Transcript Highlights:

• plays a critical role in sustaining ecological processes that support the broader landscape through carbon
• plays a critical role in sustaining ecological processes that support the broader landscape through carbon
• region is also home to forests and coast redwoods that regulate local climate conditions through carbon
• The development of offshore oil operations and increase in fossil fuel emissions acts against our efforts
• our very own direction and national leadership against climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several measures focused on conservation, wildlife access, and coastal protection. SB 1108 would create the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in Merced County to coordinate land, water, habitat, and wildlife corridor protection in the largest remaining wetland/grassland complex west of the Mississippi. Supporters, including the Grasslands Water District and Audubon California, emphasized the area’s importance to migratory birds, groundwater sustainability, and voluntary conservation easements; there was no opposition. The committee members generally praised the bill’s regional coordination and ecological significance. The committee also heard SB 1021, which would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create a program allowing youth with physician-certified life-threatening illnesses to participate in hunting and fishing opportunities under structured supervision. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate, tightly limited program with conservation safeguards, hunter education requirements, reporting, and a sunset. There was no opposition, and members expressed support for the bill’s intent. SB 949 would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a resource of statewide significance, with an emphasis on biodiversity, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, public access, working lands, and collaboration with tribes and private landowners. Support came from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Sempervirens Fund, and several local and conservation organizations; no opposition was heard. The committee also considered SJR 12, which urges the federal government to remove California from proposed offshore oil and gas leasing plans and calls for stronger environmental review and public engagement. Supporters cited spill risks, coastal economic harm, and prior local and state opposition to offshore drilling. All measures were approved by the committee, with the bills and resolution moving forward on recorded votes, and the consent calendar items were also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• plays a critical role in sustaining ecological processes that support the broader landscape through carbon
• plays a critical role in sustaining ecological processes that support the broader landscape through carbon
• region is also home to forests and coast redwoods that regulate local climate conditions through carbon
• The development of offshore oil operations and increase in fossil fuel emissions acts against our efforts
• that we talked about in the 1980s was that the oil rigs at that time, a single oil rig, the air emissions

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several conservation and wildlife-related measures. SB 1108 by Senator Caballero would create the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in the California Natural Resources Agency to coordinate protection and restoration of the Grasslands Ecological Area in Merced County. Supporters, including the Grasslands Water District, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, California Waterfowl Association, The Nature Conservancy, and others, said the area is a major wetland and wildlife corridor facing groundwater-driven land retirement and needs a coordinated, voluntary, incentive-based framework. Senator Laird noted the bill followed prior conservancy models and moved it forward. The committee later approved SB 1108 on a 7-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1021 by Senator Choi, which would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create a narrowly tailored program expanding hunting and fishing opportunities for youth with life-threatening illnesses. The author and supporters from Field of Dreams and the Angling Hunting Conservation Coalition described it as a compassionate, supervised program that would create meaningful experiences for families while maintaining hunter education and conservation safeguards. No opposition was presented, and the bill was approved 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 949 by Senator Becker would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a resource of statewide significance, with supporters from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Sempervirens Fund, Green Foothills, and others citing biodiversity, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, public access, and coordination across public and private lands. Some committee members raised questions about working lands, property rights, and fire responsibility, but the bill was moved forward and passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted SJR 12 by Senator Laird, which opposes the federal offshore oil and gas leasing plan for California waters; supporters emphasized spill risks, coastal economic impacts, and public opposition, and the resolution passed 5-1. File item 3, SB 1085, was pulled, and the remaining consent calendar items were adopted 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• plays a critical role in sustaining ecological processes that support the broader landscape through carbon
• plays a critical role in sustaining ecological processes that support the broader landscape through carbon
• region is also home to forests and coast redwoods that regulate local climate conditions through carbon
• The development of offshore oil operations and increased fossil fuel emissions acts against our efforts
• that we talked about in the 1980s was that the oil rigs at that time, a single oil rig, the air emissions

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's crucial to reducing climate emissions.
• That's crucial to reducing climate emissions.
• Uber is still deeply committed to a zero-emission future.
• while our state agency revisits the emission targets.
• Emissions is first and foremost in what we do.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations. SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that absorbed carbon dioxide has consequences for ocean chemistry.
• When carbon dioxide gets into the upper layers of the ocean, it reacts with water and forms carbonic
• And we've stacked extra carbon dioxide on top of that.
• We really need to continue to reduce carbon emissions where we can, which is the main driver of acidifying
• Decay means that you are losing the carbon.

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> energy and greenhouse gas emission energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction<00:06:02.199><c>
• and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
• emissions.
• </c> and carbon and carbon emissions<00:13:50.279><c> finally</c><00:13:51.240><c> the</c><00:13:51.399
• ><c> plan</c><00:13:51.680><c> addresses</c> emissions finally the plan addresses emissions finally the

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we'll hear testimony on H. 4722, an act promoting fair tax treatment for zero-emission vehicles.
• Again, my thanks on behalf of all the kids who we hope will be riding in clean buses without carbon emissions
• Who we hope will be riding in clean buses without carbon emissions, and the rest of the Massachusetts
• Gentile, who is here to testify in support of H. 4722, an act promoting fair tax treatment for zero-emission
• The first is House 4722, an act promoting fair tax treatment for zero-emission vehicles, which I filed

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 miscellaneous and late-file bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and policy measures. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would make permanent a temporary tax classification adjustment allowing the city to maintain a 50% minimum residential factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and legislators said the change is needed because the city’s commercial growth has triggered an old statutory formula that would otherwise push a larger share of the tax burden onto homeowners, especially seniors and fixed-income residents. They said the current temporary relief expires in fiscal 2027 and warned that, without permanent action, residential tax bills could rise sharply; committee members asked about the regional business impact, commercial taxpayers such as Alexandria Real Estate, and Watertown’s stabilization and free cash balances. The committee also heard H. 4435, a Charlemont bill authorizing a tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials said the measure would help a small rural town with a large tourism and recreation economy cover increased police, fire, and EMS costs caused by visitors, while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers. A committee member questioned whether the proposal fit within existing tax law and whether it was more like a tax on entry than on services; town witnesses responded that it would apply to recreation-related services such as guides and lifts and was modeled on the meals and rooms tax. Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, which would promote fair tax treatment for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including electric school buses and trucks, by capping sales and excise taxes at the level of comparable diesel vehicles. Supporters said the bill would remove an unintended tax penalty, help school districts and transportation providers afford electrification, and remain revenue-neutral. Representative Gentile also testified in support of H. 4722 and H. 4755, a Sudbury bill to amend the town’s means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption so the local program can continue without requiring a new special act if it lapses. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• approximately 24% of the nation's municipal solid waste, which is a major contributor to methane emissions
• By keeping our organic waste out of trash, we reduce our carbon emissions and create rich soils.
• If Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska can do it... ...carbon emissions and create rich soils.
• So Alyssa said that there's 78% of food that ends up in landfills contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
• You're talking about the total carbon footprint of a three-megawatt wind turbine.

Bills: SB47 , SB110 , SB122 , SB143 , SB168

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• emissions.
• emissions.
• </c><00:28:18.760><c> capture</c> realize its potential in carbon capture realize its potential in carbon
• emissions in our own state.
• emissions in its own state.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are we really eliminating emissions? No. are we really eliminating emissions? No.
• emissions.
• <01:09:09.160><c> emissions.
• </c> carbon emissions. carbon emissions.
• </c> emissions of these facilities. emissions of these facilities.

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Stakeholders raised concerns about reliability in the BG&E zone associated with carbon emission reduction
• Stakeholders raised concerns about reliability in the BG&E zone associated with carbon emission reduction
• Stakeholders raised concerns about reliability in the BG&E zone associated with carbon emission reduction
• emission reduction legislation intended to force Maryland coal plants into retirement.
• emission reduction legislation intended to force Maryland coal plants into retirement.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, February 6, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, it provides another tool in the toolkit for load-serving entities to meet their carbon goals
• use of renewable hydrogen and turbines will be held to the same stringent standards that restrict emissions
• air quality management districts would not permit any power plant that didn't meet its world-class emission
• And when they leave, their carbon footprint greatly expands.
• The requirements for hourly 100% zero-carbon electricity, newly built generation, and storage go well

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We keep hearing about carbon emissions.
• I have asked this question to numerous folks who advanced this: How much carbon should we have in the
• We keep hearing about carbon emissions.
• I have asked this question to numerous folks who advanced this: How much carbon should we have in the
• We're an industrial state, tremendous production, yet we Make up 0.4% of the carbon footprint of the

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silent reflection, approval of the prior journal, and several ceremonial introductions. Senator Mayer welcomed students and alumni from the New York Alliance for Early College Pathways, highlighting early college opportunities for high school students. Senator Zellner introduced members of the Buffalo Professional Firefighters Union Local 282 and honored fallen Buffalo firefighter Jayson Arno, with remarks praising firefighters’ service and sacrifice. The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 1489, commemorating the 182nd anniversary of Dominican Republic independence. Senator Sepúlveda presented the resolution and spoke about Dominican history, sovereignty, the Dominican diaspora in New York, and the role of Consul General Jesús Vásquez Martínez. Senators Jackson, Weber, Bailey, and others spoke in support, emphasizing the contributions of Dominican New Yorkers. The resolution was adopted and opened for co-sponsorship. The Senate next moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills on insurance, public health, education, social services, tax, penal law, and workers’ compensation. Several bills were approved by wide margins, including measures related to vaccination policy and education law; Senator Weik opposed the public health/vaccination bill, while Senator Mayer defended it as science-based. Senator Fernandez explained and secured passage of a workers’ compensation bill that would raise a pre-authorization threshold, clarify medical treatment guidelines, and restore access to out-of-network providers for injured workers. The only contentious item was Calendar 117, a bill amending the Executive Law related to climate resilience and the Office of Resilience. Senator Walczyk offered an amendment to repeal the statewide cap-and-invest program, but the chair ruled it nongermane; the Senate upheld that ruling on a 21-aye vote. Senators Harckham, Borrello, Krueger, Lanza, Martins, and Gianaris spoke at length on climate policy, energy costs, and the bill’s merits. The bill ultimately passed 51-9. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• 5801, which, among other provisions, creates a new sales and use tax exemption for sales of zero-emission
• Indian tribes to provide public transportation, and it directs JLARC to evaluate the number of zero-emission
• transit buses titled in the state and the estimated resulting reductions in carbon and particulate matter
• 5801, which, among other provisions, creates a new sales and use tax exemption for sales of zero-emission
• transit buses titled in the state and the estimated resulting reductions in carbon and particulate matter

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 7, 2025, with quorum present. The commission approved the October 22, 2024 meeting minutes and then received its annual open government refresher from the Attorney General’s office, which reviewed key requirements under the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, including record retention, response deadlines, exemptions, and meeting notice rules. Staff then provided a 2025 legislative session update, noting that the legislature passed 23 tax-preference-related bills, with several signed by the governor and others pending. Highlights included bills that extended or repealed certain preferences, added reporting requirements for newspaper and digital content exemptions, authorized JLARC to adjust its work plan when data is unavailable, and created a new exemption for zero-emission buses. The commission approved updates to the 2026 tax preference review schedule, which includes eight preferences in seven reviews, and approved unchanged testimony questions for 2025. The commission also received the 2025 expedited preference review report covering 52 tax preferences, presented as an interactive table drawing on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies. Staff then outlined the process for developing the next 10-year review schedule for 2027-2036, including surveying the legislature, incorporating new and repealed preferences, and considering a possible rolling 10-year schedule. No public comment was registered. The meeting ended with acknowledgments of Ron Buing’s long service on the commission and an announcement that the next meeting would be held August 6, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, it provides another tool in the toolkit for load-serving entities to meet their carbon goals
• use of renewable hydrogen and turbines will be held to the same stringent standards that restrict emissions
• air quality management districts would not permit any power plant that didn't meet its world-class emission
• And when they leave, their carbon footprint greatly expands.
• The requirements for hourly 100% zero-carbon electricity, newly built generation, and storage go well

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with SB 1350 by Senator McNerney presented first. The measure would expand California’s use of renewable hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with supporters emphasizing grid reliability, clean-energy goals, in-state investment, and construction jobs. Support came from labor, clean-energy, municipal utility, and local government representatives; NRDC Action Fund withdrew opposition after amendments, while a few groups remained opposed or neutral. The committee later took a roll call and SB 1350 passed out on a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard SB 1180 by Senator Allen, which would set operational rules for the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund created under SB 54, including clearer eligible uses, transparency, technical assistance, and access for tribes and smaller community groups. Environmental justice, ocean, conservation, and local government groups strongly supported the bill, saying it would ensure the fund addresses plastic pollution’s public health and environmental harms. Industry and manufacturing groups opposed unless amended, arguing the bill should stay tightly tied to plastic waste reduction and not broaden into source-reduction policy. After quorum was established, the committee approved SB 1180 on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. SB 1326 by Senator Wahab was then heard to strengthen tribal consultation and tribal cultural resource protections under CEQA by recognizing tribal registers and requiring feasible avoidance or mitigation measures when tribes identify resources. Tribal representatives and supporters said the bill would better protect sacred sites and tribal knowledge, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and rural county groups opposed unless amended, citing implementation concerns, possible litigation, and uncertainty for infrastructure and housing projects. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. Finally, SB 954 by Senator Blakespear was presented as a cleanup of last year’s SB 131 advanced-manufacturing CEQA exemption, narrowing eligible projects and adding guardrails such as setbacks, air-quality limits, tribal consultation, labor standards, and habitat protections. Environmental and labor groups supported the bill as a needed correction to an overly broad exemption, while business, manufacturing, housing, and local-government groups opposed, warning it could make the exemption unusable and slow investment. Members debated the balance between environmental protection and manufacturing competitiveness, and the committee voted SB 954 out on a due pass recommendation to the Labor and Employment Committee; the transcript then moved on to SB 1031 on compostable plastics, which was introduced but not acted on in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, and invested in climate resilience
• </c><00:02:47.800><c> improved</c><00:02:48.280><c> Energy</c> greenhouse gas emissions improved Energy
• greenhouse gas emissions improved Energy Efficiency<00:02:49.599><c> and</c><00:02:49.760><c> invested
• </c><00:09:11.120><c> economy-wide</c> greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions
• dioxide emissions down 50% since 2005.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Landfills are a major source of methane emissions.
• That 5 million tons of diverted solid base translates into reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more
• And in terms of releasing less emissions as opposed to, you know, an old-school incinerator that can
• Regarding carbon sequestration.
• This bill establishes the Carbon Sequestration Task Force junk to DEP to provide recommendations for

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• emissions.
• emissions during the operations of this facility.
• metric tons must report their emissions to the Department of Ecology.
• Emissions exempt from coverage in the program include, in part, emissions from the combustion of aviation
• And beginning in 2027, it exempts from covered emissions in the program emissions associated with lubricants

Summary: The committee took up executive action on the capital budget, Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, and several policy bills. Staff described amendments to the capital budget that shifted funding among behavioral health, local/community projects, irrigation projects, and juvenile rehabilitation capacity, plus a technical fix to the water pollution control revolving program. The committee adopted Senator Dozier’s budget-neutral amendment and a technical amendment, then advanced the amended capital budget to the Rules Committee. It also moved House Bills 2441, 2124, 2471, 2133, 2610, and 2338 forward with due-pass recommendations, and advanced Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 on Climate Commitment Act accounts to the Transportation Committee after adopting two amendments and withdrawing three others. A major public hearing focused on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer surplus assets, and direct portions to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Staff said the plan is currently about 160% funded and explained the bill’s IRS-review process, statute of limitations, and estimated implementation costs. Testimony was sharply divided: some retirees, firefighters, counties, and cities opposed the bill as an improper use of pension assets and urged benefit enhancements or protection of local medical obligations, while others supported using the surplus for broader public purposes. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2179 on PERS coverage for certain port workers, with ports and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting clarification for railroad employees covered by the federal railroad retirement system. House Bill 1069, allowing Department of Corrections employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and corrections workers, while House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information sharing with bargaining representatives, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. Finally, Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences drew support from labor, local governments, and project proponents, and opposition from contractor groups and environmental advocates over project labor agreement requirements and nuclear-related concerns; Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authorities and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing were also heard, with both receiving supportive testimony from community and housing advocates.

Bills: HR209 , SB3131 , SB2494 , SB2447 , SB2727 , SB2145 , SB2143 , HR22 , HCR22 , HR97 , HCR105 , HR138 , HCR146 , HCR16 , HCR35 , HCR40 , HR3 , HCR4 , HR161 , HCR171 , HR109 , HCR117 , HR33 , HCR33 , HR141 , HCR149 , HR190 , HCR200 , HR193 , HCR203 , HR194 , HCR204 , HR196 , HCR206 , HR197 , HCR207 , HR191 , HCR201 , HR12 , HCR10 , HR148 , HCR157 , HR184 , HCR194 , HR195 , HCR205 , HR192 , HCR202 , HR173 , HCR183 , HR179 , HCR189 , HR181 , HCR191 , HR21 , HCR21 , HR23 , HCR24 , HR60 , HCR66 , HR113 , HCR121 , HR145 , HCR153 , HR74 , HCR82 , HR77 , HCR85 , HR90 , HCR98 , HR27 , HCR36 , HR165 , HCR175 , HR187 , HCR197 , HR5 , HCR6 , SB2054

Keywords: entertainment, comedy, youth wellness, cultural identity, Hawaiian culture, mental health, public service, job title, administrative assistant, executive assistant, state personnel, civil service, modernization, employment standards, bribery, corruption, statute of limitations, public servant, criminal justice, campaign finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's on 99.999% of the time and it's completely carbon free.
• or no carbon power.
• low carbon.
• And we need energy that doesn't blow that carbon cycle.
• Could be it's carbon-free, but it too is an up and coming technology.

Bills: HB 14 , HB 106 , HB 146 , HB 267 , HB 274 , HB 1127 , HB 1359 , HB 1393 , HB 1584 , HB 1640 , HB 1710 , HB 2152 , HCR 101 , HJR 8 , HR 51

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund