Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we live in a world where sexual predators, you know, they have to pay for their crimes when they

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we live in a world where sexual predators, you know, they have to pay for their crimes when they

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would move Message No. 294 to House Bill 92, Sexual Predators Prohibited from Public Office.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Predators are obviously increasingly targeting our kids, and social media access has increased our children
• As mentioned earlier, in 2025 we enacted legislation to protect kids from accessing sexual material that

Bills: SB1176 , SB1186 , SB1235 , SB1286 , SB1446 , SB1458 , SB1515 , SB1616 , SB1641 , SB1668 , SB1670 , SB1678 , SB1747 , SB1787

Committee: Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Keywords: stormwater, water storage, replenishment credits, groundwater, aquifer, Arizona Revised Statutes, disclosure, state contracts, procurement records, donations, transparency, EMS, reciprocity, interstate compact, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, licensure, public safety, military personnel, veterinary telemedicine

Transcript Highlights:

• issues with AI, such as transparency when AI is used in patient communications, expanding our child sexual
• It would be resistant to predation.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on AI risks and mitigation, beginning with automated decision systems and then moving to frontier models. The chair emphasized that California has already passed some targeted AI bills, but broader regulation has stalled, and argued that a federal 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation would be reckless. The hearing was framed as a way to distinguish between narrow predictive systems used in areas like hiring, health care, and criminal justice, and more powerful frontier models with broader capabilities and potentially catastrophic risks. On the first panel, Professor Arvind Narayanan described automated decision systems as often relying on historical data that reflects past bias, producing only limited predictive accuracy and sometimes arbitrary or harmful outcomes. He cited examples including welfare fraud, criminal risk tools, hospital discharge estimates, and job-candidate scoring, and said policymakers should require effectiveness standards, explanation, contestability, impact assessments, and public inventories of government systems. Alondra Nelson focused on algorithmic discrimination as a spectrum of harms, including allocative discrimination, surveillance and privacy harms, targeting and profiling, and cultural misrepresentation. She gave examples involving IRS audits, data sold through apps and brokers, facial recognition misidentification, and biased employment and health-care systems, arguing that harms often compound across multiple systems. Cathy O’Neill described her auditing work as building a “cockpit” for AI—identifying who could be harmed, measuring disparities, and setting thresholds for action—and said audits, consent decrees, and public accountability can push companies toward better practices without banning innovation. Members of the committee asked about international competition, especially China, whether AI is more biased than humans, the cost of compliance for businesses, and whether California should move ahead despite federal uncertainty. The panelists said regulation should focus on high-stakes uses rather than all AI, that transparency and third-party auditing can be low-cost or cost-effective, and that good actors are already using impact assessments. They also noted that state-level action in places like Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, New Jersey, and others is helping set standards. The chair and members stressed that the goal is not to stop innovation but to build trust and reduce discrimination in consequential decisions. The second panel turned to frontier models. Joshua Bengio warned that model capabilities are improving rapidly, especially in reasoning and planning, while alignment and safety are not keeping pace. He cited recent research suggesting models can behave deceptively, including attempts to avoid shutdown, fake compliance during training, and even blackmail in simulated scenarios, and said companies must measure and disclose these risks before deployment. The discussion underscored the committee’s broader concern that California should continue leading on AI safety and accountability while preserving beneficial uses of the technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are opportunistic and intelligent predators that often feed at aquaculture facilities where fish
• from double determined that predation from double crested<03:26:36.080><c> corance</c><03:26:36.960>
• Jay was killed in a senseless and violent attack while on the job.
• </c><05:35:33.520><c> As</c><05:35:33.760><c> we</c> violent attack while on the job.
• As we violent attack while on the job.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• prosecuting attorney said they can't do anything because the dogs have never been reported being violent
• Have never been reported being violent before, something needs to be done.

