Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know if he thinks the price is zero at this point.
• It doesn't seem like he would say the price of democracy is not too high if the price is zero dollars
• The price must be higher than zero dollars, which means that under our House rules, it may be inconvenient

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was zero in support, two opposed. That would public hearing time. All right.
• And then the moderator in the moderator certificate, if he didn't use any, you'd write zero in, right
• And then the moderator in the moderator certificate, if he didn't use any, you'd write zero in, right
• And then the moderator in the moderator certificate, if he didn't use any, you'd write zero in, right
• Next year the number may be again 10,000, till I get to zero.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides zero funding for these requirements and no technical assistance and no legal support
• This<00:41:19.280><c> bill</c><00:41:19.599><c> provides</c><00:41:20.000><c> zero</c><00:41:20.400><
• c> funding</c><00:41:20.800><c> for</c> This bill provides zero funding for This bill provides zero funding
• </c> to zero. Senator Gray for the committee. to zero. Senator Gray for the committee.
• Senator Long for the voter 5 to zero.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:34:46.679><c> never</c><00:34:47.040><c> fell</c><00:34:47.440><c> below</c><00:34:47.919><c> zero
• </c> this 10year time never fell below zero this 10year time never fell below zero on<00:34:48.440><c
• Receipts have gone below zero for local sales tax collections, and then that year that those collections
• went below zero was in fiscal 2021.
• went below zero was in fiscal 2021.

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I's 38 no zero. The bill passes. We are moving to item 125 SB 1049. Secretary, please read.
• Aye. 37, no zero. That measure passes. We will now move to file item 147, SB 1119.
• This bill has no opposition and has had zero no votes. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• Aye, 37, no zero. That measure passes. We will now move to file item 256.
• Aye, 36, no zero that measure passes.

Summary: The Senate began with a roll call, a moment of silence for the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The body then moved through gubernatorial appointments, confirming Julia Montgomery as General Counsel for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and reappointing Dr. Cynthia Glover Woods, Dr. Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez to the State Board of Education, and George Cardona as Chief Trial Counsel for the State Bar. The Senate also heard a guest introduction welcoming Cal Lutheran University students, faculty, and staff to the gallery. The chamber then took up several resolutions, including SR 111 recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Phobia, and Transphobia; SCR 129 designating part of Highway 152 as the Rusty Arraes Highway; SCR 169 proclaiming October 2026 as Women's Small Business Month; and SCR 173 designating May 2026 as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. All of these resolutions passed, with members speaking in support of Arraes, women-owned businesses, and the public safety and community roles of fairgrounds. The Senate also passed a series of policy bills. These included SB 1154 on best-value procurement for community college public works, SB 1369 on judicial recall safeguards, SB 1106 shortening the data broker deletion timeline under the Delete Act, SB 1417 increasing transparency for mutual water companies, SB 1408 authorizing a future Contra Costa transportation sales tax measure, SB 1172 adding guardrails to local tax sharing agreements, SB 1383 protecting locally adopted labor standards in density bonus projects, SB 1371 barring waste haulers from suspending service during lawful labor disputes, SB 908 streamlining residential window replacement permits, SB 1361 limiting actions taken solely to avoid transit-oriented housing standards, SB 1014 requiring early fee and improvement estimates for housing projects, SB 1272 giving homeowners more time to fix preexisting code violations, SB 1406 targeting the Montana tax loophole, SB 1238 increasing HOA transparency and oversight, and SB 868 creating a plug-in solar framework. Most passed on largely party-line votes, with some Republican members objecting to labor-related or regulatory measures. Later in the day, the Senate approved additional health, education, privacy, and AI measures, including SB 950 on early-onset Alzheimer’s treatment coverage, SB 874 on Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment oversight, SB 1049 on correcting health plan claims, SB 1067 on early math screening, SB 1202 on Medi-Cal outreach amid federal changes, SB 944 on acupuncture coverage, SB 957 on notice for federal subpoenas to social media companies, SB 998 on discrimination prevention coordinators, and SB 1000 on AI content transparency. The final item shown, SB 1056 on protective orders for sexually explicit material involving adult victims, was introduced with the author noting ongoing work on amendments, but the transcript cuts off before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, it came out of committee with zero no votes. Ladies, state your point of order.
• 17 to zero. Okay. All right. So that's how it voted out of committee. Yes. Okay.
• This bill did pass the House back on March 11th with 142 yeses and zero noes.
• I have an amendment ending in point zero... Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• I would hope zero because they shouldn't have had a CDL. Okay.

Summary: The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 133-0. The session then included many introductions of interns, guests, and a Teacher Appreciation Day statement. A committee report recommended passage of Senate Bill 903, and the chamber moved into third reading and amendment action on Senate Bill 1421 and related measures. Members debated and adopted a long series of amendments covering public safety, criminal justice, schools, and corrections. Topics included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger school safety program and school bus stop-arm penalties, Clean Slate automatic expungement language narrowed to drug offenses, an Alzheimer’s task force and dementia training for law enforcement, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, banning portable electronic devices in prisons, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure protections, parental accountability for minors’ offenses, fentanyl trafficking, attorney general firearms authority, support for St. Louis and Kansas City police boards, DNA collection on arrest for additional crimes, a 25-foot buffer around first responders, a domestic violence registry, squatter and notary fraud fixes, gift card fraud, and post-conviction death penalty procedures. Several amendments drew opposition over civil liberties, school safety, prison penalties, and death penalty concerns, but most were adopted. The most contested item was the death penalty post-conviction relief amendment, which members argued either would streamline appeals and risk wrongful executions or would provide needed finality for victims; it ultimately passed 75-68 after a roll call vote. Another notable debate centered on the St. Louis Police Board amendment, with members disputing who should pay for police overtime and liability costs. The transcript ends amid discussion of a corrections-related amendment on good-time credit and rehabilitation programming, with the amendment to the amendment being supported by members from both parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
• And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
• And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
• And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
• And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This item is approved, the overall average rate will be zero.
• approved the overall average rate will approved the overall average rate will be<00:06:42.639><c> zero
• :44.080><c> we</c><00:06:44.319><c> do</c><00:06:44.479><c> this</c><00:06:45.199><c> twice</c> be zero
• And every time we do this twice be zero.
• cost um so that they're not zero cost um so that they're not affected<00:09:33.519><c> and</c><00:09

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on December 19, with Senators Long and Lang serving as replacements. The committee approved the November 21 minutes and adopted the consent calendar after removing two Department of Health and Human Services items for separate discussion. It then took up an HHS request involving nursing facility rates, where Nathan White explained that $2.2 million would be transferred from a long-term care Medicaid eligibility contract to the nursing facilities budget. He said the funds would offset an otherwise projected 3.9% average rate decrease and bring the overall average change to zero for the next six months, with rates reset again in July under state law. Members asked about the budget adjustment factor, bed counts, and whether additional funds could raise rates further; White said the factor is statutory, capped at 28.76%, and that more money would lower the factor and increase rates. The committee also corrected a date in the request from February 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, and approved the item. The committee next approved another HHS item related to rural health transformation grants. Members confirmed the request covered the full amount applied for this biennium, and asked about the technology component. HHS said the grant is not solely about AI, but about broader technology improvements such as electronic medical records, back-end systems, and tools to improve access and sustainability in underserved areas. The committee approved that item as well. The Judicial Council then requested funds for contract attorneys providing indigent defense on a fixed-fee basis. The council said current funds had already been exhausted and that the new appropriation would be used immediately. Members questioned the size of the request and the number of people awaiting counsel; the council reported about 150 incarcerated people and about 300 non-incarcerated people waiting for counsel, more than in recent years. It attributed the increase to competition for attorneys, public defender offices closing intake in some locations because of caseload limits, and broader case and court-system changes. One member raised constitutional concerns about delays in counsel for incarcerated defendants. The committee ultimately amended the request downward to $1 million, approved it, and then approved a motion to place several annual financial reports on file and release them to the public when available. The committee also discussed dashboard reporting from HHS, asking for more detail on community mental health center caseloads and budget-reduction information, and HHS agreed to provide more useful monthly detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The system, in the end, has zero financial downside to the existing funding mechanism.
• Zero chance.
• chance thank you doctors 60 days zero chance thank you doctors thank<02:12:34.920><c> you</c><02:12:
• I count 20 to zero. All right, the vote being 20 to zero, the bill will be retained in committee.
• </c> I count 20 to zero I count 20 to zero all<03:47:15.600><c> right</c><03:47:15.760><c> the</c><03

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money from New Hampshire’s renewable energy fund back to electric ratepayers. The bill sponsor argued the measure would lower energy costs, noting recent utility rate increases and estimating annual savings of roughly $2.5 million to $7.3 million for ratepayers. Supporters said the fund has accumulated money that should be returned to customers rather than used for subsidies, and they emphasized that the state has already rebated similar funds from RGGI for years. Opponents, including Rep. Kat McGee, argued the renewable energy fund is a successful, nonlapsing dedicated fund that supports local clean-energy projects, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and private investment. McGee said the fiscal note overstated the benefit of rebates and understated the loss of investment, claiming the average annual rebate would amount to less than $10 per customer while the program has helped leverage significant private dollars and nearly 10,000 projects. She urged the committee to reject the bill as a poor deal for the state and ratepayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal note, the size of the rebate, whether the bill would set a precedent for other dedicated funds, and whether the program’s incentives amount to picking winners and losers. The Department of Energy testified neutrally, explaining how the renewable energy fund works, including renewable energy credits, alternative compliance payments, and the fund’s use for renewable energy initiatives. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It nets out zero, but it reduces the Tabor impact. for the Aaria Higher Education Center. for the Aaria
• It nets out zero<03:28:19.920><c> but</c><03:28:20.160><c> it</c><03:28:20.479><c> reduces</c><03:28:
• 21.359><c> the</c><03:28:21.680><c> tabor</c><03:28:22.160><c> impact</c><03:28:22.880><c> of</c> Zero

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's eight to zero. Everyone's voted? Yes. Okay, so that bill's out on a vote of eight to zero.
• It's eight to zero. Everyone's voted? Yes. Okay, so that bill's out on a vote of eight to zero.
• We don't want any twos; we want zero. Moving now to file item 5, AB 1184 Patterson.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing met without a quorum at first and operated as a subcommittee, then later established a quorum and took up several housing-related bills. Early presentations included AB 2390, a cleanup bill on housing streamlining and project modifications, which was described as clarifying that minor and subsequent modifications are reviewed under the standards in effect when the original application was filed; there was no opposition, and the bill was moved on a due pass motion but held on call for absent members. AB 1890, which would increase state matching support for Napa County farmworker housing centers from $250,000 to $500,000 annually and extend the program through 2036, drew strong support from Napa County officials, the Farm Bureau, hospitals, and vintners, and was also moved to Appropriations and held on call. AB 956, an ADU bill allowing more flexibility in how accessory dwelling units are built and clarifying application of ADU law in common interest developments, drew support from housing advocates and opposition from the League of California Cities over density, infrastructure, and local control concerns; the committee discussed amendments to avoid triggering density bonus law, then passed the bill as amended to Local Government, with some members expressing reservations or abstaining. The consent calendar, including AB 739, AB 2162, AB 2320, and AB 2692, was also acted on and held on call for absent members. Later, the committee heard AB 939, which would remove a 180-day resale restriction for certain income-restricted ownership units when a nonprofit affordable housing organization is ready to buy and sell them to qualified low-income buyers. Supporters, including Habitat for Humanity and California YIMBY, said the bill would reduce vacancy, carrying costs, and delays in getting affordable homes to buyers; the California Association of Realtors opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could limit buyer choice, codify first-right-of-refusal provisions, and reduce wealth-building opportunities. Members questioned those concerns, and the author said amendments were being worked on; the bill was moved to Appropriations and held on call. AB 1165, the California Housing Justice Act, would require state housing agencies to develop a fiscal analysis and long-term financial plan for ending homelessness and addressing housing affordability; it received broad support from supportive housing, civil rights, and homelessness organizations, with no opposition filed, and was moved to Appropriations and held on call. AB 1184, an HOA transparency bill requiring more notice and access around litigation and recordings, was moved to Judiciary after discussion about whether it duplicated existing HOA law and whether the proposed amendments were too broad. AB 2035, a narrowly tailored bill for Laguna Woods Village to lower the vote threshold needed to petition a court to amend outdated CC&Rs, was supported as a one-time fix and moved to Judiciary. Finally, AB 1573, pulled from consent, would add survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to housing element target populations; supporters said these groups are overrepresented among people experiencing housing instability and should be explicitly included in local housing planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's eight to zero. Everyone's voted? Yes. Okay, so that bill's out on a vote of eight to zero.
• It's eight to zero. Everyone's voted? Yes. Okay, so that bill's out on a vote of eight to zero.
• We don't want any twos; we want zero. Moving now to file item 5, AB 1184, Patterson.

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the $30 billion or so that it was to something that is more reasonable, which is not pretty much zero—zero
• have been done, like Ajit's talked about, sometimes there are change requests that are done that have zero
• We have a zero percent recidivism rate.
• training, employment, and housing resources that result in approximately 90% employment rates and a zero

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• interpreting and suggesting a change that would lead to $2 billion less and essentially potentially a zeroing
• interpreting and suggesting a change that would lead to $2 billion less and essentially potentially a zeroing
• So, and those are ...and essentially potentially a zeroing out of the entire Tier 3.
• 4291, and supports anticipated future workload under the Governor's Executive Order N-19-25, or Zone Zero
• And when Brian's reference to Zone Zero, while we acknowledge that and that will likely lead to longer

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss several California Conservation Corps (CCC) and Cal Fire budget proposals, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The CCC overview highlighted the program’s 50th anniversary, its statewide conservation, disaster response, education, and workforce development work, and its funding mix of General Fund and fee-for-service reimbursements. Members praised the program’s impact on young adults and communities, and asked about revenue sources, partnerships, recruitment, and outcomes for Corps members after service. A major CCC item was reopening and staffing the Greenwood Residential Center in El Dorado County. The department said the center is needed to restore local wildfire and fuel-break capacity, especially when winter road closures limit access to other facilities. The LAO said the proposal has merit but suggested the Legislature consider lower-cost alternatives, such as using fewer new Corps members or delaying opening, given the budget condition. The committee also discussed a proposal to move CCC hand crews to a seven-day wildfire readiness schedule; the department argued this is needed to match Cal Fire’s year-round operations and reduce chronic staffing gaps, while the LAO recommended considering partial funding or other cost-saving options. Cal Fire’s department overview focused on year-round wildfire response, vegetation management, community preparedness, and the 66-hour workweek rollout. Members asked about contract counties, federal partnerships, reforestation capacity, and the use of cap-and-invest and General Fund dollars amid structural deficits. Cal Fire said its nursery capacity is far below reforestation needs and relies on public-private partnerships, and it described reimbursements for work on federal lands. The committee also discussed defensible space inspections, with Cal Fire seeking permanent staffing to replace temporary positions and maintain its goal of 250,000 inspections annually; the LAO suggested alternatives such as different funding mixes, a reinstated SRA fee, or one-time funding. Finally, the committee heard a request to increase Cal Fire’s fixed-wing pilot and mechanic contract. Cal Fire said the larger, more complex aircraft fleet and year-round fire season require more pilots and maintainers, and that contracting provides flexibility and avoids some benefit costs. The LAO said the proposal addresses significant health and safety concerns and merits consideration, while members questioned whether in-house staffing or longer contract terms might be more cost-effective. Throughout the hearing, members emphasized wildfire risk, budget pressures, and the need to balance public safety with fiscal discipline.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's five to zero. We'll continue to leave the roll open for absent members.
• That's five to zero. Five to zero. We'll continue to leave the roll open for absent members.
• Twelve to zero. We're going to hold that open.
• Thirteen to zero. We'll hold that open.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill has a zero fiscal note. Mr.
• This bill has a zero fiscal note. Mr.
• Again, zero no votes. It's a small fix to legislation passed by somebody before.
• Now, that felony, which you might ask what the punishment could be, it could be zero to seven years in
• Now, that felony, which you might ask what the punishment could be, it could be zero to seven years in

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties. The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill. Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost. A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.

Transcript Highlights:

• services and $218.1 million in operating expense to continue replacing our aging fleet and installing zero-emission
• The report will provide detailed information on our zero-emission fleet efforts, including such items
• as best practices, procurement timelines, and a cost comparison between maintaining zero-emission vehicles
• Certainly purchasing zero-emission vehicles is more expensive than traditional gas-powered vehicles,
• included a reporting requirement, which you referred to and apologized for, to provide information on the zero-emission

Summary: The subcommittee heard several California transportation and public safety budget proposals. Caltrans requested a one-time $225 million augmentation to continue replacing its aging fleet and build out zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. Caltrans said the funding would replace about 1,100 vehicles, including many heavy-duty units, and acknowledged its overdue report on zero-emission fleet efforts would be delivered by mid-to-late April. The LAO said the request raised no concerns, but one senator strongly criticized the cost and policy emphasis on making the fleet the “greenest” rather than prioritizing road maintenance. The chair pressed Caltrans to submit the overdue report within 30 days, saying it was necessary for oversight before the request could be considered. The committee also discussed a Caltrans proposal tied to SB 150 and the High Road Construction Careers Program. Because federal highway funds could not be used as originally intended for workforce training, Caltrans and the Department of Finance proposed replacing the federal dollars with $30 million in state Highway Account funds. The Workforce Development Board said the program had a track record of connecting participants to apprenticeships and jobs, while one senator questioned why the original $50 million federal set-aside had not been implemented and asked for more detail on where the remaining funds would go. Finance said the state funds were already set aside and expected to begin flowing in May over a two- to three-year period. The California Highway Patrol presented two requests. First, CHP sought $60 million from the Motor Vehicle Account for equipment and operating costs, citing inflation, higher vehicle prices, and the end of its ability to cover costs through vacancy savings as hiring improved. The LAO recommended rejection, arguing the costs were not new, CHP still had a substantial equipment budget, and the Motor Vehicle Account faces insolvency by 2028-29. Second, CHP requested $885,000 ongoing to fund seven crime analyst positions for the Highway Violence Task Force. CHP said the task force had reduced freeway shootings from 477 in 2021 to 179 last year, though some data categories had changed over time. The LAO did not object, but noted the request would create a permanent funding commitment. The DMV presented two modernization items: the State-to-State verification system required for Real ID compliance and the DXP system to replace aging legacy technology. The LAO raised no concerns with either, but noted DXP has had cost overruns and delays and will require continued legislative oversight. Senators focused heavily on privacy and data-sharing concerns in the State-to-State system, especially the use of Social Security number digits and the role of the AAMVA network. DMV said the system is required for Real ID compliance, uses encrypted data, and is intended to prevent duplicate credentials across states. The committee also discussed customer service improvements from DXP, with DMV saying the project should better integrate systems and improve service delivery by the end of the calendar year.

Transcript Highlights:

• part of the problem we're hearing here is that insurances aren't being renewed, and that may be a zero
• rate but it's zero coverage, so I think there's that part of the problem here too that we're hearing
• So yeah, I can't say zero fiscal impact, but de minimis. True J-FAT guy. Exactly.
• Does that mean that we can put multifamily units in and have zero parking? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• I know there's going to be questions about that, but it's a zero-dollar bill, and it uses existing contract

Committee: House Business

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so in terms of looking at an analysis of why 2011 isn't being used and, you know, zeroing in on the
• prevailing wage piece or the affordability requirement, Zeroing in on the prevailing wage piece or the
• One of the other questions I had was, I don't know, we're sort of zeroing in on what we can do to make
• Is that, I mean, just zeroing in on the affordable housing aspect of this, how do you sort of rate its
• Although I was a bit surprised that Santa Clara County has zero of the AB 2011 projects, so I thought

Summary: The hearing was an outcome review of AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, focused on whether the law is being used as intended to speed housing production on commercially zoned land while maintaining labor and affordability standards. Chair Haney and Assembly Member Wicks emphasized that the point of the review was not to relitigate the bill, but to assess implementation and results. The first panel of researchers and policy experts said AB 2011 has had real but still limited uptake so far, with roughly 5,800 homes proposed, entitled, or permitted under the law through 2024, concentrated mainly in San Francisco and Los Angeles counties. They also noted that the broader housing market remains constrained by high construction costs, interest rates, and flat rents, making it hard to isolate the bill’s effects from overall market conditions. Witnesses generally agreed that AB 2011 has been most effective for 100% affordable projects and for projects already using public subsidies or prevailing wage, where the ministerial process and CEQA streamlining help move developments forward. Several speakers described the law as a useful bargaining tool that can push jurisdictions to rezone or approve projects more quickly even when AB 2011 is not formally invoked. At the same time, developers and advocates said the mixed-income pathway is much less usable in most of the state because prevailing wage and the 15% affordability requirement add significant cost, especially in lower-rent markets. They also pointed to implementation issues such as narrow site eligibility rules, the “substantially surrounded by urban uses” test, industrial-use exclusions, and confusion about whether the law applies to homeownership projects. The second panel, made up of practitioners using the law, described specific projects that moved forward under AB 2011, including affordable housing developments in the San Joaquin Valley and large mixed-use projects in San Francisco. They said the law’s biggest benefit is certainty: projects that once took years to entitle can now move in months. However, they repeated calls for changes such as clarifying homeownership eligibility, loosening density and site restrictions, narrowing the industrial-use exclusion, and making the law easier to understand for developers and local staff. Members also raised concerns about uneven use across regions, especially the relative lack of AB 2011 activity in Los Angeles and Santa Clara County, and about the accuracy and lag in annual progress report data. The final panel, including the original sponsors, said they remain supportive of the law but are open to adjustments to reduce costs and improve usability while preserving labor protections and affordability goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, provided for a contribution rate of zero
• And this is where it says that if you pay zero, if there is no proof of apprenticeship and training program
• Vice Chair, is add in 'you pay zero' if, and this would make it very clear, you would pay zero if you
• for an employer that has an existing apprenticeship or training program would have a contribution of zero

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund. The sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the section that would have imposed a 1% gross receipts tax on electricity sales. After a recap of the bill’s remaining provisions, including a $400 million seed amount and future transfers from motor vehicle excise tax revenue, the committee heard brief support from Associated Contractors of New Mexico and the Asphalt Pavement Association and no opposition. The amended bill then passed on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard HB 270, a public works/apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to approved apprenticeship and training programs or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, while eliminating an exemption for certain road, highway, utility, and maintenance work. Supporters, including union carpenters, electrical workers, the building trades council, and apprenticeship advocates, argued the bill would expand training, help address labor shortages, and provide a return on public investment. Opponents from utility contractors, highway contractors, and Associated Contractors of New Mexico said they already operate federally approved in-house training programs, warned the bill would raise project costs, and argued some trades have no accessible approved programs. Members questioned how the bill would interact with existing in-house programs, whether rural contractors and nonunion firms would be affected, and whether the state-approved fund and federal highway training requirements could conflict. A proposed amendment to exempt projects of $50 million or less was introduced but tabled. After extensive debate, the committee voted 6-5 to pass HB 270. The meeting also included discussion of a prior procedural error in which HB 270 had been heard before being properly assigned, which the chair said rendered that earlier action void. At the end of the meeting, the committee received a brief New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 presentation on district projects, budget, and construction status.