Transcript Highlights:

• of benefits and employee premiums that go into the plan.
• That cost is then borne locally, right, by the local levy payers if there's a cost associated with this
• in Plan 3.
• in Plan 3.
• or union-sponsored defined benefit plans.

Bills: HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2160 , HB2179

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: retirement, lump sum payment, financial security, pension reform, monthly benefits, retirement system, investment earnings, trust funds, public pensions, financial management, education, benefits, school employees, membership eligibility, employment, public employees, port workers, federal retirement plan, pension

Transcript Highlights:

• They would need to be able to provide for their own local share.
• They haven't really been taken into account in any realistic way because they've been accounted for in
• So usually they would come with their local portion.
• for a local match reduction or waiver.
• We've had a like local. You figure it out within these minimums.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> come to know as being a local official. come to know as being a local official.
• Everything was local.
• Everything was local.
• Now, they want a local tax.
• ><c> how</c><02:50:28.560><c> they're</c> locally, local control, how they're locally, local control,

Transcript Highlights:

• Stabilization Account, the state's rainy day fund.
• Daniel Shirle with SEIU Local 1000.
• Hello, Justin Garcia with CAPS-UAW Local 1115. We want to thank this...
• Hello, Justin Garcia with CAPS-UAW Local 1115.
• My name is Sadalia King with UDW AFSCME Local 3930.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee heard opening remarks on the 2025 Budget Act, which will be amended into AB 101 and SB 101 for floor consideration. Committee leaders described the budget as a difficult compromise shaped by a $12 billion deficit, federal funding uncertainty, wildfire impacts, and rising out-year costs, while emphasizing a balance between compassion and fiscal responsibility. Each budget subcommittee chair then summarized major actions in their areas, including health care, human services, education, climate and transportation, housing and state administration, public safety, and oversight/transparency. Key policy items included delaying or narrowing some of the Governor’s proposed cuts, especially in Medi-Cal and other safety-net programs; preserving funding for dental care, women’s health, family planning, hospice, long-term care, IHSS, and services for undocumented Californians; and maintaining or expanding child care, foster care, food banks, and CalWORKs-related supports. Education actions included additional Proposition 98 settle-up, reduced deferrals, support for TK-12, teacher recruitment, literacy, mental health, preschool slots, and restored funding for UC and CSU. Other major items included housing and homelessness investments, wildfire and disaster response funding, transit loans and greenhouse gas reduction fund support, Proposition 36 and VOCA-related public safety funding, and oversight measures on federal impacts and state efficiency. Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst staff said the package makes some of the same savings moves as the May Revision but relies more on internal borrowing and fewer reductions, leaving a smaller reserve than the administration’s plan but still maintaining roughly $11 billion in the rainy day fund. Members from both parties largely supported the package while raising concerns about long-term sustainability, Medi-Cal costs, reserve use, and the need for future revenue and program review. The committee adopted the subcommittee actions by roll call, 18-6, with the roll held open for absent members and additional comments continuing after the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 29 is a way for us to hold these health plans accountable and an opportunity for us to see who's paying
• This bill is about accountability.
• It helps localities understand the risks, protect vulnerable supplies, and plan responsibly because it
• planning.
• The bill most importantly requires development and certification of a local coastal plan for the City

Transcript Highlights:

• All of those resources are part of the planning process.
• Some of those we call memorandum accounts and balancing accounts.
• It is sitting in a federal account earmarked for California.
• But the DSGS account?
• to any plan that the customer chooses.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, that account, unrestricted general government aid, is the account by which our municipal partners
• President, that account, unrestricted general government aid, is the account by which our municipal partners
• We have plans. We have plans. We may be able to do some things about that in this budget document.
• Yes, this settlement account, this is something that we call it, we call, well, an evergreen account;
• we almost like snow and ice account.

Summary: The Senate first adopted two resolutions commending the Plimpton Historical Society for Deborah Sampson Day and Megan’s Light for recognizing May 2026 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 on several House petitions, referred those matters to committees, and later took up final passage of two local bills: one authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional off-premises liquor license and another relative to the charter of Westwood. Both bills were passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The main business of the session was the opening debate on the Senate Ways and Means FY27 budget, which was described as a balanced $63.3 billion proposal. The chair and supporters highlighted major investments in unrestricted local aid, Chapter 70 education funding, regional school transportation, rural aid, community college affordability, food security, housing, and health and human services. They also emphasized that the budget was built on the consensus revenue estimate, included no new taxes or tax cuts, did not use the rainy day fund, and relied in part on federal funds and Fair Share revenue. In extended questioning, the minority leader pressed for details on the budget’s assumptions and cost drivers, including federal participation, Fair Share revenue, debt service, MassHealth caseload and spending, pension and OPEB liabilities, settlement reserves, collective bargaining funding, and controls against waste, fraud, and abuse. The chair responded that federal funds account for about 22% of budgeted revenues, Fair Share revenue is estimated at about $2.7 billion, debt service is about $2.67 billion, MassHealth and related health and human services total about $36.4 billion, pension funding is $5.1 billion, and OPEB receives a $150 million payment. Members also discussed the C-3 child care program, DTA program integrity, and housing permitting reforms, with several senators speaking in support of the budget’s priorities and urging further debate and amendments before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that was part of the marketing plan, yes.
• These local organizations would be tasked with local outreach and enrollment, as well as financing half
• So local, again. Financing half the cost of the books.
• So local, again, the locals had to build a match that was up to $60 million.
• But I'm asking you how many local— I think the relationship with the local nonprofit.

Summary: The follow-up informational hearing focused on the State Library’s oversight of the statewide Imagination Library and the Strong Reader Partnership (SRP), including how the original $68.2 million state investment was spent, why funds were not redirected sooner to the Dollywood Foundation, and whether spending complied with AB 157 and later SB 105. Committee members repeatedly raised concerns that SRP and the State Library had been slow to provide documents, that quarterly reporting and other contract requirements were not met on time, and that the State Library did not escalate issues earlier. State Librarian Greg Lucas said the library sent one demand letter, relied on counsel’s view that SRP could continue spending its $4.8 million so long as it furthered the program, and later redirected about $55 million to the Dollywood Foundation after paperwork was submitted. He also acknowledged the library should have shared SRP’s final report with the committee sooner and said the materials eventually received appeared satisfactory, though the chair and Senator Grove remained concerned that there was still no clear accounting of books delivered by SRP. A major portion of the hearing examined SRP’s expenditures and vendor contracts, including Shipyard for marketing and web services, SAGE Strategies for management consulting, Lotus Financial Solutions and other financial vendors, and United Way California Capital Region for a small marketing grant. Committee members questioned whether some spending, especially Changecraft’s work during the AB 157 period, amounted to lobbying or attempts to influence legislation, which the grant agreement prohibited. SRP representatives said the work was communications and stakeholder outreach, not lobbying, and that invoices reflected the board’s oversight and the nonprofit’s startup and closeout phases. They also said some work continued during the rescission and closeout period to unwind contracts and return funds, and that any reporting delays were due to transition, lack of a reporting mechanism from the State Library, and the need to collect records after vendors were canceled. Members of SRP said the nonprofit was created to build the infrastructure for a self-sustaining statewide program, expand local partnerships, and support multilingual outreach in underserved counties. They described a working board that met regularly, selected vendors collectively, and used multiple financial and administrative contractors to maintain checks and balances. However, committee members pressed them on the lack of detailed invoices, the absence of clear metrics showing how many books SRP actually delivered, and the limited apparent return on spending such as the $581,708 Shipyard contract, the $125,000 website work, and the $5,000 United Way grant. No formal vote or legislative action was taken during the hearing; it was an oversight session aimed at obtaining explanations and additional documentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:42.480><c> onetime</c> a local road and local bridge onetime a local road and local bridge
• gap account.
• DVS technology account. Line 394 is a DVS technology account.
• </c> greater Minnesota transit account. greater Minnesota transit account.
• This is the language that establishes the local government road funding gap assistance account and identifies

Transcript Highlights:

