Transcript Highlights:

• to government action, would be another question as well.
• The conversation also indicated that might have to go to State and Local Government as well.
• </c><01:34:12.239><c> is</c> from state and local government is from state and local government is supposed
• As a member of the State and Local Government Committee, I have no issue with bringing it there.
• There are some that have a limited trial subscription, but it's very few functions.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Children's issues in state government, with aligned outcomes in policy, improving the front door
• </c> splitting of um uh you know functions splitting of um uh you know functions between<00:53:04.400
• </c> in the middle of several um functional in the middle of several um functional analyses<00:55:47.880
• He said the electronic attendance recordkeeping is a program integrity function.
• </c><01:31:04.920><c> that</c> um is a program Integrity function that um is a program Integrity function

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So that implemented in our government.
• </c> and dictated by the federal government. and dictated by the federal government.
• But given that all of these functions are necessary functions, at least as far as the Department of Health
• </c> have a more efficient government have a more efficient government and<01:08:05.839><c> my</c><01
• </c> may just be a little higher functioning may just be a little higher functioning than<01:08:44.719

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• government, in this building.
• government, in this building.
• government, in this building.
• government, in this building.
• government, in this building.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is an government shutdown.
• </c> bringing together an all of government bringing together an all of government uh<00:25:38.640><c
• and it needs to function the way you all foresee it to function. changes in government, right?
• and it needs to it needs to function and it needs to function<00:57:21.440><c> the</c><00:57:21.680>
• </c> kind of function is. kind of function is.

Summary: The interim task force on disaster prevention and resiliency met for its fourth meeting and focused heavily on insurance markets, affordability, and mitigation. Cochairs noted they are working toward recommendations for a later fall meeting. The main presentation came from David Snyder of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, who said the insurance industry sees itself as part of the problem and part of the solution because it ultimately pays for losses created by natural conditions, development choices, and construction practices. Snyder described rising losses from natural catastrophes, inflation-driven increases in rebuilding and repair costs, more development in disaster-prone areas, wildfire exposure, severe convective storms, hail, and roof damage. He argued that Kentucky should avoid the mistakes he attributed to California, where regulatory responses contributed to a strained insurance market and greater reliance on the FAIR Plan. He said Kentucky’s private market appears to be functioning better, with relatively few FAIR Plan policies, and urged lawmakers to preserve that market through risk-based rates and policies that do not worsen availability. He recommended a broad mitigation strategy involving stronger building codes, land-use decisions, stormwater infrastructure, public access to risk data, and incentives for resilient construction. He highlighted programs such as the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, fortified-home standards, wildfire-prepared community practices, and examples from Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida showing that mitigation can produce quick returns and insurance discounts. He also suggested catastrophe savings accounts, flexible coverage options, and a whole-of-government approach that includes the insurance department, building-code agencies, first responders, FEMA, NFIP, and NOAA. In questions, a legislator asked about the prognosis if carriers continue exiting markets and if nothing is done to address affordability and accessibility. Snyder said he could not predict market exits but stressed that regulators should monitor the market closely, use available data, and focus on loss prevention and mitigation. He said insurers want to do business in Kentucky and that the long-term solution is coordinated action among public and private stakeholders to reduce risk and keep coverage available.

Transcript Highlights:

• of our state government, including local government assistance payments for the City of Yonkers, which
• of our state and local government, depending on the timing of the payments needed.
• President, no, the budget extender allows for functioning of state government to get through the next
• OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS FOR THE CITY OF YONKERS WHICH
• PRES, NO THE BUDGET EXTENDER ALLOWS FOR FUNCTIONING OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO GETSTHROUGH YOU THE NEXT FEW

Summary: The Senate met on May 6, 2026, approved the prior journal, and accepted a Rules Committee report advancing the government appropriations bill to third reading. The chamber then took up the tenth budget extender, which sponsor Senator Serrano said would keep state government operating through Monday, May 11 and contained $482 million in new spending, bringing the total across extenders to $20.3 billion. In questioning, Senator O’Mara and Senator Helming pressed Serrano for details on the reported $268 billion budget deal, policy outcomes, revenue raisers, and whether local governments, schools, and rural health programs would receive certainty; Serrano said final budget bills were not yet in print and declined to speculate on unresolved issues. The extender passed 60-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate also adopted several previously adopted resolutions honoring the North Tonawanda High School girls varsity basketball team, the Tappan Zee High School girls basketball team, and SUNY student Chriss-Ann Pryce. Members praised the teams’ state championships and Pryce’s academic and leadership achievements through the Educational Opportunity Program. The chamber then returned to legislation and passed a bill designating May 9 as Overdose Awareness Day in New York; Senator Fernandez said it recognized the harm of overdose and the need to continue funding harm reduction and recovery services. Additional bills passed included a statewide domestic violence lethality assessment measure, with Senators Murray, Rolison, Webb, and Ramos describing it as a tool to identify dangerous situations and prevent fatalities; a mental health insurance bill limiting step therapy/prior authorization for serious mental health medications, supported by Senator Fahy; and measures on education, real property tax, election law, general business law, kitchen incubator economic impacts, public buildings, state finance, and mental hygiene. Several bills drew recorded opposition, including the real property tax bill and the election law and general business law measures. The Senate concluded by adjourning until Monday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated legislative.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides a definition of functional zero homelessness overall and a definition of functional
• It's my pleasure to speak with the committee today on behalf of SB 606, the Functional Zero Act.
• SB 606 would require local governments to plan to achieve and maintain functional zero homelessness and
• I really do believe in achieving functional zero and sheltered.
• It is a milestone; it is a stepping stone toward functional zero.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard several homelessness, public benefits, and aging-related bills. SB 748 would expand Encampment Resolution Funding to support safe parking sites for people living in cars or RVs, require quarterly reporting from HCD on outcomes, and direct LAO evaluation; supporters said it would help local governments reduce RV encampments while connecting people to housing and services. SB 290 would repeal the CalWORKs immunization sanction that reduces aid when parents cannot provide acceptable proof of a child’s vaccination; supporters argued the penalty unfairly harms families already in poverty and can worsen instability, while no opposition testified. SB 606 would define “functional zero” for overall and unsheltered homelessness and require local jurisdictions to plan for and report on the housing and interim shelter needed to reach that goal; supporters said it would add accountability and focus on reducing unsheltered homelessness, and one group moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. SB 433 would create an income-based room-and-board cap and personal needs allowance for all Medi-Cal assisted living participants in residential care facilities for the elderly, not just SSI recipients; supporters said it would prevent eviction and homelessness among low-income seniors and people with disabilities, and facility groups withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. SB 761 would require students applying for Cal Grants to be notified that they may be eligible for CalFresh and given information on how to apply; supporters said it would address widespread student food insecurity and low enrollment among eligible students. The committee accepted amendments on the bills, and all of the measures discussed were reported out on 7-0 or similar unanimous votes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with the consent calendar also approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• We message that those can continue to function beyond June.
• and our federal government.
• Modernization is essential for efficient government.
• The interfaces, a lot of them are functional.
• A lot of them are functional.

Committee: Joint Information Technology Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, we are aligning governance, operations, fleet readiness, and long-term planning around a
• And we also have Jason Baker, government and community affairs director at Caltrain. Welcome.
• It all looks like it's functioning completely as expected. Okay. All right.
• It all looks like it's functioning completely as expected. Okay. All right.
• I am, again, Jason Baker, Director of Government Relations and Community Affairs for Caltrain.

Summary: The Senate LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency Subcommittee heard updates from CalSTA, Caltrans, Metrolink, and Caltrain on corridor performance, governance, funding, and long-term planning. Chair Lackey opened by saying the SB 1098 report on LOSSAN governance and performance was unfinished and overdue, and argued the corridor remains at a crossroads because ridership, on-time performance, fiscal solvency, and capital delivery are still lagging. Senator Archuleta echoed concerns about safety, maintenance, ridership recovery, and the need to avoid state subsidy if local revenues fall short. CalSTA and Caltrans said the state has made major investments, including $125 million for San Clemente emergency resiliency work, and that more than $25 billion in funded rail projects are moving toward construction. They said work on the SB 1098 report is underway, with a LOSSAN working group to be convened, and described a new Caltrans transit-and-rail reorganization with a deputy director to improve accountability. Caltrans also reported restoration of Surfliner service to 13 weekday round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego, planned service increases to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, fleet overhauls, and a new project-tracking and service-planning tool to prioritize capital projects by service outcomes. The panel also discussed zero-emission strategy, saying hydrogen fuel-cell trains are being procured for longer-distance service while battery-electric options are being pursued where feasible, and that San Clemente long-term planning is being scoped with local partners. Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said the agency has shifted from a commuter-only model to all-day regional service through its “Metrolink Reimagined” schedule, with improved transfers, more weekend and off-peak ridership, and a 25% increase in monthly pass sales under a new fare pilot. He warned, however, that Metrolink faces a fiscal cliff: member agencies now cover about 72% of operating costs while fares cover about 11%, and without a dedicated revenue source the agency may need to cut service, reduce stations, or end later-evening and weekend trips. He said Metrolink has limited ability to monetize stations or parking because it does not own most of the relevant property or rights. Caltrain’s Jason Baker described the success of electrified service, with ridership up 57% year over year and customer satisfaction at record highs, but said Caltrain also faces a projected $75 million annual operating deficit and may need to consider service cuts if stable funding is not found. He highlighted revenue efforts such as energy regeneration compensation, parking and concession reviews, station development, and a planned battery-electric pilot to extend zero-emission service south of San Jose.

Transcript Highlights:

• So does government.
• Government deferred needs, I think a well-functioning P3 model would greatly benefit cities and counties
• and other local governments.
• The AIA interfaces with federal government, states, and local governments on P3 statutes and policy and
• It's been your family for 100 years unless you go pay the government. The government says you can.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> engage with functional support services. engage with functional support services.
• He is on this bill. prescribing of functional support. Yes, prescribing of functional support.
• </c><04:12:59.160><c> Functional</c> I didn't underline it. Functional I didn't underline it.
• </c> functional support services paid for. functional support services paid for.
• . government. government.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would create a home damage mitigation and resilience grant program aimed at helping homeowners make property improvements that could reduce insurance costs and non-renewals. Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department explained that the program is modeled in part on Alabama’s safer homes program, but tailored for New Hampshire hazards such as floods, microbursts, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. He said the grants would be limited to primary residences, subject to a means test, capped at $10,000, and intended to help homeowners make targeted improvements such as roof fortification or tree removal that could improve underwriting outcomes and lead to premium discounts. Bettencourt said the program would not use state taxpayer funds and would instead rely on philanthropic donations, possible federal or regional housing-bank funding, and other outside sources. He said the department would not need new staff, and that a current position could be reconfigured to help administer the program part-time. Committee members asked about the funding language, the meaning of “loans” in the bill, whether there were any other states using a similar no-state-funds model, and how many homeowners could be helped. Bettencourt said Rhode Island and Connecticut were moving forward in a similar way, and that the number of beneficiaries would depend on how much money is raised. Members also questioned how the grant program would actually lower premiums, whether savings would apply only to participants or more broadly, and how the IBHS evaluation process would work. Bettencourt and department staff said the direct benefit would be to the homeowner whose property is improved, though neighbors could also benefit in some cases. They explained that IBHS is a building-safety organization that certifies contractors and inspectors and that its standards can qualify homes for insurer discounts. Questions were also raised about confidentiality provisions, first-come-first-served grant awards, rollover of unused applications, and possible tax treatment of donations. The sponsor said those details would be addressed through rulemaking or existing tax rules, and no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Governments may weaponize currency like the CBDC.
• So why is it important for Arizona to offer gold and silver as legal tender and functional money?
• I want to just speak a little bit about how this works functionally.
• I want to just speak a little bit about how this works functionally.
• It makes gold and silver functional currency because the debit card is used.

Bills: HB2123 , HB2140

Committees: House Regulatory Oversight , House House Regulatory Oversight Committee of Reference

Keywords: bullion, depository, legal tender, Arizona, finances, precious metals, financial transactions, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies, and I applaud its efforts to maximize government productivity.
• In 2020, during COVID, I was called on by the government again.
• My friend, Cardinal Timothy Dolan once said, the only just government is government that serves its citizens
• This is a mission-critical function.
• He could care less about. what the function is. He wants a body count.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Social Security, Medicaid, Frank Bisignano, Elon Musk, benefit processing, office closures, public testimony, administration policies, health care, vulnerable populations

Summary: The committee meeting focused heavily on the nomination of Frank Bisignano as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, with intense discussions around the current state of Social Security and its management under the current administration. Members voiced significant concerns regarding potential changes to Social Security and Medicaid, specifically addressing issues such as office closures, delays in benefit processing, and the perceived policies from Elon Musk's association with the administration. Public testimonies highlighted fears that these changes would severely impact the accessibility of benefits for seniors and vulnerable individuals, resulting in a chaotic environment at the SSA. Members expressed a unified opposition to the notion of dismantling these critical programs, emphasizing the long-term implications on their constituents' well-being.

Transcript Highlights:

• Government. SB 1646, absent state elected officials. Government.
• Government. SB 1688, membership associates, fees, disclosures. Government.
• functional and secure.
• functional and secure.
• To do that, we need the jail. to be functional, just functional and secure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> accuracy by reporting functional accuracy by reporting functional capacity<00:15:55.160><c> and<
• </c> be better reporting of functional be better reporting of functional capacity<00:35:02.000><c> rather
• </c><00:53:09.440><c> pay,</c> percent does the federal government pay, percent does the federal government
• </c> thankful that the federal government thankful that the federal government pays<00:53:54.320><c>
• . functional. functional.

Committee: Joint Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Local governments should not be forced to manage the 2026 curb with 2006 tools.
• This notice must be provided to workers, local governments, and EDD.
• This will divert local governments from their core functions and will be a... ...burden on small agencies
• I also have a concern about the functionality of popular platforms.
• , you voted for something that reduced my functionality?

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• as surplus property, school districts, educational service districts, and other state or local government
• school director must complete a governance training program.
• A governance training program for school directors, and that every school director must complete a governance
• The financial oversight of the board is an essential governance function of the board.
• Why wouldn't you prioritize that over other functions?

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This notice must be provided to workers, local governments, and EDD.
• This will divert local governments from their core functions and will be a Burden on small agencies to
• We're committed to making sure this bill works functionally.
• I also have a concern about functionality of popular platforms.
• , you voted for something that reduced my functionality?

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and protect psychotherapy records under confidentiality laws. The bill was presented with powerful testimony from Maria Rain, whose son died by suicide after prolonged interactions with ChatGPT, and was supported by behavioral health groups, labor organizations, and privacy advocates. Tech and medical groups opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could restrict beneficial clinical uses of AI, create conflicts around triage and screening, and raise privacy and innovation concerns. The committee voted 4-0 to send SB 903 to Appropriations. SB 1119, a companion measure to AB 2023, would create a broader regulatory framework for chatbot interactions with children, including annual risk assessments, crisis-response protocols, parental controls, notice and time-limit requirements, limits on advertising and use of children’s data, public incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. Maria Rain again testified in support, describing how ChatGPT allegedly encouraged and coached her son Adam Raine toward suicide. Supporters said the bill is needed to prevent sycophantic, addictive chatbot behavior and protect minors. Opponents, including CalChamber, TechNet, the California Medical Association, and others, raised concerns about overlapping requirements with SB 243, vague standards, prescriptive design mandates, audit confidentiality, and the private right of action. The committee voted 4-1 to send SB 1119 to Judiciary. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would require annual DOJ audits of automated license plate reader users, stronger employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for ALPR data. Supporters argued the bill would address widespread misuse and over-retention of data that mostly tracks innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, saying the 30-day limit would hinder investigations, especially in older or complex cases, though they supported stronger safeguards and audits. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, dealing with automated curb-management enforcement in six cities, passed 4-1 to call after supporters said it would help cities manage loading zones, bike lanes, and AV-related curb use, while privacy advocates warned against expanding automated surveillance and pilot programs. The committee also approved SB 1101, requiring higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies; it passed 5-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, was introduced to require advance notice and reporting when AI or other technology displaces workers, with labor support and Chamber opposition; testimony began, but no final action on that bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• But right now, the Government Operations Agency is the best place for these entities. Okay.
• But right now, the government operations agency is the best place for these entities. Okay.
• functions, right?
• functions, right?
• functions, right?

Summary: The subcommittee first heard a presentation on ongoing funding for the California Education Learning Lab. The Learning Lab described its intersegmental grant-making work with UC, CSU, and community college faculty, including projects on AI, math alignment, and open educational resources. The administration proposed moving the program’s administrative home from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps and restoring $4 million annually. The Department of Finance supported the proposal as a way to improve coordination, while the LAO recommended rejecting it, arguing the program is difficult to scale, overlaps with existing campus and segment-wide professional development, and could be wound down to save General Fund dollars. Senators split on the issue: some emphasized the program’s role in fostering innovation and cross-segment collaboration, while others questioned its measurable outcomes and whether it addresses problems rooted in K-12 preparation. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then considered funding for the new Office of Civil Rights within GovOps, created to implement AB 715 and SB 48. The proposal sought $3.5 million in 2026-27 and $2.8 million ongoing to staff the office, provide training and technical assistance to local educational agencies, and help track discrimination complaints through the Department of Education’s uniform complaint process. Finance said the office was being stood up administratively, but many positions were still unfilled; the LAO had no concerns and said the proposal simply implements recent legislation. Senators raised concerns about the office’s placement in GovOps, the lack of guidance while the office is not yet operational, the potential duplication with CDE processes, and whether staffing levels and coordinator roles match the volume and type of complaints. The department said it would adjust resources as workload becomes clearer and that first-year goals would include hiring staff, developing materials, and beginning outreach. The item was held open. After public comment and votes on several vote-only items, the committee heard from the Office of Data and Innovation on a request for five positions and $1.25 million in reimbursement authority. ODI said it uses data science, design, and engineering to improve state services, citing work on EBT theft detection and forecasting community water system outages. Finance had no comment, and the LAO supported the reimbursement model. Senators generally praised ODI’s small but high-impact role and asked about privacy safeguards for vendor AI tools; ODI said it uses state guardrails, enterprise contracts, and coordination with CDT to protect data. The item was held open. The Department of Technology then presented on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, reporting progress on the 8,100-mile network, including 423 miles already complete and more than 70% permitted. CDT said it had selected Skyline Technology Solutions as operator and expected about 5,300 miles completed by December 2026, with some miles possibly slipping into 2027. The LAO noted most of the $3.8 billion appropriated has been encumbered, but raised concerns about the new three-party operating structure and long-term sustainability. Senators asked about accountability, the need for a two-year extension of liquidation authority, and whether revenues will cover operating costs. CDT said the extension is a precaution to allow for final reallocations if needed, that CDT retains ultimate responsibility, and that it expects the network to be self-sustaining over time through service revenues and lease arrangements. The department committed to continued reporting through annual reports, advisory committees, and briefings.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've brought it down to functional zero.
• They've brought it down to<00:01:44.799><c> functional</c><00:01:45.280><c> zero.
• Uh we still need to to functional zero.
• is at functionally zero at this<00:14:51.600><c> point.
• Um, and and get to functional zero.

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means