Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:04.519><c> Agro</c> Agriculture so inclusive of forest Agro Agriculture so inclusive of forest
• Agro Forest<00:32:05.200><c> pasture</c> Forest pasture Forest pasture croplands<00:32:07.200><c> um
• California has a program. Washington State has a program.
• California certainly helped it reduce its emissions.
• </c> state has a program California certainly state has a program California certainly helped<01:47:17.400

Transcript Highlights:

• We're the state of California.
• I'm also speaking on behalf of California Farmland Trust and California Council of Land Trusts in support
• Forest Carbon Coalition.
• They've gone above and beyond what California wanted, and California should be proud to know that they
• The California Association of Local Conservation Corps, the California Compost Coalition, Mid-Peninsula

Transcript Highlights:

• Even when the Forest Service in the Payette National Forest started their forest planning process before
• No, those forests are a friggin' mess. Those sheep are gone? No, those forests are a friggin' mess.
• Payette National Forest was mentioning them in their forest plans.
• Payette National Forest was mentioning them in their forest plans. Maybe you don't know it.
• Payette National Forest was mentioning them in their forest plans.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from University of Idaho representatives on the university’s land-grant mission and its role in federalism, followed by detailed overviews of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Speakers described the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts, the university’s history, and examples of research, extension, and workforce training in agriculture, engineering, law, forestry, fire science, and youth programs such as 4-H. They highlighted facilities and programs including research stations, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the deep soil ecotron, the Wildland Fire Center, the experimental forest, and the policy analysis group, while also noting the impact of federal and state funding delays and cuts on staffing and research capacity. Committee members asked about several current issues, including quagga mussels, screw worm, chronic wasting disease, and the effects of funding cuts. University officials said they were not actively researching some of those wildlife and livestock disease issues but were willing to help if capacity and funding allowed. They also said budget reductions had caused real losses, including layoffs and reduced programs, and that federal grant delays had disrupted research timelines. The committee also raised questions about conflicts of interest and university employees’ outside work; the university said it has annual conflict-of-interest and conflict-of-commitment training and review procedures. The committee then heard from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse and the Idaho Sheriffs Association on the federal 287(g) immigration partnership program. Hulse argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, describing the different 287(g) models, the training and liability concerns, and the distinction between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. He said Idaho agencies already cooperate with ICE in other ways and that mandatory participation could create staffing, legal, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, liability, detention standards, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements; Hulse said the answer depends on the specific model and operation, and he emphasized the need for local discretion. Later, the committee took testimony on the long-running bighorn sheep and domestic sheep conflict affecting western Idaho grazing allotments. Idaho Wool Growers representatives and affected ranchers described the history of state legislation, federal litigation, and the closure of grazing areas after bighorn sheep transplants, which they said cut livestock operations in half and caused major financial and personal hardship. They argued that the state and federal agencies had not lived up to assurances that permittees would be held harmless, and they urged continued attention to the issue. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anya Loller here today on behalf of Housing California Enterprise Community Partners, the California
• Chloe Ames with NextGen California.
• Recycling Corporation of California.
• Recycling Corporation of California.
• Recycling Corporation of California.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is really based not just on the... water supply for California and for the water supply for California
• </c><06:26:52.080><c> there</c> to my colleague from California there to my colleague from California
• </c><06:32:30.160><c> moved</c> motion Miss Jacobs of California moved motion Miss Jacobs of California
• The gentleman from California seeks recognition.
• Thank you, gentlemen from California.

Bills: HR77

Keywords: Fred Korematsu, civil liberties, constitutional rights, Japanese internment, historical education, national reflection, personal justice

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is supported by the California Police Chiefs Association, the California Professional Firefighters
• , and the California Special Districts Association.
• 'California state government can do this cheaper.'
• Is there a big faucet in California? by farmers.
• The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 gave California consumers important privacy rights, including

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor file of bills. Early measures passed with little or no debate, including AB 698 on local transfer taxes and affordable housing analysis, AB 456 on mobile home sales, AB 1129 on reportable infant health conditions, AB 69 on Fair Plan insurance notices and voluntary market searches, AB 357 on expedited student and faculty housing permits, AB 383 on firearms code cleanups, AB 426 on drones interfering with emergency response, AB 825 on energy affordability and transmission financing, and AB 699 on ballot transparency for local tax and bond measures. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan margins, while AB 825 drew the most extended debate over whether it would lower costs or expand state control of energy infrastructure; it ultimately passed 45-5. The most contentious item was AB 84, which would strengthen oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools and tighten accountability for charter spending and operations. Supporters argued it was needed to stop fraud and misuse of public education dollars, citing major scandals and audit findings, while opponents warned it would harm legitimate charter schools, reduce educational options, and disproportionately affect rural and special-needs students. Several members said they supported the bill only to keep negotiations going, and others urged more targeted or delayed action. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the Assembly passed AB 84 on a 41-22 vote. The chamber also took up AB 610, a housing bill that would require cities and counties to disclose planned housing restrictions and limit new constraints for three years after housing element approval. The author framed it as a certainty and transparency measure to help address the state’s housing shortage, while noting continued discussions with local governments and housing advocates. The transcript ends with the bill’s presentation and request for an aye vote, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked with a domestic manufacturer who moved their operations from the Tacoma area to California
• In Port Angeles, our cargo terminal that we use to export timber and forest In Port Angeles, our cargo
• terminal that we use to export timber and forest products has reached the end of its useful life, and
• In Port Angeles, our cargo terminal that we use to export timber in forest, In Port Angeles, our cargo
• terminal that we use to export timber and forest products has reached the end of its useful life, and

Summary: The committee held public hearings on two bills. Senate Bill 5420 would expand access to state benefits and preferences for veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses by adding the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Corps to various eligibility provisions, extending some employment preferences to military spouses, and updating related protections. Staff and the prime sponsor, Sen. John Lovick, described it as a long-worked-on measure that passed the Senate overwhelmingly. Tammy Pro of the Department of War supported the bill, saying it modernizes state law and better recognizes service members and military families. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5649, which would create a Washington State supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program to provide grants and loans for public and tribal port projects tied to freight mobility and supply chain performance. Sen. Marko Liias and port representatives testified in support, saying ports are critical to Washington’s trade-driven economy and that the bill would help fund needed infrastructure, including rail and terminal improvements, especially for smaller and rural ports. Testifiers said the program would fill a gap because ports lack a dedicated state grant program and could help leverage federal funding. An amendment to SB 5649 was explained as limiting eligible projects to those not already eligible for funding from the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, to avoid duplication. The committee paused and later closed the hearing on SB 5649, then returned to SB 5420 to hear additional testimony. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended after the public hearings were closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's our state forester and oversees the Division of Forest and Lands.
• We have one of the largest state forests we have in the south, the Pisgah State Forest.
• Our foresters do just that: they do forest management, and that's what they specifically are focused
• We are working on a 5,000-acre Forest Legacy project. We partner with the U.S. Forest Service.
• Forest Health issues, and they're a key part of what we do for the public and for our state forest.

Summary: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work. Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow. Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money. On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an important step for California in terms of managing wildfire risk.
• California is losing too many homes and communities to wildfire.
• Catastrophic wildfire imposes enormous cost on the state of California and our residents.
• Melissa Sparks Kranz with the League of California Cities in support. Thank you.
• Hi, I'm Melissa Sparks-Krans with the League of California Cities, as well as the California State Association

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• He is a former DNR forest Quinzer.
• </c> information showing how forest information showing how forest management<01:07:15.840><c> on</c>
• Now, constraints can be added to that model to adjust for amounts of older forest or younger forest or
• </c> to hunt the edge between a young forest to hunt the edge between a young forest area<01:18:21.680
• </c><01:30:13.560><c> habitat</c> improvement around forest habitat improvement around forest habitat

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• So, a forester position. We have nine million ...acres of surface.
• Currently, we have one forester position. So we want to add an additional position.
• In terms of fires, we are seeking an additional forester position.
• It's going to help with forest fire reduction, forest management, all sorts of things.
• I believe the gentleman was out of Oregon, and he traveled all the way to California.

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the State Land Office, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State said its requested general fund budget of $15.88 million was intended to maintain baseline operations, replace lost federal cyber and election support, and address a 12% vacancy rate. Officials warned that the House recommendation still left major gaps for election security, tabulator replacement, campaign finance system upgrades, overseas and military ballot services, ballot tracking, and a new tax lien filing system. Senators pressed about the election fund, county burdens, and the risk of underfunding election administration; the office said the House had provided $15 million for the election fund for the primary and another $15 million for the general election, but not enough for operations or all capital needs. The State Land Office said it was satisfied with the House budget action and had no additional request. Staff described the office’s record revenues, low vacancy rate, clean audits, and proposed new positions tied to forestry, economic development, petroleum, geothermal, and royalty compliance work. Senators asked about long-term revenue trends, forest thinning and biomass opportunities, and bookkeeping around the land maintenance fund; the office said the new positions were intended to generate revenue and support land management, including fire mitigation. The Attorney General’s office presented a budget built around a 0% general fund increase, greater use of the Consumer Settlement Fund, and $4.5 million in special/extraordinary litigation funding. The AG emphasized active litigation and investigations involving consumer fraud, Medicaid fraud, federal funding cuts, Meta and other technology platforms, AI and child safety, gaming compacts, tobacco, and possible litigation over abandoned uranium mine cleanup. Senators asked about scam enforcement, the structure of settlement funds, and whether the office could take on uranium-related litigation; the AG said the office could prepare a litigation budget but warned such efforts would require sustained funding. The State Auditor said the House budget added only modest increases while the office faced about a 40% vacancy rate, difficulty recruiting auditors, and a shrinking pool of public accounting firms, creating risks for constitutional audit responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forest landowners understand the need for more transmission capacity.
• With forest landowners and the bill sponsors on other refinements to the bill. Thank you.
• I'm an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of Northern California.
• So as I understand it, California and Illinois have a similar type of an audit feature.
• California is 12. California's 2018 model offers a helpful path forward. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The committee took up executive action on the capital budget, Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, and several policy bills. Staff described amendments to the capital budget that shifted funding among behavioral health, local/community projects, irrigation projects, and juvenile rehabilitation capacity, plus a technical fix to the water pollution control revolving program. The committee adopted Senator Dozier’s budget-neutral amendment and a technical amendment, then advanced the amended capital budget to the Rules Committee. It also moved House Bills 2441, 2124, 2471, 2133, 2610, and 2338 forward with due-pass recommendations, and advanced Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 on Climate Commitment Act accounts to the Transportation Committee after adopting two amendments and withdrawing three others. A major public hearing focused on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer surplus assets, and direct portions to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Staff said the plan is currently about 160% funded and explained the bill’s IRS-review process, statute of limitations, and estimated implementation costs. Testimony was sharply divided: some retirees, firefighters, counties, and cities opposed the bill as an improper use of pension assets and urged benefit enhancements or protection of local medical obligations, while others supported using the surplus for broader public purposes. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2179 on PERS coverage for certain port workers, with ports and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting clarification for railroad employees covered by the federal railroad retirement system. House Bill 1069, allowing Department of Corrections employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and corrections workers, while House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information sharing with bargaining representatives, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. Finally, Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences drew support from labor, local governments, and project proponents, and opposition from contractor groups and environmental advocates over project labor agreement requirements and nuclear-related concerns; Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authorities and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing were also heard, with both receiving supportive testimony from community and housing advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got my child in California, and they can't come home and find a good, decent job.
• For the forest fires. That is lack of management in the forest. And we all know that.
• Let's manage the forest, eliminate the... Know the solutions now.
• Let's manage the forest, eliminate the smoke, and do the right thing.
• I think California is the wrong model to try to duplicate.

Bills: SB12 , SB36 , SB92 , SB120 , SB133 , SB151 , SB18 , SB96

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Transcript Highlights:

• there will also be a push to, um, from some, some of the federal agencies to begin helping clear our forests
• the timber industry, maybe indirectly the hunting industry, um, based on the mismanagement of our forests
• I have got Sapola National Forest, and it's, if that catches on fire, it'd be devastating to my area.
• I would love the Forest Department to allow people to go back in and, and trim that out, and they would
• take care of that forest.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Was a movie producer and had lived in California for a long time.
• Or proceed. was a movie producer and had lived in California for a long time.
• I've worked in over four states, including New York and California.
• I've worked in over four states, including New York and California.
• I've worked in California. I worked in Chicago for a number of years.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where it adopted a House committee substitute and voted House Bill 1716 due pass by a 13-0 vote, House Bill 2474 due pass by a 15-0 vote, and House Bill 2693 due pass by a 12-2 vote with one present. The committee then moved into public hearings. House Bill 3095, sponsored by Rep. Brown, would extend the business facility tax credit. Brown and witnesses from Burns & McDonnell and business groups said the credit supports retention and expansion of high-paying jobs in Missouri, especially in Kansas City, and helps the company plan future growth. No opposition was offered, and the hearing closed after several supportive witnesses testified. House Bill 3249, sponsored by Rep. Harzusa, would extend the jet fuel sales tax exemption for common carriers from 2033 to 2043 to support the planned redevelopment of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Witnesses said the exemption helps encourage airline investment in a multi-billion-dollar airport project, and the bill drew support from regional business groups with no opposition. House Bills 2142 and 2058, sponsored by Reps. Wellenkamp and Vernetti, would combine the Missouri motion media tax credit’s two $8 million buckets into one $16 million pool and extend the sunset to 2035. Sponsors and industry witnesses said the change would improve competitiveness, support film and TV production, and help build long-term infrastructure and jobs; supporters included film office representatives, chambers of commerce, and local governments, with no opposition testimony. House Bill 2886, sponsored by Rep. Riggs, would update Missouri broadband law by raising speed standards, extending the state broadband office sunset, and addressing future federal broadband funds and provider defaults. Riggs argued the bill is needed to keep pace with AI and modern internet use and to recover federal funds; supporters from AARP and the broadband office emphasized the need for better service and longer timelines. Industry groups opposed parts of the bill, especially the exclusion of cable and concerns about overbuilding and overly strict speed requirements, while the broadband director said the sunset extension and future service needs should be considered. The committee adjourned after the hearing on HB 2886.

Transcript Highlights:

• section here, which is forest management treatments with the goal of improving water yield.
• </c><00:53:42.160><c> program</c> forest management water research program forest management water research
• demonstration project up into the forest demonstration project up in<00:54:12.000><c> this</c><00:54
• management treatments with the um forest management treatments with the um I<00:54:18.240><c> think<
• </c><00:55:29.359><c> 6</c> Conservation District, California 6 Conservation District, California 6 Agency

Bills: HB0078 , SF0012 , SF0013 , SF0052 , SF0069 , SF0070

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• It is here. ...state of California.
• We cannot wait a... state of California.
• They're actually providing the jobs in California. Thank you.
• For the Medi-Cal program in California, correct.
• This is all impacting California.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget and presentations from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Chair Laird described the proposal as roughly balanced with $23 billion in reserves, while Vice Chair Niello argued the revenue estimates were overly optimistic and warned of a structural deficit, calling for a deeper review of programs and concern over the state’s $20 billion unemployment insurance debt. Finance said the budget is balanced in the budget year but still leaves a roughly $2.9 billion deficit, with out-year gaps above $20 billion, and characterized the plan as largely a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. The LAO said its office sees substantial downside risk to the revenue forecast, emphasized the volatility of stock-market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to begin addressing the structural deficit now rather than waiting until May. Members focused on the implications of federal policy changes, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and the MCO tax, as well as the state’s reserve strategy. Senators Menjivar and Richardson raised concerns about health coverage reductions, county costs, hospital finances, and the lack of a broader revenue solution, while Finance said the state cannot fully backfill federal cuts and is still assessing the impacts. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal to suspend the rainy day fund deposit and setting aside the proposed Proposition 98 settle-up rather than using it for spending. Finance defended both proposals as necessary to balance the budget year and said it plans to begin discussions with legislative leaders before the May Revision. The committee also discussed climate and transportation funding, including cap-and-trade/GGRF allocations for Cal Fire, interest earnings from the fund, zero-emission vehicle incentives, and AB 617 air quality investments. Senator Reyes questioned the focus on light-duty ZEV incentives instead of heavy-duty vehicles, and Finance said the proposal is intended to partially replace the federal consumer tax credit and that some heavy-duty funding remains from prior years. Senator Richardson also raised concerns about Olympics-related infrastructure, courthouse repairs, and displaced workers, while other members stressed homelessness funding and the need for more immediate action on out-year budget problems. No formal votes or actions were taken during the portion provided; the hearing was informational and moved into member questions after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the state of California.
• For Environment California and for the Port of Long Beach, then for Environment California specifically
• Janice O'Malley with AFSCME California.
• Forest Service on the qualified product list.
• Good afternoon, Kim Delfino on behalf of Audubon California, California Native Plant Society, and the

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• California is the only state in the country that has not paid back.
• They're actually providing the jobs in California. Thank you.
• For the Medi-Cal program in California, correct.
• This is all impacting California.
• This is all impacting California.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget, which the chair described as roughly balanced in the budget year but still facing large out-year structural deficits. The vice chair criticized the revenue assumptions as overly optimistic and stressed the need to review recent program expansions and address the state’s $20 billion federal unemployment insurance debt. The Department of Finance said the budget is a “workload” plan with about $350 billion in total spending, $23 billion in reserves, a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit, and out-year gaps above $20 billion, while the LAO warned of downside revenue risk tied to stock market volatility and urged earlier action on the structural deficit rather than waiting for May. Finance and the LAO discussed major budget components, including Proposition 98 funding, higher education base increases for UC and CSU, climate and wildfire spending, a new ZEV incentive, child care COLAs, and tax proposals involving marketplace facilitators, renewable aviation fuel, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. Members raised concerns about proposed Medi-Cal and CalFresh changes tied to federal HR1 impacts, the MCO tax extension, hospital finances, county costs, and the decision not to backfill all federal funding losses. Finance said the administration is not in a position to replace all lost federal funds, but wants to work with the Legislature on priorities and timing before the May Revision. Several senators used the hearing to preview subcommittee priorities and request more detail on spending growth, reserves, and program cuts. Topics included homelessness funding, Care Court throughput, wildfire and climate investments, AB 617, data centers, the judicial branch’s facilities backlog, displaced workers, transit funding, and preparations for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. No budget action or vote was taken at this hearing; the committee mainly received presentations and member questions, with public comment scheduled later.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Hampshire the um Department of forest Hampshire the um Department of forest and<01:28:35.840><c>
• ...what the impact would be for state-owned forests and how that would impact the use of the forests
• Stock: "The State Lands Division of Forest and Lands does a great job managing our forest, and their
• </c> Connecticut Lakes Headwater Forest Connecticut Lakes Headwater Forest through<02:01:08.760><c> a
• </c><02:05:23.559><c> for</c> incredible quality of that forest for incredible quality of that forest

Committee: House Municipal and County Government