Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 1156 by Assembly Member Wix and an act relating to solar use easements.
• AB 1156 updates California's solar use easements.
• to ratepayers without solar.
• I have also exempted public schools and agricultural solar customers from this bill.
• Our utility bills do not have a line item for how much goes toward subsidizing solar.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and first dealt with a procedural dispute over four amendments to AB 1240. The Speaker ruled the amendments out of order as not germane, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on a 49-16 vote. Members then added co-authors to several consent-calendar resolutions, including measures on the National Conference of State Legislators, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Men’s Mental Health Month, before adopting the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions, including a welcome for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and took up a motion to bring AB 41 up out of file, which failed 19-48. The bulk of the meeting was floor action on a long series of bills and resolutions, many of which passed with broad bipartisan support. Measures approved included ACR 40 supporting immigrant students and FAFSA privacy; AB 917 on permanent status for certain school employees; AB 985 on anesthesia access; AB 7 and AB 42 on higher education and student services; AB 245 providing property tax relief for wildfire victims; AB 255 allowing funding for drug-free recovery housing; AB 279 updating K-12 library standards; AB 289 creating a pilot for automated speed enforcement in highway construction zones; AB 291 on an educator apprentice program; AB 327 addressing swatting; AB 340 on confidential union communications; AB 341 creating an oral health technical assistance center for people with disabilities; AB 356 on San Diego health care infrastructure; AB 410 on bot disclosure; AB 476 on copper theft enforcement; AB 477 on educator pay targets; AB 485 on stolen wages and business licensing; AB 487, the insurance committee’s technical omnibus bill; AB 573 on tobacco retail license fees; AB 598 on school mapping technology; AB 635 on mobile home law enforcement referrals; AB 651 on remote participation for incarcerated parents in dependency hearings; AB 654 on homelessness hotline assistance in Los Angeles County; AB 662 creating a South County higher education task force; AB 667 on language access in professional licensing; AB 669 limiting early denial of addiction treatment; AB 670 on naturally occurring affordable housing; AB 695 on online continuation of community college for deported students; AB 723 on disclosure for digitally altered real estate images; AB 727 placing Trevor Project information on student IDs; and AB 736, a $10 billion affordable housing bond for the June 2026 ballot, which passed on a 61-11 urgency vote after extensive debate. Debate on AB 736 was the most extensive of the day, with supporters arguing the bond would help address California’s housing crisis and give voters a chance to weigh in, while opponents criticized the state’s bond debt and past spending results. The Assembly then recessed for caucus meetings and later returned to continue the daily file, where additional measures were taken up, including AB 798 adding diapers and wipes to the emergency food bank reserve program, which passed 56-0, and AB 821 on career technical education, which was presented as bipartisan-supported as the transcript continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• John Hart with the California Solar and Storage Association in support.
• And then how do we get all these distributed resources that now we're recognizing that distributed resources
• asks one common-sense question: Can a distributed battery or other distributed infrastructure solution
• DIDF helped identify where distributed resources could provide value.
• A 2025 Kavala grid lab study showed that distributed resources could avoid up to $13.7 billion in distribution

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm distribution as the Senate had it.
• <05:40:38.160> residential all the money into solar residential all the money into solar residential
• solar or whatever. solar or whatever.
• we distributed out the projects. we distributed out the projects.
• No, it’s solar. This is thermal and solar. Thermal electric. Thermal and solar. Thermal electric.

Keywords: 10am HB 1 & HB 2, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference for HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed the side-by-side budget comparison and began working through agreed and disputed items. Members first confirmed that grayed-out items were already settled and discussed a process for making later technical and intent changes, especially to true up abolished positions after additional decisions were made. They then moved through several budget sections, including judicial branch reductions, retirement systems, the Department of Justice, the Human Rights Commission, liquor enforcement, corrections, and the Department of Information Technology. Several items were agreed to or treated as settled package items, including the judicial branch position, the Department of Justice reduction, the Human Rights Commission item being held until related HB 2 language is finalized, the Housing Appeals Board being moved into the Board of Tax and Land Appeals, and the Office of Child Advocate. The committee also agreed to update the House bill language as needed based on HB 2 decisions, and to keep certain IT support rows in place unless related boards and commissions are eliminated. The effective date remained July 1, 2025, with no change. The main unresolved discussion centered on the retirement systems budget, where the Senate defended a large increase for deferred IT security and investment-function improvements, while the House argued the increase was too large and favored a back-of-the-budget cut. The Senate said the funds would support strategic IT and investment changes and would remain in the trust if cut, while the House emphasized the size of the increase and suggested a compromise. The committee ultimately retained the Senate position on retirement systems for the moment and said it would return to the issue later. On corrections and liquor enforcement, the committee described a negotiated back-of-the-budget cut structure, including a $10 million cut for corrections with some restoration of POS offices and administrative aides, and a liquor enforcement cut that was treated as part of a broader package. The Department of Safety item related to commercial enforcement and motor vehicle inspections was held for later discussion. The meeting ended with several items agreed, several held for coordination with HB 2, and some major budget questions still open.

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes distributed energy production by the utilities up to 10% of their distribution capacity
• We already have solar authorized as a distributed energy production in our current statutes.
• distribution mission and and generation. distribution mission and and generation.
• . distribution. distribution.
• separated production and distribution. separated production and distribution.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are solar with electrolysis and battery energy storage.
• You have to have the distribution lined up, the fuel supply.
• You have to have the distribution lined up the fuel supply.
• However, that weight is still, there's a distribution challenge there for the bus manufacturers.
• It would be really tough to do this with wind and solar.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy held an informational hearing on California’s hydrogen leadership, with Chair Bob Archuleta framing hydrogen as a complementary clean-energy pathway for hard-to-electrify sectors and emphasizing the need for balanced policy, community benefits, and strategic use of public funds. The first panel of private-sector witnesses from the California Hydrogen Business Council, Bosch, Hyundai, and Sierra Northern Railway described existing deployments in buses, trucks, rail, ports, and industrial uses, and argued that the technology is commercially ready but needs stable policy, faster permitting, stronger demand signals, and more infrastructure. They highlighted projects such as Hyundai’s NorCal Zero freight trucks, Bosch’s hydrogen components and refueling technology, and Sierra’s hydrogen switcher locomotive, while also noting major cost barriers, especially for fuel and equipment, and the need for continued state incentives and coordinated infrastructure planning. Committee members focused on labor standards, community engagement, and the current scale of hydrogen vehicles and fueling infrastructure. Witnesses said they work with labor groups, building trades, and safety organizations, and that early community involvement and first-responder training are important. In response to questions, panelists estimated roughly 15,000 to 16,000 light-duty fuel cell vehicles in California, around 100 hydrogen trucks, and growing bus deployment, with South Korea cited as having much larger fleets. They also discussed hydrogen fuel costs, with one rail operator saying delivered fuel had fallen from more than $60 per kilogram to about $35 per kilogram but would need to drop below $10 per kilogram for broad commercial viability. CARB’s incentive and regulatory programs, including heavy-duty vehicle subsidies and low-carbon fuel standards, were described as important supports, though federal tax credit changes and uncertainty were said to be slowing progress. The second panel addressed hydrogen’s public-health, air-quality, and climate role. CAPCOA, the Coalition for Clean Air, the building trades, and a UC Berkeley researcher argued that hydrogen should be used selectively in the most polluted, diesel-heavy settings such as ports, freight corridors, rail yards, transit depots, and backup power for data centers. They stressed that fuel cell applications provide zero tailpipe emissions, but cautioned that hydrogen produced from fossil fuels or used in combustion rather than fuel cells reduces the environmental benefit. The UC Berkeley witness presented modeling suggesting large reductions in NOx and particulate exposure, with significant avoided premature deaths and health savings if hydrogen displaces diesel in heavy-duty sectors. Panelists also urged that hydrogen not delay direct electrification, that environmental justice be central to deployment, and that infrastructure and safety planning include community engagement and measurable local benefits. The final panel featured public-sector updates from SamTrans, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the Port of Long Beach, and the First Public Hydrogen Authority. SamTrans described its transition of more than 300 buses to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses, including a large order of 108 hydrogen buses, but said the loss of expected ARCHES funding created a major gap for fueling infrastructure and that state support is needed for grants, tax exemptions, and axle-weight rule changes. GoBiz said the federal cancellation of ARCHES funding disrupted the market, but that private capital remains available if demand and cost-reduction signals are strong; it pointed to permitting streamlining and targeted state action as key next steps. The Port of Long Beach reported 106 hydrogen fuel cell trucks in port drayage, a $10 million hydrogen truck grant program, and a request for proposals for a public fueling station, while warning that high costs, fuel shortages, and the Colton incident have slowed momentum. First Public Hydrogen Authority described efforts to aggregate municipal demand, support green hydrogen production projects, and create long-term market certainty for suppliers and off-takers. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses on where state funding should go next, with several suggesting that near-term support for transit fleets, fueling infrastructure, and targeted high-impact corridors would be the most effective way to keep hydrogen deployment moving.

Transcript Highlights:

• FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS SOLAR PERMITTING AND INSPECTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR SYSTEMS DUE TO INEFFICIENT
• SOLAR PERMITTING TIMES ARE UP FOUR TIMES LONGER AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THAT RESISTED ALTERNATIVE PLAN
• ENERGY AND ENERGY SOLAR SYSTEMS ANALYST A SINGLE TRAIT INSPECTIONS.
• BILL ALLOWS PRIVATE PROVIDERS TO ESTABLISH COMPUTER-BASED TOOLS THE BENEFITS OF LEGISLATION OR THAT SOLAR
• ANY OF MY CITIES GIVING SOLAR A HARD TIME? >> I WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE DO NOT FOLLOW UP.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So eliminating class 2 will have no impact financially on the ability of solar owners to obtain renewable
• So eliminating class 2 will have no impact financially on the ability of solar owners to obtain renewable
• So eliminating class 2 will have no impact financially on the ability of solar owners to obtain renewable
• So eliminating class 2 will have no impact financially on the ability of solar owners to obtain renewable
• So Class I is primarily wind, large hydro, and some solar.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard. Representative Bose explained that the bill would modify class one definitions, eliminate class two, reduce the utility obligation for class one thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjust alternative compliance payments for classes one, three, and four. He said the changes were intended to save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, would not materially harm the renewable portfolio standard, and would have little effect on class two because that market is already saturated. Members questioned the impact on consumers, the state budget, and the renewable energy fund; Bose said the fund had already been redirected in the state budget, and another member noted an amended fiscal note showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue. The committee also discussed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and later removed by the Senate, and Bose said the Senate’s eventual action was hard to predict. The committee then heard House Bill 164 on local records retention from Secretary of State David Scanlan. He said the long-standing local records manager position had never been funded, but that the need for it had grown as towns increasingly digitize records and must ensure accessibility, including ADA compliance. He described the bill as a way to provide state support and expertise to municipalities, especially smaller towns with limited resources, and said the fiscal note for hiring the position remained accurate, though broader website and storage costs could rise over time. Members asked about retrieving lost records, the cost of a public website, and whether records should remain local or be stored at the state level; Scanlan said the state would serve as a resource rather than take control of local records. Finally, the committee began work on House Bill 365, also with Secretary Scanlan, concerning proof of U.S. citizenship for indigent voters. He said the bill would help voters who may lack required documents under the new voter registration law by allowing the state to verify qualifications through federal, private, or other state databases and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to earlier voter ID accommodations and said the goal was to help qualified voters meet the new requirements without weakening them. Members raised questions about defining “indigent,” how out-of-state birth records would be handled, and the practicality of the verification process; Scanlan said the term would likely need further discussion and that the state would try to assist voters before election day whenever possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as we move and say, I'm going to add more gas or lots of solar and battery, or nuclear, these
• and wind that have profiles that... ...solar and wind that have profiles that, you know, are free on
• And quit dinking around in the wholesale market of wind and solar.
• And quit dinkin around in the wholesale market of wind and solar.
• and had conducted three... ...had seven meetings with Utah electricity distribution entities and had

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not fair distribution. ...cut, all those things. It's inequitable. It's not fair distribution.
• The amendments have been distributed in accordance with the rules.
• The amendments have been distributed in accordance with the rules.
• to participate in the community solar program.
• The amendments have been distributed in accordance with the rules.

Keywords: 1146, all

Bills: SB874, SB2098, SB2110, SB2126, SB2154, SB2160, HB818, SB2047, SB2116, SB2246, SB2250, SB2334, SB2505, SB2520, SB2561, SB2721, SB2820, SB2971, SB3019

Keywords: veterinary medicine, prescription, consumer rights, transparency, pet medication, agriculture, clean plant program, disease-free plants, Hawaii agriculture, plant propagation, conservation, soil health, climate change, food security, small farmers, technical assistance, Hawaii, grant program, small farms, midsize farms

Transcript Highlights:

• Garratt, addressing conditions and restrictions that increase the cost of purchasing and installing a solar
• Or reduce the efficiency of operating a solar collector by more than 10%.
• assistance for the concerted replacement of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and electrical distribution
• An act relating to taxation, removing distributions from the Oil and Gas Proceeds and Pass-Through Entity

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:20.200> charges<00:32:20.639> transmission distribution charges transmission distribution
• The department is in the process of setting up a municipal solar program.
• The department is in the process of setting up a municipal solar program.
• They're purchased in bulk and they don't distribute them in time, or did I hear that wrong?
• Um, I have an amendment which I had made to this and which I have distributed to everybody.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money from New Hampshire’s renewable energy fund back to electric ratepayers. The bill sponsor argued the measure would lower energy costs, noting recent utility rate increases and estimating annual savings of roughly $2.5 million to $7.3 million for ratepayers. Supporters said the fund has accumulated money that should be returned to customers rather than used for subsidies, and they emphasized that the state has already rebated similar funds from RGGI for years. Opponents, including Rep. Kat McGee, argued the renewable energy fund is a successful, nonlapsing dedicated fund that supports local clean-energy projects, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and private investment. McGee said the fiscal note overstated the benefit of rebates and understated the loss of investment, claiming the average annual rebate would amount to less than $10 per customer while the program has helped leverage significant private dollars and nearly 10,000 projects. She urged the committee to reject the bill as a poor deal for the state and ratepayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal note, the size of the rebate, whether the bill would set a precedent for other dedicated funds, and whether the program’s incentives amount to picking winners and losers. The Department of Energy testified neutrally, explaining how the renewable energy fund works, including renewable energy credits, alternative compliance payments, and the fund’s use for renewable energy initiatives. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there are grave concerns with regards to any type of weather or solar modification.
• It's married to solar modification. The specifics as to delineating...
• , our solar radiation in any way, shape, or form is obviously prohibited under this bill.
• So who would want solar dimming?
• This is the distribution of the disease that we know of.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 200, which would implement recommendations from DEP’s 2020 Recycling Goal Final Report by creating a technical assistance group to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by 2026. The bill focuses on recycling education and outreach, evaluating the former recycling grant program, and developing markets for recyclable materials. Supporters from the waste and recycling industry and counties said the bill would finally create a real plan to help Florida move toward its recycling goals. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, which would promote green, gray, and hybrid infrastructure, direct USF’s Flood Hub to develop guidelines, require DEP rulemaking on erosion and mangrove protection, and study whether nature-based flood reduction could help lower insurance costs. Supporters appeared in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 7000 as a committee bill to continue a public records exemption protecting site-specific location information for threatened and endangered species. Members next took up SB 56 on weather modification activities. The bill would prohibit the release of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or sunlight, define geoengineering, increase penalties through an amendment, and create a DEP reporting hotline with possible referral to DOH or emergency management. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill was needed to address public concerns and lack of oversight, while several senators questioned the evidence, the role of state agencies, and whether the bill was ready for passage. Despite opposition from some members, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 62 creating a resilient building tax credit program, after amending it to shift agency references from DEP to DBPR and add university advisory members, and CS for SB 80 to clarify state park management as conservation-based, require public notice and advisory input for plan changes, and improve reporting on park repairs; both bills were reported favorably after testimony from supporters and conservation groups who sought tighter language to prevent incompatible uses. Finally, the committee received presentations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on gopher tortoise relocation, wildlife disease surveillance, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. FWC described tortoise relocation and recipient-site programs, ongoing monitoring of wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease and feline leukomyelopathy, and efforts to address fish die-offs and update sanctuary agreements amid state-federal jurisdiction issues. No votes were taken on the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• . solar. solar.
• solar panels. solar panels.
• solar, uh, on the open market yes, solar solar, uh, on the open market is,<00:37:24.520> uh,<
• solar power has also solar power has also come<00:39:58.520> down.
• the expansion of solar fields. the expansion of solar fields.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , into projects that advance wind, solar, into projects that advance wind, solar, biomass,<00:28:
• supported the Mountain Iron Solar supported the Mountain Iron Solar Manufacturing<00:29:35.840><
• Um this is from uh if about solar.
• eggland uh for the solar developments. eggland uh for the solar developments. 83%<00:32:42.159><
• So that's just the plant the solar.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We still see the large dominant interest on solar and battery resources.
• Chairman Gleason: So at this point, the "we" in that would be the transmission distribution companies
• It seems like we're getting more solar than we were before.
• Yeah, solar and battery storage are by far the fastest growing generating resources on the ERCOT grid
• I'm with Encore Electric Delivery, the state's largest transmission and distribution utility, and you

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• utilities and co-ops are increasingly turning to battery storage as part of how they generate and distribute
• As we look up in the northern part of the state with a co-op that's developing significant solar plus
• storage resources, I think we'll see these in many counties and geographically distributed across the
• Solar plus storage resources.
• I think we'll see these in many counties and geographically distributed across the state.

Bills: HB248, HB309, HB332, SB48

Keywords: general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, his spouse was also looking at the distribution of butterflies in New Mexico and examining
• He has a current Department of Energy project in which he is testing different layers of solar panels
• specialist in these areas, but the idea of being able to find different ways to look at those layers of solar
• He's also been able to develop certain kinds of organic solar cells.

Transcript Highlights:

• energy resources, solar and wind.
• It notes uh energy efficiency. embracing um distributed energy embracing um distributed energy resources
• c> and distributed energy resources solar and distributed energy resources solar and wind<00:08:55.519
• That's the way to distributed energy.
• c> for distributed an amendment for distributed an amendment for um<00:25:48.559> the<00:25

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 913, aggregated distributed capacity energy resources.
• SB 1329, Real Property Tax Active Solar Energy System.
• SB 1329, Real Property Tax Active Solar Energy System.
• SB 868, Portable Solar Generation Devices. The motion is due pass.
• SB 868, portable solar generation devices. The motion is due pass.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met for a suspense-file hearing, which the chair noted was vote-only with no public testimony. The committee moved quickly through a large number of bills, mostly Senate bills with a few Assembly measures at the end, and repeatedly announced amendments that narrowed scope, made bills contingent on appropriation, removed certain provisions, or otherwise reduced fiscal impact. Topics covered included wildfire resilience and recovery, housing and homelessness, energy and utilities, health care and Medi-Cal, education, criminal justice, elections, labor and workforce issues, transportation, environmental regulation, insurance, privacy and technology, and several public safety measures. Most bills were approved, many on unanimous 7-0 votes or 5-0/6-0 votes, while a substantial number passed on 5-2 or 5-1 votes with Republicans generally voting no. A few measures drew more specific discussion: Senator Richardson said he would vote for SB 1203 on security services but expressed concern that it would impose different and doubled training requirements compared with last year’s law; SB 904 on wildfire recovery passed 6-1; SB 1135 on the California Wildfire Coexistence Act passed 6-1; and SB 1241 on skilled and trained workforce requirements passed 6-1 after amendments. The committee also took a reconsideration vote on one previously favorable action, which passed 5-0. No testimony was taken and no bills were held for further discussion during the hearing; the chair repeatedly noted that items not called were held under submission. At the end of the meeting, the committee announced that results would be posted online and that addendum analyses would follow for amended bills, then adjourned.