Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed substitute names the institutions explicitly to also remove records.
• The pilot program expires June 30, 2029.
• The pilot program expires June 30, 2029.
• This amendment would remove the exemption for public entities.
• It removed some of the lists of the covered practices.

Bills: HB2073 , HB2403 , HB2587 , HB2607 , HB1170 , HB1570 , HB1710 , HB1750 , HB1834 , HB2441

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, failure to register, criminal justice, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, nonprofit, grant funding, pilot program, financial support, community development, child care, childcare, subsidy rates, rate regions, market rate survey

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1049 addresses this gap by removing sponsor deeming from CFAP.
• California should remove these requirements from CFAP for three reasons.
• So typically in our process, what happens when a child is removed because of a safety concern?
• It tracks directly with the expiration of pandemic-era federal investment that we're working.
• When Congress let those supports expire, poverty more than doubled. Poverty is a policy choice.

Summary: The committee heard several child welfare, food assistance, child care, and developmental services bills. AB 308 would require a statewide evaluation of regional center safety training and crisis-response services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; supporters said it would help reduce reliance on law enforcement and improve de-escalation and emergency preparedness. AB 1049 would remove sponsor deeming from the California Food Assistance Program, with supporters from food banks and legal aid arguing the rule creates confusion, chilling effects, and wrongful denials, while one member raised concerns about accountability and fraud. AB 1201 would narrow when a parent’s prior violent felony can bar reunification services, limiting the bypass to offenses involving a child or a child’s other parent/guardian; county and advocacy witnesses said the bill preserves judicial discretion and avoids automatic denials, though a member expressed concern about child safety in violent or criminal environments. AB 2379 would require family child care providers to be notified of constitutional rights and receive multilingual training regarding immigration enforcement; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2429 would make ACEs screening optional and reduce required classroom observations in the early childhood mental health consultation program, with supporters saying it would reduce administrative burdens and expand participation. AB 1755 would eliminate CalWORKs’ 100-hour monthly work penalty for two-parent families, and supporters said it would reduce poverty and administrative burden without changing income eligibility. AB 1981, presented later, would advance “true cost of care” child care rate reform, with providers describing the current reimbursement system as unsustainable. AB 2478 would create a streamlined kinship family approval pathway for foster care placements with relatives and other kin, and AB 1969 and AB 1996 would create statewide structures to coordinate cradle-to-career services and reduce child poverty, respectively; both were presented as data-driven, place-based efforts to align services and set measurable reduction goals. Most bills received strong support from county agencies, advocacy organizations, and service providers, with little or no opposition testimony. Members generally praised the goals of the measures but asked questions about implementation, accountability, and child safety in the reunification and benefits bills. The committee took roll calls on the bills it heard, and the votes shown in the transcript were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, with several measures held on call after passing committee votes. AB 1049 was voted out 2-1, AB 1201 and AB 2379 were each voted out 3-0, AB 2429 and AB 1755 were voted out 2-0, and AB 2478, AB 1969, and AB 1996 were each voted out 2-0; the chair repeatedly noted that some bills would remain on call pending absent members. AB 1981 drew extensive support testimony from child care providers and allies, but the committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided because no motion was available at that moment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any member of the committee may remove a bill from consent.
• Any member of the committee may remove a bill from consent.
• SB 403 removes the sunset, making the End of Life Option Act permanent.
• SB 403 only removes the sunset... ...in that time.
• And so there is anxiety that comes up if people are thinking that this law might expire.

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. SB 27 by Senator Umberg would expand and clarify the CARE Court process, with amendments narrowing the new diagnosis category to bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, clarifying the “clinically stabilized” standard, and limiting the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Supporters, including a psychiatrist, a family member, and several local and business groups, said the bill would help more people access needed services; opponents, including counties, disability rights, peer-run organizations, and consumer advocates, warned it would expand the program faster than counties can provide housing, staffing, and court-related services. The committee discussed capacity concerns at length, then passed SB 27 on a do pass motion to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 503 by Senator Weber Pearson would require AI used in health care facilities to be identified, monitored, and mitigated for bias when used in clinical decision-making or resource allocation. The author and supporters from Kaiser Permanente, the California Medical Association, hospitals, and psychiatrists said the bill would help prevent discriminatory outcomes and improve trust in AI tools. Committee members noted the need to clarify deployer and developer responsibilities and accepted amendments before voting. The bill passed as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 68 by Senator Menjivar would require allergen disclosure on restaurant menus, with different requirements for larger chains and more flexible options for smaller restaurants. The bill was presented with emotional testimony from the author and a nine-year-old witness with severe food allergies, along with broad support from medical, nursing, parent, and allergy advocacy groups. The California Restaurant Association opposed the bill unless amended, seeking broader menu-format flexibility and additional liability language. After discussion of those concerns, the committee passed SB 68 as amended to Appropriations. SB 403 by Senator Blakespear would remove the sunset date from California’s End of Life Option Act, making the law permanent. Supporters, including a physician, a social worker, hospice professionals, and family members of terminally ill patients, described the law as a compassionate, carefully regulated option that has worked as intended. Faith-based and Catholic health organizations opposed the measure. The committee approved SB 403 and sent it to Judiciary. The hearing also included consent items, which were approved, and a vote change on SB 68 from no to aye by Senator Sanchez.

Transcript Highlights:

• The contract expired in March, the first of three, and it's a federal program.
• The contract expired in March, the first of three, and it's a federal program.
• The contract expired in March, the first of three, and it's a federal program.
• The contract expired in March, the first of three, and it's a federal program.
• The contract expired in March, the first of three, and it's a federal program.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing opened its second hearing of the session with remarks from Chairs Haggerty and Cyr emphasizing that the hearing was a broad look at Massachusetts’ housing crisis rather than a single bill. They highlighted topics including zoning, permitting, rental assistance, public housing, homelessness prevention, and housing production. The first witness, Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Augustus, reviewed implementation of the Affordable Homes Act and the state’s new housing plan, citing a 1.6% vacancy rate, a projected need for 222,000 new homes over 10 years, and ongoing efforts such as ADUs by right, fair housing enforcement, eviction record sealing, seasonal communities planning, and new funding for affordable housing, public housing, and the Momentum Fund. He also discussed infrastructure support for municipalities, technical assistance for ADUs, and concerns about possible federal funding cuts. Committee members questioned the secretary about ADU financing and technical assistance, the likely unit yield from the Affordable Homes Act, infrastructure barriers in suburban and rural communities, public housing waitlist management, supportive housing, and federal budget risks. MassNAHRO then testified that public housing authorities are facing rising operating and capital costs, a statewide waitlist nearing 300,000, and uncertainty over federal Section 8 and HUD funding. Witnesses described recent state support for operating subsidies, capital improvements, vacancy turnover teams, and resident service coordinators, while warning that proposed federal cuts could sharply affect voucher issuance and agency operations. CDAC’s executive director Roger Herzog described the agency’s role as a quasi-public source of early-stage financing and technical assistance for nonprofit housing developers, noting its loan capital, supportive housing bond programs, home modification loans, and preservation work under Chapter 40T. He said CDAC has helped produce or preserve more than 55,000 units and stressed the importance of patient capital and preservation tools. CHAPA CEO Rachel Heller urged the committee to focus on production, preservation, planning, and political will, supporting goals for affordability, supportive housing, and homeownership, and endorsing policy changes such as YIGBY, clearer site plan review rules, stronger fair housing funding, and more support for vouchers and public housing. MassHousing then outlined its financing role, including mortgage lending, down payment assistance, the Community Climate Bank, and the Momentum Fund, while noting that permitting delays, capital gaps, and possible federal changes could affect production. Members also asked about transparency, prevailing wage compliance, and a recent internal restructuring related to diversity and business engagement.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:12.240><c> The</c> Gentleman's time is expired. The Gentleman's time is expired.
• </c> &gt;&gt; The gentleman's time has expired. &gt;&gt; The gentleman's time has expired.
• </c> time has expired. time has expired. &gt;&gt; No<03:23:59.439><c> choice.
• Gentleman's time has expired. &gt;&gt; No choice. Gentleman's time has expired.
• All time for debate has expired.

Transcript Highlights:

• abandon and Remnant undertaken to remove abandon and Remnant materials<00:09:17.360><c> that</c><00:
• The expirations, how long, like 20 years maximum? Oh, okay, right.
• Has that emergency rule expired for this, or have you set up any emergency rules relating to this?
• <00:36:47.000><c> for</c><00:36:47.280><c> for</c> expired for for expired for for this<00:36:49.920>
• </c> it's for two years and then it expires it's for two years and then it expires or<00:38:42.880><c

Summary: The Water and Land Committee heard several measures related to DLNR, coastal management, and public lands. SB 561, which appropriates funds for conservation enforcement equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, drew broad support from DLNR and multiple organizations, with the chair noting 18 supporters and no opposition. SB 465 would require DLNR to study the carrying capacity of Kīkiʻola Small Boat Harbor on Kauaʻi and report to the Legislature; DLNR supported the intent but suggested the study be timed with an ongoing $41 million capital improvement project. Senator Kouchi explained the bill was meant to close a permit loophole that has allowed operators to increase passenger capacity without additional approval, while one testifier opposed the measure as unnecessary and late. Supporters included county and community representatives, while some written testimony opposed it. The committee also heard SB 1456, which broadens the definition of beach restoration to include work on eroded beaches and degraded dune systems, including sand management, native vegetation, and removal of abandoned materials. DLNR, the University of Hawaiʻi, and other testifiers supported the measure as an administrative update. SB 1460 would require BLNR lease extensions to use updated forms reflecting current leasing practices; DLNR supported it as an administrative bill. SB 1517 would authorize public land leases for recreational residential use by public lottery limited to county residents. DLNR supported the bill, and Chipper Wiman and others testified that it would help preserve Kauaʻi’s historic recreational cabins and create fairness for local families; the committee also heard concerns about older cabins, market-based auction prices, and the need to keep these leases affordable for residents. The committee then heard SB 1511, which would prohibit vessels longer than 75 feet from entering Honoliʻi Bay, with an exemption for government vessels; DLNR and at least one additional testifier supported it. SB 1019 would allow the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to be used for beach restoration planning and grants to nonprofits for cleanup, but DLNR said that purpose fit better under the separate Beach Restoration Special Fund, and the Ocean Tourism Coalition opposed the bill on that basis. Finally, SB 1457 would authorize DLNR to issue interim rules on commercial and recreational water sports equipment use for up to two years; DLNR described it as an adaptive-management tool for changing conditions, while multiple water-sports operators and residents opposed it, arguing it would reduce public participation, expand agency power, and target the foiling community. The hearing closed with the chair noting heavy opposition to SB 1457, including 88 written testimonies against it and only a few in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Gentleman's time is expired.
• For &gt;&gt; The gentleman's time is expired.
• The &gt;&gt; The gentleman's time has expired.
• An amendment in the nature has expired.
• Let's restore Let's remove that doubt.

Transcript Highlights:

• From a groundwater perspective, nitrate is mobile, invisible, and difficult to remove from an aquifer
• From a groundwater perspective, nitrate is mobile, invisible, and difficult to remove from an aquifer
• Unfortunately, your time has expired.
• But I am sorry, your time has expired, and we're going to have to move on to the next person.
• The amendment also restores... ...removal before being considered derelict.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met on February 4, with public hearing and executive action on several bills. The main public hearing was on House Bill 2668, as proposed substitute, which would direct the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and pursue relocation of the Bob Oak Game Farm and to plan remediation of the current site. Testimony from the bill sponsor, Centralia city officials, Lewis County public health staff, a tribal member, and residents strongly supported relocation, citing nitrate contamination in a sole-source aquifer, risks to drinking water for Centralia and nearby households, and the need for long-term public health protection. The committee also heard that interim mitigation measures such as point-of-use filters and water/sewer extensions were underway, but witnesses said relocation was the only durable solution. The bill was added to the day’s executive session as an unusual late addition, then later passed out of committee on a voice vote with a due pass recommendation. During executive session, the committee also acted on House Bill 2598, creating a Salmon Advisory Commission; House Bill 2619, creating a legislative task force to reduce regulatory stress in agriculture; House Bill 2199, dealing with derelict vessels and disposal timelines; House Bill 2463, which revises agricultural donation and farm-to-food pantry programs; and House Bill 1735, which prohibits force-feeding birds and related foie gras sales. Amendments were considered on several bills, including a DNR amendment to the vessel bill and a narrowing amendment to the force-feeding bill, which failed. The committee approved House Bill 2598 by a 6-5 vote, and House Bill 2619, House Bill 2199, House Bill 2463, House Bill 1735, and House Bill 2668 all received due pass recommendations, with some on voice votes and others by recorded roll call. The chair noted that moving House Bill 2668 in executive session the same day as public hearing was highly unusual and done because of the bill’s urgency and bipartisan support.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides $10.5 million to remove seniors from waitlists and provide in-home services. $68 million
• This includes funding for the removal and management of invasive plants like Burmese pythons, iguanas
• The statutory changes are effective for only one year and either expire on July 1st, 2027, or revert
• This bill simply removes the requirement to hold a duplicative license for the same facility and the
• This removes the next generation traffic light modernization program from the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• That under federal law was set to expire on September 25th of last year.
• There was a law passed in 2024 by the federal government that removed the end date.
• We are moving forward with removing the end date and using CMS's new template.
• Last year, we are moving forward with removing the end date and using CMS's new template.
• It's just a form change by CMS and a removal of the federal end date.

