Transcript Highlights:

• of $100 billion for that year and a half that we actually did have a surplus.
• of $100 billion for that year and a half that we actually did have a surplus.
• And sometimes those positions require a great deal of experience or training.
• This bill would ban the exact safety mechanism SB 553 requires employers to have.
• California already requires hundreds of thousands of workers to receive CPR training.

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills focused largely on labor, education, workforce, and public employment issues. AB 65 would provide public school employees up to 14 weeks of leave with full benefits for pregnancy and pregnancy-related health issues; supporters said current rules force educators to exhaust sick leave and suffer long-term retirement penalties, while the bill’s author noted it mirrors budget trailer language. AB 1818 would change HEERA procedures for CSU bargaining by shifting certain renegotiation disputes to PERB; Teamsters and other labor groups supported it as a way to stop CSU from unilaterally refusing agreed raises, while CSU moved from opposed to neutral after amendments. AB 1940 would explicitly reference menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause in workplace protections; supporters said it would clarify rights and improve awareness, while business opposition argued existing reasonable-accommodation law already covers these issues and warned of expanded liability. AB 1534 would add guardrails for new short-term Workforce Pell programs, including tuition caps, limits on income-share agreements, and transparency around partnerships with unaccredited entities; the author later said the bill would be amended to include private institutions. AB 1896 would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public jobs during a specified period; supporters framed it as a public-trust measure, while police and public-safety groups opposed categorical exclusion and urged a more individualized vetting approach. AB 2300 would streamline distribution of WIOA workforce funds and reduce delays in local workforce board contracting, with supporters emphasizing faster service delivery and no reduction in accountability. AB 2223 would require CDCR to report standardized data on contracted medical and mental health staffing, vacancies, and costs, following an audit that found heavy reliance on contractors and poor transparency. AB 2483 would create a pathway and certification for formerly incarcerated firefighters to move into firefighting careers after release, with strong support from the author and witnesses who described the work as a real career path and reentry opportunity. AB 2142 would require temporary classified school employees working more than 75% of the school year to receive permanent-employee benefits and protections; school administrators and community college groups opposed it as too rigid for grant-funded and fluctuating positions. AB 2367 would require quarterly reporting from state-run health care facilities on vacancies, overtime, registry/contract staffing, and missed staffing minimums, building on state auditor recommendations; health care workers supported it as a transparency and accountability measure. Several measures were voted out of committee or placed on call. AB 1818, AB 1534, AB 2300, AB 2483, and AB 2223 all received do-pass votes to the Senate Appropriations Committee, though each was placed on call after roll call. AB 65 and AB 1940 also advanced on do-pass motions but were placed on call. AB 2142 received a do-pass vote with opposition and was placed on call. S.J.R. 15, a resolution urging Congress to protect California employers from higher federal unemployment taxes tied to the state’s UI debt, drew divided testimony: business groups supported it, while labor and some members argued California should solve the problem itself and keep the unemployment system solvent; the resolution was also placed on call. The transcript also included committee discussion about working with authors on amendments, especially for AB 1940 and AB 1534, and several members noted support or co-authorship while raising concerns about implementation details and fiscal impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have included in the bill that OSHA will be required to create those guidelines, and, as they did
• These are projects that would only require this one-time funding.
• The bill also requires coverage of medication administration to treat substance use disorder.
• The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to adopt regulations requiring public utilities
• The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to adopt regulations requiring public utilities

Bills: SB6 , SB62 , SB74 , SB90 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB133 , SB135 , SB182 , SB185 , SB193 , SB207 , SB217 , SB229 , SB233 , SB260 , SB262 , SB280 , SB281 , SB300 , SB306 , SB378 , SB382 , SB393 , SB403 , SB422 , SB427 , SB431 , SB434 , SB442 , SB452 , SB456 , SB468 , SB472 , SB487 , SB503 , SB6

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Keywords: cloud seeding, Nevada, water conservation, agriculture, Desert Research Institute, victim compensation, hate crimes, property remediation, criminal justice, vulnerable persons, elections, voter registration, mail ballots, candidate eligibility, cybersecurity, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires implementation on January 1, 2026.
• Does the Medicaid program require a premium to get Medicaid right now?
• But we’re not changing those requirements in this bill.
• Current statute requires performance-based agreements.
• This is a requirement. So DOE would require them or make the rules or the criteria.

