Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Utilities will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please hold the roll.
• The Committee on Utilities. The Committee on Utilities will come back into session, and Mr.
• The 1926(b). cooperation and negotiation between agencies for things to happen.
• And then we also have utility partners, both in public and private.”
• So with that the committee on utilities is adjourned.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• toxics into our water and soil, and the wasted resources in their batteries could power over 3,300 electric
• Almost a quarter of California's nonprofits have utilized this process.
• And the author has been very cooperative in working with the committee.
• And the author has been very cooperative in working with the committee to make sure that we have a product

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven't had a chance to really meet on this necessarily to go over what we feel is a cooperative way
• collaboration and consolidation issues relative to the various services that are currently being utilized
• of my colleagues to just highlight that to the committee that we are looking forward to working cooperatively
• If you get your gas bill or your electric bill paid automatically, you know that it's much easier and

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a wide range of criminal justice, victim services, and records-sealing bills. Early testimony focused on H.1811, the Clean Slate automated record-sealing bill, with supporters arguing that automatic sealing after existing waiting periods would remove barriers to jobs, housing, and education without changing eligibility rules. Advocates from legal aid, business, and housing organizations said the current petition-based system is underused, burdensome, and costly, while opponents of expanding surveillance-related laws urged the committee to preserve privacy protections. The committee also heard testimony on H.1693, which would immediately seal records in cases ending without conviction and clarify the presumption of innocence, with speakers describing how dismissed cases still create lasting collateral consequences and prevent people from moving forward. No votes were taken during the hearing. Several bills centered on victim safety and domestic violence. Senator Michael Moore testified for S.1201, which would keep child-protective orders in effect even if the parent or guardian who filed them dies, and for S.1204, which would update the wiretap statute. Multiple survivors and advocates supported S.1215 and S.1222, arguing for a narrow wiretap defense for recordings made to document threats or abuse and for making GPS tampering a separate felony offense. Testifiers described situations in which GPS devices were cut off or disabled and said current law leaves victims at risk and gives abusers too much leeway. The committee also heard emotional testimony on H.1685/S.1238, a bill prompted by the suicide of Stavri Yanka in custody, with the sponsor, his mother, and the sheriff describing the need for better information-sharing so suicide-risk information follows a person into custody. Law enforcement and prosecutors supported several due-process and dangerousness-related bills. MassCOP, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the State Police Association backed H.1828/S.1039/S.1235, which would require de novo Superior Court review for POST Commission suspensions over two weeks or decertifications, arguing officers need a meaningful appeal beyond administrative review. The committee also heard support for H.1691, expanding the dangerousness statute to additional offenses; Bristol County District Attorney Quinn said the changes would let prosecutors seek detention in serious cases such as child rape and manslaughter when facts warrant it. In contrast, the Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed expanding dangerousness detention, warning that pretrial detention causes serious harms and disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic defendants. The hearing also included testimony on H.1654/S.1063 to enhance victims’ rights and H.1525, which would rename and expand community corrections into community justice programs, with supporters emphasizing reentry, reduced stigma, and broader service access.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4012, relating to reducing the regulatory burden on utility
• companies when constructing and maintaining electric power generation and transmission facilities within
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4012, relating to reducing the regulatory burden on utility
• companies when constructing and maintaining electric... with the recommendation that it be re-referred
• companies when constructing and maintaining elected. ...to reducing the regulatory burden on utility

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:51:19.440><c> enriched</c> to folks about utilizing enriched to folks about utilizing enriched
• Uh, you know, cooperatives have a place in agriculture all across this state.
• Uh, you know, cooperatives have a place in agriculture all across this state.
• And this is always an utilization.
• So when the cooperative. They do that.

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• According to UC Berkeley's Haas Energy Institute, electricity bills have increased nearly 40% over the
• We had to pass a big utility rate reform bill last year, but I have another big one this year.
• And if you want an electric vehicle, buy them a brand-new electric vehicle.
• And if you want an electric vehicle, buy them a brand-new electric vehicle.
• California has the highest housing and transportation costs, the utilities, insurance—if you can even

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1277, which would create a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide refundable relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, fuel, energy, and general living costs. Senator Grove and supporters, including the California Policy Center and some local government representatives, argued the bill would put direct relief into the hands of working families. Opposition came from the California Tax Reform Association and the California Teachers Association, which said California already has progressive tax credits and that the proposal would be costly to the General Fund and reduce money for schools and other services. After extended debate, the bill was not advanced; a roll call vote on a motion to pass it to Appropriations failed 1-4, and the bill was held/fails on the floor with a request for reconsideration noted. The committee then heard SB 1287, which would create a capped tax credit to encourage private investment in short-line railroad infrastructure. The author and rail industry witnesses said the measure would improve safety, reliability, emissions, and freight movement, especially for rural communities and agriculture, and that it was a public-private partnership rather than a handout. Opposition from CTA and the California Tax Reform Association argued a direct grant program would be preferable to a tax credit. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call without a final vote in the transcript. Members also considered SB 1407, which would fully exempt military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits from state income tax, increasing the prior partial exemption. The author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups said the change would help retain veterans in California, support local economies, and align California with most other states. CTA and CTRA opposed on General Fund grounds. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended motion to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, with the roll call showing support and the bill placed on call. Later, the committee heard SB 1349, directing the Legislative Analyst’s Office to review major tax expenditures and evaluate their goals, beneficiaries, and effects on revenues and Proposition 98 funding. CTA, CTRA, and several local government and labor supporters backed the bill as a way to improve accountability for roughly $94 billion in annual tax expenditures. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1078, authorizing Santa Cruz County to ask voters for a temporary half-cent sales tax to help fund health care and safety-net services amid federal cuts; it was placed on call. SB 1120, extending the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and making it refundable for certain strategic industries, received strong support from business and manufacturing groups and was passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1275, which would replace the state sales tax on vehicle purchases with a vehicle license fee structure intended to increase federal deductibility for Californians, was passed 4-0 as amended to the Committee on Transportation.

Transcript Highlights:

• facing an affordability crisis from all sides, whether it's gas, housing, groceries, health care, utility
• , and I emphasize might, save a few dollars on your bill if it isn't tossed out in court, and the utility
• Further, I think it's also important to mention that our electricity bills are too high.
• aisle intend to do that as well, particularly as it relates to the impact it's going to have on electric
• There's also additional electric requirements there because of all the security systems and everything

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> representing energy storage wind utility representing energy storage wind utility scale<00:13:41.880
• </c><00:16:11.160><c> scale</c> so the last couple of utility scale so the last couple of utility scale
• </c> those services and tell the Utilities those services and tell the Utilities Commission<00:26:30.440
• </c> know those who have to deal with utility know those who have to deal with utility the<00:41:24.000
• </c> the the cost through via their utility the the cost through via their utility or<00:41:26.480><c

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...our relationships and reached out to D-MAP cooperators in the past for samples.
• So without their cooperation, the number wouldn't even be 32, obviously. It would be even less.
• Senator Womack's recommendation of utilizing DMAP, although it seems like it's already widely used, and
• So just to give you a comparison between what was received and then what was utilized from department
• One of them was kind of in line with what Senator Womack was saying: utilization of DMAP.

Summary: The committee and invited witnesses discussed chronic wasting disease surveillance and response in Louisiana, focusing on both wild deer and captive deer facilities. LDWF staff said surveillance goals are being met in about 32 of 64 parishes, but there are gaps in low-sample areas, and they described current efforts using voluntary hunter-harvested deer sampling, targeted sampling in higher-risk animals, and coordination with D-MAP properties. Witnesses and members raised possible ways to improve detection, including incentives for testing, use of taxidermists and processors to collect samples from older bucks, possible mandatory testing tied to special doe days or special seasons, and better use of D-MAP or mobile sampling units. Several members also suggested environmental testing, better deer-density data, and clearer mapping of hotspots and source areas. A major portion of the discussion centered on how to respond when a positive CWD case is found. Members debated whether Louisiana should follow an Arkansas-style approach, including allowing baiting during hunting season while using other tools to manage disease, versus stricter no-bait or no-feeding rules. Some members argued that immediate restrictions after a positive discourage hunters from submitting samples and hurt landowners and feed businesses, and suggested delaying new restrictions until the end of the season while intensifying sampling. Others emphasized that any response should be science-based and should preserve hunter participation. There was also discussion of whether control areas should be parish-based or based on geographic distance, and whether the state should establish thresholds that would allow a control zone to be reduced or removed if enough negative samples are collected. For captive deer facilities, LDWF and LDAF staff reviewed the USDA herd certification program and current surveillance practices. They said Louisiana has about 350 licensed deer facilities, including breeder and hunting facilities, and that a 2024 positive in Jeff Davis Parish led to depopulation and 12 quarantine farms; follow-up testing in 2025 found no new positives in the traced facilities. Staff said the state has relied on USDA competitive grants for diagnostic testing in the last two years, covering roughly $100,000 to $150,000 annually, while department self-generated funds covered more than $800,000 over the last three years. Members and witnesses recommended mandatory enrollment in the USDA herd certification program, mandatory 24-hour reporting of positives to LDWF and USDA APHIS, and clearer, reciprocal communication between LDWF and LDAF when positives are found. No votes were taken; the chair said staff would compile the discussion and written recommendations for consideration at the April 9 commission meeting, with the understanding that the committee will later make formal recommendations to the Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called clean electricity for inter-island flights like sea gliders, which Hawaiian Electric has
• It's called clean electricity for inter-island flights like sea gliders, which Hawaiian Electric has
• It's called clean electricity for inter-island flights like sea gliders, which Hawaiian Electric has
• It's called clean electricity for inter-island flights like sea gliders, which Hawaiian Electric has
• </c> before the public utilities commission. before the public utilities commission.

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that would obviously have a chilling effect on cooperation amongst agencies crossing state lines,
• And I would imagine other agencies, especially from Iowa State, might not go to us and not cooperate
• So that would obviously have a chilling effect on cooperation amongst agencies crossing state lines,
• And I would imagine other agencies, especially from Iowa State, might not go to us and not cooperate
• effect on cooperation amongst agencies crossing<01:08:31.679><c> state</c><01:08:31.920><c> lines,</

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• He gave laparoscopic surgery as an example, saying there can be a lot of smoke and that electrical or
• She said that, for example, in laparoscopic surgery, there can be a lot of smoke because electrical or
• The witness explained that surgical smoke is essentially generated whenever an electrical tool is used
• </c><00:30:37.919><c> tool</c> essentially whenever an electrical tool essentially whenever an electrical
• </c><00:30:52.159><c> equipment</c> some kind of electrical equipment some kind of electrical equipment

Bills: SB2211 , SB2025 , SB2038 , SB2050 , SB2051 , SB2090

Committee: House Health

Summary: The House Committee on Health held its first hearing of the session and opened with housekeeping notes, introductions of members, and an explanation that the agenda would be taken out of order to accommodate a sign language interpreter. The committee first heard HB 469, relating to parking for disabled persons. Testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill, explaining that a travel placard would help people with disabilities who must travel interisland or to the mainland for medical care. Members asked about emergency travel, misuse prevention, and how to distinguish the travel placard from existing disabled parking placards; witnesses said the bill would need to be tied to administrative rules, and agreed the placard should clearly show an expiration date and likely be a different color. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 218, relating to hospital surgical smoke. The Department of Health supported the measure, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported it with amendments, saying hospitals already follow existing standards but that any new policy should account for different procedures and provider safety. A committee member questioned the proposed amendment language and whether it was too flexible; the witness explained the intent was to allow case-by-case application because some procedures generate only brief exposure. Members also asked what surgical smoke is, and the witness explained it is produced when electrical or cauterizing tools are used on tissue and creates vapor or fumes. The bill remained under discussion with no final action reported. The committee next took up HB 814, which would fund a public information campaign and related services on cannabis use among youth. The Department of the Attorney General said the bill should be amended to clarify whether the funding would be used for contracts or grants and to include proper grant standards if grants are intended. The Department of Health supported the bill and said the funds would expand prevention, treatment, recovery, and public education efforts, including social media outreach, PSAs, and school-based youth services. Multiple organizations and individuals testified in support, emphasizing the harms of youth cannabis use and the need for prevention and treatment resources. Members asked what the department currently does, whether it is fulfilling existing law on science-based cannabis information, and what kinds of treatment would be provided; the department said services would mainly be intensive outpatient, outpatient, counseling, and related youth-focused supports. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Candidly, the United States cannot be second to what's called a utility-scale quantum computer, which
• There's a couple, and I'll go through this in a couple of minutes, of what we expect a utility-scale
• And so, for a start-up or a utility-scope quantum computer, that's a lot of money.
• Their timeline for a utility-scale quantum computer is 2033.
• We will know by 2033 whether one of these utility-scale quantum computers will exist or not.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the bill clarifies it is the duty of the HOA to repair and replace utility services to a common
• area including gas, heat, water, or electrical services when the interruptions of service begin.
• The clerk will read: Assembly Bill 2111 by Assembly Member Papan, relating to electricity. Ms.
• Californians are feeling the squeeze of surging utility bills.
• Assembly Bill 2031 by Assembly Member of Pete you Norris and acculating the public utilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Once we got the new transmitter in there, we didn't have to spend as much money on electricity cooling
• Of course, the issue is, and it's in. the news everywhere that the electricity costs are going up.
• If you look at how much our electricity costs went up from '24 to '25, it was like 18%, and so there's
• We're going to save money, but we actually have to pay more money for the electricity increase. electricity
• and electricity charges.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles, Newton, Cooper, Marion, Macon, and Shelby.
• We could have utilized those dollars for urban agriculture.
• We could have utilized those dollars... ...for Alzheimer's.
• We could have utilized those dollars for urban agriculture.
• We could have utilized those dollars for Juneteenth.

Transcript Highlights:

• ratepayer' on page 4, line 4, by deleting after the word 'the' and before the word 'for.' the word 'utility
• ' and inserting the words 'electric supplier' and number 3 by amending the title to conform.
• and crypto mining facilities pay their portion of infrastructure costs associated with significant electric
• being passed on to residential, industrial, agriculture, and commercial ratepayers through higher utility

Bills: HB2992 , HB3183 , HB3464 , HB4170 , HB4338

Committee: Senate Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilizing the internet and other social media apps, e-bikes can also be easily modified to exceed legal
• a thoughtful and evidence-based approach to addressing the growing safety risks associated with electric
• bicycles. ...evidence-based approach to addressing the growing safety risks associated with electric
• vehicles or electric bicycles beyond 15 miles per hour.
• Orange County is probably not a whole lot different, and they're early adopters of electric devices,

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Heat pumps are highly efficient, all-electric HVAC and water heater appliances, roughly three times more
• Senators, thank you so much for your help and cooperation for a smooth session to date.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several routine announcements. Senator Weber Pierson removed SB 977 from the consent calendar. The chamber then took up a series of gubernatorial appointments, including Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission; all were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls after brief presentations by Senator Grove. The Senate also considered several commemorative resolutions. SCR 152, by Senator Reyes, designated April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day. Senators from both parties spoke in support, praising Huerta’s lifelong labor, civil rights, and nonviolent organizing work, and noting her role in the farmworker movement and the contributions of Filipino farmworkers. The resolution passed unanimously. SR 91, by Senator González, recognized Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week; SCR 149, by Senator Valadares, marked World Autism Awareness Day and emphasized early intervention and adult services; and SCR 150, by Senator Choi, recognized National Librarian Day and the public value of librarians. Each of these resolutions was adopted with broad support. The Senate also passed SB 1078 by Senator Laird, an urgency measure giving Santa Cruz County voters the opportunity to consider a local tax increase above the combined local tax rate cap to help fund services, including medical services; the bill passed 29-9 on both urgency and final passage. SR 98 by Senator Wiener, designating Heat Pump Week in California, also passed with strong support, highlighting energy savings, emissions reductions, and the state’s electrification goals. After lifting the call, the chamber confirmed the earlier appointments and adopted the remaining consent calendar items without objection. The session ended with committee announcements and an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a nurse and community leader, with the Senate scheduled to reconvene on April 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• a million dollars in value through prudent utility management.
• It allows certain utilities to receive hardcopy or electronic bids for public work projects.
• value through prudent utility management.
• It allows certain utilities to receive hardcopy or electronic bids for public work projects.
• That can be utilized, then take advantage of it. But that should be city and local control.

Summary: The Local Government Committee met for its final meeting of the session and considered six bills in executive session after a caucus break. The committee first took up Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6026 on residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. Members debated how to balance housing production with local control and walkable downtowns. The committee adopted a striking amendment that removed some exemptions, capped ground-floor commercial or mixed-use requirements at 40% of affected acreage, extended the compliance deadline to 18 months, and barred such requirements on publicly subsidized affordable housing projects. A proposed amendment to raise the population threshold from 30,000 to 40,000 was rejected. The bill was then reported out with a do pass recommendation on a 5-2 vote. The committee next considered Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects, including development agreements with regional transit authorities. Two property-rights-related amendments were rejected or modified, and an ADA-related amendment was adopted to ensure accessibility requirements were not waived. The bill was reported out as amended. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5374 on tribal representation in transportation planning also advanced after an amendment changed “consult” to “coordinate,” aligned county processes with the Growth Management Act, and added access to technical assistance; the bill passed out of committee with a do pass recommendation. Senate Bill 6132, allowing a narrow increase in indebtedness for select inland port districts to preserve federal funding eligibility, passed unanimously without amendment. The committee also approved Substitute Senate Bill 6076, which streamlines procurement rules for consumer-owned utilities on clean energy, storage, transmission, and distribution projects, with members noting broad support from utilities and labor. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5729, which limits local governments from charging applicants for certain third-party reviews already covered by staff review in affordable housing permitting, was reported out unanimously. The meeting ended with members thanking staff for their work during the session and adjourning the committee.