Transcript Highlights:

• As a consequence of that, in time periods between 2017 and the present day, electricity rates have risen
• Brandon Ebeck, on behalf of Pacific Gas and Electric.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public health, wildfire recovery, local finance, transportation, and rural health care. SB 1124 by Senator Archuleta would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post signage at tobacco retail locations about lung cancer screening eligibility. The author and a UC San Diego thoracic surgery resident testified that lung cancer screening is underused because many Californians do not know it exists, while retailers and convenience store groups raised implementation concerns about sign size, store space, and notice before penalties. Members discussed penalties and screening access, and the author said he was willing to reduce the penalty in later amendments. The bill passed 4-0 and was sent to the Committee on Health. The committee also considered several disaster-related tax measures. SB 1352 by Senator Valadao and Senator Allen would clarify that wildfire victims can rebuild homes up to 110% of the original size without losing their Proposition 13 base-year value, and it received support from the Los Angeles County Assessor, the California Association of Realtors, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. SB 1343, presented by Senator Allen on behalf of Senator Dahle, would create a $4,000 income tax credit for sales tax paid on furniture and appliances purchased after a disaster for a primary residence; the chair raised concerns about administration and benefits flowing to higher-income households, and CTA opposed. Both bills were approved and sent to Appropriations, with SB 1352 passing 5-0 and SB 1343 passing 5-0 after committee amendments were accepted. SB 1172 by Senator Hurtado would place limits and transparency requirements on consultant compensation in local tax-sharing agreements, responding to examples from Shafter and Dinuba where local revenue was allegedly diverted to consultants. The city of Shafter, League of California Cities, and California Retailers Association supported the bill, while some members worried it could infringe on local control; the author and sponsor argued it would protect local tax dollars without eliminating local discretion. The bill passed 4-0 and went to Appropriations. SB 1408 by Senator Arreguín would authorize Contra Costa Transportation Authority to place a countywide sales tax measure of up to 1% on the ballot to continue transportation funding; supporters included transit agencies and county officials, while Howard Jarvis and the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association opposed. The committee emphasized that the measure only lets voters decide, and the bill passed 4-1. The committee also took up SB 1404 by Senator Stern, which would restore a fee on property owners in state responsibility areas to help fund Cal Fire wildfire prevention and suppression, with the author saying he wanted to reduce administrative costs and work on hardship protections. NRDC and PG&E supported the concept, while rural county representatives, Howard Jarvis, and Butte County opposed, arguing the fee would unfairly burden rural and fixed-income residents and function like a tax. Members split over affordability and local impacts, but the bill passed 4-1. Finally, SB 1102 by Senator Dodd would create a $2,000 tax credit for frontline nurses working in rural hospitals; supporters said it would help retention and access to care in underserved areas, and the bill passed 5-0 after committee amendments were accepted. The consent calendar and other listed bills were also approved on unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a consequence of that, in time periods between 2017 and present day, electricity rates have risen
• Brandon Ebeck, on behalf of Pacific Gas and Electric. We did not submit a letter.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code, to revise provisions regarding the allotment and apportionment of tax due from producers of electricity
• Code to revise provisions regarding the allotment and apportionment of tax due from producers of electricity

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Melissa Coase here with Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
• Melissa Coase here with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, we have an employee directed corporation that

Summary: The Assembly held its first-ever outcome review hearing, focused on AB 488, Assemblymember Irwin’s 2021 law regulating charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Irwin described the hearing as part of a new oversight process meant to evaluate whether enacted laws are working as intended and to identify implementation problems. Irwin reviewed the bill’s purpose: updating California’s charitable solicitation rules for online fundraising, requiring platform registration and reporting, setting disclosure and conduct rules, and creating protections for charities and donors. The Attorney General’s office said the implementing regulations took effect in stages in 2024 and 2025 after extensive rulemaking, and argued the law was needed because online fundraising had outgrown older solicitation laws. The office highlighted enforcement concerns, including unregistered platforms, delayed remittances, and unauthorized fundraising pages, and said the new online filing system should improve processing and compliance. Nonprofit representatives and platforms generally supported the law’s transparency goals but said implementation has created major burdens, especially around “good standing” determinations, slow registry response times, and disruptions to fundraising when charities are flagged as delinquent. PayPal Giving Fund and GoFundMe both said they complied with the law but urged changes to better fit platform operations, reduce delays, and ease requirements for small or micro-donations. Committee members pressed the witnesses on donor protection, due process, and whether California should shorten the time to resolve good-standing issues. Several members said the law has helped stop misleading or unauthorized fundraising practices, while also acknowledging unintended consequences for nonprofits. Irwin said she is preparing follow-up legislation to address implementation problems and balance the interests of charities, platforms, donors, and the Attorney General’s office. During public comment, Candid praised the review and the DOJ’s efforts to improve the process, and a PG&E representative described an unintended consequence in employee giving where donations were redirected because recipient charities were not in good standing.

Transcript Highlights:

• transportation fund with the gas tax would eventually lead to shortfalls as fuel mileage has improved and electric
• Some have said that higher electricity and heating costs are the price we must pay to fight climate change

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My electric bills are going to be $200 a month.
• Oh, they come in at $300 a month the first month because the contractors have used all the electric to

Bills: SB596 , SB961 , SB1398 , SB1183 , SB1952

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• think last week we heard something similar from, uh, Representative Polisa about, uh, About, uh, electric
• What she did was she applied an electric cattle prod to a horse, to its ear canal, and its anus, almost

Transcript Highlights:

• SUPPORT, RYAN MATTHEWS FLORIDA NATURAL GAS WAIVING IN SUPPORT, NICOLE ALVAREZ FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRICAL
• FLORIDA PROPANE GAS ASSOCIATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT, VICTORIA PRICE IN SUPPORT, AND DREW LOVE FLORIDA ELECTRIC

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would add utility contracting for the installation and construction of vegetation management for electric
• I do anticipate working on a Committee substitute language to include electric co-ops, and I'm happy

Bills: HB778 , HB 1266 , HB1576 , HB2213 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2841 , HB3306 , HB3320 , HB3388 , HB3508 , HB3520 , HB3689

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• and we have the concerning water supply and we have the representative<00:10:15.519><c> and</c><00:10
• study in accordance with water supply study in accordance with local<00:13:32.800><c> regulations</c
• </c><00:20:47.840><c> study</c> definition of what a water supply study definition of what a water supply
• And so ensuring adequate water supply of a property that's going to be sold must be a concern of the
• </c> is no definition of what water supply is no definition of what water supply study<00:23:12.240><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I say infrastructure, like water, sewer, curb, gutter, electrical, that type of infrastructure,
• up on an Excel spreadsheet, or it could be as complicated as we want to begin participating in the supply
• in the supply chain for nuclear<00:50:32.240><c> energy</c><00:50:32.640><c> which</c><00:50:32.800>
• </c> historically lacked the necessary supply historically lacked the necessary supply of<02:52:50.319
• The housing supply had not been built up in Wyoming like other areas.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then what is supplied for the state match is in that energy resiliency line at the very bottom.
• We have several mines that are working directly with the Department of War to provide a necessary supply
• of antimony for critical... ...provide a necessary supply of antimony for critical munitions work.
• We also have a rich supply of thorium, which is something that can be used in nuclear.
• I know they're also looking at opportunities to partner with the Department of War to supply crucial

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee heard a series of budget presentations and acted on several FY 2026 and FY 2027 items. Noah Peterson reviewed the General Fund Daily Update, noting large FY 2026 supplemental actions for Medicaid and Corrections that reduced the estimated ending balance, and a FY 2027 outlook that still had room for remaining work. He also flagged several policy bills with fiscal impacts, including county jail per diem changes, a state police bill, and a health and welfare board/position bill. Janet Jessup then walked the committee through Department of Environmental Quality and Soil and Water Conservation actions. The committee approved adding four FTP for DEQ’s solid waste regulatory program and adopted related language transferring $400,000 from the hazardous waste emergency fund to support the new solid waste regulatory fund. It also approved a CREP supplemental for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission and then voted to move the commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources, including a corresponding reduction in Agriculture and an addition in Water Resources. The committee adopted language to align the new budget structure and approved a one-time $390,000 restoration in the Department of Water Resources to avoid reducing stream-gauging and water-monitoring services. The committee next considered the consolidation of the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources into a new Office of Species, Mineral, and Energy Coordination. It approved reductions to the two existing offices and then debated competing motions for the new office. The substitute motion to cut four FTP and reduce spending more deeply failed, while the original motion to reduce two FTP and preserve more staffing for nuclear and mining coordination passed. Members and the agency administrator argued that Idaho needs a stronger “one-stop shop” for nuclear and mining projects, while others emphasized following the policy bill moving through the legislature and capturing consolidation savings. The committee also approved a DOPL budget item for replacement vehicles and IT hardware. Most motions passed with do-pass recommendations, and the committee announced it would meet again the next day; Senate Finance was noted as on hold, while House Appropriations would continue after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The evidence couldn't be more clear about the need to greatly increase the affordable housing supply.
• private investment to rehabilitate long-vacant properties into homes, expanding the affordable housing supply
• give communities the tools that they need to move forward and deal with these properties while also supplying
• The Chamber supports a market-based tool for expanding housing supply while revitalizing underutilized
• Expanding housing supply is critical to workforce stability and long-term economic growth.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is both harmful to the health of firefighters as well as the environment, particularly to water supplies
• When this program was rolled out, the government did a study and identified three major gaps in our supply
• chain to secure the U.S. supply chain.
• Because, again, this is the only supply that there is in the U.S.
• We have to stand up and oppose any bill that limits our ability to gain a permit to supply material to

Bills: SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1898 , SB2050

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• has to make sure that legal trade goes smoothly at the border, and he's got to limit the impact on supply
• And we know that CBP has an important role to play as we look at this supply chain.
• What is taking place in our logistics hubs like the city of Memphis and how that affects our supply chain
• But in this arena sharing information that is not a threat to other corporations with the supply chain
• families that invested in those farms to grow that and then you just take that across the entire supply

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection, Rodney Scott, border security, asylum, transparency, Hernandez Rojas, migrant treatment, public testimony

Summary: The meeting centered on the nomination of Rodney Scott to serve as the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Throughout the session, various senators expressed concerns regarding CBP's recent practices, including issues related to border security and the treatment of migrants. Questions were raised about Scott's involvement in previous incidents, particularly surrounding the controversial death of Mr. Hernandez Rojas while in custody, which sparked a heated discussion about accountability and transparency in current border policies. Senators emphasized the importance of balancing efficient border security with humane treatment of individuals seeking asylum.

Transcript Highlights:

• that have come out for the last 3 years, you know that we finally have a much better picture of supplied
• And then again, our licensed practical nurses, we're seeing the opposite over time and that supply is
• So a declining supply being the key factor here, >> implications. What does this mean?
• A big way to ensure a robust workforce, an adequate supply of qualified nurses has to do with nursing
• And I think some of the data earlier show that is we're starting to see a supply Ahrens.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this will amplify the demand that the farmers can supply. So, with that, Mr.
• So this is working on both the supply and the demand. Yeah.
• So there's tremendous supply<00:15:38.639><c> in</c><00:15:38.959><c> Louisville.
• Uh the the supply in Louisville.
• </c> So this is working on both the supply So this is working on both the supply and<00:16:36.399><c>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled several referred administrative regulations, including a package from the Board of Respiratory Care described as a substantive housekeeping update to its regulations and incorporated materials. There were no questions from members, and the committee also heard from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, which was present in case questions arose but did not require action. Members then took up an amendment to the state health plan for facilities and services, specifically 900 KAR 5:02. Wesley Duke explained that a previously proposed criteria related to mega-voltage requirements, originally suggested by the Kentucky Hospital Association, was now being removed because the association no longer considered it necessary. The committee moved to accept the agency amendment, with a motion and second, and approved it without opposition. The committee next considered Senate Joint Resolution 23, a “food is medicine” resolution sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer. Supporters from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Hospital Association described the initiative as a voluntary, statewide effort already adopted by 52 hospitals, aimed at improving patient health while supporting Kentucky farmers and local food systems. Members discussed access to healthy food, grocery-store availability, school nutrition, and the need to reduce barriers to local procurement; the resolution was adopted unanimously after a roll call vote, with one senator briefly explaining a late vote due to weather. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 12, which would allow mid-level practitioners to serve as the leader of a Level IV trauma center under physician direction. The sponsor and witnesses from Appalachian Regional Healthcare argued the change would help address rural trauma-care shortages, align with national standards, and improve access without changing scope of practice or other trauma-center requirements. Several members raised questions and comments about rural access, liability, costs, and the broader health impacts, but no vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you want to go to your neighborhood pharmacy, you only get a 30-day supply.
• If I go through my local pharmacy, I can only get a 30-day supply.
• If I go through the mail order, then I can get the 90-day supply, but the price is... ...significantly
• If I go through my local pharmacy, I can only get a 30-day supply.
• it's, I can get the 90-day supply, but the price is significantly different.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related measures. SB 27 by Senator Umberg would revise and expand California’s CARE Court by limiting the expansion to people with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, clarifying the definition of “clinically stabilized,” and narrowing the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Supporters, including behavioral health officials and family members, said the bill would reduce dismissals and better serve people with severe illness; opponents warned the expansion would strain county staffing and housing resources and could undermine voluntary engagement. The bill passed on a do pass motion to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 503 by Senator Weber Pierson would require AI tools used in health care facilities to be identified, monitored, and mitigated for bias when used in clinical decision-making or resource allocation. The author and supporters from Kaiser Permanente and the California Medical Association said the bill would help prevent discriminatory outcomes and improve trust and safety. The committee discussed the need to clarify developer and deployer responsibilities, and the bill passed as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. SB 68 by Senator Menjivar would require restaurants to provide written allergen information for the top nine food allergens, with tiered flexibility for smaller establishments. The bill was supported by patients, families, nurses, and allergy organizations, who described severe reactions and the difficulty of relying on verbal disclosures alone. The California Restaurant Association opposed unless amended, seeking broader use of the national model food code and additional liability language. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 403 by Senator Blakespear, which would remove the sunset from the End of Life Option Act; supporters described the law as a compassionate, well-functioning option for terminally ill patients, while faith-based groups opposed it. The bill passed to Judiciary. Later, SB 41 by Senator Wiener was introduced to rein in pharmacy benefit manager practices that steer patients to mail-order pharmacies and reimburse community pharmacies below cost; community pharmacists and several health organizations testified in support, describing pharmacy closures and patient access problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1560 CAP water supply development fund. Natural resources.
• SB 1560 CAP water supply development fund. Natural resources.
• SB 1560 CAP water supply development fund. Natural resources.
• SB 1530, assured water supply building permits. SB 1531, special plate distracted driving.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But one of the things that you may or may not know is that we need to keep looking for the next supply
• But one of the things that you may or may not know is that we need to keep looking for the next supply
• SB 1200: assured water supply certificate model. Natural resources.
• SB 1210: supply and demand assessment groundwater. Natural resources.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established attendance, approved the prior journal, and welcomed several guests, including the Doctor of the Day, a student shadowing a senator, representatives from Republic Services, and visitors from Copper Valley Energy. Senators also announced administrative deadlines, including extensions for opening Senate folders and for Senate bill introduction preparation, with the bill introduction deadline set for February 2. The main floor business was the reading and reference of a large number of Senate bills and resolutions across many subject areas, including education, government, appropriations, natural resources, health and human services, finance, judiciary and elections, and military affairs and border security. The calendar also included second-reading placement for another large group of bills covering topics such as firearms, behavioral health, family courts, insurance, water, taxation, public safety, and elections. No substantive debate or votes on the merits of the measures occurred during this portion beyond the procedural reading and referral of the bills. Standing committee reports were accepted without being read, and committee announcements were made for upcoming meetings of Government, Health and Human Services, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, Education, Judiciary and Elections, and Public Safety. The Senate then adjourned on motion until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.