Transcript Highlights:

• And if you take away that voluntary framework, you undermine our collaboration.
• While I appreciate Senator Ashby's efforts to highlight the need for regional collaboration, we'd ask
• While I appreciate Senator Ashby's efforts to highlight the need for regional collaboration, we'd ask
• They were always very collaborative, working together and figuring things out.
• I want to thank the Chair and the committee staff for their work and collaboration on the bill.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I am here with part of the organization Integrated Community Collaborative.
• I'm also here as a member of the board of directors of the California Collaborative on Long-Term Services
• So we stand ready to work with you in a collaborative effort. Thank you. Thank you so much.
• And to this end, the Legislature could consider collaborating with the department to establish a more
• And to this end, the Legislature could consider collaborating with the department to establish a more

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the governor’s IHSS budget proposals and extensive testimony from the Department of Social Services, Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, county representatives, labor, consumer advocates, and advocates for older adults and people with disabilities. The administration described IHSS as a large and growing program serving more than 900,000 recipients, and outlined three proposals: shifting the cost of growth in authorized hours per case to counties, eliminating the backup provider system, and aligning IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations. The LAO said the overall budget estimates appeared reasonable but raised concerns about the hours-per-case proposal, including the lack of a comprehensive root-cause analysis, the limited control counties have over statewide cost growth, and uncertainty about how the baseline and savings would work. CWDA, SEIU, and consumer advocates strongly opposed the hours cost shift, arguing that counties use state-designed tools, that demographic changes and rising need explain much of the growth, and that the proposal would pressure counties to cut services and destabilize care. The chair and members repeatedly questioned the administration about the proposed baseline, the claimed savings, and whether the measure effectively circumvents the county maintenance-of-effort agreement. On the backup provider system, the administration said the statewide program is underutilized and administratively expensive, and proposed eliminating it to save about $3.5 million. The LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether administrative costs could be reduced while preserving some version of the program. County and consumer advocates opposed the cut, saying the system is a critical safety net when regular providers are unavailable, especially in rural areas and for people with complex needs. They argued that low utilization reflects the difficulty of finding emergency backup care, not lack of need, and that many counties already rely on local backup systems or other models. Committee members also pressed for better data on requests, fulfillment, and administrative costs, and discussed whether the state could support local alternatives instead of eliminating the program. The final topic was the proposal to align IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations by automating the process when recipients fail to complete Medi-Cal redeterminations. The administration said this would reduce General Fund costs by about $86 million by preventing payment of IHSS in the residual program when recipients are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal, while also automating reinstatement when Medi-Cal is restored. The LAO noted the proposal has been rejected in prior years and suggested improved notice and communication to recipients as an alternative. CWDA and advocates warned that the change could create gaps in care, especially for people who lose Medi-Cal for procedural reasons, and urged additional safeguards such as better notices, faster reprocessing, and automatic reinstatement. Members questioned how many people would be affected, how the residual program currently works, and whether providers could go unpaid during the gap; the department said the automation is already built and would be activated if the proposal is approved. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the committee moved through public comment and questioning without final action on the proposals in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said she was excited to share the results and that the collaboration between the Water Commission
• Chair Swiontek thanked her for her comments and noted the importance of collaboration between the Water
• Chair Swiontek thanked her for her comments and said she had raised a very good point about collaboration
• And I want to acknowledge DWR's collaboration and insights throughout our effort.
• The key actions of this option include formalizing a collaborative planning cadence, Now, key actions

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• with the clean with uh in collaboration with the clean slate<01:02:48.720><c> initiative</c><01:02:49.280
• And we collaborate with agencies to surface implementation problems before the bill passes.
• and figure these things out collaborate and figure these things out or<01:12:59.199><c> if</c><01:12
• I think others are watching, but they're all working together collaboratively, and we have—I mean, it's
• and we have I mean it's collaboratively and we have I mean it's just<01:26:33.679><c> been</c><01:26

