Transcript Highlights:

• The regulations we currently have in place require registration of four industry types.
• If you could look We have to follow based on the current statutes and regulations.
• So we have been developing regulations to clarify the scope of the licensing requirements.
• It's not a common accounting term, so we had to clarify what net proceeds means via regulation.
• It's not a common accounting term, so we had to clarify what net proceeds means via regulation.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration heard a series of budget change proposals and trailer bill items, beginning with Housing and Community Development (HCD) requests. HCD sought permanent authority for seven existing temporary positions to support the HCD Connect IT system, and a separate proposal to fund implementation of eight 2025 housing-related laws with $4.2 million General Fund and 16 positions, plus $470,000 one-time General Fund. Members asked about how HCD Connect would interact with programs moving to the new Housing Development Finance Committee, and HCD also explained that the estimated cost to implement AB 1053 had been revised downward from about $6 million to $1.9 million because of shared implementation with CalHFA and the new committee structure. The committee also heard a Cal ICH proposal for $339,000 one-time General Fund to implement AB 678 on LGBTQ+ inclusive and culturally competent homelessness services, with testimony emphasizing data gaps and the need for a contract-based approach because HMIS cannot be changed unilaterally. The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation presented three continuation proposals: $15.34 million and 53 positions for the California Consumer Financial Protection Law program, $13.5 million and 51 positions for the Debt Collector Licensing Act program, and $49,000 ongoing for two positions in the broker-dealer/investment adviser education program. Members and the public raised concerns about the size and fairness of debt collector assessments and licensing fees, while DFPI explained the pro rata fee structure, the current license count, and how larger assessments fall on larger firms. Public testimony also supported retaining funding for the Student Loan Empowerment Network and requested funding for a franchise broker registration program. The committee also considered a mandate item involving suspension of a disclosure requirement related to property taxation, and trailer bill language from the Government Operations Agency to amend AB 91 on MENA demographic data collection, with the administration emphasizing data nondisclosure, protection of federal funding, and delayed implementation. The Secretary of State’s office then presented Help America Vote Act funding requests: $10.3 million for VoteCal maintenance and operations and $4.492 million for HAVA spending plans supporting voter education, training, accessibility, auditing, and county assistance. The office also requested $660,000 General Fund to implement AB 1392, which would make voter registration information for elected officials and candidates confidential, and explained the need to modify VoteCal and county election systems. The committee also heard requests to continue the Cal-Access Replacement System with $11.8 million General Fund and to continue the Notary Automation Program Replacement Project with $9.75 million from the Business Fees Fund. Members asked about total project costs, testing, data migration, and the expected November 2026 go-live date for Cal-Access replacement. Votes were taken on the vote-only items once quorum was established, and the committee approved the items considered. The final informational item was an overview from the California Arts Council, which highlighted the agency’s 50th anniversary, its statewide grantmaking, and the economic impact of arts funding. Council staff described Creative Corps, cultural districts, and the role of arts funding in local economies, while members and public witnesses urged increased support, including a request to raise local assistance grant funding to $50 million and to provide additional funding for cultural districts. Testimony emphasized the arts as economic infrastructure, community infrastructure, and a source of civic and cultural vitality across California.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would not change any federal regulations about disposal.
• And even if it is to be federally regulated, who says that even with that, that it may not be. ...regulated
• My question is, they are regulated now.
• Is it a profit margin or is it regulation? What's going on that's causing that? So talk about...
• I'm learning a lot more about grade A and all of the things that we need to regulate and how to regulate

Bills: SB2122 , SB330 , SB2071 , SB2169 , SB2069 , SB2095 , SB2157

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2122, which would give the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry more flexibility to allow out-of-state poultry processing when in-state processing is unavailable. Supporters said the bill would help poultry producers who face short processing windows and lack sufficient in-state capacity, while opponents raised questions about food safety and environmental standards. The bill passed 13-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 330, as amended, to help the Oklahoma State Veterinary School Committee study and support the state’s growing elk herd in western Oklahoma. An amendment updated dates and removed a fiscal section, and the bill passed 11-2. Senate Bill 271 followed, updating dairy regulation authority from milk from cows and goats to milk from all hoofed mammals and increasing the milk production fee from one cent to two cents per hundredweight. The Department of Agriculture said the change was needed to preserve Grade A status, maintain interstate milk shipping, and cover program costs without subsidizing the dairy program from poultry fees. After extensive debate over fees, federal pressure, raw milk safety, and state sovereignty, the bill passed 8-7. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 2169, which creates a framework for managing invasive woody species and cedar removal on state lands to improve forage, reduce wildfire risk, conserve water, and increase school land revenues; it passed 12-1. Senate Bill 269, addressing baiting in migratory bird hunting and related penalties for guides, also passed 12-1. Senate Bill 2095, setting fees and fines for hunting guides and outfitters, passed 12-1 after questions about misdemeanor versus felony penalties. Finally, Senate Bill 2157, creating a Southeast Scenic Rivers framework, passed 8-5 after testimony that it would protect water resources and avoid federal scenic river designation, while critics argued it could expand government and affect property and agricultural rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• The majority of local animal regulations have no corollary in state code.
• , new local regulations being imposed on the use and keeping of animals, working or non-working.
• It overturns so many different regulations and laws that have been in existence on the books in some
• So there are some bills and regulations that are already intact that should be kept.
• And in those systems, it disconnects how to regulate inside of the body.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We represent thousands of workers in the legal-regulated cannabis space.
• Our union members work in licensed regulated facilities.
• Our union members work in licensed regulated facilities.
• We follow all of the regulations and rules in California.
• That one's regulated. Am I right? Or is it no regulation for hemp? Ms.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on AI, immigration-related health care protections, digital financial assets, and online cannabis/hemp sales. SB 69 by Senator McNerney would create an AI-focused team within the Department of Justice to build enforcement expertise on civil rights, public safety, and legal issues tied to AI. SB 81 by Senator Arreguín would codify hospital and health facility policies limiting disclosure of patient immigration status and restricting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant. SB 97 by Senator Grayson would update and clarify California’s digital financial assets licensing law. SB 243 by Senator Padilla would impose guardrails on AI companion chatbots, including disclosures, anti-addictive design limits, self-harm protocols, and a private right of action. SB 378 by Senator Wiener would allow civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Testimony on SB 69 emphasized that California needs in-house AI enforcement expertise at the DOJ; supporters said AG offices generally lack tech-policy specialists, while members asked about the Attorney General’s role and noted the office was neutral. SB 81 drew broad support from nurses, immigrant advocates, hospitals, labor, and community groups, who argued that hospitals should remain safe places for care regardless of immigration status; there was no opposition. SB 97 was described as a technical cleanup bill with stakeholder consensus, and the main public comment focused on ensuring blockchain-based nonfinancial products are not unintentionally swept into the law. SB 243 generated the most debate. Supporters, including the mother of a Florida teen who died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, urged stronger protections for minors and vulnerable users. Opponents argued the bill’s definitions were too broad and could capture general-purpose AI systems, and raised concerns about privacy, cost, and a private right of action. Committee members largely supported the bill’s intent and discussed the need for guardrails without stifling innovation. SB 378 was supported by cannabis workers, retailers, and local government representatives who said online sales of untested intoxicating hemp and illegal cannabis are harming public health and the legal market; opponents from hemp and tech groups argued the bill could sweep in lawful hemp businesses and that definitions need refinement. The committee ultimately passed SB 69, SB 81, SB 97, SB 243, and SB 378, with SB 81 and SB 243 amended, and all five bills were sent onward to their next committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair: Call the Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee meeting to order.
• are too many questions and complications, and that in December the council decided to initiate a regulation
• </c><00:02:25.280><c> that</c> were going to initiate a regulation that were going to initiate a regulation
• </c><00:03:19.200><c> or</c> veterinarians through uh regulation or veterinarians through uh regulation
• </c><00:13:09.360><c> like</c> in the statutes over to regulations like in the statutes over to regulations

Committee: House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• They can be regulated.
• They can be regulated.
• I'll clarify that it's not the internal regulations.
• And then we worked with state securities regulators across the country, as well as federal regulators
• We've regulated this space since 2014. So we already do this.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• highly regulated cannabis, we should be clear about the impact.
• Effectively, regulated cannabis cultivation in California is being made irrelevant.
• products in California and CDPH is working to make these regulations permanent.
• I would just note that we are very supportive of the emergency regulations as an industry.
• Those who would be regulated by this bill may state that we are cutting out highly regulated USDA licensed

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• Our coalition is not opposed to data centers, but we are concerned about lack of regulation.
• Our coalition is not opposed to data centers, but we are concerned about lack of regulation.
• </c> have different agencies that regulate have different agencies that regulate water<00:45:40.040><
• This is not adequately being addressed in the current regulation.
• </c><00:57:30.640><c> to</c> thoughtful policy and regulation to thoughtful policy and regulation to

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• They may know the fee, but they don't know some of the regulations, and in some cases the regulations
• They may know the fee, but they don't know some of the regulations, and in some cases the regulations
• They may know the fee, but they don't know some of the regulations, and in some cases the regulations
• They may know the fee, but they don't know some of the regulations, and in some cases the regulations
• They may know the fee, but they don't know some of the regulations, and in some cases the regulations

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:35.000><c> in</c> we feel that you should be regulated in we feel that you should be regulated
• </c><00:39:19.319><c> and</c> that Minnesota's regulations and that Minnesota's regulations and standards
• by the Department of Commerce to have a sense of trust that what Commerce is doing in regulating our
• </c> what Commerce is doing in in regulating what Commerce is doing in in regulating our<00:41:49.119
• </c> number one um Commerce is the regulator number one um Commerce is the regulator for<00:53:53.839

Bills: HF2335 , HF2400 , HF2401 , HF2522

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:35.239><c> healthcare</c> make sure that the regulated healthcare make sure that the regulated
• <c> 2014</c><00:10:45.279><c> we</c><00:10:45.440><c> regulated</c> doubled in 2014 we regulated doubled
• </c><00:10:51.320><c> almost</c><00:10:51.600><c> 10,000</c> we regulate almost 10,000 we regulate almost
• </c> annual renewal fees to cover regulating annual renewal fees to cover regulating hmos<01:03:43.920
• :03:45.720><c> become</c> hmos clearly HMO regulation has become hmos clearly HMO regulation has become

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• and more when they statutes regulations and more when they have<00:12:21.920><c> questions</c><00:12
• just want to note laws and regulations just want to note uh<00:18:16.640><c> Mr</c><00:18:16.919><c>
• </c> above and beyond laws and regulations above and beyond laws and regulations and<00:18:24.039><c>
• regulations regulations investigation investigation investigation uh<00:19:37.520><c> if</c><00:19:38.520
• A point of contact for residents and permitted companies, and the regulated community, would be very

Bills: HF8 , HF1416

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Mortgage banks regulated by DFPI are already looking at tripling our annual assessments.
• I don't know where regulations create incentives. To me, really, regulations create disincentives.
• Federal regulations to make sure that they are investing. That's their marketplace.
• Work, so I'm trying to understand what a regulation is going to do.
• A lot more regulations.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• without the authority to regulate these products.
• With our liquor stores, we've imposed similar regulations and limitations to enforce the age of purchase
• And these regulations, while necessary, come with a cost and a burden to retailers.
• And I hope that this is adopted so that we can take advantage of those regulations, that revenue, and
• The amount of questions in regard to the enforcement of this regulation are pretty substantial.

Summary: The Senate took up floor debate on H. 4206, An Act Modernizing the Commonwealth Cannabis Laws, with repeated amendment votes focused largely on cannabis regulation, transparency, youth access, and the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Early motions included suspending Senate Rule 38A to continue past 8 p.m., which passed by standing vote. Most amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on possession limits, CCC executive director appointment and removal, legislative control over medical marijuana licenses, a multi-agency task force on illegal cannabis, annual CCC hearings and reports, an ombudsman, a legislative liaison, a youth-cannabis study commission, supply-and-demand study, and increased penalties for distribution to minors. Amendment 33 by Senator Driscoll, directing the CCC and other agencies to study regulation of intoxicating hemp products, was adopted. Amendment 7 by Senator Brownsberger, allowing cannabis discount and loyalty advertising to existing customers and opt-in email lists, was also adopted. Amendment 29 by Senator O’Connor, allowing the CCC to temporarily suspend or revoke medical marijuana licenses during investigations of illegal sales, was adopted as well. Several other amendments were debated and defeated, including Senator O’Connor’s billboard advertising restriction for cannabis and Senator Tarr’s proposal to increase penalties for selling marijuana to minors. The chamber then took up the bill’s corrective and Ways and Means amendment, adopted both, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote. The final vote showed the bill advancing despite some opposition, including from several senators who voted no on engrossment. After the cannabis bill, the Senate considered and passed two land-related bills by roll call: H. 4772, authorizing easements in Lowell, and H. 4362, authorizing release of agricultural preservation restrictions in Westford. The Senate also adopted a motion that when it adjourned, it would do so in memory of Stephen P. Foutou of Newton, followed by a moment of silence. The chamber then adopted an adjournment order and recessed until the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it's an FDIC regulation of the banks, but I don't see them.
• not, that becomes another question to why regulated as well at this level.
• But again, the cash ATM's are regulated by entire financial system.
• But this is just one of those areas that regulation is definitely necessary.
• The OPEC members by your vote show the bill is reported favorably regulations.

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So H. 5141 would just allow us to not have overly strict state regulations for birds that might be doing
• The regulations that are at the state level in particular have not been revised since the mid-1990s.
• They were actually very open and happy to see a review process of the regulations.
• They are aware these bills were filed, and they are definitely open, particularly on the regulation update
• We like to keep the regulations for rodenticides and pesticides at the state level with MDAR, which is

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a late-file hearing focused mainly on coastal access and wildlife protection bills, rodenticide restrictions, and a conservation land use bill. Chair Barbara House opened with technical notes and hearing rules, then Rep. Scarsdale testified for H. 5113, which would name an accessible trail in Groton the Marion Stoddard Riverwalk in honor of the environmental advocate who helped restore the Nashua River. Groton Trails Committee chair Paul Fung also supported the bill, describing the trail, educational signage, and DCR’s involvement. Rep. Sweezey then presented a package of Duxbury beach bills—H. 5141, H. 5140, and H. 5139—aimed at revising shorebird protections, creating parity among beaches, and requiring regular review of outdated recreational-use guidelines. He said the bills were developed with local and agency input to balance conservation and beach access, though he acknowledged some initial concerns from wildlife officials about the language in H. 5141. The committee also heard extensive testimony on local home-rule petitions to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and other pesticides. Supporters included Grafton resident Shannon Phelan, Mass Audubon’s Heather Packard, Sen. Ford, Billerica resident William Jubin, Manchester-by-the-Sea resident Anne Harris, and Animal Defenders International’s Drew McCormick. They argued the poisons cause secondary poisoning in owls, hawks, eagles, and other wildlife, can harm pets and livestock, and are increasingly ineffective; several speakers urged local authority because statewide action has been slow. Opponents included Molly Moran of the New England Pest Management Association, who argued regulation should remain at the state level through MDAR to avoid a patchwork of local rules and noted the agency is already reviewing the issue. Additional testimony from Stephanie Ellis, Laura Kelly, Chris Powicki, Cecily Miller, and others supported Eastham and Truro pesticide-reduction petitions, citing wildlife losses, groundwater concerns, and the need for local control. Finally, the committee heard S. 2961 from Dighton town counsel Matthew Costa, which would authorize use of a small portion of conservation land for public way purposes tied to replacement of the Pleasant Street Bridge. Costa said the easements are needed for safety improvements, including a wider bridge deck, sidewalk, guardrail replacement, and erosion controls, and that the affected conservation area is limited and of little natural-resource value. The hearing ended after testimony on these bills, with no votes taken during the session and the committee adjourning at the close of testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be nearly impossible to regulate that activity.
• But you can regulate the marketplace and say that you cannot sell a reservation when you do not have
• It would be nearly impossible to regulate that activity.
• But you can regulate the marketplace and say that you cannot sell a reservation when you do not have
• So we are not regulating the bot or the scraping.

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The committee began by postponing SB 1742 on condos until the following week, then took up SB 1298 on building construction. Senator Simon said the bill would require continued education for long-licensed building professionals, clarify interagency sharing of building officials, limit residential inspectors to one- and two-family homes, revive a paid internship for residential planning examiners, modernize permit signatures, and clarify contractor responsibility when work changes hands. The bill drew supportive waivers and was reported favorably. Members then considered SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms. A delete-everything amendment was adopted to target bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations, while preserving direct restaurant-platform relationships and requiring consumer contact information when reservations are made through noncontractual platforms. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the measure, and CS/SB 940 was reported favorably. SB 638 on home inspectors also passed after the sponsor explained it would raise education requirements from 120 to 200 hours, add instruction on building code, wind mitigation, four-point and insurance inspections, and require $300,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage; it was reported favorably. The committee next approved SB 960 on elevator accessibility, allowing additional shorter support rails while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was amended to address mRNA language and cosmetics safety standards, with the committee adopting amendments and then reporting the bill favorably. SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was amended to clarify the definition of heated tobacco products and exclude other forms such as hookah; it also passed favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees. Finally, SB 1262 on construction contracting was amended to add contractor continuing-education topics, strengthen penalties for unlicensed activity, create a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and require timely refunds and project completion standards; it was reported favorably with support from the Florida Home Builders Association. SB 1304 on solar facilities was then approved after extensive testimony from rural county commissioners and local officials who argued that utility-scale solar on agricultural land has grown without sufficient local oversight and that decommissioning rules are needed to protect farmland and communities. The bill would repeal the current by-right treatment of solar facilities on ag land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances; it was reported favorably after a technical amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Illicit vapes are also aggressively marketed to minors, sold outside regulated channels by bypassing
• My concern is that I don't understand how we're going to regulate what we can't ban.
• And I know the numbers, whether we can verify the 90% or 10%, but this bill bans the 10% of regulated
• I think, I know there's more comments that need or questions, but I think we cannot regulate what we
• California Fish and Game regulations only regulate aquatic transgenic animals, with the regulations silent

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• as myself, really understand the need and the urgency for some of the regulations, the tougher regulations
• And the regulations, when they have come, you know, they've been challenging.
• I am pleased to report that those regulations have been very successful.
• What factors, regulations, and other things?"
• As I said earlier, our state has the toughest regulations in the nation, no question.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• We're implementing major regulations on off-road diesel engines, Tier 5 rulemaking for diesel engines
• Talking about rules and regulations, right? What is the potential cost on one side?
• I think we pass a lot of rules, we pass a lot of regulations, and then we don't know what happened.
• Do I think that thoughtful regulation can transition us to a place that, you know, reduces greenhouse
• I have experience as a negotiator, a facilitator, a regulator, and a lawyer.

Summary: The committee first established quorum and then approved several governor’s appointments and procedural items, including appointments to the Civil Rights Council, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, UC College of the Law, San Francisco Board of Directors, bill referrals, and floor acknowledgments. Most of these items passed unanimously, while the Civil Rights Council appointment of Indira Cameron Banks passed 3-2. The bulk of the meeting focused on confirmations to the California Air Resources Board. Supervisor Linda Hopkins and Mayor Patricia Locke Dawson, both nominated to CARB, described their backgrounds and emphasized balancing climate and air-quality goals with economic impacts, community engagement, and practical implementation. Senators raised concerns about cap-and-trade costs, leakage, warehouse and truck traffic impacts, agricultural burdens, emergency vehicle and fleet electrification challenges, natural gas appliance rules, hydrogen, nuclear energy, and the need for socioeconomic analysis. Both nominees said they favored open-door engagement, listening to affected communities, and using data and technology-neutral approaches. Public commenters largely supported both nominees, and the committee voted to advance Hopkins 4-0 and Locke Dawson 5-0 to the full Senate. The committee also heard the appointment of Andrew Rakestraw as chair of the Board of Environmental Safety. Rakestraw, who previously worked in U.S. climate and legal roles, said he would focus on transparency, accountability, fiscal stability, and community responsiveness at DTSC. Senators questioned him about DTSC reform, community engagement in places like the Hinkley/Herupah Valley and Exide cleanup areas, fee-setting and fiscal stability, the hazardous waste management plan, and coordination with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council. He said the board should go beyond brief public comment periods, engage communities directly, and ensure community concerns are reflected in outcomes. Supporters from environmental justice and waste-management groups testified in favor, no opposition was offered, and the committee moved his nomination forward to the Senate floor, with one member abstaining.