Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:03.720><c> like</c> for some commercial development like for some commercial development like
• </c><00:30:27.679><c> G</c> Balden um the Community Development G Balden um the Community Development
• and we're happy to work with developers and we're happy to work with developers<00:42:04.640><c> to<
• </c><00:42:50.240><c> would</c> accommodated um many developers would accommodated um many developers
• Parking minimums prevent situations in which a developer may make a decision to underpark a development

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Consortium of uh Community developers Consortium of uh Community developers thank<00:04:41.160><
• </c> the nonprofit economic development the nonprofit economic development organizations<00:10:20.640
• </c><00:29:32.519><c> uh</c> Small Business Development uh Small Business Development uh corporations
• </c><00:32:24.919><c> director</c> our small business development director our small business development
• </c> credits unless an economic development credits unless an economic development project<00:41:44.280

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A developer might generate $1.5 million in profit in a single year, but that development might have been
• the past few years in development to support its members.
• Cultural resource review does not have to stop development.
• This bill requires Commerce to develop a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic
• I'm Mary Fisher from the Institute for Family Development.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Neil Matuka: We anticipate that these projects would be developed through contracts with private developers
• He added that most of the schedule is driven by the developers.
• He said developers have their own timelines and deadlines.
• He noted that developers are sometimes not ready on time.
• has missed any developer-required dates.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 13, which would restructure the CPUC to increase legislative oversight, add legislative liaisons, require more detailed and timely reporting on rate-setting decisions, and add a public advocate member. The author and supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and geographic diversity in CPUC decision-making amid rising utility rates. Witnesses from TURN, San Joaquin County, SDG&E, and former CPUC Commissioner Loretta Lynch offered support or support-in-principle, while no opposition testimony was presented. Members generally praised the bill’s transparency goals, and AB 13 passed 10-0 to Appropriations, with the roll left open for absent members. The committee then adopted the 2025-2026 committee rules and approved three consent items: AB 61, AB 365, and AB 406. The next bill, AB 99, would cap investor-owned utility rate increases above inflation except for specified costs such as safety, modernization, and fuel/commodity costs. The author and supporters, including a representative of the California Senior Legislature, said the bill was needed to protect ratepayers, especially seniors and low-income customers, from repeated rate hikes. Opposition came from utility labor, utilities, the Chamber of Commerce, and others, who argued the bill was too simplistic, could suppress labor costs, and did not account for major cost drivers such as wildfire mitigation, mandates, and net metering. Several members supported moving the bill forward as a starting point on affordability, while others criticized it as overly blunt. AB 99 passed 11-0 to Appropriations, with the roll left open. The hearing then shifted to an informational panel on strategies to reduce California transmission costs. A Public Advocates Office staffer described a growing backlog of approved-but-unbuilt transmission projects, rising transmission access charges, and long project timelines driven largely by utility pre-application and construction periods. Panelists from Net Zero California and consulting firms presented research suggesting that public financing or public-private partnership lease models could reduce transmission costs by lowering financing, tax, and capital costs, with estimated savings of up to 57% and as much as $123 billion over 40 years. PG&E’s representative said the utility is already pursuing federal loan guarantees, grants, and a public-private partnership with Citizens Energy, but warned that state ownership could create tax, wildfire-liability, and governance risks. Members asked about the CPUC’s role, the causes of delays, and whether public financing could complement existing competitive solicitation processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another notable development— the Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies.
• This is also reflected in developments that are happening in our... ...and this is also the development
• Go-Biz serves as the state's leader for job growth and economic development.
• But an advantage is only valuable when it's intentionally developed.
• Our commitment to Armenia must include a commitment to its democratic development.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another notable development... The Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies.
• And this is also the developments that are happening in our And this is also the developments that are
• Go-Biz serves as the state's leader for job growth and economic development.
• But an advantage is only valuable when it's intentionally developed.
• Our commitment to Armenia must include a commitment to its democratic development.

Summary: The inaugural meeting of the Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange focused on strengthening California-Armenia ties through trade, investment, education, culture, and diplomacy. Chair Harabedian and Assemblymember Caloza opened by emphasizing the importance of the Armenian-American community in California and the committee’s goal of expanding opportunities for business, job creation, cultural preservation, and academic exchange. The Republic of Armenia’s ambassador and the Armenian Consul General both described Armenia as a growing strategic partner for California, highlighting recent peace and connectivity developments, Armenia’s diversification strategy, and the role of the Armenian diaspora in linking the two places. The first panel featured Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Go-Biz trade specialist Trisha Utterback. Kounalakis reviewed the 2019 California-Armenia framework agreement and the opening of the California trade and services desk in Yerevan, noting growth in academic ties and California’s support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Utterback outlined Go-Biz’s trade and investment programs and reported that California-Armenia two-way trade has more than doubled since 2019, with exports rising sharply; she cited examples of California companies expanding into Armenia and Armenian businesses seeking California opportunities. Members asked about future priorities, and panelists pointed to tech, clean energy, agriculture, and continued outreach through trade and investment programs. A second panel centered on Glendale’s role as a gateway for the partnership. Mayor Ara Najarian described Glendale’s large Armenian-American population, the Armenian American Museum, sister-city relationships, and the city’s role in cultural and economic diplomacy, while also raising concerns about Artsakh, displaced Armenians, detainees, and discrimination against Armenian Americans. Vahe Kozoyan of ServiceTitan shared his company’s growth from a Glendale startup to a global firm with major operations in Armenia, and Armina Galstian of SmartGate VC and Hero House Glendale described a California-Armenia innovation corridor supporting startups, AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and neuroscience. Committee members discussed how the state can further support the partnership through investment, delegation visits, education, innovation hubs, and ensuring Armenian-owned businesses are not excluded from supplier diversity and anti-discrimination protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of the behavior management system process, we had to develop a why.
• Positive youth development: We want more for kids than just not committing crime.
• How do we develop the strength in relationships?
• a structure, right, for professional development?
• We have developed a matrix through the national credible messenger model.

Bills: SB6062

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: juvenile justice, criminal offense, minors, rehabilitation, legal provisions, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, developments are still allowed to move if there is no reasonable alternative.
• Over the course of several years, the Legislature debated the development of the policy.
• It doesn't necessarily mean they come when they, you know, develop the regulations.
• I've been a practicing developer for more than 20 years, developing more than 3,000 units of affordable
• From a developer standpoint, this alignment is essential.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to environmental quality, housing, transportation, and waste policy. SB 1375, by Senator Cortese, would create a narrow CEQA exemption category for certain transit and rail projects that have already undergone extensive environmental review. Supporters, including VTA, the City of San Jose, BART, Caltrain, MTC, and Climate Reality Silicon Valley, said it would reduce duplicative review and speed projects like the Diridon Station modernization. Committee members emphasized added amendments requiring displacement, construction-impact, and natural resources plans, and the bill passed 5-0 as amended to Transportation. The committee then took up SB 1031 on compostable plastics labeling. The author and supporters such as Californians Against Waste and the California Compost Coalition argued the bill would reduce consumer confusion, curb contamination in compost and recycling streams, and direct OEHHA to study health and environmental impacts. Opponents including manufacturers, BPI, retailers, and other industry groups said the bill would effectively ban compostable products in California, harm businesses, and fail to fix the underlying National Organics Program issue. After extensive discussion about labeling, composting capacity, and costs, the bill passed 2-2 on call to Appropriations. SB 958, relating to the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego, was presented next; supporters said it would help move forward a large housing and mixed-use project on city-owned land after years of review and voter approval, and it passed 3-0 on call to Local Government. SB 1075, the Clean Air Promise, drew the most extensive debate. The bill would strengthen implementation and enforcement of AB 617 community emissions reduction plans and local plans in overburdened communities. Environmental justice advocates and youth supporters backed the measure, while local governments, business groups, air district representatives, and industry groups warned it would create uncertainty, add land-use constraints, and act as a housing and cost driver. The author accepted several committee amendments and said the bill was still being worked on, but the motion to pass it to Local Government resulted in a 2-2 tie and the bill remained on call. SB 1064, by Senator Dahle, would reduce clean truck check testing frequency for low-use heavy-duty vehicles and equipment from twice a year to once a year. Agricultural and trucking witnesses supported it as a practical, cost-saving change, while air quality advocates opposed weakening a program they said prevents excess emissions and protects public health. The bill passed 4-0 on call to Transportation. Finally, SB 1258 was presented as a revised measure on remediation of hazardous waste sites on the Cortese list. The author said the committee amendments replaced the bill’s original approach, but he continued to argue that remediation should be aligned with housing development so contaminated infill sites can be cleaned up and built on more efficiently. Developers and environmental consultants supported the concept, saying current timing rules create risk and leave sites idle, while the committee continued to hear testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Developments are still allowed to move if there is no reasonable alternative.
• When developers cannot predict timelines, costs, outcomes, projects don't move forward.
• It doesn't necessarily mean they come when they, you know, develop the regulations.
• I've been a practicing developer for more than 20 years, developing more than 3,000 units of affordable
• From a developer standpoint, this alignment is essential.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1375 by Senator Cortese, which would streamline environmental review for certain transit and rail projects that have already undergone extensive prior review. Supporters, including VTA, San Jose transportation staff, BART, Caltrain, MTC, and Climate Reality Silicon Valley, said the bill would reduce duplicative analysis, save time and money, and help advance projects like the Diridon Station modernization in San Jose. Committee members emphasized the bill’s narrow scope and the added amendments requiring displacement planning, legal services for displaced residents, construction-impact mitigation, and natural resources planning. The bill was approved on a 5-0 vote and sent to Transportation as amended. The committee also took up SB 1031 on compostable plastics labeling and waste-stream impacts. The author and supporters such as Californians Against Waste argued the bill would reduce greenwashing, clarify labeling, cut contamination in compost and recycling streams, and direct OEHHA to study health and environmental effects. Opposition from manufacturers, BPI, retailers, and others focused on concerns that the bill would effectively ban compostable products in California, create costs, and fail to fix a separate federal/NOP labeling problem. After extensive discussion about composting capacity, labeling clarity, and costs, the bill passed 3-2 to Appropriations. SB 958 by Senator Weber Pierson addressed the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego. The bill, as amended, would no longer create a full CEQA exemption but instead clarify CEQA treatment of building-height impacts in the project’s future EIR. Supporters said the project would deliver thousands of housing units, including affordable housing, along with parks, a new arena, and economic benefits on underused city land. The committee voiced support for the project’s housing and revitalization goals, and the bill passed 3-0 to Local Government as amended. The committee also heard SB 1075 on strengthening AB 617 community air protection plans, with environmental justice supporters backing stronger enforcement and local implementation while local governments, business groups, and air district representatives warned it could create uncertainty, raise costs, and function as a land-use mandate; the bill was held on a 2-2 vote after the author accepted several amendments and continued negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that we continue to hear from housing developers is that they can't build affordable
• One of the things that we continue to hear from housing developers is that they can't build affordable
• Those loans can then be used to develop and rehabilitate housing.
• </c><00:02:28.720><c> And</c> develop and rehabilitate housing.
• And develop and rehabilitate housing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to welcome you to Meeting 6 of the Standing Committee on Economic Development, Labor, and Tourism
• Its mission is to develop, finance, operate, maintain, and promote lodging, restaurant facilities, and
• Finance operate maintain and to develop Finance operate maintain and promote<00:03:39.480><c> lodging
• tourism and the economic development tourism and the palaski<00:03:46.239><c> County</c><00:03:46.599
• </c> sort of anticipated Economic Development sort of anticipated Economic Development uh<00:04:14.480

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon Recess of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 1:00PM est. Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:17 HB 114 Discussion 00:38 HB 114 Vote 01:56 HB 808 Discussion 02:24 HB 808 Vote 06:30, 958, all

Summary: The Standing Committee on Economic Development, Labor, and Tourism met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 114, sponsored by Representative Truett. He explained that the bill clarifies the recreational use statute by expressly adding rock climbing, bouldering, and rappelling, removing liability for landowners who give permission for those activities on their property. After no questions, the committee voted unanimously in favor and reported the bill to the floor with a favorable expression. The committee then took up House Bill 808, sponsored by Representative Ken Upchurch, which would establish the Burnside Island Development Authority to promote recreation and tourism at General Burnside Island State Park in Pulaski County. Testimony described the authority as a public-private partnership entity that could develop lodging, restaurant, and recreational facilities, with potential for significant tourism and economic development. Members asked about expected economic impact and how revenues would be used; witnesses said direct fees would go back to the authority for the bill’s purposes, and referenced a feasibility study suggesting substantial private investment and indirect tax benefits. Several senators expressed support but also raised questions about whether the proposal had been fully reviewed by Appropriations and Revenue and about the governor’s potential response. The committee ultimately voted to report House Bill 808 favorably to the floor, with Senator Boswell requesting his vote be recorded. The meeting then moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's move on to issue number one with the Employment Development Department.
• I'm the Director of the Employment Development Department.
• I'm the Director of the Employment Development Department.
• I'm talking about the direction of the Workforce Development Board.
• ...to do now to make the Workforce Development Department work correctly. Yes. Okay.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paige Carter, I serve as the chief business development officer at Louisiana Economic Development.
• And I don't see that this is economic development at all.
• And I don't see that this is economic development at all.
• We do want economic development. But what is economic development?
• What I'm reading is that economic development, the proper aligned economic development strategy, should

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, this language was developed.
• Missouri compete for these job-creating developments.
• potential developments.
• So this is all new development. It's not existing development.
• The economic development rate can be for 10 years.

Committee: House Utilities

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've scoped the work, and development was set to initiate this month, but it's currently pending.
• We put moratoriums in place on new development, or at least restricted new development, and then there
• I know we have that for the work that we've done in developing the groundwater model that exists.
• Of that 125,000 acre-feet, we have since that time developed 16,643 acre-feet of new use.
• We developed the recommended changes for that. We put those out for public comment.

Summary: The House Resources and Conservation Committee met to consider several RS drafts and receive agency updates. The committee introduced RS 33151, described as a federalism bill intended to clarify state and federal roles in Idaho code; RS 33217, which would clarify distribution of the big game depredation fund so remaining money is paid pro rata to farmers and ranchers; RS 33284, proposing hunting as Idaho’s state sport; and RS 33287 C1, a revised version of a prior bill related to notice language and fish and game issues. RS 313185 was removed from the agenda at the sponsor’s request. The committee also approved pending rule docket 24-3501-2501 for the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board. The committee then heard an extensive update from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Officials said the division now oversees more than 259,000 licenses across 44 boards and three safety programs, has consolidated offices and systems to improve efficiency, and is moving toward two-year renewals and more function-based organization. They also outlined upcoming executive legislation on controlled substances, board consolidations, and unified disciplinary procedures, and reported on fee reductions, zero-based rulemaking, and board cash-balance corrections under prior legislation. The Department of Water Resources and the Idaho Water Resource Board provided lengthy presentations on budget holdbacks, water administration, groundwater conditions, recharge, cloud seeding, the Bear River Compact, and a proposed merger with the Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Director Weaver described budget reductions, staffing challenges, delivery-call enforcement on the Eastern Snake Plain, expansion of groundwater administration into tributary basins, and new monitoring and modeling work in the Treasure Valley. Chairman Raybould reviewed state water funding, recharge and canal-efficiency projects, cloud seeding, and the ESPA sustainability program, including grants for groundwater-to-surface-water conversion and telemetry. The committee asked questions about aquifer management, canal lining and recharge, Bear River depletion rights, and conversion projects. The meeting ended with approval of the February 3 minutes and notice that another RS would likely be taken up at the final meeting later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was all developed by the state.
• </c> facilities uh for serving developed facilities uh for serving developed areas.<00:36:03.440><c>
• </c> development fees, and the monthly fee. development fees, and the monthly fee.
• It was all developed by review the plan. It was all developed by the<00:38:16.320><c> state.
• </c> developer has been filed with the SEO. developer has been filed with the SEO.

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “And workforce development.
• My concern: how does the developer get that information?
• Because I see the developer...” “...that information.
• And while, you know, I encourage the developments, do we have privacy issues that we...” “...developments
• The developer is going to produce that. Yeah.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by a developer named Paul Lam.
• by a developer named Paul Lam.
• by a developer named Paul Lam.
• by a developer named Paul Lam.
• </c> with developers. And and No, I get that. with developers. And and No, I get that.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we purchased it, we spent lots of time with developers. For some time.
• I'm not a developer.
• I'm with Rice Community Development in St.
• The judicial ruling last fall really put a lot of developments at risk.
• There's been developments, triggers pulled, things done. Projects are underway.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 808, Caballero, housing development actions, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 484, Laird, coastal development permit exclusion, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 787, McNerney, industrial policy and clean energy development, do pass with author's amendments to
• SB 787, McNerney, industrial policy and clean energy development, do pass with author's amendments to
• SB 638, Padilla, workforce development, do pass; that is out on a B roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 29, 2025 suspense hearing on Senate bills, with the chair emphasizing the state’s ongoing budget constraints and the need to make difficult choices among 261 bills on the suspense file. After establishing a quorum, the committee began taking action bill by bill, with many measures receiving do pass or do pass with amendments recommendations, while others were held in committee or designated as two-year bills. The chair noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later on the committee website. The hearing covered a wide range of topics, including insurance and claims data, wildfire relief and prevention, water planning, energy and utility regulation, housing and land use, health care, labor and employment, criminal justice, education, environmental policy, and election-related measures. Several bills were amended before passage, often to narrow scope, remove sections, adjust definitions, delay implementation, or clarify funding and enforcement provisions. Some notable actions included moving bills on AI regulation, transit-oriented housing, paid family leave, wildfire mapping, chemical hair relaxers, and pharmacy benefit managers, while other bills on subjects such as controlled substances, high-speed rail, and certain education or housing proposals were held. The committee also took formal roll-call votes on selected bills, with some passing on A roll calls and others on B roll calls; a number of measures were advanced with Republicans not voting. One highlighted vote was SB 79 by Senator Wiener, which passed after amendments and a recorded roll call. At the end of the hearing, the committee reported that 190 bills were moved to the Assembly Floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, concluding the suspense hearing for the session.