Transcript Highlights:

• I know Rule's bill got a hearing, but no vote out of committee. The other two did not get hearings.
• So we're going to be having a hearing on the bill. We just got to the House.
• There will be a sub for the hearing. I believe it's going to be scheduled next week.
• It got a single hearing.
• That's not, it was not one of our priorities, but it was an interesting idea that got a hearing.

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders said they were pleased with progress before cutoff, highlighting work on immigration/federal-overreach protections and affordability measures. They cited bills such as restrictions on ICE activity in private spaces, employer notice requirements for ICE worksite actions, housing expansion in commercial and mixed-use zones, limits on medical debt interest, senior property tax relief, grocery-store covenant restrictions, preventive health care access, energy relief for low-income households, and the proposed millionaire’s tax, which they said would support tax credits and long-term fiscal sustainability. They also noted strong bipartisan movement on many bills and said they were now focused on processing House bills in the Senate and vice versa. Several stalled or controversial measures were discussed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance in the House because it lacked votes, though support had grown and stakeholder engagement continued. Child welfare and controlled-substance/endangerment bills were described as still under discussion, with lawmakers saying there were differing views on the best way to protect children and that some proposals were paused for further work. The Senate-side transmission and cultural resources package also ran into procedural and timing problems, with one bill ultimately not moving after a request for a full reading delayed the plan. The governor’s comments on the millionaire’s tax and the updated revenue forecast were a major topic. Democrats said they welcomed the governor’s tax ideas, were aiming to balance meaningful tax relief with a sustainable budget, and saw the forecast as providing some breathing room and more reserve capacity, though much of the new revenue would be absorbed by caseload growth and maintenance costs. They also discussed a proposed employer assessment tied to Medicaid-funded health coverage, saying it was intended to address federal cuts and shifting costs, while acknowledging concerns from employers and nonprofits. Other items included the tort-liability/survivor claims bill, which leaders said would preserve jury trials and damages while creating a claims process, the 0.05 BAC impaired-driving bill, and a pension-related proposal to terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1, with some related transfer ideas still unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Attendance roll call will now be taken, and I will register until you hear the bell.
• Do not vote until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to vote.
• Do not vote until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to vote. Vote nay.
• Do not vote until you hear the bell. The House will now proceed to vote. Thank you.
• We'll meet in hearing room number three upon adjournment or recess of the floor. Thank you.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Fred Kogan. Members also introduced numerous guests and groups, including Lunar New Year celebrants, Freedom Academy students, local officials from Nogales and Santa Cruz County, and representatives of Phoenix Ballet, which was honored in a proclamation recognizing National Ballet Day and the company’s contributions to Arizona’s arts community. The chamber also announced committee assignments, upcoming committee meetings, and several birthday and event notices, including African American Legislative Day and a statehood celebration for Arizona. On third reading, House Bill 2190, relating to the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants and the Physician Assistant Compact, failed on a 20-38 vote after debate over licensing compacts and rural health workforce needs. House Bill 2206, relating to SNAP rulemaking, passed 33-25 after a dispute over whether it created new rulemaking authority; supporters said it clarified existing authority and would help administer the program, while opponents argued it improperly delegated legislative power. House Bill 2396, also relating to SNAP and food restrictions, passed 34-25 after extensive debate about whether the state should limit purchases by low-income families; supporters framed it as promoting healthier choices and responsible use of public funds, while opponents argued it was paternalistic and harmful in food deserts. During the SNAP debate, members on both sides cited food access, nutrition, personal freedom, and the cost of living. Supporters referenced WIC restrictions, school lunch standards, and concerns about taxpayer-funded benefits, while opponents emphasized food deserts, rising prices, and the need for families to make their own choices. After the votes, the House recessed briefly, then returned for additional announcements and procedural business, including committee substitutions, bill referrals, and first reading of HB 4097. The House then adjourned until Monday, February 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• They hear the word that's important.
• Some of them had a lot more hearings than others.
• Some of them had a groups have hearings.
• Some of them had a lot<00:07:50.160><c> more</c><00:07:50.400><c> hearings</c><00:07:50.720><c> than<
• Um, but I lot more hearings than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, can you hear me now? Chairman, members, thanks for the opportunity to testify.
• I just didn't expect to hear what I heard this morning, so...
• Hearing none, public testimony is closed, and we will leave this bill pending at this time.
• If you're the two witnesses that we called earlier and we didn't hear you, or you didn't hear your name
• Y'all are able to hear me today? I drove in from Houston this week.

Bills: SB 25 , SB25 , SB314

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We are unable to hear you. Can you hear me now? >> Oh, there we go. Keep there you go.
• So it's frustrating to hear safety.
• Um and I think we'll hear liability.
• I'm certainly hearing that from my colleagues talking about the rhetoric that you're hearing.
• 17.840><c> my</c> certainly hearing that from my certainly hearing that from my colleagues<01:29:18.400

Bills: HF3405 , HF3413 , HF3769 , HF3768 , HF3771 , HF3465

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, members, and thanks for hearing House File 1057 this morning.
• </c> Good morning, members, and thanks for hearing House File 1057 this morning.
• Representative Frazier, I didn't hear an answer to that question.
• I heard a good speech, but I didn't hear an answer to that question.
• </c><01:31:30.320><c> an</c> a good speech but I didn't hear an a good speech but I didn't hear an answer

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't hear anybody complaining about the moisture.
• It also resolves the core problem we've been hearing about.
• Glad to hear that.
• If anyone else has driven three and a half miles, we would love to hear hear three and a half hours or
• I just wonder, you know, what are you hearing from your districts?

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a few announcements as we begin today's hearing. First, a number of items have been pulled.
• File item 1, AB 1568 by Assemblymember Alanis, has been pulled and will not be reset for a later hearing
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today's hearing. AB 2339, Gibson.
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today's hearing. That bill is out in a vote of 5 to 1.
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today's hearing. Thank you, colleagues.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took action on multiple measures. AB 1662 by Assemblymember Wilson, which would require notice to the DMV when a defendant receives diversion in certain driving-related cases so points can still be assessed administratively, drew support from law enforcement, district attorneys, AAA, and road safety advocates, with opposition from the Western Center on Law and Poverty. The bill passed on a due pass motion to Transportation and was held on call. AB 1741 by Assemblymember Pacheco, as amended, would allow sexual battery committed during an unlawful residential intrusion to be charged as a wobbler; prosecutors and victim advocates supported it, while public defender organizations argued existing law already covers the conduct and warned the bill was overbroad. It passed due pass as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. AB 2760 by Assemblymember Sharp Collins would let counties with an Office of Inspector General expand that office’s oversight to probation and animal control departments. Supporters, including the author, an Ella Baker Center representative, and San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, said it would improve transparency and help counties lacking capacity. Probation officials and Fresno County opposed, citing existing oversight structures and concerns about conflicts, confidentiality, and duplication. The bill passed due pass to Local Government, with some no votes, and was held on call. AB 1753 by Assemblymember Wix, the Survivor Pathways to Safety Act, would strengthen firearm relinquishment and protection-order enforcement, expand firearm prohibitions for certain threats and violations, and broaden remote hearing and notification provisions. Support came from gun violence prevention, victim, medical, and law enforcement groups; gun rights organizations opposed on due process grounds. It passed due pass as amended to Judiciary and was held on call. The committee also heard AB 1743 by Assemblymember Wix, which would allow local governments and certain universities to request firearm trace data from DOJ for research and policy purposes. Supporters said the data would help identify trafficking patterns and inform evidence-based policy, while opponents warned about privacy, misuse, and stigmatizing lawful dealers. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was held on call. AB 2164, the Care Without Fear Act, would strengthen California’s shield-law protections for reproductive health care providers against extradition and related enforcement; supporters framed it as protecting lawful care in California, while opponents raised concerns about abortion and gender-affirming care and due process. It passed due pass to Judiciary and was held open. AB 2664, the Safe Worship Zone Act, would create a narrow buffer around houses of worship to prevent harassment of people entering or exiting; faith-based and anti-hate groups supported it, while civil liberties and some community groups opposed it as an unconstitutional speech restriction. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was held on call. The committee then began hearing AB 2122 by Assemblymember Kalra, which would prohibit bench warrants for Vehicle Code infractions and allow noncustodial warrants for other infractions, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a few announcements as we begin today's hearing.
• File item 1, AB 1568 by Assembly Member Alanis, has been pulled and will not be reset for a later hearing
• Okay, we're going to reconvene the Senate Public Safety Committee hearing and proceed now to our next
• That completes our agenda for today's hearing. That bill is out on a vote of 5 to 1.
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today's hearing. Thank you, colleagues.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• You're going to hear about that more today.
• You're going to hear more about that.
• You're going to hear a lot about that.
• Washington, as you'll hear more from...
• At scale, you'll hear me refer to this as GCS.

Summary: The committee held an interim work session focused first on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), then on hazardous waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR). On the CCUS topic, industry and nonprofit presenters described point-source capture, direct air capture, mineralization, and geologic sequestration, emphasizing Washington’s basalt formations and state trust lands as strong candidates for storage. They argued that CCUS can help hard-to-abate industrial sectors, support jobs and investment, and provide a pathway for compliance, while also noting the need for clearer permitting, subsurface rights, pipeline authority, and storage infrastructure. Ecology and Commerce staff explained current state policy touchpoints, including Cap-and-Invest offsets and exemptions for permanently stored CO2, the public comment process underway to define “thousand-year” permanence, and how CCUS might fit within the Clean Energy Transformation Act without counting emitting generation as non-emitting. Some presenters supported more state action and primacy over federal permitting, while others warned about costs, energy use, uncertain capture performance, and the need to ensure real net greenhouse gas reductions and long-term liability protections. Members asked about public meetings, whether mineralized carbon would qualify as exempt under the Climate Commitment Act, the timeline for Ecology guidance, aquifer and water-quality concerns, energy intensity of capture systems, and liability if storage later proves problematic. Responses said Ecology’s guidance process is already underway, public meetings will be virtual, mineralized carbon would likely qualify if it meets the permanence standard, and EPA rules require storage in deep saline formations below drinking water aquifers. Industry speakers said capture energy use varies by source and concentration, and one presenter noted that some states use trust funds funded by injectors to address long-term liability. The second half of the session shifted to hazardous waste and EPR. Ecology staff reviewed existing product stewardship programs for electronics, paint, batteries, and mercury lights, and described moderate risk waste and household hazardous waste management in Washington. They highlighted that E-Cycle and PaintCare are producer-funded, that the battery stewardship program will begin in 2027, and that the mercury lamp program is in transition after its prior stewardship organization exited, prompting enforcement notices and a pending replacement plan. Ecology recommended best practices for future EPR programs, including clear producer and product definitions, full producer funding, convenience standards, annual reporting, and strong agency enforcement and plan approval authority. Local government speakers from King County and Douglas County described rising collection costs, equity and access barriers, rural travel distances, and the need for stable funding and flexible local implementation. King County said it collected over 3 million pounds of hazardous products in 2025 and supports EPR as a way to shift costs from ratepayers to producers, while Douglas County emphasized that rural residents will participate when services are accessible and that future systems should account for geography and local infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll now go into the public hearing on Senate Bill 1020, sponsored by Senator Hearing on Senate Bill
• And what I'm hearing is that there's an absence of it.
• So, you know, it's always nice to hear the other side.
• And what I'm hearing is that there's an absence of it.
• So, you know, it's always nice to hear the other side.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee first heard Senate Bill 1020, which would let the Department of Revenue award a Missouri license office contract without rebidding if no qualifying bids are received on the initial solicitation. Senator Sandy Crawford and Director of Revenue Trish Vincent said the change would help keep rural license offices open, reduce repeated bidding delays, and allow the department to work with local entities such as chambers, counties, or cities when smaller offices are hard to staff profitably. Members asked about the process, the challenges in low-volume communities, and whether more online services could eventually reduce the need for offices; no opposition testified, and the hearing concluded without a vote. The committee then took up House Bill 3093, which would extend Missouri’s direct-to-consumer shipping framework from wineries to distillers and breweries. Sponsor Rep. Nick Kimball and many supporters argued the bill would create parity for Missouri craft producers, preserve age-verification and signature requirements, and keep tax collection and other safeguards in place. Supporters included distillers and brewers who said the current system favors wine, limits small Missouri businesses, and makes it harder to reach customers who want products shipped after visiting a taproom or distillery. Several members also raised questions about enforcement, the three-tier system, and whether the bill could be narrowed or paired with other changes. Opponents, including representatives of wholesalers, grocers, convenience stores, and beer wholesalers, argued the bill would weaken the three-tier system, increase competition from out-of-state producers, and create enforcement and tax-collection problems. They said wine shipping has shown compliance and auditing difficulties, cited concerns about underage access and online ordering, and urged the committee to preserve the existing distribution structure or strengthen wine-shipping rules before expanding them. Supporters countered that alcohol shipments are already tightly regulated, that direct shipping is already occurring in other forms, and that the bill would simply add another regulated avenue for Missouri-made beer and spirits. The hearing ended after extensive testimony and questions, with no final committee action reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• But anyone who watched the hearings, or was at the hearings, or talked to anyone who was at the hearings
• Why now are we hearing that?
• I didn't hear back from him.
• Why now are we hearing that?
• I didn't hear back from him.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard several higher education and K-12 bills centered on TOPS, school accountability, and curriculum alignment. It first welcomed University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s new president, Ramesh Kuluru, who spoke about student success, workforce alignment, and the university’s financial recovery. The committee then adopted amendments and reported HR 17 favorably, directing a study of TOPS return on investment with the Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, LED, and the Blanco Public Policy Center. Testimony from business and policy groups supported the study as a way to assess whether state financial aid is producing workforce and retention outcomes. Members then considered HB 385 by Rep. Bamberg, which would require repayment of TOPS awards under certain circumstances when students lose eligibility, with exemptions for hardship and a pathway into LCTCS or career-technical programs. The bill drew strong debate over whether merit scholarships should ever be repaid; opponents argued TOPS is earned for the semester and should only be lost going forward, while supporters emphasized taxpayer accountability. After amendments, the committee narrowly approved the bill by roll call vote, with Chair Schlegel casting the deciding yes to report it favorably as amended. The committee also unanimously reported HB 1058 favorably, which requires the Board of Regents to maintain a uniform data system for state financial assistance; independent colleges and business groups supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and analysis. The committee next heard HB 406 by Speaker Pro Tem Johnson, which asks the Department of Education to study the feasibility of moving oversight of interscholastic athletics to a more accountable model after a legislative study found widespread complaints about the private LHSAA’s transparency and consistency. Supporters said the bill is a cautious step toward reform and a possible 2028–2029 transition, while an LHSAA representative defended current audits and governance and opposed the premise of the bill. Despite objections, the committee reported HB 406 favorably. It then heard HB 787 by Rep. McMakin, as substituted, which would exempt non-public high school students from the TOPS computer science requirement; BESE and the Department of Education opposed the bill, saying it would separate diploma and TOPS requirements and create scheduling confusion, while Catholic school representatives said the requirement conflicts with their theology curriculum. McMakin asked to defer the bill for two weeks. Finally, the committee unanimously reported HB 1059 favorably, which aligns TOPS math requirements with BESE’s integrated math pathways, and began hearing HB 1021 by Rep. Egan on repayment of certain TOPS awards, though the transcript cuts off before that bill was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do I hear any objections to the amendment? None. Do I hear a motion for the amendment?
• My hearing aids are messing up; my phone's over there so they're in and out.
• I appreciate your testimony, and we'll hear from the FFA guys and so.
• A lot of the time when you hear about the goings-on of our government, you can hear that it can be slow
• Do I hear any objections? We have none reported favorably. Thank you. hearing objections.

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee took up several agriculture-related bills and first heard a series of presentations from Louisiana 4-H and FFA student leaders. The students described how those programs built leadership, public speaking, and career goals, and members from both parties responded with personal stories about their own 4-H/FFA experiences and support for agricultural education and youth development. On House Bill 715, the committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The bill requires aerial applicators using public airports or landing fields to carry radios and transponders, with the author and members framing it as a safety measure to prevent near-misses and improve communication during takeoff and landing. On House Bill 663, the committee adopted amendments changing the composition of the Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District board, including removing certain ex officio or agricultural-related members, and then reported the bill favorably; the author said the district has evolved beyond agriculture to include economic development, energy, transportation, and grant work. House Bill 717, dealing with labeling requirements for cell-cultured food products, was amended technically and reported favorably. The author said the bill simply increases and clarifies the font size and visibility of labels so consumers can more easily see that a product is lab-grown or cell-cultured, matching seafood labeling standards. House Bill 834 on animal shelters received 23 amendments, many technical, but also substantive changes preserving local control, allowing parishes and municipalities to designate or contract with shelters, setting a three-day hold period, clarifying transfer of ownership for stray animals, and providing good-faith liability protection; after discussion with the Police Jury Association and others, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. The committee also reported Senate Bill 349 favorably, which recreates the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and Senate Bill 350 favorably, which makes a technical name change related to the Louisiana soybean association and board membership. After those votes, Commissioner Mike Strain gave a lengthy sunset-review presentation on the department’s structure, duties, boards, and programs, emphasizing its role in agriculture, forestry, food safety, animal health, weights and measures, and related regulatory and promotional functions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to call to order this very first hearing of the Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer
• We're going to have the chairman take over the committee hearing, thankfully.
• For seven years, I've been asking for a larger committee hearing room.
• For seven years, I've been asking for a larger committee hearing room.
• So I appreciate that critique, and I hear it.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> now to try to appeal the the the hearing now to try to appeal the the the hearing that<00:19:22.240
• All we're trying public hearing on 617.
• So, now we're going to the public hearing on 617.
• That concludes the public hearing section.
• </c> concludes the public hearing section. concludes the public hearing section.

Bills: HB542 , HB566 , SB270 , HB618 , HB617 , HB542 , HB566 , SB270 , HB618 , HB617

Committee: House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Keywords: HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan, assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, state pension, survivor benefits, Office of Prosecution Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't hear that.
• But I hear today, okay, you know, if we're going to say we're going to bait, and I hear some suggestion
• I didn't hear that. But I hear today...
• But I hear today, okay, you know, if we're going to say we're going to bait, and I hear some suggestion
• Hearing no objection, we stand adjourned.

Summary: The committee and invited witnesses discussed chronic wasting disease surveillance and response in Louisiana, focusing on both wild deer and captive deer facilities. LDWF staff said surveillance goals are being met in about 32 of 64 parishes, but there are gaps in low-sample areas, and they described current efforts using voluntary hunter-harvested deer sampling, targeted sampling in higher-risk animals, and coordination with D-MAP properties. Witnesses and members raised possible ways to improve detection, including incentives for testing, use of taxidermists and processors to collect samples from older bucks, possible mandatory testing tied to special doe days or special seasons, and better use of D-MAP or mobile sampling units. Several members also suggested environmental testing, better deer-density data, and clearer mapping of hotspots and source areas. A major portion of the discussion centered on how to respond when a positive CWD case is found. Members debated whether Louisiana should follow an Arkansas-style approach, including allowing baiting during hunting season while using other tools to manage disease, versus stricter no-bait or no-feeding rules. Some members argued that immediate restrictions after a positive discourage hunters from submitting samples and hurt landowners and feed businesses, and suggested delaying new restrictions until the end of the season while intensifying sampling. Others emphasized that any response should be science-based and should preserve hunter participation. There was also discussion of whether control areas should be parish-based or based on geographic distance, and whether the state should establish thresholds that would allow a control zone to be reduced or removed if enough negative samples are collected. For captive deer facilities, LDWF and LDAF staff reviewed the USDA herd certification program and current surveillance practices. They said Louisiana has about 350 licensed deer facilities, including breeder and hunting facilities, and that a 2024 positive in Jeff Davis Parish led to depopulation and 12 quarantine farms; follow-up testing in 2025 found no new positives in the traced facilities. Staff said the state has relied on USDA competitive grants for diagnostic testing in the last two years, covering roughly $100,000 to $150,000 annually, while department self-generated funds covered more than $800,000 over the last three years. Members and witnesses recommended mandatory enrollment in the USDA herd certification program, mandatory 24-hour reporting of positives to LDWF and USDA APHIS, and clearer, reciprocal communication between LDWF and LDAF when positives are found. No votes were taken; the chair said staff would compile the discussion and written recommendations for consideration at the April 9 commission meeting, with the understanding that the committee will later make formal recommendations to the Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will conclude the hearing on House Bill 3114.
• You're going to hear from one of my, one of my, one of our... ...my district, and you're going to hear
• I hear you there. But I don't deny the need.
• There are no public hearings. There's no environmental impact statement.
• I hear you. I wouldn't want to look out my kitchen window and see that. I hear you there.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3114, which would require operating railroads in Missouri to provide digital copies of valuation and station maps to the state land surveyor for inclusion in a public repository. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help surveyors locate abandoned railroad rights-of-way and determine center lines for adjoining landowners’ reversionary rights. Committee members asked about whether the bill would apply to active versus abandoned lines, whether records still exist for older railroads, and whether a deadline should be added for compliance. Railroad testimony raised concerns about the breadth of the request, potential security and proprietary issues, and the burden of compiling historical records, while indicating a willingness to continue discussions and possibly work with surveyors on a more targeted process. The committee then heard House Bill 2298, which would remove the current exemption for electric cooperatives from the requirement that condemning entities pay 150% of appraised value in eminent domain cases. The sponsor argued that co-ops should be treated the same as regulated utilities because landowners face the same burden when transmission lines cross their property, and he cited examples where co-op offers were far below what he believed comparable utility projects would pay. Landowners and a lawyer testifying in favor described alleged unfair treatment, uneven compensation, and the impact of transmission lines on farm operations and property value, while emphasizing that the bill would simply put co-ops on the same footing as other utilities. Opposition testimony from Associated Industries of Missouri and the Missouri Electric Cooperatives argued that the bill would interfere with the cooperative model, which is member-owned and governed by elected boards, and would reduce flexibility in negotiating easements. The co-op representative said the organizations are not partnered with Grain Belt Express, that any interconnection compensation is separate from the project itself, and that most easement acquisitions are settled by negotiation rather than condemnation. Committee members questioned whether co-ops already pay comparable amounts in practice, whether the bill would affect transmission projects tied to Grain Belt Express, and how co-op governance and member oversight should factor into eminent domain policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, we're going to hear from Dr. Carlisle and Dr.
• I thank you for the opportunity to testify at this morning's hearing.
• So I was I was not able to hear that testimony of the local law enforcement.
• , kind of similar to what we hear from the local control accountability plans.
• , kind of similar to what we hear from the, from the, from the, kind of similar to what we hear from

Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• moved to hear the nominees in open session<00:13:47.360><c> and</c><00:13:47.600><c> special</c><00:
• Finance Committee will meet at 1:00 for bill hearings, followed by a voting session. >> All right.
• Triple E will meet at 1 p.m. for bill hearings.
• > and</c> today at 1 p.m. for bill hearings and today at 1 p.m. for bill hearings and then<00:34:00.000
• </c> tomorrow at 8:45 for um bill hearings tomorrow at 8:45 for um bill hearings and<00:34:42.800><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency informational hearing will now come to order
• For today's hearing, we will hear from panelists first, and then we will take public comment.
• I also look forward to hearing from Metrolink and Caltrain regarding the state of their systems.
• But, you know, I really would like to hear more from you about...
• And these questions after this hearing remain unanswered.

Summary: The Senate Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency held an informational hearing focused on the corridor’s financial stability, service reliability, governance, capital planning, and long-term resiliency. Chair Lackey opened by criticizing the unfinished SB 1098 report and the underwhelming Transit Transformation Task Force work, arguing that the corridor remains at a crossroads with weak ridership recovery, poor on-time performance, and major capital projects that are not moving quickly enough. Senator Archuleta emphasized safety, maintenance, and the need to avoid state subsidy if ridership and revenues can support service. CalSTA and Caltrans described major state investments and ongoing planning efforts, including $125 million for San Clemente resiliency work, additional leveraged federal and state funds, more than $25 billion in funded projects in the pipeline, and the development of a corridor project database and service-planning tool under SB 1098. Caltrans also reported restoring Surfliner service to 13 weekday round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego, piloting expanded service to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and reorganizing internally to elevate transit and rail oversight. On zero-emission strategy, officials said hydrogen fuel-cell trains are being procured for longer-distance service while electrification remains the long-term ideal and battery-electric options are being explored for shorter routes. The committee then heard from Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle and Caltrain representative Jason Baker. Metrolink described its shift to “regional passenger rail,” with schedule changes aimed at all-day service, better transfers, and growth in student and weekend ridership, but warned of a fiscal cliff because member agencies now cover most operating costs while fare revenue remains low. Kettle said the agency has not reached consensus among its five county partners on a dedicated revenue solution and warned that service cuts may be unavoidable without new funding. Caltrain reported strong post-electrification ridership gains, improved customer satisfaction, and expanded service, but also warned of a large annual operating deficit that could force reductions in frequency, weekend service, stations, and evening operations if stable funding is not found. Members also discussed public safety, marketing, station placemaking, parking and concession revenue, and hydrogen fuel-cell technology. Senators urged stronger promotion of rail service, safer and cleaner stations, and more ambitious planning to match the state’s investments. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational, with officials asked to continue reporting back on SB 1098, San Clemente planning, service performance, and funding solutions.