Transcript Highlights:

• would have said, okay, this is important that we deal with resilience, hardening, all these other elements
• in the near future, together with a community strategy led by Cal Fire that includes many of the elements
• vice chair on extending the governor’s executive order and finding a way to codify some of those elements
• I have many constituents who are going through the rebuild process right now.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate hearing of the Natural Resources and Water Committee and the Emergency Management Committee focused on wildfire resilience, with members discussing the SB 254 report on enhancing California’s response to natural catastrophes. Opening remarks emphasized the scale of wildfire damage, the need for prevention and preparedness, and concerns about the affordability and insurability crisis. Senators repeatedly contrasted the relatively small share of funding going to community hardening with the much larger amounts spent on utility wildfire mitigation and landscape-scale projects, and several members raised concerns about CEQA delays, one-time funding, and the need for more sustainable, ongoing financing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office presented an overview showing about $4.7 billion in state wildfire resilience appropriations from 2018-19 through 2025-26, with funding shifting from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund and then to Proposition 4. LAO noted that only about $65 million had been specifically targeted to community hardening, while most funding went to forest health, fuels, research, and related programs. LAO also said one-time funding will decline in coming years and that future GGRF support is uncertain, though General Fund use is not legally precluded. Members asked about maintenance costs, polluter-pays ideas, and whether performance metrics should focus more on property and community risk reduction than acres treated. Cal Fire’s State Fire Marshal described the state’s community wildfire preparedness strategy, centered on home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation. He said roughly 4 million homes are in the wildland-urban interface, most built before modern fire-resistant standards, and argued that the state must move from response to prevention. He said Cal Fire is incorporating the SB 254 recommendations into its updated action plan, has streamlined some fuel-reduction projects under a recent executive proclamation, and is shifting some grant funding toward maintenance of existing treatments. Cal OES described the AB 38 pilot and FEMA hazard mitigation work, saying the pilot helped build tools and standards for home hardening but that federal approval delays remain a major barrier; the agency reported 155 hardened properties, 19 under construction, and 370 assessed and waiting. The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force said it has coordinated more than $6 billion in state and federal investments, is moving toward regional block grants and better data-driven prioritization, and is developing separate community and landscape strategies. The hearing ended with discussion of modeling, data gaps, utility coordination, contractor capacity, and possible legislative or budget changes to better align funding and metrics with community safety outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So while this bill doesn’t have as many program integrity elements, we have a bunch of other provisions
• um elements of it particularly<00:15:01.440> the<00:15:01.680> recovery<00:15:02.160><
• > integrity doesn't have as many program integrity doesn't have as many program integrity elements
• , we have a bunch of other um elements, we have a bunch of other um provisions<00:15:41.279> that<
• And I see that Senator Abeler is probably meeting with constituents, but I do think that this is worthy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Following that, on December 11, 2025, President Trump issued another executive order, outlining elements
• So I have floated this before because I have had a constituent reach out about an Alford plea, because
• So depending on your constituents in what district you represent, there's some good information there
• So we incorporate force, fraud, and/or coercion because those are three elements that you have to prove
• If it's someone under the age of 18, you don't have to prove all three of those elements.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Following that, on December 11, 2025, President Trump issued another executive order, outlining elements
• So I have floated this before because I have had a constituent reach out about Alford pleas because we've
• So depending on your constituents and what district you represent, there's some good information there
• So we incorporate force, fraud, and/or coercion because those are three elements that you have to prove
• If it's someone under the age of 18, you don't have to prove all three of those elements.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it seems like the criminal element has better technology than the law enforcement element.
• We are now collecting three different elements by court: the clearance rate of the court, the age of
• how many oral arguments they approve and deny when there's a request, and so that's an additional element
• So in that reform, Madam Chair, I think it's wise to, because you know how I've got those constituents
• either so in that reform madam chair I think it's wise to because you know how I've got those constituents

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it seems like the criminal element has better technology than the law enforcement element.
• We are now collecting three different elements by court, and that's the clearance rate of the court,
• Approve and deny when there's a request, and so that's an additional element, and that's probably the
• So in that reform, Madam Chair, I think it's wise to because, you know, how I've got those constituents
• So in that reform, Madam Chair, I think it's wise to because, you know, how I've got those constituents

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing of the 89th regular session, adopted nearly identical committee rules from the previous legislature by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the budget framework, emphasizing conservative spending, a $332.9 billion all-funds budget, and major priorities including property tax relief, public education, border security, health and human services, transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. She also introduced committee and leadership staff and described the hearing schedule and public testimony procedures. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending, including a $23.8 billion ending balance, but warned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid using temporary spikes for ongoing commitments. Senators questioned him extensively about the Economic Stabilization Fund cap, sales tax trends, inflation, and whether the state should consider raising the cap or using severance-tax revenues differently. Hager said the Rainy Day Fund is expected to hit its cap, which would leave more severance-tax revenue in general revenue, and he stressed that infrastructure needs remain significant. The Legislative Budget Board then gave a detailed overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major components. LBB staff explained that the bill includes continued funding for the Foundation School Program, $850 million for the Texas State Technical College endowment, $1.3 billion for the Texas University Fund, $6.5 billion for border security, salary increases for correctional officers and state troopers, $3 billion for dementia research, higher community attendant wages, expanded community-based care, $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, and funding to clear volunteer fire department grant backlogs. They also outlined supplemental priorities such as water infrastructure, retirement legacy payments, rail grade separations, wildfire aircraft, and emergency facilities, and said the current controlling budget limit is the tax spending limit. A major portion of the hearing focused on property tax relief. LBB explained that prior-session relief grew from an expected $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher-than-anticipated property values and interactions among hold-harmless provisions, and that SB 1 continues and expands relief with $51 billion in total property tax relief, including $3 billion more for compression, $3 billion to raise the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, and a $500 million placeholder for business tax relief. Senators discussed the automatic nature of some of these costs, the effect of the non-homestead circuit breaker, the role of federal COVID funds, and the need to maintain school finance commitments if the state continues to compress school tax rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Alexi Stephani, and I'm a hit-and-run constituent.
• testifier, Alexi, is his constituent. testifier, Alexi, is his constituent.
• , but it's not a required element.
• Because it seems to me the way it was, you'd have to go back and look at all of the elements that the
• <03:19:51.280> that<03:19:51.760> um<03:19:52.280> you at all of the elements

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Oski said that after hearing from constituents whose licenses were suspended or disenrolled,
• now been constituents, they've now been displaced.<01:15:29.679> They<01:15:29.840> are
• I think from the corrective action there was about close to 20 elements that we included in there.
• I think from the corrective action there was about close to 20 elements that we included in there.
• And as a constituent, I appreciate you telling me that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that there are a couple of elements of this amendment that really make it much more powerful,
• I think that there are a couple of elements of this amendment that really make it much more powerful,
• I think that there are a couple of elements of this amendment that really make it much more powerful,
• that there are a couple of uh elements that there are a couple of uh elements of<00:40:34.320>
• Soon. toxic elements out of our soil. So, I'm toxic elements out of our soil.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's just so admirable that you guys try so hard to talk to constituents, to go out to know the people
• guys try so hard to talk to constituents guys try so hard to talk to constituents to<00:05:42.560
• So those two elements<01:39:30.239> I<01:39:30.480> think<01:39:30.560> we<01:39
• I think we need one doesn't do elements I think we need one doesn't do anything.<01:39:32.320> The
• And I think we need constituents on it.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, I hear constantly from constituents that there's too much bureaucracy in the system.
• say all the things you tell us when you come to our office, to say all the things we hear from constituents
• speaking as a district, I'm speaking at looking at the data and various programs, but I think that is an element
• districts need technical assistance to stand it up and that's why we think that is such a strong policy element
• So let's go through the elements that you that you use to do that now before the resource campus right

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• have been deal diligent constituents have been deal diligent with<00:33:22.880> this<00:33:23.519
• So, however they, and that'll be a, you know, a negotiated element of the program plan, because that'll
• and and that'll be a you know a they and and that'll be a you know a negotiated<01:36:31.199> element
• of<01:36:32.000> the<01:36:32.239> program<01:36:32.639> plan negotiated element
• of the program plan negotiated element of the program plan because<01:36:33.199> that'll<01:36

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is one of my constituents, I think from Derry, who is here also to speak about it.
• is um<00:06:39.919> one<00:06:40.039> of<00:06:40.160> my<00:06:40.360> constituents
• <00:06:41.000> I<00:06:41.120> think<00:06:41.280> from um one of my constituents
• I think from um one of my constituents I think from Dair<00:06:41.880> is<00:06:42.080> here
• of this bill as well so we are element of this bill as well so we are in<01:12:12.560> support

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > make<04:42:58.480> a Again, the constituents could make a Again, the constituents could
• Not from a single constituent. Not from a single constituent.
• In fact, my constituents appreciate it. In fact, my constituents appreciate it.
• Our constituents. They are the people that we serve.
• trying to listen to our constituents trying to listen to our constituents and<05:33:02.958> try

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that currently flows from these institutions to C2C would need to be updated with additional data elements
• And then the specific data elements that are shared each year are defined in file upload specifications
• And then the specific data elements that are shared each year are defined in file upload specifications
• So, for example, as C2C mentioned, there are some data elements that are missing.
• So the portion that was removed at May Revision that required certain elements to be disclosed in the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up the May Revision update on Proposition 98 and the school rainy-day fund. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with lower average daily attendance projections offsetting some of the revenue gains. Finance also described a reduced $3.9 billion settle-up proposal, increased deposits into the Public School System Stabilization Account, and an ending reserve balance of about $10.3 billion. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF adjustments were reasonable, but urged the Legislature to be cautious about delaying settle-up payments and to consider more budget resiliency, including larger cushions or other tools to protect ongoing programs. Members then questioned the administration and LAO about the size of the settle-up, the rationale for the reserve deposit, declining enrollment, and how lower attendance is creating savings that can be redirected to other school priorities. The LAO said the May Revision’s mix of one-time and ongoing spending was generally reasonable but recommended keeping a strong cushion and considering alternatives such as advance payments or pension-related savings. Questions also focused on how the May Revision’s funding mix affects districts if revenues weaken, and on the treatment of special education, discretionary block grants, and paid family leave costs for LEAs and community colleges. The committee next heard the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described a higher SCFF COLA, increased apportionment costs, a student support block grant, deferred maintenance, Common Cloud, Calbright, credit for prior learning, and a one-time adult learner demonstration project. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the SCFF growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended funding the statutory COLA increase, noted a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall not yet included in the May Revision, and suggested the Legislature could instead direct some funds to enrollment growth, categorical COLAs, or one-time uses. Members also clarified how COLA and hold-harmless rules apply to different community college districts. Finally, the committee reviewed the proposed state implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career data work, plus trailer bill changes to set up state approval of eligible programs. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, with new federal rules just released and significant data, regulatory, and systems work still needed; it said the state will not be ready by July 1 and that ongoing funding will likely be necessary. The LAO agreed that implementation will require careful trailer bill language and noted that ongoing administrative costs remain unresolved. Members asked about other states’ approaches and the practical effect on short-term workforce programs in California.

Transcript Highlights:

• handed down last week, I don't know if counsel wants to help me a little bit here with some of the elements
• <00:48:06.720> some<00:48:06.880> of<00:48:06.960> the<00:48:07.080> elements
• <00:48:07.520> that<00:48:08.000> that here with some of the elements that that here
• with some of the elements that that were<00:48:08.440> included<00:48:08.880> to<00:48
• '<01:35:50.360> continued ensure that your constituents' continued ensure that your constituents

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• up to $12 million, to local governments for projects to address emerging contaminants. our um constituents
• our our um constituents our communities<00:30:49.679> uh<00:30:49.799> we're<00:30:50.000
• > are<01:17:16.840> expecting<01:17:17.239> you<01:17:17.400> to Your constituents
• <01:37:55.119> in<01:37:55.360> the<01:37:55.800> institutional the elements
• in the institutional the elements in the institutional framework<01:37:57.639> Factor<01:37:58.639

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to be providing services at a very high level to the state because that protects your constituents
• Chairman, members of the committee, yes, that will bring an element to it that there's a lot of money
• I'm not talking about hamstring him, but this is definitely bringing in the wrong element.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear the Attorney General’s budget and related agency presentations. Legislative Council first reviewed the compliance with legislative intent report and the base budget worksheet, highlighting current and ongoing appropriations, FTE changes, one-time funding items, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked about items such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding, and staff explained the funding sources and status of those programs. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then outlined the Attorney General’s office structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal and investigative work for state and local governments, and concerns about attorney salary competitiveness, the new and vacant FTE pool, and the impact of the 3% operating budget reduction on BCI, IT, and the crime lab. Members also discussed AG opinions, boards and commissions training, and the office’s litigation and settlement recoveries. Ness and committee members raised the possibility of broader attorney salary benchmarking across state government. The crime lab director described severe space and infrastructure constraints, including overcrowding, shared workspaces, glycol leaks, air handling limits, and aging fire and burglar alarm systems. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that a new building on the current health department site would best address the lab’s needs. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, drug, fingerprint, and firearms work, though toxicology had a recent delay after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director described the unit’s fraud, abuse, and neglect work, noted federal-state funding and recent federal scrutiny, and said the unit needs more staff. The gaming division reviewed charitable gaming growth, e-tabs, trust accounts, and compliance issues, while BCI covered its caseload, cybercrime and child sexual abuse material investigations, the missing indigenous person task force, and the use of lottery funds for drug task forces. No formal votes or budget actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to be providing services at a very high level to the state because that protects your constituents
• Chairman, members of the committee, yes, that will bring an element to it that there's a lot of money
• I'm not talking about hamstringing him, but this is definitely bringing in the wrong element.

Summary: The committee met as the Commerce and Legal Services Division and first approved the minutes, then received a Legislative Council overview of the Attorney General’s current budget status and a blue-sheet summary of the AG’s base budget for the next biennium. Staff highlighted compliance with legislative intent items, including FTE changes, one-time funding updates, litigation pool spending, opioid settlement receipts, and continuing appropriations. Members asked about specific funds such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund and the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and staff explained the statutory basis and status of those items. The Attorney General’s office then presented an extensive overview of its divisions and budget pressures. Chief Deputy Attorney General Clare Ness described the office’s 14 divisions, the role of the office in defending the state and recouping funds, and concerns about attorney pay, recruitment, and retention. Members discussed whether attorney salaries should be benchmarked across state government and whether more legal work could be centralized in the AG’s office. The office also described challenges with the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, leased office space, and the criminal justice information systems used to connect law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts. The Crime Laboratory director gave a detailed update on space and infrastructure problems, saying the current lab is overcrowded and outdated, with safety, workflow, air-handling, glycol leak, alarm, and maintenance issues that can delay casework and risk evidence integrity. She said a 2024 study projected a need for a much larger facility and that the preferred option would be a new building on the current health department site, at an estimated cost of roughly $40 million to $45 million. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, firearms, fingerprint, and drug cases, though toxicology had recently developed a small backlog after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, gaming division, and BCI also provided updates. MFCU’s new director said the unit is federally funded 75/25, focuses on fraud, abuse, and neglect, and is seeking two attorney hires while continuing to work with federal partners on cases and recertification. Gaming staff reported continued growth in charitable gaming and electronic pull-tab activity, with concerns about site competition, large trust balances, possible ineligible expenditures, and the need for more scrutiny as revenues have grown. BCI outlined its staffing, drug task forces, ICAC work, and the Missing Indigenous Person Task Force, which is using its $250,000 appropriation to help tribal nations develop emergency response plans and purchase alerting tools such as IPAWS. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• future, not just for the sake of being politicians. ...around this table, but for the sake of the constituents
• I know, and you all know, that Accountability and transparency are essential elements of this work.
• Our system has many elements, and there is a lot to discuss with you, and we are short on time, but we