Transcript Highlights:

• Without opportunities, none of us would be in this room. The opportunity to be legislators.
• The Rules Committee on Sunday will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 321. Thank you, Madam President.
• In what room is that? Room 321. Thank you so much. Senator Soules: Thank you, Madam President.
• Senate Education will meet in Room 311 at 9 o'clock tomorrow.
• Nevertheless, we'll meet tomorrow morning at 10:45 in Room 326. Bestest committee meeting ever.

Summary: The Senate debated and passed Senate Bill 241, a child care assistance measure. Opponents raised concerns about the bill’s education requirements, residency definitions, sustainability if oil and gas revenues decline, fraud and misuse of funds, staffing needs for unannounced inspections, liability insurance, and whether the state would be left covering costs in a shortfall. Supporters argued the bill reflects the reality of working families, would expand access to child care, and includes guardrails and a five-year funding plan. After debate, the Senate passed the Senate Finance Committee substitute for SB 241, as amended, by a vote of 25-15. The chamber then received House messages announcing passage of several House bills and referred them to committees: HB 63 on water project funding to Senate Conservation, HB 64 on appropriations to Senate Finance, HB 165 on industrial revenue bond lease assessments to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation, HB 285 on disabled veteran property tax exemptions to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation, HB 184 on the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund to Senate Finance, and HB 291 on a range of tax and revenue changes to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation. Senate Memorial 30, requesting a study of safety and maintenance issues on U.S. Highway 491, was introduced and referred to Senate Rules. During announcements, members outlined upcoming committee meetings, including Rules, Tax, Business and Transportation, Education, Finance, Conservation, and others. The Senate also discussed the upcoming 100th Bill Party and related social events. The body then recessed until 11 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Room EW. 05, Raymond Chairman.
• Room E.W. 42, E. Hart, Chairman.
• Room E.W. 40, Palmer Chairman.
• Room E.W. 41, Hawkins, Chairman.
• Room E.W. 20, W. 20, W. 20, F.m., Chairman.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will require each law enforcement agency and emergency medical service provider that responds
• Additionally, it will require Texas Division of Emergency Management to develop a guide on preparedness
• And I have the utmost confidence that the profession and all the professions associated with emergency
• I've been assigned to the property room as a sergeant for the past 8 years.
• and gymnasium dressing rooms, store dressing rooms, bathrooms, and places of that nature.

Bills: HB33 , HB45 , HB48 , HB 1261 , HB1465 , HB1778 , HB2596 , HB5238 , SB2969 , HB45 , HB48

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 618, the last item related to House File 2068, is a one-time additional funding for the emergency
• Section 4 establishes emergency shelter facility grants to improve or expand emergency shelter facilities
• These are the things that keep them out of hospitals and emergency rooms. of jail, reduce 9-1-1 calls—all
• rooms and hospital beds as well.
• We're pleased to see that there is a $1 million increase in the emergency services program.

Bills: HF2434

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• is emergency management.
• I'm in an emergency. I have an emergency.
• Local emergency management director, the county judge, or the emergency coordinator.
• It has a regional headquarters there, offices, an emergency operations center, a training room, and a
• And that was under emergency, right? Y'all did that under emergency?

Transcript Highlights:

• Emergency Managers today.
• Emergency Managers today.
• Emergency Managers today.
• Emergency Managers today.
• Minnesota Emergency Managers.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• He is an emergency room physician currently serving in the emergency department at UC San Diego Health
• I'd like to start by expressing my gratitude to the doctors, the nurses, the emergency room personnel
• rooms, maternity care, cardiovascular care, mental health services, ...emergency rooms, maternity care
• This resolution is about the nurses finishing long overnight shifts, the emergency room doctors responding
• room visits.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without the system, non-emergency calls can flood 9-1-1 lines, overwhelming emergency responders and
• They are opportunities to prevent calls to 9-1-1, visits to the emergency room, or the deepening of a
• how we handle emergency vehicles.
• how we handle emergency vehicles.
• now and make that their emergency plan?

