Transcript Highlights:

• Approximately 80 percent, I believe the number is, of the surcharge that exists right now is assessed
• Approximately 80 percent, I believe the number is, of the surcharge that exists right now is assessed
• Going back to the Lifeline funding and USF reform, in California, we have grappled with the question
• “What’s happening in D.C. is there is a congressional working group on universal service reform.
• Undergoing a process to reform the carry of losses or obligations.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, we talk about workforce reform with regard to employers and workers getting better services
• That often creates a barrier to reform and an organizational and program culture.
• If Governor Leavitt is going to do workforce reform, the public assistance program should be part of
• and create the welfare reform movement of the 1990s.”
• That's why we have the 1996 reform.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Who is universally on board and supportive of the reform?
• But what I'm just trying to assess is the space that we're in right now.
• Are making or assessing a decision. Is that correct, Mr. Chair?
• That person may not be eligible even though they've shown reform and so on and so forth.
• For out-of-state placement, is this something that is being tracked as far as the reforms?

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, today's hearing is an assessment of the way the state currently taxes income on foreign subsidiaries
• Another point about this, which people talk about is, well, what about the 2017 tax reforms?
• It takes advantage of national, international reforms that I will talk about in a second.
• And the key thing, again, about this reform are two, actually.
• And the key thing, again, about this reform, are two, actually.

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. The LAO and Franchise Tax Board explained the basic mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and how water’s-edge generally excludes most foreign subsidiaries while worldwide reporting includes the full unitary group. FTB officials said water’s-edge filers are a small share of corporate filers but account for a large share of tax liability, and they described filing trends, industry mix, and the administrative steps needed to administer either system. Members and witnesses debated the policy trade-offs. Supporters of moving away from water’s-edge argued that it enables profit shifting, especially for large multinational and IP-heavy firms, and that eliminating it could raise significant revenue and improve fairness for smaller domestic businesses. They cited estimates of billions in potential revenue and said California already has the audit and reporting infrastructure to handle worldwide reporting, though some transition time would be needed. Opponents argued that worldwide reporting would tax foreign activity unrelated to California, create double taxation, increase compliance burdens and litigation, and could be difficult for foreign-based multinationals to document. They also warned that some of the revenue estimates are highly uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the risk of companies leaving California, the effect on intellectual property shifting, and whether federal or Supreme Court action could block a change. Witnesses generally said major firms would be unlikely to leave because California taxes sales rather than physical presence, but some costs could be passed on to consumers. The panel also discussed alternatives such as conforming to federal international tax rules like NCTI/GILTI and adding anti-abuse rules. No vote or bill action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• bias, often intersecting with race and other factors, can shape how juries interpret evidence and assess
• , just as the Legislature lacks the authority to mandate compliance or enforce proposed reforms.
• Past carceral reforms that further drain taxpayer resources without batting an eye.
• tool, while still allowing clinicians to use additional assessments they deem appropriate.
• tool, while still allowing clinicians to use additional assessments they deem appropriate.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Elusive white whale permitting reform.
• We also know that permitting reform is not exclusive to our committee.
• And lastly, the judicial review of agency actions must be reformed.
• However, CEQ's latest NEPA regulations, contradict these reforms.
• And there are a number of important bipartisan reforms like last year's Energy Permitting Reform Act

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: environmental review, permitting process, infrastructure, bipartisan legislation, economic growth, Nucor, West Virginia

Summary: The meeting focused on critical discussions surrounding the need for modernizing the federal environmental review and permitting processes. Witnesses from various sectors, including Nucor, provided testimony on the delays and costs associated with current regulations, emphasizing the impact on infrastructure and economic growth. Major projects in West Virginia, such as the Corridor H and Coalfield Expressways, were highlighted as examples of initiatives stalled by excessive permitting hurdles, prompting calls for bipartisan legislation to streamline these processes while maintaining environmental protections. The committee expressed a commitment to address these issues immediately, highlighting the urgency to enhance efficiency in permitting to facilitate economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1118 by Hughes relates to anesthesia coverage and patient assessment requirements for certain

Bills: SJR36 , SB26 , SJR3 , SJR48 , SJR50 , SJR51 , SCR15 , SCR17 , SB3 , SB5 , SB12 , SB18 , SB1001 , SB1002 , SB1003 , SB1004 , SB1005 , SB1006 , SB1007 , SB1008 , SB1009 , SB1010 , SB1011 , SB1012 , SB1013 , SB1014 , SB1015 , SB1016 , SB1017 , SB1018 , SB1019 , SB1020 , SB1021 , SB1022 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB1025 , SB1026 , SB1027 , SB1028 , SB1029 , SB1030 , SB1031 , SB1032 , SB1033 , SB1034 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1037 , SB1038 , SB1039 , SB1040 , SB1041 , SB1042 , SB1043 , SB1044 , SB1045 , SB1046 , SB1049 , SB1050 , SB1051 , SB1052 , SB1053 , SB1054 , SB1055 , SB1056 , SB1057 , SB1058 , SB1059 , SB1060 , SB1061 , SB1062 , SB1063 , SB1064 , SB1065 , SB1066 , SB1067 , SB1068 , SB1069 , SB1070 , SB1071 , SB1072 , SB1073 , SB1074 , SB1075 , SB1076 , SB1077 , SB1078 , SB1079 , SB1080 , SB1081 , SB1082 , SB1083 , SB1084 , SB1085 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1088 , SB1089 , SB1090 , SB1091 , SB1092 , SB1093 , SB1094 , SB1095 , SB1096 , SB1097 , SB1098 , SB1099 , SB1100 , SB1101 , SB1102 , SB1103 , SB1104 , SB1105 , SB1106 , SB1107 , SB1108 , SB1109 , SB1110 , SB1111 , SB1112 , SB1113 , SB1114 , SB1115 , SB1116 , SB1117 , SB1118 , SB1119 , SB1120 , SB1121 , SB1122 , SB1123 , SB1124 , SB1125 , SB1126 , SB1127 , SB1128 , SB1129 , SB1130 , SB1131 , SB1132 , SB1133 , SB1134 , SB1135 , SB1136 , SB1137 , SB1138 , SB1139 , SB1140 , SB1141 , SB1142 , SB1143 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SB1146 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1149 , SB1150 , SB1565

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, severance tax, oil and gas, Texas STRONG fund, economic stabilization, public health, property tax relief

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1207 directed reforms to improve the targeting of the California Climate Credit.
• Well, we know that we have to do those assessments.
• So I would argue that that reform has actually made us more proactive.
• And how are risks assessed?
• So the utilities are responsible for assessing their risks.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds. Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget. Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• consumer access to medications, especially as more patients need access to specialty drugs, and reforming
• Philip Randolph Institute believes meaningful reform of the 340B program must establish clear, uniform
• We must demand real reform to ensure 340B benefits the community.
• We must demand real reform to ensure 340B benefits the community.
• It undermines the well-recognized need for reform to align 340B with its original intent, which is to

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• And I can assess that, you know, with my doctor.
• assessment.
• Assessment, not the underlying predictive assessment.
• They use that to make an assessment.
• Yeah, because you are allowed to make assessments on a doctor's assessment.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy insurance-focused agenda, including special-order bills on wildfire mitigation, Fair Plan accountability, aerial imagery, genetic testing, and wildfire moratoriums. AB 1888 would require California Safe Homes Grant Program work to be performed by a skilled and trained workforce at prevailing wage; it drew support from the author, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, and labor representatives, with no opposition heard. AB 1680, the “Make-It-Fair Act,” would impose accountability and consumer-protection reforms on the California FAIR Plan in response to Department of Insurance examination findings; it passed out on a do-pass motion to Appropriations, though the FAIR Plan Association remained opposed unless amended. AB 1559 would require notice and access rights when insurers use aerial images of homes and allow in-person inspection requests; it passed on a do-pass motion to Privacy and Consumer Protection, with broad support and one “concern” witness. The committee also took up AB 1798, which would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information, including direct-to-consumer genetic testing, for underwriting below a $1.5 million coverage threshold. Supporters, including the author, the Insurance Commissioner, the ALS Association, and several consumer and biotech groups, argued the bill would reduce fear of genetic discrimination and encourage testing and research. Opponents from life insurance and financial advisor groups argued the bill could impair risk-based underwriting and raise premiums, especially in the middle market. After extensive back-and-forth on the distinction between predictive genetic data and doctor-assessed medical risk, the bill passed as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection on a do-pass vote, with several members voting no. AB 2038 would extend wildfire-related nonrenewal moratoriums from two to three years for total-loss homes and from one to two years for homes in and around fire zones. Supporters said the change better matches the real rebuilding timeline after major fires and protects displaced homeowners from losing coverage while rebuilding. Insurers and trade groups opposed the measure, warning that longer moratoriums could force carriers to reduce exposure elsewhere and worsen the broader availability crisis. The bill passed to Appropriations on a do-pass vote. The committee also approved AB 1800, which adds eyewear to portable electronics insurance coverage, and moved a consent calendar of additional bills, including AB 1554, AB 1683, AB 1781, and AB 2471. Later, AB 2198 was introduced to clarify title-rate filing responsibilities between title insurers and underwritten title companies and to require rate schedules to be posted publicly.

Transcript Highlights:

• tool, which is just a fancy term for a risk assessment tool.
• After this inspection, priority assessment and risk assessment tool has been put into place to ensure
• Added together to create that final risk assessment.
• And so each month a county is resorted based upon the risk assessment.
• So we really appreciate your work on those things and for that reform, and we think that other reforms

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It was that Medicaid reform task force. I was actually here.
• What is a level of care assessment and what does it determine?
• Also as part of the assessment process, there is an assessment that's done that helps determine the number
• Is it being assessed correctly? Is it meeting people's needs?
• The system is broken and needs serious reform.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know the chairman could speak quite eloquently to the reforms of the entitlement programs that
• to 0.5% for fiscal year 2027 and continue Regulatory Racing Assessment to 0.5% for fiscal year 2027
• pertains to the government efficiency and reform initiative savings target of $100 million.
• These reforms are necessary to ensure that people who need the benefits can get them.
• And these reforms are included, and they will become law.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They offer real solutions through both immediate stabilization and long-term reform.
• They offer real solutions through both immediate stabilization and long-term reform.
• They offer real solutions through both immediate stabilization and long-term reform.
• I'm here to share my assessment.
• I'm here to share my assessment of the several bills related to the foundation inflation index.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education opened a hybrid public hearing on a large slate of bills related to school buildings, school finance, technology, data privacy, safety, and related education issues. Chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlined procedures for the hearing, including two-minute testimony limits and the plan to group similar bills together. Several bills drew no testimony and were closed without further discussion, while others drew extensive testimony from legislators, school officials, parents, advocates, and educators. A major theme was school safety and student well-being. Lori Al-Hadeth testified in support of bills on alert systems in public schools, describing the loss of her daughter in the Parkland shooting and urging adoption of Alyssa’s Law-style panic alert technology. Representative Gallagher and disability advocates also supported a bill authorizing, but not requiring, airway clearance devices in schools, arguing they could save lives in choking emergencies and provide an option for people who cannot use the Heimlich maneuver. Another bill on reducing cafeteria waste drew support from a legislator and a Lexington sustainability official, who said installing dishwashers during construction would reduce waste and long-term costs. Much of the hearing focused on Chapter 70 school funding and the inflation cap. Senator Pavel Payano, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Senna, and multiple local officials and school committee members from Bridgewater, Chelsea, Groton-Dunstable, and other districts argued that the 4.5% cap on inflation adjustments has left schools underfunded during years of high inflation, forcing layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs and student supports. They urged bills to eliminate the cap, restore lost funding, increase the Commonwealth’s share of the foundation budget, or create commissions to study reforms. Testimony also highlighted the impact on special education, English learners, and low-income students, with Chelsea witnesses saying the cap has cost their district about $7 million annually. School construction and MSBA reform were the other major topic. AIA Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools, Lynn officials, and AFT Massachusetts described aging facilities, overcrowding, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of financing new schools under current reimbursement rules. Boston officials said the district has many pre-World War II buildings and has only built a handful of new schools in decades, while Lynn leaders said reimbursement rates have fallen well below the statutory 80% because of caps and ineligible costs. Witnesses urged modernization of the MSBA program, higher reimbursement rates, and more resources for school construction. The committee also heard support for a bill to study the adequacy and equity of the school building program, and chairs indicated some bills would be closed after no one signed up to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• So last year, when we put together the budget bill that took several different CEQA reform bills and
• That was a long-overdue reform.
• Instead of real reform, this bill picks winners and losers by deciding.
• There are quarterly reports that have been very useful for assessing our furtherance of state energy
• This bill makes some long-overdue reform. In the country for insurance.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bail reform does not work, and it will not work.
• Until bail reform is addressed properly, crime is going to continue. Thank you.
• Bail reform does not work, and it will not work.
• Until bail reform is addressed properly, crime is going to continue. Thank you.
• Grayson speak about the risk assessment.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is exactly the kind of reform that we need to win.
• I agree it needs to be reformed. So, what I'd like to do is revamp Phase 3.
• Sankar entitled "The Defense Reformation," consisting of 19 pages.
• How would you assess it?
• Use that to drive signal and reformation. That's what we're trying to do.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• I would note that acquisition reform is necessary, but it is not sufficient.
• As the RECI member talked about, it's not just about acquisition reform, it's about how we buy.
• I'm not referring to acquisition reform here, such as different ways of doing contracting, but to the
• What's your assessment of the strategy.
• In 2012, I was chartered by DOD to do the first assessment of what the force posture would be needed

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• The second study is an assessment of behavioral health workforce needs across the state, identifying
• The second study is an assessment of behavioral health workforce needs across the state, identifying
• This is essentially a needs assessment of the workforce.
• So that's primarily what we're thinking about with the needs assessment.
• And that's part of what we're going to be doing in our needs assessment process.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities subcommittee on workforce supports met with Chair Andrew Lerault presiding. Members completed roll call, approved the August 2025 minutes, and then heard a presentation from Amy Doyle, director of the Behavioral Health Workforce Center at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. Doyle described the center’s launch in September 2024 and its legislative mandate to study behavioral health payment rates, workforce needs, and licensure/certification barriers, with an emphasis on recruitment, retention, capacity building, diversity/equity, and sustainability. She also shared data on unmet behavioral health needs, ED boarding, workforce shortages, aging and turnover in nursing and direct care, and the need to improve data collection on non-licensed workers and populations such as people with developmental disabilities and autism. Committee members asked questions about what provider types were included in the workforce data and whether DDS-related residential and direct support roles were captured. Doyle said the center is still working to define and measure the full behavioral health workforce, including non-licensed roles, and welcomed follow-up on missing data sources. Members suggested additional sources such as CHIA and the Association of Developmental Disability Providers’ workforce survey. Doyle noted that the center is working with CHIA and that new licensure renewal surveys for behavioral health and allied mental health professionals will begin in 2025, which should improve future workforce data. The discussion also touched on the Health Policy Commission’s broader workforce findings, including nurse attrition, burnout, low wages, and the importance of career ladders and advanced training. Doyle said the center’s first policy recommendations will come from its rate study, expected in the next one to two months, and will likely focus on capacity building and sustainability. After the presentation, members thanked Doyle and discussed subcommittee leadership. Chair Lerault announced he was stepping down, and Chris White volunteered to serve as co-chair; the committee agreed to move forward with that arrangement and to revisit FY26 goals once new leadership is in place. The meeting then adjourned by motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd also like to focus on future costs that lie ahead, as well as offer a framework for how to assess
• With respect to the assessment of market activity, the ISO's Independent Department of Market Monitoring
• In addition to reviewing the plans, our Energy Safety also conducts wildfire safety culture assessments
• Matt Friedman here representing the Utility Reform Network.
• , permitting reform, land use reform that can enable that type of growth.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all