Transcript Highlights:

• We were very pleased with them taking the time, as well as the author's office.
• Last year, I was selected for a commission as a limited duty officer, a milestone representing the top
• finally got a separation date, May 5th, and now we're scrambling to find jobs, secure housing, and relocate
• I just want to note for the committee that we are in conversations with the author's office and are just
• I just want to note for the committee that we are in conversations with the author's office and are just

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• Our second real request is, and we have a handout on our Jimthorpe building relocation. kind of return
• The parts in the green are the areas that are our agency's offices on the third floor.
• public artwork that we're doing with the Department of Transportation, the Lieutenant Governor's Office
• You might find as you're calling our office this legislative session that we might not be able to be
• Our agency, with the lieutenant governor's office, spearheaded and multi-community kind of networking

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:08:12.160><c> shelter</c> that was used as a relocation shelter that was used as a relocation
• </c><01:17:12.159><c> of</c> So the guidance from the office of So the guidance from the office of refugee
• :20.880><c> alone</c><01:34:21.760><c> was</c> cost in officer time alone was cost in officer time alone
• And that particular individual, um, he was a police officer in Brazil.
• </c> from municipal law enforcement officers from municipal law enforcement officers who<02:34:02.800

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We will also ask panelists representing the Department of Finance and the LAO's office to make room by
• We also have with us staff from California State Treasurer Fiona Ma's office.
• So those are observations that our office has been seeing as well.
• And so those are the observations of our office. And I think one thing was mentioned.
• I am joined by Jim Watkins, Cover California's chief financial officer and director of our financial

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have with us staff from California State Treasurer Fiona Ma's office.
• Those are observations that our office has been seeing as well.
• Those are the observations of our office.
• Assembly Member Chiavo, staff of the Treasurer's office, before we move on to hearing about HCAI and
• We administer the State Office of Rural Health, and we're expanding that through this effort.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard updates on five health-related budget items. First, members reviewed state support for distressed hospitals and health facilities. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority and HCAI described the Distressed Hospital Loan Program as a lifeline for 16 hospitals, many of which remain financially strained and are expected to seek loan forgiveness rather than repayment. Speakers cited reduced contract labor, new service lines, strategic partnerships, and the reopening of Madera Hospital as signs of progress, but also warned that federal policy changes under H.R. 1 will likely increase uncompensated care and pressure emergency departments. Public commenters from hospital, dental, and consumer groups supported additional funding, including a request to refresh the program with another $300 million. The committee then heard HCAI’s update on the California Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded at $233.6 million for California. HCAI said the program will focus on rural care models, workforce development, and health technology, with grants to be rolled out on a fast timeline and all funds obligated by October 30, 2026. Members raised concerns about rural provider capacity to apply for grants, and HCAI said it will use a third-party administrator, a technical assistance center, webinars, and other supports to help applicants. HCAI also presented its budget request for the health care payments database, seeking ongoing non-General Fund support to continue operations and expand data, including pharmacy benefit manager data. The Emergency Medical Services Authority presented three budget change proposals: funding to replace disaster medical services fleet vehicles, funding for IT security work, and additional positions for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. A member also raised concern that EMSA has not yet completed the annual ambulance rate reporting required by AB 716, and EMSA said it remains committed to the requirement but lost prior funding through later budget reductions. Covered California reported that it is still finalizing its own budget, but expects a lower operating budget due to efforts to reduce baseline costs and align spending with actual expenditures; it also projected enrollment declines tied to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and federal rule changes, while noting that revenues may still rise because premiums are expected to increase. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined budget proposals tied to menopause coverage and education, PBM licensure and enforcement under AB 116 and SB 41, credentialing reforms under AB 1041, and prior authorization reporting under SB 306. Public testimony generally supported the menopause and PBM proposals, while also urging clearer language and attention to Medi-Cal parity. The hearing concluded after public comment, including additional advocacy for sickle cell services and rural health workforce funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure, and insert a blank appropriation out of the art special fund for the preservation or relocation
• pass with amendments, blank the appropriation and adopting an amendment from the state procurement officer
• suggested amendments to require the director of law enforcement to adopt rules for crisis intervention officers

Bills: SB2088 , SB2925 , SB3263 , SB2047 , SB2087 , SB2100 , SB2268 , SB2353 , SB2781 , SB2902

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Summary: The joint committee on Ways and Means and Consumer Protection met for decision-making only on two agendas and took action on a large number of Senate bills, with no oral testimony heard. On the 1016 agenda, the committee recommended passage of measures including SB 2088, SB 2925, SB 2781, and several others, and passed a number of bills with amendments. Notable amendments included SB 3263, which adopted AG amendments related to the name, image, and likeness endowment trust fund; SB 2047 on pharmacy benefit managers, which incorporated Hawaii Pharmacist Association changes; SB 2087 on health insurance, which added Insurance Division clarifications; SB 2100 on pesticides, which added a blank appropriation; SB 2353 on outdoor signage, which removed provisions related to the Wiki special district; and SB 2902 on renewable energy, which clarified certification standards for portable solar devices and exempted them from certain disclosure requirements. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though a few members noted reservations on selected bills. The committee also deferred one bill on the agenda, SB 3327. The committee then moved to the 1015 agenda and acted on additional measures. SB 2003 was passed with amendments tied to Act 255, including a repeal trigger if deadlines are missed; SB 2497 on utility-related transparency drew the most discussion, with one member warning about litigation and costs while another argued it was simply about electricity-rate transparency, and it ultimately passed with PUC-related amendments and an exemption for utility cooperatives. Other measures were passed unamended or with technical or fiscal amendments, including bills affecting land planning, tax credits, conveyance tax language, shoreline maintenance, and community improvement projects. Several bills had appropriations blanked or effective dates deferred to 2050, and many were adopted with members noting reservations rather than opposition. On the 1017 agenda, the committee continued approving measures, including SB 709 on crisis intervention officers and assisted community treatment, SB 2153 on defining bona fide farmer/agriculture activity, SB 2694 on water rate adjustments, SB 3025 on income eligibility limits, and SB 3085 on the Hawaii film studio, which included a five-year repeal provision if the studio has not relocated. The committee also passed numerous other bills unamended or with technical amendments, often deferring effective dates or blanking appropriations. Across both agendas, the committee’s actions were largely consistent: bills were advanced with amendments tailored to agency requests, technical corrections, or fiscal adjustments, and votes were generally unanimous or near-unanimous with occasional reservations recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there symbols like on that relocation or feel, you know, something with this related to where the
• She would like to invite you to karaoke in the fourth-floor office, I think it was the J's.
• She would like to invite 1237 you to karaoke in the 1238 in the 4 EUR for office 1239 2, I think it was

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four bills, beginning with HB 423 on school elopement plans for students with autism or other elopement risks. The sponsors described the bill as a statewide framework for school elopement response plans, immediate parent notification, campus search procedures, and staff training. Public testimony from parents, disability advocates, and a teacher emphasized the dangers of elopement and the need for standardized procedures; members from both parties spoke strongly in support. The bill was reported favorably by a 15-0 vote. The committee next considered HB 1253, which allows coaches to use limited personal funds, up to $15,000 per athletic team per year, to support student-athletes with food, transportation, and physical rehabilitation services. An amendment added guardrails, including that the coach be a school employee, clarified the scope of athletic associations covered, and refined the rehabilitation language. Members discussed the bill as a way to help students in need while avoiding recruiting concerns, and the bill passed favorably 14-0 after the amendment was adopted. HB 1091 addressed dental screenings for K-12 students in districts that voluntarily offer them. The bill requires advance written notice to parents and an opt-out process, and clarifies that screenings are informational only, with any findings sent to parents rather than compelling treatment. An amendment added the language to student welfare provisions as well as school health services. Public testimony from dental and health advocates supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably 14-0. Finally, the committee heard HB 765 on child care and early learning services. The bill expands before- and after-care options for certain school-based preschool programs without requiring a child care facility license, removes a flu brochure inspection requirement, bars insurance cancellation based on providing child care, creates a professional recognition program, and establishes a child care tuition fund. Two amendments broadened the bill to public and nonpublic elementary schools and created the Brighter Futures fund concept. After debate, the bill passed favorably 13-1, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're not rude to the officer, if you consent to breath or blood, you agree to have interlock in
• an author on a substitute or potential language change, and we have appreciated Senator Hughes's office
• The chairman has already called time, but I will, and so you can certainly call my office or come by
• Being a Navy veteran fire officer as well, I have seen the manipulation of law enforcement and first
• Um, so if you could contact my office. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll be set up in the space back here with Kathy's office, down this way, around noon.
• We are not is an officer of the court.
• Those relocations cost Colorado over 13,600 jobs.
• 35.520><c> over</c> Those relocations cost Colorado over Those relocations cost Colorado over 13,600<
• </c><05:08:54.320><c> cap</c><05:08:55.040><c> from</c> energy office move unused cap from energy office

Transcript Highlights:

• General's Office.
• the disability offices.
• Office.
• office.
• the local offices.

Summary: The committee met to receive a detailed financial operations presentation from the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency, with staff walking members through funding sources, budgeting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and grants management. Sabrina Walker explained VR’s blended funding structure, including federal grants, state appropriations, program income, and interagency contracts, and emphasized that state funds are essential to meeting the federal match and maintenance-of-effort requirements. Members asked repeatedly about transparency, audit controls, and the risk that state cuts could reduce federal drawdowns; staff responded that all reports reconcile back to the SCEIS accounting system, are subject to state audits and internal reviews, and that even modest state reductions could significantly reduce total available funding. The committee also discussed pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities, with staff confirming services are offered through school districts, charters, and private schools, and that contracts are monitored for performance and compliance. The presentation then shifted to budgeting and internal controls. Walker described a zero-based departmental budgeting process, monthly monitoring reports, contingency reserves for unexpected expenses, and a formal annual cycle that culminates in board approval. Members asked about facilities tracking, culture, and how the agency maintains accountability; staff said facilities staff inspect buildings and equipment, supervisors justify line-item requests, and the process has become smoother over time as departments learned the system. Cynthia Johnson followed with an accounts receivable overview, describing invoicing, receipting, aging, customer verification, year-end reporting, and the use of cross-training, shared email inboxes, and spreadsheets as checks and balances. She also explained work training center billing, interdepartmental transfers, and the revolving fund used to issue consumer checks more quickly than standard vendor payments. Olivia Perez presented accounts payable operations, including invoice processing through SCEIS and OnBase, the three-way match, travel reimbursements, revolving fund checks, State Treasury Office interactions, and handling of reversals, rejections, and levy notices. She reported that AP processed 67,723 SCEIS payments, 13,670 case management system invoices, 3,379 travel reimbursements, and 15,693 revolving fund checks in fiscal year 2025, with only 70 payment rejections. The final portion of the meeting covered Grants and Funds Management, where Walker explained federal reporting, drawdowns, payroll allocation, asset tracking, lease and IT contract reviews, cost allocation, and closing packages. She noted upcoming system changes such as S/4HANA, Workiva, and SC Pro, but said the agency is receiving training and feedback opportunities. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the presentation portion beyond approval of the prior minutes and a brief recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• Police officers and first responders back to work as soon as possible.
• Cities and counties pay a lot of money to hire and retain their officers.
• We've had some really egregious issues where some officers have been denied claims, or the extent of
• Let's protect our communities and allow our police officers back on the street.
• We're working really closely with Senator Kolkhorst's office over in the Senate on this bill.

Bills: HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• Tesla, Samsung, all the Fortune 500 companies that are relocating to Texas.
• We appreciate the time that Representative Harris, Davila's office. has devoted to this bill, and we
• PAC is committed to continuing to work with Representative Harris-De Villa's office.
• Gabriella Perdicci from our office did a great job helping us out with this.
• Attorney General's office to enforce the details. So at least we know the framework is there.

Bills: HB186 , HB517 , HB 1093 , HB 1268 , HB1395 , HB186

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, property owners' association, residential watering restrictions, vegetation, fine limitations, drought, technology, innovation, economic development, grants, Texas Economic Development, business funding, HB 1395, private passenger vehicle rental, car rental, vehicle rental

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank, first off, the governor's office.
• The governor's office convened a very large group of stakeholders, including the department during the
• Mentor center that the phrase is incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, right?
• Madam Chair and Madam Secretary of State's office.
• This would be someone who opened an independent expenditure with the Secretary of State's office.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• They were able to work with a family in the metro, relocate to St.
• They were able to work with a family in the metro, relocate to St.
• Um they were a actually able to<00:57:53.440><c> relocate</c><00:57:54.079><c> to</c><00:57:54.720><c
• </c><00:57:56.319><c> Um</c><00:57:56.720><c> a</c> to relocate to um St. Louis County.
• Um a to relocate to um St. Louis County.

Bills: HF3898 , HF3957 , HF4372 , HF4350 , HF3692 , HF4085

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• . in the office of Governor Abbott.
• So we work very closely within our office with the Office of Compliance. and monitoring, or OCM.
• I'm the Executive Director of the Public Safety Office within the Office of the Governor.
• and expansion. of Audit and Enforcement Offices and relocation of the Controller's Warehouse and Distribution
• . and the chief scientific officer.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and former Chief Operating Officer of Reliant Medical Group;
• Operating Officer of Reliant Medical Group; Ian Lang, CEO of the Brookline Center for Community Mental
• I wound up gravitating back to psychiatry and relocated to Massachusetts in 2013.
• I’m a pediatric psychologist and also a representative of the HealthySteps National Office.
• I'm a pediatric psychologist and also a representative of the Health Steps National Office.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The committee held a hearing on a large group of behavioral health and insurance-related bills. Topics included expanding access to mental health services by allowing physician assistants to authorize Section 12 emergency holds and be recognized as licensed mental health professionals (H. 1131/S. 773); improving coverage for community behavioral health centers so commercial insurance matches MassHealth’s bundled outpatient and crisis services (H. 1276/S. 703); eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services (S. 718); extending detox and clinical stabilization coverage from 14 to 30 days and adding transitional support services (H. 1319/S. 772); requiring coverage for dual-diagnosis treatment in psychiatric facilities (H. 1277/S. 771); and preserving access to treatment for serious mental illness through coverage of coordinated specialty care and assertive community treatment (H. 1135/S. 709). The committee also heard bills on preventive behavioral health services for children (H. 1228/S. 802) and post-pregnancy mental health care, including postpartum depression and pregnancy loss-related care (H. 1314/S. 823).

Transcript Highlights:

• We look forward to continuing to engage with the author's office regarding our remaining outstanding
• We've been working with the author's office and these sponsors on trying to find a solution, but thank
• Well, I'm bad at math, and that's why I ran for public office.
• Witnesses today are Madeline Moore, Deputy Executive Officer of L.A.
• Officer of L.A.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• All rulemaking activities are to be done in consultation with our Office of Equity and Civil Rights.
• The new statutes do officers provide us with a The new statutes do also provide us with a good governance
• All rolemaking activities are to be done in consultation with our Office of Equity and Civil Rights.
• So this will all again include cooperation with the Office of Equity and Civil Rights.
• Review a P3 program office operating budget to scale the size of the office to the P3 activity.

Bills: SB6352

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, resources, funding, state law

Transcript Highlights:

• All rulemaking activities are to be done in consultation with our Office of Equity and Civil Rights.
• This will all again include cooperation with the Office of Equity and Civil Rights.
• Review a P3 program office operating budget to scale the size of the office to the P3 activity.
• So your P3 office is very small, but we want to grow it and we're adding to it as we speak.
• And I believe the executive branch, through the governor's office, put this program in abeyance pending

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for a work session and public hearing on February 19, 2026. In the work session, Switch Maritime presented a proposal for hydrogen fuel cell ferries for Washington State, including a budget proviso directing the Joint Transportation Committee to study hydrogen propulsion and a lease model for future Washington State Ferries procurement. The company described its Sea Change vessel, said the design could be adapted for Washington routes such as San Juan Islands–Anacortes, and emphasized that hydrogen fueling could be delivered through a mobile supply chain without new charging infrastructure. Senators asked about vessel flexibility, size, hydrogen availability, and terminal compatibility. The committee also received an update from WSDOT on the new public-private partnership program authorized in 2025. Staff said the agency is developing a four-phase implementation process, including consultant selection, a steering committee, a program manual, stakeholder engagement, and candidate project identification, with a report due to the transportation committees on September 1, 2026 and program launch targeted for January 1, 2027. The presentation stressed that the program manual will provide flexibility within the statute and that legislative input is being sought on engagement and project timing. The public hearing was on Senate Bill 6352, an omnibus transportation resources bill that revises and expands provisions from last year’s ESSB 5801. Staff outlined sections covering a mobile driver’s license and ID card program, a reduced-fee ID card for older drivers, changes to alternative fuel and aviation taxes and fees, revised sales tax distributions for ferry and multimodal funding, transit and bicycle education grants, fish passage permitting, clean energy siting on WSDOT right-of-way, toll notice procedures, older driver safety outreach, traffic safety camera revenue sharing, and a delay to the tow-truck indigent impound reimbursement program. The prime sponsor highlighted two priorities: digital driver’s licenses and dedicated ferry funding. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included airlines and aviation groups backing mobile ID and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax, transit and bicycle safety advocates supporting grant flexibility and continued bike education funding, and ferry advocates supporting dedicated ferry revenue. Local governments, including Bellevue, Kenmore, and Tacoma, raised concerns about the traffic camera revenue change, saying the shift from net to gross revenue would reduce local safety funding and could discourage new camera programs. The Association of Washington Cities also warned about unintended consequences in the fish passage and traffic camera provisions. RV dealers sought a delay to the luxury vehicle tax, and peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo asked for clarification on documentation requirements. The committee took no final vote and announced it would consider executive action the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is an investment we ought to be making, just like we did with the Attorney General's Office.
• We're asking all of our campuses and the president's office to undergo some pretty significant budget
• My name is Vicia Davenport, and I am the Chief Executive Officer for Los Angeles County.
• And the next one is to do everything in the power of my office to maintain a fiscally sound and intact
• To manage this long-term financial impact, my office has directed our county departments to prepare.