Transcript Highlights:

• We also have the deputy director of operations and policy. See?
• The High Road Training Partnership Program is one that my colleagues speak to.
• And to Allison's point, the policies will always remain whether they are funded or not.
• funding, the policies are worthless.
• We just don't have the grant funding... ...inform policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was kind of the foundational policy framework for advance air mobility in the state of Florida as
• if it does, what are you looking at some of the hurdles, some of the challenges and some of the policies
• that may need to be considered by policy makers and the legislature to make it successful.
• We did with the partnership with Kennedy Space Center UCF UF.
• The cip P and also our business plan and our partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• The year’s over, my policy year’s over.
• experts in these topics, to put policy elements in place.
• Reader Partnership and $6.2 million was for the State Library administrative costs.
• There were members of the partnership that were selected by the administration.
• We sent that request to the Strong Reader Partnership.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a significant policy change.
• I think it's bad policy. I think the policy we have right now makes that line clear.
• I think it's bad policy. I think the policy we have right now makes that line clear.
• to find the partnership the calculation of the partnership's tax liability, the partnership is given
• The partnership is given the option.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I agree with you, it's a great partnership.
• We've definitely increased our vocational and college partnerships.
• We allowed some individuals to access stipends and have, for our housing partnerships.
• So, in partnership with parole and EOPs, we have really developed a program.
• I think we need to continue all these partnerships across the...

Summary: The commission met with a new member from Prisoners’ Legal Services and approved the July 11 minutes. The main presentation came from Department of Correction Commissioner Sean Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Mitzie Peterson, who gave an overview of DOC facilities, population trends, and the department’s broad mission, including sentenced prisoners, pretrial detainees, civil commitments, Bridgewater State Hospital, and the Section 35 program. They noted the custody population has fallen from about 10,000 in 2016 to roughly 6,000–6,600, while the share serving first- or second-degree sentences has increased. They also reviewed the department’s facility footprint, including Souza-Baranowski, MCI Norfolk, MCI Framingham, Bridgewater, and the planned transfer of the Section 35 program to Health and Human Services by the end of 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on programming, education, health care, and reentry. DOC described tablet access for all incarcerated people, free phone calls, email, and more than 330,000 hours of educational, vocational, and reentry use. They highlighted partnerships with colleges and universities such as Tufts, Boston College, Emerson, and others, along with HiSET completion, vocational training, and programs like The Last Mile and Persevere. Health care spending was discussed in detail, including a total annual health-related contract cost of about $300 million, with separate contracts for prison health care, Bridgewater State Hospital, MassAQC, and MAT services. DOC said it has nearly eradicated Hep C and MRSA and now offers all three FDA-approved MAT medications, including long-acting injectables when clinically indicated. Commissioners also asked about specialized programming, language and disability access on tablets, and how programming is distributed across facilities. DOC explained that nothing is mandatory, but program participation is encouraged and can affect parole consideration. Staff described assessments using COMPAS, criminal thinking interventions, trauma-related treatment, and specialized units for emerging adults, mental health, and substance use. The department said programming costs were about $101 million in fiscal year 2025, or roughly 12% of the operating budget, excluding health care. Members praised the elimination of restrictive housing and the rollout of body-worn cameras, while DOC said the cameras required new policy and union negotiations but are now used for training, accountability, and de-escalation. The meeting ended with a plan for DOC to return in September with more detailed information on SAUs, programming statistics, and facility structure, and the commission voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a partnership, essentially. Currently, 14 are in operation.
• So it's a partnership, essentially. Partnership, essentially. Okay, so that's more complicated.
• the rationale for deviations from the policy.
• I am pleased to report... ...that policy was established and the board implemented those policies and
• Thank you all for your partnership and continued support.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met as the House Commerce Committee of Reference to hear sunset reviews and a performance audit covering the Department of Gaming, the Racing Commission, the Boxing and MMA Commission, the Barbering and Cosmetology Board, and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. The Auditor General reported that the Department of Gaming and the two commissions generally met some statutory duties, but identified major issues: the department had not consistently reviewed independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, had disclosure and conflict-of-interest compliance gaps, lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes, and was late distributing some compact trust fund payments to tribes. The Racing Commission needed better public records procedures, and the Boxing and MMA Commission had licensing and fee-setting issues. The department and commissions said they agreed with the findings and were implementing recommendations, with the department noting it had already begun look-back reviews, updated guidance, and additional staffing. Members also discussed consumer protection, illegal gambling, prediction markets, and whether out-of-state enforcement actions should affect Arizona licenses; the department said it would evaluate such matters case by case and generally wait for final adjudication or final regulatory action before acting. The committee then voted to recommend continuation of the Department of Gaming for two years until July 1, 2028, the Racing Commission for six years until July 1, 2032, and the Boxing and MMA Commission for six years until July 1, 2032. The Department of Gaming motion passed 7-4, the Racing Commission motion passed 10-1, and the Boxing and MMA Commission motion passed unanimously. The committee next heard the Barbering and Cosmetology Board audit. The Auditor General said the board timely processed many applications and complaints and had adopted curriculum rules, but it failed to enforce disciplinary guidelines consistently, sometimes issuing different sanctions for similar violations without documenting why it deviated from policy. The audit also found problems with reciprocity education requirements, application review quality control, inspections, open meeting and public records compliance, conflict-of-interest processes, fee-setting, and statutory clarity on scope of practice and training requirements. The board said it agreed with the findings, had already updated disciplinary parameters and documentation policies, and was working on the remaining recommendations and possible legislation. The committee then voted to continue the board for six years until July 1, 2032, and the motion passed unanimously. At the end of the meeting, the committee began hearing the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority performance audit, but the transcript provided cuts off before that presentation was completed or any action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services and Development; David Knight, the Executive Director of the California Community Action Partnership
• training and technical assistance, increasing statewide communications, and leading advocacy and policy
• Partnerships in leveraging. CSBG works best when paired with other resources.
• In response to the Los Angeles wildfire event, we maintained a partnership with SupplyBank.org, and we
• So it was kind of a perfect partnership, but when the problems started, we were shut out from We were

