Transcript Highlights:

• It preserves local authority to apply workforce labor standards, including prevailing wages and the use
• Standards for workers are very important, including wage standards, but also training and safety.
• The whole idea of building four large towers without wage and labor standards, or labor standards, is
• Labor and wage standards, yes, but there are safety standards.
• You can have a conversation about wages. We want to protect wages.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with testimony often centered on regional coordination, permitting reform, and local control. SB 802 by Senator Ashby would require Sacramento-area jurisdictions to form a joint powers authority to coordinate homelessness and housing response; supporters argued the region has long lacked accountability and coordination, while Sacramento County, Folsom, and others opposed the mandate as an unprecedented state-imposed JPA. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, business groups, service providers, and advocates, and opposition from county, city, and nonprofit representatives who said a local process was already underway. Committee members expressed support for the concept, but the bill was held pending a quorum and later discussed again with strong encouragement for regional collaboration. The committee also heard SB 222, SB 677, SB 908, SB 226, SB 828, and SB 1193. SB 222 would streamline permitting for residential heat pump and water heater installations; supporters said it would lower costs and speed clean-energy adoption, while local government groups argued the main barrier is upfront cost, not permits. SB 677 would curb what the author described as abusive appeals and delays in affordable housing approvals, with developers testifying about frivolous subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays; the California Native Plant Society sought an amendment to preserve appeals on habitat lands. SB 908 would simplify permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements, and SB 226 would clarify financing authority for a West Sacramento baseball stadium proposal; both passed unanimously. SB 828, prompted by the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion, would tighten fireworks storage and licensing rules, expand inspection and seizure authority, and increase fines; it also passed unanimously after testimony from fire officials and a pyrotechnic operator who opposed it unless amended. SB 1193, a county-specific Alameda County transparency bill, generated the sharpest debate. The author argued it would prevent waste, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in discretionary spending by requiring board approval, a public spending log, and clearer whistleblower procedures. Alameda County and county associations opposed it as overly broad and burdensome, saying existing processes already provide transparency and that the bill would reduce flexibility during fiscal stress. After committee questions about the bill’s purpose and the county’s current practices, the measure passed 7-0, with the author indicating willingness to accept an amendment restoring a four-fifths vote threshold. The committee then moved out of order to SB 1090, which would impose a temporary moratorium on state housing density laws in Altadena through 2030 in response to post-fire displacement concerns. The author said the bill is intended to protect long-term residents from investor-driven redevelopment after the Eaton Fire, while acknowledging amendments to align the moratorium with affordable housing development timelines. The transcript cuts off during the presentation of this bill, so no final action is shown for SB 1090 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It preserves local authority to apply workforce labor standards, including prevailing wages and the use
• . ...standards for workers are very important, including wage standards, but also training and safety
• The whole idea of building four large towers without wage and labor standards, or labor standards, is
• Labor, wage standards, yes, but there are safety standards.
• You can have a conversation about wages. We want to protect wages.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Average wage in Colorado in the private sector is about 65 grand.
• Average wage in according to dollars?
• That's about a billion lost wages.
• And at the end of the day it hurts employees and it hurts wages.
• And hurts employees and it hurts wages.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They extract as much as possible from us, from our workforce, as we are seeing with surveillance wage
• setting in this surveillance uh wage setting in this bill.<00:22:48.320><c> We</c><00:22:48.720><c>
• They extract as much as possible from us, from our workforce, as we are seeing with surveillance wage
• They extract as much as possible from us, from our workforce, as we are seeing with surveillance wage
• </c><00:56:02.400><c> of</c><00:56:02.640><c> $23.50</c> at an average wage of $23.50 at an average wage

Bills: HF4598 , HF4884 , HF3732

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, correctional officer, security counselor, public safety dispatcher, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Transcript Highlights:

• tax burdens are passed along to customers in the form of higher prices, workers in the form of lower wages
• , and capital owners in the forms wages, and capital owners in the forms of<00:05:28.160><c> lower</c
• So, between '21 and '23, overall wages grew a healthy 10.8%. Retirement income grew a lot.
• Our EAs and TAs should be able to work one job and earn a living wage.
• Our EAs and TAs should be able to work one job and earn a living wage.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Food is such an important element of this and getting people to jobs and living wage jobs to actually
• ><c> to</c><00:17:28.040><c> to</c><00:17:28.160><c> actually</c><00:17:28.920><c> move</c> living wage
• </c><00:18:39.000><c> get</c><00:18:39.120><c> to</c><00:18:39.200><c> living</c><00:18:39.440><c> wage
• </c> support people to get to living wage support people to get to living wage jobs<00:18:40.040><c>
• job, get the help folks get living wage job, get the training<00:21:18.080><c> while</c><00:21:18.440

Keywords: Roll Call - 00:10 Discussion on SCR 61 – 01:46 Vote on SCR 61 – 11:33 Discussion on SR 18 – 12:30 Vote on SR 18 - 30:01 Discussion on Ky Residential Autism Services – 32:34 Questions & Comments – 56:56, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 61, sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Representative Matt Lockett. The resolution, as amended by committee substitute, would create a legislative task force tied to the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) framework to study Kentucky health policy, including Medicaid drug approvals, preventive and alternative therapies, holistic health education, oversight and transparency in health care, and research into integrative approaches. Supporters said the goal was to address chronic disease and reduce over-medication, while emphasizing the effort was not intended as an attack on agriculture or the pharmaceutical industry. The resolution received favorable expression and passed the committee 9-0. The committee then heard Senate Resolution 18 from Senator Neal, urging Kentucky to maximize participation in the federal SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program. Testimony from Jessica Klein of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy and Secretary Eric Friedlander explained that SNAP E&T provides job training, education, and support services for SNAP participants, and that the program is federally matched and does not require additional General Assembly funding in the normal course. Members discussed how the program works, whether it could create new state costs, and how it fits with efforts to connect food assistance, workforce development, and local agriculture. Questions also focused on whether SNAP spending can be steered toward healthier foods and farmers markets, including Kentucky’s Double Dollars program, which was described as helping participants buy produce, meat, and dairy at participating markets and some retailers. Several members expressed support for the workforce goals but asked for more information on fiscal impacts and purchasing data. Secretary Friedlander said the SNAP E&T funds are separate from nutrition benefits, and that the state match generally comes from employer, university, or workforce partner contributions rather than new state appropriations. Senator Herron explained her vote in favor by saying the program could help people gain education and employment and reduce reliance on SNAP over time. Senate Resolution 18 was then adopted by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on the issue of wages. on the issue of wages.
• </c><00:51:19.440><c> wages</c><00:51:19.920><c> to</c> are getting sufficient wages wages to are getting
• The state doesn't pay these wages.
• The state doesn't pay these wages.
• The state doesn't pay these wages.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of LPNs enabled to practice at a level that's clearly beyond their training, won't that dilute the wage
• all of those in every setting, how can we ensure that the overall quality of care and, again, those wage
• </c><00:13:33.160><c> and</c><00:13:33.840><c> the</c><00:13:33.960><c> number</c> that dilute the wage
• rates and and and and again those wage rates and and like<00:14:51.600><c> you</c><00:14:51.680><c>
• Like, how is that just not decrease in overall quality of care and wage rates and things like that?

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The couple sections in the bill relate to the subminimum wage that is currently in that can be paid to
• The couple sections in the bill relate to the subminimum wage that is currently in that can be paid to
• </c><00:58:46.400><c> for</c><00:58:46.640><c> people</c><00:58:46.799><c> with</c> subminimum wage for
• people with subminimum wage for people with disabilities.<00:58:47.760><c> Uh</c><00:58:48.480><c> the
• Uh the department does see the<00:58:49.599><c> minimum</c><00:58:50.000><c> wage</c><00:58:50.640><c

Bills: HF1007 , HF1152 , HF1671 , HF2258

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: tourism, World Junior Hockey Championships, funding, economic impact, sports events, Minnesota, economic development, livability, marketing, partnerships, labor and industry, electrical licensing, electrical inspection, continuing education, online course approval, Internet continuing education, power limited technician, maintenance electrician, master electrician, technology circuits

Transcript Highlights:

• year, counties across Minnesota are facing serious pressures due to the rising cost of inflation, wage
• year, counties across Minnesota are facing serious pressures due to the rising cost of inflation, wage
• pressures due to the rising cost of pressures due to the rising cost of inflation<00:45:31.440><c> wage
• c><00:45:31.760><c> adjustments</c><00:45:32.599><c> and</c><00:45:32.800><c> higher</c> inflation wage
• increases cost of County as far as wage increases cost of living<00:49:02.960><c> um</c><00:49:03.480

