Transcript Highlights:

• So the lack of available funding, in particular for our problem child, that is L.A.
• Moving on to the next department, Child Support Services, Issue 11. Good morning.
• So individuals that receive child support need less... ...for cost avoidance.
• So our department establishes and enforces these child support orders.
• Poverty, California, and the Truth and Justice and Child Support Coalition.

Summary: The hearing began with an overview of the California Health and Human Services Agency, which described its 2026-27 budget, major departments, and strategic priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth, and aging/disability services. The agency also explained a technical CalHHS/CalHires budget adjustment tied to HR1 compliance and eligibility system work. No LAO concerns were raised on that item. The committee then heard from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration on its budget, its SB 823 realignment report, and related issues. OYCR said county-based realignment has generally succeeded but outcomes and readiness vary widely, and it recommended more climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral management, better programming, improved transition planning, and integrated longitudinal data systems. Members pressed OYCR on “net widening,” county-by-county trends, and the gap between the detailed recommendations discussed in hearing and the more general recommendations in the public report. OYCR also described problems with federal Title II grant timing and a pending $14 million administrative funding adjustment, and discussed implementation of the juvenile justice realignment block grant formula. The Ombudsperson division separately requested two new positions due to rising complaints, site visits, and records-access disputes with counties; LAO noted the proposal would create ongoing General Fund costs. Several other departments presented budget change proposals. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover an interagency administrative support gap with DSS; LAO had no concerns. EMSA presented its department overview, said its AB 716 ambulance-rate report has been delayed after resources were reduced, and requested funding for disaster-response vehicle replacement, IT security assessment work, and additional HR/legal staff; members questioned delays, compliance, and the ongoing General Fund impact. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of LIWIP funds and explained a new Proposition 4 process for continuing the farmworker housing component. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority for $60 million in additional federal funds and 54 positions to meet growing vocational rehabilitation demand, with no General Fund impact. The Department of Child Support Services presented its budget and a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections. Members questioned why local agency funding was being restored despite declining caseloads, and staff explained that staffing costs have risen faster than caseload declines and that additional funding is needed to maintain service levels. The supplemental report estimated full pass-through would cost about $150 million General Fund annually, or about $80 million for a state-and-county portion, with $3 million to $5 million in automation costs. Finally, the Department of Public Health gave a broad overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its State of Public Health report, highlighting improved mortality and life expectancy, declining overdose deaths and STI rates, persistent racial and regional disparities, and increasing public health emergency demands. CDPH also warned that federal funding threats and policy changes are creating major uncertainty for state and local public health systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have every child they can handle, and I believe it's $300 a day.
• Child care program: $1,900 a month to a provider, and that is whether a child shows up one hour a week
• Mental health follows with a child.
• We do not want any child sleeping in an office. And so we will exhaust...
• Every effort before the child stays in an office.

Transcript Highlights:

• And of that child, there's. one child that has died so far is that correct?
• with that child?
• Many families may have a child in Medicaid and another child in CHIP, as we like to talk about. these
• It deals with the child care.
• So when somebody wants to have a child care facility, because we have a shortage of child care facilities

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• There was not going to be a child left out when he was around.
• There was not going to be a child left out when he was around. Landon never met a stranger.
• We are here today hoping that this never happens to any child again.
• I pray every day that no parent or grandparent has to sit helpless and watch their child die on a cold
• again my sweet happens to any child again my sweet Landon<00:05:07.400><c> deserve</c><00:05:07.840>

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 44, also called Landon’s Law, which would allow schools to keep anti-choking devices such as LifeVac and remove liability concerns for schools that have them. Representative Candy Massaroni and other supporters said the bill is intended to provide an added rescue option in choking emergencies, especially for children and students with disabilities, and cited concerns that there are no current procedures to rescue some individuals who use wheelchairs or have disabilities. Testifiers from Equal First Aid and Life Act described the device as noninvasive, non-powered, and available with adult and pediatric masks, saying it works by creating suction to dislodge an object from the airway. They also referenced American Heart Association, CDC, and Red Cross guidance in support of broader availability. Lauren McCubbin, Landon McCubbin’s mother, gave emotional testimony about her son’s life and death, saying he choked on a bouncy ball at Boston Elementary on November 21, 2022 and died despite the presence of a nurse and firefighters. She said the bill is meant to ensure no other family has to experience a similar loss and argued that a LifeVac device might have given her son a chance. Committee members asked for clarification about what the device is and why paramedics did not have it, and the bill’s supporters explained that it is a simple suction device and that some emergency services are only beginning to adopt it. After the testimony, a motion and second were made on the bill. The committee then moved into questions and discussion about the device’s function, FDA registration, and use in schools, but no final vote or other action was stated in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• a child, which I have, it is incredibly traumatizing, Representative.
• Advocate seeking child abuse and neglect information.
• HB 202 brings seven child-serving agencies into coordinated data sharing with the Office of Child Advocate
• I'm the founder and executive director of New Mexico Child First Network.
• Advocate and our child advocate.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• a child attends at least one day in that calendar month.
• The market rate survey must achieve a 65% response rate for each child care subsidy rate region.
• The market rate survey must achieve a 65% response rate for each child care subsidy rate region.
• It fluctuates month to month and child to child.
• There is no reduction in cost to the provider when a child is absent.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its last scheduled public hearing of the year on March 9, 2026, taking testimony on House Bill 2487, Substitute House Bill 2689, and Engrossed House Bill 2681. For HB 2487, staff and the Department of Revenue explained that the bill would narrow a B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses after a 2024 Supreme Court decision, make several related changes including annuity and assigned risk plan exemptions, adjust the advanced computing surcharge threshold for certain affiliated groups, and allow a penalties-and-interest waiver with a repayment plan. DOR supported the bill as clarifying the original intent and preventing double taxation, while insurers and health plan groups opposed it, arguing it would create higher costs, retroactive tax liability, and uncertainty; consumer and policy groups testified in support, saying it closes a loophole and restores the intended tax structure. Committee members questioned the retroactivity, the number of affected businesses, and the fiscal estimates, and the chair reminded members that amendment requests were due by noon for the next day’s executive session. For Substitute HB 2689, staff described changes to the Working Connections Child Care program that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, reduce future rate-setting from the 85th to the 75th percentile, block enhanced rates for certain cross-region providers, cancel the planned move to enrollment-based prospective payments, revise attendance-based reimbursement to a full month for absences of 10 days or fewer and half-month for longer absences, and require a 65% market survey response rate for validity. The fiscal note projected substantial savings, offset by implementation and staffing costs. SEIU 925 and Head Start representatives supported the simpler House approach to attendance billing but raised concerns about the new survey threshold and the risk of increased audits and provider burden; they also noted an amendment under discussion to address the 2026 survey issue. Committee questions focused on how a full month is defined under the attendance rules. For HB 2681, staff said the bill would raise annual issuance and renewal fees for cannabis producer, processor, and retail licenses by $400, generating about $866,000 per year for the dedicated cannabis account with minimal administrative cost. No one signed up to testify, and the chair closed the hearing without a vote on any of the bills. The chair also thanked committee staff for their work and reiterated that amendments for the heard bills were due by noon that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was having a hard time finding child care for myself with my kids, including specialized child care
• Um, I have a child with autism as well.
• I was having a hard time finding child care for myself with my kids, including specialized child care
• Um, I have a child with autism as well.
• I was having a hard time finding child care for myself with my kids, including specialized child care

Transcript Highlights:

• And then any report of child abuse.
• </c><00:49:00.880><c> Protection</c> agency, Department of Child Protection agency, Department of Child
• </c> false child false reporting of of child false child false reporting of of child abuse<00:54:17.839
• </c> to strike the department of child to strike the department of child protection<00:56:53.920><c>
• </c><00:57:50.880><c> protective</c> laws right now that child protective laws right now that child protective

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• Our programs include child care centers, family child care homes, an Early Head Start partnership, after-school
• Beyond direct care, we manage Child Care Circuit, one of the state's regional child care resource and
• More recently, we are exploring employer-supported child care as a way to help normalize child care as
• a workforce benefit,” Child care as a way to help normalize child care as a workforce benefit.
• Your child is two days with the aunt, two days with the neighbor.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's a child. This is about a 12- or 13-year-old child laying on their side, masturbating.
• rape and child prostitution.
• Imagine a child finding one of these.
• rape and child prostitution.
• Imagine a child finding one of these.

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the February 4, 2026 minutes and first held SB 1571. It then heard and advanced SB 1745, which would cap transaction privilege/excise tax rates in cities of 550,000 or more at 2.5% per classification unless voters approve a higher rate, with enforcement through the attorney general and state-shared revenue withholding for violations. Supporters argued it would protect taxpayers and restrain large-city tax increases; the bill was amended with a technical change and passed 4-3. The committee also advanced SB 1686, renaming Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza as the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza and authorizing memorial placements for Don Bowles and Charlie Kirk, which passed 4-3. The committee then took up SB 1567 and SB 1435, both aimed at restricting public entities, schools, and libraries from exposing minors to sexually explicit materials and from using public facilities for sexually explicit filming or access. Supporters said the bills were needed to prevent children from being exposed to pornography and to keep taxpayer resources from facilitating such material; opponents, including the ACLU, warned the definitions were broad, could chill speech, and could criminalize librarians and educators for handling literary or educational works. Both bills were amended and passed 4-3. SB 1435 also drew testimony about library access, sex education, and the risk of overbroad enforcement. The committee next considered SB 1433 and SB 1434, which would reorganize Maricopa County boundaries. SB 1433 would move portions of Maricopa County into neighboring counties, while SB 1434 would split Maricopa County into three new counties with a transition board and special elections. Supporters argued Maricopa County had become too large and unmanageable and that smaller counties would improve representation and water and regional governance; opponents said the proposals were costly, disruptive, and politically motivated. Both measures received due pass recommendations, with SB 1433 passing 4-3 and SB 1434 passing 4-3 with one not voting. Finally, the committee approved SCR 1024, requiring legislators to live in their district for one year before election, and SCR 1025, moving the legislative session start to the fourth Monday in January; both resolutions passed unanimously or near-unanimously, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Health to conduct a clinical eligibility determination for the child.
• As the child ages and their needs and their medical needs change, this changes as well.
• , to the individual child.
• THE INDIVIDUAL CHILD.
• It is in statute that defines a medically fragile child. Thank you.

Summary: The Health Facilities Subcommittee met to receive implementation updates from the Agency for Health Care Administration on three bills passed in prior sessions. First, Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer reported on the transfer of the Children’s Medical Services managed care plan from the Department of Health to AHCA under HB 1085. He said the move was administrative only, with no change to enrollment, providers, services, or clinical eligibility functions, and that it was intended to create efficiencies by aligning procurement and shifting staff resources between agencies. Members then questioned AHCA about reports of reductions in private duty nursing and therapy services for medically fragile children, including concerns about appeals, provider credentialing, and whether families were losing services or being transitioned appropriately. AHCA said it was reviewing denials, monitoring the plan, and using contractual remedies while focusing on maintaining access for members. The committee also reviewed implementation of a bill creating permanent Medicaid eligibility for individuals with permanent disabilities. AHCA staff explained that the agency had submitted a federal 1115 waiver request after public comment and stakeholder meetings, but CMS had indicated it did not anticipate approving the requested authority. Members pressed AHCA on why the waiver was submitted later than the bill’s directive date and on whether the delay was avoidable. AHCA said the waiver was complex and required review, drafting, and public input, and noted that DCF already has a specialized unit to help with redeterminations while the agencies work on operational changes. The committee discussed the practical impact on families who struggle with annual eligibility renewals and the need for clearer communication and faster follow-up from the agency. Finally, AHCA presented on the home health aide program for medically fragile children and related Medicaid eligibility changes. The agency described the 2023 law that created a family caregiver provider type and the 2025 changes that increased the hourly rate, expanded hours, reduced training requirements, and removed caregiver earnings from Medicaid eligibility calculations, subject to federal approval. AHCA said it had completed state public comment, submitted the waiver amendment to CMS, and was awaiting federal action. Members raised concerns that some families may have enrolled or begun work before the eligibility fix was in place and may have lost benefits, especially in Broward County. AHCA said it would work with affected families and plans, review outreach through DCF and the health plans, and continue rulemaking, system updates, and provider training. The meeting ended with the chair noting that the committee had received the updates and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents and child advocates have increasingly raised concerns about the risk chatbot parents and child
• Child exploitation has always existed.
• And also, what can AI persuade a child to believe?
• We work with victims of child abuse across the state at 12 locations, and a lot of our victims are child
• We have a child protection bill that we've devised.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have three child advocacy programs across the state who would do forensic interviews for child
• desire or humiliating the child.
• Sometimes there's a safety issue or law enforcement can place a child or child protection, but most of
• ><c> but</c> place a child or child protection, but place a child or child protection, but most<00:53
• We have given assault of a child.

Bills: HB0008 , HB0009

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:08.040><c> to</c> time she was the youngest child to time she was the youngest child to attend
• </c><00:32:12.559><c> with</c> support our heart of hearing child with support our heart of hearing child
• I know what a deaf child needs, and that's why I chose MDS.
• I know what a deaf child needs, and that's why I chose MDS.
• I know what a deaf child needs, and that's why I chose MDS.

Bills: HF827 , HF1258 , HF2387 , HF2388 , HF2534 , HF2016

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the playing field among nonprofit Child the playing field among nonprofit Child Care<01:03:56.839
• </c> Care Centers currently nonprofit child Care Centers currently nonprofit child care<01:03:59.240>
• </c><01:04:13.440><c> Care</c> one of our local Early Child Care one of our local Early Child Care Centers
• How will we know this will lower child care costs?
• How will we know this will lower child care costs?

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:22.519><c> abuse</c> of crime including um child abuse of crime including um child abuse domestic
• </c><00:21:23.320><c> sexual</c> dolls and AI generated SE child sexual dolls and AI generated SE child
• </c> proposal is Banning of CH uh child proposal is Banning of CH uh child sexual<00:21:58.080><c> abuse
• </c><00:57:56.160><c> Child</c> health care coordination child Child health care coordination child Child
• </c> failing um the needs of our child failing um the needs of our child advocacy advocacy advocacy centers

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So you have a child who's had a good experience at SSD?
• So you have a child who's had a good experience at SSD?
• Our child is nonverbal, and she has thrived at Southview.
• Every child like him deserves a chance.
• I've witnessed a child in seclusion in that building. I've done my homework.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 3070, a firearms-related bill. Representative Koslow argued the bill was not truly Second Amendment friendly, saying it could block return of stolen firearms, expose taxpayers to large payouts, and harm firearm dealers. Representative Greg said local law enforcement did not support it. The committee then voted 3 ayes and 9 noes, and HB 3070 failed to be reported do pass. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2904, which would expand animal mistreatment law to include starvation and add a House committee substitute addressing false reports of animal abuse. Representative Don Mayhew said the bill responds to cases of animals left chained and neglected, and supporters from the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Humane World for Animals, and the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation backed the measure. No opposition testimony was offered. The bulk of the meeting focused on House Bill 2933, which would allow school districts in St. Louis County to withdraw from the Special School District of St. Louis County through board action and a local vote. The sponsor and supporters, including Lindbergh officials, parents, and an attorney, said the current SSD structure is too rigid, lacks accountability, and can fail to meet students’ individualized needs; they cited service delays, litigation, and concerns raised by families. Opponents, including SSD administrators, superintendents, parents, and advocates, said SSD provides specialized services that many districts could not replicate, warned the bill could fragment services and create instability, and pointed to the countywide history and existing review mechanisms for SSD. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 2933.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> communication so not a normal child communication so not a normal child anymore<01:28:22.760><c>
• c> somebody</c> anymore my child came back somebody anymore my child came back somebody different<01:
• </c><01:50:49.440><c> I</c> of a 15-year-old vaccine under child I of a 15-year-old vaccine under child
• </c> the mother of a vaccine injured child the mother of a vaccine injured child who<02:40:25.840><c>
• </c> varisella hepb Hep a and then for child varisella hepb Hep a and then for child care<04:22:59.159

