Transcript Highlights:

• And more importantly, it's going to make sure that food gets to all of our tables.
• services, the county plans to put a... ...to access needed services.
• Forty thousand or more people will likely lose access to their Medi-Cal coverage.
• Forty thousand or more people will likely lose access to their insurance.
• That is called the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Dental Personnel in the workforce access Dental Personnel in the workforce access to<00:30:45.519
• </c><01:08:23.319><c> to</c> Capital Access to uh to expand access to Capital Access to uh to expand
• The food chain runs deep in Minnesota, with food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers providing
• The food chain runs deep in Minnesota, with food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers providing
• The food chain runs deep in Minnesota, with food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers providing

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Food deserts are a big issue. We have places where getting to food is a challenge.
• Food deserts are a big issue. We have places where getting to food is a challenge.
• </c> in the in the cottage foods industry. in the in the cottage foods industry.
• </c> moment for cottage food producers? moment for cottage food producers?
• Cottage Foods.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• food pantries, and also there’s a number of standalone traditional food pantries that would have SNAP
• Hampshire Food Bank to increase mobile food pantries, and also there’s a number of standalone traditional
• food pantries that would have SNAP participant-only food pantries available to them if benefits are
• /c> &gt;&gt; Okay. critical access hospitals, &gt;&gt; Okay. critical access hospitals, federally<00:
• So, timely access to care.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes from September 26. Senator Gray then raised the idea of creating a continuing subcommittee or recurring agenda item on palliative care and hospice, noting that the issues are evolving and suggesting the committee revisit the idea in coming months. The bulk of the meeting focused on Department of Health and Human Services updates. Officials described contingency planning for SNAP amid the federal shutdown, including a USDA notice that November benefits may not be fully funded, letters to participants warning of possible delays, and coordination with the New Hampshire Food Bank and local pantries. They said New Hampshire serves about 42,000 SNAP households, with average benefits around $300 a month, and that the department is also preparing to transfer funds for a special fiscal committee meeting. WIC was discussed separately: officials said WIC benefits had been extended through November 7 using additional USDA funds, but that some community agency-based WIC services may need to pause while money is redirected to food benefits. Officials also outlined New Hampshire’s rural health transformation grant application under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill, describing a potential five-year, up-to-$1 billion opportunity focused on critical access hospitals, small rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, and EMS. Members asked about transportation, workforce, and nursing retention; officials said transportation is included in the proposal, housing is not, and workforce supports may include lower tuition or awards but not loan repayment or traditional scholarships. They also said the final application would be submitted in early November and that priorities would be adjusted depending on the eventual federal award. Finally, Medicaid director Henry Lipman gave a quarterly postpartum coverage update. He said postpartum coverage is now nearly universal nationwide, and in New Hampshire 2,351 women had used the benefit through May 2025. He reported that mental health services were the most frequently used postpartum service, followed by preventive care, substance use disorder treatment, and cardiovascular-related care, and noted that Medicaid women have experienced a disproportionate share of maternal deaths. Committee members asked about rural distribution and the share of women receiving mental health services, and Lipman said the department would follow up with additional data. The meeting then moved into the annual update on New Hampshire’s 10-year mental health plan, with staff describing progress toward a more integrated continuum of care and improved data infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So did thousands of federal employees who sought help from food banks to provide for their families.
• Alliance, 1 million. >> Family Law Clinic, 140,000. >> Hoy Food Bank, 5.5 million.
• Kauaii Food Bank, 95,000. Kahu Foundation, 83,000. Hulu EU Medical Youth Project, 250,000.
• Maui Food Bank, 895,000. Maui Hub, 45,000. Maui United Way, 100,000.
• The Food Basket, 1.5 million. The Legal Clinic, 100,000. Upcountry Strong, 50,000.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The hearing was an informational briefing on Act 310, which set aside $50 million to support Hawaii nonprofits facing uncertainty, including organizations affected by federal funding disruptions. The chair and Senate co-chair thanked Aloha United Way for handling applications, as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, legislative leadership, and House and Senate members for helping craft the measure and review the needs statewide. They noted the process drew more than 200 applications totaling over $150 million, showing demand far exceeded available funds, and encouraged unsuccessful applicants to apply again through the regular grant-and-aid process in January. The Senate co-chair explained that the committee prioritized organizations serving healthcare, human services, education, the arts, food distribution, and at-risk populations, especially amid concerns about SNAP, WIC, federal employees, and possible future disruptions. The co-chair then read a long list of recommended awardees and funding amounts, including major allocations to groups such as Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island, Child and Family Service, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Bank, The Food Basket, West Hawaii Community Health Center, and several YWCA and YMCA organizations, among many others. After the awards list was read, the chair asked for discussion or objections. Hearing none, the list of nonprofit awards was adopted, and the informational briefing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would bring immediate relief to fast food workers, restaurant workers, hospitals.
• It would bring immediately relief to fast food workers, restaurant workers, hospitals.
• And more importantly, it's going to make sure that food gets to all of our tables.
• , hospital, and food assistance services in light of these services.
• That is called the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee heard several tax and revenue-related bills. SB 1277, by Senator Grove, proposed a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide direct relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, fuel, and utility costs. Supporters argued it would help families struggling with affordability, while opponents, including the California Tax Reform Association and CTA members, said California’s tax system already provides relief and that the bill would reduce General Fund revenue and harm schools. After extended debate, the bill was put on call and later failed on a 1-4 vote, though reconsideration was granted. SB 1287, by Senator Retado, would create a performance-based tax credit for short-line rail investments; supporters said it would improve freight efficiency, safety, emissions, and rural access, while opponents preferred direct grants. The bill was placed on call and later passed 5-0 to Transportation. SB 1407, by Senator Archuleta, would exempt military retirement pay and survivor benefits from state taxes; the author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups said it would help retain veterans and their economic contributions in California, while CTA and CTRA opposed on General Fund grounds. The bill passed 5-0 to Military and Veterans Affairs. SB 1349, by Senator Gonzalez, would direct the LAO to review major tax expenditures for effectiveness and impacts on schools and the budget; CTA and CTRA supported it as a way to increase accountability, and it passed 4-1 to Governmental Organization. SB 1120, by Senator McNerney, would extend the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and make credits refundable for certain strategic industries; business and industry witnesses said this would help startups and manufacturers monetize credits and attract investment, and it passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 1275, also by Senator McNerney, proposed converting the state sales tax on vehicle purchases into a deductible vehicle license fee to reduce Californians’ federal tax burden; the LAO provided technical testimony, and the bill passed 4-0 to Transportation. The committee also heard SB 1078, by Senator Laird, to let Santa Cruz County voters consider a temporary local tax increase for health and safety-net services, but it was put on call. Later, the committee returned to SB 1314, by Senator Min, addressing youth tobacco and illicit smoke shop sales, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1609 ensures meaningful access to live assistance by requiring that large businesses offer access
• And, of course, your staff may bring food to the members' lounge.
• processed and highly processed foods.
• We need to continue to provide accessibility for everyone...
• This bill ensures faster access to life-saving and life-altering therapies and supports accelerated access

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, approved dispensing with the previous day’s journal, and then took up a long third-reading file. Early procedural actions included moving AB 1589 to the inactive file and continuing reconsideration items. The chamber then considered a series of bills largely focused on immigration enforcement, detention, worker protections, child care, voting access, and related public services. Several immigration-related measures passed, including AB 2393 on damages for false imprisonment/arrest, AB 1994 on an immigrant victims’ rights and resources card, AB 1929 on health plan investment disclosures, AB 1633 imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, AB 1650 requiring decals on rental vehicles used for enforcement, AB 1655 protecting CalWORKs benefits when a child is detained, and AB 1896 disqualifying people who participated in immigration enforcement from certain public employment. AB 2230, which would bar immigration enforcement near polling places and child care facilities, also passed after extensive debate. Supporters framed these bills as accountability and protection for vulnerable communities; opponents argued they targeted federal law enforcement, were unnecessary, or raised constitutional concerns. AB 1851 on statewide school mental-health guidance also passed unanimously. After the midday recess, the Assembly returned and continued with more bills tied to immigration impacts and child welfare. AB 2379 passed with urgency, requiring child care providers to be informed of constitutional rights and trained on protections when confronted by immigration enforcement. AB 2460 passed to update school behavioral-health referral protocols for students affected by immigration enforcement trauma. AB 2495 passed to expand prohibitions on employer immigration-related threats, and AB 2662 was presented as a way for California to monitor and document federal enforcement actions and report on their community impacts. Throughout the day, the floor featured repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real problems or were political messaging, but the measures that came to a vote generally advanced with majority support.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there should be more food committee. So there should be more food money<00:30:47.200><c> there.
• don't have accessibilities.
• “Families need food, people need food.
• They have to say who accesses and doesn't have access to this footage.
• </c> food and we get into the Wrath Skeller. food and we get into the Wrath Skeller.

Bills: HF2436

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In summary, we know that consumers want access to local foods.
• This legislation allows the consumer greater access to that local food market that we have lost ...allows
• the consumer greater access to that local food market that we have lost over the years.
• We very much support food entrepreneurs. We support this part of the food economy.
• Our current president at Food Northwest started off providing cottage foods out of her home and now owns

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The House Agricultural Committee approved the minutes from its March 10 meeting and then took up several bills. House Bill 826 would shift regulatory functions of the Honey Commission to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture while leaving marketing and publicity with the commission; the sponsor and Idaho Honey Industry Association said the change largely codifies an existing memorandum of understanding, and the committee advanced the bill on a do-pass recommendation after questions about the $10,000 penalty, consultation with producers, and whether a misdemeanor penalty remained in the code. The committee also heard and advanced Senate Bill 1242, a DOGE cleanup bill removing obsolete definitions and duplicative public records language, and Senate Bill 1243, which removes outdated Soil and Water Commission/Idaho One Plan language; both were described as code cleanup and passed without opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1283 on direct-to-consumer sales for small producers. Representative Boyle said the bill is intended to help small Idaho producers sell directly to consumers, with labeling, recordkeeping, and food-safety requirements, while exempting them from rules aimed at large commercial operations. Testimony was largely supportive from producers, Fair Idaho, Farm Bureau, and livestock groups, who said the bill would expand local markets and help smaller operations, though Food Northwest opposed it over concerns about labeling, training, and foodborne-illness protections. Committee members raised questions about dairy, catfish, raw milk, animal shares, safety, and the bill’s revenue cap; supporters said the bill keeps existing protections for milk and dairy and includes recordkeeping and temperature standards. The committee then voted to send Senate Bill 1283 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, with members noting potential conflicts and support from their districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• to healthier foods.
• This is really around addressing access gaps in rural Arkansas.
• I mean, all of that is encompassed into food science and nutrition.
• Again, I was getting back to Healthy Food with Senator Irvin.
• Now, again, we can't buy food. Yes, that's prohibited by CMS.

Summary: The committee first heard extensive public testimony from youth and advocates urging stronger restrictions on vaping. Speakers described vaping as a youth-targeted public health problem, citing flavored products, social media marketing, nicotine addiction, brain development concerns, school disruption, and exposure to harmful aerosol. They recommended prohibiting vaping in public indoor spaces and aligning vape rules with smoke-free laws. Committee members praised the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation. The main presentation was on Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, administered through DFA. Secretary Jim Hudson and program director Brad Andi explained that Arkansas received about $209 million in the first year under the federal program, with potential for roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is meant for long-term rural health transformation, not general operating support, debt relief, or new construction. The state’s plan centers on four initiatives: HEART for prevention and community health, PACT for access and provider collaboration, RISE for workforce development, and THRIVE for technology and telehealth. Officials said applications will be handled through upcoming notices of funding opportunity, with a focus on local, shovel-ready projects, regional collaboration, and transparency. Committee members asked how the program would work for hospitals, clinics, nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and urban providers serving rural patients. Officials said eligibility is broad if applicants can show a connection to rural health, and that targeted renovations, mobile units, school-based clinics, farm-to-school or garden projects, EMS equipment, residency expansion, and behavioral health initiatives may fit if they align with the plan. They stressed that the program cannot fund working capital, routine maintenance, or new buildings, but can support repurposing space and collaborative networks. Members also raised concerns about protecting existing rural providers from being displaced, and officials said applications would be reviewed by a state committee with technical assistance and a reimbursement-based process. The committee then reviewed and took no objection to several DHS and Health Department rules. DHS presented a Medicaid/CHIP rule implementing federal requirements for incarcerated youth, including pre- and post-release coverage, care coordination, targeted case management, and screening services, with no public comments received. The Health Department also presented a licensing rule for audiology and speech pathology that implements recent acts and changes the renewal deadline; that rule was likewise reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Access to health care isn't just a talking point; it's a lifeline.
• education, school gardens, and family food pantries.
• When people lose access to preventative care, those costs do not disappear.
• community, those that pick the food and the vegetables that you all eat.
• It feels good to have access to something that others do not have.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• first heard from constituents about this in 2023 about the possibility of the DNR severely limiting access
• And I believe that collaborative rulemaking aligns with this mission by ensuring continued access while
• to the people regulations and the access to the people of<00:01:16.799><c> Minnesota</c><00:01:17.479
• to our state lands uh the true access to our state lands uh for<00:02:43.519><c> a</c><00:02:43.800>
• </c><00:03:44.480><c> while</c> ensuring continued access while ensuring continued access while protecting

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , but also in some of the urban and metropolitan communities where food is not accessible or groceries
• So basically, if this bill passes, there’s better access to health care. One hundred percent.
• There’s better access to health care. One hundred percent.
• And everything that health care innovation fund is about is rural access and general access, especially
• Because the more you give access for quality...

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Finance Committee met on May 27, 2026, with six members present and took up a series of House bills, most of them dealing with education funding, criminal justice staffing, transportation, health care access, and economic development. HB 325 was reported favorably after testimony that it would expand TOPS eligibility by allowing dual-enrollment credits to satisfy eligibility criteria and by making part-time students eligible for TOPS Tech, with supporters saying the program has been underused and the change would help working students. HB 719 was amended and reported favorably to increase assistant district attorney positions in various judicial districts; the Louisiana District Attorneys Association said the changes were based on workload data and local input, and members discussed the need to coordinate any expansion with public defender funding. The committee also reported HB 749 favorably, which would move Louisiana’s 529 savings accounts to a more secure online platform after a cyber incident, and HB 1028 favorably, which concerns transportation reimbursement for providers and was described as already subject to appropriation. Several bills focused on food access and local economic development. HB 1222, the Grocery Initiative Act, was reported favorably to let LED use existing grant resources to map food deserts and develop a program, with members noting it could return for funding later if needed. HB 1194 was amended and reported favorably to define food deserts and direct the LSU AgCenter and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to identify and map them, with authors emphasizing it was a study and not a government-run grocery program. HB 755, which would create IDIQ contracting for architects and engineers on smaller state projects, was reported favorably with no fiscal impact. HB 823, a local diversion pilot for Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably after the fiscal note was revised to remove state impact and reflect only local costs. The committee spent substantial time on HB 488, a proposal from Plaquemines Parish to use severance-tax revenue to help buy out a private toll concession on the parish’s bridge. The author and local officials described severe toll burdens, economic harm to local businesses, and what they called an unfair contract, but members noted the bill was not funded and ultimately deferred it without a motion. HB 797, the Bayou Gold/Louisiana Sound Money Act, was amended to make implementation subject to appropriation and then reported favorably. The committee also took up HB 198, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgery centers for certain outpatient procedures; after extensive discussion about fiscal notes, access to care, and potential long-term savings, the bill was amended to narrow its scope and make implementation subject to appropriation, then reported favorably as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it would be the committee’s last meeting and asking members to spread the word.

Transcript Highlights:

• Food banks are a critical lifeline. California families experience food insecurity.
• The California Association of Food Banks represents 43 food banks that partner with over 6,000 organizations
• 15% tax credit for donating California-grown food to food banks.
• SB 881 supports farmers, reduces food waste, fights climate change, and helps Californians get food in
• food for the good of those communities.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, my answer was no, they don't purchase and prepare food.
• Food, they eat the purchased and prepared food, but they do not purchase it.
• access to pediatric providers.
• I know we talk about rural access.
• We have 3.2 million Floridians that have food insecurity.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> have access to this life-saving tool. have access to this life-saving tool.
• to a safe that all Americans have access to a safe food<02:22:11.280><c> and</c><02:22:11.600><c> drug
• </c> food and drug supply. food and drug supply.
• It improves food safety.
• </c> healthy food away from moms and kids. healthy food away from moms and kids.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is good, and there's generally good access and good zoning.
• The biggest issue for night workers is access to healthy and affordable food at night.
• And because of the licensing we have in London, we like that... ...access to healthy and affordable food
• The biggest issue for night workers, it's access to healthy and affordable food at night.
• And because of the licensing we have in London, we like that. access to healthy and affordable food at

Summary: The Select Committee on Downtown Recovery held a hearing titled “Revitalizing California’s Downtowns Through the Nightlife Economy,” focused on how nightlife, arts, entertainment, and late-night transportation can support downtown recovery after the pandemic. Chair Matt Haney framed nightlife as a major economic and cultural sector and said the committee hopes to produce policy, budget, and legislative proposals, building on last year’s downtown recovery bills. The hearing included three panels: nightlife policy experts and a venue owner; representatives from entertainment, tourism, and rideshare; and remote witnesses from London, Philadelphia, and New York discussing how other cities manage 24-hour economies. Witnesses on the first panel emphasized that nightlife is an ecosystem that includes workers, venues, transportation, and public safety. Michael Fishman described the growth of night managers and argued that zoning, licensing, and land costs can either support or choke off creative venues; he also said extending hours can reduce congestion and unsafe spillover if done in a regulated way. Ben Van Houten highlighted San Francisco’s entertainment zones, hospitality zone liquor licenses, Type 90 music venue licenses, and other local reforms, while urging more state coordination and possible tax and licensing changes. Darcy Drolinger of Oasis said independent venues are operating on thin margins, have faced repeated near-closures, and need tools such as extended alcohol service hours to remain viable and preserve community and LGBTQ+ cultural spaces. The second panel focused on tourism, major events, and transportation. Another Planet Entertainment’s Mary Condi said festivals and venues like Outside Lands, the Castro Theatre, and the Fox and Greek theaters draw large numbers of visitors, support hotels and restaurants, and require close coordination with city agencies; she also raised concerns about unexpected possessory interest tax bills and the burden of secondary ticketing and cannabis taxes. Amelia Zamani of Cal Travel said travel and tourism remain a major economic engine and argued that nightlife is central to attracting international visitors, conventions, and major events, especially if California wants to compete with cities that allow later alcohol service. Lyft’s Nicholas Johnson said late-night rides serve workers as well as patrons, reduce DUI risk, and are essential for safe access to downtowns and event venues. In the final panel, officials from London and Philadelphia described their nighttime governance models. London witnesses said the city created a 24-hour city strategy, a night czar, and a nightlife commission, and found that nightlife supports economic activity, workforce retention, and safer, more diverse districts when paired with flexible licensing and better transit. Philadelphia’s Rahim Manning said his city treats the nighttime economy as a major industry, with a $26.2 billion annual impact, and stressed that it includes manufacturing, logistics, health care, transportation, food service, arts, and sports—not just bars and clubs. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with committee members asking questions about extended hours, transportation, family-friendly programming, cannabis activation, ticketing, and how California can better support a safe and competitive nighttime economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• term as we think about access to food.
• But food security is all about ensuring that all people have access to enough food at all times to live
• food banks and food they're working with food banks and food pantries,<01:14:57.679><c> there's</c><
• </c><01:15:04.000><c> are</c><01:15:04.080><c> a</c> their food at the food banks are a their food at
• They both had a shared interest for nutrition education and access to nutritious foods.

Keywords: This meeting was pulled from back ups and uploaded in it's entirety due to technical issues., 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed. The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:07:13.240><c> all</c> certainty in prices, um in access, all certainty in prices, um in access
• </c><00:17:55.520><c> economy</c> agriculture [snorts] and food economy agriculture [snorts] and food
• </c> their food good, and their homes warm. their food good, and their homes warm.
• This money is coming from every time somebody goes and buys food at the uh, not so much food, I guess
• This money is coming from every time somebody goes and buys food at the uh, not so much food, I guess

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• production and a healthy food-producing economy.
• I think, you know, food affordability, healthy, nutritious, local food should be available for every
• First, the Food Production Investment Program, known as FPIP.
• Well, we're growing a lot of food crops, so we have a high food safety stance.
• Food keeps going up, gas keeps going up.

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined how California agricultural programs have used cap-and-invest funding and what role agriculture should play in future climate investments. Committee chairs framed the issue as balancing climate goals, food production, rural economic vitality, and the fact that agriculture was not specifically funded in the recent cap-and-invest reauthorization. The first panel from CDFA and the Legislative Analyst’s Office described the state’s climate-smart agriculture portfolio, including Healthy Soils, SWEEP, the Dairy Methane Reduction Program, and Alternative Manure Management, and explained that GGRF revenues are now more constrained and may not fully support all tiered programs. LAO emphasized that agriculture is about 8% of California’s emissions, that most ag emissions are outside the cap, and that the Legislature should consider program effectiveness, the role of incentives, and GGRF priorities. CDFA testified that roughly $727 million has been invested in its flagship climate-smart ag programs, producing estimated reductions of 31 million metric tons of CO2e, 1.6 million acre-feet of water savings, and about 4,000 projects. The department said technical assistance is essential because farmers face risk when adopting new practices, and noted new Proposition 4 funding for Healthy Soils, SWEEP, and a regional farm equipment sharing program. University researchers then presented economic and methane-reduction analyses: UC Berkeley’s Dr. Hill described working landscapes as a major economic driver, while UC Davis’ Dr. Kibreab outlined dairy methane reduction pathways, including herd efficiency, digesters, alternative manure management, and emerging feed additives such as 3-NOP and seaweed, arguing that incentive-based programs have helped California move toward its methane goals. A later panel featured sharply different views on dairy digesters. Phoebe Seton argued that digesters worsen air and water quality, encourage manure liquefaction, and are an inefficient use of public funds, while CalCAN’s Brian Schobey and agricultural representatives said programs like AMP, SWEEP, Healthy Soils, FPIP, and the Farmer Program deliver measurable emissions reductions plus co-benefits such as water savings, lower energy costs, and improved air quality. Farm and industry witnesses stressed that stable, incentive-based funding helps family farms remain viable, supports co-investment, and should be treated as a partnership rather than a regulatory stick. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing ended with public comment and a continued call for future funding and policy discussion.