Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:03.320><c> this</c> payroll practices and procedures this payroll practices and procedures
• </c><00:11:04.760><c> our</c> management policies and procedures our management policies and procedures
• </c> at the Public Utilities Commission at the Public Utilities Commission pursuant<00:37:03.560><c>
• He said they have been using the Administrative Procedures Act and various legal procedures, and they
• He said they have been using the Administrative Procedures Act and various legal procedures, and they

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the commission.
• And then going a little bit deeper on that, at the discretion of the commission, who makes up the commission
• , the commission, the commission.
• In fact, what comes out of some change that the commission wishes to make... and regarding if the commission
• They have their own commission, their own board. They have their own commission, their own board.

Summary: The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee heard several measures focused on health and child welfare. House Bill 65 would codify and fund CYFD’s foster care plus short-term stabilization pilot for children in state custody with behavioral health needs, using clinical experts and specialized foster parent training to reduce office stays, hotel placements, and multiple placements. CYFD and child welfare advocates supported the bill, while senators raised concerns about cultural competency, ICWA/IFPA compliance, LGBTQ youth placement, and the need to spell out protections in statute. The bill passed 9-0 to the next committee. The committee then considered House Bill 13 and House Bill 14, joining the occupational therapy compact and the dentist/dental hygienist compact. Both bills drew support from health agencies, chambers of commerce, and professional groups as workforce tools to improve licensure portability and recruitment. Members, however, were uneasy about late-arriving amendments, venue provisions, commission authority, and how much control New Mexico would retain over compact rules and enforcement. After debate, HB 13 advanced 6-3 and HB 14 advanced 7-3, both to Judiciary. House Bill 256, which would require school emergency response plans to include cardiac emergencies during athletic activities, received support from the American Heart Association and nursing advocates, who cited survival benefits from rapid AED use and CPR. Questions centered on travel across state lines, private and religious schools, homeschool athletics, and enforcement, but the bill passed 10-0. House Bill 66, which updates the health care professional loan repayment program to increase physician awards and broaden recruitment incentives, was backed by provider groups and business organizations; dentists noted concerns about equity, but the bill passed 5-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you want me to go over those procedures again, I'm happy to.
• Each procedure is going to take five to ten minutes to do.
• And we've observed many procedures already in the course of study in the advanced procedures program.
• Coverage for surgical procedures. Okay, excellent.
• So that's just one procedure example.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 213, which would allow optometrists to perform three specific laser procedures. The sponsor presented a committee substitute adding 32 hours of approved advanced training, supervised live-patient practice, adverse-event reporting, and other accountability measures. Supporters argued the bill would improve access to care, while the New Mexico Medical Board opposed it, citing patient-safety concerns and the much greater training required of ophthalmologists. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 6-3. The committee then considered House Bill 65, renamed the Foster Care Plus pilot program. The substitute changed the bill to require clinical assessment instead of CAN assessment, added reporting to the Legislature and LFC, and clarified contracting with clinical experts. CYFD officials said the $2.5 million request, combined with existing growth funding, would support more children, staff, foster-parent stipends, and related services, and that the program is already being implemented with help from Oklahoma-based experts. Some members remained concerned about cost, staffing, and whether the program could be sustained, but the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 8-1. House Bill 127, on expedited medical licensure, was amended to create a provisional pathway for internationally trained physicians, require a job offer and benchmarks before full licensure, and establish a telemedicine registry. The Medical Board supported the amended bill, while public commenters emphasized physician shortages and access to care. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill. House Bill 128, which updates firefighter occupational disease and disablement presumptions to add cancers and other changes, drew strong support from firefighters, labor, and workers’ compensation officials; the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill. House Bill 156, which removes the sunset on the state’s authority to set vaccine guidelines and continue its vaccine program, also passed after supporters argued it preserves access and opponents raised broader vaccine-policy concerns. The committee then began hearing House Bill 137, a buprenorphine access bill, with the sponsor and advocates describing pharmacy supply barriers and a committee substitute aimed at setting minimum stock standards, requiring distributor reporting, and avoiding fines on pharmacies.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Also in the legislative audit commission Also in the legislative audit commission hearing<00:32:
• So, in my years on the Legislative Audit Commission, just unbelievable to hear any one of these uh...
• </c><01:36:10.640><c> and</c> the prepayment review procedures and the prepayment review procedures and
• for each type of payment, procedures for each type of payment, each<01:38:31.000><c> type</c><01:38:
• . procedures. procedures.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• which is a presentation on rulemaking and the new rule review process under the Administrative Procedures
• the chair indicated, my name is Ken Plant, and I'm the coordinator for the Joint Administrative Procedures
• the chair indicated, my name is Ken Plant, and I'm the coordinator for the Joint Administrative Procedures
• The policies and procedures were recently updated as part of a response to the audit.
• The policies and procedures were recently updated as part of a response to the audit.

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met for its first meeting of the session, took roll, and heard a presentation from Ken Plant of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee on SB 108, the 2025 law overhauling Florida rulemaking. The presentation focused on new deadlines for agencies to begin and publish rules, limits on automatic sunset provisions, changes to emergency rule procedures, expanded public input on statements of estimated regulatory costs, a five-year review cycle for existing rules, and new licensing-reporting requirements. Members asked about the review timeline and emphasized the need to keep agencies accountable for meeting the new requirements. The committee then reviewed the Department of Management Services’ response to Auditor General Report 2025-1096 on fleet management. DMS said the audit found 10 issues, most of which it believes it has addressed, and described the statewide fleet system as tracking about 27,000 assets with limited staff. DMS highlighted two major improvement ideas that would require funding: an enterprise telematics system to automate vehicle data and improve tracking, and centralized fleet procurement to reduce duplication and save money. Members questioned the status of FleetWave implementation, missing vehicle records, integration with other state systems, and access controls for separated employees. DMS explained that FleetWave is fully implemented but still relies on manual data entry, that discrepancies with the state accounting system largely reflect mismatched or inconsistent entries, and that policies and procedures were updated after the audit. The department said it now works more closely with People First to deactivate access when employees leave. After discussion, no further business was raised, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state can tie their hands to it to a certain degree in terms of the subject matter and procedures
• It's a procedure to amend the Constitution, and there are two methods.
• </c> Article 5 uh I guess uh procedures Article 5 uh I guess uh procedures already<00:51:00.000><c> but
• I think it truly demonstrated the opportunity that this kind of procedure could hold.
• </c> on the Article 5 convention procedure on the Article 5 convention procedure itself<02:09:55.119>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:38:12.079><c> for</c> where the Planning Commission for where the Planning Commission for projects
• However, this bill procedurally is seriously flawed.
• However, this bill procedurally is seriously flawed.
• </c><00:54:36.720><c> which</c> county or the land use commission which county or the land use commission
• </c> conditions um that uh the uh commission conditions um that uh the uh commission is<00:58:55.440>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing, land use, and preservation bills. HB 1008 HD2 would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete historic preservation determinations for state affordable housing projects within 90 days and create sensitivity-based review pathways. HHFDC, DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division, and written testimony from DBEDT supported the bill as an expedited process for projects unlikely to affect significant historic resources. Members asked how the bill would define significant versus non-significant historic properties, how it would interact with Kapakai analysis, and whether burial councils had been consulted; SHPD said the bill would not replace Kapakai review and that burial councils had not been included. Written support also came from OHA, Hawaii Realtors, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. HB 1093 would clarify the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers relating to housing projects. HPHA supported the measure, saying it would align definitions with prior law and help deconcentrate poverty by allowing mixed-income rebuilding. The director also said the bill was increasingly urgent because of reported federal HUD priorities that could affect public housing and Section 8 funding. HB 1096 HD1 would repeal state low-income housing preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans, with HPHA saying federal veteran programs such as VASH are a better mechanism and that the state preference has not been used in years. HB 1411 would allow HHFDC projects to give sale or lease preferences to applicants who live or work within five miles of a project; HHFDC and the Hawaii Chapter of NAIOP supported it as a way to keep residents connected to their communities, while members raised constitutional concerns about broader local-preference policies. The committee also heard HB 367 HD1, which would create county permit exemptions for certain agricultural and maintenance activities. Written testimony included opposition from the Department of Planning and Permitting and support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Grassroot Institute, and others. A public testifier opposed the bill, arguing that permit exemptions could worsen safety and compliance problems. Finally, HB 826 HD1 would allow county planning commissions, by special permit, to authorize residential housing in agricultural districts for agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or fee simple ownership under certain conditions. HHFDC supported it as a faster alternative to lengthy state land-use redistricting, but the Department of Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development raised concerns about food production impacts, due process, service provision, jurisdictional conflicts, and the use of special permits for what could amount to district boundary changes. Public testimony was mixed, with some support and some opposition. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, and the other thing, when the mice were discussed at the commission meeting, what was said about
• the mice was that, The mice were discussed at the commission meeting.
• And to my best knowledge, the mice were discussed at the commission meeting.
• So the information was related to our commission meeting.
• Our commission is committed to continuing to look at this for the coming months.

Bills: HB3270, HB3145, HB3056

Keywords: farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, hunting regulations, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation, commercial hunting, raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from Texas A&M professor Chris Seaberry on chronic wasting disease (CWD) genetics in deer and elk. He argued that susceptibility to CWD is polygenic, that genomic prediction can identify more resistant animals with high accuracy, and that selecting for resistant breeding values plus the PRNP codon 96 S allele could reduce disease prevalence. He said his work has been used in USDA/APHIS programs, that some facilities have been cleaned up using these methods, and that concerns about inbreeding, increased shedding, or harm to hunting quality are overstated. Committee members questioned the science, the risk of releasing potentially infected animals, the financial incentives for breeders, and whether wildlife agencies were resisting the program for philosophical or institutional reasons. The witness and senators also discussed the Department of Wildlife’s role, the Attorney General’s opinion, and whether the state should act more quickly or wait for more data. The committee then took up House Bill 3270, which would shift rulemaking authority for the deer-release/CWD program from the Department of Wildlife to the Department of Agriculture after members said Wildlife had failed to promulgate rules for two years. The Department of Wildlife testified that it believed it had complied by collecting native deer samples and that it had been operating under a different understanding until the Attorney General’s March 5 opinion clarified the original law. After debate over agency inaction, the adequacy of the science, and the impact on deer breeders and hunters, the committee voted 3-9 against the bill, and HB 3270 failed. The committee also confirmed Jessica Wilcox to an executive nomination by a 12-0 vote. It then advanced House Bill 3145, which clarifies tagging rules for commercial hunts by making $10 tags apply only to male native wildlife and $0 tags apply to female, feral swine, and exotic wildlife; the bill passed 12-0. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3056, which would allow unpasteurized cow, goat, and sheep milk to be sold at feed stores and farmers markets with labeling; members questioned gallon limits and whether the bill included adequate warning language, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're supported by the State Conservation Commission, or known as the SCC.
• The Public Disclosure Commission oversees these campaign finance laws and rules.
• I believe that's very similar, though, to those that are on boards and commissions.
• I'm the legislative director for the State Conservation Commission.
• We hold fair and open elections with clear protocols and procedures.

Bills: HB2235, HJR4210, HB2520, HB2491, HB2499, HB2408, HB2435

Keywords: public records, concealed pistol licenses, firearm purchases, transfers, exemptions, transparency, Constitution amendment, legislative sessions, session duration, state legislature, governance, emergency meetings, public agencies, accountability, open government, HB2491, WaTech, Washington Technology Solutions, public disclosure, public inspection

Transcript Highlights:

• They're supported by the State Conservation Commission, or known as the SCC.
• The Public Disclosure Commission oversees these campaign finance laws and rules.
• It's about transparency. ...and commissions. So I think it fits very nicely.
• I'm the legislative director for the State Conservation Commission.
• We hold fair and open elections with clear protocols and procedures.

Summary: The committee first heard staff and sponsor testimony on House Joint Resolution 4210, which would remove constitutional limits on the length of regular legislative sessions and instead let the legislature set adjournment dates by statute. Rep. Breonna Thomas and supporters said the measure would give lawmakers flexibility to set a sustainable schedule and improve working conditions, while opponents argued it would concentrate more power in the legislature and could lead to a year-round session. No vote was taken on the resolution during the hearing. Members then heard House Bill 2520, which would clarify that county governing bodies may hold emergency special meetings outside the county seat or remotely during true emergencies and may act at such meetings even if the public cannot first listen in. Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the bill was prompted by the Skagit Valley flooding and was meant to help local governments respond quickly in disasters. Testimony was split: counties and some others supported the clarification, while open government advocates urged tighter language defining “emergency” and limiting the bill to state or federally declared emergencies. The hearing was closed without a vote. The committee also took testimony on House Bill 2499, in proposed substitute form, concerning conservation district supervisors. The substitute would let conservation districts opt into the general election system under Title 29A, remove the landowner requirement, keep a farm-operator requirement for some seats, extend terms from three to four years, and require financial disclosure filings in some circumstances. Supporters argued the bill would modernize elections, increase transparency, and improve voter access; opponents warned it could be costly for small districts, reduce participation, and create unintended consequences. No final action was taken in the hearing portion shown. In executive session, the committee voted 7-0 to report House Bill 2408, a cleanup bill removing obsolete references to the Office of Financial Management, with a due pass recommendation. It also voted 5-2 to report House Bill 2435, creating a legislative office of Indian affairs, with a due pass recommendation; some members supported the bill as improving government-to-government relations with tribes, while others wanted a fiscal note before fully supporting it.

Transcript Highlights:

• The town votes; there's no other procedural changes in the bill relative to how it's done.
• But I do understand it's, you know, sort of following existing procedures. Further comments?
• further comments all those in procedures further comments all those in favor<00:11:47.959><c> say</c
• There's no procedures laid out.
• </c> certainly did raise some procedural certainly did raise some procedural things<00:44:11.000><c>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are multiple hunters. on the commission.
• That bill was just about the commission, and it took the commission appointments and distributed them
• Even out those swings in the commission.
• in having a full commission.
• a fully seated commission without any vacancies.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Professional Standards Commission already investigates allegations of ethical conduct.
• The Commission already investigates allegations of ethical conduct.
• The current Professional Standards Commission investigative process does not change, and the Commission
• The Commission still handles licensing, ethics, and discipline, but law enforcement will deal with the
• This language simply makes it clear that when those two areas intersect, the Commission must report to

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 635, introduced by Representative Heather Scott. She explained that the bill makes a narrow clarification to existing law by requiring the Professional Standards Commission to report complaints or investigations involving suspected criminal behavior to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. She emphasized that the bill does not change the Commission’s role in licensing, ethics, or discipline, but simply separates administrative discipline from criminal enforcement and ensures criminal matters are referred promptly. There was no public testimony or committee discussion, and the motion to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation passed unanimously. The committee then considered RS 3363, presented by Vice Chair Clay Handy, which would make temporary and pending rules from the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and CTE education permanent. Handy said the measure has no fiscal impact and simply codifies rules already reviewed. Representative Mindy moved to send the resolution to the floor for second reading with a due pass recommendation, and the committee approved it without objection. Before adjournment, the chair briefly reminded members about committee procedure, noting that once recognized, a member may make a motion without asking permission. Representative Hostetler then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned by non-debatable motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do think there are inside the office, they're well-established procedures or individuals who are very
• Thank you Mrr chairir House Bill3310 authorizes the director of OMEs to promulgate payment procedural
• rules for contract invoice payments suchch rules will include include procedures procedures for determining
• Bill 4486 authorizes the State Capitol Preservation Commission to permit the unauthorized gold monument
• So, in the description on page one, lines 16 and 17, in the description of agency, board, commission,

Bills: HB3415, HB2206, HB3414, HB3265, HB3310, HB3413, HB4486, HB1219

Keywords: state government, vendor contracts, subcontracting, public database, contract assessment, transparency, retirement, law enforcement, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, school resource officers, public safety, public finance, contract management, service-driven contracts, state accounting, intangible assets, Oklahoma Police Pension, disability benefits, mental health, retirement system

Transcript Highlights:

• inform you that Nikila Black Abrams of Caldwell, Idaho, was reappointed to the Idaho State Racing Commission
• The gubernatorial appointment of Nikila Black Abrams to the Idaho State Racing Commission will be referred
• Code Cleanup and DOGE efforts, and what we're doing here is consolidating the various disciplinary procedural
• It is a deliberate, proper parliamentary procedure enshrined in our rules for exactly this kind of situation
• It is a deliberate, proper parliamentary procedure enshrined in our rules for exactly this kind of situation

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the prior journal. It then received committee reports and gubernatorial messages, including reappointments to the Idaho State Racing Commission and State Building Authority, and several House bills were introduced and referred to committees. The chamber also advanced a number of Senate and House bills through first and second reading, with many measures sent onward for further committee consideration or engrossing. The Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider several bills and amendments. Amendments were adopted on House Bill 494, Senate Bills 1294 and 1299, House Bill 728, House Bill 703, Senate Bill 1335, Senate Bill 1330, Senate Bill 1359, and Senate Bill 1348. The topics included background checks for temporary caregivers, infant hearing screenings and midwife timelines, digital ID enforcement, definitions cleanup, professional discipline and fines, veterinary licensing clarification, small claims attorney fees, virtual currency kiosk consumer protections, and a gun club location clarification. The committee reported these bills back as amended without recommendation, while several other measures remained on the 14th-order calendar. Back in third reading, Senator Zito moved to call House Bill 745 from committee under Rule 14E. After extended debate over whether the Senate should force the bill out of committee, the chamber voted by roll call to excuse the Commerce and Human Resources Committee, with 25 ayes, one nay, and one abstention, thereby keeping House Bill 745 in committee for the rest of the session. The Senate then reordered the third-reading calendar, moved to miscellaneous business, heard announcements about upcoming committee meetings, and adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• section providing that a determination of completeness must be based on whether an application is procedurally
• complete, and that a determination of procedural completeness is not a substantive review, and it cannot
• So that's what procedurally complete means: the documents are all submitted.
• the concerns that we heard during the hearing, clarifies the legislative authority to the county commission
• the concerns that we heard during the hearing clarifies the legislative authority to the county commission

Bills: HB2228, HB2273, HB2381, HB2418, HB2388, HB2183, HB2224, HB2267, HB2174, HB1529

Keywords: building code, safety regulations, construction, scissor stairs, state standards, embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, environment, performance-based codes, building regulations, residential construction, energy efficiency, sustainable design, permit review, project permits, land use, zoning, development regulations, residential development

Transcript Highlights:

• The conflicting laws, Article 26.051 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, address the vision of legal defense
• The language of the Health and Safety Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure will clarify the TBCJ's
• Procedure and due process must be upheld throughout the entire proceeding.
• House Bill 3860 will also allow the commission to adopt. the rules allowing the department to accept
• Correctional officers commissioned by TDCJ would also benefit from having this opportunity available

Bills: HB153, HB1828, HB2306, HB2498, HB3464, HB3488, HB3636, HB3673, HB3834, HB3860, HB4120, HB4937, HB1515, HB153

Keywords: education, funding, student resources, technology access, equal opportunity, veterans treatment court, mental health, criminal justice, rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, veterans, treatment court, military service, legislation, legislative leave, correctional officers, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, accumulated leave, compensatory time, parole eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a little bit of procedure and how it works in the Senate and the House, especially in the Senate
• Members, the Justice Administration Commission, the JAC, is the administrative office supporting our
• About to be entitled and act relating to the Justice Administrative Commission.
• I don't have the statute number off the top of my head, but there's a procedure for that.
• So we'll talk about an elected official or the county commission or something.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions before moving into a long special-order calendar. The chamber first considered two claims bills: SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents, and SB 26/HB 6509 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence. Both bills were substituted with their House companions and passed overwhelmingly. Members then approved several policy bills focused on child welfare, education, and professional regulation. CS/CS/SB 42/HB 47 required child protective investigators to consider certain medical diagnoses before proceeding in abuse cases; CS/SB 206/HB 851 expanded autism-related training and incentives for teacher preparation programs; SB 556/HB 453 allowed Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements for students with disabilities and clarified marching band credit; SB 688 reestablished licensure and regulation for naturopathic doctors; SB 878/HB 1347 addressed clinical laboratory personnel shortages by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards; and SB 914/HB 867 clarified that licensed occupational therapists may perform dry needling. Each of these measures passed, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The chamber also approved bills on court administration, public records, financial disclosure, and child welfare. SB 326/HB 131 modernized rules for curators of estates; SB 758/HB 625 updated the composition of the Justice Administrative Commission, with an amendment broadening the judicial member to a judge or senior judge; SB 830 created a public records exemption for certain local government executives and their families; SB 964/HB 6011 revised how gifts and honoraria are reported and, via amendment, restored a percentage-based reporting option for financial disclosures; and SB 1002 clarified that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow courts to order assessment and services. These bills all passed, with SB 830 drawing the most opposition among them. The most contentious debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a framework for very large planned communities with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a new growth-management tool and economic opportunity, while opponents warned it was too broad, lacked specificity, weakened local control, and could be exploited by large developers. After extensive debate and an amendment limiting data centers in commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 1632/HB 1471 on foreign law and domestic terrorist designations after a lengthy and divisive amendment debate over references to Sharia law, and SB 21/HB 218 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, which preserves SB 180 restrictions in storm-affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not change forfeiture authority or procedure.
• This reform modernizes the subdivision procedure. It does not change land use classification.
• This is an add-on appropriation for the Commission on the Aging.
• This is an add-on appropriation for the Commission on the Aging, and just a little history.
• The Commission on Aging was established in 1968.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, approved the prior day’s journal, and received routine committee reports, gubernatorial messages, and House messages. Several measures were referred to committees or advanced for reading, including Senate Resolution 124 and a number of newly printed or enrolled bills. The chamber also received notice of gubernatorial appointments and House-passed bills, while some Senate bills were reported as delivered to the Governor or failed in the House. The Senate then considered and passed a series of bills on third reading. Major topics included student safety and educator disclosure (SB 1412), the Coeur d’Alene Tribe water rights settlement (HB 789), reckless driving in school and construction zones (HB 570), expanded protection for police dogs including electronic storage detection dogs (HB 654), removal of statutes of limitation for certain child sex offenses (HB 681), asset forfeiture transparency through the state controller (HB 575), ballot name rotation for elections (HB 736), beer tax distribution changes to replace lost ABC revenue (HB 793), repeal of outdated securities lending and alcohol code provisions (HB 798 and HB 799), Appaloosa specialty plate changes and funding redirection (HB 665), and restrictions on non-domiciled CDLs (HB 667). Most of these bills passed on voice or roll-call votes, with HB 667 passing 29-4 and HB 793 passing 32-1. The Senate also passed housing and tax-related measures, including a subdivision/financing process for ADUs and secondary structures (HB 707), utility property tax reporting timing fixes (HB 722), clarification of small seller and yard sale sales-tax rules (HB 792), manufactured home siting changes (HB 800), a transportation support program fix for one charter school (HB 815), and education career ladder changes for CTE and pupil services staff (HB 849). Additional bills addressed insurance cancellation/nonrenewal notice periods (HB 562), a new Heritage Trust specialty plate and fee structure (HB 825 as amended), and a Medicaid preceptor prior authorization exemption program (HB 78 as amended), which passed 19-15. Most bills were returned to the House after passage, and the Senate held some measures for a legislative day or referred them onward as required.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Commission has continued to actively pursue this issue.
• The Commission is currently considering refinements to the interconnection process.
• So, sort of the way the CPUC process works, procedural process.
• So there's a lot of work that we can do productively at the commission.
• Okay. 2026-126, Public Utilities Commission, utility timeliness oversight by Senator Allen.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee for much of the hearing because it initially lacked a quorum, then later established one and began taking votes. The state auditor gave a status update on ongoing audits, including several JALAC-requested audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth in his office, and the number of new JALAC audits his office could start in the coming months. The committee also heard that one audit request on Prop. 28 was held, and another PUC-related request was moved off consent and heard on the regular calendar. Members then heard and discussed several audit requests. Senator Cervantes presented a request to audit California fusion centers, with witnesses from the FBI and ACLU supporting the need for transparency and oversight; opponents argued the request was politically motivated and could interfere with counterterrorism work. Senator Allen presented a request on CPUC enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for solar and storage projects, supported by industry and school representatives who described long delays and financial harm, while CPUC staff said the issue was being addressed through workshops and a formal proceeding. Senator Perez presented a request to audit Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 extension properties and affordable sales program, citing tenant complaints about maintenance, pricing, and transparency; Caltrans said it was working to complete sales and improve administration. Senator Umberg presented a request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that existing legal remedies had not been invoked. After quorum was established, the committee approved the consent-calendar DMV license revocation audit and then approved the PUC utility timeliness audit and the Caltrans SR 710 audit. The fusion center audit was left on call after a split vote, and the Orange County Board of Education audit continued with testimony from the board’s representatives after the committee had already moved on to other business.