Transcript Highlights:

• costs from our actuarial reports.
• 83% of medical plan costs.
• holds personnel costs flat.
• We are receiving disconnect notices in our buildings because we just don't have the operational costs
• and the building costs.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the costs on to other property owners. the costs on to other property owners.
• </c> to cap recovery of those same costs. to cap recovery of those same costs.
• </c> operations.
• It caps costs without operations.
• They pass the costs right on.

Bills: SF1750 , HF704 , HF3479

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• with stranded cost.
• Or cost. is going to be. That's correct. Or cost.
• The idea of operation and maintenance costs would be potentially different if we're looking at a gas
• <04:31:45.520><c> costs,</c><04:31:46.159><c> integration</c><04:31:46.720><c> between</c> operating
• costs, integration between operating costs, integration between first<04:31:47.359><c> responder</c><

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, we can operate as a suspense, as a subcommittee until we establish a quorum.
• also apply to counties that operate their own transit services directly.
• However, CDTFA has not Transit operators are exempt.
• The small rural counties, in particular, face an unexpected cost estimated at nearly $100,000, which
• Actually, they cost a million now.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met after several delays while the Senate remained in session. Once convened, the chair welcomed new committee member Assembly Member Juan Carrillo and explained hearing procedures, including that bills with significant fiscal impacts would generally be sent to suspense. SB 87 was the only bill designated for an immediate vote; the rest were heard for discussion and then referred to suspense. The committee heard several tax-related measures. SB 359 would clarify that county-run transit systems qualify for existing fuel tax exemptions for public transit operators; it drew support from the County of Placer, the California Transit Association, and CSAC, and was sent to suspense. SB 603 would allow county boards in disaster-affected counties to extend the five-year replacement property deadline by up to three years; it was supported by the Assessors Association and the California Association of Realtors and also sent to suspense. SB 293 would extend deadlines and protect intergenerational property transfers for disaster-impacted homeowners, especially in Altadena after the Eaton Fire; it received strong support from the California Community Foundation and committee members, and was referred to suspense after the author agreed to work on refinements. The committee also heard SB 353, which would extend the farm-to-food-bank tax credit for five more years; it was supported by Californians Against Waste and sent to suspense. SB 723 would raise the threshold for local property tax exemptions on low-value properties to reduce administrative burden on small businesses, and was likewise referred to suspense. SB 785 would create a $5,000 tax credit for durable medical equipment for medically fragile children; it drew support from pediatric home health and provider groups and was sent to suspense. SB 87, which would extend the sales tax exemption for volunteer fire department fundraising activities, was the only bill voted on and passed the committee 5-0 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:07.120><c> through</c> office have reduced costs through office have reduced costs through
• :59.679><c> cost</c><00:30:59.960><c> threshold</c><00:31:00.960><c> they</c> uh exceeds a certain cost
• </c> if a regulation hits a certain cost if a regulation hits a certain cost threshold<00:31:33.600><
• </c> 2021 energy code these are added costs 2021 energy code these are added costs to<00:39:23.280><c
• </c> unnecessary burdens on Camp operators unnecessary burdens on Camp operators and<01:16:47.639><c>

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• wildfire investment costs.
• cost through surcharges.
• costs flow directly to customers.
• It would merely reallocate the cost to parties who neither control utility operations nor contribute
• By proposing to decouple cost responsibility from operational responsibility, risks weakening incentives

Summary: The hearing focused on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study and its recommendations for addressing California’s wildfire risk, utility liability, and the financing of catastrophic losses. Committee members and presenters discussed the history of the wildfire fund created after the 2018 fire crisis and PG&E bankruptcy, the role of the California Earthquake Authority as fund administrator, and the report’s three broad policy pathways: continuing mitigation investments, more equitably allocating catastrophe costs, and considering expanded state involvement in catastrophe financing. Presenters emphasized that the report was intended as a neutral, stakeholder-informed analysis rather than an advocacy document, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA, CPUC, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety each described their contributions and recommendations. CEA outlined options such as risk-tolerance standards for utilities, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, confidential near-miss reporting, liability reforms, and a fast-pay facility for survivors. CPUC stressed that wildfire mitigation and liability costs are a major driver of electricity affordability problems, and said the state should broaden how wildfire recovery and mitigation are funded beyond ratepayers alone. Energy Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan oversight and recommended stronger safety reporting and stronger safety weighting in utility executive compensation. The modeling portion of the report estimated that a more durable wildfire fund could require about $36 billion in capitalization, with lower initial capital needs if risk transfer or liability reforms are used, but potentially higher ongoing premium or assessment costs. The report also examined state-backed insurer or backstop models, post-event funding mechanisms, and targeted community wildfire mitigation, which could reduce overall funding needs. Members raised concerns about the cost burden on ratepayers, the financial stability of utilities, the fairness of asking communities outside high-risk areas to pay, the role of local governments and home hardening, and whether broader climate-related liability or insurance reforms should be considered. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further committee hearings and stakeholder discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just-in-time deliveries versus inventories of long lead-time items cut warehousing costs and increase
• DoD reinforces this behavior by choosing the lower-cost proposal among technically equal options.
• in most operational planning is the role of industry.
• One is, in fact, the impact of COVID and both the inflation in general costs and the increase in cost
• Both for workforce, for wages and benefits, and for other costs associated with that.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• As we know, grants are great, but you can’t really find a grant for operating costs.
• As we know, grants are great, but you can’t really find a grant for operating costs.
• As we know, grants are great, but you can’t really find a grant for operating costs.
• As we know, grants are great, but you can’t really find a grant for operating costs.
• As we know, grants are great, but you can’t really find a grant for operating costs.

Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the operating budget, 25% comes from federal reimbursements.
• through, cost to us would be $1.75 billion.
• When their cost for materials goes up, they have to raise prices to these customers.
• Medicaid cuts will result in increased health care costs for employers.
• Medicaid cuts will result in increased health care costs for employers.

Committee: House House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Initially, we had 90 days to get our debris in relations with FEMA at a no-cost, 100% cost share.
• While Florida alone could operate, I think it's the long term... ...could operate, I think.
• It is eligible costs. You're right, sir. Thank you.
• No, there is cost.
• But to your point, what a lot of folks don't realize is that 50% of that cost Up front, 50% of that cost

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The committee received a program review from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and FEMA reimbursement process. Deputy Director Keith Pruitt described the impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including major storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, debris removal, power restoration, flood-control deployments, sheltering, and logistics missions. He emphasized that Florida’s approach is “federally funded, state managed, locally executed,” and said the division has already obligated large amounts of public assistance funding and mitigation dollars while continuing to work on remaining missions and reimbursements. A major focus of the discussion was how local governments can better document and vet debris-removal and other disaster costs so they are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Chair DiCeglie and other senators raised concerns about local planning, commercial debris collection, and whether counties and municipalities that spend money up front will be reimbursed. Pruitt explained that eligibility depends on documentation, scope of work, insurance, and FEMA rules, and that the state’s FROC process is intended to help counties identify eligible work before costs are incurred. He also said commercial debris may be eligible in some cases but is not guaranteed, and that counties should coordinate early with FDEM and FEMA. Senators also asked about possible FEMA reforms, the age of outstanding reimbursement claims, and a proposed state fund to advance money to fiscally constrained counties while they wait for FEMA payments. Pruitt said Florida’s system is a national best practice, but that more county-level training and clearer coordination would help reduce de-obligations and audit problems. He said the reimbursement-advance idea is still being developed, and that the state continues to look at ways to streamline mitigation through programs like Elevate Florida. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after closing comments from senators praising FDEM’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs.
• So that is certain fixed cost or essentially initial costs.
• is low-cost or very low-cost or no-cost acquisition because we have conservation partners that have
• But what's being asked for here are operational costs, right?
• But my suggestion is not at the expense of the California Highway Patrol's operational costs, and nobody

Transcript Highlights:

• Operation Guardian is our ongoing operation, the governor's initiative to work on deportation of illegal
• There's no cost of living raise.
• We could put our warehouse and operations center next door to their warehouse and operations center.
• We'll be sharing the cost for the fencing. We'll be sharing the cost for the parking lot.
• And so, cars don't really operate well.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will provide crucial support for nurses considering a career in the operating room.
• This bill will provide crucial support for nurses considering a career in the operating room.
• This provides an exemption for nursing homes operated by state agencies from the requirements.
• So in your close, could you talk about maybe the cost of that, or will there be a cost concerning this
• So to me, it's not a cost driver. It doesn't increase costs.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services first heard and adopted the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the committee, which was presented as a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget. The budget emphasized Medicaid and KidCare funding, IT modernization, workforce reductions tied to unfilled or augmented positions, provider rate increases, mental health and substance use funding, opioid treatment, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, and school nurse staffing. The committee approved technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal for submission to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered several bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 152 on surgical smoke required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; it drew strong support from nurses and other health care workers describing workplace and patient safety risks. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to develop informational materials for schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing homes required consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, reporting to the health information exchange, financial reporting penalties, and Medicaid quality incentive reporting; an amendment exempted state-operated homes, including veterans’ facilities, and directed a study of quality incentive systems. CS/SB 738 updated and streamlined child care regulation, and CS/SB 1356 created the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at Florida State University and a related pediatric rare disease screening pilot. The committee also passed SB 1370, which reorganized ambulatory surgical centers into their own statutory framework, with testimony emphasizing their lower costs compared with hospitals. Finally, the committee considered CS/CS/SB 1626 on child welfare and related issues. After adopting multiple amendments that removed references to unaccompanied alien children and special immigrant visas, changed language on child abuse definitions, and required DCF to set room-and-board rates by methodology rather than fee schedule, the bill was explained as strengthening child welfare protections, codifying military-family coordination, improving domestic violence shelter certification, adjusting children’s services council appointments, clarifying missing-child procedures, and updating licensing and compliance provisions. The bill drew both support and opposition, particularly over missing-child jurisdiction and immigration-related concerns, and was ultimately reported favorably. A final motion to record a vote on SB 958 was also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• The imported barrel is at a higher cost.
• They are owner-occupied and operated.
• Chair and members, by way of background, owners and operators of exploration operations, mining units
• operations and mining units.
• The property of the owner or the operator of the exploration operations and mining units may be applied

Bills: HB2014 , HB2031 , HB2078 , HB2102 , HB2103 , HB2117 , HB2261 , HB2262 , HB2264 , HB2278 , HB2428 , HB2494 , HB2756 , HB2758 , HB2762 , HB2782 , HB2932 , HB2933 , HB2986

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, water rights, groundwater, Willcox, active management area, certificate of grandfathered rights, Arizona legislature, aggregate mining, reclamation plans, environmental protection, public safety, land use, domestic water, improvement district, water delivery, water hauling

Transcript Highlights:

• If the CSG's raised cost of electricity theory were true, Excel's kilowatt cost per hour should be higher
• You can't look at these costs in a bubble.
• It's part of the way we operate.
• costs lie.
• And at what cost?

Bills: HF2103 , HF2793

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> spending shows up as higher operating spending shows up as higher operating costs<00:14:32.160><
• :32.200><c> operate.
• </c> hospitals best operate. hospitals best operate.
• Hospital stabilization grants would support immediate operational and cash infusion costs for HCMC and
• </c><00:28:17.520><c> for</c> operational and cash infusion costs for operational and cash infusion costs

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• In the metro area, it's historically been used for transitway operating costs, specifically in Hennepin
• In the metro area, it's historically been used for transitway operating costs, specifically in Hennepin
• In the metro area, it's historically been used for transitway operating costs, specifically in Hennepin
• In the metro area, it's historically been used for transitway operating costs, specifically in Hennepin
• In the metro area, it's historically been used for transitway operating costs, specifically in Hennepin

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Operations. My name is Walter Hullet. Operations. My name is Walter Hullet.
• </c> into their operations. into their operations.
• Now, KDLA pays nearly $671,000 annually, and that does not include the operational cost for utilities
• </c><00:34:15.520><c> cost</c><00:34:15.760><c> for</c> include the operational cost for include the
• operational cost for utilities<00:34:16.480><c> and</c><00:34:16.639><c> janitorial</c><00:34:17.480>

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met for its first meeting of the year, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior year’s minutes, and welcomed new co-chairs and members. The board reviewed the capital planning timeline and a list of agencies that submitted plans but would not testify. Members were reminded to keep presentations brief because of a packed agenda. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented first, outlining priorities centered on public safety, infrastructure preservation, and preventive maintenance. Its requests included a $21 million maintenance pool, phase two funding for a new state public health laboratory, construction of an 18-bed children’s psychiatric hospital, and several projects at Western State Hospital and Western State Nursing Facility, including HVAC work, cooling tower repair or replacement, and chiller plant repiping. Additional projects covered elevator upgrades at Hazlewood and phased cottage renovations at Oakwood. Board members asked about vacant buildings, the cost per bed for the youth psychiatric facility, and the relationship between the CHFS youth facility and a separate DJJ facility; CHFS said the youth facility would serve DCBS-involved youth and be separate from the DJJ project. The Kentucky Department of Education then described its state-operated facilities, including the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the FFA leadership training center. Its priorities included additional funding for the FFA classroom and activity building, a rewrite of the SEEK education finance application system, renovation and repair of the FFA swimming pool, electrical upgrades, campus education enhancements, safety and security work, door and window replacements, and HVAC maintenance. Members asked about student outcomes, the size and cost of the swimming pool project, and construction cost assumptions; KDE said it tracks student outcomes through special education staff and that current estimates reflect higher post-COVID construction costs. The Education and Labor Cabinet began its presentation with 12 priority projects, including a state labor exchange system, renovation of the McDow Vocational Rehabilitation Center, and a new adult education and family literacy management information system. The cabinet said the labor exchange would connect job seekers and employers at no cost, while the McDow renovation was needed because the 30-year-old facility faces safety and code concerns. The cabinet planned to continue through the remaining priorities and answer questions at the end of its presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• the program's ongoing operations.
• This includes personnel costs, operating expenses, and equipment.
• Item number 20: low-cost accommodations BCPs. Okay.
• And the fees for these are already lower cost.
• costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill extends the operations of the board until...
• And the cost of producing in California is increasing rapidly.
• The cost of producing in California is increasing rapidly.
• In the last four years, we've seen 3.3% inflation, while the operating costs for festivals have increased
• We cannot pass these costs onto the fans.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development heard several sunset and policy bills affecting state boards and professional practice. SB 1302 would extend the Board of Registered Nursing for four years and make operational changes such as streamlining renewals, updating simulation and school-approval standards, and allowing certain out-of-state nurse practitioner experience to count toward California recognition; nursing groups supported it, while the California Medical Association raised a concern about the out-of-state NP provision. SB 1303 would extend the Board of Naturopathic Medicine to 2031 and add a fictitious name permit program, term staggering, and other technical changes; it drew support from the board and naturopathic doctors, but the California Naturopathic Association opposed it unless amended to clarify the board’s jurisdiction. SB 1304 would extend the Respiratory Care Board to 2031 and revise respiratory care rules, including LVN practice in certain settings; it was supported by some providers and respiratory therapists, but hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other groups opposed it unless amended to allow LVNs to perform basic respiratory tasks in more health care settings. SB 1363 would extend the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and update apprenticeship, licensure, and tribal exemption provisions, and SB 1368 would extend the speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensers board while adding a retired license category and continuing-education oversight changes; both were supported and had no opposition. All of these bills were voted out of committee, generally on a 10-0 basis after the committee later established quorum and took recorded votes. The committee also heard SB 865, which would create a California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program within the Office of Small Business Advocate to support large independent multi-day music festivals. The author and supporters argued that festivals like Aftershock and GoldenSky generate substantial tourism, hotel nights, jobs, and tax revenue, and that state support would help keep events in California rather than other states. Opposition focused on the use of public funds during a deficit year and questioned whether profitable festivals should receive a grant subsidy. The bill passed on a 9-1 vote, with Senator Choi opposed. Members also heard SB 1297, which would create regional wildfire public-private partnerships and a financing structure using local commitments, a revolving fund, and state-backed revenue bonds coordinated with iBank to fund wildfire mitigation projects. Supporters said the bill would help address the state’s large wildfire mitigation funding gap by leveraging public and private capital for home hardening, vegetation management, and other prevention work; questions centered on where bond repayment funds would come from, and the author said the bill was still a work in progress and not intended to cost the state. The bill passed unanimously. Finally, SB 993, presented on behalf of Senator Ochoa-Bogue, would restore privacy protections for mental health professionals in correctional and state hospital settings by limiting routine disclosure of identifying information while preserving a complaint process; testimony described safety concerns and staffing impacts, and the bill passed unanimously.