Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Um, local candidates and local officials in the seven-county metro area in cities with over 50,000
• </c> about the broad definition of local about the broad definition of local official.<00:15:45.120><
• </c><00:26:50.240><c> offices</c> absolutely need in these local offices absolutely need in these local
• These would be filed locally. >> It's all locally. Okay.
• Um, true, so folks may have to go to the local school board or where they're filed locally to be able

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I spoke with our superintendent two years ago and he was superintendent two years ago and he was superintendent
• prosecutors and local prosecutors and local prosecutors uh can intervene from a state and local uh can
• intervene from a state and local uh can intervene from a state and local level.
• She he is superintendent of Turnin. She he is superintendent of Turnin.
• It's that's where the locals make left. It's that's where the locals make left.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we're going to change this a little bit, and we're going to get the acting superintendent in here
• Now we're going to change this a little bit, and we're going to get the acting superintendent in here
• So I'm Caitlin Azar, Acting Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services for New York State
• And since I joined as acting superintendent in October, I've done two additional ones.
• The BDD, the Banking Development Districts, right now the program says that local people have...

Committee: Senate Banks

Summary: The Senate Banking Committee met for its first meeting of the session, with Chair James Sanders Jr. and Ranking Member George Borrello opening the hearing and noting a collaborative approach to committee work. The committee first considered and advanced several bills: S.114, which would prohibit state-chartered banks from investing in or financing private prisons; S.2040, which would require money transmitters to provide a consumer warning; S.5473, which would require disclosures in advertisements involving virtual tokens; and S.8406, Sanders’ bill to amend the community bank deposit program. Each bill was moved and approved by committee, with S.8406 passing unanimously. The committee then heard from Caitlin Azar, Acting Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), who outlined her background and DFS priorities. She emphasized affordability, consumer protection, stability, and innovation, and discussed DFS-led initiatives in the governor’s budget, including Banking Development Districts, non-bank mortgage CRA regulations, CDFI investment guidance, and consumer restitution. She also said DFS plans to issue buy-now-pay-later regulations in February, expand student lending protections and borrower education, and continue work on insurance affordability, including auto and homeowners insurance reforms, anti-fraud efforts, and discounts tied to telematics, dash cameras, and safe-driving courses. Members questioned Azar about the balance between regulation and access, especially in crypto, buy-now-pay-later, and insurance markets. She said DFS aims to preserve competition while preventing discriminatory or excessive practices, and described existing oversight of virtual currency, including coordination with federal regulators. Another member asked about AI in auto insurance underwriting and pricing; Azar said DFS requires transparency, bias review, governance controls, and consumer recourse, and that credit scores cannot be used to deny or increase rates. The chair also raised concerns about foreclosure in Southeast Queens, improving BDD paperwork and data collection, and increasing the number of state-chartered credit unions. Azar said DFS is working on process improvements, community input, and maintaining open communication with the committee, but no additional votes or formal actions were taken during the DFS hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I struggle with where local control is and where we do things from this body.
• I voted my superintendents last year, and I was a no.
• I voted my superintendents last year and I was a no.
• I hope that each of us have had the opportunity to go back into our districts and hear from our local
• And to those who maybe have some local control concerns, I want to share...

Bills: SR31 , SB2060 , SB2184 , HB1371 , HB1411 , HB1933 , HB2361 , HB2398 , HB2893 , HB3006 , HB3044 , HB3127 , HB3322 , HB3147 , HB1276 , HB3472 , HB3522 , HB3704 , HB4303 , HB4319

