Transcript Highlights:

• The constitutionally required transfers to the Budget Stabilization Account, or BSA, are included.
• This is a constitutional requirement to provide hands-on learning.
• Making that move required a lot of time and money. It's not just about the vehicles.
• Making that move required a lot of time and money. It's not just about the vehicles.
• They require services for the entirety of their adulthood.

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• Prop 4 had a requirement of at least 40% of the funds going to vulnerable communities.
• That can be harder, especially coming off of surplus years. It's a different mindset.
• And that can be harder, especially coming off of a surplus years. It's a different mindset.
• We also would note that across departments with the requirements of Proposition 4.
• There are inflow and outflow requirements, delta requirements, many things, snowpack, and having accurate

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate, Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation opened its first hearing on the governor’s natural resources budget with Secretary Wade Crowfoot of the Natural Resources Agency. Crowfoot reviewed California’s recent climate and environmental challenges—drought, wildfire, heat, sea level rise, and federal uncertainty—and highlighted progress on clean energy, zero-emission vehicles, wildfire resilience, water management, coastal planning, conservation, tribal land return, and streamlined project delivery. Members praised his engagement and the administration’s work with tribes, and Crowfoot emphasized that the administration is focused on finishing major projects, improving nature-based solutions, and considering whether some temporary streamlining measures should be codified. He also discussed the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership and said the state is working with other Mediterranean-climate governments on wildfire, drought, and heat response. Members and the LAO then focused on budget conditions and priorities. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the state budget remains precarious despite strong revenues, with the governor’s proposal relying on borrowing and reserves and leaving large out-year deficits unresolved. The LAO urged a high bar for new spending, especially in a deficit environment, and recommended prioritizing immediate health and safety needs, avoiding new ongoing commitments, and thinking carefully about special funds. On Proposition 4, the LAO said the administration’s approach generally appeared reasonable and consistent with the bond, but noted implementation has been slow and that the Legislature may want to use appropriations language to shape broad programs such as home hardening, outdoor recreation, and climate education. The chair stressed that climate and environmental funds should be used for their intended purposes and that wildfire spending should shift more toward community hardening and home protection. The hearing then turned to water resilience and Proposition 4 spending. Department of Finance and department staff outlined the bond’s water-related funding for safe drinking water, drought, flood, water recycling, stormwater, groundwater management, dam safety, and the State Water Project. Members pressed for details on how funds would be prioritized, how grants would reach disadvantaged communities, and how the state would track the bond’s 40% target for vulnerable communities. Staff said new tools and reporting systems are being used to monitor allocations, and that AB 107 and related changes should speed up grant implementation by reducing redundant regulatory steps. The committee also discussed dam safety needs, State Water Project repairs, groundwater implementation grants, and the risk of relying on uncertain future revenues from the Salton Sea lithium tax. No votes were taken, and the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in 2023, the legislature set that requirement at least 80% of the funds generated by the students
• set that requirement at that at<00:34:42.159><c> least</c><00:34:42.399><c> 80%</c><00:34:42.879><c>
• Um, they're required to be there with the bill.
• we're still requiring a paper form<00:58:51.040><c> or</c><00:58:51.359><c> why</c><00:58:51.680><c>
• The two bills we heard here, we don't even come close to being able to afford with the current surplus

Bills: HF1048 , HF1049 , HF745 , HF2210

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• The constitutionally required transfers to the budget stabilization account, or BSA, are included.
• This is a constitutional requirement to provide hands-on learning.
• Making that move required a lot of time and money. It's not just about the vehicles.
• Making that move required a lot of time and money. It's not just about the vehicles.
• They require services for the entirety of their adulthood.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process. The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS BILL THAT REQUIRES US TO MAKE THAT CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SAVE MONEY WHILE WE
• IT ALSO COULD BE TO RETIRE DEBT SO BY DOING THIS WE ARE RESTRICTING IT, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES
• JUST PICKED UP AND CONTINUED NORMALLY WHAT WE KNOW AS NORMAL SPENDING PRACTICES WE WOULD HAVE HAD A SURPLUS
• SECOND IT REQUIRES AN ANNUAL TRANSFER FROM GENERAL REVENUE TO THE BSF EITHER 750 MILLION OR THE AMOUNT

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would require the Department of Education to establish a 2-year student-authored book publication
• And I don't believe it's a requirement. The schools can opt in, so just to clarify.
• There is no appropriation required on this, and what it does is it puts money back into the state and
• Uh, this special fund currently has a surplus of over $200 million, and funds from this fund has been
• of over $200 million surplus of over $200 million and<01:10:57.720><c> funds</c><01:10:58.120><c> from

Bills: HB2241 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1696 , HB2021 , SB2135 , SB2466 , SB2727 , SB3082 , SB3097 , SB2861 , SCR100 , SB3096 , SB99 , SB2138 , HB2289 , HB2319 , HB1711 , HB2270 , SB3138 , SB3076 , HB1642 , HB2338 , HB2171 , HB1785 , SB2881 , HB2505 , SB2552 , HB1518 , HB1815 , SB3125 , SB3234 , SCR162 , SB2614 , SB3118 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB2158 , HB1718 , HB2207 , HB1801 , SB3229 , SB2338 , SB3069 , SB2600 , HB2300 , HB1800 , HB1960 , SB2999 , SB2060 , SB2866 , SB2239 , HB1741 , HB1713 , HB2023 , HB2417 , SB2877 , SB2598 , SB2921 , SB2645 , HB2547 , HB2275 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2339 , HB1838 , HB1509 , HB1661 , HB2271 , HB2272 , HB2344 , HB1888 , HB1707 , SB2340 , HB2474 , HB1576 , HB1853 , HB1804 , HB1854 , HB2095 , HB2050 , HB472 , SB3215 , SB2247 , SB2400 , HB1618 , HB1802 , HB1969 , HB1541 , HB2310 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2218 , HB649 , HB2104 , HB1710 , SB2802 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB1894 , HB1891 , HB1890 , SB177 , SB2101 , SB3320 , SB2487 , HB2429 , HB1870 , HB1839 , HB2583 , HB1391 , HB2094 , SB2671 , SB2673 , SB2892 , SB2057 , SB3245 , HB306 , HB2592 , SB3157 , SB3204 , SB3324 , SB2580 , SB2074 , SB411 , SB3025 , SB2934 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB3238 , SB2367 , SB2599 , SB3007 , SB2001 , SB2756 , SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> fund because they would require fund because they would require additional<00:10:38.800><c> staff
• They're a very small organization that doesn't require these things.
• They're a very small organization that doesn't require these things.
• They're a very small organization that doesn't require these things.
• would would require some moving things<00:40:58.720><c> around.

Bills: HF3732

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

Keywords: workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, economic development, grants, job creation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some statutory requirements. Correct. Yeah, absolutely.
• They have requirements that there has to be a receiving party on the other end that's willing to receive
• Would they be required to open a school for a polling place.
• You agree in the state of Oklahoma, you are not required to register with your complete full given name
• Is that just surplus funds that they have, or is it possible that something else could be cut?

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's something that's really easy to say when you have a surplus, but it's really challenging to do
• when you're facing... ...when you have a surplus.
• Counties will face challenges in administering Medi-Cal and CalFresh as new federal requirements take
• Achieving shared community safety requires more than any single system can deliver alone.
• Getting it right requires thoughtful discussion, transparency, and time.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• in one and program because of a surplus in one and a<00:10:14.959><c> deficit</c><00:10:15.279><c> in
• Uh, and it really is a need because of the demographic data and workforce requirements that are coming
• </c> person with disabilities who requires person with disabilities who requires more<00:53:55.760><c
• And after spending an incredible surplus in the last biennium, we have to bring these numbers down.
• </c> And after spending an incredible surplus And after spending an incredible surplus in<01:52:47.119

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And it changes the meeting requirement times.
• Currently, we're required as a joint committee to meet every quarter.
• And so this changes the requirements for when we have to meet.
• Then what are they going to do with that surplus or... Enough room for it?
• Then what are they going to do with that surplus?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a public health crisis requiring our full attention.
• here in the state of California. ...because of our strong requirements here in the state of California
• The ADAP rebate fund, which is restricted for use on HIV-related purposes, will run a $203 million surplus
• End the Epidemics is proposing that $143 million of that surplus actually be used to address HIV and
• Tracks training and other requirements.

Summary: The Assembly Subcommittee on Health heard an overview of the California Department of Public Health budget, including a $5.1 billion department budget and 19 non-IT budget change proposals spanning environmental health, healthcare quality, infectious disease, healthy communities, health statistics, preparedness, and laboratory sciences. CDPH also presented estimates for WIC and the Genetic Disease Screening Program, both of which were described as relatively stable, with WIC food costs rising mainly due to inflation and participation holding near 1 million monthly participants. Members and public commenters raised support for several proposals, including funding for the California Reducing Disparities Project, AB 1264 implementation on school food standards, childhood lead poisoning prevention, the hospital bed capacity registry, sickle cell care networks, and WIC protections amid federal policy changes and shutdown-related uncertainty. Dr. Erica Pond then presented the 2026 State of Public Health report, highlighting major gains such as record-low mortality rates, all-time high life expectancy, and the first decline in overdose deaths in 14 years, while warning about persistent disparities in maternal and infant outcomes, rising severe maternal morbidity, and worsening mental and behavioral health trends, especially among younger adults. She emphasized racial and geographic inequities, the role of social drivers like poverty and education, and the importance of prevention investments through the Behavioral Health Services Act. Members discussed the need for upstream public health spending, environmental health preparedness, and how to translate data into action, while public comment largely focused on sustaining community-based prevention and equity programs. In a separate update on federal actions and public health partnerships, Dr. Pond and CDPH staff described California’s response to federal funding threats, vaccine policy changes, and measles outbreaks. They outlined new collaborations such as the West Coast Health Alliance, the Governor’s Public Health Alliance, the WHO outbreak network, and the FACT Coalition, along with CDPH’s process for reviewing and updating immunization and preventive service recommendations under AB 144. Members questioned the rise in measles and declining vaccination coverage, and CDPH said it is using trusted messengers and tailored outreach while continuing to evaluate federal recommendations. The committee then heard an ADAP estimate showing lower projected budget authority needs due to reduced caseload and one-time funding expiring, followed by public support for using ADAP rebate funds to expand HIV prevention, PrEP, testing, and disease intervention staffing. The final issue focused on public health information technology systems, including Sapphire, CalReady, CalConnect, CARE, MyTurn, MyCAVAC, and the digital vaccine record. CDPH explained how these systems support disease reporting, contact tracing, immunization tracking, vaccine ordering, and outbreak response, while the Department of Finance said only Sapphire and CalReady are funded in the Governor’s budget and the rest are under review because of the state’s budget deficit and declining utilization. Local health department representatives strongly opposed losing the systems, arguing that lower usage reflects post-pandemic conditions and that the tools save staff time, improve outbreak response, and prevent a return to manual spreadsheets and phone calls. Members echoed concern that cutting the systems would undermine public health capacity and waste prior state investment, and urged the administration to present a funding plan that matches its stated commitment to public health.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:17.360><c> at</c> way be changes required at way be changes required at 363<00:29:19.039><
• We didn't require a reporting requirement, as the commission report made abundantly clear the amount
• exactly right the reporting requirements exactly right the reporting requirement<04:21:05.119><c> so
• </c><04:21:06.119><c> this</c> requirement so this requirement so this legislation<04:21:08.159><c> treats
• </c><04:21:37.040><c> a</c><04:21:37.279><c> reporting</c> we didn't require a reporting we didn't require

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are 100 years old, so they require are 100 years old, so they require constant<01:20:38.760><c>
• </c><01:21:18.719><c> You</c> required to fix it. That's correct. You required to fix it.
• </c> quarter of waste then they're required quarter of waste then they're required to<01:32:13.600><c
• Um, so that's to to require that.
• So on the surplus Bill 2. Correct.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed a handout comparing House Bill 2 to current retirement law and walked through the bill section by section with staff from the retirement system. The discussion focused on vesting, earnable compensation, average final compensation, compensation-over-base limits, special duty pay, normal retirement age, re-retirement, and maximum benefit rules for Group 2/Tier B members. Staff explained that some provisions would restore pre-2011 rules, including counting certain end-of-career payments such as unused sick and vacation time in earnable compensation and reducing the AFC averaging period from five years back to three. They also described how the bill would eliminate the current cap on compensation over base, which mainly affects overtime, and noted that the actuarial cost of the AFC-related changes is interrelated rather than easily broken out by feature. A separate discussion covered the special duty pay limitation, which currently applies to Tier A and would be removed under the governor’s bill for both Tier A and Tier B members after their vested buy date. Staff said the actuary estimated that removing the special duty limitation would increase costs by about $13.9 million. Members also asked about the practical difference between overtime and special duty, with staff explaining that special duty generally involves work for a private third party, often police detail work, while overtime depends more on staffing and scheduling. The committee also reviewed the normal retirement age changes for Tier B and the possibility that some members would need to work longer to reach the new vested buy date. Members raised concerns about an ambiguity in the bill that could allow already-retired Tier B members to return to work, then re-retire and claim the higher benefits, or allow vested deferred members to stop working and wait for the new vested buy date. Staff said the governor’s office did not intend to allow that result and requested clarifying language, noting that the bill as drafted does not expressly prohibit it. The committee also discussed part-time and seasonal work after retirement, with staff explaining that such work generally does not restore membership unless the person takes a full-time position requiring enrollment. Finally, the committee reviewed the maximum benefit provisions and noted that HB 2 in the current year does not change the maximum benefit date or include the 1.5% annual escalator that had been part of the 2023 proposal, making the current bill more costly than the earlier version.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also a requirement for 3 years within section 6 of the law that was enacted to require school
• And again, I'm just not being compelled that you have a surplus.
• requirement because of the population of students that they have.
• And that's a requirement.
• That's their job, but I require my patrol staff to walk through the schools.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been pretty slow in part because of the requirements that agencies and departments have had to have
• And I think particularly coming off of many years of surplus, it makes it even harder because, frankly
• How can we streamline those permit requirements and regulations? Do you have comments on that?
• State law requires that they discharge their authority or responsibility through issuing all of these
• It requires new staff, new resources to be able to maintain these new activities.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy convened for its first hearing and heard an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency. The LAO emphasized California’s strong current revenues but warned of a structural budget problem, projected out-year deficits, and the need for a high bar on new spending. It generally supported the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plan as reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, while urging legislative oversight and caution about using special funds and adding ongoing commitments. Secretary Wade Crowfoot responded with an overview of climate, wildfire, water, coastal, and conservation challenges and highlighted progress under the Newsom administration, including clean energy growth, wildfire resilience investments, land conservation, tribal co-management, and outdoor access initiatives. He also discussed federal staffing cuts affecting California’s response capacity and said the state has had to fill gaps in flood forecasting, land management, and park access. Members then questioned the secretary about the Delta conveyance tunnel and broader water reliability issues. Crowfoot said the project remains important, is being pursued as a beneficiary-pays project, and is moving through the State Water Resources Control Board’s permitting process, while also stressing that it is only one part of a broader water strategy that includes levee strengthening, subsidence, groundwater storage, recycling, and conservation. Senators also raised concerns about permitting delays, invasive species, and the impact of position cuts on agency capacity; Crowfoot said streamlining is needed but that staffing remains essential. The committee then moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation, where Director Armando Quintero described the state park system, tribal agreements, wildfire and deferred maintenance work, and outdoor access programs such as the State Library Park Pass and Adventure Pass. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing $6.75 million General Fund transfer for the library park pass, arguing it did not meet the high bar for new ongoing spending, but several senators strongly supported the program as a low-cost way to expand access. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and campsite no-shows. Department staff said they are updating website guidance, working with the reservation vendor, and implementing new no-show and reservation-modification rules effective July 1, including penalties for repeated no-shows and immediate reopening of vacant sites. The committee then heard a low-cost accommodations proposal, which Parks said would fund planning and construction at several sites using Proposition 68, reimbursements, and donations; the LAO said it had no concerns. Finally, the new director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Megan Hurdle, introduced herself and outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 requests, including funding for salmon genetic tagging, hatchery repairs, and public access improvements. She said the department is focused on biodiversity, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict prevention, and noted that the agency is still updating its service-based budgeting analysis to identify gaps and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:17:30.000><c> which</c> change the inspection requirements which change the inspection requirements
• There's also a requirement that schools have the same inspection requirements as shops, which everybody
• So it's a mild change to the inspection requirements, but it makes sense.
• There's also a requirement that schools have the same inspection requirements as shops, which everybody
• So it's a mild change to the inspection requirements, but it makes sense.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Department of Labor on several House Bill 2 sections. Members discussed raising the annual elevator certificate fee, which had been $50 since at least fiscal year 2014; the commissioner said the Inspection Division generates more revenue than its costs, and members agreed to amend the fee to $75 and later voted unanimously to accept Section 137. The department also explained a proposed change to civil penalty/warning language in Section 139 to align enforcement across labor laws; that section was accepted unanimously. The commissioner then gave a detailed overview of the second injury fund, describing how it is financed by assessments on insurance carriers, how claims are reviewed for reimbursement, and how the fund is intended to reimburse certain workers’ compensation costs. Members questioned whether the program still serves its original purpose, whether it is revenue-neutral, and whether it should be sunset; the department said the fund is a mixed bag for the state and industry, but no sunset language was adopted. Sections 140 and 141 were then accepted unanimously. The committee next heard from the Judicial Council on Sections 125 through 127. The witness said the changes would streamline payment for indigent defense services other than counsel, reduce the number of bills requiring judge review, and expand the council’s ability to contract with providers for services such as translation and evaluations. He also explained a proposed fail-safe allowing the executive director to decline to process questionable invoices and send them to a judge instead. Members generally supported the streamlining, and Sections 125 through 127 were accepted unanimously. Toward the end of the discussion, members asked about the cost impact of changing the misdemeanor/felony threshold from $1,000 to a higher amount. The Judicial Council said felony cases are significantly more expensive than misdemeanors because they involve more hearings, more discovery, and more attorney time, with assigned felony cases costing several times more on average. No action was taken on that question in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reviews evaluate the medical efficacy and cost impact of those proposals that would require insurance
• This would not require an ongoing subsidy from the Commonwealth.
• She said fully insured plans in Massachusetts are already required to cover more than 50 specific services
• Then there are non-admitted surplus lines, or also called excess and surplus lines carriers.
• Again, they do not require approval from the DOI for policy language.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session. Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills. Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be used to purchase advanced air mobility, to be used to purchase AAM for border security, and requires
• Trampoline operators are required to follow a litany of rules and compliance matters relating to it.
• of any reporting requirement that is duplicative, expired, or otherwise obsolete.
• This allows DiFi to require that they do. With that, I'm available for your questions. Yes.
• merchant requirements for selling digital goods that are not able to be owned outright.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate and House bills, many of them on consent or with strike-everything amendments. Topics included advanced air mobility for border security (SB 1457), raising the off-highway vehicle weight limit to 3,500 pounds while striking a proposed law enforcement fund (SB 1519), school property leases and a trampoline court safety citation change (HB 2383), electronic monitoring in health care facilities (SB 1041), dental school complaint handling and board jurisdiction limits (SB 1168), pharmacist-authorized testing and HIV prevention guidance (SB 1713), school district insurance/self-insurance requirements (SB 1497), reporting-requirement cleanup for education statutes (HB 2203), historic neighborhood housing zoning (SB 1118), construction contract payment protections in revitalization districts (SB 1189), timeshare salesperson licensing (SB 1274), workers’ compensation notice and recordkeeping (SB 1428), property tax disability exemption clarifications (HB 2120), insurance modeling/data organization requirements (HB 2174), HOA rules on chickens and pet breed restrictions (SB 1582), first responder death benefits for law enforcement pilots (SB 1503), and changes to virtual veterinary prescribing periods (SB 1286). Members generally asked clarifying questions, and several sponsors were said to intend to concur or refuse amendments, with HB 2010 headed to conference because the sponsor would not accept the Senate’s five-year refund window. On the second calendar, the committee heard HB 2176 on health facility complaint investigations, allowing DHS to investigate older complaints involving alleged abuse; HB 2050 on radiologic technologists and radiologist assistants, restoring direct supervision requirements with limited general-supervision exceptions; HB 2010 on digital goods, where the Senate reduced a refund window from 10 years to five and the sponsor planned to refuse; HB 2875 on unmanned aircraft, expanding airport drone-delivery buffer rules from one mile to two and a half miles and requiring airport consultation; HB 2428 on county certification of emission reduction credits, clarifying participation is voluntary and limiting new credits if fleet participation becomes mandatory; and HB 2877, which was struck and replaced with a veterinary technician certification pathway requiring 4,000 supervised work hours and allowing nonprofit curriculum evidence. Several members noted support or opposition based on prior votes or policy concerns, but no roll-call votes were taken in the caucus itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trampoline courts are required to follow a litany of rules and compliance matters relating to it.
• requirement that is duplicative, expired, or otherwise obsolete.
• This allows DIFI to require that they do. With that, I'm available for your questions.
• Yes. ...to require that they do. With that, I'm available for any questions.
• merchant requirements for selling digital goods that are not able to be owned outright.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate and House bills, many of them on consent or with strike-everything amendments. Early items included SB 1457 on advanced air mobility for border security, SB 1519 raising the off-highway vehicle weight limit to 3,500 pounds, and HB 2383, which now cites the 2014 trampoline court safety law known as Ties Law. Members also discussed SB 1041 on electronic monitoring in health care facilities, with supporters emphasizing resident safety and accountability and opponents from assisted living facilities arguing it could function as a mandate. SB 1168 on dental school complaint jurisdiction, SB 1713 on pharmacist testing authority and HIV prevention, SB 1497 on school district self-insurance procurement, HB 2203 on reducing redundant education reporting, and several other measures were briefly described, with some members requesting bills be pulled from consent or noting support or opposition. The caucus also covered a series of strike-everything bills on housing, labor, licensing, and insurance. These included SB 1118 on historic neighborhood middle housing design standards, SB 1189 on late-payment protections in revitalization district construction contracts, SB 1274 creating a separate timeshare salesperson license, SB 1428 on workers’ compensation notice and recordkeeping, HB 2120 on property tax disability exemptions and widow eligibility, HB 2174 on insurance predictive modeling oversight, SB 1582 on HOA rules for pets and backyard chickens, SB 1503 expanding first responder death benefits to certain law enforcement pilots, and SB 1286 changing prescription lengths for virtual veterinary visits. Members raised questions about the scope and practical effects of several bills, and in some cases noted changes in support, such as unions backing SB 1189 and some members supporting SB 1582’s limits on HOA restrictions. On the second calendar, members reviewed HB 2176 on health facility complaint investigations, HB 2050 on radiologic technologist and assistant supervision rules, HB 2010 on digital goods seller refund requirements, HB 2875 on local regulation of unmanned aircraft and drone delivery near airports, HB 2428 on county emission reduction credit permits, and HB 2877, which was amended in the Senate to create a supervised work route for veterinary technician certification rather than the original timeshare licensing language. Several sponsors were said to intend to concur with Senate amendments, while HB 2010 was headed to conference because the sponsor intended to refuse the Senate’s five-year refund window amendment. The meeting ended after the chair announced the caucus was adjourned, with no formal votes taken in the transcript beyond references to prior floor and committee votes.