Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, patients who could have been cared for by a primary care provider or social worker can end
• In terms of staffing, CARES programs were comprised of social workers, EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and
• If you live in Kent, a nurse partnered with a social worker would arrive.
• The paramedics, well, all the providers, social workers, nurses, we have great shortages.
• to train at least 2,000 workers.

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s State Auditor Subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two Initiative 900 performance audits. The first audit examined CARES programs run by fire agencies to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems. Auditors reported there are 52 such programs statewide, but many communities still lack one despite need. Key barriers identified were unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, lack of statewide guidance, and inconsistent access to patient records. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended legislative action to consider private insurance reimbursement and to convene a statewide CARES work group. Fire agency representatives largely agreed with the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain, while some noted support from accountable communities of health and hospitals. Committee members asked about why only a small share of programs receive Medicaid or accountable community of health funding, and auditors clarified that the 10% figure referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the payment is too low relative to the administrative effort. Agency witnesses said ACH support can help but is often temporary and uncertain. Members also asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help fund these programs, but fire district representatives said it is generally not a direct option for them. The second audit focused on improving performance management in the Department of Commerce’s economic development programs. Auditors found the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness lacks a division-wide strategic plan and has inconsistent performance management across its 16 programs. They recommended stakeholder engagement, clearer goals and measures, alignment between program and division goals, and stronger contract and grant performance provisions. Commerce officials agreed with the findings, said work on a statewide economic development plan is already underway, and described efforts to align divisional planning with broader agency strategy. The chair asked Commerce to return next year with progress updates, and the meeting ended with notice that written testimony could still be submitted and that another JLARC meeting would occur in November.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's the cost of the lives of undocumented essential workers.
• . undocumented essential workers.
• </c><00:07:19.600><c> heroes</c><00:07:20.000><c> during</c> these workers were deemed heroes during
• To all those essential workers that showed time and time again...
• </c><00:10:45.960><c> that</c> To all those essential workers that To all those essential workers that

Summary: House and Senate DFL lawmakers, joined by Unidos Minnesota and other allies, held a press event responding to a budget deal they said would end MinnesotaCare coverage for roughly 20,000 undocumented adults at the end of the year while preserving coverage for children. Speakers, including Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Sen. Sandy Leafman, and Emilia Gonzalez Davalos, argued the agreement was cruel, would harm vulnerable families and essential workers, and was being justified under a false claim of fiscal responsibility. They said the affected people are Minnesota residents who work, pay taxes, and contribute to the state, and they rejected the idea that private insurance markets are a viable substitute. The speakers emphasized that many enrollees are receiving ongoing care such as cancer treatment, dialysis, insulin, and asthma medication, and warned that losing coverage would push people into emergency rooms and increase costs for hospitals and communities. They also said the deal set a dangerous precedent by using mixed-status families and undocumented workers as bargaining chips in negotiations. Several speakers framed the issue as part of broader attacks on immigrant communities at the federal and state levels. In response to questions, the lawmakers said they had not been given meaningful input on the agreement, that the DFL leadership had tried to make the “least harm” choice, and that the members speaking would vote no on the provision. They said their focus was on this specific health-care agreement rather than other budget bills, and they indicated the program’s cost was within projections, citing about 20,000 enrollees, roughly 17,000 adults, and spending under $4 million so far. The event ended with a call to continue fighting the deal and to pursue a Minnesota public option and broader long-term coverage solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Republicans insist on conditioning funding for TSA workers on more money for ICE.
• Republicans insist on conditioning funding for TSA workers on more money for ICE.
• Speaker, last Friday, workers across the Speaker, last Friday, workers across the Department<03:00:36.960
• ,</c> funding for TSA workers, funding for TSA workers, on<03:01:10.720><c> more</c><03:01:11.120><c>
• It will fully fund FEMA, workers.

Bills: HR1115 , SB3971 , HB4294

Keywords: rules resolution, special rule, House procedure, floor consideration, lead ammunition, lead tackle, fishing tackle, hunting, wildlife management, federal lands, federal waters, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, immigration and nationality act, inadmissible, deportable, public benefits fraud, fraud against the United States, alien deportation, law enforcement animals

Transcript Highlights:

• Workers who lost hours, disrupted.
• The restaurant worker who housed.
• Also, as a licensed Social Workers.
• </c><00:27:07.120><c> eight</c> school social worker serving eight school social worker serving eight
• My co-workers are hardworking people. We My co-workers are hardworking people.

Bills: HF3403 , HF3410 , HF3424

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF3403, emergency rental assistance, rental aid, homelessness prevention, housing crisis, imminent risk of homelessness, eviction prevention, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aids, general fund appropriation, Minnesota revenue commissioner, poverty level, low-income housing, housing stability, family homeless prevention and assistance, emergency housing assistance, eviction, rent, redemption

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:04:28.280><c> and</c> officers, school social workers, and officers, school social workers,
• I told the county worker overwhelmed.
• ,<01:00:31.000><c> child</c><01:00:31.280><c> protection</c><01:00:31.760><c> workers,</c> workers, child
• protection workers, workers, child protection workers, foster<01:00:32.840><c> families,</c><01:00:33.400
• They couldn't contact their worker.

Bills: HF3877 , HF3714 , HF3750 , HF3024

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: public authorities, dissolution cases, court system, child protection, legal notice, foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, foster youth, extended foster care, bill of rights, out-of-home placement, Minnesota Statutes chapter 260C, social services agency, caseworker, permanency team, sibling visitation, relative contact

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:33.680><c> means</c> partnering with social workers means partnering with social workers means
• </c> workers embedded in those 11 agencies. workers embedded in those 11 agencies.
• Social workers and get consistencies established in state statute.
• I've had social workers themselves tell me that we need to take a look at the system.
• I've had social workers themselves tell me that we need to take a look at the system.

Bills: HF3738 , HF2295 , HF3520 , HF3666

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: pediatric care, hospital discharge, home care, healthcare accessibility, nursing services, family support, mental health, crisis services, Dakota County, mobile crisis response, public safety, treatment services, rehabilitation, behavioral health fund, client eligibility, home and community-based services, case management, waiver services, county services, disability advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Every day, they keep students, workers, customers, and hospital patients safer.
• These workers play a critical role in keeping Californians safe and healthy.
• They're not only essential workers but vital members of our communities who keep our economy running
• I just want to elevate the work that our DGS workers do every day.
• Never walking past a DGS worker who's mopping our floor, always making sure that we speak, or that I

Transcript Highlights:

• THE OTHER THING THAT WE ALSO FOCUS ON, WE HAD TO ESTABLISH THE BEGINNING OF THE WORKER PORTAL.
• THE WORKFORCE USES IT AND WE ARE MODERNIZING THOSE AND PUTTING THEM INTO THE WORKER PORTAL.
• A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE WORKER.
• JUST GOING BACK FOR A SECOND, THE WORKER – THE WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT PORTAL -- MODULE, SORRY.
• SO, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE WILL WRAP UP THOSE AND IT WILL GO LIVE INTO THE WORKER PORTAL.

Transcript Highlights:

• MAPE is a union of over 18,500 state workers across all Minnesota's agencies, boards, and commissions
• It can make it harder on workers to maintain current address and employment information for parties.
• The social workers that we have worked with are enormously dedicated to their clients while also being
• and are in desperate need of workers and are in desperate need of more<00:09:46.440><c> Foster</c><00
• Our coalition, which includes public teachers, health care workers, and local government employees in

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Our union represents thousands of airport workers across California: passengers, service workers, security
• Furthermore, many of the workers who represent our immigrants come from immigrant families.
• Transparency protects workers, protects the public, and builds trust. I urge your aye vote.
• Arietna Villanueva, laboratory worker, and I oppose.
• Malik Worker, on behalf of the American Innovators Network.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that is actually taken into account workers' safety.
• </c> taken into account workers safety. taken into account workers safety.
• and</c><00:28:58.000><c> separating</c> Workers are going uh and separating Workers are going uh and
• Uh, this is really a worker safety issue.
• workers workers safe<00:51:31.920><c> so</c><00:51:32.079><c> they</c><00:51:32.319><c> can</c><00:51

Bills: HF1531 , HF4017 , HF3399 , HF4146 , HF4019 , HF3677

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: crossbow, crossbow hunting, archery season, deer hunting, bear hunting, turkey hunting, fishing, common carp, rough fish, game and fish, wildlife management, hunting license, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, sunset clause, expiration removal, archery equipment, outdoor recreation, infectious waste, pathological waste

Transcript Highlights:

• As a union of eligibility workers, a union of health care workers, long-term care workers, and a union
• of low-wage workers, we proudly co-sponsor SB 1284.
• Half of adult workers living in poverty are employed full time.
• Only 34% of low-wage workers receive employer-sponsored coverage.
• SB 915 does not ask health care workers to do anything new.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1377, a bill on medical exemptions for school immunizations. The author and supporters said the measure was a narrow reform to restore physician discretion and reduce what they described as chilling effects from audits and license discipline; opponents from pediatric, medical, public health, and school groups argued the current system already works, protects against fraudulent exemptions, and should not be weakened. Committee members debated the data, the number of exemptions reviewed or revoked, and the effect of the proposed amendments. The bill was amended in committee, but because there was no quorum it was not formally voted on at that time. The committee then heard SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, which would create a statewide inspection and compliance framework for large private detention facilities. The author and supporters described severe conditions in immigration detention, including denial of medication, unsafe food and water, and lack of oversight, and the bill was presented as a response to those abuses. The California Hospital Association raised concerns about duplicative regulation and overlapping standards, but said it was continuing to work on a solution. The committee discussed constitutional and jurisdictional issues, and the bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Judiciary with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Next, SB 1089 was heard, proposing expanded access through CalPERS and CalRX to GLP-1 medications for chronic weight disease and diabetes prevention. The author and supporters from the American Diabetes Association and medical groups argued the drugs are effective tools to prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce long-term costs, and improve health equity, while the author also shared personal experience with weight loss and medication access barriers. There was no opposition testimony. The bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1221, dealing with Murphy conservatorships for people found not guilty by reason of insanity or otherwise under criminal-mental health conservatorship. Supporters, including prosecutors and psychiatrists, said the bill addresses a gap created by a court decision and would improve public safety and placement decisions for a small population of high-risk individuals. Opponents from county behavioral health and disability rights groups warned it would turn a civil process into a quasi-criminal one, expand district attorney involvement, and disrupt bed prioritization and least-restrictive-placement principles. The discussion centered on the scope of the bill and its amendments, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:17:31.120><c> patients,</c> options are good for workers, patients, options are good for workers
• we want to handicap workers.
• we want to handicap workers.
• we want to handicap workers.
• we want to handicap workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Knowing these faults, our frontline health care workers find themselves in an impossible double bind.
• Their employers are using these tools and making workers follow their output.
• So AB 2575 helps empower health care workers to speak up and advocate for their patients.
• AB 2575 addresses a reality many nurses and other health care workers are confronting today.
• care workers, and that it should support them.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• A talent pipeline full of workers with definitely digital skills is where your investment pays off.
• The National Skills Coalition found that workers with even one digital skill earn 23% more.
• it all boiled down to that night, the conversation Chris and I have had many times about training workers
• it all boiled down to that night, the conversation Chris and I have had many times about training workers
• to be confident training workers to be confident analysts<01:03:29.599><c> of</c><01:03:29.760><c> the

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met without a quorum, so the minutes were not approved. The main presentation was from retired economics professors John Garren and Dr. Kums, who discussed their Bluegrass Institute research on teacher compensation in Kentucky since the Kentucky Education Reform Act era. They said teacher base salaries, adjusted for inflation, have declined over the last decade, while state-paid “on-behalf” benefits such as pension and health insurance contributions have risen sharply; they argued total teacher compensation has increased modestly overall, but less than per-pupil funding. They also presented broader context on staffing growth, declining average daily attendance, Kentucky’s low share of teachers among total school staff, and flat or weak NAEP and ACT performance trends, including widening white-Black score gaps on NAEP. Members questioned the methodology and interpretation of the compensation figures. Representative Bojanowski argued the on-behalf calculations may overstate teacher compensation because they include insurance and pension costs that also benefit classified employees and retirees, and he asked for clarification on the denominator used to derive the per-teacher amount. Representative Truit said the presentation could be misleading if it implies teachers earn $94,000 in salary, and he objected to framing pension stabilization payments as teacher pay. The presenters responded that they were using total compensation, not salary alone, said they had divided total personnel-related on-behalf payments by the relevant staff count, and promised to review and send a technical explanation. Representative Truit and Chairman Typton both emphasized that compensation should be viewed as salary plus benefits, not salary alone, and noted that pension contributions are part of the cost of employing teachers. The presenters said their intent was to show the full compensation package and its relevance to labor supply and teacher shortages, not to claim that individual teachers earn the total compensation figure as salary. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the decision to revisit the minutes at a later meeting due to the lack of quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tiffany Whitewood, SEIU California, representing over 750,000 workers across California, including workers
• Once our worker went out to investigate it, she noticed that actually he was Once our worker went out
• from the community and a social worker from an agency, trauma has begun.
• Our county workers have checks and balances and accountability.
• And so for our county social workers, it is a tool in their toolbox to help the family.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Christina Boss Hamilton here, representing UDW, United Domestic Workers.
• are worked by a worker.
• On the side, I'm a daughter of a social worker. I thought we were doing that.
• , which in some counties is hovering around 500 to 600 cases per social worker.
• , which in some counties is hovering around 500 to 600 cases per social worker.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittees held a joint hearing on older adults and long-term care supports and services, with members and witnesses focusing on the growing “forgotten/overlooked middle” of Californians who are too wealthy for Medi-Cal but unable to afford long-term services and supports (LTSS). Administration witnesses from DHCS and the Department of Aging described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role for low-income residents, and ongoing state work on LTSS financing, including a 2024 financing initiative and a final report due in 2026. Testimony emphasized rising costs, caregiver shortages, homelessness among older adults, and the need to preserve home- and community-based services to avoid more expensive institutional care. Several advocates urged immediate action, especially Medi-Cal share-of-cost reform, housing supports, and protection of HCBS funding. Members asked for the most urgent budget priorities and were told to focus on share-of-cost reform and assisted-living rate protections, along with broader system navigation and caregiver support. The committee also heard testimony on the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS serves about 42,000 participants through 304 centers, with demand generally stable but geographic gaps in some regions and staffing challenges after the pandemic. DHCS explained a rate-setting issue: a 10% CBAS rate increase had been mistakenly posted on the Medi-Cal fee schedule in 2024, and while Proposition 35 later made the targeted SB 159 rate increase inoperative, DHCS said any repayment by managed care plans would depend on contract terms and the department would not require clawbacks. CBAS providers and advocates warned that the program is in a financial crisis, with six center closures since June 2024, and requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close about half the gap between current reimbursement and costs. Members expressed concern that clawbacks could accelerate closures and noted the program’s role in preventing institutionalization and supporting family caregivers. In the final panel, CDSS presented on In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider recruitment and retention and on the AB 102 statewide bargaining report. CDSS said the IHSS Career Pathways program has concluded successfully, with more than 59,000 providers completing training, and that the AB 102 report—based on workgroup meetings and consultant analysis—will be sent to the Legislature shortly. The department said the workgroup viewed statewide bargaining as more viable than regional bargaining, but identified major issues around consumer participation, county fiscal impacts, administrative responsibilities, and the need to define bargaining scope in statute. CDSS estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Provider unions supported statewide bargaining, arguing it would improve wages, benefits, and workforce stability, while county representatives said any statewide model should preserve consumer focus, protect county finances and realignment funds, and keep core administrative functions with local public authorities. The hearing concluded without votes, with members requesting additional follow-up information and urging continued engagement ahead of the May revise.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature has a long history of supporting port workers.
• What do we do to provide for displaced workers? Thank you for the question.
• What is the plan for the workers?
• At the end of the day, this is about protecting workers, all workers, including those within the trucking
• At the end of the day, this is about protecting workers, all workers, and including those within the

Summary: The committee first took up SB 712, which would expand California’s smog-check exemption for classic vehicles by adding model years 1976 through 1986 in phases, with a sunset in 2032. The author and supporters, including lowrider advocates and the Specialty Equipment Market Association, argued the bill would preserve car culture, support a small class of rarely driven collector vehicles, and reduce burdens on owners who struggle to find equipment for older smog tests. Opponents, including air district officials, the American Lung Association, and other environmental groups, warned the bill would weaken an important emissions-control program and increase pollution. After discussion, the committee adopted the motion to do pass as amended to Appropriations on a roll call vote of 10-0, with the roll held open for additional votes. The committee then heard SB 800, which requires Caltrans, working with local governments, to assess mitigation measures for suicide prevention on locally owned overpasses crossing state highways. The bill was presented as a response to recent tragedies in Rancho Cucamonga and was supported by local officials, health organizations, and suicide-prevention advocates, who said the measure would help identify high-risk locations and lead to life-saving interventions. There was no registered opposition. The committee members expressed support, and SB 800 was passed to Appropriations on a unanimous roll call vote, with the roll held open. Next, the committee considered SB 30, which would prohibit California public entities from selling, donating, or transferring decommissioned diesel locomotives and railroad equipment with Tier 1 or older engines unless the engine is removed, while allowing Tier 2 and newer transfers under certain conditions. The author and supporters framed the bill as a climate and public-health measure to prevent older, dirtier locomotives from continuing to pollute elsewhere, while transit agencies opposed it, arguing it could limit useful transfers of equipment that still supports passenger service and could be better handled through case-by-case air-quality review. After debate, the committee voted 6-4 to pass SB 30 as amended to Appropriations, with the roll held open for later additions. The committee also heard SB 791, which replaces the flat dealer document processing charge cap with a 1% fee capped at $350, along with new disclosure requirements. Dealers and industry groups supported the bill as a way to recover costs and improve transparency, while consumer advocates opposed it as an unjustified increase that would burden buyers. The committee approved SB 791 on a 8-? roll call vote and held the roll open. The meeting then moved on to SB 34, a port-air-quality bill presented by Senator Richardson, but the transcript ends during testimony and debate on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This also, on page 72, it is enforcing Arizona's law, Arizona Worker Act.
• Let's let our tip workers have no tax on tips. But what about everybody else?
• Election workers are often temporary, underpaid, and working long hours.
• Election workers are often temporary, underpaid, and working long hours.
• Election workers are often temporary, underpaid, and working long hours.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> allow farm dwellings and farm worker allow farm dwellings and farm worker housing<00:40:31.359><
• Again, we need to encourage and incentivize farm workers.
• </c> uh farm dwellings or farm worker uh farm dwellings or farm worker dwellings<00:44:45.119><c> because
• </c> have farm dwellings and farm worker have farm dwellings and farm worker housings.<00:44:59.680><
• But when and incentivize farm workers.

Bills: HB1952 , HB1951 , HB1929 , HB2497 , HB2208 , HB2572 , HB1737 , HB1953 , HB2551 , HB2549

Committees: House Agriculture & Food Systems , House Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species