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and spent much of the day on recognitions and special presentations, including Capitol Cowboy Day honoring Oklahoma State University, the Doctor and Nurse of the Day, Miss Oklahoma Teen Taylor Meeks, military families for Purple Up for Military Kids Day, and several visiting groups in the galleries. During the OSU presentation, university leaders highlighted OSU’s agricultural research and asked for support for an upcoming agronomy research bill, and Coach Eric Morris was welcomed as the new head football coach. The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 31, designating April 15 as Purple Up for Military Kids Day in Oklahoma, which was presented with remarks about the sacrifices of military children and families and the significance of wearing purple. The Senate also advanced and passed several measures, including bills dealing with duplicate statutory sections and statutory interpretation, a negotiated oil and gas bill, the True Grit Trail, nitric oxide sales to minors, foster care and juvenile transition documents, a paraprofessional certification change, an Indian education council sunset extension, veterans’ tax refund donations, a Route 66 specialty license plate, cell phone restrictions in K-12 classrooms, tire pyrolysis funding, ABLE Commission reporting, scholarship-granting organization tax credits, municipal ordinance publication deadlines, and agency rule authority and review. Most bills were advanced without objection and passed by wide margins, with a few closer votes on House Bill 2398, House Bill 3127, House Bill 3704, and House Bill 1276. House Bill 1276, extending the classroom cell phone prohibition, drew the most debate, with supporters citing improved student focus and classroom interaction and one member raising local control concerns before voting yes. House Bill 3704, concerning participation in a federal tax credit for scholarship-granting organizations, prompted questions about double-dipping on tax benefits and state sovereignty, but it ultimately passed 38-8. The Senate then announced a Technology and Telecommunications meeting for the next morning and adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16.

Transcript Highlights:

• middle schools and high schools to start at specific times and returns the decision-making to the local
• It requires a... ...times and returns the decision-making to the local level.
• Brian Moore, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, waives in support. Thank you.
• Yes. for sleep, consider all of these issues, and then at the local level, make the best decision for
• Florida Association of District School Superintendents.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 296, as amended by strike-all, on middle and high school start times. Senator Bradley explained that the amendment would repeal the statewide mandate for later start times and return scheduling decisions to local school boards, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic effects of sleep deprivation and to consider later start times when setting transportation schedules. Testimony and debate were largely in support, with several school district and education group representatives waiving in support, and members citing transportation, staffing, family logistics, and cost concerns under the existing mandate. The strike-all was adopted, and SB 296 was reported favorably by roll call vote, with Senators Berman, Osgood, and Chair Calatayud voting yes and Senator Gaetz voting no; other members were absent or not recorded in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senate Bill 356, which would designate January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida. Senator Berman said the date matches the UN’s Holocaust Remembrance Day and would require the governor to annually proclaim it, while allowing public observance and instruction about the Holocaust’s harms and its impact on the Jewish community and humanity. There was no substantive opposition in the excerpt, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote with yes votes from Senators Berman, Gaetz, and Chair Calatayud. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 166 on administrative efficiency in public schools. Senator Simon described a broad deregulation package affecting student assessments, grade promotion, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, internal audits, facilities planning, cost-per-student-station limits, emergency make-up days, federal fund timing, and VPK oversight. Testimony was mixed: school district and education organization representatives generally supported the flexibility, while some groups opposed or urged changes to the grade 4 promotion and graduation-related provisions, arguing they could weaken academic standards. After debate focused especially on third-grade promotion and testing requirements, the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded their votes on SB 296 and SB 356, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have really good participation from the superintendents, but I, for one, would really like to have
• I know that there have been times where my principal or superintendent have come and said, okay, now
• Our local churches in Ward, because we're kind of the stepchild of Cabot.
• And like I'm missing right now, they are doing an Atlas incentive, and the local fire department and
• At Christmastime, the teachers and the local churches adopt families that need Christmas presents.

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Terry McHale with Aaron Read and Associates, representing Cal Fire Local 2881.
• Terry McHale with Aaron Reed and Associates, representing Cal Fire Local 2881.
• Brianna Bruns, on behalf of the California County Superintendents, representing the 58 County Superintendents
• Jeff Valka, representing the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.
• Alexa Chavez, on behalf of United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930, in support.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several labor-related measures. AB 465 would require city and county employers, when requested by a union, to negotiate minimum disciplinary and grievance standards in MOUs, including progressive discipline, just-cause protections, grievance appeal procedures, and paid release time for representatives. Supporters said it would create fairer, more consistent due process protections for local public employees; opponents argued it could be too rigid, create litigation, and interfere with existing bargaining and civil service systems. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was re-referred to Appropriations. AB 792 would allow multi-region bargaining for court interpreters when more than one region is negotiating at the same time, with supporters saying it would streamline negotiations and help address interpreter recruitment and retention. There was no opposition, but some members questioned whether the proposal would meaningfully solve the underlying staffing and pay issues. The bill passed and was held for add-ons. AB 1309, which would improve Cal Fire firefighter compensation by making salaries more competitive with local fire departments, drew broad support and no opposition; members praised firefighters’ work and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also considered AJR 8, a resolution urging protection of Social Security and opposing cuts or closures that would make benefits harder to access. Supporters emphasized Social Security’s role in preventing poverty among seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, while one member objected to naming political figures in the resolution. The resolution passed and was held. AB 1247 would require contracted classified school employees to meet the same training and qualification standards as direct hires and address retirement contributions; supporters said it would protect students and improve parity, while opponents warned it would burden schools and limit flexibility. It passed 5-2. Finally, AB 288 would authorize the Public Employment Relations Board to act when the NLRB fails to remedy a labor claim by its deadline, with supporters framing it as a backstop for workers’ organizing rights amid federal inaction; it passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• act authorizing the city of Springfield to appropriate funds to help certain residents meet their local
• With regard to the issue of cell phones in schools, we have listened to superintendents.
• And so they asked us to act, and the vast majority of superintendents asked us to impose this ban bell
• I spoke with a superintendent in Watertown just Monday morning to see how it's going.
• It is local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Superintendent Lee.
• And thank you, Superintendent.
• So they gave the school superintendent, Superintendent Andrade, a raise.
• Superintendent Engel is present to me. Superintendent?
• Mojave County Superintendent of Schools is the last superintendent of Topock, and so I just kind of found

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provides flexibility when local provides flexibility when local conditions<01:19:13.520><c> make
• ><01:20:07.600><c> with</c> superintendent in Pekquat Lakes with superintendent in Pekquat Lakes with
• County</c><01:20:13.840><c> Schools</c> superintendent in Cook County Schools superintendent in Cook
• </c> transparency, accountability, and local transparency, accountability, and local decision-making.
• </c> Ultimately, this bill is about local Ultimately, this bill is about local control<01:27:05.760><

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Kimberly Rosenberger, with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
• Thank you, Kimberly Rosenberger, with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
• So there's federal, state, and local. So we know what local is about right now.
• In our SELPA, nearly 73% of our special education revenue comes from local sources.
• In our SELPA, nearly 73% of our special education revenue comes from local sources.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. For dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund proposal to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, add flexibility for regional occupational centers, support justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, and allow funds for teacher professional development, along with a reduction in required instructional minutes for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding, saying it did not address a clear implementation barrier, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Members and public commenters largely supported the expansion, with some urging additional technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee then discussed the reading difficulty screener proposal, which includes $40 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for implementation costs and statutory changes that would delay formal screening until the 91st day for kindergarten and the 46th day for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align screening with sufficient exposure to instruction; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the investment but cautioned about the timing restrictions, and several members and public witnesses argued the proposed deadlines were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the structured timeline as a way to improve accuracy and reduce misidentification. On special education, Finance presented a proposal to increase the statewide base rate to $99 per ADA through a $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund augmentation, plus COLA and a negative growth adjustment. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be achieved with less funding; CDE strongly supported the increase, citing rising enrollment and local cost pressures, and district and SELPA representatives described large local funding gaps and growing expenditures. The committee also reviewed school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance and the Office of Public School Construction describing $1.5 billion in proposed bond spending, existing balances for new construction and modernization, and the use of bond authority for natural disaster recovery, including projects related to recent fires. For the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the committee heard about the Student Teacher Stipend Program, the Golden State Teacher Grant, state operations funding for misconduct investigations and SB 848 implementation, and a $250 million proposal to extend the Teacher Residency Grant Program; CTC supported the proposals and highlighted new data systems and technical assistance, while public testimony broadly backed the investments and urged continued or additional funding for teacher recruitment, literacy screening support, and special education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Special local renewable energy tax if a local taxing district within the county imposes an excess levy
• Local need is growing, but we've seen a pattern of codified local barriers that make expanding capacity
• Local need is growing, but we've seen a pattern of codified local barriers that make expanding capacity
• Local governments also had an estimate of around $179,000 for local government training.
• Local governments also had an estimate of around $179,000 for local government training.

Summary: The committee first heard Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor and Industries to study child care workforce conditions and make recommendations on employment standards. Staff explained that the proposed second substitute narrows the board’s role from setting enforceable standards to making recommendations, with estimated ongoing costs for L&I staffing and smaller costs for board member stipends and possible DCYF support. Supporters, including child care providers, SEIU 925, and labor representatives, said the bill would help address understaffing, low wages, and retention problems; opponents, including child care industry groups and private schools, argued it duplicates existing work, adds bureaucracy, and creates unfunded costs. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would direct OSPI and ESDs to develop a technical assistance and training framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health supports. Staff said the bill aligns with the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and could largely be implemented with existing work and limited additional costs, though DOH would need some support. Testifiers from behavioral health and school counseling fields described severe youth mental health needs and urged passage, and OSPI said the work is doable with current resources. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies and funding provisions for JLARC review; staff described JLARC, OSPI, and State Board costs, and no public testimony was offered. The committee next heard House Bill 1316, which would expand the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so additional university campuses can access funding. The sponsor said the program has strong retention outcomes, and student advocates testified that campuses such as UW Bothell need access to already appropriated funds for emergency aid, food pantries, and case management. Staff then briefed Substitute House Bill 2474, which would allow the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to be used for refunds tied to broader consumer protection violations, with no expected fiscal impact; there was no testimony. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2365 on digital equity, which would expand the Broadband Office’s role, revise the digital equity forum, and rename the grant program; supporters emphasized rural access, affordability, and the loss of federal digital equity funding, while staff estimated significant Commerce staffing costs and some additional agency impacts. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men Commission contingent on non-state funding, with staff outlining OFM startup and fundraising costs and an estimated operating budget if fully funded. Supporters said boys and men face mental health, education, and mentorship gaps and that the commission would improve coordination; the bill drew testimony from rural school leaders, nonprofit advocates, and community members. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language access, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines and a report on interpreter and translator shortages; staff said the office could absorb the work but other agency and local government impacts were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517, on permitting for high-capacity transit, would let regional transit authorities apply for permits earlier and streamline land-use processes; Sound Transit and the sponsor said it would speed delivery of major projects, while staff estimated Commerce technical-assistance costs and possible local government impacts. The last bill heard was Substitute House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug pricing program, which would bar manufacturers from restricting contract-pharmacy access and require reporting to DOH; supporters said it protects safety-net providers and patient services, while opponents warned of higher costs for employers, state health plans, and litigation burdens. No final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you agree, superintendent?
• As I read that, it strikes out the superintendent.
• Chair, senators, that the Superintendent said at a prior meeting that a prior Superintendent had set
• And I hear the superintendent saying that she hasn't.
• I think Senator Duhigg passed legislation with the superintendent of insurance to require the superintendent

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> decisions on what is best for local decisions on what is best for local communities<00:33:46.960
• Curriculum decisions are best made at the local level with locally elected officials and those folks
• </c> decisions are best made at the local decisions are best made at the local level<00:37:58.760><c>
• > decision</c> that to local control and local decision that to local control and local decision makers
• <04:32:36.040><c> assistant</c><04:32:36.520><c> superintendents</c> superintendent assistant superintendents

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 662, which would require public schools to include discussion of abortion procedures and show specified videos in health education classes. The prime sponsor argued the bill would ensure students receive medically accurate, age-appropriate, and nonpolitical information about abortion, saying the topic is important for informed decision-making and should be taught consistently statewide. He said the videos were intended for grades 9-12, that parents could opt out, and that the requirement was meant to supplement, not sway, students’ views. He also acknowledged the bill could be seen as limiting local control over curriculum and said the intent was to prevent the topic from being missed due to scheduling disruptions. Committee members questioned the sponsor about local control, the need for a video mandate, the source of his statistics, whether the bill could be biased or inflammatory, and whether the requirement should apply every year in high school. The sponsor said the videos were only a starting point, could be replaced by others, and were meant to be informational. He also said the bill was not intended to influence students’ decisions about abortion. Several supporters testified in favor, including representatives of New Hampshire Right to Life and others who said students should be told the “truth” about abortion and its consequences. They emphasized graphic or emotionally difficult aspects of abortion and argued that young people need this information to make informed choices. Opponents and skeptical witnesses raised concerns about prescribing curriculum, eroding local control, and the appropriateness of the material for younger high school students. The New Hampshire School Administrators Association said the bill was overly prescriptive, that health education standards are already set by the State Board of Education, and that the topics in the bill are not part of the current standards. That witness recommended the committee consider retaining the bill for further work or making it less prescriptive. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker and I have come up with the required two superintendents from Impact Aid districts.
• So those are the three superintendents that we worked out, and if I could have a motion to approve.
• All right, any opposition to those three superintendents on Pascuda?
• Opposition to those three superintendents on Pascuda? Seeing none, we have done that.
• Local associations. I think I'm pretty sure they're allowed, though.

Committee: House Legislative Council

Transcript Highlights:

• A locally decided sort of effort. We provide technical assistance.
• But again, this is a local decision. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I agree, I think some of this local control, I'm kind of, you know, everybody wants to have local control
• All of those things are local decisions, and that's a big deal.
• There are many, many decisions that are local decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Superintendent Lee.
• And thank you, Superintendent.
• Yet prior to that, they gave the school superintendent, Superintendent Andrade, a raise.
• So they gave the school superintendent, Superintendent Andrade, a raise, and then a couple of months
• Superintendent Angle is present to me. Superintendent, please come up and introduce yourself.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. State Controller Malia Cohen.
• State vision is realized locally. Thank you. State vision is realized locally.
• Localism is determinative. It just is. Period. That doesn't mean our hands are clean.
• You provided $267 million to 55 local law enforcement agencies.
• We're supporting local law enforcement.

Summary: The Assembly met, initially lacking a quorum, and the Clerk called the roll until a quorum was established. The chamber then proceeded through routine opening business, including prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, recognition of Native lands, approval of procedural motions, and several unanimous-consent actions to re-refer bills and allow committees to notice bills pending re-referral. The Assembly also recessed regular session to convene a joint convention for the Governor’s State of the State address. In the joint convention, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his final State of the State speech, focusing on California’s economic performance, education investments, housing reforms, public safety, homelessness, climate policy, insurance issues, and the state’s response to federal actions. He highlighted budget plans, including a proposed $248.3 billion general fund, increased reserves, major education funding, child care and after-school investments, housing and affordability measures, mental health and homelessness funding, infrastructure projects, clean energy goals, and wildfire recovery efforts. He also praised legislative collaboration on AI regulation, tax credits, and other policy areas while criticizing federal policies and calling for continued state action. After the address, the Governor’s speech was ordered printed in the journal, the joint convention adjourned sine die, and the Assembly returned to regular session. The Speaker announced the desk would remain open for introduction of the budget bill, noted the next floor session would be Monday, January 12 at 1 p.m., and the House adjourned on motion of the Majority Leader.

Transcript Highlights:

• So your local teachers, your local school board members, local parents should be getting together in
• So you your local u involvement.
• </c> teachers, your local schoolboard teachers, your local schoolboard members,<01:27:07.920><c> local
• </c><01:44:44.719><c> He</c> superintendent had to respond. He superintendent had to respond.
• </c> just local communities control and local just local communities control and local communities<01

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up would be the superintendent, playing forward up. Good afternoon.
• Next up would be the superintendent playing forward up. Good afternoon.
• Next, I'd like to welcome up Superintendent Brian Forgett from the Triton Regional School District.
• That burden has been quietly shifted onto our local taxpayers.
• Representative, thank you so much, Superintendent Forgett and Ms. Whelan and Mr.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means