Transcript Highlights:

• IDJC is primarily general funded.
• In the state, it's net zero to the general fund.
• And then some other facility maintenance at the Lewiston and St. Anthony facilities.
• stuff going on at the Lewiston facility?
• prevent wildfires, and prevent electricity outages.

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s three programs, funding sources, recent expenditure trends, and proposed FY 2027 requests, including replacement items, IT upgrades, a clinician services transfer from Health and Welfare, and endowment-funded facility and vehicle needs. Director Ashley Dowell described the department’s mission, declining juvenile census, and the role of county partnerships, youth assessment centers, and prevention/diversion services. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, vehicle replacements, staffing, and whether any juveniles were under mandatory minimums; Dowell said the holdback was managed through contract reductions, travel/training savings, and internal efficiencies, and that the staffing analysis found the department was understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies already reclassified into direct care roles. The committee then heard the budget review for the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Analyst Peterson explained that the office is mostly federally funded, with several dedicated funds and large reappropriated balances tied to energy resilience projects; he also noted a home energy rebates request that was not recommended by the governor because of uncertainty at the federal level. Administrator Calli Younger said the office uses federal and state funds to support rural energy efficiency, wildfire prevention, permitting coordination, and policy work on hydropower, geothermal, mining, and nuclear energy. She emphasized the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for flexibility to support nuclear policy work, and efforts to improve permitting efficiency through a one-stop-shop approach and participation in FAST-41 processes. Members asked about nuclear fuel recycling, workforce needs, incentives, and a possible merger with the Office of Species Conservation; Younger said Idaho’s lab and regulatory certainty make it well positioned for nuclear growth, but workforce development and policy clarity remain key, and she described the merger idea as a way to consolidate overlapping permitting functions and reduce costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• After serving as a commanding general, General Guard spent more than a decade as the president of the
• Geothermal energy is a powerful domestic energy source that can generate electricity and heat homes and
• Geothermal energy is a powerful domestic energy source that can generate electricity and heat homes and
• I yield back. trust for future generations to come. trust for future generations to come.
• </c> next generation. next generation. I<02:07:21.599><c> yel</c><02:07:21.920><c> back.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:34.480><c> implements</c><00:25:34.880><c> cooperative</c> facilities implements cooperative facilities
• Prohibits mopeds and electric motorcycles from using bike lanes.
• Defines electric mobility devices and defines high-speed electric devices separate from mopeds and motorcycles
• Requires e-bikes and electric bicycles to be registered with a one-time $30 fee.
• No one under 16 may operate a Class 3 electric bicycle.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee first took up HB 496 HD2 SD1 on mamaki tea. Members described the agreed conference draft as prohibiting misleading use of Hawaiian words, imagery, place names, and motifs on tea packaging unless all tea or dried leaves were grown, harvested, and dried in Hawaii. The bill also included an appropriation for a measurement standards inspector position at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, with $65,000 in each of FY 2026 and FY 2027. The House and Senate managers recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted by unanimous votes from the members present, with some members excused. The committee then recessed and reconvened several times to manage a larger agenda of conference bills, moving some items to later times and rooms. Among the measures adopted were HB 862, addressing school transportation shortages by allowing certain nontraditional vehicles under safety conditions; HB 667, retitled the Microchip Identification Act, requiring DOT and counties to scan deceased cats and dogs for microchips and notify animal services; HB 958, regulating electric bicycles and other micromobility devices with safety, labeling, registration, and age requirements; HB 934, relating to broadband and the digital equity office, with appropriations and positions; HB 960, raising DOT capital advancement contract thresholds and annual caps; HB 697, updating automated speed enforcement rules and appropriating $2 million; and SB 26, creating an affordable housing land inventory task force with a $250,000 appropriation. Each of these measures was adopted with amendments by conference vote, with some members excused and several brief recesses taken for quorum or agenda management. Not all bills were resolved. HB 732, relating to the film industry tax credit cap, was deferred after conferees said they had not reached agreement, despite comments supporting the industry and local workers. HB 437, concerning an office in the Philippines under DBED, was also deferred for lack of agreement. The committee adjourned after stating that the remaining measures on the agenda would be deferred indefinitely.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> engrossed K through2 school facilities engrossed K through2 school facilities appropriations<00:
• So, we've generated failure for us.
• </c> obviously revert back to the general obviously revert back to the general fund,<01:00:39.599><c>
• </c> generally for the most part, maybe two. generally for the most part, maybe two.
• Facilities Use Fees. Senate File 95, Facilities Use Fees.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our facilities are top-notch with the new building, the track that's going in, as well as the facilities
• Usually, they are trying to get out of our facility because now that this is a pretty nice facility,
• So, are both of the facilities, or the facility, happening?
• Rick Road Facility Investigation.
• So maybe you could give us some and an engine room that had main engines and turbine generators for electricity

Transcript Highlights:

• If the equipment or fixture is established or maintained for the use or benefit of the general public
• , such as street lights, street lighting systems, special lighting systems, electric vehicle charging
• wire that is within or carries wire that is within or carries electricity<00:06:28.720><c> to</c><00:
• </c> electricity to the equipment or fixture. electricity to the equipment or fixture.
• </c> and special lighting systems, electric and special lighting systems, electric vehicle<00:06:43.520

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• County Electric, and I want to make a couple of points.
• So anything that has a water hookup, electric hookup... On their utilities.
• I'm Vice President of the Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
• So before it was just general revenue.
• And it'll still be general revenue.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have people that are in that facility.
• Speaker, to generate approximately $485 million.
• Pressures unlike any previous generation.
• Then in the Appropriations Committee, they got generous.
• Physically obstruct someone from entering a facility.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The consequences will belong to the people of Louisiana for generations.
• To the people of Louisiana for generations.
• Another consideration is half of the fee at the capture facility and half at the injection site.
• I think if you get beyond into general revenue conversation, you are in a tax conversation.
• I think if you get beyond into general revenue conversation, you are in a tax conversation.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AI models can generate false alarms, miss serious conditions, and reflect the same biases that exist
• AI models can generate false alarms, miss serious conditions, and reflect the same biases that exist
• AB 1915 will support California's neighborhood restaurants by modernizing California's food facility
• However, replacing equipment that is a few years old might require an electrical or gas line upgrade.
• And for a facility, a...

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1003 by Blanco, relating to the compensation of a distributed renewable generation owner
• by Middleton, relating to patient stay reports submitted by freestanding emergency medical care facilities
• Bill 1022 by Kolkhorst et al., relating to the recovery of vegetation management costs caused by electric
• Senate Bill 1026 by Hughes, relating to the duty of the Attorney General to prosecute criminal offenses
• Senate Bill 1026 by Hughes relating to the duty of the Attorney General to prosecute criminal offenses

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> operation and maintenance of a facility operation and maintenance of a facility own<00:02:00.119
• </c> The visitors' player facilities.
• </c><00:32:04.840><c> have</c> future of St Paul these facilities have future of St Paul these facilities
• Andrew Lee come up real quick to explain the difference between general obligation bonds and general
• obligation bonds and between General obligation bonds and general<00:33:54.799><c> appropriation</c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:12.319><c> uh</c> egg and milk processing facilities uh egg and milk processing facilities
• </c><00:52:40.240><c> in</c> board for uh processing facilities in board for uh processing facilities
• </c><01:32:05.800><c> are</c> manufacturing facilities are manufacturing facilities are concentrated<
• </c> facility this facility will drive facility this facility will drive research<01:32:55.880><c> Discovery
• we don't tend to livestock facilities we don't tend to allow<01:42:24.000><c> general</c><01:42:24.400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And unfortunately, I don't know the details about this particular facility, but generally speaking, with
• And as you mentioned, a lot of the more efficient vehicles and electric vehicles can also affect that
• Intercity rail is going to be really important as part of the general state rail plan.
• Just generally speaking, we are looking at how we can integrate rail and transit in a more widespread
• Good afternoon, Melanie Perrin here on behalf of the Associated General Contractors of San Diego, the

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several items, beginning with gubernatorial appointments not required to appear. The committee approved multiple appointments on 3-2 and 5-0 votes, including members to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California. Members also approved a bill referral item, a rule waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guests on the Senate floor during an adjourn-in-memory for former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgment items, all by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard the required appearance of Dina El-Tawansy for Director of the California Department of Transportation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized Caltrans’ priorities of safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of issues, including impacts from federal and state rules affecting immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal guidance, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate-related damage to infrastructure, and the future of transportation funding as gas tax revenue declines. El-Tawansy said Caltrans would prioritize emergency and safety projects, continue work on the Highway 58 corridor, and help DBEs through a reevaluation process and outreach efforts. She described ongoing climate adaptation work, including vulnerability assessments, vegetation management, and corridor studies such as Route 37 and LOSSAN, and said the department is researching road user charges through pilots and national collaboration. She also discussed small-business programs, local hiring, toll lane agreement consistency, and efforts to address litter and homelessness on Caltrans property through delegated maintenance agreements and new staff positions. After public testimony from numerous transportation, construction, local government, labor, and technology organizations in support of the nominee, the committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate floor for confirmation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many schools renovating facilities.
• </c><00:26:27.400><c> can</c> Group E school facility can Group E school facility can dramatically,<00
• </c> our facilities and infrastructure. our facilities and infrastructure.
• </c> storm storm shelter facilities. storm storm shelter facilities.
• </c><00:42:54.320><c> heating</c> plumbing the electrical heating plumbing the electrical heating ventilation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California farm workers, helping them afford gas, electricity, groceries, clothes, and shoes for their
• I think about my family, tobacco farmers... ...get it for generations.
• Not just new projects, but expansions and upgrades to facilities can all trigger CEQA.
• We want them to take the next generation and then the third generation to stay in California, providing
• Doyle Radford with Construction and General Laborers' Local 185, in strong support.

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit to help agricultural employers offset overtime wage costs for farmworkers. Senator Grove and supporters, including farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, Western Growers, and other agricultural groups, argued that California’s ag overtime law has reduced take-home pay by limiting hours and that the credit would help employers continue offering overtime while putting more money back into workers’ paychecks. Opponents, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and CRLA Foundation, argued the bill would subsidize employers for complying with the law, shift costs to taxpayers, and set a precedent for industry-specific carve-outs. The bill was held in subcommittee and taken up later when more members arrived. The committee then considered SB 1083, a follow-up to last year’s school employee misconduct database law. Senator Perez said the bill would add due process protections for classified school employees by requiring an administrative law judge review before placement in the statewide egregious misconduct database, require notice when an employee leaves during an investigation, and extend vetting to some contractors and non-permanent workers. Supporters, including the California School Employees Association and California Federation of Teachers, said the bill balances student safety with fairness for employees who could be wrongly accused. Opponents, including school business officials, joint powers authorities, administrators, and school employers, warned the bill could delay investigations, create conflicting timelines, and weaken child-safety protections. The committee approved SB 1083 on a 3-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. SB 1089, authored by Senator Richardson, would require CalPERS health plans to cover GLP-1 medications for chronic weight management and direct CalRx to help make the drugs more affordable. The senator described the bill as a response to personal experience with coverage denials and high out-of-pocket costs, and said broader access could improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The American Diabetes Association and other medical groups supported the measure, citing diabetes prevention and treatment benefits, while a pharmaceutical industry representative said there were still concerns but noted ongoing discussions. The committee passed SB 1089 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar. The committee next heard SB 954, which would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by narrowing the definition and adding environmental, tribal, labor, and community protections, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce requirements, and review for projects near disadvantaged communities. Support came from labor unions, environmental groups, and community organizations, which said the bill would restore oversight and prevent harmful projects from bypassing CEQA. Business groups and chambers of commerce opposed, arguing the bill would make the exemption too restrictive, discourage investment, and worsen California’s manufacturing job losses. The bill passed 3-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1299, which would codify training and certification standards for fire sprinkler fitters after a court decision invalidated prior regulations on procedural grounds; the author and supporters said the bill is needed to protect public safety and ensure qualified installation of fire suppression systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> mechanisms to replace the electrically mechanisms to replace the electrically electric<00:05:01.919
• In this case, it was electricity. fuel. In this case, it was electricity.
• </c> general doesn't have to be low income. general doesn't have to be low income.
• And so not only is he being taxed on the electricity in general, but he's being taxed on his loss because
• </c> generate $189 a year in gas taxes. generate $189 a year in gas taxes.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The working group approved the prior meeting minutes with one correction to reflect Laura Ziggler’s attendance. Staff then outlined the report due February 13, 2026, which must summarize the group’s activities and include findings and recommendations adopted by the group; the report will go to the governor and legislative transportation leaders. The chair emphasized that the group’s charge is broad and includes analyzing electricity used as vehicle fuel infrastructure opportunities and barriers, developing policy and funding recommendations for sustainable transportation funding, and reviewing other states’ laws and policies. Discussion focused heavily on how to replace declining gas tax revenue as more vehicles become electric. The chair framed the issue as a fairness and implementation challenge, noting that EVs are a growing share of the fleet and that the group should consider both policy and funding, not just one or the other. Members and guests raised several ideas already submitted, including a road user charge, changes to the EV charging tax, ending or modifying the EV surcharge, broadening the tax to publicly owned charging stations, reducing the charging level threshold to level 2, ending sales tax on electricity, addressing off-road use, and expanding the definition of auto parts to include charging equipment. Representative Elkins argued that charging based on electricity used at home is impractical for most vehicles, that public charging is already much more expensive than home charging, and that the current sales tax plus surcharge amounts to double taxation for public-charging users. He said a mileage-based user charge modeled on Utah’s approach is workable, could be phased in, and could preserve privacy by allowing a voluntary or alternative method for home charging estimates. Senator Howe responded that home electricity use can be estimated similarly to mileage deductions on taxes and said the state should tax all electricity used as fuel, regardless of charger level, if it can be identified. Other speakers echoed that all road users should pay a fair share and that the main challenge is implementation. Tony Kis of Quick Trip asked that a late letter be included in the record and urged clarification of the sales, use, excise tax, and collection rules to avoid double taxation and reduce administrative burden, noting the current monthly collection date and suggesting the group should streamline collection methods. No final policy decisions or votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And unfortunately, I don't know the details about this particular facility, but generally speaking, with
• And, as you mentioned, a lot of the more efficient vehicles and electric vehicles can also affect that
• “Intercity rail is going to be really important as part of the general state rail plan.
• “Generally speaking, we are looking at how we can integrate rail and transit in a more widespread way
• Good afternoon, Chris Smith, on behalf of the Associated General Contractors of California, and here

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several governor’s appointments, bill referrals, a rule waiver, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved multiple appointments not required to appear, including members of the Board of Behavioral Science, the Contractors’ State License Board, and the Medical Board of California, with most votes either 3-2 or 5-0. It also approved a reference of bills to committees, a waiver of SR 55 to allow guests on the Senate floor for an adjourn-in-memory of former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgments, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard testimony on the appointment of Dina El-Tawansy as Director of Caltrans. In her opening remarks, she emphasized her 28 years at the department, and said her priorities would be safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and a multimodal transportation system. Senators questioned her on a range of transportation issues, including impacts from federal and state disputes over immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane, DBE certification changes, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate adaptation on coastal infrastructure, and the future of road funding as electric vehicles reduce gas tax revenue. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is pursuing project prioritization, climate vulnerability assessments, partnerships with local governments, DBE reevaluation guidance, recycling efforts, and research into road user charges. Members also asked about toll lane agreements, homelessness encampments and litter on Caltrans property, and the Los Angeles-San Diego rail corridor and broader transit integration. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is moving toward more consistent statewide toll agreements, has signed or is negotiating delegated maintenance MOUs with local agencies to address encampments and litter, and is expanding rail and transit planning. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with representatives from transportation agencies, contractors, local governments, labor, and technology firms backing the nomination. The committee voted 5-0 to move El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate for confirmation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> facility. So Maui's in a rebuild mode. facility. So Maui's in a rebuild mode.
• It is a separate facility.
• Is for the planning of the biosecurity facility, where this facility would be.
• . facility. facility.
• </c> general funds to offset these costs. general funds to offset these costs.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A perfect storm of high electricity costs, rising interest rates, elimination of federal tax credits,
• A perfect storm of high electricity costs, rising interest rates, elimination of federal tax credits,
• My parents are 85 and 80, and I've been talking to them about an electric vehicle, and they're like,
• And when we start pricing it, it's unaffordable to them to change from gas to electric vehicles.
• facilities often recommend the transport escort service.

Keywords: 988, house, all