Summary: The House convened on the final day of session, observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and for Representative Rosenwald’s father, then swore in and seated new members Boyles and Hodgers. The Speaker also outlined the chamber’s end-of-session priorities, including action on the budget and related conforming bills. The House then took up H.J.R. 5019, a constitutional amendment to expand Florida’s budget stabilization fund by raising the cap, requiring annual transfers, and allowing withdrawals for critical state needs. After sponsor explanations and questions about what would qualify as a critical need and how the fund might respond to possible federal funding cuts, the House adopted an amendment that added more flexibility for suspending transfers and withdrawals. The joint resolution then passed on final passage. Members next considered HB 7031, the tax package conference report. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or extends several sales tax exemptions and holidays, and makes changes affecting property taxes, local taxes, pari-mutuel taxes, and revenue distributions. Debate focused heavily on the new permanent exemption for ammunition and hunting-related items, the elimination of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related distributions, and the shift of some funding from recurring to nonrecurring status. Supporters argued the package provides tax relief and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents criticized the ammunition exemption and the reductions in recurring housing and transit support. The conference report was adopted and the bill passed. The House then passed HB 5017, which creates a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer from general revenue to retire state bonds early, and HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment. Finally, the chamber began explanation and questions on the General Appropriations Act conference report for fiscal year 2025-26, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major budget areas, including K-12 education, health care, transportation and economic development, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology, highlighting funding for school choice, Medicaid, housing, transportation infrastructure, Everglades restoration, workforce programs, cybersecurity, and technology modernization.

Transcript Highlights:

• Family Medical Education, to um reduce the base level of funding by 50% and add writer language to require
• </c><00:05:22.960><c> a</c><00:05:23.199><c> 100%</c> language to require a 100% language to require
• The Senate proposes it had a surplus.
• </c><00:28:18.799><c> for</c> language that removes a requirement for language that removes a requirement
• You know, we still have all of the monitoring requirements, all of the pre-award risk assessment requirements

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires implementation on January 1, 2026.
• But we're not changing those requirements in this bill.
• Current statute requires performance-based agreements.
• I do not know of any existing statute that requires charter schools to provide transportation.
• This is a requirement. So DOE would require them or make the rules or the criteria.

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires internal policies on restraint, seclusion, and abuse.
• They also are required to do other items, and I know I'm...
• Many first-time allergic reactions that require epinephrine do indeed happen at school.
• always met these funding requirements without needing mitigation.
• I think that does require more work.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum for much of the hearing and heard several bills out of order. SB 249 by Senator Umberg would move county board of education elections from the primary to the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters and many educators, argued the change would increase turnout and make the electorate more representative. The Orange County Board of Education opposed the bill, saying it would increase costs, reduce local control, and bury education races on crowded general-election ballots. The chair and members discussed turnout, cost, and representation, but the bill was held pending a quorum. Senator Grove presented SB 373, which adds safeguards for California students placed in out-of-state non-public schools through IEPs. The bill would require more robust LEA and CDE oversight, including annual site visits, student interviews, quarterly contact, stronger certification standards, and restrictions on prone, supine, and mechanical restraints. Testimony from a survivor of an out-of-state placement and from advocates emphasized abuse, neglect, and the need for stronger monitoring. There was broad support and no opposition testimony, but the measure was also held pending a quorum. Senator Ashby presented SB 568, the epinephrine in schools modernization act, to clarify and expand requirements for stocked epinephrine so they clearly apply to all public schools, including preschool programs. School nurses and medical experts said the bill would close gaps created by universal preschool and ensure life-saving treatment is available for anaphylaxis. The committee discussed dosing and implementation, and the bill was supported without opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 414, the Charter School Accountability Act, which would strengthen fiscal oversight, audit standards, and transparency for charter schools and authorizers. Supporters said it responds to fraud and audit findings while preserving charter flexibility; opponents, including school employees and teachers, said it did not go far enough on authorizer accountability and small-district oversight. After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 414 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also briefly heard SB 743 by Senator Cortese, which would create an equalization reserve account to provide additional funding to underfunded school districts and reduce funding inequities tied to ZIP code. The author said the bill would support student achievement and teacher retention over time. The transcript cuts off before testimony or action on SB 743 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the B&O exemption does not require the entity performing
• this bill and restoring the original intent of the law and closing this loophole to make sure all required
• Lastly, Substitute House Bill 2689 creates a minimum provider response rate requirement for a market
• We also support Senator Wilson's amendment to adjust the market rate survey response requirement found
• This amendment would establish a 40% response rate floor with requirements for continuous improvement

