Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Cruz, Martinez, Olson, how do you vote?
• Senator Diaz de los Santos Cruz, how do you vote?
• The senator of Cruz. The clerk will record the vote.
• President Cruz, Mr.
• Representative Cruz: Caucus announcement. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to thank my colleague from Santa Cruz for her leadership and courage to address the issue
• I rise as a principal co-author with gratitude for my colleague from Santa Cruz, who was finally able
• Cruz for her leadership on this critically important issue.
• As a proud co-author, I also stand in support of AB 1267, and I want to thank my colleagues from Santa
• Cruz for bringing this important bill forward.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a lengthy consent and concurrence calendar. Early actions included adopting the consent calendar, approving a rule waiver to allow floor amendments on several Senate bills, and re-referring a few bills to committees. The chamber also observed adjournments in memory for the father of Assembly Member Stephanie and for Thomas Dennis Moore, with family present for both tributes. On the floor file, members approved or concurred in a wide range of measures. Notable bills included SB 1247 on minors’ online exploitation and removal of material when they reach adulthood; SB 1223 requiring competitive bidding at state and county fairs; SB 1238 adding disclosures and duties for HOA managers; SB 983 creating a Port of San Diego job-order contracting pilot; SB 959 addressing school funding during wildfire smoke days; SB 1443, an education omnibus cleanup bill; and SB 802 creating a Sacramento County homelessness joint powers authority, which drew extensive debate over Housing First, treatment, accountability, and local coordination. SB 923 strengthened privacy deletion rights, and AB 1267 set 18 as the minimum age for marriage, drawing broad bipartisan support and emotional testimony from survivors and advocates. The concurrence file then moved through many Assembly bills, most of them technical, support, or cleanup measures, with votes largely in favor. These included bills on Medi-Cal, youth athletics, digital financial assets, jail administration, health care prior authorization, fish and wildlife, elections, emergency services, pupil safety, employment, victim rights, attorney discipline, emergency medical response, seed program funding, naloxone training, child care facilities, cannabis, and dual language immersion coordination. Several bills were passed with unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a few drew some opposition, including AB 801 on fair lending examinations, AB 1661 on oil-field community assistance, AB 2161 on Medi-Cal work requirement implementation, and AB 2230 on child care facilities. The chamber also adopted multiple Senate amendments and continued a number of items to later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• attention of the architecture community, the public, and especially his neighbors when he unveiled the Santa
• attention of the architecture community, the public, and especially his neighbors when he unveiled the Santa
• And in fact, our colleague Senator Laird mentioned that when he was getting the UC Santa Cruz Medal,

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor items focused largely on housing, public health, and tax-credit awareness. The chamber adopted SR 71, a resolution by Senator Arreguín recognizing the importance of affordable homeownership in California. Supporters from both parties emphasized homeownership as a path to wealth-building, stability, and community strength, highlighted racial disparities in ownership, and praised nonprofit builders such as Habitat for Humanity. After passage, Senator Arreguín introduced Habitat for Humanity advocates in the gallery and noted the role of the CalHome program in funding affordable homeownership projects. The Senate also confirmed Trista Gonzalez as Director of the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Aaron McGuire as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, and Lee Herrick for another term as California Poet Laureate, each by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The Senate then adopted SCR 115 by Senator Daly, recognizing February as Heart Health Month and focusing on women’s heart health. Senator Daly shared her own experience with a stroke during a heart procedure and urged women to listen to their bodies and seek care early. Several senators spoke in support, describing silent heart attacks, the need to recognize symptoms in women, and the importance of challenging medical assumptions. The resolution passed unanimously. The Senate also adopted SR 75 by Senator Rubio, designating California Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week. Senators described CalEITC as a key anti-poverty tool and urged greater outreach so eligible families do not miss the credit; that resolution also passed unanimously. Later, the Senate heard a series of adjournment-in-memory tributes, including one for architect Frank Gehry, whose work in Los Angeles and Bilbao was praised for its global influence and civic impact, and one for June Roberti, remembered for her long partnership with former Pro Tem David Roberti and her advocacy and family life. Senator Arreguín also moved to place file item 67 on the inactive file. The session ended with announcements, including a committee meeting notice, and the Senate recessed with the next floor session scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, we've experienced massive fires, including in Santa Rosa and in Paradise, but we've responded
• You know, it's the same thing that happened after the Santa Rosa fire, the Camp Fire.
• you've done a lot of work, but if I'm a homeowner and I'm thinking about the CZU fires in 2020 and Santa
• Cruz County, I'm thinking about the 2025 fires that were devastating in Los Angeles, what's different

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, we've experienced massive fires, including in Santa Rosa and in Paradise, but we've responded
• You know, it's the same thing that happened after the Santa Rosa fire, the Camp Fire.
• you've done a lot of work, but if I'm a homeowner and I'm thinking about the CZU fires in 2020 and Santa
• Cruz County, I'm thinking about the 2025 fires that were devastating in Los Angeles, what's different

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara reporting on implementation progress and the state’s broader homeowners and commercial insurance crisis. He said the department has finalized major reforms, is reviewing catastrophe models, and expects insurers to begin submitting new rate filings in the coming weeks under the updated framework. Lara emphasized that the goal is to improve availability and stability in the admitted market, reduce reliance on the FAIR Plan, and better reward wildfire mitigation and home hardening. A major portion of the hearing focused on claims handling after the Los Angeles-area wildfires, including smoke-damage claims, underinsurance, and the FAIR Plan. Lara said the department has opened a formal market conduct examination of State Farm’s wildfire claims handling, is investigating FAIR Plan smoke-damage claims, and has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors while recovering more than $60 million on complaints. He also announced a new smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards for smoke-damage cleanup and health protections, and said the department is working with other western states on underinsurance data and policy solutions. Members asked about implementation timelines, the impact on consumers, FAIR Plan costs, and the role of intervenors in rate cases. Lara said the department is tightening rules for intervener compensation and will no longer grant petitions unrelated to the actual rate application, while also clearing a backlog of compensation petitions. He said the FAIR Plan has begun publicly posting policy counts and financial information, and that further transparency measures may follow. Public commenters from the insurance, building, and broker industries generally supported SIS, saying it is needed to restore availability, improve rate timeliness, and stabilize the market. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded without formal committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsors, at least five UC campuses do not toe under this UC Davis, Riverside, Irvine, San Diego, and Santa
• Cruz. of these cities and campuses are still not permitted to tow for unpaid parking tickets alone but
• the UCs have confirmed that they're not towing for unpaid tickets only one campus said that they are Santa

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• to be required to cease operations in 2030 due to seismic standards, and then a net-new hospital in Santa
• will also serve to create our teaching hospital for our new medical school that we announced with Santa
• to be required to cease operations in 2030 due to seismic standards, and then a net-new hospital in Santa
• will also serve to create our teaching hospital for our new medical school that we announced with Santa
• I was in my seventh year on the Santa Cruz City Council. So it's not that long ago.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would likely be held later because a quorum was not yet present. Early measures included AB 2393, which would create fixed statutory damages for false arrest or imprisonment claims involving aggravating conduct such as face coverings, restraints, forcible transport, or firearms; supporters said it would help victims obtain accountability, while no opposition appeared. AB 2050, the HOA reserve-funding bill, drew support from HOA and housing finance advocates who said underfunded reserves lead to special assessments and safety risks, while consumer groups warned of large cost increases; Senator Laird said he would move it when a quorum was available. AB 1564, making employee-union communications confidential in certain public-employment disputes, was supported by labor groups and opposed by counties, school administrators, and other local agencies who argued it would hinder investigations. AB 2231, a CEQA streamlining bill for two Sutter Health hospital projects, was backed by the author and health-care supporters but opposed by a construction trade group that said it would strip workers of wage-and-hour remedies. The committee also heard AB 2689, which would allow non-renewal of subsidized housing leases for over-income tenants under specified conditions; there was little testimony beyond the author’s presentation. AB 801 would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to regularly examine lenders for fair lending compliance; supporters framed it as a response to federal retreat from consumer protection, while credit unions and bankers said they shared the goal but wanted more work on impacts to smaller institutions. AB 2721, as amended, would require hotels to post notice when they have actual knowledge of ICE or CBP reservations; hospitality workers and labor supporters said it would improve worker safety, while hotel industry groups said they were moving toward neutral after amendments, though some owners remained opposed. AB 2035 would create a narrow, court-supervised alternative vote threshold for a single HOA, Laguna Woods Village, to amend outdated CC&Rs; the author and HOA representatives said the change was needed because repeated elections had failed to reach quorum. Later bills included AB 1827, which would raise the small-claims limit for businesses from $6,250 to $15,000 and allow up to three filings per year; supporters said it would modernize access for small businesses, while the Judicial Council opposed it as likely to crowd calendars and shift small claims away from its intended purpose. AB 1577 would require data centers to report energy-use information to the Energy Commission and local agencies; supporters said better data is needed for grid planning, while one industry group remained opposed in print but encouraged by amendments. AB 2164 and AB 1854 both expanded California shield-law protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care providers and related entities against out-of-state legal actions and extradition requests; supporters said the bills were needed to protect providers and patients after Dobbs, while opponents argued they would shield harmful medical practices and interfere with parental rights and other states’ investigations. AB 2529 would require claims against public agencies to include a declaration that the contents are true and correct, and AB 2247 would create the Thrive Act to fund trauma-focused mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; both drew support from local agencies or survivors, with no significant opposition recorded in the excerpt. The final bill discussed, AB 1821, would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days to address large, complex, or bad-faith requests; the author said it would better match agency work capacity while preserving access, and the hearing continued with testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we speak, in fact they are holding a public hearing in Santa Rosa this afternoon, Tern believes that
• Clara and the County of Santa Cruz in opposition.
• Steve Doody, local CWA, Santa Claus County, Merced County, strongly oppose the bill.
• For folks who don't know, I represent from Santa Rosa.
• Jean Hurst here today on behalf of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in support.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a parciante on the acequia of Los Garcia's of the Rio Santa Cruz and Rio Arriba County, and I also
• And in terms of thinking about this, in many traditions, as Biata Sosi Peña from Santa Clara has told
• of thinking about, it's this particular, in many ways, in many traditions, as Biatasosi Peña from Santa
• I'm a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as the parciante on the Las Tablas acequia in Rio Arriba
• And today, the vines growing along I-25 at Santa Ana Pueblo.

Bills: HM45 , HB276 , HB300

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, and my good colleague from Santa Cruz for speaking on this appointment, like my good colleague that
• joins me on Rules from Santa Cruz said, not very often do we have multiple people speaking.
• Leandra Clark Harvey and staff members Carly Seltzer, George Cruz, and Chloe Ann Pulido.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and several ceremonial presentations. Members welcomed Jack and Jill of America’s Far West Region and a large education bus trip from Senate District 15. The body also adopted SCR 151 designating May 2026 as ACL Injury Awareness Month, SR 105 declaring May as National Tennis Month, SCR 175 recognizing Behavioral Health Awareness Month, SCR 176 designating May as Small Business Month, and SCR 178 recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. These resolutions drew broad support, with many senators speaking to the health, civic, economic, and cultural themes in the measures, as well as concerns about anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and solidarity across communities. The Senate also confirmed three gubernatorial appointees unanimously: Siva Gunda to the California Energy Commission, Tony Sertich as Executive Director of the California Housing and Finance Agency, and Craig Snellings to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. In addition, the chamber approved a motion to suspend Joint Rule 62(a) so the Committee on Local Government could hear AB 1768, after debate over the procedure and a roll call vote. On legislation, the Senate passed a series of bills on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, including SB 922 on local cost recovery for street damage from public service operations, SB 932 on litigation transparency, SB 1311 on updates to consumer affairs boards and licensing rules, SB 1143 on access to forensic interview recordings in child abuse cases, SB 1307 on clearing forged real estate documents, SB 1177 on high-speed rail reporting, SB 971 on community networks for older adults, SB 1400 on Alameda Health System governance, SB 1228 on existing outdoor advertising displays in former redevelopment areas, SB 997 on lien authority for a groundwater sustainability agency, SB 1115 on public cemetery district governance, SB 1088 on advance care planning forms, SB 1242 on family participation in CARE Court, SB 1364 on parental rights in rape-related custody cases, SB 993 on protecting mental health professionals’ identifying information, SB 1094 on prescription drug biosimilar use, SB 1117 on ADU fee calculations, SB 1244 on broker compensation disclosures for public agency health plans, SB 1315 on automated driving system software update reporting, and SB 1398 on recognizing Green Globes as an equivalent state building certification. Earlier, a motion by Senator Strickland to withdraw SB 1035 from committee failed on a 22-22 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, and my good colleague from Santa Cruz for speaking on this appointment, like my good colleague that
• joins me on rules from Santa Cruz said, not very often do we have multiple people speaking.
• Leandra Clark Harvey and staff members Carly Seltzer, George Cruz, and Chloe Ann Pulido.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re a homeless services provider in Santa Cruz County.
• We're a homeless services provider in Santa Cruz County.
• In our research across Santa Cruz County, we spoke with more than 200 people experiencing homelessness
• For instance, in Santa Cruz County, the only youth shelter we have available that is not dependent on
• director for Bill Wilson Center, which is an agency that serves youth experiencing homelessness in Santa

Transcript Highlights:

• funds that would have been managed by UC for a joint community college housing project between UC Santa
• Cruz and Cabrillo Community College.
• housing projects between managed by the UC for a joint community college housing projects between UC Santa
• Cruz and Cabrillo Community College.
• Cruz is working on a project with Cabrillo Community College as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• funds that would have been managed by UC for a joint community college housing project between UC Santa
• Cruz and Cabrillo Community College.
• housing projects between managed by the UC for a joint community college housing projects between UC Santa
• Cruz and Cabrillo Community College.
• Cruz is working on a project with Cabrillo Community College as well.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education held its first 2026 hearing on higher education, focusing on UC and CSU system updates, student housing, enrollment, and core operations. In opening remarks, the chair noted recent state fiscal stress, the prior rejection of proposed UC/CSU cuts, and the Governor’s proposed 5% ongoing compact increases. UC President James B. Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia described the systems’ public value, research and workforce roles, and the impact of federal actions on grants, financial aid, and campus operations. Both also emphasized Title IX and civil rights efforts; CSU said it had implemented nearly all state auditor recommendations and was on track to finish the remaining one, while UC highlighted its systemwide civil rights and Title IX offices. Both leaders said federal investigations, grant cancellations, and litigation demands were consuming staff time and money, with UC reporting more than 200 grants lost or affected and CSU citing more than $161 million in lost grants and more than 1,600 grants affected overall. The committee then heard on student housing. Finance and LAO staff said the Governor’s budget made no major new housing proposal but continued support for the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. CSU reported 12 supported projects that will add about 5,047 beds, most below market rate, with four already open and seven more expected this year; it also said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing emergency housing support. UC said the program has supported seven UC projects and two joint community college projects, adding more than 7,000 beds total, but nearly 10,000 UC students were on housing waitlists at the start of fall 2025. UC asked for additional state support, including possible bond funding and a statutory change to allow UC participation in public-private partnership housing projects. Members discussed rapid rehousing, student homelessness, faculty and staff housing, and community college housing partnerships, with both systems describing existing emergency beds and support services. On enrollment, LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan, and holding UC flat in 2027-28. For CSU, LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 target downward to reflect current projections, funding growth separately, and holding 2027-28 flat. CSU said it had rebounded from COVID declines, now exceeds its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE spots from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. CSU also described direct admissions, transfer success pathways, and new degree programs aimed at workforce needs. UC said it had surpassed its compact enrollment goals, planned to add 2,721 California undergraduates in 2026-27, and was seeking $5.5 million for health professional programs. Members raised concerns about underprepared freshmen, K-12 alignment, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, deferred maintenance, ROTC access, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pipelines. The final item on core operations addressed the Governor’s proposal to defer 3% base funding again, moving the one-time deferral to 2027-28 and allowing short-term zero-interest loans to cover it.

Transcript Highlights:

• perfect blend of urban and rural in Southern Arizona and is comprised of parts of three counties: Pima, Santa
• Cruz, and Cochise counties.
• Cruz counties.
• Gail Griffin, LD 14: Cochise County, Graham, Greenlee County, the eastern portion of Pima County, and Santa
• Cruz County.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met on January 28 and heard several bills, beginning with introductions of members and staff. The committee first considered HB 2056, which would appropriate $100,000 to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for a feasibility study of brackish groundwater desalination sites. Sponsor Rep. Gail Griffin argued the state should explore use of large brackish groundwater reserves amid Colorado River concerns, while one speaker opposed the bill on aquifer-protection grounds. The committee voted 11-6-1 to give HB 2056 a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up HB 2798, as amended, which appropriates $100,000 to the Arizona Geological Survey to compile data on materials relevant to nuclear energy, including thorium and other non-uranium fuels. Rep. Carbone and others framed the bill as an economic development and national security measure, while opponents questioned whether Arizona has meaningful deposits and whether the state should fund the research. The University of Arizona testified that the Geological Survey could do the work. The committee adopted the Livingston amendment and then approved the bill 11-5-1. Next, the committee considered HB 2303, which codifies investment standards for the State Treasurer, emphasizing safety and principal preservation and prohibiting speculative investments and insider misuse. The Treasurer’s Office supported the bill, saying it reflects existing policy and ethics rules, though members asked for clearer definitions of “speculative” and how the bill would interact with other statutes. The committee passed HB 2303 15-0 with two members present and one not voting. HB 2344, which directs the Treasurer to manage the local government investment pool internally and allows a third-party contract only for emergency backup, also passed after questions about local control and whether the bill was necessary; the vote was 12-2-3 with one not voting. The committee later heard HB 2759, a $500,000 appropriation to the Department of Veterans’ Services to partner with an educational institution in Yavapai County for veterans programs. Retired Navy SEAL Chief Richard Rodriguez testified about Embry-Riddle’s veteran population and emergency assistance needs for housing, travel, and equipment, while opponents objected to using state funds for a private institution and argued veterans services should be broader and statewide. The bill received a due pass recommendation 11-6-1. The committee also approved HB 2207, which funds the prison Braille transcription program at $300,000 and was described as a successful rehabilitation and service program, and HB 2224, as amended to $1 million, which funds the Double Up Food Bucks produce incentive program through SNAP; supporters said it helps families, farmers, and local economies, and the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was unhappy that after 11 months of waiting for a group of mineral exploration permits on the Santa
• Cruz project to be approved, 10 of my applications were denied for what were eventually overturned as
• That disaster almost happened over the Santa Cruz deposit. That was real estate land.
• they're here in Arizona you can't build houses on everything that that disaster almost happened over the Santa
• Cruz deposit that was real estate land it was targeted by the state land department for building a cruise

Summary: The Joint Natural Resources and House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committees of Reference heard the Arizona Auditor General’s sunset review of the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. The audit found the board generally met some licensing requirements, but it did not timely investigate and resolve 49 of 159 complaints in fiscal year 2024, and it did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure and filing requirements. The Auditor General also identified weaknesses in continuing-education verification and other sunset-factor areas, and the board agreed to implement all 21 recommendations. Board staff said complaint volume has risen sharply since the pandemic, that the board’s process is slower because every case goes through an investigative committee and then the full board, and that it has already corrected some conflict-of-interest issues and is adding tools to improve continuing-education audits. The committee then heard testimony from the board’s executive director and from the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. The executive director emphasized the board’s public-protection mission, described the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and said the board is working to improve efficiency through a new e-licensing system and staff training. Members asked about the shortage of large-animal veterinarians, complaint backlogs, and whether the board could do more to recruit rural practitioners; the board said it lacks direct recruiting authority but supports multiple licensure pathways and loan-assistance efforts. The veterinary association supported the board’s oversight and said it is also working on rural and large-animal workforce issues through partnerships and advocacy. The committee then voted to recommend continuing the board for eight years, until July 1, 2034. The committee next took up the Arizona State Land Department, beginning with the Auditor General’s presentation on the department’s sunset review and prior special audit. The audit found the department had not updated its required five-year disposition plan since 2011, had sold more than 48,000 acres without an active plan, had allowed agricultural rental rates to go unchanged since 2006 despite market increases, and had not consistently inspected mineral-related leases or properly managed reclamation bonds. The Auditor General said these issues created risks of lost revenue, reduced transparency, and public-safety hazards, and recommended 18 corrective actions in the main review plus 34 additional recommendations on other issues; the department agreed to most recommendations but declined to adopt a written policy for commissioner-initiated land sales. Commissioner Robin Sahid said the department is working through audit recommendations, has created a rules team, improved its customer portal, and is pursuing new policies on water use, transportation-basin leases, and disposition planning. Members questioned the department about agricultural leases, groundwater valuation, the Fondomonte leases and reimbursement for improvements, the canceled Coyotes land auction, backlog and processing times, and the use of consultants and administrative funds. The commissioner said the department had over 2,000 applications in queue when she arrived, that it has made progress reducing the backlog, and that it is conducting stakeholder outreach on water-efficiency standards and lease addenda. No final vote on the land department continuation was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was a student parent at UC Santa Cruz, I had a 10-year-old and a newborn.
• I'm a first-generation American born in Fresno, California, a UC Santa Cruz graduate, and a CalFresh
• Josh Gaggar, on behalf of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, in support.
• afternoon, Xavier Birchfield, on behalf of the Institute for College Access and Success, as well as the Santa

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:

• My name is Jose Malki, and I'm a fire captain and hazmat coordinator in Santa Cruz County down by the
• And so, as I was describing, I'm a captain in Santa Cruz County, also the hazmat coordinator.
• The Route 66 Centennial is a year-long celebration honoring the iconic Mother Road stretching from Santa
• I've been all the way... ...all the way to Kingman, all the way to Santa Monica on Route 66 in my youth

Bills: HB2163 , HB2256 , HB2305 , HB2367 , HB2369 , HB2669 , HB2772 , HB2916 , HCM2007 , HCR2004 , HR2003

Committee: House Transportation & Infrastructure

Keywords: lighting laws, construction equipment, farm equipment, vehicle safety, Arizona Revised Statutes, salvage vehicles, insurance claims, abandoned vehicles, salvage auction dealers, vehicle title, neighborhood electric vehicles, alternative fuel, vehicle license tax, tax exemption, electric shuttle, photo enforcement, traffic violation, mayoral signature, civil traffic, jurisdiction

Transcript Highlights:

• behalf of the Landing Spot, Placer LGBTQ Center, Trans Families of Silicon Valley, Trans Families of Santa
• Cruz, Olive Branch Enterprise, Davis Trans Station, all in strong opposition.
• Brock Campbell, on behalf of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Santa Maria, I strongly support.
• Cruz, Olive Branch Enterprise, and Davis Trans Station, and strong opposition.
• Brock Campbell, on behalf of the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Santa Maria, I strongly support this bill

Summary: The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion. The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair McClain: DAVID CRUZ? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> DAVID CRUZ FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
• I AM FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY.
• STUDY WHERE WE COMPARED OUR CLEANUP DATA FROM TWO RIVERS AND ALLOWED SOME OF THE CONTAINERS IN THE SANTA
• ON THE SANTA FE THAT YEAR WE REMOVED 11,000 POUNDS OF TRASH WHILE IN RAINBOW 60 POUNDS AND ON THE SUWANEE
• SANTA FE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS IN PLACE, I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I PICK UP GARBAGE EVERY DAY ON MY TOURS