Video & Transcript : 'open primary' :
Page 79 of 500
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- So their primary role is to administer the DDD program, the PPCG paid parent program.
- It’s genius because by opening this up—by opening this up to the public for jury trials, to opening it
- It's genius because by opening this up, by opening this up to point, services, it's genius because by
- opening this up, by opening this up to public for jury trials, to opening it up to DCS to be able to
- A dependency case was open before the very first hearing in dependency court.
Summary:
The Committee on Government met for a presentation-only hearing focused on the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and related child welfare system issues; no bills were heard or voted on. Chair Blackman opened by stressing that the hearing was for fact-finding and data, not personal attacks, and Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, extended foster care, and placement patterns. She said DCS investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home population relatively steady, and emphasized that Arizona places a high share of children with kin. She also highlighted a mismatch between the age of children entering care and the availability of foster homes willing to take older youth, and said behavioral health capacity, not DCS alone, is a major constraint. Patak discussed kinship supports, foster care reimbursement increases, the Family First Prevention Services Act, missing youth, congregate care reduction, and the department’s procurement process for group home beds. Members asked about kinship caregiver support, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental-rights terminations, Auditor General findings on notices and documentation, licensing and reimbursement rates, and why some relatives are not approved as placements. Patak said DCS is working on policy guidance, supervisor training, and improved supports, but that provider capacity and other system partners limit what DCS can do.
Representative Gillette then gave a lengthy presentation focused on system design, procurement, funding flows, and congregate care. He argued that DCS, DES, and Access are structurally intertwined, that DCS’s procurement carve-out and capitated funding model create incentives tied to bed space and volume, and that fragmented oversight diffuses accountability. He cited budget figures, contract amendments, and audit concerns to argue that the system is overreliant on congregate care and that decision-making, medical referrals, and placement processes are too vague or too centralized in ways that can harm children and families. Gillette said his findings were based on contracts, interviews, and public records, and he indicated some material would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about placement decisions, due process, and demographic disparities in congregate care outcomes. The chair cut off further questioning of Gillette for time and announced the committee would move on to the next presenter, Vice Chair Fink, with attorneys and other speakers to follow.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Mar 23rd, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- I have no other primary witnesses. Okay, then seeing opposition witnesses?
- Do you have another primary witness? So the opposition, I presume? No?
- That being the case, I will label your testimony as primary opposition testimony.
- Do we have any other primary witness in favor of the bill?
- Do we have another primary witness in opposition to the bill?
Summary:
The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee met first without quorum and heard several bills in subcommittee before later reconvening and taking formal votes. The consent calendar included SB 1263, SB 1148, SB 1376, and SB 1391. The committee also heard SB 1002, SB 1311, and SB 1416, all of which were ultimately advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with SB 1311 amended. After quorum was reached, the committee later ratified the earlier actions and adjourned.
SB 1002 by Senator Niello would expand the David Hall Act to allow certain patients who were originally eligible for out-of-state telehealth care because of an immediately life-threatening diagnosis to continue receiving that care after entering remission. Supporters, including a cancer survivor, said the bill would preserve continuity of care for patients who still need specialist monitoring. The Medical Board of California and the California Medical Association opposed the bill, arguing that licensure is an important consumer protection and that the bill would weaken oversight and standards of care. Senator Caballero supported the measure, emphasizing access to care, especially for rural patients.
SB 1311, presented by the chair, updates the Dental Practice Act so unlicensed dental assistants can satisfy infection control training requirements either through the Dental Assisting National Board exam or approved courses. The California Dental Association and California Association of Orthodontists supported the bill, saying it would help strengthen the dental workforce and improve patient access. The California Academy of General Dentistry raised concerns that the exam option lacked hands-on training and should be limited unless amended. The committee approved the bill as amended.
SB 1416 by Senator Wahab would shorten from 30 days to 21 days the time a physician or dentist has to refund duplicate payments to consumers. Support was brief and largely focused on the bill’s consumer affordability benefits, and no opposition was voiced. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- In all cases, they would have the primary oversight.
- In all cases, they would have the primary oversight.
- In all cases, they would have the primary oversight.
- </c> you want to say who has primary you want to say who has primary oversight<01:18:30.040><c> over<
- </c> cases they would have the primary cases they would have the primary oversight<01:18:36.560><c> you're
Keywords:
Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill expands access to primary This bill expands access to primary health<03:45:23.120><c> care<
- </c><03:45:29.600><c> care</c> its contract with bystate primary care its contract with bystate primary
- </c><03:46:08.000><c> care</c> will increase access to primary care will increase access to primary care
- </c> instead of being tied to the primary instead of being tied to the primary date,<04:51:42.798><c>
- </c> we're talking about a June primary. we're talking about a June primary.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 28th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Labor & Workplace Standards
Transcript Highlights:
- So I'd like to open up our executive session with staff briefings on four bills.
