Transcript Highlights:

• And while operators cannot pass the credit card fee on, the state can.
• Running a business also has its challenges for single- and multiple-location operators alike.
• With no current mandates in place for these fees, operators have no options to control costs.
• Now, independent of each other, MasterCard and Visa operate what's called a two-sided market.
• It allows the system to operate seamlessly. It's much like the same way...

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and reviewed a broad agenda including credit card fees, event ticketing, music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, CPA pathways, school mental health licensure, and a bill regulating alternative healing therapies. The chairs explained hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and submission of written testimony, and noted that more than 70 people had signed up to testify. Legislators and advocates were heard out of order throughout the day. A major portion of the hearing focused on credit card surcharge and interchange legislation. Restaurant owners, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, NFIB, and other small-business witnesses supported bills allowing merchants to add convenience fees and, in one proposal, preventing card companies from charging fees on tax and tip portions of transactions. They argued that swipe fees are a major and growing cost, especially for restaurants, and that Massachusetts is one of only two states that bars surcharges. Opponents from the Cooperative Credit Union Association, the Electronic Payment Coalition, and the Electronic Transactions Association warned that the proposals would create compliance burdens, fragment the payment system, raise legal preemption issues, and disrupt a system they described as efficient and secure. The committee also heard competing testimony on ticket transferability and ticket resale. Supporters, including the National Consumers League and Sports Fans Coalition, said bills on ticket transferability would protect consumers who cannot attend events and would increase competition and savings in the secondary market. Opponents, including United Musicians and Allied Workers and theater owners, argued that mandatory transferability would weaken artists’ and venues’ ability to prevent scalping and predatory resale, and that some ticket sellers should be exempt from the broader ticketing regulations. Separate testimony supported music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, and new CPA education pathways, with witnesses saying these measures would expand access to care and strengthen the workforce while maintaining professional standards. The hearing also drew extensive opposition to S.261 on alternative healing therapies, with practitioners and clients arguing it would overregulate spiritual and holistic practices and was not an effective response to human trafficking concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• , about 15,000 more operations than the Baton Rouge metro area.
• It averages roughly 245 operations a day. It averages roughly 245 operations a day. 245 a day.
• The total last year was 79,325 operations in 2025.
• Do we currently have grocery stores being operated by local government?
• Do we currently have grocery stores being operated by local government? No, not that I know of.

Bills: HR3 , HR80 , HB4 , HB172 , HB189 , HB623 , HB944 , HB1185 , HB1199 , HB1222 , SB105 , SB125 , SB461

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: housing assistance, state-owned property, cost-burdened, state employees, affordable housing, fiscal audit, higher education, public funds, underrepresented minorities, Board of Regents, Louisiana legislation, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, airport authority, fire protection, supplemental pay, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It would increase their operating line.
• We are just about to launch into user acceptance testing at the state.
• I am in front of you today to just give a brief update from NDIT's operational fund.
• If you remember, the operational fund was moved to continuing appropriation. Fund.
• In fact, our private markets program operated that way until very recently.

Summary: The Budget Section met with a quorum, approved the December 10, 2025 minutes, and received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. OMB reported the state was about $2 million ahead of forecast biennium-to-date, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397.5 million. Joe Morset also reviewed balances in major funds, oil tax revenues, interest income, federal grant reporting, fiscal irregularities, the voluntary separation incentive program, vacancy savings, and the FTE pool. Members asked about the higher-than-forecast interest income, the effective oil tax rate and stripper-well production, the impact of temporary pay adjustments and vacancy savings, and whether the voluntary separation program could reduce institutional knowledge or shift duties to remaining staff. The committee then approved four Emergency Commission requests: $5.26 million for DPI to support an AI-enabled tutoring platform, $105,000 from the general fund contingency for Corrections GPS monitoring, about $1.963 million for HHS SPACES eligibility system upgrades tied to Medicaid work requirements, and about $1.2 million for SNAP eligibility IT improvements. Legislative Council reported remaining interim spending authority after those approvals, and NDIT gave an update on digital accessibility compliance efforts, saying the state has made substantial progress on websites and PDFs but that applications will take longer to remediate. NDIT also reported on the Infinite Campus student information system rollout, noting data migration remains the biggest challenge and that a supplemental vendor is being brought in to help get districts ready for summer go-live. Greg Hoffman then gave a brief update on NDIT’s operational fund, saying cash remains negative in PeopleSoft but accounts receivable keeps the fund functioning within federal limits. The Supreme Court reported on its new and vacant FTE funding pool, saying it has filled 7 of 10 new positions and has realized some vacancy savings, and Legislative Council provided a similar report for the legislative branch along with a reminder that budget action reports are available online. The Department of Transportation presented its Flexible Transportation Fund, explaining the fund’s allocation formulas and ranking process, and sought Budget Section approval for two projects over the $10 million threshold: a Medora city streets and sidewalk project and a Cass County bridge replacement. Members questioned whether funding Medora streets could set a precedent for city street reconstruction and whether the bridge application process fully reflects statewide needs. DOT said the projects were scored competitively and that the bridge list does not capture all deficiencies statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 74 is their safety and operations, State Road.
• It's operated by the FBI. That's one of the criteria.
• I don't know what their planned operations are or anything about it.
• But to be clear, I have no operational control whatsoever of ICE. Absolutely.
• , operation from start to finish.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• has been done successfully by agencies up and down the state, local governments, public transit operators
• And frankly, that is what is at the disposal of the transit operators today, because if you think about
• And so it would be some time before you would have another public transit operator that would be able
• PMSA is a trade association representing marine terminal operators and maritime shippers.
• PMSA is a trade association representing marine terminal operators and maritime shippers.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum established after a brief delay and first adopted two consent items, SB 423 and SB 581. The committee then heard SB 71, which extends and expands an existing CEQA exemption for sustainable transportation projects, including transit, bike, pedestrian, microtransit, paratransit, ferry, and shuttle projects. The author and supporters said the exemption has sped delivery of climate-friendly projects statewide; some members raised concerns about the bill’s Tier 4 diesel rail provisions and right-of-way language, but the bill was passed out as amended to Appropriations. The committee next heard SB 614 on carbon dioxide pipeline safety. The bill would direct the State Fire Marshal to establish safety standards for intrastate CO2 pipelines, using federal draft rules as a starting point while allowing California to add stronger protections. Supporters argued the state must act because federal rulemaking has stalled, while environmental justice groups opposed the bill unless amended, citing siting risks, leak hazards, and the need for more specific setback and planning-zone protections. The bill advanced on a due-pass vote to Appropriations. Members also approved SB 304, a district bill to temporarily lift public trust use restrictions for a portion of Jack London Square in Oakland so the Port can lease the land for broader uses under State Lands Commission oversight and annual reporting. Supporters said the measure would help address high vacancy and revitalize the waterfront; the bill passed with no opposition. The committee then heard SB 830, which creates a CEQA streamlining process for Sutter Health’s new Emeryville hospital campus to replace services lost with the closure of Alta Bates in Berkeley; supporters emphasized access to care, seismic deadlines, and job creation, and the bill passed out as amended to the Judiciary Committee. Finally, the committee took up SB 486, a higher-education planning bill that would require UC and CSU enrollment to be incorporated into regional sustainable communities plans and would limit certain CEQA no-project alternative analyses for campus long-range plans; supporters said it would better align university growth with housing and transportation planning, while opponents warned it could weaken accountability for student housing impacts. The bill was left open for further work and then advanced as amended to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Transportation includes things like coach operators at Metro Transit.
• Favor, if you'd like to launch us off here with your testimony, that would be wonderful.
• quality programs, supported by us together as the people of Minnesota, getting these supported and launched
• Today is adjourned. getting these supported and launched and getting these supported and launched and

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• The other 25% of general fund is really back-office operations, you know, my... ...salary, et cetera.
• Department of Health and Human Services, I'm sure you're familiar with this, launched an investigation
• She understands the survey operations, compliance, licensure.
• Chairman, the governor's office did not provide detailed instructions on how to operate the agency.
• Chairman, the governor's office did not provide detailed instructions on how to operate the agency.

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget further addresses the department's core operational needs, including $60 million for health
• But as far as the operations of a university, that is up to the Board of Trustees.
• As far as the operations of a university, that is up to the Board of Trustees.
• The Sixth District Court of Appeal is operating under horrendous conditions.
• We're 10 days away from that time bomb that the Health Department's launching on us.

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: budget, appropriation, education funding, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, local government, Appropriations Act, funding, education, rural development, economic assistance, collective bargaining, state employees, labor relations, impasse resolution, negotiations, retirement, elected officials, Deferred Retirement Option Program

Transcript Highlights:

• So, presenting with me today: Troy Wiesler, Deputy Secretary of Operations and the Chief of the New Mexico
• But new to our leadership team: Andrea Sandibald, Director of Operations—there you are—new to our leadership
• into greater detail on this in just a little bit, but we really want to redesign our DPS website and launch
• Our budget request asks for a $1.9 million increase to our operating budget, which takes our FY27 general
• operations at the current level.

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• has been done successfully by agencies up and down the state, local governments, public transit operators
• performance- and recovery-enhancing transit projects, which ultimately saves the agency precious operating
• And frankly, that is what is at the disposal of the transit operators today, because if you think about
• And so it would be some time before you would have another public transit operator that would be able
• PMSA is a trade association representing marine terminal operators and maritime shippers.

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, adopted the consent calendar for SB 423 and SB 581, and then heard a series of bills, most of which were presented as streamlining or safety measures tied to transportation, climate, public lands, health care, and higher education. SB 71 by Senator Wiener would extend and expand a CEQA exemption for sustainable transportation projects, adding modes such as microtransit, paratransit, shuttles, and ferries, while also accepting committee amendments that narrowed a Tier 4 diesel rail provision, restored existing right-of-way language with utility protections, and set a new sunset date. Support came from transit agencies, local governments, and advocacy groups; some members raised concerns about the diesel rail language and possible interactions with housing-related legislation, but the bill advanced on a due pass vote as amended. The committee then heard SB 614 by Senator Stern on carbon dioxide pipeline safety. The bill would direct the State Fire Marshal to adopt safety standards for intrastate CO2 pipelines, building from federal draft rules and adding state discretion and possible enhanced protections such as planning zones and more detailed exposure modeling. Supporters argued California needs to fill a federal regulatory gap to advance carbon capture and climate goals, while environmental justice and conservation groups opposed unless amended, citing risks from CO2 leaks and asking for stronger siting restrictions and more specificity. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations, with members noting the need for continued work on the safety provisions. Senator Arreguín also presented SB 304, which would temporarily lift public trust use restrictions on specific land at Jack London Square to allow the Port of Oakland more leasing flexibility under conditions and annual reporting. The measure was described as a limited, time-bound effort to address high vacancy and revitalize the waterfront, and it drew support from Oakland city and county representatives with no opposition in the room. The committee then approved SB 304 on a due pass vote. Arreguín’s SB 830 followed, creating CEQA streamlining for Sutter Health’s new Emeryville hospital campus and designating the City of Emeryville as lead agency; supporters said it would preserve East Bay hospital access before seismic deadlines, and the bill passed with broad support and no opposition. Finally, Senator Caballero presented SB 486, a higher education planning bill intended to align UC and CSU enrollment growth with regional sustainable communities plans and to remove the need to analyze a no-project alternative in certain long-range development plans. Supporters said the bill would better integrate university enrollment forecasting into regional planning, while opponents warned that eliminating the no-project analysis could weaken accountability for housing and infrastructure impacts around campuses. Committee members expressed mixed views and asked for further clarification, but the bill was moved out on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The transcript then shifted to SB 629, a fire response and rebuilding bill, with the author describing amendments to apply fire safety requirements in wildfire-burned areas, update fire mapping, and require annual defensible space inspections, though the discussion was cut off before any final action was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Director of Operations for the Combat U program here at Sacramento State University.
• Launched in 2011 and now operating in more than 90 jurisdictions, Launched in 2011 and now operating
• I mean, it's not a penalty if you're not able to operate a motor vehicle.
• There is no clear operational framework, no administrative roadmap, and no guidance on implementation
• California DMV uses the negligent operator treatment system, also known as NOTS, to assign points to

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• One month later, I helped launch Sandy Hook Promise.
• One month later, I helped launch Sandy Hook Promise.
• There's no better time than now operate.
• We are operate it 247. It is monitored.
• Those tips do come in a 247 operation.

Bills: HF3409 , HF3487 , HF3401

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: immigration status, undocumented students, immigrant rights, K-12 education, public school enrollment, Plyler v. Doe, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, law enforcement access, ICE, immigration enforcement, civil lawsuit, private right of action, injunctive relief, mandamus, student records, directory information, parental engagement, equal access to education

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor Cox says that in the time since we've launched the One Utah Service Fellowship two years ago
• Rather than being purely volunteer or purely scholarship, we launched the One Utah Service Fellowship
• Anything that involved with the operation and running of that district, even in his scope of work, He
• is a... with the operation and running of that district.
• I also am concerned about the roles here when you have operations versus oversight.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I feel like we're doing a nuclear launch here.

Bills: SB2057 , SB2109 , SB2400 , HB1752 , SB2599 , SB2930

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect the APD portion to be launched in the next few days, and we are extremely excited about it.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs heard and advanced several bills and confirmations. SB 1016, on medical assistance eligibility for working persons with disabilities, was amended to remove automatic enrollment and to improve information sharing between AHCA and DCF; supporters said the bill codifies an existing program that helps developmentally disabled adults work without losing Medicaid coverage, and the committee reported the bill favorably. SB 1002, on temporary custody of minor children, was amended to focus on substance abuse as a pathway for court intervention when parental drug abuse creates ongoing risk to a child, and it was also reported favorably. SB 1594, on veteran benefit payments for minor clients in foster care, would ensure military benefits accessed for foster youth are preserved for post-secondary education or aftercare rather than used as reimbursement to agencies; it passed favorably without amendment. The committee also considered SB 1630 on aging and disability services, a broad modernization bill covering long-term care screening, emergency continuity of care, area agency oversight, Alzheimer’s services, home care, and guardianship reforms. Two amendments were adopted, including one on competitive procurement and another allowing area agencies on aging to directly provide core services during emergencies with department approval. Supporters emphasized caregiver navigation, dementia training, and service continuity, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1030 on substance abuse services/recovery residences was taken up with a substitute amendment that narrowed transfer definitions, required faster licensure action for existing providers adding levels of care, and limited credentialing entities’ access to resident medical records; stakeholders said further work was needed, but the committee still reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard the nomination of Robert Astellos to lead the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. He outlined priorities including reducing the pre-enrollment list, improving transparency and family involvement, strengthening customer service, and streamlining agency processes. Several disability and provider organizations appeared in support, and the committee voted to recommend his confirmation. The committee then recommended confirmation of the appointees on tabs 7 through 10 by a single favorable vote, and adjourned at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• sure, did you have more presentation, or should we take questions since it seems like we already launched

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• sure, did you have more presentation or should we take questions since it seems like we already launched

Summary: The committee held its first official work session with member and staff introductions, then received an update from the State Building Code Council on the current three-year code cycle and several legislatively directed code changes. Council staff said the council is moving toward CR-102 rulemaking and final adoption in the spring, with legislative mandates nearing completion on minimum dwelling unit size, emergency shelters, single-exit stairs for buildings up to six stories and 24 units, and sixplexes in the residential code. Members asked about how technical advisory groups are selected, and staff explained that the council advertises seats, reviews applications and recommendations, and approves members in public meetings, typically including firefighters, engineers, architects, and other subject-matter experts. A major portion of the meeting focused on the single-stair and sixplex work and on how fire safety, egress, and local service levels are being considered. Council representatives said the single-stair proposal includes emergency escape and rescue openings on all levels and is intended to provide more options for safe egress while reducing building footprint and cost. They emphasized that the recommendations are still entering the public rulemaking process and that cost-benefit considerations were part of the legislative intent. Members also raised questions about whether self-rescue devices or other builder options could be codified, and council staff said such ideas are considered through the advisory process, though not all become required code provisions. The second half of the session covered performance-based codes, prompted by a bill referred to as HB 2381. Todd Byrd explained the difference between prescriptive codes, which specify exact solutions, and performance-based codes, which set outcomes and allow designers and manufacturers more flexibility in how to meet them. He described the bill as a narrow proposal for low-rise residential buildings up to 24 units and under the high-rise threshold, with third-party or state certification and local jurisdiction approval still required. He cited international examples, especially Japan and Sweden, where performance-based approaches supported innovation and prefabrication, and said such systems can lower costs while maintaining safety. Members discussed seismic safety, builder participation, embodied carbon, and energy-code interactions, and council staff said the proposal could help align material, energy, and design optimization without changing the existing energy code. The committee took no vote and adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• met in July mentioned the website was about to go live, and since then, in July, the website did launch

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• He helped consolidate fire districts and launch youth conferences, and he spearheaded causes like public

Summary: The Assembly convened without a quorum, completed the roll call, and then proceeded with the day’s business after a prayer, pledge, and a moment of silence for victims of the Texas flooding. Procedural motions suspended several rules to allow committee notices, guest seating, and the withdrawal of AB 898 back to the Senate. Members also made several guest introductions, including family members, interns, and scouting troop visitors. On the floor, AB 1416 by Assembly Member Ta, a taxation bill, was concurred in with Senate technical amendments by a 60-0 vote. ACR 1, designating October 23 as Korean Ginseng Day, was adopted by voice vote after supportive remarks highlighting Korean culture and the health benefits of ginseng; 62 coauthors were added without objection. The Assembly also heard SB 119, the budget-related human services trailer bill, with extensive debate over CalWORKs, CalFresh, child welfare reporting, and housing/homelessness programs. Supporters framed it as a needed anti-poverty and safety-net measure, while opponents criticized it as expanding dependency and failing to address fraud and work requirements. SB 119 passed on a 54-11 vote. The second-day consent calendar, including AJR 16 on the Tijuana River, was adopted 71-0, and the remaining consent items AJR 15 and SB 765 were also adopted 71-0. The session concluded with adjournments in memory of Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, followed by announcements of upcoming committee hearings and the next floor session before adjournment until July 10 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• using tools they bought off the dark web, a literal do-it-yourself kit in a shiny cyber box, can launch