Transcript Highlights:

• He said, 'Larry Bus, 40-year employee of the Corps of Engineers.'
• But also you see them putting into a utility fund.
• The utility is about $70 a month per connection.
• Our employees, there's 4,500 employees across the state.
• gallon line softening we still utilize today.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• title: An act to amend the civil service law in relation to prohibiting falsely impersonating an employee
• organization or employee organization representative.
• or employee organization representative.
• or employee organization representative.
• I'm sorry. an employee organization or employee organization representative.

Committee: Senate Civil Service And Pensions

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and 10 bills on the agenda. The committee considered measures affecting retirement and pension benefits, civil service rules, and public safety personnel, including bills to raise the mandatory retirement age for certain NYPD uniform members, provide a heart disease presumption for fire alarm dispatchers, authorize a widow to file a retirement option election, create an optional 25-year retirement plan for certain deputy sheriffs, and adjust retirement or disability benefits for specific individuals or groups. The committee also advanced bills allowing named individuals to take civil service or police officer examinations and be placed on eligibility lists, and a bill prohibiting falsely impersonating an employee organization or representative. One bill concerned notification requirements for public employers before procuring or deploying new AI-related technology. Members asked a few clarifying questions, including the location of the Village of Leroy, but there was no substantive opposition recorded. Most bills were approved unanimously, with reported votes of 7-0 and no abstentions or with recommendations. The committee reported several bills to the floor, others to the Finance Committee, and the AI notification bill to the Internet and Technology Committee. The chair then adjourned the meeting after noting there were no further speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• codified the definitions of these companies that were previously adopted by the California Public Utilities
• Over our three panels today, we will hear first from the Public Utilities Commission to provide an overview
• So we'll start with panel one: California Public Utilities Commission Administration.
• So we'll start with panel one: California Public Utilities Commission Administration.
• So we use TNCs and rideshare to get people to actually utilize public transportation instead of just

Summary: The hearing focused on transportation network companies in California, with the chair framing it as an informational hearing on the history, regulation, safety, climate, accessibility, and data issues surrounding Uber, Lyft, and smaller or autonomous TNC services. The CPUC described its decade-long regulatory role, including safety rules, background checks, insurance requirements, reporting obligations, and two major legislative programs from 2018: the Clean Miles Standard and the Access for All program. Members asked about complaint trends, data collection and disclosure, program implementation, and how the CPUC uses annual reports for policymaking, compliance, and program oversight. Uber and Lyft said the statewide framework has supported growth while providing safety and access benefits, but both companies emphasized that insurance is a major cost driver and argued that California’s UM/UIM requirement is unusually high compared with other vehicles. They said the Clean Miles Standard is pushing electrification but faces headwinds from EV affordability and charging infrastructure, while Access for All has expanded wheelchair-accessible service but still needs continued support. They also discussed transit partnerships, wildfire response, and the potential role of autonomous vehicles, with both companies saying human drivers will remain important and that future regulation should account for new technology. The final panel, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley researchers, presented evidence that TNCs have increased congestion and reduced transit ridership, especially in dense urban areas. They described prior research showing TNCs contributed to congestion growth in San Francisco and noted that this work helped spur local taxes on ride-hailing trips to fund safety and transit improvements. The panel also discussed the CPUC’s evolving data-disclosure decisions, arguing that public access to TNC trip data is important for understanding transportation impacts and informing local policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• This tax credit is designed to encourage businesses to help their employees pay for their child care.
• Do they have the utilities to support it?
• We heard these bills in your Utilities Committee. Good bill. Very good bill.
• Speaker, this passed through your Utilities Committee 20 to 1.
• Currently, an employer with at least 250 employees...”

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it gives regulators the authority to require plans to use Essential Utility, a database where
• First, it gives regulators the authority to require plans to use Essential Utility, a database where
• Brian Maramontas with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, in support.
• That is what we're trying to get to with the central utility that's in the bill.
• Assemblymember Rishaba, there's multiple ways for telemedicine to utilize it.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long series of health-related bills, with most measures focused on access to care, administrative simplification, and behavioral health. Early items included AB 583, allowing nurse practitioners to sign death certificates; AB 492, requiring DHCS to notify local governments when new alcohol or drug recovery facilities are licensed; and AB 280, which would tighten provider directory accuracy requirements, add enforcement benchmarks, and allow use of a centralized database. Testimony on AB 280 highlighted the harms of “ghost networks,” while insurers and some provider groups opposed the bill as written, arguing it placed too much responsibility on plans and did not fully address provider-side data problems. AB 280 passed on a roll call vote, and several other bills were placed on consent and approved. The committee also advanced AB 636, expanding Medi-Cal coverage for medically necessary diapers for children up to age 21 and lowering the age threshold for access; AB 1041, streamlining physician credentialing with a uniform form and 90-day review deadline; and AB 787, requiring health plans to help enrollees find in-network providers quickly when directories fail. Supporters of these bills emphasized family financial strain, delays in care, and the burden of administrative red tape, while opponents of AB 1041 and AB 280 raised concerns about provider participation, accuracy, and liability. All three measures were approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 4 and AB 29. AB 4 would allow income-eligible Californians to buy Covered California coverage regardless of immigration status, and AB 29 would authorize Medi-Cal reimbursement for community health workers and doulas conducting ACE screenings. Both bills drew strong support from immigrant-rights, health access, and community-based organizations, and both passed on roll call votes, with AB 4 receiving some no votes. The committee also approved AB 416, which would allow emergency physicians to place 5150 holds in certain circumstances; supporters said it would reduce delays and overcrowding in emergency departments, while Disability Rights California and others warned it could increase unnecessary involuntary hospitalization and transfers to locked facilities. Despite those concerns, the bill passed and was sent onward for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to discuss how we can utilize these funds effectively.
• We need to discuss how we can utilize these funds effectively.
• Those are state employees.
• Those are state employees, and those are the people that we represent.
• So thank you so much on behalf of all the state employees.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , we're going to fund it here from the legislature. employees.
• We effectively have zero state dollars for our employee raises this year.
• On your second, ...separate from our state-funded employees.
• And so we had to, of separate from our state-funded employees.
• Seattle District is furloughing all employees, one day a month.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2070, which would create state funding parity for Western Washington University by tying appropriations to a per-student funding ratio. The prime sponsor and Western officials said Western has long been the lowest-funded public four-year institution on a per-student basis, leading to budget cuts, reduced student services, and delayed graduation. Students, faculty, and university leaders testified in support, while some members questioned whether the bill should instead address a broader higher-education funding formula for all institutions. Central Washington University also supported the bill but suggested a broader approach. No vote was taken on HB 2070. The committee then heard House Bill 2671, which would expand eligibility for state financial aid to certain nonprofit out-of-state branch campuses operating in Washington if they meet specified accreditation, duration, and authorization requirements. Rep. Timmons said the bill is intended to help students in an accelerated nursing program at Northeastern University in Seattle access aid and support workforce needs. Northeastern’s dean testified in support, saying the bill would align financial aid law with prior changes to degree-granting statutes and would not increase state spending. The hearing on HB 2671 was then closed. House Bill 2617, dealing with the higher-education “fund split,” drew extensive testimony. The bill would gradually shift more of employee compensation increases and central services costs to state funding, and would require a study of essential student services. The sponsor and many university, faculty, staff, and student witnesses argued that the current funding practice shifts costs to tuition, contributes to layoffs, program cuts, larger classes, and reduced student support, and creates instability across public higher education. Community and technical college representatives also said underfunding COLAs harms operations and students. The committee then moved to executive session on Senate Bill 6258, which would authorize the Washington Medical Commission to create a non-disciplinary pathway for voluntary license relinquishment; the committee approved it 14-0 with a due-pass recommendation, with three members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you also paying health insurance for some of these employees?
• The only way to stay in business is to cut the salaries of your employees again?" "Ms. New?"
• They ignore utilization, penalize efficient providers, and cut services that are already under pressure
• If the goal is real savings, the state would be better served by targeted utilization-based adjustments
• An audit would clear up who the bad apples are and whether they're not utilizing the funds in the way

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Full-time employees is around 200 full-time employees, with hundreds more that aren't full-time employees
• hydrogen for fertilizer production, this bill incentivizes the use of electrolytic hydrogen that utilizes
• This bill incentivizes the use of electrolytic hydrogen that utilizes renewable energy.
• So we've worked with Atlas Agro and the city of Richland and Port of Benton and City of Richland's utility

Bills: SB5919 , SB5816

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access

Transcript Highlights:

• are effectively excluded from the quota license system that distilleries inside the city limits can utilize
• liquor, to authorize licensure for a distillery, provide an exemption for officers, agents, and employees
• are effectively excluded from the quota license system that distilleries inside the city limits can utilize
• The license system that distilleries inside the city limits can utilize.
• The bill also clarifies certain statutory conflicts so that officers, agents, or employees of a distillery

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, so a private business that's not going to utilize but it's still going to harm the municipality
• But if it's an industry that's going to use taxpayer funds, they're going to utilize those taxpayer funds
• D the the entity receiving the Grant would utilize infrastructure of a town.
• and a lot of managing of the income lost thereof, the tax adjustments, and it is going to take an employee
• There is a consumption of time, and an employee is going to have to make sure these things are happening

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Transcript Highlights:

• He represents our PNM retired public employees of New Mexico.
• He has 18 employees and is a service-connected disabled veteran.
• Shendo** (member_12580) and **Senator Meredith Dixon** (member_13502), an act relating to public utilities
• , creating the **Utility Oversight Fund**, increasing certain fees, and changing the distribution of
• to energy, alphabetizing definitions and adding a definition for low-income customer to the Public Utility

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of times we'll see a sudden increase in utilization.
• We are not fully utilizing AI to the extent that we can.
• Utilization review and managed care of community first choice.
• That's what utilization said.
• I don't think we're utilizing all the data that we have.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• They harassed and disciplined employees for a reasonable time away from scanning.
• Most, if not all, employees in our warehouse have also downloaded Most, if not all, employees in our
• warehouse have also downloaded the Amazon A to Z employee app to their smartphones.
• at all, but employees of third-party delivery service partners. ...in fact, Amazon employees at all,
• non-delegable duty of my members to ensure the safety of everyone and their employees.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on California privacy in the age of mass surveillance, with members framing the issue as urgent in light of AI, data brokers, workplace monitoring, and government access to commercially collected data. Opening remarks emphasized California’s long-standing privacy tradition and concern for impacts on Latino, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other vulnerable communities. The committee heard from experts from UC Law San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and a worker-organizer from Amazon, followed by a journalist from 404 Media. Nicole Ozer reviewed the history of California’s constitutional right to privacy, tracing it to the 1972 ballot measure and arguing that lawmakers should use that right more fully to operationalize stronger protections against surveillance. Deirdre Mulligan described how surveillance capitalism has expanded through physical-world instrumentation, biometrics, connected devices, and AI, and argued that notice-and-consent models are inadequate because people cannot meaningfully understand or control how data is collected, inferred, shared, and used. Ari Waldman focused on disparate harms to marginalized communities, including queer people, survivors of domestic violence, and people seeking reproductive care, and called for stronger regulation, limits on data collection and sharing, and greater accountability for companies and government access to data. Josh Black testified about Amazon’s workplace surveillance, including handheld devices, time-off-task monitoring, hidden cameras, and driver-facing AI cameras, saying the system pressures workers to skip breaks, rush safety training, and discourages organizing. He said the surveillance is used to increase productivity and suppress union activity. Committee members asked about data retention, injury reporting, cash as a privacy-protective payment option, and whether workers truly consent to surveillance as a condition of employment. Jason Kebler described how police departments adopt commercial surveillance tools through pilot programs and vendor relationships, often without public debate, citing license plate readers and networked camera systems that can spread data across jurisdictions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with discussion of the need for clearer definitions, stronger enforcement, and continued legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:53.640><c> employers,</c> uh employee employers, uh employee employers, attract<00:08:56.520
• That would still be an out-of-state asset for this particular utility.
• </c> uh for this particular utility. uh for this particular utility.
• </c> that threshold to me says that a utility that threshold to me says that a utility could<00:32:09.640
• And so, what the bill does is utility.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• A wide variety of these, including employees, the SNAP employees at New Mexico State University and UNM
• These are employees who support.
• There are 29 employees in this program, and this ensures that none of those employees have to lose their
• And then on top of that, there are employees who took the option to retire.
• So we don't know that it's not 33 employees losing their job.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I met with the mayor in the city of C-Tac, and they had put in a road, put in utilities, and did all
• They put in utilities, and they did all of this to make that property surrounding there feasible for
• So if you're doing housing,... ...it is a denser area served by utilities.
• This is a clarifying amendment to ensure that employee information is also available to their bargaining
• Well, we too believe that the employee information should be protected in this bill, and we would ask

