Transcript Highlights:

• I have a letter from Senator Reyes requesting that I be permitted to present her SB 316 on her behalf
• , so I will be presenting that bill at the appropriate time.
• On ACA 8 by Pellerin, the motion is due pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
• And so with that being said, I like the legislation.
• The motion is do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 16, 2025, and heard five measures focused on election administration, voter participation, judicial retention elections, charitable solicitation by officials, and local transportation tax initiatives. The chair noted the committee’s rules for limited witness testimony and accepted written testimony through the legislative portal. Several authors presented their bills in person or through a committee member due to scheduling conflicts. SB 3 by Senator Cervantes would tighten and clarify the ballot signature-cure process, including requiring standardized forms from election officials and adding a reminder on vote-by-mail envelopes about signature matching. Supporters said the bill would reduce rejected ballots and make the process more reliable; there was no opposition. The committee voted do pass as amended and re-refer to Appropriations. SB 316 by Senator Reyes, presented by Assembly Member Pellerin, would expand high school voter registration and pre-registration outreach to students, with testimony from students, education groups, disability advocates, and civic organizations in support. One member opposed on the grounds that it could be an unfunded mandate for schools. The bill passed 4-1. ACA 8 by Assembly Member Pellerin would change appellate and Supreme Court judicial retention elections so justices would appear on the ballot only if voters file a petition requesting it. Supporters, including the Secretary of State, the League of Women Voters, and the California Judges Association, said it would reduce ballot length, voter fatigue, and costs while preserving accountability. One member raised concern about the future petition threshold and the possibility it could be set too high, and voted no. The measure passed 4-2. SB 760 by Senator Allen would narrow behested payment reporting requirements for public appeals to charities, especially in disaster response, while preserving disclosure where officials, family members, or staff have conflicts of interest. Good-government groups supported the bill as a balance between transparency and encouraging charitable appeals; it passed unanimously on the recorded vote. SB 512 by Senator Perez would clarify that voters in transportation districts may use citizen initiatives to propose transportation sales taxes where the district already has taxing authority. Supporters argued it aligns Elections Code with Proposition 218 and recent case law, while opponents from business and real estate groups objected to the measure’s implications for tax approval rules. The committee approved the bill 5-2. After calling absent members, the committee cleared the calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In what world is this appropriate? This needs to stop before it gets any worse.
• In what world is this appropriate? This needs to stop before it gets any worse.
• In what world is this appropriate? This needs to stop before it gets any worse.
• In what world is this appropriate?
• request and that request review um their request and that request can<00:30:59.039><c> run</c><00:30:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Absent objection, Senate File 14 has been rereferred to committee number two, appropriations. request
• . appropriations. appropriations.
• That's appropriate.
• There's a mechanism to do it through Management Council that's appropriate if LSO requests it.
• So, Mr. appropriate if LSO requests it. So, Mr.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here testifying on behalf of this proposed legislation.
• The annual cost of the program is determined by legislative appropriation.
• A fiscal note has been requested, but is not yet available.
• A fiscal note is now requested. There's no appropriation.
• A fiscal note is now requested. There's no appropriation. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Bills: SB6061 , SB5844 , SB6079 , SB6137 , SB5831 , SB6031 , SB6178

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, storage rental, tenancy agreements, tenant rights, landlord obligations, termination notice, insurance, wildfire prevention, policy nonrenewal, cancellation, risk management, sports wagering, sports betting, sports gambling, bookmaking, gambling regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• governor as needed, writing memos, establishing the new budget appropriation number.
• So, there is an amount of funding that we will be requesting to be released this quarter.
• </c><00:29:57.679><c> But</c> request a commission work of art.
• But request a commission work of art.
• </c> a form but then we realized the request a form but then we realized the request has<00:30:03.120

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:31.120><c> the</c> legislators intent to allow the legislators intent to allow the authorizing
• </c> legislation, though. legislation, though. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:08:45.359><c> you.
• </c> specific legislation. That's correct. specific legislation. That's correct.
• </c> water would have to be appropriated. water would have to be appropriated.
• </c> current appropriation to use this water. current appropriation to use this water.

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:41.200><c> is</c> course our budget request is course our budget request is foundational<00
• and was appropriated to the legislature<00:04:42.840><c> appropriated</c><00:04:43.320><c> by</c><00
• Did you request it? Did you request it? We could not get the money that we needed.
• So this is a request for ceiling increase. Again, it's not general fund appropriation.
• <c> a</c> appropriate appropriated along with a appropriate appropriated along with a position<02:52:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriations and regulatory oversight. Thank you. And you can move the microphone if you need to.
• House Bill 2148, non-custodial federal monies and appropriations.
• It requires a legislator to specify the purposes of non-custodial monies appropriations and requires
• It requires a legislator to specify the purposes of non-custodial monies appropriations and requires
• The bill also does include legislative findings. With that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Summary: The caucus meeting began with introductions from pages and interns, followed by a procedural reminder from Rhonda about caucus consent and third-read consent calendars. She explained that bills coming out of rules can be placed on consent if they are not amended, and that pulling a bill from consent means members should be prepared to speak to it on the floor. The meeting then moved through a long Minority Caucus calendar of bills, with staff giving brief descriptions and members frequently noting bills for no further comment, pulling several from consent, or stating opposition. The bills discussed covered a wide range of topics, including appropriations and federal monies (HB 2148), a Buffalo Soldiers memorial (HB 2062), school library funding restrictions (HB 2008), prayer at public school governing body meetings (HB 2110), school safety administration (HB 2142), parental rights and social transitioning notifications (HB 2249), insurer assessments (HB 2091), agricultural property classification and inspection rules (HB 2104 and HB 2105), firefighters’ workers’ compensation status (HB 2138), truth-in-taxation bond notices (HB 2289), tax filing penalties (HB 2016), engineer and architect reciprocity (HB 2122), felony murder involving an unborn child (HB 2043), body concealment and related felony classifications (HB 2044), domestic violence order-of-protection service rules (HB 2048), mandatory reporting for partial-birth abortions (HB 2074), unlawful flight sentencing enhancements (HB 2108), weapons trafficking penalties (HB 2131), fentanyl sentencing thresholds (HB 2132), drive-by shooting definitions and forfeiture (HB 2045), probation review notices for sex offender hearings (HB 2046), venue changes in superior court when judicial employees are parties (HB 2126), and child support for pre-born children (HB 2144). Water-related bills included snowpack augmentation funding (HB 2024), WIFA grant disclosures (HB 2029), removing water conservation education as an eligible use (HB 2030), stormwater recharge mapping with an appropriation (HB 253), cesspool remediation assistance (HB 2096), groundwater pumping limits in INAs (HB 2097), Colorado River litigation funding (HB 2116), and natural resource board changes and education funding (HB 2117). Election-related measures included moving the primary date and adjusting cure periods and observer rules (HB 2022), and a proposed constitutional amendment on citizenship, ID, foreign contributions, early voting, and mail voting (HCR 2001). The committee also heard two memorials urging federal terrorist designations for the Muslim Brotherhood and CARE (HCM 2001 and HCM 2002). Members and staff offered substantive objections to many bills, often arguing they were anti-student, anti-abortion, overly punitive, unfunded mandates, or unfair tax policy. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2008, HB 2110, HB 2142, HB 2249, HB 2043, HB 2074, HB 2108, and HB 2144. Supportive remarks were also made for some measures, such as the cesspool remediation bill, which was noted as having unanimous support, while other bills were flagged for stakeholder meetings or future amendments. The meeting ended with announcements recognizing members’ birthdays and noting Muslim Day at the Capitol, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• and accountability omnibus legislation, 1541, opportunity gap oversight and accountability omnibus legislation
• When we adopted this legislation.
• one of the things that legislation did was really robustly build out the provisions. ...legislation did
• bill requiring or requesting that school nurses diagnose.
• I mean, I don't see that in this legislation.

Bills: HB2246 , HB2360

Committee: House Education

Keywords: firearm violations, education, student discipline, school policies, safety measures, albuterol, asthma, inhaler, rescue inhaler, respiratory emergency, school nurse, student medication, self-administration, anaphylaxis, public schools, private schools, charter schools, tribal compact schools, K-12 health, medication policy

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:02.640><c> funds</c> appropriates funds appropriates funds to<00:56:05.400><c> secure</c><00:56
• Appropriations members questions or Appropriations members questions or comments<01:17:24.400><c> see
• </c><01:18:33.360><c> and</c> 3000 and blank all Appropriations and 3000 and blank all Appropriations
• </c> Department of Agriculture has requested Department of Agriculture has requested to<01:29:32.360>
• We would also like to acknowledge that there was a request for more legislative oversight in the selection

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number three: SB 1041 by Nilo, with a motion of due pass to Appropriations.
• And at the appropriate time, we will be able to consider it.
• So I respectfully request your support on SB 1089.
• And so, of course, once we would appropriate... ...to enact the process.
• Item number seven, SB 1309 by Rubio, with the motion of do pass as amended to appropriations.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on mental health access, preventive care, health care costs, detention oversight, and daylight saving time. SB 989 would streamline Care Court referrals by allowing first responders to ask county behavioral health agencies to review and file petitions; supporters, especially firefighters and families, said the current process is too burdensome, while Disability Rights California and other opponents argued Care Court is coercive and unproven. SB 1089, as amended, would direct CalRx/HHS to help distribute GLP-1 medications more broadly and more affordably; the author described her own experience with the drugs, and the bill drew support from medical and life sciences groups with no opposition. SB 1309 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically appropriate lung cancer screening follow-up care; cancer advocates and survivors strongly supported it, while health plans and insurers opposed it as costly and said the bigger problem is low initial screening rates. The committee also heard SB 1284, which would require DHCS to report large employers whose workers are enrolled in Medi-Cal and estimate taxpayer costs, framed by supporters as a transparency measure about corporate reliance on public coverage. SCR 7, urging permanent standard time for health reasons, passed with support from medical groups and no opposition. SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, would create statewide inspection and enforcement standards for large involuntary residential facilities, including private immigration detention centers and certain youth facilities; supporters cited unsafe and inhumane conditions, while county probation officials objected to duplicative oversight for secure youth treatment facilities. The committee took votes on each measure, and the bills and resolution advanced, with SB 1309 and SB 1284 moving on amended and the others also reported out; the consent calendar was approved as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House has been requested. Is there objection? Hearing none, so ordered.
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• The House of consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• The House of Consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Speaker, I request unanimous consent... Mr.

Summary: The House convened with 65 members present, approved the journal, and received Senate Bill 1221, which was referred to the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including House Bills 502, 512, 494, 531, and 542, while House Bill 570 was re-referred to Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The House also introduced a number of new bills and resolutions, including measures on justifiable homicide, copyright/piracy repeals, court-rule review, LLC formation, short-term rentals, unauthorized workers, inspection requirements, the FAST Act, rangeland improvement, virtual education, income tax changes, the parental choice tax credit, indigent eligibility, patient immigration status, and a constitutional amendment on state-owned land. House Concurrent Resolution 26 supporting wildlife crossings was filed for printing. On the floor, House Concurrent Resolution 24 honoring the firefighters and engineer affected by the Coeur d'Alene brush fire incident passed 68-0, and House Bill 515 on school notification procedures for serious bullying incidents passed 68-0 after debate over whether it should also apply to private schools. House Bill 511, which would raise the cap on fire protection charges in the wildland-urban interface, passed 46-22. House Joint Memorial 9, urging Congress to reaffirm FLPMA for federal land exchanges, passed 69-0. House Bill 518, authorizing the Attorney General to take on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions when requested by local law enforcement, passed 68-0 with support from members who said it would strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. The House then returned House Bill 522 to committee due to a clerical error after the sponsor described it as a drone-restriction bill aimed at prison security. House Joint Memorial 10, supporting the use of natural sugar in school meal programs and aligning with the MAHA movement, passed by voice vote. House Bill 504, aimed at stopping lottery syndicates from bulk-buying tickets, passed 62-6. Announcements followed on legislative receptions, an ICAC presentation, Disability Advocacy Day, a Medicaid listening session, and committee meetings, and the House adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was actually a request from the PUC just to clarify legislative directive to them.
• A division has been requested. A division has been requested on L11 to House Bill 1226.
• </c> adopted to the appropriations report. adopted to the appropriations report.
• </c> need this additional legislation? need this additional legislation?
• Division has been requested.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Appropriations Committee will come to order and the clerk will call the roll.
• Members, funding to address essential requests for our regulatory agencies and funding for the requests
• Align appropriations among strategies and methods of finance between years and appropriate bill patterns
• Adjust the employee benefits appropriations accordingly.
• Allocate appropriations from general provisions and general government agencies to the appropriate agency

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The appropriation aspect, I would say to my colleague, should be decided in the committee on appropriations
• The amendment also adds a legislative intent clause.
• The amendment also adds a legislative intent clause. Thank you, Senator Fincham.
• This legislation doesn't create budget increases for the court.
• On the last page of this resolution are legislative findings.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee heard several election, victims’ rights, family court, and probation-related measures. SB 1425, an emergency bill moving Arizona’s primary election date earlier and adjusting related election timelines, was amended to move the primary to the second-to-last Tuesday in July and to remove the proposed compression of cure/ID deadlines; county officials supported it, and it received a do pass recommendation. SB 1289 and SCR 1013/SCR 1014 focused on foreign money in election administration and ballot measure campaigns, with supporters arguing the bills would close loopholes that allow foreign-backed funding to influence elections; some members raised concerns about breadth and enforcement, but both measures advanced. SB 1402 would require probationers on certain sex-offense-related monitoring to pay the cost of electronic monitoring; supporters said it would improve accountability and child safety, while opponents warned it could punish indigent people and divert money from treatment. It also received a do pass recommendation. The committee spent substantial time on family court bills. SB 1330 would allow a parent with less than 35% parenting time or no legal decision-making authority to request a jury trial in custody-related disputes; supporters described severe financial and emotional harm in family court and argued juries would provide a neutral check, while county and legal representatives opposed the bill as costly, slow, and ill-suited to specialized child-welfare decisions. Despite those objections, SB 1330 passed with a do pass recommendation. SB 1328, as amended, declared Arizona public policy to include protecting parents and a child’s right to equal access to both co-parents; supporters said it would clarify legislative intent, while opponents called it duplicative of existing law. It also passed. The committee also heard SB 1329, which would let parents sue court-appointed professionals in custody and parenting-time matters if the professional deviated from licensing ethics or standards. Supporters argued that quasi-judicial immunity and weak oversight have allowed harmful, expensive practices in family court, while opponents said existing malpractice and licensing remedies already exist and warned against expanding litigation. The bill received a do pass recommendation. SB 1326, allowing courts to award attorney fees and costs to victims when a party violates or worsens a victim-rights violation, also passed after supporters said it would help pro bono and victims’ attorneys enforce rights, and opponents said the term “exacerbates” was vague and the need was unclear. The committee approved the minutes and held SB 1285 and SB 1392 without hearing them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vadas, you do have a request for the appropriate... for this additional, the mobile units.
• In a rapidly growing area, we receive over 150 locate requests per week.
• Marked within 48 hours of a request.
• We've heard arguments for and against this legislation today.
• So that's when the number of locate requests goes sky high.

Bills: HB206 , HB 1285 , HB1335 , HJR107 , HB206

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: pipeline, construction, cash bond, county authority, local government, HB 1285, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, drones, unmanned aircraft, UAS, drone inspections, oil and gas, pipeline inspection, surface mining, well sites, tank batteries, disposal wells, injection sites, natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I've had a lot of people request to be first, but I've committed to some.
• Chairman, at the appropriate time, I'd like to look favorably. Thank you.
• Okay, we'll move forward at the appropriate time. Now is not the appropriate time.
• We'll move forward at the appropriate time, and now is not the appropriate time.
• We've also had a request about, she's gone now. Yeah. On this other. Yeah.

Summary: The Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs met on March 26 at 9:07 a.m., approved the prior session minutes, and then heard a series of local government and district-creation bills. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized regional cooperation, economic revitalization, and neighborhood security. The committee also welcomed several new members and staff before moving into the agenda. HB 892 by Rep. Hilferty would create the West End Economic Development District spanning Orleans and Jefferson Parishes to support redevelopment of the former Fitzgerald’s/Bruning’s site; the bill was backed by local officials, and members noted a survey-related legal description would be added later. HB 681 would raise the Lakeview Crime Prevention District’s maximum fee authority from $150 to $250, subject to district approval. HB 99 (Fair Day Downtown Entertainment District) was amended to revise board appointments, add sheriff’s patrol/arrest authority, and adjust board terms, then advanced favorably. HB 138/139 created or updated crime prevention districts in East Baton Rouge Parish, including Parkwood Terrace, Victoria Farms, and Parkview Oaks, with changes to fee-setting authority, boundary descriptions, and board composition; these bills were also moved forward. The committee also advanced HB 213, a cleanup bill for the Baton Rouge Downtown Development District that restructures the board to include property owners and lessees and adds powers and duties; members praised the district’s work downtown. HB 247 would create the Allen Parish Economic Development District and abolish the Allen Parish Tourist Commission, but an amendment preserved tourism-related functions, and the bill was supported by the Louisiana Travel Association. HB 122 created the Spring Lake Subdivision Improvement District with an election-based fee increase up to $325, and HB 462 changed the board composition of the Capital Area Road and Bridge District to add legislative members for oversight. Several other bills were deferred, including HB 788, HB 200, HB 12, and HB 239.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session are that we really need increases for
• So those are our legislative recommendations.
• The state has to usually make the request to CMS, get that information.
• So there's been a request, and you've heard of Brian's Law in California.
• Their own to appropriately classify their staff.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't disagree with the request.
• </c> specific to our requests. specific to our requests.
• </c> screen to determine if he's appropriate screen to determine if he's appropriate to<00:47:42.079>
• That's what the concern is. request for refusal. Uh, again, we're request for refusal.
• </c> appropriate for all the separations. appropriate for all the separations.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The working group on restrictive housing met with a quorum present, approved the August 21, 2025 minutes, and adopted a procedure to take public testimony on each agenda item with a two-minute limit per testifier, with some flexibility for follow-up questions. The main presentation came from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on restrictive housing policies and a recent outside assessment of mental health care practices at HSCF and OOTC. DCR said the assessment found strengths such as consistent medication administration and staff commitment, but also identified major problems including outdated workflows, staffing shortages, inadequate physical plant conditions, overuse of suicide/safety watch for personal safety issues, and a need for more individualized treatment plans. DCR described several corrective steps already underway: filling a long-vacant high-level mental health administrator position, adjusting evening medication passes, working with DOH on transfer and referral workflows, planning a new electronic medical records system and revised screening tools, and pursuing additional training for ACOs and mental health staff. For OOTC, DCR said the facility is overcrowded and decrepit, needs a better screening tool, and requires more mental health-specific training and staffing. For HCF, DCR said the layout limits confidential assessments and provider access, and that the proposed consolidated healthcare unit would add 43 beds, private exam rooms, and a de-escalation room. DCR also said the new unit could serve acute and chronic suicide/safety watch needs and possibly some inmates with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or significant cognitive impairment. The discussion then focused on Act 292, which DCR said is difficult to implement as written. DCR said the bill aligns with DOJ, NCCHC, and ACA guidance in defining restrictive housing, limiting duration, requiring reviews, identifying vulnerable populations, and using step-down units, but raised two major concerns: a requirement to refer vulnerable people to DOH for confinement, and a requirement for clinical assessments every 12 hours by a provider. Members responded that the law should be matched with funding and staffing, and asked what resources are needed. DCR said it submitted a request for 35 positions at a cost of about $8.6 million, and also said funding may be needed for community-based beds and contracted medical services. Members also asked about the current MOA/MOU between DOH and DCR, the working group membership, and the timeline for revisions. DCR said the group includes DCR, DOH, and governor’s office medical advisors, that a first draft is complete, and that the revised agreement should be in place by the end of the year. On staffing, DCR said ACO recruitment classes increased from five to eight, vacancy rates dropped from 34% to 24%, but OOTC still faces a projected $7.1 million shortfall and heavy overtime costs, forcing post closures and program reductions. The meeting ended with continued discussion of screening tools, including DCR’s explanation that current broad questions may over-identify people with substance-use-related symptoms as having serious mental illness, and that a more discrete tool is needed to better identify those with acute needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 3, AB 1773 by Rubio, with a motion of due pass to Appropriations.
• We support and have sponsored legislation that puts appropriate safeguards in place without overburdening
• We support and have sponsored legislation that puts appropriate safeguards in place without overburdening
• The motion is due pass to Appropriations. Please call the roll.
• With that, I respectfully request your aye vote.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.