Transcript Highlights:

• Again, costs have gone up over that time period in terms of engineering plan review fees.
• We are asking to increase fees because, under current law, MDH is required to review engineering plans
• These engineering fees have not been increased since 2013, while the plans and the modernization have
• <01:02:51.240><c> construction</c><01:02:51.760><c> plan</c><01:02:52.079><c> review</c> engineering
• team with the providing the engineering team with the adequate<01:03:06.880><c> resources</c><01:03:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt Kremens here on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers.
• Matt Kremens here on behalf of the California Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers.
• It's good to see so many friends here on both sides, to see my friends from the operating engineers,
• A team of engineers actually built that product.
• Connor Gussman, on behalf of the Engineers and Scientists of California and our 4,700 engineers who work

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on child safety, immigrant community transparency, agricultural land security, consumer protection, estate transfers, detention commissary pricing, and public works wage enforcement. SB 1234 would require fentanyl to be included in drug tests ordered by juvenile courts for parents or guardians in dependency cases; the author said it was a narrow child-safety measure, and there was no opposition. SB 1257 would require the Attorney General to publish annual reports on immigration enforcement incidents at designated safe locations; supporters said it would improve accountability and document fear in immigrant communities, while questions centered on how the data would be collected and concerns were raised about sanctuary policies. SB 1176 would bar foreign adversary entities from buying or controlling California agricultural land; supporters framed it as a national security measure, while committee members pressed the author on enforcement, who would verify buyers, and possible discriminatory application. The bill was moved on a 2-4 vote and placed on call after the author said he would work on clarifying responsibility and nondiscrimination concerns. The committee also heard SB 1146, which would require clear disclosure when AI-generated or altered images, audio, or video are used in health-related advertisements depicting health care providers. The California Medical Association and California Dental Association supported the bill, saying it would curb deceptive deepfake ads and protect consumers; it passed unanimously, 7-0. SB 988 would restrict assignment of benefits in auto glass claims, require claim numbers and itemized estimates, and update repair disclosure rules to curb overbilling and steering; supporters said it would protect consumers and stabilize insurance costs, while independent glass shop concerns about steering and market concentration were discussed. The bill passed 7-0, with one member abstaining because of a conflict. SB 1288, presented on behalf of Senator Laird, would require financial institutions to make good-faith efforts to notify beneficiaries of non-probate assets and would simplify access requirements, especially for nonprofits. Supporters described long delays and burdensome account-opening requirements; SIFMA and the California Bankers Association opposed the bill unless amended, citing conflicts with federal and industry obligations and concerns about retroactive burdens. The bill passed 8-0. SB 941 would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; supporters said detainees often pay excessive prices for basic necessities, and the bill passed 8-0. Finally, SB 909 would raise and index public works contractor fees and penalties and dedicate more penalty revenue to enforcement; labor supporters said stronger funding is needed to address wage theft and backlogs, while contractors warned of uncapped costs and reduced transparency. The discussion continued with questions about enforcement and whether stronger penalties or license restrictions would better deter repeat violators.

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt Kremens here on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers.
• Matt Kremens here on behalf of the California Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers.
• It's good to see so many friends here on both sides, including my friends from the operating engineers
• A team of engineers actually built that product.
• and our 4,700 engineers who work at PG&E, in opposition.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But they have engineers; they have the capacity to manipulate the lots before they even come in, and
• But they have engineers, planning board.
• Applicants must submit noise studies by qualified acoustic engineers before site plan approval.
• </c> engineers before site plan approval. engineers before site plan approval.
• Amazon invested in engineering solutions that reduced the sound by 10 dB, cutting loudness in half.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• feats of engineering for its time.<02:08:12.239><c> They</c><02:08:12.400><c> had</c><02:08:12.560><
• This would take the requirement to have those annoying devices in your car that shuts the engine off
• around town in an Uber here to get to some of our events here and stuff, and every stoplight the engine
• The requirement to have those annoying devices in your car that shuts the engine off every time you come
• around town in an Uber here to get to some of our events here and stuff, and every stoplight the engine

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, November 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• folks who Continuous Living Cover, we would not be poised to be able to create this new economic engine
• The economic pull is the engine that enables the scaling of CLC agriculture.
• The economic pull is the engine that enables the scaling of CLC agriculture.
• The economic pull is the engine that enables the scaling of CLC agriculture.
• The economic pull is the engine that enables the scaling of CLC agriculture.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This wildland fire truck is specifically engineered to fight fires in rough and challenging terrain.
• This wildland fire truck is specifically engineered to fight fires in rough and challenging terrain.
• New Glenn is a 320-ton rocket that's taller than the Statue of Liberty, which has seven engines, and
• New Glenn is a 320-ton rocket that's taller than the Statue of Liberty, which has seven engines, and
• New Glenn is a 320-ton rocket that's taller than the Statue of Liberty, which has seven engines, and

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Foreign entities, they They target our cancer, our medical, and our engineering centers, fields that
• This was going to their engineering experiment station.
• Texans, we're not just contributors, we're economic engines. So this bill...
• So my journey is from an engineering student to a respected academic.
• So it's with years. of experience in civil engineering, infrastructure, and the environmental.

Bills: HB17, HB34, HB41, HB 118, HB 119, HB 127, HB 128, HB 129, HB 130, HB132, HB133, HB17, HB41, HB118, HB119, HB127, HB128, HB129, HB130, HB132, HB133

Keywords: foreign ownership, real estate, national security, designated countries, Texas property law, lobbying, foreign adversaries, compensation prohibition, transparency, civil penalties, higher education, foreign adversary, research security, trade secrets, academic partnerships, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those are science, engineering, public affairs, business, and agriculture, and we do this to
• This includes nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, computer science, and engineering.
• This includes nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, computer science, and engineering.
• This includes nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, computer science, and engineering.
• This includes nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, computer science, and engineering.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• directly employ more than 70 workers across the clean manufacturing value chain, from scientists and engineers
• directly employ more than 70 workers across the clean manufacturing value chain, from scientists and engineers
• AB 2046 would help Californians by allowing them to turn their normal internal combustion engines into
• going through the alternative fuels rulemaking, which is effectively like ripping out your whole engine
• in durability, yes, and it needs to be reapproved and recertified for every substantially similar engine

Summary: The committee heard AB 839, which would allow up to three sustainable aviation fuel projects to qualify for expedited CEQA judicial review. The author and airline and airport supporters argued SAF is a key emissions-reduction strategy for aviation and that California needs to signal investment certainty after prior project litigation. Environmental Justice and Earthjustice opposed, saying the bill weakens the public’s ability to challenge polluting projects and that SAF facilities can harm already overburdened communities. The committee later took a roll call on the bill and it was held on call after a 3-0 vote, with the motion being due pass to Judiciary. Members then took up AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes in California. The author and a broad coalition of waste, public health, local government, and environmental groups said the devices create fire hazards, add lithium batteries to the waste stream, and burden local recycling and hazardous waste systems. Opponents, including retailers and business groups, argued the bill would mainly affect a small legal market while the illicit market would continue to supply most disposable vapes, and warned of unintended consequences. After discussion about illicit sales, EPR ideas, and reuse alternatives, the committee voted 2-2 on the motion to pass as amended to Revenue and Taxation, so the bill was kept on call. The committee also heard AB 907, which would compensate the six local air district representatives who serve on the California Air Resources Board the same as other board members. The author and supporters said the change would improve equity and help ensure local representation on CARB, and no opposition was presented. The chair expressed support, noting similar legislation had passed the committee previously, and the bill was held for a later vote once quorum issues were resolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would like to continue to work with the AV engineers to teach their vehicles our response patterns
• We would like to continue to work with the AV engineers to teach their vehicles our response patterns
• Finally, our automated driving system is engineered to positively detect and respond to active emergency
• Finally, our automated driving system is engineered to positively detect and respond to active emergency
• So I'm a professor of civil environmental engineering.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard an informational hearing on California’s newly finalized autonomous vehicle regulations, with DMV and CHP officials describing the updated framework and committee members pressing them on safety, enforcement, and first-responder impacts. DMV said the rules, effective April 28, 2026, expand reporting, create a phased permitting system from testing to deployment, add requirements for safety cases, remote operations, and first-responder coordination, and open a path for heavy-duty AV testing and deployment while still prohibiting oversized loads and hazardous materials. CHP said it worked with DMV on enforcement tools, first-responder interaction plans, and training local agencies on the new notice of noncompliance process. Members asked about crash data, immobilizations, freeway and construction-zone safety, weigh-station enforcement, and whether foreign licenses can qualify for remote assistants or drivers; DMV and CHP said the rules are intended to keep AVs accountable and that heavy-duty AVs will be held to the same roadway standards as human-driven commercial vehicles. A second panel focused on data collection and enforcement. Consumer attorneys argued the prior rules were too limited because DMV stopped collecting meaningful data once AVs moved from testing to deployment, making it difficult for the public and litigants to understand incidents; they supported the new regulations but urged that the collected information be made public. The industry association said California now has the nation’s most robust AV oversight, with monthly or quarterly reporting of collisions, system failures, immobilizations, harsh braking, vehicle miles traveled, and notices of noncompliance, plus broad DMV authority to restrict or suspend operations. In response to questions, the industry said it generally supports the new framework, believes the regulations are clear, and does not favor full federal preemption of state AV rules, though it wants federal standards for design, construction, and performance. A third panel addressed first-responder interaction and remote operations. The San Francisco Fire Department described repeated AV interference with emergency scenes and said AVs have generated hundreds of “sleeper calls,” where passengers fall asleep and trigger 911 responses; the department said these incidents consume significant staff time and it wants better protocols to reduce unnecessary dispatches. Waymo said it has trained thousands of public-safety personnel, maintains a 24/7 emergency line, uses geofencing/avoid-the-area messages, and can allow first responders to manually override or move vehicles when needed. Committee members asked about sleeper-call prevention, remote assistant licensing and drug testing, communication redundancies during outages, and how manual overrides work for vehicles without traditional controls; Waymo said it is collaborating with responders and that its vehicles are designed to reach a safe stop if connectivity is lost. The final panel began with testimony on heavy-duty autonomous vehicles. A transportation researcher said freight is essential to California’s economy and that heavy-duty AVs pose distinct safety risks because of their weight, stopping distance, and the potentially severe consequences of crashes or immobilizations on highways. He said the new regulations are important because they create a regulated pathway for heavy-duty AV deployment, require a safety case, set mileage thresholds, and add reporting categories that can serve as leading safety indicators. The hearing was still in progress when the transcript ended, with additional testimony expected from labor and industry witnesses on heavy-duty AV deployment.

Transcript Highlights:

• priority is to formulate jet fuel against pollutants, you're going to sacrifice performance of the engine
• If our priority is reduced pollutants and not favor performance, they were afraid that the jet engine
• It's so much more because they wanted to make sure that the engine performed to keep people alive.
• I've done over 200 hours working with electrical engineers, electrical measurements, advanced spectrum
• I've done over 200 hours working with electrical engineer, electrical measurements, advanced spectrum

Summary: The committee first took up several executive-session items and voted H.J.R. 189 do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes, 1 no, and 1 present. It then adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 2139, with the substitute removing specific references to Sharia law and broadening the language to apply to foreign law generally; the committee then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2139 and HB 2175 do pass by 10 ayes and 2 noes. The committee also adopted a substitute for House Bill 3051 that removed manufacturer language and focused the bill on car dealers and the Department of Revenue, then voted that House Committee Substitute do pass by 7 ayes, 5 noes, and 1 present. Later, the committee adopted an amendment and substitute for House Bill 2908 and HB 2990 and voted that combined committee substitute do pass by 13 ayes and 1 no. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to House Bills 2388 and 2656, which would ban geoengineering, weather modification, and cloud seeding in Missouri. Sponsors and supporters argued the bills were needed to stop pollution, protect air, water, soil, agriculture, and public health, and to mirror laws or proposals in other states such as Tennessee, Florida, and Louisiana. Testimony from supporters included claims that these practices are already occurring, that federal and private actors are involved, and that the bills would provide a needed state-level prohibition and deterrent. Several witnesses also argued that weather modification and geoengineering raise consent, environmental, and health concerns, while a Missouri Farm Bureau representative said the organization opposes unregulated commercial weather modification as a proactive measure. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a solar-energy bill, House Bill 2478, presented as a vehicle for a committee substitute focused on safety issues around solar farms. The sponsor said the substitute would likely address setbacks, fire safety, alarms or notification systems, soil testing, and liability/decommissioning concerns, while trying to balance landowner rights with neighboring property owners’ safety. Witnesses in support raised concerns about fire risk, toxic materials, runoff, and the loss of agricultural land, and some urged stronger civil liability provisions. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be handled at the county level, whether existing legal recourse already exists for damaged neighbors, and which provisions would remain in the substitute. No final vote on HB 2478 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, what they didn't want—they pictured, okay, if we don't have maximum performing jet engines, planes
• If our priority is reduced pollutants and not favor performance, they were afraid that the jet engine
• It's so much more because they wanted to make sure that the engine performed to keep people alive.
• I've done over 200 hours working with electrical engineers, electrical measurements, advanced spectrum
• I've done over 200 hours working with electrical engineer, electrical measurements, advanced spectrum

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Idaho cannot build out its engineering program, so our children will be on wait lists.
• So Micron, who desperately needs engineers, will be hiring students from other states.
• So Micron, who desperately needs engineers, will be hiring students from other states.
• He's spent two years supervising production and reservoir engineers.
• He's been two years supervising production and reservoir engineers for Arco, Alaska, and Kuparuk Field

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and a tribute from the chaplain to Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboom, who had died the previous night. The body then approved the journal and moved through routine orders, including committee reports, House messages, and the introduction of several new Senate and House bills. Among the measures introduced or referred were Senate bills on rape penalties, private inspectors, digital identification, medical/veterinary service commitments, small claims court limits, virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention, public outdoor target ranges, election filing procedures, and off-road vehicle funding, along with multiple House appropriations bills and other House measures. Several bills received floor debate and final action. Senate Bill 1299, prohibiting public entities from requiring digital identification and limiting retention/use of digital ID data, passed 35-0 after sponsor testimony emphasizing privacy and voluntary use. Senate Bill 1335, extending service obligations to state-supported veterinary students, passed 33-2. Senate Bill 1330, raising the small claims limit from $5,000 to $15,000, passed 35-0. Senate Bill 1359, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act, drew the most debate over regulation versus consumer protection; supporters cited scam prevention and a cooling-off period, while opponents warned of overregulation and interference with innovation, and it ultimately passed 19-16. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1348 on public outdoor target ranges, Senate Bill 1376 on election candidacy filing procedures, and Senate Bill 1378 on off-road vehicle account and enforcement funding. In addition, the chamber took up several House appropriations bills: House Bill 868 for PERSI, House Bill 869 for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, House Bill 870 for OITS, House Bill 871 for the State Tax Commission, and House Bill 876 for the State Board of Education/higher education budget. These budget bills prompted debate over agency funding, tax administration, cybersecurity, and especially cuts to higher education and career technical education; all of them passed the Senate. House Bill 545 was returned to committee for a reporting error, and the Senate recessed briefly before resuming business with a quorum present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of these levees were built in the 1800s, and many don't have any of the Corps of Engineers' safety
• Army Corps of Engineers standard.
• Matt Kremens, California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers, in strong support. Thank you.
• And before that, I was with our public projects department engineering for about a decade.
• , we unfortunately did not get our letter in, but we are in strong opposition. of Operating Engineers

Summary: The committee first heard SB 872 by Senator McNerney, which would dedicate $150 million annually each for Central Valley subsidence repairs and Delta levee improvements. The author and supporters, including Restore the Delta and State Water Contractors, described the bill as an urgent, bipartisan effort to protect State Water Project conveyance serving 27 million people, prevent levee failure, and safeguard billions in state assets. Support came from a broad coalition of water agencies, labor, environmental groups, and local governments; there was no opposition testimony. Because the committee was operating without a quorum at the time, the bill was heard as a subcommittee item and no final vote was taken then. The committee then took up SB 981 by Senator Niello, which would require CARB to include cost-of-living impacts in its existing economic analysis for major regulations. The author argued the bill would improve transparency by showing effects on gasoline, electricity, food, housing, and business costs, while supporters from agriculture, manufacturing, business, propane, and restaurant interests said it would help lawmakers understand affordability impacts. Opponents, including the Coalition for Clean Air and the Union of Concerned Scientists, argued it would add red tape, delay rulemaking, and require CARB to make speculative predictions. The chair and other members expressed concern that the bill was redundant, burdensome, and too narrow because it singled out CARB rather than addressing affordability across state government; no vote was taken in the excerpt. SB 887 by Senator Padilla would require large data center projects to undergo CEQA review, but offer streamlined treatment for projects meeting strong environmental, labor, and community-benefit standards. Supporters, including TURN, IBEW Local 569, and several environmental and local-government groups, said the bill would protect communities from high energy and water use, cost shifting, and pollution while still allowing responsible development. Opponents from the Data Center Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Bay Area Council, and others argued the standards were overly prescriptive, potentially unattainable, and would drive investment out of California. After a quorum was established, the committee voted 3-1 to pass SB 887 as amended to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, with the bill kept on call. Finally, SB 1008 by Senator Ochoa Bog would renew the CEQA exemption for California Public Utilities Commission-ordered closure of at-grade rail crossings, which had expired at the start of 2025. Union Pacific and other supporters said the measure would restore a long-standing safety tool and help eliminate redundant crossings more quickly. With no opposition testimony, the committee approved the bill unanimously, 4-0, and kept it on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• issuing a permit that requires reductions in emissions from motor vehicles, mobile sources, or non-road engines
• issuing a permit that requires reductions in emissions from motor vehicles, mobile sources, or non-road engines
• to include voluntary conditions and permits related to reductions of mobile sources and non-road engine
• Including voluntary limits on emissions from mobile sources and non-road engines in the permit for a
• Including voluntary limits on emissions from your mobile sources and non-road engines in the permit for

Bills: HB2014, HB2113, HB2145, HB2331, HB2340, HB2389, HB2400, HB2401, HB2428, HB2494, HB2696, HB2756, HB2795, HB2955, HCM2008

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity

Transcript Highlights:

• We need engineers.
• if they did some dual credit when they were in high school, they go into a degree like chemical engineering
• , petroleum engineering, or mechanical engineering, any sort of the high-more difficult more rigorous
• And then we have some degrees in electrical engineering at the master's and the master's level.
• You know, I first went to, when I started working in the College of Engineering in 1990, was my first

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to go ahead and reconvene with item number five, which is an update on the Office of the State Engineer
• I'm the Deputy State Engineer.
• introduction, I want to confirm to you that one of our highest priorities at the Office of the State Engineer
• It takes an hour to get out there, and 45 minutes in a large engine once they dump the water.
• We've put it out to bid for engineering, planning, and design.

Transcript Highlights:

• unless the engine is removed.
• These are the oldest and most polluting engines.
• So this bill permits the sale or transfer of tier two and newer engines if the trains...
• This bill permits the sale or transfer of tier two and newer engines if the transferring agency approves
• that revenue is likely to come at even greater cost: air quality and health outcomes wherever the engines

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 20, 2025, and considered a large number of bills, with most of the discussion centered on election redistricting and several health, labor, environmental, and government-operations measures. The first major item was ACA 8, a constitutional amendment tied to a proposed November special election and temporary mid-decade congressional redistricting in response to partisan redistricting efforts in other states. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a 2020 redistricting commissioner, labor groups, and allies of the measure, argued it was necessary to defend democracy, protect representation, and respond to federal actions affecting California. Opponents, including Assemblymember Tom Lackey reading a statement for Assemblymember Gallagher and Assemblymember Dixon, argued the measure would undermine the independent redistricting commission, amount to a partisan power grab, and cost taxpayers roughly $230 million. Committee members also focused heavily on fiscal questions, including litigation costs and county election funding, and Department of Finance staff said counties would be made whole and funding would be advanced. The committee ultimately voted the measure out on a B roll call. The committee then heard SB 280, the implementing bill for the special election and related redistricting process. Supporters repeated the argument that California needed to respond to Texas and other states, while opponents again emphasized the cost, the strain on county budgets, and the state’s broader fiscal pressures. Department of Finance witnesses said the election funding would be provided in advance and that the state would work with counties and the Secretary of State. The bill was moved out on a roll call after extended debate. The committee also advanced several other bills, including SB 283 on battery storage safety standards, SB 470 extending remote participation and open-meeting flexibility for state boards and commissions, SB 697 modernizing stream adjudication procedures, SB 513 requiring more accessible employee training records, SB 30 restricting transfer of older diesel locomotives, SB 841 and SB 81 creating protections for vulnerable facilities and health care spaces from immigration enforcement, SB 358 revising traffic impact fee standards, and SB 630 streamlining state parks land acquisitions. Other measures discussed included SB 62 expanding health coverage benefits, SB 68 requiring restaurant allergen disclosures, and the committee heard both support and opposition on SB 68 from the California Restaurant Association and consumer advocates. Supporters of the health and immigrant-protection bills emphasized patient safety, reproductive health, immigrant rights, and access to care, while opponents on the restaurant bill warned of added mandates and litigation risk for small businesses. Across the hearing, committee members frequently returned to fiscal impacts, county implementation burdens, and whether the bills would save money, cost money, or shift costs to local governments. Several bills were reported out of committee, often on A or B roll calls, with some members not voting on particular measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Santa Teresa is probably the biggest economic engine in the state right now by far It's interesting when
• Last summer Interstate Stream Commission and Office of the State Engineer convened what's called the
• permits, we put together our gallons per capita per day calculator, our AWWA audit to the state engineer
• I'm a retired professional. water resources engineer and I live in rural Sandoval County.
• The governor requested. 500,000 for the state engineer from the 2025 legislature for staff to work to