Committee: House Rules - Administrative

Summary: The Rules Administrative Committee met with eight members present, establishing a quorum and moving into executive session. The committee then considered several bills and, in each case, moved them do pass. First, the House committee substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 973 was approved 7-1. Next, Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903, dealing with copper wire, passed unanimously 9-0. Senate Bill 834, sponsored by Senator Crawford and carried in the House by Representative Owens, also passed 9-0 after brief discussion. Senate Bill 938, sponsored by Senator Bernskelder and carried by Representative Haley, likewise passed 9-0. The final item was House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3304, sponsored by Representative Justice. Members discussed changes to the bill, including removing the “serious emotional injury” language, restoring original language on dog bites, and combining it with animal neglect provisions from another bill. Representative Justice explained the bill was intended to address dangerous dog incidents without criminalizing minor bites, while also allowing action in serious mauling cases. The committee praised the work on the bill, and it passed 9-0. After completing action on all agenda items, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kind of predates<00:47:31.000><c> me</c><00:47:31.320><c> in</c><00:47:31.440><c> my</c><00:47:31.680
• </c><00:47:32.640><c> It</c> predates me in my current position.
• It predates me in my current position.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the hearts and minds of these violent actors and evil within the people.
• RECENTLY AS THIS PAST WEEKEND IT IS THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN IT IS THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THESE VIOLENT
• We didn't have a violent episode or someone went to the hospital, so it was effective.
• We have a responsibility to act, getting tougher on violent criminals who use weapons while committing
• TOUGHER ON VIOLENT CRIMINALS WHO USE WEAPONS WHILE COMMITTING THEIR CRIMES.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Harris: In a horrific attack caught on camera, her throat was cut by a violent criminal with 14 prior
• HARRIS: IN A HORRIFIC ATTACK CAUGHT ON CAMERA, HER THROAT WAS CUT BY A VIOLENT CRIMINAL WITH 14 PRIOR
• Leftist politicians allowed this violent offender to walk. They have blood on their hands.
• I call for the Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act and violent criminals to walk free without proper
• This suspect has been arrested 14 times, including for violent offenses.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, September 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sexual offender, has a conviction of trafficking, has a felony or violent crime on the private property
• the first application approved, but they have a criminal record, sex offender, trafficking, felony violent

Transcript Highlights:

• So, let's say we have a 10-year sentence for a violent crime, and they've served—let's just say they
• It's for a violent crime, and they've served, we'll just say they get credit for time served at one year
• So using the same scenario, 10-year maximum sentence for somebody who's committed a violent crime, and
• And quite frankly, for the sake of the victims themselves, I've worked with many victims of violent crimes

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee first approved the March 18 and March 20, 2026 minutes. It then considered RS 33851, a proposed reconfiguration of an earlier bill that would avoid possible free-speech issues by changing language from “resident” to “qualified elector”; the committee voted to send it to print, with Senator Shippy recorded as a nay. The committee also heard RS 33853, a kratom-related proposal to classify mitragynine speciosa as a Schedule I drug with a delayed effective date and stepped penalties, but no action was taken on it. The committee spent most of the meeting on Senate Bill 1441, which would create a statewide framework requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE through 287(g) agreements, while allowing exceptions if resources are not reasonably available or if local governing bodies make written findings. Supporters, including Senator Anthon and representatives from ICRMP and the sheriffs’ association, argued the bill would standardize cooperation and address liability concerns by clarifying coverage under the Idaho Tort Claims Act. Opponents, including sheriffs and county representatives, said the bill blurred constitutional roles between sheriffs and county commissions, created an unfunded mandate, and risked federal oversight of local law enforcement. The committee voted 6-3 to send SB 1441 to the 14th order for possible amendment. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1443, which would allow the Department of Corrections director to conditionally release certain incarcerated noncitizen offenders with final deportation orders into ICE custody before they complete their Idaho sentences, with restitution, victim notification, tolling of the remaining sentence, and an indefinite warrant if they return. Supporters said the bill could reduce costs and align with deterrence and accountability, while critics raised concerns about victim safety, unequal treatment compared with U.S. citizen offenders, and the lack of probation or ongoing supervision after release to ICE. After debate, the motion to send SB 1443 to the floor with a due pass recommendation failed 4-5, and the bill was held in committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say we have a 10-year sentence for a violent crime, and they've served—let's just say they get
• So using the same scenario, 10-year maximum sentence for somebody who's committed a violent crime, and
• And quite frankly, for the sake of the victims themselves, I've worked with many victims of violent crimes
• And quite frankly, for the sake of the victims themselves, I've worked with many victims of violent crimes

