Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, do I have a motion for review? Seeing none, do I have a motion for review?
• Review of this request will increase the total authorized positions by three.
• Seeing none, do I have a motion for review? I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second.
• Seeing none, do I have a motion for review and a second? I've got a motion and a second.
• All right, seeing no questions, those reports stand reviewed.

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Transcript Highlights:

• Then this spring, we began our follow-up review.
• So the first open item is the limit on what licensing is authorized to review.
• So the first open item is the limit on what licensing is authorized to review.
• But this is an area where we feel it could be reviewed and utilized.
• But this is an area where we feel it could be reviewed and utilized.

Transcript Highlights:

• Although I won't cover everything from the special audit report and follow-up review at the end of my
• We had findings and recommendations in all eight areas reviewed.
• We reviewed 26 board meetings held between January and September 2025 and found that, although the board
• We can review the draft. It's not final yet.
• A board member code of conduct, but I have not reviewed it.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• What I understand from reviewing processes in other states and what I understand the plan is here in
• So someone in the judicial system would review that petition and decide what, if any, ex parte order
• But it would have some sort of judicial review before it's definitely granted? Oh, absolutely.
• A judge reviews it for enough.
• A judge reviews it for enough.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first took up SCR 30 by Senator Connick, which memorializes Congress to compel the Department of Justice to release unclassified Epstein-related records. Senator Connick gave personal remarks about child sexual abuse and the need to hold powerful people accountable. Representative Newell supported the resolution, and the committee reported it favorably without opposition. Next, the committee considered SCR 40 by Senator Selders, urging Congress to timely pass defense appropriations that fully fund and align with the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure was briefly explained as a statement of support for military readiness and proper appropriations, and it was moved favorably with no opposition. The main substantive discussion centered on SB 259 by Senator Barrow, which would authorize an online portal for civil protective order applications. A Supreme Court protective order registry representative explained that the portal would let domestic and dating violence survivors complete petitions online, with the same judicial review, service, and hearing process that exists now; the bill would not eliminate manual filing. Members asked about fees, guidance for applicants, verification, judicial review, public access, and the risk of false filings. The witness and several members emphasized that the process remains temporary and ex parte at the outset, that final orders are issued by judges, and that the registry is not public. A domestic violence coalition representative also testified in support. Representative Newell moved favorable, Representative Edmondson objected, and the committee reported the bill favorably by a 10-1 vote. Finally, Representative Baham presented HR 245 condemning political violence in the United States. He cited recent and historical examples of political attacks and argued that violence against public figures and activists is harmful regardless of party. Members voiced support, no one objected, and the resolution was adopted before the committee adjourned, with the chair noting it was the last meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• bring additional transparency and be able to make ...in-custody death review division so that we can
• We have analysts that are doing desk reviews.
• My first question is, who will review your report when it is completed?
• So when we are reviewing the investigations of the deaths, those reviews will be public.
• The deaths, those reviews will be public.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and routine committee actions. The committee first approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, appointments to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, the appointment of Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, a reference of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Members then heard testimony from Trista Gonzalez, nominee to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, who described her long career in tax administration, efforts to improve taxpayer compliance and service, readiness for the state’s lithium extraction tax, and the department’s work on online sales tax, cannabis, and tobacco enforcement. Senators asked about responsiveness to legislators, small business support, accountability, and enforcement; public commenters from tax and accounting groups supported her nomination. Her appointment advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, nominee to lead the Board of State and Community Corrections. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention-facility inspections, large grant programs for violence intervention and reentry, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audit transparency, statutory authority for in-custody death reviews, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, site visits, audits, and compliance reviews to reduce fraud and ensure grant funds are used appropriately, and that trailer bill language had clarified access to records for death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in some juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with counties and the courts to improve conditions. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. His appointment also advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• bring additional transparency and be able to make ...the in-custody death review division so that we
• We have analysts that are doing desk reviews.
• You mentioned in your opening statement the in-custody death review, and I know we had an audit that
• My first question is: who will review your report when it is completed?
• So when we are reviewing the investigations of the deaths, those reviews will be public.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Deborah Garns, Davis Rabbit, Cindy Silva, Vincent Wells, and Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, all by 5-0 votes. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, each by 5-0 vote, before moving to appointments required to appear. Trista Gonzalez, nominated to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, testified about her 33-year career in tax administration and emphasized taxpayer service, efficiency, and team culture. Members asked about responsiveness to legislators, the lithium extraction tax, online sales tax compliance after Wayfair, and enforcement against illicit cigarette, tobacco, and cannabis activity. Gonzalez said the department is ready for the lithium tax, works to register businesses meeting the $500,000 threshold, and coordinates with law enforcement on inspections and seizures. Public commenters from Ryan LLC and the California Society of Enrolled Agents supported her confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to send her nomination to the full Senate. Aaron McGuire, nominated as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, described his experience at the agency and its expanded responsibilities, including annual detention facility inspections, major grant administration, and the new in-custody death review division. Senators questioned him about grant oversight, fraud prevention, public access to audits, implementation of SB 519, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, reporting, site visits, audits, and recovery actions to monitor grants, and that trailer bill language has clarified access to records for in-custody death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in Los Angeles juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with the courts and local officials. Supporters from Amity Foundation, Health Right 360, Westcare, and Giffords testified in favor, and the committee approved his nomination 5-0 to advance to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• of these private investigators and specifies that the exemption is subject to future legislative review
• Has the Department of Labor reviewed this legislation? Senator Bracey Davis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Has the Department of Labor reviewed this legislation? Senator Bracey Davis.
• Has the Department of Labor reviewed this legislation, specifically to ensure it complies with federal
• We are going to do a couple of open government sunset review bills this afternoon.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee first heard SB 410, which would add current and former licensed private investigators, and their spouses and children, to the list of people whose home address, phone number, date of birth, photographs, and related family information are exempt from public records disclosure. Sponsor Senator Trunow said the exemption is meant to protect investigators who work on sensitive matters such as fraud, missing persons, human trafficking, and abuse cases and may face retaliation. After a technical amendment was adopted, the committee heard testimony from a private investigator describing threats and safety concerns, then voted to report the bill favorably as CS/SB 410. The committee then took up SB 216 on reemployment assistance eligibility verification. Senator McClain said the bill is intended to combat unemployment fraud by requiring claimants to contact five prospective employers per week, appear for scheduled interviews, and undergo regular identity, immigration, employment, and incarceration checks, with fraud information shared among agencies and published annually. Opponents, including labor advocates and representatives of construction and rural workers, argued the bill would add barriers for legitimate claimants, worsen Florida’s already low recipiency rate, and create problems for seasonal, rural, and transportation-limited workers. Supporters said the system needs stronger fraud controls and that employers and taxpayers bear real costs from noncompliance. The committee reported SB 216 favorably after debate. In routine open-government sunset review business, the committee approved two committee bills. SPB 7014 extends for five years a public records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations of a social media standards law, with staff noting the exemption has not been used because of ongoing constitutional litigation. SPB 7016 preserves a public records exemption for certain financial information held by an economic development agency when administering state or federally funded small business loan programs; supporters said the exemption protects applicants from fraud and harassment, while Senator Smith said he would vote no to remain consistent with his prior opposition. Both measures were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The contract that we had last year, I have to submit this to contract review, government contract review
• The contract that we had last year, I have to submit this to contract review, government contract review
• ,</c> to submit this to um contract review, to submit this to um contract review, government<00:12:44.880
• ><c> contract</c><00:12:45.519><c> review.
• It's a It's government contract review.

