Transcript Highlights:

• You know, to rake the forest floor.
• This is all Northern California.
• California now Southern California<00:21:44.600><c> is</c><00:21:44.760><c> getting</c><00:21:45.159
• What I'm showing you here is what a managed forest looks like here and an unmanaged forest looks like
• </c> California and much of the West forests California and much of the West forests burn<02:12:17.960

Bills: HR31 , HR152 , HR192 , HR144 , HR189 , HR164 , HR153

Keywords: committee appointments, House of Representatives, government structure, legislative process, membership, committee assignments, elections, legislation, government, oversight, US-Canada relations, economic security, energy security, bipartisan, trade and investment, Ramadan, faith, Islam, community, charitable contributions

Transcript Highlights:

• with the California Bankers Association.
• Chris Schultz with the California Bankers Association.
• Since then, California has continued to operate as though the revenue provided by California taxpayers
• Danielle Kando Kaiser, again, on behalf of the California Tax Reform Association, of which the California
• And in the state of California, we can be one of the leaders in catching up on forest management and

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met with several bills, first reviewing housekeeping rules, announcing that AB 317 and AB 480 had been pulled, and noting that most other measures would go to suspense. The committee established a quorum and then heard AB 232, which would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax dollars for wildfire, flood, or earthquake preparedness and recovery costs. Support came from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, with no opposition testimony, but the bill was referred to suspense. The committee then approved a consent calendar of four bills by a 4-0 vote. It next heard AB 1443 to exclude tips from state income tax for five years; AB 1435 to help small businesses and property owners recover cleanup costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; AB 1428 to create a child care fund financed by a new tax on income above $10 million; AB 691 to provide a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and paying related veterinary costs; AB 1219 to cut personal income taxes for middle- and low-income taxpayers; AB 1354 to offer a tax credit for increased residential insurance premiums; AB 19 to establish education savings accounts for school choice; and AB 567 to provide insurance rate stabilization and suspend certain insurance taxes when premiums rise sharply. Each of these bills drew testimony from authors and supporters, with some opposition on the tax and insurance measures, and each was referred to the suspense file. Throughout the hearing, committee members generally acknowledged the policy goals of the bills while noting fiscal concerns and the need for further discussion. AB 761, the only item slated for an immediate vote, was ultimately pulled by the author and held over to the next hearing. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• are co-sponsoring with our partner, California Trout.
• Mercedes, with Sierra Club California, in strong support.
• Mercedes-Messia, Sierra Club California, in support.
• Mercedes-Messia, Sierra Club, California in support.
• Again, far from the national forest.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Transcript Highlights:

• California by investing in wildfire prevention and forest resilience.
• Entirely, this bill reflects a tale of two Californias.
• The most vulnerable population in California.
• That's a California issue.
• How vulnerable our service industry is in California.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mercedes-Massiz with Sierra Club California, in strong support.
• Mercedes-Messia, Sierra Club California, in support.
• And that was on the commission here in California, ma'am.
• Again, far from the national forest.
• Our union represents hospitality workers across coastal California.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1393, an omnibus update to the Fish and Game Code covering steelhead trout and Dungeness crab management. Supporters from The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, CalTrout, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations said the bill would strengthen the steelhead report card program, refine crab fishery rules, and clarify vessel transit through closed crab areas. There was no opposition, and the bill was accepted with amendments and moved on a 4-0 vote to the Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1250, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning and asset management, with performance targets and coordination with wildlife agencies. The author and supporters argued it would improve ecosystem connectivity, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, and save money by integrating crossings, culverts, and fencing into planned projects. The California Building Industry Association moved to neutral after amendments clarifying the bill would apply to transportation rights-of-way and not create exactions on private property. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. Members then considered SB 1212, which would repeal California’s ban on importing and selling kangaroo products. The author argued kangaroo harvest in Australia is tightly regulated and that California’s ban is outdated, while opponents from Humane World for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and others said the bill would reopen the market to products from a cruel commercial slaughter industry and undermine long-standing wildlife protections. No motion was taken at that point. The committee also heard SB 1268, codifying the Outdoors for All initiative, which supporters said would protect and expand equitable access to parks and outdoor recreation; it advanced 3-0. Finally, the committee heard three Western Joshua Tree bills from Senator Arreguín: SB 1061, SB 1062, and SB 1063. Supporters from water agencies, local governments, and industry said the bills would reduce fees and streamline permitting for tree relocation, public infrastructure, and basic utility hookups in desert communities. Opponents withdrew or softened opposition on the first two bills after amendments, but objected to SB 1063 as too broad. SB 1061 and SB 1062 each passed 2-0 to Appropriations, while SB 1063 was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Brought a number in from California and Oregon that helped out.
• I'm the Washington State Forester.
• There is the forest and landscape resilience component.
• Forest Service equipment... ...through the state forest in every state where we can get Defense Department
• The fires that we look at, those are dry forest.

Bills: HB2579

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: public media, digital equity, funding, media access, communication technology

Transcript Highlights:

• Corrella State Forest Trust and provides for on-site housing for the forest superintendent on Martha's
• Corrella State Forest Trust and provides for on-site housing for the forest superintendent on Martha's
• It's not just a forest.
• But we're seeing continuing growing pressure on the forest.
• back into the forest.

Summary: The Senate considered a broad environmental bond bill with amendments touching climate resilience, coastal infrastructure, housing, plastics, wildlife protection, and public health. Early in the debate, Senator Keenan withdrew an amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program, explaining that the program had been enacted without funding and that he hoped to secure money through the budget process instead. The Senate then adopted his amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packaging. The chamber also debated and rejected a Republican amendment to remove the paper bag fee; supporters argued the 10-cent charge would burden working families, while opponents said it was a necessary environmental measure. The amendment failed on a standing vote, 5-10. Several environmental and coastal amendments were adopted, including measures on ocean acidification and nutrient pollution, a statewide carbon sequestration goal that includes salt marshes and seagrasses, a study of banning polystyrene, restrictions on rodenticides with local control and emergency-use exceptions, and indoor air quality improvements. Senators also approved amendments to create a Massachusetts Climate Bank, establish a trust fund and on-site housing for the Manuel F. Corrella State Forest on Martha’s Vineyard, increase the Douglas State Forest entry fee from $1 to $2, and clarify procedures and oversight for housing priority projects. Some proposals were withdrawn, including a special commission on resilient urban coasts and a conservation commission proposal, while others were rejected, including a local-priority housing confirmation amendment and a warrantless-entry amendment that raised Fourth Amendment concerns. The Senate also adopted a series of coastal resilience and permitting amendments, including streamlined permitting for urban coastal projects, a pilot for nature-based solutions, dredging and sand placement in general permits, and a Salisbury Beach trust fund clarification. A New Bedford state pier redevelopment amendment and a harbor protection amendment were adopted, as were amendments related to public and private water utility reporting and equitable representation. The session concluded with notice that only two amendments remained before a roll call, followed by an adjournment in memory of James A. Jim Sheets, former Quincy mayor and educator.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're not immune to a California-style fire.
• People lost their lives out there in California because of incompetence.
• Last year, we had over 275,000 acres of prescribed burns in our forests.
• And we're not immune to a California-style fire.
• People lost their lives out there in California because of incompetence.

Summary: The committee received an overview from Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including staffing, licensing, forestry, law enforcement, and consumer services. He emphasized agriculture as a major economic driver and a national security issue, arguing that Florida should protect farmland, aquifer recharge areas, and the wildlife corridor through the Rural and Family Lands program. He said the program is cost-effective because the state buys development rights rather than land outright, keeps land on local tax rolls, and helps preserve farmland in perpetuity. He also highlighted the Fresh From Florida marketing program, increased social media reach, and the department’s efforts to reduce vacancies and improve pay and efficiency. Members asked about nutrient management, citrus disease, housing, disaster recovery, wildfire prevention, interdiction stations, and concealed carry permitting. Simpson said SB 1000 and updated best management practice manuals, informed by University of Florida research, are helping agriculture use less water and fertilizer, and he described citrus greening as having devastated the industry while noting research, replanting programs, and CUPS as possible paths to recovery. On housing, he argued that allowing H-2A farmworker housing on farms would ease pressure on the broader housing market, and on disasters he described a zero-interest loan program for farmers affected by hurricanes and other events. He also detailed wildfire preparedness improvements, including upgraded helicopters, dozers, drones, and prescribed burns. The commissioner said ag interdiction stations are catching stolen semis, drugs, human trafficking, and other illegal activity, and that the department wants more technology, including X-ray scanning, to inspect more trucks. He also discussed concealed carry administration, saying the department cleared a large backlog and that constitutional carry reduced but did not eliminate permit demand because permits still provide reciprocity and other benefits. Members generally praised the department’s work, expressed support for rural land protection, Fresh From Florida, water-quality improvements, and foreign-interference concerns, and the meeting ended with no formal votes or other committee action beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, forest management, including forest health management, is allowed in carbon sales.
• I'm Matt Dumit with Washington Forest Protection.
• I'm Matt Domenet with Washington Forest Protection.
• He said he is not a forester, but he works with foresters who are experts and who say it takes a long
• in Capitol State Forest.

Bills: HB2170 , HB2544 , HB2578

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: natural climate solutions, ecosystem services, revenue generation, economic opportunities, environmental policy, water rights, adjudication, Columbia River, environmental impact, natural resources, tribal members, fish and wildlife, commission, indigenous rights, state regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> seek</c> gentleman from California seek gentleman from California seek recognition?
• </c> for California, Miss Chu. for California, Miss Chu.
• </c> gentleman from California, Mr. Fong. gentleman from California, Mr. Fong.
• </c> Gentleman from California is recognized. Gentleman from California is recognized.
• </c> Gentleman from California is recognized. Gentleman from California is recognized.

Bills: HB4327 , HCR68 , HJR140 , HB6945 , HR1009

Keywords: home sales, tax exemption, real estate, capital gains, personal residence, military intervention, Venezuela, Congress, war powers, foreign policy, federal lands, Bureau of Land Management, land withdrawal, Minnesota, congressional disapproval, pregnancy centers, support services, social security, family support, maternity care

Transcript Highlights:

• So the governor is a nominal party in a case in California.
• We have local counsel in California that are answering any of the pleadings that come in.
• The AG can't represent her in California. Obviously, there are Arkansas attorneys.
• We have local counsel in California that are answering any of the pleadings that come in.
• AG can't represent her in California. Obviously, there are Arkansas attorneys.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee reviewed a large slate of appropriation, transfer, and continuation requests across multiple sections. In Section B, members considered temporary FY27 appropriations for agencies including Health, DHS, Education, Treasury, Public Safety, State Police, Emergency Management, Aeronautics, Military, Economic Development, Game and Fish, and others, covering items such as maternal health outreach, LIHEAP overpayment returns, Wynne High School tornado rebuilding, senior food services, cybersecurity, crime victim claims, airport grants, conservation incentives, and emergency tower maintenance. Questions focused on the DHS senior services carry-forward and Treasury custodial banking fees tied to lower balances after COVID funds were spent down. All Section B items were approved. The committee then approved continuation requests, ARPA reallocations, and federal grant-related items in Sections B2, C1A, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, F1A, G1, H1A, I1A, J1/J2, K1/K2/K3, L1/L2, M1/M2, N1/N2, O1A, and P1A. These included university nursing and workforce programs, environmental and recycling grants, highway safety and emergency management grants, a transfer to the Merit Teacher Incentive Program, restricted reserve transfers for military, agriculture, UAPB, Game and Fish, and AETN, and various cash-fund and budget classification transfers. Several members asked for more detail on the State Police highway safety grant, VOCA victim compensation funding, the NSGP nonprofit security grant, and the Office of State Technology’s E-Rate-related transfer; agency officials explained the uses and noted that some funding levels depend on federal awards and collections. A notable discussion occurred on the Department of Commerce reallocation, which shifts 68 positions and $3 million among divisions to support an organizational realignment and avoid shortfalls. The committee also reviewed a state central services deduction request to keep the rate at 2%, a DHS overtime request for child protection caseloads, and a year-end adjustments request authorizing up to $1 million in temporary actions to close FY26 books without disrupting payroll or vendor payments. Most items were approved or, in some sections, simply reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also eliminated the California waiver. Like heat pumps and solar panels.
• They also eliminated the California waiver for emissions reductions and tax credits and funding for EV
• In California, with 26 million more people than Massachusetts, it is at $4.3 billion, or $109 per capita
• In California, with 26 million more people than Massachusetts, is at $4.3 billion or $109 per capita.
• My amendment simply seeks to add an incentive subtractor per acre of undisturbed forest that is cleared

Transcript Highlights:

• One problem is that forest wires can cause fires.
• For example, in California, they have red, yellow, green status.
• So, with the Forest Supervisor of the Gila, the Forest Supervisor of the Carson, they have pulled together
• It is chaired by the state forester.
• The first is forest and watershed health.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• be some major forest fires given the be some major forest fires given the drought<00:30:51.320><c> or
• Forest Service?
• </c> aware that the US fishing or the forest aware that the US fishing or the forest service<00:48:17.000
• </c><00:48:29.760><c> service</c> were you aware you the forest service were you aware you the forest
• </c><00:48:33.839><c> Service</c> year that's what the US Forest Service year that's what the US Forest

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Some instances, helping with forest roads.
• Have we ever thought about using the Forest Service.
• Harrington Forest Research Center.
• in New Mexico forests.
• Since I've been state forester, I was able using federal funding to put an additional forester on each

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We brought a number in from California and Oregon that helped out.
• I'm the Washington State Forester.
• There is the forest and landscape resilience component.
• Forest Service equipment and provide these to fire departments.
• The fires that we look at, those are dry forest.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2579, which would create a Public Media Broadcaster Program and a Digital Equity Program funded by a 20-cent-per-line monthly tax on wireless, prepaid wireless, VoIP, and landline service. Staff explained that 80% of the revenue would support public media grants, 20% would support digital equity grants, and a small share could be used for administration. The prime sponsor, Rep. Chris Stearns, and many public media, community media, and digital equity supporters testified that public radio and television provide emergency alerts, local news, education, training, and community connection, especially in rural and underserved areas, and that federal funding cuts have made state support more urgent. Several witnesses described how public media helped with emergency communications, youth training, Indigenous programming, and access to local information. Opposition came from CTIA and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes. CTIA argued the tax would add to already high wireless taxes in Washington and would be regressive because low-income residents rely heavily on wireless service. Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes objected to the bill as another tax increase and said it would worsen affordability. One supporter said an amendment would be offered to address a misunderstanding in the fiscal note. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then received a cybersecurity and critical infrastructure briefing from state emergency management and cybersecurity officials. They described Washington’s layered cybersecurity model, the role of state agencies, the Fusion Center, WOTEC, the National Guard, and the Emergency Management Division, and the growing threat from ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and AI-enabled attacks. Members asked about volunteer cyber response capacity, the most vulnerable sectors, and whether the legislature should fund more real-time threat monitoring and intelligence sharing. Officials said the state is working to establish a volunteer cyber incident response team and that the main gap is real-time monitoring across participating local and private networks. The committee also heard updates on the December 2025 flooding response and wildfire resilience. Emergency management officials reported widespread flooding, landslides, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and infrastructure damage, but said mitigation investments helped prevent worse outcomes. They identified gaps in statewide alerting, search and rescue coordination, and local emergency management capacity, and said a statewide alert system like Oregon’s would require ongoing funding. In the wildfire update, DNR and partner agencies described increasing wildfire risk, the use of aircraft, AI-enabled detection cameras, and common operating pictures, and ongoing work on hazard and risk mapping, community wildfire preparedness, and home hardening. Members asked about predictive technology, sediment removal, and other mitigation tools, and officials said they are working with universities and federal partners to improve prevention and response.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number three is California high-speed rail.
• , Kimberly Usher; our Northern California State Coordinator, Tracy Williams; We have our Northern California
• California has not been managing our forests for decades.
• We stopped doing any kind of active California has not been managing our forests for decades.
• California.

Transcript Highlights:

• Interested in TDAM and the Forest Service I'm sure I've lost my place a little bit.
• The Forest Service did have an exceptional item request for wildfire airport. aircraft.
• It's with the Texas A&M Forest Service. But it's not reflected here. Correct. How come?
• Al Davis Director of the Texas A&M Forest Service.
• We also take the same equipment that we use for fighting fire from the Forest Service.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• Jordan Wells on behalf of the California State Association of Counties, League of California Cities,
• and Rural County Representatives of California, in support.
• California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, in support.
• We represent about 87,000 public safety members in the state of California.
• And we're here to do this together so that we can make it a safe California.

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard two main bills. AB 1934 by Assembly Member Bennett would create a voluntary home hardening certification program under the State Fire Marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee. Supporters, including local governments, counties, fire-related organizations, and conservation groups, said the certificate could help guide future incentives for wildfire resilience and home hardening. Senators discussed how long certifications should last, whether recertification should be required, and how the program could align with local fire inspections and future state incentive funding. The bill was advanced to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The committee also heard AB 2411 by Assembly Member McKinner, which would create a process to train and deploy out-of-state law enforcement officers as temporary supplemental security for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The author, the Los Angeles mayor’s office, and the Los Angeles Police Protective League supported the bill, saying the Games will require far more officers than California can supply on its own and that out-of-state personnel should augment, not replace, California officers. Opposition from PORAC and the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs focused on ensuring California POST standards, accountability, and proper training, while also raising concerns about recruitment, retention, and cost. Committee members generally supported the concept but emphasized that California officers should remain the primary source of personnel and that federal involvement should be limited; the bill was sent to the Senate Public Safety Committee. The committee also took up a consent calendar of additional measures, which were approved. After several roll calls and calls placed on absent members, both AB 1934 and AB 2411 ultimately passed the committee 9-0, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• California.
• To ensure California remains the number one travel destination in the country, Visit California works
• Iron Man, California.
• California. We might take a look at California, Arizona, and Nevada. There are 50 million people.
• California.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism