Transcript Highlights:

• damages for personal injury and property damage after an Arkansas State Police vehicle pursuing a speeding
• The taxes owed was $1,396.61, and so there was an excess or proceeds, which was $4,200. I asked Mr.
• within the first degree of consanguinity, so it could be a record owner’s children—could claim the excess
• within the first degree of consanguinity, so it could be a record owner's children could claim the excess
• I think it was just the excess, the overage, and that may have been in response to a lawsuit at the federal

Committee: All ALC-CLAIMS REVIEW/LITIGATION REPORTS OVERSIGHT

Transcript Highlights:

• A little of this will be repetitive to the Auditor General's report, so I'll try to speed it up in some
• was carefully reviewed and addressed, with an average response time of four business days, balancing speed
• The authority reported that its excess cash reserves are needed for the cost of future repair, replacement
• projection of renovation needs or associated costs to demonstrate the need for continuing to accumulate excess
• The authority reported that its excess cash reserves are needed for the cost of future repair, replacement

Committees: House Commerce , House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• And we do understand that those excess lottery revenues are being drained.
• restricted fund that was pulling from restricted fund that was pulling from the<00:10:30.640><c> excess
• Um, and we do the excess lottery.
• Um, and we do understand<00:10:33.519><c> that</c><00:10:33.839><c> those</c><00:10:34.160><c> excess
• </c><00:10:34.480><c> lottery</c> understand that those excess lottery understand that those excess lottery

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met and approved the July 15, 2025 minutes before hearing a presentation from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA/KIA) on student financial aid ahead of the January biennial budget session. KHEAA outlined its role administering 17 state-funded grant and scholarship programs, 529 plans, and outreach services, and emphasized that net lottery proceeds after a $3 million literacy appropriation are statutorily dedicated to student aid. The agency focused on the major need-based programs—College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), and KEES—along with dual credit, Work Ready Kentucky, teacher scholarship, and National Guard tuition assistance. Officials said the new federal FAFSA methodology created a major increase in eligible students, especially for CAP, and thanked lawmakers for adding substantial funding this biennium to meet the higher demand. Staff explained that CAP is for Pell-eligible, low-income students, while KTG is a need-based grant for students at private Kentucky colleges; both use FAFSA data, but schools verify final eligibility. They said CAP awards are first-come, first-served and that the higher funding level allowed the program to last the full 21-month application cycle in FY 2024-2025, compared with much shorter periods in earlier years. KHEAA reported about $232 million spent on CAP for roughly 72,000 students last year, with current applications running about 10% ahead of the prior year. Members asked about the difference between applicants and recipients, the effect of lower lottery revenues, and whether recent federal legislation would affect state aid; KHEAA said it does not expect major impacts on grants and scholarships, though student loan changes could affect graduate students. The committee also discussed KEES and dual credit. KHEAA said KEES has been fully funded since its creation and that its forecast was within $76,000 of actual need last year. For dual credit, staff said a recent bill consolidated work-ready dual credit and career/technical education under one scholarship program, and KHEAA will seek growth funding because participation and costs continue to rise. The agency said FY 2025 dual credit spending reached $26.4 million across dual credit and work-ready funding, requiring transfers from Work Ready Kentucky to keep dual credit fully funded. Members asked about transferability of dual credit hours and whether the program reduces later college costs; KHEAA said it does not have hard data on every credit transfer, but it does see higher bachelor’s completion rates and lower student debt, suggesting positive effects. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when somebody breaks the law, you pull them over for speeding or whatever? Yes, sir.
• So when somebody breaks the law, you pull them over for speeding or whatever? Yes, sir.
• Any individual that you pull over, if I'm speeding down, Any individual that you pull over, if I'm speeding
• speed and possible recklessness.
• We're not sure, but it was a high rate of speed for those conditions in a flooded timber area.

Committee: All ALC-GAME & FISH/STATE POLICE

Summary: The committee first heard from Arkansas State Police leadership about the agency’s role in federal immigration enforcement. Colonel Mike Hager said State Police has completed 287(g) training for all but 12 personnel and is now authorized to assist ICE in an assisting role only, not as a primary immigration enforcement agency. He explained that troopers do not stop people based on appearance or conduct immigration checks during traffic stops; instead, when someone is lawfully detained for another offense and cannot be identified, officers may notify ICE for further vetting. Members asked about tracking, costs, and local participation, and Hager said the agency began keeping records in September and had detained 48 people since then, mostly in connection with other criminal matters such as pursuits, narcotics, DWI, or domestic violence. He also said any ICE-related operation would require approval up the chain of command and that State Police would use discretion and common sense. Members raised concerns about civil liberties, the treatment of long-term undocumented residents, and whether State Police could be drawn into aggressive federal operations. Hager said the agency was not conducting raids or proactive immigration sweeps and emphasized that troopers work for the state and will make the final decision on whether to participate in any operation. Questions also covered reimbursement and recordkeeping for local agencies and county jails, with Hager saying State Police training costs were absorbed during normal duty time and that counties generally keep separate records for federal billing. The chair said the committee would try to bring in the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training at a later meeting to answer questions about statewide training records. The committee then received an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission update from Director Doug Schoenrock on water management, duck season, and related issues. He reported that most moist-soil units and green-tree reservoirs were flooded or otherwise in usable condition, with only one pump issue tied to a new area lacking a gas connection. He also updated members on Lake Conway construction, dock removal notices, and a recent fatal boating accident at Biomito WMA, saying the agency is working on safety outreach and a memorial effort with the victim’s widow. On waterfowl, Schoenrock said Arkansas remains the nation’s top duck destination, but drought has reduced water availability and shifted bird numbers; he cited survey figures showing about 1.4 million ducks in late December and 545,000 in early January, with mallards making up most of the total. He rejected claims from the Louisiana-based Flyway Federation that standing corn is illegally holding ducks in the mid-latitudes, saying federal law still governs waterfowl hunting framework and that Arkansas is working with other states and federal officials on the issue. Members also questioned the commission about private-land hunting, U.S. Fish and Wildlife coordination, and possible impacts from wind turbines and solar panels on migration. Schoenrock said the commission works with federal officers when needed, but Arkansas largely enforces the same migratory bird rules on its own because federal resources are limited. He said the agency has a Conservation Incentive Program and other habitat programs, and acknowledged ongoing research at the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s waterfowl center on wind-related avoidance behavior, which he said could take at least two years. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• speeding to a class C felony and does a few other things.
• speeding to a class C felony and does some other things.
• :18.960><c> or</c><01:11:19.080><c> subsequent</c><01:11:19.520><c> offense</c><01:11:20.040><c> excessive
• </c> a third or subsequent offense excessive a third or subsequent offense excessive speeding<01:11:20.719
• to a classy felony and does speeding to a classy felony and does some<01:11:22.320><c> other</c><01:

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of transportation-related bills. SB 21 on water carriers would create an inflationary cost index mechanism; DOT, Agriculture, DCCA, the PUC, and several harbor and logistics interests supported it, while Pacific Transfer opposed. SB 1478 would require vessel masters to follow harbor master evacuation orders during emergencies; DOT clarified it applies only to commercial ports, with support from Hima and the Harbor Users Group and opposition from the Hailongm Association. SB 108 would authorize DOT to regulate vessel noise near commercial harbors; the White Harbor Users Group opposed, while DOT said it supported the intent but warned the bill may be preempted by federal law. SB 1475 would raise the bond ceiling for harbor improvement projects from $100 million to $600 million, and SB 1473 would cap central services assessments on DOT funds at $5 million and tie them to CPI; DOT supported both, and Budget and Finance explained the central services fee is generally a 5% deduction from special funds with some statutory exceptions. The committee also heard SB 1402 on securing mooring lines in state commercial harbors, which drew support from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii and the Hawaii Longline Association. SB 1522 on vehicle title transfers was supported by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Customer Services. SB 599 would require DOT or counties to scan deceased cats and dogs for microchips before disposal; DOT said it would provide scanners, the Hawaiian Humane Society and a private witness strongly supported the bill, and the committee discussed that the measure would not charge pet owners and that Oʻahu microchip rates are about 80% for dogs and 70% for cats. SB 1025 would allow service and non-service animals on mass transit under certain conditions; DHS offered comments, Maui and Honolulu opposed, while the Hawaiian Humane Society, the Environmental Caucus, and others supported it, and an opponent raised concerns about large pets, service animals, and the need for size and off-peak restrictions. Later, the committee heard SB 1096 on license plate-flipping devices, with DOT and Honolulu police supporting it. SB 384 would expand victim restitution in DUI-related negligent homicide cases to include child support for surviving minor children; DOT, MADD, and the Kiki Injury Prevention Coalition supported it, while the Public Defender opposed, arguing the restitution amounts would be unverified and better handled through civil remedies. SB 597 would extend the deadline for the administrative driver license revocation office to issue decisions, and the Attorney General, police, and Maui prosecutors supported it because of drug-testing delays, especially on neighbor islands. Finally, SB 1285 would create a lower-level impaired driving offense and authorize administrative action; the Attorney General and Public Defender both raised concerns about charging discretion and resource impacts, while county, public health, alcohol policy, and victim advocates strongly supported the bill as a life-saving measure. The transcript ends partway through testimony on SB 1285, with no final committee votes or actions recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> m an hour over the posted speed limit m an hour over the posted speed limit along<01:36:19.920><
• Um, one of my boys had just gotten his license and he was on his own speeding, got a speeding ticket.
• </c> license and he was on his own speeding. license and he was on his own speeding. got<01:45:04.080
• ><c> a</c><01:45:04.320><c> speeding</c> got a speeding got a speeding ticket.<01:45:07.199><c> Part<
• And I submit to you that today speeding obviously is a problem.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Another concern of the LEOFF 1 members is that there have been legal decisions that have said that excess
• And as you are well aware, two years ago, a payout was made to all LEOFF 1 members of those excess funds
• Those excess funds are still there from 125% up to almost 150%.
• this law changes and we lose those benefits, if we lose LEOFF 1, if it's just gone, there will be no excess
• If we lose LEOFF 1, if it's just gone, there will be no excess LEOFF 1 funds, and therefore you're actually

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy met on June 17, 2025, with Vice Chair Fitzgibbon presiding initially in Chair Benke’s absence. The committee approved the May minutes and then held its annual election of officers. Representative Travis Couture was elected chair, Senator Steve Conway was elected vice chair, and the executive committee seats were filled by Member Yistramski for actives, Bev Hermanson for retirees, and Anthony Murrietta for employers. The committee also recognized Pat Thompson for her long service and upcoming departure from the committee. Staff then briefed the committee on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5357, which changed pension funding by increasing the assumed long-term investment return from 7% to 7.25%, lowering normal cost contribution rates, suspending Plan 1 UAAL contributions for four years, and extending the amortization period for Plan 1 benefit improvements from 10 to 15 years. The Office of the State Actuary explained that the bill produces significant short-term budget savings but increases the risk of higher contribution rates later if investment experience underperforms. Members asked about the suspension of Plan 1 UAAL rates and the implications for future rates and funding risk. The committee also received an introduction to the required study of proposed LEOFF 1 merger and termination legislation under the 2025-27 operating budget proviso, covering Substitute Senate Bill 5085 and Substitute House Bill 2034. Staff outlined the study plan, including legal, tax, actuarial, administrative, and pension policy analysis, with input expected from the Attorney General’s Office, Ice Miller LLP, the Office of the State Actuary, DRS, the State Investment Board, and the State Treasurer. Members discussed the unusual issue of an overfunded plan and possible IRS implications. Public testimony was split, with some speakers supporting a merger as a way to create room for a Plan 1 COLA and others opposing any diversion of LEOFF 1 assets, citing legal, tax, and member-rights concerns. The meeting adjourned before the scheduled executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do try to avoid excessive burden.
• And now I hear complaints coming from every corner, particularly from the other side, about the excessive
• It generally moves at twice the speed of the White unemployment rate.
• The speed of the White unemployment rate. So when it goes up, it goes up faster.
• for the economy: 4% unemployment, inflation down to 2.6% last year, and the economy growing well in excess

Bills: SB257

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: supply chain resilience, critical supply chains, critical goods, manufacturing, domestic manufacturing, reshoring, nearshoring, supply chain security, supply chain shock, supply chain disruption, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, semiconductors, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, advanced manufacturing, blockchain, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Trumbull: You know, we've seen cities where there are in excess of 10, 15, 20 million
• Representative Gantt: The last line of 75 on page 3 says "does not have excess funds for services or
• Well, we've seen millions of dollars in excess Representative Trumbull: of the building fund.
• If I'm understanding your question Representative Trumbull: that if there's excess...
• It makes sense that JLAC would ask why do you have these excess funds?

Transcript Highlights:

• Speed is dangerous, especially when we're talking 20 or 30 miles an hour over the posted speed limit.
• Crash force increases exponentially with speed.
• To include lower speeds for active work zones.
• Speeding 20 miles per hour or over in a posted speed limit for roadway construction work zones where
• Unions and industry have identified excessive speeding and reckless driving as a major problem on our

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on February 23, 2026, with a compressed schedule and limited testimony time. Members first heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, which would set eligibility standards for sheriffs, police chiefs, and marshals, require background checks for sheriff candidates through the Washington State Patrol, regulate volunteers and youth cadets, and create a vacancy in office if an elected law enforcement official is finally decertified or fails statutory eligibility requirements. Supporters, including Senator Lovick and several advocacy groups, said the bill promotes accountability and professionalism. Opponents, including the sheriffs of Walla Walla and Spokane counties, argued it imposes unfunded mandates, conflicts with voter sovereignty and recall procedures, and could create problems for rural counties and volunteer use. The committee later took executive action and reported the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation, 6-2 with one excused. In executive session, the committee also acted on Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, which expands law enforcement hiring eligibility to people legally authorized to work in the United States. A striking amendment clarified that agencies are not liable for employment discrimination claims if hiring is impracticable, allowed applicants who cannot yet possess weapons to apply if they can possess them when hired, and made technical changes. Representative Burnett raised concerns about background investigations, foreign-country vetting, oath of office, and firearm issues, but the committee adopted the striker and then reported the bill out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee also considered Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public except in specified circumstances and creates a civil cause of action. Amendments added an intent section, expanded exceptions for health and safety equipment under OSHA/WISHA, and proposed stronger prosecutorial language, though two amendments were rejected. The bill was then reported out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. Engrossed Senate Bill 5890 would expand reckless driving to include driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and 20 miles per hour over in active construction zones when workers are present; law enforcement, prosecutors, traffic safety officials, and construction industry representatives testified in support. Substitute Senate Bill 5936, a Uniform Law Commission proposal on human trafficking, would allow prosecution of businesses that knowingly engage in or profit from trafficking, strengthen victim confidentiality, and improve U and T visa certification procedures; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with one witness urging caution about unintended consequences for businesses that report trafficking. Finally, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6070 would expand missing-person response tools by allowing certain surveillance devices to be used for community caretaking to locate missing endangered persons, create Ebony and Purple Alerts, transfer the missing persons website to the State Patrol, and add a public records exemption. Testimony strongly supported the alert provisions, especially for people with disabilities, while one privacy advocate objected to the surveillance provisions as an overreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• attention in section three, there's a provision that allows the Board of Dentistry to take some of their excess
• modernizing and catching up those compacts that were passed that predated that and gets them up to speed
• modernizing and catching up those compacts that were passed that predated that and gets them up to speed
• predated that and gets and gets them up predated that and gets and gets them up to<00:13:24.399><c> speed
• </c> to speed with our current FBI language. to speed with our current FBI language.

Committee: House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I'll speed it up. Let me use two quick examples. You know, we really need to move.
• Uh, so in Kentucky, obviously, that's a huge number in excess of $500 million.
• And then if there is excess, it's paid back.
• And then if there is there's not excess.
• </c> excess, it's paid back. excess, it's paid back.

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board received a presentation from Dr. Stack and Commissioner Langfeld on Kentucky’s application for a federal Medicaid-related funding opportunity tied to House Resolution 1. They described a compressed six-week stakeholder process that produced more than 50 responses and letters of support, and said the application was organized around five broad priorities: maternal health, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, EMS/trauma response, and chronic disease. They emphasized that the proposal was designed to align with CMS goals, use allowable funding categories, and focus on sustainability rather than a short-term grant. Commissioner Langfeld outlined five core initiatives: rural community hubs for chronic care innovation, beginning with obesity and diabetes; a maternal and infant health effort called POWER; a behavioral health and substance use model called IMPATH; an oral health initiative called Rooted in Health; and an integrated crisis-to-care EMS and trauma response effort. He said the chronic disease work would include prevention, food-as-medicine concepts, and technology tools, while the maternal health effort would expand team-based care around mothers and infants using community health workers and doulas. The behavioral health proposal would build on existing crisis intervention models, oral health would address workforce and access gaps through training, mobile vans, and telehealth, and the EMS proposal would better connect emergency response with home-based and community care. Several senators questioned whether the proposal would meaningfully address rural hospital closures or the broader rural health care crisis. Senator Meredith said the plan was not transformational and would not save rural hospitals, while Senator Berg asked how success would be measured. In response, the presenters said they would use both lagging and leading indicators, with an emphasis on rapid-cycle feedback and data use that is more actionable in real time. They also said the work could help existing models that already show promise, such as behavioral health units and dental workforce expansion, even if it would not solve the larger funding gap created by HR1. Senator Douglas asked how the proposals would motivate patients to participate in their own health care. The presenters responded that the chronic disease prevention work would focus on obesity, diabetes prevention, nutrition, and consumer-facing technology tools to help people engage in their own care, and that EMS-community health worker partnerships could identify unmet needs in the home and reduce preventable problems. The board then moved on to its next agenda item, Medicaid managed care delivery models, with Tom Stevens, Katherine North, and Dr. Patel scheduled to present.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rules around the COLA in Sonoma County right now only allow a COLA to come from excess earnings from
• Excess earnings do not exist. We have not recovered from that.
• Without AB 1601, though, we are limited to excess earnings.
• What we're trying to do is get to the point where we can start studying other options besides excess
• I work at high-speed rail. I support this bill. I work at high-speed rail. I support this bill.

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public employment. AB 1601, by Assemblymember Rogers, would give Sonoma County flexibility to work with its retirement board and actuaries on a possible retiree cost-of-living adjustment; supporters said Sonoma is the only 1937 Act county system without an automatic COLA and that retirees have gone since 2008 without an increase, while no opposition testified. The bill passed on a do-pass vote and was placed on the floor. AB 1729, by Assemblymember Lee, would update state telework policy by requiring written telework plans, adding more structure before return-to-office decisions, and restoring public reporting on telework savings. Supporters, including SEIU Local 1000, the Association of California State Supervisors, and many state workers, argued telework improves productivity, reduces emissions and commute costs, and could save the state about $225 million annually; there was no opposition. The committee approved the bill 6-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations. AB 1630, by Assemblymember Colosa, would allow union representatives to invite bargaining-unit members to observe meet-and-confer sessions, including remotely, to increase transparency and engagement. UC and CSU opposed the measure, saying observer rules should be negotiated at the table and warning the bill lacked clear limits on the number of observers and could create logistical and security problems. The bill passed 5-0 with one member not voting and was sent to Appropriations. AB 1750, also by Assemblymember Colosa, would require school employees who exhaust sick leave and are absent due to illness or injury to receive full salary for an additional five months. CTA supported the bill as a needed safety net for teachers and classified staff, while school districts and administrators opposed it over cost, staffing, and student stability concerns, saying it could encourage longer absences and strain already tight budgets. The committee passed the bill 5-0 and sent it to Higher Education. AB 1896, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public employment, with supporters framing it as a response to ICE and Border Patrol actions and opponents warning it was overbroad and could exclude otherwise qualified applicants from law enforcement jobs; the bill passed 5-1 and was referred to Public Safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• increases the penalties for drivers who fail to obey traffic control instructions or exceed the posted speed
• Infrastructure Committee that the industry had three fatalities in the last two years in work zones where speed
• They work with vehicles speeding 70 miles an hour next to them with little regard for their health or
• The bill would amend provisions of the West Virginia Code relating to the pledge of funds from excess
• The bill would authorize up to $12 million from excess lottery funds to be used to pay debt service for

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully he's not speeding, because Pizzo has an excessive speeding bill that just passed.
• Hopefully he's not speeding, because Pizzo has an excessive speeding bill that just passed.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then moved into a series of special-order bills and House messages. Early floor action included passage of a claim bill for Mandy Penny Lemon (HB 6503) and bills on sewer collection systems (HB 1123) and farm products (HB 211), all passing unanimously. The chamber also took up an ad valorem tax exemption resolution for agricultural tangible personal property (CS/HJR 1215), which passed 37-0. Several other measures were temporarily postponed before the Senate recessed and later returned to House messages and additional special orders. The Senate then addressed multiple House amendments and conference-style motions. It concurred in amended versions of SB 994 on driver safety, SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, and HB 1609 on waste incineration/auxiliary containers after extended debate over hurricane recovery rules, local government restrictions, and plastic container preemption. The chamber also concurred in CS/HB 1205 on citizen initiative petitions, increasing the number of petitions a volunteer may carry from 2 to 25, and in CS/HB 733 on Brownfields. Other House amendments were rejected or sent back, including SB 234 on offenses against law enforcement, SB 116 on veterans policy, SB 168 on mental health, and HB 1101 on out-of-network provider referrals. Later, the Senate approved CS/HB 1255 on education and CS/HB 875 on educator preparation, with discussion focused on school readiness, teacher training, and changes to certification and testing requirements. It also concurred in CS/HB 1427, a broad health care bill, after the House added a major nursing education amendment that tightened Board of Nursing oversight, required standardized evaluation and remediation, and imposed accountability measures tied to NCLEX pass rates and program performance. Several members raised concerns or praised negotiated compromises throughout the day, but the recorded actions were mainly concurrence motions, refusals to concur, and final passage votes on the bills considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• operation of the Diablo Canyon plant until 2030, and this deal allows PG&E to collect significant excess
• Under the current law, PG&E collects a series of excess ratepayer fees that are unrelated to the costs
• The debate about these excess fees has generated extensive media coverage, raised serious concerns about
• All delivered speed. Thank you. We welcome you. Thank you. And I apologize for the delay. Hello.
• For instance, the Legislature passed Senator Becker’s SB 410 to help speed up the interconnections that

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, mostly from like speeding tickets and this kind of stuff. Right. Okay.
• </c><00:42:13.440><c> tickets</c> Well, mostly from like speeding tickets Well, mostly from like speeding
• Oh, we got 23 million excess funds. Oh, no. We send you some here, some there. That’s not in here.
• But when they tell you, “Oh, no, there’s not 23 million in excess money.”
• </c> there's not 23 million in excess money. there's not 23 million in excess money.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you have a good lunch and speed readings going well. Mr. President, go ahead, sir.
• They want accuracy over speed.
• They want accuracy over speed.
• I wish we would, because we can speed up election results without sacrificing voter access.
• . ...and they're using illegal, excessive use of force, often against U.S. citizens who are denied due

Transcript Highlights:

• Those batteries, which absorb excess energy during the heart of the day, particularly solar, are able
• I think it depends on the cost, and you know, you heard electricity travels with the speed of light.
• to try to take that friction on the system, and we're going to continue looking for other ways to speed
• Lastly, permitting at any stage, local or state, would be helpful; any reforms there to speed up review
• Lastly, permitting at any stage local or state would be helpful, any reforms there to speed up review

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1026 by Assembly Member Wilson, which would require investor-owned utilities to provide clearer front-end information and follow more consistent timelines for post-entitlement energization applications tied to housing projects. The author and supporters from the Housing Action Coalition and Mission Housing said utility delays can hold up approved housing, add costs, and create uncertainty, and they argued the bill would align utility processes with recent state efforts to streamline local permitting. PG&E and Southern California Edison opposed the bill, saying existing CPUC timelines and the ongoing energization rulemaking already address the issue, that the bill could be duplicative or premature, and that some proposed timelines were too short. The committee discussed the bill’s relationship to the CPUC’s September 2024 decision, and AB 1026 was ultimately approved on a 15-0 vote, with the consent calendar also passing. The second half of the hearing was the committee’s annual oversight hearing on electric reliability. Representatives from the CPUC, CEC, CAISO, and DWR reviewed lessons from the 2020 and 2022 heat emergencies, emphasizing that California has since added significant resources, improved planning, and created backstop programs such as the strategic reliability reserve. They said the summer 2025 outlook is cautiously optimistic, with no expected shortfalls under traditional planning conditions and a projected surplus, though wildfire and extreme heat remain risks. The agencies also described major changes in planning and operations, including more battery storage, updated resource adequacy rules, expanded transmission planning, and reforms to the interconnection queue. Members asked about data center load, Diablo Canyon’s future, the strategic reliability reserve, demand response, wildfire mitigation costs, affordability, and regional market expansion. Witnesses said data center demand is a major variable but can be managed through better forecasting, flexible service arrangements, and siting in areas with existing capacity; they also said firm clean resources remain valuable while planning continues around Diablo Canyon’s scheduled retirement. On affordability, they said the agencies try to balance reliability with least-cost procurement, and that new resources can lower market prices even as they require upfront investment. CAISO also highlighted the value of the Western Energy Imbalance Market and the planned day-ahead market, saying regional coordination improves both reliability and cost savings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speed is dangerous, especially when we're talking 20 or 30 miles an hour over the posted speed limit.
• Crash force increases exponentially with speed.
• 20 miles per hour or over the posted speed limit for roadways.
• Speeding 20 miles per hour or over in a posted speed limit for roadway construction work zones where
• Unions and industry have identified excessive speeding and reckless driving as a major problem on our

Committee: House Community Safety