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard several measures, beginning with HB 194, which would designate May 22 as Maritime Day. Testimony from labor, health, and community groups was in support, and the committee later recommended passage of the bill as is, with several members voting yes and some reserving or being excused. HB 458 would designate April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day; the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Joseph Dutton Guild, and a descendant all supported it, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. HB 957 would designate the first Friday in May as Lā‘au Day; support came from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and many individuals, and the committee recommended passage as is. HB 345 would establish the ʻōpae ula as the state shrimp to promote awareness and protection of anchialine ecosystems; DLNR, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAu, and other supporters testified, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. The committee also heard HB 901, which would allow public charter schools to appeal directly to the Board of Education on certain operational, governance, or funding matters. The Attorney General and the Public Charter School Commission offered technical comments and suggested amendments, while the commission described its current monitoring and renewal process and said it works closely with schools over the life of a charter contract. Members raised concerns about whether the bill would shift too much work to the Board of Education, and one member voted no when the committee later moved the bill with the Attorney General’s amendments. HB 1066 would add Head Start-related ex officio members to the Early Learning Board; the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning supported it, explaining the changes were needed to align with the federal Head Start Act, and the committee moved it forward without opposition. HB 1069 would add voting members from the Department of Education and Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority Board. DOE and the School Facilities Authority supported the change as a way to strengthen collaboration, though questions from members focused on the current communication process between the agencies. HB 1343 would require the Board of Education to adopt a policy banning student phone and related device use during school hours; the committee noted written testimony in support and then moved to decision-making. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted recommendations to pass HB 194, HB 458 with technical amendments, HB 957, HB 345 with technical amendments, HB 901 with amendments, HB 1066, HB 1069, and HB 1343.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:42:01.520><c> a</c> information, is the sex of the child a information, is the sex of the child
• So the child is det Let me strike that.
• </c> if we're talking about just the child if we're talking about just the child and<00:57:49.200><c>
• was it was a child and that child<00:59:18.319><c> was</c><00:59:18.559><c> under</c><00:59:18.799><
• </c> child and youth care practitioners. child and youth care practitioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• From the work done, the study separated child care centers and in-home daycare from child placing agencies
• centers, in-home daycare, child placing agency, for child care centers, in-home daycare, child placing
• And we had surveys of child care service We had surveys of child care service providers and also collected
• So from the work done, the study kind of separated out child care centers and in-home daycare from child
• And, you know, you can't be alone with a child and so on and so forth.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills and then moved into a work session on insurance-related topics. House Bill 2428 would require life insurers to send advance written notice of an impending lapse or cancellation, including notice to a designated third party, and to provide proof of delivery; it would also require applicants to be told they may designate such a third party. The prime sponsor and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill as a consumer protection measure for older or vulnerable policyholders, while the life insurance industry supported the concept but requested a delayed implementation date and a small technical amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 2399, which would prohibit post-loss assignments of benefits in property insurance. Staff and the prime sponsor described the practice as allowing contractors to step into the policyholder’s shoes and potentially take control of claims, litigation, and settlement, often to the consumer’s detriment. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Washington State Association for Justice, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau all supported the bill, emphasizing consumer vulnerability after disasters and the risk of fraud or inflated claims. Members asked about steering by adjusters, alternative ways for homeowners to authorize others to help with claims, and the $50,000 per-violation penalty, which would go to the general fund. House Bill 2087 would enact a Washington Travel Insurance Act based on the NAIC model, creating a more detailed statutory framework for travel insurance licensing, travel retailers, travel administrators, disclosures, and prohibited sales practices. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would expand consumer choice and standardize rules, while the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the compromise language but raised a remaining concern about claims being adjusted by unlicensed adjusters. The Attorney General’s Office testified that the bill should not be read to supersede Washington’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws, and the sponsor said amendments were being worked on to address that concern. In the work session, OIC and Department of Natural Resources staff presented the wildfire mitigation and resiliency work group report. They said the group reached consensus on several areas, including the importance of community-level mitigation, better data sharing, improved transparency around wildfire-related nonrenewals and cancellations, and a voluntary grant program to help homeowners retrofit to IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. Members asked about leadership for the recommendations, overlap with existing programs, privacy concerns in data sharing, and how the proposals would fit with broader statewide wildfire planning. The committee also received a briefing on flood insurance markets and claims after the December atmospheric flooding event, with staff noting that private flood policies generally offer broader coverage than the federal NFIP, and that Washington had seen about 700 federal claims and roughly $18 million paid out so far.