Transcript Highlights:

• We encourage the public to provide written testimony before the hearing by visiting the committee website
• We encourage the public to provide written testimony before the hearing by visiting the committee website

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 9, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and a consent calendar. The committee first approved a set of unanimous consent bills, then heard and acted on several measures, generally with authors describing them as having minor or absorbable fiscal effects. Bills discussed included AB 439 on Coastal Act streamlining, AB 322 on school-based health and mental health reimbursement participation, AB 679 on state park land acquisition exemptions, AB 482 updating the California Table Grape Commission law, AB 681 increasing the Dream Loan Program cap, AB 40 clarifying emergency services include reproductive health care, AB 454 making the California Migratory Bird Protection Act permanent, AB 572 creating protections for families of people killed or seriously injured by peace officers, and AB 639 narrowing the definition of dams to avoid extra regulation for certain water operators. Testimony was largely in support of the bills. Supporters included representatives from the University of California, the California Table Grape Commission, Audubon California, Sempervirens Fund, emergency physicians, health equity groups, water districts, and several impacted family members and advocacy organizations on AB 572. AB 572 drew especially emotional testimony from family members describing police-involved deaths and the need for transparency and protection from coercive questioning. No organized opposition was raised on most of the bills heard in committee, though AB 439 drew no-votes from some Republicans, and AB 572 and other measures were framed as low-cost or cost-neutral. The committee reported the bills out on roll calls after motions and seconds, with several measures passing on B-roll calls and AB 482 passing on an A-roll call. After the hearing on presented bills, the committee also approved the suspense calendar and accepted brief public comment on bills not heard that day, including opposition to AB 339 and support for AB 335. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They repeatedly demanded the exact address before the visit, and miraculously, when the cable provider
• accompanied me to Miss Brandy's house, her internet was several times faster than in in any of our previous visits

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• benefits they've earned, to access the healthcare, the VA healthcare, and get appointments, doctor visits
• Members, would you all like to visit with a resource witness here today? All right.

Bills: SB651 , SB897 , SB1814 , SB1818

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Keywords: SB 651, Texas Government Code, Section 434.032, veterans county service office, county veterans services, commissioners court, county executive official, county administration, local government, veterans affairs, veterans benefits, county oversight, reporting structure, public administration, large counties, population 200,000 or more, mental health, veterans, community support, grant program

Transcript Highlights:

• They are visiting the Capitol today to meet with legislators and learn more about the legislative process
• Agriculture Policy class from Warner University, along with the instructor, Justin Sharpless, are visiting

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met and considered four bills. SB 178, by Senator Rouson, created an agronomic study to be conducted by Florida A&M University, subject to appropriation, to identify viable crops or products for land taken out of production by disease or weather and to assess environmental and economic impacts; it passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 980, by Senator Bernard, created a one-year Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program within FDACS to help postsecondary institutions address student hunger through task forces, SNAP assistance, food pantries, and related measures; DACS support was noted, one student government representative appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 786, by Chair Truenow, prohibited assignment of assessments on agricultural improvements for agricultural purposes on lands classified as agriculture; it also passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 700, the FDACS “farm bill,” via a strike-all amendment. The amendment included a broad package of technical and substantive changes, including restrictions on additives to public water systems, limits on ESG considerations in agricultural lending, criminal penalties related to drone harassment, updates to disaster loan programs, truth-in-labeling provisions, charity registration changes, on-farm worker housing provisions, and support for FFA and 4-H dues. A major point of discussion was the provision preempting local governments from deciding whether to fluoridate water; supporters argued for statewide consistency and consumer choice, while opponents, including the Florida Dental Association and local officials, warned it would remove local control and harm public health, especially for low-income residents. Other speakers addressed concealed carry due process concerns, landowner rights, and labeling issues. The strike-all was adopted, and CS/SB 700 was reported favorably, with some senators noting they would continue working on concerns before later stops. At the end of the meeting, Senator Burton asked to be recorded as voting yes on SB 178, SB 980, and SB 786, and the committee agreed. The chair also welcomed Warner University agriculture policy students visiting the Capitol, and the meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a visit from The Advocates, but I told Senator Figur that it carries so much more weight with me
• I had Advocates come visit all over the state, just like that.

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My lead nurse informed me yesterday that they recently reached 2,000 visits to the nurse's office.
• Many of these visits are related to mental health issues, which then need to be triaged and cared for
• My lead nurse informed me yesterday that they recently reached 2,000 visits to the nurse's office.
• > are</c> office many of these V visits are office many of these V visits are related<00:57:24.880><c
• We really appreciate you taking the time to come in and visit with us.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The inspector general has given increased attention to site visits to have eyes in facilities looking
• </c><00:32:20.799><c> to</c> increased attention to site visits to increased attention to site visits
• Um, and so we need site visits. We need bona fide audits.
• Um, and so we need site visits. We need bona fide audits.
• Um, and so we need site visits. We need bona fide audits.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Artist school visits providing settings.
• rise in total pantry visits. federal programs.
• </c><02:11:37.520><c> our</c> 70% increase in households visiting our 70% increase in households visiting
• Without this funding, we face the possibility of reduced classroom hours and fewer home visits.
• Without this funding, we face the possibility of reduced classroom hours and fewer home visits.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing focused on Act 310 grants and aid, with committee members hearing one-minute testimony from organizations first in person and then by Zoom. At the outset, the chairs explained there would be no Q&A during the briefing and asked testifiers to focus on how federal cuts were affecting their work. The meeting was organized by registration number and included both neighbor island and Oʻahu applicants. Testimony centered on organizations seeking state support to offset federal funding losses or anticipated reductions. Health and social service providers described impacts from Medicaid, SNAP, ACA subsidy, Title X, and other federal changes, including Aloha Care, Community Clinic of Maui, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center, Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Alcoholic Rehabilitation Services of Hawaiʻi, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Other groups highlighted losses affecting food security, housing, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience, including the Kohala Center, Feeding Hawaiʻi Together, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Dynamic Community Solutions, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Several arts, youth, and education organizations also testified, including Hawaiʻi Literacy, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, Kids Hurt Too Hawaiʻi, and US Vets, each requesting funding to preserve programs and staffing. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing. The only action was procedural: the chairs moved through the applicant list, limited testimony time, and then transitioned from neighbor island in-person testimony to Oʻahu and later Zoom participants.

Transcript Highlights:

• social worker changed the date to be March instead of April in order not to be held responsible for visits
• In our particular case, there were reports made on visits that never even occurred. Thank you.
• In our particular case, there were reports made on visits that never even occurred.
• She follows a report, and during a home visit, the worker sees an empty fridge and the 13-year-old playing
• Worse still, many families are choosing to stay home altogether, missing critical medical visits, avoiding

Summary: The committee heard testimony on AB 262, which would direct the new California Housing and Homelessness Agency to study the needs of pregnant people experiencing homelessness and evaluate a voluntary “Pink Alert” notification system. Supporters, including the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and a mutual-aid volunteer, said the bill would help identify gaps in housing and prenatal services for a highly vulnerable population. Members generally supported the study concept, though one senator cautioned that the “Pink Alert” name could imply a missing-person alert. The bill was moved to Appropriations on a 3-0 vote and placed on call. Members then heard AB 673, creating the Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program for 16- and 17-year-old homeless students not in a parent or guardian’s custody. The Superintendent of Public Instruction and advocates said the bill would help connect youth to housing, basic needs, tutoring, employment readiness, and mental health services, while opponents raised concerns about duplication with existing school and county services and staffing shortages. The author and supporters argued the program would fill gaps for youth who often fall through existing systems. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 3-0 vote and was held on call. The committee also approved AB 1575, which updates the Lanterman Act to replace the term “consumer” with person-first language for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and AB 2510, which would expand CalWORKs family reunification aid so families do not lose support when only some children are removed from the home. AB 1688, requiring broader notice when abuse or neglect is alleged in foster placements so attorneys for other children in the placement can check on their safety, also passed to Appropriations. AB 2304, “Gabriel’s Law,” requiring a child in immediate medical need to be seen by a medical professional and clarifying penalties for falsifying child welfare records, passed to Public Safety after testimony from the author, Gabriel Fernandez’s aunt, prosecutors, and a dependency lawyer who opposed parts of the penalty language. The committee then heard AB 1746 on faster county processing of CalWORKs child care requests, with support from the author, advocates, and county welfare directors who said they were still working on amendments; it was moved to Appropriations and held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'm also committing to visiting you all, too, because I really want to see what you're doing, you
• And last, our CDSS staff also participate in site visits and convenings to directly hear from program
• further strengthening our outreach and capacity-building efforts through statewide convenings, site visits
• further strengthening our outreach and capacity-building efforts through statewide convenings, site visits
• Crying alone in my car after one visit, I felt utterly lost and hopeless.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• She has joined me today and will be visiting the Capitol, sitting in on committees, and following the
• state-owned road to make sure we have a safe road for folks to travel down, to purchase trees, and visit
• safe roadways to the public and their employees that are traveling down, plus the folks going down to visit
• state-operated nursery, I'm thinking we're going to make the roads better for families that are going to visit
• Going to visit their loved ones in DOC.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recess, kind of in trying to do some homework before we started up this new year, I paid a lot of visits
• to manufacturers and, without naming names, one of the things that I was told during one of those visits
• was, we, Manufacturer X, are going to... ...one of the things that I was told during one of those visits
• recess, kind of in trying to do some homework before we started up this new year, I paid a lot of visits
• to manufacturers and without naming names, one of the things that I was told during one of those visits

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on autonomous vehicle technology in California, with testimony from industry, safety advocates, first responders, drivers, and state regulators. The chair framed the hearing as an overview of AV deployment, safety, first responder interactions, and current and future regulation. Witnesses from the AV industry argued that autonomous vehicles can reduce crashes and injuries, create jobs, and support California’s leadership in innovation, while critics and crash survivors described serious safety failures, including phantom braking, inadequate transparency, and crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot/Full Self-Driving systems. Several witnesses urged stronger disclosure, data preservation, independent safety validation, and clearer accountability for companies deploying these systems. First responder and labor witnesses described operational problems in San Francisco and elsewhere, saying AVs have blocked fire engines, ambulances, and police responses, shut down in emergency scenes, and caused major delays during outages. They asked for faster and more reliable remote support, a public safety manual override, clearer enforcement authority, and limits on deployment in complex conditions. A police chief representative said law enforcement supports innovation but needs standardized protocols, training, and clear statutory authority. A Teamsters representative criticized proposed DMV rules for heavy-duty autonomous trucks, arguing they rely too heavily on manufacturer self-certification and do not impose enough independent safety review or geographic limits. State regulators from the DMV and CPUC defended California’s existing AV framework, saying the state has regulated AVs since 2014 and now has an end-to-end system with permits, reporting requirements, enforcement tools, and first responder coordination. DMV officials said the new rulemaking would add more reporting, address heavy-duty AVs, and require compliance with emergency geofence messages and law enforcement direction. CPUC testimony emphasized that its role is limited to passenger service and ride-hail operations. Committee members asked about crash data, remote operations, liability, response times, and whether California should adopt more uniform standards and stronger guardrails. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• That simply states that vaccines cannot be updated at that initial visit without biological parental
• Doesn't mean we wouldn't have that conversation past that initial visit.
• But in that initial visit, we want the bio parents to still have a voice around that vaccine conversation
• It will reduce preventable emergency room visits, lower the risk of premature birth, and support earlier
• We see this as a mechanism to reduce preventable hospitalizations, ER visits, and maternal and infant

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, you mentioned you visit facilities. You talked about performance metrics for the department.
• And when you visit facilities, the— ...well, and then we'll keep going through the remaining programs
• And when you visit facilities, through the capacity of the board, what authority does the board have
• What we are doing when we visit the facilities is we'll be meeting with— What we are doing when we visit

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on DTSC’s implementation of SB 158 reforms, including enforcement, community engagement, fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, permitting backlogs, and the Safer Consumer Products program. Senators and Assembly members emphasized protecting overburdened communities and asked how DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety are using their authority to improve accountability, reduce delays, and address hazardous waste facilities and consumer product chemicals. The hearing also included discussion of extended producer responsibility programs and whether DTSC can support them more efficiently, including through coordination with CalRecycle. DTSC Director Katie Butler said the department is now more transparent, accountable, and fiscally stable, citing stronger enforcement actions, an interactive inspections map, expanded community outreach, and emergency response work on the Los Angeles wildfire cleanup. She said DTSC has made progress on fee reform, the hazardous waste management plan, cleanup grants, permit renewals, and safer consumer products rulemaking, including adding microplastics to the candidate chemical list. Board Chair Andrew Rakestraw said the board has held multiple public meetings and hearings, is working on fee rates and performance metrics, and is revising the hazardous waste management plan after public comment, including removing a proposal to send certain contaminated soil to municipal landfills. He also noted remaining concerns about fee structure, permit delays, and the pace of the safer consumer products program. Public witnesses offered sharply different views. A representative of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance said SB 158 reforms have improved permitting and transparency, but urged more attention to risk-based decision-making, reduced duplication, and possible General Fund support for plan implementation rather than relying only on fees. Earthjustice argued DTSC remains too slow and that communities continue to suffer from long-delayed permits and weak protections, urging the Legislature to take a more active role and to prioritize eliminating hazardous substances rather than minimizing costs. Committee members pressed the witnesses on permit renewals, community impacts, and the pace of the safer consumer products program, while DTSC defended its progress and said further legislative collaboration may be needed on hazardous waste management and emerging waste streams.

Transcript Highlights:

• They did visitation. They did all of these other things—gone.
• Follow-up after an emergency department visit for a mental illness diagnosis, and then follow-up after
• emergency department visits for a substance use disorder diagnosis.
• It can predict inpatient admission risk, emergency visit risk, mortality risk, and significantly, members
• You can see how many times they may have visited the emergency room.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I pretty much visited the one across the street here a session back.
• She would only treat him for sick visits, basically, and his annual exams.
• One, recall this was the bill that required an inpatient visit with a doctor and whoever is going to
• population under 200,000, which is not rural, but under 200,000, have 48 hours to get the in-person visit
• I coordinated to have a number of foster care services visit with the Senate Health and Human Services

Bills: HB136 , HB451 , SB425 , SB466 , SB905 , SB1986 , SB2311 , SB2450 , SB2805 , SB2826 , SB2919 , SB3001 , HB136

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening

Transcript Highlights:

• Last week, while visiting y'all's facility, I was informed that You know there were several elevators
• For more UN videos visit www.un.org So, the recommendation disincentivizes you from storing EVs because
• have what the chairman The suits show and tell a lot of those products are on our trucks every day, visiting
• I appreciate the opportunity to visit with you for a few minutes about alcohol regulations that have
• Appreciate the opportunity to visit with you, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Bills: HB679 , HB1764 , HB1788 , HB2186 , HB2204 , HB2418 , HB2885 , HB2983 , HB2996 , HB3250 , HB3352 , HB3756 , HB3816 , HB3913 , HB3928 , HB4077

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: environment, regulation, land use, public health, community development, alcohol, Sunday sales, local option election, Texas, business hours, alcohol sales, liquor, off-premise consumption, alcoholic beverages, CPA, Certified Public Accountant, licensing, accountancy, state regulation, continuing education

Transcript Highlights:

• He and I talked about this issue when he visited the office, and I thank you for that.
• that will undoubtedly prepare him to tackle some of the most serious challenges For more information visit
• I do wanna visit with you just a little bit, Mr. Blanche. Good to see you again.
• we do have two antitrust agencies and so coordination is really important and I would also like to visit
• Well thank you for the question Senator and I really did enjoy visiting with you as well and thanks for

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: nominations, Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Todd Blanch, Gail Slater, confirmation hearing

Summary: The meeting focused on the nominations of Todd Blanch and Gail Slater for the positions of Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, respectively. The committee considered the qualifications of both nominees, with opening statements provided by the nominees themselves. There was an evident emphasis on the rigorous vetting process that nominees undergo before their selection, highlighting the importance of the roles within the Department of Justice. Members of the committee engaged in a structured question-and-answer session to further evaluate the nominees' capabilities and fit for the positions they were nominated for, with each member allotted seven minutes to pose questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• To visit with Adrian and get him included on one of our meetings so that we can discuss how relevant
• Chairman, before you do that, maybe I can visit with you and give you a little bit of insight.
• of how those resources could be expended, and particularly as we've dealt with it, I know that we visited
• You've been very instrumental in helping us not only secure the resources, but you visited the site on
• So, Kelly, here's what I want you to do: come back and visit with the members.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• making it harder for them to challenge projects that threaten their health and environmental damage visited
• making it harder for them to challenge projects that threaten their health and environmental damage visited
• making it harder for them to challenge projects that threaten their health and environmental damage visited
• making it harder for them to challenge projects that threaten their health and environmental damage visited
• upon environmental uh damage visited upon their<01:26:21.440><c> community.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1012, house, all