Transcript Highlights:

• Again, it's illegal to charge a fee on an initial claim.
• licensing fees.
• And so in looking at the licensed market that. increased fees to licensees.
• On the headwind side, I think the big issues are higher taxes and fees.
• I am joined by my colleague Maxwell Macedo, who is our director of fiscal and administration.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held an informational hearing on budget issues for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the California Arts Council. The chair noted there would be no votes. CalVet gave an overview of its programs serving veterans and families, including transition assistance, county veterans service officers, education approvals, housing and homelessness programs, home loans, long-term care homes, and state veterans cemeteries. Members asked about future long-term care needs for aging veterans, staffing and recruitment challenges at veterans homes, and the Yountville steam infrastructure replacement project, for which CalVet sought a $38.8 million reappropriation and said federal reimbursement was expected. CalVet also discussed the role of county veterans service officers in helping veterans file claims and avoid predatory unaccredited representatives. The Department of Cannabis Control described its regulatory role from seed to sale and requested one position to implement SB 1064’s combined activities license. Members and public witnesses focused heavily on the illicit cannabis market, enforcement staffing, and the impact of taxes and fees on the legal market. DCC said it had roughly 87 enforcement positions with about a 15% vacancy rate and more than 200 compliance staff. Its economist presented the 2024 cannabis market report, which found licensed production and retail quantity were up, but retail value and prices were down, with an estimated 11.4 million pounds of illicit production and about 60% of California consumption still coming from the illicit market. Industry witnesses argued the legal market is in crisis, urged repeal of the scheduled excise tax increase, stronger enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicants, and expanded retail access. The Department of Consumer Affairs briefly presented nine budget proposals, including a $2.6 million ongoing request to maintain a business modernization system for several boards and bureaus. The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls described its work on economic and educational equity, health care, violence prevention, student rights, and archival and outreach projects, and said its budget request would convert limited-term positions to permanent. A member urged the commission to narrow its priorities toward current issues such as affordability, child care, and women’s health. The California Arts Council outlined its role as the state’s only statewide arts funder and requested restoration of $5 million in local assistance; supporters testified that the funding would leverage additional local investment and help sustain arts access, especially in rural communities. The hearing ended after the non-presentation items were noted and no further public comment was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Joe Marble, committee administrator, introduced himself.
• </c> are requesting Grant Administration are requesting Grant Administration Authority<01:14:39.760><
• fees may be.
• </c><01:35:47.800><c> fees</c><01:35:48.159><c> may</c> what percent of administration fees may what
• percent of administration fees may be<01:35:48.520><c> so</c><01:35:48.679><c> you're</c><01:35:48.840

Bills: HF5

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2028, relating to application administrative completeness, recommends that the bill be made as follows
• on Judiciary and Elections, having under consideration H.B. 2028 relating to DWR application administrative
• An act amending Section 42-11125, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to tax administration.
• But this statute referenced in this bill allows the fee to be waived, and it allows it to qualify for
• And on the one hand, it prohibits a legislator from being charged a fee for public records requests.

Summary: The Senate met in Committee of the Whole on several calendars and advanced a series of House bills, mostly on party-line or voice votes after brief committee reports and some floor debate. Measures considered included HB 2028 (licensing timeframes/court assessments), HB 2047 (forcible entry and detainer), HB 2168 (nuisance actions), HB 2411 (coerced abortion/abortion-inducing drugs), HB 2557 (patient records), HB 2060 (educational facilities), HB 2086 (vaccination mandates and mask prohibitions), HB 2144 (child support), HB 2830 (fetal and prenatal development instruction), HB 2015 (tax administration), HB 2100 (small subdivision requirements), HB 2327 (records confidentiality), HB 2460 (business property theft/shopping carts), HB 4056 (public records fees exemption for legislators), HB 2417 (speed-detecting devices), HB 2601 (I-11 environmental engineering study), HB 2660 (health boards/licensure investigations), and HB 2975 (state land soil maps). Several bills were amended in committee before being recommended do pass, including HB 2028, HB 2557, HB 2060, HB 2086, HB 2830, HB 2327, HB 2460, HB 4056, and HB 2660. Floor debate focused mainly on HB 2086 and HB 2830, where Democrats argued the bills would undermine public health guidance and education expertise, while supporters framed them as limiting mandates and directing curriculum. HB 2100 drew criticism over water supply concerns and the Rio Verde Foothills example, and HB 2975 drew opposition over concerns it would hinder renewable energy development. HB 2460 prompted debate over whether shopping carts were abandoned or stolen and whether the bill improperly preempted local control. HB 4056 was criticized as giving legislators special treatment on public records fees and potentially enabling harassment of schools and local governments. The Senate then took up third-reading roll-call votes. HB 2016, HB 2140, HB 2195, HB 2439, HB 2028, HB 2557, HB 2086, HB 2830, HB 2327, HB 2460, HB 4056, and HB 2660 all passed, with recorded votes ranging from 16-10 to 26-0. Members explained several no votes on public health, education, tax, and transparency grounds, while supporters emphasized enforcement, local control, or administrative efficiency. The chamber also adopted Committee of the Whole reports and transmitted the passed bills to the House, then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides language that reduces the 50% cap of added fees to 25%.
• First, it could charge the same rates, fees, and charges to the extraterritorial customers that it is
• After holding a public hearing, the rates, fees, and charges must be just and equitable and based on
• Used to derive the rates, fees, and charges for the municipal customers.
• Unfortunately, as the bill is written, doesn't just impact costs and fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• The schools and administrators would have the leverage because they know what's in the schools and administrators
• A licensing fee or a registration fee when you want to build a chicken coop, or a developer has to pay
• Increasing fees. I know, everybody, buckle up. 1002, Senator Michaela Cavanaugh, increasing fees.
• And the very last thing in terms of fees would be your permit fees and any other fees that you may have
• to include the fees and how to collect and everything else to provide the administrative support for

Bills: LB815A , LB838A , LB912A , LB972A , LB1126A , LB962A , LB1114 , LB921 , LB937 , LB803 , LB803A , LB1032 , LB1032A , LB1075 , LB1075A , LB889 , LB878 , LB933 , LB304 , LB304A , LB1096 , LB1096A , LB1165 , LB1165A , LB958 , LB958A , LB762 , LB1187 , LB966 , LB929 , LB962 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787

Transcript Highlights:

• They can also award attorney's fees and costs.
• as well, which is normal for administrative proceedings.
• They can also award attorney's fees and costs.
• as well, which is normal for administrative proceedings.
• Colby Reddish, I am the chief legal counsel for Doppel as well as its deputy administrator.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• fee of $14 a day on top of that.
• You've mentioned an administrative fee of $14 paid to Arizona.
• Do we not have administrative fees above and beyond what's, or is everything included in the fees that
• So there's no fee above me on that? Mr. Chairman, no. Okay, great, thank you.
• It would just make a flat fee of $80 for every day the state inmate is in the county jail.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we administrative support for them.
• So what the bill does is to a to a fee.
• :46.159><c> by</c><01:36:46.400><c> the</c> administration of the program by the administration of the
• It wasn't uh farmer fees. It money. It wasn't uh farmer fees.
• It was wasn't fees on any producers.

Bills: HF3508 , HF3548 , HF3549

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021, when the Legislature removed the cap on this fee, there was an unexpectedly large fee increase
• In 2021, UC Law paid a $104,932 fee to verify the remediation.
• The additional fee totaled $117,545.
• The new fee passed weeks before UC Law ceased generating.
• The issue is not simply the fee, but the unanticipated increase in fees without a cap.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills dealing with taxes, transit funding, clean energy incentives, veterans’ property tax relief, housing-related remediation fees, and federal tax conformity. Early in the hearing, SB 63 was presented as a Bay Area transit funding measure authorizing a local sales tax ballot measure for BART, Caltrain, Muni, and AC Transit, with supporters emphasizing service cuts that could occur without new funding and an opponent raising Proposition 13/218 concerns. SB 56 and SB 296 both focused on disabled veterans’ property tax relief, with supporters arguing that disability compensation should not count as income for eligibility and that the bills would help veterans remain housed; SB 296 was described as a broader exemption for 100% disabled veterans and surviving spouses. SB 86 sought to extend and expand the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority’s sales and use tax incentive program, including fusion energy, and SB 302 would conform state tax law to federal clean energy credit provisions to help projects monetize federal incentives. SB 328 would cap Department of Toxic Substances Control fees for contaminated-soil remediation on housing projects, with supporters saying current fees can make infill housing infeasible. SB 711 would update California’s tax conformity date to January 1, 2025 to align with federal tax law changes and simplify filing. After quorum was established, the committee took formal action on the bills. SB 63 was approved 4-2 and sent to Appropriations; SB 86, SB 302, SB 328, SB 711, and SB 293, SB 359, SB 419, SB 587, SB 603, SB 663, SB 710, and SB 785 were approved with various amendments and sent to Appropriations, while SB 56, SB 284, SB 723 were held in committee and SB 296 and SB 353 were made two-year bills. The committee also adopted amendments on several measures, including reducing SB 86’s aggregate cap, delaying SB 302’s effective date with a sunset, and narrowing SB 710’s exclusion to certain nonresidential solar systems. The hearing concluded with the chair thanking members and staff and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• What you're doing, you're going to pay a safekeeping fee.
• What is a transaction fee covering? Yes, sort of kind of, yes.
• It's not so much a transaction fee.
• Transaction fee, storage fees are typically less than 0.125%.
• “Could result in lower administrative costs to administer.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 350, which would extend the grade levels at Ecole Pointe-au-Chien from fourth through eighth grade. The sponsor and several members emphasized the school’s importance to Terrebonne Parish, French immersion, and school choice. An amendment was adopted making the bill subject to appropriation, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Members then approved House Bill 749, which authorizes the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority to contract with a program manager for certain savings programs, including ABLE, START, and START K-12, in response to a prior cyber incident and to improve security and customer service. An amendment simplified the bill’s effective-date language so provisions would take effect upon execution of the contract. The bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 979 to increase the survivor benefit for law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty from $250,000 to $350,000. Testimony from the governor’s office said the increase could be covered within existing appropriations and that the amount was consistent with inflation since the benefit was last set. The bill was reported favorably. Later, House Bill 42 creating a phased retirement option for public post-secondary employees in the Teachers’ Retirement System was reported favorably, and House Bill 205 to allow local clerks of court to supplement election commissioner pay by up to $100 per election was also reported favorably after extensive testimony about staffing shortages and stagnant pay. The committee additionally reported favorably House Bill 12 extending survivor benefits to reserve officers killed in the line of duty, and House Bill 324 on judicial salaries, after amending it to remove future COLA provisions and leave only the permanent stipend increase.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, new administrator positions are being created. Let's be clear.
• 2025-120, East Bay Transit Agency Administrative Oversight by Senator Wahab.
• The average restitution order before fines and fees is about $10,000.
• This leads me to believe that my payments are consumed by interest or administrative fees.
• CalVCB does not deduct an administrative fee for this process.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee began with a status report from the State Auditor on staffing and audit capacity, noting 14 audit supervisors, 14 audits in progress, several audits scheduled for release, and a planned high-risk review of state financial reporting. The committee then approved a consent calendar covering six audit requests, including topics such as kindergarten oral health assessments, prison infrastructure management, Los Angeles fires prevention and response, community college financial aid and enrollment, wildfire management at Chino Hills State Park, and the Chiquita Canyon landfill. The first major item was Assembly Member Gonzalez’s request for an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. Supporters described long-running fiscal mismanagement, a projected $60 million deficit, layoffs, concerns about contracting practices, foundation donations, and weak governance. District representatives said they were already working with Riverside County Office of Education and FICMAT, had adopted a fiscal stabilization plan, and were making cuts to restore solvency. The State Auditor said the proposed audit would examine the district’s financial condition over 10 years, ELOP spending, partnership agreements, foundation funds, and contracting practices. After extensive discussion and public comment, the motion to approve the audit failed because it did not receive the required votes. The committee next approved Senator Wahab’s request for an audit of East Bay transit agency administrative oversight. The senator argued that the Bay Area’s fragmented transit system creates duplication and wastes resources, while agency representatives and transit advocates said the agencies already face extensive oversight and are actively coordinating through existing regional efforts. The State Auditor outlined objectives focused on agency autonomy, coordination, ridership, finances, and the potential effects of consolidation. After debate and public comment, the audit was approved. Finally, Senator Archuleta introduced a request to audit excessive unrestricted reserves at selected California Community College districts and Calbright College, arguing that reserve balances have grown substantially and may be diverting funds from student services and instruction. He said the audit would examine why districts are holding large reserves and whether those funds are being used effectively for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Big banks drain public resources, a significant portion of city and state budgets toward paying fees,
• That executive director would, and the initial operations and administration of the state bank would
• But When we borrow the same money back from them, they charge a 4% application fee or brokerage, and
• It would stimulate local economies, offer fewer and smaller fees, create local jobs, and offer local
• With this current federal administration riding roughshod over our federal constitution and democracy

Bills: SB5754

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: public bank, state bank, finance, banking regulations, economic development, state investment

Transcript Highlights:

• we leave the op we wisely leave the fees we leave the op we wisely leave the operation<00:14:16.839>
• Minnesota State also has its own administrators plan.
• </c><01:07:52.880><c> and</c> and the four-year um administrative and and the four-year um administrative
• that are in the Min administrators that are in the Min administrators<01:20:43.560><c> plan</c><01:20
• My question is in regards to the user fees.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , it would not ...reduces Ecology's administrative costs.
• As a reminder, DOR is the centralized administrator of many local taxes.
• So, ...the administration costs from the new children and family sales and use tax.
• We view this as a simple rebalancing, kind of an administrative cleanup on steroids.
• So in a deficit year, we need not add those other fees. So thank you.”

Bills: HB1069 , HB2091 , SB6355 , HB2104 , SB6003 , HB2441 , HB2124 , HB2610 , HB2338

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been asked not to specify percentages in our grant administration language.
• That motion prevails and the A19 amendment is adopted. administrative costs and specifies up to administrative
• Um and so I administration language.
• </c> But this section increases the fee But this section increases the fee that's<00:33:04.080><c> paid
• </c> increases the fee to $20 per request. increases the fee to $20 per request.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Just, uh, quickly, this didn't change any fees or any of the fees listed in here.
• ,</c> we had to delete language about the fee, we had to delete language about the fee, right?
• So, it's, again, something that we're trying to get those fees up so we can cover the administrative
• So, it's, again, something that we're trying to get those fees up so we can cover the administrative
• </c> that we're trying to get um those fees that we're trying to get um those fees up<00:23:08.400><c

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• With me to testify in support of AB 1600 is Dora Mendivil Angulo, program and fiscal administrator for
• This bill also strengthens enforcement by giving CalRecycle authority to issue administrative penalties
• Lastly, penalty structure and compliance administration.
• As noted, the bill gives authority to CalRecycle to impose administrative penalties.
• But to fund pesticide enforcement activities, counties recover costs through annual registration fees

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard five bills, with testimony focused on farmworker climate equity, product recall responsibility, diaper ingredient disclosure, agricultural commissioner fee authority, and vape disposal and youth protection. Members also took up one consent item. The chair reviewed testimony rules, and the committee established a quorum before proceeding. AB 1600 by Assembly Member Arambula would treat farmworker housing as disadvantaged communities for purposes of climate and environmental funding. Supporters said farmworkers face severe climate, housing, water, and pollution burdens but are often excluded from existing DAC mapping tools. The bill passed 4-1 to the Committee on Appropriations. AB 2462 by Assembly Member Pellerin would require manufacturers to take back recalled products at no cost from consumers and additional collection points such as recycling centers, waste facilities, and thrift stores, while strengthening CalRecycle enforcement. It drew support from counties, cities, and waste stewardship groups, and opposition from manufacturers and juvenile product interests concerned about implementation, coordination, and penalties. The bill passed 5-1 to Appropriations. AB 1901 by Assembly Member Berman would require children’s diaper manufacturers to disclose ingredients online and on packaging. Supporters framed it as a parents’ right-to-know measure, while industry witnesses sought amendments to align it with other California disclosure laws and protect confidential business information. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. AB 2380 by Assembly Member Papin would raise the maximum fee counties may charge to support agricultural commissioner operations and pesticide enforcement; it received support from county agricultural officials and passed unanimously to the Assembly Floor. AB 2667 by Assembly Member Hadwick would ban deceptively marketed disposable vapes, allow household hazardous waste facilities to disassemble them, and direct DTSC to address school-confiscated vapes. School and local government witnesses described widespread youth vaping and disposal challenges, and the bill passed unanimously to the Business and Professions Committee. AB 2086, the consent item, also passed unanimously. Later add-on votes confirmed the earlier actions, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That takes us to page 11. administrative administration.
• Item number 20, deleting rider 12 administrative allocation.
• Moving on to item number four for administrative support under subsection A. administrative staff resources
• Item number four, adjustment to voter education fees and appropriations.
• Regulatory Filing Fees permitting systems was adopted for $6.3 million.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, they remain vulnerable to shifting priorities or changes in the administration.
• So if for me, as a state senator with a master's degree in public administration, struggled...
• This simply makes a modest increase to the fees paid by the seed manufacturers to fund the work.
• When California seed law was first established back in 1973, we created a simple fee structure.
• What this means is that there are fewer companies paying for a fee that's been significantly diluted

Summary: The California Senate Committee on Agriculture heard several bills focused on agricultural equity, seed regulation, rice conservation, and invasive species prevention. AB 52 by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry would codify two CDFA advisory committees created under the Farmer Equity Act—the California BIPAC producer advisory committee and the small-scale producer advisory committee—so socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have a permanent formal voice in department policymaking. Supporters described the bill as a way to preserve equity-focused input, improve grant access and language access, and build trust with small producers. There was no opposition, and members spoke in support, though the bill was initially heard without a quorum. AB 1848 by Assembly Member Ransom would raise the long-standing seed law fee paid by seed manufacturers to fund CDFA enforcement of seed labeling and contamination rules. The author and the California Seed Association said the increase is needed because the fee has not changed since 1973 and inflation has eroded its value; they framed the measure as consumer protection for both farmers and home gardeners. AB 1551 by Assembly Member Krell would expand the California Rice Commission’s mission to include implementation of the UC Davis rice footprint study, which identifies acreage and winter flooding levels needed to sustain habitat for wildlife such as waterfowl, shorebirds, salmon, and the giant garter snake. Support came from the Rice Commission and conservation groups, with members praising the bill’s working-lands conservation approach. AB 2143 by Assembly Member Irwin would prohibit online marketplaces from facilitating the sale or shipment into California of noxious weeds. The author and agricultural supporters said e-commerce has become a major pathway for invasive species and that preventing online sales is cheaper and more effective than later eradication; TechNet said it had moved from full opposition to neutral after discussions. After quorum was established, the committee voted all measures out: AB 52, AB 1848, AB 1551, and AB 2143 each passed on 4-0 votes, while several other bills on the consent agenda also passed 3-0 or 4-0 and were placed on call as needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, they remain vulnerable to shifting priorities or changes in the administration.
• So if for me, as a state senator with a master's degree in public administration, struggled...
• This simply makes a modest increase to the fees paid by the seed manufacturers to fund the work.
• When California seed law was first established back in 1973, we created a simple fee structure.
• What this means is that there are fewer companies paying for a fee that's been significantly diluted

Committee: Senate Agriculture