Transcript Highlights:

• And it's not a local problem, it's a national problem.
• of Justice, but in the Attorney General's office, we have some fraud.
• We typically refer it to the prosecuting authority in that locale.
• If it requires additional investigation, we can make a referral either to the Attorney General or to
• the State Police or to the local police department, but I do want to remind the committee that we have

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And if a case does warrant formal discipline and is sent to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution
• Through MOUs and agreements with local officials, local government's collaboration with CMTC is effective
• Local communities to be certified.
• We believe that local government plays a very important role and local communities should have a say
• These individuals are trained by the attorneys, myself and senior staff attorney, about CMTC's legal

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Bills: HB8 , HB380 , HB8 , HB380

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked closely with the Attorney General's office and WDFW.
• They were at $190,000 a year, tribes and local tribes.
• I am senior counsel with the Washington State Attorney General's Office.
• When abandoned vessels sit too long, the burden often falls to local governments and taxpayers, even
• This bill helps close the gap, giving state and local partners better tools to reduce impacts before

Bills: HB2117 , HB2199 , HB2327 , HB2516 , HB2554

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: tribal member, board of natural resources, indigenous representation, natural resource management, local governance, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, audit, county, forest management, transparency, public lands, rodenticide, rodenticides, anticoagulant rodenticide, bromethalin, pesticide

Transcript Highlights:

• We also work with local jurisdictions, nonprofits, and private industry on local transportation projects
• with our partners and the local organizing committee, state emergency managers, and others.
• Improvements, preservation, and local programs each have a fair chunk.
• Very thankful to this committee for your support of the New Local Roads Program last year.
• portion and the local need of the system.

Bills: HB2306

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit

Transcript Highlights:

• So all this does is allow the superintendent and the designate to have the opportunity to prosecute.
• will have the opportunity to prosecute this person without the driver having to do it.
• The driver can still prosecute, but with the designation by the superintendent, that person can do that

Bills: SB211 , SB241 , HB614

Committee: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, crime management, Alabama law, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, license suspension, driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, interlock device, breathalyzer, alcohol offense, impaired driving

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Local and Consent Calendars will meet at 915 a.m.
• CIS affiliates leveraged state funding with additional public and private fundraising from local communities
• account program and insurance premium tax credit for for the growth of that program in the award of attorney
• HB 674 by Spiller relating to the prosecution and punishment of certain criminal offenses committed in
• HB 701 by Bernal relating to the appointment of an attorney ad validum and ad micus attorney in civil

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.
• Attorney General's office Attorney General's office and<00:10:03.360><c> this</c><00:10:03.680><c> would
• </c> your communication with the attorney your communication with the attorney general<00:39:08.720><
• </c> um would like to add the prosecuting um would like to add the prosecuting attorney's<00:44:05.680
• </c><00:46:28.400><c> general's</c> uh to add the attorney general's uh to add the attorney general's

Summary: The Committee on Transportation heard several bills, beginning with SB 2010, which would authorize impoundment of motor vehicles for certain alleged or committed traffic violations. The Department of Transportation supported the bill, while the Department of the Attorney General asked for clarification in section 4 on who could seek remedies and what remedies would be available. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, citing unclear officer-initiated impound criteria, potential strain on judicial or administrative resources, and concerns about hardship for families and indigent owners; the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill with amendments, saying it should be limited to traffic offenses and could serve as an alternative to fines or imprisonment. The chair then recessed before moving to the next items. The committee next heard SB 2527 on commercial driver licensing, which would require state and county firefighters exempt from CDL requirements to be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy equivalent to or stronger than federal DOT standards. DOT, the Department of Human Resources Development, county officials, and the Hawaiʻi Firefighters Association all indicated support. SB 2697, which would prohibit driving on roadway shoulders except in limited circumstances, also drew DOT support, with the Attorney General, judiciary, and others submitting comments. SB 2812, requiring driver license applicants to be tested on the dangers larger vehicles pose to pedestrians and bicyclists, was supported by DOT but opposed by the Public Defender, who argued the excessive-speeding portion was too broad for first offenses and that the DUI-related language was unnecessary because DUI relicensing already requires re-examination. SB 291, clarifying that drivers whose licenses were revoked for certain alcohol-related offenses must undergo re-examination before relicensing, received DOT support. The committee then took up SB 3044, which would remove references to pedestrian countdown timers and the requirement that pedestrians begin crossing before the timer starts. DOT opposed the bill, but Hawaiʻi Appleseed supported it, arguing the current rule is confusing and can lead to citations even when pedestrians can safely cross. The Department of Health submitted late comments emphasizing the importance of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and physical activity, and the chair noted the split in testimony. Finally, SB 2995 proposed a zero-emissions rideshare rebate program funded by a rideshare fee and administered by DOT. Earthjustice strongly supported the bill, describing it as a fee-and-rebate structure to help rideshare drivers transition to zero-emissions vehicles. A witness for Tom Yamachika suggested that if the state wants to tax ridesharing, it should amend existing tax law instead of creating a new chapter, but the bill’s supporters said DOT was better suited to administer the rebate program and that similar models exist in California and Washington. The committee also heard SB 3153, which would authorize DOT to designate airport special district zones at airports statewide to improve security and enforcement; DOT’s airports deputy director supported the measure, saying it would clarify jurisdiction and help address trespassing and hazards, and senators asked about boundaries, mapping, and coordination with the Attorney General. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• attorney.
• attorney.
• attorney.
• the journal as my own, I'd like to additionally add that actually most households, individuals are local
• families who actually do pay they local families who actually do pay they they<00:47:31.559><c> do</

