Transcript Highlights:

• So then we get into this: can we count this housing?
• So then we get into this: can we count this housing?
• Using a cooling center for more than 60 minutes at a time.
• Why are we forcing a private operator to pay for a cooling center?
• Are residents supposed to use these cooling centers after hours?

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:

• Jersey or any part of Jersey and build a technology center or expand New Brunswick.
• for Youth Center Project and City of Paterson.
• data centers want to bring their own power to their data centers, I don't think anybody disagrees with
• But we still have real energy needs even without the data centers that need to be met.
• And as we talk about data centers and all those things, Ratepayers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing I would say that we don't count in those numbers, but you should be aware of, is that
• We're not really counting that additional leverage in this calculation, but it is important to take a
• We're not really counting that additional leverage in this calculation, but it is important to take a
• For example, the Convention Center Authority last time around.
• We don't have agents that could stake out a child care center, for example, right?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• was raised by immigrant parents, and from the ages of one to eight lived in an immigrant housing center
• It runs through the very center of the city. It is our main street.
• McGovern, with the Coalition for Clean Air, in support, and also voicing support for APN Action, Central
• We also expanded the definition of hotlist to include alerts issued by the National Center for Missing
• Analysis by the UC Davis Road Ecology Center documents an annual statewide cost of above $200 million

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We have offices south central Minnesota.
• And we we've taken fulfillment center.
• </c><01:19:17.600><c> We've</c> distribution center positions. We've distribution center positions.
• She Humanity South Central Minnesota.
• Center, a nonprofit organization serving Center, a nonprofit organization serving East<01:46:56.000><

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• The XGS Energy is going to build their own geothermal plant to power Meta's data center in the south.
• They were in the center of all the computer, the all the computer rising, all that stuff.
• So, they were at the center of that. They were the new knowledge, but they were.
• So, they liked the idea of targeting 5.1 and making sure that they could relatively well count on the
• I'm a buy high, so low counting I do. So, that's just the way some of those work.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's the central question here. Perhaps Mr.
• It funds, coordinates guidance, parent information centers, data systems, transition... ...coordinates
• guidance, parent information centers, data systems, transition guidance, and technical assistance centers
• I don't know where I'd be without the Office of the Disability Law Center that can help, but those offices
• If I'm counting on the state, which we already know is difficult to understand the law—I mean, I know

Bills: HB4028 , HB4075 , HB4077 , HB4074 , HB4076 , SB1221 , SB1921 , SB2118 , SB1932 , SB2134 , HCR1025 , SB1432 , HCR1024 , HCR1022 , SB1122 , HB4029 , HB4063 , HB4073 , HB4078 , SB1936 , SB44 , SB237 , SB248 , SB1360 , SB985 , SB1204 , SB1239 , SB1307 , SB2143 , SB1428 , SB1390 , SB1400 , SB1405 , SB1732 , SB1832 , SB1859 , SB1989 , SB2018 , SB1427

