Transcript Highlights:

• It took a while for our behavioral wellness program to put a program in place.
• and a lot of these residential treatment programs are 90-day programs.
• to restart those computers.
• That's the exact same program.
• of neglect of the program.

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Proposition 36 and its implementation, with judicial and budget officials describing it as a major shift from misdemeanor to felony processing for repeat drug possession and certain theft offenses. Witnesses explained that the law creates a treatment-mandated felony process that can lead to dismissal if a defendant completes treatment, but also requires evaluations, court monitoring, and potentially long, open-ended supervision. Judicial representatives said the new law is already generating large numbers of filings, creating workload, staffing, courtroom, and facility pressures, and that access to treatment beds, housing, and evaluation capacity is limiting participation. Several speakers emphasized that collaborative courts are effective but are not a perfect fit for Prop. 36 because those programs are typically probation-based and serve different risk/need populations. Court officials from San Bernardino and Orange counties said the impacts vary by county but are severe, with some counties seeing hundreds or more filings in a short period and others moving more slowly to build treatment infrastructure first. They argued that Prop. 36 is effectively an unfunded mandate unless the state provides more resources for judges, staff, facilities, treatment, housing, and supervision. The Legislative Analyst’s Office noted that Prop. 36 will reduce the Proposition 47 savings that fund mental health and substance use treatment grants, but said the near-term reduction is relatively modest and that the full effect will take time to appear because of the way those savings are calculated. Members of the committee repeatedly raised concerns that the state is underfunding the courts and counties needed to carry out the new law. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s proposed trial court operations budget, including a partial restoration of a prior $97 million cut and additional ongoing funding. Judicial branch officials said the restoration helped avoid furloughs, hiring freezes, and service reductions, and supported cybersecurity, technology, staffing, and records management. The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more detail on how midyear restorations are handled and consider clarifying language for transferring unspent trial court trust fund monies to the General Fund. Finance said the flexibility in the ongoing funding was intentional and would be taken back for consideration. In a separate item, the committee heard testimony on a $6.3 million increase for Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal appointed counsel programs. Judicial officials and appellate project representatives said the system is facing a crisis because indigent appeals have risen sharply while the number of panel attorneys has fallen, leaving many cases waiting months for counsel. They argued the proposed increase would help but is still below what is needed to recruit and retain attorneys and prevent delays that affect criminal, juvenile, and child welfare cases. The committee also discussed the Tracy courthouse project in San Joaquin County, where local officials said reopening a courthouse closed since 2011 is necessary to serve a growing population and relieve overcrowding elsewhere. The LAO and Finance both noted the project is next in line under the facilities plan, though LAO suggested the Legislature could consider whether other facility priorities should come first.

Transcript Highlights:

• To administer social programs, California counties are faced with the difficult decision of diverting
• Local street repair programs, bus and rail infrastructure, and paratransit programs that serve seniors
• They will receive additional points towards programs. Creating a PIFD.
• That's real accountability built into the program design.
• That's real accountability built into the program design.

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of local government, housing, transportation, and public safety bills. Early items included SB 762, which would give certain local governments a voter-approved path to seek additional local sales tax authority to address fiscal pressures; SB 1400, which would modernize Alameda Health System governance and give Alameda County more flexibility and oversight; and SB 1408, which would authorize Contra Costa County to place a renewal of its transportation sales tax on the ballot. Supporters for those bills included local officials, county representatives, labor groups, fire and police organizations, and transit advocates, while no organized opposition was presented on those measures in committee. The committee also heard SB 1272, which would give homeowners more time to correct certain inherited code violations and allow an affidavit process for buyers who did not know about the violation at purchase. The bill drew support from the California Apartment Association and opposition from code enforcement and county groups, who argued it would reduce local enforcement discretion and create health and safety risks. After questions about disclosure and enforcement, the committee approved SB 1272 as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations. SB 1055, dealing with procurement flexibility for Pajaro flood control and levee repairs, also passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. Later, the committee approved SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner and create an independent medical examiner system. The author and supporters argued the change was needed for transparency and independence in in-custody death investigations, while opponents raised labor, cost, and governance concerns; some opposition was softened after the author agreed to employee-protection amendments. The committee also passed SB 1172, limiting consultant compensation and adding transparency rules for local tax-sharing agreements, and several housing bills from Senator Grayson: SB 1003 on pro-housing infrastructure financing districts, SB 1014 on early disclosure of infrastructure requirements for housing projects, and SB 1169 on extending tentative vesting map validity. The committee took votes on consent items and later add-ons, with most measures passing on bipartisan or unanimous votes and several being re-referred to Appropriations or Housing and Community Development as appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have educational programs. ...programs where we learn and teach community health workers, neurologists
• My scientific journey in dementia research began when I joined the Ph.D. program at the University of
• The engineered components are like a computer program; they have characteristics found in vibrovenin,
• These experiences have all informed my own research program.
• Our research program partners not only with physicians and other clinical researchers.

Bills: SB5, SJR3, SB 5, SJR 3

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, district apportionment, legislative rules

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:02.640> It program within the past 5 years. It program within the past 5 years.
• <00:05:53.360> Uh, programs more efficient. Uh, programs more efficient.
• of how our programs are currently run. of how our programs are currently run.
• Survivor programs. There are also education programs for survivors.
• school program to educate the buyers. school program to educate the buyers.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You always have programs that are right on the edge.
• And so we offered a program for everybody, a homestead program for everybody over 65?
• much of the primary residence credit program.
• , but the disabled veteran program and the Homestead Program, they are administered at the local level
• Of relief through the Homestead program, and then the primary residence credit program picks up the rest

Summary: The committee met to receive updates from the Tax Commissioner’s office on property tax relief programs and related compliance work. Commissioner Brian Croshys reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting that the Homestead program expanded significantly after HB 1158, that some households are “adjusting out” of eligibility as incomes rise, and that the committee may want to consider indexing income thresholds. Members asked for additional data on bracket breakdowns, possible costs of eliminating income limits for seniors, and how many households are zeroed out by the combined programs. Croshys also discussed the simpler administration of the disabled veteran credit, the growth in participation, and the heavy workload and auditing safeguards built into the new primary residence credit system. He said the department found no material compliance findings and that the program is designed to be digital-first, with county auditors and the Tax Commissioner’s office both involved in review and notification. The committee recessed for lunch and later reconvened, with the chair noting that more detailed PRC information would likely be available at a September meeting. Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase, or “zero growth,” report and the 2025 statistical report. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and which jurisdictions showed the largest percentage changes in countywide, citywide, school district, and park district levies. In the statistical report, she summarized recent trends in assessed values: agricultural values remained relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed property values increased over the past five years. She also reviewed statewide tax levies by property class and clarified that centrally assessed growth figures were annual averages. Members discussed how shifts in land use and annexation can make it appear that tax burdens are moving from ag to residential/commercial property. Myers then summarized the interim study on the 3% levy limitation under HB 1176, saying most counties complied without budget changes, while some used hiring freezes, deferred purchases, or reserve funds; 23% of counties had to reduce levies, and the affected funds were mainly general, road and bridge, and weed control. She said 12 counties reported zero new growth in the data and that 35 counties reported not using all of their cap. The committee also received an oil tax presentation from Croshys on the stripper well extraction tax exemption. He outlined the number of active stripper wells, the production and revenue implications of the exemption, and projections for future biennia under different tax scenarios. He said the exemption represents substantial savings to operators but also corresponds to production tax revenue that would otherwise be collected, and he emphasized that future outcomes depend on oil prices, well counts, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly answered a question about why Red River wells have a different production threshold than Bakken wells, explaining it was tied to completion costs and lateral length. The committee then heard from Charlie Gorecki of the EERC, who presented an analysis of typical Bakken well decline curves and argued that most oil is produced before a well reaches stripper status, but that keeping wells open and investing in refracturing or other interventions can recover additional production. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; the main actions were receiving reports, asking for follow-up data, and scheduling further discussion for a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• or a building trades program or some other type of program that fits the job market there.
• And there are some capital support. program, specifically a JET program administered by the Workforce
• New fellowship programs, scholarship programs.
• If you can't get it in this program, what about this program?
• In this program, we have about seven programs where, if the student will come to TSDC, complete that

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My computer was completely frozen, and I began to panic.
• Essentially, what this fund is set aside for is a program that we passed off this body last year.
• We had a program called Rave at one point... You're recognized for clarification. Thank you, Mr.
• We're still using the Rave program. Okay, and we have moved the implementation of that over to DPS.
• The Joint Committee Report on Senate Bill 1167 does provide for Oklahoma's Pay for Success program.

Bills: SB1365, SB2139, SB1595, SB1303, SB2180, SB2072, SB1772, SB1209, SB137, SB1944, SB372, SB1636, SB1256, SB1827, SB2104, SB1226, SB1876, SB1966, SB80, SB1148, SB1147, SB1149, SB1161, SB1162, SB1164, SB1159, SB1165, SB1174, SB1156, SB1158, SB1163, SB1175, SB1176, SB1166, SB1167, SB1157, SB1146, SB1481, SB1144, SB1145, SCR20

Keywords: SB1365, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, procurement exemption, competitive bidding, state purchasing, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism department, merchandise for resale, gift shops, lodges, golf pro shops, state parks, restaurant contracting, retail outlets, public procurement, purchasing flexibility, Title 74, emergency clause, restrictive covenants, discriminatory covenants

Transcript Highlights:

• are potentially on the chopping block, GT programs, dual language programs, um, librarians, communities
• Those 1st 3 programs are GR.
• Now what program is that?
• I remember you and I visited about this program back in 2021 or a related program and I'm curious how
• There's also been programs that y'all have funded, the jail-based competency restoration programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST MAGNET PROGRAM.
• WITH MAGNET PROGRAMS WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AS WELL FOR ALL OF OUR MAGNET PROGRAMS WHICH MAKES IT
• IT'S USAGE WITHIN OUR APPROVED PROGRAMS WITH TEACHER GUIDANCE.
• EACH PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT. THE LEVELING OBJECT IS DIFFERENT.
• IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE AI BUILT IN FROM THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

Transcript Highlights:

• disaster recovery emergency loan program disaster recovery emergency loan program create. create
• Program. Program.
• what the to the new computer system. what the to the new computer system.
• appeal under the pilot program. appeal under the pilot program.
• ,<02:47:01.880> there In addition to the pilot program, there In addition to the pilot program

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 5 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation by Dr. Ryan Wade and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled routine business by dispensing with the reading of the journal and committee reports. Several guests were recognized, including Leadership Jackson County, Farm Bureau members, a doctor of the day, adult educators, and other visitors in the gallery. Senator Brumfield also announced support efforts for Senator Warren Barnett, asking members to contribute to him through Ms. Anita Jackson. The chamber then considered a series of House bills, most of them taken up with strike-all amendments and passed by use of the morning roll call. Measures included HB 1390 on personal services funding allocations, HB 1571 on ARPA funds and unexpended balances, HB 1655 on the State Aid Road Construction director’s personnel status, HB 1650 on dormant state accounts and pooled investments, HB 1651 on state agencies using other agencies’ facilities and charging 50% of fair market value, HB 1345 on administrative forfeiture of illegal cigarette and vaping products, HB 1386 on allowing sidewalks as an eligible use of municipal infrastructure funds, HB 671 on alcoholic beverage delivery responsibility ending when retailers transfer possession to delivery services, and HB 1385 on eliminating paper-original homestead exemption submissions. Members asked questions on several bills, especially about whether the fairgrounds language in HB 1651 would affect youth livestock shows and whether HB 1386 or other measures would change county revenue; sponsors generally said the bills were intended to address state-agency use, municipal reporting, or administrative efficiency rather than alter those programs. The Senate also advanced HB 898, creating a sales tax diversion study committee to review misallocated municipal sales tax revenues, assess impacts, examine technology and oversight, and recommend reforms by the 2027 session; Senator Hill questioned whether counties should be included, but the sponsor said that would be a separate policy decision. Later, the Senate reconsidered HB 1265, the Mississippi Debt Management Services Act extended repealer, adopted an amendment to remove the repealer instead of extending it, and then passed the bill. The body also took up SB 2632, the local governments disaster recovery emergency loan program, and voted not to concur and to invite conference. Finally, HB 1142 on bench warrant notices was called up; the sponsor explained a strike-all that would replace certified mail with personal service or electronic transmission and include a reverse repealer for further conference work.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 720 is an act relating to the cloud computing public utility act, introduced by Representatives
• Please listen to the first reading of the bill. >> H720, an act relating to the cloud computing public
• >> H720 an act relating to the cloud >> H720 an act relating to the cloud computing<00:06
• computing public utility act. computing public utility act.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional led by Rep. Anne Donahue and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into first readings of 10 House bills. The bills covered building energy standards and a residential building code (H.717), building energy efficiency (H.718), hospital collaboration and state action immunity (H.719), cloud computing/public utility issues (H.720), juvenile proceedings and forensic facilities (H.721), municipal regulation of surface water use for drinking water supplies (H.722), posting of land (H.723), involuntary psychiatric medication in emergency circumstances (H.724), the State Labor Relations Act (H.725), and flexible working arrangements (H.726). Each was read the first time and referred to the appropriate committee; H.648, affecting state revenue through banking, insurance, and securities, was referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A. On the action calendar, the House took up and passed H.84, allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient and provider consent, and H.534, relating to community action agencies. Both bills were read a third time and approved by voice vote, with the chair announcing that the ayes appeared to have it. The chamber then completed its orders of the day. Several announcements followed, including guest introductions, caucus meetings, an ice cream social, and notice of a press conference on immigration protections. The chair also reminded members to return later in the day for the joint assembly to hear the governor’s budget address. The House then adjourned until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• this from a financial perspective, but it really is about access to information, control your home computer
• Do your updates, your home computers—all of those things are pervasive.
• <00:08:50.320> home baked in do your updates your home baked in do your updates your home computers
• 51.320> of<00:08:51.480> those<00:08:51.720> things<00:08:51.959> are computers
• all of those things are computers all of those things are pervasive<00:08:53.040> but<00:08:53.160

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, our email and computer policy, it's old. Our code of conduct, nothing.
• I mean, our email and computer policy, it's old. Our code of conduct, nothing.
• I mean, our email and computer policy, it's old. Our code of conduct, nothing.
• I mean, our email and computer policy, it's old. Our code of conduct, nothing.
• I mean, our email and computer policy, it's old. Our code of conduct, nothing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You all can look them up right now on your computer being sold by DHgate, Tamu, Wish.com, Made inchina.com
• assure that those who do that today, and I gave you some of the names, look them up, pick up your computer
• This is the growth program that we put our money into for the last couple of years, uh, through legislative
• House Bill 571 creates a new statute authorizing DFA to establish a program to grant an award certificate

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill establishes a home and community-based service program for adults who are seriously mentally
• It establishes the financial responsibility, covered service modifications, the program capacity, and
• Apologies, my computer just closed on me.
• As passed the House, it made various miscellaneous changes to programs and funds administered by the
• All allowable uses and program requirements for the recycling fund are transferred to the solid waste

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill establishes a home and community-based service program for adults who are seriously mentally
• It establishes the financial responsibility, covered service modifications, the program capacity, and
• Apologies, my computer just closed on me.
• As passed the House, it made various miscellaneous changes to programs and funds administered by the
• All allowable uses and program requirements for the recycling fund are transferred to the solid waste

Summary: The caucus reviewed several House and Senate measures, mostly in concurrence form. HB 2611, which clarifies and expands children’s rights in foster care and kinship care, was presented with a Senate amendment requiring quarterly reports on random employee drug screening results at group homes to the Health and Human Services committee chairs; the sponsor intended to concur. HB 2048, on access to non-opioid prescription drug controls, would bar more restrictive utilization controls such as prior authorization or step therapy for clinically appropriate non-opioid pain medications approved by the FDA, with a repeal date of August 31, 2028; the sponsor intended to concur, though one member raised concerns about opioid addiction in tribal communities and asked about stronger warnings and Indian Health Service involvement. HB 2404, changing inter-facility transport procedures, returned from the Senate with only a delayed effective date change, and concurrence was expected. SB 1630, a Senate bill, would create a home and community-based service program for adults who are seriously mentally ill; members noted there was no opposition, but also that the bill appears to have a cost and no appropriation. HB 2950, creating tourism improvement districts, was amended in the Senate to remove a lodging business assessment requirement for destination marketing organizations and allow local governing bodies to approve assessment rates; members confirmed it remained an opt-in/opt-out structure. HB 2995, which rewrites Arizona’s domestic violence framework for legal decision-making and parenting time cases, was amended to make child and victim safety the highest priority, revise court findings and evidence standards, limit mutual domestic violence findings, and add an emergency clause; the sponsor recommended concurrence, though one member asked where the committee stood on the bill. HB 2265, concerning court fees and assessments, was amended to restore courts’ ability to adopt new fees, fines, and surcharges going forward; concurrence was recommended, but county supervisors remained opposed due to concerns about cost shifts. HB 2986, the annual ADEQ omnibus, was amended to merge the recycling fund into the solid waste fee fund and exempt certain public water system infrastructure modifications from plan review; concurrence was expected. The caucus also briefly noted the fiscal year 2027 budget bills, HB 4154 through HB 4169, before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• And today, these companies are not merely passive suppliers to government programs.
• And you got to keep it, I don't, I'm not too... computer literate but so you got to keep this on your
• computer or something for 10 years I believe There's a mechanism for that that I don't know myself as
• So as often as we, for example, in my office, we keep changing. computers and computer systems and the
• I mean, to learn something different about computers and the systems we have.

Bills: HB 1181, HB3704, HB1363, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB3223, HB1317, HB2884, HB2176, HB4027, HB1664, HB933, HB2613, HB3353, HB2086, HB4101, HB3441, HB4145, HB3455

Keywords: judiciary, judges, justices, retired, legal assignments, judicial conduct, notary public, criminal offense, education requirements, official documents, record retention, implicit bias, bias training, judicial training, judge education, court personnel, continuing legal education, CLE, state bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Transcript Highlights:

• Clearly, her being in this program was just to be... ...and they disallowed alternatives.
• My company offers a training program for that.
• To have a teaching program approved by the state would be cost prohibitive, in excess of $8,000.
• It will also wipe out the hospital and hospice volunteer Reiki programs.
• Our training program has been designated as one of 39 approved training programs, three of which are

