Transcript Highlights:

• Black children experience untreated tooth decay at the highest levels, at 25.8%, or one in four children
• Black children experience untreated tooth decay at the highest levels at 25.8% or one in four children

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Chappell, Vice Chair Black, Representative Fogle, Boggs, Owen, Steinmeyer, Strickler.
• Representative Black. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate what you're saying.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that is essentially kind of a black box where you can go back in time and track that data year
• And so that is essentially kind of a black box where you can go back in time and track that data year

Summary: The Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee held public hearings on two bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5931 would make administrative changes to the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board, including extending co-chair terms from one to two years, allowing more than four meetings per year, requiring consultation with the Student Achievement Council when evaluating outcomes, and removing the statutory public dashboard requirement. Staff and the bill sponsor, Senator Warnick, described it as a technical, no-fiscal-impact measure requested by the Student Achievement Council. Joel Anderson of WOSAC testified in support, explaining that the board’s role is advisory, that the bill would improve operations, and that WOSAC has spent significant staff time tracking Workforce Education Investment Account spending, especially carry-forward appropriations. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5963, which would modify Passport to Careers and Washington College Grant eligibility. The bill would automatically make Passport to Careers students income-eligible for the Washington College Grant beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, align the Passport financial-need formula with the federal student aid index, and direct Passport funds into the state financial aid account. Staff noted the bill was identical to the House companion. Testimony from WOSAC, the Washington Student Association, and a Western Washington University student representative all supported the bill, emphasizing the high barriers faced by former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth and the value of guaranteed, earlier access to aid. Senator Nobles said the bill would fulfill the state’s promise to help these students access higher education and would not increase costs. At the close of the hearing, the chair announced amendment deadlines for possible Tuesday executive action: requests due Monday at 10 a.m. and approval by 6 p.m. The committee planned to caucus and did not meet on Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho got a black eye in every category.
• But Idaho was behind the times, but we're happy to report that we now have a gold star instead of a black

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 27 and January 28, 2026, with a correction noted to the January 28 minutes regarding the listing of Haley Sweeten as incoming executive director of IHLA. Members were also reminded to review upcoming rules work and to wait until testimony is complete before making motions during bill hearings. The main presentation focused on support for military-connected students in Idaho. Dominique Haig, school liaison for Mountain Home Air Force Base, and Dr. Spencer Barsey of the Idaho Department of Education described Idaho’s Purple Star School designation, the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MC3), and related supports such as the military student identifier and a state website with resources for families. They highlighted the challenges military children face from frequent moves, deployments, and school transitions, and described school-based activities at Stevenson Elementary such as student ambassadors, Month of the Military Child events, and Flagpole Friday. Barsey explained that Idaho joined MC3 in 2013, adopted advance enrollment in 2020, and now identifies military-connected students as a distinct reporting group to better track and support them. In response to questions, Haig said the compact helps compare credits and graduation requirements when students move between states, but it applies only to public schools and not homeschool or charter schools. She also said the department supports any educational choice families make. In response to a question about school funding, she said schools with enough military-connected students can receive federal impact aid, with districts reportedly receiving about $1 million to $3.5 million annually. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho got a black eye in every category.
• Idaho was behind the times, but we're happy to report that we now have a gold star instead of a black

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• El Paso's boots making tradition includes iconic brands such as Lucchese, Tony Lama, Black Jack Boots
• I am the director of sales and marketing for Black Jack Boots.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to Congressional Black Caucus Week.
• Welcome to Congressional Black Caucus Week. The gentlelady's time is expired.
• </c> Congressional Black Caucus Week. Congressional Black Caucus Week.
• </c> while it has given its port on the Black while it has given its port on the Black Sea<02:18:58.080
• Not one minute on improving the long-term solvency of the black lung disability trust fund.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, September 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Almost twice as long, the transition lasts for Black women based on the research.
• And so almost twice as long, the transition lasts for black women based on the research.
• I think in Black liberation struggles, I think about how a lot of our protest movement started in the
• And five Black journalists were arrested and prosecuted, including Don Lemon, because of it.
• I also represent the two largest Black churches in Los Angeles, including the oldest Black church in

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• *Leashed Dogs for Tracking Black Bear*, an act relating to game and fish.
• Leashed dogs<00:34:22.919><c> for</c><00:34:23.040><c> tracking</c><00:34:23.440><c> black</c><00:34:
• act dogs for tracking black bear, an act relating<00:34:25.120><c> to</c><00:34:25.240><c> game</c><
• </c> bad for sometimes for those in the black bad for sometimes for those in the black robes<00:46:50.120
• </c> palatable for for those judges in black. palatable for for those judges in black.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:23:55.520><c> neighborhood</c> was like for for the black neighborhood was like for for the black
• In fact, 7,800 Black Americans lost their lives in Vietnam.
• In fact, 7,800 black African-Americans.
• In fact, 7,800 black Americans<01:24:42.000><c> lost</c><01:24:42.320><c> their</c><01:24:42.560><c>
• </c><01:24:56.719><c> died</c><01:24:57.040><c> at</c><01:24:57.199><c> a</c> reasons why blacks died

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it into the site security fencing black it into the site security fencing black top<01:10:22.880
• It's in black and white, so you might not see it as well, but we do have some color ones.
• It's in black and white, so you might not see it as well, but we do have some color ones.
• It's in black and white, so you might not see it as well, but we do have some color ones.
• It's in black and white, so you might not see it as well, but we do have some color ones.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• harm have been previously reported, and these seem to disproportionately impact communities that are Black
• harm have been previously reported, and these seem to disproportionately impact communities that are Black
• And what we do is basically draw circles or buffers around the residence, which would be this black point
• </c><01:13:12.400><c> would</c><01:13:12.560><c> be</c><01:13:12.679><c> this</c><01:13:12.840><c> black
• </c> residence which would be this black residence which would be this black point<01:13:14.440><c> and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing of Senate and House committees focused on restricted use pesticides in Hawaiʻi, with opening remarks framing the issue as one of health, environmental impact, and state-level regulation. The briefing reviewed the history of pesticide disclosure efforts, including prior county actions, a 2016 court ruling that shifted responsibility to the state, and Act 45, which enabled disclosure of restricted use pesticide data. Speakers highlighted 2019 reporting data showing concentrated use in parts of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, especially near schools and communities, and identified fumigants such as 1,3-dichloropropene and metam sodium as among the heaviest-used products. Concerns were raised about potential links to cancer, respiratory illness, reproductive harms, Parkinson’s disease, and developmental effects, as well as the lack of long-term mixture studies and the need for better buffer zones, reporting, and farmer transition support. The Department of Agriculture’s pesticides program manager described the state’s regulatory framework, explaining the distinction between general use and restricted use pesticides and the department’s role under FIFRA and Hawaiʻi law. He outlined the branch’s enforcement, education/certification, registration, and laboratory functions, including inspections, complaint response, market surveillance, applicator certification, product review, groundwater protection modeling, and special registrations. He also noted staffing and resource limitations, including the absence of an in-house toxicologist and long-term monitoring capacity, and compared Hawaiʻi’s resources to California’s much larger pesticide regulatory program. He said the department supports Act 231, which was passed the previous year and is moving forward this session. A pediatrician speaking for the Hawaiʻi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized concerns about chronic low-level pesticide exposure in children, citing AAP policy statements and technical reports that associate exposure with cancer, leukemia, birth defects, neurobehavioral issues, and asthma. Drawing on work with the Kauaʻi Joint Fact Finding Task Force, the speaker said the group found the west side of the island to be an unhealthy community but could not prove causation because of missing drift, geospatial, and biomarker data. The testimony pointed to elevated cancer mortality, pneumonia admissions, obesity, dialysis, and developmental delay indicators, and described concerns about pesticide drift near schools and homes, including reports of children becoming ill after nearby spraying and low levels of chlorpyrifos detected in dust samples. An environmental health scientist from the University of Hawaiʻi described a pilot project using restricted use pesticide data in a public health context. She said the project began after seeing maps of Central Oʻahu pesticide use and aimed to pair GIS data with health and ethnicity data, while also conducting community focus groups. Preliminary focus group themes included calls to action, voting and policymaker awareness, concern about pesticide use near homes and fields, lack of community consent, and a desire to stay engaged. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Doug Blackshare, Oakland, Black Business Roundtable, U.S., Black USA News.
• currently disclose specifically how driving safety record affects price, and that is impossible if a black
• Telematics takes all of the different factors it's tracking, mixes them up in a black box in a way that
• insurance companies in other states use... all of the different factors it's tracking, mixes them up in a black

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. AB 69, AB 1554, and AB 1680 all focused on California’s insurance market and the Fair Plan. AB 69 would require clearer notices to Fair Plan policyholders about coverage options, quarterly public reporting on clearinghouse programs, and additional broker/agent training to help depopulate the Fair Plan while preserving consumer choice. AB 1554 would require the California Earthquake Authority to post its annual report online and send it to relevant committees, and would direct the Insurance Commissioner to convene a working group on incorporating hazard mitigation into risk-transfer recommendations. AB 1680 would require the Fair Plan to comply with CDI examination findings, hire more staff, and improve clearinghouse operations; the Fair Plan moved from opposition to neutral after amendments, and the department said the bill would strengthen accountability and consumer protections. These bills were held pending quorum or taken up later, with authors requesting aye votes. AB 2198, by Assemblymember Rodriguez, would clarify title insurance rate-filing rules by specifying that title insurers file title rates and underwritten title companies file escrow rates, reducing duplicative filings and requiring rate schedules to be posted online. The California Land Title Association supported the bill, saying it codified longstanding practice and improved transparency, while the department continued discussions about possible revisions. The bill was left open for further questions and a later vote. AB 1795, by Assemblymember Gibson, would create statewide standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke damage in wildfire-affected homes. The author and the Department of Insurance said the bill would establish science-based standards, protect survivors from unsafe reentry, require training and certification for relevant professionals, and improve claims handling; the department also described serious gaps found in its Fair Plan examination and recent wildfire claims. Insurers and some residents opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing the bill was still too broad, could raise costs, relied too much on industry standards, and left unresolved issues about legal standards, timing, and coverage. The bill remained under discussion, with the author saying negotiations would continue. AB 311, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would create an optional telematics-based auto insurance program to reward safer driving and improve road safety. Supporters, including road-safety advocates, victims’ families, and some insurance representatives, argued telematics could reduce speeding and distracted driving and save lives. Opponents, including privacy and consumer groups, argued the bill would create opaque surveillance pricing, undermine Prop. 103, and raise privacy and fairness concerns. After extensive debate, the committee passed the bill on a 3-0 vote and placed it on call. AB 1798, by Assemblymember Wilson, would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information from direct-to-consumer or other predictive genetic testing to deny coverage or raise premiums, while preserving use of medical history and family history and allowing consideration of certain high-value policies above $1.5 million. Supporters said the bill would reduce genetic discrimination and encourage testing; insurers argued genetic information is relevant to underwriting and warned the bill could raise costs and create inconsistencies. The committee chair and members noted the bill was close to agreement but still needed work, and the bill was moved with a 3-0 vote and placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• levels of self-response, including but not limited to areas with higher proportions of Hispanic and Black
• So tracts with larger populations of Hispanic and Black Americans, larger proportions of renters, or
• illustrates actually saw a larger treatment effect so tracks with larger populations of Hispanic and black
• decades, people who are renters, young children, so those children under the age of five, people who are Black
• So those children under the age of five, people who are Black, Hispanic, Latino, or American Indian,

Summary: The hearing focused on census data privacy, administrative data sharing, and the role of state and local governments in improving census accuracy, especially for the 2030 census. Dr. Philip Rocco testified first, arguing that the census is increasingly intergovernmental and that state and local investments in address list work, outreach, and complete count commissions can materially improve self-response and reduce undercounts. He emphasized that hard-to-count communities are most affected when states delay planning, politicize census work, or lack capacity, and he pointed to examples such as LUCA participation, outreach funding, and group quarters review as important tools. He also warned that recent federal actions and a broader climate of distrust could threaten 2030 operations, and urged Massachusetts to begin readiness planning now. Members then questioned Dr. Rocco about the use of administrative data such as DMV, TANF, SNAP, and WIC records, and about group quarters enumeration. He explained that those data-sharing efforts were voluntary agreements with the Census Bureau, unlike group quarters data, which are often provided by facility administrators and sometimes state agencies. He said the Trump-era effort to use DMV and other records was tied to Executive Order 13880 and was widely resisted because states had confidentiality and legal concerns, and because the stated purpose appeared to shift toward citizenship-related uses. On group quarters, he described e-response, paper response, in-person enumeration, and administrator-provided directory information, noting that privacy issues arise mainly from FERPA limits on university data and from missing demographic details in administrative records. A second panel, Beth Giroz and Amy O'Hara, then explained how administrative data are used by the Census Bureau and why data quality and privacy concerns matter. They described administrative data as records collected for operational purposes, useful for frame-building, nonresponse follow-up, enumeration, and post-enumeration evaluation, but often incomplete or mismatched on key census variables such as race, ethnicity, household relationships, and residence timing. They highlighted that some sources, like IRS, Medicare, USPS, SSA, and Bureau of Prisons records, are especially valuable, while others such as SNAP, TANF, WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, foster care, and driver’s license data vary in completeness and sharing. They stressed that privacy means collecting only what is needed, and that the Bureau typically uses limited header or roster data rather than full records. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee recessed briefly before continuing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thirty-five percent of Black households and 31% of Latino households in California are food insecure.
• The monarch butterfly, famous for its orange, white, and black wings, can be easily recognized throughout
• The striking orange, black, and white markings inspire awe and excitement among people who love nature
• As a representative of South L.A., we have four Black newspapers in South Los Angeles.
• misinformation, and we know that most of our communities will listen to, as you stated, your four Black

Summary: The Senate Government Organization Committee met without a quorum at first, then later established one and took up a series of bills, many focused on regulatory oversight, state symbols, food insecurity, immigration enforcement, and ethnic media funding. SB 885 by Senator Strickland proposed requiring legislative approval for major regulations with an estimated economic impact over $50 million; supporters argued it would restore accountability and help address affordability, while labor and environmental opponents warned it would delay important health and safety rules. After discussion of committee amendments and concerns about timing, the bill was moved out on a due-pass motion, with the roll held open for absent members. The committee also heard SB 986, a similar regulatory oversight bill by Senator Saryato, which accepted committee amendments and advanced after supporters emphasized separation of powers and opponents raised delay concerns. SB 1025 by Senator Hurtado created an Office of Food Security and Affordability to coordinate food programs across departments; members generally supported the goal but urged stronger reporting and oversight guardrails, and the bill was moved forward with the roll held open. The committee then heard several symbolic designation bills. SB 1214 by Senator Ochoa Bogh would designate the Western monarch as California’s state butterfly; supporters highlighted the species’ ecological importance and conservation value, and the bill advanced as amended. SB 1178 by Senator Reyes would designate the California yellow jacket as the state wasp; testimony emphasized its role in pest control and agriculture, and it also moved forward as amended. SB 1286 by Senator Richardson would designate the California sea lion as the official state pinniped; the author and Marine Mammal Care Center described sea lions as a conservation success story and a sentinel species, and the bill passed out of committee as amended. The committee also considered SB 1171 by Senator Caballero, which would make private entities that contract with ICE ineligible for state-funded loans or grants. Supporters framed it as a response to harmful ICE enforcement practices, while opponents warned it could sweep in providers of essential services such as food, medical care, and legal research for detainees and could invite retaliation against California funding. The bill was approved on a 7-3 vote, with the roll held open. Finally, SB 1358 by Senator Rubio, the Ethnic and Community Media Equity Act, would create a database and contracting framework to direct more state advertising and outreach funds to ethnic and community media; supporters said it would improve reach, trust, and effectiveness in underserved communities, and the bill advanced on a strong vote with the roll held open. The committee also took up the consent calendar after quorum was established, and several items were held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thirty-five percent of Black households and 31% of Latino households in California are food insecure.
• The monarch butterfly, famous for its orange, white, and black wings, can be easily recognized throughout
• The striking orange, black, and white markings inspire awe and excitement among people who love nature
• And I have to say, as a representative of South L.A., we have four Black newspapers in South Los Angeles
• and we know that... ...you know, most of our communities will listen to, as you stated, your four Black

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused largely on regulatory oversight, food insecurity, state symbols, immigration-related funding, and ethnic media outreach. SB 885 and SB 986 would require major regulations with estimated economic impacts over $50 million to come back to the Legislature for review; supporters said this would restore accountability and help address affordability, while opponents warned it would delay health, safety, and worker protections. SB 1025 would create an Office of Food Security and Affordability to coordinate food programs across state departments, expand outreach, run a hunger hotline, and analyze service gaps; members generally supported the goal but urged stronger reporting and oversight language. SB 1214 would designate the Western monarch as California’s state butterfly, and SB 1178 would designate the California yellow jacket as the state wasp, with testimony emphasizing conservation, ecology, and agricultural benefits. SB 1286 would recognize the California sea lion as the state pinniped, with supporters citing its role as a sentinel species and conservation success story. SB 1171 would make private entities that contract with ICE ineligible for state-funded grants or loans; supporters framed it as a response to ICE conduct, while opponents raised concerns about unintended impacts on contractors providing essential services and possible federal retaliation. SB 1358 would create the Ethnic and Community Media Equity Act to improve state advertising and outreach to ethnic and community media through a database and contracting requirements, with supporters arguing it would improve effectiveness and reach underserved communities. Several bills were advanced on committee votes, many with roll calls held open for absent members. SB 885, SB 986, SB 1025, SB 1214, SB 1178, SB 1286, and SB 1171 all received motions to do pass, with some members noting support but also urging amendments or guardrails, especially on timing, reporting, and oversight. The committee also took up a consent calendar of multiple items after quorum was established.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was particularly true for Black and Latino students.
• My name is Maurice Goodman, and I am with Innovate Public Schools Black Parent Network.
• I organize Black families in the Bay Area and throughout the state, and they were the ones who helped
• Right now, one in seven California teachers is not fully credentialed in our schools—Black schools, Brown
• The data is clear: students in high-need schools, especially Black students, are far less likely to have

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was particularly true for Black and Latino students.
• My name is Maurice Goodman, and I’m with Innovate Public Schools Black Parent Network.
• I organize Black families in the Bay Area and throughout the state, and they’re the ones who helped draft
• Right now, one in seven California teachers is not fully credentialed in our schools—Black schools, brown
• The data is clear: students in high-need schools, especially Black students, are far less likely to have

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are cupcakes in the retiring room, some of which they even got to get with the black and orange
• some of which they even got to get with some of which they even got to get with the<00:33:44.040><c> black
• <c> orange</c><00:33:44.920><c> sprinkles</c><00:33:45.480><c> on</c><00:33:45.680><c> the</c> the black
• and orange sprinkles on the the black and orange sprinkles on the top.<00:33:46.440><c> So</c><00:33
• But yes, no, this is the Moorhead black and gold, and we are very proud that our mascot is a potato.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's Hidden Figure, presented by the Black Caucus, is Guy Blford Jr.
• Happy Black History Day.
• </c><00:24:03.200><c> Happy</c><00:24:03.520><c> Black</c><00:24:03.760><c> History</c> Shuttle Challenger
• Happy Black History Shuttle Challenger. Happy Black History Day. Day. Day.

Keywords: 981, all