Summary: The Senate and Assembly Human Services Committees held a special oversight hearing on California’s 2026-27 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) state plan, focusing on how the federal anti-poverty funds are administered and used by local community action agencies. Department of Community Services and Development Director Jason Wimbley explained that CSBG is a flexible funding stream used to address housing, employment, education, food insecurity, health, transportation, and disaster response needs, with 60 organizations serving all 58 counties. He noted California received $68.4 million in federal fiscal year 2025 CSBG funds and that the program served about 1.5 million low-income Californians in 2023. He also described how CSBG helped with wildfire response and emphasized the risk posed by proposed federal elimination of the program, though he said federal staffing and program operations were currently stable. Representatives from CalCAPA and several funded agencies described CSBG as essential “braid” funding that supports staffing, leverages other grants, and fills gaps for people who do not qualify for other safety net programs. CalCAPA leaders stressed local flexibility, workforce development, partnerships, and the ROMA performance system, while agency witnesses from Contra Costa County, Northern California Indian Development Council, Proteus, and Sacred Heart Community Service gave examples of housing assistance, food distribution, employment training, utility aid, rural service delivery, tribal services, and disaster or emergency support. Several witnesses warned that federal cuts or elimination of CSBG would force service reductions, layoffs, and loss of leverage for other funding sources. The hearing also included discussion of CalAIM coordination, contingency planning for possible funding losses, and the limits of county ability to backfill federal reductions. During public comment, one speaker raised concerns about compliance and transparency issues involving community action agencies and asked the committees to ensure agencies follow California law. The chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters, reiterated the importance of CSBG in addressing poverty and homelessness, and adjourned the hearing after noting the need to sustain the investment and adapt services to changing statewide needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We aim to cultivate this very dynamic partnership, providing a framework for advancing economic opportunity
• . as well as bilateral policy discussions and meaningful cultural engagement.
• Caucus, we intend to foster productive dialogue on key policy areas, touching crucial issues and critical
• fostering ongoing engagement, strengthening collaboration, and enhancing economic, cultural, and policy
• This caucus will be at the forefront of the Texas and U.K. partnership and international cooperation,

Bills: SJR36 , SJR2 , SB4 , SR45 , SR47 , SR63 , SR66 , SR70 , SR85 , SCR14 , SB10 , SB11 , SB10 , SB11

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes partnership to achieve our vision.
• Institute of California, Economic Policy Center.
• Policy Center.
• I'm a vice president at PPC, the Public Policy Institute of California, where I direct our Economic Policy
• We are building a strong, proud coalition of Black advocates to shape California's policy, policies,