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and reviewed a broad agenda including credit card fees, event ticketing, music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, CPA pathways, school mental health licensure, and a bill regulating alternative healing therapies. The chairs explained hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and submission of written testimony, and noted that more than 70 people had signed up to testify. Legislators and advocates were heard out of order throughout the day. A major portion of the hearing focused on credit card surcharge and interchange legislation. Restaurant owners, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, NFIB, and other small-business witnesses supported bills allowing merchants to add convenience fees and, in one proposal, preventing card companies from charging fees on tax and tip portions of transactions. They argued that swipe fees are a major and growing cost, especially for restaurants, and that Massachusetts is one of only two states that bars surcharges. Opponents from the Cooperative Credit Union Association, the Electronic Payment Coalition, and the Electronic Transactions Association warned that the proposals would create compliance burdens, fragment the payment system, raise legal preemption issues, and disrupt a system they described as efficient and secure. The committee also heard competing testimony on ticket transferability and ticket resale. Supporters, including the National Consumers League and Sports Fans Coalition, said bills on ticket transferability would protect consumers who cannot attend events and would increase competition and savings in the secondary market. Opponents, including United Musicians and Allied Workers and theater owners, argued that mandatory transferability would weaken artists’ and venues’ ability to prevent scalping and predatory resale, and that some ticket sellers should be exempt from the broader ticketing regulations. Separate testimony supported music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, and new CPA education pathways, with witnesses saying these measures would expand access to care and strengthen the workforce while maintaining professional standards. The hearing also drew extensive opposition to S.261 on alternative healing therapies, with practitioners and clients arguing it would overregulate spiritual and holistic practices and was not an effective response to human trafficking concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• degree programs.
• You have a program already, the Cal Grant C program, that could be reimagined.
• Achievement Program.
• Chair Fong, it's also our Umoja programs, our men programs, our LGBTQ centers.
• programs.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee held an oversight hearing on how federal actions are affecting California higher education, with opening remarks from the chair and members emphasizing the importance of state-federal shared governance and the need to protect access, affordability, and campus diversity. The first panel included leaders from the CSU, University of the Pacific, California Community Colleges, and UC, who described broad impacts from federal grant terminations, changes to student aid, loan limits, visa and immigration policy, and proposed reductions to research support. Testimony focused on the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, caps on Parent PLUS and Pell-related changes, the loss or suspension of hundreds of grants, and the resulting harm to student support services, research, workforce pipelines, food assistance, and health care training. UC and CSU representatives warned of major losses in research funding, indirect cost reimbursement, and student opportunities, while community college leaders highlighted uncertainty around federal grants and the need to maintain services for low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and other vulnerable students. Committee members asked how the state could respond, including through intersegmental partnerships, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and support for basic needs and nutrition programs. Witnesses said California could help by sustaining financial aid, protecting minority-serving institution programs, and investing in research, housing, and workforce development. Several speakers stressed that federal changes were creating instability for students and campuses, and that the effects would likely be long-lasting, especially in health care, teaching, STEM, and social work pipelines. A second panel then focused on equitable access. The California Student Aid Commission described state efforts such as the $3.9 billion investment in aid programs, the Cal Grant system, the Dream Act, and possible reforms to better serve adult learners, foster youth, undocumented students, and students with dependents. The Los Angeles Community College District reported that federal cuts and policy shifts are discouraging students from applying for aid, threatening TRIO and MSI/HSI-funded services, and reducing support for basic needs, counseling, and workforce programs. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the CSU Academic Senate echoed concerns about FAFSA confusion, international student restrictions, grant losses, and the erosion of equity-focused programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and discussed possible state responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have an amazing program today, all related to PFAS.
• But while they're getting that computer ready, I want to also let you know about a very important thing
• Computers fixed. You're asking a boomer about technology.
• <00:05:12.320> Computers<00:05:12.880> fixed. >> Are we um set?
• Computers fixed. >> Are we um set? Computers fixed.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting was a PFAS-focused hearing of the Capital Investment Committee, with members informally discussing the scale of PFAS cleanup costs, possible Minnesota-made removal technology, and even committee birthday treats before the testimony began. No formal votes or motions were taken in the portion provided. The chair also noted the committee was waiting on a computer/cable issue before starting the presentation. The main testimony came from Sandy Wyn, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, who described how PFAS contamination affected her Michigan community. She recounted that her private well tested at extremely high PFAS levels after a state visit, linked the contamination to Wolverine Worldwide’s historic dumping practices, and said the pollution spread through groundwater and municipal systems. She emphasized that PFAS are widespread in consumer products, firefighting foam, wastewater biosolids, and agriculture, and argued that the chemicals’ persistence makes them difficult to manage once released. Wyn said PFAS exposure is associated with health problems including cholesterol issues, liver and thyroid damage, kidney cancer, low birth weight, and reduced vaccine response in children. She told members she had her own blood tested, later developed thyroid cancer, and said a local child had very high PFAS levels and vaccine complications. Members asked for supporting studies, and she referenced the C8 study and other research. She urged stronger product restrictions, labeling, blood and water testing support, caution around biosolids, and continued efforts to reduce PFAS use, while acknowledging some limited uses may still be necessary in critical applications like military firefighting foam or medical devices.