Transcript Highlights:

• </c> like Kool-Aid, right? like Kool-Aid, right?
• </c> &gt;&gt; You can buy Kool-Aid. &gt;&gt; You can buy Kool-Aid.
• Kool-Aid, right?
• , Kool-Aid, Kool-Aid, &gt;&gt; right?
• </c> Power Aid? Power Aid?

Transcript Highlights:

• You want anybody here about hearing aids now? Yeah. Yeah.
• The hearing aid one, I promise you, is much easier.
• You want anybody here about hearing aids now? Yeah. Yeah.
• The hearing aid one, I promise you, is much easier.
• Yeah, I need hearing aid, so I'm going to move favorable also.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee took up several House measures. HCR 66, as amended, asked Louisiana Economic Development and the Governor’s Office of Rural Development to study rural parish assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities, and it was moved forward without objection. HB 387, a clarification to allow the fire marshal’s office to review architectural and engineering plans equally, also passed favorably without objection. HB 1223, which would have LED promote Louisiana’s clinical trial capacity and adjust internal review board processes, was amended and moved favorably. HB 950, aimed at helping older adults recognize and avoid fraud through materials and resources from the Office of Elderly Affairs, was reported favorably. HB 975, a routine measure to recreate the Public Service Commission, was also reported favorably. HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, was amended and moved favorably. HB 1222, described as a Grocery Initiative Act to let LED identify ways to address food deserts and food insecurity, was introduced near the end of the meeting. The most extensive debate centered on HB 617, a consumer transparency bill requiring mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing. The author said the bill was intended to curb hidden fees and help consumers compare prices, with examples such as hotel resort fees and automatic restaurant service charges. Supporters argued it would improve transparency, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups said the bill was too broad, vague about terms like “total price,” unclear on enforcement and penalties, and could create compliance burdens and litigation risk, especially for small businesses. Housing advocates opposed the bill’s housing carve-out, arguing it could weaken renters’ ability to bring unfair-practice claims. Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard lengthy testimony on HB 797, which would create a Bayou Gold certification for certain transactional gold vendors that meet state-defined standards such as segregation, insurance, and nearby storage. The sponsor said the goal was to give consumers confidence and encourage vendors to keep gold closer to Louisiana, while critics argued the program would amount to a state endorsement of private companies, create misleading consumer impressions, and expose the state to confusion or liability. The bill drew opposition from the Sound Money Defense League and others, but the committee ultimately reported HB 797 favorably, with the understanding it still had to go to Finance. HB 1228, a hearing-aid cleanup bill updating definitions, contracts, testing periods, and licensing rules, was also moved favorably without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The global leadership agreement included a compensatory aid hold harmless at $10 million.
• The global leadership agreement included a compensatory aid hold harmless at $10 million.
• Each site is evaluated for their needs under compensatory aid.
• Each site is evaluated for their needs under compensatory aid.
• And would be paid under the general education aid payment schedule.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we state aid, how we provide the state support, we look at it as like a glass, a normal glass
• We take those taxes that they can levy and they fill that glass before we put in any state aid.
• We take in a district's state aid fall enrollment, so it's fall enrollment.
• The state aid fall enrollment that we use is how much of the class period, or how many classes, they
• So that's how we kind of fund that with state aid fall enrollment.

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:07.160><c> is,</c> standard first aid is, standard first aid is, when<00:22:08.840><c> they
• Um, I notice that many aides are definitely responsive, but teachers are more trained in the first aid
• </c><00:28:41.040><c> are</c> Um I notice that many aides are Um I notice that many aides are definitely
• </c> more trained in the um the first aid more trained in the um the first aid area<00:28:48.120><c>
• They've always known right my aides.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• But putting a band-aid on a broken limb doesn't heal it.
• Yet we are still cutting school aid to 167 districts.
• Yet, we are still cutting school aid to 167 districts.
• They were entitled to state aid that was withheld from them.
• They're supposed to lose state aid. How much state aid do they stand to lose next year?

Transcript Highlights:

• The provision authorizes someone to use force to aid another person and opposes no duty to retreat in
• The provision authorizes someone to use force to aid another person and opposes no duty to retreat in
• The provision authorizes someone to use force to aid another person and opposes no duty to retreat in
• </c> that specifically applies to that on Aid that specifically applies to that on Aid and<01:33:11.440
• </c> circumstance under which current aiding circumstance under which current aiding abetting<01:37:03.960

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:13.280><c> The</c><00:08:13.440><c> Pell</c> are title 4 financial aid.
• The Pell are title 4 financial aid.
• </c> implement the required financial aid implement the required financial aid changes<01:41:03.520><
• </c> last year, the federal student aid last year, the federal student aid landscape<02:02:19.360><c>
• It's not just financial aid.

Transcript Highlights:

• that, effective the same year, additional funding through a fund be known as the supplemental school aid
• school year, all school districts can request funding for special cases through a supplemental school aid
• weighting of special education students are exempt from the block grant provisions applicable to most state aid
• There's a lot of pressure to reform this school aid formula somehow, and I think the Chair of Education
• There's a lot of pressure to reform this school aid formula somehow.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes $2.3 billion for projects on interstates and other federally aided highways.
• This includes $2.3 billion for projects on interstates and other federally aided highways, $800 million
• for improvements to non-federally aided roadways and bridges, $65 million for the municipal pavement
• This includes $500 million for the lifecycle asset management program, which aids non-federally aided

Transcript Highlights:

• options rather than waiting for an aid options rather than waiting for an acceptance<00:36:45.119><c
• , how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that we're putting together with
• , how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that we're putting together with
• , how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that we're putting together with
• How to use Access Financial Aid, how to interpret a financial aid letter, and some of the resources that

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides by December of this year for the Commissioner of Revenue to calculate and certify the aid
• , allow cities to provide one-time aid, allow cities to cities<00:19:22.560><c> to</c><00:19:22.680><
• </c> the state up to the amount of aid the state up to the amount of aid received<00:21:07.000><c> from
• </c><00:21:20.040><c> amount</c> and certify the aid amount and certify the aid amount uh<00:21:21.320
• equal to the product of the total amount appropriated for the aid.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• removing their eligibility for state student aid.
• aid.
• The eligibility for state student aid.
• 00:23:08.640><c> aid.
• And this loses state student aid.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state would actually get far less aid. state would actually get far less aid.
• Building aid, adequacy aid, free and reduced aid, special education aid, all ignored.
• Building aid,<03:44:27.199><c> adequacy</c><03:44:27.760><c> aid,</c><03:44:28.080><c> free</c><03:44
• :28.239><c> and</c><03:44:28.479><c> reduced</c><03:44:28.800><c> aid,</c> aid, adequacy aid, free and
• reduced aid, aid, adequacy aid, free and reduced aid, special<03:44:29.359><c> education</c><03:44:29.840

Transcript Highlights:

• San Mateo County does not have enough non-basic-aid schools from which property tax can be shifted to
• They will never have 100% basic aid. It's just mathematically impossible for that to be the case.
• So the chances of a single county having an entirely basic-aid district are not trivial.
• They will never have 100% basic aid.
• county having an entirely basic aid is not trivial.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an item on the vehicle license fee backfill for counties, focused largely on San Mateo County and the related excess ERAF calculation. Department of Finance staff said the administration does not propose the requested $119 million backfill, arguing the payment is discretionary and that the existing statutory formula should continue to operate as written. Senators and public witnesses, including Senator Becker and former Senator Jackie Speier, argued the state has a longstanding obligation to local governments and that San Mateo County faces severe service cuts without the funds; they also discussed whether the issue could be solved through local school district boundary changes or other structural fixes. The chair held the item open after testimony. The committee then reviewed Secretary of State budget proposals. The department presented SB 851 implementation funding of $1.1 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $807,000 ongoing for four positions and software to track election-related litigation, update voting system standards, and expand vendor notice requirements. Members asked about election security, the impact of recent federal court decisions, the end of federal HAVA funds in 2027-28, and the staffing and timeline needed to implement the law. The committee also heard a $11.8 million General Fund request for the Cal Access Replacement System, intended to replace the outdated campaign finance and lobbying disclosure platform; staff said the project is on track for a November 2026 go-live with a stabilization period afterward. A separate item sought $9.795 million Business Fees Fund for the Notary Automation Program replacement, with the department explaining delays were due to more planning, a 2025 special election, and the need to secure a contractor, with go-live now projected for 2029. All three items were held open. The Department of Veterans Affairs presented its overall status and then its Yountville skilled nursing facility project. CalVet described progress on veterans homes, home loans, housing programs, and mental health initiatives, while noting higher-acuity needs among older veterans and continued support for underserved groups. For Yountville, the department said the new 240-bed skilled nursing facility is nearing completion and will replace the aging Holderman Hospital building, though some functions will remain in the old building and other campus projects, including roof and steam system work, are still underway. Members also raised concerns about retroactive tax liabilities for employees whose housing fringe benefits had not been reported, and CalVet said it has corrected the reporting, retrained staff, and is working with employees on repayment and lease adjustments. The committee also discussed a proposal to eliminate vacant positions under Control Section 4.12; CalVet said the positions were long vacant and could be given back without harming operations, while the LAO noted the Legislature had not concurred and keeping them would increase General Fund costs. The item was held open. Finally, the California Arts Council gave an informational update on its work and the cultural districts program. The director described the council’s grantmaking, technical assistance, and support for 24 cultural districts statewide, while members emphasized the economic and preservation value of arts funding and urged more investment, including a proposed $50 million General Fund augmentation and a $10 million carve-out for cultural districts. Staff explained that the original cultural district funding was reduced and that the program is currently unfunded and lacks dedicated staff, limiting its ability to expand beyond a small share of applications. Members from different regions noted that many parts of the state still lack cultural district designations and pressed the council to broaden access beyond major urban areas. The item was informational only, with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, we joined the California Fire Rescue Mutual Aid System, receiving new equipment like a Type
• We provide a lot of aid to other communities. We have received aid.
• And that's why the state of California has such a great mutual aid program.
• You've seen the makeup and the mutual aid with Cal Fire on some of these things.
• And it allowed tribes to be signatories to the state's Master Mutual Aid Agreement.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs met on Barona tribal land to examine rising homeowners insurance costs affecting tribal communities, with opening remarks from tribal leaders and Assembly members emphasizing tribal sovereignty, the history of forced settlement in high-risk areas, and the need for the state to recognize mitigation work already being done on tribal lands. The committee heard that wildfire, drought, and other climate-driven disasters have sharply increased insurance premiums and reduced coverage options, especially for tribes located in rural or mountainous areas that were not chosen by the tribes themselves. Cal Fire Deputy Director Frank Bigelow described the state’s wildfire response and tribal engagement efforts, including tribal liaisons on incident management teams, a Southern Region Tribal Affairs Deputy Chief, cultural burning agreements, and more than $30 million in tribal wildfire resilience grants over the last three years. Members questioned why tribal communities receive only a small share of grants, whether Cal Fire should do more outreach and budget proposals for tribes, and whether mitigation work is being recognized by insurers. Bigelow said Cal Fire is working with insurers and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety on mitigation standards, but acknowledged that more tribal outreach and participation are needed. Tribal chairpersons and fire chiefs testified that their communities are already investing heavily in fire protection through dedicated fire departments, fuel reduction, defensible space, prescribed burns, firebreaks, and home-hardening efforts, yet premiums remain high or coverage is denied. Barona leaders said premiums can range from $6,000 to $18,000 and urged insurers to assess properties individually rather than by broad high-risk zones. Soboba, Hamu, and Pechanga representatives described similar efforts and said grant rules, environmental review, and insurer practices can make it difficult to translate mitigation into lower rates. Several members suggested short-term state assistance or a tribal insurance mitigation fund, and the committee discussed the possibility of requiring insurers to better account for tribal mitigation and sovereignty in risk assessments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:20.800><c> forward</c><00:05:21.280><c> an</c><00:05:21.600><c> EMS</c><00:05:22.080><c> aid
• </c><00:05:22.479><c> package</c> we brought forward an EMS aid package we brought forward an EMS aid
• So, they are just constantly in this cycle of crisis that I think the aid was helpful in getting them
• they get didn't make a little bit of aid they get didn't make a dent,<00:21:02.320><c> right?
• Well, I think especially when it comes to this rural targeted aid program that we were able to do one

Summary: The meeting focused on the financial and workforce crisis facing Minnesota emergency medical services, especially ground ambulance providers in rural areas. Michael Johnson of the Minnesota Ambulance Association said EMS serves more than 600,000 Minnesotans a year and argued that reimbursement rates do not cover the cost of readiness, staffing, and 24/7 response. He and others called for ongoing EMS sustainability funding of about $50 million, higher Medicaid reimbursement, and continued support for EMT/paramedic scholarships, first responder training, and high school EMS programs. Senator Grant Hoschild and Representative Jeff Backer echoed the urgency, describing EMS as a moral imperative and emphasizing that rural communities cannot wait for ambulances when lives are at risk. Backer, who also volunteers as an EMT, described staffing shortages, reliance on volunteers, and a recent cardiac arrest response to illustrate the importance of local EMS coverage. Becca Hitch of PUM Area EMS said rural services are paid only when patients are transported, not for responding or treating on scene, and that one-time aid helped but did not solve underlying deficits. Bradley Peterson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said local governments that hold ambulance licenses are being forced to absorb unrecovered costs through property taxes, and that state support is needed to prevent service failures and rising local burdens. In response to questions, speakers said a 2023 statewide study found about $120 million in need, with roughly half tied to operational deficits and half to volunteer support; last year’s aid included about $24 million for rural services and some improvements in volunteer call pay and equipment needs. They also discussed a proposed 10% Medicaid increase, possible special tax district ideas, and the need to target any new funding toward rural services most at risk.

Transcript Highlights:

• Until 2020, the home health aide rate had not been adjusted in 13 years, despite rapidly increasing costs
• Julie Watt from the Home Care Aid Council, Kristen McHugh from Prime Home Health and Companion Care,
• that directly employ 50,000-plus home care aides in Massachusetts.
• For 13 years, from 2007 to 2020, home health aide rates stayed the same.
• For 13 years from 2007 to 2020, home health aid rates stayed the same.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing focused on two broad sets of issues: home- and community-based care, and school-based Medicaid reimbursement. In the morning session, legislators and advocates testified on bills affecting children and disabled enrollees, including proposals to clarify rate-setting for home health and home care services (H. 767/S. 870), allow family members and spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth (H. 1394/S. 886 and related bills), extend MassHealth coverage for applied behavior analysis and other therapies beyond age 21 for adults with autism and developmental disabilities (H. 1351/S. 871), and protect medically fragile children by improving access to continuous skilled nursing. In the later portion of the hearing, testimony shifted to a bill to improve MassHealth reimbursement for schools (S. 862), with speakers describing the school mental health crisis and the need to reinvest Medicaid funds directly into school health services. Witnesses on the home care rate-setting bill said current reimbursement methods are opaque and outdated, contributing to workforce shortages, unfilled shifts, long waitlists, and patients remaining in hospitals longer than necessary. Home care providers and trade groups argued the bill would not set rates directly but would require more transparent methodology and fuller consideration of real costs such as wages, benefits, taxes, training, and technology. On caregiver bills, many family members and provider organizations described the financial and emotional strain of caring for disabled or medically fragile relatives, especially when parents, spouses, or guardians are barred from being paid caregivers. They argued the bills would recognize existing unpaid care, help families remain at home, and reduce reliance on more expensive institutional care. Advocates for adult ABA coverage said services remain medically necessary after age 21 and that ending coverage at that age creates an inequitable “cliff” for MassHealth members compared with those with private insurance. For the PACE/community care bill, elder law attorneys and PACE advocates said current MassHealth income rules force some older adults with modestly higher incomes to spend down to $542 per month, making community living unrealistic and pushing people toward nursing homes. They supported changing the eligibility structure to a premium-based approach that would allow more people to remain in the community. On the school Medicaid bill, advocates said schools are providing effective, preventive mental health care, but reimbursement currently flows to municipalities rather than directly back to school health budgets, limiting districts’ ability to hire and retain staff. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and several witnesses requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• state aid.
• And $192,061 for the supplemental paratransit state aid contract.
• So they get the largest portions of that state aid, which is where they need it.
• So they get the largest portions of those state aid, which way they need to.
• Because as a, for instance, up until this year, my portion of state aid and my, outside of that.

Summary: The Government Finance Transportation Study committee heard detailed presentations from transit officials in Grand Forks, Bismarck/Mandan (Bisman Transit), and Fargo about fixed-route and paratransit service. Grand Forks described Cities Area Transit’s routes, fare structure, ridership recovery after COVID, fleet replacement needs, and rising costs, noting fares cover only a portion of expenses and that the system relies on local, state, federal, and university funding. Bisman Transit outlined its history, service hours, route structure, recent expansion of hours, fare levels, ridership growth, funding sources including mill levies, federal grants, and new local sales tax revenue, and major challenges such as aging buses, driver recruitment, and the need for more stable operating support. Fargo’s representative briefly reinforced the importance of public transit and asked the committee to consider additional funding for urban fixed-route systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, if you have a student on campus that has AIDS, the only individual that’s allowed to know
• I don’t want anyone to be able to ask for a list of students on campus that have AIDS.
• After a few weeks, one of the classroom aides broke down and told my husband that during the morning
• They provide incident prevention and aid more effective investigation.
• That bus aide and the bus driver were eventually arrested.

Summary: The committee first heard SJR 1104, a proposed constitutional amendment on voluntary religious expression in public schools. Senator Massullo said the measure would protect students and school personnel from discrimination for lawful religious expression, while not requiring prayer or religious activity. Questions focused on whether the proposal would change existing law, whether it could be used to protect coercive conduct by school officials, and whether the staff summary accurately reflected the bill. Public testimony included support from religious-freedom advocates and opposition from American Atheists and some senators who said the measure could make minority-faith students uncomfortable. The committee voted to report SJR 1104 favorably. The committee then took up SB 1738 on educational facilities, which directs state education offices to review facility requirements and recommend design and construction practices to improve safety and accountability. Senator Yarborough offered and the committee adopted an amendment removing crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusting the bill to preserve safe spaces during emergencies. The bill was reported favorably after brief discussion about balancing transparency, access control, and emergency safety. The committee also adopted a delete-all amendment to SB 824 on charter schools, replacing it with a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to the Department of Education, which would publish a statewide report; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next approved confirmation recommendations for appointees on tabs 7 and 8, then took up SPB 7036, a committee bill sponsored by Chair Simon. The package included school turnaround and early literacy changes, updates to school safety and health policies, early learning revisions, instructional changes, and educator pipeline provisions. The most contentious part was a proposal to let the state develop instructional materials; several senators questioned costs, guardrails, and whether the state should enter the textbook business. Simon said that portion was still being considered and that the bill would need safeguards if it moved forward. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1620 on public education, described by Senator Leak as a “school board members’ bill of rights.” The bill would give individual board members direct access to district documents and staff, limit district attorneys’ ability to represent both the board and administration, strengthen nepotism rules, and prohibit nondisclosure agreements for employees. Testimony from Volusia County board members, educators, and advocates was sharply divided: supporters argued the bill would improve transparency and protect minority board members, while opponents warned it could undermine superintendent authority, expose confidential student or personnel information, and create confusion in district operations. After debate, the committee voted to report SB 1620 favorably. The committee then heard SB 1170 on cameras in self-contained special education classrooms, with an amendment changing the proposal from a statewide mandate to a district policy allowing parents of students with disabilities to request cameras. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, centered on protecting non-speaking and vulnerable students and documenting abuse; one witness opposed the bill as an unfunded mandate. The committee was still in debate on the bill when the transcript ended.