Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Directors, Senator Mills. Directors, Senator Mills.
• </c> Board of Directors, Senator Mills. Board of Directors, Senator Mills.
• Senate Resolution 274, a resolution confirming the hiring of Eric King as Executive Director of the Energy
• Energy</c> King as Executive Director of the Energy King as Executive Director of the Energy Planning
• We pass the laws, the executive executes them.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jeff DeLuca, Executive Director of the Washington State Community Action Partnership.
• I'm the executive director at Thrive International. We work in Spokane and Tacoma.
• My name is Francois Milinganyo, and I'm the executive director of the Congolese Integration Network.
• I'm Nathan Daniel, Executive Director of Great Peninsula Conservancy, the land trust working to protect
• I'm Ryan Elting, and I serve as Executive Director of the Woodby Community Land Trust, Island County,

Bills: SB6003 , HB2353 , HB2431 , HB1983

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval

Transcript Highlights:

• be the director of this program.
• be the director of this program.
• be the director of this program.
• be the director of this program.
• , program Starting in just a couple weeks here is bringing in a dedicated project director, program director

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Jasi, executive director of Bowser, and Ms. Andrea Fish, assistant director. Anytime you're ready.
• </c><01:30:01.440><c> uh</c><01:30:02.480><c> Miss</c> executive director of Bowser and uh Miss executive
• director with the jasy executive director with the Minnesota<01:30:13.320><c> Board</c><01:30:13.480>
• Thank you, Senator Johnson Stewart, and thank you, Executive Director Jesi, and Miss Fish.
• uh director jesi thank you uh executive uh director jesi and<01:53:31.520><c> um</c><01:53:32.239><c

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Uh, Steve Humphress, Executive Director of Kentucky Office of Regulatory Relief. >> There are staff
• <00:01:49.440><c> Director</c> &gt;&gt; Uh Steve Humphress, Executive Director &gt;&gt; Uh Steve Humphress
• , Executive Director of<00:01:49.960><c> Kentucky</c><00:01:50.400><c> Office</c><00:01:50.720><c> of
• Controller, Office of the Controller. >> Anna Hayden, Executive Director, Statewide Accounting Services
• <01:03:05.760><c> director</c> &gt;&gt; I'm Nora Alexander, executive director &gt;&gt; I'm Nora Alexander

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up a series of administrative regulations from several agencies. Early items included Attorney General consumer protection rules on removal sales, health spas, liquidation sales, and nonresident sellers of visual aid glasses; Finance and Administration Controller rules on clearinghouse validation and fraud prevention; and Board of Dentistry rules updating exam requirements, controlled substance prescribing, training for neuromodulators and dermal fillers, infection control, sedation/anesthesia continuing education, and required education on pediatric abusive head trauma and controlled substance ingestion prevention. The committee also approved staff amendments on these items, generally to conform to KRS Chapter 13A, and members asked a brief question about the dentistry controlled-substances changes, which was answered as an alignment with statute. The committee next approved regulations for the Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers, Board of Nursing, and Board of Emergency Medical Services. The ophthalmic dispensers package would revise meeting and recordkeeping language, raise renewal fees, set reinstatement and apprentice-license rules, add complaint and hearing procedures, and repeal a duplicative regulation. The nursing regulations would streamline approval of training programs and require notice and documentation of site visits and deficiencies. EMS rules would create five EMS medical director certifications, set expiration and renewal requirements, require publication of disciplinary sanctions, and exempt currently approved directors before October 1, 2026. Staff amendments were adopted without objection on each set. The Education and Labor Cabinet’s school transportation regulation drew extended discussion. The agency explained the changes were intended to implement Senate Bill 46 and update references affected by later legislation, including an oral amendment to delete a subsection reference tied to KRS 160.380. The committee adopted both the agency and oral amendments without objection after brief questions about the scope of the bill changes and van transportation for students. The committee then heard a lengthy package from the Department for Public Health on WIC and related nutrition program regulations, including updates to infant and child certification periods, documentation requirements, vendor criteria, sanctions, hearing procedures, and high-risk vendor standards. Staff amendments were adopted without objection. Finally, the committee considered the Inspector General’s regulation for freestanding birthing centers, which included both staff and agency amendments. The agency changes would require two neonatal resuscitation program-certified staff, set rules for medical director vacancies and appeals, revise facility and staffing terminology, adjust transfer-agreement requirements, and allow waivers when agreements cannot be secured. Mary Katherine DeLodder of the Kentucky Birth Coalition testified in support, saying the parties had worked through concerns and were ready to move forward. The committee then moved on to Medicaid’s 1915C child waiver regulations, where staff amendments were adopted, but Lucy Heskins of Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified against the package because it did not include person-directed services, which she said are required by Kentucky law and important for families using the waiver.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston is represented by Director General Charles Liao, as
• well as Deputy Director Chin Chong Xiu, which is to the right of the roster.
• I would ask that the membership please give a warm welcome to the Director General and the Deputy Director
• well as Deputy Director Chin Chong Xiu, which is to the right of the roster.
• I would ask that the membership please give a warm welcome to the Director General and the Deputy Director

Summary: The House received a Governor’s message on fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations, which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. The Committee on Rules reported several resolutions, including honors for Abby Goodman, a resolution reaffirming Massachusetts-Taiwan friendship, recognition of the Cambodian-American community’s Khmer New Year celebration, and Elks National Youth Week; the House suspended the rules and approved them. The House also concurred with Senate petitions on assisted living residences and medication administration in rest homes, sending them to the Committee on Aging and Independence. The main legislative business was House Bill 5279/5375, the transportation bond bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Ways and Means recommended a substitute bill, House 5375, with a $2.737 billion general obligation bond authorization, and the House adopted the amendment and ordered the bill to a third reading. Later, the House took up House 5375 directly, heard support from members emphasizing Chapter 90 road funding, municipal flexibility, rural road mileage distribution, and broader transportation investments, and then passed the bill to be engrossed by roll call vote, 155-0. The House also passed House Bill 5371, authorizing grants of easements or takings of certain parcels of land to the city of Boston, to be engrossed. In addition, the chamber received and filed the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s report on the March 31, 2026 special election for the 5th Essex District, adopted an order to escort the Governor and Executive Council into the chamber, and administered the oaths of office to Representative-elect Andrew Tarr. The session ended with an order to adjourn until the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• director of Canada-France, and Rich Matsuda, director of Keck Observatory, and second vice chair of
• <00:02:30.560><c> director</c><00:02:30.920><c> of</c><00:02:31.040><c> Canada-France,</c><00:02:32.440
• ><c> and</c> executive director of Canada-France, and executive director of Canada-France, and Rich<00
• :02:32.960><c> Matsuda,</c><00:02:33.600><c> director</c><00:02:34.120><c> of</c><00:02:34.320><c> Keck
• </c> Rich Matsuda, director of Keck Rich Matsuda, director of Keck Observatory, Further introductions

Bills: HB1519 , HB1541 , HB1737 , HB1782 , HB1854 , HB1860 , HB2023 , HB2104 , HB2276 , HB2335 , HB2455 , HB2468 , HB2551 , SB177 , SB411 , SB874 , SB2053 , SB2069 , SB2108 , SB2268 , SB2360 , SB2363 , SB2405 , SB2407 , SB2530 , SB2543 , SB2568 , SB2803 , SB2818 , SB2851 , SB2907 , SB2934 , SB2969 , SB2999 , SB3097 , SB3103 , SB3233 , SB3238 , SB3245 , SB3001 , SB3138 , HB1946 , HB389 , HB1510 , HB469 , HB1573 , HB1705 , HB1858 , HB1875 , HB1961 , HB1962 , HB2001 , HB2093 , HB2096 , HB2097 , SB888 , SB2169 , SB2367 , SB2557 , SB2575 , SB2698 , SB3082 , HB344 , HB939 , HB1688 , HB1853 , HB2443 , HCR103 , HCR117 , HCR180 , HCR112 , HCR18 , HCR105 , HCR173 , HCR35 , HCR98 , HCR42 , HCR53 , HCR181 , HCR101 , HCR179

Transcript Highlights:

• The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston is represented by Director General Charles Liao, as
• well as Deputy Director Chin Chong Xiu, which is to the right of the roster.
• I would ask that the membership please give a warm welcome to the Director General and the Deputy Director
• well as Deputy Director Chin Chong Xiu, which is to the right of the roster.
• I would ask that the membership please give a warm welcome to the Director General and the Deputy Director

Summary: The House convened, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and received a gubernatorial message on fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations, which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. The House also approved several resolutions, including honoring Abby Goodman, reaffirming Massachusetts-Taiwan friendship, recognizing the Cambodian American Khmer New Year celebration, and observing Elks National Youth Week. Senate petitions on assisted living residences and medication administration in rest homes were referred to the Committee on Aging and Independence, and the House concurred with those referrals. The main legislative business was House Bill 5279/5375, the transportation bond bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Ways and Means recommended an amended substitute bill, and the House adopted the amendment and advanced the bill to third reading. Later, the House took up the substitute bill, House 5375, and members spoke in support of the Chapter 90 transportation package, emphasizing municipal road and bridge funding, rural road mileage distribution, housing-related infrastructure, lifecycle asset management, DCR deferred maintenance, and MBTA electrified locomotives. A roll call vote was ordered, and the bill was passed to be engrossed by a vote of 155 in favor and 0 against. The House also passed to be engrossed a bill authorizing the grant of easements or takings of certain parcels of land to the city of Boston. In addition, the chamber received the certified returns for the 5th Essex District special election and adopted an order creating a special committee to escort the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Executive Council for the swearing-in of Representative-elect Andrew Francis Robert Tarr. Tarr was then administered the oaths of office by Governor Maura Healey and seated. The House later adopted an order to adjourn and recessed until the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston is represented by Director General Charles Liao, as
• well as Deputy Director Chin Chong Xiu, who is to the right of the rostrum.
• I would ask that the membership please give a warm welcome to the Director General and the Deputy Director
• well as Deputy Director Chin Chong Xiu, who is to the right of the rostrum.
• I would ask that the membership please give a warm welcome to the Director General and the Deputy Director

Transcript Highlights:

• Director Hurdle, you're welcome to join us. Hi.
• Hurdle for director. Director for Defenders of Wildlife, and in strong support of Ms.
• be the director of this program.
• be the director of this program.
• Thank you, Director, for being here today.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider a series of gubernatorial appointments, bill referrals, and two Senate Rule 26 authorship-change requests. The committee first approved, on 4-0 votes held open for absent members, a slate of appointments not required to appear, including J. Bradshaw to the Transportation Commission, Kylie Bolser to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and several appointments to the Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, as well as Monique Moyer to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority Board. The committee also approved bill referrals and, after a clarification that only authorship changes were before the committee, approved the Rule 26 requests involving former Assembly Member James Gallagher’s bills AB 2676 and AB 2700. After absent members arrived, those earlier actions were confirmed by 5-0 votes. The main hearing was on Megan Hurdle’s appointment as Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hurdle emphasized a science-based, collaborative approach balancing conservation with the needs of farmers, ranchers, local governments, tribes, and communities. Senators focused on human-wildlife conflict, including wolves and mountain lions, the Western Joshua tree program and its costs for homeowners and local projects, invasive golden mussels, staffing shortages among wildlife officers, marine protected areas and 30x30, tribal co-management and land return, and oil spill prevention and response. Hurdle said the department is using data sharing, less-lethal tools, task forces, public education, and partnerships to address these issues, while also trying to improve permitting and reduce burdens where possible. The committee then heard from Caroline Thomas Jacobs, nominated to lead the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Jacobs highlighted her prior leadership roles in wildfire safety and her earlier service at Cal OES, and said her priorities include statewide preparedness, next-generation 911, recovery from the Los Angeles fires, and planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Senators questioned her about disaster debris clearance, public safety power shutoffs, governance for the 911 rollout, earthquake preparedness, mutual-aid equipment, and how Cal OES coordinates with local and out-of-state law enforcement for major events. Jacobs said Cal OES should show up quickly, coordinate clearly, and use lessons from past disasters to reduce delays and improve response. Both nominees received broad support from public witnesses, and each was advanced to the Senate floor by committee vote; Hurdle’s appointment was later confirmed 5-0, and Jacobs’s appointment was confirmed 5-0 after the committee reconvened.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Yuko Ado, director of the Executive Office on Early Learning. EOEL supports HB 249.
• </c><00:22:30.120><c> on</c> director of the executive office on director of the executive office on
• , who no longer is the executive director.
• , who no longer is the executive director.
• Thank you so much. hi folks um Amanda luning executive hi folks um Amanda luning executive director<01

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 627, which concerns Department of Education school safety funding and staffing. DOE said the bill would restore two positions and related funding that had been removed from the governor’s budget: a targeted violence prevention and threat assessment program manager and a security technology manager. DOE described ongoing work on school vulnerability assessments, fire suppression measures, security camera research, panic buttons, and active shooter prevention training. Testifiers from DOE, the Department of Law Enforcement, fire services, HSTA, and an individual witness all supported the bill, with the individual citing a past school shooting experience as a reason to increase school resource officers and safety measures. Members asked about the positions’ duties, how the request differed from existing security funding, and the status of active shooter training; DOE said it would provide more information on training statistics. The committee then took up HB 249, relating to Executive Office on Early Learning family child interaction learning programs. The Early Learning Board, EOEL, Commit to Kids, Early Childhood Action Strategies, Partners in Development Foundation, and others testified in support. EOEL said it currently spends about $800,000 annually on FCI program contracts and supports expanding state funding for FCIL programs, including infant and early childhood mental health, if the appropriation covers the broader scope. Testifiers emphasized that FCIL programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and help families and children, with one provider sharing a long-term example of a parent and child benefiting from the program. Members asked how many programs are supported, whether FCIL exists on all islands, and whether the request was in the governor’s budget; EOEL said the expansion was requested by the office but not included in the governor’s budget. HB 429, concerning pre-K expansion, drew broad support from the Lieutenant Governor, EOEL, HSTA, and community groups. Supporters said the Ready Keiki initiative has already opened more than 50 classrooms and would add another 50 over the next two years, including Hawaiian immersion classrooms. EOEL said it currently administers 72 public pre-K classrooms across 74 campuses and that the bill’s funding was included in the governor’s budget request. Testimony stressed kindergarten readiness, affordability for working families, equity across islands, and inclusion classrooms. Members asked about national quality benchmarks, with EOEL stating Hawaii meets 10 of 10 benchmarks and that only five states had done so at the time referenced. The Lieutenant Governor also described construction and delivery efforts, including refurbishing existing classrooms, modular options, possible use of state buildings, and even collaboration with libraries to expand child care access. Finally, the committee heard HB 439 on J-1 teacher licensure. DOE supported the bill, while the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposed it, arguing licensure standards are not place-based and should remain rigorous and uniform for all educators. The Attorney General’s office offered technical comments, including replacing “educators” with “teacher” and clarifying the bill’s language on issuance and renewal conditions. Several organizations and individuals testified in support, including school, cultural, business, and educator groups. One witness, a teacher from the Philippines, said J-1 educators are highly qualified and described the rigor of teacher preparation in the Philippines. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• OF INACTIVITY IS FURTHER BOLSTERED BY THE FACT THAT ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, THE STATE AND SATEEN EXECUTED
• DIRECTOR OF SAVE OUR SOCIETY FROM DRUGS AND ON THAT CALL HE INFORMED HER THAT THE HOPE FLORIDA FOUNDATION
• IT APPEARS THAT UTHMEIER HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION WITH SECURE FLORIDA’S FUTURES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
• MARK WILSON WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CEO OF FLORIDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
• WHEN THE EXECUTIVE EXHIBITS NO CARE OR CONCERN FOR THE MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THE LEGISLATURE HAS

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to give a few timeline changes, and then I'll turn it over to the executive director, Sena.
• And with that, I'll turn it over to Executive Director Sena to review the temporary provisions of the
• I'm Bonnie Lightfoot, executive director and assistant director of NEMSEL, speaking for the superintendents
• And I think, as Executive Director Sainis said, for example, the comments of the Mosquero Superintendent
• Thank you, Director. Thank you, Representative.

Bills: HB2 , SB204 , SB241 , HB34

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> Dedra</c><01:09:43.120><c> I'd</c> And uh Executive Director Dedra I'd And uh Executive Director
• </c> Executive Director OPLC. Executive Director OPLC.
• </c> executive director of OPLC on this? executive director of OPLC on this?
• </c><03:41:15.640><c> Director</c> last, I'll call up Executive Director last, I'll call up Executive
• I'm the executive director of the Business Finance Authority.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Up next is Yasmin Chain, Executive Director, Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women, in support
• Up next is Yasmin Chain, Executive Director, Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women, in support
• Hi, Yasmine Cheney, Executive Director for the Commission on the Status of Women.
• Next to testify, Christian Fern, Executive Director for OPA, in support, in person. Thank you.
• And lastly, moving on to STR 143, related to performance reviews for executive directors or similar exempt

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today speaking on behalf of NBEO, and I'm also joined by the Executive Director of the NBEO,
• </c><00:20:20.880><c> Jill</c> Executive Director of the NBEO, Dr.
• Jill Executive Director of the NBEO, Dr. Jill Bryant. Bryant. Bryant.
• Jill Bryant, I'm the executive director of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. >> Thank you
• </c><00:52:42.760><c> Director</c> &gt;&gt; Corey McNaab, I'm the Executive Director &gt;&gt; Corey McNaab

Summary: The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection. Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection. Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• H3RC executive director, and I uh served on the breakthrough therapies task force with the Office of
• </c> what the exe executive order says. what the exe executive order says.
• </c> the executive order. Yes. the executive order. Yes.
• Daintry Bartholus, Executive Director for Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and we
• ><c> director</c><00:56:06.000><c> for</c> Dry Bartholus executive director for Dry Bartholus executive

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 3025, relating to medical debt, with multiple organizations and individuals, including the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queens Health Systems, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Aloha Care, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction, Hawaii Data Collaborative, and Hawaii Appleseed, all speaking in support. No opposition was heard, and the member present had no questions. The committee then took up SB 3199, which would establish a mental health emerging therapies task force. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with speakers including veterans, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups describing personal experiences with PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and treatment-resistant conditions, and arguing that Hawaii should prepare for regulated access to emerging therapies such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine. The Department of Health and some medical organizations provided comments, and one opposition witness was called but not present. The chair noted broad support, especially from veterans, and no vote was taken during the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 3324, relating to Medicaid. The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Aloha Care, and numerous care-provider and aging/disability organizations testified in support, while one witness was in opposition and several others offered comments. The discussion then moved to SB 2563, relating to homelessness, where the Department of the Attorney General offered comments on specific sections and recommended adopting suggested amendments if the bill proceeds. Additional testimony on SB 2563 began with support from several individuals, including Shelby Pikachu, who emphasized the severity of homelessness and related social problems in the community.

Transcript Highlights:

• Luam TestFi, executive director for the California Public Utilities Commission.
• Luam TestFi, executive director for the California Public Utilities Commission.
• My name's Luam Tesfi, and I serve as the CPUC's executive director.
• I'm the new executive director.
• the director was, executive director was saying, with the GRC, you have 30 people.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for joining us, Director Erickson.
• Thank you for joining us, Director Erickson.
• The governor's had an executive order regarding military veterans specifically.
• Women in career executive assignment positions has increased from 2013 to 2023.
• represented in executive-level positions now.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several routine items and two governor’s appointments requiring appearance. The committee first approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, the appointments of Armin Meyer to the Division of Consumer Financial Protection and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission, along with bill referrals, a rules waiver request to suspend Senate Rule 55 for guests on the floor, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard from Arania Ortega, appointed to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Members asked about her background, PERB’s handling of AB 288 while litigation remains pending, recusal rules, case backlogs, ride-share enforcement, and legislative employee unionization. Ortega said PERB has no current backlog, is prepared to implement AB 288 if litigation changes, and has recusal procedures that would automatically exclude her from certain state employee and child care cases for one year. Public testimony supported the appointment, and the committee voted 5-0 to send Ortega’s nomination to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Monica Erickson, nominated to continue as Director of the Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Questions focused on bargaining and fiscal responsibility, CalPERS oversight, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and accountability, DEIA efforts, degree requirements, veteran hiring, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR is working to reduce vacancies, expand recruitment pipelines, remove unnecessary degree requirements, support departments with guidance and training, and address pay equity; she also noted the gender pay gap has declined over the past decade. Supportive public testimony followed, and her nomination was approved 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Ashley More, and I'm the executive director of a nonprofit called CAST, Citizens Against Sex
• I'm Katie Kramer, co-executive director of Violence Free Minnesota, the Coalition to End Relationship
• I'm Katie<00:18:34.920><c> Kramer,</c><00:18:35.520><c> co-executive</c><00:18:36.200><c> director</c
• ><00:18:36.600><c> of</c> Katie Kramer, co-executive director of Katie Kramer, co-executive director
• My name's Kim Biby, and I'm the executive director of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety