Transcript Highlights:

• And I think you all raise a really important issue in terms of consumer protection: whether someone purchasing
• consumers and investors.
• protection mission and brought authority over also and lenders to a regulator with a consumer protection
• So we have expanded our authority and our remit to protect consumers and investors.
• Financial Protection Law.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of May Revision budget items, beginning with the State Controller’s Office. SCO described requests for Fiscal Book of Record stabilization, payroll system implementation, ACFR reporting support, and unclaimed property outreach funding. Members focused on the Fiscal system’s July go-live, the improved timeliness of the ACFR, and the unclaimed property program’s roughly $15 billion balance and outreach efforts. The Department of Finance and LAO raised no major concerns, and the item was closed after discussion of how the new outreach funding would be used. The committee then considered several revenue proposals. Finance presented a proposal to tax pre-written digital software and SaaS, with estimated General Fund gains of $450 million in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing; LAO suggested broader digital tax changes and a business-use exemption, while industry groups opposed the measure as a tax on essential digital tools. CDTFA also presented an administrative request tied to the software tax, and later a $10 million budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs. The committee then heard a federal conformity proposal for new children’s tax-deferred accounts, which LAO supported, and a proposal to cut the first-year LLC/LP minimum tax from $800 to $400, which Finance said would aid small business formation but LAO argued was poorly targeted and would reduce revenue. Another major item was a permanent business tax credit limitation beginning in 2027, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability. Finance said it would raise about $850 million in 2026-27 and more in later years, while LAO noted it would mainly affect large firms using the R&D credit and could also touch California Competes and other programs. Public testimony split sharply between business groups opposing the cap and advocates supporting it as a progressive revenue measure. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment proposal, which would retain a smaller staff to continue improving the free filing system and return most of the prior funding to the General Fund. The hearing concluded with the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which brings in about $221,000 to $266,000 annually for arts grants and teacher stipends. Members and advocates supported the item but also urged larger arts funding, including the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development then presented proposals for the California Civic Media Program, CA RISE reappropriation, and a reversion of unused Chips for America facility funds; LAO supported the latter two but was cautious about new civic media spending. Members raised concerns about the civic media program’s scope, including the exclusion of broadcast and the lack of a specific ethnic media set-aside, while GoBiz said funds would begin going out in the fall if approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s carefully crafted with robust consumer protections, and as the author stated, those protections
• It’s carefully crafted with robust consumer protections, and as the author stated, those protections
• protections.
• Protecting consumers who have been harmed by a wildfire or other declared disaster is vitally important
• We want to thank Senator McGuire for his authorship of this consumer protection bill.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we protect individual privacy, and that is why we protect private data on individuals.
• My bill protects individual privacy rights and protects the privacy of data on individuals.
• We're adding two words to our statute books that protect our democracy, that protect our democracy, and
• And in the last few years, we've made great strides as a state on protecting consumers, protecting high-road
• There was almost an implied threat that the Attorney General isn't going to do the work to protect consumers

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cooney moves to discharge from the Committee on Consumer Protection Assembly Bill 5563A and substitute
• New York State in a fair way and protect our consumers because we’re concerned about grocery prices.
• New York State in a fair way and protect our consumers because we’re concerned about grocery prices.
• New York State in a fair way and protect our consumers because we’re concerned about grocery prices.
• We have fought to lower costs and protect consumers.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games. The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually. The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think you all raise a really important issue in terms of consumer protection: whether someone purchasing
• consumers and investors.
• protection mission and brought authority over also and lenders to a regulator with a consumer protection
• So we have expanded our authority and our remit to protect consumers and investors.
• Financial Protection Law.

Summary: The committee opened with the State Controller’s Office May Revision requests, including funding for Fiscal book-of-record stabilization, a Broadcom IDMS licensing adjustment, the California State Payroll System, ACFR reporting automation, and $3 million for unclaimed property outreach. Testimony emphasized progress on Fiscal becoming the state’s accounting book of record in July, faster ACFR publication, and the move to electronic unclaimed property claims. Members asked about the size of the unclaimed property fund and how quickly money is transferred to the General Fund; the Controller’s office said about $15 billion is held, with most excess transferred regularly, and the LAO noted the fund is the General Fund’s fourth-largest revenue source. No concerns were raised by Finance or the LAO, and the item was closed after no public comment. The committee then heard the administration’s proposal to tax prewritten digital software and software-as-a-service, with Finance saying it would modernize sales tax treatment and raise an estimated $450 million General Fund and $560 million local revenue in 2026-27. The LAO supported modernizing the tax but suggested broader digital goods coverage and a business-use exemption; industry and taxpayer groups opposed the proposal, warning of higher costs for consumers and businesses. Members also heard CDTFA’s administrative request tied to the proposal, plus a separate CDTFA budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs; that reduction was presented as a savings item and drew positive reactions. Next, the committee considered federal conformity for “Trump accounts,” which would align California tax treatment with federal rules for tax-deferred children’s accounts and avoid tracking burdens for families. The LAO recommended approval, and the item drew no opposition. The committee also heard a proposal to cut the first-year $800 annual business tax to $400 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs; Finance argued it would lower startup costs and encourage new business formation, while the LAO said the benefit was not well targeted and could subsidize entities that would form anyway. Members discussed the policy tradeoff, and public commenters split between support for small business relief and concern about revenue loss. The final major revenue item was a permanent business tax credit limitation, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability, while excluding the low-income housing tax credit and personal income tax credits. Finance said it would raise significant revenue from large profitable corporations, and the LAO said it was a reasonable option but noted it would mainly affect the R&D credit and could have future implications for programs like California Competes. Public testimony was sharply divided, with business groups opposing the cap and anti-poverty advocates supporting it as a way to recapture revenue. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment request, which would return most of the direct-file-related resources to the General Fund while retaining a smaller staff to improve CalFile, and the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which members and advocates supported despite relatively modest annual donations. The hearing continued with GoBiz proposals on civic media funding, CA RISE reappropriation, and a semiconductor facility reversion, with the LAO supporting the latter two and members raising questions about the civic media program’s scope, outreach, and inclusion of broadcast and ethnic media.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like what, what is the law protecting? The law is protecting the agreements.
• and inconsistent protections across states.
• with greater transparency about their rights and protections.
• Standardized consumer protections across the industry providing consistent and reliable safeguards for
• consumers regardless of their state of residence.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill extends workers' compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers.
• Park rangers across the state serve a variety of functions, including protecting regional park lands.
• The goal of SB 495 is to simplify the process for consumers already facing traumatic experiences.
• Maida Baena with the Mesa Verde group on behalf of the Consumer Federation of California.
• Tony Signorelli, Deputy Commissioner, Consumer Services, Department of Insurance. That's correct.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to hear several bills related to insurance coverage, wildfire risk, workers’ compensation, and paid family leave. SB 8 by Senator Ashby would extend workers’ compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers, with testimony emphasizing that they perform law-enforcement-like duties and should receive the same protections as comparable officers. SB 429 by Senator Cortese would create a public wildfire catastrophe model and related wildfire safety program, with support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates who said public access to modeling data would improve transparency and help evaluate private insurance risk models. The committee also heard SB 525 by Senator Jones, which would require the FAIR Plan to offer coverage options for manufactured and mobile home owners, including replacement cost coverage. Supporters said the bill would help lower-income residents obtain meaningful insurance protection, while no opposition testified. SB 495 by Senator Allen, as amended, would require insurers to provide a larger contents-coverage advance after a total loss during a declared emergency without requiring an immediate itemized inventory, extend proof-of-loss deadlines, and require insurers to provide catastrophe modeling and reinsurance data to the Department of Insurance. Several insurers withdrew opposition after amendments, and the Department of Insurance and United Policyholders supported the measure. SB 590 by Senator Durazo would expand paid family leave to cover care for designated persons or chosen family members, with strong support from AARP, labor, civil rights, caregiving, and health organizations, and testimony from a parent describing the need to care for a non-legal family member during surgery recovery. The committee also took up consent items SB 230 and SB 854. After roll calls, SB 8, SB 429, SB 495, SB 525, and SB 590 all received do-pass votes, with SB 429 sent to the Committee on Emergency Management, SB 495 to Judiciary, and SB 525 and SB 590 to Appropriations. The consent calendar bills were also approved, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did that in line with the Consumer Data Protection Act to ensure that data is appropriately secured
• Well, we tied all the security measures in this substitute to the Consumer Data Protection Act.
• I guess that's the Consumer Protection Act as well. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, I would...
• The last thing I want to point out is this is drawn to the Consumer Data Protection Act.
• Consumer Data Protection Act.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is critical to protecting California's pocketbooks.
• consumers.
• Proactive management is critical to support fuel reliability and economic stability, protect consumers
• addressing affordability issues for consumers.
• I would more describe it as job protection.

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard three major bills. SB 237, by Senator Grayson, proposed a package of fuel-supply and permitting changes aimed at stabilizing gasoline prices during California’s energy transition. Supporters, including state officials, Kern County representatives, labor groups, and industry groups, said it would help retain in-state refining and drilling capacity, reduce price spikes, and protect jobs. Opponents, including environmental justice and conservation groups, argued it would expand oil drilling without enough community protections and would not meaningfully address climate goals. After extensive testimony and questions about emissions, sunsets, and long-term strategy, the committee passed SB 237 on a due pass vote, with some members voting no or not voting. SB 352, by Senator Reyes, sought to strengthen implementation of AB 617, the community air protection program, by codifying the Environmental Justice Bureau in the Department of Justice, extending monitoring requirements, and requiring annual legislative reporting. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability and ensure that funding for impacted communities actually produces emissions reductions. Some environmental justice advocates were neutral or not fully supportive because they wanted stronger language, while business and industry groups opposed the bill, arguing it was added late and duplicated existing processes. The committee approved SB 352 on a due pass vote. SB 840, by Senator Limon, was the cap-and-invest reauthorization package. It would update offset protocols, adjust how revenues are spent, and continue funding for key climate, housing, transit, and community programs, including AB 617. Support came from environmental groups, labor, local governments, housing advocates, and clean transportation organizations, while some agricultural interests objected that the package did not sufficiently prioritize climate-smart agriculture and methane reduction programs. The committee passed SB 840 on a due pass vote as well. All three measures were later confirmed out of committee after calls were lifted.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've responded to a lot of the issues that have been raised by different groups about the consumer protection
• So these funds are protected by a surety bond.
• This is a way to protect consumers; that way, if the project is not built, there is still strong protection
• This bill provides 100% protection to the buyer through the surety bond.
• This empowers homeowners to protect their property from squatters.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• consumers, apprentices, and the public.
• It gives an opportunity to protect the consumer for an appeals process when things have gone bad.
• the consumer from bad actors.
• dollars and give better protection to both those people who are licensed and the consumer.
• Thank you for your efforts to protect our children.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 750, a “click-to-cancel” consumer protection bill requiring subscription cancellations to be as easy as sign-up and to be available through the same method used to subscribe. An amendment was adopted, testimony included support from labor and consumer advocates and opposition from some business groups, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 414, which was narrowed to cap interest on medical debt at 3%. After reconsidering and replacing prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 799, concerning inspection licensing for elevators, escalators, and boilers, was presented by the State Fire Marshal and reported favorably with little discussion. The longest discussion centered on HB 953, a major plumbing workforce and licensing reform bill. The bill was amended substantially: the original proposal to move plumbing oversight to the Contractors Board was removed, the plumbing board remained in place, apprenticeship and journeyman/master plumber hour requirements were revised, penalties and reporting requirements were added, and language was included to support workforce development and reentry training. The committee heard both support and opposition, including clarification from the State Plumbing Board that it already has an appeals process through the courts, and HB 953 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 220, the “PROTECT Act,” was heard to require covered online platforms to maintain a clear and usable mechanism for reporting child sexual abuse material and exploitation. An amendment was adopted to account for platforms that require registration to access content, testimony was supportive, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 952 was deferred, and HB 827, a related plumbing workforce bill, was amended to align more closely with HB 953 but then failed a motion to defer by roll call vote, allowing it to remain pending. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We look at large load consumers, and that's why we set out that framework.
• It ensures communities near data centers are protected from the negative attributes.
• Ignacio Hernandez, on behalf of TURN, a consumer advocacy organization, has been fighting to protect
• They can protect customers from over- or under-collections.
• The motion is do pass as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. Petri-Norris? Aye. Patterson?

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• the steps that we can take to protect the steps that we can take to protect our<02:23:12.880>
• their energy bills you see consumers their energy bills you see consumers still<02:39:46.120>
• energy producers and American consumers energy producers and American consumers to<02:50:25.359>
• because I have no interest in protecting because I have no interest in protecting corporate<03:05
• individuals in their health care, protect individuals in their daily lives as they travel to protect

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumer protections and air quality protections that are fundamental to this legislation.
• There's no consumer here. There's no consumer protection concern.
• our consumers, and protecting our water.
• our consumers, and protecting our water.
• consumers, and protecting our water.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fundamentally, higher education accreditation exists to protect consumers.
• Fundamentally, higher education accreditation exists to protect consumers.
• Fundamentally, higher education accreditation exists to protect consumers.
• Fundamentally, higher education accreditation exists to protect consumers.
• <01:14:38.880> protection concerned about our consumer protection concerned about our consumer

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• local governments from denying consumer local governments from denying consumer choice<00:03:20.879
• still need energy to power and protect still need energy to power and protect their<00:04:56.800
• <00:05:18.479> Chair, consumers. So, thank you, Mr. Mr. Chair, consumers.
• So protecting it as a fuel source 2022.
• So, thank you, Sher Igo, and consumers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This week, House Republicans will take a common-sense step forward by protecting consumers and small
• <00:34:39.200> consumers<00:34:39.599> and<00:34:39.919> small protecting consumers
• and small protecting consumers and small businesses<00:34:40.560> alike<00:34:40.960> from
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 1 (2020), and Free Enterprise Fund v.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 1 (2020).

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• protection.
• Relating to the responsibility of consumer reporting agencies to ensure compliance with certain consumer
• The first is the seven protected classes enumerated under the federal protections against discrimination
• What this bill further does is adds additional protections under the First Amendment. are sacred protections
• We protect consumers around the state, around the state, and give realtor members a way to self-police

Transcript Highlights:

• The rank and file set with my consumer.
• for price protection. we are protected for price protection. we are protected for uh<00:36:32.560
• <00:37:54.800> plan during your um pricing protection plan during your um pricing protection
• Drug manufacturers consumer behavior.
• higher prices and therefore a consumer higher prices and therefore a consumer may<00:59:19.920><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE ARE PROTECTIVE THINGS IN THE BILL THAT WILL PROTECT US IF OIR DOESN'T DO THEIR JOB OR AHCA DOESN'T
• CAN YOU TALK MORE IN DETAIL HOW THOSE THINGS WILL PROTECT US AND IF WE NEED TO, IF THERE IS SOMETHING
• SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT IS MY CONCERN IS HOW DO YOU ENSURE BECAUSE IF I'M A CONSUMER
• NUMBER THREE ALLOW OIR TO PUT CONSUMERS AND PHARMACIST COMPLAINTS ON THEIR HOMEPAGE.
• I KNOW YOUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THE SAVINGS ARE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMERS.