Transcript Highlights:

• This investigation also dug a little deeper and found a disturbing history at this facility.
• The facility has been noted for operating often with poor conditions, utilizing solitary confinement,
• Subsidizing these facilities with charitable tax exemptions at the expense of local schools and local
• And then to turn around and build an ICE facility right there.
• We also had two people, two immigrants, die in this facility, and so I don't think that they're doing

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills focused largely on veterans’ tax relief, disaster-related property tax rules, contractor tax compliance, and nonprofit property tax exemptions. The chair reviewed committee procedures, including the suspense file process for bills with significant revenue impacts, and noted that only one bill would be voted on immediately. Most measures were presented with supportive testimony and then referred to suspense. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income when determining eligibility for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption. The author argued the bill would prevent disabled veterans from being unfairly penalized and help them remain in their homes; a VFW representative testified in support, and there was no opposition. SB 1053 would allow county boards of supervisors, for disasters declared on or after January 1, 2026, to extend the five-year period for transferring a damaged property’s base-year value by up to three years. Support came from the California Assessor Association, and the bill was also sent to suspense. SB 1407 would exempt the first $40,000 of military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefit payments from state income tax for qualifying filers, with the author and witnesses arguing it would improve veteran retention in California and support the state economy. Multiple organizations and veterans spoke in support, and the committee members expressed strong sympathy for the measure, but it too was referred to suspense. SB 420 would deny charitable property tax exemption to organizations tied to private immigration detention facilities; the author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that had allowed a detention facility in Imperial County to avoid millions in property taxes. Members voiced strong support and concern about the reported conditions at the facility, and the bill was also sent to suspense. The only bill taken up for a vote was SB 1165, which would improve coordination between the CDTFA and the Contractors State License Board so unpaid tax liabilities by contractors could be used in licensing enforcement, while preserving due process and installment agreement flexibility. After supportive testimony from the author and the California Tax Reform Association, the committee approved a due pass motion to Appropriations on a 7-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They'd spend $200 on the facilities, and then $25,000 went somewhere else.
• That money should have gone back to the facilities fund so other schools had the opportunity to have
• access to those facility fund dollars.
• It's interesting that you brought up facilities when I look at code in 33-909 or 33-911, it's pretty
• So if they don't need that money for facilities, then maybe we appropriate less money for facilities

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• CONDITIONS THAT MAKE DERELICT VESSELS AND WATERS OF THE STATE, IF A VESSEL IS TIED OR MORE TO A FACILITY
• TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE FLORIDA FACILITIES POOL. LET'S SEE IF I GO THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THIS.
• THE FLORIDA FACILITIES POOL IS A GROUP OF BUILDINGS MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
• IT IS THE BONDING FACILITY PROGRAM.
• THE HUNDRED 12 FACILITIES ARE LARGELY MULTITENANT OFFICE BUILDINGS.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also would help address concerns over facility fees.
• Many of our permitted facilities are struggling with very high fees.
• services by these facilities.
• And so their feeling is, close these facilities.
• As my work in Huron, we hosted many toxic tours to these facilities.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on the Board of Environmental Safety (BES), created by SB 158 in 2021, and on broader DTSC reform efforts, including permitting, community engagement, fee setting, and the hazardous waste management plan. Chair Connolly opened by noting the board’s original goals of improving transparency, accountability, and fiscal stability, and raised concerns about a recent board appointee later becoming a lobbyist with DTSC-regulated clients. Witnesses and members also discussed the long-delayed SB 673 regulations on facility permitting and community vulnerability protections, as well as the board’s role in approving the hazardous waste management plan and reviewing permit appeals. Community and environmental justice witnesses argued that the board has improved access by creating a public forum, ombudsperson, and appeal process, but said it remains too passive and lacks authority over budgets, staffing, and implementation. They urged more statutory direction, stronger community participation, better transparency on how comments are used, and more meaningful authority in permit and plan decisions. One witness suggested the Legislature consider a separate oversight body or stronger legislative engagement, while another called for youth representation and paid fellowships on advisory bodies. Business and regulated-community testimony was more supportive of the board’s structure, emphasizing that SB 158 was a negotiated compromise that improved transparency and accountability while avoiding politicization, and calling for faster fee analysis and clearer budget information. Board Chair Andrew Rakestra and DTSC Director Barbara Butler reported that reform has produced measurable gains: more public engagement, stronger enforcement, fewer continued permits, improved compliance, increased revenues from the generation-and-handling fee, and progress on Exide cleanup, safer consumer products, and community revitalization grants. They acknowledged, however, that the board’s authority is limited, permit appeals can be slow, SB 673 regulations remain unfinished, and public trust still needs work. Both said the board is most effective when involved early and when DTSC shares information proactively. Members asked about fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, and whether the Legislature should give the board a more formal role in budget change proposals, regulatory processes, and implementation oversight. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So while the ports are the and all of their facilities as well.
• How do we create more of those jobs to move cargo through our facilities?
• This is another aggregate facility.
• Can we have a floating facility? We've looked at all of those.
• Can we have a floating facility? We've looked at all of those.

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard SB 356 by Senator Wright, which would create an opt-in framework allowing counties and municipalities to designate certain roads for utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) under local conditions, including driver licensing, insurance, and speed-limit restrictions below 55 mph. Senator Wright said the bill would give law enforcement clearer authority and mirror the local-option approach used for golf carts. Supporters included a retired Volusia County sheriff and county commissioner, who argued UTVs are safer than golf carts and are already being used on roads, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Honda warned that UTVs are designed for off-road use, lack federal safety standards, and pose crash and tire-blowout risks on public roads. Several senators raised safety concerns, especially about speed and crash severity, but the committee ultimately voted to report SB 356 favorably. The committee then held a lengthy discussion on seaport infrastructure and funding, beginning with a moment of silence for JaxPort COO and former FDOT employee James Bennett. FDOT presented data showing Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports generate major cargo volume, jobs, and economic impact, and described state funding programs such as FSTED, SPI, and the construction aggregate grant program. Port representatives from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and the Port of Palm Beach described record cargo and cruise activity, major capital projects, and the need for continued state and federal support for dredging, bulkheads, cranes, rail, and terminal expansion. Senators asked about ROI, trade shifts, intermodal connections, fuel and LNG availability, leverage and reserves, and operational risks such as flooding, sea level rise, and channel depth; port officials emphasized resiliency, private partnerships, and long-term master planning. The committee also confirmed appointees to the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and the Tampa Port Authority in one vote, with no objection. Finally, FDOT presented the statewide mapping programs work group report required by SB 1662, explaining that coordinated statewide use of LiDAR and aerial imagery could reduce duplication, improve emergency management and planning, and support insurance and storm-damage assessment. FDOT recommended a formal statewide coordination program, shared procurement and cost-sharing agreements, dedicated staffing, and statutory updates to Chapter 334 to support interagency agreements and recurring funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• Facilities must sample between January 2027 and June 2028 and provide Ecology with the results.
• As you can see, a lot of those are concentrated around Department of Defense facilities.
• So the biggest categories are facilities.
• A small number of facilities have a mass-based baseline.
• That's only if they A small number of facilities have a mass-based baseline.

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on PFAS, no-cost allowance allocation for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries (EITEs), and regional resource adequacy. Department of Ecology staff outlined Washington’s Safer Products for Washington PFAS program, including completed restrictions on intentionally added PFAS in outdoor furniture, carpets, stain/water-resistant treatments, and newer rules adopted in November restricting PFAS in most apparel, cleaners, and automotive washes, with reporting required for some remaining products such as cookware and firefighting gear. Ecology also reviewed a 2024 biosolids PFAS sampling study showing PFOS and PFOA levels in Washington biosolids were comparable to other states, and the Department of Health reported that PFAS monitoring of Group A public water systems is nearly complete, with 317 sources and 188 systems expected to exceed contaminant levels under the new federal-aligned state standards. Members asked about consumer sales, compliance, private wells, health impacts, and the cost of treatment, which DOH estimated at roughly $970 million for public water system treatment alone, with a remaining funding gap after state and federal support. Ecology then presented its analysis of no-cost allowance allocation to EITEs under the Climate Commitment Act. Staff explained that EITEs receive allowances to reduce emissions leakage and protect competitiveness, with allocations based on 2015–2019 production and emissions data and phased reductions from 100% in the first compliance period to 94% in 2031–2034. Ecology said it is preparing a report due by the end of 2025 on policy options for 2035–2050, after extensive engagement with industry, labor, environmental, utility, port, and tribal stakeholders. Senators asked about leakage, comparisons with California and Quebec, whether specific industries such as Boeing or semiconductor manufacturers are included, and whether EITEs are banking or selling allowances; Ecology said the report will address benchmarking, leakage mitigation, decarbonization barriers, and economic and environmental justice impacts. E3 then presented a regional resource adequacy study for the Pacific Northwest, warning that electricity demand is rising faster than in years past, retirements are outpacing replacements, and the region could face supply shortfalls beginning in 2026, especially during extended winter cold events. The study found that wind, solar, and batteries provide limited reliability value in the Northwest’s winter-peaking, hydro-dependent system, while firm gas and emerging technologies such as geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture, and long-duration storage may play larger roles. E3 estimated a near-term gap of about 9,000 megawatts by 2030, with roughly 3,000 megawatts of advanced-development resources and a remaining gap of about 6,000 megawatts if planned projects do not materialize. Members asked about Energy Northwest, hydro, data centers, battery storage, transmission, and whether neighboring states’ coal use affects Washington; E3 emphasized the need to accelerate permitting, interconnection, and project development. Finally, EPRI briefed the committee on its DC Flex initiative, which is studying how data centers can operate more flexibly to reduce strain on the grid and protect ratepayers. The presentation described work streams on flexible data center design, utility programs and tariffs, operational forecasting and interconnection, and on-site energy supply options, along with demonstrations in the U.S. and abroad. The speaker said the goal is to make data centers more responsive to grid conditions without compromising uptime, and noted that the initiative has a public forum and website for broader participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Training facility rehabilitation for staff training. Okay, it was facility. Okay.
• Do you still need the same facility?
• I noticed that the training facility that was rehabilitated was the marina training facility.
• Were they taking place within the same facility?
• , to have a training facility.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bill originally had cameras basically everywhere in the facility.
• We've narrowed it to facility.
• </c> that no corner of a daycare facility that no corner of a daycare facility becomes<00:18:27.760><
• of cameras in assisted living facilities.
• The retention rates are much longer in those facilities than in the other, like, natural.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Enterprise real property facilities Enterprise real property facilities condition<00:33:46.840><
• </c> that facility that facility unfortunately<00:36:59.520><c> it's</c><00:36:59.720><c> 30</c><00:37
• </c><00:48:55.799><c> so</c> um this is a state-owned facility so um this is a state-owned facility so
• Beautiful facility.
• it is to maintain that facility.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• They would submit for a different facility, knowing that that increases the likelihood of the other facility
• Proposition 98 does allow for community college facilities, but it does not allow for K through 12 facilities
• I could not speak to whether facilities could or could not be funded, facility construction, using Proposition
• Rebecca Colleen, on behalf of the Community College Facility Coalition, on the facilities funding proposals
• Rebecca Colleen, on behalf of the Community College Facility Coalition, on the facilities funding proposals

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh our resident council at our facility. uh our resident council at our facility.
• These are assisted living facilities, right?
• </c> living facility here in Minnesota. living facility here in Minnesota.
• ,</c> &gt;&gt; On the on the assisted living facility, &gt;&gt; On the on the assisted living facility
• ,</c> assisted living facility, assisted living facility, nobody<00:26:44.720><c> has</c><00:26:44.880

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re also listing all of those facilities that are reported as being licensed on our website so that
• I run a 34,000-square-foot facility today. At this point, I have over 100 employees.
• I run a 34,000-square-foot facility along with an animal hospital.
• I don't know how many dogs are supposed to be in this facility.'
• where Ollie died... ...owner-operator of the facility where Ollie died.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• Marshal as well, because they don't have a facility to hold.
• Marshal as well, because they don't have a facility to hold.
• When people ask why it costs so much, you have to realize the facilities, the maintenance, the mental
• And the state does house inmates outside of the state of Idaho, and they pay that facility $83 plus a
• These are the most inmates I have in my facility of all those other entities. The U.S.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• We own a solid waste facility in San Carlos, California.
• So at our 16-acre solid-waste facility, we have 400 solid-waste workers.
• We have members at both the MRF facilities and cannabis work.
• So our facility, meanwhile, the house is burning down.
• you will have a fire in your facility.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• Some are to power their own facility.
• >> Well, that that was to own facility.
• There's no investment and transmission or distribution facilities.
• I think a less true for of some are nuclear facility because it's a 24 hour service.
• We we see those are all cleaner burning much better on the environment now facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Throughout the process, ...and their facilities where practices and games actually take place.
• The goal has been to establish reasonable expectations so that youth sports organizations and facilities
• Importantly, AB 387 does not require a public or private local facility to purchase or install an AED
• when an AED is a does not require a public or private local facility to purchase or install an AED.
• When an AED is not available through the facility, the youth sports organization continues to bear the

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism heard one item, AB 387, which continues the Neveah Youth Sports Safety Act effort to improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during organized youth sports. The author explained that the bill was developed through extensive negotiations with local governments, schools, parks, risk management groups, and youth sports stakeholders to address concerns about implementation, cost, responsibility, and liability. The bill was described as not requiring facilities to purchase or install AEDs, but instead creating a framework for making existing AEDs accessible during permitted youth sports activities and clarifying that it does not create a new mandatory duty for public entities. No supporting or opposing witnesses appeared, and no public testimony was registered in support or opposition. A committee member praised the author’s continued work on the issue and noted the bill’s goal of expanding access while reducing potential cost burdens associated with AED maintenance and upkeep. The author thanked stakeholders and staff for helping reach a compromise. The committee then voted to concur in the Senate amendments to AB 387. The roll call passed 8-0, and the measure was referred to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• The final and best cost for the Elmore facility alone is 1.086 billion. I think that's right.
• The Elmore facility is scheduled to be completed, I think, by the end of next year.
• That's... facilities up and operational. That's kind of where we are now.
• Senator, right now the option is that we can finish the Elmore facility.
• We can do half of the Escambia facility, and that's it. How do you do half?

Bills: SB60 , SB103 , SB60 , SB103

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: prison modernization, corrections finance, bonding authority, state debt, capital improvement, Department of Corrections, Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority, prison construction, prison renovation, prison replacement, bed space, overcrowding, women's prison, men's prison, Escambia prison, Tutwiler, Kilby, Elmore, Staton, St. Clair Correctional Facility

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> facilities continues to be a challenge. facilities continues to be a challenge.
• ,</c><01:19:58.400><c> support</c> structural facilities, support structural facilities, support facilities
• ><c> for</c> to thank facil our facilities office for to thank facil our facilities office for um<01:
• </c> from receiving um facilities funding? from receiving um facilities funding?
• </c> facilities funding? facilities funding?

Transcript Highlights:

• If sprinklers are deployed in the event of a fire, for example, in a pork or poultry facility, there
• and the farmers who entrust their hard-earned harvest to the facilities.
• These agricultural facilities should be protected from these heavy-handed sprinkler mandates.
• There are no facilities other than residential homes in our district currently.
• So you do have facilities for two people? Well, we They could have come, like I said.

Bills: HB1835 , HB2561 , HB3630

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: manufactured housing, HUD-code, zoning, local government regulations, installation permits, municipal utility district, board meetings, public access, meeting location, transparency, fire prevention, agriculture, local government, fire safety, regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• In the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire, Los Angeles County continued to inspect that facility
• We recognize the incident at the Lineage facility was a serious and frightening event.
• We recognize the incident at the lineage facility was a serious and frightening event.
• Hoyle Heights at the lineage facility.
• or permit the conversion of existing buildings into such facilities.

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard several measures, with testimony focused on local government authority, environmental justice, groundwater monitoring, redevelopment, district governance, and detention facilities. SB 716 by Sen. de León would increase local ordinance fines for large non-residential properties, especially after state or federal disaster declarations, in response to the Boyle Heights warehouse fire; supporters said stronger penalties are needed to compel cleanup and protect public health, while business and property groups argued the bill was too broad, could duplicate existing enforcement, and needed clearer limits. The bill failed on the committee vote, though reconsideration was noted. AB 1457 by Assembly Member Bryan would set a June 30, 2031 deadline for jurisdictions that have not adopted an environmental justice element under SB 1000 and add transparency and public engagement requirements. DOJ sponsored the bill, environmental justice advocates supported it, and county and planning groups raised implementation concerns but did not maintain opposition after amendments. AB 2728 would clarify that groundwater monitoring fee exemptions under SGMA comply with Proposition 218 and Proposition 26; Monterey County and rural/county groups supported it, and no opposition was heard. Both bills were approved and the Senate amendments were concurred in. SB 328 by Sen. Grayson would create a limited exemption within the Surplus Lands Act and federal base-closure disposition process for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, to advance the former Concord Naval Weapons Station redevelopment. Supporters emphasized the long-planned housing, jobs, and infrastructure benefits, while public interest advocates said they remained concerned about enforceability of affordable housing obligations. The committee passed the bill and re-referred it to the Natural Resources Committee. AB 912 by Assembly Member Wilson, supported by the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District and the City of Vallejo, would modernize the district board structure to reduce conflicts and quorum problems; it passed unanimously. SB 1367 by Sen. Cervantes would prohibit local approval of new land uses for detention facilities or conversions into such facilities, with ACLU Cal Action in support and no opposition heard; it also passed.