Transcript Highlights:

• What about, like, the Liliha tenant code line that you have? Nobody answers the phone.
• So the Oahu number has the message: this is landlord-tenant code.
• </c><00:15:01.120><c> so</c> message this is landlord tenant code so message this is landlord tenant
• </c> getting calls all the time and the city getting calls all the time and the city council<01:16:21.639
• </c><01:20:10.239><c> standing</c> whole new section to the code standing whole new section to the code

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's some fee—I pulled up the city ordinances from various cities around the state of Texas, and
• their city limits.
• And even the City of Fort Worth has 16 that they've approved.
• And there's, uh, some fee, uh, I pulled up the city, uh, ordinances, uh, from various cities around the
• Yeah, actually the 23% was another city. I had never even heard of a city of Poetry.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1904, which would classify intentionally released helium balloons as litter and create criminal penalties for balloon releases. The author and supportive witnesses argued that balloon releases harm wildlife, livestock, waterways, and infrastructure, and that the bill would close a loophole in current litter law. Several members questioned whether criminal penalties were appropriate, and the author said he was willing to work toward civil penalties and fines instead. No vote was taken, and HB 1904 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably to the full House, including HB 3249, HB 3866, HB 4112, HB 1768, HB 1499, HB 573, and HB 464. These measures dealt with topics such as TCEQ contested-case procedures, outdoor storage containers, high-level radioactive waste, concrete plant permitting and grants, unannounced concrete batch plant inspections, and a scrap tire grant program. Most were adopted with substitutes and passed on recorded votes, generally with unanimous or near-unanimous support. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3997, which would create expedited permitting timelines for LNG facilities and related wastewater permits. Industry witnesses said the bill would provide certainty for multibillion-dollar projects without eliminating public participation, while environmental groups opposed parts of the bill that they said could limit contested-case participation and be unrealistic for SOAH timelines. TCEQ staff described the current wastewater permitting process and said some of the bill’s timing provisions could be workable, especially with an expedited fee. The bill was left pending after the author said he would continue working on committee substitute language. The committee also heard HB 1237 on extending the renewal window for expired TCEQ occupational water licenses, and HB 4519, a TERP consolidation bill that would combine several clean transportation grant programs into fewer programs. HB 1237 was left pending without testimony, while HB 4519 drew broad support from environmental and industry witnesses who favored simplifying the program, though some asked for stronger emphasis on particulate matter and hydrogen funding. The committee withdrew the substitute on HB 4519 and left it pending. Finally, HB 5033, which would eliminate the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program if federal authority changes, drew opposition from environmental and inspection-industry witnesses who warned it would weaken air-quality protections and could remove an important enforcement tool. The author said the bill was intended as a trigger mechanism and would be refined, and HB 5033 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 1227 on municipal solid-waste franchise fees and private-provider access; the author said he would bring a substitute after hearing concerns from cities, and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• generally, at least for established patients, but Medi-Cal does not cover some asynchronous billing codes
• however, that does not include remote patient monitoring and some asynchronous telehealth billing codes
• We have been collecting data because we have the code—a lot of the administrative work that went into
• I mean, in terms of the history of those codes, they haven't actually been around too long.
• some of the conversation, I think, in California has been around, you know, there's two e-consult codes

Summary: The committee held an outcomes review hearing on AB 744 and AB 32, two telehealth bills authored by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. Members and witnesses discussed how AB 744 established payment parity for telehealth in the commercial market and how AB 32 expanded Medi-Cal access to audio-only telehealth in appropriate circumstances, especially for patients facing broadband, transportation, language, and other access barriers. The hearing framed telehealth as a permanent part of California’s health care system rather than a temporary pandemic measure, while noting that disparities and implementation gaps remain. First-panel testimony from the California Health Care Foundation and the Center for Connected Health Policy reviewed telehealth trends, evidence of patient satisfaction, and the effectiveness of telehealth for behavioral health, chronic care, and e-consults. Witnesses said audio-only care remains important for patients without reliable internet, but Medi-Cal still has gaps in asynchronous care, FQHC/RHC billing, and remote-only provider participation. Committee members asked about reimbursement, data collection, clinical safeguards, broadband access, language access, and whether telehealth is being used to speed up appointments or reduce disparities. A second panel of providers and advocates described how telehealth has changed practice. A family physician said parity allowed his health system to invest in staffing and scheduling, and that virtual visits help seniors, working patients, and those with mobility or transportation barriers, while still allowing escalation to in-person care or emergency services when needed. Planned Parenthood said telehealth is essential for sensitive sexual and reproductive health services and urged broader Medi-Cal coverage for asynchronous care. A behavioral health clinician from Shasta County said telehealth has been critical for rural patients, though broadband and affordability remain barriers. Public comment from hospital, telemedicine, and consumer groups generally supported telehealth expansion while urging fixes to remaining Medi-Cal gaps and continued access to in-person care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, cities deliver the services residents choose.
• I'm going to tell you as a former city commissioner of a city a little over 10,000 people and a county
• I would flip that and say some cities have better code enforcement, take care of the infrastructure better
• In some large cities they are making over $420,000 a year.
• Folks were registered to represent Alachua County, City of Orlando, the City of Sanford, City of St.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have, from the city of Miami, Commissioner Damien Pardo.
• On June 8, 2023, a City of St. Petersburg police officer found Mr.
• The City of St. Petersburg agreed to settle the case for $2.5 million. The City of St.
• I ask your favorable vote on this bill to give the City of St.
• The city settled this case.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Washington County administrator Alan Massey, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then adopted the special order report setting the day’s floor calendar. The chamber also approved the journal and moved into special-order bills. Early action included unanimous passage of CS/HB 967, which creates an electronic payment option for constituents dealing with local governments, and HB 127, which adds cursive writing to required instruction for grades 2 through 5; supporters framed both bills as modernizing basic public services and preserving literacy and heritage. HB 453 also passed unanimously, creating pathways for students in Special Olympics and marching band to satisfy physical education and arts graduation requirements. The House then took up HJR 583, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect religious expression in public schools. The resolution drew extensive debate over whether it merely codified existing law or could create ambiguity about prayer, religious speech, and discrimination issues in schools and at school events. Supporters argued it would strengthen protections for faith expression and let voters decide; opponents raised First Amendment, church-state separation, and implementation concerns, including questions about what counts as religious expression and how schools would handle potentially offensive remarks. The resolution passed 93-17. Several health-related measures followed. CS/HB 237, requiring APRNs who use the title “doctor” to clarify they are APRNs when communicating with patients, passed 111-0. CS/HB 363, creating a dental therapy license and a new mid-level dental provider to address access shortages, prompted sharp debate over training, anesthesia risk, and whether the bill would create a lower tier of care; it passed 80-29. HB 375, removing a mandatory supervision requirement for autonomous CRNAs, passed 78-28, and HB 301, authorizing psychiatric mental health APRNs to provide mental health services within existing licensure, passed 88-18. The House also passed HB 863, giving Citizens Property Insurance policyholders the choice between arbitration and court for disputes, by 105-3, and HB 1399, increasing oversight of property insurers’ affiliate transactions, by 160-3. The chamber then began consideration of a local claims bill, HB 6517, for relief related to an incident involving the City of St. Petersburg.

Transcript Highlights:

• the map color-coded that you received?
• There were no other codes or colors other than the map.
• Petersburg, my home city.
• Ybor City, a 10-minute drive from downtown Tampa, in that district that is now in Plant City, is somehow
• And then there are the questions about cutting cities and counties.

Summary: The Senate convened in special session and took up Senate Bill 8D, later substituted with House Bill 1D, both establishing Florida’s congressional districts. The sponsor, Senator Gates, explained that the Governor had transmitted a proposed redistricting plan on short notice and argued that mid-decade congressional redistricting is legally permissible, citing population growth and the Governor’s view that race-based provisions in the Fair Districts Amendment are unconstitutional. He repeatedly said the Legislature was not being asked to prove the Governor’s legal theory, only to consider the proposal, and noted that no amendments were offered. A lengthy question-and-answer period followed, with senators raising concerns about the rushed process, lack of statewide public hearings, and the map’s effects on minority communities, compactness, communities of interest, and partisan fairness. Senators questioned whether the map cracked Latino and Black communities, whether partisan data was used, whether the Governor’s office had outside consultants, and whether the plan complied with the Florida Constitution, the Fair Districts Amendment, and the Voting Rights Act. Gates generally deferred on legal conclusions, said the Governor’s representatives had testified the map was race-neutral and used political data only as one factor, and emphasized that any constitutional challenge would be for the courts. After a motion to temporarily postpone failed by a recorded vote of 12 yeas to 23 nays, the Senate continued debate. Senators Rouson, Bernard, and others spoke in opposition, arguing the proposal was rushed, partisan, and harmful to communities of interest and minority voting power. Gates maintained that the Governor had a constitutional prerogative to propose the map and that the Legislature could accept, reject, or amend it. The House companion bill was then substituted for the Senate bill, read a third time, and the chamber moved into final debate on the congressional redistricting plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• or large cities, I should say.
• We know, we know. particularly the big cities or large cities, I should say, but I and I believe some
• I'm on the Petaluma City Council, and I'm here representing Mayor McDonald and the City of Petaluma and
• the City Council.
• And so this means a lot to the city of Petaluma. It means a lot to the city of Petaluma.

Summary: Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration heard two housing-related trailer bill items tied to the Governor’s reorganization plan. The first item would codify the creation of a new Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency structure; the second would further streamline the state housing finance system by creating a Housing Development and Finance Committee and reserving most private activity bond capacity for affordable housing. Administration officials said the changes are intended to reduce duplication, speed awards to construction, and make housing funding more predictable and efficient. Agency leaders described recent housing investments and implementation steps, including work groups, coordination with Finance, the Controller, and the Treasurer’s Office, and development of new guidelines and staffing. Members raised concerns about limited funding, the need for better program-by-program outcome data, youth homelessness, excess sites, and fraud prevention. The Interagency Council on Homelessness presented new three-year action plan metrics, including goals to increase exits from unsheltered homelessness to 70% and move more people into permanent housing, while also noting current performance data and quarterly public reporting. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said it had no concerns with the first trailer bill, but supported the general concept of the second while recommending changes, including removing or revising the proposed 50% bond-cap floor for the new committee and adding attention to 9% and state tax credits. Public commenters, including local governments, nonprofit developers, housing authorities, and advocacy groups, largely supported the reorganization and streamlining goals, but several urged stronger protections for deeply affordable housing, earlier reallocation of unused bond authority, continued access to 9% credits, and more funding for housing programs. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the chair closed item one and moved to item two after member and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And every county commission district has a slice of the city and a slice of outside the city in the county
• The city of Española resides in two counties, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe County.
• For Sunday, jeans will be permitted for a relaxed dress code.
• But for tomorrow, the dress code still remains as usual.
• Dress code, but for tomorrow, the dress code still remains as usual.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I'm reading House Bill 727, it makes an, it makes a, a change to 3004 of the penal code.
• it got, it was, it was, I think it was, I mean, based on this is it was originally already in the code
• And so, well, the, the actual penal code. Is I've seen it.
• That it's disconsonant with other aspects of the penal code.
• And when I hear talking about downtown and I used to be on city council in Houston.

Bills: HB268, HB305, HB307

Keywords: gun show, firearm sales, criminal background check, firearm regulation, gun show promoter, election procedures, voter registration, residence requirements, change of address, voter eligibility, youth camp, flood safety, life jackets, grant program, flotation devices

Transcript Highlights:

• It is within the city of Dripping Springs and includes an excellent golf course that opened in 2021.
• The city of Dripping Springs has consented to all of this, which is exceptional.
• development will not only serve as a focal point for the community, anchored by the new Mansfield City
• House Bill 5682 amends the special district local laws code to create the Comino.
• Ranch Municipal Management District Number One within the ETJ of the city of McKinney.

Bills: HB103

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 438 amends the government code to include both current and former administrative law judges
• But we finally located a surgical center in Oklahoma City which on their website with two clicks of a
• Just, I know I'm running out of time, but just I did pull up the Oklahoma City surgical site that he
• I'd like to highlight three key parts of the First, it will establish an AI code of ethics to be adopted
• It establishes a comprehensive code of ethics, as was mentioned previously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Luis Ramos, Yves City, California, I oppose this bill. I'm Rogelio Sandoval. I oppose this bill.
• And it's different than living in a city, and there are traditions and there are a lot of the time, many
• And it's different than living in a city, and there are traditions and there are a lot of the time, many
• And it's different than living in a city. and there are traditions and than living in a city.
• Typically, they get a lot more leeway with animal control, with code enforcement to be able to do that

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with AB 928 on cockfighting drawing the most extensive debate. The author and supporters said the bill targets large-scale illegal trafficking of fighting birds by creating civil penalties for properties with more than 25 individually tethered or caged roosters, while exempting legitimate poultry, hobby, educational, and religious operations. Supporters, including animal control and veterinary witnesses, described cockfighting investigations and the burdens on local agencies. Opponents argued the measure could profile immigrant, rural, Latino, Asian, and Hmong communities and create unnecessary law enforcement and immigration consequences. After questions about exemptions, enforcement, and local ordinances, the committee approved the bill on a due pass motion, with some no votes and the bill placed on call. The committee also advanced AB 1199, which would align California hospital credentialing law with federal standards by allowing recredentialing and reappointment of medical staff every three years instead of every two. Supporters from the California Hospital Association said the change would reduce administrative burden while preserving patient safety oversight. The bill passed unanimously and was placed on call. AB 2537, a cannabis enforcement bill, was presented as a way to prioritize Department of Cannabis Control resources toward the most serious public health and safety violations rather than technical infractions. Supporters said it would improve enforcement efficiency without weakening authority; members asked about rulemaking and whether the bill focused on the legal market. The committee passed the measure on a due pass motion, with the bill also placed on call. AB 1349, dealing with speculative ticketing, would require ticket sellers to own or have a contractual right to tickets before listing them for resale. Supporters from independent venues and the music industry said speculative ticketing deceives consumers and harms artists and small venues, while opponents warned about effects on the secondary market and ongoing antitrust litigation. After late amendments and additional discussion, the committee moved the bill forward on a due pass motion, placing it on call. The committee also heard AB 1693 on speeding retail tenant-improvement permits through a qualified professional certifier process and shorter local review deadlines; members questioned whether the bill allowed self-certification, and the author said the city would still review the plans. That bill passed and was placed on call. Later, AB 1826, a cannabis due-process bill requiring more timely disclosure and procedures when products are embargoed or recalled, also passed after discussion about giving businesses a meaningful chance to respond. AB 2166, a factory-built housing bill creating a state financial backstop to help modular housing factories obtain insurance and stay in business, advanced despite concerns about whether the market risk was too high for state involvement. Finally, AB 2667 on deceptive vape products began testimony, with the author describing youth vaping and devices disguised as everyday items, but the transcript cuts off before further testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, Ocean City.
• There are other codes that also I don't want everyone to think that this is the only code that it's up
• </c> City. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. City. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.
• Delegate from Baltimore City. Delegate from Baltimore City.
• </c> Another delegate from Baltimore City. Another delegate from Baltimore City.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill prohibits certain uses of digital firearm manufacturing code.
• Possession of such code creates a rebuttable presumption of an intent to unlawfully distribute the code
• It then is converted and sliced into a G-code file.
• Finally, digital firearm codes. prohibition against self-incrimination.
• “Those codes are already available online.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2255, House Bill 2548, and House Bill 2320. HB 2255 would regulate third-party litigation funding by requiring disclosure of funders and agreements, prohibiting funder control over litigation, capping funder recovery at 25%, and creating enforcement remedies. Supporters, including the sponsor, insurance groups, and liability reform advocates, described it as a transparency and consumer-protection measure that could improve court efficiency and reduce costs. Opponents, including the Washington State Association for Justice and the commercial litigation funding industry, argued it would burden plaintiffs, reveal protected work product, chill access to justice, and create satellite litigation. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing and asked testifiers to submit written comments. HB 2548 would expand state oversight of health care market transactions by broadening the types of mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, and ownership/control changes that trigger notice to the Attorney General, pausing transactions until information requests are substantially complied with, expanding interagency data sharing, and revoking nonprofit status in certain transactions. Supporters, including patient advocates, nurses, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General’s office, physicians, and individual health care workers, said private equity and consolidation are driving higher costs, reduced access, and lower quality. Opponents from the Washington State Hospital Association and MultiCare said the bill is unclear, may contain drafting errors, does not adequately target private equity structures, and could create problems around nonprofit status and charitable assets. The hearing ended with the committee moving on to the next bill. HB 2320 would update Washington’s ghost gun laws to address 3D-printed firearms, CNC manufacturing, digital firearm manufacturing code, and the sale of machines marketed for firearm production, and would make certain violations per se Consumer Protection Act violations. The sponsor and supporters, including school officials, gun violence prevention advocates, a trauma survivor, a 3D-printing industry representative, and others, said the bill closes a public safety loophole and responds to the growing availability of untraceable weapons. Opponents, including the NRA, makerspace representatives, and some industry witnesses, argued the bill is overbroad, may sweep in lawful 3D-printing and CNC activity, raises First, Second, and Fifth Amendment concerns, and could create uncertainty through rebuttable presumptions and the CPA provisions. The transcript ends during the HB 2320 hearing, with additional testimony panels still to come and no final committee action recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• A good instrument for cities.
• But the 5% cap really does penalize cities and it really hurts us in the long term. Thank you.
• It's because many cities have been very frugal over this like we.
• Those are all under the local government code 271.05612 and 3.
• Um, and, and, and it was, uh, I don't represent cities, but it was by a city up in the panhandle.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lucchese, Tony Lama, Black Jack Boots, Rocket buster boots, and caboots, all headquartered in the city
• The Sun City, as El Paso is also known, has been the world's mecca for boot making for over a century
• You can't travel to a city anywhere in Texas, and I dare to say the US and visit so many boot artisan
• El Paso is a city of makers, and our city's legacy of premier bootmaking is an undeniable example of
• Administrative code 89.1 requires that each district provide services for gifted students at all grade

Transcript Highlights:

• I am pleased to introduce the City of Isparia first. City of Isparry here joining us.
• and City Manager...
• We have Mayor Eric Olson, City Manager Sal Mendez, Assistant City Manager Sarah Gallagher...
• City Manager Sal Mendez, Assistant City Manager Sarah Gallagher, and Assistant City Manager Nari Lopez
• the City of Lindsay.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the Senator mentioned, I'm with the South Bay Cities COG, and we represent 16 really diverse cities
• We have a handful of cities... The City of Lawndale actually joined as our first official member.
• Here are some of the key issues: permitting varies widely from city to city.
• Damon Conklin with the League of California Cities.
• do not stay in that city and impact everyone.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a senator mentioned, I'm with the South Bay Cities COG, and we represent 16 really diverse cities
• We have a handful of cities...
• There are other cities where it can take months.
• Here are some of the key issues: permitting varies widely from city to city.
• do not stay in that city and impact everyone.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard six bills. SB 828 by Senator Cabaldon would require fireworks license applicants to disclose storage locations and prove they have local permits, with the state notifying local agencies when licenses are denied or revoked. The bill was presented as a response to deadly fireworks explosions and illegal storage gaps; fire officials and fireworks industry representatives supported it, while county groups raised liability concerns. The committee approved SB 828 unanimously and sent it to Appropriations. SB 799 by Senator Allen would revise the South Bay Regional Housing Trust’s governing rules, including more flexibility on appointing board leadership, alternate participation, and board selection under the joint powers agreement. Supporters said the changes would help the new housing trust operate effectively and allow knowledgeable alternates; questions focused on accountability for non-elected alternates handling public funds. The bill passed on a 6-0 vote as amended to the Senate floor. SB 762 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the city of Hercules to place a local ballot measure for up to a 1% sales tax increase to fund city services and infrastructure. Supporters said Hercules has limited revenue options and high service needs; some senators cautioned about how such measures are presented to voters. The bill passed 5-2 to the Senate floor. SB 722 by Senator Wahab would add protections for mobile home residents from displacement tied to transit-oriented development and redevelopment, described as a cleanup to preserve affordable housing stock. Mobile home residents, housing advocates, cities, and the League of California Cities supported the bill, and no opposition was heard. It passed 7-0 as amended to Appropriations. SB 222 by Senator Wiener would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems through automated permitting, consolidated permits, and limits on local fee and siting barriers; supporters framed it as a climate and affordability measure, while local government and HOA groups objected to statewide preemption, fee caps, and liability concerns. The committee approved it 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 677, also by Senator Wiener, made technical clarifications to SB 79’s transit-oriented housing rules, but local governments and regional agencies warned the changes could expand the law’s scope and disrupt mapping work; the bill passed 5-2 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a midwife, and I'm also the owner of Twin Cities Birth Center on Grand Avenue in St.
• 01:05:05.599><c> methodology</c><01:05:06.319><c> to</c> a two code rate methodology to a two code rate
• </c><01:09:50.319><c> Um,</c> proposes that two code methodology.
• Um, proposes that two code methodology.
• </c> Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities. Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all