Summary: The House convened in quorum call and first took up several Joint Committee reports on appropriations and tax measures. HB 4028 extended the sunset on the qualified equity investment deduction for venture capital investments and passed 54-27. HB 4075 appropriated $26 million in interest funds to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for water and wastewater projects and passed 84-4, with the emergency clause also approved. HB 477 appropriated up to $10.58 million to the Department of Emergency Management for the Emergency Response and Relief Grant Program and passed 84-5, with the emergency clause approved. HB 476 appropriated up to $21.64 million to the Department of Commerce for rural economic impact grants tied to water and wastewater needs at rural industrial parks and ports; it passed 79-11 and its emergency clause also passed. HB 474 closed out ARPA funds for health care workforce training and passed 79-12, with emergency approval. The House then considered several Senate bills. SB 1221 would add tracking numbers for mailed Real ID cards and offer expedited delivery; members raised concerns about voting access and possible poll-tax issues, but the bill passed 82-9 and the emergency clause passed. SB 1921, an OSBI request bill, raised fees for criminal history/background checks and passed 84-8. SB 2118 expanded the use of sheriff commissary funds for sheriff duties and jail operations and passed 87-4. SB 1932 allowed motor carriers to represent themselves in Corporation Commission administrative hearings without an attorney and passed 92-1. SB 2134 required wreckers responding to livestock transport accidents to contact local emergency management for humane handling of livestock and passed 71-20. A lengthy floor debate centered on HCR 1025, which supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Supporters argued education is a state responsibility and that federal bureaucracy and mandates add red tape; opponents warned that federal oversight is essential for special education, Title IX, IDEA, and civil rights enforcement. After extended debate, the resolution passed 72-17. The House also passed SB 1432, which removes pilot and sunset language from a successful alternative teacher certification program in Tulsa, making it a permanent pathway; supporters said it has helped career changers enter teaching and could be replicated statewide. It passed 85-3, and the emergency clause passed. The session ended with announcements, including recognition of a special-needs advocate, a rural caucus notice, and adjournment until April 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• He is currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., and in April
• Every minute counts.
• in my district, the Aphasia Center of California, whose office is in my district.
• Members, I'm... today I'm going to recognize the Aphasia Center of California, as a senator...
• The Aphasia Center of California was a Senate resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to be central to that team so that we can be as successful as possible.
• </c><00:37:23.280><c> on</c> Uh your questions are centered on Uh your questions are centered on accountability
• All right, a couple months, but who's counting? I had a couple of goals.
• </c><01:06:16.600><c> Um</c> but who's counting? Um but who's counting?
• </c> centered around student safety. centered around student safety.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The largest two amounts in other charges are $1.4 million for central banking services and $843,000 for
• Well, it would be good if you would check with them, because they count on you anyway. Yes, sir.
• Because they count on you anyway. Yes, sir. And they don't hesitate to call legislators.
• They're counting on you. Thank you, Representative Thompson. Next up, Brett Coates for a question.
• They're also talking about building a data center next door to that particular facility.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Steve DuPont with Central Washington University, and again, empowered to speak on behalf of the entire
• Because this exclusion would reduce the amount of counted space compared to SCAP's calculation of the
• it also creates a challenge for the school district in terms of being competitive and having space count
• And so having some flexibility so those facilities and spaces aren't counted against the school district
• a small ball field, struggled to compete with a large complex that we might find in a more urban center

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several capital-related bills. HB 2353 would raise the pre-design threshold for state-funded capital projects from $10 million to $15 million and index it to inflation beginning in 2027. The sponsor and a testifier said the change would reduce delays and save money on projects by avoiding costly pre-design work for mid-sized projects; staff noted the bill could reduce future capital budget costs. HB 2420 would increase the Small Works roster contract cap in stages from $350,000 to $650,000 by 2030, with a proposed substitute shifting the first increase from July 2026 to January 2027 to allow time for rulemaking. Testimony from universities, cities, ports, counties, and water/sewer districts supported the bill as a way to reduce administrative burden, speed projects, and help small and diverse contractors. The committee also heard HB 2470, which would change how the School Construction Assistance Program treats school facilities on military bases. Staff explained the bill would exclude on-base instructional space from a district’s available-space calculation and adjust state assistance to account for federal funding, potentially increasing eligibility for affected districts such as Clover Park and Medical Lake. The sponsor and supporters said current rules unfairly reduce state support for districts serving military families; OSPI testified in support but said the bill would need amendment to avoid federal-law issues and was working on a revised approach that would increase the SCAP funding assistance percentage instead of directly referencing federal funds. Clover Park School District and the Veterans Legislative Coalition also supported the measure. In executive session, the committee moved HB 2338, which expands the low-income weatherization program to include community-scaled projects, out of committee with a do-pass recommendation by a vote of 17 ayes and 2 excused. The committee then held a work session with the Recreation and Conservation Office on its competitive grant programs, including Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program accounts, youth athletic facilities, community forests, aquatic lands, boating, off-road vehicle, firearms and archery, and federal grant programs. Members asked about demand, ADA compliance, geographic distribution, and technical assistance; RCO said demand is high in several programs and that it uses scoring criteria, regional allocations, and outreach to improve access statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need a better network, a collective system where local groups like PTAs, family resource centers,
• We need a better network, a collective system where local groups like PTAs, family resource centers,
• This centralizes decisions and strips away local control.
• I do need to announce the vote count on the consent calendar. I missed that one.
• I do need to announce the vote count on the consent calendar. I missed that one.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Without adding new family-centered structural burdens.
• I am the executive director for TODEC Legal Center.
• Since 2021, the fellowship has met this need in communities throughout the Central Valley, the Central
• Adriana Melgoza, executive director of the Watsonville Law Center in the Central Coast, in support.
• The Central Coast is one area, and the Central Valley is another.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on child safety, immigrant community transparency, agricultural land security, consumer protection, estate transfers, detention commissary pricing, and public works wage enforcement. SB 1234 would require fentanyl to be included in drug tests ordered by juvenile courts for parents or guardians in dependency cases; the author said it was a narrow child-safety measure, and there was no opposition. SB 1257 would require the Attorney General to publish annual reports on immigration enforcement incidents at designated safe locations; supporters said it would improve accountability and document fear in immigrant communities, while questions centered on how the data would be collected and concerns were raised about sanctuary policies. SB 1176 would bar foreign adversary entities from buying or controlling California agricultural land; supporters framed it as a national security measure, while committee members pressed the author on enforcement, who would verify buyers, and possible discriminatory application. The bill was moved on a 2-4 vote and placed on call after the author said he would work on clarifying responsibility and nondiscrimination concerns. The committee also heard SB 1146, which would require clear disclosure when AI-generated or altered images, audio, or video are used in health-related advertisements depicting health care providers. The California Medical Association and California Dental Association supported the bill, saying it would curb deceptive deepfake ads and protect consumers; it passed unanimously, 7-0. SB 988 would restrict assignment of benefits in auto glass claims, require claim numbers and itemized estimates, and update repair disclosure rules to curb overbilling and steering; supporters said it would protect consumers and stabilize insurance costs, while independent glass shop concerns about steering and market concentration were discussed. The bill passed 7-0, with one member abstaining because of a conflict. SB 1288, presented on behalf of Senator Laird, would require financial institutions to make good-faith efforts to notify beneficiaries of non-probate assets and would simplify access requirements, especially for nonprofits. Supporters described long delays and burdensome account-opening requirements; SIFMA and the California Bankers Association opposed the bill unless amended, citing conflicts with federal and industry obligations and concerns about retroactive burdens. The bill passed 8-0. SB 941 would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; supporters said detainees often pay excessive prices for basic necessities, and the bill passed 8-0. Finally, SB 909 would raise and index public works contractor fees and penalties and dedicate more penalty revenue to enforcement; labor supporters said stronger funding is needed to address wage theft and backlogs, while contractors warned of uncapped costs and reduced transparency. The discussion continued with questions about enforcement and whether stronger penalties or license restrictions would better deter repeat violators.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll give you one example: the river forecasting center.
• And that is feeding into the flood... ...operation center, the river forecasting center, and we've made
• , it was a dual-diagnosis patient's center and the Sonoma Development Center.
• Know what the Sonoma Developmental Center was.
• There's front kiosk, counting cars or asking for people as they come in.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> requirement is not in childcare centers. requirement is not in childcare centers.
• daycare centers. Um, and in 2025, how daycare centers.
• Larry center center center &gt;&gt; Mr.<01:33:30.960><c> Keys</c> &gt;&gt; Mr.
• </c> learing center? learing center?
• <01:36:36.320><c> centers.

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:38.040><c> And</c><00:13:38.320><c> just</c> counting for Jefferson County.
• And just counting for Jefferson County.
• </c><00:32:23.000><c> for</c><00:32:23.160><c> about</c> at our county detention center for about at
• our county detention center for about 4<00:32:23.760><c> years</c> 4 years 4 years um<00:32:25.480><c
• And so getting a taste of working in other states where we deal with centralized collection has been

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August 26 minutes, and then took up a discussion of county jail funding. KACO representatives and county officials said jail operations are an ongoing strain for counties because they must pay for inmate care, facilities, and mandated standards, while many counties also rely on jail revenue to offset costs. They described Kentucky’s jail system, including 77 jails, 43 closed counties without jails, and the mix of county, state, federal, and controlled-intake inmates. KACO emphasized that counties remain financially responsible for inmates even when they must contract with other jails, often at costs above the state’s per diem rate, and said it is developing a broader proposal to present later. The testimony focused on rising expenses and shrinking revenue. KACO said counties spent about $374 million on jail operations in FY24, up 24% from FY19, and about $41 million on jail medical costs, up 40%. General fund support for jails was said to total $147 million in FY24, more than double pre-COVID levels. Speakers also noted that state inmate populations in county jails have fallen from about 11,500 in 2019 to 7,212 in 2025, while federal inmates have increased because they are more lucrative for counties. The state jail per diem of $35.34 was described as insufficient to cover actual costs, especially medical care. County judges from Webster, Knox, and Hardin counties gave examples of local budget pressure. Webster County said it now houses 114 state prisoners, 47 county prisoners, and 24 out-of-county prisoners, and that it transferred $512,000 from its general fund to the jail last year, about $77 per taxpayer. Knox County said its jail budget has grown from an initial $2.8 million projection to $5.7 million, with $3 million coming from occupational tax revenue. Hardin County said its jail has an approximate $11 million expense budget against $5 million in revenue, creating a $6 million deficit, driven by higher payroll, medical, and insurance costs and a 29% drop in state prisoner revenue. The judge said the county has responded with property tax increases and an expanded occupational tax district, but still uses reserves to cover other county services. A Grant County magistrate then began speaking from the perspective of magistrates and commissioners, describing her background working at a local jail before serving in county government. The discussion remained centered on the fiscal burden of jails and the need for counties and the legislature to work together on a long-term solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every minute counts.
• , the Aphasia Center of California, whose office is in my district.
• The Aphasia Center of California is in my district and home city of Oakland.
• Members, today I'm going to recognize the Aphasia Center of California.
• The Aphasia Center of California was a Senate resolution.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journals, and removed SB 830 from the inactive file for return to the Assembly. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments, including Clint Kellum as Director of the Cannabis Control, Jennifer Osborne as Director of Industrial Relations, and two Medical Board of California appointments, Dr. Trinidad Solis and Dr. Gerald Tolbrook. Each appointment was confirmed by roll call, with broad support and no recorded opposition. The chamber also adopted SR 97 recognizing Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting AAPI contributions to California, histories of exclusion and solidarity, and the importance of visibility and representation. The resolution passed 39-0. The Senate also recognized numerous AAPI community leaders and honorees on the floor, including Kay Buck and Mira Sorvino for anti-trafficking advocacy, and later several additional guests and community figures. Members then adopted several other resolutions by unanimous consent: SCR 168 designating Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, SCR 148 declaring GM1 gangliosidosis awareness day, SR 95 proclaiming ALS Awareness Month, SCR 156 for Stroke Awareness Month, and SR 110 recognizing Hospital Week in California. Floor remarks focused on public safety, rare disease awareness, stroke recovery and aphasia, and the role of hospitals and health care workers. The Senate also honored retiring California Professional Firefighters president Brian Rice with extensive tributes to his labor leadership, firefighter safety work, and disaster response advocacy. The meeting concluded with the remaining appointment confirmations and adjournment until May 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• for 32 years. ...who gave prior pre-arrival instructions and ran a medical communication center for
• Is it at the emergency operating center? Yes. Thank you for that great question.
• And it counts; it applies to all utilities, so electric utilities.
• This is particularly the case along the Central Coast. This didn't happen by accident.
• Christina Scorange with the Center for Biological Diversity, proud co-sponsor of AB 1536.

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Kelly Dare an associate professor and deputy executive director of UCF restores at the University of Central
• So what was done as we took census counts for all the different types of placements you had.
• In the actuarial analysis of that census count from CBC to CBC, was there a more granular approach to
• We got the census count right from the cbc's. So how many children in care?
• Some of them are on I the therapy, what central high amount of talent Haitian, which is to feed them

Transcript Highlights:

• the public does not need to have access any longer, as we will be establishing a customer service center
• The modernization effort is expected to create a centralized database and automate workflows.
• By centralizing the infrastructure, configuration, security, governance, and ongoing model management
• POPI is a secure, centrally managed gen AI service provided by CDT to support state of California and
• By centralizing the infrastructure, configuration, security, governance, and ongoing model management

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.