Transcript Highlights:

• , would give students, and just to be clear, only public school students, not all students being supported
• by tax dollars but just public supported by tax dollars but just public school<00:24:11.440><c> students
• And I would talk about the fact that it's been well demonstrated that over years the result will be the
• that over years the result demonstrated that over years the result will<00:38:55.160><c> be</c><00:38
• and defend the responsibility we support and defend the Constitution<01:24:06.320><c> participate</c

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we were not able to get agreement and include some of those policies, many of which had bipartisan support
• Linked report demonstrates Minnesota's leadership in the renewable energy transition and does a great
• Today in Minnesota, I would ask for your support for House File 2442 in light of what it potentially
• And back in 2021, we sent the money north—$5.5 million to be exact—when it supported the Mountain Iron
• So I am in support of this bill, and I urge everyone to vote green.

Transcript Highlights:

• consists of 68 school districts across Arizona with a shared focus on policies and investments to support
• The State of Arizona reaffirms its commitment to support survivors of the Holocaust and honor the legacy
• And whereas research in Arizona and across our nation demonstrates conclusively that providing children
• Representative Grijalva was a steadfast advocate for public schools, health equity, and social justice, supporting

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and recorded attendance. Members observed a moment of silence for former Representative Noel Campbell, and several guest groups were recognized in the gallery, including Greater Phoenix school district leaders, GCU Government and History Club students, Arizona Food Bank Network representatives, and local and tribal officials visiting for appropriations and transportation-related discussions. The chamber also adopted a proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Senators and guests offered remarks about the Holocaust, rising antisemitism, and the importance of education and remembrance, followed by a moment of silence. Later, the Senate received and unanimously adopted House Concurrent Resolution 2045 honoring the life and public service of former Congressman Raul Grijalva, with members of the Grijalva family present on the floor and several senators sharing personal tributes. The Senate then processed a long list of governor’s nominations, first readings, and second-reading bill referrals, including measures on natural resources, education, health, public safety, elections, taxation, utilities, and appropriations. Senator Bolick also read a proclamation for National School Choice Week. The body recessed briefly, returned to consider SCR 1036 on Attorney General public statements, and then received committee announcements before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said they had taken to heart what was stated in the December hearing about continuing to support
• The system was built, and now the work was to make fixes, enhancements, and provide support so it would
• She said the only work needed now was fixes, enhancements, and support to keep it running smoothly.
• The suite of decision support tools that we provide have one key question that they answer at each point
• So we found the product, we found a funding stream, and we believe that this will provide support for

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS service contracts: a $690,000-plus sole-source contract for DCFS with Evident Change for maintenance and operation of the Child Welfare Structured Decision-Making Assessment tools; a $1.2 million contract with Sifter Solutions for a SNAP waiver compliance solution and related app; and a $156,000 contract with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. Staff said the Evident Change contract was needed to keep daily safety risk assessments, case planning, and reunification tools functioning, and that the vendor’s proprietary system made it sole source. Members questioned DHS about reliance on the vendor, the lack of an off-ramp, whether the state was paying more or less annually, and why the contracts were not aligned on the same cycle. DHS and the vendor said the new Evident Change contract was limited to maintenance and operations, that no additional services or employees were being added, and that the broader CQI/review contract would come up separately later. For the SNAP waiver contract, DHS explained that the waiver is intended to exclude certain unhealthy foods from SNAP purchases to improve nutritional value, and that Sifter Solutions would provide a dynamic list for retailers and an app for clients to check products by barcode. DHS said the contract is sole source because it is tied to the waiver implementation and because the vendor can provide the needed dynamic list and education features. Staff said the contract would be funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise revert to the federal government, and that the University of Pennsylvania would conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the public benefit, future renewals, and whether the state would own the application; DHS said the two-year term was designed to match the waiver period and allow time to reassess future procurement options. Members also asked about the nutrition education component, and DHS said it is developing videos with a nutritionist on preparing budget-friendly healthy meals and plans to link them to the app and website. After discussion, no objections were raised, and the items were reported as reviewed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It generates more than $470 billion to the economic output of the state and supports over one million
• It generates more than $470 billion to the economic output of the state and supports over one million
• And it really shows how policymakers can support them by having strong infrastructure for distribution
• And so that's... and the support of their peers to make the best diagnosis.
• But we've got to be able to support that kind of bridging of that gap. Thank you very much.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held a hearing on California’s medical technology landscape, with opening remarks emphasizing the sector’s size, economic impact, and role in jobs and innovation. The first panel contrasted MedTech with biopharma, describing MedTech as hardware- and manufacturing-oriented, more incremental in development, and more dependent on supply chains, land use, and mid-skilled workforce pipelines. Witnesses argued California is the epicenter for MedTech because of its mix of engineering, software, hospitals, and manufacturing ecosystems, and cited clusters in places like Irvine, Fremont, Carlsbad, and the Bay Area. They also highlighted examples such as Penumbra and Vyaire Medical Systems to show how local manufacturing, community college training, and reshoring can support growth. The panel discussed cybersecurity, trade relations, supply chain disruptions, and the need for better coordination with hospitals and regulators, while AdvaMed stressed that medical devices are already heavily regulated by the FDA and should generally be exempt from broader state laws that could create a patchwork of requirements. Members also discussed AI in MedTech, workforce training, and the possible effects of federal NIH funding cuts, with witnesses saying MedTech is less dependent on NIH than biopharma but still benefits from a strong innovation ecosystem. Committee members then asked about AI, affordability, patient satisfaction, women’s health, and the R&D tax credit. Witnesses said AI is helping reduce errors, redundant testing, and imaging time, while keeping clinicians in the loop, and that digital pathology and robotic surgery are improving diagnosis and treatment. They also noted that packaging, plastics, and recycling can affect FDA approvals, and that FemTech is an active and growing area for investment and acquisition. Several members raised concerns about California’s regulatory and incentive environment, including the loss of the R&D tax credit, and witnesses said the absence of tax incentives has made it harder to keep companies and jobs in the state. The second panel featured company representatives from Lyca Biosystems, Intuitive, Saravia Neurosciences, and Newman. Dr. Monroe described digital pathology as a way to digitize tissue slides, improve access to subspecialty review, and enable AI-assisted diagnosis, especially for cancer care and rural areas. Intuitive highlighted robotic-assisted surgery, including the da Vinci system and the Ion bronchoscopy platform, and said its technologies improve precision, reduce complications, and support clinician-led care. Saravia Neurosciences presented an early-stage neurotechnology for dementia that uses MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation and AI-driven personalization, and argued California needs a state translational fund to bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization. Newman, a startup working on home diagnostics, said California’s permitting, zoning, and manufacturing rules make it difficult to scale advanced manufacturing locally and urged streamlining, reduced red tape, and incentives to keep manufacturing jobs in-state. Committee members again focused on tax credits and asked how the state could better support manufacturing, translational funding, and the retention of high-paying MedTech jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• prior to the filing period for candidacy, which happens to be next week for us, you need to have demonstrated
• according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was founded as a front group for Hamas and its support
• CAIR and its members have repeatedly employed and supported individuals promoting terrorist activities

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings and agreed to reorder the agenda. It then heard House Bill 673, which would require legislative candidates to have lived in their district for at least 120 days before filing, clarifying residency intent for House and Senate races. The sponsor said the bill is narrowly aimed at legislative offices and could be revisited later if redistricting creates timing issues. The committee moved HB 673 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Members also introduced several RS measures. RS 33171 would let Idaho cities apply to join the state insurance pool, with the sponsor saying cities would pay all costs and could decide whether the arrangement saves money. RS 33289 was described as an election cleanup bill to fix missed references for soil and water conservation districts, mail-in-ballot-only precincts, and canvassing timelines; members asked questions about district elections and ballot logistics. RS 33343 would strengthen criminal penalties for sextortion, especially involving minors, by making threats to expose intimate images actionable even if the images are never shared; the sponsor emphasized the harm to children and the need for early intervention. All three RS measures were introduced. The committee then heard House Bill 549, which would amend hospital district dissolution petition rules by requiring signatures from electors only, rather than both electors and property owners. The sponsor and a remote testifier said the current property-owner requirement is difficult or nearly impossible to verify in areas with many nonresident property owners and is inconsistent with other initiative laws. After testimony, the committee sent HB 549 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned after completing its work.

Transcript Highlights:

• prior to the filing period for candidacy, which happens to be next week for us, you need to have demonstrated
• according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was founded as a front group for Hamas and its support
• CAIR and its members have repeatedly employed and supported individuals promoting terrorist activities

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have those recommendations with me to support the committee's inquiry.
• Sorry, representatives, sorry... ...and is to identify that if a company has demonstrated that it has
• and people will have, you know, different ideas on this, but the spirit of the bill, I'd definitely support

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee substitute for House Bills 2404 and 2172, then voted the substitute do pass by a roll call vote of 10-2. The bills were not discussed in detail, but the action advanced them out of committee. The committee then took up House Bill 2989, a large gaming-related bill sponsored by Representative Hardwick. Hardwick described numerous changes in the substitute, including removing references requested by the Highway Patrol, clarifying tax reporting, extending local opt-out time, changing the effective date from August 2027 to August 2028, reducing a felony penalty to a misdemeanor, increasing a casino-related fee from $2 to $4 with the extra amount going to the Missouri Veterans Commission, and adding non-severability language. Members adopted three committee amendments, including language barring previously illegal gambling machines from being licensed as video lottery terminals and requiring games to be out of line of sight from the front entrance, then adopted the revised substitute and voted HCS HB 2989 do pass by an 8-5 vote. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bills 1746 and 1769, both related to artificial intelligence. Representatives Miller and Amato presented the bills as an effort to establish that AI has no personhood and to create a framework for responsibility and accountability. They said the legislation was informed by outside experts and other states’ efforts, and Miller emphasized using the National Institute of Standards and Technology AI risk management framework as a baseline. Members questioned how liability would work, especially for developers, deployers, and users, and raised concerns about undefined terms such as “harm” and about possible conflict with federal policy discouraging a patchwork of state AI laws. The sponsors said the bill would be cleaned up further and that liability should generally rest with the person using or deploying the AI, not the AI itself. During public testimony, one witness spoke in favor of the AI bills, arguing that states should act proactively rather than wait for problems and noting concern about prior federal efforts to limit state AI legislation. No witnesses spoke in opposition during the hearing. The committee then closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Britton is going to tell us about the good work that the SBDC does in supporting our small businesses
• This bill would create a five-year demonstration project.
• Doug Bell waving in support. Is there debate? Members, seeing no debate.

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism convened with several members present and Senators DiCeglie and McClain excused. The committee first heard a presentation from Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, who described the network’s statewide small-business assistance, including startup support, export and contracting help, disaster recovery, and rural outreach. He highlighted reported 2023 impacts such as $3.9 billion in sales generated, $575.9 million in government contracts, $346.2 million in capital, and support for 2,009 new businesses, including 130 manufacturing firms over the past two years. Members asked about comparisons with SCORE and about measuring rural success, with the chair suggesting jobs and wages in rural areas would be useful metrics; Britton said he could provide job data but was unsure about wage information. The committee then took up SB 320 by Senator Gates, which creates a five-year demonstration project for an alternative licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers. The bill would allow a “first-step” probationary license based on industry certification, apprenticeship, recommendation from a licensed Florida surveyor, and passage of the Department of Agriculture exam within the five-year period, without requiring a four-year degree. Senators asked about the labor shortage, education requirements, foreign workers, and moral character standards. Gates said the shortage is chronic and worsening, the bill has no degree requirement, and anyone meeting the qualifications could proceed regardless of visa status. The committee voted to report SB 320 favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 316 by Senator Berman, which authorizes series limited liability companies in Florida and sets rules for how Florida and foreign series LLCs may operate and transact business in the state. Berman explained that the bill is intended to let businesses isolate liabilities across separate series while providing clearer rules for Florida citizens and businesses dealing with such entities. There were no substantive questions, one appearance form in support, and the committee voted to report SB 316 favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We speak in support of AB 2662.
• consistent support.
• Those in support of AB 412. All right, those in support of AB 412. Hi, good afternoon.
• I'm a computer support tech and starving artist, but I do support AB 412. Thank you.
• We are here in support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the major ones is utility spending supported by ratepayers required by regulators.
• So we've got a very diverse landscape that supports a very diverse set of vegetative cover: chaparral
• The third is offering financial support. We heard a little bit about that.
• We can provide loans, for example, in-kind support.
• Specifically, how do we support vulnerable Californians?

Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for those wraparound support.
• </c> accountability, and dedicated support accountability, and dedicated support for<01:56:19.920><c>
• </c><02:19:08.960><c> The</c> funding and support statewide. The funding and support statewide.
• :36.640><c> informed</c> state should support locally informed state should support locally informed
• Are communities supported predictable? Are communities supported effectively?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you can support the nomination. Debate is open. Thank you. himself did.
• Again, I'd ask for your support and debate is open. Is there further debate?
• your support and debate is open. Is there further debate?
• With that, I appreciate your support. Debate is closed.
• They're a nonprofit that provides support for people in addiction recovery.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, support in both chambers.
• But you're de demonstrating<01:24:50.719><c> today</c> demonstrating today demonstrating today that<01
• </c> support it. support it.
• </c> I'm hoping members support this motion. I'm hoping members support this motion.
• So, um I do plan to support addressed. So, um I do plan to support the<02:56:22.960><c> bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> attention to was um letters of support attention to was um letters of support from<00:17:33.200>
• </c> constrnation around um supporting constrnation around um supporting stadiums<00:21:32.000><c> that
• </c> reach for many families without support. reach for many families without support.
• I'm truly in support of this.
• I'm truly in support of this.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Witnesses in support? Not today. Okay. You're the witness in support. I am the witness in support.
• We share the support concerns and are in support. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair.
• Joseph Stefanoi, California State Grange, in support. Thank you. Anyone else in support?
• I'm in strong support.
• And, you know, I supported this bill last year. I supported it this year.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My position is I support, I oppose.
• Witnesses in support? Not today. Okay. You're the witness in support. I am the witness in support.
• We share the support concerns and are in support. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair.
• Joseph Stefanoi, California State Grange, in support. Thank you. Anyone else in support?
• And, you know, I supported this bill last year. I supported it this year.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on child safety, immigrant community transparency, agricultural land security, consumer protection, estate transfers, detention commissary pricing, and public works wage enforcement. SB 1234 would require fentanyl to be included in drug tests ordered by juvenile courts for parents or guardians in dependency cases; the author said it was a narrow child-safety measure, and there was no opposition. SB 1257 would require the Attorney General to publish annual reports on immigration enforcement incidents at designated safe locations; supporters said it would improve accountability and document fear in immigrant communities, while questions centered on how the data would be collected and concerns were raised about sanctuary policies. SB 1176 would bar foreign adversary entities from buying or controlling California agricultural land; supporters framed it as a national security measure, while committee members pressed the author on enforcement, who would verify buyers, and possible discriminatory application. The bill was moved on a 2-4 vote and placed on call after the author said he would work on clarifying responsibility and nondiscrimination concerns. The committee also heard SB 1146, which would require clear disclosure when AI-generated or altered images, audio, or video are used in health-related advertisements depicting health care providers. The California Medical Association and California Dental Association supported the bill, saying it would curb deceptive deepfake ads and protect consumers; it passed unanimously, 7-0. SB 988 would restrict assignment of benefits in auto glass claims, require claim numbers and itemized estimates, and update repair disclosure rules to curb overbilling and steering; supporters said it would protect consumers and stabilize insurance costs, while independent glass shop concerns about steering and market concentration were discussed. The bill passed 7-0, with one member abstaining because of a conflict. SB 1288, presented on behalf of Senator Laird, would require financial institutions to make good-faith efforts to notify beneficiaries of non-probate assets and would simplify access requirements, especially for nonprofits. Supporters described long delays and burdensome account-opening requirements; SIFMA and the California Bankers Association opposed the bill unless amended, citing conflicts with federal and industry obligations and concerns about retroactive burdens. The bill passed 8-0. SB 941 would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; supporters said detainees often pay excessive prices for basic necessities, and the bill passed 8-0. Finally, SB 909 would raise and index public works contractor fees and penalties and dedicate more penalty revenue to enforcement; labor supporters said stronger funding is needed to address wage theft and backlogs, while contractors warned of uncapped costs and reduced transparency. The discussion continued with questions about enforcement and whether stronger penalties or license restrictions would better deter repeat violators.

Transcript Highlights:

• I support the bill.
• Please support this bill.
• I support SB 28. Thank you. I support SB 28. Thank you.
• I support SB 28. Thank you. Thank you. I support SB 28. Thank you.
• In support. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My county is in support.
• I’m here in support.
• Here in support.
• I support. Annie Manoos, legal services for prisoners of children, support.
• but we do support.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my county is in support. Thank you. And my county is in support.
• I’m here in support.
• Here in support.
• but we do support.
• but we do support.

Keywords: 988, house, all