Summary: The commission first returned from executive session and noted that discussions there were preliminary only and no final agency action was taken. It then approved the budget report, which staff said was within year-to-date budget parameters. Members discussed recommended changes to the code of ethics. Staff proposed four items: defining and prohibiting sexual harassment as ethical misconduct; two housekeeping changes related to lobbyist registration notice and campaign contribution language; and a possible reduction of the post-service waiting period for former legislators to become lobbyists from two years to one year. Members agreed the lobbying cooling-off period was a broader General Assembly issue and voted to recommend only the first three changes, leaving the fourth for later review. The chair noted the July 1 deadline for submitting ethics-code recommendations to the LRC. The commission also approved renewal of a $100,000 contract with Casey Bailey and Mains for Robert Jenkins to continue serving as enforcement counsel, with hourly rates of $125 for the attorney and $40 for the paralegal. Finally, it approved a 3% cost-of-living pay increase for General Counsel Steven Pium, discussed possible conference attendance and informal opinions, and adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, welcome and review agenda. Five minutes. So I think we have a new member.
• </c><00:09:16.480><c> uh</c> Yeah, Austin, can you want to review uh Yeah, Austin, can you want to review
• So, uh is to review and discuss item.
• </c><01:09:12.560><c> rates</c> negotiate rates, but we do review rates negotiate rates, but we do review
• </c><01:09:45.279><c> rates</c> negotiate rates we are reviewing rates negotiate rates we are reviewing

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to review everything.
• </c> takes a few hours for each one to review takes a few hours for each one to review and<00:48:59.920
• </c> assessor they have to review assessor they have to review everything<00:49:04.760><c> sometimes<
• We would like to see this proposed Senate Bill move to the Building Code Review Board for their review
• </c><02:05:58.360><c> is</c> review this formal review typically is review this formal review typically

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• And it does not circumvent environmental review or local permitting requirements.
• We're reviewing the amendments.
• looks like in print and reviewing it with our own membership.
• These accounts are only reviewed after the money has already been spent by the utilities, and the review
• A vague term, 'review,' is used in the GRCs.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we will review our project objectives and recommendations.
• We acknowledged, based on a review, that it does not evaluate and based on a review, that it does not
• Additional reviews conducted and other committee topics reviewed.
• We also did a 2019 year-end review.
• And then in 2021, we also did an acuity shift review.

