Transcript Highlights:

• You'll have—and the people who sell the equipment, the Japanese on the train, will make money.
• And so the contractor will make money; the Japanese will make money.

Bills: HB647 , HB791 , HB 1242 , HB1729 , HB2003 , HB2029 , HB2061 , HB2775 , HB3751 , HB4804 , HB3611

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an internal medicine physician who has practiced in hospitals for more than 20 years in California
• I'm a California-licensed acupuncturist and an intern in the Integrative Medicine Traditional Chinese
• Ryan McCarthy, on behalf of the United Acupuncture Association, the Japanese Acupuncture Association
• In addition, this measure will expand eligibility for qualified international physicians to practice
• First, international dentists come to California to practice dentistry.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with members repeatedly noting the lack of quorum while testimony continued. AB 1693 by Assemblymember Zbur would streamline local permitting for retail tenant improvements by allowing qualified professional certifiers to review plans and requiring local action within set deadlines; the California Retailers Association supported the bill, citing lengthy permit delays, and there was no opposition. AB 2010 by Assemblymember Soria would expand access to high-volume spay and neuter services, including mobile clinics, to address pet overpopulation; supporters said it would improve access in rural and underserved areas, while opponents and the Veterinary Medical Board raised concerns about safety standards and asked for amendments. AB 2195 by Assemblymember Rodriguez would stop automatic occupational license suspensions for low-income parents behind on child support; supporters argued the policy is counterproductive and hurts earning capacity, while the California Child Support Association and others said license suspension is an effective enforcement tool that brings parents to the table. The committee also heard AB 2311 by Assemblymember Chiu, which would let public health care district hospitals directly employ physicians; supporters said it would improve recruitment and access to care, while medical groups warned about physician autonomy and institutional influence. AB 1796 by Assemblymember Jackson would create a licensure pathway for professional interior designers and add an interior designer to the California Architects Board; supporters framed it as a public safety and professional recognition measure, while opponents said it would create confusion, unnecessary regulation, and no demonstrated public harm. AB 1739 by Assemblymember Ward would make it a crime for clergy providing therapeutic services to engage in sexual contact with a counselee, closing a gap in existing law; it drew strong support from survivor advocates and no opposition. Finally, AB 2497 by Assemblymember Johnson began testimony on modernizing the physical therapy practice act, with the author noting committee amendments that removed imaging and other provisions, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an internal medicine physician who has practiced in hospitals for more than 20 years in California
• Ryan McCarthy, on behalf of the United Acupuncture Association, the Japanese Acupuncture Association
• In addition, this measure will expand eligibility for qualified international physicians to practice
• Having served on one of the admissions committees for the UCSF International Dental Program for seven
• First, international dentists come to California to practice dentistry.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the internal debt that we're gathering at the rate of a trillion dollars every hundred days.
• China co-ops international organizations like the U.N. and ensures they never get a chance to address
• internment, and Cold War McCarthyism.
• I think it's a country-level investigation and international cooperation.
• To the extent that there's any international organization that has a role, they should be involved.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a fellow 2011 through 2012 of the MIT Seminar 21 Program in Foreign Politics, International Relations
• a fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar 21 program in foreign politics, international
• Politics, international relations, and national interest.
• You can go live in Germany, Turkey, or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or Japanese.

Bills: HCR1026 , SB1130 , SB1134 , SB1131 , SB1132 , SB1133 , SB1142 , HR1049

Summary: The House convened, called the roll, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions and presentations. Members honored Vice Admiral Jeff Trusler as Veteran of the Week, recognized the Prague Kolache Festival royalty and candidates, unveiled an artwork for the Capitol’s Hall of Heroes, and introduced the Doctor, Psychologist, and Nurse of the Day, along with the OSBI cold case team. The House also adopted HCR 1026, a resolution tied to Earth Day and “Lights Out Day” in Oklahoma, aimed at reducing light pollution and protecting migrating birds. A major portion of the meeting consisted of farewell remarks from Representatives Mike Osborne and Kevin West. Both reflected on their years of service, thanked family, staff, colleagues, and constituents, and emphasized themes of public service, hard work, conviction, and working across differences. Osborne’s remarks focused on freedom, immigration, service, and doing good in public life, while West stressed standing on principle, listening to others, and choosing courage over convenience. After the presentations and personal privilege speeches, the House moved into consideration of legislation. Chairman Caldwell presented the joint committee report on Senate Bill 1130, relating to the University Hospitals Authority, saying it would help ensure Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma have one of the world’s leading pediatric cardiology units. The transcript ends as members begin considering the bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this legislation, we provide key support for international >> Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• We owe an internal debt of gratitude to these folks that it's impossible to overstate their sacrifice
• Thankfully, international aid to Ukraine stayed close to 2024 levels because European allies stepped
• This is a moment and international law.
• </c> required to vindicate the international required to vindicate the international norm<09:08:50.480

Bills: HB2913 , HR518 , HB8646 , HR1336 , HCR84

Keywords: Ukraine, support, foreign affairs, military aid, international relations, agriculture, funding, food safety, nutrition, pest management, House resolution, procedural resolution, Rules Committee, Rule XIII, clause 6(a), waiver, supermajority, same-day consideration, reconciliation, budget reconciliation

Transcript Highlights:

• Eventually went international studies.
• Japanese travel right now is a little bit iffy.
• </c><00:21:26.760><c> as</c> don't have international marketing as don't have international marketing
• Jen Shac is our international manager here, and then you all know Lisa.
• </c><00:23:16.760><c> manager</c> Jen Shac is our international manager Jen Shac is our international

Transcript Highlights:

• And part of it is because we don't have as strong a Japanese market, although it has been increasing
• market, although it strong a Japanese market, although it has<00:16:06.880><c> been</c><00:16:07.120
• </c><00:30:22.159><c> stuff,</c> &gt;&gt; the internal stuff, &gt;&gt; the internal stuff, &gt;&gt; right
• Uh, so, and I can't remember offhand, I mean, other international, most of the international decline
• So the other international is down a little bit, but not nearly as much as Canada."

Transcript Highlights:

• I was motivated and excited to take a deeper look into Japanese internment camps.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• citizens, in a time where we are opening concentration camps in our own state, and we've already seen Japanese
• being incarcerated in internment camps in Arizona's history.

Transcript Highlights:

• And after the war began, they were interned by the Japanese.
• After the... ...interned by the Japanese. After the war, they went to the Dominican Republic. Mr.
• So, um, they're working out some internal and domestic issues within their own house.
• not restrict a controller's or processor's ability to collect, use, or retain personal data for internal
• use to do any of the following: - Conduct internal research. - Develop, improve, or repair products.

Bills: HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HJR 5 , HB 1330 , HB 2110 , HJR 2 , HJR 6 , HB 1587 , HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the range is and then the internal the range is and then the internal policy<01:02:40.520><c> document
• It's against international law. It's a war crime.
• </c><01:05:19.240><c> law</c> violence it's against international law violence it's against international
• I was raised by Japanese.
• Thank you for noticing, Chair. international Arena okay because exactly international Arena okay because

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 114, concerning employment in the State Historic Preservation Program, drew support from DLNR, which said the measure would help retain qualified archaeologists, architects, and other professionals by preserving current pay levels for a limited number of positions. Members raised concerns about expanding exempt positions and the effect on union coverage, and DLNR said it was also working with DEHRD on longer-term reclassification issues. No vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided. HB 12, relating to tort liability, drew strong opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, which argued the bill would create overly broad immunity for landowners, conflict with Hawaii’s comparative fault framework, and undermine existing recreational liability law. Supporters said it would reduce liability concerns and encourage landowners to allow hiking, hunting, search-and-rescue training, and firearms-related uses on private land. The committee then moved on without any recorded vote in the excerpt. The committee also discussed HB 29 on counties, but no county representative was present, and members questioned whether the proposal should instead proceed through condemnation if it involved a forced sale. HB 175 on property maintenance received DLNR comments that the bill should be narrowed to noxious weeds and that fire-related provisions were more properly handled by county fire departments and the State Fire Marshal. HB 331 on permits drew support from several state agencies, but the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed it unless “repetitive construction” was defined more clearly; members and agencies discussed narrowing the bill to avoid unintended impacts on water and utility infrastructure. The committee also heard strong support for HB 3 on North Shore beach management, HB 309 on fish ponds, and HB 306 on water code penalties, though the Board of Water Supply raised concerns about increased fines and suggested an alternative governor’s bill and clearer administrative rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our case management team does what we call internal referrals to other areas of the department, as well
• It has done so for over a hundred years, from Japanese internment cases to segregation in schools and
• <01:44:07.760><c> internment</c><01:44:08.400><c> cases</c><01:44:09.119><c> to</c><01:44:09.440><c>
• segregation</c> Japanese internment cases to segregation Japanese internment cases to segregation in<
• She has also been with the New Hampshire Coalition since 2001, starting as an intern.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Umami, translated from Japanese, means, variously, deliciousness, savory, or meaty.
• And one of its provisions provides for the continued membership of the people on Taiwan in any international
• financial institution or any other international organization.
• And whereas Taiwan's participation and contributions in international organizations such as the International
• </c> international organizations. international organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> United States Agency for International United States Agency for International Development,<04:30
• </c> of Peace, and other international of Peace, and other international assistance<04:30:39.840><c>
• The Japanese are back in the debt markets. Uh, sorry, Germany's back in the debt markets.
• </c> Japanese are back in the debt markets. Japanese are back in the debt markets.
• You know, the Japanese own some, the Chinese own some, but we own most of it.

Bills: HB1804 , HB1642 , HB1621 , HB1634 , HR789 , HR787 , HB1816 , HB3490 , SB160

Keywords: 7(a) loan program, Small Business Administration, SBA, small business lending, loan brokers, loan consultants, referral agents, loan intermediaries, fraud oversight, transparency, reporting requirements, loan fees, referral fees, interest rates, business financing, small business loans, lender oversight, application assistance, Congressional reporting, small business

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Japanese beetle treatments in Caldwell, where we treated 1,100 properties.
• The reason that we ever got to crickets, Japanese beetle, or quagga mussel treatments is through an effort
• emergency, we have no idea what this looks like without the mapping that... ...ever got to crickets, Japanese

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I also serve as chair for the legal officer section for the International Association of Chiefs of Police
• and also as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Civil Rights Committee
• So, TPLF represents a significant threat, as well, of international interference, whereby rogue actors
• Dear committee members, according to a Japanese proverb, the goddess of mercy has a thousand hands and
• According to a Japanese proverb, the goddess of mercy has a thousand hands and needs them all.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But now, dubbing, largely thanks to Netflix and the more international model of streaming, dubbing has
• This would draw on international precedent like the responses to market failures around big tech and
• Last year, the members of the international community signed a treaty to recognize that right to free
• I would encourage our legislation to look at the Japanese soft law approach.
• I would encourage our legislation to look at the Japanese soft law approach that is somewhere between

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and would not include a vote, but was intended to gather information ahead of the next legislative session. Opening remarks stressed the tension between protecting artists’ intellectual property and allowing AI innovation to continue in California, with several members noting the state’s outsized role in both the tech and entertainment sectors. The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits against generative AI companies, and explained that fair use will likely be central, especially the market-effects factor. She said state action is constrained by federal copyright preemption, but transparency, privacy, and deepfake-related regulation may still be possible. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and warned that disclosure rules face enforcement and design challenges. Members asked about market dilution theories, open-source models, user data, machine unlearning, and what California can do without conflicting with federal law. The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation is already harming careers, devaluing creative labor, and enabling digital replicas and style imitation; both supported stronger transparency so rights holders can identify when their work is used and negotiate licenses. Gray said AI is increasingly being used as a productivity tool and pointed to growing partnerships between AI companies and publishers, studios, and record labels, while acknowledging concerns about deepfakes and specific harmful uses. Committee members pressed him on labeling AI-generated content, training-data disclosure, and how to protect creators while still encouraging innovation. No formal action or vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The technology with engines these days, with internal combustion engines — they call it ICE, internal
• The technology with engines these days, with internal combustion engines — they call it ICE, internal
• The technology with engines these days, with internal combustion engines — they call it ICE, internal
• We didn't see internment camps again until the 1950s, when Japanese American were huddled up and locked
• As I mentioned earlier, Japanese Americans were huddled up and placed behind bars and in internment camps

Bills: HJR20

Keywords: energy conservation, gas-fired water heaters, Department of Energy, regulatory disapproval, energy standards

Transcript Highlights:

• I was motivated and excited to take a deeper look into Japanese internment camps.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several Senate bills focused on student health, access, equity, and career preparation. SB 608 by Sen. Menjivar would expand access to condoms and related sexual health resources for students in grades 7–12 and direct the Department of Education to align with the California Healthy Youth Act. Supporters argued the bill would help address high STI rates among youth and remove barriers to access, while opponents raised concerns about parental authority, local control, and encouraging early sexual activity. The bill was approved on a 6-1 vote and sent to the Health Committee. SB 965 by Sen. Blakespear would prohibit libraries from requiring a parent to be physically present for a 16- or 17-year-old to obtain a library card, while still allowing libraries to require parental consent or signature. Supporters said the current rule creates unnecessary barriers for teens and school research projects, and the California Library Association said it was now neutral after amendments. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 998 by Sen. Gonzalez would define and expand the duties of discrimination prevention coordinators in the state’s Office of Civil Rights, including adding a disability coordinator and deputy coordinators focused on anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Latino, and anti-Native American discrimination. Testimony emphasized the need to address rising hate incidents and discrimination in schools, especially for Black, LGBTQ+, AAPI, and other marginalized students. The bill was approved and sent to Judiciary with amendments to be processed there. SB 845 by Sen. Perez, which expands work-based learning and youth apprenticeship opportunities, also received broad support from education, workforce, and industry groups and passed unanimously to Labor and Employment. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills and adjourned after all items were acted on.