Transcript Highlights:

• Santa Cruz County will lose up to $11.2 million for wildfire mitigation projects.

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, East Bay Regional Park District, and the Land Trust of Santa
• Cruz County, in support.
• Jean Hurst, here today on behalf of the boards of supervisors of the counties of Santa Clara and Santa
• Cruz, in support.
• , here on behalf of the California Council of Land Trusts, the Peninsula Open Space Trust, and the Santa

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Cruz, and Olive Branch Enterprise.
• Brock Campbell on behalf of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Santa Maria. I strongly oppose this bill.
• I also represent Spot, Placer LGBTQ Center, Trans Families of Silicon Valley, Trans Families of Santa
• Cruz, Olive Branch Enterprise, and Davis Trans Station, all in strong opposition.
• Brock Campbell, on behalf of the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Santa Maria, I strongly support this bill

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to my friend from Santa Rosa for bringing this.
• And so I want to thank again the member from Santa Rosa and urge an aye vote on AGR 10.
• I rise today in strong support of this resolution by our colleague from Santa.
• And I want to thank my colleague from Santa Rosa for bringing this forward.
• Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo County, I know that it is time to act.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gentlelady from Santa Fe: Mr.
• Gentlelady from Santa Fe, Mr.
• And Santa Fe, this is a friendly amendment, Mr. Speaker.
• Speaker, I will yield to the gentlelady from Santa Fe. Mr.
• Gentlelady from Santa Fe, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Angie Cruz, UC Davis alumna, in support of this bill. Thank you. All right.
• Sylvia Solis Shaw, here on behalf of the City of Santa Monica, in support.
• Angie Cruz, just supporting. Angie Cruz, just supporting. Janice Barker, supporting. Thank you all.
• I think a lot often of my district in southern Alameda County and northern Santa Clara County, where
• Chair and members, Steve Cruz on behalf of the California Building Industry Association and the proud

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills, beginning with AB 6, which would direct HCD to convene a working group to study whether small multifamily “missing middle” projects of three to ten units could be built under the residential code instead of the commercial code. The author and supporters argued this could reduce construction costs and help produce more affordable infill housing; there was no opposition testimony. The bill later passed the committee 10-0 to Appropriations. Members then heard AB 48, a higher education facilities bond proposal that would fund safety upgrades, deferred maintenance, modernization, disaster recovery, and student and employee housing at UC, CSU, and community colleges. UC, CSU, and several public commenters supported the measure, while members raised concerns about affordability, prioritization, and the scope of the bond; the author said amendments would remove a proposed property tax burden increase. AB 48 passed 9-0 to Appropriations. AB 76, which makes technical changes to Chula Vista’s University Innovation District and clarifies how student and employee housing counts toward affordable housing requirements, also drew support and no opposition, and passed 10-0. The committee also approved AB 595, which creates a state homeownership tax credit pilot program to help finance affordable for-sale housing. The author and supporters said it would address California’s low homeownership rates and racial homeownership gaps without reducing rental housing funding. After quorum was established, the bill passed 11-0 to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including several other housing and human services bills, was approved 8-0. Finally, the committee took up AB 1165, the California Housing Justice Act, which would require ongoing annual state investments and a financing plan to address homelessness and housing affordability. The author, a UCSF homelessness researcher, and a person with lived experience testified in support, emphasizing that one-time funding is insufficient and that sustained investment is needed. The bill passed 10-0 to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 609, a CEQA infill housing exemption bill that would streamline approvals for qualifying housing near existing development; supporters framed it as a targeted reform to reduce delays, while opponents from environmental justice, labor, and tribal groups raised concerns about loss of public participation, affordability, displacement, and consultation protections. The author said he would continue working with opponents on amendments, and the bill was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Aldrena Cruz, we'll show you. You're registered as Aldrena Cruz testifying on behalf of.
• Cruz is a state treasurer for our Texas. have done so much, especially when I witness and experience.
• My name is Adriana Cruz and I'm the Executive Director of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism
• Cruz, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate it.
• Cruz, for the great presentation.

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a third year at UC Santa Cruz and also representing the University of California Student Association
• My name is Felicia Cruz Fernandez.
• Harold Tollerup on behalf of the Santa Clara County Office of Education in support.
• Harold Tollerup on behalf of the Santa Clara County Office of Education in support.
• Francesco Arnillas, a student at UC Santa Cruz, and on behalf of the UC Student Association, we support

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and first heard AB 302, which would prohibit schools from requiring students to use addictive social media feeds as a condition of participating in extracurricular activities and would require schools to offer a non-social-media way to communicate with students and families. The author and a student witness argued the bill protects minors from being forced onto addictive platforms, while senators asked how coaches and clubs would communicate; the author said email, built-in messaging, and other direct methods would still be allowed. The bill was held on call for absent members. The committee then took up AB 2504, creating a pilot program to train creative-industry workers for AI-related changes through partnerships among community colleges, employers, unions, and tech companies. Supporters from WME and the Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office said the program would help workers adapt to rapid industry change, while senators discussed the pilot’s size, geographic diversity, and sunset date. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 1534 followed, adding state guardrails for federal Workforce Pell short-term training programs, including limits on tuition, restrictions on certain financing products, and transparency rules for partnerships with unaccredited entities. Support came from TICAS, EdTrust-West, and the Campaign for College Opportunity; senators questioned the scope of state authority and why private institutions were not clearly included, and the author said the broader approval framework was being handled in trailer bill language. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee. The committee also heard AB 1381, a gut-and-amend proposal to strengthen screening for school teachers with histories of egregious misconduct while balancing due process and privacy concerns. Supporters and opponents both emphasized student safety and the need for reliable information-sharing, and members noted the bill was similar to a previously held measure; the author said amendments were still being worked out. The bill passed to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to coordinate statewide efforts, drew broad support from school board and education groups but also concern that it could duplicate existing work and add bureaucracy; after extended debate about whether the commission would identify causes or solutions, it passed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Finally, AB 1547, requiring a UC feasibility study for a branch medical school in Kern County, drew local support but opposition from a senator who argued the Legislature cannot direct UC’s internal operations under the state Constitution; the chair said the Legislature can make recommendations and the bill remained under discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Escorted by Assembly Members Calderon, Michelle Rodriguez, and Valencia is Lupe de la Cruz III.
• Please welcome Lupe de la Cruz III.
• Also joining us are Santa Cruz County Chief Public Defender Heather Rogers and a former colleague of
• mine and my home county, Santa Clara County Chief Public Defender Damon Silver.
• I'd like to thank my colleague from Santa Monica for the supportive comments and also note that this

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then approved a procedural motion by a 41-17 roll call to re-refer AB 2690 and AB 1863 to Appropriations and to allow guests for the Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. House Resolution 92, recognizing Cinco de Mayo Week, was adopted after supportive remarks from members of several caucuses, and the chamber then held the 2026 Latino Spirit Awards ceremony honoring 11 individuals and organizations in higher education, human rights, philanthropy, health and science, advocacy, business, environmental justice, journalism and media, culinary arts, and a legacy award for Los Tigres del Norte. After the ceremony, the Assembly resumed business with guest introductions and moved through the daily file, passing or retaining a number of bills and resolutions. Among the measures taken up, the Assembly passed AB 1657 on domestic violence restraining order procedures (64-0), AB 2042 on civil procedure and service of process (66-0), AB 1660 on probate and public guardians (45-10), AB 1917 on criminal procedure and reinstatement of dismissed charges (43-15), AB 2148 clarifying that public school employees are human beings in the context of AI (69-0), AB 1647 protecting juvenile statements at transfer hearings (63-0), AB 1555 expanding community college access in Siskiyou County (66-0), AB 1608 on High-Speed Rail Inspector General oversight and reporting (45-18), AB 1803 requiring anti-hate speech training in workplace harassment prevention (50-9), AB 2128 protecting tenants in subsidized housing from certain federal work requirements and time limits (44-16), AB 2576 as a land-use cleanup bill protecting historic resources (61-0), AB 2601 allowing concurrent review for certain housing projects, and AB 2764 on extended foster care eligibility (60-0). Several items were passed and retained on file, and AB 2601 was interrupted by a call of the house before later business continued. The chamber also adopted ACR 159 on indigent defense after adding 59 coauthors, then heard guest introductions from chief public defenders from multiple counties. ACR 179, designating Wildland Urban Interface Preparedness and Resilience Day, was adopted with 65 coauthors after remarks on wildfire risk and forest management. Later, ACR 183 establishing Black Health Equity Advocacy Week was presented with extensive testimony from members of multiple caucuses emphasizing racial health disparities, maternal mortality, life expectancy gaps, and the need for systemic change; the debate continued beyond the excerpt provided. Throughout the session, members repeatedly used guest introductions to recognize visiting groups and individuals, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members, UAW President Shawn Fain, California Women in Agriculture, and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, David Compos, on behalf of the County of Santa Clara.
• Chairman, David Campos, on behalf of the County of Santa Clara.
• Cruz, Colusa, and Alpine.
• Cruz.
• Here on behalf of the urban counties of California and the counties of Ventura, Riverside, Santa Cruz