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in room 437 at the Capitol, and this hearing room is open for people to attend in person.
• We are in room 437 at the Capitol, and this hearing room is open for people to attend in person.
• Great to be back in this hearing room with you all.
• I bring you AB 925, the Mobile Home Emergency Safety Act.
• or emergency personnel.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 518 on low-impact camping areas. The author and supporters said the bill would streamline permitting for small rural camping operations on private land, expand outdoor access, and support rural economies, while opponents from campground associations and counties warned it could undermine existing regulation, create enforcement problems, and allow advertising of unpermitted sites. Members raised concerns about fire safety and local control, but the bill was ultimately passed as amended on an 8-0 vote. The committee then approved AB 635, which would require HCD to refer up to 25 of the most serious mobile home residency law complaints to the Attorney General. Supporters said mobile home residents need stronger enforcement against egregious park-owner violations, while opponents argued the existing program is underused, costly, and should remain subject to a sunset. After discussion of the program’s surplus and enforcement role, the bill passed 9-1. AB 893, which expands ministerial approval for mixed-income housing near college campuses and broadens eligibility for affordable units to students, faculty, and staff, also drew strong support from student advocates and housing groups and respectful opposition from the League of California Cities over local control and height limits; it passed 10-0. AB 925, the Mobile Home Emergency Safety Act, would require stronger emergency preparedness measures in mobile home parks, including accessible exits, working fire hydrants, and gas shutoff access, with a fee increase to fund enforcement. Supporters framed it as a life-safety measure in disaster-prone areas, while opponents argued the bill duplicates existing requirements and imposes an unnecessary fee increase. The committee voted 6-1 to send it to Appropriations, with the bill left on call. The consent calendar, including several other housing and local government bills, was approved 8-0. The committee also heard AB 712, which would increase penalties and attorney-fee protections for applicants enforcing state housing laws against public agencies; supporters said it would improve compliance, while special districts opposed the bill as overly broad and unclear. Members discussed indemnification and timing issues, and the bill was advanced with amendments to Judiciary.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> commissioner</c> such an emergency, the commissioner such an emergency, the commissioner shall<01
• No, this is implementing emergency.
• ><c> emergency.
• </c> financial emergency. financial emergency.
• </c> Republican caucus in this room. Republican caucus in this room.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a lifeline in the time of extreme emergency for a small business.
• It's a lifeline in the time of extreme emergency for a small business.
• They had given up, but with the help of the SBDC and emergency state support, they rebuilt.
• With that, are there any other witnesses in support in the room?
• Are there any other witnesses in the room?

Summary: The Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee met in person and established quorum after beginning briefly as a subcommittee. The committee adopted its rules and then heard several bills focused on economic recovery, housing, technology, retail theft, and utility infrastructure. AB 265 (Caloza) would create a $100 million state-funded small business and nonprofit recovery program for organizations affected by declared emergencies; it drew broad support from small business, nonprofit, chamber, city, and community groups, with no opposition voiced. AB 797 (Harabedian) proposed a zero-cost state financing structure using CRA-backed securities to help community nonprofits buy wildfire-damaged properties at fair market value and prevent predatory investor purchases; it was presented as a community stabilization tool and received support from the California Community Foundation, with no opposition. AB 940 (Wicks/Ellis) would establish quantum innovation zones to strengthen California’s quantum computing economy, and AB 949 (Shiavo) would create a retail theft grant program for small businesses to fund security improvements and theft prevention measures; both bills were supported by business and university witnesses, though one member said they would not vote for AB 949 due to concerns about broader crime policy. AB 1347 (Carrillo) proposed a pilot program to speed utility interconnections in priority growth regions, including allowing developers to trade expedited connections for upfront infrastructure cost recovery and use microgrids in some cases; it had no opposition in the hearing. Committee members generally expressed support for the bills, especially those aimed at disaster recovery and small business resilience. Questions on AB 940 focused on where quantum innovation zones might be located and how local governments and universities would coordinate; the author and witnesses said the zones should be open statewide and could build on existing research centers such as Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech, UCSB, UCLA, and UCSC. On AB 797, members discussed the need to protect homeowners from below-market offers after wildfires. On AB 949, the author emphasized that modest grants could help small businesses make security upgrades and prevent repeated theft losses. The committee voted to send AB 265, AB 797, AB 940, AB 949, and AB 1347 forward, generally on party-line or near-unanimous votes, with the bills reported out of committee and placed on call as needed. The consent calendar, including AB 254, AB 415, AB 655, AB 1232, AB 1254, AB 1477, and HR 27, was also approved. The hearing adjourned at 10:33 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• room doctor I appreciate this and it's also kind of a civil liberties issue as well, you know, you might
• room physician, but may not believe that for whatever reason it can't. contact that physician or may
• And we would meet in rooms, and we would force these meetings.
• Let's find that kinship placement, let's find these other placements and not send them to a hotel room
• Is the local emergency rooms ready for that person who may?

