Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and welcome to House Education Policy and Administration in our new home for a little while.
• I just wanted to note that there has been some work in the other House Education Committee in regards
• </c> The committee moved on to House Bill 362, described as a bill granting rulemaking authority for
• </c> The committee then turned to House Bill 709 next.
• of uh four house members and committee of uh four house members and one<06:14:26.878><c> senator</c>

Summary: The House Education Policy and Administration Committee met to hear a non-germane amendment to House Bill 131, which concerns bullying and cyberbullying prevention. Representative Glenn Cordelli, the prime sponsor, said the amendment was intended to revise and improve language from last year’s SB 210 and to incorporate measures from a cyberbullying bill previously passed by the House. He described changes to school communication requirements, mandatory reporting of bullying and retaliation, stronger investigation and collaboration requirements for cross-district cases, added safety and remediation language, a required conference with the alleged perpetrator and parents if available, updated reporting deadlines, and disciplinary consequences for harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and false reports. He also noted a later amendment would be needed to insert the words “the perpetrator” in one section, and he explained that some changes were meant to align with prior legislation and legislative drafting suggestions. Committee members raised several concerns. Representative Murray questioned the treatment of private and parochial schools, the change from gross negligence to negligence, and the removal of a definition of bullying based on imbalance of power and perceived characteristics. Representative Damon also objected to deleting that definition, arguing it would narrow the scope of bullying too much. Representative Han spoke in opposition, saying the amendment was too broad, unnecessary in parts, and not ready for final action; he criticized the removal of the imbalance-of-power language, the conference requirement when parents may not participate, and the reporting obligations for bus drivers and others. Cordelli responded that some issues were already addressed in prior law or SB 210 and that private schools have their own policies. Michelle Wongran of New Hampshire Legal Assistance testified in opposition, saying the bill was being heard without enough notice and that it does far more than the committee analysis suggests. She said the amendment adds undefined retaliation language, imposes reporting duties on school vendors and contractors, may conflict with FERPA and other federal privacy rules, and includes provisions that could have serious implications for schools and students. She said she supports parental involvement and some conference provisions in concept, but urged the committee to reject the amendment or at least send it through the normal legislative process for fuller review. No vote was taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee, House Bill 889 is before us. Senator Adams. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Committee, House Bill 890 is before us. Senator Harris. Mr.
• Committee, House Bill 900. Senator Harris. Mr.
• Committee, for your consideration this morning is House Bill 898.
• Committee, House Bill 898 is before us. Senator Harris. Mr.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Benji Brings, committee administrator for the House DFL caucus. Justin Cop, House Research.
• Benji Brings, committee administrator for the House DFL caucus. Justin Cop, House Research.
• Benji Brings, committee administrator for the House DFL caucus. Justin Cop, House Research.
• Benji Brings, committee administrator for the House DFL caucus. Justin Cop, House Research.
• </c> Housing Committee. Housing Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on... The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review will come to order.
• Welcome to the committee.
• Welcome to the committee.
• And I sit in B&P committee.
• Two community supports focused on housing, including housing transition navigation services and housing

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Jackson, committee members, and staff.
• Have this committee, and we intend to deliver.
• and this committee and under the chair's leadership to ...advocates and the administration and this
• Any questions from committee members?
• Chair, as well as the broader legislature committee and administration on advancing this important work

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• a farmworker housing component.
• a farmworker housing component.
• Good morning, Senator, members of the committee.
• Good afternoon, Chairman Javar, members of the committee.
• Good afternoon, Chairman Javar, members of the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that our students are housed.
• Imagine how long it would be if the first committee would be, the whole committee would be here.
• How do we engage the administrators?
• I want to first start by thanking the committee chair, Chair Fong, and committee staff for... ...first
• start by thanking the committee chair, Chair Fong, and committee staff for convening this important

Committee: House Higher Education

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee held an oversight hearing on the impact of federal actions on California higher education, with opening remarks from the chair and members emphasizing shared governance, student access, and the importance of protecting California’s public systems. The first panel included leaders from CSU, UC, California Community Colleges, and the University of the Pacific, who described major disruptions from federal policy changes, including grant terminations, changes to Pell and loan programs, the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, tighter loan limits, and uncertainty around immigration, CalFresh/SNAP, and Medicaid-related rules. UC and CSU leaders said federal research and student-support cuts threaten research capacity, workforce pipelines, and services for low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and international students, while the community colleges highlighted uncertainty around TRIO, HSI/MSI/AANAPISI grants and the need to preserve student services and economic mobility. Members asked about the scale of funding losses, intersegmental partnerships, workforce impacts, indirect cost caps, H-1B hiring costs, and the effect of federal changes on health care and research. Witnesses said the federal environment has created instability, delayed planning, and could reduce access to graduate and professional education, especially in health fields and other high-need professions. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to support research bonds, housing and capital outlay, and continued state investment to offset federal retrenchment. The committee also discussed how cuts could affect student debt, food insecurity, and the diversity of future cohorts, with witnesses warning that the changes could narrow access and weaken California’s workforce pipeline for years. The second panel focused on equitable access. The California Student Aid Commission described state efforts such as Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship, the Golden State Teacher Grant, and a proposed state FAFSA alternative for students who cannot access federal aid, while urging reforms to Cal Grant, better integration with CalFresh, and more support for foster youth and adult learners. The Los Angeles Community College District reported that federal cuts and policy uncertainty are discouraging students from applying for aid, threatening TRIO and MSI/HSI-funded services, and putting basic needs, transfer support, and workforce programs at risk. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities said federal loan caps, research cuts, and attacks on DEI and HSI funding are harming access and retention, especially for first-generation and low-income students, and called for stronger state support, including transfer aid and a state-backed loan option. The CSU Academic Senate also testified that abrupt federal changes to MSI and related programs have disrupted student research, summer programs, and equity-focused initiatives, with one campus example losing $2.7 million in student-centered funding on short notice.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides additional funding for affordable housing and the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention
• Examples include the multifamily housing program, the low-income housing tax credit program, the HAP
• We've tried to look at housing.
• housing program.
• housing program.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard AB 109, the Budget Act of 2026, as the main item. Committee leaders described the legislative budget agreement as a balanced two-year plan with about $355.9 billion in total spending, $253 billion from the General Fund, and $36.5 billion in reserves. The Legislative Analyst and Department of Finance said the package assumes about $5.5 billion in higher revenues than the May Revision and uses those resources for a mix of spending changes, including higher Proposition 98 support, additional child care slots, housing and homelessness funding, delayed Medi-Cal reductions, and added support for counties, public hospitals, and distressed hospitals. The administration said the plan resembles the May Revision’s overall structure but includes new spending and revenue assumptions, and members noted that separate revenue trailer bills would be heard later in the week. Much of the committee discussion focused on Medi-Cal, H.R. 1, and the impact on immigrants, low-income workers, counties, and hospitals. Several senators criticized the budget for locking in savings from delayed or reduced Medi-Cal coverage and for not including a mechanism to restore eligibility, while administration and LAO staff said the package delays some reductions but does not automatically reinstate coverage. Finance staff said roughly 1.5 million to 2 million people with unsatisfactory immigration status would move from managed care to fee-for-service, with coverage largely unchanged except for certain services not federally allowed. Members also discussed county administrative funding, indigent care, public hospital support, and the expected rise in uncompensated care. Other topics included In-Home Supportive Services, child care, homelessness funding, Prop. 36, courthouse construction and new judgeships, transit and cap-and-invest/GGRF funding, local journalism, and workforce or reentry programs. Committee members split along party lines in their comments. Democratic members generally supported the agreement as a difficult but responsible compromise that protects core services, preserves reserves, and makes targeted investments in education, housing, health care, and justice system capacity. Republican members argued the budget relies on unrealistic revenue assumptions, does not sufficiently reduce spending, and includes costly policy choices and tax increases. Public testimony largely came from advocates and stakeholders who supported IHSS, Medi-Cal, child care, domestic violence services, hospitals, transit, and other programs, while some business and health plan representatives raised concerns about tax proposals and the shift from managed care to fee-for-service. The chair then moved the committee to public comment and indicated that the revenue bills would return later in the week; no final vote on AB 109 is reflected in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleen Ogilvie, Rail and Transit Administrator, Meredith Schlesinger, Aeronautics Administrator, Denise
• Thank you, Administrator Schlesinger.
• Thank you, Administrator Schlesinger.
• They'll be in a better house, maybe.
• The House maintained that.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The hearing opened with welcomes from the co-chairs and local legislators, followed by remarks from UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, who highlighted the university’s research, sustainability, transportation, and workforce contributions and thanked the administration and legislature for support of public higher education. MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, along with agency leaders, presented the administration’s transportation budget package. They described a combined funding plan through House 2, a Fair Share supplemental budget, and a Chapter 90 bill, emphasizing investments in MassDOT operations, snow and ice response, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, bridge and pavement repair, housing-related transportation improvements, sustainable aviation fuel, microtransit, and local road programs. Officials also highlighted record highway construction activity, safety initiatives such as work zone speed cameras and pedestrian protections, RMV service and equity improvements, airport and drone technology programs, and MBTA gains in reliability, accessibility, ridership, and service expansion. Committee members asked about Western Massachusetts priorities, especially Chapter 90 funding for rural road mileage, bridge repairs, and the Compass Rail/West-East Rail program. MassDOT officials said pending federal grants were moving forward, with some awards recently obligated and others expected as federal processes advance, and they said Palmer Station remains part of the long-term rail plan. Members also raised the Cape Cod bridges and the need for multi-year Chapter 90 funding. Officials said the Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, with construction targeted for 2027, and reiterated that transportation investments support jobs, local economies, and municipal infrastructure statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions from members of the committee on this?
• Are there any questions from committee members?
• That are experts in the housing world.
• Are there any questions from committee members?
• Chair, as well as the broader legislature, committee, and administration on advancing this important

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, the Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have printed House
• House Bills 803 and 804 were referred to the Judiciary and Rules Administration Committee.
• House Bill 685, by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, relating to crimes and punishment
• House Bill 685, by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, relating to crimes and punishment
• House Bill 696, by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, relating to prisoners.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House will be in order. The Chair lays before the House a communication from the Speaker.
• >> House for one minute and revise and extend my remarks and the House is not.
• The House is not in order. Members, please take your... The House will be in order.
• , and the order of the House of January 3rd, 2025, of the following member to the Select Committee on
• </c> Speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Bills: HB8884 , HCR89

Keywords: Iran, war powers, War Powers Resolution, hostilities, military force, Congressional authorization, declaration of war, AUMF, foreign policy, national security, self-defense, U.S. Armed Forces, Middle East, executive war powers, troop withdrawal, intelligence sharing, counterintelligence, diplomatic facilities, regional security, anti-war resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Colleagues to stand alongside House Democrats in calling upon the Trump administration, the Office
• That is why Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee have worked with H.R. 881 more in line
• The House Natural Resources Committee is doing exactly what we said and what President Trump has called
• It's a priority for House GOP leadership, the President, and his administration, and we are neck deep
• House GOP leadership, president and his administration,<08:50:20.080><c> and</c><08:50:20.318><c> we

Bills: HR881 , HB1503

Keywords: immigration, law enforcement, ICE, border protection, violence, security threats, forced organ harvesting, trafficking, human rights, organ donation, sanctions, international law

Transcript Highlights:

• We urge y'all to please pass this out of committee and pass this. side of the house. Thank you.
• Chair and members of the committee, I'm here to lay out House Bill 3146 today, it's a simple clean-up
• . bill uh dealing with a code for the state office of administrative hearings as the committee is well
• Chairman and committee members, good morning, and I appreciate the opportunity to lay out House Bill
• Chairman Capriccio and committee members for the opportunity to lay out House Bill 30923.

Bills: HB3146 , HB3719 , HB3895 , HB3923 , HB4748 , HB4751 , HB4936 , HB4952 , HB4990 , HB4991 , HB5061 , HB5196 , HB5238 , HB5246 , HB5487

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, committee. I appreciate it.
• Chairman, members of the committee.
• Chairman, members of the House Resources and Conservation Committee, for the record, my name is John
• The central division is administration of Wyoming and Idaho, and the lower division is administration
• Thank you, committee members.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that the House grant permission for all committees and subcommittees to meet while the House is
• of House Administration.
• of the Julia has their house State Park for the committee of culture, recreation, and tourism.
• to the areas of Operation of Housing Finance Corporations or for the Committee on Intergovernmental
• on house administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but the House.
• Our subcommittee also has five agencies that are administratively housed within larger agencies.
• Those include three housed in the Department of Management Services, which are the Division of Administrative
• We are administratively housed within the Department of Financial Services, but we are operationally
• The PERC is housed administratively under DMS, but we operate independently with our own budget.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> administrator here. Excuse me. administrator here. Excuse me.
• . administrator. administrator.
• </c> administrator. Correct. administrator. Correct. I'd<00:07:45.599><c> agree.
• </c> from from the house version of of 210. from from the house version of of 210.
• in the State House.

Summary: The committee of conference spent most of its time on Senate Bill 96, which deals with educator conduct and when information may be withheld from parents. The main dispute was over the House-amended language on violations and the “compelling state interest” standard. The Senate sponsor objected to extending penalties to third-party medical or mental health contractors and to language suggesting psychological or emotional injury to a child would not constitute a compelling state interest. The House side argued its draft was intended to keep the bill focused on credentialed educators and administrators, to include parents or guardians, and to avoid creating competing standards by relying on existing abuse definitions in statute. The House also added a requirement that any withholding of information be documented and reported to the school board in nonpublic session, and both sides discussed whether educators, administrators, nurses, and guidance counselors would be covered under the statutory definition of educator. The discussion also covered enforcement and penalties. The House draft proposed that an educator found to have willfully violated the law could have a credential suspended for a first offense and would face a minimum one-year suspension for multiple offenses, while the Senate raised concerns that this was too rigid and did not allow enough discretion or address revocation. The House later explained that the department would still have discretion on first offenses and that the one-year rule applied only to multiple offenses. Another point of disagreement was a three-year statute of limitations for investigations, which the House said was meant to prevent “witch hunts,” while the Senate noted New Hampshire’s constitutional prohibition on retroactive laws. After caucusing, the Senate rejected the House amendment, and the House then voted non-concur; the committee of conference adjourned without agreement. The transcript then moved to Senate Bill 87, concerning one-day liquor license requirements and allowing salons and barber shops to obtain on-premise licenses. The members discussed a House amendment that would allow two drinks instead of one, with supporters saying the change reflected the longer time customers may spend in salons and that alcohol service would still be covered by existing training requirements, including the EDGE course. Opponents worried that allowing multiple drinks would create over-serving and enforcement problems and could complicate business practices. After discussion, the Senate member agreed to go along with the House position, and the bill was reported ready for final sign-off.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will move that your bill, House Bill 3643, be before the committee.
• 8, my apologies, Administration of the House.
• </c> Administration of the House. Administration of the House.
• House Rules, let the Rules Committee Committee Committee uh<00:57:07.840><c> dictate</c><00:57:08.360
• The motion prevails and House File 4172 will be moved to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration

Bills: HF3643 , HF4470 , HF4462 , HF4366 , HF4172 , HF3629 , HF4356 , HF3093

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the committee.
• That's where we were last session when we discussed this bill in the housing committee.
• </c><01:36:27.920><c> And</c><01:36:28.080><c> that</c> bill in the housing committee.
• And that bill in the housing committee.
• Supportive housing supportive housing.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services