Transcript Highlights:

• These cases often impact jobs, small businesses, and can jeopardize reputations.
• And I'm happy... ...of this bill, have those business community members at the table.
• And so it is not covered in the code. It needs to be covered in the code.
• And so it is not covered in the code. It needs to be covered in the code.
• I think it's a good business measure for the USPS, but maybe minds disagree on that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this would effectively turn the bill into requiring just a QR code on the menus.
• So this would effectively turn the bill into requiring just a QR code on the menus.
• I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about QR codes.
• That bill is now out, and we have done all of the business that we could. Bye.
• SB 1244 would not put brokers out of business.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It says unitary business means one or more related business organizations engaged in business activity
• It says unitary business means one or more related business organizations engaged in business activity
• It says unitary business means one or more related business organizations engaged in business activity
• It says unitary business means one or more related business organizations engaged in business activity
• :45.760> business<03:55:46.120> organizations more related business organizations more

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory Ways and Means Committee orientation led by Chair John Janigian. Members went around the room introducing themselves, with several returning legislators and several freshmen describing their backgrounds in business, education, public service, finance, transportation, journalism, military service, and nonprofit work. Janigian explained his own legislative history and professional background, and other members, including Bill Bolton, Fred Doucette, Mary Ford, Jim Tierney, Scott Brier, Thomas Oppel, Mary Murphy, Representative Spar, Susan Elberger, Dennis Malloy, Jordan Ulery, and Julius Soti, briefly described their prior experience and reasons for serving on the committee. The chair then outlined the committee’s role. He said Ways and Means is responsible for revenue estimates that Finance will use to determine how much the state can spend over the next biennium, and that the committee would spend the next five to six weeks developing its best revenue estimate, due around February 15. He also explained that the committee hears from state agencies and departments about how taxes are created, collected, and performing against expectations, and that it reviews bills affecting state revenue, including tax increases, tax decreases, tax removals, and fee-related measures. Janigian noted that the committee had five bills at the time of the meeting and expected more to be referred. He explained that most would be first-committee bills, though some second-committee bills could come over if they involved taxes or fees after passing policy committees. He used marijuana-related legislation as an example of a bill that might first go to another committee and later reach Ways and Means if it had fiscal implications. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational, and members were told how to participate in hearings and follow-up questions during regular committee work.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are definitely partnerships also with media organizations.
• I just want to briefly mention that traditionally hash codes, one-way hash codes, is something that's
• Oh, and feel free to skim this code; it's coming out.
• Oh, and feel free to skin this code is coming out.
• I'm a climate organizer as well as an artist.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and no vote would be taken. Opening remarks framed the issue as balancing protection for artists and other rights holders with the need to keep AI innovation and related economic activity thriving in California, while noting that federal action is unlikely and that state policy may influence national standards. The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits over AI training, and explained the fair use framework, the Google Books precedent, and the uncertainty around newer theories such as market dilution. She said states can likely regulate transparency, deepfakes, privacy, and safety, but warned that some proposals may be preempted by federal copyright law. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and identified gaps in disclosure design, enforcement, and whether transparency alone can address copyright and IP concerns. Members asked about open-source models, opt-outs, machine unlearning, user data, and state options for protecting creators. The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation threatens jobs, bargaining power, and reputations, and they supported stronger transparency and licensing requirements so creators can identify when their work is used. Gray said AI is already being used as a productivity tool and highlighted partnerships between AI companies and publishers, record labels, and studios, while arguing that specific harmful uses such as deepfakes should be regulated directly rather than restricting general-purpose AI development. Committee members discussed labeling and watermarking of AI-generated content, transparency around model use, and whether state law should require more detailed disclosure of training data; no formal action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• What happens to that business now if that happens?
• Okay, so that means that if that business owner now wants to sell their business, will that license still
• What happens to that business now if that happens?
• Okay, so that means that if that business owner now wants to sell their business, will that license still
• I think we can protect our youth and also protect small business and business and communities as well

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it is an old old nonprofit organization it is an organization<00:01:28.119> that's<00:01:28.360
• That code allows businesses to interact state by state, across state lines, and internationally.
• That code, the Uniform Commercial Code, implicates banking.
• <00:03:58.680> allows<00:03:59.239> businesses<00:03:59.879> to that that code
• allows businesses to that that code allows businesses to interact<00:04:00.920> state<00:04:01.200

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, members, we'll be voting on pending business.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 2225.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 2797.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 33,810.
• Is there any further business to come before the committee?

Transcript Highlights:

• Businesses expect it.
• It's the small business owner in...
• Businesses... Businesses pass costs along to consumers.
• It is absolutely vital to running a business.
• Small businesses simply cannot compete without digital tools.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first order of business is the approval of minutes from April 2nd.
• As has been said, small businesses are impacted by this as well.
• We have been training businesses and health care providers.
• So these profit businesses...
• This concludes our business. We are adjourned. ♪ you

Bills: HF2779, HF1645, HF1885, HF1289, HF1534, HF2707, HF1675, HF3046

Keywords: health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• The insurance code authorizes the commissioner to appoint a plan administrator.
• And they thought it would be broader based on the codes that are out there.
• or other codes, will receive that rate increase.
• Our first request for exemption is regarding Act 772, forced organ harvesting.
• Seeing no further business, the committee is adjourned. Thank you.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I'm not against business. Business is good. It supports the economy. That's good.
• Now, I'm not against business. Business is good. It supports the economy. That's good.
• And that's what fire code and building code demands be built.
• And that's what fire code and end.
• So there is a discrepancy between our building code and fire code, and we have to fix that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state<00:07:37.440> grants organization from receiving state grants organization from
• , in labor code, in tax code, and it changes none of them.
• /c><00:12:48.959> in<00:12:49.279> tax<00:12:49.600> code, code, in uh, labor code
• , in tax code, code, in uh, labor code, in tax code, and<00:12:50.480> it<00:12:50.720> changes
• <00:26:34.480> who worker misclass and um businesses who worker misclass and um businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also the coding issue.
• I talked about the coding issues.
• districts in terms of how those codes districts in terms of how those codes are<00:57:47.440>
• and combined some codes and simplified and combined some codes and made<00:58:15.440> sure<00
• <01:03:59.799> and though we have consistent coding and though we have consistent coding and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• such as IT, healthcare, and business. such as IT, healthcare, and business.
• code.
• , can code.
• Um, AI can definitely code, can code.
• business >> do we have any business other business to<02:09:34.719> come<02:09:34.880>

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:25 Approval of Minutes – 3-50 2025 RS SB 253 – 4:25 Computer Science and AI Literacy – 27:36 Fayette County School District Budget Update – 51:46 Adjournment – 2:09:46, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call, introductions, and approval of the previous meeting minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation on SB 253, focused on expanding support for teacher apprenticeship and teaching-and-learning pathways. Senator Hickman and staff from the Kentucky Department of Education and Nelson County Schools described how the program uses dual credit, work-based learning, and registered apprenticeship to help students earn an associate degree in high school and continue toward a teaching degree. They said the goal is to address the teacher shortage by creating a sustainable pipeline into the profession. Witnesses emphasized that the main barrier is cost. Mary Taylor said Kentucky’s youth apprenticeship model has been successful in other fields and that education should be added as an in-demand sector, but an associate degree alone will not solve the teacher shortage because teachers still need a bachelor’s degree and certification. Laura Arnold of Nelson County Schools described the district’s Lead Nelson program, saying the district has invested more than $800,000 since 2021, currently has 37 students in the pathway and seven committed apprentices, and spends about $85,000 per apprentice from freshman year through certification. She said district staffing, planning, and university partnerships are also significant hurdles. Members asked about job guarantees, tenure, and retirement; Arnold said employment is performance-based and retirement issues are being considered. Senator Hickman said the bill would use lottery funds to help cover tuition and dual credit costs so more districts can participate, noting that a prior version died because of a high fiscal note. Representative Payne and Representative Tipton praised the program but stressed the need for funding and noted inconsistencies between statute and budget language on Work Ready Kentucky and dual credit support. Representative Tipton also cautioned that lottery revenue may not keep pace with demand and said the General Assembly may need to make broader funding decisions. After the apprenticeship discussion, the chair moved the committee to the next agenda item on computer science and AI literacy, where Code.org began a presentation on the importance of computer science for all students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Delete the proposed criminal penalties in proposed Section 1507 of the Elections Code.
• Delete Section 5 of the bill, which proposed to add Section 15104.5 to the Elections Code.
• Will be brought back into Sections 18544 and 18545 of the Elections Code.
• State your name, organization, if any, and your position.
• The code provides a six-month retention period where ballots are secured.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on May 6, 2026, with a quorum present and heard one bill, SB 73. The author described the measure as a response to perceived threats to California elections, including restrictions on armed or non-uniformed personnel at polling places, protections for ballots and voting equipment, and limits on law enforcement access to election materials without a court order. The chair reviewed a set of agreed amendments, including removing a section conflicting with AB 1664, deleting proposed criminal penalties, clarifying the role of the Attorney General and Secretary of State, and refining language on signature challenges, law enforcement support, and certified voting technology. Supporters, including AAPI Force, CHIRLA, the League of Women Voters of California, and Common Cause, argued the bill would protect voters from intimidation and preserve election integrity. Opponents from CALA argued the bill was unnecessary, would hinder legitimate investigations, and reflected distrust of law enforcement and federal oversight. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the bill was responding to real-world threats and on the ballot seizure in Riverside County. Members questioned how the measure would affect signature challenges, chain of custody, and investigations into possible fraud. The author and supporters said ballots should remain in election officials’ custody and that federal or local agents should not be able to interfere with election materials or intimidate voters. The chair and other members also discussed the urgency clause and the need to move the bill quickly despite the proximity of the June election. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer SB 73 to the Committee on Public Safety. The roll call initially showed the bill passing 5-1, then after the absent member arrived, the final vote was 6-2, and the bill was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 19 businesses waiting for this technology.
• I understand you've been pretty busy.
• If a business has more than two locations in two different towns, it would be nice for that business
• These are folks who are business folks.
• They're out of business. On an average loan.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also puts California organizations, including ministries, nonprofits, and businesses, in an
• This bill also puts California organizations, including ministries, nonprofits, and businesses, in an
• The organization and position on the bill? Thank you.
• Law-abiding citizens lose access to lawful businesses.
• I want to acknowledge the numerous organizations.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Going from commercial to, in terms of the residential code versus the building code.
• building code and the residential code.
• Building code, that's right. Share it. in terms of the residential code versus the building code.
• codes.
• codes.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard a series of work-session presentations focused on transit-oriented development, commercial-to-residential redevelopment, building code implementation, housing market trends, and the Covenant Homeownership Program. The first presentation, from the Urban Institute, reviewed research on HB 1491 and TOD feasibility, arguing that Washington has made major progress but faces diverging conditions across transit areas. The presenter said rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and lower rents in some markets have made many projects less feasible, and recommended targeted infrastructure funding for lower-market communities, adjustments to MFTE and affordability requirements by local market conditions, more support for very low-income housing in high-market transit areas, minimum density standards near stations, expanded public land/joint development tools, and better tracking of TOD outcomes over time. Committee members asked about AMI calculations, immigration’s effect on construction labor, developer input, and whether a tracking mechanism had been removed from the bill. The Department of Commerce then outlined implementation of HB 1491 and demonstrated the new Washington Zoning Atlas, which is live and intended to help visualize zoning, overlays, and station-area conditions. Commerce said local governments will designate station areas, update zoning and MFTE policies, and handle anti-displacement measures, with Vancouver and Spokane first to implement and Puget Sound following later. Staff described a timeline for updated MFTE guidance, station-area implementation guidance, a TOD model ordinance, and later rulemaking on variances. The committee also heard from the Lieutenant Governor’s office on a report about converting commercial properties to housing, which found substantial potential for redevelopment on vacant or underused commercial land, especially near transit, but noted barriers such as ground-floor retail mandates, affordability requirements, infrastructure costs, private covenants, and slow implementation. The office urged by-right residential use on commercial land and faster rollout of new housing laws. The State Building Code Council updated the committee on its three-year code cycle and several legislatively directed actions, including minimum dwelling size, emergency shelters, and especially single-exit stairs and multiplex housing. Council staff said those code changes are nearing completion and will provide prescriptive solutions, while noting that elevator size and requirements were not changed and would require separate legislative direction if the committee wanted to revisit them. Members discussed the cost impacts of building and energy codes and the council said it is required to consider economic impacts and is increasingly looking at performance-based approaches. Later, the Washington Center for Real Estate Research presented its annual housing report, showing that higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced affordability, flattened house prices in many cities, and slowed single-family permitting and completions, while multifamily construction has recently cooled after a prior surge. Finally, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission reported strong first-year results for the Covenant Homeownership Program, which provides zero-interest down payment assistance to eligible first-time buyers with family ties to Washington before 1968; the program assisted 547 homebuyers in its first fiscal year, with more than $60 million loaned, and the agency said participation has continued to grow after income-limit changes enacted in 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• AMENDMENT BAR CODE 916664. YES THANK YOU.
• ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT.
• WE DON'T NEED TO CREATE NEW ORGANIZATIONS ALL THE TIME.
• I'M CONCERNED THIS ORGANIZATION TAKES OUTSIDE DONATIONS.
• AND AMENDMENT BAR CODE 828536 YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would like to see businesses...
• “The framework for those legal drains and how they're governed is in Century Code, and that Century Code
• Century Code has established a $4 an acre cap for the maintenance levy.
• Century Code says you can bond up to six years of your maximum levy.
• “I think we do a pretty simple change in Century Code.

Keywords: 908, all