Transcript Highlights:

• For all who suffer and struggle alone, may they receive healing and support.
• I'll just briefly add my voice in support, a proud co-author.
• Today we remember those who lost their lives during... ...support of SR 92.
• I stand in strong support of this resolution, SR 92.
• So thank you for bringing this forward, and yeah, I stand in support.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayers and the pledge, and spent much of the early portion of the session on guest introductions recognizing visitors from Leadership Torrance, former Assembly Member Hector de la Torre, and several university presidents and academic leaders. The body then moved through routine business, including approval of the Senate journals and reading of several bills on the second reading file, before taking up gubernatorial appointments. Three appointments to the Board of Behavioral Sciences were confirmed: Justin Hufft, Cali Rana Singhe, and Dr. Annette Walker. The Senate also confirmed Villian Corral to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. In each case, the appointing committee recommendation was noted and roll calls were taken, with the confirmations approved by the required vote margins. On third reading, the Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 140, designating April as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, with supportive remarks from several senators and advocates emphasizing research, awareness, and the lived experience of Parkinson’s disease. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 92, marking California Holocaust Memorial Day, with extensive floor statements from multiple senators on remembrance, education, antisemitism, and the importance of teaching Holocaust history. Finally, the Senate passed Assembly Bill 1389, an urgency measure ratifying a tribal-state gaming compact amendment with the Yurok Tribe; the measure and urgency clause both received unanimous support. The session concluded with committee announcements and several adjournment-in-memory tributes, including honors for coach John Bean, Cynthia Brantley Pierce, and Detective Armando “Mando” Santana. The Pro Tem then announced the next floor session and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Jen Marston here on behalf of the Arizona Sheriffs Association in support of House Bill
• Every single penny that is allocated for local border support every year is spent every year.
• And to your point again, this is a good conversation because everything you listed, we support.
• I believe, and I do support, that every life is valuable.
• Hundred Seven supports family members and victims who are affected by cancer from overseas.

Bills: HB2416, HB2663, HB2759, HB2806

Keywords: border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, public safety, immigration, military leave, national guard, employment rights, paid leave, disaster response, veterans services, education programs, funding, appropriation, Yavapai county, lawful presence, public programs, verification

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I'm here today to testify in support of this resolution with an important note that I've...
• In particular, I just want to draw... ...worthy of support.
• So with that, you know, we support the resolution. And we hope that the committee does too.
• I support House Joint Memorial 18 and Sarah Alstott’s testimony, and here’s why.
• I'm in strong support of H.J.M. 15.

Summary: The Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee met with a quorum and first took up HCR 32, a resolution on Idaho’s energy future. Representative Leavitt said the measure emphasizes baseload generation, transmission, energy sovereignty, and private property rights, citing Idaho’s reliance on imported energy and concerns about projects such as Lava Ridge and the Southwest Intertie Project North. Public testimony included support from Renewable Northwest, whose representative praised the resolution’s recognition of regional market participation, ratepayer protection, and the need for more generation and transmission, while noting that regional market access can reduce the amount of baseload generation needed. The committee then voted to send HCR 32 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee next considered H.J.M. 18, a memorial urging opposition to solar geoengineering. Representative Hostetler explained that the memorial had been revised to focus specifically on solar geoengineering rather than weather modification generally. A long line of public testimony supported the memorial, with witnesses arguing that solar geoengineering poses risks to health, agriculture, water, soil, wildlife, and property rights, and calling for Idaho to assert state sovereignty and urge federal action. Several witnesses cited federal reports, research plans, and alleged environmental and health impacts, while others described personal observations and sampling results they believed showed harmful particulates in rain or air. One witness, a federal trial practitioner, argued that airplane trails are not merely water vapor and urged independent scientific study, while other speakers claimed links between geoengineering and infertility, neurological illness, bee decline, drought, and crop impacts. A sponsor clarified the memorial’s language in response to a question about the term “generally,” explaining it was intended to distinguish solar geoengineering from broader weather modification. After testimony ended, the committee voted to send H.J.M. 18 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would love to have your support. Thank you very much.
• So I have a feeling your bill probably will get similar support.
• She added that they are not the only cooks in the kitchen, but they want to support the plan and support
• And if we're able to use this policy to help make sure that we are supporting family-wage jobs, ...supporting
• So we would ask for yes support. Thank you. Representative Waters. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Bills: SB5420

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, service members, uniformed services, National Guard, reservists, active duty, qualifying discharge, veterans preference, hiring preference, public employment, state benefits, license renewal, professional licensing, retirement service credit, pension, public retirement system, Washington RCW, military leave, reemployment rights

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE EVE ON FERNANDEZ WITH AARP WAVING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
• WE HAVE CAITLIN HATCHER WITH THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS WAVING IN SUPPORT.
• SO I WILL SUPPORT YOU ON THE BILL TODAY BECAUSE THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS MAJOR FOR ME.
• HE DID NOT HAVE ANY CONCERNS HE IS VERY MUCH SUPPORTING THE BILL. YES.
• CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise in support of the confirmation.
• And I, too, stand in strong support of Mr.
• I rise in support of this confirmation.
• I also rise in support of Mr. Traynor.
• I also stand in very strong support of this confirmation and also... ...strong support of this confirmation

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank our clerk, Shenika Thomas, for her support.
• could just say a fish that measures a certain length and strikes in a fishing tournament unless demonstrable

Bills: HB1, HB143, HB1, HB92

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• For us on the support team, as we tried to figure out the best ways to support this work in a short amount
• We need to ensure that youth have services available and supports available that really support their
• </c> have uh services available and supports have uh services available and supports available<00:21:
• c> available that really support their available that really support their cultural<00:21:51.120><c>
• </c> little therapeutic or financial support little therapeutic or financial support relatives<00:55:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IN ORDER TO SUPPORT MEMBERS AS COME PRINCIPALLY AS POSSIBLE THEY IMPLEMENT A PROCESSES TO SUPPORT MEMBERS
• THEY OFFER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE FIGURING OUT HOW TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE.
• WE IMMEDIATELY CHANGED HIS CARE PLAN, ARRANGED FOR PERSONAL SUPPORTS IN HIS HOME.
• MIGHT ISSUE, MY QUESTION IS ON THE APD SIDE THERE IS ONE WAIVER SUPPORT COORDINATOR OF 43.
• I JUST HAPPENED TO KNOW IT'S VERY CLUNKY ON THE SUPPORT COORDINATOR ASIDE.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will be testifying in support of HB442.
• I am here to testify in support of HB446.
• I, in fact, know that I would be very upset, and that's why I'm here today in support of HB446.
• I will be testifying in support of HB446.
• I ask the committee to support us and vote in favor of this bill. Many thanks and God bless.

Bills: HB446, HB1609, HB4443, HB4464, HB4735, HB5476

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, Texas Workforce Commission, advisory board, employee rights, administrative penalties, training requirements, employee training, occupational health, employer penalties, worker rights, heat illness, volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency responder, emergency medical services volunteer, EMS volunteer, firefighter, fire department, emergency services, declared disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• I am grateful for Congress's support to U.S.
• There's five sensors there that... support our mission.
• Like the SPY-1 and SPY-6 radars, which are on Navy ships that can support our mission.
• Space Command's role in missile defense planning and operational support for Guam.
• Sir, it's a whole-of-command effort supporting a whole of Department of Defense effort.

Keywords: military strategy, nuclear triad, deterrence, STRATCOM, SPACECOM, SLICOM, B-21, hypersonic defense, spectrum auction

Summary: The meeting focused on the strategic posture of U.S. military capabilities with an emphasis on deterrence amid growing global threats. General Cotton from STRATCOM and General Whiting from SPACECOM provided insights into the modernization efforts of the nuclear triad. Key discussions involved the importance of maintaining control over specific frequency spectrums critical for military operations and the implications of potential auctioning of these bands. Members expressed concerns regarding the evolving landscape with adversaries like China and Russia, emphasizing that swift action is needed to adapt and preserve U.S. national security. Various proposals and existing programs, including the B-21 bomber and the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLICOM), were debated, alongside the necessity of increasing military investment in hypersonic defense systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Compass supports bridge-to-grid power solutions, and what that means is we support...
• On the record, TBA supports this critical infrastructure.
• NRG was a strong supporter of all aspects of Senate Bill 6 last session, NRG was a strong supporter of
• So we're very supportive of their work there as well.
• “That’s being facilitated, we absolutely support.

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee held its third interim hearing on Texas electric grid reliability and 765 kV transmission lines/private property rights. Chair Schwertner opened by noting record ERCOT summer demand of 91,089 MW and emphasized the committee’s focus on managing rapid load growth, ensuring adequate generation, and protecting homeowners, businesses, landowners, and ratepayers. The committee also adopted strict two-minute limits for public testimony and planned to hear invited witnesses first, then public testimony. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, and OPUC Chief Counsel Benjamin Barclay testified on Senate Bill 6 implementation, large-load interconnection, transmission cost allocation, and market design. Gleeson said the PUC has adopted or is finalizing rules on net metering/co-location, large load interconnection standards, and a transmission cost recovery rule that would move from 4CP to 12CP, lengthen the interval to 30 minutes, and add a minimum demand charge to better allocate costs to large loads. Vegas explained ERCOT’s new batch process for large loads, saying it provides year-by-year capacity allocations, clearer financial obligations, and a transmission plan; he reported 205 GW eligible for Batch Zero, with 65 GW classified as baseload, 25 GW in an intermediate category, and 114 GW as allocated load. Barclay supported the changes as better protection for residential and small commercial customers, while warning that the minimum demand charge may need an exit-fee concept to address stranded costs if large loads leave. Members pressed witnesses on whether additional market changes are needed to attract dispatchable thermal generation and whether DRS/DRRS Plus could become a capacity-market substitute. Gleeson and Vegas said the current market still favors solar, batteries, and other low-variable-cost resources, and that more incentives may be needed for gas and other thermal generation; Gleeson said the commission’s reliability standard assessment will begin this year and conclude next year with a 2029 outlook. They described DRS as an ancillary service for intraday reliability and DRS Plus as a proposed real-time revenue mechanism for thermal resources during scarcity, not a forward capacity market. Senators also questioned whether 12CP could still be gamed, whether curtailment authority under SB 6 should be expanded from EEA 2 to earlier stages, and whether the batch process should be bifurcated so traditional industrial loads are handled differently from data centers. Witnesses said the batch process is intended to prevent speculative projects from driving transmission costs, that most large-load projects are data centers, and that future rules may need to better distinguish among types of large loads.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I support this bill regardless.
• We're happy to say this bill has had bipartisan support, and we would ask you for the support of the
• And I will say that I support the Commerce Authority. I support Sandra and her team.
• And I will say that I support the Commerce Authority. I support Sandra and her team.
• So I'm glad you support transparency, but it's one thing to say you support transparency.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from March 10, 2026, and then heard several House bills, mostly on appropriations, fees, water, food assistance, technology, and licensing. HB 2056, which would appropriate $100,000 for an Arizona Department of Water Resources feasibility study on brackish groundwater desalination, passed 6-3 despite concerns raised in opposition about increased groundwater pumping, subsidence, and impacts to tribal lands and conservation efforts. HB 2057, reducing the Arizona Centennial Special Plate renewal fee from $25 to $20, also passed 7-2 after one senator objected that the plate’s purpose and discount were not well justified. HB 2224, appropriating $1 million annually to DES for the produce incentive program, drew supportive testimony from food access groups who said the program helps families, farmers, and local markets; members noted the amount was below the prior $2 million funding level and could force site closures, but the bill passed 9-0. The committee also advanced HB 2257, which changes the distribution of watercraft registration and fee revenue, shifting more money to lake improvement and boating safety funds and less to the watercraft licensing fund. It passed 6-3 amid criticism that the bill moved money away from Game and Fish and concern that the boating safety fund increase could support immigration enforcement. HB 2265, which bars courts from charging criminal defendants for public defender services and certain other criminal-case fees and assessments, passed 7-1 after extensive testimony from advocates who argued the fees burden indigent defendants and cost more to collect than they raise; opponents called it a cost shift to counties and other local governments and said more fiscal data was needed. HB 2311, regulating publicly available conversational AI services with disclosure, anti-gamification, sexual-content restrictions, parental tools, and self-harm protocols, passed 7-2 after the sponsor and supporters framed it as child protection, while opponents warned about privacy, surveillance, and overbroad definitions; an Epstein amendment broadening the bill was rejected. The committee then considered HB 2752, which would subject Arizona Commerce Authority trade offices to legislative appropriation and require annual reporting. The ACA said it was neutral but supported the concept of data-driven decisions; the sponsor said the Legislature should approve trade offices and that the bill reflected his prior trade-office initiatives. An Epstein amendment requiring objective research for trade-office appropriations was rejected, and the bill passed 6-3. Finally, the committee heard HB 2957, which would preserve non-Real ID driver’s licenses, prohibit mandatory participation in enhanced ID programs, restrict biometric collection and document retention, and bar government entities from requiring digital or mobile IDs. The sponsor and several supporters argued it protects privacy, state sovereignty, and informed consent, while opponents from ADOT and the trucking industry warned it could conflict with federal Real ID and CDL requirements and jeopardize federal compliance and funding. The discussion was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, with witnesses and members debating whether the bill would change current practice or create federal conflicts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The support for our producers.
• And it's important to create and support more programs like these that are supporting small farmers.
• We provide Ongoing support.
• We're offering training and support.
• It's because we supported those things.

Transcript Highlights:

• A portion of this program was intended to be supported by fees.
• I'm here to request your support, and thank you, Senator.
• I'm here to request your support, and thank you, Senator Cabaldon, for expressing your support already
• But I'm here to thank you for your support and ask for your continued support to ensure that the California
• And we support their efforts to try to address that problem.

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PowerPoint could be supporting if there are particular questions, Mr. Chair.
• And I 1,000% support that.
• And I 1,000% support that.
• I'm proud to support what needs to be accomplished here.
• We strongly support the funding for transit passes in the GGRF.

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.

Transcript Highlights:

• Included in this was support for strategies to address leadership turnover, as well as support for strategies
• Included in this was support for strategies to address leadership turnover, as well as support for strategies
• Included in this was support for strategies to address leadership turnover, as well as support for strategies
• Most of them support what they chose.
• You have the support from the public.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For all who suffer and struggle alone, may they receive healing and support.
• I'll just briefly add my voice in support, a proud co-author.
• Today we remember those who lost their lives during... ...support of SR 92.
• Thank you, and how they supported many of us in the African American community.
• So thank you for bringing this forward, and yeah, I stand in support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $12.5 million General Fund in 2025-26 for DWR to... $5 million General Fund in 2025-26 for DWR to support
• solution to shift $1.5 billion... ...from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support
• All of us support rail. Many of us support the high-speed rail project.
• Dan Cha continued that the Port of Long Beach supports the Governor's proposal to allocate $228 million
• He said the program has provided support for disproportionately impacted communities by improving air

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision, especially the proposed extension of the cap-and-trade program to 2045 as “cap-and-invest,” the related greenhouse gas reduction fund (GGRF) spending framework, and several trailer bill proposals. Department of Finance staff outlined budget solutions including a $1.5 billion annual General Fund-to-GGRF shift for Cal Fire that would grow to $1.9 billion by 2029-30, continued support for high-speed rail, climate bond implementation, and various environmental and water-related statutory changes. The administration also described proposals affecting the Delta Conveyance Project, water quality planning, groundwater bulletin timing, Exide cleanup funding, and other agency-specific items, though the chair repeatedly asked staff to keep the presentation high-level and save details for the next hearing. Members from both parties raised strong concerns about the cap-and-invest proposal, arguing that it could reduce or displace funding for transit, affordable housing, active transportation, wildfire prevention, zero-emission vehicles, and other previously committed programs. Several members questioned whether the administration was effectively shifting essential ongoing services like Cal Fire onto a temporary carbon market fund, how the General Fund backstop would work if auction revenues fall short, and whether the proposal would leave enough money for continuous appropriations and future awards. Members also criticized the inclusion of cap-and-invest reauthorization in the budget process and asked for clearer information on the impact to high-speed rail, transit, and other GGRF priorities. The Delta Conveyance Project and related trailer bill language drew significant opposition from members and public commenters, who argued the proposal would fast-track the project, weaken CEQA-related review, and authorize revenue bond financing without sufficient legislative oversight. Public testimony also included support for maintaining or expanding funding for transit, affordable housing, AB 617 community air protection, offshore wind infrastructure, and ignition interlock programs, while environmental and community groups opposed cuts to wildfire prevention, housing, and school climate-related programs. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the chair said the committee would continue the discussion and receive more detailed responses at the follow-up hearing on Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. >> Thanks for taking time out of your day. support this bill to establish uniform support
• </c> support to support their continued support to support their continued effectiveness. effectiveness
• </c><00:49:14.720><c> 21</c> Vet funding is critical to support 21 Vet funding is critical to support
• </c> 83% of Democrats supported this bill. 83% of Democrats supported this bill.
• > Second</c><02:25:03.760><c> Amendment,</c> People who support the Second Amendment, People who support

Keywords: 1187, senate, all