Committees: Joint Human Services , Joint Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> contract review without objection? contract review without objection?
• Do I have a motion to consider the contracts review without objection?
• Uh they're reviewed I'm not sure we can.
• ,</c><00:26:00.320><c> he</c><00:26:00.920><c> he</c> when reviewing the contracts, he he when reviewing
• </c><01:07:44.359><c> items</c> Please take a moment to review items Please take a moment to review items

Summary: The committee first approved the March 10 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of contract reviews, including a deferred Kentucky Transportation Cabinet item tied to Louisville bridge tolling and RiverLink. Transportation officials explained that the contract was part of a bi-state arrangement with Indiana: Indiana Finance Authority held the main contract with HNTB, while Kentucky needed a mirror contract to pay its 50% share under the bi-state management agreement. Members questioned why the work was treated as effectively no-bid, how much input Kentucky had in vendor selection, RiverLink’s collection performance, and when tolls might end. Transportation said Kentucky had equal representation in selection, HNTB served as a toll services advisor, collections and customer service had improved, and tolls are expected to remain until debt obligations are paid off in 2058. Several members criticized the company’s past performance and voted no as a statement of concern, but the contract still moved forward. The committee then deferred a Kentucky State University item because the vendor was not registered with the Secretary of State. It also approved the overall agenda and contract review lists. A Board of Optometric Examiners contract drew significant discussion: board representatives said they had previously relied on the Public Protection Cabinet for legal services, but that office lacked staff and advised them to seek outside counsel. Some members argued the committee could not approve a contract that appeared to conflict with statute, while others said the board should not be left without legal counsel and that the Attorney General should be brought in to resolve the issue. The committee ultimately voted to defer the optometric contract for one month and requested the Attorney General appear at the next meeting. Finally, the committee reviewed an Administrative Office of the Courts amendment for the Court of Appeals building project. Staff explained that the General Assembly had authorized the project, the design contract had already gone through multiple approved phases, and the current item was only an administrative correction to a prior modification amount. Members approved the amendment, with one member noting appreciation that the project costs had been reduced when an error was found.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then those plans would be submitted to DCM for review and for recommendations and inspections.
• </c><00:33:38.240><c> and</c><00:33:38.480><c> for</c> uh DCM uh for review and for uh DCM uh for review
• </c> by DCM on all the projects they reviewed by DCM on all the projects they reviewed uh<00:39:05.440
• If I organize my projects, I've got the building commission's reviews.
• </c><00:44:04.480><c> and</c> construction processes and reviews and construction processes and reviews

Bills: HB245 , SB16 , SB59 , SB62 , SB79 , SB88 , HB245 , SB16 , SB59 , SB62 , SB79 , SB88

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, SB16, four-point restraint, hog-tie, hog tie, prone restraint, law enforcement, police, sheriff, use of force, restraint techniques, positional asphyxia, arrest procedures, detention

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:38.160><c> and</c> strengthen its supervisory review and strengthen its supervisory review
• I also share Senator Gray's concern when I see things that are well past being reviewed.
• The conduct review committee is under our umbrella.
• The conduct review committee is under our umbrella.
• </c> is the conduct review committee. is the conduct review committee. &gt;&gt; Good.

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on December 19, with Senators Long and Lang serving as replacements. The committee approved the November 21 minutes and adopted the consent calendar after removing two Department of Health and Human Services items for separate discussion. It then took up an HHS request involving nursing facility rates, where Nathan White explained that $2.2 million would be transferred from a long-term care Medicaid eligibility contract to the nursing facilities budget. He said the funds would offset an otherwise projected 3.9% average rate decrease and bring the overall average change to zero for the next six months, with rates reset again in July under state law. Members asked about the budget adjustment factor, bed counts, and whether additional funds could raise rates further; White said the factor is statutory, capped at 28.76%, and that more money would lower the factor and increase rates. The committee also corrected a date in the request from February 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, and approved the item. The committee next approved another HHS item related to rural health transformation grants. Members confirmed the request covered the full amount applied for this biennium, and asked about the technology component. HHS said the grant is not solely about AI, but about broader technology improvements such as electronic medical records, back-end systems, and tools to improve access and sustainability in underserved areas. The committee approved that item as well. The Judicial Council then requested funds for contract attorneys providing indigent defense on a fixed-fee basis. The council said current funds had already been exhausted and that the new appropriation would be used immediately. Members questioned the size of the request and the number of people awaiting counsel; the council reported about 150 incarcerated people and about 300 non-incarcerated people waiting for counsel, more than in recent years. It attributed the increase to competition for attorneys, public defender offices closing intake in some locations because of caseload limits, and broader case and court-system changes. One member raised constitutional concerns about delays in counsel for incarcerated defendants. The committee ultimately amended the request downward to $1 million, approved it, and then approved a motion to place several annual financial reports on file and release them to the public when available. The committee also discussed dashboard reporting from HHS, asking for more detail on community mental health center caseloads and budget-reduction information, and HHS agreed to provide more useful monthly detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• we have an external review process for medical necessity, and we administer that process that review
• </c><00:22:46.000><c> process</c> regarding the external review process regarding the external review
• </c> guidance on on what that external review guidance on on what that external review process<00:23:
• </c> we administer that process that review we administer that process that review goes<00:23:09.840>
• Um, it was unclear about whether that internal review becomes the external review.

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1969, which would provide state funding for colorectal cancer screenings for uninsured and underinsured residents. The Department of Human Services said it supports the goal of early screening but would need new administrative capacity, including a program manager and claim pre-screening, to run the program. The Department of Health supported the measure and cited low screening rates in Hawaii, noting an educational campaign to encourage screening. The Insurance Division raised concerns about reliance on federal FAQs, warning that guidance can change and may create state cost exposure. Supporters including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Hawaii Medical Association argued the bill would close a preventive-care gap, reduce late-stage diagnoses, and save long-term costs; the committee also discussed implementation costs, estimated by DHS at roughly $1.4 million to $2 million annually plus administrative expenses, and a 6-month to 1-year timeline to establish the program. The committee then took up House Bill 1965, which would require health carriers to spend at least 6% of total medical expenditures on primary care providers. The Insurance Division said several provisions raise technical and legal concerns, including the premium freeze, the medical loss ratio language, the lack of an existing external review process for downcoding claims, and a new mandate for medically necessary inter-island transportation that could trigger an ACA defrayal. The Department of Human Services supported the intent but suggested broader language to include primary care supports and services, and noted that QUEST integration plans already invested at least 9% of total medical expenditures in primary care in 2024, with additional spending on supports and low-value care reductions. State health planning officials strongly supported the bill as an investment in primary care, saying it could improve outcomes and lower long-term costs, though they acknowledged a possible temporary premium increase during the transition. Testimony in support emphasized Hawaii’s physician shortage, especially on Maui, the Big Island, and other neighbor islands, and warned that clinics are under financial strain and may close without higher primary care reimbursement. The Hawaii Healthcare Task Force, AARP Hawaii, and other supporters said the bill would help retain providers, improve access for Medicare and Medicaid patients, and prevent downstream costs from emergency room use and avoidable hospitalizations. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And not subject to judicial review. Can you please elaborate? What's the purpose of this amendment?
• I would love to have an independent source of review, and this amendment foreclosed that.
• That's why I'm asking you if they will have no judicial review on the decision-making.
• That's why I'm asking you if they will have no judicial review on the decision-making, will they have
• We enthusiastically endorse the codification of site plan review.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to talk about sort of what we found in the process of reviewing those plans.
• And that comes back to the underlying principle that you're reviewing the application; you're not reviewing
• Or does it require a more lengthy discretionary review process with hearings, a trip to the planning
• Or does it require a more lengthy discretionary review process with hearings, a trip to the planning
• This means review by the planning director or designee, with no predesign hearing unless the review is

Bills: HB2266 , HB2489

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing, supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, public space, local governance, life-sustaining activities, statewide standards, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• And you don't define these objective standards and then also send it through design review.
• The permit review timeline is having a huge ripple effect on agencies.”
• They are interjecting review processes that are basically delaying their permit reviews so they can say
• that they’re still living to your 65 or whatever it is day review time, but third.”
• So predictability in permit reviewing is critical.

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think going for an annual review on things that won't change makes sense.
• The current requirement, as I understand it, is one chart review once a month.
• So that's less review. As written, that would be less review, correct?
• In closing, you're all aware that LMHAs are currently undergoing OIG reviews.
• We also know, as you all do, that HHSC is scheduled for sunset review.

Bills: SB128 , SB640 , SB672 , SB904 , SB1141 , SB1263 , SB1525 , SB1528 , SB2041 , SB2306 , SB2308 , SB2357 , SB2446 , SB2695 , SB2857 , SB2891 , SB2583

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services