Summary: The California State Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its first hearing to examine the state of child care access, affordability, and provider compensation. Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and other members described child care as essential infrastructure for working families and the economy, noting that costs are unaffordable for many households and that providers are underpaid. Early testimony came from a San Francisco parent, Quinn Chung, who described the difficulty of finding safe care and the financial and career sacrifices caused by lack of child care, and from Tuolumne County provider Anita Viscini, who detailed her monthly costs, low margins, and the need to work weekends and teach CPR classes to make ends meet. Assemblymembers also emphasized the crisis in rural communities and the need for a long-term strategy. The first policy panel featured Jennifer Troia of the California Department of Social Services, Laura Pryor of the California Budget and Policy Center, and Alexa Frankenberg of Child Care Providers United. Troia said the state has nearly doubled child care funding in five years, expanded subsidy slots, and reached a new tentative three-year agreement with providers that includes cost-of-living adjustments, stabilization payments, and continued work on an alternative rate methodology and single rate structure. Pryor argued that despite funding gains, child care remains too expensive, only a fraction of eligible children receive subsidies, and provider wages remain far below comparable jobs, worsening racial and gender inequities. Frankenberg said the tentative agreement is progress but not enough, calling for a true cost-of-care system, fair wages, paid time off, better support for emergency and nontraditional care, and stronger integration of family child care into the mixed-delivery system. Members asked about why the crisis persists, how the alternative methodology will work, how family fees and sliding-scale help are being used, and why middle-income families still struggle. The panel said the problem reflects long-term underinvestment, a broken market, and a system that still leaves many families without access. The committee also heard an economic panel from Ashley Hoffman of the California Chamber of Commerce and Sarah Bone of the Public Policy Institute of California. Hoffman described employer child care benefits and public-private partnership models in other states, including shared-cost programs and local chamber efforts. Bone said child care costs reduce family financial security and labor force participation, especially for mothers of young children, and estimated that if mothers of young children worked at the same rate as mothers of older children, more than 80,000 additional women could be in the workforce each year. In the final panel, parent and provider advocates, including Jennifer Greppie and Black Californians United for Early Care and Education co-founder Keisha Doyle, argued for fully funding child care, ending waiting lists, protecting culturally affirming care, and addressing racial inequities and private equity’s role in the sector.

Transcript Highlights:

• Agency serves as this connective tissue that coordinates the cross-disciplinary policy and our program
• But we are certainly open to doing that, and now that we do have our data research and policy chief,
• Because if I'm not mistaken, like I, when I read the policy recommendations out of the report, there
• Because that's what we turn to for possible legislation and policy intervention.
• Glenn Backus for Drug Policy Alliance, a member of the End the Epidemics Coalition.

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget and oversight presentations from CalHHS-related departments and agencies. CalHHS opened with a broad overview of its 2026-27 budget and priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth services, and aging/disability supports. OICR then presented its budget and its SB 823 realignment report on youth formerly committed to DJJ, saying county implementation varies widely but that the state has not seen evidence of net widening in the available data. OICR recommended climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral health and education programming in secure youth treatment facilities, better transitional planning, and improved longitudinal data systems. The agency also described a Title II federal grant transition problem, saying it cannot yet pay some subrecipients for prior work and is awaiting federal action on retroactive spending authority and an administrative funding adjustment. The Ombudsperson division requested two additional positions to address a growing complaint workload and access issues with counties over youth meetings, records, and grievance files; LAO raised no policy objection but noted the ongoing General Fund cost. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover the gap between federal limits on administrative overhead and the actual cost of an interagency agreement with the Department of Social Services. EMSA presented its department overview and several proposals, including a delayed AB 716 ambulance rate report, a $2.6 million request to replace aging disaster-response vehicles, a $250,000 security architecture assessment, and four positions plus ongoing General Fund for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. Members questioned the delay in the AB 716 report, the optics and timing of the vehicle replacement request, and whether EMSA was doing enough to prevent future staffing and enforcement problems. LAO repeatedly noted the ongoing General Fund implications of EMSA’s requests. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of unspent Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money for the Low-Income Weatherization Program and described a Proposition 4-funded continuation of the farmworker housing component, which would require a new statewide administrator and program design process. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority to draw an additional $60 million in federal funds annually and add 54 positions to meet sharply increased Vocational Rehabilitation caseloads; LAO had no concerns. Child Support Services proposed restoring a prior reduction to local child support agency funding and reported higher federal performance incentives, while also presenting a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections to CalWORKs families, estimating about $150 million annually for full pass-through or about $80 million for a state/county-only approach, plus automation costs. Members questioned why funding should rise when caseloads are declining, and whether the policy could be made cost-neutral. CDPH closed the hearing with an overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its state of public health report, highlighting record-low mortality and higher life expectancy, but also rising overdose deaths among ages 25-44, persistent maternal and infant mortality disparities, and the need for stable public health and emergency-response capacity; no votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we just want to make sure staff are doing so within policy. They're doing so safely.
• And we just want to make sure staff are doing so within policy. They're doing so safely.
• We also have partnerships with schools.
• The community partnership she mentioned and who's informing some of the programming.
• And those cuts have already happened in those school district partnerships around the state.

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Summary: The committee held a work session on juvenile rehabilitation capacity, services, staffing, and related county and early learning issues. DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redmond described Green Hill School, Echo Glen, Harbor Heights, community facilities, and community transition services, emphasizing that JR is operating above safe capacity, that long adult sentences and limited placement options are driving overcrowding, and that staffing, programming space, contraband control, and safety are all affected. She said Harbor Heights has opened as a short-term step-down facility, a new behavior management system has reduced law-enforcement referrals and use-of-force incidents, and staffing and injuries have improved somewhat, though Green Hill remains well above its safe operating capacity. Members asked about success metrics, developmental disabilities, mental health needs, college access at Echo Glen, future capacity planning, and a proposed mental health facility; Redmond said JR is seeking additional resources and is reviewing broader capacity options, including Mission Creek. The committee then heard from Team Child and youth advocate Gisela Gonzalez about the youth perspective. They argued that success should be measured by access to education, mental health care, family connection, safety, and community reintegration, not just confinement. They said community transition services and community facilities are underused, criticized sentence extensions and new criminal referrals from JR to Lewis County, and raised concerns about limited phone and visitation access, delayed or inadequate mental health treatment, lack of college opportunities for young women at Echo Glen, and the treatment of youth with disabilities. Gonzalez described her own experiences in county and state facilities, saying she felt mistreated, undereducated, and unable to access therapy without first reporting suicidal ideation. Members asked follow-up questions about telehealth, county-versus-state services, and educational access. The final major presentation came from juvenile court administrators Christine Simon Smeyer and Judge Rachel Anderson on county-level juvenile court services. They outlined the juvenile court continuum from prevention and truancy work through diversion, detention, and community supervision, stressing that courts aim to keep youth out of detention whenever possible and use evidence-based, trauma-informed, and restorative practices. Clark County was used as an example of a court with restorative justice programming, school partnerships, behavioral health probation, detention alternatives, and specialized supports such as a psychologist, educational advocates, and family-centered services. They also discussed funding, saying county juvenile court services are heavily dependent on local dollars, with state support averaging about 21 percent across courts, and warned that recent cuts to early intervention funding reduced staffing and services even though the need remained. Members asked about detention for status offenses, supports for youth with developmental disabilities, and restorative justice practices. The meeting concluded with DCYF Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Head Start/ECAP representative Katie Warren discussing early learning and child care. Rose said Fair Start for Kids Act investments increased child care access, provider participation, and kindergarten readiness, but recent budget reductions will raise co-pays for many families, delay eligibility expansions, reduce ECAP slots, eliminate some provider supports, and cut infant and early childhood mental health consultation capacity. Warren said ECAP remains an important two-generation anti-poverty and workforce-support program, but providers are seeing children and families with greater needs and more complex challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the other uh state tax policy.
• I work as a policy manager for the Minnesota Housing Partnership.
• </c> will ensure that local partnerships will ensure that local partnerships we're<00:10:17.040><c> building
• ><c> to</c><00:42:23.520><c> expand</c> Without policy change, efforts to expand Without policy change
• ,</c><00:57:37.599><c> streamlined</c> pro housing policies, streamlined pro housing policies, streamlined

Bills: HF3902 , HF3895

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing tax credit, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, qualified projects, taxpayer contributions, greater Minnesota, zoning, housing, local government, multifamily development, affordable housing, land use, urban development

Transcript Highlights:

• The New Pack initiative supported 70 multi-unit housing properties in implementing voluntary policies
• Additionally, two tribal communities implemented voluntary policies covering 80 low-income homes: the
• This is through our partnership with the Office of School and Adolescent Health.
• As we move forward on the next slide, we'll look at our collaboration and partnership efforts.
• Chair, Representative Tarasas, Josh Swantek, Policy and Performance Director.

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Agency serves as this connective tissue that coordinates the cross-disciplinary policy and our program
• And I'm thankful for our strong immunization policies in California. Access and uptake.
• Just to highlight for everyone, and thanks for your partnership and leadership in this.
• Glenn Backus, for Drug Policy Alliance, a member of the End the Epidemics Coalition.
• That's an expected increase of 43 percent, even before policy changes noted by OICR in the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what if the directive was lawful, but really terrible policy?
• And what if the directive was lawful, but really terrible policy? Mr.
• And what if the directive was lawful, but really terrible policy? Mr.
• She understands partnership, accountability, and results.
• Our partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism is critical.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations met to consider Alex Scalpsa Ridgeway’s nomination to serve as Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. Chair Jay Kaufman opened with remarks about the committee’s role in reviewing nominees for fidelity to state law and executive accountability. Ridgeway gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior state service, and her view that tourism is a major economic driver for the state. She highlighted record visitation and spending, the importance of marketing the whole state, and efforts to expand social media, data use, and support for rural communities. Committee members questioned Ridgeway about the state of tourism, responsible visitor messaging, the need to market Arizona despite major attractions like the Grand Canyon, rural tourism strategies, international travel declines, return on investment for marketing, and how she would respond to unlawful or poor policy directives. She said she would always follow the law, would raise concerns about policy using data, and emphasized an activity-based marketing strategy focused on family travel, outdoor recreation, cultural travel, culinary, wellness, and luxury. She also discussed conflict-of-interest safeguards, said she would support more transparency and checks and balances, and noted plans to explore AI and other technology to improve efficiency. Public testimony strongly supported the nominee. Representatives from the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, the Cactus League Baseball Association, and Experience Scottsdale praised Ridgeway’s experience, leadership, and collaborative approach, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance statewide. The committee then moved to recommend her confirmation. The motion passed 5-0, and Chair Kaufman congratulated Ridgeway on the committee’s approval and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a reminder, Greater Minnesota Partnership is focused on advocating for policies that support economic
• Um, and we've Minnesota Partnership.
• 01:51.360><c> on</c> Minnesota Partnerships focused on Minnesota Partnerships focused on advocating<00
• </c> advocating for policies that support advocating for policies that support economic<00:01:53.600>
• Next, we have Libby Murphy, director of policy with Minnesota Housing Partnership.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• one of our first private donations that we had, and ever since then we've had this public-private partnership
• We also have partnerships with Cherokee Nation, Wildlife, and Outdoor Oklahoma.
• We have long-term partnerships with those agencies to make sure that their shows are shown and people
• that policy to build out their collection.
• It is based on a collection development policy that is Approved at the most local level.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, the board sets policies and approves actions in a number of different land management
• I know that was brought up earlier, and in conclusion it continues to strengthen...” ...partnerships.
• So the state has made this policy.
• The policy cutoff has already happened on the House side.
• I'm a policy analyst for the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard several Senate bills and a joint memorial, with the chair moving items around to accommodate prime sponsors and public testimony. SB 5838 would add two tribal representatives to the Board of Natural Resources, one from each side of the Cascades, and broaden the nomination pool to include tribes with treaty-ceded lands in Washington. The sponsor and tribal and agency witnesses said the bill would add tribal knowledge and stewardship expertise without changing government-to-government consultation. County and industry witnesses raised concerns about fiduciary duties to trust beneficiaries, the lack of stakeholder consultation, and the effect of expanding the board from one to two tribal seats. Public testimony was mixed, and the committee recorded strong support and opposition on the bill. SB 5816 would add juice grapes to the state Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act, allowing juice grape producers to use the same marketing and negotiation framework already available to pears, sweet corn, and potatoes. The sponsor said the bill would help juice grape growers facing unfair pricing pressure from processors. The committee took limited public testimony and recorded support and opposition before closing the hearing. SJM 8015 urged Congress to ensure federal wildfire response entities remain capable of protecting communities, infrastructure, watersheds, and firefighter health and safety during federal consolidation of wildfire programs. Testimony from environmental groups, forest industry, and union representatives broadly supported the memorial and emphasized rising wildfire risk, smoke impacts, and the need for strong interagency response capacity. The committee also heard HB 2737, which would cap certain shellfish regulatory fees, exempt the shellfish program from full fee recovery, and apply the caps retroactively. The sponsor and shellfish growers said the Department of Health’s fee increases would be unsustainable for small family farms and processors, while DOH explained it was following a full cost-recovery model unless the Legislature provides general fund support. Witnesses described large projected fee increases and potential business closures, and DOH said it had reopened rulemaking to consider smaller operators. Because the bill was heard after cutoff, the chair noted it could not advance, but the committee still took testimony and discussed possible amendments and follow-up information before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Jersey has developed a policy to fully fund their pension plans.
• And so this partnership that we've launched with DARPA.
• One of the important things about the DARPA partnership.
• And that’s why the DARPA partnership is so important.
• policies, Madam Chair.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And while at times we agree or disagree on policies and appropriations, At times we disagree on policies
• And while at times we agree or disagree on policies and appropriations, At times we disagree on policies
• Your partnership makes this work possible for the beautiful people of Oakland, ...about your partnership
• It is a massive pivot in state policy.
• that's part of that policy.

Committee: House Budget