Transcript Highlights:

• We are calling this hearing of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee to order
• Jenny Sheerston, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, who wrote this
• Marianthe, Anna Kaya Murtzaglu, environmental health scientists at Columbia University, Michigan State
• Marianthe, Anna Kaya Murtzaglu, environmental health scientists at Columbia University, Michigan State
• Environmental Protection Agency's standard for total chromium allowed.

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three bills after beginning without a quorum and later establishing one. SB 328 would cap DTSC hazardous waste generation and handling fees for infill housing and master development projects and set response timelines for cleanup reviews. Supporters said the current fee structure has made some housing and remediation projects infeasible, while opponents warned that capping fees for one sector could shift costs to other hazardous waste generators. The committee discussed the need for broader DTSC fee reform, and SB 328 was approved on a 7-0 vote and sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. SB 754 would require manufacturers of disposable menstrual products to test for and disclose concentrations of certain contaminants, with DTSC able to verify results and publish them. Supporters framed the bill as a transparency and public health measure, citing recent studies finding toxic metals in tampons and emphasizing consumer right-to-know. Opponents, including manufacturers and hygiene product groups, argued the bill adds duplicative testing, vague requirements, and public disclosure that could be misinterpreted, and urged amendments. The committee members generally supported the goal of transparency, and the bill passed 5-2 with not voting members, moving to Appropriations. SB 466 would provide temporary legal protections for public water systems that are complying with approved chromium-6 compliance plans while they work toward the new drinking water standard. Supporters from Los Banos, Coachella Valley Water District, and other water agencies said the measure would help avoid costly litigation during a lengthy and expensive compliance period, especially for systems dealing with naturally occurring chromium-6. Committee members raised concerns about limiting recourse for harmed individuals and discussed possible alternative language, but the author said the bill would not affect state enforcement authority. SB 466 passed 7-0 and was sent to the Committee on Judiciary. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of additional measures by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Environmental.
• In New Mexico, we face a serious series of emergencies because of environmental pollution accumulating
• Considering health and environmental factors is crucial to protecting the climate, water, and future
• Focusing on environmental protection also helps mitigate the impacts of climate change. safeguarding
• My name is Felicia Guillen, and I'm an environmental justice organizer with UNM LEAF, where we work with

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• years thereafter as an author, a speaker, and an advocate, Bob Graham worked tirelessly to further environmental
• option for timely payment of invoices for verified eligible work under state and federal assistance agreements
• Bill 7034, a bill to be entitled: An act relating to ratification of rules on the Department of Environmental
• Bill 7034, a bill to be entitled and act relating to ratification of rules on the Department of Environmental
• And yeah, in order to get to a place where we had an agreement among colleagues to do away with number

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and doctor-of-the-day introduction, then moved through a long special-order calendar. Early proceedings included a resolution honoring former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also heard several member introductions and recognitions before taking up bills. The most substantial debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758 on public assistance and Medicaid/SNAP reforms. The bill would strengthen fraud enforcement, impose a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid pharmacy purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Senators Berman, Smith, Bracy Davis, Osgood, and others argued for Medicaid expansion and added protections for vulnerable SNAP recipients, while Gates defended the bill as a compliance and cost-saving measure. Multiple amendments were offered, including Berman’s Medicaid-expansion condition and Osgood’s SNAP photo-ID safeguards; both were defeated. The bill was placed on the calendar for third reading after extended questioning. The Senate then passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions before final vote. These included tax conformity legislation (7031/7048), technology and computer science education (1503/1694), Parkinson’s disease registry and related public-records measures (1443/1684), designation of the SS American Victory as the official state flagship (249/1656), electronic payments for local governments (967/1612), legal tender and related public-records exemptions for gold, silver, stablecoins, and virtual currency kiosks (1311/1588/1087/7044/1568), local government finance and spending transparency (1329/1566), digital voyeurism (1536), insurance customer representative licensing (1343/1504), and medical freedom legislation (1756) with amendments on anti-kickback rules and vaccine information materials. Most bills passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with several amendments adopted and some withdrawn; the medical freedom bill was still under consideration at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Factors such as chronic stress, unequal access to quality perinatal and postpartum care, environmental
• Every icon you see here represents a policy decision: housing, transportation, environmental quality,
• Every icon you see here represent a policy decision, housing, transportation, environmental quality,
• food access, and economic opportunity. transportation, environmental quality, food access, and economic
• , Sustainable funding for community health workers and doulas, strengthen environmental protections,

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities opened with remarks framing the discussion around reproductive and maternal health disparities affecting Latina, Black, and Indigenous women in California. Members emphasized the need to connect state data with lived experience, and the committee heard historical context on coercive sterilization, language access, and the ways immigration status, poverty, and racism continue to shape reproductive health care. The first panel featured Clarissa Ramirez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Sophia Pedrosa of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Kim Robinson of Black Women for Wellness, who described reproductive justice principles, the legacy of eugenics and forced sterilization, community education efforts, promotoras, and the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive care. They also raised concerns about federal funding cuts, fear related to ICE and public charge, and the loss of education and outreach programs that support patients and families. The second part of the hearing focused on maternal health. Matt Green of the California Department of Public Health described persistent racial disparities, including Black birthing people being three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and outlined state efforts such as the Black Infant Health Program, the Perinatal Equity Initiative, the Centering Black Mothers in California report, and a new Black birth equity action plan. Chris Esgera of the Department of Health Care Services explained the state’s birthing care pathway, postpartum care pathway, and Transforming Maternal Health model, including policy changes to support doulas, community health workers, transitional care, and postpartum coverage. He said the department is working through policy updates and payment reforms, with Medi-Cal coverage for pregnant people and 12 months postpartum remaining protected. The final panel included Dr. Nicole Economo and Dr. Kelly McHugh of ACOG, who discussed provider education, anti-racism and implicit bias training, and the need for quality improvement projects focused on closing equity gaps at individual hospitals. They highlighted tools such as the CLEAR Initiative, the Elevate Toolkit, and use of CMQCC data to track outcomes by race and ethnicity. Across the hearing, members repeatedly stressed that community-led solutions, sustained funding, better data, and accountability are needed to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve reproductive health outcomes. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during the hearing, though several policy priorities and ongoing legislative efforts were referenced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> littering to fostering environmental littering to fostering environmental responsibility,<00:17:
• Uh, this bill is a request from the Department of Environmental Services and seeks to amend language
• Uh, this bill is a request from the Department of Environmental Services and seeks to amend language
• It clearly defines the Department of Environmental Services' authority over industrial discharges and
• <00:38:07.359><c> practices</c><00:38:08.160><c> and</c> environmental practices and environmental practices

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Education and one of my Environmental Education and one of my volunteers<00:20:43.640><c> who</c><00
• In these times when the current cruel, despotic, anti-environmental federal administration is gutting
• environmental pollution protections and just destroying entities like the EPA, it is imperative that
• </c><00:59:24.280><c> uh</c><00:59:24.440><c> Policy</c> under the Hawaii environmental uh Policy under
• the Hawaii environmental uh Policy Act<00:59:25.440><c> we</c><00:59:26.119><c> depend</c><00:59:26.839

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in the midst of an environmental process governed by NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act
• , that spells out how we go through an environmental review process.
• , we announced six alternatives that we are proposing to move forward to the next stage of the environmental
• </c><00:08:02.159><c> process</c><00:08:02.879><c> uh</c><00:08:03.039><c> to</c> our envir environmental
• process uh to our envir environmental process uh to recommend<00:08:04.319><c> a</c><00:08:04.599><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e e e e e e Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Committee on Energy and Environmental
• Thank you, Chair Len, Vice Chair Peruso, and the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee.
• </c><00:07:45.000><c> energy</c><00:07:45.319><c> and</c> peruso and the environmental energy and peruso
• And then we have County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management in support.
• Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection for decision-making on the 9:00 a.m. agenda.

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard testimony on a series of energy, transportation, climate, and waste bills. HB 977 would provide additional funding to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for low-interest financing of rooftop solar and storage for underserved ratepayers; HB 1295 would require state and county agencies to use federal energy tax credits; HB 1051 concerns energy efficiency portfolio standards; HB 1019 addresses long-duration clean energy storage; HB 344 concerns EV charging infrastructure at state facilities; HB 733 would change EV parking requirements; HB 242 creates a working group on EV battery reuse and recycling; HB 1022 expands access to energy industry information reporting; HB 1017 repeals the greenhouse gas sequestration task force; HB 787 asks for a feasibility study on a Buy Clean program; and HB 751 sets composting goals. Testimony was largely supportive across the bills, with some agencies standing on written testimony or offering comments, and a few measures drawing opposition or concerns, including HB 751 from county agencies and HB 242 from Redwood Materials requesting inclusion of a specialized battery recycler on the working group. Members asked several questions, including about EV charging siting, whether bike parking and showers should be considered in EV facility planning, how often EV charging stalls are relocated to other sites, and whether Hawaiʻi has in-state capacity to prepare EV batteries for shipping and recycling. On HB 751, the committee discussed county diversion rates and Maui’s composting capacity, with the Department of Health noting Maui’s diversion decline was tied to closure of the EKO co-composting facility at Central Maui landfill and that reestablishment was planned. On HB 242, Redwood Materials explained it handles lithium-ion batteries, including work related to the Maui wildfire response, and said a full in-state recycling chain is unlikely, though local facilities can safely prepare batteries for shipment. In decision-making, the committee voted to pass all of the measures with amendments. For HB 977, the committee noted a recommended appropriation of $50 million and made technical amendments. HB 1295, HB 1051, HB 1019, HB 344, HB 733, HB 242, HB 1022, HB 1017, and HB 787 were all advanced with technical or substantive amendments, including changes to dates, appropriations, and working group membership. For HB 344, the committee accepted DAGS’s suggestion to make HSEO the expending entity and adjusted the appropriation to one year. For HB 242, the committee added a battery storage industry member, included stationary storage as a consideration, and extended the reporting date to 2027. HB 787 was advanced with a request that the Climate Commission and State Procurement Office work together on more specific amendments if the bill continues moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• local entities such as counties and cities, and other state agencies including the Department of Environmental
• local entities such as counties and cities, and other state agencies including the Department of Environmental
• the local, state, and national levels and activities that promote voluntary conservation and environmentally
• So I would just add that in the state, our environmental regulations are generally superior to those
• And frankly, that's our environmental regulations are generally superior to those of the EPA, and frankly

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mike Hoffman's category, which is Environmental Services, a judicial branch category two and three.
• </c> category which which is um Environmental category which which is um Environmental Services<00:07
• First is the environmental consideration, and just to echo for a moment what Mr.
• </c><00:38:44.040><c> damage</c> multi-tier environmental damage multi-tier environmental damage initially
• We heard some environmental concerns just now around this project.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's not forget the environmental cost that the left claims to care so much about: thousands of birds
• lawyer she was smart kind environmental lawyer she was smart kind and<00:21:16.600><c> passionate</c
• When you factor in health and environmental impacts, taxpayers pick up the tab for all of that.
• <00:56:19.760><c> destruction</c><00:56:20.760><c> and</c><00:56:20.960><c> protect</c> environmental
• responsibility can go hand environmental responsibility can go hand in<00:59:23.599><c> hand</c><00:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, February 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have intersecting public health and environmental challenges, especially tied to really poor
• Finding new opportunities for utilization of biomass is really critical both from an environmental level
• Community, labor, environmental organizations, and workforce and education partners ranging from our
• And so as we think about As well as more sustainable environmental outcomes.
• How does that square with the environmental arguments we make around the alternative protein space?

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation was held at UC Davis and focused on how alternative proteins can support California agriculture, the bioeconomy, and farmers. Opening remarks from UC Davis leaders and committee members emphasized the university’s food science, fermentation, and sustainability strengths, and the state’s prior investments of $5 million for UC alternative protein research and an additional $1 million for ICAMP. Members framed the topic as a way to grow new markets, keep more value in-state, and address climate, food security, and commercialization challenges. The first panel featured Sana Beg of the Plant-Based Foods Institute, who argued that California agriculture and alternative proteins are complementary, not competing, and stressed that farmers are essential to the sector. She highlighted the need for ingredient processing capacity, technical assistance for growers, and predictable demand through public procurement, including schools, hospitals, and state facilities. Committee members asked about financing and market development, and Beg said guaranteed loans, grants, and state- and USDA-backed support could help de-risk investment and build the supply chain. The second panel focused on research and development. Beam Circular described the circular bioeconomy in the San Joaquin Valley, including efforts to turn agricultural residues into higher-value products, build shared infrastructure, and expand workforce training. ICAMP and UC ANR described UC Davis-centered research, pilot facilities, and a proposed plant innovation center to bridge lab-scale work to commercial manufacturing. USDA researchers discussed using byproducts such as brewer’s spent grain, tomato pomace, lima beans, and chickpeas for new food ingredients. Members repeatedly emphasized the importance of public R&D funding, consumer acceptance, and food-grade scale-up facilities. The final panel highlighted company perspectives from Optimized Foods and Blue Diamond Growers. Optimized Foods described using fungi fermentation to convert almond hulls, cocoa waste, and tomato pomace into protein-rich ingredients and stabilized nutrients. Blue Diamond outlined its grower cooperative model, sustainability practices, almond ingredient portfolio, and the Sacramento almond innovation center. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with discussion centered on research, commercialization, infrastructure, and market-building for California-grown alternative protein products.

Transcript Highlights:

• research, you realize that our current way of cultivating food is also unsustainable and not environmentally
• We also have intersecting public health and environmental challenges, especially tied to really poor
• Finding new opportunities for utilization of biomass is really critical, both from an environmental level
• And so as we think about As well as more sustainable environmental outcomes.
• How does that square with kind of the environmental arguments we make around the alternative protein

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• E stands for environmental. S stands for social. G stands for governance.
• E stands for environmental, S stands for social, G stands for governance.
• Many of the shareholder proposals are related to environmental, social, and governance issues.
• And that's how we... ...related to environmental, social, and governance issues, and that's how we engage
• For over a year, we have warned the SIB of the legal, financial, environmental, and reputational risks

Summary: The committee began with a work session from the State Investment Board, where staff described the board’s structure, $230 billion in assets under management, and its mandate to maximize returns at a prudent level of risk for pension and other state funds. They reviewed long-term performance, noting strong historical returns and explaining that the board generally invests public equities passively through low-cost index funds. Members also discussed sustainability practices, including ESG integration, proxy voting, climate and DEI blueprints, and the board’s view that divestment or asset-class restrictions can reduce returns and increase costs. Senators asked about deferred compensation, legislative influence over investment policy, and digital assets; staff said the board is slow-moving and that any major change would be studied carefully. The public hearing then focused on SB 5439, which would prohibit new thermal coal investments beginning in 2026 and require full divestment by 2030, with limited exceptions. Supporters argued coal is a poor long-term investment and a major climate and health risk, and several said the bill still gives the board flexibility to retain holdings in companies transitioning to clean energy. The committee also heard testimony on SB 6109, which would bar investments in private detention facilities and require divestment by 2030; supporters said state money should not profit from immigrant detention, while staff confirmed the board currently holds a small investment in Geo Group. SB 6304 would require responsible investment principles for the State Investment Board, including consideration of human rights, environmental degradation, corruption, and related risks, along with proxy voting guidelines and annual reporting. Testimony in favor emphasized ethical investing, climate risk, and avoiding complicity in human rights abuses, while board staff had earlier said they view such decisions through an investment-risk lens rather than a values-based lens. The committee also heard Substitute SB 5945, which would exclude most offenses committed before age 18 from counting as strikes under the state’s persistent offender law and would allow retroactive resentencing for affected people, with exceptions for first- and second-degree murder and serious sex offenses. Staff said the substitute would likely affect fewer cases than the original bill, with estimates ranging from about 10 to 24 resentencings. Public defense, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives raised concerns about workload, victim impacts, and retroactive application, while supporters and pro bono providers said they were prepared to help with resentencing and reentry support. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are communities that face multiple environmental burdens, yet still struggle to access basic information
• These are communities that face multiple environmental burdens, yet still struggle to access basic information
• So I've had to do, along with CBE and my friends in the environmental community and nonprofits, to put
• Motion is due pass and re-referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality. Senator Grayson? Aye.
• SB 1291, motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Environmental Quality.

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Calendar 52, Senate Print 270, Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation
• Calendar 52, Senate Print 270, Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
• >> The bill is passed. >> Calendar 58, Senate Print 1187, Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Environmental
• >> The bill is passed. >> Calendar 58, Senate Print 1187, Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Environmental
• . >> The bill is passed. >> Calendar 106, Senate Print 4574B, Senator May, an act to amend the Environmental

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior Journal, and then handled several introductions and resolutions. Senator Bailey introduced Jayson Fefami, described as the Bronx-based creator of the “quarter zip” trend, and the chamber welcomed him with applause. Senator Cooney presented a privileged resolution memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim July 1, 2026, as Canada Day in New York, emphasizing the state’s economic, cultural, and border ties with Canada; the resolution was adopted. Senator Hinchey also spoke on a previously adopted resolution designating February 21-28, 2026, as National FFA Organization Week, with Senator Helming and visiting FFA students and advisers offering remarks in support of agricultural education and youth leadership. The Senate then took up the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures related to a fiscal task force, environmental conservation, urban development, education, workers’ compensation, elder law, real property, general business, state finance, insurance, tenant protection, and public health. Several bills passed unanimously, while others drew limited opposition; for example, the Environmental Conservation and Education measures had a handful of negative votes, and the real property bill drew more substantial opposition. Senator Webb explained her vote on a bill addressing college student food insecurity by exempting certain meal-share donations from sales tax, saying students should not have to choose between class and hunger. Senator Palumbo also explained his vote on the kratom labeling bill, supporting the measure while urging future action on the synthetic opioid 7-OH. The chamber also discharged several identical Assembly bills from Rules and substituted Senate versions earlier in the day, and later passed those measures on the floor. At the end of the session, the Senate completed the calendar, reported no further business, and adjourned until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, under the Alabama Department of Environmental Management rules, all foundry waste is treated
• </c> efficiency, and environmental efficiency, and environmental protection,<00:15:56.160><c> including
• I'm a professional civil and environmental engineer.
• I'm a professional civil and environmental<00:31:59.679><c> engineer.
• I work in the environmental engineer.

Bills: HB61 , HB176 , SB12

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in other engagements, so they'll be here as soon as possible and appreciate your agreement to
• to break the law and dump at illegal sites than it is to take trash to a landfill where we have environmental
• Locals are regularly updating our franchise agreements to add bulky waste pickup opportunities, but those
• Locals are regularly updating our franchise agreements to add bulky waste pickup opportunities, but those
• In addition to the environmental impacts, folks dump their furniture there and expect Caltrans to pick

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took testimony on each, with members often noting amendments and continuing negotiations. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require juvenile courts to find that less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable before ordering detention, and would require periodic review of continued detention and consideration of alternatives at disposition. Supporters argued it would reduce unnecessary youth detention and improve transparency; probation, judges, and police groups opposed it as an undue limit on judicial discretion and potentially unsafe in serious cases. The chair said he would recommend an aye with amendments, but the bill was held pending quorum and later remained on call. SB 1130 by Senator Gomez Reyes would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses, requiring consent before recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and banning devices or accessories designed to defeat recording indicators. Supporters said the bill addresses secret recording and invasive surveillance; opponents from tech and hospitality groups sought clarification to avoid unintended liability for businesses and exempt workplace communication devices. Members discussed those exemptions, and the chair recommended an aye, but the measure also remained on call. Senator Blake Spear presented SB 99, which would let courts consider military protective orders in domestic violence proceedings and require better communication between civilian law enforcement and military authorities. Supporters from the Department of Defense, local officials, and military representatives said it would close protection gaps for military families; the ACLU opposed it on due process grounds because MPOs are issued without judicial process. The chair and author emphasized that the bill only allows consideration of MPOs and does not require civilian enforcement of them. The bill passed out on a vote, though it remained on call for additional members. The committee also heard SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, restricting flashbang use for crowd control and banning flashbangs and explosive breaching charges in immigration enforcement, and SB 1022, creating a statewide anti-trafficking task force. SB 937 drew support from civil rights and community groups and opposition from police and sheriffs over the use-of-force standard and limits on tactics; it passed out on a vote but remained on call. SB 1022 was supported by survivor and faith groups and opposed by public defenders and sex worker advocates who raised concerns about racial disparities and enforcement harms; it also passed out on a vote. Later, SB 1395, extending criminal protective orders for certain felony sex offenses against minors up to 20 years, and SB 1230, increasing penalties for repeat illegal dumping, were both heard with mixed testimony and were held on call after committee votes. The committee also adopted a consent calendar and several bills were moved forward with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a multi-year process of building transfers based on agreements between the county, the court,
• I think we're all in agreement.
• You need very good agreements, and you need oversight to bring this into fruition.
• your understanding that control section 90.00B—” “90.00B, does it allow for funds to be used for environmental
• 90.00B, does it allow for funds to be used for environmental testing and other actions to protect public

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear budget-related updates from the Judicial Branch and the Office of Emergency Services, with no votes taken. The Judicial Council supported the Governor’s proposed budget, highlighting $70 million for increased trial court operating costs, additional funding for court-appointed counsel, Court of Appeal case processing, and courthouse construction and facilities. Trial court representatives emphasized staffing retention problems, especially in counties like San Bernardino, and said stable funding is needed to avoid delays and maintain access to justice. Members also discussed the branch’s remote proceedings program, which has been used in more than 6 million hearings statewide since 2022 and was described as especially important in rural areas and for vulnerable litigants; several members urged making the authority permanent rather than extending it temporarily. A major portion of the hearing focused on Proposition 36 implementation. Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains the $130 million provided in the 2025 Budget Act for court workload and pretrial services, but adds no new Prop. 36 court funding. Judicial Council staff reported nearly 35,000 felony Prop. 36 filings in 2025, with most cases still pending and only a small share of treatment-mandated cases already dismissed after treatment. Witnesses said courts are using the funds for staffing, coordinators, clerks, and treatment-court operations, but that workload varies widely by county and that data collection is limited because courts report aggregate information rather than case-level outcomes. The LAO raised a technical concern about the Department of Finance’s Prop. 47 savings estimate and recommended revising the methodology at May Revision. The committee also reviewed the Orange Central Justice Center facility modification project, where the Judicial Council explained that hidden construction deficiencies and fire-life-safety issues caused costs to rise substantially after demolition began. The LAO said the project itself was supportable but recommended that the Legislature set an ongoing funding level for court facilities, require a long-term facilities plan, and consider more oversight of facility modification projects. Finance said it continues to fund courthouse projects individually and through the State Public Works Board, while acknowledging project delays and cost increases. Finally, Cal OES and advocates discussed victim services funding. Cal OES said it administers about $315 million annually for victim service programs, including VOCA-funded services, but federal VOCA allocations have fluctuated sharply and the state has used one-time General Fund backfills to maintain services. Trauma recovery center advocates warned that an 85% reduction in funding would sharply reduce services for survivors of violent crime, while human trafficking advocates urged reauthorization of the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program before funding reverts to pre-pandemic levels in July 2026. Members asked about federal and state funding stability, referral pathways, and the long-term value of these programs in preventing worse outcomes and reducing public costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• But rather, it's about the environmental risk factors, Mr. President.
• Paraquat is an environmental risk factor, and that research that I just told you about is there.
• But rather, it's<00:29:22.040><c> about</c><00:29:22.920><c> the</c><00:29:23.080><c> environmental</
• c><00:29:23.920><c> risk</c> it's about the environmental risk it's about the environmental risk factors
• Paraquat is an environmental exposures.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all