Summary: The committee approved the February 4 meeting minutes and then reviewed two DHS rules. The first, presented by Mary Franklin of the Division of County Operations, would remove the 90-day waiting period for certain ARKids B children who lose other coverage, clarify child support enforcement procedures for pregnant women by delaying any sanction until after the 60-day postpartum period, and revise the good-cause language from “forcible rape” to “rape or incest.” Members asked for clarification on the child support process, and the rule was reviewed without objection. The second rule, presented by Elizabeth Pittman of the Division of Medical Services, updates the Medicaid state plan for medication-assisted treatment by removing an expired federal end date and adopting a new CMS template; officials said the coverage itself does not change, there were no public comments, and the rule was also reviewed without objection. The committee then heard a presentation from Jenna Goldman of UAMS about a culinary medicine experience for legislators, scheduled for March 16 for the Senate and March 17 for the House at the Institute on Aging in Little Rock. She explained that the program teaches residents how to use food as medicine and how to tailor advice to patients with limited food access, and members were encouraged to attend as part of broader health and rural health transformation efforts. The discussion noted that the event would include hands-on kitchen work and dinner, with parking available on campus. The meeting also included a special recognition of the Monticello sixth grade class visiting the Capitol for a scavenger hunt. Several legislators answered the students’ questions about the Capitol building, including its stone exterior, architectural style, doors, and columns, in a lighthearted exchange before the committee adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, on behalf of the California Association of Diaper Banks, just reminding you that funding expires
• On behalf of the California Association of Diaper Banks, just reminding you that funding expires June
• modifications to delay implementation until October 1st for Prop 56 Medi-Cal dental incentive cuts, removal
• we appreciated the thoughtful questions and conversations last week regarding the policy change to remove

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Human Services held its final hearing on the budget, with the chair framing the Senate’s plan as a counterproposal that rejected major cuts and preserved revenues. Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive of the subcommittee’s actions, especially on Medi-Cal, IHSS, PACE, behavioral health, child care, CalFresh outreach, immigrant legal services, and long-term care. Testimony from disability, aging, county, health plan, provider, labor, and advocacy groups urged the committee to keep rejecting asset tests, immigrant coverage reductions, IHSS cost shifts, PACE rate cuts, and behavioral health reductions, while supporting mobile crisis, 988, Title IV-E workforce funding, and the “Be Home Soon California” proposal to expand home- and community-based care. Several speakers also pressed for additional or related funding and policy changes, including county alternatives for people losing Medi-Cal under federal HR1-related changes, more support for public hospitals and indigent care, CalFresh and Cal Food investments, child care slots and COLAs, dental rate cut delays, and expanded immigration legal and food assistance. Others thanked the committee for restoring or preserving funding for behavioral health innovation and advocacy grants, public health IT and disease investigation, diaper banks, hearing aids for children, and distressed hospital loans. The committee also heard concerns about fee-for-service shifts, outpatient dialysis coverage, and other implementation details, with some groups asking for trailer bill language or guardrails. After public comment, the subcommittee took three votes on large blocks of budget items. The first block of consent items passed 3-0, the second block passed 2-1, and the final block passed 2-0, with the chair announcing that the items were approved and out of committee. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the State Auditor on notice and then requires the commission to determine if the property should be removed
• the State Auditor on notice and then requires the commission to determine if the property should be removed
• The modification reducing their federal taxable income was first authorized in 2019 and expired for the
• Senate Originating Bill 1 is a supplemental appropriation that expires $4,534,268.43 from reappropriated

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I would say, I mean, what it did is change the expiration by a year.
• Yeah, I would say, I mean, what it did is change the expiration by a year.
• So I'd actually like to jump in on the discussion on the one we just talked about: the removal of the
• And the way that hurt..." "...on the one we just talked about, the removal of the tax exemption for data

