Transcript Highlights:

• Pediatrics and stipulate that, in implementing the policies and procedures of the bill, DCF is to evaluate
• My question is too competent. Thank you. I know what the Wage and Hour Law says.
• My question is: can two competent, two knowing parties can't negotiate an arm's-length contract to agree
• consider including just the study. ...with the committee to consider including just the study and evaluating

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anika Walls, I'm a disability evaluation analyst with the State of California Department of Social Services
• reviewing its own bond investments, found that most projects sampled lacked the monitoring and evaluation
• When one person's convictions about what love requires becomes the standard for speech, every competing
• Every competing conviction becomes hateful by default.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was also a performance evaluation by the Legislative Finance Committee, not last spring but the
• It was placed in a measure where increases in enrollment will allow you to compete for those dollars.
• So that's something that may have to be evaluated looking in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Our kids competed in a national tournament there, and all of the schools were very big schools.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is they were never made to compete, so they don't sit on their own.
• And so they're not made to struggle to compete.
• The difference between evaluating the success of children and young people who are graduating these programs
• Because when we talk about business and we talk about the evaluation of a program, I mean, this is a

Transcript Highlights:

• , I understand what he's saying about the capacity evaluation, but I would look at it this way.
• , I understand what he's saying about the capacity evaluation, but I would look at it this way.
• , I understand what he's saying about the capacity evaluation, but I would look at it this way.
• , I understand what he's saying about the capacity evaluation, but I would look at it this way.
• If they're coming in without a complete evaluation, the case should probably be dismissed.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthens that foundation by equipping educators with restorative justice practices, cultural competency
• this information available, but most do not, making it difficult to understand statewide trends or evaluate
• whether our policies are effectively keeping people housed. ...and evaluate whether our policies are
• Let a court of competent jurisdiction set a different response window, and replace the fixed 30 days
• The bill asks companies to evaluate three separate undefined standards—procedurally improper, irrelevant

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthens that foundation by equipping educators with restorative justice practices, cultural competency
• this information available, but most do not, making it difficult to understand statewide trends or evaluate
• whether our policies are effectively keeping people housed. ...evaluate whether our policies are effectively
• Let a court of competent jurisdiction set a different response window and replace the fixed 30 days when
• The bill asks companies to evaluate three separate undefined standards—procedurally improper, irrelevant

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on civil rights, housing, public safety, and administrative process. Early items included SB 46, which would authorize the Secretary of State to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice presidential candidates from California ballots; SB 1078, requiring notice to the Civil Rights Department when court filings involve civil rights violations; SB 989, expanding access to Care Court by letting first responders refer cases through county behavioral health agencies; SB 998, clarifying and expanding discrimination prevention coordinators in the new Office of Civil Rights; SB 1146, requiring disclosure for AI-generated health advertisements and giving physicians a limited private right of action; SB 1164, a California Voting Rights Act expansion responding to federal voting-rights rulings; SB 1256, a housing bill aimed at limiting repeated litigation over the Harmony Grove Village South project; SB 1267, addressing HOA liability and indemnification for EV charger installations; and SB 1425, authorizing an encroachment permit program for high-speed rail right-of-way management. The committee also later heard SB 873, restricting ICE arrests near courthouses, and SB 1160, requiring eviction data reporting by zip code. Most bills drew support from sponsors, advocacy groups, labor organizations, or local officials, while opposition centered on concerns about county workload, due process, fire safety, civil liberties, or the scope of the policy changes. Members generally expressed support for the bills while noting unresolved issues and the need for amendments or further stakeholder work, especially on SB 1164, SB 1256, SB 1267, SB 1425, and SB 1160. The Judicial Council opposed SB 1160 because of the burden of adding zip-code reporting to court systems, while the author and supporters argued the data would help target eviction-prevention efforts. SB 873 drew strong support from public defenders, immigrant-rights groups, and court-related stakeholders, with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department opposing. SB 989 drew support from firefighters and family advocates, while Disability Rights California opposed, arguing Care Court is too costly and diverts resources from community-based services. SB 1164 received broad civil-rights and voting-rights support, with cities opposing unless amended over definitions, cure periods, and litigation risk. SB 1256 drew support from housing and labor interests and opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about fire safety and evacuation. SB 1267 was supported by the HOA and utility stakeholders after amendments addressing liability concerns. After quorum was established, the committee voted to pass a consent calendar and then approved the listed bills, sending them to the appropriate committees or to Appropriations, including SB 46, SB 873, SB 989, SB 998, SB 1078, SB 1146, SB 1164, SB 1256, SB 1267, and SB 1425. The transcript ends with SB 1160 still under discussion, with members indicating support for the bill’s goals but acknowledging the Judicial Council’s implementation concerns and the need for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Suzanne Remington, education advocate at the Foster Children Evaluation Services Clinic at
• Those included the completion of medical evaluations and education graduation rates.
• information to young people. ...who deserve to know what's happening to them and why, the data and evaluation
• increased investments in funding and program flexibility, including the ability to provide culturally competent
• immigration status, or socioeconomic background, leveraging the extensive network and culturally competent

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing on a series of child welfare bills focused on DCF, foster care, mandated reporting, educational records, and family support. Chair Kennedy and Chair Livingstone opened with accessibility and testimony rules, then heard testimony on bills including S.127 on expanding mandated reporters, S.107/H.235 on a Foster Children’s Bill of Rights, S.106/H.228 on transferring foster care review from DCF to the Office of the Child Advocate, H.258/S.125 on an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records, H.205 on kinship foster care background checks, H.246/H.266 on minimizing trauma in care and protection cases, and S.159 on support for families after sudden unexpected infant death. Supporters of the mandated reporter bill, led by Sen. Feeney and Foxborough advocates, described a local model that trains all adults who work with children and argued the state should scale that approach statewide to improve recognition and reporting of abuse. Testimony on the foster care bills emphasized the need for clearer rights, better notice to children and attorneys, stronger remedies, and independent oversight. Advocates, youth with lived experience, and legal organizations described placement instability, delayed notifications, abuse in care, poor educational continuity, and the need for rights around safety, family contact, culture, language, and access to records. Several witnesses urged that the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights include enforceable court remedies, not just reporting requirements. On the oversight bill, supporters argued DCF should not review its own foster care system and pointed to poor outcomes, high placement instability, and recent investigative reporting as evidence for moving review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate. On the electronic backpack bill, testimony focused on the need for real-time data sharing and a centralized system so schools can receive foster students’ records quickly and support continuity. On the trauma-minimization bill, Rep. Miskin framed the proposal as a set of practical changes to reduce harm during removals and court involvement. On the SUID bill, Sen. Lovely said families should be given information about available grief and support resources after an infant death. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask that community college program success rates be evaluated as carefully as CSU outcomes, ensuring
• We ask that community college program success rates be evaluated as carefully as CSU outcomes, ensuring
• We ask that community college program success rates be evaluated as carefully as CSU outcomes, ensuring
• “But that having been said, we know you’ve got other competing challenges that you’re going to be dealing
• We're actually now seeing that we're competing head-to-head for forestry, for oceanography, with Oregon

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Development to convene a working group of building officials and professionals and code experts to evaluate
• Schultz's bill, that this committee has already evaluated, the amendments here, where they are adopted
• affordable housing project, or our friends in labor seeking to leverage a project labor agreement, or competing
• approaches, AB 906 will give local governments clear direction and provide HCD with stronger tools to evaluate
• It reshapes the economy, and businesses pay more to offset wages, and small employers can't compete.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development heard a long agenda focused mainly on housing production, higher education facilities, homelessness, and permitting reform. Early items included AB 6, which would direct HCD to convene a working group on allowing three- to ten-unit “missing middle” housing to be built under the Residential Code rather than the Building Code; AB 48, a higher education bond proposal that would fund campus repairs, modernization, disaster recovery, and student/employee housing; and AB 76, which would clarify a Chula Vista university innovation district exemption so the project can include academic buildings and housing without conflicting with surplus land rules. Supporters emphasized affordability, cost savings, student housing needs, and access to education, while members raised questions about implementation, affordability requirements, and project scope. The committee later took votes on these items, with AB 6, AB 48, and AB 76 all moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Members also heard AB 595, which would create a state homeownership tax credit pilot to support affordable for-sale housing. The author and supporters argued that California’s homeownership rate is at historic lows and that the bill would help close racial wealth gaps by financing homes working families can buy. The committee approved AB 595 and sent it to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including several other housing-related bills, was also approved unanimously. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1165, the California Housing Justice Act of 2025, which would require ongoing state investment and a financing plan to address homelessness and housing affordability. The author and witnesses described the scale of homelessness, the limits of one-time funding, and the need for sustained, accountable funding streams. After testimony from housing advocates and people with lived experience, the committee passed AB 1165 on a 10-0 vote to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard AB 609, a CEQA reform bill that would create a simplified exemption for qualifying infill housing projects in already developed areas. Supporters framed it as a targeted way to reduce delays and costs for housing near jobs and transit, while opponents from environmental justice, labor, and tribal groups warned it could reduce public participation, weaken protections for disadvantaged communities, and create consultation concerns for tribal cultural resources. The author said the bill would not change zoning or affordability tools and would continue to work with opponents on amendments. The bill was moved forward after extensive discussion, with members noting ongoing negotiations on tribal consultation and labor concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our team has studied and evaluated the optimal locations of a future seawater desalination plant based
• Enabling them to make a competitive offer to be able to compete to attract for that investment here.
• All of the dams need to be evaluated for dam safety pers from a perspective of that, and we need to look
• You know, and in some cases, you know, in areas where agriculture is competing for water with other uses
• assistance programs at the board are helping systems in areas such as asset management, rates, evaluating

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:51:05.280> with competing with competing with women<00:51:07.000> don't<00:51:07.359
• that women can continue to compete that women can continue to compete fairly<02:12:36.920> earn
• or are currently competing in the sport of their choice.
• granddaughters all of whom have competed granddaughters all of whom have competed or<02:36:17.520
• <03:05:34.200> in allowing biological men to compete in allowing biological men to compete

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How will the state evaluate the benefits and challenges of open enrollment?
• <00:42:03.280> the<00:42:03.599> benefits How will the state evaluate the benefits
• How will the state evaluate the benefits and<00:42:04.480> challenges<00:42:05.040> of<
• districts that leads to compet districts that leads to compet competition<00:48:13.520> and
• And yes, you can still compete in the putting contest and maybe win a raffle prize and hang out with

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:53.120> and<00:20:53.280> I<00:20:53.520> also had external evaluators
• and I also had external evaluators and I also didn't<00:20:53.840> have<00:20:54.000> an
• As was noted earlier, there is not sufficient funding remaining in that account to cover the compete
• Hard to compete Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Hard to compete with Mary. Um, so I'm going to speak on behalf of Senate File 82 today.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , And reform fund, which you all have converted into a multi-year evaluation-based appropriation framework
• next row, row 119, we're also recommending that you all place community schools on the path to evaluation
• . ...a multi-year appropriation evaluation-based framework where the programs that you're putting into
• Well, I guess I'm confused because if we're looking at evaluating these acts and we change the amount
• We don't actually recommend 128, 129, and 130 for that evaluation model.

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• There seems to be this narrative that you have to compete between voting by mail or voting in person.
• narrative that you have to compete narrative that you have to compete between<00:12:17.760> voting
• We're competing against many different types of industries that are also looking for people as well.
• The commission submitted this bill because, in every year when there's an evaluation of the executive
• of the executive there's an evaluation of the executive director<01:30:15.199> and<01:30:15.440

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it's evaluating large data sets in air modeling or effluent limit calculations or even taking
• :08:24.080> Whether<00:08:24.319> it's<00:08:24.479> eval<00:08:24.960> evaluating
• Whether it's eval evaluating state.
• Whether it's eval evaluating large<00:08:25.840> data<00:08:26.160> sets<00:08:26.319><
• native fish species and competing native fish species and bringing<01:19:00.800> parasites<01

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• issue that has an impact on workers, on the state, as well as on law-abiding employers as they try to compete
• law-abiding employers um as they<00:05:15.919> try<00:05:16.080> to<00:05:16.240> compete
• <00:05:16.560> for<00:05:16.759> business<00:05:17.280> with they try to compete
• for business with they try to compete for business with people<00:05:17.759> who<00:05:18.280
• of the work that we're doing evaluation of the work that we're doing and<00:20:06.120> how<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Attorney General said in their letter was that section 13.65 reflects a careful balancing of competing
• interests or competing goals.
• and, number two, investigative data from the public eye that strips the public of the ability to evaluate
• As you can see, and as you know, sometimes these rights or these policy interests can be competing, and
• and it really interests can be competing and it really is<01:24:41.360> up<01:24:41.520> to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the Legislature has recognized that adults, particularly competent adults or their guardians,
• Is that something that is evaluated every few years? Dr.
• Is that something that is evaluated every few years? Or how did they determine what's typical?
• making the change, maybe evaluating it.
• But we've had federal funding to be able to come together on DNA cases to evaluate them.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.