Bills: HB2487

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And because of that, ranked-choice voting requires candidates to reach out and communicate with all the
• After that was finished, the real work began as campaign volunteers went to surplus voters, where candidates
• could get an extra delegate by making the case for their candidate and watching those surplus voters
• It's also important to note that even if enacted by the legislature, the proposal would still require
• It's also important to note that even if enacted by the legislature, the proposal would still require

Bills: H4916 , H4262

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Keywords: ranked choice voting, instant runoff voting, RCV, Bedford, municipal elections, town offices, local option, ballot question, election reform, plurality voting, multi-seat elections, single-seat elections, town clerk, tie-breaking, ballot tabulation, Boston elections, voter preference, local government, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• able to save because they qualified as uses for the relief money, and so that gave us a significant surplus
• We're not talking about the surplus against a lot of headlines, right?
• One requires a two-thirds majority of the legislature to vote to appropriate money out of the ESF.
• The other one requires a two-thirds majority of the legislature to vote to appropriate...
• The other requires a three-fifths majority.

Bills: SJR4 , SJR 4

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One, that the requirement to use the state exam, and two, the requirement to have a license. to have
• in surplus.
• That's my question, is should we require, in some form or fashion, require, incentivize ensure that a
• So that requires a certain amount of competition. So, but there is this tension.
• We have a record surplus in our state budget.

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> constitutional requirements. constitutional requirements.
• </c><00:31:18.320><c> the</c> streamlines the process by requiring the streamlines the process by requiring
• Uh but even without deference required.
• > both</c><01:04:33.520><c> prepare</c> requires that agencies both prepare requires that agencies both
• And And just kind of requirements.

Bills: SF856 , HF4482 , HF3672 , HF1234 , HF4591 , HF3554 , HF936

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, HF4482, Minnesota Historical Society, state historic sites, historic site management, historic preservation, county historical society, local historical society, municipality, county government, admission fees, grants-in-aid, site operations, site maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• ESTATE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A TOOL. THE PROVISION CLARIFIES THE SPONSORS MUST USE THAT.
• SB 444 REQUIRES SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO RECEIVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING.
• SUCH PERSONNEL MUST ANNUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF TRAINING FORGET IT REQUIRES EACH SCHOOL SUCH
• WOULD THIS BE A REQUIREMENT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS WELL? >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MR.
• REQUIREMENTS OR UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think what you're seeing right now is Democrats' frustration after two years and $18 billion of surplus
• c><00:18:44.559><c> $18</c><00:18:45.120><c> billion</c><00:18:45.919><c> of</c><00:18:46.160><c> surplus
• </c><00:18:46.640><c> being</c> 2 years and $18 billion of surplus being 2 years and $18 billion of surplus
• We saw $18 billion of surplus being spent that year.
• We saw $18 billion of surplus being spent that year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They also oversee surplus property and recycling programs.
• Page 326 is the surplus property recycling core.
• Page 342, surplus property proceeds.
• Back real quick on the surplus property transfer on 347, and it looks like we're maybe selling more surplus
• Page 567 is the budget reserve required transfer.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements for the state<00:12:14.680><c> department</c><00:12:15.680><c> uh</c> Yes, ma'am.
• I mean, I look at those reporting requirements and I do think... maybe I don't I'm never look at the
• </c><00:49:15.000><c> Capital</c> be this would be for required Capital be this would be for required
• This is a bill from Senator Suvin requiring coverage for ear acupuncture.
• That's yours relative to the requirements under State Medicaid Program. We can ask.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• NO DETAILED RECEIPTS REQUIRED. INSUFFICIENT FRAUD WARNINGS. NO DAILY LIMITS AND NO REFUND POLICY.
• ONE, IT REQUIRES MANDATORY FRAUD WARNINGS OUTLINED ON PAGE 3.
• IT REQUIRES DETAILED ELECTRONIC RECEIPTS FOR BLOCK EXISTING CUSTOMERS WILL BE SEVERAL DAYS OR MORE.
• IT WILL REQUIRE A REFUND TO THE CUSTOMER FOR THE FIRST VIRTUAL CURRENCY TRANSACTION.
• DOES THIS BILL APPLY TO SURPLUS? >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.

Transcript Highlights:

• Surplus is funds from the previous fiscal year, while excess is funds in the current year.
• It's required by law.
• As operational requirements decrease, force levels are being responsibly reduced.
• As operational requirements decrease, force levels are being responsibly reduced.
• As you can see, the agency does not require any state general fund.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> workforce grant um, like this requires workforce grant um, like this requires super<00:09:12.880
• . requirements. requirements.
• </c><00:42:30.880><c> um</c> uh a a surplus um uh a a surplus um by<00:42:31.680><c> student.
• </c> behavior that requires intervention. behavior that requires intervention.
• ,</c> the local reporting system requirements, the local reporting system requirements, again,<01:08:

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Starting the session on time required new levels of collaboration.
• 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 heard many times billion Surplus we've heard many times on<00:14:23.920><c> that</c><00:14:24.320
• to report it so it's not merely required to report it so it's not merely if<00:26:15.960><c> you</c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And because of that, ranked-choice voting requires candidates to reach out and communicate with all the
• After that was finished, the real work began as campaign workers went to surplus voters.
• candidate, you could get an extra delegate, making the case for their candidate and watching those surplus
• and was subsequently signed into law by Mayor Michelle Wu on May 21 of last year, completing all required
• and it's also important to note that even if enacted by the legislature, the proposal would still require

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on ranked choice voting, focusing primarily on H. 4262 for Boston and H. 4916 for Bedford. Committee chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Keenan opened the hearing, limited testimony to three minutes per person, and heard from a long list of advocates, local officials, and organizations. The hearing ended with no further registered speakers and the committee adjourned after inviting additional written testimony. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of ranked choice voting. Supporters included RepresentWomen, Reclaim Roxbury, the Boston Teachers Union, Veterans for All Voters, MassVOTE, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Our Revolution Massachusetts, and Bedford residents and organizers. Speakers argued that ranked choice voting would reduce the spoiler effect, encourage coalition-building and less negative campaigning, improve majority support for winners, and expand voter participation and representation, especially for women, young voters, and historically marginalized communities. Several speakers emphasized local control and said Boston and Bedford should be allowed to decide for themselves through their home rule petitions. Boston City Councilors and the City Council president also testified in favor, describing the city’s low municipal turnout, the council’s approval of the petition, and the fact that Boston voters previously supported a statewide ranked choice voting measure. Councilor Rutsi L. Jean explained the petition’s development through council hearings and working sessions, while Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said the proposal would be subject to a binding referendum if enacted and urged the legislature to let Boston residents pursue top-four ranked choice voting. Bedford speakers similarly said their town meeting supported the idea but that legislative approval was still needed. No opposition testimony or votes were taken during the hearing.