Transcript Highlights:

• Cash will be skipping his senior year to attend Stanford this fall.
• And so when Cash was in seventh grade, he started taking college-level courses at Merced City College
• did his friends know, little did his teachers know, and even most of his family know, but secretly Cash
• Well, it should be no shock to anyone that Cash also has a passion for robotics and is a member of the
• And lo and behold, the court ruled that those payments were viewed as a tax.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and prayer, then proceeded through routine procedural business, including unanimous-consent motions to suspend rules, re-refer several Senate bills to committees, and remove certain items from the consent calendar. Members also offered multiple guest introductions recognizing local officials, students, interns, and business delegations, including the Harupa Community Services District, a National FFA scholarship winner, Japanese business leaders, and a Stanford-bound student from the Central Valley. On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 390, expanding the slow down, move over law to stationary vehicles, by a vote of 60-0, and to AB 1478, allowing retailers to absorb mattress recycling fees, by a vote of 63-0. The Assembly also adopted AJR 12, a bipartisan resolution urging protection and increased funding for Head Start, after extensive supportive testimony from members describing personal and district-level impacts; the resolution passed 70-0, with 69 co-authors added. The chamber likewise adopted ACR 96 naming a portion of Highway 101 in Humboldt County the Patty Berg Memorial Highway, and SCR 50, which calls for better state review of climate-adaptation policies to avoid maladaptation; both measures passed unanimously. The second-day consent calendar was then approved unanimously, with several measures adopted and some items removed or retained on file. The Assembly also approved co-authorship on ACR 81, the Border Patrol Agent Daniel R. Salazar Memorial Highway resolution. The session concluded with numerous adjournment-in-memory tributes, especially for Rincon Tribal Council Chairman Bo Mazzetti and former legislative secretary George Steffes, followed by a moment of silence and adjournment until Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disbursement or first payment is due. disbursement or first payment is due.
• And then the lead service line replacement grant program notices general fund cash.
• or signing of authorize um payments or signing of contracts. contracts. contracts.
• budget through general obligation bonds and cash.
• . cash. cash.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• the best deal, depending on what our mix is, whether it's government-related, private-related, or cash
• Very few cash pays, probably less than 5% of our business is cash pay.
• And we don't control what we get paid for, except on that small cash price, and usually that's just a
• PBM income exclusively to a flat fee service, payments and performance bonuses that probably does not
• PBM income exclusively to a flat fee service, payments and performance bonuses that probably does not

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 1 with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 938 by Rep. Turner, which would overhaul pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation by setting a flat administration fee, requiring dispensing fees and NADAC-based reimbursement, mandating rebate pass-through, giving the Department of Insurance access to PBM data, and creating a reverse-auction process for PBM procurement. Turner said the bill is intended to level the playing field for independent pharmacies, improve transparency, and reduce hidden PBM practices. The committee adopted amendment set 1444 without objection, and Turner said additional conceptual amendments were still being worked on. Supporters included independent pharmacies and the PBM Accountability Project; opponents included union plan representatives, benefits consultants, and PBM/insurance industry witnesses who warned of higher costs, ERISA preemption problems, and likely litigation. After extended questioning on cost, preemption, and vertical integration, the committee reported HB 938 with amendments. The committee then considered House Bill 870, also by Rep. Turner, dealing with formulary placement and cost-sharing for generic drugs and biosimilars and limiting certain utilization management practices. Amendment set 1540 was adopted, revising and tightening technical definitions. Turner and a representative of the Association for Accessible Medicines argued the bill would help lower-cost generics and biosimilars gain market share and reduce patient costs, citing examples such as insulin and Humira biosimilars. Opponents from Louisiana Blue said the bill would force coverage based on wholesale acquisition cost rather than net cost, would raise premiums for fully insured members, and would mandate coverage of drugs that are not always the lowest net-cost option. Rep. Jordan again raised ERISA and preemption concerns, and committee members discussed whether the bill would interfere with tiering and plan design. After closing comments and a motion by Rep. Glorioso, HB 870 was reported with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, a cash handout from the state, right? It's cost savings for them.
• But, you know, I guess, you know, cash.
• Um, this face is the down payment.
• </c><01:09:45.440><c> Um,</c> save up to make that down payment.
• Um, save up to make that down payment.

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dayton General had eight days cash on hand. Would-be General had 4.4 days cash on hand.
• Forks Community Hospital had 6.12 days cash on hand.
• East Adams Rural Hospital had 3.2 days cash on hand.
• Dayton General had eight days cash on hand. Would-be General had 4.4 days cash on hand.
• East Adams Rural Hospital had 3.2 days cash on hand.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up and passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5292, which modifies the paid family and medical leave program. Supporters said the bill uses an actuarial model to set rates and maintains a four-month reserve to improve program stability. It passed final passage 95-1. The House then considered Substitute Senate Bill 5841, dealing with completion of course and financial aid-related requirements. An amendment was adopted to add a financial aid calculator and require outreach to students who indicate they have completed a financial aid form, with supporters saying it would help students understand aid eligibility and access college opportunities. The bill then passed as amended, 92-4. The most extensive debate was on Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5981, concerning the 340B drug pricing program and contract pharmacy relationships. Members offered many amendments seeking to limit the bill’s scope, add transparency, or direct 340B savings toward patient care, low-income patients, rural areas, or charity care; most were rejected. Supporters argued the bill would help safety-net providers, hospitals, and FQHCs, while opponents warned it would mainly benefit large hospital systems, create administrative burdens, and likely face litigation. After the House adopted the committee amendment and rejected the floor amendments, the bill passed 67-30. The transcript then moved on to other business, including Senate messages and the start of debate on House Bill 2487 on taxes, with one technical amendment to clarify taxpayer definitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• or even monthly tax payments based on last year’s driving.
• The average net cash income for a farmer in Massachusetts is $13,511.
• Now, net cash income just doesn't mean cash—no depreciation, no accrual, all of the accounting tricks
• The average net cash income for a farmer in Massachusetts is $13,511.
• Now net cash income just doesn't mean cash, no depreciation, no accrual, all of the accounting tricks

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it used to be people would post, you know, a $500 or $5,000 cash surety bond, and they'd have to go
• Judges would hold people using money—cash bail, $50,000 cash only.
• Over the four years, they have to serve one year; they get a payment towards their tuition.
• The payment goes. Well said, it's paid directly to their lending agency.
• If this cap is way off the necessary deal, then we can buy insurance for the cash.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:12:23.000><c> in</c> that wanted to make extra payments in that wanted to make extra payments
• Leasing allows you to negotiate early payments.
• When we have a budget, we have the capital side and we have a cash side.
• Small items like this, we would put a cash reserve on it and pay it off.
• </c><02:28:55.080><c> flow</c> paper if I can show you the cash flow paper if I can show you the cash

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Cash management for y'all's funds.
• You receive payments from taxpayer-funded schools, and then you receive funds through by-board for the
• , cash and cash equivalents, um, from what our taxpayer-funded portions, which are coming.
• And, and, uh, The impetus for the payment is our billing to them.
• And then I wait probably six weeks before that check is cashed.

Bills: HB10 , HB 12 , HB675 , HB10 , HB12

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• Cash is still king.
• We still see cash flow out of financial institutions specifically related to scams.
• When the cash is withdrawn, it can go to a number of places.
• With automated electronic transactions peer-to-peer, that's Zelle, Venmo, Cash App.
• That's Zelle, Venmo, Cash App.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by Susanna Pratt. JLARC found that Washington produced roughly two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that incomplete, unreliable traceability data limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate, verify taxes, and track diversion. The presentation also reviewed canopy estimates, market conditions since legalization, and the social equity program. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 implementation timeline was more realistic. JLARC also recommended the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity beyond new producer licenses, noting that 10 new producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on overall production capacity. Members asked about social equity licensing delays and about whether Washington could look to other states’ traceability systems, including Biotrack and Metric, for model practices. The committee then heard a series of presentations on financial fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scams, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, social media companies, and regulators. He noted that Australia’s whole-of-government anti-scam model has reduced losses and said Washington could look to other states for model legislation, including crypto ATM restrictions and telecom accountability measures. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the emotional and financial harm to victims, emphasizing the need for education, information sharing, law enforcement partnerships, and stronger protections around scam-related transfers. She also highlighted the role of high school financial education and the challenges posed by authorized peer-to-peer transfers and crypto ATMs. Kyle Innes of SIFMA focused on investor scams, especially “pig butchering” and other crypto-related relationship scams, and said Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law for vulnerable adults helped shape similar laws in most other states. He stressed that fraud has become more professionalized and international, and that better coordination among adult protective services, law enforcement, and financial firms is needed. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs of the Department of Financial Institutions then described pig-butchering scams in more detail, including fake profiles, fake trading platforms, and escalating demands for more money, and said recovery is difficult because funds move quickly through crypto channels. They pointed to DFI’s investment tracker and other consumer education efforts as tools to warn the public and disrupt scams.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Cal Fire's advance payment report to the Legislature, the agency found that advance payments for the
• upfront would most help their organization apply for and manage grants and contract payments.
• Forty percent of nonprofits said that concerns about payment timing were a reason that they chose not
• Advance payment is, it should be a right.
• I know that many of the small nonprofits always struggle with cash flow, and having this advance payment

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on alcohol licensing, nonprofit funding, tribal grants, public transparency, and tobacco policy. AB 342 (Haney) would allow local governments to create hospitality zones with extended last-call hours on certain days; supporters argued it would boost tourism, nightlife, and major-event readiness, while opponents warned of alcohol-related harms and public safety risks. AB 684 (Patel) would subject the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools to open-meeting requirements, with supporters saying admissions-related changes should be more transparent and allow schools time to adjust. AB 1008 (Addis) would authorize up to 10 new on-sale general licenses in San Luis Obispo County to meet tourism demand, and AB 1039 (Hart) would require state agencies to offer advance payments on new nonprofit grants and contracts, which supporters said would help cash-strapped nonprofits deliver services. AB 221 (Ramos) would revise the Tribal Nation Grant Fund to provide more predictable annual distributions to eligible non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes, and it drew broad support from tribal representatives and others. AB 795 (Jeff Gonzalez) would create a California commission for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, with supporters describing it as a privately funded, nonpartisan planning body. AB 828/AB 28 (Mark Gonzalez, as referenced in the transcript) would expand neighborhood-restricted liquor licenses in Los Angeles County to reduce costs and support restaurant recovery, and AB 1246 (Hoover) would increase craft distillers’ direct sales limits and address barrel-storage rules; both were supported as small-business measures. AB 1428 (Ta) would require reporting of all surplus and underutilized state land, and AB 957 (Ortega) would prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies, with strong public health support. Several bills were voted out on motions to Appropriations, some with amendments, while others were held or left on call until quorum was established; the committee also adopted a consent calendar and left rolls open for absent members on multiple measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving into cash balances, last year, House Bill 152 was passed, which requires all boards to maintain
• a cash balance of 30 to 150% of the board's five-year average rolling expenditures.
• we have other boards that are below their 30%, and in some cases we have boards that have negative cash
• We have worked with JFAC to come up with a plan to correct these cash balances by increasing and decreasing
• Additionally, for some Additionally, for some boards that have too high of a cash balance, House Bill

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• We support Senate Bill 27 because it puts motor vehicle tax payments where they belong, back into our
• We are cash.
• Use actual cash. We've got it. We don't burden future generations. We say, let's use it today.
• What I'm proposing with this bill is to Cash app deal, to use cash to build highways.
• I think the other issue is you mentioned all this cash on hand, but we don't have the capacity to get

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm looking at our cash balances, and I'm showing that the Secretary of State has a lot of cash balances
• There are two critical specials that will remedy that exact cash overflow.
• We manage cash flow and ensure state obligations are met.
• Having said that, now I have a state cash manager who just retired.
• They manage everything in the state cash management division.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been making monthly payments. ...payments for over 10 years, and we expect to pay for decades
• me answers like Apple Pay, Venmo, and Cash App.
• I also encourage my parents to take their students to the bank and give them cash to deposit because
• there's a difference in how we grew up. and giving cash.
• These kids are only using digital payments; they only have plastic.

Bills: SB205 , SB582 , SB625 , SB1884 , SB1903 , SB2600 , SB2617 , SB2751 , SB111 , SB3061 , SB1908

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Those providers may, in fact, be cash pay providers inside the network who are willing to take cash.
• So when you put cash on the table...
• It's essentially the more health care you get, the more cash you can get.
• It could be a down payment on a car kind of level. for a test.
• Surgical centers, you know, we've heard a lot of different ways, cash prices, things like this.

Bills: SB437 , SB528 , SB626 , SB636 , SB884 , SB968 , SB1044 , SB1608 , SB2336

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem we now have of undergoing underage gambling cash purchases, telephone gambling, 24-access
• Very clearly it says it has to be a cash-action order. only.
• They are supposed to take payment from the player at the time of purchase.
• At the end of the day, I tell people our terminals are basically cash registered.
• I worked with Clay on the payment issue that we already discussed, but yes, so we worked with.

Bills: SB28 , SB687 , SJR34 , SCR9 , SB523 , SB62 , SB847 , SB706 , SB869 , SB890 , SB992 , SB 28

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts

Summary: The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:25.760><c> to</c> certain they're not making payments to certain they're not making payments
• Uh so payments to people and entities.
• </c> organization. the capitation payments organization. the capitation payments will<00:15:13.040><c
• Cash and services, but what about the IT infrastructure?
• , but what about the IT cash and services, but what about the IT infrastructure?

Summary: Senate Republican leaders held a press event to roll out a package of anti-fraud proposals focused on state welfare and human services programs. Mark Johnson opened by citing recent fraud scandals, including a shuttered housing program and reports of vulnerable adults being left without care while providers billed for full services, and said Republicans want top-down reform, stronger accountability, new technology, and tighter oversight of taxpayer dollars. Michael Kreun said Republicans support an independent Office of Inspector General and argued the Senate-passed bill should not be weakened in the House; he also said the Senate should restore its role in confirming agency commissioners, especially at DHS, which he described as central to the fraud problem. Jordan Rasmusson outlined a plan to stop “blank checks” for DHS and DCYF services by requiring legislative audit review when a program exceeds budget by 5 percent and legislative approval for additional spending at 10 percent over budget. He also said DHS should adopt basic integrity tools such as electronic visit verification and client sign-off. Steve Drazkowski described two bills: a statewide “do-not-pay” list to block payments to ineligible people or entities, and an “I’m Not a Robot” proposal for Medicaid managed care that would require enrollee verification forms, with a 2 percent payment withhold used to encourage compliance and potentially fund county system upgrades. Mark Krueger said the state should improve technology and data use for eligibility determinations, citing other states’ rapid fraud-fighting systems, and proposed penalties for false reporting to the Legislative Auditor after a DHS audit found falsified site-visit records. Steve Gruenhagen said his bill would require DHS and DCYF to resume annual fraud-prevention and oversight reports to the legislature, which he said had stopped after 2017 despite rising fraud cases. Michael Holmstrom proposed unannounced site visits for all DHS and DCYF providers before enrollment, reenrollment, and revalidation, funded through provider service fees, and cited a recent case involving a woman with autism who was billed for far more care than she received. In the Q&A, Kreun said House Democrats’ delete-everything amendment to the inspector general bill removed the law enforcement division and stripped the bill of its “teeth,” and he suggested the governor’s office may have been involved in efforts to replace the bill with a weaker coordination council model. No votes were taken in the press conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> consumer payment applications. consumer payment applications.
• Between 2018 and 2021, fraud-related complaints involving Venmo, Cash App, and other payment apps surged
• </c><00:41:24.000><c> apps</c> Vinmo, Cash App, and other payment apps Vinmo, Cash App, and other payment
• Let that payment for an important rent or mortgage payment proceed.
• ,</c><01:15:22.400><c> rent</c><01:15:22.719><c> payment,</c> mortgage payment, rent payment, mortgage

Transcript Highlights:

• buyers at the time or organizations that had a ton of cash on hand to do it.
• </c> that had a ton of cash on hand to do it. that had a ton of cash on hand to do it.
• a cash flow ROI.
• They lose that home to an investment company that offers cash, can close in a matter of weeks.
• They lose that home to an investment company that offers cash, can close in a matter of weeks.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention