Transcript Highlights:

• In FY25, ECCD launched the program.
• Since we launched universal child care on November 1, 27% of the families who signed up had incomes below
• Since we launched universal child care on November 1, 27% of the families who signed up had incomes below

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The state launched Operation Feed California, mobilizing the National Guard and Service Corps, and advancing
• The pilot successfully launched this month and will provide up to 12 months of food benefits that, when
• Department of Health Care Services in particular, to understand the key challenges ahead, we have launched

Summary: The joint hearing focused on CalFresh enrollment, food insecurity, and the effects of the recent federal shutdown and H.R. 1 on California families. Opening remarks emphasized that the shutdown delayed SNAP/CalFresh benefits for the first time in the program’s history, prompting emergency state, county, and local responses such as Operation Feed California, county emergency funds, food bank expansions, and Alameda County’s temporary food distributions and gift card support. Members also framed the issue as both a hunger and affordability crisis, noting that California produces abundant food but still has high rates of household food insecurity. The first panel reviewed food insecurity data and program impacts. PPIC’s Tess Thorman said about 13% of California households were food insecure in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and among Latino and Black households, and explained that CalFresh, school meals, and WIC significantly reduce poverty and hunger. Nourish California’s Betzabel Estudio described food insecurity as a policy choice and outlined state policy efforts such as Food for All, Thriving Transitions, and expansion of the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program. The California Association of Food Banks said demand remains high, food banks are serving millions monthly, and federal cuts and reduced TEFAP food supplies are worsening the strain. The second panel gave a CalFresh program overview from CDSS and Alameda County. CDSS reported that CalFresh participation has improved, with California’s participation rate rising from 67% in 2020 to 81% in the latest federal data, and highlighted recent successes including the minimum nutrition benefit pilot and the revived fruit-and-vegetable incentive program. Officials also warned that H.R. 1 will add work requirements, reduce eligibility for some immigrants, and create future cost-sharing pressures for the state and counties. Alameda County described local caseloads, application declines tied to fear and uncertainty, and efforts to reduce error rates and support students, older adults, and other hard-to-reach groups. A student CalFresh ambassador testified about the burdensome application process and the need for more outreach and basic needs support on campuses. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members discussing possible future legislation, outreach funding, and state backfill strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• note that I authored, alongside my council colleague Councilwoman Joni Rix Odie, the policy that launched
• , I authored alongside with my council colleague, Councilwoman Joni Rick's Odie, the policy that launched
• local law enforcement partners and community organizations, the California Department of Justice launched

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety held an informational hearing in Pomona on sex work-related crimes and efforts to combat human trafficking. The chair and Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez framed the issue as a major public safety and victim-protection concern, referencing the repeal of the loitering law in SB 357 and the recent enactment of AB 379, which targets buyers of sex rather than sex workers. The hearing was organized into three panels: data and research, policing and anti-trafficking efforts, and courtroom/prosecution impacts. In the first panel, the California Department of Justice presented arrest and conviction data for the repealed loitering statute, noting overall declines from 2019 to 2022 but also explaining that the data did not distinguish clearly between people selling sex, people loitering to sell, and people purchasing sex. USC law professor Hannah Gary summarized a 2021 report finding that law enforcement stings and raids often lack transparency, disproportionately harm Black women, minors, LGBTQ+ people, and undocumented migrants, and rarely achieve the stated goals of protecting victims, prosecuting traffickers, or preventing trafficking. The ACLU of Southern California argued that criminalization of sex work is discriminatory and historically used to police women and people of color, and that laws aimed at buyers still harm sex workers and can increase immigration consequences. Committee members asked about data collection, racial disparities, and whether the new law could worsen profiling; the panelists urged public health approaches, better data, and more survivor services. The second panel featured the California DOJ human trafficking coordinator, Pomona Police Chief Mike Ellis, and survivor advocate Jess Torres of Rising Worldwide. DOJ described its regional trafficking teams, task forces, victim services, and prosecutions, emphasizing a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach. Chief Ellis said SB 357 limited police intervention and contributed to visible open-air prostitution near schools and other sensitive locations, citing complaints from residents and a reported drop in juvenile rescues in Pomona after the law changed; he supported AB 63-style enforcement with safeguards and service referrals. Torres, speaking as a survivor, argued that anti-trafficking policy must be survivor-led, that many youth in the sex trade are boys or LGBTQ youth, and that criminalization and street enforcement often worsen harm and displacement rather than solving the underlying problems. In the final panel, a Riverside County deputy district attorney said AB 63 could help law enforcement make earlier contact with potential victims and identify traffickers, while stressing the need for training, documentation, and oversight. A Los Angeles County public defender argued that prosecuting trafficked people reinforces traffickers’ control, creates lifelong barriers, and retraumatizes survivors, and pointed to diversion programs as a better model. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking began its testimony by describing its survivor services and crisis response work. The hearing ended without any vote or formal action, but with committee members and witnesses continuing to debate the balance between enforcement, data collection, and survivor-centered services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Odie, I authored, alongside my council colleague, Councilwoman Joni Rick's Odie, the policy that launched
• , I authored alongside with my council colleague, Councilwoman Joni Rick's Odie, the policy that launched
• local law enforcement partners and community organizations, the California Department of Justice launched

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety held an informational hearing in Pomona on sex work-related crimes and efforts to combat human trafficking. Opening remarks framed the hearing around the repeal of the old loitering law in SB 357 and the recent enactment of AB 379, which will again make loitering with intent to purchase commercial sex a misdemeanor starting January 1, 2026. Members said the goal was to better understand the sex work industry, trafficking, law enforcement practices, and survivor support, with a focus on prevention and accountability. The first panel featured a DOJ representative, a USC law professor, and an ACLU attorney. DOJ presented arrest and conviction data for the repealed loitering statute and said the data did not distinguish clearly between buyers and sellers. USC researchers said anti-trafficking raids and stings often lacked transparency, disproportionately harmed marginalized groups, and frequently failed to identify traffickers or connect survivors to services. The ACLU argued that loitering laws have historically been used to police people of color and that criminalizing sex work or purchase of sex can worsen harm, increase racial disparities, and create immigration consequences. Committee members asked about better data collection, racial disparities, and whether the new law would help communities; responses emphasized public health approaches, housing, job training, and trauma-informed services. The second panel included DOJ, Pomona Police Chief Mike Ellis, and survivor advocate Jess Torres. DOJ described regional human trafficking teams, task forces, prosecutions, and survivor services. Chief Ellis said the repeal of the loitering law reduced officers’ ability to intervene early, contributed to visible open-air prostitution near schools and businesses, and made it harder to rescue juveniles; he supported AB 379 and related local efforts. Torres, speaking as a survivor, argued that survivor voices are often excluded, that many youth in the sex trade are boys or LGBTQ youth, and that criminalization and street enforcement can retraumatize people and push the problem out of sight rather than solve it. She urged prevention, unmet-needs services, and survivor inclusion in policymaking. In the final panel, a Riverside County prosecutor said AB 63 would restore a useful enforcement tool with safeguards and could help officers make earlier contact with potential victims, while stressing the need for training and oversight. A public defender argued that arresting trafficked people reinforces traffickers’ control, creates lifelong barriers, and undermines cooperation, pointing to a Pomona diversion program as evidence that treatment and wraparound services can work. No formal votes were taken during the hearing; the committee used the session for testimony, questions, and discussion of competing approaches to trafficking enforcement and survivor support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're very excited that this program has launched, and we are about to roll it out in Bernalillo and
• communication outreach, we're constantly in touch through meetings, email communications, and we've launched
• One in particular that's ongoing now is we've launched a gaps and needs analysis.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So we had originally planned to launch the program in fall of 2024; however, due to our faculty shortage
• So I'm very happy to announce that we did launch our RN program in spring of 2025 in January with 10
• have really been happy to partner with the New Mexico expansion grant support that's helped us to launch

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, you'll recall NMSU launched its new strategic plan, Leeds 2025 at that time.
• Uh, on the web, but also, uh, we're exploring just now launching some new extension microlearning courses
• Uh, to really upgrade our facility and we're really excited about launching that new facility.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to say that none of them are living at home, so no failures to launch.
• right here in Northeast Florida, something that we're leading in, and I want to stay in the lead, launching
• That we're leading in, and I want to stay in the lead, launching careers, starting businesses, and contributing

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.

Transcript Highlights:

• SANDAG has utilized these critical REAP funds to address regional housing issues by launching its Housing
• effect of making sure that this is done the right way and that we're having our oversight in its launch
• And its launch, I think, is going to demand us to be as involved as possible.

Summary: The Assembly Subcommittee on State Administration held a budget hearing focused heavily on housing, homelessness, and related administrative proposals. HCD reported that California housing production has increased, with 2023 completions up 13% from 2022 and entitlement and construction timelines improving, while members and advocates criticized the Governor’s January budget for zeroing out or sharply reducing several housing programs. Public testimony urged funding for affordable housing production, preservation, youth housing, CalHome, LIHTC, HAP, and related programs, and several speakers argued the state should not pull back after recent progress. A major policy item was trailer bill language to allow HCD to access “excess equity” in existing affordable housing projects and recycle those funds into new or preserved housing. HCD and the LAO said the proposal could unlock tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, but members wanted guardrails and clearer statutory direction to ensure the funds stay within the intended housing purposes. The committee also discussed encampment resolution funding; HCD said the proposal would shift expenditure deadlines to the date of award rather than appropriation, while the LAO raised concerns about limited outcome data and urged the Legislature to use upcoming reporting before deciding on future funding. The hearing also covered HCD trailer bills to consolidate default reserve funds into a centralized continuously appropriated account and to clarify reporting requirements for early rounds of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program. HCD requested funding to implement chaptered legislation, including a new tribal housing program and reporting-related bills, and also sought extensions for certain reappropriations, including Homekey and REAP 2 deadlines. Public commenters and regional agencies supported flexibility for REAP 2 timing and other housing-related adjustments. Finally, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency presented the Governor’s reorganization proposal to split the current agency into a Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Consumer Protection Agency. The administration said the change would improve focus, efficiency, and coordination, but the LAO and several members questioned whether it would truly save money or improve accountability, especially given the need for new leadership, possible staffing changes, and the fact that the plan had not yet been formally submitted for review. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Following this devastating flooding in South Texas earlier this year, the team immediately launched a
• immediately</c> earlier this year, the team immediately earlier this year, the team immediately launched
• a flood relief program to help launched a flood relief program to help those<00:24:11.520><c> who</c
• And there has been a launch of a trade war that could cost the average family in America over $4,900
• Now, just days before his inauguration, Trump launched a memecoin.

Transcript Highlights:

• Schools, it's not financially tenable to maintain a robust graduate program while simultaneously launching
• graduate program<01:35:34.199><c> while</c><01:35:34.639><c> simultaneously</c><01:35:35.440><c> launching
• </c><01:35:35.880><c> a</c> program while simultaneously launching a program while simultaneously launching
• In January, we launched our Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee with guidance from DLI.
• I’m representing a teacher apprenticeship model that hopes to launch in the fall.”

Bills: HF1538 , HF1965 , HF2251 , HF2838

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about the new program<00:55:24.559><c> that</c><00:55:24.880><c> launched</c><00:55:25.200
• ><c> in</c> program that launched in program that launched in 2024.<00:55:27.680><c> I</c><00:55:27.920
• The LMI CSG program launched in January 2024.
• </c><00:57:45.839><c> in</c><00:57:46.079><c> January</c> The LMI CSG program launched in January The
• LMI CSG program launched in January 2024.<00:57:47.920><c> The</c><00:57:48.160><c> program</c><00:57

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• A brief history of the program: the program launched in 2020, and again we partnered with Minnesota Virtual
• well in a virtual setting, it’s not for everybody, so we also continue to build out the program and launched
• We are also wrapping up the final stages of a partnership and intend to launch in 2025–2026 in partnership
• ><c> in</c><01:22:22.679><c> 2025</c><01:22:23.679><c> 2026</c><01:22:24.639><c> in</c> intend to launch
• in 2025 2026 in intend to launch in 2025 2026 in partnership<01:22:25.239><c> with</c><01:22:25.400>

Bills: HF339 , HF1272 , HF2121 , HF2122 , HF1216 , HF1003 , HF2319

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We launched no new games in July, and so that may have had something to do with our dip in instant sales

Committee: All ALC-LOTTERY OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The meeting began with a review of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery’s Miles Partnership contract for website hosting. Sharon Strong explained that the hosting function had been separated from the new advertising agency contract and put out for competitive bid because the amount was under the RFP threshold. Three companies bid, Miles Partnership was the lowest, and the one-year contract would cost up to $61,000, down from the previous $90,000 annual cost. The committee reviewed the contract without objection. Strong then gave the lottery director’s report for July, noting that instant game sales were down but draw game sales were up, resulting in a 3.7% decline in total revenue year over year. Operating expenses were lower, especially marketing and advertising, reflecting savings from the new contract, and net proceeds were 14.8% higher than the prior year and 7.4% above forecast. Fiscal 2026 ended with $114.3 million in net proceeds, the second-highest transfer in lottery history, and the lottery had already transferred $67 million to the Division of Higher Education for fiscal 2027. She also reported $1.1 million in reserves, $3,545 withheld for debt setoff, and a renegotiated Bank OZK arrangement expected to improve interest earnings. The Arkansas Division of Higher Education then presented scholarship reports. Assistant Commissioner Nick Fuller said 29,055 students received the Academic Challenge Scholarship in 2026, totaling $110 million, including 11,000 students who received Challenge Plus awards worth an additional $18 million. For first-time awardees, 12,708 students received $40 million, with 5,816 of them receiving Challenge Plus funding. He also reported that the Academic Challenge portion of the net proceeds trust account ended the year with a $4.4 million balance, and the Higher Education Grants Fund ended with a $5.3 million balance after spending $74.9 million in fiscal 2026. Representative Garner asked about the lower budget request for the next year, and Fuller said the main reason was that the Arkansas Future Grant had cost more than expected in 2026 due to higher-than-anticipated private school participation and related factors. ADHE also requested $667,346 in reimbursement for administering the scholarship programs, the lowest request in five years. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• More importantly, Los Angeles County, in response to the Palisades and Eaton fires, has actually launched

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard AB 748 by Assemblymember Harabedian, a bill to expand California’s pre-approved housing plan program beyond accessory dwelling units to single-family and small multifamily developments under 10 units. The author said the measure builds on the earlier AB 1332 model, is intended to reduce time and cost in plan review, and gives local governments flexibility to choose designs while preserving permitting fee revenue. He also noted the bill had been worked to remove local government opposition and that similar pre-approved approaches have been used in Altadena and by Los Angeles County after recent fires. Support testimony came from Habitat for Humanity California, which said the bill would streamline the costly and labor-intensive early design and plan review phase and help affordable builders, nonprofits, and small developers move more quickly to permits. A representative from Abundant Housing Los Angeles and SPUR also spoke in support. No opposition witnesses appeared. Committee members expressed support, with Assemblymember Ward offering to coauthor and move the bill. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 748 to the Appropriations Committee, and the roll was briefly held open for an absent member before being closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can launch the UAV and, instead of jumping over those backyard fences, we can set a perimeter with
• We can launch the UAV and, instead of jumping over those backyard fences, set a perimeter with our law
• We can launch the UAV and, instead of jumping over those backyard fences, set a perimeter with our law
• > the</c><00:21:32.880><c> UAV</c><00:21:33.600><c> in</c><00:21:33.919><c> that</c> needed to to launch
• the UAV in that needed to to launch the UAV in that particular<00:21:34.559><c> instance.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Since its launch, the Farm to Community Program has provided consistent and predictable markets for our

Bills: SB311 , HB371

Committee: House Agriculture

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 53 would codify and continue the Farm to Community Program if federal support is reduced or unavailable, prioritize Delaware farmers, and require reporting and transparency. Testimony in support came from the Delaware Farm Bureau, the Academy of Medicine and Public Health, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jimmy Crone, who said the department supports the bill. Members raised no questions, and the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. The committee then heard Senate Bill 311, a Department of Agriculture maintenance bill updating Title 3 provisions related to plant industry and pesticides. The bill removes an outdated $100 license fee, requires certified private applicators to keep pesticide application records available for inspection, expands the definition of landscaper to include commercial entities installing their own nursery stock, and removes a good-character requirement for grain inspector applicants. With no public comment or questions, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. Finally, House Bill 371, sponsored by Representative Vanderwyn, would streamline the Agland Preservation Act by eliminating a redundant county advisory board step for farmland preservation districts. Representative Vanderwyn and Deputy Secretary Crone explained that the advisory boards were more useful when the program was new, but now the county planning and zoning commissions and the Department of Agriculture already provide the needed review. After brief discussion, with no public comment, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's I don't know, it's after launch, my I can't do math, but that's a lot of eggs.

Bills: SB1465 , SB2110 , SB1771 , SB206 , SB1584 , SB1386 , SB1696 , SB1806 , SB1428 , SB1390 , SB1381 , SB201 , SB1778 , SB1332 , SB1836 , SB1369 , SB1794 , SB1290 , SB175 , SB1379

Keywords: professional engineers, surveyors, licensure board, sunset extension, state board, occupational licensing, engineering license, surveying license, professional regulation, regulatory board, sunset review, emergency clause, Oklahoma O.S. 59, board appointments, lay member, SB2110, eggs, ungraded eggs, graded eggs, egg sales

Transcript Highlights:

• The swimming lesson voucher online application portal launched in September of 2024, more than 18,000

Transcript Highlights:

• FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT THE SHERIFF LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AND HOW THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED