for the state rent supplement program; this motion was also adopted, with Senator Favela excused. After the joint hearing adjourned, the committee returned to the housing-only agenda and continued discussion of SB 2787 before moving on to SB 3089, which would amend the down payment loan assistance program for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers; testimony on SB 3089 was beginning when the transcript ended.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/14/2026 - Senate Finance and House Ways & Means Joint Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Not afford it, which is a win-win policy.
- Our state revenues cannot afford the provisions in this bill.
- Our state revenues cannot afford the provisions in this bill.
- We can't afford not to do it. Mr. Heinrich, please.
- Who already have the means to afford private education.
Summary:
The joint House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees met to hear identical conformity bills, HB 2153 and SB 1106, which would align Arizona tax law with the federal Internal Revenue Code as of Jan. 1, 2026, including some retroactive provisions for tax year 2025. Staff explained that the bills would exclude three federal provisions: the higher federal SALT deduction, the new senior deduction as written in H.R. 1, and the deduction for interest on new car loans. They would instead include a $6,000 retirement-income deduction for taxpayers age 60 and older, a $6,000 Roth IRA contribution deduction, a higher dependent tax credit, and a deduction for child and dependent care expenses above the federal credit. JLBC estimated the package would reduce general fund income tax revenue by about $441.3 million in FY 2026. Members also discussed that the Department of Revenue’s forms had been issued assuming full conformity, and staff and supporters argued the bills were needed quickly to avoid confusion and amended returns during filing season.
Committee members and sponsors largely framed the bills as tax relief and a way to provide certainty for taxpayers and preparers. Supporters said the package would help families, seniors, and workers, and noted that the Arizona version was negotiated to keep the overall tax relief roughly comparable to full conformity while shifting benefits away from the SALT deduction and toward child credits, retirement income, and child care. The sponsors also criticized the governor’s executive action and urged prompt passage so taxpayers would know how to file. Opponents argued the bills would reduce state revenue, worsen the budget outlook, and disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers and corporations. Several witnesses and members also raised concerns about the child care deduction, the retirement-income deduction, and the business expensing provisions, while supporters responded that the bill was designed to help working families and encourage saving and investment.
Public testimony was mixed. The Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club supported the bills, emphasizing early conformity, filing certainty, and reduced confusion for taxpayers and software providers. Opponents included Save Our Schools Arizona, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Opportunity Arizona, and several individuals, who argued the package would deepen budget problems and favor the wealthy. One witness objected to a federal school-choice-related provision she said was being tied to the bill, though committee members said the measure before them was a tax conformity bill and not a school finance bill. The hearing included extended debate over the fiscal impact, the governor’s prior requests for some of the same tax changes, and whether taxpayers would need to file amended returns if the legislature later changed course. The transcript ends during testimony from NFIB, with no final committee vote or action shown in the excerpt.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee BR Sub on Postsecondary Education (2-27-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- We also want to talk about making higher education more affordable. I'm very proud of this.
- There's a whole lot more examples I can give you around what we've done around this affordability item
- There's a whole lot more examples I can give you around what we've done around this affordability item
- It was the time that they couldn't afford it. They didn't have many opportunities.
- We have seen financial affordability explode at our college campuses.
Summary:
Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and Travis Pal briefed the committee on Kentucky higher education performance, affordability, workforce alignment, and budget needs. Thompson said the state has made progress toward its 60x30 attainment goal, reporting 56.2% of adults with a credential of value and a 6.4% one-year increase in credentials. He highlighted gains in completion, enrollment recovery after COVID, lower student borrowing and debt, and faster degree completion, saying Kentucky is now back to an average of 4.1 years for four-year degrees. He also emphasized that postsecondary education has a strong return on investment for both students and the state.
A major theme was student success and access. Thompson described efforts to reduce barriers through test-optional admissions, the elimination of zero-credit developmental education, expanded wraparound supports, and Bridge programming for students not fully prepared for college. He also promoted Futurity, a student-facing information website, and said CPE wants modest ongoing funding to maintain it. He argued that higher education must work in a P-20 system with K-12, and that the state should better communicate the value of certificates, trade programs, and other credentials, especially for adult learners and men, who he said are underrepresented in college-going.
The presentation also focused on performance funding, capital needs, and workforce initiatives. Thompson and Pal said performance funding has pushed institutions toward more need-based aid and lower costs for low-income students, but they want more base funding, more performance funding dollars, and relief from about $38 million in mandated tuition waivers. They also said asset preservation and deferred maintenance remain major needs, estimating roughly $7 billion in campus need overall. On workforce, they cited healthcare pipeline work supported by state funding and private partners, and said HB 200 continues that effort into aviation, aerospace, and defense. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, which ended with members indicating interest in further discussion.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- Fundamentally, it’s both about public safety and a bill that unlocks this affordability...
- Fundamentally, it’s both about public safety and a bill that unlocks this affordable mobility option
- This is for convenience, affordability, and mental and physical health.
- Micromobility is an affordable option to go long distance.
- They hold great potential for affordable, enjoyable, equitable transportation.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on the governor’s Ride Safe Act, S. 3077, and related micromobility bills. Chairs and administration officials described the bill as a statewide, speed-based framework for e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and similar devices, intended to replace outdated device categories with clearer rules for age limits, helmets, equipment, operating locations, registration, insurance for higher-speed devices, and restrictions on tampering. They also emphasized improved crash-data collection, a working group for future updates, and battery safety standards such as UL certification to reduce fire risk. Committee members asked about enforcement, shared-use paths, commuter rail accommodations, battery storage, and how the bill would apply to other vehicles like quads; the administration said some issues would need further study or follow-up.
Testimony from advocates, municipal officials, and commission members was mixed but generally supportive of clearer statewide rules. Transportation and safety advocates backed the speed-based tier system but urged additional measures, including a default speed limit on shared-use paths, automated enforcement, and more funding for Complete Streets and Shared Streets programs. Bike shop and police representatives said current laws are confusing for riders and law enforcement and that better definitions and data reporting are needed. Several speakers stressed that enforcement and education will be critical, and that local patchwork rules are difficult to apply consistently.
Medical testimony strongly supported tighter protections for young riders. Pediatric emergency and trauma doctors described a sharp rise in serious injuries and deaths involving e-bikes and scooters, including severe pediatric cases, and urged amendments adding a minimum age for faster devices and a universal helmet requirement. They argued that the force and weight of these devices make crashes more dangerous than conventional bicycles and pointed to past Massachusetts safety laws as evidence that age and equipment restrictions can reduce injuries.
Some public testimony opposed the bill as written, especially from moped commuters who argued that gas-powered mopeds are being treated differently from comparable electric devices and should be included in the framework. They called for clearer rules on bike-lane access, insurance, parking, and statewide standards for mopeds as vulnerable road users. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Can you tell me what that office is doing with affordable housing? Or anything.
- continue to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing.
- Uh, like the chairman just said, affordable housing gonna be. A theme of this session.
- And then, uh, my next question is about the affordable housing piece.
- Um, I, in my mind, I also think of affordable housing, uh, in terms of home ownership.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Public Works and Highways (02/24/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- So we look at our debt affordability in two ways.
- This presentation has essentially what we look at in our data: affordability.
- I'll start with affordability, you know, why we look at our data affordability, and it's primarily because
- So we look at our debt affordability in two ways.
- So that's the debt affordability picture that, you know, in general, we look at on page seven.
Summary:
The Public Works and Highways committee held a capital budget orientation led by Legislative Budget Assistant Office staff, who walked members through the budget materials, the capital budget process, and the committee’s compare sheet. The presentation explained that agencies begin developing capital requests nearly a year in advance, submit them by May 1, and that the governor’s recommended capital budget is a reduced version of the much larger agency wish list. Members were told the agencies initially requested about $1.1 billion in projects, the catalog was trimmed to just over $400 million in general fund projects, and the governor’s recommendation in the pink book totals about $143 million in general fund capital appropriations. The committee also reviewed the prior capital budget and related statutes and committee procedures.
Several specific projects drew discussion. The Department of Education’s CTE projects were explained as having been shifted into the operating budget in the prior cycle and now returning to the capital budget recommendation; members asked whether there was a backup CTE project and whether local approval had been secured for the named project. The Cannon Mountain tramway request was highlighted as a $20 million recommendation, with the presenter explaining that an earlier $18 million appropriation would be lapsed back to the general fund to help balance the budget. The Department of Corrections’ new prison project was also discussed; members were told the state has already appropriated $50 million for planning and site evaluation, but the governor’s current capital budget does not include a new prison construction appropriation because the project is not yet ready for that phase and may need to be funded differently, possibly through a separate, staggered appropriation.
State Treasurer Monica Mezzapelli then presented on debt affordability and the state’s borrowing capacity. She said the state’s credit position has improved, with the debt-to-revenue ratio falling from 8.2% in 2015 to 3.8% in 2024, and explained that RSA 6-C limits debt authorization to 10% of unrestricted prior-year revenue. She noted that the Treasury’s planning assumes $60 million in annual bond issuance, with the prison-related $40 million now expected to be issued in 2026 rather than 2025 because the project is not ready to spend the funds. She said the state can still borrow more, but additional debt service must be paid from operating funds, and recommended keeping capital bonding in the $120 million to $130 million range to preserve affordability and the state’s credit rating.
Members asked for clarification on the CTE funding shift, the prison schedule, and the meaning of the large agency request totals. The chair and treasurer discussed the governor’s $143 million recommendation versus the committee’s usual target range, and the treasurer said $130 million would be more comfortable than $140 million, with $135 million described as a possible compromise. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the meeting was informational and ended with the presenters offering to answer follow-up questions as agencies come before the committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 15th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We cannot afford to let any hospitals close.
- ... ...and investing $1.6 billion to build more affordable multifamily housing.
- When you lose CNN on quality of life and affordability, who else do you have? Sacramento, maybe?
- Colleagues, look, we stand here tonight in the middle of a crushing affordability crisis.
- For goodness sake, I had a mother feeding her child Pedialyte because she can't afford formula.
AK
Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Jun 12th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Alaska House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The first is that it will provide long-term, sustainable, affordable energy for a significant number
- We want affordable energy, and that is our hope, that this will get us that.
- But before we have affordable energy, we need reliable energy, because it was just a couple years ago
- So that maybe we can afford to keep the lights on. Representative Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
- Right now when my constituents can't afford that, they typically burn wood.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
MA cover weight-loss drugs 3/25/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- afford afford how<00:25:55.920>
much <00:25:56.120>can <00:25:56.320>we <00:25:56.480 - can we afford and again, I'm how much can we afford and again, I'm not<00:25:58.360>
trying <00 - <00:26:02.800>
how I'm just I'm how much can we afford how I'm just I'm how much can we afford - much can our system afford? much can our system afford?
- We're going to try to, you know, find out what can we afford.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Audit Committee Mar 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Objective four focuses on how Caltrans establishes affordable sales prices for eligible tenants.
- Expanding affordable housing opportunities.
- These funds are now being directed toward the development of 66 affordable housing units.
- the intent of the Roberti Act to expand affordable housing.
- These milestones highlight our ongoing partnership in expanding affordable housing opportunities and
Summary:
The committee met as a subcommittee for much of the hearing because it initially lacked a quorum, then later established one and began taking votes. The state auditor gave a status update on ongoing audits, including several JALAC-requested audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth in his office, and the number of new JALAC audits his office could start in the coming months. The committee also heard that one audit request on Prop. 28 was held, and another PUC-related request was moved off consent and heard on the regular calendar.
Members then heard and discussed several audit requests. Senator Cervantes presented a request to audit California fusion centers, with witnesses from the FBI and ACLU supporting the need for transparency and oversight; opponents argued the request was politically motivated and could interfere with counterterrorism work. Senator Allen presented a request on CPUC enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for solar and storage projects, supported by industry and school representatives who described long delays and financial harm, while CPUC staff said the issue was being addressed through workshops and a formal proceeding. Senator Perez presented a request to audit Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 extension properties and affordable sales program, citing tenant complaints about maintenance, pricing, and transparency; Caltrans said it was working to complete sales and improve administration. Senator Umberg presented a request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that existing legal remedies had not been invoked.
After quorum was established, the committee approved the consent-calendar DMV license revocation audit and then approved the PUC utility timeliness audit and the Caltrans SR 710 audit. The fusion center audit was left on call after a split vote, and the Orange County Board of Education audit continued with testimony from the board’s representatives after the committee had already moved on to other business.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 5th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I am a big supporter of funding affordable housing, of creating revenue to support affordable housing
- For their impact on affordable housing, market rate housing, and local revenue.
- Even though the amendments for the bill are relatively recent, we have had affordability hearings.
- to ask for another year to actually address our affordability crisis.
- In no way are we trying to prevent for more affordable housing happening.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Mar 19th, 2025
Communications and Conveyance
Transcript Highlights:
- As a legislature, you might be able to craft some affordability. standards.
- Line program, and I think that is very helpful in terms of looking at affordability. Thank you.
- No one will lose the ability to make affordable, reliable phone calls from home.
- All of these options offer delivery. and deliver affordable, reliable voice service.
- Through our policy principles, promoting universality, quality, and affordability.