Summary: Senate and House Republican leaders used the weekly media availability to criticize the Democratic majority’s budget and tax proposals, framing the session around affordability and fiscal restraint. They said the operating budgets rely on unsustainable one-time money, rainy day funds, and an income tax proposal they argued is unconstitutional and likely to drive businesses and wealthy residents out of Washington. They also said House and Senate Republicans offered budget amendments aimed at property tax relief, restoring money to public works, and reducing reliance on new taxes, but those efforts were rejected. The lawmakers also highlighted several bills they said failed to advance, including juvenile rehabilitation reforms, child endangerment/child fatality reporting measures, and tort reform. Braun said he plans to raise those issues, along with the income tax and budget concerns, in a meeting with the governor, and asked whether the governor would veto the income tax if his conditions are not met. Connors and Abbarno added that Republicans are still working with some Democrats, including on a constitutional amendment approach to any income tax, but said the majority is moving too quickly and without adequate safeguards. Other topics included the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on California transgender policies, which Republicans described as a win for parents’ rights and potentially relevant to Washington school policy, and a House bill affecting data centers, which they opposed as harmful to jobs, energy innovation, and local tax bases. They also criticized additional taxes under consideration, such as nicotine, prescription drug, bag, bottle, and data-center-related taxes, arguing these would worsen affordability. The session ended with Republicans saying they had little influence in the budget conference process and vowing to keep fighting the income tax and other tax increases through the final days of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• clearly stated, and I quote, The President shall communicate to Congress in writing 30 days before removing
• The quote, substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons for the fire, the removal
• You know, we're not only dealing with a clock here in terms of the expiration of the temporary scheduling
• By the time the temporary listing of the drug expires in March, and so I would just urge those practical

Bills: SB331

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, drug trafficking, public health, research regulations, law enforcement, S-331, Halt All Lethal Trafficking and Fentanyl Act, fentanyl crisis, public testimony, drug legislation, bipartisan support

Summary: In this committee meeting, the focus was primarily on S-331, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking and Fentanyl Act, aimed at addressing the fentanyl crisis. The bill's key components include making permanent the class scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, confirming existing sentencing penalties, and easing registration requirements for scientific research on Schedule I substances. Numerous parents shared heartbreaking testimonies about their losses due to fentanyl, which fueled an urgent call to pass the legislation without alterations. The committee members engaged in passionate discussions highlighting the urgency of the situation as overdoses continue to claim American lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Removing ineligible voters is one of the many ways that we preserve the integrity of our voter rolls.
• and they were removed.
• No one ever removed her.
• But we do have plans to actually work to remove that card on the mail-in renewal form.
• When they come back, we remove that status.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• If they wait until after their birthday, their license technically expires, creating legal risk for students
• workers, particularly those living or studying out of state, as they'll be in danger of driving on an expired
• The temporary license would then be that receipt printed out along with their expired license, which
• It prevents young drivers from operating with expired licenses.
• all of the um manuals and has removed all of the um manuals and other<00:46:23.359><c> languages</c>

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I know this bill removes the sunset entirely rather than extending it to a date certain.
• That is a contract that's expiring on June 30.
• As I mentioned, their contracts are set to expire June 30.
• So we would not be removing that certification.” “Okay. Understood. Thank you for clarifying that.
• How do we streamline and remove less paperwork from what some of our vendors have to go through?”

Transcript Highlights:

• I know this bill removes the sunset entirely rather than extending it to a date certain.
• That contract is expiring June 30 and covers basic counseling services at a fixed employee rate.
• As I mentioned, their contracts are set to expire June 30.
• We would not be removing that certification. Okay. Understood. Thank you for clarifying that.
• How do we streamline and remove less paperwork from what some of our vendors have to go through?

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we add language that removes students attending Craft, Gatton, and Vert Truba Residential Academic
• In Operations and Support Services, we amend language to remove the requirement that advanced placement
• exams are paid on a first-come, first-serve basis and remove language that permitted district facility
• increase restricted funds for the operation of the department and also we reduce general fund for expired
• </c> general fund for expired debt service. general fund for expired debt service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Update the terminology from telecommuting to telework and make other changes to remove requirements that
• It expires June 30th of 2024. Arguably, we should have done the trailer bill then.
• We should have removed it out, because we view this as cleanup.
• Or that will be expired in 2025-2026 by when sorry in the next fiscal year in the budget year okay and
• It doesn't specify that it just applies to the seven of the expired agreements and it doesn't specify