Transcript Highlights:

• That's something we've been working on for a couple of days now.
• do the work of fixing these animals.
• I've built my business working every day for the last seven years.
• I've been doing this work for almost five years.
• As much as I'd like to watch Senate committees at work, I didn't quite watch those at work.

Bills: SB38 , SB17 , SB41 , SB264

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, sexual crimes, statute of limitations

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have heard that in Illinois, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, they are also working to change this no
• But we've worked hard with the industry folks to try to accommodate their issues as well as the agency
• folks worked hard uh with the industry folks to<00:04:27.840><c> try</c><00:04:28.080><c> to</c><00:
• We also would like to thank Representative Cleorne for working with us, and we'll continue to do that
• He said there was an individual working in the dining area who looked but did not try to help.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your work. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, members.
• We just don't all work for the same company.
• And so I would like to applaud their work.
• Discussion and work.
• Once again, thank you for your work. Appreciate you. You're adjourned.

Summary: The committee took up several business and commerce measures, beginning with HB 2970, which would change Oklahoma’s state fossil from Saurophaganax to Sauroposeidon because the former has been identified as a chimera. The author and members discussed the dinosaur’s size, its discovery in Oklahoma, and the tourism and educational value of highlighting the state’s prehistoric resources. The bill received a do pass recommendation and was reported out of committee by a 15-1 vote. Members then advanced HB 3338, a pool industry regulation bill, and HB 3443, which increases permit fees for oversized and overweight loads to fund weigh station improvements. HB 3443 was described as an inflation adjustment to fees that had not changed since 2008 and as an industry-supported idea; it passed 14-2. HB 3800, described as a cleanup bill from last session, and HB 3818, a home and auto savings account bill with the tax portion removed to avoid a fiscal impact, both received favorable committee action, with HB 3818 passing 17-0. HB 3783, the endorsed plumbers apprentice bill, drew the most discussion. Supporters said it would let trade school graduates take the exam sooner and better align training with workforce needs, while the union pipefitters and plumbers were said to oppose it. The author outlined possible amendments, including minimum training hours and a penalty for unlicensed work, and then laid the bill over until Thursday so amendments could be finalized. The chair also laid over HB 2471 for further amendment and discussion with the Workforce Commission before the committee’s final meeting later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> bill gives us an opportunity to work bill gives us an opportunity to work across<00:02:01.360><c
• We want to work with everybody.
• </c> do protect consumers because I worked do protect consumers because I worked for<00:14:41.680><c>
• </c> is a former federal prosecutor, worked is a former federal prosecutor, worked for<00:14:48.000><
• </c> hard work and protecting our citizens. hard work and protecting our citizens.

Transcript Highlights:

• we previously voted out relating to the inclusion of information about construction or maintenance work
• weakened real-time supervision, increasing the risk of unqualified individuals conducting critical work
• topographical error to strengthen advisory board duties, and repealing the provision that allows unlicensed
• individuals to perform mold-related work under supervisions.

Bills: HB2450 , SB378 , SB764 , SB917 , SB1254 , SB1255

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: elevator inspection, building safety, construction standards, health and safety code, regulatory requirements, SB 378, Texas Occupations Code, barbering, cosmetology, barber, cosmetologist, licensing, professional licensing, unauthorized practice, medical procedures, skin incision, dermis, injections, devices, consumer safety

Transcript Highlights:

• If you haven't seen it, I hope I'm right with the title—how do you do 24 hours' worth of work?
• They do 36 hours' worth of work in a 24-hour day.
• You know, there's no—like, you have to be literally outside if you're working in a group home.
• be working for them and helping them really means a lot to me.
• Thank you all for your hard work on this budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• We work on infrastructure policy, infrastructure financing, event planning, and government affairs.
• Thank you very much, uh, Representative Herrera and great work on your end.
• Uh, yes, uh, and I also want to note Representative Sanchez's deep work and support on this.
• Thank you very much for your work. Thank you very much.
• We'll talk before we leave, but great session and just thank you for your diligent work.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And this year's sixth grader class is following up on that work by championing and testifying on a bill
• following</c><00:13:17.600><c> up</c><00:13:17.760><c> on</c><00:13:18.000><c> that</c><00:13:18.240><c> work
• </c><00:13:18.800><c> by</c> class is following up on that work by class is following up on that work

Bills: HB1974 , HB1853 , HB1973 , HB1574 , HB2619 , HB1966 , HB1643 , HB1671 , HB2558 , HB1854 , HB2173 , HB1575 , HB2229 , HB1535 , HB1978 , HB2508 , HB1549 , HB2187 , HB1550 , HB1977 , HB2314 , HB1871 , HB2319 , HB1591 , HB1858 , HB1898 , HB2372 , HB1765 , HB2012 , HB1706 , HB1962 , HB1963 , HB1975 , HB2009 , HB2083 , HB2224 , HB1877 , HB1959 , HB1626 , HB1665 , HB2488 , HB2456 , HB2548 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2079 , HB1985 , HB1618 , HB2486 , HB2242 , HB2045 , HB1703 , HB2236 , HB2480 , HB1976 , HB2287 , HB2288 , HB1777 , HB276 , HB1660 , HB1676 , HB1605 , HB1751 , HB1967 , HB2383 , HB2340 , HB1946 , HB2268 , HB1950 , HB2156 , HB2118 , HB1859 , HB1863 , HB1996 , HB2114 , HB2423 , HB2429 , HB2475 , HB2534 , HB2545 , HB1813 , HB1941 , HB2474 , HB2583 , HB1576 , HB1886 , HB1939 , HB2540 , HB2590 , HB2000 , HB2163 , HB2386 , HB1691 , HB1680 , HB2516 , HB1993 , HB2442 , HB1510 , HB1958 , HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• So we did work on this language.
• The treatment isn't working.
• I understand that the work of security— As I don't work, I've lost my employment.
• And we need to work on addressing that. So I have appreciated your work.
• And we need to work on addressing that. So have appreciated your work.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum. The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's, of course, been a lot of work, and a lot of work by Legislative Counsel, a lot of work by committees
• It works. Works perfectly. No lawsuits, no challenges.
• We're going to keep working on it.
• Let's get to work.
• Senator, thank you so much for your work in this space and for working with the opposition and making

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Human</c><00:14:41.760><c> Trafficking</c> you work with the Human Trafficking you work with the Human
• </c> language that appears to be working language that appears to be working today.<00:17:29.200><c>
• We would work with the OPLC.
• Let's work it out.
• </c> the work comes, the people come with it. the work comes, the people come with it.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• some of them even a million dollars, involving a lot of work that was construction work, and that's
• It's all construction work, and it needs to be overseen.
• The lineup was of cities and counties who said, 'We want to permit this work.
• Please help us be allowed to permit this work.' ...through cities and counties.
• The lineup was of cities and counties who said, 'We want to permit this work.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism heard SB 456 by Senator Ashby, the Community Beautification Act, which would create an exemption allowing muralists to do commissioned mural work without obtaining a contractor’s license. The author and supporters said the bill would clarify existing law, preserve public art and placemaking projects, and still leave in place applicable safety, permitting, and contract requirements. Support testimony came from the City of Sacramento’s arts manager and muralist Jaya King, who described mural projects as fine art and community engagement rather than construction, and from numerous local governments and arts organizations, including the League of California Cities, Los Angeles County, Sacramento, Stockton, Glendale, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Riverside, Escondido, and the California Travel Association. Opposition centered on concerns that the exemption could weaken consumer protections in contractor licensing law. One member of the public argued that mural projects can involve construction-related work such as surface preparation and installation, and that licensing requirements, down payments, insurance, and background checks protect consumers and should not be bypassed. A representative of the State Building and Construction Trades also expressed concerns but said the author’s office had been engaged and a follow-up meeting was scheduled. Several committee members spoke in favor, saying murals are clearly public art and an important part of neighborhood identity and local culture. The chair and other members described the bill as a common-sense clarification that would reduce barriers for artists and cities seeking to permit mural projects. The committee then voted 9-0 to pass SB 456 and re-refer it to the Business and Professions Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> impact tangible results through the work impact tangible results through the work we<00:03:33.439
• </c><00:08:42.719><c> on</c> had a 200 projects that we worked on had a 200 projects that we worked on
• </c> Marketplace our two main buckets of work Marketplace our two main buckets of work that<00:09:45.959
• Schlek responded that they are working with stakeholders across all sectors and that they work with a
• working on both those work with with you working on both those programs<01:04:18.200><c> yeah</c><01:

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, it's worked in the past where we've allowed coaches who are trusted by the school principals
• You've done several pieces of good work here to be able to further.
• In my current role, I work with athletes of all ages, from elementary school students to professional
• This amounts to unlicensed psychiatric practice and has contributed to tragic outcomes.
• And I am working with Assembly Member Gabriel and Assembly Member Irwin on their bills as well.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you for all your hard work. hard work.
• Sanchez, and I also want to hand it to my colleagues for their hard work on the bills before committee
• wildfire risk mitigation planning do pass as amended to require Cal fire to contract out for certain work
• SB 234 Nilo, toxic heavy metals work group holding Zad Miss Sanchez is a principal co-author SB 603 Nilo
• SB 35 Umberg, Unlicensed Alcohol and Drug Programs, hold in committee.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So we got unlicensed vehicles with the other tag. They take the tag off the front.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• How does it work with rent?
• </c> unregulated unlicensed unregulated unlicensed programs<00:20:39.080><c> that</c><00:20:39.600><c
• a lot of the work that these Centers do a lot of the work that these Centers do I<00:25:30.320><c> don't
• </c> seniors not that low-income working seniors not that low-income working family<00:43:17.880><c>
• in our counties who wants to go to work in our counties who wants to go to work<02:16:50.280><c> and

Bills: HF25 , HF4

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• c> [clears throat] Having worked in [clears throat] Having worked in insurance, insurance, insurance,
• </c> have taken some extreme steps to work have taken some extreme steps to work for<00:26:40.799><c>
• So again in this committee we try to work things together. everybody worked together.
• </c> our sleeves and trying to get the work our sleeves and trying to get the work done done done &gt
• </c> February, um in the vein of working February, um in the vein of working together,<00:48:32.000><

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then recognized a staff member’s birthday and a guest shadowing Senator Adams. It then moved into informational review of Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Education regulation 702 KAR 3:30, which sets insurance coverage requirements for school district buildings and structures. Department of Education officials explained that districts are expected to carry coverage at replacement cost and said they understand some districts participate in self-insurance pools with backup policies, but they deferred detailed insurance questions to the Department of Insurance. Senators raised concerns that pooled coverage could leave districts exposed if claims exceed pool limits, and the chair asked KDE to follow up with DOI to confirm districts are adequately covered, especially for bondholders. No vote was taken on the informational review. The committee then reviewed emergency ABC regulations 804 KAR 130:01 through 130:04 implementing Senate Bill 100’s new licensing requirements for tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product businesses. ABC and Public Protection Cabinet representatives outlined the emergency rules governing enforcement, license applications, denial criteria, and transitional licenses. Retail industry witnesses Shannon Stiglet and Brian Clark said they support licensure in principle but argued the rules add duplicative requirements borrowed from alcohol licensing, create confusion about transitional licenses, and may be too burdensome for the roughly 7,000 affected businesses to meet by the January 1 deadline. They also said guidance has been inconsistent and requested the agency revise the regulations, remove requirements not grounded in law, and provide clearer, separate processes for new and existing businesses. Committee members asked whether the industry had worked directly with ABC and noted the public comment period was still open. Witnesses said they had communicated with ABC and the Public Protection Cabinet, but responses had been uneven and they wanted written guidance. Members expressed concern about the short timeline and the need to avoid disruption so businesses can operate legally on January 1. Representative Marzian asked for clarification that the discussion concerned emergency regulations already in effect while ordinary regulations remain in process. No formal action was taken beyond receiving the informational testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now there's a lot of unlicensed broker activity.

Committee: Senate Investigations And Government Operations

Summary: The Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee met on May 12, 2026, with Chair James Skoufis noting it could be the committee’s final meeting of the session and that the agenda included 44 bills, many involving local tax matters. Most measures were moved and reported with little discussion, including several Tax Law, Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, Public Officers Law, and local authorization bills. A number of bills were also referred onward, including S. 3649, which Skoufis recommended against because noncompliant municipalities could lose significant funding; it was defeated. Other measures were referred to Finance, Judiciary, Energy, or Codes, including S. 8221B, a bill on ticket resale and consumer protections, which Skoufis said would cap many fees, limit live music resale above face value, require disclosure of ticket holdbacks, tighten broker licensure, and close refund loopholes. Members briefly questioned the ticket-resale bill, asking what consumer benefit it would provide and which tickets would be covered. Skoufis explained that the bill was aimed at reducing price gouging, especially for concerts and some smaller events, while carving out Broadway and sports. He also said the bill would address hidden ticket allocations and refund practices that had been problematic during the pandemic. The committee then voted to report the bill to Finance. Several other bills drew negative recommendations or were defeated, including S. 8447 and S. 8619, both of which were defeated after no-vote recommendations. S. 9284 was referred to Judiciary, S. 9741A to Finance, and S. 9924 to Codes. The committee also reported a state land transfer bill for the Richardson Center Corporation and approved or reported numerous other bills, ending with S. 10188, which approved Section 2 of Chapter 316 of the Laws of 2025. Skoufis thanked the clerk, staff, and members at the close of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• work...
• work.
• It had many patch works on it.
• We also continue work on US 12 between Walla Walla and Tri-Cities, work to add capacity, improve safety
• So she's there working away.

Bills: SB5989

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: aircraft fuel tax, tax revenue distribution, aviation funding, transportation, state revenue