Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:19.040> that converted to cleaner alternatives that converted to cleaner alternatives
• So you can see some of our test beds.
• You can see some of our test beds.
• We're talking about a very unique capacity in terms of electric vehicle testing, etc.
• <00:39:14.079> near partners the opportunity to test near partners the opportunity to test

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, for any of the new programs that we're testing, just so that we can really measure some of
• We are also focusing on community-based alternatives to detention.
• Additional services for community-based alternatives to detention.
• And now we're like 98% done with design, and we're going into system integration testing very soon with
• After that, we go into UAT, which is user acceptance testing.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In many cases, multiple siblings must undergo testing, further delaying reunification.
• We have a testing protocol, but it's not enough.
• New to us this year are some additional testing protocols.
• Here in Florida we have a very rigorous medical marijuana testing protocol performed by testing labs
• These products should be tested. They should be tested. These products should be tested.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• investments that they make into our facility, which is a one-of-a-kind facility in the world, where we can test
• It was a good test to see.
• We're testing different grant ranges to see where that sweet spot is.
• Alternatively, the Legislature could consider other alternative funding sources such as a reinstated
• Alternatively, the legislature could consider other alternative funding sources such as a reinstated

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation held an oversight hearing on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation strategies. The chair opened by stressing that California has reached a tipping point, with repeated community-scale wildfire losses, rising insurance costs, and growing utility wildfire mitigation expenses. The hearing was organized around four panels: what home hardening and defensible space are, community risk reduction and coordination, evaluation of current defensible space programs and proposed investments, and the future of home hardening and the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The first panel featured IBHS, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and local wildfire mitigation advocates. IBHS described wildfire spread through embers, flames, and radiant heat, emphasizing that structure separation, removing combustible materials within the first five feet of a home, and combining multiple mitigation measures significantly reduce loss. It highlighted its Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standards, including an “essential” and “enhanced” level, and said California is ahead of other states but still needs scalable, standardized, and sustainably funded mitigation. The LAO outlined key policy questions for the Legislature, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, measurement of success, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. The chair and panelists discussed estimated costs, including roughly $15,000 for a basic retrofit and about $50,000 for more extensive ignition-resistant construction, and whether state funding should focus on the most cost-effective initial measures. The second panel focused on scaling adoption through local coordination, education, financing, and community-based programs. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption problem and said the state should not try to pay for every home, but instead target high-leverage interventions across the “customer journey,” including education, financing, trusted certification, and neighborhood network effects. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council described free home assessments, small retrofit grants, Firewise community support, and the importance of neighborhood-level action, local capacity, and cultural change. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described its locally funded model, grant program, public education efforts, and an Ember Ready program that helps residents navigate home hardening and Zone Zero compliance. The chair repeatedly emphasized the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, stronger incentives, better insurance discounts, and more use of local, utility, federal, and private funding sources. The third and fourth panels addressed Cal Fire’s defensible space inspection program, the proposed defensible space financial assistance program, and broader state investments. Cal Fire said homes lacking compliant defensible space are far more likely to be damaged or destroyed and requested ongoing funding and staffing to stabilize inspections statewide; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as GGRF or a reinstated SRA fee. Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal explained that Zone Zero sets a minimum standard, local governments cannot go below it, and grant prioritization will favor jurisdictions that submit inspections. Cal Fire also said the new defensible space financial assistance program would focus on ember-resistant zone-zero work and, in the Southern California counties covered by the legislation, would assist about 3,125 homes at an estimated $8,000 per home. In the final panel, the State Fire Marshal described California’s layered strategy of parcel-level home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, along with technical support, financial assistance, and incentives such as insurance discounts and builder marketing. The overall theme was that California must move from isolated efforts to a coordinated, science-based, and scalable statewide approach to reduce wildfire losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas home-educated students score above the national institutional average on achievement tests
• to<00:19:37.000> classroom<00:19:37.440> attendance<00:19:37.919> for alternative
• to classroom attendance for alternative to classroom attendance for the<00:19:38.120> instruction
• ,<00:20:13.280> regardless<00:20:13.800> of on achievement tests, regardless of on
• achievement tests, regardless of their<00:20:14.040> parents'<00:20:14.400> level<00:20