- We will open up our executive session. Okay, welcome back, everyone.
- The free market has opened that up to us.
- And I would like to thank the primary sponsor, Representative...
- And I would like to thank the primary sponsor, Representative.
Keywords:
transparency, industrial insurance, insurance rate increases, financial disclosure, regulatory oversight, unemployment, electronic notices, compensation, digital communication, order processing, workers' compensation, occupational disease, firefighters, fire investigators, law enforcement officers, first responders, heart disease, cardiac conditions, respiratory disease, cancer presumption
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- It would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 election.
- According to Ballotpedia, a presidential preference primary is a primary election in which the voter
- SB 114 will replace our in-person presidential primaries with mail-in ballots.
- The cost to conduct the in-person presidential primaries was carried by the parties.
- preference primary is a primary<00:02:20.640><c> election</c><00:02:21.120><c> in</c><00:02:21.280><
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on SB 114, which would create a presidential preference primary for the 2028 election. The Office of Elections said the bill would cost about $4.1 million. Supporters, including the Hawaii Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters, favored moving the process to a state-run primary, while several opponents, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and multiple individual testifiers, argued it would be too expensive, would shift control away from the parties, and would replace volunteer-run caucuses with a mail-in system. Committee members questioned the chief election officer about election timing, certification, and how a primary might be scheduled with other elections. Testimony was recorded as 11 in support, 41 opposed, and 3 comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.
The committee then took up SB 725, which would require judges to make findings about a defendant’s ability to afford bail. Judiciary and Attorney General witnesses asked that the bill be deferred or amended, saying the Judicial Council is already reviewing pretrial bail reform and that the bill’s language could create practical problems for police, sheriffs, and courts. Supporters, including the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the public defender, the Community Alliance on Prisons, the ACLU of Hawaii, and disability rights advocates, said cash bail disproportionately harms low-income defendants, increases pretrial detention costs, and should require clearer findings and records. Opponents included the Hawaii County prosecuting attorney. Members questioned how bail is initially set, what records exist, and whether the bill would change current practice; Judiciary witnesses said initial bail decisions are often made by police or judges and later reviewed on the record, while supporters argued the bill would strengthen front-end due process. The ACLU said it supported the bill with amendments, including clearer standards for ability to pay and written findings.
The committee also began hearing SB 733, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish a continuous legislative session. Early testimony was strongly supportive, with advocates arguing that the current 60-day session limits public participation, makes it hard for working people to testify, and prevents lawmakers from collaborating effectively. Supporters said a year-round model could improve transparency, reduce duplicate bills, and better accommodate neighbor island legislators. The excerpt ends during the opening testimony on SB 733, before any committee action or vote is shown.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Judiciary Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Next primary witness— I think we're going to waive the primary and we're going to waive the second.
- Any other primary witnesses, or is that your only primary witness? That's my only one.
- Any other primary witness opposed?
- Do you have another primary? Thank you. Do you have another primary witness? No.
- Primary witnesses in opposition. Primary witnesses in opposition.
Summary:
The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would likely be held later because a quorum was not yet present. Early measures included AB 2393, which would create fixed statutory damages for false arrest or imprisonment claims involving aggravating conduct such as face coverings, restraints, forcible transport, or firearms; supporters said it would help victims obtain accountability, while no opposition appeared. AB 2050, the HOA reserve-funding bill, drew support from HOA and housing finance advocates who said underfunded reserves lead to special assessments and safety risks, while consumer groups warned of large cost increases; Senator Laird said he would move it when a quorum was available. AB 1564, making employee-union communications confidential in certain public-employment disputes, was supported by labor groups and opposed by counties, school administrators, and other local agencies who argued it would hinder investigations. AB 2231, a CEQA streamlining bill for two Sutter Health hospital projects, was backed by the author and health-care supporters but opposed by a construction trade group that said it would strip workers of wage-and-hour remedies.
The committee also heard AB 2689, which would allow non-renewal of subsidized housing leases for over-income tenants under specified conditions; there was little testimony beyond the author’s presentation. AB 801 would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to regularly examine lenders for fair lending compliance; supporters framed it as a response to federal retreat from consumer protection, while credit unions and bankers said they shared the goal but wanted more work on impacts to smaller institutions. AB 2721, as amended, would require hotels to post notice when they have actual knowledge of ICE or CBP reservations; hospitality workers and labor supporters said it would improve worker safety, while hotel industry groups said they were moving toward neutral after amendments, though some owners remained opposed. AB 2035 would create a narrow, court-supervised alternative vote threshold for a single HOA, Laguna Woods Village, to amend outdated CC&Rs; the author and HOA representatives said the change was needed because repeated elections had failed to reach quorum.
Later bills included AB 1827, which would raise the small-claims limit for businesses from $6,250 to $15,000 and allow up to three filings per year; supporters said it would modernize access for small businesses, while the Judicial Council opposed it as likely to crowd calendars and shift small claims away from its intended purpose. AB 1577 would require data centers to report energy-use information to the Energy Commission and local agencies; supporters said better data is needed for grid planning, while one industry group remained opposed in print but encouraged by amendments. AB 2164 and AB 1854 both expanded California shield-law protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care providers and related entities against out-of-state legal actions and extradition requests; supporters said the bills were needed to protect providers and patients after Dobbs, while opponents argued they would shield harmful medical practices and interfere with parental rights and other states’ investigations. AB 2529 would require claims against public agencies to include a declaration that the contents are true and correct, and AB 2247 would create the Thrive Act to fund trauma-focused mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; both drew support from local agencies or survivors, with no significant opposition recorded in the excerpt. The final bill discussed, AB 1821, would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days to address large, complex, or bad-faith requests; the author said it would better match agency work capacity while preserving access, and the hearing continued with testimony as the transcript ended.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant Aug 14th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll open it up to questions from the committee. Representative Lloyd. Thank you.
- So last fall, we opened our own clinic. We footed the bill, and we made it profitable.
- As I sit on the Primary Care Council for New Mexico and the Health Care Authority.
- Then or later on, but the Primary Care Council's been all about integrating services.
- And so what is primary care? It includes behavioral health and vice versa.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- That's the primary focus. The firearm would just be in addition to that offense.
- That's the primary focus. The firearm would just be in addition to that offense.
- Chairman, I'm opening that to And I Mr.
- It would open that door to doesn't fit.
- Um it's in the "I had a job opening.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 22 (2-6-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:10:29.400><c> our</c> In fact, this morning, as we opened our In fact, this morning, as we opened
- </c> the permission of the primary sponsors. the permission of the primary sponsors.
- ><c> sponsor,</c><00:30:05.680><c> I</c> With permission of primary sponsor, I With permission of primary
- </c><00:30:19.080><c> sponsor,</c> With permission of the primary sponsor, With permission of the primary
- The Senator from McCracken referenced his opening the Bible. I bet everybody in here opens a Bible.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Jul 1st, 2025
Business and Professions
Transcript Highlights:
- Today we'll be allowing primary witnesses here in the room to speak for up to two minutes each with up
- to two primary witnesses per side Any additional witnesses will be limited to name position on the bill
- Do we have any primary witnesses in opposition to the bill? If so, come on up.
- Do we have any primary witnesses in opposition? Come on up.
- It opened up a loophole for hemp products.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Judiciary Committee Apr 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- On each bill that's called, there'll be two primary witnesses in support and two primary witnesses in
- So when family is the primary cause for the...
- Yeah, so my, and I said this in my opening.
- What it says is you can't be the primary caretaker. You can't be the primary caretaker.
- At that time, we'll open the roll for those who have not voted.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused on health care planning, mental health, housing, homeowners associations, groundwater enforcement, pet-friendly rental disclosures, and post-disaster property protections. SB 1088 would modernize POLST and DNR forms by renaming POLST to “portable orders for life-sustaining treatment,” allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign, clarifying that the forms are voluntary, recognizing out-of-state forms, and permitting electronic signatures. It drew support from the Coalition for Compassionate Care and related groups and no opposition was presented. SB 1242 would allow family members who originally petitioned in CARE Court to continue participating for care coordination and information-sharing, subject to judicial discretion; supporters said it would improve treatment coordination, while Disability Rights California opposed it as coercive and a threat to confidentiality. The committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 1242, and it was placed on call.
The committee also considered SB 1007, which would require more HOA transparency, including clearer budget comparisons and disclosure of evidence for violations, and would lower the threshold for regular assessment increases without a homeowner vote. Supporters argued it would curb steep fee hikes and improve accountability, while HOA industry groups warned it could undermine funding for insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs. Members raised concerns about the cap on assessments, but the bill advanced on a 6-1 vote and was placed on call. SB 1364, as amended, would bar custody or visitation rights for a person who impregnated a survivor through sexual assault, using a clear-and-convincing evidence standard rather than requiring a criminal conviction; supporters said it protects survivors and may increase federal funding, while opponents argued it could deny children a relationship with a parent. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call.
Additional measures included SB 997, which would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to enforce fees and sustainability rules; it had support from local water, farm, and county representatives and passed 9-0. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies up front in applications, ads, and websites and allow application-fee refunds if disclosure was not made before payment; supporters said it would reduce wasted fees and pet relinquishment, while rental housing groups raised concerns about signage, ADA language, and vaccination disclosures. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1090 would prohibit large property owners from making unsolicited purchase offers for five years in wildfire disaster areas, aiming to curb post-disaster speculation; supporters described aggressive investor pressure after the Eaton and Palisades fires, while real estate and title groups raised implementation and enforcement concerns. The committee was still discussing the bill when the transcript ended.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 32 (2-23-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Roll call is open for your vote. Have all members voted?
- Roll call is open for those opposed nay. Roll call is open for your<00:21:51.440><c> vote.
- </c><00:33:26.960><c> an</c> donated to black colleges, opened an donated to black colleges, opened an
- To Primary and Secondary Education, House Bill 643.
- <c> Education,</c> To Primary and Secondary Education, To Primary and Secondary Education, House<00:39
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- How are we going to handle a brand new—you know, you need some expertise, even for the closed primary
- , somebody that can actually answer questions, give instructions, expertise, even for the closed primary
- As we prepare for the May 16th election under the new closed party primary system, here's As we prepare
- for the May 16th election under the new closed party primary system, here's what it looks like on the
- Every voter requires an of the closed party primary. It slows the process down.
Keywords:
inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, insurance premiums, Municipal Fire and Police, dedicated fund, assessments, Louisiana legislation, hazardous waste, cleanup fund, environmental protection, state treasury, Consumer Price Index, law enforcement, firefighters, health insurance, survivors benefits, Lafayette
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're going to open hearings in the order that I saw the prime sponsors arrive.
- So let's open the hearing, please, on House Bill 2333 with the staff report.
- This is Donna Christensen, on behalf of the Coalition for Open Government.
- We have one more bill hearing to open. How about I hang tight until I'll be the last guy?
- their meetings aren't as open as yours.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with House Bill 2333, which would expand protections for elected officials, candidates, executive state officers, election officials, and criminal justice participants by allowing address confidentiality, redacting campaign and property records, increasing some penalties for threats, and authorizing security assessments and reimbursement for personal security measures. The prime sponsor and supporters described rising political violence and personal threats, while opponents and agency staff raised concerns about implementation, constitutional issues, public-records transparency, costs, and whether the bill would actually prevent determined actors from finding addresses through other sources. The Secretary of State’s office, county officials, and the Public Disclosure Commission said the bill would create major logistical and fiscal challenges, while prosecutors, judges, and advocacy groups testified that the protections were needed for safety and retention in public service.
House Bill 2176 would make collaborative drug therapy agreements confidential under the Public Records Act except when the agreement is the basis for a disciplinary action, in which case only relevant information would be disclosed with personal information redacted. The sponsor and supporters, including pharmacists, physicians, and reproductive-health advocates, said the bill would protect clinicians from harassment and out-of-state targeting while preserving accountability for misconduct. News media representatives and open-government advocates said the underlying agreements should remain accessible only in limited circumstances and emphasized the balance between privacy and transparency. Committee members also discussed how the bill would affect access to the agreements and the scope of disclosure.
House Bill 2120 would eliminate two JLARC reporting requirements: the biennial report on municipal lodging-tax revenues and the periodic evaluation of the training benefits program. The bill’s sponsor and JLARC leadership described it as a cost-saving measure that would free staff for other audits, while the hospitality industry supported tourism funding but warned that the lodging-tax report provides useful oversight and accountability. The committee also received staff briefings on House Bill 2244, which would implement multiple Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee recommendations by changing confidentiality rules in 13 areas, including grand jury reports, accident reports, driver case records, certain health and social-service records, corporate interrogatories, family court files, and other records.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I am open for any questions. Thank you. Seeing no questions.
- with us to develop the substitute and Representative Schmidt for being open to doing that.
- With that, we'll close the hearing on 2107 and open the hearing on HB.
- With that, we'll close the hearing on HB 2107 and open the hearing on HB 2137 with a staff report.
- Attending providers are the primary coordinators of care and treatment for the injured worker.
Summary:
The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held its first meeting of the session and heard four bills. HB 2107 would make permanent and slightly narrow a temporary L&I requirement that, after an on-site safety inspection at a building construction site, the agency make a good-faith effort to notify the owner or employer within 10 working days if an immediately identified hazard could injure a worker. Construction industry groups and L&I supported the bill and said the pilot had worked well, with L&I reporting it had been able to notify owners almost 96% of the time during about 1,400 inspections.
HB 2137 would remove the population threshold for binding interest arbitration for correctional employees in city and county jails. Teamsters representatives said the change would give corrections officers in smaller jurisdictions the same bargaining rights as other uniformed personnel and help address safety, staffing, and wage inequities. County representatives opposed the bill, saying it would increase bargaining and compensation costs for many counties, and asked for amendments requiring arbitrators to consider county finances and making awards nonbinding on county legislative authorities.
HB 2264 would clarify unemployment insurance eligibility for workers who opt into an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan, even if they can rescind their decision, so long as the termination results from the employer’s plan. Supporters said current court rulings create confusing and unfair denials of benefits for workers who leave in good faith during layoffs; NFIB raised questions about severance, retirement, and UI solvency. HB 2243 would allow physical therapists and occupational therapists to serve as attending providers in the workers’ compensation system. Physical therapy and occupational therapy advocates said this would speed care and return workers to work sooner, while retailers, food industry representatives, NFIB, the Washington State Medical Association, and L&I raised concerns about diagnosis, scope of practice, added costs, and the possibility that all PTs and OTs would have to join the provider network. No votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jul 14th, 2025
Emergency Management
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll keep the roll open for the members.
- With that said, I'm going to open it up.
- Okay, we'll see no primary witnesses in opposition.
- Is there anyone who is a primary witness in support of this bill?
- At this point, we're going to open it up. Is there anyone who would like to?
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board (9-24-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And so, like if you have an open slot, so like let's say, you know, I think we have open slots in model
- And so, like if you have an open slot, And so, like if you have an open slot, so<00:16:14.520><c> like
- </c> have open slots in model two and ABI. have open slots in model two and ABI.
- </c><01:41:10.480><c> So,</c> enough primary care physicians. So, enough primary care physicians.
- </c><01:41:12.400><c> care</c> we're using the ER as the primary care we're using the ER as the primary
Summary:
The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027.
The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Jul 1st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Our committee's policies for testimony in today's hearing are as follows: primary witnesses and support
- Primary witnesses in opposition must have their opposition registered with the committee as well.
- Each primary witness will have two minutes to give their testimony.
- Appreciate you being open to that. This does have an aye recommendation today from the chair.
- We'll leave that open for absent members. You do have votes. Thanks. Thank you very much.
Summary:
The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three bills after beginning without a quorum and later establishing one. SB 328 would cap DTSC hazardous waste generation and handling fees for infill housing and master development projects and set response timelines for cleanup reviews. Supporters said the current fee structure has made some housing and remediation projects infeasible, while opponents warned that capping fees for one sector could shift costs to other hazardous waste generators. The committee discussed the need for broader DTSC fee reform, and SB 328 was approved on a 7-0 vote and sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
SB 754 would require manufacturers of disposable menstrual products to test for and disclose concentrations of certain contaminants, with DTSC able to verify results and publish them. Supporters framed the bill as a transparency and public health measure, citing recent studies finding toxic metals in tampons and emphasizing consumer right-to-know. Opponents, including manufacturers and hygiene product groups, argued the bill adds duplicative testing, vague requirements, and public disclosure that could be misinterpreted, and urged amendments. The committee members generally supported the goal of transparency, and the bill passed 5-2 with not voting members, moving to Appropriations.
SB 466 would provide temporary legal protections for public water systems that are complying with approved chromium-6 compliance plans while they work toward the new drinking water standard. Supporters from Los Banos, Coachella Valley Water District, and other water agencies said the measure would help avoid costly litigation during a lengthy and expensive compliance period, especially for systems dealing with naturally occurring chromium-6. Committee members raised concerns about limiting recourse for harmed individuals and discussed possible alternative language, but the author said the bill would not affect state enforcement authority. SB 466 passed 7-0 and was sent to the Committee on Judiciary. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of additional measures by voice vote.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So we'll open up for public testimony. We have one witness.
- The TNCs maintain $1 million of primary liability.
- We will now open up testimony.
- past, but this really opens it up for Texas.
- Secretary Wright, whom I visited with personally about this, has been open and open-minded, and passionate
Bills:
HB111