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Seven years ago, I co-founded my farm, Brisa Ranch, together with my two farm partners, Christova Cruz
• our Ag Experiment Station land-grant campuses to build upon Davis, Berkeley, and Riverside with UC Santa
• Cruz and UC Merced.
• Just earlier this month, we held a convening of 34 food hubs and 100 stakeholders at UC Santa Cruz.
• We'll be hosting a statewide farm-institution summit on April 8th at UC Santa Cruz, building in these

Summary: The joint oversight hearing of the Assembly Human Services and Agriculture Committees focused on food insecurity in California, with members and witnesses discussing the state’s nutrition safety net, food access barriers, and the connection between agriculture and hunger. Opening remarks emphasized that California’s high agricultural output contrasts with widespread food insecurity, especially among families with children, communities of color, farmworkers, and other low-wage workers. Members also raised concern about federal policy changes, including possible cuts to nutrition programs, immigration enforcement impacts on farm labor, tariffs, and the need to protect state and federal food assistance resources. Testimony from the Department of Food and Agriculture highlighted several state programs aimed at improving access to fresh food and supporting local producers, including the California Nutrition Incentive Program, senior farmers’ market nutrition, healthy refrigeration grants, community food hubs, farm-to-school, urban agriculture, and a new tribal food sovereignty effort. Officials said these programs help stretch CalFresh and WIC dollars, expand healthy options in corner stores and farmers’ markets, and build infrastructure such as refrigeration, mobile markets, and aggregation hubs. The Department of Social Services described CalFresh, CFAP, Sun Bucks, CACFP, TEFAP, CalFood, emergency food boxes, and tribal nutrition grants, noting that CalFresh participation has risen to about 81% of eligible Californians and that the state has taken steps such as simplified applications for older adults and outreach in multiple languages. Witnesses and members discussed the need to reduce administrative barriers, improve call center service, and keep benefits aligned with inflation. Research testimony from PPIC said 13% of California households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and Latino, Black, and other households of color. The researcher said CalFresh, school meals, and WIC reduce both food insecurity and poverty, but federal rules, immigration-related eligibility limits, and California’s high cost of living constrain their reach. In the second panel, farmers, food hub operators, and food system advocates described how local procurement, food banks, and institutional markets can support both hungry households and small farms. Speakers pointed to pandemic-era programs such as USDA’s food box and local food purchasing efforts as models, while warning that short-term funding and market consolidation threaten long-term resilience. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; members used the session for oversight, questions, and discussion of possible budget and policy follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jack Werson from Nossaman, on behalf of the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Padre Dam Municipal
• California Stormwater Quality Association, Monterey One Water, Eastern Municipal Water District, and Santa
• Good afternoon, Tasha Newman, on behalf of the California Council of Land Trusts, Santa Clara Valley
• Jake Schultz, on behalf of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, the Conservation Fund, Save the Redwoods
• Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, and

Summary: The committee heard several natural resources bills focused on wildfire resilience, recycling, forest management, and organic waste diversion. AB 442 would remove a requirement that a harvest area be limited to a single watershed for working forest management plans; the author and supporters from the California Forestry Association and Pacific Forest Trust said it would reduce barriers to forest resiliency work, and there was no opposition. AB 623 would require state agencies to report on the use of CEQA and Coastal Act suspensions for wildfire and fuel-management projects after the governor’s emergency proclamation; the author said the bill would provide data on how well the suspensions are working, and it drew support with no opposition. AB 35 would exempt Proposition 4-funded programs from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed implementation of climate, water, wildfire, and environmental projects; the author and a large coalition of local governments, water agencies, conservation groups, and fire organizations argued the exemption would help get funds out faster, while no opposition was present. The committee also discussed AB 3333, which would create a market-development payment to support end users of non-container glass, such as ground glass pozzolan used in cement, in order to divert glass from landfills and reduce carbon emissions. Supporters said the bill would create a productive use for hard-to-recover glass, while opponents from the Glass Packaging Institute, Californians Against Waste, and waste management interests argued it would divert beverage container recycling funds away from the bottle-to-bottle system and could undermine existing recycling investments and recycled-content goals. Members raised questions about the fund’s revenue sources, the purpose of the beverage container recycling program, and whether the bill would amount to “downcycling”; despite those concerns, the bill advanced on a due-pass-as-amended recommendation, with members noting fiscal and policy issues for further work. AB 643 would allow certain diverted organic material used as a beneficial agricultural amendment, including CDFA-licensed fertilizer products made from biosolids, to count toward SB 1383 recovered organic waste procurement targets. Supporters from wastewater agencies and Clean Water SoCal said the change would expand options for meeting procurement requirements and help move biosolids out of landfills, while Californians Against Waste and other opponents argued the bill could expand procurement credit beyond SB 1383’s original intent and weaken investments in composting infrastructure. Committee members questioned what kinds of biosolids would qualify, how the procurement credit would work, and whether the bill could be narrowed to historically landfilled materials; the author said she would continue working with opponents and wait for CalRecycle technical assistance. The committee adopted the bills’ amendments and passed AB 35 with urgency, AB 3333, AB 442, AB 623, and AB 643 to Appropriations, and also approved consent-calendar AB 946. After roll calls, all of the measures were reported out of committee, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• stories of my personal relationship with him, nor could I deliver them as well as the senator from Santa
• Cruz anyway.
• stories of my personal relationship with him, nor could I deliver them as well as the senator from Santa
• Cruz anyway.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed numerous former legislators to the floor. The body then moved through the daily file, including several resolutions recognizing cultural observances and a memorial tribute to former President Pro Tem John Burton. Senator Padilla also moved file item 24 to the enacted file, and the Senate announced upcoming committee and budget subcommittee meetings later in the day. The chamber adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 133, recognizing California Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Day, after remarks from Senator Grayson about the contributions and dignity of people with Down syndrome and the importance of support systems for individuals and families. The Senate also adopted SCR 134 recognizing Nowruz and the Afghan American community, with remarks from Senator Wahab and support from Senator Kaverya, and adopted SCR 139 recognizing Afghan American Heritage Month. Each resolution passed by roll call vote with no opposition. A major portion of the session was devoted to an adjourned-in-memory tribute to former Senate President Pro Tem John Burton. Senators from both parties and several former members offered personal recollections emphasizing Burton’s advocacy for foster youth, working people, and marginalized Californians, as well as his blunt style and political influence. Members highlighted his legislative legacy, his later work through the John Burton Advocates for Youth, and his role in shaping California politics and San Francisco. The Senate concluded the tribute, invited members to a reception, and announced that it would remain in recess before reconvening later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• encompasses a pretty large area, the whole southeastern part of the state, and Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, Santa
• Cruz, and... ...and Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Pima.

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Clean Coalition, the STAND Coalition, California Interfaith Power and Light, Citizen Climate Lobby in Santa
• Cruz, Climate Alliance, and Indivisible Santa Cruz.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several tax-related bills, with most measures either passing, being sent to suspense, or being approved on consent. SB 284 would clarify Proposition 19 rules for inherited family homes in probate, including when the one-year occupancy deadline begins and whether sibling ownership consolidation triggers reassessment; it drew support from Realtors and opposition from assessors over concerns about expanding exclusions and creating administrative complexity, and it was sent to suspense. SB 333 would let San Luis Obispo County voters approve a local transportation sales tax above the current combined local tax cap, with supporters arguing it would fund major transportation needs and opponents warning about regressive tax burdens; it passed 5-2 with a five-year sunset amendment. SB 376, which clarifies that charitable remainder trusts are not treated as incomplete gift non-grantor trusts for California income tax purposes, had support from the California Lawyers Association and passed unanimously to Appropriations as amended. The committee also heard SB 591, which would replace steep penalties for failing to use electronic funds transfer for certain tax payments with fixed penalties of $100 for a first violation and $500 for later violations unless reasonable cause is shown. Supporters said current penalties can be excessive and out of line with other states, while members questioned how common the problem is and why checks are still used; the bill was sent to suspense. SB 419 would partially exempt hydrogen fuel from the state sales and use tax while leaving the existing annual road fee in place, with supporters saying the current tax structure discourages hydrogen adoption and opponents seeking amendments; it too went to suspense. SB 587 would create a state tax credit for local sales tax paid by manufacturers on qualified equipment purchases, with broad support from industry and local business groups and committee members emphasizing the need to keep manufacturing jobs in California; it was also sent to suspense. The committee then took up SB 710, which would extend and update the property tax exclusion for solar and storage installations, including a new limited exclusion for systems installed after January 1, 2026, with a five-year sunset amendment. Supporters said the measure preserves a long-standing incentive that helps solar adoption and affordability, while one large energy consumer group registered opposition unless amended; after questions about how the exclusion works, the bill was sent to suspense. The consent item, SB 863, passed 7-0 to the Assembly Floor. Finally, SB 663, an urgency measure to extend deadlines and exemptions for property tax relief after the January wildfires, was presented with strong support from assessors and members, but the committee noted technical issues and sent it to suspense for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Representative Art de la Cruz. I represent District 12.
• We have four industrial parks in Santa Teresa in addition to the Santa Teresa jet port.
• Santa Teresa, in addition to the Santa Teresa jet port.
• That gives another motive of logistics in Santa Teresa.
• Talks about our Santa Teresa Intermodal Terminal.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mandy Strella, on behalf of Rethink Waste, as well as Santa Barbara County Division of Resource Recovery
• Environmental Medicine, Non-Toxic Neighborhoods, San Luis Obispo County Tobacco Control Coalition, Santa
• Jean Hurst, here today on behalf of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, in support.
• Jean Hearst, here today on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, in support.
• Cruz County, Courage California, and Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm currently a freshman at San Jose State University and I'm from Santa Clara County.
• As a provider now, I can't stress the importance of what HAP has done in our community in Santa Clara
• My name is Julian Crown with Housing Matters in Santa Cruz County.
• In our research across Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, we spoke with more than 200 people experiencing
• For instance, in our Santa Cruz County, the only youth center not dependent on state funding is heavily

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Jorge Cruz with the California Access Coalition in support. Good afternoon.
• And with me to testify in support is Amber Williams, the CEO of Janus of Santa Cruz, and Trent Murphy
• I'm the CEO of Janus of Santa Cruz.
• It's a local nonprofit in Santa Cruz that serves thousands of individuals on an annual basis across outpatient
• Just in closing, we actually had this campaign in Santa Rosa.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Serrato, probably representing Santa Fe Southside. Really excited to be back in this committee.
• My name is Art De La Cruz, District, House District 12.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee