Transcript Highlights:

• But AB 981 will fix that by allowing for the installation of a speed limiter instead of a license suspension
• By allowing for the installation of a speed limiter instead of a license suspension, AB981 gives the
• Instead of a license suspension, AB981 gives the courts an additional tool that allows people to maintain
• ask the individual who's trespassing, the squatter, do you have any evidence of a lease or rental payments

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The committee heard several public safety-related bills, with extensive testimony for and against each measure. AB 82 by Assembly Member Ward would expand privacy and safety protections for patients, families, and providers of gender-affirming care, including limits on reporting certain prescription data to CURES, expanded safe-at-home and anti-doxing protections, and broader health information confidentiality. Supporters said the bill responds to rising harassment and threats against transgender people and providers; opponents argued it would create dangerous secrecy and undermine parental rights. The committee recommended the bill do pass to Judiciary, and it was held on call. AB 331 by Assembly Member Pellerin would clarify that county election certification is a ministerial duty, prohibit misleading ballot return envelopes, and require voter information guides to be delivered to jails in an acceptable format. The Department of Justice and supporters said the bill strengthens election integrity and access, while the Secretary of State had no position after amendments addressed concerns. The committee moved the bill do pass to Appropriations, and it passed on call. AB 1178 by Assembly Member Pacheco would narrow public-records redaction rules for undercover peace officers, while preserving disclosure of sustained misconduct records. Law enforcement supporters said it protects undercover officers and their families; transparency and civil liberties groups warned it could lead to broader withholding and confusion in the courts. After amendments and discussion, the committee recommended the bill do pass as amended to Appropriations, and it passed. AB 981 by Assembly Member Gibson would create a five-county pilot requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for people convicted of specified reckless driving and speed offenses, with a report back to the Legislature. Supporters, including traffic safety advocates and crash survivors, said it would reduce speeding and save lives; opponents raised concerns about cost, liability, oversight, and the breadth of the pilot. The committee recommended the bill do pass as amended to Appropriations, and it passed. The consent calendar was also adopted. The committee then heard AB 22 by Assembly Member DeMaio, which would repeal Proposition 57, restrict release of sexually violent predators, and repeal a sex-offender registry exception for certain offenses. Supporters framed it as a public safety correction to prior policy choices, while opponents said it would be unconstitutional and would harm youth rehabilitation and community safety. The chair recommended a no vote, no motion was made, and the bill was held. The committee also began hearing AB 897 by Assembly Member DeMaio, which would create a process to remove alleged squatters from property more quickly; the author and supporters said it would protect property owners and provide due process, while opponents warned it could criminalize informal housing arrangements and accelerate homelessness. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 897, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:25.760><c> to</c> certain they're not making payments to certain they're not making payments
• </c><00:10:30.640><c> Uh</c><00:10:30.959><c> so</c> payments to people and entities.
• Uh so payments to people and entities.
• It would be a 2% withhold from the capitation payments that are made to managed care organizations on
• </c> organization. the capitation payments organization. the capitation payments will<00:15:13.040><c

Summary: Senate Republican leaders held a press event to roll out a package of anti-fraud proposals focused on state welfare and human services programs. Mark Johnson opened by citing recent fraud scandals, including a shuttered housing program and reports of vulnerable adults being left without care while providers billed for full services, and said Republicans want top-down reform, stronger accountability, new technology, and tighter oversight of taxpayer dollars. Michael Kreun said Republicans support an independent Office of Inspector General and argued the Senate-passed bill should not be weakened in the House; he also said the Senate should restore its role in confirming agency commissioners, especially at DHS, which he described as central to the fraud problem. Jordan Rasmusson outlined a plan to stop “blank checks” for DHS and DCYF services by requiring legislative audit review when a program exceeds budget by 5 percent and legislative approval for additional spending at 10 percent over budget. He also said DHS should adopt basic integrity tools such as electronic visit verification and client sign-off. Steve Drazkowski described two bills: a statewide “do-not-pay” list to block payments to ineligible people or entities, and an “I’m Not a Robot” proposal for Medicaid managed care that would require enrollee verification forms, with a 2 percent payment withhold used to encourage compliance and potentially fund county system upgrades. Mark Krueger said the state should improve technology and data use for eligibility determinations, citing other states’ rapid fraud-fighting systems, and proposed penalties for false reporting to the Legislative Auditor after a DHS audit found falsified site-visit records. Steve Gruenhagen said his bill would require DHS and DCYF to resume annual fraud-prevention and oversight reports to the legislature, which he said had stopped after 2017 despite rising fraud cases. Michael Holmstrom proposed unannounced site visits for all DHS and DCYF providers before enrollment, reenrollment, and revalidation, funded through provider service fees, and cited a recent case involving a woman with autism who was billed for far more care than she received. In the Q&A, Kreun said House Democrats’ delete-everything amendment to the inspector general bill removed the law enforcement division and stripped the bill of its “teeth,” and he suggested the governor’s office may have been involved in efforts to replace the bill with a weaker coordination council model. No votes were taken in the press conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• Several petitions come from the House under the suspension of Joint Rule 12 and are referred to their
• The question comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.

Summary: The Senate began with ceremonial items, including the Pledge of Allegiance and a welcome to Tri-County High School’s championship football and boys’ cross-country teams. The chamber then adopted a resolution commending the town of Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for recognizing the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. Several local bills were taken up and passed to be enacted, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting the senior property tax deferral income threshold in Wellesley, amending the Hopedinton charter regarding library trustee appointment powers, and later engrossing bills affecting the Cotuit Fire District, the Salem licensing board, and validating Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and, on committee recommendation, advanced two Cotuit Fire District bills to third reading and engrossment. A major portion of the session focused on two Senate orders seeking advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on pending initiative petitions. One order concerned a public records initiative that would extend public records law to the General Court and the Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends initiative that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney spoke in support of both orders, saying they were meant to inform the committee’s work and were not votes on the merits of the ballot questions. Both orders were adopted without objection. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft and amendment pending, and adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026. The session concluded with an order to adjourn to Monday at 11 a.m., which was adopted, and the Senate adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Several petitions come from the House under the suspension of Joint Rule 12 and are referred to their
• Question comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and several ceremonial items, including introductions of championship Tri-County High School football and boys’ cross-country teams and adoption of a resolution honoring Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. The chamber then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting Wellesley’s senior property tax deferral income threshold, amending the Hopedinton/Hopkinton town charter regarding library trustees, and other local matters, all of which were passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and took up several local bills from the Orders of the Day. These included bills enhancing the powers of the Cotuit Fire District’s Board of Water Commissioners, authorizing the Cotuit Fire District to raise money for the Historical Society of Santuit and Cotuit, further regulating the Salem licensing board, and validating the results of Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. Each was advanced by unanimous consent, read a third time, and passed to be engrossed. A major portion of the session focused on two orders from Senator Friedman requesting advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on initiative petitions. One concerned a public records proposal that would extend public records law to the General Court and Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends proposal that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney argued the requests were needed to clarify constitutional issues before the Legislature acts on the initiatives, and both orders were adopted. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on Senate Bill 2720, a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft, Senate No. 3014, recommended. The chamber adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026, with amendments in order, and then adopted a separate order to adjourn until Monday at 11 a.m., dispensing with the printing of a calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• OFFENSE WITH FINES AT $500 GOING UP TO $1000 PENALTY FOR SECOND OFFENSE WITH A SIX-MONTH LICENSE SUSPENSION
• AND THIRD OFFENSE $1000 PENALTY WITH LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR A YEAR AND THAT IS THE BILL. >> Vice Chair

Transcript Highlights:

• And unlike prior temporary limitations, this proposal does not include a suspension of net operating
• The first one is to modernize payments for routine software licensing purchases.
• The first one is to modernize payments for routine software licensing purchases.
• This proposal would create a clear statutory allowance for advance payments for software contracts that
• The network has secured over $14,000 in monthly payment savings for borrowers, resulting in over $4.6

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will read the bill: HB 2581 by Hull relating to the information required for payment of services
• Members, HB 1939 provides an early payment option for school districts. I move passage.
• revenue derived from a hotel and convention center project and supply... certain tax revenue for the payment
• Members are willing to credit against required recapture payments for certain school districts at the
• HB5509 by Garner relating to the suspension or revocation of a hotel or motel certificate of occupancy

Bills: HB2293 , HB2694 , HB2999 , HB3694 , HB3254 , HB4662 , HB5629 , HB5632 , HB5675 , HB5664 , HB5671 , HB5680 , HB5682 , HB5693 , HB4158 , HB5695 , HB4669 , HB5696 , HB5698 , HB5677 , HB5699 , HB5694 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR89 , HCR111 , HCR142 , HR868 , SB682 , SB1351 , SB1895 , SB1931 , SB2141 , SB3044 , SCR1 , SCR6 , SCR37 , SB458 , SB482 , SB927 , SB984 , SB651 , SB1620 , SB2124 , SB2448 , SB841 , SB843 , SB402 , SB2662 , SB2053 , SB2332 , SB2112 , SB745 , SB1247 , SB1789 , HB75 , HB5354 , HB4683 , HB4847 , HB1449 , HB3833 , HB265 , HB1845 , HB 108 , HB1960 , HB1955 , HB2512 , HB2581 , HB2803 , HB1738 , HB636 , HB2638 , HB2655 , HB871 , HB 1107 , HB1765 , HB1822 , HB3679 , HB4099 , HB3732 , HB3171 , HB3749 , HB2814 , HB3977 , HB4204 , HB4207 , HB4449 , HB1820 , HB1876 , HB1939 , HB1347 , HB2593 , HB2136 , HB2658 , HB2757 , HB2080 , HB3063 , HB3006 , HB2844 , HB3241 , HB3680 , HB3169 , HB2078 , HB2507 , HB4559 , HB3405 , HB475 , HB3463 , HB3441 , HB3520 , HB3178 , HB158 , HB2060 , HB4991 , HB1991 , HB5596 , HB2014 , HB2731 , HB2417 , HB2399 , HB2301 , HB3335 , HB3234 , HB3320 , HB4848 , HB4748 , HB4769 , HB4795 , HB2086 , HB2234 , HB4916 , HB5624 , HB4505 , HB5093 , HB5302 , HB5402 , HB5606 , HB4630 , HB4924 , HB3339 , HB3793 , HB3631 , HB4882 , HB5509 , HB5499 , HB5520 , SB1177 , SB1559 , SB746 , SB434 , SB1383 , SB1214 , SB1079 , SB3031 , SB2141 , SB2185 , SB1895 , SB1241 , SB901 , SB1883 , SB552 , HB 1249 , HJR218 , HB5623 , SB687 , SB1332 , SB458 , SB482 , SB927 , SB984 , SB651 , SB1620 , SB2124 , SB2448 , SB841 , SB843 , SB402 , SB2662 , SB2053 , SB2332 , SB2112 , SB745 , SB1247 , SB1789 , HCR76 , HCR127 , HCR9 , HCR40 , HCR118 , HR559 , HCR59 , HCR135 , HCR141 , HCR46 , HCR109 , HCR10 , SB3037

Keywords: Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors, local governance, elections, healthcare administration, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, vacancies, resignation, hydrogen vehicles, weight limitations, transportation, environmental impact, clean energy, deep fake, intimate depictions, consent, digital media, criminal penalties, State Board of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So through the work of the committee, we want to make sure that there is a set minimum of a suspension
• This bill significantly increases the punishment for reckless driving through both license suspensions
• License suspension sounds like a narrow, non-punitive, and targeted sanction.
• The first one was up to 60 days of a license suspension for the first act, and then 60 to 90, if I'm
• mistaken, for the second suspension.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• During my time in foster care, DCF took $44,000 in SSI payments, which prohibited me from getting the
• During my time in foster care, DCF took $44,000 in SSI payments, which prohibited me from getting the
• And I learned that about 90% of foster care youth state benefits, including Social Security payments
• and veterans payments, to the Commonwealth. ...to the Commonwealth's general fund.
• regarding changes in placement, hospitalizations, and other significant events, such as school suspensions

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting foster youth, child welfare oversight, homelessness services, juvenile justice, social work licensure, and human services workforce supports. Committee co-chairs Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representative Jay Livingstone opened the hybrid hearing by outlining testimony procedures and accessibility measures. Several members and legislators participated throughout the day, and many witnesses were invited to submit additional written testimony after speaking. A major portion of the hearing focused on House 227/Senate 105, which would protect federal benefits owed to children in foster care. Supporters, including advocates from Hopewell, the Disability Law Center, CPCS, the Children’s Law Center, More Than Words, Friends of Children, and youth witness Onyx Rosario, said DCF had already ended the practice of taking most Social Security and SSI benefits and now conserves them in accounts for youth, but argued the policy should be codified to prevent future reversals. Witnesses described how conserved benefits help with basic needs, housing, education, transportation, and transition to adulthood, and several noted the bill also adds financial literacy and transparency requirements. Senator Joan Comerford and others said the change would protect vulnerable youth, especially children of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. The committee also heard testimony on House 225, which would expand the grandparents-raising-grandchildren commission by adding appointments and helping with quorum and representation. The committee also took testimony on Senate 136, which would improve emergency housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness by easing documentation requirements, allowing use of existing state data to verify eligibility, requiring notice before benefit reductions, and creating an ombudsperson. Senator Adam Gomez and other supporters said the bill would reduce barriers for families in crisis. On House 262/Senate 148, an omnibus child welfare bill, witnesses supported provisions on data reporting, education coordination, and Office of the Child Advocate reforms, while CPCS raised concerns about expanded access to sensitive records and the OCA’s role in certain proceedings. The Office of the Child Advocate supported codifying current practices and also backed child fatality review changes in House 234/Senate 133. The committee additionally heard support for Senate 108, which would require attorneys and audio/video recording during juvenile custodial interrogations, and for House 247/Senate 116, which would update the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board to add supported lived-experience seats. Finally, the committee heard competing testimony on Senate 135, a bill to ensure parity in social work licensure. SEIU Local 509 and supporters argued the current exam requirement disproportionately harms Black, Latino, multilingual, and multicultural applicants and worsens workforce shortages, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, saying the exam is a necessary public-protection measure and that removing it would conflict with interstate compact efforts. The hearing also included testimony in support of a loan repayment program for human service workers, with providers and workers describing low wages, high student debt, and the need to retain staff in essential services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• In some cases, individuals decline guaranteed income payments to avoid jeopardizing their benefits like
• And we can do that by ensuring that guaranteed income payments aren't counted as income when determining
• AB 1080 does not require counties to forego 4E foster care payments for 4E-eligible youth.
• one month of SSI in every 12-month period to ensure SSI benefits aren't terminated for being in suspense
• For 4E-eligible youth, AB 1080 would require this one-month SSI payment to be conserved for the child

Summary: The committee heard a series of child care, social services, immigrant support, disability services, and language access bills, with many measures drawing strong support and no opposition. Early in the hearing, AB 450 proposed a Department of Aging task force to study and recommend policies for undocumented adults age 55 and older; AB 593 would let CDSS identify data-sharing opportunities to improve CalFresh administration and participation; and AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility so families do not lose care during pregnancy leave, family leave, caregiving, or job search periods. All three were presented as ways to reduce barriers and improve access to essential services, and AB 904 was moved out on a 1-0 call after support testimony from child care advocates and a member of the public. AB 617, which would expand and standardize respite care access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by requiring licensing and registry participation, drew both support and significant opposition from respite providers and disability service organizations concerned about added regulation, cost, and possible delays; the author said she would continue working with opponents, and the bill was moved out on a 2-0 call. The committee also heard AB 1220, which would require regional centers to document denials, notices of action, and appeals in individual program plans and include that data in annual reports to improve transparency and equity in developmental services. The bill drew extensive public support from parents, advocates, and disability organizations, with no opposition, and passed 5-0. AB 752 would make child care centers by right in certain residential zones when co-located with multifamily housing or institutional uses, and supporters argued it would reduce zoning barriers and help expand child care capacity; it also passed 5-0. AB 1242 would create a CalHHS language access director, require human review of machine translation, and improve language coverage determinations for state and local agencies; supporters emphasized health equity and the need for better access for limited-English communities, and the bill was moved out on a 4-0 call. Later, AB 548 would continue and expand the Asylee and Vulnerable Non-Citizen Program, which provides case management and integration services for asylees and certain visa holders; supporters said the program had been effective but had run out of funding, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would strengthen family safety planning for immigrant families, standardize acceptance of caregiver authorization affidavits, and create a joint guardianship process for temporary separations; testimony focused on fear of family separation and the need for clear school and medical procedures, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 1357 would exclude guaranteed income payments from being counted as income for state public assistance eligibility, with supporters arguing it would prevent recipients from falling off the “benefits cliff”; it passed 4-1. Finally, AB 1201, the Reunity Act, was introduced to require individualized court assessments before denying reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions after a five-year period, with the author and a witness describing the bill as a trauma-informed approach to family reunification.

Transcript Highlights:

• 12 kids taking the same class from a college teacher, but they're still getting the full per-pupil payment
• And they were removed, which then leads to the year's suspension.
• And they were removed, which then leads to the year's suspension.
• So they have not received a state aid payment from November through April until they get those reports
• Once they get those reports in, we will release their payments.

Committees: Joint Education , Joint Education Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• on their first like face suspension on their first offense<00:54:24.319><c> for</c><00:54:24.599><c>
• We want to lower suspension rates, well, of course we want to lower suspension rates. Who doesn't?
• We want to lower suspension rates. Well, of course we want to lower suspension rates—who doesn't?
• expulsion restorative suspension or expulsion restorative justice<01:25:06.600><c> practices</c><01:
• </c> student integration following suspension student integration following suspension for<01:25:20.280

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the MCO per member per month cap rate payment may serve as a proxy.
• And so the MCO per member per month cap rate payment may serve as a proxy.
• The second part is the payment aspect.
• If we kind of bulk up the definition to also include kind of payment integrity, that would be helpful
• It doesn't hurt any nonprofit payment premiums or any drug rebate programs or anything of that nature

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to radiation protection in cardiac catheterization labs and later a stem cell/regenerative therapy bill. On SB 1121, which would allow hospitals with radiation protection systems to let clinicians forgo lead aprons if they work in the designated safety area and use real-time dosimetry, testimony was largely supportive or neutral after a late amendment gave radiation safety officers discretion to require protective gear if exposures approach thresholds. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1121 on a 9-1 vote. SB 1120, a more prescriptive bill requiring at least 50% of cath lab rooms in hospitals to be equipped with the radiation protection system, drew divided testimony: sponsors and several physicians argued it would reduce orthopedic injury and radiation exposure and improve recruitment and retention, while hospital and radiology groups objected to the mandate, cost, limited vendor pool, and lack of clarity in the bill’s definitions. After adopting an amendment excluding children’s hospitals, the committee deadlocked 6-6 and SB 1120 failed to pass. The committee then considered SB 1118, which would appropriate $3 million to help rural hospitals install radiation protection systems in cath lab rooms. The sponsor said the funding would help rural facilities meet the same safety goals, and the committee passed the bill 6-5. The committee also heard SB 1214, a “guardrails” bill regulating non-FDA-approved stem cell and regenerative therapies, requiring informed consent, sourcing and reporting standards, advertising limits, and civil penalties for violations. Supporters said it would protect patients while allowing access to promising therapies; some members raised concerns about evidence and commercialization, but after adopting a technical amendment, the bill passed 9-3. The transcript ended as the committee moved on to SB 1630, which would seek federal approval for a home- and community-based service benefit for adults with serious mental illness; the sponsor described it as a capped, Medicaid-based community care option, and Access testified neutral while estimating a fiscal impact, but no final action on SB 1630 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rogers of Cambridge moves suspension of the rules. All those in favor say aye.
• Representative Gordon of Bedford moves suspension of the rules in order to consider the matter.
• Representative Gordon of Bedford moves suspension of the rules in order that the matter may be considered

Summary: The House first recognized several student athletes and teams, including East Bridgewater cheerleaders, Medway athletes and teams, and the Housatonic Valley basketball team, and adopted a resolution congratulating the William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps on its 25th anniversary. Members also suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance a petition concerning an extension of a lease authorization for conservation land. The chamber then took up Senate 2581, as amended, a major education and youth technology bill. The bill was rewritten to promote safe technology use and distraction-free education, including restrictions on personal electronic devices in public schools and limits on social media access for children. Members debated whether the policy should be bell-to-bell or allow more local flexibility, and several amendments were offered. An amendment from Attleboro to preserve district-specific policies was rejected, while a consolidated amendment tightening social media restrictions and related protections was adopted. The House also considered and passed several other bills, including measures amending the Sandwich charter, authorizing Springfield to help certain residents with local tax obligations, authorizing charity alcohol auctions, and directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for a specific police applicant. In addition, the House rejected concurrence on a Senate version of a higher education infrastructure bill and instead appointed a committee of conference. Later, the House accepted a conference report on modernizing cannabis laws after debate focused on regulatory streamlining, equity, ownership caps, and hemp regulation. The report was adopted by roll call, and the House then passed the amended education bill to be engrossed before adjourning to the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:23:46.799><c> the</c><00:23:46.960><c> body</c><00:23:47.200><c> is</c><00:23:47.280><c> suspension
• </c><00:23:47.760><c> of</c> &gt;&gt; Question for the body is suspension of &gt;&gt; Question for the
• body is suspension of the<00:23:48.080><c> rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've got some data around attendance and suspensions and also really to build up the confidence of
• That's in 2005. around attendance and suspensions and around attendance and suspensions and also<00:46
• And as you've heard from me and others, we also have data showing reduced suspensions. was in my materials
• Um, so how can we support greater Minnesota schools that now find themselves relying on suspension or
• </c><01:19:02.719><c> or</c> themselves relying on suspension or themselves relying on suspension or

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just want to confirm to the committee that Massachusetts never asks for payment to register your
• And then we use funds that we take in from RGGI and alternative compliance payments.
• We just have to make sure that as we continue to discuss ACP payments, we need to make sure that we’re
• And I’m glad you brought up the renewable or the zero-emission vehicles because prior to the suspension
• And I'm glad you brought up the renewable or the zero emission vehicles because prior to the suspension

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• And unlike prior temporary limitations, this proposal does not include a suspension of net operating
• The first one is to modernize payments for routine software licensing purchases.
• The first one is to modernize payments for routine software licensing purchases.
• The network has secured over $14,000 in monthly payment savings for borrowers, resulting in over $4.6
• The network has secured over $14,000 in monthly payment savings for borrowers, resulting in over $4.6

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, when I'm notified if there's a disproportionality with suspension or identification of a certain
• if there's a disproportionality notified if there's a disproportionality with<00:41:37.760><c> suspension
• or identification of a with suspension or identification of a certain<00:41:40.319><c> disability</c
• I have read the opposition, and it's included in our packet of solutions, not suspensions, and other
• </c><00:48:01.200><c> and</c> packet of solutions not suspensions and packet of solutions not suspensions

Transcript Highlights:

• And a suspension of fee assessments when a cap is met for a storage facility would only suspend the 12
• As they continue to inject, does that payment to local government ever stop at any point?
• The F stands per unit, M is maximum payments, M being the 144 months.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment