Transcript Highlights:

• We have our own Santa Ana College educational comprehensive educational plan.
• We have our own San Anna College educational, comprehensive educational plan.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training centers.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training center.
• But in our case, we need more incentives for our career technical education programs to outreach to women

Summary: The hearing opened the Select Committee on Effective Postsecondary Career, Technical Education, and Workforce Development Programs at Santa Ana College, with Assemblymember Mike Fong emphasizing the need for affordable, accelerated pathways into high-demand careers and noting his bill AB 1098 creating the California Interagency Education Council. Chancellor Marvin Martinez welcomed the committee and urged changes to AB 927 to remove the “duplication” barrier for community college bachelor’s degrees, arguing that applied baccalaureate programs can lead to high-wage jobs and expand access for low- and middle-income students. The first panel focused on statewide workforce trends and policy. California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova highlighted credit for prior learning, Strong Workforce funding, dual enrollment, and apprenticeship growth, asking the Legislature to restore and increase Strong Workforce funding and expand applied baccalaureate degrees. LAEDC’s Josep Bilayo described regional labor market data showing growth in health care, education, construction, bioscience, and clean energy, while stressing the need for employer-led, data-driven programs, wraparound supports, and flexible funding. Andrew Gonzalez of the Building and Construction Trades Council argued that registered apprenticeship must be paid, combine classroom and on-the-job training, and end in a portable credential; he also promoted apprenticeship readiness programs, community workforce agreements, and stronger exposure to trades starting in K-12. Eric Morrison Smith of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color discussed the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program and related youth apprenticeship recommendations, including bridge programs, intermediary infrastructure, reduced employer barriers, and better coordination of state funding. A later panel highlighted Santa Ana College’s fire technology and firefighting academy programs. President Annabelle Neri and Vice President Jeffrey Lamb said the college is one of the state’s largest fire training providers, with strong partnerships with local fire agencies, law enforcement, and the U.S. Forest Service, and with high job placement and six-figure starting salaries for some graduates. They also described related certificates, advanced officer training, wellness services, and workforce preparation such as mock interviews and sponsorships. Throughout the hearing, members and panelists repeatedly stressed the importance of aligning education with labor market demand, expanding apprenticeships and work-based learning, and using regional collaboration to connect students to living-wage careers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.
• Higher education is the engine of the state, I will say.
• This is a chronic problem of underfunding higher education.
• We still have a huge need in higher education.
• We have still a huge need in higher education.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Workforce Education Investment Act (WEA) Oversight Board, hearing from board co-chair Jane Broome and Joel Anderson of WASAC. They described the account’s origins as a public-private partnership intended to supplement, not replace, existing higher education funding, and emphasized the board’s role in oversight and outcomes. Members discussed the need for better data, especially outcome-based data, and concerns that recent budget actions have used WEA funds to supplant general fund support for higher education, particularly at the University of Washington. The presenters said WASAC staffing has improved transparency, but they urged the committee to preserve the original “do not supplant” intent and to keep WEA focused on high-demand programs, financial aid, and student success. The committee then held public hearings on three bills. SB 6251 would require public medical schools to use letter grades or a tiered grading system; the sponsor said the bill was meant to standardize grading, while both Washington State University and UW Medicine testified in opposition, arguing that pass-fail and competency-based systems better support collaboration, student mental health, and residency competitiveness. SB 6259 would make students ineligible for state aid and require repayment of aid if they are found by a court to have caused major damage to a public institution; the sponsor framed it as accountability for serious vandalism, while the lone testifier from WSU student government supported free speech but opposed the bill’s penalties as inequitable for lower-income students. SB 6235 would address the higher education “fund split” by requiring state funding of compensation and central services to return to 2023-25 levels over time and directing a study on essential student services; nearly all testimony from university, faculty, and community college leaders supported the bill, saying the current approach shifts costs to tuition, creates instability, and forces cuts to classes, staffing, and student services. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It adopted proposed substitutes and gave do-pass recommendations to SB 5978, SB 6209, SB 6217, and SB 6227, sending them to the Ways and Means Committee. The committee did not take action on SB 6235 in executive session. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• education local plan area, or SELPA, will receive the same base rate per pupil for state special education
• Education.
• Costs in special education are escalating at a much, much higher rate than our general education costs
• It's based on district-wide ADA, right, of general education and special education together.
• Special education services are mandated, and as such every dollar that's not funded for special education

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our own Santa Ana College educational comprehensive educational plan.
• We have our own San Anna College educational, comprehensive educational plan.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training centers.
• But educational centers can be career technical education and workforce training center.
• But in our case, we need more incentives for our career technical education programs to outreach to women