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held an information briefing on expungement and record clearance, with Chair David Tarnis and Vice Chair Mahina Poo Poy emphasizing second chances and the legislature’s recent work on state-initiated relief. The chair reviewed prior measures, including Act 62 (2024), which created Hawaii’s first state-initiated expungement pilot for certain non-conviction cannabis-related arrests, Act 159 (2023), which required automatic sealing or removal of expunged records from the judiciary’s public database, and Act 241 (2024), which created the Clean Slate Task Force. He said the committee invited the Clean Slate Initiative and Code for America because of their national experience with state-initiated record clearance systems. Phil Hickden of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and Attorney General’s office reported that Act 62 was implemented using existing resources and no new funding, initially covering single-charge, pre-2020 arrests in Hawaii County for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and later expanded by Act 005 (2025) to all arrests under HRS 712-1249 regardless of drug type. He said the project identified 2,268 potentially eligible records, with 1,072 processed so far, 989 granted and 83 denied, and that the work has taken about 872 staff hours and roughly 45 days per expungement. He also said the office has identified about 412,000 people who could potentially qualify for expungement under broader legislation, though that estimate does not include case-by-case research. Michelle Acasta of the judiciary explained that Act 159 changed the process so HCJDC now digitally transmits expungement certificates to the court, eliminating the applicant’s second step of filing paperwork with the court. She said the courts still manually review eligibility, but the process is easier because certificates now include a case ID and HCJDC provides additional information to help locate records. She reported that since implementation the courts received 125 certificates in July and 87 in August, with 17 court orders filed in July and August, including 81 in the First Circuit, 14 in Maui, 7 in the Third Circuit, and 15 in the Fifth Circuit. She also noted that the Hawaii Supreme Court’s State v. Rogan decision affects procedure by requiring a written request or motion, an opportunity to be heard, and written findings for sealing court records, and that new Supreme Court rules are expected for public comment. Members asked about qualitative outcomes and whether the process could be expanded statewide; staff said they do not track recidivism or personal stories, and the chair encouraged further discussion before the next session to identify barriers and capacity needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I'm grateful to all the collaboration, and I respectfully ask... ...high-speed rail.
• And so I'm grateful for all the collaboration, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• We worked collaboratively to try to get at the fundamental issues the BIA has expressed.
• Since the bill's introduction, we have been as collaborative as possible.
• Since the bill's introduction, we have been as collaborative as possible.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 753, which would modernize California’s shopping cart recovery rules by allowing cities and counties to return abandoned carts directly to retailers, recover documented retrieval costs, and avoid the current impound-and-wait process. The author and supporters, including San Jose officials and the League of California Cities, said the bill would help clear streets, sidewalks, and waterways and reduce local costs. Grocers and retailers opposed the measure unless amended, arguing it would turn cart retrieval into a new cost burden and could create incentives for cities to charge too much for stolen property. After extensive discussion about notice periods, cost caps, and local ordinances, the committee adopted amendments and passed the bill 6-0 as amended. The committee then took up SB 445, which would speed up permitting and approvals needed for high-speed rail by requiring early engagement, setting rules for third-party coordination, and creating a dispute-resolution process. The author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier, broader transit proposal and was intended to reduce delays caused by utilities, local governments, and other entities. Supporters said permitting bottlenecks add major costs and delays to infrastructure projects, while opponents from utilities, cities, counties, telecoms, and special districts raised concerns about safety, reliability, affordability, and the need to review the pending amendments. The bill passed 8-1 to the Utilities and Energy Committee. The committee also heard SB 9, a narrower housing bill focused on accessory dwelling units. The author explained that it would require local ADU ordinances to be submitted to HCD for review and would make state standards control if a local agency fails to submit a compliant ordinance or respond to HCD findings. Supporters from housing and YIMBY groups said the bill would improve enforcement of state ADU law and prevent local barriers from slowing housing production. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. The committee then began hearing SB 79, which would allow more housing near major transit stops; the author and supporters framed it as a response to the housing shortage and transit underuse, and the hearing continued with extensive support testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• advocates representing employers and representing employees to come to the table and really work collaboratively
• uh so that so that we collaboratively uh so that so that we could<00:03:05.159><c> really</c><00:03:
• The key, however, is coming together to work collaboratively.
• The key, however, is coming together to work collaboratively.
• The key, however, is coming together to work collaboratively.

Bills: HF1419 , HF500

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• I loved our collaboration in historic preservation, outdoor recreation, and public service.
• I loved our collaboration in historic preservation, outdoor recreation, and public service.
• I LOVED OUR COLLABORATION IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
• Ultimately, this bill should lead to more robust collaboration between those responsible for reviewing
• ULTIMATELY, THIS BILL SHOULD LEAD TO MORE ROBUST COLLABORATION BETWEEN THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING

Bills: SCR29 , HB7380 , HB5200 , HB1681 , SB98 , HB5201 , HR1343 , HB7022 , HB7386

Keywords: internet freedom, Iran, cybersecurity, VPN, DTC technology, information access, human rights, digital tools, Emergency Reporting Act, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Disaster Information Reporting System, DIRS, network outage reporting, outage notifications, 9-1-1, public safety answering point, PSAP, emergency communications center, broadband

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're collaborating with the school nurses on a training program, and that should start going out
• So with that, this is sort of how we develop the strategies in tandem and in full collaboration with
• CDPH also collaborates with FDA to uphold federal standards and good manufacturing practices.
• We're asking for this trailer bill language and really thinking about focusing on greater collaboration
• It's more intentional around collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're collaborating with the school nurses on a training program, and that should start going out
• So with that, this is sort of how we develop the strategies in tandem and in full collaboration with
• CDPH also collaborates with FDA to uphold federal standards and good manufacturing practices.
• We're asking for this trailer bill language and really thinking about focusing on greater collaboration
• It's more intentional around collaboration.

Summary: The hearing began with a stakeholder presentation from Let California Kids Hear urging coverage of pediatric hearing aids for children in the large group market. Advocates described the issue as a long-running developmental emergency, argued that existing state efforts have been inefficient, and said the new proposal would cover about 70% to 80% of affected children without new spending by redirecting existing dollars. Public commenters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s advocates, strongly supported the proposal and emphasized the need for timely access to sound. The chair thanked the group and noted hope for a future fix, including continued work on the exchange market. The Department of Finance then gave a broad budget warning about the state’s more than $20 billion structural deficit and said new investments must be weighed against out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with an overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, seismic hospital compliance, workforce programs, and the Data Exchange Framework. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, behavioral health pipeline programs, the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, and future CalRx products such as EpiPens and GLP-1s. HCAI also described its enforcement approach for health care spending targets, saying the board would not change the targets in response to H.R. 1, and outlined the diaper access initiative, which will distribute diapers through hospitals in higher-need areas. Several HCAI budget items were discussed and held open, including additional expenditure authority, the transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate, long-term care payment transparency staffing, and reporting on health care worker waiting periods. The department also presented its Behavioral Health Services Act workforce initiative and a proposed $100 million General Fund offset, which both the LAO and the chair questioned as unclear and potentially one-time in nature. HCAI said the final workforce plan would be adjusted after stakeholder consultation if the offset proceeds. The department also described the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying California received $233.6 million in federal funds, had to revise its proposal to satisfy CMS, and must obligate the money by October 30; the program will fund rural care models, workforce development, and technology, with grants rolled out on a phased basis. The Department of Managed Health Care then presented its budget and three legislative implementation requests: SB 41 on PBM reform, SB 306 on prior authorization transparency, and AB 1041 on provider credentialing timelines. Finally, the administration outlined a menopause care proposal requiring coverage and education for menopause-related services, provider training, and an outreach campaign, with DMHC requesting staffing and funding to implement and enforce the new requirements. Throughout the hearing, most items were held open for later action, and no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• what's been done in western Wyoming and the northeast part of the state, to where it just becomes a collaborative
• It's another collaborative effort.
• It's another collaborative<00:24:27.760><c> effort.
• </c><00:24:28.400><c> They've</c><00:24:28.720><c> done</c><00:24:28.880><c> a</c> collaborative effort
• They've done a collaborative effort.

Committee: Joint Select Natural Resource Funding Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Counselors collaborate with administrators to determine level of risk and follow protocols for next best
• Counseling and parent education, collaboration with the county, other not-for-profit organizations, I
• Counseling and Parent Education, collaboration with the county, other not-for-profit organizations, I
• I think we just need to collaborate with parents and schools, especially the counselors, on a regular
• But, again, I'd love to collaborate with you all, and we can definitely come together and seek a solution

Summary: The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access in California, with the chair opening by citing elevated distress, self-harm-related emergency visits, access barriers, and a statewide behavioral health workforce shortage. The chair and Assembly Member Lori Davies emphasized that historic state investments, including the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and school-based mental health funding, still face implementation and sustainability challenges, especially because many programs rely on one-time dollars. The committee framed the hearing as a way to hear from county systems, providers, schools, and students to inform future policy and budget action. Panel One described San Diego County’s behavioral health system, including Medi-Cal specialty care, payment reform, new crisis and residential facilities, workforce pipeline efforts, and the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. County and school representatives said CYBHI and the school-linked fee schedule could help make school-based services more sustainable, but they stressed that districts need technical assistance, clearer guidance, and time to build billing systems. San Marcos Unified and Poway Unified representatives said schools are now first responders for mental health, described rising acuity and the importance of counselors, peer programs, and on-campus therapy, and warned that insurance-data collection, reimbursement delays, and grant-dependent staffing threaten program stability. In the provider panel, a child psychiatrist described the emergency-room crisis model as inadequate because youth often leave with either a short inpatient stay or a discharge plan that lacks a warm handoff, outpatient follow-up, or school coordination. He urged more school wellness time, parent education, peer support, mobile crisis response, and intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization options. Rady Children’s Hospital described major growth in behavioral health services, including depression screening, urgent care, psych emergency services, primary care integration, and a new institute combining programs, while also highlighting low reimbursement rates, long payment delays, high denial rates, and administrative burden as major barriers to sustaining care and staffing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , with where that fuel is and how it got down to groundwater We have met with NMED through the collaborative
• Beyond that, due to the lack of that collaborative environment between the three of our groups here again
• Do you have active conversations about that at a base level, technical level, and collaborative level
• And therefore, we're kind of legally meeting the bounds of how collaboration should occur, Mr.
• And the collaborative nature of this project will likely increase.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We have collaborated with partners in nine of the districts that you represent in just the past few years
• with Partners in nine have collaborated with Partners in nine of<00:25:38.640><c> the</c><00:25:38.960
• In a study released in 2020 in collaboration between Harvard and the Smithsonian, they recently showed
• Additionally, we may collaborate with nonprofit organizations that do provide programming and services
• </c> committed to working collaboratively committed to working collaboratively with<01:09:39.359><c>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• The United Way of Mass Bay and the Midas Collaborative.
• My name is Rose Francois, and I'm the Executive Director at the Midas Collaborative.
• The Midas Collaborative sits at the intersection of direct service, capacity building, and advocacy.
• The Midas Collaborative sits at the intersection of direct service, capacity building, and advocacy.
• Dominico, for the collaborative process to build this truly omnibus bill.

Bills: H5085 , H5286

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

Keywords: poverty alleviation, family support, economic mobility, youth transition, financial education, matched savings, community programs, Department of Children and Families, DCF, child abuse investigation, child neglect, pediatrician, advanced practice registered nurse, medical misdiagnosis, rickets, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, vitamin D deficiency, bone fragility, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• She thanks Chair Rarick and Chair Scott for their collaboration on these issues over the years and says
• She thanks Chair Rarick and Chair Scott for their collaboration on these issues over the years and says
• She thanks Chair Rarick and Chair Scott for their collaboration on these issues over the years and says
• She thanks Chair Rarick and Chair Scott for their collaboration on these issues over the years and says
• She thanks Chair Rarick and Chair Scott for their collaboration on these issues over the years and says

Transcript Highlights:

• , local, and federal investment supports high-quality transit in our region, and we must work collaboratively
• step in moving toward achieving this vision together as a region to find efficiencies and work collaboratively
• , local, and federal investment supports high-quality transit in our region, and we must work collaboratively
• , local, and federal investment supports high-quality transit in our region, and we must work collaboratively
• step in moving toward achieving this vision together as a region to find efficiencies and work collaboratively

Transcript Highlights:

• shortages and to explore and expand healthcare opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration
• 24.640><c> colla-</c> medically underserved areas in colla- medically underserved areas in colla- collaboration
• <00:06:26.200><c> with</c><00:06:26.400><c> community,</c><00:06:26.960><c> state</c> collaboration with
• community, state collaboration with community, state agency,<00:06:27.680><c> professional</c><00:06
• , and a clear vision for collaboration, and a clear vision for the<01:05:02.080><c> environmentally</

Transcript Highlights:

• Full-time faculty benefits from professional collaboration.
• Yeah, just so this bill is a collaboration between higher ed, both Secretary of LED, President Nelson
• So it's ideally doable during a collaboration time.
• time, it would be doable across a portion of those collaboration sessions during the school year.
• We were very glad to collaborate with the department and Rep.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection. The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• The sheriffs, the Massachusetts sheriffs, have been working collaboratively with MPTC and the Peace Officer
• , while we are very much grateful and think that the central goals of the Protect Act to limit collaboration
• I've been working with different hospitals on improving our ICE policies and also in collaboration with
• Local-federal collaboration that may have felt normal, routine, or reasonable must now be revisited with
• ICE's goal is not to make communities safer in fact it is doing just the opposite local federal collaboration

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The hearing covered several public safety bills and related testimony. On S. 2681, “Colby’s Law,” which would establish safety standards for BMX/motocross tracks, the committee heard emotional testimony from the family of a teen killed at a track and from advocates who said minimum standards are needed for barriers, medical staff, emergency planning, insurance, and oversight. A track owner and rider also testified that safety is important but argued the bill was incomplete and should better distinguish between BMX and motocross and include more specific equipment and weather-related rules. On S. 2680, a bill to expand emergency planning around aging nuclear plants and high-level nuclear waste sites, supporters from Cape Cod, medical groups, and anti-nuclear organizations urged a 50-mile emergency planning radius and stronger state preparedness, citing risks from long-term waste storage and inadequate federal oversight. The committee also heard testimony on a Barnstable home rule petition to allow certain emergency response vehicles to use red lights, with the town supporting the change to improve response times on the water. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on H. 5158, the Protect Act, which would limit state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. County sheriffs testified about how ICE notifications and detainers work in practice, distinguishing between criminal warrants and civil immigration requests to notify, and describing their discretion when people are released on bail or at the end of a sentence. Sheriffs said they generally notify ICE when requested, especially in cases involving serious charges, but emphasized the need to balance public safety, victim notification, and due process. Committee members pressed them on the impact of ICE pickups at courthouses and jails, and several lawmakers and witnesses argued that pretrial detainees taken by ICE can disrupt prosecutions and deny victims their day in court. Supporters of the Protect Act included labor, education, health care, and immigrant advocacy groups. They said immigrants and mixed-status families are living in fear of routine interactions with police, schools, courts, and hospitals, and urged the committee to ban 287(g) agreements, prohibit law enforcement from asking about immigration status or providing operational assistance to ICE, and add stronger protections for sensitive locations such as schools and health care facilities. Medical witnesses described patients and families avoiding care because of ICE presence, and educators said students are missing school out of fear. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and indicated it would continue receiving written testimony before taking action later.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that being said, the Massachusetts sheriffs have been working collaboratively with MPTC and the Peace
• , while we are very much grateful and think that the central goals of the Protect Act to limit collaboration
• I've been working with different hospitals on improving our ICE policies and also in collaboration with
• Local-federal collaboration that may have felt normal, routine, reasonable must now be revisited with
• ICE's goal is not to make communities safer in fact it is doing just the opposite local federal collaboration

Bills: H4697 , S2635 , S2680 , S2681 , H5158

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: constables, civil deputy sheriffs, law enforcement, training, certification, public safety, emergency response, red lights, Barnstable, town management, public health, safety standards, nuclear power, waste management, community protection, BMX, motocross, safety, regulation, insurance