Transcript Highlights:

• first by Senator Cruz improved forecast of coastal marine Well, there is something that Washington and Texas
• In Texas, the state legislature is considering legislation to have a referendum and have action.
• Actually, the voters of Texas decide whether Texas will be under Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time
• I hope in Texas we do see the referendum because I'd like to see the voters decide it, but with that
• These authorizations include network gear that support critical infrastructure in our energy, agriculture

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1274 creates a new definition in state code to formally recognize industrial cities, strengthening
• Item 27, AB 2685 by the Committee on Agriculture. The clerk will read.
• Assembly Bill 2685 by the Committee on Agriculture, relating to Food and Agriculture.
• He graduated from the University of North Texas, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science

Summary: The Assembly convened with a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a large procedural and floor agenda. Members suspended rules for adjournments in memory, guest introductions, and expedited committee action, rereferred AB 1199 to Health and AB 2728 to Local Government, and removed several items from calendars or returned bills to the Senate at authors’ requests. The chamber then moved through concurrence and third-reading files, with many measures passing on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, including AB 230 on Pierce’s disease control, AB 1636 on a Cerritos College seamless enrollment pilot, AB 1982 on alcoholic beverages, AB 2120 on school district employees, AB 2413 on political reform and billboard use, AB 2437 and AB 2453 on vehicles, AB 2596 on housing, AB 1760 and AB 1873 on technical clarifications, AB 2312 on tidelands, AB 2390 on housing cleanup, AB 2685 and AB 2778 on agriculture, and ACR 194 on Women’s Equality Day. The Assembly also adopted several resolutions and Senate measures. HR 112 designating Black Music Month drew extensive remarks about Black artists’ influence and was adopted with 62 coauthors. HR 132 declaring September Young Women’s Reproductive Health Awareness Month was adopted with 50 coauthors. SJR 8 urging federal immigration reform passed 45-2, with supporters emphasizing immigrant contributions and the need to modernize the registry system. SCR 7 on permanent standard time was debated at length, with supporters citing health benefits and opponents warning about darker mornings and voter intent; the resolution ultimately passed 41-3 after a roll call. Other Senate bills passed included SB 105 on penny rounding for local agencies, SB 928 on AI guardrails in CSU classrooms, SB 1038 on CalPERS audit notices, SB 308 on community college reporting, SB 1172 on tax-sharing consultant fees, SB 1159 on AI-generated public participation, SB 1055 on flood project procurement, SB 1285 on juvenile dismissals, SB 1274 on industrial cities and transportation funding, SB 965 easing library card access for 16- and 17-year-olds, SB 1375 creating a narrow CEQA exemption for certain transit projects, SB 952 on clean energy accounting for water agencies, and SB 917 expanding farmers market wine sales eligibility. Several measures drew notable opposition or discussion. On SB 965, one member objected that the bill should preserve parental decision-making, while supporters argued it would remove an unnecessary barrier to library access. On SB 952, one member criticized state energy policy and the bill’s project labor agreement, but the measure still passed 64-1. On SB 1375, supporters framed the bill as reducing duplicative environmental review for major transit projects like Diridon Station while preserving other protections. The chamber also added coauthors to consent-calendar resolutions and adopted the second-day consent calendar items without objection. The meeting concluded with multiple adjournments in memory, including tributes to Eric L. Washington Jr., Ivan Garza, Darryl Preston Jackson, Richard “Dick” Oliphant, and former Madera Mayor Santos Garcia. Members described Washington as a community leader and peacemaker, Garza as a young athlete whose life was cut short, Jackson as a mentor and founder of the 1020 Club, Oliphant as a civic leader who helped shape the Coachella Valley, and Garcia as a labor advocate and public servant who fought for working families and helped reopen Madera Community Hospital. The Assembly observed moments of silence in their honor before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We may want to consider which agricultural crops did not benefit proportionately to export market loss
• And I ask, represent a highly agricultural district, and then also obviously I'm the Ag Chair for the
• California's unique in that we're split up into regions everywhere, but Texas happens to be split up
• By investing in agriculture, Advocating for them.
• And so what they do is they learn the different systems, they learn the computer code, then they have

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Transcript Highlights:

• As our bill analysis points out, there is one type of entity in the agriculture space that was given
• It's not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the insurance code.
• health care sharing are not engaging in the business of insurance and not subject to the insurance code
• health care sharing are not engaging in the business of insurance and not subject to the insurance code
• And meanwhile, states like Texas have successfully implemented clear exemptions for unpaid armed church

Bills: S0052 , S0502 , S0624 , S0758 , S0834 , S0840

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee considered several bills and reported each favorably. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part. Supporters said it would expand provider options and help address a shortage of certified programs; opponents raised concerns about mixing government-ordered programming with religion and about the state’s prior rule change. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction barring licensed insurance agents from partnering with health care sharing ministries to market or sell their programs. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores free speech, consumer choice, and access to faith-based alternatives, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, higher commissions, and weak protections because these ministries are not insurance. After extended debate, the measure passed 8-2. Other measures advanced unanimously or near-unanimously. CS/SB 502, as amended, would give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in the state system; it passed 9-0. CS/SB 52 would exempt volunteer armed security for houses of worship from Class D or G licensing requirements, and supporters cited rising threats to churches and the need for organized volunteer security; it passed 9-0. SB 840, a cleanup bill to narrow and clarify last year’s emergency-related land-use restrictions after hurricanes, also passed 9-0, and CS/SB 758, which updates the membership of the Justice Administration Commission, passed 9-0 after an amendment restoring two public defenders to the commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Agriculture Committee has met The Agriculture Committee has met and reports House Bill 142 should
• Senate Bill 5, an act relating to Kentucky grown agricultural product procurement.
• of Cadets at Texas Tech University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in government. where he
• </c> Whiteside of Texas. Whiteside of Texas.
• , he served as associate professor Texas, he served as associate professor of<01:04:14.240><c> Air</c

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker and body, who are working, living, and working particularly in our agricultural sectors, potentially
• Chairman, can you address our error code for the state of New Mexico? Sorry, Mr.
• Speaker, gentlelady, is frankly making it harder in many areas of the agricultural sector, or at least
• If you get a warning, you will only get a warning if you have a 575 area code.
• And folks in Chaparral often have 915, have El Paso area codes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As our bill analysis points out, there is one type of entity in the agriculture space that was given
• It's not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the insurance code.
• health care sharing are not engaging in the business of insurance and not subject to the insurance code
• Insurance agents and brokers are engaging in the business of insurance and are subject to the insurance code
• And meanwhile, states like Texas have successfully implemented clear exemptions for unpaid armed church

Bills: S0052 , S0502 , S0624 , S0758 , S0834 , S0840

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: places of worship, house of worship, church, mosque, synagogue, religious security, armed security, volunteer security, private security, security guard licensing, licensure exemption, Florida Statutes chapter 493, Class G license, Class C license, security services, faith-based institutions, public safety, military jurisdiction, delinquency, concurrent jurisdiction

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Davids, would you like to move the amendment coded A25-0075? So moved, Chair Norris.
• Next, we will move the author's amendment coded A25-0075, A1.
• Chair Davids, would you like to move the amendment coded A1?
• Section 8 of Article 7 raises the State Agricultural Society's debt limit for state fair bonds from $30
• But then you've got Texas and Georgia at 50% and 75%.

Bills: HF2730 , HF2257 , HF2768 , HF1932 , HF2437

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas. Texas.
• Texas. May their names never be Texas.
• One in four Texas children relies on Medicaid or CHIP, and more than half of Texas births are covered
• </c> farmers, ranchers, and agriculture farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers<00:57:08.160><c>
• </c> purpose does the gentleman from Texas purpose does the gentleman from Texas seek<07:03:30.320><c

Bills: HB2240 , HB2255

Keywords: law enforcement, police, officer safety, officer wellness, violent attacks, ambush attacks, assaults on police, anti-police violence, public safety, Department of Justice, Attorney General, FBI, National Institute of Justice, Uniform Crime Reporting, UCR, NIBRS, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Data Collection, LEOKA, bulletproof vests, Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership

Transcript Highlights:

• We're on the same footing as New York or California or Texas.
• You look at agriculture. I'm in the poultry business around here. It's tough.
• This will greatly improve our agriculture industry, which is our number one industry.
• In East Texas right now, you talk to some of the poultry industry people.
• I mentioned East Texas and what's going on. Our number one industry is agriculture.

Transcript Highlights:

• We might have defined something to match the Internal Revenue Code right now.
• We could redefine it to match what the Internal Revenue Code said on a different day.
• Especially in coding.
• They want to help a certain thing through the tax code, a certain activity.
• They just picked the wrong code.

Committee: Joint Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Then I'm going to add some agriculture and maybe benefits.
• And getting back to Senator Wilson's question, Texas, it's a problem in Texas because they said if you
• And getting back to Senator Wilson's question, Texas, it's a problem in Texas because they said if you
• And getting back to Senator Wilson's question, Texas, it's a problem in Texas because they said if you
• And getting back to Senator Wilson's question, Texas, it's a problem in Texas because they said if you

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Yolo County's agricultural industry.
• industry for California, especially in agricultural-rich districts like yours. ...agricultural industry
• Which was modeled after SB 72, which is 1242.1, Water Code 1242.1.
• Doing so jeopardizes existing communities, their agriculture, and long-term water reliability.
• I want to say sometimes, let Texas run out of water. We don’t need to. So let’s just plan.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• The model was a first of its kind in the nation, actually, and fashioned after California's agricultural
• They say everything is bigger in Texas, but not tourism.
• California's tourism is 70% bigger than Texas. I'm picturing a slide. It should be here.
• It should be animated and come up and cover all of Texas.
• While agriculture feeds the world, tourism fuels California's economy in ways that rival and surpass

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism held an informational hearing on the state of California tourism amid declining international visitation and broader economic and political headwinds. Visit California CEO Caroline Betetta said the industry remains a major economic driver, with 2024 visitor spending of $157 billion, 1.2 million jobs supported, and $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue, but warned that 2025 forecasts show the first post-pandemic decline in visitation, driven largely by a projected 9.2% drop in international travel. She cited concerns about the strong dollar, visa wait times, border and immigration rhetoric, and a proposed federal visa integrity fee, while emphasizing Visit California’s marketing campaigns and the importance of upcoming mega-events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. A second panel of destination leaders described local impacts and strategies. Visit Sacramento’s Mike Testa said the city has diversified beyond conventions into music festivals, sports, and food events, but noted that international apprehension is affecting events like Terra Madre Americas and that California should do more to incentivize major festivals to stay in-state. Santa Monica Travel and Tourism’s Lauren Salisbury said the city is seeing lower international visitation, especially from Canada, Australia, and Europe, and that wildfire coverage and later federal troop presence in Los Angeles hurt local sentiment and caused cancellations. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau’s Rhonda Salisbury reported steep drops in international visitation to the gateway region, ongoing concerns about wildfire, reservations, insurance costs, and park access, and praised a new federal requirement for quarterly meetings between national parks and gateway communities. San Diego Tourism Authority COO Carrie Verbeck-Cappich said tourism is the region’s second-largest sector, but 2025 is softer than 2024, with spending down despite modest visitation growth. She pointed to weaker Canadian and Asian travel, government-related meeting cancellations, and the need for more support to bid on and host major events; she also highlighted border-crossing delays, insufficient federal staffing at ports of entry, and the Tijuana River sewage crisis as major regional issues. Committee members discussed the effects of federal rhetoric, infrastructure, and cross-border conditions on tourism, and several witnesses urged continued support for Visit California, Brand USA, event incentives, and efforts to present California as welcoming and open. Public comment then opened, beginning with testimony from the California Attractions and Parks Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is required by Century Code Section 54-27-27.
• This is on fiscal irregularities required by Century Code Section 54-14-03.1.
• I've heard reports in Pennsylvania and Texas and California of over 100,000 well bores that are abandoned
• I've heard reports in Pennsylvania and Texas and California of over 100,000 well bores that are banned
• Chairman, then the next item on the agenda is a status report from the State Board of Agricultural Research

Committee: Joint Budget Section

Summary: The Budget Section met to approve prior minutes and receive a series of budget, revenue, and program updates from OMB, the Tax Department, DOT, DMR, and DPI. OMB reported that general fund revenues through May were about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls, though the biennium is still projected to end with a positive balance. OMB also reviewed oil price and production assumptions, the budget stabilization fund transfer above its cap, Legacy Fund performance, federal grant applications, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting that most of the settlement funds had been deposited but a small amount of accrued interest would require a future deficiency request. The committee then considered Emergency Commission requests. It approved requests for Public Service Commission abandoned mine lands federal authority, an Attorney General FTE and related funding for criminal investigator work tied to the Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. After discussion, the committee also approved DPI’s request for a $500,000 transfer for the food vendor program, despite questions about the program’s savings and cash-flow structure. Later, the Tax Commissioner presented the primary residence credit program, reporting that current biennium costs are expected to exceed the appropriation by about $22 million and explaining how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran credits and the 3% property tax levy cap. The Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board reported strong returns for both funds, and DOT sought and received approval for two flexible fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. DOT also updated members on Highway 85 construction and said remaining flex fund dollars were essentially fully allocated. DMR reported on the abandoned well plugging and site reclamation fund, noting North Dakota’s relatively small orphan well inventory, current and projected fund balances, rising remediation costs, and a possible need to adjust the fund cap in future sessions. Finally, DPI outlined the new integrated formula gap funding program, explaining that it compensates school districts that cannot reach the assumed 60-mill local contribution because of the 3% levy cap; the first year’s gap funding totaled about $1.8 million, with future costs expected to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is required by Century Code Section 54-27-27.
• This is on fiscal irregularities required by Century Code Section 54-14-03.1.
• I've heard reports in Pennsylvania and Texas and California of over 100,000 well bores that are abandoned
• I've heard reports in Pennsylvania and Texas and California of over 100,000 well bores that are banned
• Chairman, then the next item on the agenda is a status report from the State Board of Agricultural Research

Summary: The Budget Section approved the March 18 minutes and received an OMB update showing the general fund is still ahead of the budgeted starting point, but revenues through May are now about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls. OMB also reported the budget stabilization fund is above its cap, meaning a transfer to the general fund is expected, and reviewed oil price/production assumptions, noting continued volatility. Members asked about the income tax netting process, the sales tax decline, oil price discounts/premiums, natural gas taxation, and when the executive branch would present its revenue forecast. The committee then acted on several Emergency Commission requests. It approved, as a group, requests for federal mine reclamation funds for the Public Service Commission, an additional criminal investigator FTE and funding for the Attorney General’s office, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. It separately approved DPI request 2164 for $500,000 to support the food vendor program after debate over whether the program’s savings were known and whether the money was simply a pass-through. OMB also reported on federal grants, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, FTE pool usage, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting the settlement funds had been deposited and that a deficiency appropriation may be needed later to cover remaining accrued interest. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus presented on the primary residence credit program, saying participation has grown sharply and that the current biennium will likely need about $431 million, roughly $22 million above the appropriation. He explained how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran benefits, how the 3% property tax cap works, and why county valuations and mill rates vary. The committee also received a Legacy Fund/Budget Stabilization Fund report showing strong returns, and DOT Director Ron Henke received approval for two Flex Fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. Henke also explained remaining Highway 85 funding and said the department is exploring uses for leftover state dollars. Finally, the Department of Mineral Resources reported on abandoned well plugging and site restoration, noting North Dakota remains in relatively strong shape compared with other states, and DPI began a presentation on gap funding tied to the 3% levy cap, reporting 24 districts received $1.8 million in the first year and projecting higher future needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• UC health locations serve patients from 99% of California ZIP codes.
• on all sectors, so whether it is AI-related sectors like IT, but even in the medical sector, in agricultural
• But in Texas, because of what we were seeing in the post-COVID marketplace in terms of hiring and preparing
• And whether the model that we use in Texas, that's one way to approach this, whether that's the right
• you said that I just want to make sure I heard correctly because this is about access. 99% of zip codes

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview hearing on the 2026-27 budget and policy issues for California’s three public higher education segments: the Community Colleges, CSU, and UC. Chair David Alvarez emphasized shared responsibility to expand access, right-size campuses to enrollment trends, improve transfer pathways, align programs with workforce needs, and measure success by completion, transfer, and job placement rather than participation alone. The chancellors and president each described their systems’ current enrollment trends, budget priorities, and efforts to collaborate more closely across segments. Chancellor Sonia Christian said community college enrollment has rebounded strongly and asked for 3% enrollment growth funding, more support for the Common Cloud Data Platform, credit for prior learning, AI literacy, and recovery-related workforce training in Los Angeles. She highlighted right-sizing efforts such as Peralta’s proposed consolidation into Oakland City College, and described partnerships with CSU, UC, employers, unions, and housing projects. Chancellor Mildred García said CSU is focusing on CSU Forward, enrollment growth, student success, facilities, and fiscal health monitoring, while reallocating enrollment and resources to higher-demand campuses. She cited intersegmental programs such as nursing pathways, 2+2 and 3-year degree programs, and AI curriculum work, and said the system is also addressing labor and compensation issues. President J.B. Milliken said UC is facing federal funding threats, investigations, and rising costs, but has reached record enrollment of more than 300,000 students, including over 200,000 California resident undergraduates. He supported continued compact funding, said UC is exploring more use of technology, experiential learning, and short-term credentials, and stressed the need to adapt while preserving UC’s research and medical mission. Members pressed all three leaders on common course numbering, transfer outcomes, enrollment reallocation, BSN capacity, deferred maintenance, and the role of the master plan; the leaders generally agreed more collaboration and flexibility are needed, and several committed to follow up with updated data and timelines. No formal votes were taken. Public comment followed, including support from the CSU employees union for the Governor’s budget and full funding of CSU obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was just in the department rec coded the wrong area, and so in our gov rec we coded it the correct
• So just had to, you know, a coding error occasionally happens. It's not a big deal.
• So now we're into the Department of Agriculture. We have some additional lab fees.
• So now we're into the Department of Agriculture. We have some additional lab fees.
• So now we're into the Department of Agriculture. We have some additional lab fees.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• agricultural skills.
• Associate, Agriculture Systems, agriculture biotechnology, Agricultural Associate, Agriculture Systems
• , agriculture biotechnology, agriculture communications, agriculture mechanics, agrotechnology, animal
• FFA, the agriculture classroom, and supervised agricultural experiences together make up what we know
• as agricultural education.

Bills: S0806

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Keywords: right to repair, repairability, consumer repair, independent repair provider, authorized repair provider, portable wireless device, smartphone repair, cell phone repair, mobile device, agricultural equipment, farm equipment, tractor, combine, diagnostic information, repair manuals, parts availability, tools, embedded software, firmware, security module

Bills: SB1265 , SB1198 , SB2046 , SB1415 , SB1714 , SB1962 , SB26 , SB172 , SB260 , SB264 , SB1525 , SB1332 , SB1998 , SB1378 , SB1771 , SB1919 , SB2018 , SB1936 , SB1612 , SB1543 , SB1260 , SB1988 , SB1859 , SB2041 , SB1257 , SB1726 , SB1236 , SB1633 , SB1413 , SB1317 , SB1360 , SB1342 , SB1477 , SB1189 , SB1546 , SB1524 , SB1338 , SB1193 , SB1812 , SB1617 , SB1638 , SB504 , SB2072 , SB1283 , SB1216 , SB1655 , SB2011 , SB1643 , SB1446 , SB1256 , SB1258 , SB1441 , SB1224 , SB1448 , SB1496 , SB1597 , SB1621 , SB1827 , SB2066 , SB2104

Keywords: municipal ordinances, local government, ordinance publication, posting requirement, public notice, municipal law, city ordinances, town ordinances, county government, newspaper publication, effective date, Oklahoma statutes, 11 O.S. 14-106, ordinance notice, government oversight, healthcare authority, property lien, county treasury, Oklahoma, municipalities