Transcript Highlights:

• That will produce enough energy to power 355,000 homes.
• It would take just as much energy as we produce. We're also energy producers.
• So I assume this is green energy and renewable energy because it's not consumptive, so we can classify
• this as green energy that we're producing.
• But yes, it's renewable energy.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• And it strengthens our agriculture and also local and regional economies. And it delivers.
• And the benefits ripple outward, strengthening our communities and our economy.
• In 2011, the Wall Street Journal reported that the tight U.S. economy has turned even essential goods
• It improves health, strengthens local economies, and supports stewardship of land by local farmers.
• Enacting this bill to keep HIP running consistently will be a huge win for our local economy.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The House Committee on Children and Families held a hybrid hearing on a broad set of anti-hunger, family support, and basic-needs bills. Early testimony focused on SNAP and DTA operations: Rep. DeRosa and others urged passage of H. 196/S. 167 to require DTA to identify staffing, technology, funding, and operational needs to improve timeliness and customer service, warning that unanswered calls, delayed recertifications, and federal changes could sharply raise state costs through higher SNAP administrative burdens and payment-error penalties. Speakers from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Project Bread said DTA is under-resourced, caseloads have grown, and families are being denied or delayed due to phone and paperwork barriers. Another major SNAP-related bill, H. 254/S. 147, would require the Commonwealth to replace stolen EBT/SNAP benefits; testimony described more than $13 million stolen from about 27,000 households since June 2022 and argued families should not bear losses from organized theft rings. The committee also heard strong support for H. 207/S. 117, which would restore state-funded nutrition assistance for legally present immigrants excluded from federal SNAP under recent federal changes. Advocates from Project Bread, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, local immigrant services, and public health groups said the federal cuts would leave thousands of residents, including refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking survivors, and children, without food support, and argued Massachusetts has a history of filling this gap. Testimony also supported H. 222/S. 104 to make the Healthy Incentives Program permanent and year-round; supporters said HIP improves nutrition, boosts local farms and regional economies, and had already served more than 212,000 households in FY25. A related child-support bill, H. 201/S. 110, would increase the amount of child support passed through to TAFDC families and expand good-cause exemptions; witnesses said the change would put more money directly in families’ hands, reduce poverty, and better protect survivors of domestic violence and families with complicated co-parenting situations. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to deep-poverty and diaper-related legislation. Supporters of H. 214/S. 118 said cash assistance grants have lost value over time and should be raised annually until they reach half of the federal poverty level; advocates from Children’s HealthWatch, Hopewell, the Lift Our Kids Coalition, and parents described the links between deep poverty, poor child health, family stress, and child welfare involvement. They argued that higher grants would help families meet basic needs, reduce hospitalizations and neglect reports, and provide stability amid federal cuts. Finally, multiple witnesses backed diaper legislation, including H. 220/S. 151 and related bills, to create a diaper benefits pilot and/or diaper allowance commission. Testimony from the National Diaper Bank Network, MassCAP, Children’s HealthWatch, local diaper banks, and parents said diaper need is widespread, affects parental employment and mental health, and can cause health problems for infants; a federally funded pilot in Massachusetts was cited as showing improved employment, financial stability, reduced stress, and fewer diaper rashes. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and asked questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in California, small businesses have a significant footprint in our economy.
• As the state's leading agency on EV infrastructure, the California Energy Commission...
• And the CEC's goal is to reach energy goals. Regardless of consumer impact whatsoever.
• And the CEC's goal is to reach energy goals. consumers and the CEC's goal is to reach energy goals, regardless
• Motion is due pass to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange County and Humboldt County supervisors, described growing misuse of large nitrous canisters, impaired driving, youth access, and waste and safety problems. There was no formal opposition testimony, and multiple organizations and local governments voiced support. Committee members generally supported the bill but raised questions about enforcement and the role of existing licensing agencies; the author said amendments addressed concerns about balloons and bags. The bill was moved on a due-pass recommendation to Senate Appropriations and left on call. The committee also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1340 on small business procurement reporting, and SB 903 on AI in mental health care. SB 1312 would build on last year’s cemetery workgroup to address abandoned private cemeteries; the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association said the bill is intended to use forthcoming recommendations to improve maintenance and oversight. It was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report contract and payment data involving small businesses to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure, and it was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 903 drew the most extensive debate. The bill would restrict the public offering of psychotherapy services through AI unless a licensed professional is involved, require disclosure and informed consent, and preserve confidentiality rules. Supporters argued that chatbots and AI therapy tools can mislead consumers and create safety, bias, and privacy risks, while opponents from the California Medical Association and TechNet warned the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial clinical tools, triage, research, and FDA-approved applications. Committee members pressed the author on clarity, administrative uses like note-taking, and whether the bill would allow clinician-supervised AI; the author said the intent is to keep a human clinician in the loop and continue refining the language. The bill was moved to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technology, and Consumer Protection Committee and left on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 1271 would collect data on licensed midwives’ capacity to serve as preceptors to strengthen the training pipeline; supporters described workforce shortages, rural access problems, and closures of labor and delivery units. It was moved due pass to the Senate Health Committee and left on call. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would standardize enforcement and better match the agency already regulating EV infrastructure, while county sealers and others opposed the move as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening local consumer protection. The bill was moved due pass to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and left on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• , not just the California economy, but the American economy, all the goods that come through the ports
• We live and work in this community, so we support clean air. Thank you so much.
• Matt Klovenstein on behalf of the Center for Sustainable Energy in support. Thank you.
• AB 1423, the motion is due pass to the Committee on Utilities and Energy. Wilson, aye. Davies, aye.
• AB 1423, the motion is due pass to the Committee on Utilities and Energy. Wilson, aye. Davies, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard a series of bills focused on transportation safety, climate resilience, wildlife connectivity, parking enforcement, and EV charging reliability. AB 605 would create a pilot program allowing certain hydrogen internal combustion cargo-handling equipment at ports; supporters said it could help ports stay competitive while reducing emissions, while South Coast AQMD raised concerns about possible nitrogen oxide emissions and limits on future regulation. The bill passed on an 11-0 vote to the Natural Resources Committee. AB 1132 would require Caltrans to incorporate community resilience indicators, including socioeconomic factors, into climate vulnerability assessments; supporters from Greenlining, AARP, and others said it would better protect seniors, people with disabilities, and transit users during heat waves and disasters, while some members questioned the cost during a tight budget year. It passed 9-0 to Appropriations, with some members not voting. AB 382 would lower school-zone speed limits to 20 mph and give local agencies more flexibility in how the limit is posted and enforced; supporters cited child pedestrian deaths and safety research, and the bill passed 11-0 to Appropriations. AB 902, as amended, would require transportation projects in wildlife connectivity areas to include wildlife passage features where feasible; supporters emphasized reduced collisions and habitat fragmentation, while the California Building Industry Association and COGs moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. It passed 9-1 to Local Government. AB 1014 would give Caltrans more discretion to lower speed limits on state highways based on local conditions rather than the 85th percentile rule; supporters said it would improve safety in rural and tourist areas, and the bill passed 13-0 to Appropriations. AB 1022 would end towing or booting vehicles solely for unpaid parking tickets, with supporters describing the practice as punitive and harmful to low-income drivers, while cities and parking groups argued it would weaken enforcement and create problems for out-of-state vehicles. The bill passed 9-3 to Appropriations. AB 1423 would require publicly funded EV chargers to meet reliability standards and allow enforcement of uptime requirements; supporters said taxpayers need functioning chargers, while charging-industry opponents objected to retroactive standards and possible conflicts with existing agreements. The bill passed 14-0 to Utilities and Energy. The committee also approved a consent calendar of five bills by voice vote and held roll calls open for additional members to add on.

Transcript Highlights:

• , not just the California economy, but the American economy, all the goods that come through the ports
• We live and work in this community, so we support clean air. Thank you so much.
• Matt Klovenstein on behalf of the Center for Sustainable Energy in support. Thank you. Thank you.
• AB 1423, the motion is do pass to the Committee on Utilities and Energy. Wilson, I. Davies, I.
• AB 1423, the motion is do pass to the Committee on Utilities and Energy. Wilson, I. Davies, I.

Committee: House Transportation

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on traffic safety, climate resilience, wildlife crossings, parking enforcement, and EV charging reliability. AB 605 would create a pilot program for lower-emissions cargo-handling equipment at ports using hydrogen internal combustion technology; it drew support from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, ILWU, and others, with South Coast AQMD expressing concern about possible NOx emissions and limits on future regulation. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Natural Resources. AB 1132 would require Caltrans to add community resilience indicators, including impacts on vulnerable users, to climate vulnerability assessments; supporters included Greenlining Institute and AARP, while some members raised budget concerns. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 382 would lower school-zone speed limits to 20 mph starting in 2029 and allow more flexible enforcement methods; it received broad support and passed to Appropriations. AB 902 would require wildlife crossings and connectivity considerations in transportation projects in identified connectivity areas; after committee amendments, opposition from builders and local government groups moved to neutral, and the bill passed as amended to Local Government. The committee also advanced AB 1014, which would give Caltrans more discretion to lower speed limits on state highways based on local safety conditions rather than the 85th percentile rule. Supporters said it would improve safety in rural and tribal communities, while one member asked about federal funding and NHTSA; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1022 would repeal authority to tow or immobilize vehicles solely for unpaid parking tickets, while preserving other safety-based towing authority; supporters described the practice as a harmful “poverty tow,” and opponents argued it would weaken parking enforcement, especially for out-of-state plates and booting. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024 and allow enforcement of uptime rules; EV charging industry groups opposed the retroactive approach, while supporters emphasized taxpayer accountability. It passed to Utilities and Energy. The committee also approved a consent calendar of five bills earlier in the hearing. Multiple roll calls were held open for additional votes, and the chair recessed the committee near the end of the meeting to allow the final author to arrive and complete the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Standing Committee Report No. 1721, third reading of House Bill 1051, Senate Draft 1, relating to energy
• relating to energy efficiency portfolio standards.<00:20:55.440><c> Is</c><00:20:55.600><c> there</c
• Systems that will sustain our people, stimulate the economy, and preserve our homelands for generations
• energy.
• energy.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> into what's called the informal economy, into what's called the informal economy, right?
• those or Minnesota, one of those up<01:38:06.800><c> there.
• This bill will clean up and expand our existing right-to-try framework.
• So, I am aware of the article in Minnesota and that FWA case.
• I am aware of the article in Minnesota and that FWA case. We've been talking about that as well.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• turned out that one of his children had passed away the previous summer, and he just didn't have the energy
• c><05:19:50.360><c> the</c> summer and he just didn't have the summer and he just didn't have the energy
• 53.558><c> how</c><05:19:53.958><c> difficult</c><05:19:54.160><c> it</c><05:19:54.280><c> was</c> energy
• I could tell how difficult it was energy I could tell how difficult it was for<05:19:54.680><c> him<

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Texans expect their public water supply systems to provide clean, safe drinking water.
• before you spend that money that it actually is a scientific-based solution that will show if you clean
• tannins, this and this and this and this... ...is a scientific-based solution that will show if you clean
• A quorum is... is a scientific based solution that will show if you clean tannins this and this and this
• For example, South Carolina passed a bill encouraging owners of solar energy generation sites to provide

Bills: HB630 , HB685 , HB1318 , HB2692

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with no quorum at the start, but later reached quorum and took up several bills. House Bill 2692, codifying the San Antonio River Authority’s enabling legislation and making non-substantive modernization changes, received brief supportive testimony from the River Authority and was left pending before later being voted out favorably. House Bill 685, which would prevent municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities than comparable customers, also drew support and was reported favorably. House Bill 1318, clarifying compensation issues when a municipality decertifies part of a retail water utility’s service area, was heard without opposition and passed out of committee. House Bill 630, exempting certain older outboard motors from title requirements, likewise passed and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 2497, relating to filtration systems for certain public drinking water systems. Senator Zaffirini described the bill as a response to ongoing secondary water quality complaints, while TCEQ testified that such contaminants are aesthetic rather than health-based and that the water remains safe to drink if primary standards are met. The Texas Rural Water Association opposed the bill as written, arguing filtration may not solve most water quality problems and could be costly for small systems, while a consumer witness from Floresville supported it and described repeated rate increases and brown water after a filtration system was removed. Members discussed narrowing the bill through a committee substitute and emphasized the need for flexibility and technical expertise; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Kolkhorst later asking to be recorded as voting no. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2850, which would create a pollinator task force to study habitat loss, public education, and best practices for protecting bees and other pollinators. Senator Menendez and invited witness Erica Thompson of Texas BeeWorks highlighted major colony losses and the economic importance of pollinators to Texas agriculture, and Environment Texas and the Texas Beekeepers Association supported the measure. Members discussed monarch butterflies, native grasses, milkweed, and conservation efforts, and the bill was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. After testimony, the committee also voted out several pending items, including House Bill 5560 with a committee substitute addressing water-loss penalties and infrastructure improvements, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• If I know that the statewide energy code is intended to be the baseline for health, safety, and energy
• </c> Hampshire's economy thrives on tourism. Hampshire's economy thrives on tourism.
• ,</c><04:28:54.000><c> I</c> and supporting our state's economy, I and supporting our state's economy
• grandkids and our neighbors who clean grandkids and our neighbors who clean room<04:31:01.680><c> clean
• </c> relative to customer energy storage. relative to customer energy storage.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> local economy. local economy.
• </c> state of Minnesota. state of Minnesota.
• economy.
• </c> our state's economy. our state's economy.
• </c> our economy. our economy.

Bills: HF4477

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Since before my time, but certainly with my full energy, the Court has championed access to justice for
• approximately 200 opinions on a wide range of matters, including administrative, environmental, and energy
• had the privilege of serving as the lawyer for the CEO and commander-in-chief of what was then a G8 economy
• I first heard about him when a good friend of mine who was teaching at the University of Minnesota Law

Summary: The Supreme Court of Texas held a ceremonial investiture for two new justices, James Sullivan and Kyle Hawkins. Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock opened the session with welcoming remarks and led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the National Anthem sung by Trooper Alena Gallardo. The event included an invocation by Father Dean Wilhelm, emphasizing the importance of justice and the rule of law. Governor Greg Abbott praised the new justices, highlighting their qualifications and the significance of their appointments to the court. Justice Samuel Alito administered the oath of office to Justice Hawkins, while Judge Thomas Griffith administered the oath to Justice Sullivan. Both justices expressed gratitude for their appointments and acknowledged the support of their families, mentors, and colleagues. The ceremony also honored former justices Jeff Boyd and Nathan Hecht, with heartfelt tributes reflecting on their contributions to the court and the legal community in Texas. The event concluded with a benediction by Reverend Greg Davidson, encouraging the justices to work diligently and honorably in their new roles.

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently have 33 Minnesota counties and six North Dakota counties.
• Are on the Minnesota tax statements.
• I, Glenn, showed you what Minnesota looks like. South Dakota.
• I, Glenn, showed you what Minnesota looks like.
• Yeah, that was my whole point, is economies of scale.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met with a quorum to begin its study of whether the content of North Dakota real estate tax statements should be revised to improve transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the background for the study, including House Bill 1176, current statutory requirements for tax statements, and recent changes such as separate line items for bonded debt, primary residence credit, and legacy fund-related amounts. The Tax Department then explained the current statement format and noted that the form is prescribed and approved by the tax commissioner, with changes typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual process for preparing budgets, setting levies, calculating taxable values, and issuing notices and tax statements. They said counties spend significant time coordinating with taxing districts, neighboring counties, and software vendors, and that the new budget hearing notices and valuation notices have not generated much public response. Members raised concerns about the usefulness and clarity of certain line items, especially the legislative tax relief calculation and the primary residence credit, and discussed whether the current statement creates confusion rather than transparency. Testimony also addressed the 3% cap, mill levy worksheets, assessment cycles, and the role of county auditors and tax directors in maintaining accurate values. The committee also heard from software vendors CPT and Tyler Technologies about how legislative changes are programmed into tax systems and how online taxpayer portals can provide more detailed breakdowns of tax bills. Vendors said changes required by law are generally absorbed in contracts rather than billed directly to counties, and they demonstrated web tools and pie-chart style breakdowns that show where tax dollars go. NDACO presented a survey of eight counties estimating tax statement preparation and mailing costs, concluding that outsourced printing tends to be cheaper on average and that total statewide tax statement costs may be roughly $600,000, though the estimate was based on limited data. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a lot of discussion recently about fraud in Minnesota state government.
• </c> every single Democrat in the Minnesota every single Democrat in the Minnesota house<00:03:03.319
• So the Supreme Court decision is Energy Policy Advocates v.
• </c> Attorney General's office the Minnesota Attorney General's office the Minnesota attorney<00:15:16.360
• It's important that the people of Minnesota see that.

Summary: House Majority Leader Harry Niska discussed House File 20, a bill he said would amend Minnesota’s Data Practices Act by adding the words “on individuals” to clarify that the private-data exemption applies only to information actually tied to an individual person. He argued the bill would overturn a 2022 Minnesota Supreme Court decision in Energy Policy Advocates v. Allison that, in his view, allowed the Attorney General’s office to withhold policymaking and closed investigative data even when no individual privacy interest was involved. Niska framed the measure as a transparency and democracy issue, saying the Attorney General’s office should not have a special secrecy privilege that other state agencies and prosecutors do not have. In response to questions, Niska said the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing concerns about the cost and burden of data practices requests and raising a broader question about whether some businesses might have privacy interests similar to individuals. Niska said the bill is not meant to eliminate legitimate privacy protections for actual individuals, including sensitive investigative information, but to prevent the office from using the private-data category to shield non-personal information. He also said the issue arose in part from information about outside influence on the Attorney General’s office, including funding for positions through NYU and the Bloomberg Foundation. Niska said the bill had been introduced by Republicans two years earlier but did not receive a hearing, and he expected it to come to the House floor because Republicans now control committees. He said Democrats were expected to vote as a bloc against it, and he suggested the vote would show where members stand on transparency. He also said other GOP priorities may move through committees and to the floor as they are ready, mentioning permitting reform, repeal of the nuclear moratorium, and an OIG-related bill, but he did not provide a detailed schedule. No vote on the bill was taken during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we've balanced the budget for the people of Minnesota.
• We know that we play a part in building an economy that works for the people of Minnesota.
• We know that we play a part in building an economy that works for the people of Minnesota.
• We know that we play a part in building an economy that works for the people of Minnesota.
• </c><00:21:44.000><c> to</c><00:21:44.159><c> across</c> of Minnesota on this front. to across of Minnesota

Transcript Highlights:

• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• and the best superintendent in the state of Minnesota.
• where they bring energy I match their<00:32:26.679><c> energy</c><00:32:27.279><c> on</c><00:32:27.480

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Beyond education, Mini Kids is an investment in Minnesota's economy.
• Beyond education, Mini Kids is an investment in Minnesota's economy.
• </c><00:02:42.159><c> a</c> investment in Minnesota's economy a investment in Minnesota's economy a skilled
• </c><00:03:43.239><c> kids</c> this bill the mini kids Minnesota kids this bill the mini kids Minnesota
• we were able to bring our community together in Central Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• offer dietary allergy or cultural preferences that prioritize local whole foods, meet the client's energy
• offer dietary allergy or cultural preferences that prioritize local whole foods, meet the client's energy
• capacity, and again that..." "...enable an increase in capacity, and again that comes from a local economy
• "HB 2211 will ensure that this implementation is a win-win for local jobs, our regional economy, and
• So we're cleaning up that language.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several health-related bills. House Bill 1904 would prohibit cat declawing except for therapeutic purposes, with staff explaining definitions, fines, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The prime sponsor and animal welfare advocates described declawing as cruel and linked it to pain and behavior problems, while the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association supported the substance of the bill but asked to remove the added reporting and disciplinary provisions as redundant and burdensome. House Bill 2211 would provide guidance for medically tailored meals under existing Medicaid-related nutrition supports, including standards for Washington-based nonprofit providers where possible, menu review, and nutrition requirements. The sponsor said it would clarify implementation without expanding the program, and supporters from meal providers, food distributors, and local farms said it would improve health outcomes, keep dollars local, and support Washington jobs and agriculture. House Bill 2329 would allow licensed midwives to delegate certain tasks to medical assistants and to supervise medical assistants, with the sponsor and birth center operators saying it would fix an omission in current law and help rural and under-resourced birth centers operate more efficiently. Supporters said it would improve staffing and financial stability, while the sponsor indicated the lactation consultant language would likely be removed because those consultants are not regulated by the Department of Health. The committee then returned to House Bill 1904 for additional testimony from humane organizations, veterinarians, shelter leaders, and local officials, all supporting a ban on declawing and emphasizing animal pain, shelter impacts, and available alternatives. House Bill 2247 would expand and clarify veterinary telehealth and veterinarian-client-patient relationship rules, allowing a VCPR to be established in certain telehealth circumstances and setting guardrails for consent, practice standards, and when in-person exams are still required. Supporters from shelters, animal welfare groups, mobile clinics, and veterinarians said telehealth would improve access in rural and underserved areas, reduce shelter intake, and help animals receive care sooner; the veterinary association supported the bill with amendments to clarify recordkeeping and access-to-care findings. House Bill 2339 would update nursing license terminology and processes for advanced registered nurse practitioners, including title changes, controlled substance rules for CRNAs, transcript submission, and interim permits. Nursing board and ARNP representatives supported the technical updates, while the hospital association and medical association raised concerns about title language for clinical nurse specialists and the deletion of a reference to the medical profession. Finally, House Bill 2106 would require health carriers to give 90 days’ notice of significant mid-contract payer modifications and provide the actual modification language, with the sponsor and hospital and provider representatives saying insurers are increasingly making unilateral changes that affect payment, services, and patient access. UW Medicine and a rural hospital district described examples where insurers changed imaging or preventive service coverage mid-contract, causing financial losses and forcing difficult choices about network participation. Carriers were noted as opposing the bill, while providers and facilities argued it would improve transparency and prevent one-sided contract changes that disrupt care.

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...were talking about as far as airport fees, gross receipts, taxes, Prop 22 fees, now the CPUC, clean
• ..for gig workers who are the ones who are getting out on the road and literally driving this new economy
• I also look for other opportunities to do that in other sectors of our economy.
• To truly support recovery, we have to do everything we can to sustain local economies.
• At a time when sustainable energy is under attack at the federal level and California politicians are

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would lower uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for rideshare companies from the current $1 million level to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, with added transparency and data-reporting provisions. Uber, Lyft, and several business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce fares and improve affordability, while consumer attorneys, labor groups, and others opposed it as a major cut in protection for injured passengers and drivers. Committee members raised concerns about whether savings would actually reach riders and drivers, but the bill was approved on a do-pass vote to the next committee, with one member not voting. SB 487 by Senator Grayson would change how settlement or judgment proceeds are distributed when peace officers or firefighters are injured by a third party, ensuring they receive at least two-thirds of the at-fault party’s liability insurance limits in certain cases. Supporters, including public safety unions and an injured deputy sheriff, said current law can leave injured first responders with little or no recovery after employer reimbursement, while opponents representing cities, counties, and public agencies argued the bill would reduce recovery of taxpayer-funded workers’ compensation costs and lacked sufficient data. The committee members who spoke largely supported the bill, and it passed on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with one member not voting. SB 616 by Senator Rubio would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to develop statewide wildfire mitigation recommendations and a post-catastrophe reporting process. The Department of Insurance, local governments, consumer groups, and fire-related organizations supported the measure as a way to improve wildfire resilience and insurance availability, while water agencies opposed provisions touching water infrastructure and warned of litigation and ratepayer impacts. The bill advanced on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with some members not voting and one member voting no. The committee also heard SB 547 by Senator Perez, coauthored by Senator Rubio, which would extend wildfire-related insurance cancellation/nonrenewal moratoriums to commercial properties; insurers removed their opposition after amendments, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Heat pumps are so energy efficient that they reduce electricity use for heating by up to 75% and allow
• customers across the state to experience significantly lower energy bills.
• course... ...the process for a lot of our businesses, not just the daycare sector, but across this economy
• I would urge an aye vote on this very narrowly tailored bill with respect to simply cleaning up the CEQA
• Madam President, I would urge an aye vote on this very narrowly tailored bill with respect to simply cleaning

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for Alex Prettie, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several visiting groups in the gallery, including UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute fellows and community college representatives. The body approved the Senate journals and then confirmed two gubernatorial appointments: Dr. Hernando Garsohn as Chief Medical Officer at the Emergency Medical Services Authority and Stephanie Weldon as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health, both by 39-0 votes. The chamber then took up a series of third-reading bills. Measures that passed included SB 799 on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, SB 33 on public contracts and contractor payment claims, SB 222 to streamline permitting for heat pump installations, SB 300 to strengthen protections for minors in AI chatbot interactions, SB 457 on community land trusts and affordable housing, SB 479 allowing certain cities to share information in homeless response teams, SB 719 extending a reporting sunset on automated decision systems, SB 722 protecting mobile home park residents from demolition-related displacement, SB 832 updating the Upper Los Angeles River working group, SB 342 on contractor license lapse rules, SB 490 on inspections of unlicensed treatment facilities, SB 828 requiring better state-local permit verification after the Esparto fireworks tragedy, SB 849 barring physician license renewal after specified sexual misconduct, SB 742 addressing decommissioned electrical lines and wildfire risk, SB 96 on over-amplified streaming and digital ads, SB 677 as a technical cleanup to last year’s housing law, and SB 58 on hydrogen sulfide monitoring and public health. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with overwhelming support; SB 222 and SB 677 drew some no votes but still passed. The most extended debate centered on SB 694, which would align California law with federal VA accreditation rules for those assisting veterans with benefits claims and impose penalties for unauthorized claims assistance and data access. Supporters argued it would protect veterans from predatory “claim shark” practices and ensure only accredited providers charge fees; opponents said it would reduce veterans’ choice and could limit access to needed help. After a motion to pull the bill from Rules and take it up immediately passed 29-9, the Senate approved SB 694 on a 29-10 vote. The session concluded with unanimous approval of the consent calendar and adjournment until January 27, 2026.