Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Claudia Center, and I'm legal director of Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.
• It's a step toward stability. These vendors aren't just selling goods.
• More than 75% of states have enacted laws to prevent educator sexual misconduct.
• I served at the DOJ and an educator who has taught inside of. justice. I'm a lawyer.
• Well, you know, this is just an educational moment for me.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• million from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund for CalRecycle to advance a targeted strategy to stabilize
• Having it in a reserve that you can, in our traditional reserve structure, the Budget Stabilization Account
• So we’d be contracting out with entities like the Butte County Office of Education, which has statewide
• In my view, this is a disastrous decision that would put both our 2030 targets and the stability of the
• , and want to respectfully urge the administration and the Legislature to maintain the long-term stability

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• coaching, financial education, as well as maternal wellness and fatherhood classes.
• coaching, financial education, as well as maternal wellness and fatherhood classes.
• We work with local ECFE organizations, certified educators from Families in Transition programs, and
• We've been able to get our moms to over 95% of their educational events.
• </c><01:09:34.000><c> and</c> keeping our organization stabilized and keeping our organization stabilized

Bills: HF25, HF1, HF428

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices

Transcript Highlights:

• request that any reform thoughtfully formalizes coordination with the Department of Health so that education
• Our members, small, medium, and craft operators across the state, value stability and clarity in cannabis
• or plumber to count up to four hours in behavioral health and wellness training toward continuing education
• : create revenues that could be used both for locals and for our state to be able to provide the education

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee began by suspending the five-day notice rule for Senate Bill 629, then held testimony on the bill, which would restructure the Liquor and Cannabis Board. Proponents, including the Washington Hospitality Association, the Washington Cannabis Business Association, and the Cannabis Alliance, argued the current board structure is overburdened by alcohol and cannabis responsibilities, slows decision-making, and should be expanded or reorganized to improve accountability and focus. Opponents, including the Washington Association for Substance Misuse and Violence Prevention and a cannabis business owner, warned the bill would create unnecessary administrative costs, weaken executive accountability, and should not advance without more study. The committee did not take final action on SB 629 during the hearing portion, but later moved several bills out of committee. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced SB 6282 on behavioral health training for construction apprentices, SB 5379 on interest arbitration for Parks and Recreation Commission employees, SB 6197 on plumber license discipline, SB 6158 on factory-built housing and utility structures, SB 6302 on limits for independent contractors on public works finishing work, SB 5882 on PTSD workers’ compensation coverage for local correctional facility workers, SB 6180 on firefighter and law enforcement heart-related occupational disease presumptions, SB 6195 on cannabis producer oversupply, SB 6196 on kratom taxation, SB 6204 on home cannabis cultivation, and SB 6287 on kratom product restrictions. Several bills were sent to Ways and Means because of fiscal impacts, while SB 6204 was sent to Rules after adoption of an amendment allowing local governments to restrict home cultivation in residential areas. The committee also noted that SB 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices would not move that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an important site not just for education; it's a much broader program than that.
• They were great mission partners and supported us on the educator side of it.
• Guard brings logistics, skills, and planning, but we certainly need assistance from P.E.D. the educational
• Stabilization Committee, and hopefully this will come up there.

Transcript Highlights:

• As patients receive stability, they gain employment, become successful partners and parents, as well
• to have a semi-annual and an annual court hearing where their plan that they've agreed to, their education
• Scope of practice is your license, but is also your education, training, and experience.
• It is a determination based on education, training, and experience.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, SJR 4 would raise the constitutional cap on the maximum balance of the Economic stabilization
• To invest in infrastructure, to pay for long term liabilities, to pay for public education.
• diminishing returns that it would be better to give it back to, um, the taxpayers or invest in public education
• We had the 2011, uh, pinch, uh, where we saw public education start to cut budgets and, and, and pull

Bills: SJR 4

Keywords: term limits, state offices, constitutional amendment, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform

Transcript Highlights:

• The PRB also reviewed most of its administrative rules resulting in a major overhaul. of minimum educational
• A major part of this process was engaging stakeholders every step of the way to make the educational
• funds for maintenance and capital improvement. projects, and below that's a decrease in economic stabilization
• provides a effective administration of the Hazelwood Act Exemption Program, a statewide veterans education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our agency issues permits to stabilize beaches with groins, for example, and toes of slopes with armoring
• We’re educated. We’ve done all these smart things.
• We have Ramon Chiras, Director of Education and Environmental Advocacy with Unmarticolores, and Jessica
• On top of the things that we're offering, we're also offering environmental education and water safety
• Because on top of the things that we're offering, we're also offering environmental education, water

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy focused on infrastructure, pollution, climate resilience, public health, access, and economic impacts of sea level rise in California, with an emphasis on San Diego and the Bay Area. Chair Tasha Boerner Horvath opened by describing the committee’s purpose, the state’s sea level rise action planning, and the need for better monitoring and early warning systems. She also referenced her prior bills AB 66 and AB 72, which supported Scripps research on coastal bluff collapse warning capabilities. Assembly Members David Alvarez and Jessica Caloza later joined and emphasized that sea level rise affects not only coastal communities but inland areas as well, and that the issue should inform future legislative and budget decisions. In the first panel, Dr. Mark Merrifield of Scripps Institution of Oceanography described observed sea level rise of roughly 0.8 to 0.9 feet since the early 1900s, with acceleration expected by mid-century and potentially much greater rise by 2100 depending on emissions. He highlighted flooding, groundwater rise, beach and cliff erosion, salinization, and risks to transportation, sewage, ports, and national security. Dave Gibson of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board discussed how sea level rise affects wastewater systems, stormwater, contaminated sites, wetlands, and coastal groundwater basins, and said the board is requiring climate adaptation planning, updating stormwater permits, and seeking more flexible state permitting and mitigation tools. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better mapping, more monitoring, and more state funding, especially if federal support from NOAA and other agencies declines. The second panel addressed public health, equitable access, and local economies. Ramon Chiras of Un Mar de Colores described how sea level rise, pollution, and access barriers threaten the Tijuana River Valley and Imperial Beach, especially for underserved communities and youth programs that rely on safe, welcoming access to the ocean. He stressed the cultural and spiritual importance of coastal access and the need for water safety and environmental education. Jessica Fane of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission explained that the Bay Area faces major economic exposure from sea level rise, citing a regional estimate of $96 billion in adaptation costs versus $230 billion in potential losses from inaction, and said BCDC is working with local governments under SB 272 on shoreline adaptation planning, funding, and regulatory innovation. Members discussed the tension between environmental permitting and the need to move projects faster, including the possibility of planned retreat in some areas and the use of simultaneous permitting and longer-term state authority to streamline adaptation work. In the final panel, Philip Gibbons of the Port of San Diego described the port’s climate adaptation efforts and its vulnerability assessments under AB 691. He said the port manages state tidelands, supports maritime commerce and recreation, and is already seeing flooding at king tides and during El Niño events, including storm-drain backflow and damage to bikeways and parks. He explained that future sea level rise could inundate major port areas and disrupt operations, underscoring the need for continued planning, mitigation, and infrastructure investment. The hearing did not take formal votes, but it concluded with a clear call for more science, funding, coordination, and regulatory streamlining to prepare California’s coast and nearby communities for worsening sea level rise impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, to continue with that, to your left and to my right in the upper gallery, under education, you're
• It was their intent that this club would have a threefold aim of civic, educational, and cultural.
• And also... ...have a threefold aim of civic, educational, and cultural.
• What about the stability issues?" "Another great point.
• What about the stability issues? Another great point.

Summary: The House first approved the previous day’s journal by roll call vote, 112-2, and then spent time on numerous guest introductions and recognitions. Guests included former Rep. Bill E. Kidd, students and school officials from several districts, pharmacy students, community and labor representatives, Alliance for Life members, Link community partners, and the student who led the Pledge of Allegiance. A personal privilege announcement also recognized a legislator’s son’s birthday. The main floor debate centered on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 21, 22, and 1626, the Missouri Nuclear Clean Power Act. Supporters argued the bill would remove a roadblock to small modular nuclear reactors by allowing construction work in progress (CWIP), lower long-term electricity costs, attract industry, and help Missouri meet future baseload demand, especially for data centers and other large users. Opponents said the measure would shift risk and cost overruns to ratepayers, cited past nuclear cost overruns and safety concerns, and argued Missouri voters had previously rejected such financing. After extended debate and several inquiries, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bills perfected and printed. The chamber then perfected and printed House Bill 1881, which would make xylazine a Schedule III controlled substance. The sponsor and supporters said the drug is a dangerous animal tranquilizer increasingly used in illicit fentanyl mixtures, while the bill preserves legitimate veterinary and agricultural uses. Members from both rural and urban districts supported the measure, and the House adopted an amendment clarifying penalties for knowingly starving an animal and false reporting in animal abuse cases. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2292, which would encourage cross-reporting among agencies handling child, elder, and companion animal abuse. The sponsor said abuse in one area often correlates with abuse in the others and that the bill would use existing agencies rather than create a new department. An amendment was also offered to strengthen elder-abuse investigations by allowing post-certified investigators in the Department of Health and Senior Services to assist law enforcement and obtain records. The discussion emphasized protecting vulnerable Missourians and improving coordination among investigators and local police.

Transcript Highlights:

• Defining stability in such broad, undefined terms sets the state, its agencies, and political subdivisions
• Our union represents public employees at 13 state agencies in higher education, the City of Albuquerque
• New Mexico cannot unilaterally stabilize global climate.
• school board, talk about what our concerns are, together with the principals, together with the educators
• So it behooves all of us to be able to pull together, inform, and educate.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my opinion, many juveniles commit robbery because they lack stability or basic needs at home.
• So rather than trying to build 39 different JRAs, we put that in one location and you have education,
• you have treatment, you have different options to help people get stabilized, where if each county were
• Overuse of confinement disrupts education, separates youth from their family, and often increases the
• Youth prison, as we all know, can significantly impact education and health outcomes.

Bills: HB2389, HB2456

Keywords: juvenile justice, youth sentencing, juvenile rehabilitation, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, community supervision, community transition services, suspended disposition, less restrictive alternative, sentencing grid, juvenile confinement, juvenile prison, rehabilitation, recidivism, mental health treatment, substance use disorder, chemical dependency, trauma-informed care, racial disparities, equity

Transcript Highlights:

• Now you're gonna hear later today from some individuals who are in higher education or academia, state
• the city's wastewater treatment plants uses aerobic digestion, while two others use only lime stabilization
• the city's wastewater treatment plants uses aerobic digestion, while two others use only lime stabilization
• important thing we, as elected officials, city officials, or even just landowners, need to be more educated
• We need to be more educated on what we're applying to our land and that's where we, we kind of mess things

Summary: The committee hearing focused on biosolids, sewage sludge, and PFAS contamination, with the opening remarks and first three presenters arguing that land application of municipal sludge poses serious risks to soil, water, livestock, and human health. Representative Shaw cited EPA and state data on detected pollutants and PFAS in biosolids, while Denise Travick Poyer described her background in chemical engineering and PFAS work and said the EPA’s draft sewage sludge risk assessment shows unacceptable risk at very low PFOS/PFOA levels. She urged source reduction, more testing, and consideration of total organic fluorine, and noted examples from Michigan where industrial pretreatment and source reduction reduced PFAS in biosolids. Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Larry Woolley and Investigator Dana Ames presented a case study of alleged runoff from land-applied biosolids affecting a ranch, with high PFAS readings in soil, water, fish, cattle tissue, and a stillborn calf, and said the county and state had pursued investigations, lawsuits, and legislative responses. Sandra Trawick of Save Oklahoma Farms and Ranches argued that Oklahoma’s biosolids program relies heavily on Class B sludge, that current rules are outdated, and that land application exposes farms and rural communities to pathogens, chemicals, odors, flies, and runoff; she cited examples from Maine, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma to support calls for stronger regulation or a ban. After the testimony, members asked about sampling methods, lab testing, EPA limits, and whether the cited PFAS blood levels were comparable to the soil and sludge measurements. Witnesses said the Johnson County samples were collected by a Texas A&M PhD contractor and tested at a single lab, and they explained that the EPA’s 4 parts per trillion figure applied to municipal drinking water standards. Questions also addressed whether sludge is incorporated into soil; Trawick said it had often been left on the surface, though she had seen better disking after public scrutiny. Members asked how biosolids compare with manure and feedlot waste, and witnesses responded that municipal sludge is more contaminated because it includes industrial, hospital, and household waste streams, unlike animal manure. The committee then moved to alternative solutions, hearing from Doug McKinney of Advanced Microbial Solutions, who promoted biological sludge removal using bacteria to reduce sludge volumes and avoid land application, citing cost savings for wastewater plants and correctional facilities. Jason Jepsen of Eden Energy followed with a pitch for an eight-stage waste-to-energy system that converts mixed waste into clean energy, biochar, and reusable products, framing waste as an asset and presenting his company’s technology as a no-land-application alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few years ago, the department instituted a continuing education series that is not only nationally
• The real value of that is not only are we providing weekly training and education to behavioral health
• because sometimes we wait a couple of days just to see how people's emotions and sometimes they stabilize
• this could cause significant public safety impacts, specifically issues related to public health, education
• I'm really pleased to hear that you're trying to educate sheriffs and local law enforcement on the risks

Transcript Highlights:

• Susan's love of education no doubt inspired her appointment to the House Education Committee in 1991.
• </c> appointment to the House Education appointment to the House Education Committee<00:17:31.360><c>
• </c><00:17:38.760><c> improvement</c> statewide education improvement statewide education improvement
• </c> transportation, and financial stability. transportation, and financial stability.
• </c> more educational gaps. more educational gaps.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think there's still a lot of work to do in this area, especially around education.
• About education, and we have to do more.
• But education without authority to elaborate is not enough.
• I think, basically, driving toward having more education is really important.
• So, basically, driving toward having more education is really important.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We exist to support good public school education and adequate funding.
• To support good public school education and adequate funding.
• and engagement. who are under attack under the federal administration receive crucial education and
• 4,000 janitors alone, where they work and also in their homes, to be able to continue the education.
• 4,000 janitors alone, where they work and also in their homes, to be able to continue the education.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard presentations on the Department of Industrial Relations’ labor-related budget items, with the main focus on proposed trailer bill language to reform the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and a related budget change proposal for staffing. DIR said SIBTF has grown far beyond its original purpose, citing the 2020 Todd decision, expanded eligibility based on chronic or asymptomatic conditions, and a backlog that has grown to more than 30,000 pending cases. The administration argued the reforms would restore guardrails, reduce liabilities and employer assessments, and speed processing for severely injured workers; the LAO said the proposal was largely consistent with its prior recommendations. Members raised concerns about using trailer bill language for major policy changes, the retroactive application to open cases, and the impact on workers already in the queue, while supporters from employer groups and public agencies backed the proposal as necessary to control costs and restore sustainability. Public comment was split, with injured-worker advocates opposing the retroactive changes and business/public employer representatives supporting the reforms. The committee then heard the SIBTF workload request, which would phase in 177 positions over five years at a cost of $36.5 million, including staff for the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Office of the Director Legal Unit, and administrative support. DIR said the additional staffing is intended to address very high caseloads and reduce processing times, but emphasized that the request assumes the reform package is adopted; LAO agreed the staffing increase made sense if paired with reforms. Members asked about vacancy rates, current staffing, and whether the workload request would become the new normal, and DIR said it would monitor caseload trends and adjust future requests as needed. Finally, the committee received an update on the California Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP), which DIR described as a partnership with community-based organizations to educate workers and help employers comply with labor laws. DIR reported that CWOP has reached 1.75 million workers and employers and made 8 million touchpoints since 2020, with the current round awarding $50.7 million to 87 partners for a two-year period through June 2027. Members and public commenters highlighted the program’s role in reaching immigrant, farmworker, janitorial, nail salon, and other vulnerable communities, and several speakers urged continued funding at $30 million per year for five years. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our academic education, the Carl Perkins funds go to career and technical education.
• Some programs include adult basic education, technical education, post-secondary academic and career
• education, and the governor recommended a core reduction of $9,876.
• This is a core for academic and career and technical education.
• education programs to diverse audiences and showcasing the importance of nature.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• McLean Rosansky with the Alameda County Office of Education, in support.
• The importance of education for our young ones...
• Barriers to care become barriers to education.
• The motion is due pass to Higher Education Committee.
• The motion is due pass to Higher Education Committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are Louisiana's first-ever crisis stabilization center here. Our license is 0-001.
• What I wanted to do is just read a little bit, just maybe to educate you all on what a crisis receiving
• The center operates 24 hours, seven days a week, and it provides both short-term crisis stabilization
• For additional providers to participate, reimbursement for the first 23 hours of crisis stabilization
• He said educators sometimes call to share this information, and nothing happens until something happens

Summary: The committee first heard SB 145, which would require adult residential care providers, especially assisted living centers, to have generators or other backup power arrangements and to submit preparedness plans to LDH. After technical amendments and testimony from the sponsor, LDH, and the assisted living industry clarifying the bill’s scope and cost concerns, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. It then took up SB 433, which would require Medicaid coverage of medically necessary FDA-approved weight loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications, subject to appropriations and fiscally sustainable coverage criteria; the bill was reported favorably after discussion of current Medicaid coverage and costs. The committee also approved SB 52, which requires better coordination between DCFS and LDH so SNAP and Medicaid benefits can follow children more quickly when they are removed from or returned to a home. Technical amendments changed reporting deadlines and required written notice, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 4 on public water fluoridation was amended to allow local governments or voters to opt out through a petition and election process, with support from the Louisiana Dental Association and others after compromise language was adopted; it was reported favorably with amendments. SB 152, which would prohibit the sale of cultured or lab-grown food products for human consumption, was also reported favorably with amendments after brief testimony in support and opposition. The committee next approved SCR 37, which asks the Surgeon General to review Louisiana’s informed consent laws and report back on any gaps, after discussion that the existing medical disclosure panel had not met since 2018. It then considered SB 194, a public assistance bill aligning Louisiana Medicaid and SNAP rules with recent federal changes on non-citizen eligibility and tightening Medicaid’s reasonable opportunity period for citizenship verification. After extensive debate over immigration, emergency care, and whether the bill could harm eligible applicants or rural hospitals, the committee adopted an amendment allowing LDH discretion for emergency health care services and reported the bill favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, HCR 113 created a task force to study gestational carrier agreements and assisted reproductive regulation; after debate over surrogacy, ethics, and referral to Civil Law, the committee rejected the referral motion and then reported the resolution favorably, and the meeting moved on to SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and legal representation funding.