Bills: HF2254 , HF2302 , HF2502 , HF2315 , HF2475 , HF2086

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: HF2254, Minnesota child credit, baby bonus, child tax credit, income tax, individual income tax, tax relief, newborn, birth credit, family tax credit, tax refund, advance payment, Department of Revenue, taxable year, parenting, families with children, child credit, state regulations, families, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, President Trump's fiscal 2026 budget request proposed cutting funding for the wage and
• ><c> are</c><04:56:55.640><c> often</c><04:56:55.920><c> on</c> Wage and hour investigators are often
• on Wage and hour investigators are often on the<04:56:56.120><c> front</c><04:56:56.400><c> lines</c
• and hour division funding for the wage and hour division by<04:57:11.440><c> nearly</c><04:57:11.760
• and hour staff have number of wage and hour staff have fallen<04:57:23.600><c> from</c><04:57:23.800

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what led me to wait, there's actually an incentive for them to keep their wages low, even
• below CCAP level if keeping their wages below CCAP level if they're<00:39:51.119><c> getting</c><00:
• </c><00:40:45.119><c> And</c><00:40:45.280><c> I</c> a wage below a certain threshold.
• And I a wage below a certain threshold.
• </c> incentive for them to keep their wages incentive for them to keep their wages low<00:41:09.680><

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• funds available to eligible students in short-term workforce training programs in high-skill, high-wage
• funds available to eligible students in short-term workforce training programs in high-skill, high-wage
• And Washington essentially turning its back on working people, particularly those working in low-wage
• where we heard policy experts and we heard from the working poor about the billions of dollars in wage
• And as a matter of fact, because of the wage increases that are calculated in the decrease in funding

Summary: The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review heard the 2026-27 budget package, including AB 111 and AB 112 plus 16 trailer bills and two policy bills. Chair Laird described the budget as balanced over two fiscal years, with about $351.7 billion in total spending, $251.5 billion General Fund, and record reserves, while emphasizing investments in child care, homelessness, housing, Medi-Cal, education, courts, and other core programs. The Department of Finance presented each bill, outlining major items such as Medi-Cal adjustments tied to federal H.R. 1, child care and early learning funding, education and higher education investments, human services, developmental services, health, skilled nursing, resources, energy, transportation, housing, labor, state government, courts, taxation, and two policy bills on education governance and ballot measure placement. The LAO said it had no additional comments but was available for questions. The committee later achieved quorum and moved to member questions and comments, with no votes taken in the portion provided. Members largely focused on the budget’s fiscal structure and policy implications. Several senators praised staff and noted the compressed timeline, while Vice Chair Niello criticized the process as overly complex and burdensome. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas supported the budget but raised concerns about Medi-Cal changes for people with unsatisfactory immigration status, asking about access to care, the number affected, and county eligibility support; Finance said about two million people would transition to fee-for-service and that $39 million was included for care coordination, along with additional county eligibility funding. Senator Durazo said the agreement delayed, but did not resolve, cuts to immigrant health coverage, dental, and clinic payments, and argued that the budget did not create a true restoration mechanism. Senator Richardson highlighted hospital funding, public hospital definitions, DMV data protections, and court construction and maintenance needs, while Senator Grove questioned the sustainability of spending, the Medi-Cal savings assumptions, distressed hospital funding, Planned Parenthood transparency, developmental services changes, high-speed rail costs, and the property tax postponement program. Other members emphasized different priorities. Senator Blake Spear praised climate and parks investments, support for HAP homelessness funding with accountability, transit stabilization, and Care Court referral funding, while expressing concern about the lack of wildlife coexistence funding and long-term transit operating support. Senator Weber Pearson raised a technical concern in the health trailer bill regarding menopause language, arguing that the bill should refer to perimenopausal symptoms and should not narrow provider participation through contracting language. Throughout the hearing, Finance repeatedly explained that many of the budget’s savings came from reduced caseloads or delayed implementation of prior proposals, while some new spending was added to mitigate impacts and support administration of the changes. No final committee action or vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to see more, and generally speaking, they are Davis-Bacon wages.
• So, it's good wages that are coming to our communities to work on.
• </c> Davis-Bacon wages.
• So, it's good wages Davis-Bacon wages.
• So, it's good wages that<00:18:58.120><c> are</c><00:18:58.200><c> coming</c><00:18:59.000><c> to</c>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House considered the conference committee report on House File 1141, a housing bill, and moved to adopt the report and repass the bill as amended. Rep. Howard said the compromise would help build thousands of new homes, keep Minnesotans housed, and improve transparency and collaboration with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, while remaining budget-neutral. He highlighted investments in housing infrastructure bonds, greater Minnesota workforce housing, manufactured housing, EHPAP, supportive housing, and a new provision for greater public access at MHFA board meetings, while noting that some Senate proposals, including a manufactured housing bill of rights and a ban on private equity home purchases, were not included. Several members spoke in support of the compromise. Rep. Kozlowski emphasized the bill’s role in addressing housing instability, homelessness, and workforce shortages, citing investments in first-generation homebuyer assistance, supportive housing, and preservation of beds and units. Rep. Skraba and Rep. West also supported the bill, with Skraba praising the bipartisan process and West arguing the bill focused on supply-side solutions such as manufactured housing and easing development constraints. Rep. Schultz opposed the bill, arguing the money should instead go to school safety, fraud prevention, asset preservation, and lowering costs for taxpayers. After brief discussion, the House adopted the conference report and advanced the bill to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• Time off from an hourly wage job is very difficult for them. They are the working poor.
• Time off from an hourly wage job is very difficult for them. So I'm here on their behalf.
• They cannot afford to lose wages or risk job security.
• They cannot afford to lose wages or risk job security.
• They cannot afford to lose wages or risk job security.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't think that it has any impact on wage negotiations.
• And I don't think that it has any impact on wage negotiations.
• And on the wage issue, this is what will happen: you'll go to negotiations.
• And then number two, the COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
• It is the CPI-W, which is the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on clean energy, electrification, and grid planning. AB 1813 (Ward) would revise California’s community renewable energy program to better support community solar and storage, especially for renters and low-income customers, by tying credits to avoided costs and requiring at least 51% low-income participation. Supporters said the current CPUC program is unworkable and has stalled development; utilities raised concerns about cost shifts, CCA impacts, and the bill’s late substantive amendments. The bill was discussed but no vote was recorded in the excerpt. AB 2313 (Berman) would create a gas service line replacement alternative program allowing customers facing planned gas line replacement to instead choose electrification and receive an incentive. Supporters argued it would reduce long-term gas infrastructure costs and give customers more choice, while opponents warned it could divert money from safety-related gas replacement work, create affordability issues, and conflict with the recently approved SB 1221 pilot. Committee members pressed the author on safety, funding sources, and renter impacts; the author said the bill includes emergency replacement exemptions and is intended to lower costs for remaining ratepayers. AB 1975 (Schultz) would require the CPUC to develop a grid utilization metric and consider expanded grid management programs to better use existing distribution infrastructure and reduce the need for costly upgrades. Supporters said better utilization could save ratepayers billions and help integrate batteries and flexible load; utilities generally opposed rigid utilization targets but were open to further discussion. The committee passed AB 1975 on a 7-0 vote to Appropriations. AB 2612, on plug-in photovoltaic systems, passed 9-0 to Appropriations after supporters said it would expand access to low-cost solar and utilities requested clarification that they would participate in the standards process. AB 1849 (Pappin) would direct CARB to study the need for decarbonized gaseous fuels in hard-to-electrify sectors and for grid reliability. Supporters framed it as a technology-neutral assessment for sectors like industrial heat and backup power; opponents argued it was biased toward a preferred fuel pathway and duplicated existing state studies. After a lengthy exchange over the lack of a statutory definition for “decarbonized gaseous fuels,” the bill passed 10-0 to Appropriations. AB 2088 (Pappin) would authorize investor-owned utilities to own and operate thermal energy networks, with safeguards for safety, workforce, and ratepayers. Supporters described TENs as efficient, low-emission heating and cooling systems that can use geothermal energy or waste heat; the bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't think that it has any impact on wage negotiations.
• And I don't think that it has any impact on wage negotiations.
• And on the wage issue, this is what will happen. You'll go to negotiations.
• sure that we have the workers, and clearly we're not going to ask for people not to be paid a fair wage
• And then, number two, the COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of the high cost in these counties, we are now able to serve some of the lowest-wage families
• Current rates do not cover the true cost of care or support competitive wages or sustain our needed workforce
• True rate reform must ensure that every provider is paid a living wage.
• We desperately need to increase the rate to pay our staff...” “...the wage that they deserve.
• We desperately need an increase in our rate so that we can pay our staff a livable wage in San Diego.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of the high cost of these counties, we are now able to serve some of the lowest-wage families
• Current rates do not cover the true cost of care or support competitive wages or sustain our needed workforce
• True rate reform must ensure that every provider is paid a living wage.
• We desperately need to increase the rate to pay our staff the wage that they deserve.
• We desperately need an increase in our rate so that we can pay our staff a livable wage in San Diego.

Summary: The hearing was a joint budget discussion focused first on California preschool and child care, then on universal transitional kindergarten (TK), with later movement toward a reading-difficulties screener item. Members emphasized the need for a coordinated early childhood system that better serves families’ real schedules and needs, rather than forcing families to fit existing program structures. The preschool panel reviewed access, quality, workforce, facilities, and information systems, with repeated concern about whether current funding and program design are sufficient for infants, toddlers, three-year-olds, and full-day/full-year care. Witnesses from the Learning Policy Institute, CDSS, CDE, and community providers described major growth in preschool and child care enrollment, especially for two- and three-year-olds, but also noted persistent gaps, waitlists, workforce shortages, low reimbursement rates, and the need for more stable funding. Several witnesses urged expansion or permanence of two-year-old eligibility in CSPP, more support for mixed-delivery systems, facility conversion and renovation grants, better statewide enrollment and referral systems, and continued funding for one-time grants such as UPK coordinators and planning/implementation supports. Provider and parent testimony stressed that rate reform, enrollment-based reimbursement, and continued hold-harmless protections are needed to keep programs open and accessible. The TK panel reviewed the Governor’s budget proposal for full implementation of universal TK, including Proposition 98 funding for expansion and lower adult-to-child ratios, plus a multilingual learner screening implementation budget change proposal. LPI and CDE reported that TK enrollment has grown rapidly but uptake is now a little over half of eligible four-year-olds, with families citing lack of awareness, preference for other care, and logistical barriers such as location and hours. CDE and providers said the UPK planning and implementation grant, mixed-delivery planning grants, and UPK coordinators have been critical, but these one-time funds are set to sunset. Members pressed for more information on eligible population projections, full-day/full-year demand, teacher credential data, and how administrative credential programs are preparing leaders for early childhood settings. The committee held the issues open and requested follow-up data from the departments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Congress established $580 a month as representing 80 hours of work at the federal minimum wage.
• As I did the math roughly in my head, $580 is $80 a month on federal minimum wage.
• California minimum wage is nearly double that.
• earns $580 per month would comply with the requirement, and so in California, because our minimum wage
• For undocumented people, people with disabilities, low-wage workers, and transgender patients, Medi-Cal

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of federal H.R. 1 and related state budget actions on California’s health care system. Opening remarks framed the federal changes as a major threat to Medi-Cal, Covered California, hospitals, clinics, and the broader safety net, with warnings that millions could lose coverage and that costs would shift to providers, counties, and consumers. Testimony from the California Health Care Foundation and the Legislative Analyst’s Office focused on implementation challenges, the administrative burden of work requirements and more frequent renewals, the loss of federal funding, and the need for California to consider long-term structural changes to Medi-Cal, county safety-net programs, and cost containment. A Covered California enrollee, Chas Franklin, described sharply rising premiums for his family after losing subsidies, illustrating the personal impact of federal policy changes. Committee members raised concerns about whether premium increases were driven by H.R. 1 or insurer pricing, the cost of rebuilding county-based indigent care systems, and the need to account for the cost of inaction. Dr. Hernandez pointed to pre-ACA models such as Healthy San Francisco as examples of coordinated local safety-net care, while also emphasizing the importance of primary care, data interoperability, and the Office of Health Care Affordability in reducing waste and improving access. Department of Health Care Services officials then outlined the state’s implementation plan for H.R. 1, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, reduced retroactive coverage, cost-sharing, and immigration-related eligibility changes. They said the department would try to automate eligibility checks, expand outreach, and train counties and partners, but estimated up to 2 million Californians could lose coverage over time. Covered California reported that the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits and new federal marketplace rules are already raising costs and reducing enrollment, with an estimated 400,000 enrollees at risk of dropping coverage. County, hospital, and safety-net representatives warned that coverage losses will increase uncompensated care and strain local systems, while one coalition proposed a temporary state-funded coverage option as a bridge if full-scope Medi-Cal cannot be maintained. The hearing concluded with a policy analyst urging stakeholder engagement, immigrant protections, and new state revenue options to preserve coverage and offset federal cuts.