Summary: The Select Committee on Effective Postsecondary Career, Technical Education, and Workforce Development Programs met at Santa Ana College for its first hearing, with Chair Mike Fong opening by emphasizing the role of community colleges in college access, affordability, and workforce pathways. He highlighted AB 1098 creating the California Interagency Education Council and AB 323, which expanded Strong Workforce funds to support paid internships, and framed the hearing as a showcase of successful CTE, apprenticeship, and workforce models across the state. The first panel focused on statewide workforce funding, labor-market trends, and apprenticeship. California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor Anthony Cordova described the Strong Workforce Program, credit for prior learning, dual enrollment, and apprenticeship growth, and asked the Legislature to restore and increase Strong Workforce funding and expand applied baccalaureate degrees. LAEDC’s Josep Bilayo pointed to high-growth sectors such as health care, education, construction, bioscience, and clean energy, stressing data-driven planning, employer engagement, flexible funding, and wraparound supports. Andrew Gonzalez of the Los Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council argued that registered apprenticeship must be paid, classroom-based, and tied to a portable credential, and described apprenticeship readiness programs, wraparound services, and community workforce agreements as effective tools for placing diverse, low-income, and justice-involved workers into union careers. Eric Morrison Smith of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color discussed SB 191 and the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program, recommending stronger coordination, intermediary infrastructure, better tracking of youth apprenticeships, more resources for community-based organizations, and a bridge program to connect high school students and opportunity youth to apprenticeships. The committee then turned to firefighting academies and career training at Santa Ana College. President Annabelle Neri and Vice President Jeffrey Lamb described Santa Ana College as a major trainer of firefighters and first responders, with extensive noncredit workforce training, multiple bachelor’s degrees, and strong job placement in fire-related fields. They emphasized hands-on training, wellness services, mock interviews, sponsorships with fire agencies, and partnerships with local law enforcement and the U.S. Forest Service. Neri also urged changes to the state’s applied baccalaureate rules to remove the “duplication” restriction so more community colleges can offer workforce-focused bachelor’s degrees tied to living-wage jobs. The hearing ended with discussion of how regional and statewide planning should work together, how to reduce duplication and administrative barriers, and how to better align education, employers, and apprenticeship systems to meet California’s workforce needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's the LFC analyst for the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.
• Early childhood education and care fund for maternal and child health. We did 5 million there.
• A lot of it comes from the land grant permanent fund, from the Early Care and Education Fund.
• We're seeing continued reductions of special education designation.
• Pre-kindergarten is really good at choosing, changing educational and literacy outcomes.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• usual two-week youth camp for 300 kids was replaced by a four-year program of youth sports and educational
• We believe that education takes time.
• And now it's changing because I lead... ...because I lead with education and lead with an Olympic sport
• And now it's changing because I lead with education and lead with an Olympic sport now.
• ... ...upon that and make sure that that equitable outreach, in fact, does happen while we have a limited

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to note that the increase in special education can only go towards special education costs.
• In terms of special education, we estimate right now that local funds cover about 60% of special education
• Lindsay Valley, State Board of Education.
• to maintain and curate the California Educators Together online repository of high-quality open educational
• to maintain and curate the California educators together online repository of high quality open educational

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Frazier, can you just give us kind of a recap or summary of the outreach that has been
• Yeah, we have done quite a bit of outreach.
• So our initial outreach right now is employer-focused.
• </c> we have done uh quite a bit of Outreach we have done uh quite a bit of Outreach first<00:53:46.520
• ...the summer is the community outreach grants that are part of paid leave.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education will come to order.
• hearing on higher education issues.
• Our public institutions of higher education are widely known for their quality of education, ability
• Higher education, and particularly public higher education, is the best vehicle we know of to match talent
• I would submit that fully funding our higher education system is a critical way to strengthen our education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:07:23.200><c> and</c> support they need in their education and support they need in their education
• </c><01:11:08.000><c> in</c> expanding healthc care education in expanding healthc care education in
• </c><01:28:49.280><c> programs,</c> connecting them with outreach programs, connecting them with outreach
• ,</c><01:48:30.960><c> cost</c><01:48:31.199><c> of</c> potholes, education, cost of potholes, education
• May I adopt the words of the vice chair of the committee on education as if they were my own.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill is SB 121, the Education trailer bill.
• The next bill is SB 130, the higher education trailer bill.
• And I think our education chair and our education budget sub-chair and our education staff that's here
• ... ...and our education budget sub-chair and our education staff that's here today, that is a huge,
• workforce and higher education.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then my next question was, what is the outreach or do you do outreach to UNMH or APD in Bernalillo
• Um, uh, Madam Chair and Representative Chavez, we do a lot of outreach.
• The answer to that would be no, but we have done some outreach in that area, yes.
• Maybe more some concerted effort through outreach um within our tribal communities.
• It's it's just part of that outreach, Madam Chair, that's why I'm asking.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Higher Education will come to order. The clerk will call the roll.
• Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state.
• First, it enhances reporting requirements of the Education Code.
• There is a need for better outreach and awareness of these services.
• Code than the other public higher education institutions.

Bills: SB800 , SB1534 , SB2055 , SB2310 , SB2431 , SB2786 , SB3039 , SB1242

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, higher education, student safety, orientation policies, health physics, workforce development, nuclear energy, radiological safety, scholarship, education, Texas Leadership Scholars Program, student funding, transparency, degree requirements, certificate programs, student transfer, foreign language

Transcript Highlights:

• Can't we outreach to reoccurring basis.
• ,</c><00:32:48.399><c> uh</c> programs such as education, uh programs such as education, uh infrastructure
• That's the money that we could use to help education.
• </c> that we could use to help education. that we could use to help education.
• Um, I to education for K through 12.

Summary: The joint committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism heard three measures. HB 450, which would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, drew support from DBEDT, the State Foundation, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, DAGs, and individuals. Members asked about the bill’s purpose and the relationship between arts administration and international/cultural considerations. The committees voted to pass HB 450 with amendments, including a housekeeping change allowing specific legislative direction in narrow cases; the measure was adopted with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 437, relating to out-of-state offices, received testimony in support from DBEDT and representatives of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and another individual. The discussion focused on whether an overseas office in the Philippines was the best use of funds, given existing offices and trade relationships in places like Beijing and Taiwan. Members questioned the return on investment, fiscal priorities, and whether DBEDT had a broader strategic plan for selecting markets. The committees ultimately passed HB 437 with a Senate Draft 1 and technical amendments, with some members voting with reservations. HB 1391, relating to trade and creating a Hawaii-Ireland trade commission, also advanced after a lengthy discussion. DBEDT said it offered comments rather than a firm recommendation and explained that the bill appeared intended to build economic ties with Europe through Ireland, but members questioned why a commission was needed, how it would be structured, and whether similar efforts should focus on other countries. DBEDT said it would provide reports on sister-state relationships and office performance, and noted that trade initiatives would likely require private-sector participation. The committees passed HB 1391 with amendments and reservations from some members.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation was reported from the Committee on Education.
• The legislation was reported from the Committee on Education.
• Legislation, Port Committee on Education.
• Legislature on Education with Amendment Nature Substitute.
• Legislative reporting on education with amendment nature substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education.
• The House Education Committee will address the amount of money that can be advanced by employers for
• and Care Program Fund from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund.
• Childhood Education and Care Program Fund from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund.
• Thence to the House Education Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under his leadership, Loma Linda grew in ways that strengthened education, expanded access to care, and
• She leads outreach, education, and program implementation efforts for the sidewalk vending program, helping
• Department of Education.
• of race, gender, and identity, An award-winning educator, media critic, and social justice leader.
• Their work centers on the intersections of race, gender, identity, education, and entertainment.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session on floor recognitions and Pride Month observances. Members welcomed guests and honorees including APICA fellowship participants, the El Dorado Roses, retiring Loma Linda University Health president Dr. Richard Hart and incoming leader Dr. Anthony Hilliard, and Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Shrey Parique. The chamber also heard several personal and community tributes tied to LGBTQ+ Pride Month, including a long series of introductions of Pride honorees from across the state. The main legislative item was SR 116 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Senators Cervantes, Weber Pierson, Becker, Menjivar, Arreguín, Wahab, Ochoa Bogh, Wiener, and Laird, among others, spoke in support, emphasizing the history of Stonewall and other LGBTQ+ resistance movements, the contributions of Black, Latino, Jewish, women, and Asian American LGBTQ communities, and the need to oppose ongoing discrimination, violence, and attacks on transgender people. The resolution was adopted after a roll call vote of 28-0, and the Senate then proceeded to honor a large slate of Pride honorees from multiple districts and organizations. The Senate also adopted SCR 166 designating Soju Day, with support highlighting Korean American culture and soju as a symbol of hospitality and cross-cultural exchange. SCR 155, naming the State Route 52/Interstate 805 interchange in San Diego County the Officer Kirk Leeland Johnson Memorial Interchange, also passed unanimously after remarks honoring Johnson’s military and police service and the long effort by his partner to secure the memorial. In addition, the Senate confirmed Laura Capps to the Board of State and Community Corrections by a 27-9 vote and confirmed Danielle Munoz to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology by a 28-0 vote. The body also approved several Joint Rule 62(a) suspensions to allow committee hearings on short notice, moved AB 2294 to the inactive file, and sent SB 1189 back to the Assembly for further action. The session concluded with adjournment in memory motions for Judith Helene Ware, Huntley Gordon, and Adolfo Franceschi Colon, followed by announcements that the Senate would reconvene on June 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, Sierra has partnered with the California Fuel Cell Partnership to help educate stakeholders
• It takes a lot of education to get there.
• We do a lot of work in education in the local schools, even down to middle school grades, up through
• Another thing that we're also very involved with is our community education and outreach.
• We also have regular outreach and engagement with the local community and with environmental justice

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy held an informational hearing on California’s hydrogen leadership, with the chair framing hydrogen as a complementary clean-energy pathway for hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty trucking, transit, rail, ports, industrial uses, and backup power. The first panel of private-sector witnesses from the California Hydrogen Business Council, Bosch, Hyundai, and Sierra Northern Railway described existing deployments in California, including hydrogen buses, trucks, fueling infrastructure, and the nation’s first hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive. They emphasized that the technology is commercially ready but scaling is constrained by permitting delays, high fuel and equipment costs, infrastructure gaps, and uncertainty around federal support and incentives. Witnesses urged stable state policy, targeted investment, and concentrated deployment in high-impact corridors such as ports and freight hubs. Committee members also asked about labor standards, community engagement, and the current size of the hydrogen vehicle fleet in California and abroad. The second panel focused on air quality, climate, safety, and public health. Testimony from CAPCOA, the Coalition for Clean Air, the California State Building and Construction Trades Council, and a UC Berkeley researcher argued that hydrogen fuel cells can reduce diesel-related pollution and health harms when used in the right applications, especially in ports, rail yards, warehouse corridors, transit depots, and backup power for facilities like data centers. Witnesses cautioned that hydrogen should be used selectively, produced as cleanly as possible, and paired with early community engagement, safety planning, and environmental justice protections. The researcher cited projected reductions in NOx, particulate exposure, premature deaths, and health costs under broader hydrogen adoption. Committee members discussed workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and how to balance near-term costs with long-term infrastructure value. The final panel provided public-sector updates from SamTrans, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the Port of Long Beach, and First Public Hydrogen Authority. SamTrans described its transition to a large hydrogen bus fleet and said the loss of expected ARCHES funding created a major infrastructure gap; it asked the state to protect transit funding, restore a sales tax exemption for zero-emission buses, and address axle-weight rules. GoBiz said the state should focus on creating demand, reducing costs, and streamlining permitting, while acknowledging the disruption caused by the federal cancellation of ARCHES funding. The Port of Long Beach reported hydrogen truck deployments, port incentives, and a planned public fueling station, but said high costs, fuel shortages, and uncertainty have slowed momentum. First Public Hydrogen Authority described efforts to aggregate municipal demand and support new green hydrogen production projects, stressing the need for long-term market signals and financing. Committee members repeatedly emphasized the need for state support, infrastructure investment, and a diversified fuel strategy to keep hydrogen deployment moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next item, B2 is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
• The first item is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Higher Education.
• E2 is a letter from Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• The first item is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Higher Education.
• E2 is a letter from Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of budget, appropriation, transfer, and contract items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests for several agencies, including the Auditor of State, Department of Education, and Labor and Licensing; ARPA return requests from Workforce Services; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests for State Police and Agriculture; restricted reserve transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic stimulus; a Commerce reallocation of positions and spending authority; cash fund, budget classification, overtime, and pay plan requests; and 17 methods of finance items for universities and other agencies. Most items were approved without objection after brief explanations from staff and agencies. Several items drew questions and were held or discussed further. A Department of Human Services discretionary grant package for the RSVP program was held over after Senator Irvin raised concerns about whether the grants were an effective use of state general revenue and asked for more information on administration costs and program operations. In the contracts section, Representative Richardson questioned a DHS sole-source contract with EMS Link for document management software and a DHS contract with Presidio; the EMS Link item was held for additional answers, while the Presidio item was clarified as not sole-source and was allowed to proceed. Members also asked for more information on a Department of Education mental health referral contract with Care Solace, which officials said is a statewide concierge/referral service connecting students to Arkansas providers and telehealth options. The committee also reviewed monthly reports, including the Medicaid Trust Fund. DHS and DFA officials said the fund was currently sufficient to finish the fiscal year, though it was being drawn down and would likely require a $100 million transfer from restricted reserves in FY27, with another $100 million set aside in the governor’s budget as a backstop. Members discussed the need to define a minimum reserve level and to better account for ongoing Medicaid costs in the budget. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it had various, as it was said, various education matters.
• As chair of the Education Committee, you have a huge workload.
• by Secretary of Education, Dr.
• She is a listening By Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner.
• So I really do believe that higher education is doing its part.