Transcript Highlights:

• .was appreciating at a faster value than the financial return that could be generated from a state lease
• What was previously on that state parcel before was a grazing lease.
• This would give the land board ...or just simple lease fees.
• We hold a recreation lease for our camping area and our high ropes challenge course and zip lines.
• I get to talk with a lot of folks that deal with these state leases and the resource, especially out

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first considered a proposal to raise licensing and fee caps for the Denturity Board, which sponsors said was needed because testing costs about $1,000 while the current cap is $300 and the board is about $6,000 in the red. Members asked who controls fee increases and were told the legislature sets the cap; the motion to introduce the RS passed, though one member noted support for introduction but uncertainty about the bill’s future. The committee then took up RS 33380, which would prohibit out-of-state contributions and expenditures in Idaho elections. The sponsor argued out-of-state money has become a major influence in campaigns and should be barred to protect Idaho voters. Members raised concerns about constitutionality, possible conflicts with Idaho residency law, loopholes for corporations forming in Idaho, and whether the bill would be ineffective against independent expenditures; despite those concerns, the motion to introduce passed narrowly. Next, the committee considered RS 33385, which would lower the threshold for district-wide city council elections from cities over 100,000 population to those over 25,000. The sponsor said this would improve local accountability and reduce campaign costs in 10 cities. The motion to introduce passed without opposition. The committee then heard H.J.R. 8 and a revised RS 33415 concerning Idaho state and endowment lands, shifting the priority toward ongoing revenue generation while preserving public access and explicitly protecting timber, mining, grazing, and recreation. Testimony from outfitters and recreation operators supported the measure as beneficial to rural economies and public access. H.J.R. 8 was held in committee, and RS 33415 was introduced with an amendment and sent to the Second Reading Calendar with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered RS 33-377, a “shot clock” for initial plan reviews that would require cities, counties, or the state to complete initial review within 30 days for public works projects. The sponsor said the measure would speed permitting, and the motion to introduce passed. One member disclosed a Rule 80 conflict related to a public works license.

Transcript Highlights:

• for your support of SB 110, which states that individuals holding a 98-year or longer residential lease
• will align with long-term leaseholders, with life estate holders, and ensure families using these leases
• for your support of SB 110, which states that individuals holding a 98-year or longer residential lease
• Currently statute is silent on leases that end at death.
• SB 110 resolves this uncertainty by explicitly confirming that a 98-year lease or longer lease that terminates

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:06.639><c> will</c> you Mr chair and so though lease will you Mr chair and so though lease
• ><c> that</c><00:32:08.200><c> will</c> there a lease agreement that will there a lease agreement that
• </c> committee uh when we enter into a lease committee uh when we enter into a lease oftentimes<00:57
• leases are gross leases, in which those maintenance costs are wrapped into the overall lease payment
• leases are gross leases, in which those maintenance costs are wrapped into the overall lease payment

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, states could form a state-based marketplace, or they
• Capital assets include our building and technology platform, while other assets include lease and other
• While we had our third consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment, affordability concerns dominated
• We began open enrollment expecting to see 30,000 Idahoans cancel coverage due to affordability concerns
• That shows that Idahoans know that having coverage is important and that affordability concerns permeated

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I lease space to commercial clients.
• This bill is about affordable housing.
• Because if we're aiming at affordable housing, how will this affect that?
• I mean, we are predominantly rural, affordable and subsidized housing, right?
• that's already there and to put new affordable housing.

Bills: HB303

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: jail standards, living conditions, Harris County jail, safety, inmate welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• It falls under the affordability quotient.
• The affordability quotient.
• , affordability of housing, and it's absolutely right.
• the health care and we can't afford the, my people can't afford housing.
• We cannot afford...

Bills: H5006 , H5007

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: tax revenue, state surplus, taxpayer refunds, budget growth, Massachusetts General Laws, income tax, tax reduction, state law, personal income tax, tax rates, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before, it was not a thing for years, and then it became a thing, and only people who could afford to
• 242, relating to foreign ownership of agricultural land, prohibits foreign entities from owning, leasing
• controlling interest in more than an unspecified number of acres of agricultural land, limits the lease
• I believe about 10 years ago you guys have rules that do not allow corporations to no longer hold lease
• of your lands to foreign leasing of your lands to foreign corporations<00:53:48.240><c> I</c><00:53:

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered SB 1023, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cats, with funding sources including an income tax checkoff. The Department of Taxation had no substantive comment, while the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the measure but opposed any trap-neuter-release or re-release approach, saying spay-neuter is important but release does not reduce cats on the landscape. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about creating another special fund and tax checkoff, saying the fund may not meet statutory criteria and could create administrative burdens. The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly supported the bill, arguing the state currently provides little funding for animal overpopulation control and that the measure would help nonprofits and align conservation and animal welfare goals. Several other supporters testified, including a cat sanctuary representative who described the need for a dedicated funding mechanism and a possible Oahu sanctuary to remove cats from sensitive areas. After questions about the effectiveness of trap-neuter-release and the need for alternative management tools, the committees voted to recommend passage with amendments, including blanking appropriation amounts, moving them into the committee report, setting the effective date to July 1, 2050, and noting Budget and Finance concerns; the recommendations were adopted in both committees, with some members voting with reservations. The hearing then moved to SB 1120, relating to transportation and a clean fuel standard. The Department of Transportation said it supported the intent but wanted more information on economic impacts. Electrify America and Neste supported the bill, saying a clean fuel standard would help finance EV charging, encourage investment, and expand lower-carbon fuel options such as renewable diesel. In response to questions from senators about rural and agricultural transportation needs, witnesses said the standard could support both electrification where feasible and cleaner liquid fuels in the interim for equipment that cannot yet be electrified. DOT also described county transit efforts and said it was working with Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island on assessments for zero-emission bus replacement and charging infrastructure. The committees also heard testimony on SB 586, relating to climate change and zero-emission buses by 2045, with the State Procurement Office supporting the intent but suggesting the language be moved to a different statute; DOT said it was providing pass-through funding to counties and had some zero-emission bus purchases and charging stations on order. The discussion emphasized infrastructure costs and implementation challenges, but no final vote on SB 1120 or SB 586 was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said those shifts cost to members without solar, many of whom cannot afford it or lack the ability
• </c><00:08:16.280><c> reliable</c> who rely on us for affordable reliable who rely on us for affordable
• And I don't need to tell you, those who can afford to overbuild solar can already afford their utility
• And I don't need to tell you, those who can afford to overbuild solar can already afford their utility
• We currently lease two warehouses. We buy equipment from Minnesota suppliers.

Bills: HF845

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: net metering, distributed generation, solar energy, rooftop solar, renewable energy, utility rates, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, net billing, bill credits, cost of service study, standby charge, qualifying facility, energy policy, clean energy, customer generation, interconnection, Minnesota Statutes 216B.164

Transcript Highlights:

• So the lease expired in December.
• They went to DFA to get the lease done, and DFA signed a new lease agreement with them.
• a new lease agreement with DFA signed a new lease agreement with them.<00:46:57.119><c> Um,</c><00:46
• But lease itself is going to increase.
• What was the difference between the current lease and the future lease price difference?

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say thank you for having me here as a proxy and for affording us the opportunity to discuss
• draws down federal matching dollars, and with the cuts to CalFresh and Medi-Cal, California cannot afford
• And with the cuts to CalFresh and Medi-Cal, California cannot afford not to expand this win-win program
• We have a farmer in Salinas, California, who leased an additional 10 acres to grow food for this program
• nutrition incentives for WIC participants and seniors making healthy California grown food more affordable

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of Department of Food and Agriculture budget proposals, beginning with ongoing funding and trailer bill language for the Farm to School program and related climate-smart agriculture work. CDFA described the program’s goals of linking California producers with schools, expanding access to local and nutritious food, and supporting underserved farmers through technical assistance and outreach. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal as presented because of the state’s budget condition and suggested that some activities might instead be supported through Proposition 98. Members questioned whether the program is reaching the schools and communities with the greatest need, how grants are scored, and whether the proposal’s goals are measurable enough to justify ongoing funding. The item was held open. The committee also discussed CDFA’s climate bond expenditure plan, which would allocate remaining Proposition 4 funds to existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, urban agriculture, fairground emergency response upgrades, and invasive species work, as well as new or developing programs including year-round certified farmers markets, mobile farmers markets, regional farm equipment sharing, and tribal food sovereignty. CDFA said the funds would be released in stages based on program readiness, with audits and performance metrics tied to each program. The LAO found the plan reasonable and consistent with bond requirements. Members asked about audit responsibility, performance tracking, and whether the bond programs should be front-loaded or spread over a longer period. A third CDFA item addressed the elimination of vacant positions under prior budget reductions. CDFA and the Department of Finance explained that the positions were selected because they had been vacant for long periods or were hard to fill, and that departments identified the positions based on their own operational knowledge. The LAO supported retaining the special-fund positions and suggested the General Fund positions be weighed on their merits. Members raised concerns about the impact on core functions such as audits, investigations, milk marketing, and grape pricing reports, and asked for follow-up on how the department determined which positions could be removed. The committee then heard a CDFA IT proposal to add funding and four positions for information technology operations; the LAO had no concerns, and members discussed cybersecurity, legacy systems, and future risks such as AI and quantum threats. The committee took public comment and then voted to approve items 9 through 13, which included CDFA dog importation certificates, livestock carcass disposal, Gambling Control Commission IT support and tribal grant funding, and an ABC district office relocation. The hearing then moved to the Department of Cannabis Control, which presented a request to strengthen enforcement against the illicit cannabis market by adding a North State field office in Redding and three non-sworn support positions. DCC said the illicit market remains far larger than the legal market, with a large backlog of cases and significant public safety and environmental concerns. Finance supported the targeted expansion, the LAO had no comment, and members asked about regional coverage, officer safety, and whether a larger, more transformational enforcement effort might be warranted in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• state actors are essentially carrying out warfare via cyber warfare, we just can't, can no longer afford
• issues, voters on rural lands, tribal lands, or voters who may simply be on hard times that cannot afford
• for granted because it might not be that difficult for me to go get, you know, be able to pay or afford
• In this country, you need an ID in order to get a beer, buy a pack of cigarettes, lease an apartment,
• order to get a beer, buy a Pakistan, You need an ID in order to get a beer, buy a pack of cigarettes, lease

Bills: SB1018 , SB1037 , SB1568 , SB1687 , SB1825 , SCR1001

Committee: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Keywords: foreign law, Sharia law, cultural practices, women's rights, marriage laws, domestic violence, honor killings, Arizona legislation, elections, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system, EMS gateway

Transcript Highlights:

• Waivers obviously improve affordability and access for students, especially when scholarships aren't
• Also, we generate income from campgrounds and then some leases we have on land in the Turtle Mountains
• We also get ground leased income and income from our incubator and our prototyping lab.
• The ground lease income comes from the rest of the actual tech park.
• So John Deere, for example, pays us a ground lease income. They have a facility in the tech park.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> going to afford Christmas dinner. going to afford Christmas dinner.
• </c><00:09:06.560><c> uh</c> to afford their rent next month. uh to afford their rent next month. uh
• </c> affordability crisis in many other ways. affordability crisis in many other ways.
• </c> as I can to keep my products affordable as I can to keep my products affordable for<00:56:26.960
• </c> They have already paid for their leases. They have already paid for their leases.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, what the leases are is they're lifetime leases, and when they're done, they're done.
• lease owners, up until the time they either died or sold the lease.
• they were able to sell the the lease they were able to sell the lease<00:49:04.280><c> and</c><00:49
• Over time, the leases have transferred, and they're now all under the DNR's leasing terms.
• to whom the lease is transferred.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• DNR has proposed transferring parts of these leases.
• I guess what I wanted to clarify is also for the Batello lease.
• I guess what I wanted to clarify is also for the Batello lease.
• </c> proposing would retain in a dlnr lease proposing would retain in a dlnr lease to<00:12:48.360><c
• </c><00:13:05.880><c> to</c> quite a a lot longer on that lease to quite a a lot longer on that lease

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard SR 18, which asks DLNR to transfer active agricultural land leases to the Department of Agriculture to support agriculture. DLNR, through Don Chang, opposed the resolution, saying the department has already been transferring parcels by mutual agreement and should not be required to transfer lands it does not consent to. Ranchers and agricultural advocates strongly supported the measure, arguing that the lands are active production areas, that partial transfers would undermine ranching operations, and that water infrastructure built by ranchers must be protected. Testimony from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and others emphasized the importance of preserving agricultural land for food production, wildfire management, and long-term ranch viability. Committee members pressed both sides on acreage, specific parcels, and whether negotiations were still ongoing, with DLNR later clarifying that some parcels remain under negotiation and that some proposed transfers have been narrowed or adjusted. Several specific ranches and parcels were discussed, including Batello, Diamond B, Delo, Nobriga, and Kapala Ranch. Witnesses described the operational importance of water systems, grazing areas, and access routes, and said that losing productive acreage would threaten business viability. Some members expressed concern that the proposal appeared to transfer productive land while leaving less useful land with ranchers, and urged the department to continue transparent negotiations and consider the practical impact on agriculture and conservation. A DLNR representative said some transfers were tied to other needs, such as transportation mitigation, and not to a broader effort to take more land. The Department of Agriculture later stated it supports the intent of the measure, but suggested its concerns would likely be addressed if the resolution were narrowed to the specific parcels at issue. The chair also announced that the related House bill on the same subject remains alive and will be heard by Water and Land on Thursday. After concluding SR 18, the committee moved on to SCR 51 and SR 33, which seek a working group to evaluate establishing and administratively placing an Office of Resilience and Recovery. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development indicated support for the concept, noting the office’s value in Maui wildfire recovery efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• protect certain production records related to aquaculture, shellfish facilities, and submerged land leases
• protect certain production records related to aquaculture, shellfish facilities, and submerged land leases
• are building islands over there, and we've got a study from December that shows a $600 hit on affordability
• Some houses of worship can't afford to hire outside security service, and they're now beginning to use

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• books, equipment, materials, or relocatable facilities are deemed surplus and are for sale or for lease
• Equipment, materials, or relocatable facilities are deemed surplus and are for sale or for lease.
• With the current cost of laptops, this creates a price that many families cannot afford.
• this bill because I understand how important it is to have access to laptops that are reliable and affordable

Bills: SB6222 , SB6263 , SB6118 , SB6261 , SB6320

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: public education, technology access, surplus hardware, digital divide, student resources, school district, public bidding, bid limits, procurement, public works, construction contracts, competitive bidding, lowest responsible bidder, small works roster, quotations, school purchasing, Washington-grown food, local food, inmate work programs, Department of Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• books, equipment, materials, or relocatable facilities are deemed surplus and are for sale or for lease
• Equipment, materials, or relocatable facilities are deemed surplus and are for sale or for lease.
• With the current cost of laptops, this creates a price that many families cannot afford.
• this bill because I understand how important it is to have access to laptops that are reliable and affordable

Summary: The committee began by waiving the five-day notice rule for Senate Bill 6320, then heard Senate Bill 6222, which would let school districts and educational service districts sell or grant surplus technology hardware such as laptops and tablets to public school students and recent graduates, with priority for low-income students. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help students keep access to devices they need for homework, college, and work, while preserving existing surplus procedures. Testimony was generally supportive, including from district technology staff and students, though one question raised whether tribal compact schools would be included. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6263, which raises school district public bid thresholds to reflect inflation and reduce procurement costs. The sponsor said the limits had not been updated in about 20 years and should be aligned with other local governments. Supporters from school employees, finance officers, and school coalitions said the change would save time and money and reduce delays in maintenance and purchasing. Testimony on Senate Bill 6261, which would require parents of six- and seven-year-olds not enrolled in school to file annual declarations of intent about their child’s education, was overwhelmingly opposed by homeschool families and advocates. Opponents argued it would add bureaucracy, create privacy concerns, and burden families, while the superintendent of public instruction supported the bill as a way to improve enrollment data and planning. The sponsor said it was about knowing where children are and right-sizing school systems. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6118, requiring cardiac emergency response plans in schools and athletic facilities. The sponsor, who spoke about losing her brother to heart failure, said schools need faster, better-prepared responses to cardiac emergencies. Supporters, including parents, students, and community advocates, described personal experiences with sudden cardiac events and said the bill could save lives by ensuring AEDs, CPR training, and practiced response plans. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6320 on alternative learning experiences. The bill would restrict online and remote ALE providers to public or nonprofit entities and reduce levy equalization funding for remote/online ALE, with limited exceptions for medically fragile or severely bullied students. Supporters argued it would keep public education public and encourage in-person learning, while opponents—including superintendents, online program operators, students, and homeschool advocates—warned it would displace thousands of students, harm successful programs, and reduce family choice. No final votes were taken on the bills in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ’s one of the great things about UWF: it provides access to local students who may not be able to afford
• College has to be affordable, and we all know that it’s not right now.
• I have Mormons in the apartment below me, the Church of the Mormons, lease properties so the missionaries
• I have Mormons in the apartment below me, the Church of the Mormons, lease properties so the missionaries

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 1458 on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. The bill sponsor said it would add consistency and transparency by requiring local education agencies and training providers to define their roles and funding shares in contracts, cap an LEA’s share at 10% when it serves only an administrative role, and require public meetings and published work papers for the district workforce education funding steering committee. Several industry and business groups appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably without debate. The committee then took up CS/CS/SB 1726 on higher education, which was substantially revised by a delete-all amendment. The amended bill addressed presidential searches, trustee eligibility, interim presidents, polling by universities, mission reviews, and other governance issues. Members asked about the requirement that final presidential candidate groups include at least three applicants, the qualifications for interim presidents, trustee residency/alumni requirements, and limits on candidate polling. Senators Leek and Smith offered contrasting views, with Leek warning about candidate withdrawals and Smith supporting the bill as a way to depoliticize higher education governance. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to confirmation hearings for university and college boards of trustees. Several appointees and reappointees from FAMU, UNF, Pensacola State College, UF, and UWF described their ties to their institutions and goals such as student success, workforce alignment, military support, research, and regional access. The UWF nominees drew the most scrutiny over their votes for former board chair Scott Yenor, whose public comments about women and other groups were criticized by senators and public commenters. Some nominees said they were unaware of the full scope of those remarks and would not have voted for him with that knowledge; others defended their votes as based on his education-reform views. Public testimony also raised concerns about UWF board members’ lack of higher-education experience and local ties. The committee confirmed the non-UWF nominees in a block vote and then began individual votes on the UWF nominees, with debate centered on Yenor-related concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• It further integrates and strengthens the state's affordable housing finance system by improving the
• alignment of affordable housing programs to better coordinate state housing resources.
• And fee-for-service, those families that can't afford that system and process, or who are acutely ill
• That is something that we could not afford. It was, again, part of the May revision.
• We cannot afford to backfill, unfortunately, for them.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review heard the 2026-27 budget package, including AB 111 and AB 112 plus 16 trailer bills and two policy bills. Chair Laird described the budget as balanced over two fiscal years, with about $351.7 billion in total spending, $251.5 billion General Fund, and record reserves, while emphasizing investments in child care, homelessness, housing, Medi-Cal, education, courts, and other core programs. The Department of Finance presented each bill, outlining major items such as Medi-Cal adjustments tied to federal H.R. 1, child care and early learning funding, education and higher education investments, human services, developmental services, health, skilled nursing, resources, energy, transportation, housing, labor, state government, courts, taxation, and two policy bills on education governance and ballot measure placement. The LAO said it had no additional comments but was available for questions. The committee later achieved quorum and moved to member questions and comments, with no votes taken in the portion provided. Members largely focused on the budget’s fiscal structure and policy implications. Several senators praised staff and noted the compressed timeline, while Vice Chair Niello criticized the process as overly complex and burdensome. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas supported the budget but raised concerns about Medi-Cal changes for people with unsatisfactory immigration status, asking about access to care, the number affected, and county eligibility support; Finance said about two million people would transition to fee-for-service and that $39 million was included for care coordination, along with additional county eligibility funding. Senator Durazo said the agreement delayed, but did not resolve, cuts to immigrant health coverage, dental, and clinic payments, and argued that the budget did not create a true restoration mechanism. Senator Richardson highlighted hospital funding, public hospital definitions, DMV data protections, and court construction and maintenance needs, while Senator Grove questioned the sustainability of spending, the Medi-Cal savings assumptions, distressed hospital funding, Planned Parenthood transparency, developmental services changes, high-speed rail costs, and the property tax postponement program. Other members emphasized different priorities. Senator Blake Spear praised climate and parks investments, support for HAP homelessness funding with accountability, transit stabilization, and Care Court referral funding, while expressing concern about the lack of wildlife coexistence funding and long-term transit operating support. Senator Weber Pearson raised a technical concern in the health trailer bill regarding menopause language, arguing that the bill should refer to perimenopausal symptoms and should not narrow provider participation through contracting language. Throughout the hearing, Finance repeatedly explained that many of the budget’s savings came from reduced caseloads or delayed implementation of prior proposals, while some new spending was added to mitigate impacts and support administration of the changes. No final committee action or vote was shown in the excerpt.