Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senator Stan McClain, a lead to be on the committee, a Senate district 9.
• Manufacturing is going to play a significant role and not only United States, but Florida should lead
• The word we're leading in a number of those industries, if not work, eventually surpass some companies
• Where are you getting extended lead times. We're trying to get construction.
• of Florida is in a race to attract and retain manufacturers and to edge out every other state and lead

Transcript Highlights:

• Testifying with me today is Heather Lopez, lead caseworker at Project H.C.V.
• I currently serve as a lead caseworker for Project H.C.
• I do, I'm going to support it, and I hope that the conversations lead to some resolution.
• AB 1887 follows the lead of New Mexico, which implemented a far broader law.
• Thank you very... ...and leading to subsequent months of painful recovery.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Because here in California, we lead whether our values are in good times or challenging times.
• Coupled with increased housing insecurity, this will lead to more of these same children and families
• There's a recipe that will lead to malnutrition and it will lead to death.
• We lead the Food for All campaign.
• So we ask that you lead on California's values of immigrant inclusion.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services opened its first hearing of the year with a discussion centered on CalFresh, the Department of Social Services, and related anti-poverty and immigrant services programs. Chair Jackson framed the hearing as a response to the “historic and enormous challenges” created by H.R. 1, emphasizing that the committee’s goal was to minimize harm to vulnerable Californians. No votes were taken in the hearing. The first major topic was the impact of H.R. 1 on CalFresh eligibility and administration. CDSS estimated major federal funding reductions, with hundreds of thousands of Californians potentially losing benefits under new time limits and work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, and additional losses among certain non-citizen groups. County welfare directors, eligibility workers, SEIU, and other advocates argued that counties are underfunded and understaffed to implement the new rules, and urged release of the previously authorized $20 million General Fund, a county match waiver, and an additional ongoing workforce investment. LAO and the Department of Finance said they were reviewing the administration’s proposals and emphasized the need to use existing data, automation, and statutory direction to reduce administrative burden and improve implementation. A second panel addressed county administrative backfill and the broader fiscal effects of H.R. 1. CDSS explained that the law shifts more administrative costs to the state and counties beginning in federal fiscal year 2027 and could also create future state benefit costs tied to payment error rates. County and food bank representatives warned that many counties will struggle to absorb the higher match and that penalties tied to payment error rates could worsen budget pressure. Members pressed Finance and CDSS for clearer timelines, written responses, and more detailed workload assumptions, while Finance said it was still analyzing the federal guidance and county resource needs. The final major topic was the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and possible state responses for people losing federal CalFresh eligibility. CDSS said CFAP remains limited by statute and by the federal structure it currently uses, but that the planned expansion to Californians age 55 and older regardless of immigration status remains on track for October 1, 2027, subject to funding. Immigrant advocates urged the state to fold newly excluded humanitarian immigrants into CFAP and to invest in outreach and administration, while Western Center on Law and Poverty proposed a broader state-funded anti-hunger response for people cut off by H.R. 1. LAO noted that the CFAP expansion is difficult to estimate and that further policy and technical work would be needed to assess costs and implementation options.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are leading in deploying clean energy in Minnesota, so let's capitalize on that to create an energy
• </c><00:08:49.959><c> and</c> replicate where Minnesota is leading and replicate where Minnesota is leading
• </c><00:15:24.959><c> and</c> this is a way for Minnesota to lead and this is a way for Minnesota to
• lead and participate<00:15:25.800><c> and</c><00:15:25.959><c> generate</c><00:15:26.440><c> jobs</c>
• The City of KRON, as the lead for Empower KRON, submitted a proposal for this grant program under the

Bills: HF1013 , HF1598 , HF1656 , HF2162

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But when he was on his injectables, he was able to lead a normal life, have a job that would last about
• But then there were things leading up to that that were predicting his behavior.
• But then there were things leading up to that that were predicting his behavior.
• These are all the charges that have been leading up here.
• These are all the charges that have been leading up here.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Help them to lead not from ego, but from love, not for status, but for service.
• Help them to lead not from ego, but from love, not for status, but for service.
• In discussing these acts of service, I failed to mention that Idaho is leading the nation in just-served
• That Idaho is leading the nation in just-served cities that have jumped on board to invest in these acts
• So Idaho is quite literally leading the way in acts of service. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• equipped African American women with the networks, the tools, but more importantly, the confidence to lead
• Through LAAWPI, Joy built a lasting bench, a durable bench of women prepared to lead our city, our state
• understood the importance of servant leadership, and she understood the importance of letting values lead
• a durable bench, Through law pie, Joy built a lasting bench, a durable bench of women prepared to lead
• understood the importance of servant leadership, and she understood the importance of letting values lead

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a brief recognition of Senator Seyarto’s upcoming birthday. The pro tem introduced Matu LeMay of the Quebec National Assembly, who was visiting to discuss California-Quebec environmental collaboration, including their long-standing linkage of cap-and-trade markets. Messages from the Governor and Assembly were deemed read, journals were approved, and Joint Rule 62A was suspended to allow certain bills to be heard in Appropriations Committee with shortened notice. The chamber then considered three gubernatorial appointments. Courtney Welch was confirmed to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board of Directors by a 29-1 vote, Janessa Goldbeck was confirmed to the California Veterans Board by a 28-0 vote, and Tom Huntington was confirmed to the State Parks and Recreation Commission by a 28-0 vote. The Senate also adopted the consent calendar, which included Senate Bill 607, by a 37-0 vote. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment memorials honoring Elizabeth “Betsy” Hammer Carr, Alberto Ronel, William Louis “Bill” McIntyre Jr., and Joy Atkinson. Senators described their activism, public service, community leadership, and personal impact, with particular emphasis on Carr’s social justice work, Ronel’s health care service and the need for worker safety, McIntyre’s business and civic contributions, and Atkinson’s decades of mentorship and leadership for Black women in politics. Family members and guests were recognized in the gallery during the memorials. The Senate announced that the next floor session would be Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 9 a.m., with the chamber in recess until later that day for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because Texas is going to lead the way in fighting human trafficking.
• The misconception that boys are not trafficked often leads to overlooking the suffering that these young
• This campaign with the Texas Trucking Association is another example of Texas leading, you know, with
• This is Texas leading with the first ever safe house in the country for boys and young men that have
• Be able to go back out into society and lead happy and normal lives, and learn how to have healthy boundaries

Bills: SJR36 , SB2 , SR9 , SR10 , SR16

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh grad students at the time was leading uh grad students at the time was leading the<00:13:14.720
• That leads into my second question.
• </c><00:32:02.000><c> through</c> then eventually as we lead through then eventually as we lead through
• </c> could give out to support groups to lead could give out to support groups to lead these<00:45:42.079
• This is I'm to lead long-term recovery.

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force met with a quorum, adopted the minutes from the previous meeting, and heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University’s Disaster Science Operations Center. WKU described its multidisciplinary disaster science effort, including meteorology, emergency management, the Kentucky State Climate Center, the Kentucky Mesonet, and the Disaster Science Operations Center, which was created in 2021 and serves as an operational hub for forecasting, emergency planning, crisis management, training, and decision support. Speakers emphasized applied learning, student field work, partnerships with industry and event venues, and a five-year NSF/UK-led research project focused on weather hazards, disaster preparedness, and building a statewide disaster database to improve mitigation and resilience. Members asked about flooding, the relationship to EKU’s program, Tennessee’s capabilities, and the timeline and goals for the research project; WKU said the data collection is underway and that the evidence suggests tornado risk is shifting east and occurring more at night. A WKU graduate student also described the value of hands-on storm-chasing and operational forecasting experience, saying it helped prepare her for work in forecasting and emergency management. Members asked about her motivation for joining the program and about the practical realities of storm chasing. The discussion also touched on whether Kentucky’s tornado risk is shifting east; WKU said the evidence from tornado observations and other studies points in that direction, with added concern about nighttime events and communicating warnings to vulnerable communities. The task force then heard from Amy Shaquinn of the Mayfield Graves County Long-Term Recovery Group, who outlined the county-level recovery process after the 2021 tornadoes. She said Kentucky ranks among the top states for federally declared disasters, has seen a high number of tornadoes in recent years, and also faces major flood risk and earthquake concerns along the New Madrid fault. Shaquinn stressed the distinction between immediate response and long-term recovery, explaining that response covers rescue, cleanup, temporary housing, and short-term assistance, while recovery is the longer effort to restore survivors to safe, sanitary, and secure housing through local long-term recovery groups. She said community-led recovery is essential and that preparedness and mitigation follow once immediate recovery needs are addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We consider 4-H to be the leading program in leadership development for youth in the state.
• The leading program in leadership development for youth in the state.
• </c> have skyrocketed to become a leading have skyrocketed to become a leading Center<00:35:13.599><c
• Our lower level depend more on those bigger grants that are generated by our lead PIs.
• lead lead piis<01:24:44.400><c> uh</c><01:24:44.600><c> so</c><01:24:44.760><c> we</c><01:24:44.880>

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This proposal also makes sure that DHS is the lead investigative agency for maltreatment.
• So right now the lead investigative agency would be local law enforcement.
• </c> also makes sure that DHS is the lead also makes sure that DHS is the lead investigative<00:20:37.200
• </c><00:20:39.799><c> investigative</c> so right now the lead investigative so right now the lead investigative
• </c> safe what's lead what leads to better safe what's lead what leads to better outcome<00:55:57.480

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair will lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. our our need<00:07:02.120><c> when</c><00:
• approved<00:08:07.599><c> the</c><00:08:07.720><c> chair</c><00:08:08.240><c> will</c><00:08:08.400><c> lead
• </c><00:08:08.759><c> the</c><00:08:08.960><c> house</c> approved the chair will lead the house approved
• the chair will lead the house in<00:08:09.360><c> the</c><00:08:09.560><c> Pledge</c><00:08:09.840><

Transcript Highlights:

• Financially, which leads to higher costs.
• That's not fair, and it's not leading to a good value and outcome.
• That's not fair, and it's not leading to a good value and outcome for the taxpayer.
• And it's not leading to a good value and outcome.
• That's not fair, and it's not leading to a good value and outcome for the taxpayer.

Bills: HB2040 , HB2142 , HB2255 , HB2379 , HB2482 , HB2575 , HB2600 , HB2764 , HB4033 , HCR2015

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Keywords: public education, adoption, sex education, parental rights, student health information, school safety, resource officers, mental health, training, infrastructure improvements, Arizona Teachers Academy, teacher preparation, education funding, public schools, scholarships, teacher certification, community colleges, school district, governing board, training requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• CDSS is designated as the Child Care and Development Fund lead agency and administers these programs
• A reduction in funds will lead to classroom closures.
• We're leading with the kids today. How appropriate. Come on up.
• And that will lead to families not having an option to go to a child care center.
• That will lead to workers not having a job to return to.

Transcript Highlights:

• to protect our children and school administrators by addressing the health crisis caused by PFAS, lead
• Exposure to lead has been linked to lower IQ, cognitive and behavioral issues, and slower growth.
• and child care centers across Massachusetts have tested positive for lead since 2016.
• Elkay and our competitors have high-capacity commercial-grade filters that are certified to remove lead
• water while the lead service lines are replaced.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a hearing on S. 2542, the Mass Ready Act, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s environmental bond bill. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper and Undersecretary Jen Sullivan described the bill as a $3 billion resilience package to protect drinking water, farms, fisheries, roads, bridges, parks, and communities from flooding, heat, drought, wildfires, and other climate impacts. They highlighted major authorizations for flood and coastal resilience, DCR infrastructure, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, open space and land protection, food security infrastructure, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund for low-cost loans to municipalities, tribes, and water districts. Committee members asked about project lifespans, flood and salt marsh permitting, wastewater and combined sewer overflow funding, parkway maintenance, land acquisition priorities, Quabbin stewardship, and how the revolving fund would be capitalized and administered. The administration said the fund would be modeled on the Clean Water Trust, use existing trust resources rather than new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds; they also said the bill would streamline certain permitting and improve flood-risk disclosure and climate-related building standards. Many witnesses urged the committee to strengthen the bill’s funding levels or add related policy provisions. Labor, contractor, and plumbing groups supported creating a water reuse and graywater recycling commission, saying it could conserve water, reduce stormwater and sewer burdens, and create skilled jobs. Boston Harbor Now asked for higher authorizations for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and resilient coast work, plus permitting reforms for nature-based and waterfront projects. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance backed the bill but also urged inclusion of drought-management legislation, a water reuse commission, a statewide flood buyout program, and more support for community resiliency. Environmental justice advocates from Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements in schools and public housing, while conservation and tree advocates sought larger investments in urban forestry, local nurseries, and workforce training, along with clearer language to ensure municipal reforestation funds go to cities and towns. Agricultural and food system witnesses emphasized the importance of the bill’s food security and farmland provisions. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative supported the $125 million food security infrastructure grant program, saying it has funded critical facilities and equipment for farmers, fishers, processors, and food access organizations, but warned that without the bill there could be a funding gap in fiscal year 2027. They also supported farmland protection and asked for more funding for agricultural capital programs, used-equipment eligibility in grant programs, and a next-generation farmer fund. Water utility representatives said the bill still falls short of the state’s long-term drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs, citing EPA estimates of nearly $37 billion in needed investments over 20 years and urging dedicated recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this really leads us to keep asking the questions: What are the differences in conditions that are
• And I'm hopeful that today will lead to some opportunities for us to learn with tribal communities in
• We lead the nation in terms of race-neutral solutions.
• DES also leads a lot of contracting groups with folks that do the individual work to answer and help
• DES also leads a lot of contracting groups with folks that do the individual work to answer and help

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local lead is the Village of Los Lunas.
• It's a local lead that is Los Lunas in charge. Thank you. Move on to page 23.
• The local lead, a local lead being Bernalillo County. Estimated completion in June of 2025.
• It's a local lead project.
• It's in Bernalillo County, but the local lead is the City of Albuquerque.

Transcript Highlights:

• what is in our control, what are the bridges that we can build to really advance California and to lead
• And so with that, I would like to introduce a very special guest who serves as the lead constitutional
• And so with that, I would like to introduce a very special guest who serves as the lead constitutional
• You've done incredible work leading the way for women and girls on the international stage, and we're
• And this is also leading up to some fluctuation with our education sector.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Asia, California, Trade and Investment held its first informational hearing to examine California’s economic ties with Asia, the effects of federal tariffs, and ways the state can strengthen trade, investment, tourism, and subnational diplomacy. Chair Jessica Caloza opened by emphasizing California’s role as the world’s fourth-largest economy and a major exporter to Asia, and several members and guests highlighted the importance of AAPI communities, sister-city relationships, and coordinated state outreach. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis described California’s trade missions, APEC hosting, and ongoing climate and trade partnerships, while Japan’s deputy consul general underscored Japan’s role as a major investor and trading partner and encouraged continued engagement. The first panel, featuring leaders from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation/World Trade Center Los Angeles, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and Visit California, focused on trade, tourism, and investment trends. Witnesses said tariffs and federal uncertainty are disrupting logistics, manufacturing, business travel, higher education, and tourism, with particular concern about port activity, international student declines, and reduced visitation from Asia. They urged California to remain “open for business,” invest in promotion and infrastructure, and use trade missions, MOUs, and sister-city ties to maintain relationships and attract investment. The second panel, with economist Kyle Handley and trade expert Glenn Fukushima, focused on the mechanics and consequences of tariffs. Both said tariffs function as taxes on importers and consumers, raise costs for businesses, and create uncertainty that delays investment, hiring, and supply-chain decisions. They warned that California is especially exposed because of its ports, cross-border trade, and reliance on global supply chains, and said new federal vessel fees and shifting trade routes could divert commerce away from California. They argued that the long-term damage includes lost growth and reduced U.S. credibility, and recommended that California “tariff-proof” its economy through faster ports, better infrastructure, export assistance, and reduced permitting barriers. In the final panel, representatives from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Asian Business Association California, and the Small Business Development Center emphasized future opportunities and the needs of small businesses. They said California should deepen ties with Asia through conventions, tourism, and sector-specific partnerships in life sciences, clean tech, semiconductors, hospitality, and small business trade. The witnesses stressed that small and minority-owned businesses need more access to trade missions, capital, technical assistance, and state support, and that California’s economic strength depends on coordinated efforts across regions and industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, do we have any lead witnesses in opposition? If so, please come forward.
• Is there any lead opposition in the room? Please come forward.
• Is there any lead opposition in the room? Please come forward. Thank you.
• Do we have any opposition in the room, lead opposition? Please come forward.
• Do we have lead opposition in the room? Please come forward.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage limits for rideshare companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, with the stated goal of lowering fares and improving driver economics. Uber, Lyft, and business groups supported the bill, while consumer attorneys, labor groups, and other opponents argued it would cut passenger and driver protections and should include stronger guarantees that savings reach riders and workers. Members raised questions about data, fee breakdowns, and whether the bill should include a look-back or other accountability measures; the bill was passed on a do-pass vote as proposed to be amended in another committee. SB 487 by Senator Grayson would change how third-party recoveries are distributed when peace officers or firefighters are injured in the line of duty, ensuring injured public safety workers receive at least two-thirds of the at-fault party’s liability insurance limits in certain cases. Supporters, including injured officers and public safety organizations, said current law can leave injured first responders with little or no recovery after employer reimbursement, while opponents representing local governments argued the bill would reduce recovery of taxpayer-funded workers’ compensation costs and lacked sufficient data. The committee discussed the interaction with existing workers’ compensation and retirement benefits, and the bill was moved on a do-pass vote to Appropriations. SB 616 by Senator Rubio would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to develop statewide wildfire mitigation standards and post-catastrophe reports aimed at improving insurability and affordability. The Department of Insurance, local governments, consumer advocates, and fire-related groups supported the measure, while water agencies opposed provisions they said could improperly involve the commission in water infrastructure recommendations and create litigation and ratepayer concerns. The bill was approved on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with some members voting no or not voting. The committee also considered SB 547 by Senator Perez, coauthored by Senator Rubio, which extends wildfire-related insurance moratorium protections to commercial property policies for one year after a state emergency in affected areas. The Department of Insurance and a broad coalition of local government, consumer, and business groups supported it, and the major insurance trade groups withdrew opposition after amendments. The bill was passed as amended to Appropriations. Separately, SB 770 by Senator Allen would remove an insurance requirement that an HOA be named as an additional insured for residents installing EV chargers in common-interest developments; supporters said the rule is a barrier to home charging, while community association representatives warned it could raise premiums for all members. The discussion focused on balancing EV access with HOA insurance costs, and the bill was supported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota can lead the way on values for this country.
• The debate in the Senate around a nation-leading excise tax for social media platforms.
• Minnesota can lead the way on values for this country.
• The debate in the Senate around a nation-leading excise tax for social media platforms.
• Minnesota can lead the way on values for this country.