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

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• What's your emergency? Actually, we do it? I'm not sure. Please take note of this craft.
• I left the room because I have motion issues and cannot watch videos like that.
• Right here in this room, people asking for money. Where did that money go?
• It is an emergency.
• It's an emergency.

Bills: HB2148 , HB2993

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: federal funding, state budget, appropriation, block grants, noncustodial funds, legislative authority, Arizona attorney general, Department of Public Safety, DPS, consumer fraud revolving fund, consumer protection fund, gang and immigration intelligence team enforcement mission fund, public safety appropriation, supplemental appropriation, outside counsel, state agency legal representation, legal services, state settlement proceeds, general fund, A.R.S. 41-192

Transcript Highlights:

• Standing today, so there is an overflow room in 169. So please take a seat or exit out of the room.
• Is there any room for that?
• only as trafficking is is there any room only as trafficking is is there any room there<00:27:19.159>
• </c> dealing with people in the emergency dealing with people in the emergency room<00:34:18.000><c>
• </c> you know we've talked about emergencies you know we've talked about emergencies and<00:48:12.200

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first approved Senate Bill 64, as amended, on a 14-0 vote. The bill was described as a copper theft prevention measure aimed at protecting key infrastructure assets, including telecommunications and electrical highway infrastructure. Testimony in support came from Senator Brandon Storm and representatives from Charter Communications and law enforcement, who said copper theft and related vandalism are damaging fiber and other infrastructure across the state. A committee substitute was adopted before the vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 73, relating to sexual extortion. Senator Julie Rocky Adams and Kentucky Youth Advocates testified that sextortion is a fast-growing crime against children and that the bill would make sexual extortion a felony, create civil remedies for victims, and require school-based education and resources. The bill passed 15-0 and was reported favorably for floor consideration. House Bill 662, relating to personally identifiable information, was also approved after discussion and a committee substitute. Representative John Blanton said the bill would help protect judges and certain medical review personnel from public disclosure of personal information while preserving provider access needed for appeals and communications. The Kentucky Medical Association supported the concept but stressed the need to preserve provider-facing information so doctors can conduct peer-to-peer reviews and appeals. The bill passed 15-0 with one pass vote. House Bill 320, relating to controlled substances on hospital property, was taken up for discussion only and no vote was taken. Representative Mike Klein and a St. Elizabeth nurse testified that hospitals are seeing illicit drug use and trafficking on campus and argued for a drug-free zone to protect staff, patients, and visitors. Committee members raised concerns about how the bill would apply to unconscious overdose patients, lawfully prescribed medications, emergency situations, and whether possession should be treated differently from trafficking. The chair ruled a motion out of order because the item was for discussion only, and the bill remained under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• So emergency services, dental emergency services, would still be covered under emergency services.
• So emergency services, dental emergency services would still be covered under emergency services.
• We know this will impact emergency rooms. That is not the place to go for dental care, of course.
• Emergency rooms are already overrun.
• rooms.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the Department of Health Care Services’ proposed budget, including a $229.1 billion total-funds budget and projected Medi-Cal enrollment decline as redeterminations continue. Members focused heavily on the fiscal and programmatic effects of prior budget solutions and federal changes, especially the elimination of General Fund-supported Prop. 56 dental supplemental payments beginning July 1, 2026, the hospice utilization-management change, and the impact of reduced caseloads alongside rising health care costs. DHCS said it is still completing required access and rate-reduction analyses for the dental cuts and has been engaging stakeholders, but could not yet quantify the real-world effect on utilization or provider participation. The committee also reviewed the November 2025 Medi-Cal local assistance estimate, which shows higher General Fund spending despite lower enrollment, driven by managed care rate growth, Medicare cost growth, state-only claiming, and federal policy changes. The hearing then turned to provider taxes and federal H.R. 1 constraints, with extensive discussion of the MCO tax, the hospital quality assurance fee, and other health care-related taxes. DHCS explained that H.R. 1 phases down allowable tax levels and tightens “generally redistributive” rules, making the current MCO tax structure and the proposed higher hospital fee levels difficult or impossible to renew as originally designed. Staff and the LAO described the tradeoff between preserving Medi-Cal funding and avoiding higher costs on private providers and consumers. Members asked about options for preserving revenue, including possible amendments to Prop. 35 or returning to voters, and were told the department is still evaluating approaches while federal guidance remains in flux. The committee also reviewed hospital payment increases already implemented through state-directed payments, with DHCS noting that H.R. 1 will force those payments down to Medicare levels over time. Several budget change proposals were discussed and left open, including requests tied to the managed care final rule, managed care operations, hospital value strategy, long-term care payment transparency, and interoperability requirements. The committee also heard about a one-year trailer bill extension for skilled nursing facility financing, including continuation of the SNF workforce standards program, the SNF quality assurance fee, and annual rate growth, while the department develops a longer-term financing redesign for 2027-28. Members expressed skepticism about repeated rate reform efforts and questioned whether a one-year extension of the eliminated workforce quality incentive program should be restored during the transition. Finally, Covered California presented its budget and enrollment update, reporting that the expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credit is expected to reduce affordability significantly, with average premiums roughly doubling for many enrollees and as many as 400,000 Californians potentially losing marketplace coverage over time. The exchange said California’s $190 million subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees, but not enough to offset the federal loss, and it is also implementing a new gender-affirming care benefit and awaiting federal action on benchmark plan changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DURING THE PRESENTATION TODAY I WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
• EMERGENCY REPORT IS EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.
• THAT THEN BROADENED TO WHAT WE KNOW AS FORMAL EMAIL TODAY, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMPACT.
• THAT DOWNTIME IS A REAL KILLER DURING EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
• THE TEAMS INNOVATIVE SAID THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

Transcript Highlights:

• an assault. this emergency contraception on their own.
• She had. no way to immediately access emergency contraception.
• In total, we contract with over 150 hospitals. five Texas hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms,
• all of which are primarily responsible for most of their emergency room visits.
• So yeah, it still does impact my decision because it really shouldn't be the emergency room physician's

Bills: HB220 , HB783 , HB2240 , HB3336 , HB4202 , HB4449 , HB4904 , HB3441 , HB4284

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:36:19.159><c> would</c><01:36:19.400><c> say</c> emergency rooms down to I would say emergency rooms
• </c> individuals waiting in the emergency individuals waiting in the emergency room<01:37:14.960><c>
• </c><01:37:59.440><c> room</c><01:37:59.800><c> and</c> walking around in an emergency room and walking
• <01:38:04.199><c> but</c><01:38:04.480><c> having</c> emergency room is like but but having emergency
• ><01:38:12.239><c> barbaric</c> emergency room this this is barbaric emergency room this this is barbaric

Summary: House Finance Division III held an informational hearing with the Department of Health and Human Services focused on child and family services, children’s behavioral health, DCF, juvenile justice, and adult mental health. Before the presentation, members discussed scheduling a future site visit to Waypoint, including possible dates, mileage reimbursement logistics, and whether to reschedule the department’s developmental disabilities and healthy aging presentation because the associate commissioner was out sick. The department then outlined that it would concentrate on children’s behavioral health, DCF residential care and the Sununu Youth Services Center/YDC new build, and adult mental health, while noting the broader DHHS structure and the value of keeping related services under one leadership. The department emphasized an integrated “system of care” approach and said it was trying to shift resources toward earlier, lower-intensity interventions rather than relying mainly on high-cost residential and acute services. It cited youth risk data showing roughly four in ten New Hampshire high school students feeling sad or hopeless and about one in five considering suicide in the past year, and said these trends worsened during the pandemic, peaking in 2021 and easing somewhat by 2023. Members asked how New Hampshire compared with neighboring states and about pre-COVID trends; the department said it would follow up with more exact data. The presentation also described a long-term policy effort beginning with federal funding in 2012, the state’s 10-year mental health plan, and later legislation aimed at strengthening children’s behavioral health and transforming juvenile justice so that youth with behavioral health needs are not routed into punitive systems first. Members raised questions about out-of-state residential placement oversight and the statutory basis for inspections and follow-up. The department said the General Court had funded more “boots on the ground” oversight, in coordination with the Office of the Child Advocate, and agreed to provide a longer follow-up presentation on that topic after the governor’s budget is released. The department also described evidence-based prevention efforts, including home visiting programs such as Healthy Families America and a DCF-connected home visiting cohort for families already touching the child welfare system, as examples of trying to keep children out of deeper system involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the emergency just, ironically, I think, got extended.
• Michael was a frequent visitor in emergency rooms in the state.
• Michael was a frequent visitor in emergency rooms in the state.
• Michael was excluded from many programs and he always ended up revolving back to the emergency room.
• I... ended out revolve back to the emergency room. Thank you. Am I finished? I'm sorry.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The committee held a hybrid hearing on a range of bills affecting children, families, disability rights, homelessness, and social services. Early testimony focused on H.215, which would support children experiencing homelessness by speeding access to child care vouchers and early intervention screenings. Boston officials, Horizons for Homeless Children, Head Start, pediatric and early education advocates, and families described delays in child care and early intervention, the developmental risks of homelessness, and the need for automatic referrals and faster access to services. Testimony also supported H.216, which would improve emergency housing assistance by restoring presumptive eligibility, reducing documentation barriers, extending shelter stays from six to nine months, and creating an ombudsperson; providers and legal advocates said current rules leave families sleeping in cars or outside and create unnecessary administrative hurdles. The committee also heard strong support for H.210, which would repeal the “Learn Fair” school attendance sanction that cuts cash assistance to families when children miss school. Advocates from legal aid, education, and anti-poverty organizations argued the policy is punitive, burdensome, and ineffective, disproportionately affecting low-income, disabled, and Hispanic/Latino families. Several speakers said chronic absenteeism should be addressed through supports such as family outreach, wraparound services, and school engagement rather than benefit cuts. Legislators and school officials from Salem also testified that their districts reduced absenteeism through supportive strategies, not sanctions. Additional testimony addressed children’s vision bills H.202 and H.166, with optometrists and researchers urging better screening, data systems, and treatment access to close achievement gaps caused by untreated vision problems. Senator Lovely also presented S.2714, proposing a study of discrimination in public accommodations for people with service animals. Later, testimony on H.279 supported changing social work licensure rules to remove exam requirements that speakers said disproportionately exclude multilingual candidates and candidates of color. The hearing also included testimony on bills related to the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock devices, with disability rights advocates opposing continued use of the devices and urging the committee to reject licensing or authorization for them. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their conditions become more chronic and difficult, and they end up in the emergency rooms.
• Their conditions become more chronic and difficult, and they end up in the emergency rooms.
• Their conditions become more chronic and difficult, and they end up in the emergency rooms.
• Their conditions become more chronic and difficult, and they end up in the emergency rooms.
• The emergency room for care instead of being treated as you can so aptly treat them.