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and then proceeded out of order to consider Senate Joint Resolution 20, recognizing April 9, 2026, as Home Education Day in Colorado. Senator Pelton spoke in strong support of home education, describing it as a parent-led choice that benefits students and families. The resolution was adopted on a 30-0 vote, and the current roll was added as co-sponsors. The chamber then took up the consent calendar and passed House Bill 1229, House Bill 1244, and Senate Bill 153. HB 1229, which concerns the human-animal bond as a social determinant of health, drew three no votes from Senators Pelton, Zamora Wilson, and Baeza; the other two measures passed unanimously. The Senate also laid over third reading of bills until Friday, April 10. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered Senate Bill 72, which increases criminal penalties for assaultive conduct involving a motor vehicle and adds causing death with a motor vehicle to criminally negligent homicide. The committee adopted the report and advanced the bill on second reading. Later, the chamber laid over Senate Bill 134 and House Bill 1084 until April 10, and then took up Senate Bill 140, which would exempt certain rare disease and plasma therapies from review by the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board. Sponsors and supporters argued the bill protects access for patients with rare diseases and prevents harm to treatment development, while opponents said it would weaken the PDAB’s affordability work and was too broad. Senators Weisman and Gonzales spoke against the bill, with Weisman citing concerns about the federal definition used and Gonzales defending the PDAB’s role in lowering drug costs; the debate continued in the transcript without a final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with test strips, we reduce... ...that we reduce overdose.
• And with test strips, we reduce overdose.
• I'm told by the state, cannot test for all chemicals that are in there.
• The fentanyl strips, the testing strips, the Narcan, the drug testing equipment, the syringes have all
• It's the perfect bill to make a pilot to try it and test that.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and read several committee reports and communications into the record. Members also observed moments of silence for two young people who had recently died, and the prayer and pledge were offered before the chamber moved into business. Consent calendar number 28, consisting of several resolutions, passed by voice vote. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes and retirement remarks for Representative Jeff Holowski, who was praised by colleagues for his work on financial literacy, veterans’ issues, health care, diabetes policy, and constituent service, as well as for his military service and community involvement. Holowski thanked staff, colleagues, and his family, and said he was retiring to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. The chamber also recognized former Representative Harvey Kenton as a guest. The House then acted on several measures. Senate Bill 286, as amended by House Amendment 1, passed 40-0 and extends consumer protections and dealer equity standards to ATVs, side-by-sides, and vessels. Senate Bill 179, which updates the Delaware Sentencing Accountability Commission and its bench book/data analysis process, passed 27-14. Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 23, the housing supply and affordability bill, was presented with extensive explanation and questions about local control, zoning, and implementation, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that measure. Senate Joint Resolution 18, designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day and directing flags at half-staff, was also discussed in emotional remarks about overdose losses and the state’s ongoing response. The House later recessed for party caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• taking time off work to and I alternated taking time off work to take<00:35:33.240> her<00:35
• I was telling you I didn't know. test, which if this happened to them test, which if this happened to
• But I would remind this body that when this bill was first considered in 2023, we had an alternative
• <01:40:13.120> Thank<01:40:13.320> you<01:40:13.400> so unique test.
• Thank you so unique test. Thank you. Thank you so much,<01:40:13.760> Mr.

Bills: HF4110, HF2113, HF4569, HF4414

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have alternative plans in place to address some of the caseloads, but as you said, there has been
• So why don't you, why doesn't CalPERS already disclose how each of its alternative investment vehicles
• So it's a collaborative process, making sure that we have plenty of time for testing and training.
• Making sure that we have plenty of time for testing and training, and I assume that includes, yeah, I
• going to be able, she's not going to sit on a computer and just practice, you know, her DMV test.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department reviewed proposals for EDD Next document management system funding, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit and administration adjustments, WIOA funding changes, UI administrative and benefit changes, school employee benefit adjustments, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to EDD Next. PERB discussed funding tied to AB 28 and AB 1, including litigation-related workload and new jurisdiction over legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language on electronic assessment payments and the DWC director salary cap. CalHR proposed additional funding for a consolidated employee assistance program contract, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs and state contribution changes. Members focused heavily on UI debt and interest payments, asking the administration for a plan to reduce the outstanding loan and relieve employers. Finance said no specific repayment plan was included in the May Revision, while LAO said the state’s UI tax structure is structurally insufficient and that any debt payoff should be paired with tax-system reform. Senators also questioned EDD Next costs and timelines, PERB’s caseload and staffing needs, and DIR’s emerging technologies unit, with LAO noting that the unit would appear focused on physical workplace safety rather than broader AI labor issues. CalHR said the new EAP contract would consolidate services, improve access to clinicians, and lower costs relative to the current model. CalPERS defended higher external management fees as part of a strategy to pursue higher net returns, while some members pressed for more transparency about private investments; CalSTRS said it was not prepared to address investment-strategy questions at this hearing. Public comment in Part A was dominated by advocates urging support for an immigration enforcement emergency relief fund, along with comments supporting the Jails to Jobs proposal, the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, and additional PERB funding. The chair noted that many of the immigration-related requests might fall under other committees and said staff would follow up. In Part B, Finance and LAO outlined judicial branch and DOJ May Revision items, including funding for court interpreter services, appellate court security, lactation room implementation delays, courthouse construction reappropriations, and DOJ budget increases. LAO recommended approving the language-access proposal with a report on reducing interpreter cost growth and reducing the General Fund backfill for state court facilities by $10 million on an ongoing basis.

Transcript Highlights:

• the same now as absentee ballot registrants who now would also have to pass the acid test?
• <00:40:22.400> They have to go through the acid test.
• They have to go through the acid test.
• Well, we'll see another<01:11:14.480> test<01:11:14.800> of<01:11:14.960> it<01:
• especially when there's an alternative especially when there's an alternative available<01:16:10.719

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the 10th visit, a test finally showed that the twins had injuries, including bone fractures.
• On the 10th visit, a test finally showed that the twins had injuries, including bone fractures, and accused
• After a week, Justin and I insisted that he'd be admitted to the hospital for further testing, because
• The most advanced genetic testing, using updated technology that was not available until March 2024,
• I mean, I just can't understand how we can terminate rights without eliminating other alternatives.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee considered three bills and reported all of them favorably. HB 1013, relating to crisis care coordination, would create a pilot program in Polk and Volusia counties to connect people who have had Baker Act-related crises with follow-up counseling, assessments, and outpatient services through partnerships between law enforcement and community providers. The sponsor said the program has reduced repeat Baker Act commitments in Polk County, and the committee adopted a strike-all amendment moving the pilot to a different statute, formalizing partnerships, and requiring an independent DCF evaluation due in January 2029. The bill drew support from mental health and justice advocates and passed unanimously. The committee then heard PCS for HB 511, which addresses child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses. Sponsors and several parents, attorneys, and advocates described cases in which children were removed after injuries were initially treated as abuse but later linked to conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, metabolic bone disease, or other medical fragility. They argued the bill would require notice of the right to a second medical opinion, better consideration of preexisting conditions and medical records, and more coordination before reports are sent to law enforcement, while still preserving protections for abused children. Members expressed sympathy for the families and emphasized the need for fairness and accurate medical review; the bill passed 17-0. Finally, HB 1439, based on recommendations from the 2025 Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, was presented as a broader mental health and substance use disorder measure focused on crisis response, access to care, and workforce development. An amendment aligned the bill more closely with commission recommendations, including assessment tools, trauma-informed practices, school-based behavioral health access, telehealth, discharge planning, and long-acting injectable treatment access. The commission chair testified that the bill reflected a vetted set of recommendations from subject matter experts and commissioners, and the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably by unanimous vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resiliency is, by definition, you know, looking at making sure you have redundancies and you have alternative
• So there's no means testing for the actual... Oh. The program, the grant.
• So there's no means testing for the actual building owner, as long as that building is in a disadvantaged
• And if someone signs up, I'm really asking whether there's means testing to separate anyone out that

