Transcript Highlights:

• Assemblymember, you may proceed when ready. Thank you.
• Assembly Member McKinnor, you may proceed when ready.
• Assembly Member McKinner, you may proceed when ready.
• Assemblymember Garcia, are you ready to present? Item 5.
• Please present when ready. Thank you. Waiting for my witnesses.

Summary: The hearing opened with several procedural announcements and then took up AB 2148, which would prohibit artificial intelligence from replacing education workers. The author and supporters from the California Federation of Teachers and California School Employees Association argued the bill was a modest first step to protect human educators, students’ social-emotional development, and teacher agency in classroom technology decisions. Public support came from labor and education groups, while some school administrator and county office representatives said they were moving to neutral or awaiting the printed amendments. The committee discussed teacher shortages and the role of AI as a supplement rather than a replacement, then passed AB 2148 as amended to Higher Education on a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to advise the State Board of Education. The author and sponsors said the commission would improve coordination between state and local education leaders and help the state better support local efforts to close achievement gaps. Support came from CSBA, CFT, charter schools, and many district leaders. Members raised questions about early childhood representation on the commission, and the author said he would discuss that with the sponsor. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. The consent calendar, including AB 1569, AB 2071, AB 2206, AB 2298, AB 2467, AB 2580, AB 2652, and AB 2726, was also approved. AB 2555 was then heard as a special order bill to reform English learner reclassification. The author said the current system is outdated, inconsistent, and too subjective, and proposed a more automatic, transparent process with stronger parent involvement and post-reclassification monitoring. Testimony in support emphasized personal experiences of delayed reclassification and the need to recognize biliteracy; there was no opposition. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations on a 6-0 vote. The committee also approved AB 1860, which would extend design-build authority to county offices of education while preserving prevailing wage, apprenticeship, and skilled workforce requirements; opposition from county superintendent and facilities groups was removed after amendments, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Later, the committee passed AB 2514, which would create a State of Achievement Gap Dashboard to track state-level progress in closing achievement gaps, and AB 2149, which would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to publicly assess the state’s progress and recommend actions. Both bills were presented as part of a broader package to improve state accountability for student outcomes, and both passed as amended to Appropriations on 7-0 votes. Finally, AB 2490 was heard, proposing to allow longer-term substitute assignments with added training, mentorship, and parent notification to address teacher shortages and classroom instability. Supporters said it would reduce “subchurn” and help maintain continuity, especially in special education; opponents, including CTA, Public Advocates, and CTC staff, argued the bill was unnecessary given existing rulemaking and could create legal and training concerns. The transcript cuts off during committee discussion of AB 2490, so no final vote is shown for that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Member, you may proceed when ready. Thank you.
• Assembly Member McKinner, you may proceed when ready.
• Assembly Member McKinner, you may proceed when ready.
• Assembly Member Garcia, are you ready to present? Item 5.
• Assembly Member Garcia, and you may proceed when ready. You may proceed when ready. Thank you.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• to retire fully, but maybe not ready to work to stop the street anymore.
• but maybe not ready to work to stop the street<00:10:11.360><c> anymore.
• If you already have those groups in place, then you're ready to go.
• </c> you're talking about before you're ready you're talking about before you're ready to<00:35:20.360
• So, so already have that in ready to go.

Committee: House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're ready. Excuse me. My name is Manfred Dix.
• Robinson, when you're ready. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• When you're ready. Next agency is the Division of Administration.
• Filial, when you're ready. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
• When you're ready, Mr. Robinson? Thank you, sir.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And right now, you know, I don't know if I'm ready to declare that you all are the expert in telling
• And right now, you know, I don't know if I'm ready to declare that you all are the expert in telling
• And right now, you know, I don't know if I'm ready to declare that you all are the expert in telling
• I mean, so that's why I'm speaking as I'm speaking now. ready to do here is set the standard in ready
• </c> now you know I I don't know if I'm ready now you know I I don't know if I'm ready to<00:14:31.839

Bills: SB294 , HB296 , HB300 , SB269

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: public officers, bonding, risk management, notification, delinquency, consumer protection, rental home, marketplace guarantees, insurance, commissioner of insurance, healthcare, breast cancer screening, insurance coverage, deductible, copayment, emergency medical services, ambulance reimbursement, health care insurers, balance billing, provider networks

Transcript Highlights:

• Early learning school readiness is incredibly important to all of us.
• Kimberly McDaniel Kimberly McDaniel with the HOA Reform League is ready to speak.
• You ready? Please call the roll. Chair McClure? Yes. Vice Chair Valdez? Yes.
• . readiness families who are funded off the waitlist.
• When schools provide school readiness services, they remain subject to DCF inspection and oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ranking Member Brown, are you ready to present your bill? No? Oh, I apologize. I'm ahead of myself.
• Is DOT ready? Thank you. I apologize. I'm ahead of myself. We have a couple of presentations.
• Is DOT ready? Go ahead and come to the table and introduce yourself in this proceeding.
• Representative Borrego, you're ready? Proceed when you're at the table, please. Thank you.
• If we could get back to the presentation, please, and proceed when you're ready.

Summary: The committee heard a District 5 New Mexico Department of Transportation presentation from Rhonda Lopez, who reviewed the district’s FY26 budget, staffing vacancies, and the status of special appropriations from 2020 through 2025. She described numerous completed and ongoing projects across the district, including roadway overlays, bridge work, intersection improvements, ADA upgrades, and maintenance projects, and also summarized STIP, TPF, LGRF, and equipment needs. Members asked about a guardrail issue near U.S. 64 in Hogback, the 5% local match for TPF projects, and the status of the New Mexico 371/U.S. 36 intersection funding agreement with the Navajo Nation; DOT said the match is secured or waived where applicable and that the Navajo agreement is nearly finalized. The committee then heard House Bill 270, which would amend the Public Works Apprentice Training Act to require contributions to apprenticeship and training programs for certain public works contracts, including highway-related work, while creating an exception where no approved apprenticeship program exists for a trade classification. The sponsor said the bill was intended to strengthen workforce development and support apprenticeship training. Contractors and asphalt industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it would raise road project costs and duplicate existing training contributions. A motion to table failed on a tie, and a later motion to pass also failed on a tie, leaving the bill in committee. Next, the committee heard House Bill 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund, dedicate additional revenue sources including a portion of electricity GRT and motor vehicle excise tax, and begin annual distributions for federal matching funds in 2029. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help address a multi-billion-dollar road funding gap, improve maintenance, and provide a stable source for matching federal dollars. Some members raised concerns about the electricity tax component, its effect on utility bills, and overlap with recently enacted transportation financing measures; others supported the concept but questioned timing and funding priorities. A motion on the bill resulted in a tie and failed, leaving the bill in committee. The meeting concluded with a District 4 NMDOT legislative presentation. The district outlined its geography, budget, staffing vacancy rate, completed special appropriations, active construction and maintenance projects, wildfire-related recovery work, local government funding allocations, and equipment replacement needs. Members asked about school district uses of local funding and the impact of aging equipment and weather on maintenance costs. The presentation ended without any formal action on District 4 items, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ranking Member Brown, are you ready to present your bill? No? Oh, I apologize. I'm ahead of myself.
• Is DOT ready? I apologize. I'm ahead of myself. We have a couple of presentations. Is DOT ready?
• Representative Borrego, you're ready. Proceed when you're at the table, please. Thank you.
• Ranking Member Brown, are you ready? Thank you. Thank you. Ranking Member, please proceed.
• If we could get back to the presentation, please, and proceed when you're ready.

Summary: The committee first received a detailed New Mexico DOT District 5 presentation from Rhonda Lopez. She reviewed District 5’s budget, staffing vacancies, completed and ongoing special appropriations from 2020 through 2025, active construction projects, maintenance work, STIP and local government funding, and equipment needs. Members asked about a guardrail issue near U.S. 64, the status of the 5% local match for Transportation Project Fund projects, and the New Mexico 371/Navajo Route 36 intersection; DOT said the match agreements were in place or waived where eligible, and that the Navajo Nation funding agreement was nearly finalized. The chair then moved the agenda to bills before finishing the remaining presentations later. House Bill 270, dealing with contributions to apprenticeship and training programs on public works projects, was presented by Rep. Borrego as a follow-up to the 2024 workforce development and apprenticeship trust fund law. The bill would remove an exclusion for street, highway, bridge, road, utility, and maintenance contracts and require contributions unless a trade classification has no approved apprenticeship program. Associated Contractors and the Asphalt Pavement Association opposed the bill, arguing it would raise road project costs and duplicate existing training programs. Members raised concerns about notice, added costs, and whether contractors with existing programs would be paying twice. A motion to table failed on a tie vote, and a later motion to pass also failed on a tie vote, leaving the bill in committee and available for reconsideration. Ranking Member Brown then presented House Bill 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund, with a planned distribution beginning in 2029, including a 5% use for federal matching funds. The bill would also dedicate a portion of the gross receipts tax on electricity and redirect part of the motor vehicle excise tax to grow the fund. Associated Contractors and the Asphalt Pavement Association supported the concept, saying it would help sustain DOT and address the state’s road maintenance gap. Members questioned the electricity tax component, its effect on ratepayers and data centers, the interaction with SB 2 and bond financing, and how projects would be prioritized. A motion to pass failed on a tie vote, and the ranking member suggested the bill could be reconsidered with an amendment removing the electricity portion. The committee then heard a District 4 DOT presentation from assistant district engineer Cruz Sudoste, covering the district’s geography, budget, staffing, completed and active projects, STIP and local government programs, and equipment replacement needs. Members asked about school district uses of transportation project funds and the impact of aging equipment on repair costs. The presentation concluded without any vote or other action on the district report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who's ready for the basketball game? We get defender championship in our arms.
• Is Representative Matthews ready on that item? Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am ready.
• That is Houseville 32 is Representative Matthews ready on that item. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am ready.
• Gentlelady from Bernalillo, are you ready? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• So we're ready. Members, take note. Gentlelady from Doña Ana. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bills: HB95 , HB111 , HJR1 , HB32 , HB33 , HB61 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HM2 , HM16

Transcript Highlights:

• Who's ready for the basketball game? We get defender championship in our arms.
• Is Representative Matthews ready on that item? Yes, yes, Mr. Speaker, I am ready.
• Gentlelady from Bernalillo, are you ready on item number one on the calendar?
• I've had way too much coffee, and I'm ready to go for a 10-mile run.
• So we're ready. Members, take note. Gentlelady from Doña Ana. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bills: HB95 , HB111 , HJR1 , HB32 , HB33 , HB61 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HM2 , HM16

Summary: The House opened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and a series of announcements and recognitions tied to Gallup-McKinley County Day, including the presentation and passage of House Memorial 15 designating February 5, 2026, as Gallup-McKinley County Day. Members spoke at length in support of Gallup and McKinley County, its Native communities, cultural traditions, Route 66 heritage, economic development, and local schools and guests in the gallery. House Memorial 15 passed unanimously, 70-0. The chamber then took up House Memorial 3 recognizing nurses and other health care professionals. Several members and guests from labor and health care organizations spoke in support, emphasizing the dedication of frontline workers and the importance of honoring nurses. The memorial passed unanimously, 70-0. The House also passed House Bill 32, a counseling licensure compact, after adopting a technical amendment, by 63-0; House Bill 33, a psychologist compact, by 64-0; and House Bill 95, creating a fifth judge position in the Second Judicial District family court division, after a friendly amendment removing an appropriation because funding was already in the budget, by 65-0. During committee reports, the House adopted favorable reports on several measures, including House Bill 70 substitute, Senate Bill 3 as amended, House Bills 246, 254, 271, 276, 288, and House Joint Memorial 3. In introductions, the House referred several memorials and Senate bills, including measures on teacher workload study, detention facility reuse, health insurance affordability, gifted education endorsements, special education, and burglary definitions. The House also announced committee meetings, upcoming events, and the annual House-versus-Senate basketball game, then recessed until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we ready? You're ready. Okay.
• If you want to come forward, and then we have a remote panel that we may want to begin to get ready:
• Coming up front and getting ready are Julie Salvi, Misha Juniski, and Dr. Randy Spalding.
• You can be in the front row, ready to go. Welcome, Christian.
• We believe that early childhood education is foundational, not only for kindergarten readiness, but also

Summary: The Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee heard three bills. Senate Bill 6052 would create a statewide digital transcript data-sharing environment for K-12 and postsecondary institutions, with student or parent permission required for disclosure. Supporters from universities, OSPI, school districts, counselors, and education groups said the bill would reduce paper handling, staff time, errors, and delays in admissions and enrollment, while improving security and student access; members asked about alignment with the High School and Beyond Plan, FERPA, apprenticeships, and out-of-state transfer issues. Senate Bill 6051 would allow local school boards to grant waivers or partial waivers of certain state laws and rules to individual schools, while excluding health and safety, civil rights, parental rights, basic education, and other protected areas. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give districts flexibility and surface recurring regulatory burdens, but OSPI, the State Board of Education, WEA, and school board groups raised concerns about broad scope, lack of definitions, possible impacts on special education and basic education compliance, and added complexity or legal costs. Some district representatives supported the idea of flexibility and relief from unfunded mandates, but suggested the bill needed more work. Senate Bill 5907 would expand ECEAP access for military families with incomes below 60% of state median income and prioritize children with deployed or single custodial military parents. The sponsor and supporters from ESDs, school districts, Head Start/ECEAP, child advocacy groups, and veterans organizations said military families face frequent moves, deployments, child care instability, and related stress, and that the bill would provide a modest, cost-effective benefit without state fiscal impact. In executive session, the committee adopted a proposed substitute and passed SB 5860 to Ways and Means, and adopted a proposed substitute and passed SB 5574 to Rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whenever you guys are ready.
• Okay, I think we're ready for a motion on the switch.
• All ready. We're sending them every week to trainings on how to detect this.
• To be ready to go. And I want to try to retain these people as best I can.
• And whenever You're ready. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of the committee.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Yarborough you ready to go with the next one?
• Let's take Up Tab 5 SB 1102 for school readiness programs by Senator Calatayud Senator Calatayud.
• The ESE differential within school readiness is 3 million dollars. That's that has been set aside.
• That is set aside within within our school readiness budget, specifically to support providers that are
• We also ensure the early learning us to meet in conference for school readiness considers population

Transcript Highlights:

• Please state your names for the record and proceed when ready. Good morning.
• Please state your names for the record and proceed when ready. Good morning.
• opportunity to discuss these efforts today and look forward to enhancing California's emergency readiness
• And what we do is we build kind of a readiness profile of the alerting authorities.
• And what we do is we build kind of a readiness profile of the alerting authorities.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s emergency alert and warning systems, especially in light of recent Southern California wildfires and the January 9 evacuation alert that was mistakenly sent to millions of residents. Opening remarks emphasized the loss of life, the strain on first responders, the importance of timely warnings, and concerns that public trust in alerts has been undermined by delays, confusion, and over-alerting. Members repeatedly raised questions about how to improve speed, accuracy, coordination across jurisdictions, and public understanding of the difference between evacuation warnings and orders. Cal OES staff described the state’s alert and warning framework, including SEMS, the State Warning Center, IPAWS, WEA, and EAS, and said local governments retain primary responsibility for issuing alerts because they know local roads, shelters, and hazards best. They said Cal OES supports local agencies with training, technical assistance, testing, and backup alerting help when requested, and that local alerting authorities must test their systems every 30 days and complete FEMA-required training. Members pressed Cal OES on gaps in smaller or under-resourced jurisdictions, the lack of a statewide unified system, compliance monitoring, redundancy for people without reliable technology, and whether the state should take a more active role. Cal OES said it could assist smaller jurisdictions and step in during emergencies, but that a statewide system would require further analysis and funding. Sheriff Eric Taylor of San Benito County emphasized that local control is essential because counties differ widely in structure, geography, and alerting responsibilities, and he described the challenges of rural areas, limited cell coverage, and multiple platforms such as Nixle, Reverse 911, and social media. Nick Russell of Watch Duty said the nonprofit fills gaps by providing fast, geospatially detailed wildfire information from volunteers and public data, and argued that context and redundancy are critical because official alerts often arrive too late or lack enough detail. Members praised Watch Duty’s usefulness and asked about incorporating similar capabilities into state systems. Public commenters also raised the need for broader redundancy, including earthquake-warning partnerships, and wildfire survivors urged the committee to address the confusing patchwork of alerts and to honor prior compensation commitments to PG&E fire survivors. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only and adjourned after member questions and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'll be ready for the next one in just a minute.
• I got to check, make sure we're ready to go. She's ready to go. All right.
• You ready? All right. Who's introducing 474?
• </c><01:04:14.000><c> Who's</c> You ready? All right. Who's You ready? All right.
• Uh, and we're ready<01:18:12.080><c> to</c><01:18:12.320><c> introduce</c> ready to introduce ready to

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:57.800><c> to</c> available and has developers ready to available and has developers ready
• Our project is shovel ready.
• Our project is shovel ready.
• Is Representative Kosowski ready to testify?
• </c> fashion is representative kolski ready fashion is representative kolski ready to to to testify<00

Bills: HF458 , HF459 , HF461 , HF449 , HF450 , HF965 , HF1280 , HF612 , HF615 , HF616 , HF622 , HF650 , HF651 , HF1045 , HF972 , HF851 , HF644 , HF1050

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• And Assembly Member, whenever you're ready, And Assembly Member, whenever you're ready, you can begin
• Okay, 2273, whenever you're ready. AB 2273, whenever you're ready. All right.
• McKinner here, if she is ready.
• Whenever you're ready, Mr. Gonzalez.
• Whenever you're ready, two minutes each.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• District readiness to actually move on those projects. Mr. Chair, Ms.
• Regarding district readiness, we're going to speak with them about their financial position, what their
• checklist; that's too perfunctory— but some sort of rubric or weighting on how we consider district readiness
• One of the tools that we have in our toolkit to adjust district readiness is the Memorandum of Understanding
• It really outlines a lot of the starting point details for districts and whether or not they're ready

Transcript Highlights:

• So now is the time, and I'm, you know, ready to hear from you all. Thank you very much.
• in how we are investing in ensuring that our state park, our great city park, Exposition Park, is ready
• That momentum continues to build every week, including more than 45,000 Californians ready to step up
• This will need help to be ready, to be prepared, to tell the story that needs to be told.
• We're ready to go with you in unison with you. On top of that, obviously immigration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill, those assessments, do not determine if you're ready for an advanced math course.
• Do you believe in just benchmark success that they're determined and ready to be in that algebra?
• And so a kid that's actually ready for algebra is actually getting tested on standards that can even
• A student just getting an A, do you believe they're ready for that next advanced class?
• Because I got A's, but I sure wasn't ready for algebra.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first considered the executive nomination of John Snyder to the State Board for Charter Schools. Snyder described his background in municipal finance, charter school financings, and prior service with Arizona charter school organizations, and said his finance experience would help the board evaluate school viability and oversight. The committee voted 6-0 with one not voting to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard HB 2093, which would remove the statutory requirement that health education include mental health instruction and would repeal related consultation requirements over time. The sponsor argued schools should focus on academics and that social-emotional learning and mental health content belong with parents, while opponents, including students, a suicide-loss parent, and mental health advocates, said school-based instruction saves lives, helps students seek help, and preserves parental choice through opt-out provisions. After debate, the committee voted 4-3 to give HB 2093 a do pass recommendation. Members also considered HB 4043, requiring at least one campus employee trained in CPR, first aid, and AED use where applicable; HB 4005, requiring districts to teach ethical and educational uses of AI beginning in 2027-28; HB 2895, allowing Native American language proficiency to satisfy a world language graduation requirement; HB 2383, renaming trampoline court safety legislation as Ty’s Law; HB 4109, requiring school district public safety policies, notifications, and annual reporting after serious violence or weapon incidents; HB 2376, appropriating $40 million for the school safety program; and HB 2380, requiring public access to board meeting materials and tighter rules on out-of-state travel. HB 4043, HB 2895, and HB 2383 all received unanimous or near-unanimous do pass recommendations, while HB 4005, HB 4109, HB 2376, and HB 2380 each advanced on 4-3 votes, with some members citing concerns about unfunded mandates, criminal penalties, local control, or the scope and timing of required disclosures.