Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:43.279><c> Senator</c><00:12:43.760><c> Price</c> &gt;&gt; Senator Orur.
• Senator Price &gt;&gt; Senator Orur. Senator Price &gt;&gt; here. &gt;&gt; here. &gt;&gt; here.
• Senator Price: Aye. Senator Shelnutt: [response not clearly captured]. Senator Stewart: No.
• </c><00:57:26.400><c> Senator</c><00:57:26.880><c> Price.</c> &gt;&gt; Senator Orur. Senator Price.
• Senator Price. &gt;&gt; Senator<00:57:29.119><c> Shnut.

Bills: SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167 , SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: school psychologist, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure compact, license reciprocity, portable license, equivalent license, professional licensing, psychology board, school mental health, student services, educational services, interstate practice, reciprocal licensing, background check, continuing education, workforce shortage, military spouse, active duty military, compact commission

Transcript Highlights:

• There's just one word that needs to be taken a look at: the word is estimate.
• OIR decided that they needed to define what an estimate is, and they defined it with a new law, which
• It says that the estimate has to be based on Xactimate.
• do the estimates based on the law.
• And if you're talking about a very straightforward homeowner's loss, an estimate can be put together

Summary: The Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up several bills, beginning with SB 834 on health care sharing ministries and insurance agents. Senator Yarbrough presented the bill to repeal a recent restriction on licensed insurance agents marketing or selling faith-based health care sharing programs. Supporters argued the change restores free speech and consumer education while preserving existing consumer protections; opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could increase confusion or misuse of agents and brokers. The committee adopted a title amendment and then reported the bill favorably after debate, with Senator Pizzo raising concerns about consumer reliance and lack of guaranteed coverage. The committee then approved SB 642 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers, SB 394 on reinsurance intermediary managers, and SB 266 on public adjuster contracts. SB 266 would let vulnerable adults rescind public adjuster contracts at any time without penalty; it drew support from consumer and industry groups, with some discussion about estimates and claim work product. The committee also passed SB 832 on residential property insurance transparency, which requires rate transparency reports and a consumer resource center at OIR, and adds a provision excluding land value from homeowners coverage calculations in most cases. Testimony on SB 832 was generally supportive of the transparency goal, though insurers said some of the required cost breakdowns may be difficult to produce as written. The committee next considered SB 1028 on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which would create a commercial lines clearinghouse to move eligible policyholders into the private market and reduce Citizens’ commercial exposure. Supporters said it would lower taxpayer risk and improve competition; a speaker suggested additional changes to deductibles, water-damage caps, and repair practices. The bill was reported favorably after a delete-all amendment and supportive debate from Senator Boyd. Finally, the committee passed SB 540 on the Office of Financial Regulation, which adds cybersecurity requirements for certain licensees, updates oversight of investment advisers and money service businesses, adjusts some charter and meeting rules for financial institutions and credit unions, and includes amendments clarifying repossession/deficiency claims, family office exemptions, and virtual credit union meetings. The meeting ended with all of the considered bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The uncertainty is far more expensive than just the price tag of the unplanned fees.
• For a nonprofit home builder, Habitat keeps our sales prices affordable for our limited-income buyers
• The city respectfully requests that the bill be amended to base these estimates on the actual building
• Yes, our $2 million cost estimate was based on the implementation in L.A. County.
• Yes, our $2 million cost estimate was estimated based on the implementation in L.A. County.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of housing, local government, and governance bills, beginning without a quorum and proceeding as a subcommittee until quorum was established. SB 1003, by Senator Grayson, would create an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infill housing infrastructure; supporters said infrastructure costs often prevent projects from penciling out, while a senator questioned whether the state would actually fund the new program. The bill passed the committee 3-1 on call. The committee also adopted a consent calendar covering SB 1169, SB 1086, SB 1126, and SB 1439-1442, also 3-1 on call. SB 1014 would require local jurisdictions to provide early good-faith estimates of on-site and off-site improvements and bar undisclosed later requirements; Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and housing advocates supported the bill, while the City of San Mateo opposed the preliminary-application timing. Members raised questions about the 30-business-day deadline and coordination with other agencies. The bill passed 4-2 on call. SB 1036, which would require fee credits for prior site uses when redeveloping a site with similar prior uses, drew broad support and no opposition and passed 5-0 on call. SB 1145, a district bill for the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse project, would streamline CEQA and federal base-closure review for qualifying projects; labor, the city, and county supported it, while housing legal advocates opposed unless amended over Surplus Land Act concerns. The bill passed 6-0 on call after discussion of affordability and enforceability amendments. The committee then heard SB 908, which would streamline permits for energy-code-compliant residential window replacements and limit city/HOA design restrictions; supporters said it would let homeowners and affordable housing providers lower energy costs, while local government groups opposed, citing local control and design standards. It passed 3-1 on call. SB 1172, the Local Tax Savings Act, would add guardrails and transparency to local tax-sharing consultant agreements; the City of Shafter and League of California Cities supported it, and it passed 4-0 on call. SB 1379 would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner; supporters cited in-custody death rates and public trust concerns, while the sheriff’s association and county representatives opposed on cost and local control grounds. The bill passed 4-1 on call. Finally, SB 1283 would expand streamlined permitting for EV charging stations to include canopies and on-site energy storage systems; EV industry supporters said the bill updates outdated rules, while cities and counties warned about safety review, liability, and litigation risk. Members discussed battery storage safety and local permitting authority, and the bill passed 4-0 on call. The committee also heard SB 1414, which would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County; supporters argued it would improve transparency and reduce political self-interest, while the county opposed due to its existing advisory commission and estimated implementation costs. The transcript cuts off during questioning on SB 1414, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the Cleveland Clinic, researchers estimate that MLDD affects about 1 in 40,000 people in
• According to the Cleveland Clinic, According to the Cleveland Clinic, researchers<00:01:47.040><c> estimate
• /c><00:01:47.520><c> that</c><00:01:47.840><c> MLDD</c><00:01:48.560><c> affects</c> researchers estimate
• that MLDD affects researchers estimate that MLDD affects about<00:01:49.920><c> 1</c><00:01:50.439><
• MDH estimates that more than one-third of residents in Minneapolis, St.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And under our contract, we have those max prices locked in.
• And under our contract, we have those max prices locked in.
• Our initial price was $24 for a twin pack, which was more than a 40% savings over the price the state
• WIC's food expenditure estimate is $1.19 billion.
• We have not received any cost estimates from the department.

Summary: The hearing began with testimony from Let California Kids Hear and supporters urging action on pediatric hearing aid coverage. Advocates said California has repeatedly failed to enact a workable solution over the past eight years and argued that children need early access to sound to support development. The proposal discussed would limit the coverage mandate to the large-group market, which advocates said would cover roughly 70% to 80% of affected children and avoid the exchange-related cost issue that contributed to prior vetoes. Supporters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s health groups, backed the proposal, and the chair expressed sympathy and support while noting hope for a federal solution for exchange plans. The Department of Finance then gave opening remarks about the state’s structural deficit and the need to balance new investments against projected out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with a broad overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone initiatives, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, hospital seismic compliance, workforce programs, and the diaper access initiative. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, which HCAI said had reverted funds. The committee also discussed a proposed transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate to HCAI, new reporting on long-term care staffing and health coverage waiting periods, and a Behavioral Health Services Act workforce proposal that would use BHSA funds to support training, stipends, and technical assistance while offsetting $100 million in General Fund spending; members and LAO questioned the offset and asked for more detail, and the item was held open. HCAI also presented the Rural Health Transformation Program, explaining that California received $233.6 million in federal funds for the first year and had to revise its proposal so that $35 million in provider payments would be tied to specific transformative activities rather than general financial relief. The program will fund rural care model redesign, workforce development, and technology/infrastructure improvements, with grants to be rolled out on a tight timeline and subject to CMS approval. Members asked about the size of California’s award, the use of funds for maternity care, labor and delivery access, dialysis, tribal set-asides, and the role of a technical assistance contractor. The department said the program will use supply-and-demand workforce modeling to target funding and that all funds must be obligated by October 30. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined its budget and two major bill-related proposals: SB 41 on PBM reform and SB 306 on prior authorization transparency. DMHC said SB 41 would require PBM licensure, ban spread pricing, require rebate pass-through, and regulate pharmacy network practices, while SB 306 would require reporting on prior authorization and create a list of services exempt from prior authorization. DMHC requested additional positions and funding to implement both measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• With regard to the Medi-Cal caseload, in the current year we estimate about 14.5 million individuals
• When we get to the next two items on the local assistance and family health estimates, I'll go through
• The estimated savings in the budget year are $331.8 million General Fund.
• Okay, issue number three is the November 2025 Family Health Local Assistance Estimate.
• The ones who pay the price. Please restore the funding. Thank you. Good afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the demand is going up but the supply stays the same, prices will increase.
• The price of electricity varies by location and by time, and so we call this locational marginal price
• adults are perfectly capable of deciding whether or not they've received a quality service at a good price
• Now there's a lot of different estimates on this, so, you know, you'll find other numbers for what it's
• worth, but that's the easiest straight-up estimate on the effect, versus 12 cents per kilowatt hour

Bills: HB744 , HR197 , SB54 , SB79 , SB163 , SB287 , SB375 , SB386 , SB398 , SB469 , SCR5

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We would estimate premium increases anywhere from 40% to 80% on existing homeowners policies.
• . ...the contracts after the fact, forcing insurers to assume a risk that they did not price.
• regardless of changing conditions, this bill creates uncapped exposure that cannot be reasonably priced
• Without pricing flexibility, the response is higher premiums, tighter underwriting, non-renewals, or
• We can provide you with an estimate of the number of acequias, which gives you an idea of the acreage

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, the state ranks last in housing affordability, with the median home prices more than
• Recent estimates show that the typical middle-class family earning $130,000 per year faces nearly $30,000
• those earning less than $40,000 a year,... ...hardships due to rising prices among those earning less
• On the price of gas, you all know this. You've filled up recently.
• Californians pay the highest price in gas, even as we have some of the biggest reserves in the nation

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Price? No. Representative Cayler? No. Representative Rasor? No.
• During 2018, we estimated the annexation costs to us.
• During 2018, we estimated the annexation costs to us.
• Representative Price. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
• Thank you, Representative Price. Representative Rasor. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Salt prices, for example, are up 9% over last biennium.
• </c><00:08:37.440><c> Salt</c><00:08:37.839><c> prices,</c><00:08:38.479><c> for</c> the maintenance
• Salt prices, for the maintenance budget.
• </c><00:10:39.920><c> at</c> of those 1,200 buildings is estimated at of those 1,200 buildings is estimated
• </c><00:19:00.559><c> out</c> those expenses, but we've estimated out those expenses, but we've estimated

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum at first, then later approved the minutes once quorum was established. The committee heard presentations from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Jeremy Slinker, and Sean McCarnieran on maintenance, vehicle regulation, general administration, highways, and related capital projects. Hancock emphasized that maintenance is the cabinet’s most visible public service, especially for snow and ice removal and routine roadway upkeep, and said rising costs have outpaced funding. He cited a 61% increase in highway construction costs since 2020 and said maintenance spending was $488 million in FY 2024 and $511 million in FY 2025, while the FY 2026 baseline request was $483.3 million. The cabinet’s additional maintenance request would add $23.6 million in FY 2027 and $38.6 million in FY 2028, with expected impacts on litter pickup, mowing, vegetation management, and pothole repair if not funded. The cabinet also outlined five maintenance-related capital projects: additional funding for Ballard County maintenance/salt storage, Hopkins County maintenance/salt storage, Whitley County maintenance/salt structure, and the District 2 office and materials lab, plus reauthorization of the Breckinridge County maintenance and salt facility. Hancock also asked for budget language allowing the cabinet to use unexpected restricted and federal funds more quickly, similar to existing authority for federal earmarks. McCarnieran described the governor’s inclusion of funding for the ASHTOWare system, employee health exams, priority IT projects, and a District 7 office renovation request, noting that some items were not funded because they ranked low among competing projects. He also said the governor’s budget included a $7.5 million annual maintenance pool for the cabinet’s 1,200 facilities and requested additional restricted fund authority for Trimark and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Slinker focused on the Department of Vehicle Regulation, saying recent investments in staffing and equipment had reduced wait times and improved customer service in driver licensing offices. He requested $535,600 to keep temporary contract workers in place for the rest of the year, warning that without it regional office operations would have to be reduced. He said the surge in demand was driven by new 15-year-old licensing requirements, vision testing, and Real ID implementation, but believed the volume was beginning to level out. He also outlined FY 2027 and FY 2028 plans totaling $20.38 million and $19.85 million, including six new regional offices and a shift away from temporary workers toward state positions. Additional requests included $106,000 for debt service on the new driver’s license modernization system and operating costs of $5 million in FY 2027 and $2.5 million in FY 2028 to support the transition from the old system. Members asked about the cabinet’s funding sources, and officials said the road fund is the primary source, supported by motor fuels tax, usage tax, driver-related receipts, and some restricted funds; they stressed that the requests were not for additional general fund dollars. Questions also covered employee health exam reimbursements, the annual Trimark/Cumberland Gap contract, and the District 7 renovation request. No votes were taken on the budget items during the meeting, beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• and price us out of communities.
• They tell me that resentencing takes a lot of time in court, and you gave a cost estimate.
• Josh Hinman: The Administrative Office of the Courts estimates a cost of $34,000, which is the courts
• These are estimates.
• So basically, we're giving you estimates of what we believe would be affected by these cases.

Bills: SB5439 , SB6109 , SB6304

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: investment, thermal coal, divestment, state investment board, fossil fuels, environmental impact, renewable energy, detention facilities, state funds, privatization, criminal justice reform, Washington State Investment Board, responsible investment, sustainability, corporate governance

Transcript Highlights:

• The Twin Ports area is not only geographically constrained, but it's price constrained on growth.
• It did increase prices.
• </c><00:04:13.239><c> we've</c> example and we've seen some price we've example and we've seen some price
• Areas that would be primed for growth require lift stations with seven-figure price tags.
• Areas that would be primed for growth require lift stations with seven-figure price tags.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• He said it is currently extremely expensive, with an estimated cost of $2,000 to $5,000 per pound.
• By and large, the poorer the people, the higher the price of the groceries.
• Produce is a... very well and there's a lower volume, then it tends to be a higher price.
• So they estimate $22 to $24 an hour, would it actually cost the farmer?
• And they were really counting on it this year, especially with the price of rice. Right.

Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would create an Agricultural-based National Security Priorities Task Force to study issues such as Chinese drones, farmland ownership, and other technology-related concerns that could affect farmers and national security. Senator Kathy Stewart said the goal was to avoid unintended consequences in legislation and to bring agriculture stakeholders together. The resolution was moved favorably with no objections. The committee then took up Senate Bill 502 on sugarcane bagasse storage. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the American Sugar Cane League, said the bill would clarify that bagasse is an agricultural byproduct and would protect storage practices that comply with department best practices from local ordinances. Several residents from St. Martin Parish testified in opposition, saying a large bagasse pile near their homes was out of compliance, created dust and odors, and caused health and property-value concerns. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably with no objections. House Bill 512, by Representative Schamerhorn, would prohibit the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in Louisiana while allowing university research to continue. An amendment was adopted to make the bill effective only if certain federal court rulings allow such a ban. The sponsor and Commissioner Strain argued the issue is still scientifically uncertain and that the state should avoid costly litigation; the bill was reported favorably with amendments after no objections. House Bill 1194, the Healthy Food Retail Act, was amended to shift food-desert research and mapping duties to the LSU AgCenter, while the financing authority would continue handling grants and related funding mechanisms. Supporters said the bill would improve data on food deserts and help target grocery access in underserved urban and rural areas; some members raised concerns about government subsidies and long-term dependence, but the sponsor and Commissioner Strain said the program is intended as infrastructure support to launch stores, not ongoing operating aid. After debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a 10-3 roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably House Concurrent Resolution 65, which urges federal action to reclassify crawfish-industry job duties as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes; testimony emphasized labor shortages, the impact on crawfish and rice producers, and the need for more legal guest workers. The meeting ended with a brief informational handout on direct marketing and custom slaughter plants and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, of course, we've seen this tremendous increase in price.
• Chairman, the question there is, the mineral leasing is very difficult to estimate.
• So a variety of things go in there that make it really hard to estimate.
• The estimates of probable costs, that is more of a wish list.
• I was just trying to do the permit cost estimates about $264,000.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:37.600><c> people</c><00:04:38.560><c> uh</c> uh and uh pricing people uh uh and uh pricing
• I'm giving you much less than the dealership price, or at least the MSRP price, because the dealership
• I'm giving you much less than the dealership price, or at least the MSRP price, because the dealership
• </c> get that price point as far as the price get that price point as far as the price and<00:24:55.840
• Those are average prices for an entire state, and Minnesota ranks 22nd overall highest prices.

Bills: HF3298

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Fairbanks Police estimated that between 40 and 175 prostitutes were operating in the city during
• The Fairbanks Police estimated that between 40 and 175 prostitutes were operating in the city during
• And obviously, if the price is the same, and it may be lower under a pipeline, it may not, but if the
• Alaskans are expecting us to know, but we need to keep our eye on the price.
• Speaker, for me, that question of what is the price of natural gas going to be for my constituents is

Transcript Highlights:

• Even if it was all conventional, you would have seen the same sort of consequence: a temporary price
• And that's all come at a higher price. It's more expensive to move it across.
• So if California still wants those barrels, it'll be at a higher competitive price.
• It never should have been done, and now we're the ones paying the price for it. Mr.
• McMillan Valley estimated 3 million acre-feet.

Bills: HB2014 , HB2031 , HB2078 , HB2102 , HB2103 , HB2117 , HB2261 , HB2262 , HB2264 , HB2278 , HB2428 , HB2494 , HB2756 , HB2758 , HB2762 , HB2782 , HB2932 , HB2933 , HB2986

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, water rights, groundwater, Willcox, active management area, certificate of grandfathered rights, Arizona legislature, aggregate mining, reclamation plans, environmental protection, public safety, land use, domestic water, improvement district, water delivery, water hauling

Transcript Highlights:

• How do you make America healthy again if one out of four people in this country cannot afford the price
• that the administration was actually going to commit to lowering prices.
• Scientists have estimated that the COVID vaccine saved 3 million lives.
• Prescription drug prices in America, as you know.
• President Trump wants us to negotiate drug pricing. He wants to lower drug prices.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• pricing.
• pricing.
• And when they are being price-gouged, they are unaware of it.
• And when they are being price-couched, they are unaware of it.
• Estimates show about 72% of short-term rentals in L.A.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.