Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021, the city initiated a formal process to lease approximately 49 acres of surplus city property
• In 2021, the city initiated a formal process to lease approximately 49 acres of surplus city property
• We've used the Surplus Land Act ...taking unused space.
• We've used the Surplus Land Act to further this project, and we're actually building almost twice as
• many affordable housing units than are required by the Surplus Land Act.

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to environmental quality, housing, transportation, and waste policy. SB 1375, by Senator Cortese, would create a narrow CEQA exemption category for certain transit and rail projects that have already undergone extensive environmental review. Supporters, including VTA, the City of San Jose, BART, Caltrain, MTC, and Climate Reality Silicon Valley, said it would reduce duplicative review and speed projects like the Diridon Station modernization. Committee members emphasized added amendments requiring displacement, construction-impact, and natural resources plans, and the bill passed 5-0 as amended to Transportation. The committee then took up SB 1031 on compostable plastics labeling. The author and supporters such as Californians Against Waste and the California Compost Coalition argued the bill would reduce consumer confusion, curb contamination in compost and recycling streams, and direct OEHHA to study health and environmental impacts. Opponents including manufacturers, BPI, retailers, and other industry groups said the bill would effectively ban compostable products in California, harm businesses, and fail to fix the underlying National Organics Program issue. After extensive discussion about labeling, composting capacity, and costs, the bill passed 2-2 on call to Appropriations. SB 958, relating to the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego, was presented next; supporters said it would help move forward a large housing and mixed-use project on city-owned land after years of review and voter approval, and it passed 3-0 on call to Local Government. SB 1075, the Clean Air Promise, drew the most extensive debate. The bill would strengthen implementation and enforcement of AB 617 community emissions reduction plans and local plans in overburdened communities. Environmental justice advocates and youth supporters backed the measure, while local governments, business groups, air district representatives, and industry groups warned it would create uncertainty, add land-use constraints, and act as a housing and cost driver. The author accepted several committee amendments and said the bill was still being worked on, but the motion to pass it to Local Government resulted in a 2-2 tie and the bill remained on call. SB 1064, by Senator Dahle, would reduce clean truck check testing frequency for low-use heavy-duty vehicles and equipment from twice a year to once a year. Agricultural and trucking witnesses supported it as a practical, cost-saving change, while air quality advocates opposed weakening a program they said prevents excess emissions and protects public health. The bill passed 4-0 on call to Transportation. Finally, SB 1258 was presented as a revised measure on remediation of hazardous waste sites on the Cortese list. The author said the committee amendments replaced the bill’s original approach, but he continued to argue that remediation should be aligned with housing development so contaminated infill sites can be cleaned up and built on more efficiently. Developers and environmental consultants supported the concept, saying current timing rules create risk and leave sites idle, while the committee continued to hear testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021, the city initiated a formal process to lease approximately 49 acres of surplus city property
• In 2021, the city initiated a formal process to lease approximately 49 acres of surplus city property
• We've used the Surplus Land Act... ...taking unused space.
• We've used the Surplus Land Act to further this project, and we're actually building almost twice as
• many affordable housing units than are required by the Surplus Land Act.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we have pockets of surplus nurses in certain areas, let's say Southern California. out of state
• Now, we have pockets of surplus nurses in certain areas, let's say Southern California.
• So we hear the stories around there being pockets of surplus and pockets of shortage.
• We are lucky to have many options, but everyone is backlogged with the surplus of clients.
• We are lucky to have many options, but everyone is backlogged with the surplus of clients.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with opening remarks emphasizing legislative oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and the need to evaluate whether licensing boards are efficient and effective. BRN leaders reported progress since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, improved consumer satisfaction, expanded nursing program enrollment, and new statewide data collection on faculty. Committee members then questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international licensure, English proficiency, online nursing education and clinical placements, military and veteran pathways, workforce shortages, diversity in nursing, the LVN-to-RN 30-unit option, and the role of the board’s RN executive officer. The board explained California’s tiered APRN system, the NCLEX and national certification requirements, the 500-hour direct patient care clinical requirement, and its use of nursing education consultants and board-approved programs to oversee schools and placements. Members also discussed retention problems, especially for new graduates, and the board said shortages are often driven by burnout, lack of support, and employers’ reduced use of new-grad training programs. Public comment largely centered on proposed BRN sunset issues affecting advanced practice nursing, education oversight, and workforce development. Nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthesiology groups generally supported the BRN sunset report but asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, support for APRN-to-RN delegation authority, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and protection of the current population-focus model. The California Medical Association raised concerns about out-of-state nurse practitioners practicing independently without California transition-to-practice requirements, specialty delegation, ratios, and data collection. Higher education representatives from UC, CSU, private nonprofit colleges, and nursing associations urged the board to reduce duplicative documentation, modernize clinical placement rules, improve parity between in-state and out-of-state programs, and address bottlenecks in securing clinical sites. An online nursing school argued that California should create a pathway for distance-learning programs so students can complete clinicals in-state rather than traveling out of state. Several speakers also highlighted the need to expand access for rural and underserved communities, support diverse and nontraditional students, and preserve affordable pathways into nursing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we have pockets of surplus nurses in certain areas, let's say Southern California... out of state
• Now, we have pockets of surplus nurses in certain areas, let's say Southern California.
• So we hear the stories around there being pockets of surplus and pockets of shortage.
• We are lucky to have many options, but everyone is backlogged with the surplus of clients.
• We are lucky to have many options, but everyone is backlogged with the surplus of clients.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we have pockets of surplus nurses in certain areas, let’s say Southern California…” No text provided
• So we hear the stories around there being pockets of surplus and pockets of shortage.
• So we hear the stories around there being pockets of surplus and pockets of shortage.
• We are lucky to have many options, but everyone is backlogged with the surplus of clients.
• We are lucky to have many options, but everyone is backlogged with the surplus of clients.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and the need to evaluate whether licensing boards are functioning efficiently. BRN leadership reported major process improvements since the last sunset review, including faster license processing, streamlined enforcement, improved consumer satisfaction, and growth in nursing education enrollment. Members questioned the board extensively about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international licensure, online nursing programs and clinical placements, military pathways, the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option, workforce shortages, diversity in nursing, and retention of new graduates. The board explained California’s tiered APRN system, the NCLEX and national certification requirements, clinical hour standards, and its role in approving programs and assigning nursing education consultants. Public testimony on the BRN was mixed: nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthetist groups largely supported the sunset report and especially the proposed APRN-to-RN delegation language, while physician and hospital stakeholders raised concerns about out-of-state NP practice, specialty delegation, ratios, and the need for regulatory parity and clearer standards. Higher education representatives urged reduced duplication in documentation, more flexible clinical placement rules, and better coordination to address bottlenecks in placements and faculty hiring. The committee did not take a vote during the excerpted BRN discussion. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California, where the board’s president began an overview of the board’s mission, structure, vacancies, and public-protection role under the Physical Therapy Practice Act. The transcript excerpt ends before substantive questioning, testimony, or any action on the physical therapy item is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is our investments have been doing very well, and we have a very large surplus in the GET
• account right now. ...a very large surplus in the GET account right now, over $600 million, above and
• in the Legislature added a piece that said you can also use GET dollars, especially if there's a surplus

