Transcript Highlights:

• The Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund is federally funded by.
• Members, this bill solely impacts federally qualified health centers and, uh, look-alikes, federally
• The the federally qualified health centers serves.
• They're overseen by the state and the federal government.
• I do a lot of federal contracting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pretty straightforward the bill directs pretty straightforward the bill directs the<00:34:43.320
• How does the federal government forgive this loan? We've...
• </c> to move forward with the federal to move forward with the federal government<01:27:36.080><c> that
• We will ask for a federal waiver. We will work with the federal partners.
• We will ask for a federal waiver. We will work with the federal partners.

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> direct appropriation and a direct direct appropriation and a direct appropriation<00:04:44.039><
• The biggest difference between statutory appropriations and direct appropriations is that the direct
• </c><00:27:23.960><c> Appropriations</c> there are simply direct Appropriations there are simply direct
• </c><00:59:46.240><c> government</c> uh the way the federal government uh the way the federal government
• </c><01:18:22.560><c> from</c> appropriation ver just a directive from appropriation ver just a directive

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Simultaneously, we faced a significant cut in federal funding.
• This question is directed to our CSU representative.
• This question is directed to our CSU representative.
• I would note a couple other federal changes in HR 1.
• I urge you to make sure that that funding is directed toward direct instruction and student support.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yvonne Fernandez, California Labor Federation, in support.
• At the federal level, through HR 1, we're seeing catastrophic cuts to our programs.
• What is the federal government doing?
• Sarah Blocks, California Federation of Labor Unions, in support.
• Sarah Flachs, California Federation of Labor Unions, in support.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• all of our costs, direct and indirect.
• Our federal counterparts are pulling back here. We're not.
• Once the hook is set, the criminals direct the victim to a nearby CVC kiosk, but not before directing
• So the $2.1 billion, we are federal. Correct.
• We're waiting for guidance from the federal government on that.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:30.080><c> poverty</c> below 125% of the federal poverty below 125% of the federal poverty
• So that that we had a large federal too.
• </c> mentioned that we had two large federal mentioned that we had two large federal grants<00:43:57.359
• </c> grants um especially at the federal grants um especially at the federal levels<00:57:39.920><c>
• There was talk of maybe going another direction with a different vendor.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky, including Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalRed Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. The presenters explained that the four nonprofit programs provide civil legal services in all 120 counties, focusing on low-income clients and matters such as domestic violence, family law, housing, expungement, public benefits, and veterans’ issues. They emphasized that they do not handle criminal defense cases and described statewide efforts such as the kyjustice.org website and Project Renew, which helps people in recovery with legal issues that affect stability, employment, housing, and family reunification. Each organization highlighted regional service challenges and examples of casework. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass described its 33-county service area, its mobile “justice bus,” and expungement work for people in recovery. Kentucky Legal Aid focused on disaster response after the December 2021 tornadoes, including insurance disputes and contractor fraud, and said it has continued to handle repeated FEMA-declared disasters. AppalRed described serving 37 rural counties with limited attorneys, the shortage of lawyers in “rural legal deserts,” and its disaster-response work after flooding and tornadoes, including FEMA appeals clinics and volunteer attorney support. The Legal Aid Society described its Louisville-area veteran services, including Social Security and VA disability cases, veterans treatment court referrals, and homeless outreach. Committee members praised the organizations’ work and noted the importance of their services. In response to questions about funding, the presenters said their support comes from a mix of Legal Services Corporation funds, state appropriations, federal grants such as VOCA, VAWA, and HUD, United Way, and foundation funding. They stressed that many grants are restricted, while state funding is more flexible and useful for emergencies and day-to-day operations. The presenters said current funding does not fully meet demand and requested an increase in the General Assembly’s appropriation from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year, or $2 million over the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal programs at stake exist for students like us.
• When the federal government walked away from us, our district stepped up.
• We believe there are more appropriate ways to address federal funding disruptions.
• We want to align our remarks with this California Federation of Teachers.
• It's a direct result of the UC's monopoly on medical degrees."

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we can't control federal guidelines.
• The federal guidelines, by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, set those requirements around
• We're not trying to change federal regulations.
• It depends, program to program, state or federal.
• Madam Chair, Senator, for federal programs, some of them would.

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee first heard HB 124, which would codify the Office of New Americans within the Workforce Solutions Department. The sponsor and Workforce Solutions officials said the office has already been operating on a grant and has become a key resource for businesses and immigrant workers, especially for workforce development, credential recognition, language access, and referrals. Supporters from immigrant advocacy, child care, conservation, and civic groups argued the office would help address labor shortages, improve integration, and strengthen economic growth. Several members questioned whether the office would serve people without legal status, what services would be provided, and whether it would create taxpayer costs; sponsors said eligibility would depend on specific programs, the office would mainly provide referrals and workforce support, and it is currently philanthropic grant-funded. The bill was ultimately passed on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee then considered SJR 6, a proposed constitutional amendment to change New Mexico’s pretrial detention standards. The sponsor argued the 2016 bail reform language has contributed to a “revolving door” for repeat offenders and that the current standard is too restrictive and inconsistently applied across judicial districts. Supporters from State Police said the resolution would give clearer direction and let voters revisit the issue. Opponents from the ACLU and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association warned it would expand pretrial detention, weaken the requirement that the state prove no release conditions are adequate, and disproportionately affect poor people and people of color. After extended debate over public safety, judicial discretion, and whether the proposal should include a clearer standard, the committee approved the resolution on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee also passed SJR 7, a land swap between the state and the City of Santa Fe involving the DPS site and part of the Midtown campus. The sponsor, the Department of Public Safety, and the Santa Fe mayor said the exchange had been discussed for years, would allow the state to own the land under its DPS facilities, and would help the city advance its Midtown redevelopment plan, including housing and public amenities. Members asked about the parcels involved, whether both sides agreed, and whether any member had a financial interest; the sponsor said the swap was non-monetary and fully agreed to by both parties. The resolution passed without opposition. Finally, the committee heard SM 31, which creates a workgroup with LFC, DFA, and PERA to study the loss of COLAs for PERA retirees and recommend solutions. Retiree advocates said the reduced COLA has significantly eroded pension value and that retirees relied on the statutory promise of a 2% COLA. Other speakers emphasized the need to protect long-term fund solvency while addressing retiree losses. The memorial passed unanimously by roll call. The meeting then recessed, with the chair noting the next day’s agenda would be posted later.

Transcript Highlights:

• We work on the federal level.
• We can see the direction that a lot of this supports going.
• We're not a state-directed economy here.
• This is currently a federal liability.
• And this is currently a liability, a federal liability.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Summary: The committee met to hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear economics, workforce, community impacts, and financing. Nucleon Energy’s William Bridge presented a report estimating the economic impacts of hypothetical 200-megawatt and 600-megawatt SMRs, including construction and operating jobs, local spending, tax revenue, and the private-sector conditions needed to attract investment. He said the report used nth-of-a-kind cost assumptions, discussed security and water siting considerations, and argued that early community engagement and permitting work should be timed to when projects are closer to being economic. Committee members questioned cost assumptions, security staffing, transmission and water siting, and whether large reactors or SMRs are more likely to be financed in the near term. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning. She described declining labor-force demographics, the need for hundreds of thousands of new energy workers by 2050, and six workforce priorities: career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and non-traditional pipelines. She highlighted the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, robotics, and when training should begin relative to future plant construction; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers broadly and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. Red Wing, Minnesota Mayor Gary Yako described hosting the Prairie Island nuclear generating facility. He said the plant provides a large share of the city’s property tax base, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to local emergency preparedness, and is a strong community partner through donations and employee involvement. He said the city supports relicensing, has regular emergency drills, and has had no issues with dry cask storage. The committee also heard from NEI’s Benton Arnett, who reviewed the current financing landscape, including federal tax credits, DOE loan authority, offtake agreements, and the shift toward project developers and special-purpose vehicles. He said early projects face high first-of-a-kind costs, but federal support and long-term power purchase agreements are helping make projects financeable. Finally, DOE’s Julie Kazeraki described the Office of Energy Dominance Financing and its role in supporting new nuclear, restarts, uprates, and supply chain investments, emphasizing that federal loan and tax-credit tools are intended to reduce upfront risk and improve project affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• The new administration is causing at the federal level.
• It is a direct reflection on our property taxes.
• It is a direct reflection on our property taxes.
• It is a direct reflection on our property taxes.
• </c><01:30:35.000><c> share</c> results in less from the federal share results in less from the federal

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• So God of wisdom, direct the councils of this honorable assembly.
• Members, do me the privilege of directing your attention to the back of chamber.
• These are our ladies from the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women.
• Whereas the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women... Clerk will read.
• The Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women are represented on the floor today with me.