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee met under Chair Kevin Parker and considered a series of energy, utility, and clean transportation bills. The committee first advanced a bill by Senator Connery on make-ready electric infrastructure for public-serving EV charging, after members raised concerns that the costs of preparing school bus charging infrastructure could be shifted to ratepayers. The committee then advanced Senator Parker’s pilot program for resilient EV charging microgrids, with discussion focused on using existing NYSERDA resources, the role of batteries, and the bill’s purpose in supporting emergency charging during outages. Another bill on heavy distribution centers and EV charging was also advanced after debate over its application to large warehouse and e-commerce facilities. The committee also considered a bill on carport-mounted solar systems that would limit local zoning restrictions. A motion to substitute in a different bill was ruled improper for lack of notice, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on appeal. Members then advanced a PSC guidebook bill on gas and electric rate-making, and a utility shutoff protection bill for medical emergencies, life support equipment, and elderly, blind, or disabled customers, with questions about age definitions and the scope of medical documentation. The committee also advanced the Home Utility Weatherization Jobs Act, which would create a pilot program for electrification and weatherization in disadvantaged communities, with members discussing whether the program would be available at no cost to building owners and how utilities would access capital. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about who would pay for the programs, whether ratepayers or taxpayers would bear the costs, and how much local control would remain under the solar siting bill. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed a recent NYISO report warning about possible summer reliability issues and urged the committee and the PSC to review it closely. The chair noted the report should be considered alongside other state planning documents, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that any future developments will have to comply with, so they will have to have performance-based testing
• This bill requires testing of biosolids in order to get a base understanding of potential impact of the
• This amendment includes the testing of treated effluent from domestic waste treatment facilities in addition
• As we phase out these and use safer alternatives, it is critical we mitigate the impact to these first

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to declining CPA candidates Senate Bill 268 proposes an alternate path for CPAs.
• And so subsection B of SCR 34 has the test and it's the same test. that every state action which burdened
• To the details of the legislation you're describing, this just takes the constitutional test and. puts

Bills: SJR36, SJR34, SJR18, SCR9, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB764, SB842, SB971, SB767, SB480, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SCR13, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SJR34, SCR9, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB140, SB260, SB262, SB290, SB293, SB314, SB370, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB480, SB494, SB495, SB616, SB627, SB706, SB707, SB764, SB767, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SJR34, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB480, SB627, SB764, SB767, SR224, SB1626, SB1627, SB1628, SB1629, SB1630, SB1631, SB1632, SB1633, SB1634, SB1635, SB1636, SB1637, SB1638, SB1639, SB1640, SB1641, SB1642, SB1643, SB1644, SB1645, SB1646, SB1647, SB1648, SB1649, SB1650, SB1651, SB1652, SB1653, SB1654, SB1656, SB1657, SB1658, SB1659, SB1660, SB1661, SB1662, SB1663, SB1664, SB1665, SB1666, SB1667, SB1668, SB1669, SB1670, SB1671, SB1672, SB1673, SB1674, SB1675, SB1676, SB1677, SB1678, SB1679, SB1680, SB1681, SB1682, SB1683, SB1684, SB1685, SB1686, SB1687, SB1688, SB1689, SB1690, SB1691, SB1692, SB1693, SB1694, SB1695, SB1696, SB1697, SB1698, SB1699, SB1700, SB1626, SB1627, SB1628, SB1629, SB1630, SB1631, SB1632, SB1633, SB1634, SB1635, SB1636, SB1637, SB1638, SB1639, SB1640, SB1641, SB1642, SB1643, SB1644, SB1645, SB1646, SB1647, SB1648, SB1649, SB1650, SB1651, SB1652, SB1653, SB1654, SB1656, SB1657, SB1658, SB1659, SB1660, SB1661, SB1662, SB1663, SB1664, SB1665, SB1666, SB1667, SB1668, SB1669, SB1670, SB1671, SB1672, SB1673, SB1674, SB1675, SB1676, SB1677, SB1678, SB1679, SB1680, SB1681, SB1682, SB1683, SB1684, SB1685, SB1686, SB1687, SB1688, SB1689, SB1690, SB1691, SB1692, SB1693, SB1694, SB1695, SB1696, SB1697, SB1698, SB1699, SB1700

