Transcript Highlights:

• Despite millions in taxpayer dollars appropriated for the lab and its contract with METIS, we are still
• However, it is written... ...it is written into Title 63 that these labs that are contracted may not
• And they are definitely being contracted somehow.
• after I started at OMA and realized that lab was not fulfilling the terms of the contract.
• We began the legal process to terminate that contract, but the legislature had to give us authority to

Summary: The Executive Advisory Council met without a quorum, so no votes were taken, but the meeting proceeded with public comment and agency updates. Public commenters focused on medical marijuana issues including transparency in OMMA proceedings, delays and accreditation at the OMMA quality assurance lab, THC potency inflation, recall and embargo procedures, and the need for more public data and patient safety protections. One commenter also urged consideration of allowing first responders access to cannabis off duty, while another praised OMMA staff professionalism during inspections and enforcement actions. OMMA leadership responded with updates on the QA lab, saying the agency has been building the lab since receiving authority in 2023 and funding in 2024, and that validations and accreditation are being phased in. They reported current accreditation for pesticides, flower, potency, oils and concentrates, with additional validations for terpenes, water activity, filth and foreign material expected by the end of the month, and heavy metals, mycotoxins, residual solvents, and microbial testing to follow. Officials also said a website page will be launched to provide ongoing lab transparency. Compliance and enforcement updates included 779 inspections, 83 investigations, 65 administrative actions, and the hiring of a recall coordinator. The council also discussed legislative developments. OMMA said seven bills affecting the agency remain active, including HB 4454 on clearer THC labeling and child-resistant packaging, HB 3143 and HB 3144 on extending the grow-license moratorium and capping grow licenses, and amended bills SB 640, SB 1242, SB 1501, and SB 3 addressing cleanup, training, vendor standards, and THC products outside dispensaries. Members asked about access to METRC data, recall timing, inspector training, body cameras, and whether OMMA considers itself a public health agency. OMMA said METRC data is used internally and is confidential under state law, recalls are handled through a combination of agency notice and industry action, inspectors do wear body cameras under policy, and the agency is still building out its public health and education functions. The next meeting was announced for July 17 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it was a direct contract. Direct contract, okay.
• However, I wanted to also make it part of the public record that in the contract that Access signed with
• That was not solicited from the department and is not part of the scope of work in the contract, and
• But it is unfortunate that it got attached into the formal contract document, and I acknowledge that
• The question is why these payments were made so late, 23 months after the 2023 contract year end, and

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each plan contracts with only a limited number of facilities, leaving beneficiaries confused about which
• people must contact their plans directly or individual facilities to find out which nursing homes contract
• Directly or individual facilities to find out which nursing homes contract with their specific plan.
• a long-term stay, requiring Medi-Cal coverage, but the caller wanted help with choosing a plan contracted
• facilities. ...or call each individual plan in her county to ask them for a list of contracted facilities

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several Senate bills focused on health care access, privacy, and public health data. SB 81 (Arreguín) would require health care facilities to create nonpublic areas and bar immigration enforcement from entering without a judicial warrant or court order, while also protecting disclosure of immigration-related information in medical records. The bill drew strong support from labor, immigrant-rights, health care, and patient advocacy groups, with committee members emphasizing patient safety and privacy; one member raised implementation concerns about how the restrictions would work in practice. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, with one no vote recorded. SB 250 (Ochoa Bogh) would add skilled nursing facilities to DHCS’s managed care provider directory so Medi-Cal beneficiaries can more easily identify covered facilities. Supporters said the change would help seniors and people with disabilities avoid confusion and rushed placement decisions, especially during hospital discharge, and would make existing information easier to use. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a unanimous vote. SB 717 (Richardson) would formally recognize California’s three regional cancer registries in state law to help preserve federal funding and support cancer surveillance data collection. The author and supporters said the measure would protect more than $15 million in annual federal support and strengthen cancer research and tracking; the committee approved it unanimously to Appropriations. SB 504 (Laird) would allow health care providers to disclose personally identifying information about previously reported HIV infections to state or local health officials when needed for disease control or care coordination. The author described the bill as a modernization of reporting and coordination practices, and supporters from the California Medical Association and Planned Parenthood backed it. The committee sent the bill out as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on a unanimous vote. The meeting also included routine consent-calendar action and multiple add-on votes, with the committee repeatedly holding the roll open to record additional members’ votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• business programs, and through a competitive process, nonprofit economic development organizations contract
• Funds are reimbursed after metrics in the contracts are met on a quarterly basis, helping to avoid fraud
• <00:02:25.520> with development organizations contract with development organizations contract
• 03:41.040> cont reimbursed after metrics in the cont reimbursed after metrics in the cont contracts
• are met on a quarterly basis contracts are met on a quarterly basis helping<00:03:45.360> to<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason is it's hard to defend the idea that children 14 and 15 can sign these contracts when they
• A minor needs parental consent or the consent of an adult who's responsible before they sign the contract
• This approaches it through a contract lens and doesn't have the First Amendment concerns.
• You know, in contracts we learned that no contract made with a minor is enforceable.
• So even if minors are entering contracts, nothing is enforceable from either party.

Bills: SB186, SB187

Keywords: internet filtering, child protection, obscene content, civil liability, manufacturers, app store, app store provider, app developer, mobile app, age verification, parental consent, minor safety, child online safety, parental controls, age gating, digital privacy, data protection, in-app purchases, online consumer protection, deceptive trade practice

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, other testing companies have not bid on the contract.
• Did you look at the contract requirements and bid qualifications for the testing program as to whether
• We did look at the contract.
• We also kind of looked broadly at the idea of what that contract is able to do for the state.
• So we focused on that reform, and the potential to move away from the Prometric contract.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states. The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, Magnolia was contracted, as mentioned.
• I believe that's who was contracted originally with the corrective action plan.
• And then I think Bonton backed out, and then Magnolia took over as a contract.
• There is a contract. We talk about $10 million, up to $10 million, right?
• I don't know anything about the contracts.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the troubled water system in Tallulah and whether to appoint a limited fiscal administrator for the water utility. Senator Jackson described the system’s long-running failures, the need to expand repairs beyond the treatment plant to the distribution network, and the growing project cost, which he said had risen to roughly $26 million. Legislative Auditor’s Office staff explained that the system had received failing grades from LDH for several years, had entered joint receivership in 2024, and was placed under a public health emergency in 2025; they said the city’s adoption of limited fiscal administration in April 2026 made it eligible for additional state funding. Governor’s staff said the state, GOSEP, Magnolia, and the city had worked together to restore service and that the limited fiscal administrator would help unlock an emergency subfund and other financing sources. The mayor of Tallulah supported the appointment, saying the state’s work had improved water quality and that the limited role would focus only on the water system rather than the whole city. She said the city was preparing an RFQ to move the project toward bidding. Two residents spoke in opposition. One argued that the city had recently elected a new council and should wait for new local leadership before proceeding. Another questioned the need for the appointment, criticized past management and contract arrangements, and objected to using emergency funds to pay prior project costs. State officials responded that the F grade and public health concerns justified the action, that the administrator would control water-system finances, and that the distribution system needed repairs to address leaks and water quality issues. After discussion, a committee member moved to appoint a limited fiscal administrator for the Tallulah water system. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. The committee then moved to public comment and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, Magnolia was contracted, as mentioned.
• I believe that's who was contracted originally with the corrective action plan.
• And then I think Bonton backed out, and then Magnolia took over as a contract.
• There is a contract. We talk about $10 million, up to $10 million, right?
• I don't know anything about the contracts.

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on the City of Tallulah’s water system and a request to appoint a limited fiscal administrator for the water utility. Senator Jackson and state officials described a long-running water crisis, including repeated failing grades from LDH, a public health emergency declaration, joint receivership efforts, and the need to expand the project beyond plant repairs to include the distribution system. They said the total cost is now estimated at about $26 million, with funding expected from USDA loans and grants, water sector funds, possible Delta Regional Authority assistance, and an emergency subfund that becomes available through limited fiscal administration. Chris Province of the Legislative Auditor’s Office explained that the system had received F grades from 2022 through 2025, that the city entered joint receivership in 2024, and that the governor declared a public health emergency in February 2025. He said the city adopted a resolution in April 2026 to enter limited fiscal administration, which was the basis for the committee’s action. Governor’s office staff and the mayor supported the request, saying the state partnership had improved water quality and that the limited administrator would help secure additional funding and move the project toward completion over roughly 24 months. Two residents spoke in opposition. One argued that Tallulah had recently elected a new council and that the committee should wait for new local leadership. Another said the state had mismanaged the project, questioned the use of funds and contracts, and argued that the city should receive the full amount of promised state funding without deductions. Committee members said the legal standard was met by the system’s failing grade and the emergency conditions, and they emphasized that the limited fiscal administrator would control only the water system finances. A motion to appoint a limited fiscal administrator for the Tallulah water system was made, seconded, and passed, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And begin presenting AB 1156, it's a solar use easement suspension of Williamson Act contracts terms.
• It allows farmers who are losing water to pause a Williamson Act contract.
• Thank you. the landowners to suspend rather than rescind their Ways for Nat contracts.
• These fees are not penalties, they are contract cancellation penal payments that recognize and help recoup
• The speculative withdrawals may increase and landowners may be incentivized to leave contracts early

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3790 by Adams of the House and Thompson of the Senate, an act relating to contracts.
• This bill allows people to get out of a contract after 5 days, up to 5 days.
• It allows the homeowner to get out of a contract up to 5 business days. Yield for questions.
• House Bill 3790 by Adams of the House and Thompson of the Senate, an act relating to contracts.
• Or are they going to be contracting out these inspections? Just questions related to food trucks.

Bills: HB2979, HB3790, HB3142, HB3463, HB4143, HJR1086, SB392, HB3087, HB3037, HB3581, HB4058, HB2959, HB4227, HB2997, HB4125, HB1453, HB3521, HB3691, HB2015, HB2940, HB1016, HB3267, HB3695, HB3697, HB3045, HB3662, HB3453, HB3053, HB3301, HB3495, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3845, HB4198, HB4425, HB2970, HB3338, HB3443, HB3783, HB3800, HB3818, HB1242, HB1752, HB2961, HB2967, HB2973, HB2988, HB3031, HB3240, HB3047, HB3052, HB3066, HB3086, HB3175, HB3177, HB3178, HB3429, HB3548, HB3638, HB3404, HB3704, HB1590, HB3759, HB3831, HB3904, HB4092, HB1979, HB1983, HB1250, HB2952, HB3671, HB3920, HB4118, HB3944, HB3969, HB3973, HB3975, HB3976, HB3978, HB3983, HB3984, HB3942, HB4203, HB2588, HB3024, HB3383, HB3279, HB3919, HB3883, HB4193, HB3431, HB3435, HB4352, HB4484, HB1245, HB3172, HB3306, HB4294, HB3880, HB2929, HB3128, HB2956, HB3015, HB3114, HB3567, HB3749, HB4229, HB4237, HB4253, HJR1046, HJR1084, HB3411

Keywords: HB2979, Talyn Bain Act, school zone, school safety, speed limit, 45 mph, state highway, Department of Transportation, ODOT, flashing beacons, traffic enforcement, speeding violation, public school, private school, K-12, drop-off, pick-up, highway safety, municipal maintenance, county commissioners

Transcript Highlights:

• with<00:01:52.880> small consistency in contracting with small consistency in contracting
• <00:03:03.360> up<00:03:03.599> to maintenance contracts up to maintenance contracts
• <00:04:01.439> and designate construction contracts and designate construction contracts and
• of contracts. of contracts. additionally<00:04:20.880> allow<00:04:21.280> a<00:04
• terms that can be in state contracts terms that can be in state contracts that<01:42:36.560>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State-funded treatment court contracts have been eliminated.
• <00:07:40.680> This contracts have been eliminated. This contracts have been eliminated.
• So, we have 14 contracts across the state, which with each of the comp cares.
• So, if somebody did not have Medicaid, then they could bill our state contracts.
• The contracts are actually in process.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, and court facility projects. AOC leaders said they do not anticipate problems balancing the outgoing biennium or fiscal year 2026, and explained that the budget changes were driven by the need to reduce costs while preserving required constitutional, court-rule, and statutory services. They also said the new filing fee increases authorized by HB 504 took effect that day and are expected to generate up to $5 million, while the reorganization is projected to save about $3 million in general fund dollars. The bulk of the presentation focused on a major reorganization of the Office of Statewide Programs, which includes specialty courts, family and juvenile services, and pretrial services. AOC said the plan eliminates 170 positions and creates 109 new ones, mainly by reducing middle-management layers, expanding regional service delivery, and cross-training staff. Officials said 110 employees had already been offered or accepted placements, 24 had chosen voluntary separation, and the final number of employees leaving remains fluid until the process concludes around August 1. They emphasized that specialty court programs were not eliminated, but state-funded treatment court contracts and behavioral health liaison positions were removed, with treatment costs shifted to Medicaid or participants where appropriate. Members asked about the process, staffing impacts, specialty court participation, juvenile services, and how AOC will monitor the changes. AOC said the reorganization was developed by leadership, HR, and legal staff under direction of the Chief Justice and approved by the Supreme Court, and that it is intended to improve efficiency and frontline support rather than reduce services. They said specialty court participant levels are being watched closely, that CDW services will continue to use outside providers for programming, and that the agency will keep judges and stakeholders informed as the new structure goes into effect. No votes were taken, and the committee did not approve minutes because a quorum was not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this uh violate the contracts Does this uh violate the contracts clause<00:10:19.040> of<
• <00:10:44.200> usually That's about private contract, usually That's about private contract
• And part of the contract for it is an NDA.
• And part of the contract for it is an NDA.
• The last time I read the the contract The last time I read the the contract clause,<00:14:05.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this contract was submitted.
• And then that contract will come back to the senior center.
• We do our own contracts, bid out contracts, make agreements, and I sign off on contracts and stuff.
• So that contract, the newspapers say it was terminated.
• Do we sue for breach of contract? We signed a contract 57 million. In water last December.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would still have a contract with regional centers.
• It still goes through DGS and our contract approval.
• centers have to ratify the contracts as well.
• We would still have a contract with regional centers.
• It still goes through DGS and our contract approval.

Summary: The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored. Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants. The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services. Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.

Transcript Highlights:

• eligible uh in terms of the contract eligible uh in terms of the contract with<00:02:48.440>
• We don't want somebody just to be simply denied services because they don't have a contract.
• We don't want somebody just to be simply denied services because they don't have a contract.
• I'm hoping the new contract for the background studies will address some of those challenges.
• I'm hoping the new contract for the background studies will address some of those challenges.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I had contracts that were pending, and I continued to submit contracts from companies that were willing
• At 5:45 that night, I got a call from HR, and HR said, oh, and by the way, any contracts that are not
• should supersede Employment contract should supersede Employment contract law<00:25:45.520> if
• And when people make private contracts, they still have to follow the law.
• And when people make private contracts, they still have to follow the law.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and the current contract is referred to as Contract 4.0.
• <01:15:52.639> is<01:15:52.920> 4.3 contract is the total contract is 4.3 contract
• > give<01:16:30.120> you contract contract company they give you contract contract company
• I just saying when you guys do the contract, who does the contract, the library or, um, we're using a
• These are maintenance service contracts; these are maintenance contracts.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fleming Network and Security Services was awarded the contract and successfully completed the project
• Fleming Network and Security Services was awarded the contract and successfully completed the project
• In the request, I asked for approval of the contracted amount of $123,640,000.
• In the request, I asked for approval of the contracted amount of $123,640.
• Finally, timing is critical for approval and execution of the contract to occur soon in order to allow

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met to consider a waiver request from the Stuttgart School District. Superintendent Jeff McKinney explained that the high school’s camera system is outdated, difficult to maintain, and leaves some areas of campus unmonitored. He said the district had previously used Fleming Network and Security Services for security work at new athletic facilities and wanted to continue with that vendor for a camera system replacement project, citing reliability, integration, and the need to complete installation during summer and within FY26 funding. McKinney requested approval of the contract amount and asked to increase the authorization to $150,000 to cover possible unforeseen additions. Members asked no substantive questions, and the committee approved the motion without opposition. After the vote, Senator Hester raised a broader concern about whether other school districts are facing similar security-camera issues and suggested the department may need to take a comprehensive look at the matter. No further business was discussed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• from an owner and then immediately turn around and sell that contract to another party who would then
• be the purchaser. ...someone without the intent to ever buy a piece of property will get a contract
• from an owner and then immediately turn around and sell that contract to another party who would then
• Members, this bill is designed to say that an insurer's payment under the terms of a contract shall not
• House Bill 315 by Representative Melarine is an act to amend Title 23 relative to non-compete contracts

Keywords: 974, senate, all