Transcript Highlights:

• Gunner is six years old.
• It's a three-part test.
• I have had the honor of serving with Daryl now with Senator Rouson for 15 years of his 17 years.
• For the past 17 years, six months, five to six months out of every year, I'm up here in Tallahassee,
• So Florida law is 14 and 15 years.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer by Rabbi Moshe Umatz, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after a motion to reconsider SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. Several bills were also set aside during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included funding for expedited DNA testing grants for local law enforcement (SB 1072/HB 847), additional aggravating factors in capital cases involving religious, school, or government gatherings (SB 984/HB 693), fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients (SB 924/HB 677), commuter rail indemnification for Miami-Dade and Broward counties (SB 916/HB 867), restrictions on disposing of migrant vessels in Florida waters (SB 830), specialty license plates including Miami Northwestern and several colleges and institutions (SB 824), an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign (SB 398), relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (SB 364), charter school changes allowing parent conversion and municipal job-engine charter schools (SB 140), sex offender registration reporting changes (SB 1654/HB 1351), penalties for assaulting utility workers (SB 1386), juvenile justice revisions and truancy process updates (SB 1344), reporting of student mental health outcomes (SB 1310/HB 969), foster home license transfer simplification (SB 1174/HB 989), water access facility funding and boating industry incentives (SB 1162/HB 735), Florida Virtual School operational changes (SB 1122), school readiness program support for children with disabilities (SB 1102), sexual image offenses involving minors (SB 1180/HB 757), age-related defenses in child sex offense cases (SB 1136/HB 777), tampering with electronic monitoring devices (SB 1054/HB 437), certified recovery residences and local zoning accommodations (SB 954), and the FSU Election Law Center (SB 892). Most of these bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 984 and SB 140 drew some opposition. One of the most extensive debates centered on SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office staff, citing emails and campaign-related communications tied to Amendment 4; the amendment failed on a 13-23 vote. Senators then debated the bill’s relationship to state election law, free speech, and the role of faith-based outreach. Supporters emphasized the office’s service network and reported benefits to children and families, while some senators raised concerns about interfaith representation and political use of government resources. The bill was then read a third time and the Senate proceeded toward a final vote as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• shootings in the last 10 years. shootings in the last 10 years.
• Those represent an additional 14 beds each year, and then it'll be 14 flat in the out years.
• it'll be 14 flat in the outy years. it'll be 14 flat in the outy years.
• each year in 28 and 29. each year in 28 and 29.
• what we experienced in the last year. what we experienced in the last year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :06:57.200> expand mandate new PAS testing, expand mandate new PAS testing, expand regulation<
• <01:13:12.800> conducted the bill says um all testing conducted the bill says um all testing
• to submit bills for this year. Mhm. to submit bills for this year. Mhm.
• DNCR is here could one a year or so.
• this when we went on a tour last year this when we went on a tour last year that<04:17:40.000>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by of about 40% in the last uh 4 years by of about 40% in the last uh 4 years and<00:22:33.720><
• <00:22:58.559> years<00:22:58.760> ago leadership uh about uh 7 years years ago leadership
• uh about uh 7 years years ago eight<00:22:59.360> years<00:22:59.559> ago<00:23:00.520
• demographics and standardized testing demographics and standardized testing and<00:39:11.400>
• tests including the Stanford<00:48:19.960> Achievement<00:48:20.520> Test<00:48:21.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on February 5, 2025, to hear testimony from representatives of Minnesota’s Catholic and other nonpublic schools, focused on state nonpublic pupil aid, transportation, counseling, nursing, and related support programs. Meg Forette of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis argued that Catholic schools serve more than 30,000 students across many districts, educate a diverse population, and achieve strong academic results while operating at far lower per-student costs than public schools. She urged lawmakers to reject proposed cuts to nonpublic funding, saying they would be inequitable and harmful to lower-income families, and also raised concerns about state teacher-licensing requirements conflicting with Catholic values. Trisha Menshu, principal of St. John Paul II Catholic School in Northeast Minneapolis, described a student body with high levels of poverty, learning needs, and academic gaps, and said state-funded nurse and guidance-counseling services are essential to keeping students safe, healthy, and on track for high school. She said the school absorbs many costs itself, including medical supplies and significant staff time, and credited the support programs with helping students make strong academic growth and graduate on time. In response to a senator’s question, she clarified that the school uses the nursing aid for limited nurse time and pays other medical-related costs from operating funds, with no billing back to public school districts. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the relationship between teacher licensing and Catholic values, and about how medical needs for nonpublic students are funded. Forette said the concern was not with welcoming all students but with how DEI-related trainings and language are presented in ways that conflict with Catholic teaching. The committee then moved on to the next testifier, Andrew Hiliker of Stella Maris Academy in Duluth, who began by describing his school’s growth and the state’s role in supporting all students, regardless of school choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• with an additional two years competing at the national level, and many years of training in Krav Maga
• Also classroom teacher for many, many years, almost 30 years in the elementary classroom.
• Her years of training and dedication Her years of training and dedication were dismissed because the
• Hello, Sophia Lori, 17-year athlete in California, four-year CIF athlete, three-year captain, collegiate
• I'm a 20-plus-year high school teacher.

Summary: The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion. The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, that's growth that years.
• So, over the past several<00:47:34.040> years, several years, several years, especially<00:47:
• <00:55:52.880> So, over the last few years. So, over the last few years.
• <00:58:18.280> Same manufacturing for 30 years. Same manufacturing for 30 years.
• <00:58:21.840> Uh been 22 years old. Uh been 22 years old.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call: 00:01:36 Homeland Security: 00:03:46 Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership: 00:36:29, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, last year, as well as this year, the opposition has raised concerns that this bill violates
• year after year.
• year after year.
• It's been burning for three years and now is expected to burn for 20 years.
• , and every year that we have a financial crisis, including this year, the governor proposes cutting

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long daily file with numerous guest introductions and recognitions, including tributes to outgoing University of California President Michael Drake, student and community advocates, and visitors connected to foster care, military appreciation, and college savings. The chamber also took up several procedural items, including concurrence in Senate amendments to ACR 75 on California Farm Week, which passed 59-0. Members then adopted AJR 7 on protecting federal special education funding and services for students with disabilities, with broad bipartisan support and a 65-0 vote after 63 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted ACR 82 recognizing Foster Care Month and ACR 85 recognizing 529 College Savings Day by voice vote after adding co-authors, and ACR 89 recognizing Military Appreciation Month, also adopted by voice vote after co-authors were added. These resolutions featured testimony and remarks emphasizing support for vulnerable children, foster youth, military families, and access to higher education. On policy bills, the Assembly passed AB 929 on groundwater and managed wetlands (41-14), AB 1026 on utility connection timelines for housing projects (52-0), AB 1332 on direct shipment of medicinal cannabis under specified conditions (55-0), AB 1356 on follow-up reporting in DHCS death investigations at treatment facilities (54-0), and AB 671 on streamlining restaurant openings through self-certification of certain plans (62-0). The chamber also approved AB 715 on anti-Semitism and school climate after extensive debate and cross-caucus support, 64-0, and AB 33 on autonomous vehicle deliveries requiring a human safety operator, 52-6. Later, AB 5 on election ballot-counting timelines passed 66-0, AB 27 and AB 28 addressing the Chiquita Canyon landfill disaster passed 61-0 and 44-6 respectively, and the Assembly began consideration of AB 43 to extend state authority over wild and scenic rivers.

Transcript Highlights:

• has 10 years in there. has 10 years in there.
• litmus test, that it hadn't seen regulation in 10 years.
• It's a simple way to think it. 10 years. 10 years.
• previous 10-year statement? previous 10-year statement?
• acre feet per year. acre feet per year.

Bills: HB0116, HB0056

Keywords: water rights, beneficial use, industrial production, hydrogen, applications, public welfare, carbon capture, energy standards, public utilities, environmental regulation, state law, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have heard almost no complaints in the years we've been using them.
• So both extend this to December 31st of this year, and again, uh, I think it's been uncontroversial,
• we've been using complaints in the years we've been using them.<00:18:14.480> But,<00:18:15.120
• <00:18:54.559> Those<00:18:54.880> are<00:18:55.039> all you're testing for
• Those are all you're testing for COVID.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Video test for the Rough Rider Room. This is going to be our second test for the day.
• Testing cameras, testing audio, looking at multiple things here.
• Again, this is only a test. Testing one, two, three. There I can see our closed captioning.
• Testing one, two. Once again, there's our quad view. Testing one, two, three, four, five.
• Testing one, two, three. Testing one, two, three.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: This appears to be a technical audio-video test for the Rough Rider Room rather than a legislative meeting. The speaker repeatedly checks microphones, cameras, presentation sources, and closed captioning, cycling through quad view, left view, presenter view, and right view. They note the date and time as Tuesday, April 28, 2026, around 9:20–9:23 a.m., and mention a recess and return to live testing. The main purpose of the session was to verify that equipment was functioning properly and to assess how the content view and captioning appeared to the public. The speaker also performed a finger synchronization test and commented that the closed captioning was word-wrapping in a way they wanted to improve. No bills, testimony, votes, or formal actions were discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Video test for the Rough Rider Room. This is going to be our second test for the day.
• Testing cameras, testing audio, looking at multiple things here.
• Again, this is only a test. Testing one, two, three. There I can see our closed captioning.
• This is a test, testing one, two, three. Thank you.
• Testing one, two, three. Testing one, two, three.

Summary: This recording appears to be a technical AV test in the Rough Rider Room rather than a legislative meeting. The speaker repeatedly checks audio, video, camera switching, presentation sources, quad view, and closed captioning, noting the date and time as Tuesday, April 28, 2026, around 9:20–9:23 a.m. They also mention a brief recess and returning live, but no substantive policy, bill, or committee business is discussed. The main purpose of the session is to verify that the room’s equipment is functioning properly and to test how the content view and captioning display to the public. No votes, motions, testimony, or actions on legislation are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Video test for the Rough Rider Room. This is going to be our second test for the day.
• Testing cameras, testing audio, looking at multiple things here.
• Again, this is only a test. Testing one, two, three. There I can see our closed captioning.
• This is a test, testing one, two, three. Thank you.
• Testing one, two, three. Testing one, two, three.

Summary: This transcript appears to be a technical AV test in the Rough Rider Room rather than a legislative meeting. The speaker repeatedly checks audio, video, camera angles, presentation sources, quad view, and closed captioning, noting the date and time of the test on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. No bills, policy topics, testimony, motions, votes, or other legislative actions are discussed. The only substantive content is confirmation that the system appears to be up and running and that caption formatting is being adjusted for public usability. The speaker also briefly mentions a recess and return to live view during the test, but no formal proceedings or decisions occur.

Transcript Highlights:

• OVER THE YEARS, C.B.P.
• Year after year through holiday seasons and spring breaks, air... RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
• For three years.
• to year.
• TO YEAR.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're talking about a $257 billion budget this year.
• We're talking about a $257 billion budget this year, and all that money is taxpayer money; somebody paid
• So there's no means testing for the actual... Oh. The program, the grant.
• So there's no means testing for the actual building owner, as long as that building is in a disadvantaged
• And if someone signs up, I'm really asking whether there's means testing to separate anyone out that

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee met under Chair Kevin Parker and considered a series of energy, utility, and clean transportation bills. The committee first advanced a bill by Senator Connery on make-ready electric infrastructure for public-serving EV charging, after members raised concerns that the costs of preparing school bus charging infrastructure could be shifted to ratepayers. The committee then advanced Senator Parker’s pilot program for resilient EV charging microgrids, with discussion focused on using existing NYSERDA resources, the role of batteries, and the bill’s purpose in supporting emergency charging during outages. Another bill on heavy distribution centers and EV charging was also advanced after debate over its application to large warehouse and e-commerce facilities. The committee also considered a bill on carport-mounted solar systems that would limit local zoning restrictions. A motion to substitute in a different bill was ruled improper for lack of notice, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on appeal. Members then advanced a PSC guidebook bill on gas and electric rate-making, and a utility shutoff protection bill for medical emergencies, life support equipment, and elderly, blind, or disabled customers, with questions about age definitions and the scope of medical documentation. The committee also advanced the Home Utility Weatherization Jobs Act, which would create a pilot program for electrification and weatherization in disadvantaged communities, with members discussing whether the program would be available at no cost to building owners and how utilities would access capital. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about who would pay for the programs, whether ratepayers or taxpayers would bear the costs, and how much local control would remain under the solar siting bill. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed a recent NYISO report warning about possible summer reliability issues and urged the committee and the PSC to review it closely. The chair noted the report should be considered alongside other state planning documents, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill removes the financial barrier and allows the continuum of testing to occur just to get a
• So this bill removes the financial barrier and allows the continuum of testing to occur just to get a
• So this bill removes the financial barrier and allows the continuum of testing to occur just to get a
• And for years now, that individual has been trying to get this lifetime probation turned off.
• It is the birthday of my seatmate, Representative John Gillette, big 74 years old today.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. James Nakbar. Members also introduced numerous guests, including Pastor Jeff McAfee, representatives of Arizona Citizens for the Arts, and several artists and arts advocates present for Arizona Creative Economy Day. The day’s opening remarks emphasized the importance of arts and culture in Arizona, with members highlighting murals, museums, music, and the creative sector’s economic impact. The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole and considered several Senate bills. SB 1113 was amended and recommended do pass; SB 1165, dealing with breast cancer testing and removing financial barriers to diagnosis, was recommended do pass; SB 1477 was amended and recommended do pass, with discussion describing it as a transparency and accountability measure for senior referral agencies; and SB 1479 was amended and recommended do pass. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, and the measures were properly engrossed or placed on third reading as appropriate. On third reading, the House passed SB 1092, relating to probation, after debate focused on sex offenses against children and lifetime probation, by 39-17. SB 1181, relating to certified public accountants and licensing requirements, passed 47-9 after some members objected that rulemaking could create unclear barriers to entry. SB 1473, relating to municipal and county zoning, passed 49-7. The House also received Senate messages, recognized Representative Gillette’s birthday, and heard personal privilege remarks honoring farm workers, Women’s History Month, and Transgender Day of Visibility before adjourning until April 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• after year I've gotten up and talked about it and how, year after year after year, there has been an
• after year after year.
• after year after year after year.
• YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS THE DEFINITION OF FAILURE.
• Year after year after year, the libraries come and they ask for more.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, then approved the prior day’s Journal and moved into motions, resolutions, and budget-related business. Senator Gianaris called up Senate Print 5898A for reconsideration; the Senate voted 59 ayes to restore the bill to the third reading calendar. Several amendments were also received on third-reading bills, and the Finance Committee was called into session while the chamber proceeded with resolutions. The Senate adopted Resolution J.2106 recognizing Second Chance Month and the mental health impacts of incarceration, with Senator Brisport speaking in support and a guest from the community recognized in the chamber. The body also adopted Resolution J.1492 designating May 27, 2026, as Taiwan Heritage Day, with remarks from Senators Sepúlveda, Stavisky, and Liu highlighting Taiwanese contributions to New York and expressing support for Taiwan amid current geopolitical tensions. The Finance Committee then reported several budget bills, including Senate Prints 9003D, 9004D, 9007C, and 9009C, which were moved to third reading. The remainder of the session focused on the supplemental and controversial budget calendars, especially tax and spending provisions. Senators debated the “Protecting Our Wallets” energy rebate, with supporters describing it as a one-time check for eligible taxpayers and critics arguing it was too small and not tied directly to utility bills; the chamber accepted the message of necessity and laid the bills aside. Members also debated extensions and changes to tax provisions affecting corporations, alternative fuel exemptions, Broadway and theatrical production tax credits, charitable deductions for certain 501(c)(3)s, nicotine pouch taxes, a new New York City pied-à-terre tax, and a standardbred horse-racing testing fee. Several senators criticized the budget as raising costs or favoring certain industries, while supporters defended the measures as revenue-raising, affordability, or public-health policies. No final votes on the controversial budget bills are shown in the excerpt beyond procedural rulings, adoption of the resolution calendar, and acceptance of committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• mid-year current-year augmentation.
• So when we wait a year to finally or two years to…” “So when we wait a year to finally or two years to
• We just can't keep spending years and years and years and then we're not getting to our goal, which is
• We need to know, you know, five years, ten years out, twenty years out, what is our exposure so we can
• and years and years.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department reviewed proposals for EDD Next document management system funding, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit and administration adjustments, WIOA funding changes, UI administrative and benefit changes, school employee benefit adjustments, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to EDD Next. PERB discussed funding tied to AB 28 and AB 1, including litigation-related workload and new jurisdiction over legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language on electronic assessment payments and the DWC director salary cap. CalHR proposed additional funding for a consolidated employee assistance program contract, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs and state contribution changes. Members focused heavily on UI debt and interest payments, asking the administration for a plan to reduce the outstanding loan and relieve employers. Finance said no specific repayment plan was included in the May Revision, while LAO said the state’s UI tax structure is structurally insufficient and that any debt payoff should be paired with tax-system reform. Senators also questioned EDD Next costs and timelines, PERB’s caseload and staffing needs, and DIR’s emerging technologies unit, with LAO noting that the unit would appear focused on physical workplace safety rather than broader AI labor issues. CalHR said the new EAP contract would consolidate services, improve access to clinicians, and lower costs relative to the current model. CalPERS defended higher external management fees as part of a strategy to pursue higher net returns, while some members pressed for more transparency about private investments; CalSTRS said it was not prepared to address investment-strategy questions at this hearing. Public comment in Part A was dominated by advocates urging support for an immigration enforcement emergency relief fund, along with comments supporting the Jails to Jobs proposal, the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, and additional PERB funding. The chair noted that many of the immigration-related requests might fall under other committees and said staff would follow up. In Part B, Finance and LAO outlined judicial branch and DOJ May Revision items, including funding for court interpreter services, appellate court security, lactation room implementation delays, courthouse construction reappropriations, and DOJ budget increases. LAO recommended approving the language-access proposal with a report on reducing interpreter cost growth and reducing the General Fund backfill for state court facilities by $10 million on an ongoing basis.

Transcript Highlights:

• you to take a breath test, and you can decline to take that test.
• Every year. Every year.
• years ago.
• years ago.
• This has been an issue that has happened for years and years and years.

Summary: The Florida Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness for sexual assault survivors, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a memorial proclamation for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special-order bills, with senators also briefly discussing the session’s pace and thanking staff and colleagues for their work. The first major bill, on driving and boating offenses, was amended and passed 37-0. As amended, it increases penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide/vessel homicide offenses, and adds notice requirements and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. Senators also passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers 37-0, requiring Medicaid managed care plans to offer more after-hours and holiday access and ensuring more primary care appointment availability outside regular business hours. The Senate then passed a major condominium and cooperative associations bill, also 37-0, after extensive debate and multiple amendments. The measure extends deadlines for structural integrity reserve studies, adds flexibility for reserve funding and budgeting, tightens rules for managers and inspectors, limits certain requirements to buildings of three or more habitable stories, and extends the rescission period for condo purchases. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s sponsors for years of work responding to post-Surfside safety and affordability concerns. The longest and most contentious item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendment petition procedures. Sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse in the citizen initiative process by tightening circulator rules, requiring faster submission of signed petitions, adding voter notification, increasing penalties, and shifting costs to sponsors. Opponents argued it would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizens to qualify initiatives. The chamber adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the petition-circulator threshold, volunteer protections, submission timing, invalid-signature investigation thresholds, and notice/cure provisions, while debate continued over whether the overall package would protect election integrity or suppress citizen-led amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And last year we had the um school bus driver of the year come testify on why I do believe they were
• I taught math for 32 years: five years in the St.
• I taught math for 32 years: five years in the St.
• I spent 35 years teaching in Minnesota and a couple years in Wisconsin.
• , in their senior year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For five years or until the department finishes the permanent regulations that they're already working
• to do yearly re-approvals to this approach, it saves the state about $2 million over the next five years
• After decreasing for almost 30 years, HIV diagnoses began increasing again in 2021 and 2022.
• And how to access HIV and hepatitis testing.
• The cost to the state and to the taxpayers, and how to access HIV and hepatitis testing.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 23, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and first approved a consent calendar covering many bills. Several measures were then heard individually, with most receiving support from sponsors and stakeholder groups and no formal opposition in the room, though some bills drew respectful opposition or no votes. The committee also read and deemed approved a lengthy suspense calendar before taking up additional bills and public comment. Among the bills discussed, AB 263 would extend temporary flow regulations on the Smith and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are completed; AB 309 would remove the sunset on pharmacists’ ability to provide sterile syringes without a prescription to support HIV and hepatitis prevention; AB 631 would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; AB 792 would allow consolidation of bargaining for court interpreters; AB 867 would ban cat declawing except when medically necessary; AB 1206 would require pre-approved housing plans for small residential projects; AB 787 would require health plans to better help patients find in-network providers; AB 596 would protect workers’ right to wear face coverings unless unsafe; AB 282 would allow housing providers to prefer voucher holders without violating source-of-income discrimination law; AB 738 would create a limited rebuilding exemption for disaster survivors from newer solar requirements; AB 566 would require browsers and mobile operating systems to make global privacy opt-outs easier; and AB 622 would clarify CDCR’s authority to award credits to people serving indeterminate sentences who complete rehabilitation programming. Most of these bills were reported out on roll calls, often with bipartisan or limited dissent. AB 309, AB 631, AB 792, AB 867, AB 1206, AB 787, AB 596, AB 282, AB 738, AB 566, and AB 622 all advanced, while AB 263 also moved forward despite opposition from the Siskiyou Board of Supervisors and the California Farm Bureau. AB 622 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters emphasizing rehabilitation, parole-board review, and cost savings, and opponents warning about public safety and the impact on serious violent offenders. The meeting ended after brief public comment on several other bills on the suspense file and then adjournment.