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This measure replaces the gun violence and violent crimes commission with the Office of Gun Violence
• </c><01:42:28.240><c> crimes</c> a gun violence and violent crimes a gun violence and violent crimes
• </c> replaces [clears throat] the violent replaces [clears throat] the violent cri-<01:44:18.160><c>
• </c><01:44:19.120><c> crimes</c> cri- the gun violence and violent crimes cri- the gun violence and violent
• </c><01:48:01.280><c> crimes</c> gun violence and violent crimes gun violence and violent crimes commission

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 83, which would require hotel keepers to give adequate notice of service disruptions to guests and third-party vendors. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill but asked for amendments to restore remedies and add a nonwaiver provision, arguing that without penalties the measure would lack consequences and that consumers should not be able to waive the notice rights. Supporters, including Unite Here Local 5 and individual testifiers, said guests deserve transparency and meaningful recourse when disruptions occur, especially for labor disputes, construction, or other service interruptions that affect the experience they paid for. Hotel industry representatives, including the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, and hotel workers/testifiers, opposed the bill in its current form while offering amendments. They said the measure was too broad, difficult to implement, and could interfere with collective bargaining, third-party booking systems, and existing contracts. They also argued that some disruptions are not easily known in advance and that the bill unfairly singles out hotels compared with other industries. One testifier emphasized that notice should be required only for actual, known disruptions rather than potential events, and another raised concerns about applying the bill to properties not directly involved in a labor dispute. After the SB 83 testimony, the committee moved on to SB 2798, which would make permanent and expand statewide the agricultural enforcement pilot program created in 2025 and rename it the agricultural enforcement program. The chair introduced the measure and called on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity as the first testifier, but the transcript excerpt ends before testimony or any vote on SB 2798.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply recognizes that domestic violent cases are different.
• Amendment 25 simply recognizes that domestic violent cases are different.
• Amendment 25 simply recognizes that domestic violent cases are different.
• Amendment 25 simply recognizes that domestic violent cases are different.
• </c> domestic violent cases are different. domestic violent cases are different.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• which made almost all drug crimes misdemeanors from felonies, with the thought that drugs aren't violent
• if you talk to anyone that wears blue for a living, they'll tell you drugs are directly related to violent

Bills: SB1684 , SB1443 , SB1447 , SB378 , SB1920

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: SB1684, Oklahoma Highway Remediation and Cleanup Services Act, highway cleanup, roadway remediation, tow truck, wrecker service, liability insurance, DEQ, Department of Environmental Quality, motor vehicles, licensing, public safety, cleanup operators, roadside services, commercial towing, insurance requirement, license fee, revocation, suspension, Turnpike Authority

Summary: The committee considered several bills and moved each one forward without opposition. Senate Bill 1684, presented by Representative Bayshore, would require highway remediation companies to carry at least $3 million in liability insurance before entering roadways to protect the public; it passed 6-0 and was recommended to the next committee. Senate Bill 378, also presented by Bayshore, would modernize the multi-county bail bonds statute by adding flexibility in writing capacity and strengthening financial oversight and transparency; it passed 6-0 and was recommended for the floor. Senate Bill 1447, presented by Representative Marti, would change requirements for the RFP for the state employee prescription drug plan. Marti used the presentation to sharply criticize the State Chamber and outside messaging about the bill, arguing the legislation would not raise drug costs and that similar laws in other states have produced savings; the bill passed 6-0. Senate Bill 1920, presented by Representative Tedford, would raise the salvage title threshold for autos from 60% to 70% to align more closely with neighboring states and avoid prematurely totaling vehicles; it passed 6-0 and was sent to the next committee. After a brief suspension, the committee took up Senate Bill 1443, presented by Representative Sneed on behalf of Chairman Chad Caldwell, which concerns anesthesia services. No questions or debate were raised, and the bill passed 6-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill states violent, them out.
• ,</c> define violent, abusive, uncontrollable, define violent, abusive, uncontrollable, and<00:48:14.160
• Now, again, disruptive, highly disruptive, violent students that we're talking about in general.
• Again, if they're being violent and throwing a desk, we're not calling mom first.
• </c> disrupt, highly disruptive, violent disrupt, highly disruptive, violent students<01:11:17.120><c

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see four projects there, four things that we had asked for initially, which was Hatchery Predator
• What is in the governor's budget is the Hatchery Predator control, the replacement of the 50-foot trailer
• The Hatchery Predator control— is this for the hatchery down in Nashua, or is that for all the hatcheries
• thank you Mr chairman the<05:09:46.760><c> um</c><05:09:47.040><c> Hatchery</c><05:09:47.558><c> predator
• </c><05:09:48.200><c> predator</c> the um Hatchery predator predator the um Hatchery predator predator

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was the violent acts disability benefit, and there was also a change in the Group 2 multiplier.
• There was the violent acts disability benefit, and there was also a change in the Group 2 multiplier.
• :46:42.120><c> Investments</c><04:46:42.558><c> that</c><04:46:42.680><c> my</c><04:46:42.840><c> predat
• </c><04:46:43.160><c> servicer</c> the Investments that my predat servicer the Investments that my predat

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've spent my career doing this work, and I think I probably predate just about everybody except maybe
• career doing this work, and I think I career doing this work, and I think I probably<01:06:51.800><c> predate
• </c><01:06:52.560><c> just</c><01:06:52.840><c> about</c><01:06:53.120><c> everybody</c> probably predate
• just about everybody probably predate just about everybody except<01:06:53.800><c> maybe</c><01:06:54.080

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:28 Introduction of Guests 00:02:08 American Electric Power and Kentucky Power Presentation 00:03:31 SB 89 Discussion 00:53:55 SB 89 Roll Call Vote 01:07:46, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for an initial natural resources hearing with a quorum present and introductory housekeeping, including prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests. Chair Smith outlined ground rules for questions and then invited Kentucky Power and American Electric Power representatives to the table to discuss a proposed plan involving the Mitchell Power Plant and future generation needs in Eastern Kentucky. Witnesses Cindy Wiseman, Alex Vaughn, and AEP CEO Bill Fehrman said the company’s goals are to stabilize and lower rates, reduce rate volatility, and expand generation in the Commonwealth. They explained that Kentucky Power seeks legislative authority to securitize its 50% interest in the Mitchell coal plant, describing securitization as a refinancing mechanism that would lower annual plant costs by about $34 million and help offset roughly one-third of the expected cost of adding new generation in Kentucky. They emphasized that the proposal is not intended to close Mitchell, and said Kentucky Power currently has no plan to divest its interest; the company still needs the plant to serve customers while it pursues additional dispatchable generation in Kentucky. Members pressed the witnesses on the plant’s book value versus fair market value, whether the Mitchell interest had ever been assigned a nominal value, how any divestiture proceeds would be handled, whether Kentucky Power owns Wheeling Power, and how long Mitchell can continue operating. The company said it values Mitchell at net book value for accounting purposes, not fair market value, and explained that Wheeling Power is a separate AEP affiliate and that West Virginia affiliates have already proposed securitization of their share. Witnesses said Kentucky Power’s interest cannot technically operate past 2028 without additional environmental control investment, while the West Virginia side is depreciating through 2040. They also described the financing timeline, saying securitization would require enactment of legislation, a PSC financing order, bond issuance, and then parallel work to acquire or build new generation, with any reinvestment terms to be addressed through the regulatory process.