Bills: HB3976 , HB3000 , HB3001 , HB3003 , HB3004 , HB3066 , HB3904 , HB3644 , HB1687 , HB3920 , SR40

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer. The chamber then recognized several guests and groups, including the Doctor of the Day Dr. Abby Woods, Nurse of the Day Kara de la Pena, and multiple student and community delegations. These included Dominic Matthias of Moore High School for his cross-country accomplishments, Calumet boys baseball and basketball teams for state championships, the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women, Morris High School’s academic team, the Junior Chamber of Catoosa, Rogers County Leadership Program participants, and Legacy Christian Schools students. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 40, designating the second week in April as Lung Cancer Action Week in Oklahoma. The resolution was presented in support of the American Lung Association’s efforts to raise awareness, encourage screening, and promote early detection, especially given the low screening rate among high-risk Oklahomans. The resolution passed without opposition, and unanimous consent was granted to make all senators co-authors unless they declined. The chamber also hosted Cherokee Nation Legislative Day. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and other Cherokee leaders spoke about the tribe’s history, sovereignty, and major investments in education, housing, health care, workforce development, and economic growth in Oklahoma. Hoskin emphasized the Cherokee Nation’s partnership with the state and urged support for Medicaid expansion, arguing it helps fund health care services and jobs. Later, Senator Weaver offered a personal privilege statement mourning the death of Trooper Vernon Brake in the line of duty, followed by a moment of silence. The only other action was an announcement inviting members to a Sportsman’s Caucus reception. With the clerk’s desk clear, the Senate adopted a motion to adjourn until Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of these projects are pursuing federal grants, and for some, federal grants have been given, and
• For some of them, federal grants have been given, and for some, they did not receive a federal grant.
• I think you already know the direction of my question.
• The first question I might direct towards the agency.
• That is temporary, but a decrease at the federal level.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This is all set at the federal level by HUD, actually.
• recent, I don't know, directive that the corporations shouldn't be owning homes and people should be
• The other thing that I'll say for LIHTC developments is when you receive tax credits from the federal
• We don't receive federal assistance on that.
• And it's a step in the right direction, another tool to build out the housing supply that we need.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Direct client services, sorry. Direct client services were streamlined into HHSC.
• They are a percentage of the federal poverty level, and for context, in 2025, the federal poverty level
• And so you're waiting on us, what, to give you directives?
• federal regulations that are about to take place.
• That is state and federal money, a big majority of that money did go back to the federal government.

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• DSHS, which administers this program, is to request a waiver from the federal USDA to be able to prohibit
• Specifically, the bill directs WSIPP to perform an assessment of DCYF's use of screening tools and risk
• And the current secretary, when she was a representative, sponsored a bill that directed WSIPP to look
• This bill would require DHS to seek federal approval to restrict what SNAP benefits may purchase.
• Do you know what happened once they did not extend that child tax credit at the federal level? Yes.

Bills: SB6007 , SB6186 , SB6212

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We need a coordinated federal response and federal resources to some of these threats, and we want to
• We need a coordinated federal response and federal resources to some of these threats, and we want to
• We need a coordinated federal response and federal resources to some of these threats, and we want to
• We need a coordinated federal response and federal resources to some of these threats, and we want to
• We need a coordinated federal response and federal resources to some of these threats, and we want to

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> without direct billing. without direct billing. through<00:10:20.079><c> our</c><00:10:20.320><c
• </c><00:25:51.919><c> that</c> law when its leadership directed that law when its leadership directed
• So, um, Attorney General Ellison, um, this is a federal crime being investigated by federal authorities
• </c> investigated by federal authorities. investigated by federal authorities.
• </c> cooperating with a federal cooperating with a federal investigation.<01:08:55.040><c> They</c><01

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And the example I'll give is in our Department of Revenue and the federal IRS.
• And the example I'll give is in our Department of Revenue and the federal IRS.
• </c> state government included the federal state government included the federal government<01:11:18.520
• </c> use of federal use of federal funds<01:13:42.840><c> which</c><01:13:42.960><c> is</c><01:13:43.120
• </c> FBI because of the federal FBI because of the federal funds funds funds um<01:14:11.440><c> was<

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• A direct way, although I do know a lot of teams use messaging.
• The federal government declares them to be illegal aliens.
• Let me be direct. California's community college transfer system is broken.
• Tristan Brown, with the Federation of Teachers, in support.
• So I do have a very strong hesitation about moving forward in that direction.

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and first heard AB 302, which would prohibit schools from requiring students to use addictive social media feeds as a condition of participating in extracurricular activities and would require schools to offer a non-social-media way to communicate with students and families. The author and a student witness argued the bill protects minors from being forced onto addictive platforms, while senators asked how coaches and clubs would communicate; the author said email, built-in messaging, and other direct methods would still be allowed. The bill was held on call for absent members. The committee then took up AB 2504, creating a pilot program to train creative-industry workers for AI-related changes through partnerships among community colleges, employers, unions, and tech companies. Supporters from WME and the Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office said the program would help workers adapt to rapid industry change, while senators discussed the pilot’s size, geographic diversity, and sunset date. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 1534 followed, adding state guardrails for federal Workforce Pell short-term training programs, including limits on tuition, restrictions on certain financing products, and transparency rules for partnerships with unaccredited entities. Support came from TICAS, EdTrust-West, and the Campaign for College Opportunity; senators questioned the scope of state authority and why private institutions were not clearly included, and the author said the broader approval framework was being handled in trailer bill language. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee. The committee also heard AB 1381, a gut-and-amend proposal to strengthen screening for school teachers with histories of egregious misconduct while balancing due process and privacy concerns. Supporters and opponents both emphasized student safety and the need for reliable information-sharing, and members noted the bill was similar to a previously held measure; the author said amendments were still being worked out. The bill passed to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to coordinate statewide efforts, drew broad support from school board and education groups but also concern that it could duplicate existing work and add bureaucracy; after extended debate about whether the commission would identify causes or solutions, it passed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Finally, AB 1547, requiring a UC feasibility study for a branch medical school in Kern County, drew local support but opposition from a senator who argued the Legislature cannot direct UC’s internal operations under the state Constitution; the chair said the Legislature can make recommendations and the bill remained under discussion.