Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to add domestic violence and sexual battery.
• But I wanted to take the definition from code 18-924, sexual battery.
• The definition of... ...code 18-924, sexual battery.
• So it's not that easy to prove sexual battery.
• He was guilty of a battery case that they didn't take DNA on. So there are circumstances.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And two of them that have had multiple safety violations.
• Whatever utility is doing in the form of public safety, it would take an open records request to view
• Today are batteries, so a battery can be a load. or it can be a resource.
• So we have a two or three hour period where batteries are very.
• And a battery can be put on the system in less than two years. Okay.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> speak to public safety It's not safety. speak to public safety It's not safety.
• My recommendation is to pass batteries.
• company who does the switch out sells me a new battery and they take the old battery and ship it back
• Um, so, that's my concern. they sell me a new battery and they take they sell me a new battery and they
• </c> the factory wherever they get batteries the factory wherever they get batteries from.<00:52:34.440

Bills: SCR8 , SCR40 , SCR83 , SCR179 , SCR90 , SCR94 , SCR159 , SCR165 , SCR177

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions related to water, coastal management, and permitting. Early measures included SCR 8 on faster county action for certain home-modification permits for older adults and people with disabilities, SCR 40 on banning disposable body boards, SCR 83 on creating a lithium-ion battery disposal facility, SCR 179 on enforcing Maui fire-code provisions for brush clearance and emergency access, and SCR 90 on kupuna-friendly permit requirements. No testifiers were present for those measures, and the chair moved through them without taking votes in the portion provided. The most extensive discussion was on SCR 94, endorsing Waikiki as a world surfing reserve, and SCR 159, urging shared guiding principles for restoring and maintaining Waikiki’s beaches and shoreline. University of Hawaii testimony said the surfing-reserve designation would bring recognition, could help attract grants, and would require a stewardship committee and management plan, but would not itself block beach nourishment or shoreline restoration. Members asked about possible effects on dredging, beach nourishment, and shoreline structures; the witness said impacts on surfing were not expected to be immediate or significant. For SCR 159, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the resolution but requested clarifying amendments to broaden references to law, stakeholder collaboration, and coastal science expertise. The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association also supported the measure, emphasizing coordinated maintenance, public access, and the economic importance of Waikiki beaches, while noting that existing legal agreements and court decisions should be reflected in the resolution. The discussion also covered whether the state and private owners share repair and maintenance obligations for Waikiki seawalls; testimony said existing agreements remain relevant but must yield to current law. The committee also heard SCR 165 designating March as Water Month, with support from the Board of Water Supply and others, and SCR 177 requesting DAGS to convene a cooperative working group on state projects needing county permits. Mary Alice Evans said the latter would help expedite permitting, especially for housing and other state projects, and would complement efforts to standardize county permitting processes. No final votes or dispositions were announced in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Senator, just for battery on a police officer... Okay, I'm sorry. Aggravated battery.
• Aggravated battery on a police officer...
• And a lot of these battery on police officers.
• Battery is a misdemeanor, or aggravated battery is a misdemeanor.
• Aggravated battery against PO is a fourth degree.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The state fire marshal just adopted a suite of fire safety codes for battery energy storage systems and
• And 75% of the battery storage that is industrial-sized battery storage now in the state has shifted
• Why are we talking about the battery storage?
• Lying upon the battery, why are we talking about the battery storage just in case the main power line
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Public Safety.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The committee heard a series of housing, local government, and governance bills, with most of the discussion focused on housing production, permitting, and local accountability. SB 1003, by Senator Grayson, would create an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local jurisdictions and developers jointly fund infill housing infrastructure; it drew support from housing advocates and senior housing groups, while Senator Seyarto questioned whether the state would actually fund another program. The bill was moved on a 3-1 vote and remained on call. SB 1014 would require local jurisdictions to provide good-faith estimates of on-site and off-site improvements within 30 business days of a preliminary application and limit later surprise requirements; Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and other housing groups supported it, while the City of San Mateo and local government associations raised concerns about accuracy and timing. It passed 4-2 and remained on call. SB 1036, which would require credit under the Mitigation Fee Act for prior site uses when redeveloping a site, passed unanimously to the Senate floor. SB 1145 would streamline CEQA and federal reuse review for qualifying projects at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station; it drew broad labor and local support, but housing and legal advocates sought stronger affordability and enforceability provisions. The bill passed 6-0 to the Committee on Environmental Quality. The committee also considered SB 908, which would streamline permits for energy-code-compliant residential window replacements and limit local design restrictions and HOA barriers. Supporters said the bill would let homeowners and affordable housing providers reduce energy costs, while opponents argued it could override local design standards; it passed 3-1 and remained on call. SB 1172, the Local Tax Savings Act, would add guardrails and transparency to local tax-sharing and consultant agreements; it was supported by the City of Shafter and the League of California Cities and passed 4-0 to Revenue and Taxation, remaining on call. SB 1283 would expand ministerial approval for EV charging stations to include canopies and on-site energy storage systems and require local ordinance updates by 2027; EV industry groups supported it, while cities and counties warned about safety, liability, and local review. Members discussed battery storage safety and litigation concerns, and the bill passed 4-0 to Judiciary, remaining on call. The committee also heard SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner offices and create an independent medical examiner in response to in-custody death concerns. Supporters cited high death rates, settlements, and the need for independent investigations, while the sheriff’s association and county representatives argued the change would be costly, duplicate services, and override local control. The bill passed 4-1 to Public Safety and remained on call. Finally, SB 1414 would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County; supporters said it would improve transparency and remove conflicts of interest, while the county opposed the estimated $2 million cost and noted its existing advisory commission. Members generally supported independent redistricting, and the bill was discussed but no final vote was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. ...establishes a producer-funded battery recharging program that protects public safety and
• hazardous lithium batteries.
• A point... hazardous lithium batteries. I hazardous lithium batteries.
• . batteries. batteries.
• </c> the lithium ion battery in here, right? the lithium ion battery in here, right?

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called the Public Safety Power Shutoff.
• We're capping it at $5,000 for generators and $7,500 for battery storage.
• We're capping it at 5,000 for generators and 7,500 for battery storage.
• If you purchase and install a solar battery backup, you would be eligible for this tax incentive.
• These grandparents in California are really an invisible safety net to children.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a consumer protection and public safety bill.
• And how would Delmarva pay for these batteries?
• Do you mean the value of battery or battery storage study?
• You put these batteries on in that time frame, in those peak times.
• You put these batteries on in that time frame, in those peak times.

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached. Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Cooper Jones Safety Council is here with us.
• That means that the performance is based on safety.
• passage of the Federal Highway Safety Act, to oversee efforts to improve safety on Washington's highways
• I'm the External Relations Director for the Traffic Safety Commission.
• I'm the External Relations Director for the Traffic Safety Commission.

Bills: SB6131 , SB6155 , SB6238 , SB5824 , SB6110 , SB5839 , SB6032 , SB6148

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: traffic safety, roadway fatalities, Washington traffic safety commission, policy update, road safety, accident prevention, disability, parking privileges, accessibility, special parking, local government, oil tankers, restricted waters, environmental safety, maritime regulations, state law, fifth-wheel, travel trailers, vehicle regulation, transportation

Bills: SF24 , SF73 , SSB1043 , SSB1107

Committee: Joint Transportation

Keywords: railway, crossing, repairs, upgrades, penalties, public safety, transportation, speed limit, vehicular traffic, traffic regulations, Department of Transportation, oversize vehicle, overweight vehicle, heavy haul, single-trip permit, trip permit, commercial vehicle, gross weight registration, vehicle registration, permit fee

Transcript Highlights:

• And with a labor force that has strong protections for health and safety.
• about the opportunity that batteries present for California.
• others about the opportunity that battery. the next generation battery supply chain, and I'm sure we
• evidence that battery fires are rare and increasingly so.
• And the auto supply chain, too, but particularly around batteries.

Summary: The Select Committee on Economic Development and Technological Innovation held a hearing on California’s industrial policy and manufacturing competitiveness. In opening remarks, the chair and Senator Wahab emphasized manufacturing’s role in good jobs, climate leadership, and regional economic growth, while noting barriers such as regulatory uncertainty, energy costs, permitting delays, and the loss of manufacturing jobs over time. They highlighted California Jobs First, workforce development, and the need to keep innovation and manufacturing in-state rather than losing scale-up opportunities to other states. The first panel featured California Forward and the Center for Manufacturing a Green Economy, along with an industry representative. Witnesses argued that California needs a durable, regionally based economic development system with ongoing funding, stronger state coordination, and sector-specific industrial roadmaps. They focused on advanced manufacturing and clean industry, especially batteries, bioeconomy, offshore wind, and heat pumps, and said industrial policy should help bridge the “missing middle” between research and commercial production. The industry witness stressed that power reliability, time to power, and coordinated utility engagement are decisive in site selection, and that California must better align utilities, state agencies, universities, and labs to compete for major projects. Senator Niello raised concerns about California’s business climate, including regulations, labor laws, energy reliability, K–12 education outcomes, and the cost impacts of climate policy. Panelists responded that California can compete by improving coordination, packaging existing state resources, and targeting strategic industries rather than racing to the bottom on taxes or wages. The second panel, from labor organizations, supported a worker-led industrial policy with strong labor and environmental standards, public financing, procurement, and targeted support for manufacturing firms. They cited examples such as union apprenticeship pathways, revolving loan funds, and programs with labor standards, and argued that manufacturing jobs can support both climate goals and middle-class employment. The final panel began with Fremont city officials, who described Fremont as the state’s leading manufacturing city and a model of intentional local policy. They said the city has protected industrial land, streamlined support for manufacturers, and doubled its manufacturing technician workforce over the past decade. The hearing concluded with discussion of how state and local governments can better coordinate to attract and retain manufacturing investment, with members and witnesses agreeing that California has strong assets but needs more proactive, integrated economic development tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lithium batteries and vapes are highly flammable.
• thrown away after one battery cycle because the manufacturer omitted a charging port.
• The United Kingdom banned disposable vapes to reduce battery waste and fires.
• The products creating the greatest risk to public safety are already prohibited.
• It's the story. ...issues or safety or schools or the environment or immigration.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation amends Idaho Code 74-105 regarding public record exemption and adds an exemption for safety
• Exemption of these records protects staff safety, ensures juvenile protection, and mitigates escape and
• As you know, the sexual battery of minors law provides protection for children ages 16 and 17, but the
• of a minor, which makes it... ...it mirrors what we already have for the sexual battery of a minor,
• They already understand the sexual battery of a minor law, so getting them on board with the five-year

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that you all are familiar with the work around the Exide lead-acid battery recycling facility.
• it comes to lithium-ion batteries.
• So our Board of Environmental Safety, because our Board of Environmental Safety, My name is Andrew Rakestra
• That are expected to grow in coming years: solar panels, lithium batteries, all necessary to meet our
• And I do want to push back just a little when we're talking about solar panels and lithium batteries,

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard department budget overviews and several budget change proposals from CalRecycle, CalEPA, and DTSC. CalRecycle presented its 2026-27 budget and discussed priorities including edible food recovery, composting, beverage container recycling, and landfill response. Members asked about funding for food recovery grants, processing fees for wine and spirits containers under SB 1013, plastic packaging generation under SB 54, restaurant food waste requirements under SB 1383, and litter cleanup efforts. CalRecycle said edible food recovery has helped recover more than 300 million meals, but there is no sustained funding source; it also explained that beverage container processing fees are set by statute and that new producer responsibility and infrastructure investments are intended to improve recycling rates over time. The committee then heard CalEPA’s overview, including the agency’s response to climate, air quality, water, toxics, and enforcement challenges. Secretary Garcia emphasized federal rollbacks, methane monitoring, AB 617 implementation, safe drinking water progress, Exide cleanup, and pesticide reduction efforts. Members questioned the agency about regional gasoline blends, authority and technical thresholds for landfill intervention, and the growth in the Secretary’s office staffing and budget. CalEPA said the budget increase reflects expanded coordination, technology modernization, hazardous materials response, and legal capacity. The committee also discussed a proposed landfill support, response, and enforcement package for subsurface elevated temperature events, with CalEPA describing a coordinated multi-agency approach and the need for stronger early response tools. DTSC presented its department overview and several BCPs. Director Butler highlighted progress on permit backlog reduction, safer consumer products rulemaking, Exide cleanup, PFAS work, and planning for emerging waste streams such as solar panels and lithium batteries. The Board of Environmental Safety described its oversight role, public meetings, permit appeals, and fee-setting authority, and identified community concerns about cumulative impacts, hazardous waste planning, accessible data, and engagement. The committee also heard a proposal to expand DTSC’s Office of Policy into a statewide planning division to implement hazardous waste management plan recommendations and improve reporting systems. Members raised concerns about whether the new division duplicated existing work, but DTSC said it would fill identified gaps and improve coordination. Public testimony largely supported the proposals, especially ongoing funding for edible food recovery, composting, safer consumer products enforcement, and the coordinated landfill response package. Witnesses from StopWaste, California Against Waste, Waste Management, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, and water advocacy groups urged continued or increased funding for these programs. No votes were taken; the chair held all items open and adjourned the hearing after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• it does not address workforce development in the growing fields of nuclear energy and radiological safety
• Senate Bill 1534 would help address workforce development in the nuclear energy and radiological safety
• plants, those particular battery facilities are exempted from the prohibition.
• The Chapter 312 abatement for wind, solar, and batteries is not good economic policy.
• Now it's time for Chapter 312 for wind, solar, and batteries to do the same.

Bills: SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• In materials, you can see that surplus lines is a safety valve for hard-to-place or difficult-to-place
• We are a surplus lines insurer, which means we are a safety net provider of last resort.
• Could that be through 500 megawatts of batteries?
• Do your batteries like this, and your wind not, or where are you on this?
• Do you represent standalone battery farms? Yep. Okay. Go ahead. Do those people like this bill?

Bills: SB388 , SB455 , SB917 , SB925 , SB1006

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with tab 13, CS for CS for SB 436 on felony battery.
• We're going to take up tab 13, CS for CS for SB 436 on felony battery.
• What this bill would do would say, than battery on a law enforcement officer.
• That's good public safety.
• That's good public safety.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply put, it makes our system more efficient without compromising safety.
• We're dealing with amusement park safety rides.
• That concerns me because if we're talking about the safety of our kids, of course, the safety of the
• This is a huge safety issue for us.
• It gives parents the illusion of safety while creating new vulnerabilities.

Bills: HB461 , HB467 , HB522 , HB565 , HB673 , HB799 , HB917 , HB937 , HB956 , HB977

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: building codes, construction standards, state uniform construction code, local option, municipal ordinance, parish ordinance, resilient construction, FORTIFIED Home, IBHS, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, hurricane resistance, storm resilience, roof replacement, residential construction, certificate of occupancy, code enforcement, building resilience, home hardening, wind mitigation, residential roof

Bills: HB235 , HB276 , HB285

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, minor safety, child online safety, teen accounts, parental controls

Transcript Highlights:

• about the opportunity that batteries present for California.
• evidence that battery fires are rare and increasingly so.
• evidence that battery fires are rare and increasingly so.
• And yet, California lacks a coherent strategy for battery recycling, despite spent batteries being one
• And the auto supply chain, too, but particularly around batteries.