Transcript Highlights:

• However, there has been a growing trend of CEQA being used as a legal defense to slow development of
• TNC believes in regionally appropriate wildfire solutions.
• Jake Schultz, on behalf of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, East Bay Regional Park District
• It is developed by a community organization to identify local concerns and develop recommendations.
• It is developed by a community organization to identify local concerns and develop recommendations.

Summary: The committee heard a series of Senate bills on environmental, climate, recycling, wildfire, outdoor access, and clean transportation policy. SB 958 would clarify CEQA treatment of impacts tied solely to increased building height, and SB 1230 would increase penalties and create CalRecycle support tools for repeat commercial illegal dumping. SB 1341 would revise how processing fees are calculated for bag-in-a-box wine under California’s recycling program. All three measures received due-pass recommendations to Appropriations, with roll calls showing majority support and the bills left open for absent members. Members then took up SB 1300, which would create a more permanent legislative role in California’s international climate cooperation and establish a climate secretariat at UC; SB 1370, which would codify and streamline wildfire fuel-reduction permitting with added safeguards, geographic and size limits, and pesticide-related amendments; and SB 1260/1268, which would codify the Outdoors for All initiative and the Deputy Secretary for Access position at the Natural Resources Agency. Each drew support from environmental, utility, business, and local-government witnesses, while SB 1370 also drew opposition from environmental and advocacy groups concerned about reduced CEQA review and herbicide use. The committee discussed amendments at length, especially on SB 1370, and all three measures advanced with due-pass recommendations. The committee also heard SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transparency Act, requiring baseline pricing disclosure for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission trucks tied to state incentives and directing agencies to explore alternative financing. Support came from clean-air, business, and environmental groups, and the trucking/manufacturing opposition moved to neutral after amendments; the bill advanced on a due-pass vote. Finally, SB 1075, the Clean Air Promise, sought to strengthen AB 617 implementation and clarify community emission reduction planning, but it generated substantial opposition from air districts, business groups, and others over enforceability, funding, and the distinction between formal SERPs and community L-SERPs. The author described additional pending amendments to narrow L-SERP provisions, and the bill also received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it's not like the city's building it; this is a developer.
• So we hope that this could be a regional approach. Thank you.
• When we look at downtown Sacramento, regions are defined by their downtowns.
• We've seen developers submit the same project in multiple versions.
• ordinance to address the warehouse development before AB 98.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 753, which would modernize California’s shopping cart recovery rules by allowing cities and counties to return abandoned carts directly to retailers, recover documented retrieval costs, and avoid the current impound-and-wait process. The author and supporters, including San Jose officials and the League of California Cities, said the bill would help clear streets, sidewalks, and waterways and reduce local costs. Grocers and retailers opposed the measure unless amended, arguing it would turn cart retrieval into a new cost burden and could create incentives for cities to charge too much for stolen property. After extensive discussion about notice periods, cost caps, and local ordinances, the committee adopted amendments and passed the bill 6-0 as amended. The committee then took up SB 445, which would speed up permitting and approvals needed for high-speed rail by requiring early engagement, setting rules for third-party coordination, and creating a dispute-resolution process. The author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier, broader transit proposal and was intended to reduce delays caused by utilities, local governments, and other entities. Supporters said permitting bottlenecks add major costs and delays to infrastructure projects, while opponents from utilities, cities, counties, telecoms, and special districts raised concerns about safety, reliability, affordability, and the need to review the pending amendments. The bill passed 8-1 to the Utilities and Energy Committee. The committee also heard SB 9, a narrower housing bill focused on accessory dwelling units. The author explained that it would require local ADU ordinances to be submitted to HCD for review and would make state standards control if a local agency fails to submit a compliant ordinance or respond to HCD findings. Supporters from housing and YIMBY groups said the bill would improve enforcement of state ADU law and prevent local barriers from slowing housing production. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. The committee then began hearing SB 79, which would allow more housing near major transit stops; the author and supporters framed it as a response to the housing shortage and transit underuse, and the hearing continued with extensive support testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, the first panel is on rural criminal justice workforce development.
• The first panel is on rural criminal justice workforce development.
• Regional public defense offices, a thing that TIDC has worked very hard on.
• There has been the creation of new public defender groups in the region.
• Our team has developed the watchdog program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of Habitat's biggest costs are development fees.
• One of Habitat's biggest costs are development fees.
• Using the framework for development impact fee disclosure and transparency developed in AB 1820 (Chiu
• Housing Development Corporation.
• I am with Mission Housing Development Corporation.

Summary: The committee heard AB 736, a proposed $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, with Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and numerous housing, local government, labor, and advocacy groups testifying in strong support. Supporters said the bond would fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation, farmworker, tribal, and other programs, and argued that the state needs new capital because prior bond funds are exhausted and many shovel-ready projects are waiting. Habitat for Humanity California opposed the bill unless it was amended to dedicate 10% of bond proceeds to Cal Home for affordable homeownership, and several senators said they supported the bond but wanted Cal Home strengthened. The committee voted do pass to Senate Appropriations, with the measure placed on call for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1361 by Senator Durazo, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. Los Angeles Metro, the Building Trades, and several cities and advocacy groups supported the bill, saying it would protect transit investments, jobs, and federal funding from opposition tied to future density around transit stops. Several groups that had initially opposed or been concerned about the bill, including West Hollywood, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and the Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The committee approved the bill as amended to Senate Local Government, with the measure also placed on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, which would require local agencies to provide early, good-faith estimates and itemized lists of required on-site and off-site improvements for housing projects. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and industry groups, who said the measures would reduce uncertainty, late fees, and project delays. The committee advanced both bills as amended to Senate Appropriations, placing them on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines energy-code-compliant window replacement and limits aesthetic review, especially for residential replacements; it passed as amended to Appropriations after support from affordable housing and green building groups and no opposition. Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would give residents notice and an opportunity to make a competing bid when a park owner intends to sell, with supporters arguing it would help preserve unsubsidized affordable housing and protect displaced residents, while park owner representatives argued it would devalue properties, create litigation risk, and interfere with market transactions. SB 1093 would require more communication, access, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after disasters, and would restore certain resident reimbursement rights; supporters cited the Palisades fire and survey data showing residents lacked information and access, while opponents said the bill imposed onerous timelines, liability issues, and penalties and could force owners into rebuilding or compensation assumptions they disputed. Both bills were discussed at length, but the transcript ends before final recorded votes on them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Offices and several of have 15 Regional Offices and several of these<00:08:08.639> Regional<00
• research staff that are helping develop research staff that are helping develop those<00:19:12.200
• <00:19:36.799> different using these funds to develop different using these funds to develop
• <00:38:11.720> and uh and then not only we developed and uh and then not only we developed
• <00:42:04.480> a they've already uh developed a they've already uh developed a flourishing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, there is a market development team that you will learn about.
• So, within market development, we have our agritourism group.
• Right, last but not least, we have our northwest region.
• five or six different components of market development specifically.
• The next item is our Taiwan regional trade office.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The counties have developed models that directly address those local perspectives.
• <00:03:52.879> a the work with the goal of to develop a the work with the goal of to develop
• Senate file 3149 was developed citizens.
• The counties have developed areas.
• <00:34:02.720> in and expensive insurance region in and expensive insurance region in Minnesota

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the districts that undertake the project development and delivery and, and, uh, maintenance
• It and it is not a guarantee that projects will be built, but it serves as a guide for the development
• Uh, and as Brandy just testified, the UTP, uh, distributes funds across the state, to all the regions
• The department also operates 16 Regional Service centers or RSCs, providing additional customer options
• And then we have the ability to store plates at our 16 regional service centers, and then each of the

Transcript Highlights:

• markets or our national and regional markets or our regional<00:12:29.600> markets.
• regulators, the utility and uh regional regulators, the utility and uh regional guaranteers<00:15
• ,<00:16:14.000> and infrastructure development, and infrastructure development, and increased
• I'm the executive director of Region 5 Development Commission.
• Region 5 has been a great as well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:12.560> Corporation<00:15:13.360> in Development Corporation in Development Corporation
• We are a regional chamber in the fastest-growing region of the state, and the small businesses in our
• region certainly need the support.
• <00:18:23.320> Chamber smaller Chambers we are Regional Chamber smaller Chambers we are Regional
• <00:18:35.080> Chamber funding as a Regional Chamber funding as a Regional Chamber independent

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on February 7, 2025, to hear testimony on several bills and later take up amendments and votes. HB 1405, HB 1406, and HB 1407 drew broad support from business, housing, utility, and development groups, with no opposition noted on those measures. Testifiers generally said the bills would streamline permitting, improve coordination, and expand support for chambers of commerce and small businesses. After recess, the chair recommended amendments to each bill, including changes to broaden eligibility, add reporting requirements, and include funding and staffing notes. HB 1405 was amended to allow certain projects with one state and one county permit to qualify, require annual DBEDT reports to the Legislature, and note one full-time position and $125,000 in funding; the committee voted to pass it with amendments. HB 1406 was amended to move the intergovernmental task force from DBEDT to the House Legislature, add a Speaker-appointed chair, and include a $125,000 appropriation note; it also passed with amendments. HB 1407 was amended to convert the chamber support from a grant process to an RFP process and require a 1-to-5 match on a $100,000 award; it too passed with amendments. In each case, the chair’s recommendation was adopted, with Representative Tam excused. The committee also heard HB 796, a tax-credit review bill, which drew no support and 12 opposition testimonies with three comments. Opponents, including SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued that automatic sunset provisions or broad tax-credit cuts would burden working families and that existing review mechanisms already exist under state law. The Department of Taxation and DBEDT offered technical comments, and the Tax Foundation suggested the bill’s goals might be better addressed by cleaning up the existing review process. Later, the committee heard HB 303, which had 17 supporters and no opposition. Testifiers from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Queen’s Health System, and the Hawaii State Chiropractors Association supported the measure, with the chiropractors asking to be included in eligibility. The Hawaii State Center for Nursing said the program had been successful for five years and had room to expand. HB 577 also drew support, with the Department of Taxation offering comments and the Tax Foundation noting technical issues. HB 949 generated mixed testimony: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce supported it, while Hawaii Children’s Action Network raised concerns about the bill’s effects and the lack of fiscal analysis; Sugar Creek Capital also supported the measure and clarified that the credit would not offset the GET. Finally, HB 933 and HB 959 were heard, with HB 933 receiving six support testimonies and comments focused on grocery tax relief and food insecurity, and HB 959 drawing strong support from labor and advocacy groups for its broad tax relief package, while the Tax Foundation and Hawaii Appleseed urged caution about the proposed 50% GET increase and asked for clearer fiscal analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• This milestone marks a decade of significant contribution to education, community development, in the
• It boasts one of the largest equestrian regions of the Southwest.
• Economic Development.
• local workforce development boards, to Economic Development.
• local workforce development boards to economic development.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with remarks highlighting UTRGV’s growth, degree production, research expansion, medical school, and role in serving the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The chamber also recognized the doctor of the day and adopted additional resolutions, including one for Denton County Days at the Capitol and another recognizing Texas HBCU Day. The Senate gave extensive recognition to outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp through Senate Resolution 368. Senators from both parties praised his long public career, leadership of the A&M System, support for regional universities, and bipartisan approach. The resolution was adopted after multiple members added their names. The chamber also heard from advocates with the Texas Streets Coalition, and received gubernatorial nominations for the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. On legislation, the Senate passed several major bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to address teacher vacancies, bilingual certification testing, paid leave options, classroom removals, and appeal rights, then passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment on parents’ right to direct a child’s education, advanced on a 22-9 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, aimed at preventing foreign influence and intellectual property theft at public institutions of higher education, passed unanimously. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the business entities bill, also passed after debate over corporate governance and shareholder protections. Senate Bill 857, authorizing law enforcement to tow certain vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed despite some concern about towing abuses during disasters. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536 on dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, but the transcript ends as that bill is being laid out.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to develop resources to put them in place. trying to develop resources to put them back
• This is a lovely graph we developed.
• As you can see from this map, Region 1 is at 8.8 beds per 100,000, and then Region 4 is at... 100,000
• , and then Region 4 is at 14.8.
• And so, what you've seen us do is develop smaller regional centers that are 16 beds or less, so that

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• VOADs are there in and and regional VOADs are there in and and regional capacities<00:56:59.920>
• regional co-ads? regional co-ads?
• Can we replicate this on a more regional basis rather than a county by county basis?
• together on a regional scale. together on a regional scale.
• I know the each agency develops.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force met with a quorum, adopted the minutes from the previous meeting, and heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University’s Disaster Science Operations Center. WKU described its multidisciplinary disaster science effort, including meteorology, emergency management, the Kentucky State Climate Center, the Kentucky Mesonet, and the Disaster Science Operations Center, which was created in 2021 and serves as an operational hub for forecasting, emergency planning, crisis management, training, and decision support. Speakers emphasized applied learning, student field work, partnerships with industry and event venues, and a five-year NSF/UK-led research project focused on weather hazards, disaster preparedness, and building a statewide disaster database to improve mitigation and resilience. Members asked about flooding, the relationship to EKU’s program, Tennessee’s capabilities, and the timeline and goals for the research project; WKU said the data collection is underway and that the evidence suggests tornado risk is shifting east and occurring more at night. A WKU graduate student also described the value of hands-on storm-chasing and operational forecasting experience, saying it helped prepare her for work in forecasting and emergency management. Members asked about her motivation for joining the program and about the practical realities of storm chasing. The discussion also touched on whether Kentucky’s tornado risk is shifting east; WKU said the evidence from tornado observations and other studies points in that direction, with added concern about nighttime events and communicating warnings to vulnerable communities. The task force then heard from Amy Shaquinn of the Mayfield Graves County Long-Term Recovery Group, who outlined the county-level recovery process after the 2021 tornadoes. She said Kentucky ranks among the top states for federally declared disasters, has seen a high number of tornadoes in recent years, and also faces major flood risk and earthquake concerns along the New Madrid fault. Shaquinn stressed the distinction between immediate response and long-term recovery, explaining that response covers rescue, cleanup, temporary housing, and short-term assistance, while recovery is the longer effort to restore survivors to safe, sanitary, and secure housing through local long-term recovery groups. She said community-led recovery is essential and that preparedness and mitigation follow once immediate recovery needs are addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a little bit of better breakout of the regions on this?
• There's a wait list in nearly every region, and there are some regions that are underrepresented in those
• So we have the federal Child Care Development Block Grant and Child Care and Development Fund.
• Once we do this, we will develop findings.
• But just so this committee knows, we did regional meetings and all the meetings, and we had two regions

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > new<01:42:31.520> and supports the development of new and supports the development of
• services uses public health regions services uses public health regions instead<01:44:20.400>
• <01:44:56.560> underway um an exciting new development underway um an exciting new development
• They're hoping development. Yeah. Okay.
• So the f 6.1 the regions by rurality.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled roll call and approved the prior meeting minutes. Members discussed attendance and substitutions, then moved to the DHS commissioner’s update, which focused on New Hampshire’s Medicaid 1115 waiver and the new community re-entry initiative for people leaving correctional facilities. The presenter explained that the waiver lets the state cover certain services not normally covered under Medicaid, including substance use disorder treatment, serious mental illness services, adult dental benefits, and the new community re-entry component. She also noted that a separate youth re-entry component is federally required, with youth defined up to age 21 and foster-care-related coverage extending to age 26. The update described how the adult re-entry program works for incarcerated individuals with behavioral health needs, providing up to 45 days of pre-release services, care coordination with managed care organizations and DOC staff, telemedicine assessments, discharge prescriptions, insurance cards, and connections to community mental health, primary care, and substance use providers. For youth, the program includes more intensive case management, 30 days of pre-release services, and 30 days of post-release care coordination, with a stronger emphasis on screening, diagnosis, and holistic assessment. The presenter said New Hampshire received the adult waiver in July 2024, has implemented the program in state correctional facilities, and is beginning work at the youth center. Members and the presenter discussed why the program is structured as a waiver rather than a standard Medicaid benefit, with the explanation that CMS is allowing this as a newer policy area and that states generally pursue waivers for certain services. The chair and others emphasized the need for real cost and outcome data, and the presenter said an independent evaluator and evaluation plan are required under the 1115 waiver. Early results cited included 30 adults enrolled so far, 10 released, five youth enrolled with one released, and anecdotal early successes such as housing, employment, and better continuity of medication and treatment. The committee did not take any additional votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was an appropriation that funded development or changes to the guidelines.
• parks and trails local and regional parks and trails local and regional grant<00:43:43.280> program
• Southern Minnesota Regional Office and Laboratory, $68.684 million.
• <00:46:39.440> Treatment Anoka Miller Building Regional Treatment Anoka Miller Building Regional
• It also requires the commissioner of MMB to develop a logo for use on signs and then also to develop

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are composed of a manager and a curriculum developer who is not here with us today.
• Her name is Miriam, and she develops our curriculum. Not here with us today.
• Her name is Miriam, and she develops our curriculum, and two care coordination training and technical
• So if there's a way to interact with some of these regional groups...
• So if there's a way to interact with some of these regional groups that cover the state and to bring

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities equity subcommittee met, approved the prior minutes, and heard a presentation from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Cater Center (Care Coordination Assistance, Training, Education, and Resources for Kids). Presenters Toria Haffey and Patty Loza explained that Cater provides training and technical assistance to MassHealth’s Cares for Kids providers serving children with medical complexity, with a focus on enhanced care coordination, family partnership, racial/cultural/linguistic equity, community resources, education systems, shared plans of care, and transition support. They described five e-learning modules, flexible one-on-one and group technical assistance, case review support, and informal virtual “cafes” for providers. They also noted the program has been operating for about two to three years and currently works with five hospital-based providers, including Boston Children’s, BMC, Tufts, NeighborHealth, and Baystate. Committee members asked about the number of families served, the relationship to MassHealth, and whether the model could be expanded beyond Boston-area providers. The presenters said Cater does not track enrollment numbers because that is handled by providers and MassHealth, and they agreed there is room to broaden reach and improve data collection. Members suggested connecting Cater with regional disability and case management networks, the Health Equity Compact, ACOs, and DDS-related contacts. Questions also focused on funding stability amid federal Medicaid cuts and workforce shortages in family engagement roles; Cater said the work remains a priority for MassHealth, though funding is a concern, and acknowledged staffing gaps, especially for family partners with lived experience. After the presentation, the committee discussed a NIH strategic plan for disability health research that had been circulated for future review. Because members had not yet read it, they agreed to place it on the agenda for the next meeting. The meeting then adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• renewable energy, and enhance recreational opportunities at the local, regional, and state level.
• renewable energy, and enhance recreational opportunities at the local, regional, and state level.
• renewable energy, and enhance recreational opportunities at the local, regional, and state level.
• renewable energy, and enhance recreational opportunities at the local, regional, and state level.
• <00:04:43.479> and opportunities at the local Regional and opportunities at the local Regional

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Guthrie: WE WILL BE DOING THAT, WE'VE ALREADY DEVELOPED THE THREE COURSES.
• DEVELOPING A STRONG WORKFORCE IS, HAS BECOME ONE OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL TENETS.
• WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TRADE PROGRAMS DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CURRICULUM AND LEARNING LABS
• TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WE'VE BEEN SPENDING ENERGY ON.
• OUR GOAL AND OUR PLAN IS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO, WE USED TO HAVE INMATE LABOR.

Transcript Highlights:

• of our priority regions growing.
• Workforce Development. Thank you all for joining us today.
• to collaborate with the Economic Development Department to connect the economic development initiatives
• Development Program.
• Like a private developer that's building, developing land.