Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, we must address a significant threat to our care infrastructure.
• It's also about the charging infrastructure and the training to maintain them.
• It's also about the charging infrastructure and the training to maintain them.
• We're grateful for your leadership in making the statewide infrastructure possible.
• We're grateful for your leadership and making the statewide infrastructure possible.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process. The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:47.440><c> Another</c> fractured infrastructure. Another fractured infrastructure.
• We know this is happening now with this proposed expansion.
• We also have aging infrastructure. It's not the new zoo anymore.
• It's We also have aging infrastructure.
• </c><01:36:18.320><c> with</c> state agencies for infrastructure with state agencies for infrastructure

Bills: HF4740 , HF3940

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , and safer shared-use path infrastructure.
• , and safer shared-use path infrastructure.
• It affects crash severity, stopping distance, and compatibility with infrastructure.
• And then finally, Recommendation 12: funding for upgrades and expansion.
• As such, I continue with biking due to the lack of infrastructure with the MBTA.

Bills: H5400 , H5421 , H5430 , S3077 , S3089

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Keywords: Boston, easement, highway improvement, Woburn, Burlington, public safety, transportation, land transfer, vessel transportation, Marston Mills, Osterville, Barnstable, state highway, traffic safety, maritime regulation, local legislation, Hyannis Transportation Center, Thomas S. Cahir, Cape Cod, commemorative designation

Transcript Highlights:

• There was one specific to nutrition infrastructure in the $50 million, and then the $186,000...
• There was one specific to nutrition infrastructure in the $50 million, and then the $186 million was
• Community Care Expansion Program. Thank you. I'm an anti-acronym person, so that's going on.
• With regards to the enterprise data pipeline, this is an overhaul of CDSS's data infrastructure.
• This data infrastructure allows CDSS to develop insights for state and county partners and facilitate

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services heard an overview from the California Department of Aging on the state’s Master Plan for Aging, including progress at the five-year midpoint, local aging and disability action plans, HCBS gap analysis, workforce work, and stakeholder engagement. The Legislative Analyst’s Office noted the department’s budget was relatively flat but flagged federal H.R. 1 pressure on nutrition-related programs. Members discussed how H.R. 1 and broader federal and state budget pressures could affect older adults through other programs, even where the Department of Aging itself had no direct cut. The committee also heard a stakeholder request from the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging for $62.3 million to support Older Californians Act services, with Finance cautioning that any added ongoing spending would worsen out-year deficits. The committee then reviewed several Department of Aging proposals, including HICAP modernization to add paid counselors and reduce reliance on volunteers, and senior meal program oversight for virtual congregate/to-go meals under AB 1476. Members also discussed the status of area agencies on aging in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, including a new RFP process in the Central Coast and the need to protect service continuity during transitions. Finance clarified that remaining modernizing Older Californians Act nutrition funds can still be used through June 2029. The Department of Social Services presented a series of items. These included new federal Medicaid Access Rule implementation for IHSS grievance and critical incident systems; housing and homelessness programs for CalWORKs Housing Support, HDAP, Home Safe, and Bringing Families Home, with testimony that one-time funds are expiring and service levels will likely decline; permanent position authority for housing and homelessness administration; a facility management system to replace aging licensing systems; home care services branch solvency and regulations; child care centers in multifamily housing; the Seizure Emergency Response Act; licensing during emergencies and disasters; and the Family Preparedness Plan Act. The committee also heard a detailed exchange about the Autumn Oaks facility in Tulare County, where Senator Grove raised concerns about 53 complaints and the handling of unsafe conditions; CDSS said it is reviewing the matter and has authority to take administrative action even after a license surrender. No votes were taken, and items were held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• To support the significant expansion of community schools from about 2,500 to over 6,000 schools, the
• Consequently, this takes time and human infrastructure.
• In theory, this expansion is exciting.
• This funding ensures continuity, stability, and the opportunity for expansion.
• this statewide expansion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department, Maryland's restoration, and the Department of Transportation for roadside treatment and infrastructure
• utilize grant funds to support community partners with existing civic engagement and volunteer infrastructure
• approval to submit a federal grant application for the fourth round of the State Apprenticeship Expansion
• Apprenticeship Expansion. Recognize Senator Anderson. Thank you, Chair.
• All right, so then there is an incentive for the Department of Justice and this expansion to get more

Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Slide 11 kind of anticipates the continued investment in rural health care expansion but also transitions
• Our 27 base budget plus expansions is a total of $15 billion. 85% of the Health Care Authority's budget
• We have about 72 million in our budget for expansion items, and I'll talk about those.
• In our FY27 budget, we do have a non-recurring funding request to invest in the infrastructure for these
• That's correct, a new expansion effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an expansion of ADU law by expanding it from one detached ADU to two detached ADUs.
• So it's actually a big expansion; it's not a minor technical change.
• We've seen a drastic expansion in the developments.
• We've seen a drastic expansion in the developments.
• As far as opposition and whether this is an expansion or clarification, it can be seen as both, but it

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I want to focus on the Community Care Expansion, or CCE.
• Community Care Expansion is a program that... ...or CCE.
• The first is the capital expansion program, which funds expansion of housing and care with supportive
• We've expanded Medi-Cal eligibility and built a stronger state infrastructure to support aging.
• I'm also here to support the ADRC expansion as well. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Summary: The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk. The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care. The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's significant research on the impact of the Medi-Cal expansion that shows us that health insurance
• However, it's limited in the sense that it's not as expansive as current Medi-Cal coverage, and a lot
• It wasn't necessary to tackle the deficit as the largest expansion in the deficit that we've seen in
• Our counties are also re-leveraging staffing infrastructure, data... ...and institutional memory from
• Studies show that Medi-Cal expansion resulted in reduced disparities across race, ethnicity, income,

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> title this timelimited infrastructure title this timelimited infrastructure and<00:29:44.640><c>
• Those were the two infrastructure.
• programs to communities for that infrastructure, water, sewer infrastructure that is shared by the community
• That is shared expansion of that.
• </c> infrastructure that we have helped with. infrastructure that we have helped with. um<01:42:38.000

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And when we're talking about optimized, we mean recruit businesses, build infrastructure, and build infrastructure
• I hear a lot of conversations about public infrastructure districts.
• The Authority Infrastructure Bank allows us to invest in communities with rail or other critical infrastructure
• And then intermodal gateway expansion.
• And so transportation, water, infrastructure, obviously.

Committee: Joint Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• For capital outlay, we have a Napa electrical infrastructure upgrade project, which is a mouthful.
• Infrastructure.
• But again, all of this infrastructure connection takes time.
• The infrastructure, though, is in place to pay claims today.
• The initial investment, though, was instrumental in building a statewide digital infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we're gonna start off with our prep andarRPA infrastructure.
• So, next, we're gonna go to the pro-growth infrastructure.
• airport infrastructure.
• We'll talk a little bit about UAS infrastructure on the end.
• We just approved a $2 million grant for radar infrastructure there.

Committee: House A&B Transportation Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Across the board for infrastructure programs, And it's really a mix.
• An example there is the Rural Infrastructure Fund, which invests in rural infrastructure and planning
• When you look at infrastructure across the state, we want to invest in resilient infrastructure, and
• They've received funding through the Rural Infrastructure Fund, through the Job Growth Grant Fund.
• They've chosen to have their latest expansion in Wakulla County.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to hear presentations from the Department of Commerce and the Florida Department of Transportation. Jason Mahon of Florida Commerce outlined the state’s economic development strategy, emphasizing Florida’s GDP growth, business formation, and strengths in manufacturing, high-tech, life sciences, defense, and financial services. He described the department’s tools for small business lending, rural investment tax credits, venture capital support, infrastructure and workforce grants, performance-based incentives, and disaster recovery loans, and highlighted examples such as ServiceNow, Williams International, Asteris, and Point Blank Enterprises. Senators asked about grant availability for small businesses, foreign companies relocating to Florida, workforce shortages in manufacturing, and whether additional tools may be needed; Mahon said most small-business support is loan-based and noted ongoing workforce and infrastructure challenges. Jennifer Marshall of FDOT then reviewed major transportation projects and the Moving Florida Forward initiative, describing the state’s large portfolio of active contracts and major congestion-relief projects across Florida. She highlighted early completions and accelerated timelines on projects including the NASA Causeway Bridge, I-95 at US 1 in Volusia County, I-4 congestion relief lanes, the First Coast Expressway, the Howard Frankland Bridge, I-4 interchanges in Central Florida, A1A coastal protection work, I-75 improvements in Southwest Florida, and the I-395 reconstruction in Miami. Senators asked about how express lane projects are selected, whether toll revenues are used for local maintenance and improvements, the status of the Miami I-395 project, and the impact of losing electric-vehicle express lane exemptions. Marshall said FDOT works with local long-range plans and congestion data, and that she would follow up on several specific funding and project questions. Committee members generally praised both agencies for project delivery, cost savings, and coordination with local partners. Senator Mayfield noted the importance of using savings and working with local governments, while Senator Wright commended Commerce’s role in economic development and FDOT’s work on major road projects. The meeting concluded with no further business, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This expansion creates more opportunities for the Delta Conservancy to continue its habitat conservation
• With me today to testify... ...ecosystem and its expansive watershed.
• AB 2216's expansion to the whole of the existing counties the Delta Conservancy already serves has broad
• It is an infrastructure mandate. ...that make immediate compliance impossible.
• It is an infrastructure mandate.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to parks, wildlife, water, and veterans. AB 1592 would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to partner with the California Indian Heritage Center support organization; supporters said it would help move the long-planned center forward with Native-led governance. AB 2216 would expand the Delta Conservancy’s service area and update its authority to better support watershed-scale conservation, climate resilience, workforce, tribal grants, and related projects. AB 1702 would expand state parks access for veterans, National Guard, reservists, and active duty service members by broadening eligibility for the Distinguished Veterans Pass and creating a discounted parks pass. AB 1673 would allow county fish and game commissions to use certain revenues to reimburse sheriffs for fish and wildlife enforcement and wildlife-conflict prevention, especially in rural counties with limited state enforcement presence. The committee also considered AB 1912, which would allow archery deer hunters to carry concealed firearms while hunting, aligning deer hunting rules with those already in place for other big game archery hunts. Supporters argued it would improve hunter safety in remote areas without harming wildlife enforcement, while opponents were not present. AB 1987 would dedicate revenues generated from state wildlife areas back to those areas for operations, maintenance, and habitat management; supporters said the areas are underfunded and need a stable funding source. All of these bills received due pass recommendations and were later approved by the committee, with AB 2216 passing 11-1 and the others passing 12-0. The most contested measure was AB 2630, which would give the State Water Resources Control Board emergency-style authority to make measurement and reporting changes for water diversions and use, with a five-year sunset. The author and supporters said the board needs flexibility to update the CalWATRS reporting system quickly as technology and conditions change. Water agencies, farm groups, and business groups opposed the bill, arguing it would bypass public input and could allow repeated emergency regulations affecting compliance and operations. After extended debate, the committee passed AB 2630 on an 8-4 vote. The committee also approved two consent items, AB 1804 and AB 2260, both unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• This expansion creates more opportunities for the Delta Conservancy to continue its habitat conservation
• With me today to testify... ...ecosystem and its expansive watershed.
• AB 2216's expansion to the whole of the existing counties the Delta Conservancy already serves has broad
• It is an infrastructure mandate.
• It is an infrastructure mandate.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:30:31.919><c> to</c><00:30:32.159><c> allow</c><00:30:32.480><c> the</c><00:30:32.720><c> expansion
• </c><00:30:33.039><c> of</c><00:30:33.440><c> um</c> the steps to allow the expansion of um the steps
• to allow the expansion of um hyperscaler<00:30:34.240><c> data</c><00:30:34.480><c> centers</c><00:30
• </c><01:04:17.280><c> in</c> presented by their expansion in presented by their expansion in Minnesota
• to build the clean energy infrastructure that<01:06:20.640><c> we</c><01:06:20.799><c> all</c><01:06

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• On expansion, the feds still pay 90%. We're only paying 10% here on the state side.
• So the big increase you tend to see here is not Medicaid expansion this year.
• Both expansion and regular Medicaid are in this bill.
• For one thing, about 20,000 folks were taken out of Medicaid expansion last year.
• Next up is enhancement item number 19: the Medicaid expansion program requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> you were using to make this expansion you were using to make this expansion there<00:08:00.879><
• I'm Sandy Williams, executive director with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.
• </c> Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.
• Moving now to our infrastructure revolving fund.
• </c> infrastructure investment and jobs act. infrastructure investment and jobs act.

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April minutes, and several informational reports. Those information items covered upcoming general obligation debt for Bullitt, Jefferson, and Warren counties; Kentucky Communications Network Authority updates tied to House Bill 6; Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation reallocations under House Bill 1; and School Facilities Construction Commission debt activity, including 20 prior debt issues totaling about $386 million with roughly 85% locally supported debt service and 15% SFCC participation. Members then discussed concerns about a Kentucky Communications Network Authority project, focusing on a reported discrepancy between an appropriation of $12.927 million and an apparent payment of about $8.532 million on a project with a cost estimate of $12.449 million. Several members asked for more detailed written information before the next Capital Projects meeting, noting that a lawsuit is pending and that they wanted to better understand the basis for the request and the spending to date. The committee also heard and unanimously approved a donor-funded Northern Kentucky University project to renovate tennis courts, with possible pickleball additions, after questions about why approval was needed, the project’s estimated $3 million cost, and its expected minimal ongoing operating costs. The committee next received Kentucky State University pool allocation reports for three projects: a $2 million McCullen Hall renovation, a $1.75 million walkway and miscellaneous repairs project, and a $2 million academic services building roof-and-window project. A member asked specifically about curb cuts and accessibility in the walkway project, and Kentucky State said existing curb cuts would be repaired and additional accessibility issues would be reviewed by engineers. The lease report from the Finance and Administration Cabinet included one lease modification requiring approval for the Attorney General’s office in Franklin County and one no-action modification for the Board of Cosmetology; the Attorney General lease was approved by roll call vote. Finally, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented five loans and 37 grants, with action taken on the loan and grant items. The loans included a Hodgenville wastewater treatment plant increase, a Grant County sewer district treatment plant loan, a Mount Sterling dam rehabilitation loan, and two Morganfield drinking water loans for granular activated carbon treatment, one with full principal forgiveness. Members asked about the Morganfield project’s purpose and were told it was a remediation effort for a water-quality concern, and they also raised questions about engineering fees, which KIA said are compared against a U.S. Rural Development fee schedule that is industry accepted. The committee also reviewed cleaner water program grant reallocations from county allocation pools.