Transcript Highlights:

• big town, but as some of these folks are talking about who wins and who loses, my folks are getting zero
• They are getting zero until the next census.

Bills: SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146 , SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: SB143, solid waste, garbage collection, trash fees, refuse collection, municipal fees, county fees, fee exemption, veterans benefits, veteran household, disabled veteran, VA benefits, Social Security exemption, low-income households, poverty level, county commission, municipal governing body, Alabama solid waste law, certificate of exception, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• Thirty-one ayes, zero noes. The resolution is adopted. Moving on to item 30, please read.
• The noes are zero. The resolution is passed. And let me go back to a previous announcement.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and pledge, welcomed a seventh-grade class from Contra Costa Jewish Day School, and made routine announcements, including birthday wishes for Senator Hurtado and committee meeting notices. The body then took up two resolutions on the daily file. SR 82 by Senator Perez recognized Children’s Dental Health Month and highlighted the importance of early oral health care, the prevalence of tooth decay among California children, disparities affecting Latinx, Black, and low-income children, and Medi-Cal and other state efforts to expand dental access. SR 84 by Senator Caballero commemorated Women in Construction Week and emphasized the need to expand opportunities for women in the construction trades through apprenticeships, inclusive job sites, and workforce development to address labor shortages and support California’s housing and infrastructure goals. Both resolutions were adopted unanimously by roll call votes of 31-0. Afterward, members announced upcoming budget subcommittee meetings. The Senate then heard multiple adjourn-in-memory requests, including one from Senator Alvarado-Gil honoring eight victims of the February 17 avalanche near Truckee and another from Senator Wiener honoring Camille Moran, a San Francisco transgender advocate, artist, and community leader. The presiding officer noted the Senate would recess and reconvene on Monday, March 9, 2026, with an adjournment motion to follow later that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ten ayes and zero nays. 135 having received 10 ayes and zero nays.

Bills: SB2130 , SB2135

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Keywords: municipal finance, audit exemption, biennial reporting, local government, transparency, county purchasing, purchase card, government accountability, emergency expenditures, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that you would anticipate you do want to see reductions in, or are you kind of starting at ground zero
• What happens after it leaves my desk, I have zero control over, but I, as an individual, will not fail

Committee: House Subcommittee on Appropriations - Health, Mental Health, and Social Services

Summary: The subcommittee met informally to prepare for markup of House Bills 10 and 11, with the chair emphasizing the state’s budget shortfall, limited general revenue, and the need to prioritize reductions carefully. He said members should send their funding priorities directly to him by the next morning, and he outlined a three-tier approach: items required by law or that prevent future costs, items that are necessary to protect vulnerable residents, and discretionary wants that would be cut once money runs out. He also said he wanted a fair, transparent process and set a target of $500 million in general revenue savings on the bottom line for these two bills, noting that overall cuts could be in the $2 billion range to reach that goal. Members asked about specific areas, including TANF funding, possible reductions, and how department-suggested cuts would be handled. The chair said he was open to using TANF instead of general revenue where possible, but each case would be reviewed individually. He also said departments had identified some legislative efforts and programs they believe they can do without, and he was willing to show those recommendations if reductions are made. Representative Black raised concern about proposed cuts to substance use disorder programs, arguing they save the state money and should be protected; the chair agreed that such programs can fit the “must” or “need” categories and said he was open to considering them. The chair asked members to submit any requests for increases along with offsets, preferably within House Bills 10 and 11, and said he would take those recommendations to the budget chair. He closed by reiterating that the subcommittee’s job is to prioritize spending in a difficult budget year and adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• With 21 ayes and zero nos, you have voted do pass. House Committee substitute.
• One ayes and zero nos. You have voted do pass.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Summary: The Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 2771. Members adopted a House Committee amendment, then rolled it into a new substitute combining HB 2771 with HB 1993. The House Committee substitute for HB 2771 and HB 1993 was then voted do pass by a roll call of 21 ayes and 0 nos. The committee also announced that another bill on the agenda would be held over until the following week at the request of Representative Roberts, who is working with the Missouri Veterans Commission and its director. No action was taken on that measure during this meeting. The remainder of the meeting was a presentation on the MoABLE program by State Treasurer Vivek Malik and coordinator Yvonne Riedman. They explained that, under a federal change effective January 1, 2026, eligibility now extends to people whose disability began before age 46 rather than 26. They said the program helps disabled Missourians, including veterans, save and invest without affecting certain means-tested benefits, and that account funds can be used for qualified expenses such as housing, health care, education, transportation, and assistive technology. Committee members asked about veteran eligibility, asset limits, work status, account balances, and outreach efforts; Malik said enrollment has grown from under 2,000 to nearly 6,000 and that the office is promoting the program through veteran organizations and upcoming public service announcements.

Transcript Highlights:

• it was a fee increase, and when I opened up the rural impact statement, it said the fiscal cost was zero
• It'd be pretty hard to have a fiscal cost of zero when there is a fee increase.

Committee: House Administrative Rules

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That makes 11 yays and zero nays. Congratulations! You have... Zero nays. Congratulations.

Committee: Senate Confirmations

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:16:38.240><c> know</c><00:16:39.040><c> essentially</c><00:16:39.519><c> zero</c><00:16:39.839><
• c> about</c><00:16:40.079><c> labor</c><00:16:40.480><c> law,</c> I know essentially zero about labor
• law, I know essentially zero about labor law, but<00:16:43.600><c> you,</c><00:16:44.000><c> I</c><00
• But it would be not tolerated, for the most part, in many brick-and-mortar places the way that workers

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because zero of our 41 licensed midwives are kanaka maoli, and one is born and raised here. P.
• In 25 years that I have attended home birth and hospital birth, I have seen zero maternal harm and zero
• There are zero kanaka ʻoi CPMs, and that is alarming.
• There are zero kanaka ʻoi CPMs, and that is alarming.
• zero zero kanaka oi fact that there's zero zero kanaka oi cpms<02:24:04.479><c> like</c><02:24:04.640

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Health and Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard two midwifery bills, with testimony focused primarily on HB 1194. Committee chairs opened the hearing with rules for Zoom testimony and noted the bills relate to midwives. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it supported the intent of HB 1194 and offered comments. Supporters of the bill, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, argued that midwifery should remain subject to mandatory licensure to protect consumer safety, citing the state’s regulatory licensing standards and a 2025 state auditor sunset analysis. They said the bill would strengthen educational standards and public protection, and some offered clarifying amendments. Opponents argued HB 1194 would restrict access to care and fail to protect traditional, cultural, and community-based birth practices. Testifiers from the Hawaii Home Birth Task Force, the Hawaii Home Birth Collective, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Pacific Birth Collective, and Papa Ola Lōkahi said the bill would limit licensure pathways, reduce access in rural and underserved areas, and burden Native Hawaiian and traditional practitioners. Several speakers said the measure could worsen Hawaii’s maternal health shortages, especially on Maui, and urged lawmakers to defer HB 1194 or instead advance HB 1328, which they said better protects practitioner access and cultural practices. The Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives said it opposed HB 1194 because it did not align with national or state standards for certified midwives and could create conflicts with Medicaid reimbursement and prescriptive authority. The ACLU also opposed the measure, emphasizing reproductive rights, privacy, and the need to preserve apprenticeship pathways to licensure. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the point of zero returns is an important one. year pretty quickly so what you have in year pretty
• So the point of zero returns is an important one. Does that answer your question?
• Okay, yeah, so the threshold will really just impact the number of zero filers.
• zero returns is<00:57:27.920><c> an</c><00:57:28.079><c> important</c> one one one yeah<00:57:34.200
• </c> should just decrease the amount of zero should just decrease the amount of zero returns<00:57:52.799

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an overview from Chris of the Legislative Budget Assistance Office on how it will estimate unrestricted revenues for the General Fund, Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund. He explained that the committee’s work is based on current law, not pending bills, and that the estimates will feed into a House resolution and an amendment to House Bill 1, the operating budget. He also described the broader budget process, including how House and Senate estimates are reconciled, how surplus statements account for revenue changes from enacted bills, and how a committee of conference could resolve differences later in the session. No votes were taken. Members then asked about why the Education Trust Fund was running below plan. Chris said the shortfall appeared to be driven largely by business taxes, including differences in the BET/BPT split and improved tax-processing systems that better track where business tax payments belong. Representative Orr also asked about tobacco tax collections and out-of-state sales; Chris said tobacco revenue was likely overestimated in 2023 based on COVID-era patterns, with more people smoking at home, and noted that e-cigarette tax revenue goes to the General Fund while cigarette taxes are split between the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. He said he did not have a specific estimate for cross-border sales. Commissioner Lindsay St. Pierre of the Department of Revenue then began a deeper dive into the department’s role and the taxes it administers. She reviewed the department’s mission, organizational structure, taxpayer services, and the tax policy and legislative analysis staff who prepare fiscal notes and testify on bills. She noted that the department administers about $2.9 billion in revenue across major taxes such as business taxes, meals and rooms, and utility property tax, and that the figures being discussed were preliminary because the annual report had not yet been issued. The discussion was informational only, with no formal action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state's plan to achieve the legislature's GWSA goals of net zero emissions by 2050 contains a goal
• To reach net zero, we need to conserve 30% of the state's land by 2030 and 40% by 2050.
• The state agencies responsible for our net-zero transition and natural resource protection strategies
• plant upgrade, as well as nitrogen mitigation in other sections of town, we are actively seeking a zero
• Even if we're fortunate enough as a town to obtain a zero percent interest loan, we will still have to

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered several bills related to environmental, natural resources, and maritime issues. Representative Markey testified in support of H. 1000, which would create a commission to study financing wastewater infrastructure, especially in southeastern Massachusetts and the South Shore, citing combined sewer overflows and impacts on aquaculture. Members agreed the core challenge is finding long-term financing for wastewater solutions. The committee also heard testimony on H. 902 to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation, with supporters describing its role in expanding access, supporting underrepresented communities, and helping grow the outdoor economy. Related testimony also supported H. 986, which would codify the Division of Ecological Restoration and the Office of Fishing and Boating Access within the Department of Fish and Game, with witnesses emphasizing habitat restoration, flood reduction, public access, and boating/fishing opportunities. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 901/S. 597, “An Act Providing Nature for All,” which would dedicate existing sporting goods sales tax revenue to a new conservation fund. Supporters from Mass Audubon, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Appalachian Mountain Club, Trust for Public Land, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, and conservation groups argued the bill would provide a sustainable revenue stream for land conservation, parks, trails, wetlands, water protection, and climate resilience, while also advancing environmental justice and outdoor recreation. They said the state needs roughly $300 million more per year to meet land conservation goals and that the bill could generate about $100 million annually without raising taxes. Committee members asked about balancing conservation with housing and development, and witnesses said the goals are compatible and that the bill includes safeguards. Witnesses also noted similar funding models in other states. The hearing also included H. 1053, a bill to create a Merrimack River Collaborative. Regional planning and watershed advocates said the river faces bacterial contamination, heavy metals, combined sewer overflows, and other pollution, and that a formal collaborative would help coordinate municipalities, state agencies, and nonprofits across the watershed and possibly across state lines. Another bill, H. 4109, would relocate harbor lines in New Bedford Harbor to allow reconstruction of deteriorating bulkheads at a waterfront industrial site; the New Bedford Port Authority, engineers, and the property owner said the change is needed for permitting and would support port modernization and jobs. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on S. 641 regarding marine pilotage in New Bedford. Supporters argued the bill would remove a District 3 pilotage restriction and improve port flexibility and offshore wind operations, while opponents warned it would undermine the state’s compulsory pilotage system, weaken safety, and allow ship owners to shop for pilots. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• with as a food for thought, maybe you asked a question about it is, you know, California also has zero-emission
• Can heavy-duty AVs accelerate heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles?
• Can heavy-duty AVs accelerate heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles?
• Here, the department claimed that the deployment of heavy-duty autonomous vehicles would result in zero
• The notion that removing drivers from commercial trucks at scale produces zero employment impact defies

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 57 ayes and zero nays, the resolution is adopted.
• There being 65 ayes and zero nays, the bill is passed and its title agreed to.
• There have been 67 ayes and zero nays.
• been</c><01:08:58.319><c> 67</c><01:08:58.880><c> eyes</c><01:08:59.040><c> and</c><01:08:59.199><c> zero
• </c> There have been 67 eyes and zero nays. There have been 67 eyes and zero nays.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The vote is 62 noes, zero. The measure passes.
• The vote is 61 ayes, zero noes. That measure passes. Moving to file item 40, AB 1829.
• There are 63 ayes and zero noes. That measure passes.
• Additionally, this bill received zero no votes through policy and fiscal committees.
• Additionally, this bill received zero no votes through policy and fiscal committees.

Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a ceremonial observance for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support of House Resolution 107, which designates May as AAPI Heritage Month, emphasizing the community’s contributions, resilience, and the need to confront discrimination and hate. The resolution was adopted, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 AAPI Heritage Month celebration, highlighting leaders in education, business, labor, media, cultural preservation, and public service. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up a series of bills. Measures discussed included HOA reserve funding for common interest developments (AB 2050), professional review requirements for lawsuits against design professionals (AB 2106), direct home delivery of enteral formula (AB 1794), expanded CalWORKs-related support for student parents (AB 1829), longer insurance moratoriums for wildfire survivors (AB 2038), election cybersecurity (AB 2281), medical privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care (AB 2448), water district board compensation (AB 2568), county public contract change-order authority (AB 1658), and several other education, health, and licensing bills. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 2050 passed 44-6, AB 2038 passed 45-8, AB 2448 passed 49-13, and AB 1658 passed 61-2, while several others passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and affirming California’s mail voting system. The resolution prompted extended debate over election integrity, voter access, and federal versus state authority, with supporters arguing mail voting is secure and accessible and opponents calling for stronger voter list maintenance and verification. The resolution passed 47-13. In addition, ACR 141 and ACR 123 were adopted by voice vote after co-author roll calls, and the chamber continued or passed on numerous other file items as it worked through the daily file.

Transcript Highlights:

• continue to look and start looking into the future, our budget is incrementalism based instead of zero-based
• How did we get let's just look at it, zero 500 million more than in February Madam Chair and Representative
• Of course, many of them are inactive, many of them with zero balances that We need to exclude.
• And then during a fiscal downturn, that bar may be lowered zero.
• It's not like we give a zero, like it's a zero. out on, say, the film tax credit.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a wash, zero. There's nothing gained there. It's just moving it. So think of a box.
• So again, it's a true zero out.
• The reason it doesn't have a percent there, go back to your grade school days, you can't divide by zero
• So, in result of this budget, this enhancement budget, there are zero FTPs increased.
• This bill ensures zero accountability to the department.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 456 passes unanimously, 19 yes votes, zero no votes. &gt;&gt; yes. &gt;&gt; yes.
• </c><00:31:01.840><c> 19</c><00:31:02.240><c> yes</c><00:31:02.559><c> votes,</c><00:31:02.960><c> zero
• </c> passes unanimously. 19 yes votes, zero passes unanimously. 19 yes votes, zero no<00:31:03.600><c
• c> favorable</c><00:31:04.640><c> expressions</c> House Bill 456 passes unanimously. 19 yes votes, zero
• House Bill 480 passes with 19 yes votes, zero no votes, with favorable expression.

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: Consideration of HB 10 -- 00:03:22 Consideration of HB 456 -- 00:20:47 Consideration of HB 480 -- 00:31:24, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• foreign direct investment into California, and I would agree that that is less of an issue, maybe not a zero
• I'm not going to say zero concern, because no matter what design you create with the corporate income
• being forced into hunger, there's ...another 5 million at risk of being forced into hunger, there's zero
• Tesla paid zero in taxes, yet benefits from the California infrastructure and the educational institutions
• Tesla paid zero in taxes, yet benefits from the California infrastructure and the educational institutions

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next area I'd like to ask about is zero-emission vehicles.
• of the summary, the Governor highlighted that the state has invested nearly $3.7 billion already in zero-emission
• And the goal, as the Governor stated last year, if the federal government was to pull back the zero-emission
• the federal government was funding at—but it's to partially offset that to continue the adoption of zero-emission
• And that is the last couple of years when there have been proposals for zero money in that program, and

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard opening remarks on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget, which the chair described as roughly balanced in the budget year but still facing large out-year structural deficits. The vice chair criticized the revenue assumptions as overly optimistic and stressed the need to review recent program expansions and address the state’s $20 billion federal unemployment insurance debt. The Department of Finance said the budget is a “workload” plan with about $350 billion in total spending, $23 billion in reserves, a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit, and out-year gaps above $20 billion, while the LAO warned of downside revenue risk tied to stock market volatility and urged earlier action on the structural deficit rather than waiting for May. Finance and the LAO discussed major budget components, including Proposition 98 funding, higher education base increases for UC and CSU, climate and wildfire spending, a new ZEV incentive, child care COLAs, and tax proposals involving marketplace facilitators, renewable aviation fuel, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. Members raised concerns about proposed Medi-Cal and CalFresh changes tied to federal HR1 impacts, the MCO tax extension, hospital finances, county costs, and the decision not to backfill all federal funding losses. Finance said the administration is not in a position to replace all lost federal funds, but wants to work with the Legislature on priorities and timing before the May Revision. Several senators used the hearing to preview subcommittee priorities and request more detail on spending growth, reserves, and program cuts. Topics included homelessness funding, Care Court throughput, wildfire and climate investments, AB 617, data centers, the judicial branch’s facilities backlog, displaced workers, transit funding, and preparations for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. No budget action or vote was taken at this hearing; the committee mainly received presentations and member questions, with public comment scheduled later.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a cannot-be-determined at the time, zero impact.
• Now we're down to three, so we're good with a zero.
• The fiscal note is zero. This is to enact one of our veterans...
• DMV is here to testify, but I believe the fiscal note is zero.
• To the rescue. ...is here to testify, but I believe the fiscal note is zero. Mr.

Bills: AB102 , AB108 , AB117 , AB213 , AB220 , AB221 , AB251 , AB259 , AB331 , AB336 , AB375 , AB379 , AB409 , AB475 , AB476 , AB550 , AB575 , AB594 , SB466

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district, paramedic, training requirements, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, special license plates, vehicle registration, custom plates, state revenue, transportation, public works, prevailing wage, custom fabrication, nonstandard materials