• And accountability to the light. So thank you.
• Actually hold them accountable.
• It takes a lot of planning. It takes a lot of ordering.
• funding formula while upholding its core principles of equity accountability and local control.
• control and accountability plan.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• in its pupil progression plan.
• in its pupil progression plan.
• At the heart of this legislation is public accountability.
• At the heart of this legislation is public accountability.
• The locals would produce a public inventory of the locally required testing.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several higher education and K-12 bills. SB 234 by Sen. Presley, which would provide grading for medical school students, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142 by Sen. Reese, dealing with continued management and oversight of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in unmatched requests; it was also reported favorably without objection. SB 482 by Sen. Reese, expanding the role of career coaches in middle and high school graduation planning and reporting on career development fund spending, received support from BESE and others, with committee members discussing counselor workload and district flexibility; it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up SB 64 by Sen. Hodges, which would require two people to review initial video/audio recordings from cameras in self-contained classrooms when complaints arise, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 1063 by Rep. Owen, a broad higher education governance bill that would increase board oversight of curriculum, hiring, faculty senates, and discipline, generated extensive discussion and testimony from Rep. Owen and a representative of Parents Defending Education Action, but the author said he did not want to vote on it yet and moved to voluntarily defer it; the committee agreed without objection. HB 818 by Rep. Riser, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments, with Cynthia Posey of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers explaining the amendments; the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with one opposition card noted. Finally, SB 28 by Sen. McMath, carried by Rep. Carver, would lower the age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage; Department of Education staff said the change could expand the pipeline, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee also announced it would meet the following week on Wednesday, May 6, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then accountability with respect to streamlining, enhancing clarity about who approves plans and
• Redmond is accountable to three different authorities in its adoption of its comprehensive plan.
• plans.
• facility plan into its plan.
• facility plan into its plan.

Summary: The committee heard a series of presentations on comprehensive plan updates, permitting reform, special purpose district coordination, and subdivision reform. Pierce County and the City of Redmond described their recent comprehensive plan updates, emphasizing housing production, transit-oriented development, middle housing, preservation of affordable housing, and the need for technical assistance and clearer state guidance. Both jurisdictions said the planning process took years and was complicated by overlapping state requirements, changing legislative mandates, and multiple review authorities. Redmond in particular said mid-course legislative changes forced supplemental environmental review and added significant cost and delay, and both local governments asked for more stability, clearer statutes, and better-aligned timelines. Presenters from the architecture, building official, and development sectors focused on permitting delays and proposed ways to speed housing delivery. Dave Boucher of AIA Washington argued for a provisional construction permit process for projects stamped by licensed professionals, along with mandatory deadlines and fewer stalled review cycles. Tim Woodard of WABO described existing tools such as pre-application meetings and phased approvals, noting they can improve certainty but also require staff time and careful coordination. Representatives from Master Builders and D.R. Horton said permit and subdivision delays add substantial cost to housing, citing studies showing months of delay and tens of thousands of dollars added per home, and urged administrative approvals, concurrent review, self-certification, and limits on repeated review cycles. The committee also reviewed a Commerce-led task force report on integrating special purpose districts into Growth Management Act planning. The task force recommended early invitation and notice to water, sewer, school, port, and other service providers during countywide planning policy and comprehensive plan updates, better coordination on grants and capital projects, updated water system coordination plans, and improved school siting and funding alignment in fast-growing areas. Speakers stressed that the recommendations were intended to be light-touch and focused on better communication rather than major statutory overhaul, while also noting that rural and slow-growing areas should not be burdened with the same requirements as rapidly growing jurisdictions. On subdivision reform, FutureWise and the City of Spokane discussed making more subdivision decisions administrative, preserving vesting, clarifying exemptions, and reducing unnecessary notice and appeal steps. Spokane described local reforms such as smaller minimum lot sizes, unit lot subdivisions, and reduced-process “minor engineering review” for simple plats, while raising concerns about new notice requirements and appeals to city councils for technical plat decisions. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the theme that local governments, builders, and state agencies need clearer, more coordinated rules to reduce delay and uncertainty while still protecting safety and planning goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• We plan to complete our hiring this year.
• “So right now, that’s a local procedure.
• And plan for the more serious? Yes. So how does that all come together? Is that that 20-year plan?
• It is a voluntary plan. There is no way to enforce... It is a voluntary plan.
• The department is taking into account population needs for programming and family visiting. ...into account

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard an overview from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) on its budget change proposal and grant administration. BSCC requested authority for 11 additional permanent positions to handle a workload that has nearly tripled over five to seven years, with more than 600 grant agreements and about $1.5 billion in grant funds in the field. The board also reported on its new In-Custody Death Review Division, which has collected data since July 2024 and received 136 jail death reports; staff said the division is still building out reviews and has identified overdose, natural causes, and suicide by hanging as the leading manners of death. Members raised concerns about family notification practices, oversight of local grants, and the impact of taking more administrative funds from local assistance, while the LAO and Department of Finance did not oppose the position request but urged correction of the administration’s Proposition 47 savings methodology before May Revision. The committee then reviewed CDCR’s overall budget and operations. Secretary Jeffrey Macomber described a relatively steady prison and parole population, ongoing structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, medical transport, violence, and aging facilities lacking air conditioning and ADA features. He emphasized rehabilitation, recidivism reduction, college programming, and the department’s 20-year infrastructure planning effort, while also defending the closure of the California Rehabilitation Center and warning that additional closures can increase overcrowding, double-celling, and waitlists for programming. Senators pressed CDCR on fiscal discipline, vacancy savings, staffing shortages in medical and mental health classifications, the use of tablets for incarcerated people, and community impacts from prison closures, including the Norco site. A separate item focused on CDCR’s request for $91 million ongoing for lump-sum leave payouts to separating correctional officers and nurses. CDCR said these costs had historically been covered by vacancy savings, but lower vacancy levels and facility closures have reduced that funding source. The LAO supported the funding only on a limited-term basis with reporting, arguing the need may change as the system reaches a new normal, and also urged the Legislature to scrutinize the broader structural shortfall and the Boston Consulting Group efficiency contract. Finance supported ongoing funding, saying the costs are recurring and vacancy savings are less reliable. The committee also discussed CDCR’s fall 2025 population projections, which forecast a 6.5% decline in the institution population and a 10.4% decline in parole over five years, while updating Proposition 36 assumptions based on actual admissions data. CDCR and Finance said the California Rehabilitation Center closure would generate savings and that no additional prison closure had been formally proposed, though the LAO argued the state could close another prison and recommended not funding certain Soledad projects unless another closure is identified.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will just keep it in a checking account and go. There you go, local banker. Enjoy.
• regularly to shape plan design and services.<02:46:23.439><c> This</c><02:46:23.680><c> local</c><02
• With all due respect, I don't know that the state plan meets the needs of my local community.
• With all due respect, I don't know that the state plan meets the needs of my local community.
• :42.800><c> makers</c> Local government, local decision makers Local government, local decision makers

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• We concluded a round of local aging and disability action plans last year with funding.
• Local aging and disability action plans.
• plans, including in your district, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo all produced local action
• And so that's where our local aging and disability action plans have come in.
• That's where our local aging and disability action plans have come in, and then raising awareness about

Transcript Highlights:

• and local permitting processes must specifically have expertise in rural county land-use planning.
• and local permitting processes must specifically have expertise in rural county land-use planning.
• I'm really concerned about accountability and accountable spending, and I think that if we're going to
• I'm really concerned about accountability and accountable spending, and I think that if we're going to
• I'm really concerned about accountability and accountable spending, and I think that if we're going to

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on three bills. For Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, staff explained it would create an abortion savings program funded by a new assessment on health carriers to support grants for abortion clinical care access. Representative Marshall offered amendments to limit grants to Washington residents, expand eligibility to IVF and fertility providers, prioritize medically underserved areas, and add a 2031 sunset; all were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then voted 18-10 to report the bill out with a do pass recommendation. For Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, staff briefed a striking amendment that would reduce savings in K-12 spending by changing local effort assistance and Running Start limits, prioritizing some transition-to-kindergarten funding, and eliminating inflation increases for National Board bonuses. Members debated a series of amendments on bus depreciation, charter school LEA payments, transition-to-kindergarten funding, and Running Start. Some amendments were adopted, including a bus depreciation change and a Running Start adjustment, while others were rejected. The committee then adopted the striker as amended and reported the bill out 17-12 with a due pass recommendation. For Substitute Senate Bill 6355, which would establish the Washington Electric Transmission Authority and related board and advisory structures, members considered amendments on rural land-use expertise, eastern Washington board representation, corridor review standards, tribal workgroup removal, and payments in lieu of taxes for transmission facilities. One amendment was withdrawn and the others were rejected except for a landowner/rural expertise amendment that passed. The committee then reported the bill out 18-11 with a due pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, members exchanged closing remarks thanking staff and colleagues, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 9 creates a reasonable accountability mechanism to ensure local laws comply with the language and
• members, small builders, and local planning staff implement state law as intended.
• SB9 creates a reasonable accountability mechanism to ensure local laws comply with the language and intent
• members, small builders, and local planning staff implement state law as intended. for these reasons
• Local planning staff implement state law as intended.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee met with a quorum and announced that SB 340 would be moved to a later hearing. The consent calendar included HR 44, SB 233, and SB 410, which were later approved. The committee then heard several housing-related bills, with testimony largely focused on streamlining accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, regional planning, and homelessness response. SB 9 would require local agencies to submit ADU ordinances to HCD within 60 days and respond to HCD findings within 30 days, or the ordinance would become null and void and state standards would apply. Supporters, including California YIMBY, Casita Coalition, UnidosUS, Housing Action Coalition, and Power California, argued the bill would strengthen enforcement of existing ADU law and reduce local barriers. The bill passed 7-0 with two abstentions and was sent to the Assembly Local Government Committee. SB 486 would exempt UC and CSU projects from having to analyze a no-project alternative under CEQA while requiring the universities to share enrollment forecasting data and participate in regional sustainable communities planning. It passed 9-0 and was referred to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. SB 748, as amended, would expand funding and authority for safe parking sites and related services for people living in RVs or vehicles, using encampment resolution funding and requiring reporting by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. The City of Compton, the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, and the League of California Cities supported the measure, emphasizing public health, neighborhood safety, and humane alternatives to displacement. The committee members discussed the limits of current encampment cleanup approaches and the need for services and temporary shelter; the bill passed 11-0 and was sent to the Assembly Human Services Committee. SB 543, a cleanup bill for ADU and junior ADU law, clarified review timelines, size standards, and consistency with existing ADU statutes; it also passed unanimously and was referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• PUDs also create development that help better achieve local planning goals than traditional zoning might
• PUDs also create development that help better achieve local planning goals than traditional zoning might
• PUDs also create development that help better achieve local planning goals than traditional zoning might
• Even for single comprehensive plans.
• </c><00:53:46.400><c> housing</c> authorized to establish local housing authorized to establish local

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Zoning and land use planning are at the core of local government under the Minnesota home rule law
• important local planning done by professionals and replace this with administrative regulations.
• planning done by important local planning done by professionals<00:20:00.400><c> and</c><00:20:00.560
• . plans. plans.
• </c> local level. local level.

Transcript Highlights:

• It improves assessments and accountability processes by simplifying local testing calendars, specifying
• Current state law limits the state and local administrative deferred compensation plans to only offer
• Current state law limits the state and local administrative deferred compensation plans to only offer
• Senate Bill 7010 grants authority to DFS for the state plan and to local government entities for local
• plans to allow post-tax Roth contributions in their respective deferred compensation plans, and that's

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognitions for the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Thomas Clem of Lakeland, and a large YMCA delegation visiting for the organization’s 175th anniversary. Senators highlighted the YMCA’s youth leadership programs and community service, and the chamber entered a proclamation recognizing the YMCA’s long service and its work in community support, youth development, and public health efforts. The chamber then took up several bills on the special order calendar. Senate Bill 100 adopted the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 regular session’s statute materials; Senate Bill 102 removed repealed provisions from the statutes; and Senate Bill 104, the general reviser’s bill, deleted obsolete language, updated cross-references, and corrected drafting errors. Each of those bills was advanced to third reading and passed unanimously, 36-0. Senators also passed Senate Bill 7010, which authorizes Roth post-tax contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans, also by a 36-0 vote. Senate Bill 320, relating to administrative efficiency in public schools, drew the most substantive policy discussion. Its sponsor said the bill would reduce district-level mandates, expand teacher apprenticeship pathways, create longer-term teacher contracts and certificates, streamline salary supplements and assessments, increase flexibility in district finances and Title I use, adjust facility planning requirements, and shift oversight of district-run VPK programs. The sponsor emphasized reducing bureaucracy while preserving accountability and focusing resources on students; the bill passed 36-0. The Senate also withdrew Senate Bill 1720 from further consideration, waived rules to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.