Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallace, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zuber, Mr. Speaker.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not counting the wealth that's moving out because of the recent proposal to tax that wealth.
• This proposal is grounded in prior state work.
• This proposal is grounded in prior state work.
• I will be accepting committee staff proposed amendments.
• Again, to emphasize the motivation of the proposal is to make a...

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee heard several tax and revenue measures. SB 1277, by Senator Grove, proposed a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide direct relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, gas, energy, and general living costs. Supporters said it would help working families, farmworkers, teachers, and others; opponents, including the California Tax Reform Association and the California Teachers Association, argued California already has a progressive tax system, that refundable credits are costly and can be difficult to administer, and that the bill would reduce General Fund revenues and Proposition 98 funding. The bill was held on call after extensive debate and no motion was made at that time. The committee then heard SB 1287, which would create a targeted tax credit to encourage private investment in short-line railroad infrastructure. The author and rail industry witnesses said the credit would support safety, bridge and track upgrades, emissions reductions, freight efficiency, and rural and agricultural supply chains, while opponents argued a direct grant program would be preferable to a tax credit. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call after a motion to move it forward. SB 1407 would exempt military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits from state income tax, with the author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups arguing it would help retain veterans in California, support second careers, and keep federal retirement dollars in the state. The California Teachers Association and California Tax Reform Association opposed it as another tax expenditure that would reduce General Fund revenue. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, with several members voting aye and others not voting, and the bill was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1349, which directs the Legislative Analyst’s Office to review major tax expenditures and evaluate their costs, beneficiaries, and effectiveness. Supporters, including CTA, AFSCME, cities, counties, and many teachers, said the state needs more accountability for roughly $94 billion in annual tax expenditures and their impact on schools and the budget. The bill was moved with committee amendments and placed on call. Additional measures discussed included SB 1078, authorizing Santa Cruz County to seek voter approval for a temporary local sales tax increase to fund health care and safety-net services; SB 1120, extending the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and making it refundable for certain strategic industries; and SB 1275, which would convert the state sales tax on vehicle purchases into a deductible vehicle license fee to reduce Californians’ federal tax burden. SB 1120 and SB 1275 both received support from business and industry witnesses, with no opposition testimony noted, and were moved on call or with a due pass as amended vote as the committee continued through the file.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Member Ward, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• The Elections Code lets the Board of Supervisors ask for a report on a proposed initiative to help that

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a proposal vote in aid or not vote until you hear the bell. Thank you.
• the abuse of the guardianship and probate system, where guardians, a subset of them, will keep their wards

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and then moved through a lengthy third-reading calendar. Early bills included SB 1135 on workers’ compensation, which passed 49-4, and SB 1127 on family offenses, which failed 5-50 after Rep. Gress said he supported the policy but voted no to allow reconsideration. SB 1133 on nominating procedures passed 32-23 without the emergency clause, and SB 1136 on workers’ compensation passed 54-1. Members then debated several health-related and regulatory measures, including SB 1145 on behavioral health behavior analysis, SB 1165 on health insurance coverage for breast exams, SB 1175 on child welfare, SB 1184 on condominiums and planned communities, SB 1205 on municipal regulations, SB 1210 on private post-secondary education institutions, and SB 1233 on state agencies, with mixed votes and several floor explanations focused on costs, insurance mandates, and public health benefits. The chamber also considered SB 1243 on court-ordered treatment, where supporters framed it as protecting vulnerable people and opponents warned about guardianship abuse and indefinite confinement; it passed 50-7. SB 1246 on condominium and planned community notices passed unanimously, while SB 1253 on Safe Haven providers passed 57-0. SB 1259 on campaign-related address confidentiality drew extensive debate about candidate safety, threats, and residency rules, and passed 43-14. Additional measures passed included SB 1271 on municipal authority, SB 1286 on veterinarians, SB 1292 on the public safety personnel retirement system, SB 1366 creating a towing and impound advisory committee, SB 1446, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1561 and SB 1564 on health care institutions, and several final-read House bills. On final reading, the House concurred in amendments to several bills and passed HB 2082, HB 296 on WIFA, HB 2557 on patient records, HB 2749 on reclassifying certain felony convictions to misdemeanors under strict conditions, and HB 4001 on nicotine products and youth access. HB 4001 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing youth protection, stronger penalties for sales to minors, and anti-vaping enforcement, while opponents criticized the bill as regulatory overreach or insufficiently focused on taxation and education. The House also adopted a motion to request the Senate return SB 1456 for reconsideration, heard a memorial resolution honoring James Hong Shee, and received remarks and a proclamation on National Gun Violence Awareness Day before recessing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says any new institutional health services on page 13, number C, as described in subsection A, proposed
• I said, I think if you're a ward of the state through your incarceration, we have an obligation to make

Bills: SB9 , SB90 , SB82 , SB84 , SB9 , SB90 , SB82 , SB84

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: Alabama Athletic Commission, Attorney General, criminal penalties, unarmed combat, regulation, boxing, mixed martial arts, civil fines, Green County, racing, pari-mutuel wagering, gaming regulations, commission appointments, historical horse racing, local tax, SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants

Transcript Highlights:

• know, the in the in the state of Tennessee, they have something very, very similar to what we're proposing
• I think I understand that I think where I'm going is reasonable doubt is such a subjective ward.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll have a quick discussion about the proposed changes to the Government Code proposed by the administration
• We'll have a quick discussion about the proposed changes to the Government Code proposed by the administration
• The proposed language contains two distinct statutory changes.
• The proposal eliminates the code section entirely.
• And so under this new proposal, the maximum would be twice. Okay.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Patrick Long representing Hillsboro 26, which is Ward 7 of the city of Manchester.
• </c><04:22:10.080><c> Uh</c><04:22:10.399><c> so</c> ward 7 of the city of Manchester.
• Uh so ward 7 of the city of Manchester.
• </c><04:34:32.000><c> because</c> the sort of innovative proposals because the sort of innovative proposals
• We're in strong support of this proposal. We were in strong support of House Bill 685 last year.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, if you're proposing an amendment to extend it to others, I just want to know if your intent is about
• Laws have led us to propose this legislation that extends the duration of emergency holds to 72 hours
• But currently, the law. is that they have to pose serious harm to the proposed patient or serious harm
• The Psychiatric Patient Bill of Rights states that you only get one admitted to a psych ward.
• The law is 48 hours, this proposal is 72, you suggest going back to 24.

Bills: HB 1239 , HB1990 , HB1748 , HB1749 , HB2578 , HB2986 , HB1970 , HB3163 , HB2733 , HB1922 , HB 113 , HB 1088 , HB1938 , HB3004 , HB2637 , HB2960 , HB113

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: public health, access to healthcare, insurance reforms, medical expenses, healthcare providers, mental health, protective custody, preliminary examination, detention period, emergency circumstances, emergency detention, legal framework, detention, healthcare, liability, landowners, nonagricultural land, trespassing, public safety, interpreters

Transcript Highlights:

• I do feel obligated to remind us there were proposals from the Legislature this year.
• We'll have a quick discussion about the proposed changes to the Government Code proposed by the administration
• We'll have a quick discussion about the proposed changes to the Government Code proposed by the administration
• The proposed language contains two distinct statutory changes.
• The proposal eliminates the code section entirely.

Summary: The hearing focused on the expected health coverage losses tied to H.R. 1, the resulting pressure on California’s county indigent care systems, and what data and policy changes the Legislature may need before the next budget cycle. Chair Hart and Assemblymember Addis framed the issue as a major rollback in coverage that could leave more Californians uninsured and push more people into county safety-net programs. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for baseline, county-by-county data on eligibility, benefits, caseloads, and funding before making larger structural decisions. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained the history of county indigent care under Welfare and Institutions Code 17000, the shift in funding through 1991 realignment, and the later redirection of funds to CalWORKs. LAO said county programs vary widely in scope and eligibility, that current realignment funding does not automatically rise with demand, and that the Legislature faces tradeoffs if it changes the funding structure. Administration witnesses from Finance and DHCS projected large Medi-Cal and Covered California enrollment losses, with DHCS estimating more than 1 million Medi-Cal members could eventually lose coverage under work requirements and redeterminations, and noting that a new federal rule could make exemptions more restrictive. Officials also said there is no single statewide real-time data system for uninsured or indigent care populations, though some hospital and utilization data exists with significant lags. County representatives from Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Tulare described how their indigent care programs are being rebuilt or strained after years of low demand. They warned that many newly uninsured residents will need only basic, emergency-oriented care under county programs, not the preventive and continuous care available through Medi-Cal, and said that without new state support counties may have to divert funds from public health or reduce other services. Several counties asked for bridge funding, technical statutory changes, and flexibility to adjust realignment methodology. The California Health Care Foundation closed by arguing that the problem is statewide and needs a statewide solution rather than a patchwork county response.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have proposed offering a flat subsidy from the state that would then allow all state workers to access
• We have proposed offering a flat subsidy from the state that would then allow all state workers to access
• these opportunities and decisions—I know there’s been some areas where state policies have been proposed
• on some of the things that you mentioned, but... ...where state policies have been proposed on some
• We also worked this year with Assemblymember Ward on AB 1406, which would have allowed condo builders

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You did propose that the state would develop You did propose that the state would develop standards for
• So, proposing that a 28-day, my level of care is 3.1, we get 90 days.
• So the proposal would be to increase the per diems across the board, but significantly for my purposes
• Okay, next I have Schedule 19, Jamie Ward with Farm Ed and Miko's Farm Ed and Andre Miller with Farm
• BESE's MFP proposal to the legislature reflects that by keeping the base amount at $4,015 per student

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute keeps the upper enrollment age at 50 rather than raising it to 60 and removes the proposed
• The chair now calls up Tyler Ward, Terry Drury, Justin, and Carlton Quick.
• My name is Tyler Ward, General Manager for Typhoon Texas Water Parks.
• Little do they realize that people like you, those who propose the Senate bill, want to make it more
• We strongly oppose Senate Bill 1798, which proposes reclassifying students whose presence in the United

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• If this proposal were to become law, it would introduce complexity, and the department would have to
• </c><00:36:08.920><c> were</c><00:36:09.079><c> to</c> from employment if this proposal were to from
• He said he was there to speak against House File 1325 and its proposed changes to the state's earned
• changes to the state's earned proposed changes to the state's earned sick<00:51:47.680><c> and</c><00
• in house file 1325 would proposals in house file 1325 would eliminate<00:52:54.640><c> workers</c><00

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

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed legislation, as it stands now in front of us, permits the state from designating a project
• The proposed legislation, as it stands now in front of us, permits the state from designating a project
• Those sections are a little different in terms of language than what is proposed here.
• But under our proposed statute, it is for investigation or sampling or inspecting any records and so
• Jim heeded his own advice, and at the urging of his students in 1973, ran for it and won the Ward 4 seat

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the proposed budget really places an emphasis on programs and initiatives that provide training to
• In addition, the proposed budget includes funding for key initiatives in our state University system.
• How does your of the our vision separate how has it, how isn't impacted by this proposed project 2025
• And one of your propose solutions to that.
• Next, we'll hear from Elizabeth Damany Turner Ward from Nice Bill. >> Madam Chair and members of the

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jim Ward.
• Blocking it, as HB 530 proposes, would set our communities behind.
• Blocking it, as HB 530 proposes, would set our communities behind.
• Blocking it, as HB 530 proposes, would set our communities behind.
• Blocking it, as HB 530 proposes, would set our communities behind.

Bills: HB21 , HB211 , HB223 , HB323 , HB524 , HB530 , HB636 , HB762 , HB21 , HB211 , HB223

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• pressing personal business on a granted leave from today's session: Clark, Henson, Rasoul, Seibold, Teda, Ward

Keywords: June 29, 2026 - Special Session 1, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Valencia, Wallace, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zuber, Mr. Speaker.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• None of the states that have taken on this proposal have seen an end to the medical profession or even
• ward, and they ended up losing their life.
• Senate Bill 3055 proposes a shortcut.
• But we will do the initial review of the proposal and the initial approval of the proposal if they meet
• First and foremost, I'm against the proposal, Senate Bill 3055.

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

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: grand jury, jury qualifications, jury wheel, small counties, Texas legislation, age verification, obscene devices, online sales, juvenile protection, penalties, antitrust, attorney general, Texas Free Enterprise, business regulations, legal confidentiality, personal identifying information, data brokers, judicial safety, civil rights, data privacy