Bills: HB2438, HB2422, HB2525, HB2586, HB2337, HB2311, HB2286, HB2324, HB2363, HB2098, HB2088

Keywords: education, scholarship, early childhood, funding, higher education, early education, support, degree seekers, private security, security guard, armed security guard, security company, licensing fees, license renewal, endorsement fee, fingerprints, background check, workforce retention, low-wage workers, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• liability on their own books that they handle based on the premiums they collect and they have their own surplus
• And then there's a layer... ...based on the premiums they collect and they have their own surplus.
• there's a layer there in the private market where companies can either self-insure through having surplus

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met with a quorum and began with member introductions and remarks from the chair emphasizing the committee’s focus on government efficiency, accountability, and oversight of executive branch agencies. Members shared their districts and backgrounds, with several noting hurricane recovery in their communities and a shared interest in reducing bureaucracy and improving service to Floridians. The committee’s only presentation was from Chris Spencer, Executive Director of the State Board of Administration, who gave an overview of the SBA’s governance structure, investment responsibilities, and divestment policies. He explained the SBA’s management of more than $257 billion in assets, including the Florida Retirement System, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, and Florida PRIME, and reviewed the Protecting Florida’s Investments Act restrictions covering Northern Ireland, Cuba, Venezuela, Israel, Sudan, Iran, and China. He also described the implementation of HB 7071, including the required divestment from direct holdings in Chinese companies, and said the SBA had reduced its direct Chinese holdings from 33 companies totaling over $172 million to 13 companies totaling about $64 million, with completion expected ahead of the September 1, 2025 deadline. Members asked detailed questions about the Israel boycott list, Morningstar and MSCI, how the SBA gathers information, whether Cuba’s federal designation changes affect Florida law, how companies are removed from scrutinized lists, and whether divestment timing could affect returns. Spencer said the SBA uses public and paid research sources, gives companies a 90-day cure period in some cases, and brings list changes to the trustees for approval. He also explained that the China benchmark change is intended to reduce passive exposure while still allowing active investment decisions, and said the PFIA restrictions have had a modestly positive overall effect on pension performance. The chair also asked about the Florida Retirement System funded ratio and the CAT Fund’s capacity; Spencer said the pension fund is at 80.7% funded, that actuarial assumptions are reviewed regularly, and that the CAT Fund currently has more than $10.5 billion in liquid claims-paying capacity and is expected to remain well positioned for hurricane losses. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the next year, because we had that big surplus, who went to...
• And then the next year, because we had that big surplus, who went to...
• And then the next year, because we had that big surplus, it went to $214 billion.
• And then because we overestimated the surplus somehow by $47 billion, it went down to the next budget

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused first on courthouse facility funding and then on the Governor’s proposed court facilities budget. Legislative Analyst’s Office staff outlined the state’s court-facilities funding structure, including the 2002 shift of trial court facility responsibility from counties to the state, the main funding accounts, the insolvency of the construction fund, the move to General Fund support, the backlog of deferred maintenance, and the large estimated cost of needed new construction and repairs. Judicial Council representatives and judges from Los Angeles and Mendocino described severe seismic, safety, ADA, security, and maintenance problems, with examples of floods, elevator failures, asbestos-related closures, and long-delayed or underfunded projects. They argued that chronic underinvestment is making facilities less safe and more expensive to maintain, and that courthouse conditions directly affect access to justice and public confidence. Committee members pressed witnesses on how projects are prioritized, whether population and filing volume are adequately reflected, why reassessments have not been updated since 2019, how long acquisitions and construction take, and what level of funding would actually close the gap. Members also questioned the fixed county contribution, the use of General Fund backfills, and whether the state should set a clearer long-term funding target for the judicial branch. LAO staff emphasized that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other budget priorities and said the Legislature must decide its appetite for funding. Judicial Council staff said the current prioritization was based on the 2019 reassessment and trailer bill language, that a new reassessment would cost about $14 million, and that acquisition delays are often driven by willing-seller issues and CEQA requirements. The chair asked for written testimony and indicated the committee would consider a future field hearing. In the second panel, Judicial Council and Department of Finance representatives reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for court facilities. They said the proposal includes continued backfill for the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, several new construction and reappropriation items, relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building, and completion of a fire/life-safety project in Orange County. A court executive from Ventura testified that courthouse conditions affect public trust, employee morale, and the quality of service, citing roof leaks, elevator breakdowns, and HVAC failures as examples of why sustained facilities funding is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We changed, we turned that $239 million projected hole into a $20 million surplus with just $22 million
• $239 million hole, projected hole into a $20<00:05:06.960><c> million</c> $20 million $20 million surplus
• 10.240><c> $22</c><00:05:10.720><c> million</c><00:05:11.440><c> of</c><00:05:11.759><c> extra</c> surplus
• with just $22 million of extra surplus with just $22 million of extra money<00:05:12.639><c> because

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , and there's only so much money, especially with a $6 billion deficit when we had an $18 billion surplus
• , and there's only so much money, especially with a $6 billion deficit when we had an $18 billion surplus
• , and there's only so much money, especially with a $6 billion deficit when we had an $18 billion surplus
• , and there's only so much money, especially with a $6 billion deficit when we had an $18 billion surplus

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we went back to two years ago; we had an $18 billion surplus.
• to two years ago uh we had an $18 back to two years ago uh we had an $18 billion<00:14:22.079><c> Surplus
• we've</c><00:14:22.680><c> heard</c><00:14:22.880><c> many</c><00:14:23.320><c> times</c> billion Surplus
• we've heard many times billion Surplus we've heard many times on<00:14:23.920><c> that</c><00:14:24.320

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• they take into account this growth that we have seen here from February to May, and they have the surplus
• The surplus for this fiscal year is $585.8 billion.

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call, prayer, and approval of the previous minutes. Members then adopted a resolution honoring Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service, with remarks praising her legislative work, constituent services, leadership, and emergency response roles. McDonald thanked the committee, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, flag, and commemorative coin. The committee received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and a projected surplus of $585.8 million. The executive subcommittee report was adopted, covering emergency rules for DHS and the Department of Education, school district waiver requests, committee fund allocations, cancellation of the July ALC meeting, and authorization for subcommittees to meet in July on urgent matters. The administrative rules report was also adopted after members noted that most rules were approved, with a few pulled by agencies or held. Members then heard a lengthy exchange on the Arkansas Education Department’s ClassWallet contract and delays in expense review for education savings account payments. Department officials said they were meeting regularly with ClassWallet, enforcing contract standards, keeping some reviews in-house, and adding staff and technology improvements to speed processing while maintaining oversight. The committee also adopted reports from Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel, including a Department of Commerce reallocation tied to a broader shared-services realignment. Under review of communications, members filed several retirement system investment items as reviewed, approved rural community grant funding, gave favorable advice for state park additions, approved special maintenance funding for state parks, and filed Office of State Technology service-rate changes as reviewed. The meeting concluded with no new business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that before the $310 million that we have in surplus?
• Will that reduce the surplus from $310 down to $163.5? I believe that is correct. That's correct.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1001, sponsored by Representative Les Eaves, which would lower the individual income tax rate to 3.7% retroactive to the current year and reduce the corporate rate to 4.1% beginning in 2027. Eaves argued the bill continues Arkansas’s recent tax-cut strategy, would provide broad relief to working families, and would keep the state competitive while preserving future surpluses rather than cutting existing services. He and Representative Bray emphasized that prior tax cuts have benefited taxpayers and supported economic growth. Several opponents testified against the bill, including representatives from Arkansas Appleseed, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a pastor, and individuals speaking about disability services and food insecurity. They argued Arkansas cannot afford further revenue reductions given needs in public education, early childhood care, Medicaid and food assistance, rural hospitals, and supported living services. Witnesses said the tax cut would disproportionately benefit higher earners while providing little or no relief to lower- and middle-income families, and urged the committee to prioritize public investments over tax cuts. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to limit witness testimony to five minutes each. Representative Eaves closed on the bill and moved to pass it. Following discussion, the committee voted to pass HB 1001, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 4 is a transfer; these are all transfers in the general revenue allotment reserve fund or surplus
• Section 4 is a transfer, these are all transfers in the general revenue allotment reserve fund or surplus

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A forum taxes through the use of certain surplus state revenue referred the Committee on appropriations
• HAR 76 by Derazio proposing a constitutional amendment appropriating certain surplus revenue to school

Transcript Highlights:

• reducing school district maintenance and operations of ad valorem taxes through the use of certain surplus
• Using a constitutional amendment appropriating certain surplus revenue to school district bond debt,

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nine years, nine to 10 years before there was any surplus before our taxpayers saw a TABOR refund.
• </c><02:55:02.000><c> any</c> tab chance of a Taber surplus. any tab chance of a Taber surplus. any chance
• surplus surplus before<02:55:20.800><c> our</c><02:55:21.120><c> taxpayers</c><02:55:21.680><c> saw<
• </c> before there was another Taber surplus before there was another Taber surplus before<02:57:07.200
• You are eliminating people's surplus check. Their refund check goes away.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They already have that money set aside, so they're generating quite a surplus, and according to the RSA
• :20.880><c> a</c> set aside so they're generating quite a set aside so they're generating quite a surplus
• and according to the RSA they surplus and according to the RSA they have<00:06:23.919><c> no</c><00:
• as a surplus, they can offer<00:06:49.919><c> that</c><00:06:50.160><c> money</c><00:06:50.639><c> to
• a said surplus to the legislative body for approval at town meeting.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I'm upset at one o'clock in the morning because insert major hardware store brand doesn't respond
• because insert o'clock in the morning because insert major<01:36:36.800><c> um</c><01:36:37.280><c> hardware
• </c><01:36:37.679><c> store</c><01:36:38.000><c> brand</c><01:36:38.320><c> doesn't</c> major um hardware
• store brand doesn't major um hardware store brand doesn't respond<01:36:38.800><c> to</c><01:36:38.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe it becomes a property, a surplus property that can be sold, whatever. It's irrelevant.
• recognition that after COVID not all the regional centers drew down their annual budgets, and there was a surplus
• that that after COVID not all the regional centers drew down their annual budgets and there was a surplus

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee held an invited-testimony hearing on LR 425, which examines the Whitehall campus in Lincoln and possible long-term options for youth currently served there. Chair Brian Hardin explained that Whitehall houses two separate programs for adolescent males: a substance use program and a youth-who-sexually-harm program. Testimony from DHHS officials described Whitehall as a Joint Commission-accredited psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) that provides about 40 hours of weekly programming, family involvement, school services, and community reintegration activities. Officials said the department is evaluating whether the programs should remain at Whitehall or move to another state-owned facility, with Hastings described as the department’s preferred alternative because it is more residential in design than a youth rehabilitation treatment center (YRTC).