Transcript Highlights:

• When the state implemented its black bear policy in 2022, black bear killings decreased 84% from 100
• A man fought off a black bear near Mammoth Lakes when it attacked his dog.
• We also know grizzly bears are not simply larger black bears.
• We also know grizzly bears are not simply larger black bears.
• California already has overabundant black bear populations in many regions.

Committee: House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• The Black and Missing Foundation shared that in interviews with pimps and pedophiles, they were asked
• why they target Black women and girls.
• Nationally, there's over 100,000 missing Black women and girls, yet most people cannot name one.
• According to the Black and Missing Foundation, nine out of ten Black children are labeled as runaways
• And Black women and girls face a unique double jeopardy: anti-Blackness and misogyny at the same time

Bills: SB5925 , SB5906 , SB6070 , SB6002

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: Attorney General, civil investigative demand, CID, subpoena-like demand, investigative authority, consumer protection, civil enforcement, pre-suit investigation, document production, interrogatories, deposition, oral testimony, confidentiality, trade secrets, judicial review, enforcement action, Washington RCW, law enforcement powers, government transparency, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with Mitchell Black law firm. I'm counsel for ASDA. Thank you. Please proceed.
• The black-and-white letters of the law are the black-and-white letters of the law.
• The black and white letters of the law are the black and white letters of the law.
• So why are we doing this, and why are you not staying black and white here?
• It's hard to be consistent when you're black and white on the dentist and we back you up to be black

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the first woman ever, first Black woman ever, first Black person ever, to assume the Bronx Borough
• And then we have the Bronx District Attorney, the first Black woman in the state of New York history,
• A series of civil rights protests of Black voter registration followed.
• of Black voters to participate in local politics.
• today, we're seeing polling places shut down in Black and Brown neighborhoods.

Summary: The Senate met on March 9, 2026, approved the prior journal, and took up several procedural items, including substituting identical Senate Bill 6734A for Assembly Bill 4382A and adopting a resolution calendar with exceptions for Resolutions 1718 and 1723. The chamber also received amendments on another bill and heard multiple guest introductions, including students from Ahavas Bas Yaakov of Monsey and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, who was recognized for her work on food and nutrition policy and health equity. A major portion of the session was devoted to Resolution 1680 commemorating Bronx Day. Senators Fernandez, Bailey, Myrie, Serrano, Sepúlveda, Krueger, and others spoke in praise of the Bronx’s history, diversity, culture, resilience, and contributions to music, fashion, sports, and civic life. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1718 recognizing Harriet Tubman Day, with remarks highlighting Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, her Civil War service, and her later life in Auburn, and adopted Resolution 1723 marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and emphasizing the continuing importance of voting rights protections. The Senate then passed a series of bills from the calendar. These included measures on general municipal law, public health, executive law, education, vehicle and traffic law, criminal procedure, labor law, and legislative law. Several members explained their votes on health-related bills: Senator Cleare spoke about period poverty and access to free menstrual products in educational institutions; Senator Webb supported a bill requiring hospital governing boards to include a registered professional nurse; and Senator Murray, joined by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, described personal experiences with blood clots and pulmonary embolism in support of a bill creating a working group on the issue. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable negative votes, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other than that not occurring, I've had the opportunity to sit down with Black Mountain.
• We're not saying stop the Black Mountain side of it.
• Bender from Black Mountain. Has come to see me.
• I don't know if Black Mountain... I'm not recalling if Black Mountain was.
• Black? Bender, Jake Bender. So when did you guys... this property?

Bills: SB2037 , SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1759 , HB29

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona has 5.2% Black kids in the entire state, Black families.
• And I almost slipped, said incarceration of Black children—the removal of Black children and placement
• Cultural brokers would place Black employees or Black professionals outside of the system with those
• By sheer coincidence, unrelated, it's a Black family.
• family I have another Coincidence unrelated, it's a black family.

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here today to present Assembly Bill 766, which is a Black Caucus priority bill.
• and brown and all diverse... ...and that it matters deeply in health care where Black and brown and
• As a Black nursing instructor, I often see how few students of color make it into the nursing program
• AB 766... and that it matters deeply in health care where black and brown and all diverse communities
• They presented their topic on hypertension in the Black community.

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee because it initially lacked a quorum, then later established quorum and heard several bills. AB 445 by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry would grant Colusa County 10 on-sale liquor licenses to address a long-standing shortage and support local economic development; the author said she would accept committee amendments. The bill was later approved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members before additional aye votes were added. AB 766 by Assemblymember Sharp-Collins would require state agencies and departments to conduct an equity analysis before implementing budgets or regulations, with the review performed by a DEIA coordinator or qualified equivalent. Supporters, including a college administrator and a nursing instructor, argued the bill would protect diversity, equity, inclusion, and access efforts and help address systemic barriers in education and health care. The committee voted 13-? on the measure after a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with the roll held open and later additional aye votes recorded. AB 971 by Assemblymember Alvarez would facilitate transfer of about 3.83 acres of city-owned land in San Diego to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, contingent on affirmative action by the City of San Diego. The author and tribal witnesses described the bill as a step toward correcting historical injustices and reopening a currently closed park as a tribal-operated historical park and museum. The measure passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, again with the roll held open for absent members before additional votes were added.

Transcript Highlights:

• students, Black boys in particular, were being heavily policed, heavily criminalized, pushed out of
• that I created for girls and gender-expansive Black girls in L.A.
• Why are you wearing all black? It’s not regular. That’s not normal.
• I got pulled over probably like twice already just for being Black. And I didn’t even do nothing.
• knock on doors of countless retired Black men who are engineers, Black engineers, retired, countless

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color held its first meeting of the session at the Youth Justice Coalition’s former courthouse space in Los Angeles, after members spent the morning visiting Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Chair Isaac Bryan framed the hearing around hope and healing, youth justice reimagined, youth perspectives, and multisector supports for boys and men of color. Several members, including Assembly Members Mike Fong, Mia Bonta, and Jasmeet Bains, emphasized the need to repair harms from mass incarceration, reverse underinvestment, and expand education, apprenticeship, and community-based opportunities. The first panel featured advocates from the Young Women’s Freedom Center, Students Deserve, the Social Justice Learning Institute, the California Youth Justice Project, and the Youth Justice Coalition. They argued that probation and incarceration are harmful, costly, and ineffective, and pointed to alternatives such as the Liberation Fund, Beloved Village, the Department of Youth Development, Measure J-funded community programs, and the Black Student Achievement Plan. Speakers described successful efforts to divert money from policing to restorative justice, counseling, mentorship, ethnic studies, and other supports, while warning that these gains are under attack or slow-walked by county systems. Committee members asked for concrete examples of cost-effective alternatives and implementation models that could be replicated statewide. The second panel was made up entirely of youth and young adults with lived experience. They described how Hoops for Justice, the Young Women’s Freedom Center, and the Youth Justice Coalition provided safety, mentorship, sponsorship, counseling, internships, education, and leadership opportunities that probation did not. Testimony focused on the need for youth-centered spaces, long-term jobs, mental health care, family support, and staff who understand lived experience. Speakers also criticized probation’s training and conditions in juvenile facilities, and several said the state should invest more in community-based organizations and put youth in leadership roles. Committee members responded that the testimony underscored the need to divest from probation and elevate youth voices in policymaking. The hearing then moved toward a third panel on supporting boys and men of color across sectors.

Transcript Highlights:

• In doing this road designation, how do you think Black people or Black women will feel when they drive
• Black women moronic, or there’s more, that Black women, such as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown
• As a Black woman in this chamber, that is not theoretical to me.
• When I was talking about how do you think Black people will feel driving down, ...to me.
• I am talking about me and what Charlie Kirk and his obsession with me as a Black woman.

Bills: S0174 , S1342 , S1334 , S1362 , S1602 , S1604

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The committee first heard CS for SB 1342 on transit-oriented development by Senator Rouson, which seeks to expand housing near fixed transit corridors by updating TOD definitions and applying Live Local-style land-use principles to those areas. An amendment narrowed definitions, limited the bill to land-use and development regulations, removed a private cause of action, and added exclusions for environmentally sensitive areas, historic properties, and military installations. Supporters said the bill would increase housing supply near existing infrastructure and maximize the state’s transit investments, while local government groups and city leagues opposed it as a sweeping preemption of local zoning authority that could force high-density development without public hearings or adequate infrastructure planning. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up CS for SB 1334 on elections by Senator Grall, which would require documentary proof of citizenship in voter registration and related election processes, update how citizenship is verified through REAL ID and the SAVE database, clarify that paper ballots are the primary voting method, and add other election-related changes such as candidate eligibility rules and timelines. Two technical amendments were adopted. During extended questioning, senators raised concerns about how documents would be submitted and stored, whether voters without Florida IDs or REAL IDs—especially students, disabled voters, seniors, and homeless Floridians—could be flagged or burdened, and what fiscal and workload impacts the bill would have on supervisors of elections and state agencies. Supporters argued the bill would streamline verification and reduce duplicate paperwork, while many public speakers and some senators said it would create barriers to voting, increase costs, and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. The transcript ends during debate on the bill, before a final vote is shown. Later, the committee considered CS for SB 1362 on advanced air mobility by Senator Harrell. A strike-all amendment aligned the bill with the House version and added vertiports and charging systems as eligible projects for public-private partnership funding, with FDOT authorized to fund certain vertiport costs within available resources. The bill drew support from industry and local representatives, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 174, which designates a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and directs FDOT to install markers at an estimated cost of $2,400. The bill prompted significant debate over whether Kirk’s legacy warranted a state road designation, with opponents citing his controversial statements and arguing the honor was political and divisive, while supporters said the designation recognizes civic engagement near FIU and is symbolic rather than regulatory. The transcript ends during debate on SB 174, before any final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Representative Black. Just a quick question. Good morning, Representative Black.
• A white supremacist murdered three innocent Black Floridians.
• A white supremacist murdered three innocent Black Floridians.
• you can still look your Black colleagues in the eyes.
• Next up is Lilith Black. Little Black and behind is next to be Deveka Baker. Beka Baker.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and voted on a series of bills covering child abuse reporting, firearms products liability, crime victim records, guardianship eligibility, historic monuments, animal welfare, juvenile justice, and restrictions on sex reassignment care for minors. HB 373, on the statute of limitations for violations involving required child abuse reports, passed unanimously. HB 1551, as amended, clarified that a firearm is not defective merely because it lacks optional safety features and preserved design-defect claims and nonretroactivity; after substantial testimony and debate, it passed 13-5. CS/HB 1113, expanding public-records protections for crime victims and briefly exempting law enforcement victims, passed unanimously. CS/HB 737, allowing courts more discretion in appointing guardians with prior felony convictions and adding a narrow exception for certain older convictions, also passed unanimously as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an important thing, particularly for Black men in this country.
• Black folks, he meant a lot to us.
• Because he graced the largest Black history, Universal Negro Improvement Association.
• But they were like, Black people need to have their own, right?
• WASHINGTON BUT THEY WERE LIKE, BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and handled several motions to discharge and substitute identical Assembly or Senate bills, along with a number of amendments. The chamber also welcomed student visitors from the League of Women Voters’ Students of Albany program and a group of Staten Island titleholders, and later adopted previously approved resolutions honoring Dorothy E. Reid for her role in Brown v. Board of Education and recognizing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on Delta Day, with multiple senators speaking in support of both recognitions. The bulk of the floor session was devoted to third-reading votes on a large number of bills, most of which passed with broad support. Measures addressed public health, workers’ compensation, education, environmental conservation, insurance, labor, criminal procedure, domestic relations, tax, municipal authority, and correction law. Several bills were explained by sponsors as advancing stormwater management authority, labor-law transparency, public health protections, and stronger penalties for trafficking-related offenses; one bill on immunization in summer camps drew a defense from Senator Skoufis as a child-protection measure, while another on correction law passed with some Republican opposition. The chamber also took up a controversial public health/electronic health records bill by Senator Fernandez. Senator Martin questioned the bill at length about redacting certain categories of information, emergency access, provider obligations, and the impact on doctors’ ability to see complete medical histories. Fernandez said the bill was intended to protect patients from discrimination and to limit access to a small list of sensitive services, while also noting emergency exceptions and support from more than 200 health care providers. The debate remained focused on balancing privacy protections with concerns about continuity of care and record integrity.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Black.
• Representative Black? Kendall: Representative Boyles? Yes. Representative Connerly? Yes.
• Clerk: Black? Representative Black: Yes. Clerk: Botana? Representative Botana: Yes. Clerk: Conerly?
• Representative Black, yes. Representative Borrero, yes. Representative Canady, yes.
• Representative Black, yes. Representative Borrero, yes. Representative Canady, yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Black? Here. Boyles? Here. Conerly? Here. Cross? Here. Fabricio, excused. Gentry? Gentry? Here.
• Black? Yes. Boyles? Yes. Connerly? Yes. Cross? Yes. Fabricio, excused. Gentry? Yes. Maggard? Yes.
• Beneroge, excused, black? Yes. Boyles? Yes. Connerly? Yes. Black? Yes. Boils? Yes. Connerly? Yes.
• Black. Yes. Boyles. Yes. Black. Yes. Boyles. Yes. Connerly. Yes. Cross. Yes. Fabricio, excused.
• Black? Yes. Boyles. Yes. Black? Yes. Boils? Yes. Connerly? Yes. Cross? Yes. Fabricio, excused.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered two bills. HB 705, by Representative Weinberger, would preserve the public records exemption protecting the address and telephone number of people using public emergency shelters during storms or catastrophic events. Representative Anderson spoke in strong support, citing the vulnerability of shelter residents after recent hurricanes and the need to prevent criminals from targeting them. The bill drew no public testimony and passed the committee by a 15-0 vote. The committee then heard HB 11, by Representatives Mooney and LaMarca, which would designate the flamingo as Florida’s state bird and the scrub jay as the state songbird. Sponsors argued the flamingo is an iconic symbol of Florida and tied the bill to Everglades and Indian River Lagoon restoration, while also noting the scrub jay’s status as Florida’s only endemic songbird. Members raised questions about the birds’ native range, regional representation, and possible future amendments, including suggestions for a pelican designation and preserving the mockingbird’s historical role. One support card was filed by Jose Romano of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. During debate, several members voiced support while noting they might seek amendments later. Representative Miller supported the flamingo but objected to elevating the scrub jay because of property-rights concerns. Representative Andrade said he would vote yes to allow a future pelican amendment, and Representative Tant said he would support the bill while seeking recognition of the mockingbird as a songbird. The bill passed 15-1, with Representative Miller voting no. After the vote, the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• For women of color and especially Black mothers, these rates are even higher.
• Black folks in California are the highest rent burdened.
• We have the most Black people in the country sleeping on our streets.
• Black folks in California are the highest rent burden.
• We have the most black people in the country sleeping on our streets.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long Daily File with several guest introductions and floor speeches. Members recognized visiting student leaders, championship football teams from Tuolumne County, Alpha Kappa Alpha members at their Capitol day, and later a descendant of Wong Kim Ark. The chamber also adopted a procedural motion allowing certain members to host guests in the rear of the chamber. Among the major policy items, AB 578 on food delivery platform refund practices passed 47-2, AB 344 on successor beer manufacturer definitions passed 61-0, AB 454 to make California’s migratory bird protections permanent passed 55-12 on the urgency clause, AB 482 updating the Table Grape Commission passed 64-1, AB 1237 to support transit access for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders passed 56-15 on the urgency clause, AB 738 on wildfire rebuild solar exemptions passed 42-2, AB 1460 on 340B pharmacy access for clinics passed 41-5, AB 750 on homeless shelter oversight passed 49-1, AB 1061 on housing in historic districts passed 41-13, AB 1523 on expanding mandatory mediation thresholds passed 65-0, and AB 316 on AI-related civil liability passed 56-0. AB 761 authorizing the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to seek a sales tax ballot measure passed 47-12. The chamber also adopted several resolutions. AJR 3 urging protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid passed 53-2 after extensive debate that included criticism of federal cuts and counterarguments focused on state Medi-Cal policy and budget decisions. ACR 65 proclaiming California Tourism Month was adopted by voice vote after coauthors were added, and ACR 62 recognizing California Nonprofits Day was also adopted by voice vote with 65 coauthors. AJR 5 affirming birthright citizenship and opposing efforts to end it passed 58-1 after a lengthy, highly partisan debate centered on the 14th Amendment and the Wong Kim Ark precedent. The session also included passage of AB 571, a CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, which was presented as a long-running bipartisan effort to create a final resting place for Orange County veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• But also, as a black woman, I can tell you that pregnancy is a guaranteed scary journey.
• Maternal health disparities faced by black women are a devastating reality.
• Many of us have heard too many stories of black mothers not being listened to in the delivery room.
• When black women account for only 5% of pregnancies, but 21% of maternal deaths, we...
• And the disparities faced by black women and other women of color are concerns that require attention

Transcript Highlights:

• Black guests on site, Campbell. Yes, Haney. Yes, greco. Yes row. Yes. Our yes. Johnson. Yes.
• And ride a yes, black. Yes. Side, Campbell. Yes. Training. Yes. Reco. Yes. Road. Yes, art.
• and representative black.
• Representative Black, you're recognized to close on the strike. All I waive close.
• Representative Black, you're recognized to close on your Bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> This bill is about ensuring that black This bill is about ensuring that black veterans<01:34:37.280
• And the last thing I will tell you, as a veteran, as a Black veteran, as a senior Black veteran, when
• </c><01:38:22.159><c> veteran,</c> you, as a veteran, as a black veteran, you, as a veteran, as a black
• </c> number, the statistics show black number, the statistics show black veterans<01:42:03.280><c> do
• He added that veterans are not... blacks to their counters. blacks to their counters.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• Mr Speaker I Rise to celebrate Black Mr Speaker I Rise to celebrate Black History<00:17:09.720><c> Month
• <c> means</c> History Month Black History Month means History Month Black History Month means a<00:17
• district I now represent but black district I now represent but black history<00:18:04.120><c> month
• </c><00:18:48.559><c> Americans</c> offensive idea that black Americans offensive idea that black Americans
• </c><00:19:23.000><c> history</c> the fight is familiar black history the fight is familiar black history

Transcript Highlights:

• Black district, and we're not drawing a new Hispanic or Asian or Hasidic district.
• Callais dealt with creating another Black-performing district, a second one.
• And so even though there might not be a majority-Black district, there might well still be two Black-performing
• Jamil Davis, on behalf of Black Voters Matter, waving in opposition.
• So you're scared of Black, Hispanic, and young voters.

Summary: The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to consider HB 1D, which would establish Florida’s congressional districts using the governor’s proposed map, EOG PCRP 26. Representative Persons-Mulicka briefly introduced the bill, and Jason Jazeel and Jason Pareda of the governor’s office presented the legal rationale and map details. Jazeel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is not prohibited, that the governor’s position is to draw districts without considering race, and that federal equal-protection principles should control over state race-based redistricting provisions. Pareda said he drew the map alone using 2020 census data and census blocks, while also considering population growth estimates, traditional redistricting criteria, and county/city boundaries where feasible. Pareda described the map as race-neutral and said it keeps 48 counties whole, 382 cities whole, and has a boundary-analysis score of about 85.7%. He walked through regional changes, including major revisions in South Florida, adjustments in Central Florida, and changes in the Tampa Bay area, explaining that population shifts and the need for exact congressional population equality drove many of the district configurations. Members questioned the timing of the special session, the use of 2020 census data versus newer population estimates, the role of the legislature versus the governor, the legal basis for mid-decade redistricting, and whether the map complies with the Voting Rights Act and Fair Districts amendments. Motions to place witnesses under oath and to extend the committee meeting by 30 minutes both failed. During public testimony, every speaker who was heard opposed the map. Commenters argued that the proposal was a partisan power grab, would reduce Democratic and minority representation, and violated the Florida Constitution and voting rights protections. Several speakers criticized the short notice and lack of public input, while others said the map would confuse voters or split communities. The chair repeatedly reminded attendees to maintain decorum and limited each speaker to about one minute.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Mitchell Black law firm. I'm counsel for ASDA. Thank you. Please proceed.
• The black-and-white letters of the law are the black-and-white letters of the law.
• The other side of this, and I just explained this to... ...the black-and-white letters of the law.
• So why are we doing this, and why are you not staying black and white here?
• So it's hard to be consistent when you're black and white on the dentist and we back you up to be black