Keywords: parental rights, parents, children, custody, care and control, upbringing, family law, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, child welfare, education policy, medical decisions, parental authority, primary decision makers, family autonomy, capital gains, taxation, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think that's ideal, but that's the alternative. And so that's sort of where I'm at.
• Just because you get an A on a test might not mean that you're ready for advanced math.
• Again, I know I keep saying it, but it's really testing you on what you know.
• You're taking a test on what you've learned those last, you know, few weeks, that unit.
• What we're testing in math, okay?

Bills: HB2093, HB2370, HB2376, HB2380, HB2381, HB2383, HB2423, HB2481, HB2621, HB2895, HB4005, HB4043, HB4109

Keywords: mental health, school curriculum, education policy, instruction requirements, statute repeal, charter schools, education, weapons detection, public safety, school administration, school districts, real estate transactions, school property, bond issuance, land use approval, capital improvements, school governance, board meetings, education funding, parental notification

Summary: The committee first approved the March 18, 2026 minutes and then considered the nomination of John Snyder to the State Board for Charter Schools. Snyder described his background in municipal finance, charter school financings, and prior service with Arizona charter school organizations and the Arizona School for the Arts. Members asked about how his finance experience would help the board’s oversight role, and the committee voted 6-0 with one not voting to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard HB 2093, which would remove the statutory requirement that health education include mental health instruction tied to multiple dimensions of health and would repeal related consultation requirements in 2037. The sponsor argued the bill would remove social-emotional learning from schools and return mental health matters to parents, while opponents, including students, a suicide-loss parent, and youth mental health advocates, said school-based mental health education saves lives and should remain available with parental opt-out. After debate, the committee voted 4-3 to give the bill a do pass recommendation. Several school safety and education bills followed. HB 4043, requiring at least one campus employee trained in CPR, first aid, and AED use where applicable, passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor and school administrators. HB 4005, requiring instruction on ethical and educational uses of artificial intelligence in school districts beginning in 2027-28, passed 4-3 despite opposition from the Arizona Education Association over unfunded mandate concerns. HB 2895, allowing Native American language proficiency to satisfy a world language requirement and adding language clarifying districts are not required to offer such courses, passed unanimously as amended. HB 2383, renaming trampoline court safety legislation as Ty’s Law, also passed unanimously as amended. The committee also advanced HB 4109, a school public safety and notification bill requiring district safety policies, parent and law enforcement notification after life-threatening violence or weapon incidents, annual public safety reporting, and misdemeanor penalties for noncompliance. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters cited delayed or inadequate notification in serious incidents, while opponents argued the bill was too broad and criminalized administrators. The bill passed 4-3. The committee then approved HB 2376, appropriating $40 million for the school safety program and prioritizing school resource officers and school safety officers, and HB 2380, requiring greater public access to governing board meetings, materials, video, and out-of-state travel approvals; both passed 4-3. Finally, the committee began considering HB 2381, a major strike-everything amendment on career technical education district governance and funding, along with a follow-up amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:08:16.159> and<01:08:16.400> may testing can be unnecessary and may testing can
• Instead of testing, see the mold.
• :47:31.920> to<01:47:32.080> be alternate approval pathways need to be alternate approval
• problem is not whether alternatives problem is not whether alternatives exist.<01:47:49.679>
• rent is essentially a liquidity test. rent is essentially a liquidity test.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• understand... ...what the college-readiness requirements are in terms of the course requirements, the tests
• “And so as an alternative to the super COLA, another option you could consider is creating a categorical
• find kids that are just bright and intelligent that just shake up a little bit when they're taking a test
• Alternatively, this could be an opportunity for us to rectify the longstanding COLA inequity for hold
• Alternatively, this could be an opportunity for us to rectify the longstanding COLA inequity, excuse

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard May Revision proposals covering higher education, including the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, the University of California, California Community Colleges, the California Student Aid Commission, UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and trailer bill reporting changes. For the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, the administration proposed a one-time $10 million General Fund backfill to repay a special fund loan taken to cover litigation costs, plus provisional language to adjust for a pending legal expense and to repay the loan without interest. The LAO opposed shifting costs to the General Fund and raised legal concerns about an interest-free loan under Proposition 26. Senators asked about whether the $10 million would cover the litigation and about the estimated $245,000 in interest savings. For UC, the May Revision maintained the Governor’s ongoing support and included budget language requiring campuses to grow by 2,968 California undergraduates in 2026-27. UC also sought $1.5 million in one-time General Fund support for the First Star foster youth program. UC described strong outcomes for the UCLA program, while the LAO recommended rejecting the new spending because UC already has overlapping outreach programs, including the Early Academic Outreach Program, and because the need for new state funding was not clear. Senators debated whether the proposal duplicated existing services and discussed the program’s reported college-going and completion rates. The committee also heard a request for $1 million ongoing General Fund for UC College of the Law, San Francisco, to maintain campus safety services; the college described its shared-campus model and public-interest mission, while the LAO noted the college was also raising tuition and that the proposal would maintain, rather than expand, current security spending. The committee then reviewed community college proposals. Finance outlined a larger May Revision package centered on a 4.31% SCFF COLA, enrollment growth funding, categorical COLAs, a one-time Adult Learner Demonstration Project allocation, deferred maintenance, and other ongoing and one-time items. The Chancellor’s Office supported the package but asked for more enrollment growth funding, a higher growth rate, and additional policy changes. The LAO recommended at least funding the statutory 2.87% COLA, then considering whether to redirect remaining funds to enrollment growth, categorical COLAs, or one-time priorities; it recommended rejecting the Adult Learner Demonstration Project. Senators questioned the use of the discretionary COLA to cover paid pregnancy disability leave, the impact on hold harmless and basic aid districts, and whether the state should instead create a separate categorical. The Chancellor’s Office and Finance said the COLA approach was intended to provide flexibility, though Finance said it was open to further discussion about districts that would not receive direct funding. For student aid, Finance described May Revision changes to Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship, including a one-time reduction tied to lower estimated costs and a later true-up, as well as proposals for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. CSAC supported the financial aid investments but urged more time and clearer implementation planning for Workforce Pell, noting the need for state approval processes, data linkages, and likely ongoing administrative workload. The LAO recommended rejecting additional Golden State Teacher Grant funding and cautioned that the Workforce Pell trailer bill and one-time funding were premature given the new federal rules and unclear workload. Senators also raised concerns about the Middle Class Scholarship reduction, the need to support students facing higher living costs, and the decline in CADA/DREAM Act applications, with CSAC saying the drop did not reflect reduced need and that outreach should be strengthened. The final item was a set of technical trailer bill changes to shift some UC, CSU, and community college reporting from annual to biennial and consolidate reports; Finance said there were no programmatic changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• background or zip code, can attend a well-funded public school that prepares them not just to take a test
• The bill also closes a loophole on alternative fees that are being charged outside of the impact fee
• Have we used alternate drugs other than the preferred drugs?
• Now we're talking about lethal injections and alternative ways.
• You would want us to have opportunities to recover in these programs than the other alternative.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and heard several announcements and recognitions, including remarks from the new Democratic caucus leader, Senator Berman, who emphasized bipartisan work on education, health care, the environment, and family issues. The chamber also recognized military leaders, an intern, and guests connected to later bills. No committee reports or executive messages were on the desk at the start of the session. The Senate then took up a series of bills, many of them with House companion substitutions and technical amendments. Major measures included the Pam Rock Act on dangerous dogs, which passed 36-0; a local government land regulation bill that was amended after questions about quasi-judicial hearings, impact fees, and county costs, then passed 26-8; a vessels/boating bill that incorporated related legislation and passed 35-0; a blood clot screening and treatment bill creating the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which passed 36-0; a fleeing or eluding law enforcement bill, amended to remove vehicle impoundment in the House version, which passed 36-0; a concealed carry/firearms bill for certain law enforcement and military personnel, which passed 33-3; and a timeshare management bill, which passed 36-0. The chamber also passed a disability history and awareness instruction bill, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, after extensive debate about language and the meaning of disability versus “unique abilities”; it received 35 co-sponsors and passed 35-0. Other bills passed included manufacturing and related fee legislation, public education on background screening requirements, utility service restrictions, educational opportunities for military children, Medicaid oversight, health facilities authorities, and veteran and spouse nursing home beds, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on human trafficking, waste management, Bright Futures, mammogram coverage, Parkinson’s disease, and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• of subminimum wage to competitive integrated employment, designed to offer a range of services to test
• new service delivery practices. ...designed to offer a range of services to test new service delivery
• Alternatives to conservatorship are... ...really important.
• Do not test the chair. I'm feeling a little spicy today. I want to test you? No, just kidding.
• We are testing individual outcome measures now as we prepare for the implementation phase of the first

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Test. Good evening, Chair and members.
• Finally, we proposed various alternatives to the author, such as labeling, point-of-sale disclosures,
• If the region cannot show how it will meet its targets, the MPO is required to develop an alternative
• We have provided alternative language to the author's office that would instead define what types of
• work with our SEMA garage in Diamond Bar here in California, working directly with CARB and EPA to test

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations. SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testing, and we believe that allows us to start.
• We connect them to breast, cervical cancer screening, syphilis testing, TB testing, and treatment.
• The red line demonstrates the number of new tests that the lab is requiring to test.
• So we're looking for $350,000 for testing.
• To test, so we're looking for $350,000 for testing supplies and materials because they're needed because

Summary: The committee first recognized Mark Roper of the Economic Development Department for his long service and retirement, with members and the secretary praising his work on economic development across the state. Secretary Rob Black then presented EDD’s budget and special appropriation requests, describing strong recent job and income growth and outlining the department’s strategy around science and technology, site readiness, workforce development, foreign direct investment, and rural/community programs. He highlighted wins in advanced energy, quantum, space and defense, and biosciences, and asked for funding for quantum/DARPA matching funds, additional site readiness work, LIDA closing funds, JTIP training support, New Mexico Partnership, and healthy foods and other community programs. Members asked detailed questions about the quantum proposal, site readiness, the new mapping tool for industrial sites, workforce participation, trade missions, foreign investment, tariffs, water and produced water, tribal site evaluation, and public engagement on major projects. Black said the quantum request was intended to match federal dollars and build a workforce pipeline, that the site-readiness software would be a set enterprise license, and that the department was working with tribes and local partners on future site evaluations. He also said tariffs have created uncertainty but New Mexico’s infrastructure and foreign trade zones could help attract manufacturing, and he acknowledged concerns about transparency and community input while noting that some projects, such as Pacific Fusion, had gone through extensive public processes. The committee also discussed specific projects and funding balances, including Mantis Space’s move to Albuquerque, the status of Virgin Galactic’s spaceport lease, and the current LIDA fund balance and encumbrances. Black and Deputy Secretary Isaac Romero said the department was trying to use State Investment Council-backed venture funds to attract companies and that the new investments were already producing deals and jobs. Members generally supported the department’s direction but pressed for more targeted expertise, faster deployment, and stronger community involvement in future economic development decisions. Later, Secretary de Blassie of the Department of Health presented the department’s budget request and progress report. He said DOH had improved revenue cycle management, reduced old Medicaid-pending cases, increased census at facilities, improved budget and contract timeliness, and responded effectively to the measles outbreak. The department requested additional base funding for epidemiology and response, the DOH helpline, the Vital Records Virtual Vault, state labs, and the veterans home, along with special requests for respiratory vaccinations and marketing and lab equipment replacement. He also noted progress on MOUD and the medical psilocybin program, and said the department was not seeking to launch new programs given the limited time left in the administration.