Transcript Highlights:

• County District Attorney to combat scammers targeting wildfire victims.
• County to support local investigations and prosecutions of insurance fraud.
• And prosecutions of insurance fraud.
• local developers.
• And the local homeowners and local developers, nobody had talked to them before because now they're realizing

Summary: The committee first heard AB 597, a bill to strengthen consumer protections for disaster survivors who use public adjusters. The author and the Department of Insurance said the measure would cap public adjuster fees at 15% for claims tied to declared disasters, require clearer contracts, prohibit solicitation during emergency conditions, and allow consumers to rescind contracts that were solicited during prohibited periods. Insurance industry groups supported the bill, while public adjuster representatives opposed it as written but said they were willing to work on revisions. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to Appropriations; the roll call was ultimately recorded as 16-0. The committee then held its fourth oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, with Commissioner Ricardo Lara giving an extensive update on wildfire-related market reforms and consumer protections. He said the recent Southern California wildfires had not derailed the strategy and described actions including advance claim payments, a one-year moratorium on residential non-renewals in affected areas, a new fraud strike team, smoke-damage claim guidance, additional living expense protections, and a consumer claims tracker. He reported more than $12.1 billion in claims paid, over 37,000 claims filed, and more than 7,000 survivors assisted directly. He also discussed related bills and reforms, including AB 597, SB 495, SB 547, SB 429, SB 616, AB 888, and AB 2026. Members questioned the commissioner about the Fair Plan’s growing exposure, the $1 billion assessment, rate increases, non-renewals, underinsurance, and whether the reforms would actually stabilize the market. Lara said the assessment was already approved, that policyholders would not be hit with one large bill because insurers have two years to recover costs, and that the department was pushing insurers to use catastrophe modeling and reinsurance tools in exchange for commitments to write more policies in wildfire-distressed areas. He said the department expects to see market stabilization by 2026, though he emphasized the timeline depends on insurer participation, implementation of the new regulations, and future disaster activity. Members generally expressed support for the goals of the strategy while pressing for clearer expectations for consumers and faster action on mitigation and market reform.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Witt, members, Senate Bill 1143 instructs each public school and local education agency to submit
• by the Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs and Elections, Senate Bill 1275 allows a county attorney
• Additionally, the bill allows a county attorney to divert the prosecution of a defendant who is a veteran
• Finally, the bill requires certain local expenditure measures to make certain disclosures.
• amendment to Senate Bill 1021 that requires the Auditor General to notify JLAC and refer to the Attorney

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long agenda of Senate bills across elections, commerce, education, government, health and human services, judiciary, public safety, transportation, rural development, and ways and means. Many measures were described as consent or third-read consent items, including bills on campaign finance termination statements and late-report penalties, AI provenance data for media, adjuster/contractor conduct during emergencies, Industrial Commission changes, association meeting closures, banking and remittance rules, central bank digital currency, public safety parity funding, barbering and cosmetology board continuation, digital asset reserve management, contractor licensing, gaming and racing commission continuation, school AED instruction, classroom removal procedures, school safety reporting, special education complaint transparency, foreign influence and land ownership restrictions, DCS and DES process changes, health care licensing and reimbursement rules, EMS compact adoption, and multiple tax, housing, and transportation measures. Staff repeatedly summarized each bill and answered questions, with several bills noted as mirror or identical to House measures or as strike-everything amendments from committees. A few bills drew discussion. On SB 2874, staff explained that the Senate amendment would limit penalties for untimely campaign finance reports when a committee certifies it received no contributions and made no expenditures, but the sponsor did not concur. SB 1074 prompted questions about whether parental notification changed; staff said it did not and that the bill was aimed at improving communication between teachers and principals about discipline. SB 1175, requiring DCS caseworkers to photograph children at each interaction in abuse or neglect cases, drew concern about the scope of the photos, while supporters said it would improve continuity and documentation. SB 1180 also drew comment because the sponsor and committee chair disagreed over an amendment, though the bill was advanced for further work. The most extended debate came on SB 1751, which would allow death-row inmates to choose firing squad, lethal injection, or lethal gas if voters approve the related constitutional measure. One member strongly opposed the bill on moral and personal grounds, another argued it could be a more humane option if the state is going to carry out executions, and a third raised concern that it could be used against Second Amendment rights. The bill remained on the third-read consent calendar despite the objections. The caucus concluded after moving through the remaining agenda items, with no formal votes recorded in the transcript beyond committee status and consent-calendar placement.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in a local early stage group.
• Also signed up to speak are Attorney Brian Clark and Attorney Bob Barry from the Department of Health
• </c> Also signed up to speak are attorney Also signed up to speak are attorney Brian<01:44:32.159><c>
• </c> here just as a supplement to Attorney here just as a supplement to Attorney Barry's<01:59:11.119
• </c> criminal prosecution. criminal prosecution. &gt;&gt; Representative<03:30:19.520><c> Nagel.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, on today's agenda, we have the nominations of Brett Shumate to serve as assistant attorney
• general, civil division, and John Eisenberg to serve as assistant attorney general for national security
• Attorney's Office refused to prosecute two-thirds of the criminals arrested in our nationals' capital
• Attorney who've made four omissions, three omissions, one omissions.
• Attorney put on the agenda.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: committee meeting, nominations, Brett Shumate, John Eisenberg, Mr. Martin, Department of Justice, political bias, law enforcement

Summary: The committee meeting was focused on the nominations of Brett Shumate and John Eisenberg for significant positions within the Department of Justice. Notable discussions arose over recent public disclosures that questioned the integrity of the nomination process, particularly surrounding Mr. Martin, a candidate whose past comments and associations have raised concerns among committee members. Tensions flared as members addressed potential biases and the implications of Martin’s statements regarding law enforcement and political groups. The meeting concluded with several committee members advocating for more thorough scrutiny of nominations to ensure the integrity of the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is a staff attorney, the other is what we call a briefing attorney or a law clerk who's there fresh
• One of those lawyers will function as a rules attorney. coordinate on that issue.
• Now, you told us that you need a rules attorney and you don't have one, right?
• Again, I'm Abby Kamen, Houston City Council member and attorney, and I have led local efforts for firearm
• It's like something that should be sent to local and consent.

Bills: HB170 , HB865 , HB748 , HJR112 , HB 1110 , HB1495 , HB786 , HB 1130 , HB170

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil liability, self-defense, force, deadly force, legal immunity, attorney's fees, criminal justice, firearms, liability, veterans, gun ownership, immunity, firearm hold agreement, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, parental rights, child upbringing

Transcript Highlights:

• So just in salaries for my attorneys in these offices, we're approaching $3 million.
• attorneys because of the stress of the job.
• attorneys because of the stress of the job.
• I was not trying to talk about your efficacy as an attorney. That's fair.
• I don't have my capital attorneys here.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• We had testimony from the prosecuting attorney opposing this bill, and I believe experienced judges can
• /c><00:28:57.240><c> HPD</c><00:28:57.880><c> and</c><00:28:58.240><c> the</c><00:28:58.559><c> prosecuting
• </c> opposition from HPD and the prosecuting opposition from HPD and the prosecuting attorney<00:29:00.440
• ><c> HPD</c><00:29:01.120><c> stated</c><00:29:01.519><c> that</c><00:29:02.000><c> the</c> attorney
• HPD stated that the attorney HPD stated that the requirements<00:29:02.840><c> of</c><00:29:03.080><c

Transcript Highlights:

• For years, California tribes, along with state and local partners, have worked...
• For years, California tribes, along with state and local partners, have worked tirelessly to develop
• It's a non-regulatory entity that supports local communities.
• The Delta Conservancy has a proven track record of working with local communities to identify shared
• objectives and develop locally supported priority projects to provide statewide benefit.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to parks, wildlife, water, and veterans. AB 1592 would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to partner with the California Indian Heritage Center support organization; supporters said it would help move the long-planned center forward with Native-led governance. AB 2216 would expand the Delta Conservancy’s service area and update its authority to better support watershed-scale conservation, climate resilience, workforce, tribal grants, and related projects. AB 1702 would expand state parks access for veterans, National Guard, reservists, and active duty service members by broadening eligibility for the Distinguished Veterans Pass and creating a discounted parks pass. AB 1673 would allow county fish and game commissions to use certain revenues to reimburse sheriffs for fish and wildlife enforcement and wildlife-conflict prevention, especially in rural counties with limited state enforcement presence. The committee also considered AB 1912, which would allow archery deer hunters to carry concealed firearms while hunting, aligning deer hunting rules with those already in place for other big game archery hunts. Supporters argued it would improve hunter safety in remote areas without harming wildlife enforcement, while opponents were not present. AB 1987 would dedicate revenues generated from state wildlife areas back to those areas for operations, maintenance, and habitat management; supporters said the areas are underfunded and need a stable funding source. All of these bills received due pass recommendations and were later approved by the committee, with AB 2216 passing 11-1 and the others passing 12-0. The most contested measure was AB 2630, which would give the State Water Resources Control Board emergency-style authority to make measurement and reporting changes for water diversions and use, with a five-year sunset. The author and supporters said the board needs flexibility to update the CalWATRS reporting system quickly as technology and conditions change. Water agencies, farm groups, and business groups opposed the bill, arguing it would bypass public input and could allow repeated emergency regulations affecting compliance and operations. After extended debate, the committee passed AB 2630 on an 8-4 vote. The committee also approved two consent items, AB 1804 and AB 2260, both unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• For years, California tribes, along with state and local partners, have worked.
• For years, California tribes, along with state and local partners, have worked tirelessly to develop
• It's a non-regulatory entity that supports local communities.
• The Delta Conservancy has a proven track record of working with local communities to identify shared
• objectives and develop locally supported priority projects to provide statewide benefit.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it oversteps local planning completely.
• So currently the way a lawsuit works between a local government and a land developer is the local government
• eligibility, allows live-local projects near airports when approved, and strain. ...trigger Live Local
• As far as transparency and local budgets, the amendment increases local government financial transparency
• I'm constitutional attorney Catherine Henry.

Bills: S0036 , S0620 , S0796 , S0934 , S1080 , S1096 , S1366 , S1536 , S1548 , S1580 , S1588 , S1620 , S1756 , S7034 , S7044

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first took up SB 354, the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, which creates a framework for large planned communities on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area and a streamlined local review process. Senator McLean presented the bill and a strike-all amendment, and members raised concerns about local control, conservation enforceability, data centers, concurrency, multi-county projects, and whether reserve lands could later be converted. Audubon Florida and 1,000 Friends of Florida opposed the bill, arguing the conservation protections were not permanent enough and that the reserve areas could be changed later; small-county representatives also worried about tax-base impacts. Supporters argued the bill would better manage growth, preserve green space, and provide a more orderly alternative to sprawl. After debate, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judiciary, school, and school board offices to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship. Amendments added disclosure about whether federal candidates intend to trade stock if elected and adjusted 2026 congressional qualifying procedures in the event of redistricting, including a new qualifying window and petition rules. The bill was reported favorably after brief support from a member of the public and discussion about candidate vetting. The committee also reported favorably CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill with amendments addressing My Safe Florida Home notices, condo pilot eligibility, firefighter hiring, unclaimed property, and related financial-services provisions. Next, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1620, a school board members’ bill of rights. A substitute amendment narrowed the bill to access to records, fiscal transparency, and nondisclosure agreements, while preserving board members’ rights to timely documents, budget information, and public comment, and setting deadlines for records requests. Superintendents and a school board member testified in support, saying the bill clarifies roles and prevents board members from being frozen out. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material”; one senator supported the terminology change but warned about preserving legal precedent and avoiding appellate issues. The committee then reported favorably SB 1548, an update to the Live Local affordable housing law expanding eligible sites and clarifying setbacks, airport proximity, and fair-housing protections. Finally, the committee took up the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates. The bill allows trained master’s-level VPAs to perform limited veterinary services under a veterinarian’s supervision, and an amendment tightened the standard to immediate supervision on premises. Supporters said the measure would expand access to care, especially in rural areas with vet shortages, while opponents argued it added unnecessary regulation. After testimony from veterinary educators and others, the bill continued with support expressed by committee members, including praise for the direct-supervision amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• On May 30th, the Atoka Police Department responded to a theft in progress at the local Walmart.

Bills: HB4139 , HB4143 , HB4144 , HB3974 , HB3303 , HB3790 , HB3697 , HB3262 , HB4226 , HB2936 , HB3322 , HB4296 , HB3278 , HB4202 , HB3648 , HB3500 , HB3037 , HB3428 , HB3257 , HB3432 , HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940

Keywords: home warranty, service contracts, transparency, insurance regulation, consumer protection, motor vehicles, traffic collisions, car accident, auto accident, crash report, collision report, property damage threshold, Department of Public Safety, DPS, law enforcement reports, insurance claims, financial responsibility, uninsured motorist, private property accidents, public roadway