Transcript Highlights:

• The ayes appear to have it; so ordered. Senator, please come to order. Please come to order.
• So ordered.
• So ordered.
• So ordered.
• So ordered.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, journal approval, guest introductions, and recognition of doctors and other visitors. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills on topics including public schools and curricula, transportation, health care, child welfare, municipal and county governance, homeowners’ associations, speech, and election-related matters. Several measures were retained on the calendar, while many others were advanced with committee or floor amendments. Among the more notable debates, senators discussed SB 1094, which would impose civil liability related to gender reassignment surgery on minors; supporters said it would compensate minors harmed by such procedures, while opponents argued it would discriminate against transgender youth, raise malpractice costs, and chill access to care. SB 1813, concerning the state hospital governing board and Maricopa County bed limits, drew concern about litigation and the need to expand capacity for people with serious mental illness, while supporters said the bill would remove a legal cap and allow more beds to be used. SB 1496 on Department of Child Safety procedures was amended to clarify representative payee requirements and received generally favorable comments, though some members raised concerns about child safety and DCS discretion. The Senate also advanced SCR 1004, a photo radar ballot referral, after an amendment requiring voter approval in jurisdictions that use photo radar; Senator Leach thanked the sponsor for the change. Other bills moved forward included measures on school firearm safety instruction, civics instruction, chiropractic claims, behavioral health prior authorization, psychiatric evaluations, DCS procedures, AHCCCS procurement contracting, county recorder and HOA-related issues, and legislative qualifications. The chamber adopted the Committee of the Whole reports and properly assigned the bills after each calendar was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee will come to order. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
• Motions in order.
• Motion's in order.
• Hearing none, so ordered. Mr.
• Hearing none, so ordered. I would agree with you.

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee considered several FY 2027 budget items, beginning with the Idaho Judicial Branch. The committee approved an additional $3.9007 million from dedicated funds for court operations, including $800,700 from the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund, $700,000 from the Drug Court/Mental Health Court/Family Court Services Fund, $400,000 from the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and $2 million ongoing from the Court Technology Fund. Members noted the technology fund had grown enough to sustain the ongoing transfer, while Senator Wintrow remarked that funding for a treatment-court peer support program had not been restored. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a Guardian Ad Litem Division budget increase of $165,300 in general funds, including $77,900 ongoing for the Second Judicial District CASA program and $87,400 to restore a one-time FY 2027 rescission. Supporters described the CASA request as funding a trainer-recruiter position and related office costs, and several members spoke favorably about the role of guardian ad litems. The motion passed, also with a do-pass recommendation. Members next took up the Millennium Income Fund. They approved $9,872,200 from the fund for recommendations including the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, Youth Assessment Centers, children’s advocacy centers through the Idaho Domestic Violence Council, an additional recovery center in Kamiah, and a statewide drug awareness media campaign. A substitute motion added $30,000 one time to restore funding for statewide training and coordination of school resource officers, which passed after discussion about whether the Millennium Fund committee had been consulted. The committee then adopted maintenance and new language for the Millennium Fund items, including reporting and oversight provisions, and later adopted language for reappropriating unspent state archives move funds for the Idaho State Historical Society. Finally, the committee approved the Idaho State Historical Society budget, adding $486,300 from dedicated funds for archival moving and OITS hardware. Members explained the move would be handled in phases and funded through dedicated sources rather than general funds. The committee also adopted statewide appropriations language making conditions, limitations, and restrictions in budget bills binding law, and adjourned after announcing the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• A court order after a judge finds good cause we may be up to obtain those records.
• Substance abuse treatment records are covered by 42 Cfr.
• Substance use treatment confidentiality for 42 Cfr part 2.
• We need probable cause in order to obtain blood for their consent.
• This essentially what risk protection order does. We don't take it lightly.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee will come to order.
• </c> B requires a correction order B requires a correction order um<01:09:08.719><c> to</c><01:09:09.199
• > um to conditional licensing order um um to conditional licensing order um specific<01:09:11.960><c>
• Number one: addressing inconsistency of conditional or license orders.
• </c><01:17:46.800><c> and</c> annual reports on correction orders and annual reports on correction orders

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And other treatment programs operated by secure treatment facilities rather than correctional or detention
• </c><00:05:16.480><c> antipsychotic</c> and court-ordered antipsychotic and court-ordered antipsychotic
• </c><00:06:19.840><c> to</c> involuntary injectable treatments to involuntary injectable treatments to
• Treatment. Treatment.
• </c> is the standard of care for treatment is the standard of care for treatment for<00:56:39.480><c>

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:45.360><c> um</c> treatment plants across the state. um treatment plants across the state.
• </c><00:26:03.440><c> to</c> facility is going to expand in order to facility is going to expand in order
• </c> it's a bill for wastewater treatment it's a bill for wastewater treatment ponds.<00:31:31.360><c
• </c> City's wastewater treatment facility. City's wastewater treatment facility.
• </c><00:57:56.880><c> facility</c> plan to construct a treatment facility plan to construct a treatment

Bills: HF2418 , HF1666 , HF232 , HF344 , HF402 , HF431 , HF468 , HF547 , HF583 , HF1476 , HF1711 , HF2787 , HF2788 , HF3207

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Health will come to order. Good afternoon and welcome, everyone.
• , some of which have good treatment, and all of which we want to cure.
• Patients wait in pain, and treatment is delayed.
• And she looked for months for treatment that would work.
• So, and And a really large amount of drugs and treatment plans.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard several health-related bills, with extensive public testimony and multiple roll-call votes. SB 895, by Senator Wiener, would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research and place a bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to support science and health research in California amid federal funding cuts. The author and UC researchers argued the measure would protect jobs, public health, and the state’s research leadership; many universities, labor groups, and patient advocates testified in support, and there was no opposition. The committee members praised the bill, and it passed 6-0 to the Committee on Natural Resources and Water. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would make acupuncture a permanent Medi-Cal benefit regardless of federal matching funds. Supporters, including acupuncturists, patients, community organizations, and health access advocates, described acupuncture as effective, low-cost, and culturally important care; there was no opposition. The committee discussed access for API communities and Medi-Cal patients, and the bill passed 6-0 to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 987, by Senator Wiener, would create a California Health Access Fund to capture state savings if federal Medicaid changes cause Medi-Cal enrollment losses, with the goal of redirecting those savings to care for affected patients and providers. Support came from disability, consumer, family physician, emergency physician, psychiatric, medical, and safety-net hospital groups. Committee members discussed prioritizing indigent care, prevention, and other vulnerable populations if savings materialize. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations. SB 964, by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, would limit prior authorization barriers by allowing certain dose or frequency adjustments for covered medications without repeated authorization, up to two clinically appropriate changes. The bill was supported by a Crohn’s and colitis patient and sponsor testimony describing delays in care, while health plans and insurers opposed it over safety, FDA-labeling, and cost concerns. Committee members raised questions about off-label use and clinical standards, but the author said the bill was intended to reduce delays and avoid emergency care; it passed 11-0 to Appropriations. SB 1099, by Senator Reyes, would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA-related exemptions, to reduce legal uncertainty for local safety-net programs. County counsel and city attorney representatives said the bill would preserve local flexibility to provide services such as health care, shelter, crisis response, and food distribution without unnecessary eligibility barriers; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 11-0 to the Committee on Human Services. SB 1033, by Senator Padilla, would require manufacturers of protein products to test for heavy metals and disclose results. Supporters cited Consumer Reports findings of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in protein powders and beverages, while opponents asked for narrower scope and raised concerns about naturally occurring metals and over-warning consumers. The committee discussed narrowing the bill and the need for transparency, and it passed 11-0 to the Committee on Environmental Quality. Finally, SB 1049, by Senator Weber-Pearson, would give providers a fair opportunity to correct certain claim errors after a health plan action, rather than being barred by original filing deadlines. An OBGYN testified that a missing diagnostic code led to large clawbacks and delayed payments despite appropriate care; the bill was presented as a limited fix for honest mistakes. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1049, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the House please come to order, and members kindly take their seats? Good morning.
• So, our order again will be S.163, H.508, and then S.218.
• </c><00:15:56.320><c> be</c><00:15:56.600><c> S.163,</c> So, our order again will be S.163, So, our order
• </c> procedure, treatment, or both. procedure, treatment, or both.
• The ayes do have it, and third reading is ordered.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the order, it states that there will be no further continuances.
• them to outpatient treatment.
• We're way out of order here, but we're the 12th. Pardon me. No, don't.
• The main bulk of our request is just for a treatment court position.
• Even Santa Fe cannot afford to update their treatment facility.

Transcript Highlights:

• If this were a childhood disease, we would be pouring money into treatments and cures.
• If this were a childhood disease, we would be pouring money into treatments and cures.
• If this were a childhood disease, we would be pouring money into treatments and cures.
• If this were a childhood disease, we would be pouring money into treatments and cures.
• </c><00:10:59.360><c> rather</c><00:10:59.639><c> than</c> be certain of Mal treatment rather than be

Bills: HF1346 , HF1169 , HF1276

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> agreed protective order. agreed protective order.
• </c> testify about it. in order to testify testify about it. in order to testify about<00:10:01.680><
• order in order<00:10:19.519><c> for</c><00:10:20.320><c> for</c><00:10:20.640><c> it</c><00:10:20.880
• </c> I don't appear to have any treatment I don't appear to have any treatment records<00:42:41.680><
• </c> close session anyway in order and Mr. close session anyway in order and Mr.

Summary: The commission heard argument on a renewed motion to compel discovery and related sanctions in an ethics case. Enforcement counsel said the respondent had provided incomplete and inconsistent discovery responses, including no authenticated medical records, and asked the commission to compel full interrogatory answers, bar the respondent from relying on unsupported medical claims at hearing, allow subpoenas for medical records and an LRC report, and continue the December 2 hearing. Respondent’s counsel replied that the defense had complied with discovery, that medical records were being withheld for reasons previously discussed, and that no outstanding discovery remained. The next matter was enforcement counsel’s motion in limine, which sought to exclude a wide range of evidence as irrelevant to the three ethics charges already found to have probable cause. Counsel argued the hearing should focus only on whether the respondent intimidated Fox’s, offered a favor in exchange for a donation, and engaged in inappropriate conduct while intoxicated in his office, and not on complainants’ motives, media coverage, bullying, religious discrimination claims, LRC policies, or other legislators’ conduct. He also argued that any claim of mental or physical condition should be excluded absent supporting medical proof. Respondent’s counsel opposed the motion, saying the excluded topics went to witness credibility, bias, motive, and context, and that LRC materials and testimony from additional witnesses were important to the defense. Commission members questioned both sides about the breadth of the motion in limine and whether any topics could be agreed to as irrelevant. Counsel for the respondent maintained that some challenged topics, including Lexington media coverage and broader legislative practices, were relevant to credibility and context. Enforcement counsel responded that even if such conduct were common, it would not excuse a violation of the ethics code. No final ruling or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• orders.
• The bill creates, in section 945.481, authorization to use an emergency treatment order only upon written
• After transfer, the emergency treatment may be continued upon order of the treating physician if the
• facility and a court order for the treatment as specified in section 945.44.
• And in order to address it and make sure that this does not happen again, And in order to address it

Summary: The committee met and first reported favorably CS for SB 1782, which creates a new offense for dangerous excessive speeding, with support noted from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida PBA. It also reported favorably CS for SB 306, which addresses Medicaid managed care provider network access by requiring after-hours and holiday appointment availability and a minimum level of primary care participation. CS for SB 716, imposing mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses committed by registered sex offenders or predators, and CS for SB 1084, expanding protections against non-consensual dissemination of intimate images and digitally forged intimate images, were also approved. The committee then approved CS for CS for SB 1604, a corrections package that would require prepayment of court costs for certain inmate lawsuits, shorten the limitations period for confinement-condition claims, allow consecutive sentencing in some cases, and revise mental health treatment procedures in correctional settings. Members discussed constitutional concerns and access-to-courts issues, but the bill was reported favorably. CS for CS for SB 1804, which creates a capital offense for trafficking a child 12 or younger or a mentally incapacitated person for sexual exploitation, drew extensive debate and opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Floridaans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; despite objections about constitutionality and ethics, it was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 1838, expanding protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, and CS for CS for SB 890, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which creates a statewide VTE registry and requires blood clot screening and training in hospitals and care facilities. Members and public witnesses spoke in strong support of the blood clot bill, including family members and survivors. Finally, the committee reported favorably CS for SB 1252, directing FDLE to study a statewide pawn data database, CS for SB 468, increasing penalties for fleeing or eluding law enforcement and allowing vehicle impoundment, CS for SB 490, expanding off-duty concealed carry eligibility for correctional officers and correctional probation officers, and CS for SB 572, the Pam Rock Act on dangerous dogs, which was amended to refine enclosure, confiscation, euthanasia, and insurance requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...mental health treatment, which also includes an order of protected custody, otherwise known as
• An OPC is a court order that often precedes court-ordered mental health treatment.
• If the hospital finds that the patient needs court-ordered treatment in their mental health unit, then
• mental health treatment.
• health treatment may be necessary.

Bills: HB 1239 , HB1990 , HB1748 , HB1749 , HB2578 , HB2986 , HB1970 , HB3163 , HB2733 , HB1922 , HB 113 , HB 1088 , HB1938 , HB3004 , HB2637 , HB2960 , HB113

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• So wastewater treatment plants in the sewage?
• Typically, the higher level of treatment, the broader application.
• So wastewater treatment plant? that are generated from human waste treatment plants.
• level of treatment, the broader application.
• A number of treatment methods. Back to the regulatory question.

Summary: The committee heard several natural resources bills focused on wildfire resilience, recycling, forest management, and organic waste diversion. AB 442 would remove a requirement that a harvest area be limited to a single watershed for working forest management plans; the author and supporters from the California Forestry Association and Pacific Forest Trust said it would reduce barriers to forest resiliency work, and there was no opposition. AB 623 would require state agencies to report on the use of CEQA and Coastal Act suspensions for wildfire and fuel-management projects after the governor’s emergency proclamation; the author said the bill would provide data on how well the suspensions are working, and it drew support with no opposition. AB 35 would exempt Proposition 4-funded programs from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed implementation of climate, water, wildfire, and environmental projects; the author and a large coalition of local governments, water agencies, conservation groups, and fire organizations argued the exemption would help get funds out faster, while no opposition was present. The committee also discussed AB 3333, which would create a market-development payment to support end users of non-container glass, such as ground glass pozzolan used in cement, in order to divert glass from landfills and reduce carbon emissions. Supporters said the bill would create a productive use for hard-to-recover glass, while opponents from the Glass Packaging Institute, Californians Against Waste, and waste management interests argued it would divert beverage container recycling funds away from the bottle-to-bottle system and could undermine existing recycling investments and recycled-content goals. Members raised questions about the fund’s revenue sources, the purpose of the beverage container recycling program, and whether the bill would amount to “downcycling”; despite those concerns, the bill advanced on a due-pass-as-amended recommendation, with members noting fiscal and policy issues for further work. AB 643 would allow certain diverted organic material used as a beneficial agricultural amendment, including CDFA-licensed fertilizer products made from biosolids, to count toward SB 1383 recovered organic waste procurement targets. Supporters from wastewater agencies and Clean Water SoCal said the change would expand options for meeting procurement requirements and help move biosolids out of landfills, while Californians Against Waste and other opponents argued the bill could expand procurement credit beyond SB 1383’s original intent and weaken investments in composting infrastructure. Committee members questioned what kinds of biosolids would qualify, how the procurement credit would work, and whether the bill could be narrowed to historically landfilled materials; the author said she would continue working with opponents and wait for CalRecycle technical assistance. The committee adopted the bills’ amendments and passed AB 35 with urgency, AB 3333, AB 442, AB 623, and AB 643 to Appropriations, and also approved consent-calendar AB 946. After roll calls, all of the measures were reported out of committee, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the motion is in order. Thank you, Chairman.
• A motion is in order. We move to send House Bill 788 to the amending order. A motion is in order.
• We move to send House Bill 788 to the amending order. Second.
• When court-ordered visitation began, he began struggling to breathe again.
• That evening, I had to increase his breathing treatments.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> clinic with less than optimal treatment. clinic with less than optimal treatment.
• </c><00:18:05.400><c> The</c> treatment, that window is tiny. The treatment, that window is tiny.
• </c> engaged into treatment. engaged into treatment.
• . treatment. treatment.
• </c> keep treatment accessible. keep treatment accessible.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> improving treatment for the condition. improving treatment for the condition.
• </c><00:41:54.480><c> that</c> increases the types of treatments that increases the types of treatments
• </c> discontinue current medical treatment discontinue current medical treatment prescribed<00:42:29.599
• </c> ever heard of arnica for treatment? ever heard of arnica for treatment?
• </c><04:35:16.879><c> or</c> This bill does not mandate treatment or This bill does not mandate treatment

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have an agreement to order? Okay. Hold on.
• Then we'll go out of order. Oh, my God, it is. Definitely agreement.
• Okay, then we'll go out of order.
• order here?
• order here?

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• First Order of Business: roll call. Clerk, unlock the machines. Members, cast your presence.
• House will be in order.
• The House is at the 15th order of business.
• The House will be in order. Chief Justice, please. The House will be in order. Jones?
• Consider a recent graduate of one of our treatment courts.

Transcript Highlights:

• As serious as her symptoms are, with proper treatment, the prognosis is hopeful.
• In residential treatment, she is working toward the future while healing from the past.
• and require more in-depth treatment to stabilize and be determined discharge-ready.
• He was involved with my family and focused on my treatment.
• We order from 200 small vendors, all based in New England, most of them in Massachusetts.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.