Transcript Highlights:

• And the licensed or registered financial institution that does not receive consideration for a loan.
• this language is the fiduciary requirement that if you are an attorney and that you are receiving loan
• practitioner and your clients don't have cash or anything else, you could be attracted to take these types of loans
• This is just put in a requirement that says if you're going to take a loan from somebody, you've got
• And you've seen it with housing for low-income, single-family homes, where traditionally we've not seen

Committee: House Legislative Review

Summary: The Committee on Legislative Review met in executive session and voted House Bill 2408 due pass by an 8-0 roll call. It then considered House Bill 3092, where a House Committee amendment was adopted and rolled into a House Committee substitute despite objections that the amendment had not received a public hearing and would repeal significant insurance-related provisions. The substitute for HB 3092 was then approved 6-3. The committee also adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute for House Bill 3004, which passed unanimously 9-0. In open hearing, Representative Hausman presented House Bill 3090 as a transparency measure requiring the state treasurer to report annually on special treasury funds that have had no spending for five years and whether those funds were moved to general revenue. She said the bill would help lawmakers identify inactive accounts and unused money. Members asked how the reporting would work, what funds might be affected, and whether the bill would move unused balances into GR after five years; the sponsor said it would. No witnesses testified for or against, and the hearing closed. The committee then heard House Bill 3205 from Representative Castile, which would regulate third-party litigation funding, require disclosure of outside and foreign-linked funders, restrict funding from foreign adversaries, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Members questioned the bill’s scope, including whether the foreign-terrorist language could be read too broadly and how liability and funding-risk provisions would work. Testimony in support came from Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Insurance Coalition/Missouri Civil Justice Coalition, and medical associations, all arguing that litigation funding can distort lawsuits, hide outside influence, and expose businesses and plaintiffs to abusive or foreign-backed financing. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• women of Mexico supporting their soldiers in battle with love and encouragement or holding down the home
• ...access federal aid, and California's Dream Loan Program helps fill that gap.
• AB 681 will increase the annual loan cap under the existing Dream Loan Program from $4,000 to $20,500
• , aligning more closely with federal graduate loan limits.
• Jessica was deeply committed to the community she called home for 11 years.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then held its Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 16, proclaiming May 4–11, 2025 as Cinco de Mayo Week, after supportive remarks from several caucuses emphasizing Mexican history, women’s contributions, LGBTQ solidarity, Black and Brown unity, and AAPI and Jewish community support. The chamber then recognized 11 Latino Spirit honorees for achievements in human rights, business, arts, public service, community empowerment, health and science, environmental justice, philanthropy, and entertainment. After the ceremony, the Assembly returned to floor business and approved a series of measures. AB 60, banning synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products, passed 56–3. AJR 6, urging Congress to protect federal school meal and local food funding, drew extensive debate and broad bipartisan support; members cited child hunger, farm economies, and local food systems, and it passed 76–0 with 73 coauthors added. Other measures adopted included AB 679 on state park land acquisitions, AB 681 expanding Dream Loan Program caps for undocumented graduate students, AB 1224 on substitute teacher continuity, AB 831 on gaming technical changes, AB 259 extending Brown Act teleconferencing flexibility, AB 467 extending Los Angeles Neighborhood Council teleconferencing authority, and AB 519 targeting deceptive puppy mill sales. The chamber also passed AB 1522, an urgency Judiciary Committee bill protecting attorneys from politically motivated discipline and creating an expedited licensing path for some former federal attorneys, and AB 263, which extends temporary water flow requirements on the Shasta and Smith Rivers; that bill drew sharp disagreement over water rights, tribal participation, and impacts on farmers, but ultimately passed 51–16. Additional measures approved included AB 428 on pooled insurance for water corporations, AB 492 requiring notice to local jurisdictions when recovery treatment facilities are licensed, and AB 536 preserving colorectal cancer screening coverage. The Assembly also adopted a motion to suspend file notice so Appropriations could hear AB 379 on May 7.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh if we can get competition back home.
• </c> safe travels back home. safe travels back home.
• </c><00:35:11.680><c> for</c> $158,000 at our Minneapolis home for $158,000 at our Minneapolis home for
• ,</c><00:38:17.119><c> another</c> added three new veterans homes, another added three new veterans homes
• We felt our state veterans homes.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• When we do our budgets at home, we know that many of our families come up short.
• We know that people need homes that they can afford, they need access to health care, and we know that
• Californians and reject in-home supportive services that assist seniors and people with disabilities.
• rather than going to nursing homes.
• Dignity in their own homes rather than going to nursing homes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the world; it is the driving force of innovation, culture, and opportunity, shaping lives here at home
• Yet, behind the headlines of the... shaping lives here at home and across the globe.
• People being able to get health care, people being able to afford homes.
• People being able to get health care, people being able to afford homes.
• People being able to get health care, people being able to afford homes.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact held an informational hearing in Paramount as part of its “Pocketbook Tour,” focused on affordability, cost pressures, and household impacts in Los Angeles County. The first panel centered on workers and learners, with testimony from the UCLA Labor Center and the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board. Speakers described how rising living costs, tuition, and low wages force many students to work long hours, often in unrelated, low-wage jobs, while struggling with food, rent, bills, anxiety, and limited financial aid. Recommendations included expanding state-funded work study, creating a statewide internship tax credit for small businesses, improving financial aid formulas to reflect regional cost of living, increasing flexibility for students, and strengthening worker-rights education and career pathways. The second panel focused on microbusinesses and small business affordability. Testimony from microenterprise advocates, the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network, and local business owners described rising commercial rents, labor costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, insurance, utilities, and disaster-related pressures as major threats to small businesses. Witnesses emphasized that small businesses are central to local economies and asked the state to expand technical assistance, low-interest financing, disaster support, supply-chain development, and community-based outreach. They also urged more intentional support for microbusinesses and home-based entrepreneurs, including networks that connect them to resources and help them build collective buying power. Committee members asked about possible state actions, including tax credits for hiring local workers or interns, support for trades and apprenticeships, and ways to partner more closely with SBDCs and chambers of commerce. Public comment echoed the hearing themes, with speakers highlighting student hardship, nonprofit mental health funding, renewable energy jobs and internships, and the need for state support for clean-energy incentives. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with closing remarks and adjournment at 11:05 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I still remember the success we had in going after loan services for student loans, getting back millions
• I still remember the success we had in going after loan services for student loans, getting back millions
• I still remember the success we had in going after loan services for student loans, getting back millions
• </c> 664 per. so if he took out a $2,000 loan 664 per. so if he took out a $2,000 loan he<00:32:28.360
• </c><00:51:33.880><c> for</c> communities they've called home for communities they've called home for

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm aware of those homes, and I'm aware of those homes, and I'm— I'm aware of those homes, and I'm
• homes, and three licensed group homes.
• home four.
• in their home.
• who want to move to expanded home or group home or registered homes who are working to get licensed.

Summary: The committee heard first from LFC staff on a brief about New Mexico’s universal child care expansion. Staff said child care assistance has clear benefits for parents and families, but LFC has not found evidence in New Mexico that it improves children’s educational outcomes; they argued pre-K is the better tool for that goal. The brief highlighted four concerns with universal access: an estimated annual cost of about $849.7 million, a sharp decline in registered homes, possible crowding out of lower-income families, and reduced access for children under age two. Staff also suggested possible mitigations such as prioritizing slots for low-income and at-risk families, reinstating sliding-scale co-pays, and tying quality improvements to workforce wages. Members raised questions about the cost estimate, funding sources, provider quality, and whether the data showed actual crowding out. Several lawmakers expressed support for child care generally but concern about the fiscal impact and whether universal access would divert resources from the families most in need. Others emphasized the importance of child care for workforce participation, rural communities, and family stability, and questioned how registered homes are counted and regulated. LFC staff clarified that the cost estimate was for child care assistance only, not the entire ECECD budget, and that the data showed declines in the share of lowest-income children and infants/toddlers served, though not causation. The ECECD secretary then presented the department’s response, saying universal child care is intended to complete a cradle-to-career system and that the department has already seen strong uptake, increased capacity, and rising workforce participation. She said 6,206 families were found eligible in the first month, the share of infants and toddlers served rose, and new provider applications and licensed slots increased after the November rollout. The department also emphasized wage increases, quality improvements, and a new wage scale/career lattice, while projecting a lower near-term cost than LFC’s estimate and requesting additional funding for child care, early pre-K, home visiting, workforce systems, and capacity-building. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• these homes.
• The issue of the homes that could go to first-time home Buyers being purchased by corporations.
• And the people who build the homes will also make these homes a place such that persons will acquire
• These home builders are building places that allow equity to be acquired by the home purchasers.
• home?

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I list my home on the market, I have just listed a home. It is a new listing.
• Homes don't meet people's needs.
• tenure in a home.
• do not move homes every 10 years.
• , it may now be a $475,000 home.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a median priced home statewide. a median priced home statewide.
• </c> home ownership more affordable. home ownership more affordable.
• , it also opens up homes for new home buyers and there forth.
• ><c> for</c><00:08:25.600><c> new</c><00:08:25.800><c> home</c> it also opens up homes for new home it
• </c> of going from renting to owning a home. of going from renting to owning a home.

Bills: HF2715 , HF2499 , HF3420 , HF3657 , HF2303

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• The loan—talk to me about any loan from an immediate family member, where you're striking that section
• It's basically excluding a loan.
• for nursing home residents.
• On top of that, you have some nursing homes have one nursing home voter.
• Some nursing homes have 33 nursing home voters. It just depends on who signs up for it.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The Committee on House and Governmental Affairs met on March 18 and first adopted the minutes from its February 21 meeting. The committee then took up HB 250, which would have narrowed financial disclosure requirements for appointed, unpaid board and commission members by exempting immediate family information. Supporters said the bill would reduce burdens and help recruit volunteers, while opponents argued it would weaken ethics enforcement and create opportunities for undisclosed conflicts of interest. After debate and a roll call, the committee deadlocked and HB 250 failed to advance on a 6-6 vote with one abstention. The committee next considered HB 576, which transfers ownership and maintenance responsibility for the Old Governor’s Mansion to the Department of State and codifies its current operational role. Secretary of State Nancy Landry and mansion staff testified in support, describing expanded programming, increased visitors, and the need to align the statute with current practice. The committee adopted technical amendments and then reported HB 576 favorably without objection. The committee also heard HB 117, which recreates the Department of State and its statutory entities through July 1, 2033, and reported it favorably without objection. The major remaining item was HB 842, the annual omnibus elections bill, which makes numerous technical and substantive changes to election law, including voter assistance for people with disabilities, absentee ballot and petition procedures, inactive voter updates, and election contest deadlines. Several members and public witnesses raised concerns about disability documentation, absentee ballot curing, witness requirements, constitutional amendment challenge deadlines, and the scope of authority given to the Secretary of State, while others said the bill clarified existing practice and improved election administration. After adopting amendments and rejecting a motion to defer, the committee reported HB 842 favorably by an 8-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• institution and that this is part home institution and that this is part of<00:09:33.760><c> internet
• Uh, third program being the KET loan pools, which offers low-interest loans to help underwrite the costs
• </c> Uh third program being the KET loan Uh third program being the KET loan pools<00:52:08.000><c> which
• </c> grant loan programs. grant loan programs.
• And then grant and loan programs.

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board opened its fourth meeting, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior meeting’s minutes by unanimous voice vote, and then heard information items and agency presentations. The main substantive presentation came from the Council on Postsecondary Education, which outlined its capital planning recommendations for the 2026–28 biennium. CPE staff described the role of Kentucky’s research and education network (Kron), including connectivity to cloud services, Internet2, identity services, and new local AI/inferencing capacity, and argued that the network is now essential to higher education, health care, and extension services. They said the network’s recent upgrades were driven by privacy, security, redundancy, and the need to support modern research and AI workloads at lower cost than commercial providers. CPE also presented its broader higher-education capital request: $700 million for asset preservation and $1.73 billion for new construction, for a total recommendation of about $2.4 billion. Staff said they do not plan to recommend IT projects or equipment in this cycle, despite reviewing 48 IT submissions totaling nearly $1.4 billion and equipment requests totaling $322.6 million. For asset preservation, they said the recommended allocation method would remain based on each institution’s share of Category 1 and 2 square footage, and they noted that the state’s prior facility assessment is now 12 years old, with deferred maintenance still estimated in the $7–9 billion range. For new construction, they said the requests are heavily focused on STEM and health-related facilities that are difficult to retrofit into older buildings. Board members asked about how asset-preservation amounts were determined, including why Northern Kentucky University’s request was much larger than its prior allocation. CPE staff responded that campus size, building age, and institutional prioritization affect the requests, and that schools are asked to submit more projects than are likely to be funded. The board then moved on to an Attorney General capital plan overview, where senior counsel Will Schroeder began describing the office’s technology needs and the office’s prior reliance on a 2020 appropriation to replace legacy systems and improve security.

Transcript Highlights:

• Channel revolving loan fund program.
• That went out as a loan that is intended to issue revenue bonds to come back in to repay that. that loan
• Since we were able to put the funds out, we've dispersed the loans.
• And Bootstrap also gets loaned proceeds in addition.
• servicing, loan closing, and legal function as they relate to multifamily.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of them is that we're 10 times more reliant on home heating oil than the next closest state by
• is that Lazard Bank is one of the banks in the world that makes the most investments and the most loans
• That Lazard Bank is one of the banks in the world that makes the most investments and the most loans
• And if folks, um, I realize having these sort of discussions today, if someone's on their way home and
• Chairman continued: If folks are on their way home and realize they forgot to mention something, public

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• But did you know that Jessamine is home to the first commercial winery in the entire country?
• Don't forget to bring home a bottle for that special someone. Cheers.
• Uh, but this is home now. Uh, I have a sophomore that's at the University of Louisville.
• Uh but this is home<00:36:05.119><c> now.
• Uh I have a sophomore uh home now.

Summary: The committee approved the September minutes and heard two presentations focused on tourism and economic development. First, Visit Jessamine and local winery representatives described Jessamine County’s tourism branding, visitor center renovation at the old jail in Nicholasville, wayfinding signs, kiosks, murals, and the Jessamine Wine and Spirits Trail. They said Kentucky tourism generates more than $1 billion in taxes and $14.3 billion in economic impact statewide, and that Jessamine County tourism generates about $6.2 million in taxes and $87 million in economic impact. They emphasized that the wine trail and related events, including the Kentucky Wine and Vine Festival, draw repeat visitors, support surrounding counties, and attract visitors from across the country and overseas. Committee members praised the presentation and discussed local events such as Halloween activities in Nicholasville and Wilmore and the Great Jessamine Pumpkin event. The committee also received prepared comments on Fort Knox from Lance O’Brien of the Knox Regional Development Alliance after a Fort Knox representative could not attend because of the federal government shutdown. The remarks highlighted Fort Knox’s role as a military installation, economic engine, tourism draw, and workforce partner. The presentation cited an estimated $5.6 billion in annual output, about $1.3 billion in payroll, more than 60,000 retirees and veterans in the surrounding area, and roughly 11,000 to 13,000 soldiers stationed there at a time. It also noted major tourism-related activity such as Cadet Summer Training, the National Raider Challenge, and the George Patton Museum, along with more than $484 million in small-business contracts in fiscal year 2025 and Fort Knox’s role in IT and cybersecurity. Members discussed the importance of tourism revenue, out-of-state visitors, and the broader economic impact of both Jessamine County and Fort Knox.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> $10 million partially forgivable loans $10 million partially forgivable loans to<00:41:40.040><c
• </c> every single home across our state. every single home across our state.
• ,</c><00:50:56.440><c> public</c> hospitals, nursing homes, public hospitals, nursing homes, public schools
• Then he realized it is very difficult to get home on Greyhound from South Texas.
• On the drive home, Norm wrote online. He said this.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it were a loan program or something like that, it'd be different. Thank you.
• If it were a loan program or something like that, it'd be different. Thank you.
• If it were a loan program or something like that, it'd be different. Thank you.
• The legislature previously authorized loans for dispatchable energy projects.
• Please amend the bill to include only loans, not grants.

Bills: HB 11 , HB14 , HB132 , HB1584 , HB1606 , HB5061 , HB 1041 , HB2286 , HB132

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and quickly reported several measures favorably, including HB 12, SB 1361, SB 1705, SB 1749, SB 1897, SB 2344, SB 2566, HB 3809, and HB 4215, with most sent to the Local and Uncontested Calendar. HB 12’s substitute clarified a limited midterm review of regulatory agencies tied to Sunset Commission recommendations. SB 2696’s substitute changed med spa regulation from a license to a certificate, with training instead of an exam, plus background checks, continuing education, and two-year renewals. HB 3809 dealt with battery energy storage decommissioning and recycling, and HB 4215 was reported without a substitute. SB 1978, concerning interconnection of electric facilities in ERCOT and federal jurisdiction concerns, was reported out on a 5-3 vote after debate, but then the chair later announced the bill was withdrawn and left pending subject to the call of the chair. HB 1899 was also reported favorably, with one nay. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 14, the advanced nuclear energy bill. Senator Schwertner described it as creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator, a development fund, a completion grant program, and a workforce development program. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from Fermi America, Dow/X-energy, CPS Energy, Paragon Energy Solutions, Bridge to Nuclear, Aalo Atomics, and the Texas Association of Business, argued that Texas should lead in advanced nuclear, citing future baseload demand, data centers, industrial power needs, supply-chain development, and long-term energy diversification. Opponents, including Public Citizen, Texas Nuclear Watchdogs, Sierra Club, and individual citizens, argued the bill would subsidize unproven, expensive technology, create grants rather than loans, and expose taxpayers to major risk while doing little to meet near-term energy needs. Several members questioned whether the state should fund projects that may not produce grid power for years, and whether the bill’s grant structure and new office were justified. The committee also heard HB 5061, which Senator Schwertner said would prohibit unethical surveillance and misuse of confidential information by state contractors, create a confidential reporting system through the State Auditor’s Office, authorize Texas Rangers investigations, protect whistleblowers, and impose penalties including contract termination, fines, and contracting bans. No public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. HB 132, sponsored by Senator Hughes, would extend confidentiality protections for sensitive information to hostile acts by foreign adversaries; it was also left pending after no testimony. HB 1584 was then laid out, with Senator Schwertner explaining it would require utilities to maintain and update priority restoration lists for critical facilities after Hurricane Beryl exposed communication failures, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then in turn, they either pay back their loan or their loans are forgiven through working for one
• They're doing therapeutic interventions at the person's home.
• They're doing therapeutic interventions at the person's home.
• , you know, you can sit there and work your loan off.
• So I really appreciate this panel, obviously, as a mother, it's home. So. Whether it hits home.

Summary: The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access in California, with the chair opening by citing elevated distress, self-harm-related emergency visits, access barriers, and a statewide behavioral health workforce shortage. The chair and Assembly Member Lori Davies emphasized that historic state investments, including the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and school-based mental health funding, still face implementation and sustainability challenges, especially because many programs rely on one-time dollars. The committee framed the hearing as a way to hear from county systems, providers, schools, and students to inform future policy and budget action. Panel One described San Diego County’s behavioral health system, including Medi-Cal specialty care, payment reform, new crisis and residential facilities, workforce pipeline efforts, and the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. County and school representatives said CYBHI and the school-linked fee schedule could help make school-based services more sustainable, but they stressed that districts need technical assistance, clearer guidance, and time to build billing systems. San Marcos Unified and Poway Unified representatives said schools are now first responders for mental health, described rising acuity and the importance of counselors, peer programs, and on-campus therapy, and warned that insurance-data collection, reimbursement delays, and grant-dependent staffing threaten program stability. In the provider panel, a child psychiatrist described the emergency-room crisis model as inadequate because youth often leave with either a short inpatient stay or a discharge plan that lacks a warm handoff, outpatient follow-up, or school coordination. He urged more school wellness time, parent education, peer support, mobile crisis response, and intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization options. Rady Children’s Hospital described major growth in behavioral health services, including depression screening, urgent care, psych emergency services, primary care integration, and a new institute combining programs, while also highlighting low reimbursement rates, long payment delays, high denial rates, and administrative burden as major barriers to sustaining care and staffing.

Transcript Highlights:

• we are providing additional funding for the designated agencies, the specialized service agencies, home
• </c><00:06:03.040><c> and</c> specialized service agencies, home and specialized service agencies, home
• </c> And uh also for the manufactured home And uh also for the manufactured home improvement<00:12:41.600
• </c><00:12:45.200><c> Uh</c><00:12:45.480><c> and</c><00:12:45.600><c> then</c><00:12:45.800><c> home
• Uh and then home share different ways.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a detective with the home<00:22:34.400><c> police</c><00:22:34.720><c> department.
• </c><00:22:35.280><c> I'm</c><00:22:35.520><c> currently</c> home police department.
• I'm currently home police department.
• </c> a loan a loan basically.
• It's basically recognizing that repaying a loan is not a loophole for burning prostitution.

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 281 SD1, which would define and prohibit torture as a Class A felony. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, HPD investigators, and other supporters said the bill is needed because existing laws do not adequately capture torture, especially cases involving children and vulnerable persons. Several testifiers emphasized that starvation is a common method of torture that often leaves little visible evidence, and they urged the committee to restore the original starvation language removed from the measure. The Office of the Public Defender said it did not oppose the bill’s purpose but raised concerns that the language was too broad and could create trial issues, particularly around minors and vulnerable people, and suggested narrowing amendments. The chair indicated the testimony had made a strong impression and said the committee would try to move the bill forward. The committee then heard SB 292 SD1, relating to sexual exploitation and safe harbor protections for survivors seeking medical or law enforcement help. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the measure, noting that a prior version raised equal protection concerns that were no longer present, and said survivors should be able to seek help without fear of prosecution. Written support was also noted from several advocacy and state groups. Testimony in support focused on retaliation fears, trafficking, and the need for manpower and resources to address exploitation and related crimes. Finally, the committee took up SB 295 SD1, which would increase penalties for violating temporary restraining orders and orders for protection and treat a violation of one as a second offense for the other. The Public Defender’s Office objected to the mandatory jail component, arguing judges should retain discretion and that there was no clear evidence mandatory jail deters violations. The transcript cuts off before any final committee action or vote on SB 295 was recorded.