Bills: SB5223 , SB6071 , SB5966 , SB6061 , SB5520 , SB6016 , SB5890 , SB5973 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB6190 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB6282 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB5609 , SB5827 , SB5862 , SB5880 , SB5901 , SB5943 , SB5971 , SB5975 , SB5981 , SB5988 , SB6097 , SJM8016 , SB5496 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB6194 , SB5909 , SB5868 , SB6026 , SB6044 , SB6239 , SB5923 , SB6045 , SB6106 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5968 , SB5489 , SB5762 , SB5832 , SB5847 , SB5963 , SB5969 , SB6027 , SB6032 , SB6049 , SB6066 , SB6079 , SB6082 , SB6113 , SB6114 , SB6160 , SB6162 , SB6164 , SB6176 , SB6289 , SB6309 , SB6319 , SB6347 , SB6308 , SB6200 , SB6080 , SB5911 , SJM8014 , SB6177 , SB6052 , SB6182 , SB5828 , SB6335 , SB6017 , SB6346 , SB6262 , SB5470 , SB5990 , SB6244 , SB5961

Summary: The Senate opened with the usual ceremonial items, approved the previous day’s journal, received House messages, and introduced several bills. It also adopted Senate Resolution 868 honoring April as National Donate Life Month. Senators Gaynor and Dozier spoke in support, sharing personal stories about organ donation and transplant recipients, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote. The chamber also recognized guests in the gallery connected to those stories. The Senate then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments, including Colin L. Bannister to the Workforce Education, Investment, Accountability, and Oversight Board, Amina Hussein to the Washington State University Board of Regents, and Ramatou-Libah to the Eastern Washington University Board of Trustees. Each confirmation passed with broad support after brief remarks from Senator Schoesler, and several senators were excused from voting. The Senate also acknowledged MLA Jody Tour of British Columbia and a personal privilege recognition for Senator Leis receiving Finland’s Order of the Lion. On legislation, the Senate passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6026, dealing with residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones, after adopting and rejecting several amendments that narrowed or clarified exemptions and local-control provisions. Senators argued both for housing supply and for preserving local planning flexibility. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 6106 on layoff notifications and worker information protections, Senate Bill 5890 on speeding and reckless driving standards, Senate Bill 5536 on equitable distribution of real property in divorce, and Substitute Senate Bill 6097 allowing federally recognized tribes to participate in the Conservation Futures Program. Senate Bill 5988, authorizing fee authority for Department of Health accreditation services for opioid treatment programs, passed after a close vote with one nay. The meeting ended with the Senate standing at ease for caucus and lunch.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:18.400><c> employees.
• Chairman, members of the committee, I have full-time employees and part-time employees.
• Chairman, members of the committee, I have full-time employees and part-time employees.
• Chairman, members of the committee, I have full-time employees and part-time employees.
• Chairman, members of the committee, I have full-time employees and part-time employees.

Bills: HB0086

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees.
• I am an employee in a hotel in Santa Monica, California.
• I am an employee in a hotel in Santa Monica, California.
• We also included job protection language for public employees.
• Not just for the public, but for the employees, for the owners.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• . employee. employee.
• So, we don't want to take away the ability to utilize that resource because the person might have the
• So, we we utilize our of many um or any.
• </c><00:55:11.599><c> different</c> sometimes we got to utilize different sometimes we got to utilize
• They're not an officer or an employee of the other.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture