Transcript Highlights:

• Also want to mention seasonal workers, those who maybe don't work all the time, but they work; if their
• and the worker takes it from there and gets the newborn applicant covered.
• But again, if a worker needs to look at it, then it'll go to a worker to look at it.
• up for other things that we need workers to do.
• But if we need to ask the worker or the client, I'm sorry... Ask the worker to do anything.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear from DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Mary Franklin on Arkansas’s upcoming Medicaid community engagement/work requirements for the Our Home expansion population. DHS said the federal changes, tied to the 2025 budget bill, are being soft-launched now, with full implementation set for January 1, 2027, and a shorter six-month renewal cycle for most adults. They outlined who would be exempt or excluded, including certain parents/caretakers, pregnant and postpartum individuals, former foster youth, people with disabilities or serious medical conditions, SNAP/TANF participants, inmates and recent releasees, and some others. They also explained compliance standards such as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work programs, or education, and discussed how income, student status, and caregiver hours would be counted. Members asked about the fairness of the income threshold, how part-time and non-credit education would be verified, how disability exemptions would be documented, and whether appeals would be available. DHS said notices include appeal rights and that it is using ex parte data checks, provider forms, and claims data to identify exemptions. A major theme was implementation capacity and outreach. DHS said it is preparing a customer service center and outbound verification system to contact beneficiaries by text, email, phone, and mail, and is using notices, social media, town halls, and a web page to inform recipients. Members raised concerns about manpower, low-tech access for people without internet, and whether beneficiaries could be connected to workforce or education opportunities rather than simply being screened for compliance. DHS said it is also expanding use of AI tools to automate routine eligibility tasks, while keeping a human in the loop, and that the new call center contract will include AI and closed-loop referrals. Members also asked about the interaction with SNAP/TANF work rules and whether local offices could connect clients to workforce and training resources; DHS said it is already doing some of that through SNAP E&T, TANF, and notices, and is discussing broader partnerships with Workforce Connections and local initiatives. The committee then shifted to Arkansas Medicaid expansion and the state’s waiver renewal. Secretary Mann said CMS has changed its budget neutrality rules, and Arkansas believes its current waiver will not meet the new standard. DHS has asked for a two-year extension and said it is optimistic coverage will continue on January 1 while a new delivery system is worked out. Members asked about possible alternatives, and DHS said it is considering fee-for-service and managed care options, including different managed care structures, but is not considering ending coverage for the expansion population. Questions also focused on possible effects on private insurance, hospitals, premium tax revenue, and state costs if the expansion population were moved off the current model. DHS said it is still modeling those impacts with actuaries and the Insurance Department. At the end, DHS also provided a brief update on assisted living reimbursement rate work, saying the cost report is out for public comment and a recommendation will follow. The chair closed by reviewing committee timelines, noting the DHS report is due in January and the workforce report is due to ALC on October 1, with a possible request for a short extension.

Transcript Highlights:

• One life lost is one too many, and we cannot afford to lose another worker.
• Every year, workers' lives are needlessly lost due to speeding and reckless drivers.
• I look forward to seeing the results and improved safety for our workers.
• And I thank the workers for coming.
• I want to recognize all of the workers who are here with us.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several transportation and climate-related bills. AB 954 would create a Caltrans pilot program for bike highways in two metropolitan areas and require a report to the Legislature; supporters said it would expand protected regional bike networks and help climate and equity goals, while some members objected that it would divert gas-tax-funded transportation dollars away from road repairs and rural needs. The bill passed on a 7-3 vote, with the roll held open for later additions. AB 289 would authorize automated speed enforcement in active highway construction zones to protect workers. The author and labor and contractor witnesses described repeated work-zone crashes and fatalities and argued the cameras would supplement, not replace, CHP enforcement. Some members raised concerns about civil penalties and enforcement policy, but the bill advanced on a 9-? initial vote and later was approved 15-1 after the roll was completed. AB 674 would update the Clean Cars for All program to prioritize pre-2004 high-polluting vehicles in disadvantaged and low-income communities and improve reporting and incentive rules. Supporters said older vehicles produce a disproportionate share of emissions and that the program has already retired thousands of cars; the committee approved the bill unanimously on the floor vote and sent it to the Committee on Natural Resources. AB 1237 would let LA Metro and VTA add a $5 fee to primary ticket sales for 2026 FIFA World Cup and NCAA championship events to fund transit service, with ticket holders able to use transit on event day. Supporters said the fee would help manage congestion and security needs, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association argued it was an unconstitutional tax requiring voter approval. The bill passed and was re-referred to the Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism. AB 891 would create a Caltrans quick-build pilot for temporary safety improvements on state highways for pedestrians and bicyclists; supporters emphasized rapid, low-cost safety fixes, while opponents said the program could divert gas-tax funds and was not appropriate for rural areas. It passed 11-4 and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also approved a six-bill consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't have workers' comp set up for them being paid for by somebody else or unemployment benefits
• party pursuant to employment law, workers' comp, IRS, or any other state laws.
• If they find that they will have a shortage in poll workers, they can go to the commission of jurors
• , and they all said, ‘I’d want to be a poll worker,’ then you have no one to serve on the jury.
• So I don’t think you could say that a poll worker is going to be absent on this coming Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state is proudly pro-worker, and this is a great opportunity to live those values.
• This is a small fix for a small group of workers joining an existing contract.
• When workers want to join a union, they deserve the opportunity to do so. Thank you.
• With those same workers. When workers want to join a union, they deserve the opportunity to do so.
• When a worker is injured and seeking workers' comp, or when a parent is involved in the child welfare

Bills: HB2352 , HB2237 , HB2249 , HB2475 , HB2408 , HB2435 , HB2309 , HB2244 , HB2281

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: conflict of interest, transparency, state employees, municipal officers, ethics, fire safety, state fire marshals, regulation, public safety, emergency services, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• The Tijuana River Valley, so that workers are appropriately protected.
• While innovation has created opportunity, it has also left many workers and communities behind, often
• Yet workers are often the last to know when their jobs are being replaced.
• , those workers must receive written notice at least 60 days before the layoff occurs.
• Public health programs, and thousands of frontline workers.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a floor introduction welcoming Berkeley Mayor Adina Ishi. The body then moved through a series of third-reading bills, with most measures presented as responses to current policy concerns and several placed on call before roll votes were completed. Early measures included SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1112 increasing penalties for towing industry notice violations, SB 877 requiring insurers to disclose claim materials and revisions, SB 1046 directing Cal/OSHA to develop protections for workers exposed to transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley, and SB 1091 creating a community anti-displacement and preservation housing program. These bills generally drew support and passed, with SB 1091 ultimately passing 34-2 after a call vote. The floor also considered SB 951 on AI-related layoffs and worker notice, SB 1030 repealing the “man in the house” rule in CalWORKs, SB 1218 tying vehicle registration renewal to payment of illegal dumping fines, SB 1013 tightening privacy and oversight rules for automated license plate readers, SB 1116 making technical changes to the Starter Home Revitalization Act, SB 1201 protecting veterans from food-assistance cuts, and SB 1164 strengthening state voting-rights protections. Debate on SB 1013 featured sharp disagreement over whether the bill’s 30-day retention limit and audit requirements were necessary guardrails or would hinder law enforcement investigations. SB 1164 also drew opposition over concerns about litigation and expanded Attorney General oversight, but supporters argued California should codify voting-rights protections amid federal uncertainty. Most of these measures passed, with SB 1013 and SB 1164 receiving notable no votes. A major portion of the session focused on AB 1768, an urgency measure authorizing Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties to place local sales-tax measures before voters to help offset federal funding cuts to health care and safety-net services. Supporters framed it as a local-control measure needed to backfill losses from federal disinvestment and protect Medi-Cal, CalFresh, hospitals, clinics, and county services; opponents argued it would worsen affordability, expand regressive taxation, and bypass normal committee review. After extensive debate, the urgency measure received the required votes and passed. The Senate also adopted SCR 171 designating May 20 as California Nonprofits Day by unanimous roll call. The session ended with committee announcements, including budget subcommittee meetings, and a notice that the Senate would recess and reconvene later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Tijuana River Valley, so that workers are appropriately protected.
• While innovation has created opportunity, it has also left many workers and communities behind, often
• Yet workers are often the last to know when their jobs are being replaced.
• , those workers must receive written notice at least 60 days before the layoff occurs.
• Public health programs, and thousands of frontline workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are workers that will be negatively impacted if this bill were to pass: workers, construction,
• A frontline worker.
• good for workers.
• Workers are happy when they have health care, workers are happy when they make a living wage, workers
• So Workers for Opportunity, waiving in support.

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And you know, whether you're a bus driver, a maintenance worker, an operations worker, or a security
• And so to give those workers a raise.
• And so our ability to recruit and retain workers in New Mexico, to attract workers to keep New Mexicans
• Which has now eliminated this group of workers. We will have unemployment in places.
• We had a bipartisan unanimous vote to send that money home to state workers.

Bills: SB240

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• in the state, including both workers employed by government and also workers employed by nonprofits
• Our members, social workers, case managers, community health workers, often work side by side doing identical
• And we must prevent these contracts coming through from the state to circumvent worker protections or
• Our members, social workers, case managers, community health workers, often work side by side doing identical
• while maintaining substantial administrative overhead, including executive workers while maintaining

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Select Committee hearing focused on the nonprofit sector’s mounting challenges in 2025 and possible state responses. Opening remarks emphasized the sector’s size and importance in California, the impact of federal funding disruptions and new federal tax policy, and the need for stronger public-private coordination, especially during disasters. Witnesses and members repeatedly pointed to nonprofits as essential providers of food, housing, health, education, environmental, and emergency services, while warning that sudden funding losses are forcing layoffs, service cuts, and operational instability. Testimony from community foundations and food bank leaders described how federal cuts, delayed reimbursements, and disaster-related demand are straining nonprofits. Monica White of Food Share Ventura County said H.R. 1 and USDA food cancellations are worsening hunger needs, while immigration enforcement fears are keeping some families from seeking help. Abby Browning of Cal OES outlined how the state coordinates with nonprofits, philanthropy, and businesses through VOADs and long-term recovery groups in wildfire response. Bruce Yerman of the Camp Fire Collaborative said recovery groups are effective but lack dedicated funding, and urged flexible spending, sustainable support, and streamlined partnerships. The second half of the hearing focused on institutional reforms, including a proposed Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, advance payments, prompt payment, and higher indirect cost coverage. Jeff Green of CalNonprofits argued for a central state office to coordinate policy, technical assistance, and interagency alignment. Annie Chang of Nonprofit Finance Fund cited survey data showing widespread late payments, low cash reserves, and indirect cost rates below federal guidance. Alfredo Cruz Jr. of Community Resource Project described how reimbursement-only contracts, delayed payments, and underfunded overhead create cash-flow crises and staffing problems. Members discussed possible interim steps, including expanding advance pay, improving payment timeliness, modeling best practices, and using state leadership to spotlight nonprofit needs. The hearing ended with public comment from nonprofit, labor, and advocacy representatives, and no votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• workers, are kept safe.
• workers are kept safe.
• workers are kept safe.
• It's the right thing to do for our workers. Is there a motion? Moved by Senator Liu.
• The workers? Absolutely. Any AWR? See none. This bill is referred to Finance.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held its final meeting of the 2026 session, with Chair Jeremy Cooney noting quorum and thanking staff and members. The committee considered a large agenda of transportation-related bills, including measures on school construction notice from NYC DOT, inspection station disclosures, electronic signatures for vehicle registration forms, sex trafficking awareness and prevention, passenger notification after sexual assault incidents involving transportation network companies, hazardous materials rail notifications, ATV seasonal use, highway dedications, disabled-person license plates, a DMV study of inspection stations and fees, lighting requirements for e-bikes and e-scooters, school speed zone cameras in New Rochelle, work zone safety instruction for new drivers, removal of registration stickers in favor of electronic certificates, complete streets considerations, hands-free device rules for bus/taxi/livery drivers, bans on virtual reality headsets while driving, early registration renewal for deployed service members, and road salt distribution requirements. Most bills were reported from committee by voice vote, often with bipartisan support. Several members offered brief comments supporting bills aimed at public safety, worker protection, distracted driving prevention, and trafficking awareness. Senator Gallivan opposed the bill eliminating registration stickers, citing concerns that the stickers help law enforcement quickly identify registered vehicles; that bill was referred to Finance. The committee also referred the road salt bill and the supplemental rail-worker protection bill to Finance, while some other measures were referred onward to Codes or Consumer Protection. The meeting closed after the supplemental rail-worker protection bill was added at the end of the agenda and reported with bipartisan support. Overall, the session emphasized transportation safety, worker protections, and administrative updates to vehicle and highway law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because where farm workers most often live is where farm worker housing is located, next to agricultural
• La Cooperativa and its members are the federally designated farm worker agencies.
• La Cooperativa and its members are the federally designated farm worker agencies.
• Farm worker projects have a difficult time receiving even the 10 points.
• of where farm workers live and work.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Even when directed to use the two-and-a-half rate increase last year on direct care workers, workers
• We have seen instances where frontline workers receive salary bumps in the, I'm sorry, workers receive
• All my co-workers have to have a second or a bad job so that they can meet the high cost of living.
• I therefore believe that all of the workers' funds left over at the end of the year are supposed to be
• I therefore believe that all of the workers' funds left over at the end of the year are supposed to be

Bills: HB1873 , HB2600 , SB5957

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care

Transcript Highlights:

• Proclamation on Social Workers will be read by the clerk.
• State of Arizona Legislative Proclamation, 2026 Social Worker Month Proclamation for Social Workers.
• For more than a century, social workers have worked to improve human well-being, advocate for justice
• Social workers select this profession out of a deep commitment to help uplift, defend, and transform
• Social workers follow a code of ethics that calls on them to stand for equality in every...

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed Judges Day guests and other visitors, and read a proclamation recognizing March 2026 as Social Work Month. Members also made brief introductions of guests and the doctor of the day, Dr. Philip Williams. The chamber then moved through a long Committee of the Whole agenda, taking up numerous bills with committee and floor amendments, most of them receiving do-pass or due-pass recommendations after brief explanations and some debate. Notable discussion included HB 2444, where several members raised concerns about pharmacist-led care, patient safety, and rural health impacts, while the sponsor argued it would expand affordable access to care; HB 2726, which drew comments about a new sleep apnea device and whether it was a vendor-driven proposal; HB 2991, a bipartisan effort to address social media harms to children; and HB 4070, a bill framed as a “corporate death penalty” approach to combat sex trafficking. Other measures addressed kinship placement in child welfare, midwifery oversight, vulnerable adult protections, tuition waivers for children of disabled veterans, license plate omnibus language, and county and education-related issues. After the Committee of the Whole reported, the House adopted the report and assigned measures for engrossing. The chamber then proceeded to third reading votes on several bills. HB 2123, dealing with financial institutions and gold/silver legal tender, failed on a 24-28 vote after an excusal request was granted to one member with a financial conflict. HB 2270, concerning county authority and sheriff’s posse dissolution procedures, passed 50-3. HB 2324, creating a state fire marshal-related provision, passed 53-0, as did HB 2404 on mental health services. HB 2495 on sentencing failed 26-27. HB 2557 on patient records passed 37-16, HB 2574 on traffic violation appeals passed 52-0, HB 2594 on domestic relations and address confidentiality passed 44-9, HB 2611 on child welfare passed 51-0, HB 2681 on the county employee merit system passed 53-0, and HB 2697 also passed 51-0. The session continued into additional votes beyond the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Proclamation on Social Workers will be read by the clerk.
• State of Arizona Legislative Proclamation, 2026 Social Worker Month Proclamation for Social Workers.
• For more than a century, social workers have worked to improve human well-being, advocate for justice
• Social workers select this profession out of a deep commitment to help uplift, defend, and transform
• Social workers follow a code of ethics that calls on them to stand for equality in every Social workers

Transcript Highlights:

• I am also a licensed master social worker and have experience working with both police and immigrant
• I am a college student studying to become a social worker and a teacher.
• Including teachers, bus drivers, letter carriers, hotel workers, construction workers, and many, many
• , and 50% of those are undocumented workers.
• working conditions for Texas workers.

Bills: HB1320 , HB2012 , HB2293 , HB2655 , HB3174 , HB4108 , HB4661 , HB4799 , HB5534 , HB5580

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• my</c><00:17:30.600><c> co-workers</c><00:17:31.120><c> has</c> issues one of my co-workers has issues
• These students are full-time employees, parents to young children, freelance workers, overnight workers
• </c><00:20:23.640><c> overnight</c> children freelance workers overnight children freelance workers overnight
• workers<00:20:25.280><c> construction</c><00:20:25.919><c> workers</c><00:20:26.880><c> and</c> workers
• construction workers and workers construction workers and caretakers<00:20:27.960><c> of</c><00:20:28.159

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you things, hourly school worker.
• Unemployment insurance for hourly workers. We're talking about our hourly workers in school.
• </c><00:14:56.000><c> Unemp</c> insurance for hourly workers. Unemp insurance for hourly workers.
• That was a very big workers in school.
• </c><00:15:42.240><c> knew</c> the people that are hourly workers knew the people that are hourly workers

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we've had a really comprehensive discussion about this and the many needs that our county workers
• </c> many needs um that our uh County workers many needs um that our uh County workers and<00:02:52.760
• or county workers, case workers, will be included in kind of this RFO process?
• So we want to make sure that this is really primarily working for our case workers out in the field,
• So we want to make sure that this is really primarily working for our case workers out in the field,

Bills: HF1169 , HF1916

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1136 will give workers who have been wrongfully detained and deported by ICE a necessary and humane
• The bill provides workers with five unpaid days to attend to immigration-related matters or up to 12
• In response to business concerns, I have accepted an amendment that allows employers to require workers
• , a diligent worker, and being true to the work and everything.
• , a diligent worker, and being true to the work and everything.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard three bills. AB 1136 would provide workers who are detained or deported by ICE with five unpaid days to handle immigration-related matters and up to 12 months of unpaid leave in detention/deportation cases, with an amendment allowing employers to require use of other leave first and a requirement to restore workers to their prior position once legal status is proven. Support came from labor groups including the California Federation of Labor Unions and SEIU California, while opposition came from the Association of California School Administrators and others who raised concerns about the length of the rehire period and impacts on public education and employers. Committee members described the bill as a necessary response to current immigration enforcement conditions, and the Senate amendments were concurred in. AB 1514, the committee’s cleanup bill for AB 5, would extend the sunset on the licensed manicurist exemption by three years and the commercial fisherman exemption by five years, while adding reporting requirements from EDD and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement on misclassification and unemployment claims. There were no witnesses in support or opposition, though one member noted the importance of continuing to work on manicurist issues, especially for API women in the industry. The committee approved concurrence in the Senate amendments. AB 406, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Chavira, makes technical and clarifying changes to prior legislation related to leave for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other violence. The bill adjusts enforcement timelines between the Civil Rights Department and the Labor Commissioner, adds sunset dates to certain Labor Code sections, and aligns paid sick leave language with a new Government Code section. There was no public testimony, and the committee voted to concur in the Senate amendments. All three bills ultimately received unanimous committee approval and were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• , granting those workers easier access to evacuation zones during an emergency.
• In those cases, utility workers' access is essential to maintaining or restoring systems like electricity
• Unfortunately, our current emergency response system does not make it easy for those essential workers
• Standardizing access to emergency areas will allow essential workers across the state to maintain the
• worker under California Government Code Section 3101.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee held its first meeting and adopted committee rules for the 2025-26 session. The committee heard SB 1001, which would require the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue identification cards for essential utility workers so they can more easily access evacuation zones during emergencies. The author and supporters, including Rowland Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority, said the bill was prompted by delays during the Eaton Fire, when utility crews in marked vehicles were denied access despite having authorization. Members generally supported the bill as a practical way to improve coordination between utilities, law enforcement, and incident command during disasters. The bill was voted out on a do-pass motion to the Senate Public Safety Committee. The committee also heard SB 1153, which would require urban retail water suppliers in high-risk areas to include wildfire-specific procedures in emergency response plans and make findings clarifying the role and limits of public water systems during wildfires. The author and witnesses from water agencies argued that public water systems are not designed to function as wildfire suppression systems and that the bill would improve planning while addressing growing liability exposure after major fires. Senator Perez raised concerns about balancing liability reform with accountability and the need for future infrastructure hardening, and the Vice Chair emphasized that the bill should not create a hollow safe harbor. The author accepted committee amendments clarifying that negligence liability remains intact, and the bill was moved out as amended to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. A consent item, SB 870, was also approved. After roll calls were completed and absent members later voted, all three measures passed the committee 8-0. SB 1020 was pulled from the hearing for a future date.