Transcript Highlights:

• I'll entertain a motion on Senate Bill 299. Okay, moved by Senator Menjivar.
• I'll entertain a motion. Moved by Vice Chair Achobo. If we can please call the roll.
• I'll entertain a motion. Moved by Vice Chair Achobo. If we can please call the roll.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Human Services met on January 12, 2026, beginning without a quorum but hearing four bills. SB 557 by Senator Hurtado would update California’s statutory definition of family resource centers to align with the federal definition and reflect their prevention-focused, low- or no-cost, multi-generational role. Supporters from the Child Abuse Prevention Center and California Family Resource Association said the change would clarify state law and help position California for future federal partnerships; no opposition was heard. SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon would correct a prior CEQA exemption for child care facilities so it applies in residential as well as nonresidential areas. Supporters, including Napa County Supervisor Liz Alessio and the Rural County Representatives of California, said the current language unintentionally blocks child care projects in places families need them most and has been used to delay or stop projects; several local government and early care organizations also supported the bill, and there was no opposition. SB 837 by Senator Gomez-Reyes would require aging and disability resource connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Testimony from the California Commission on Aging and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers emphasized recent wildfire deaths and the need for better evacuation and preparedness support; no opposition was presented. SB 479 by Senator Arreguín would allow the cities of Berkeley, Pasadena, and Long Beach, as local health jurisdictions, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across teams and departments, similar to counties under existing law. Supporters said the bill would improve coordination and outcomes for unsheltered residents, while noting confidentiality safeguards already exist; a privacy letter from Oakland Privacy was mentioned, but no formal opposition testified. After quorum was established, the committee voted 5-0 to pass each bill: SB 299 to Senate Environmental Quality, SB 557 and SB 837 to Senate Appropriations, and SB 479 to Senate Judiciary. All four measures were placed on call briefly and then cleared with unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll entertain a motion on Senate Bill 299. Okay, moved by Senator Menjivar.
• I'll entertain a motion. Moved by Vice Chair Achobo. If we can please call the roll.
• I'll entertain a motion. Moved by Vice Chair Achobo. If we can please call the roll.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Human Services heard four bills and ultimately advanced each one unanimously. SB 557 by Senator Hurtado would update California’s statutory definition of family resource centers to align with the federal definition and reflect their prevention-focused, low- or no-cost, community-based role. Supporters from the Child Abuse Prevention Center and California Family Resource Association said the bill would clarify the law and help position California for future funding and partnerships; there was no opposition. The committee also heard SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon, which would correct a technical issue in a prior CEQA child care exemption so it applies to child care centers in residential zones as well. Supporters, including a Napa County supervisor and rural county representatives, described a real-world project delayed by CEQA litigation and argued the bill would help expand child care access; no opposition was heard. The committee then heard SB 837 by Senator Gomez Reyes, which would require aging and disability resource connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. The author and supporters from the California Commission on Aging and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers cited the deaths in the Eaton and Palisades fires and said the bill would help prevent vulnerable residents from being left behind in emergencies. Finally, SB 479 by Senator Menjivar would allow Berkeley, Pasadena, and Long Beach, as local health jurisdictions, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across teams, similar to county authority under existing law. Berkeley officials said the change would improve coordination and outcomes for unsheltered residents, while a privacy group had raised concerns in a letter; no formal opposition testified. After quorum was established, the committee voted 5-0 to send SB 299 to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, SB 557 and SB 837 to the Senate Appropriations Committee, and SB 479 to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The meeting adjourned after members and the outgoing chair exchanged thanks and remarks about the importance of the committee’s work on the social safety net.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their districts are huge. So I can see how it’s hard to fill those positions.
• I personally, in my district, dealing with the state inspectors there, we get quite a bit of turnover
• Districts are huge. So I can see how it’s hard to fill those positions.
• I personally, in my district, dealing with the state inspectors there, we get quite a bit of turnover
• I would entertain a motion if there are no further questions or comments. Representative Cannon.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:40.960><c> again</c><00:37:41.200><c> in</c><00:37:41.359><c> my</c><00:37:41.599><c> district
• ,</c> this and I know again in my district, this and I know again in my district, Laconia<00:37:42.560
• :32.800><c> to</c> ought to put uh, you know, we ought to ought to put uh, you know, we ought to entertain
• maybe, if not today, a next entertain maybe, if not today, a next meeting,<00:53:35.680><c> another<
• </c> Majority of that instruction is actually happening at the expense of the school district.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and no longer with just a kaai district and no longer with just a kaai district but<01:05:01.559
• [questionable] did, I mean that, in a practical sense, it only applied to District Court because District
• [questionable] did, I mean that, in a practical sense, it only applied to District Court because District
• </c> infrastructure Improvement District infrastructure Improvement District board<02:30:58.279><c> is
• </c><02:49:23.760><c> and</c> is a digital Sports entertainment and is a digital Sports entertainment

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today defining Caribbean entertainment.
• </c><00:24:18.720><c> is</c> this season, and the sixth district is this season, and the sixth district
• Try hosted students from district.
• We would actually take the tax collections from our school districts, from the 3,300 taxing districts
• We have far too many school districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Bernie Perryman, District 14A, and today I have two testifiers to speak to a capital investment
• Olson, again, for District 22A.
• So we'll be letting Carl take over from here, and we'll be entertaining your questions as well.
• </c><00:44:33.040><c> your</c> here and uh we'll be entertaining your here and uh we'll be entertaining
• A big part of that is the biotech district, which we were able to get set up last year.

Bills: HF201 , HF217 , HF314 , HF315 , HF406 , HF408 , HF425 , HF426 , HF730 , HF731 , HF652 , HF761 , HF1079 , HF928 , HF1017 , HF1056 , HF1081

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the unwillingness to entertain that, yes, at some point there might be a level of fraud that requires
• And so the unwillingness to entertain that, yes, at some point there might be a level of fraud that requires
• so the or something right and and so the unwillingness<00:12:53.519><c> to</c><00:12:53.760><c> entertain
• </c><00:12:54.399><c> that</c><00:12:54.800><c> yes</c><00:12:55.600><c> at</c> unwillingness to entertain
• that yes at unwillingness to entertain that yes at some<00:12:56.160><c> point</c><00:12:56.480><c>

Summary: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee Chair Kristen Robbins opened by criticizing the governor’s fraud package as too focused on new spending and staffing, and not enough on culture change, accountability, eligibility rules, and an enterprise-wide IT/data strategy. She said the committee had heard a good overview from multiple commissioners, but she remained concerned that piecemeal technology investments and added staff would not address the root causes of fraud. Robbins also said she would introduce a bill based on issues raised in committee, including requiring grants management staff to complete Office of Grants Management training and certification. A major action announced was the launch of a new whistleblower portal at mnfraud.com, which legislators said will let people submit basic fraud allegations, after which staff will follow up and forward matters to the Office of the Legislative Auditor, BCA, law enforcement, or the attorney general as appropriate. Members noted that the Office of the Legislative Auditor already has a separate reporting portal, and there was a question about why the new site does not allow anonymous reporting; Robbins said contact information is needed so staff can follow up. She also said the portal is intended to centralize and triage reports from agency workers, service recipients, and providers. Republican members said the governor’s proposal still misses key pieces. Vice Chair Anderson argued the package mostly adds staff to agencies that failed to catch or act on fraud, and said Minnesota needs a statewide independent inspector general with authority outside agencies and a stronger whistleblower system. Representative Marion Rarick said the proposed criminal penalty increases are too small compared with federal penalties and criticized the package for adding only one forensic auditor at the BCA while DHS receives many more positions. She also argued that agency managers should face sanctions when fraud occurs under their watch and said the state needs a culture where employees can be rewarded for good work but also held accountable for failures. Members discussed several other ideas, including creating new crimes for kickbacks and theft of public funds, requiring fraud fiscal notes, improving data sharing and eligibility verification, and using better IT so systems can talk to each other. There was also discussion of whether government services should rely less on nonprofits and private contractors; one member said fraud often follows a particular business model rather than the sector itself, while another suggested capping salaries of top nonprofit executives receiving government funds. The committee also noted that the governor’s fraud package is being presented as a package but will likely move as separate provisions through different omnibus bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd entertain a motion. Yes, sure. Who do we have that needs to be appointed?
• So, entertain a motion to cancel the contingent meeting for this month.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) met briefly, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the prior meeting minutes and the consent calendar. Members were seated to fill attendance, including Representative Potenza for Senator Innis. The committee noted two items still pending on the regular calendar: manufactured housing installer standards, for which a response to a preliminary objection is still due next month, and the Dental Examiners Board matter, for which the committee agreed to waive the deadline and allow the board until April to return with a resolution on the sedation issue. No additional substantive business was taken up. Members discussed an informational training session on how JLCAR works, including what motions are allowed and the committee process, and agreed to proceed with that session after adjournment. To do so, the committee voted to cancel the contingent meeting for the month. The meeting then adjourned, with members noting that all items had been handled on consent and that the session was unusually short.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:47:49.119><c> of</c><00:47:49.280><c> Columbia</c> from um the District of Columbia from um the District
• </c> &gt;&gt; districts? What what does state mean? &gt;&gt; districts? What what does state mean?
• Happy to entertain any conversation about this.
• You could be talking about a small water district.
• You could be talking about a small water district.

Bills: SF0087 , SF0088 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, I really wanted to showcase in an entertaining way what exactly market development does and what
• many of our programs as I can in such a finite amount of time, and I was told to make it fun and entertaining
• So, I think we're in a really great space to certainly with all of our district conservation commission

Transcript Highlights:

• But first, I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the minutes from March 26th.
• students receive hands-on experience in assisting small businesses and non-profits. profits, school districts
• For possible inclusion, so if you want to entertain a further amendment down the road, we can take a

Bills: HF2634 , HF2241 , HF2649 , HF2520 , HF2610

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Creighton, you are so good on education and, you know, you give the money to the school. districts
• What we should do here, and I appreciate senator you and your office entertaining some comments, is a
• between. or the firm in between is like well let's do this and let's do that so I would love to entertain

Bills: SB483 , SB522 , SB783 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1664 , SB1762 , SB1856 , SB1877 , SB1977

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays. The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process. Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The travel industry encompasses attractions, airlines, airports, arts and entertainment organizations
• during the preceding three months in the county court and during the preceding six months in the district
• The Judicial District, as a summoning county, doesn't change the standards that qualify you to serve

Bills: SB1888 , SB3003 , SB2417 , SB2459 , SB3055 , HB1393 , HB2884 , SB2943

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• One time I asked him point blank if an issue he was lobbying me on was a good vote for my. district and
• things that will always stick out to me is Paul reminding me, Jasmine, you're here because of your district
• Seeing and hearing no further business, I am ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• magistrate from Elliott County, Michael Dickerson, is a good friend of mine from the northern part of my district
• </c><00:26:43.440><c> that's</c> ratepayers uh within the district that's ratepayers uh within the district
• But, you know, frankly, in my district you're less popular than Joe Biden, okay?
• amendments to the to the entertain amendments to the to the legislation,<00:43:10.720><c> depending<
• Uh, Scott Maiden, Senate District 29. Tucker Davis, Kentucky Coal Association.

Summary: The committee met for an initial natural resources hearing with a quorum present and introductory housekeeping, including prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests. Chair Smith outlined ground rules for questions and then invited Kentucky Power and American Electric Power representatives to the table to discuss a proposed plan involving the Mitchell Power Plant and future generation needs in Eastern Kentucky. Witnesses Cindy Wiseman, Alex Vaughn, and AEP CEO Bill Fehrman said the company’s goals are to stabilize and lower rates, reduce rate volatility, and expand generation in the Commonwealth. They explained that Kentucky Power seeks legislative authority to securitize its 50% interest in the Mitchell coal plant, describing securitization as a refinancing mechanism that would lower annual plant costs by about $34 million and help offset roughly one-third of the expected cost of adding new generation in Kentucky. They emphasized that the proposal is not intended to close Mitchell, and said Kentucky Power currently has no plan to divest its interest; the company still needs the plant to serve customers while it pursues additional dispatchable generation in Kentucky. Members pressed the witnesses on the plant’s book value versus fair market value, whether the Mitchell interest had ever been assigned a nominal value, how any divestiture proceeds would be handled, whether Kentucky Power owns Wheeling Power, and how long Mitchell can continue operating. The company said it values Mitchell at net book value for accounting purposes, not fair market value, and explained that Wheeling Power is a separate AEP affiliate and that West Virginia affiliates have already proposed securitization of their share. Witnesses said Kentucky Power’s interest cannot technically operate past 2028 without additional environmental control investment, while the West Virginia side is depreciating through 2040. They also described the financing timeline, saying securitization would require enactment of legislation, a PSC financing order, bond issuance, and then parallel work to acquire or build new generation, with any reinvestment terms to be addressed through the regulatory process.

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts already know what they need to expand access to effective...
• I came from the board of education in my school district. I'm here to support kids.
• Be the person from your district. Remember what you ran on to serve those things.
• She would look up and entertain my questions or my random ideas. Rev.
• One last round of applause for the outstanding entertainment.

Transcript Highlights:

• App, Houston, 14th District, 2011, no petition for a higher ruling. 174 Southwest 3D 359, 364-365, Tex
• App, Houston, 14th District, 2015.
• Lifts appointed by certain district courts in Webb County.
• Only two of the four district courts in Webb County can appoint their respective full-time bailiffs.
• Across district courts, reduce administrative confusion and align compensation with county budgeting.

Bills: HB 1193 , HB2495 , HB2733 , HB3104 , HB3395 , HB4325 , SB3009

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we're fixing to entertain an amendment set.
• I guess we'll entertain the amendment.
• I guess we'll entertain the amendment, and at the appropriate time, I make a motion to move the bill.
• And we're happy to entertain further discussions between here and the... Okay.
• And we're happy to entertain further discussions and see if we can make it be appropriate. Okay.

Bills: SB83 , SB135 , SB143 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB237 , SB261 , SB276 , SB295 , SB450 , SB465 , SB506 , HB1070

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, I'll entertain a motion on a title amendment. >> Senator, oh, there we don't need a title
• At this time, I'll entertain a motion on a title amendment. >> Senator, oh, there we don't need a title
• At this time, I'll entertain a motion on a title amendment. >> Senator, oh, there we don't need a title
• At this<00:35:51.200><c> time</c><00:35:51.440><c> I'll</c><00:35:51.680><c> entertain</c><00:35:52.240
• a motion on a this time I'll entertain a motion on a title<00:35:53.599><c> amendment.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, so it began with an informational presentation from Dr. Kristen Goodell, executive director of LifeKY, about innovation infrastructure and a proposed grant program to support life sciences and other startup facilities. She argued that Kentucky’s research investments only translate into jobs and companies if startups have access to physical lab and equipment space, and said shared facilities can serve many companies over time. Goodell described LifeKY’s Northern Kentucky facility as a proof of concept, noting it has attracted companies from other states and Japan, secured a Thermo Fisher Scientific partnership, and could be replicated elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Members asked about university pipelines, local talent development, sustainability, and how the grant program would measure return on investment; Goodell emphasized public-private partnerships, earned revenue, philanthropy, internships, and STEM programming as part of the model. The committee then took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Bledsoe, which would limit school board occupational license tax increases by raising the population threshold for such increases from 300,000 to 500,000. Bledsoe said the bill was intended to respond to Fayette County’s recent tax controversy, restore public trust, and provide stability for employees, employers, and the school system. He argued that occupational taxes affect many commuters who work in Fayette County but live elsewhere, and said the measure would give time for community buy-in before any future increase. Supportive comments came from Senator Nunn and others, while Senator Boswell asked about the tax rate and cautioned against local tax increases offsetting state income tax reductions. After discussion, the committee called the roll on SB 76. The bill advanced on a roll-call vote, with Senator Armstrong explaining a no vote because he did not want to take tools away from local government and preferred local control. The transcript indicates the measure moved forward from committee after the vote.