Transcript Highlights:

• Skilled and trained, as we all know, is in California law, specifically Public Contract Code Section
• specifically skilled and trained as we all know is in California law specifically public contract code
• organized for political equality, HOPE, the Cal State Student Association, and Long Beach City College
• Chair and members, Carol Gonzalez, with Latina Advocates, on behalf of Long Beach City College and on
• Another professor, Bill Miller, sees struggles at Sac City today.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several Senate measures focused on community college procurement, higher education access, and student support. SB 1154 by Senator Reyes would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. Supporters, including San Bernardino Valley College, the San Bernardino Community College District, labor groups, and several districts, said it would improve delivery of complex facilities and align community colleges with other education systems. Opponents, including the Associated General Contractors, argued the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce requirements and labor-compliance scoring would narrow the bidder pool and raise costs. The committee passed the bill to the Assembly Floor on a due-pass vote, with some members voting no or not recorded. SB 1255, also by Senator Reyes, would create a California Hispanic-serving institution designation. Supporters from HACU, the CSU Chancellor’s Office, UC, community colleges, and other education organizations said the designation would recognize campuses that serve large numbers of Latino and low-income students and strengthen accountability and student success. The committee approved the bill as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations, with one no vote. SB 1328, presented on behalf of Senator Cervantes, would require LGBTQ+ points of contact at satellite or branch campuses of CSU and community colleges, either through designated staff or regular office hours. Testimony emphasized gaps in access at remote centers and the need for confidential support; one member raised concerns about staffing, costs, and whether existing systems could meet the need remotely. The bill was passed as amended and sent to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 960 by Senator Cabaldon, which would expand the circumstances under which community colleges could offer bachelor’s degrees in response to unmet workforce needs, especially where CSU programs are impacted or not realistically accessible locally. Supporters said the bill would help meet workforce demand and expand access for place-bound and adult learners. CSU and faculty representatives opposed unless amended, urging stronger partnership requirements, clearer workforce-need standards, and safeguards around duplication and Prop 98 funding. Members discussed impaction, regional access, and the role of partnerships; the bill was passed as amended and re-referred to Appropriations. Finally, SB 632 by Senator Otagan would extend the California College Promise fee waiver to part-time community college students enrolled in nine units. Supporters said many students cannot attend full time because of work, caregiving, and living costs, and the bill would better reflect student realities; the transcript ends during testimony on this measure, before any vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Skilled and trained, as we all know, is in California law, specifically Public Contract Code Section
• specifically skilled and trained as we all know is in California law specifically public contract code
• College, El Camino College, Santa Monica College, and Pasadena City College, in support. Thank you.
• Chair and members, Carol Gonzalez, with Latina Advocates, on behalf of Long Beach City College and on
• Another professor, Bill Miller, sees struggles at Sac City today.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your public comment will be limited to stating your name, your organization, or what city you're from
• And the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach have already restricted the retail sale of these nitrous
• a group of teens from the youth leadership coalition took it upon themselves to advocate for Ukiah City
• Chair, members, Julina Vores, on behalf of the League of California Cities, in strong support.
• Today, we're dealing with the Penal Code provisions and the criminal penalties.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety met on March 17, 2026, with no quorum at the start and throughout much of the hearing, so bills were presented and discussed but no final votes were taken. The committee heard SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales, SB 941 on commissary price caps in private immigration detention facilities, SCR 118 urging release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, SB 1009 on juvenile detention standards, AB 46 on mental health diversion, and SB 948 on firearm safety training and registration for new residents. The chair explained public comment procedures and noted that SB 891 was on consent, but the transcript focused on the other measures. SB 936 drew strong support from the author, prosecutors, local officials, and public health/environmental groups, who described rising misuse of flavored large nitrous oxide canisters, youth targeting, impaired driving crashes, deaths, and waste disposal costs. Opposition from the ACLU argued the bill was too broad and should use a regulatory rather than criminal approach, warning about overreach into ordinary household items. Members generally expressed support, though some asked for narrowing amendments to avoid unintended coverage. SB 941 was presented as a cap on markups for commissary goods sold to detainees in privately run federal immigration detention facilities, modeled on prior prison commissary limits. Supporters described severe price inflation for basic necessities and the burden on families, while no opposition testified. SCR 118, calling for full release of unclassified Epstein investigation files, was supported by the author, a survivor statement, and anti-trafficking advocates; one member objected that the resolution could implicate people without full facts, while others emphasized transparency and survivor accountability. SB 1009 and AB 46 both centered on criminal justice discretion: SB 1009 would require clear and convincing evidence before detaining youth and was supported by defenders and youth advocates but opposed by probation and district attorneys who warned about public safety and resource constraints; AB 46 would narrow mental health diversion by allowing judges to deny diversion when public safety is at risk, with prosecutors and victims’ families supporting it and public defenders, ACLU, and behavioral health groups opposing it as an unnecessary restriction on treatment. SB 948 would expand firearm safety certificate requirements to include live-fire training and require new California residents to register firearms within 60 days; the author and gun-safety advocates supported it as a common-sense safety measure, and the hearing moved into support testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• public, and your public comment will just be limited to stating your name, your organization, or what city
• several local jurisdictions, including one of the two counties I represent, Orange County, and the cities
• a group of teens from the youth leadership coalition took it upon themselves to advocate for Ukiah City
• Chair, members, Julina Vores, on behalf of the League of California Cities, in strong support.
• Today, we're dealing with the Penal Code provisions and the criminal penalties.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety met on March 17, 2026, beginning without a quorum and hearing several bills and a resolution. SB 936 by Senator Blakespear would prohibit retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Supporters, including prosecutors, county officials, and local government groups, described rising misuse among youth, impaired driving crashes, deaths, and environmental waste from large flavored canisters. The ACLU opposed unless amended, arguing the bill was too broad and should use a regulatory approach rather than criminal penalties; the author said amendments were being considered to narrow the language. Committee members largely expressed support, though some raised concerns about wording and implementation. SB 941 by Senator Padilla would extend a prison commissary price cap framework to private for-profit immigration detention facilities under federal contract in California. Supporters said detainees and their families face extreme markups on basic necessities and that the bill would curb exploitation. There was broad support from immigrant justice, civil rights, and disability rights organizations, and no opposition testimony was presented. SCR 118 by Senator Gonzalez urged release of unclassified Jeffrey Epstein investigation files. Supporters framed it as a transparency and survivor-accountability measure, with testimony from CAST and a survivor statement. One committee member voiced concern about incomplete facts and the risk of political overreach, while others supported the resolution as part of broader anti-trafficking efforts. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require clear and convincing evidence before detaining youth in juvenile proceedings and would emphasize less restrictive alternatives. The author and supporters argued that detention harms youth, increases recidivism, and is overused, citing a personal witness who described spending more than 200 days in juvenile detention before her case was resolved. Probation, district attorneys, and AFSCME raised concerns that the bill could limit judicial discretion, strain county resources, and create public safety risks or uneven implementation. Committee members were split, with some supporting the bill as a needed safeguard and others saying the system needs more resources before changing the standard. AB 46 by Assemblymember Nguyen would narrow mental health diversion by allowing judges to deny diversion when public safety is at risk. Supporters, including district attorneys and a crime victim’s family, said current law is too restrictive and has allowed dangerous offenders to reoffend; opponents, including public defenders and the ACLU, argued diversion is already limited and effective and that the bill would reduce access to treatment. Finally, SB 948 by Senator Aegian would require more comprehensive firearm safety training for firearm safety certificates and require new California residents to register firearms and obtain a certificate within 60 days. Supporters, including Brady and youth gun violence advocates, said the bill would close loopholes and improve safety; gun rights groups opposed, calling it an unconstitutional financial barrier and a burden on new residents.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city is trying to work with the state.
• I understand that the city has been trying.
• And then the city has to start a process that's probably going to take them eight to ten years because
• It's laid out in Penal Code 2067, and that's for a very specific reason: because naming an institution
• before CDCR has the opportunity to go through its own internal process and to follow the Penal Code

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A city, town, or code city must complete an agricultural impact statement within 30 days of the filing
• Fourth, the bill requires cities, towns, code cities, and counties to conserve adjacent agricultural
• And as Joe Stalin found out, you just can't take people and move them out of the city and put them on

Bills: SB6104 , SB6241 , SJM8015 , SB6318

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: agriculture, protection, state regulation, farmers, land use, sustainability, steelhead, conservation, wildlife, fishing, environmental protection, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, fees, fishing industry, regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current education code, the Legislature has told our institutions that they expect campuses to
• Education Code also prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual
• College of the Canyons and San Diego City College. Do we have specific reasoning as to why?
• We have not received anything formal at this time from San Diego City College. Okay. Okay.
• Hi, Carol Gonzalez on behalf of Long Beach City College.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The delegate from Richmond City, Delegate Carr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise for a motion.
• The delegate from Richmond City, Delegate Carr, moves that the House adopt House Resolution 2173, celebrating
• and the 30th day of June 2028, as well as legislation to amend and reenact various portions of the Code

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of memorial and commending resolutions out of order and in block. Members offered tributes to Colonel James T. O’Kelly for his Marine Corps service and later public service; to Taran Mehta and DeWan Anthony Stiegel, Jr.; to Noreen Torin for her long career in Central Virginia journalism; to Bernard L. Henderson, Jr. for extensive public and civic service; and to Child’s Family Orchards for growing a record-setting peach. Several additional memorial and commending resolutions were adopted in block, including newly added resolutions for Stephanie Daniel Myers and Lynn Kathleen McKay, among others. The chamber then considered the conference report on House Bill 30, the biennial state budget. Speakers praised staff and conferees for their work and noted provisions such as pay raises for teachers and state employees, infrastructure funding, a higher standard deduction, and a utility-related rebate issue. Some members criticized the budget as a large spending increase and argued it did not provide enough tax relief, while others supported it and emphasized keeping commitments to data center tax policy and adding co-ops to rebate efforts. After debate, the House adopted the conference report by a vote of 71 yeas to 22 nays. At the close of business, the House was informed that the calendar was complete, reminded about a constituent relationship management software survey, and then recessed pursuant to House Resolution 2069.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee was notified that after staff's follow-up visit to the city of Adona, the city is now in
• committee approved a motion to give town officials 60 days to reach compliance as required under Arkansas Code

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The Legislative Joint Audit Committee met on February 13, 2026, and first adopted the January 9, 2026 minutes. It then received and adopted reports from the Executive Committee, the Standing Committee on Counties and Municipalities, the Standing Committee on Education Institutions, the Standing Committee on State Agencies, and the Medicaid Subcommittee. Those reports covered audit follow-up items, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, state agency audit findings, and a Medicaid oversight presentation. Several reports were filed after discussion, and in multiple cases agencies or local officials were present to answer questions about repeat findings or compliance concerns. Among the notable audit matters, the committee reviewed a Cleburne County library audit that found more than $80,000 in unauthorized or questionable disbursements, including purchases that appeared personal in nature and improper fuel expenses. The library director had been placed on leave, later charged with felony theft of property and abuse of office, and the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General. The committee also heard a special report on the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which found scholarship ineligibility issues and numerous disbursement-processing exceptions, while noting that the program had ended in 2024 and remaining funds were returned to the school districts. During the state agency report, Legislative Audit described findings at DHS, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Corrections, and Veterans Affairs, including improper benefit payments, a cashed warrant by someone other than the intended payee, missing receipts, unauthorized fuel card purchases, and payroll and overtime issues. The committee filed that report after agency representatives responded to questions. The meeting ended with the filing of the Cleburne County and Donaldson Scholars Academy reports, and the next committee meeting was announced for March 12-13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, if I live in a city like Orlando, you have diversity of options, Rep.
• This decision to add in state administrative code, a blatant prohibition against faith-based content
• Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no opposition in Carson City, we'll go to Vegas and see no one in the room.
• Seeing no one in Carson City, seeing no one in Vegas, BPS, is there anyone on the phone line?
• have to do with technology, and maybe their corporate social responsibility is about teaching kids coding

Committee: Senate Revenue and Economic Development

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think current City Mayor Ben Klinger said it best, as he worked with him as the former Deputy Fire
• The amendment is coded DEA-202. I recognize the member from Scott, Representative Baker.
• The active transportation bridge over 169; the responsibility for the cost for that is the city of Shakopee

Transcript Highlights:

• And the misclassification is the cheat code.
• So, if someone comes to cheat code.
• is different than that city.
• </c><01:39:42.720><c> is</c> than border states or or this city is than border states or or this city
• </c> different than that city. different than that city.

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

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pretty hard to raise taxes and to raise the funds to make this work like a big city can, so any
• </c> funds to make this work like a big city funds to make this work like a big city can<00:15:05.759
• </c><00:42:26.960><c> without</c><00:42:27.280><c> a</c> motans living in a zip code without a motans
• There's a map in your sheet showing ZIP codes without a single pharmacy.
• governments over the by several City governments over the last<00:49:09.040><c> few</c><00:49:09.319

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You can use the QR code, and it gets to our web page that talks about the funding opportunities that
• grants which are a part of tier 2 cities grants which are a part of the<00:44:12.400><c> Statewide</
• </c><00:44:17.920><c> I</c> available specifically to small cities I available specifically to small
• </c><00:44:50.520><c> and</c><00:44:51.000><c> uh</c> 2024 I um you can use the QR code and uh 2024 I
• We've been in close conversation with the League of Minnesota Cities and other groups.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Sam Wagner, Florida League of Cities, waving in support. Anybody else wishing to testify?
• I would appreciate this major step forward for our counties and cities to protect very important data
• And Sam Wagner, Florida League of Cities, waving in support. Anybody else wishing to testify?
• With that, I'd ask for your favorable. counties and cities to protect very important data.
• Next up, we have tab 11 and Senator Leak, Florida Building Code. Come on up, you are recognized.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard and reported favorably several bills. CS/SB 800 would increase penalties for repeated unlicensed engineering practice and create an engineering student loan assistance program funded by licensure fees and fines; Senator Sharif asked about restitution for victims, and the sponsor said the bill does not create a reimbursement mechanism. CS/SB 576 would create a local government cybersecurity protection program administered by Florida Digital Service, with state purchasing support, grant access, and data-sharing requirements; local government and cybersecurity groups waived in support. CS/SB 1078 would establish transition procedures between gubernatorial administrations, including liaisons, briefing books, office space, IT access, and access to agency records under a signed confidentiality agreement. The committee also reported favorably CS/SB 314 on payment stablecoin issuers, CS/SB 530 updating lottery operations and security rules, CS/SB 1614 giving JAC/LAC-related audit findings more enforcement effect for local governments seeking state funds, SB 990 authorizing protective cell captive insurance companies, SB 1588 beginning implementation of the prior gold-and-silver legal tender law, CS/SB 1440 adding cybersecurity-related exemptions and reporting provisions for financial institutions, and CS/SB 1568 creating a stablecoin pilot program for DFS fee payments. Several bills had support testimony from state agencies and industry groups, and some included technical or guardrail amendments that were adopted without objection. The committee also received a budget overview highlighting major funding items, including more than $350 million for Florida Forever, $738 million for Everglades restoration, more than $500 million for water quality projects outside the Everglades, $60 million for Farmers Feeding Florida, and more than $250 million for citrus recovery. Members asked questions about school lunch funding, state park improvements, land acquisition, water quality funding, gaming enforcement offices, and staffing for PERC. After the bills and budget discussion, members recorded a few affirmative votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going on file order: AB 770 by Mark Gonzalez, advertising display, City of Los Angeles exemption
• I am pleased to present AB 770, which would build upon existing law and authorize the City of Los Angeles
• risk of federal highway fund reductions by requiring Caltrans pre-approval of any signage plan by the city
• And the city of L.A. needs it especially, and the business community is supportive.
• This is a technical fix to a gray area in California's existing code sections surrounding 50-50 raffles

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee before quorum was established, then heard three measures. AB 770 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez would authorize the City of Los Angeles to create a flexible signage framework at the Los Angeles Convention Center to generate revenue for renovation and modernization tied to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Support came from labor, business, and SEIU representatives, who cited jobs, tourism, and financing benefits; there was no opposition testimony. Members asked about the job estimates and the connection between signage revenue and convention center expansion. SB 451, presented by Senator Archuleta, would clarify that a 50-50 charitable raffle may be conducted at a championship game held at a designated venue where an affiliated sports team plays home games, addressing a Super Bowl-related ambiguity. Supporters from the NFL and the 49ers said the change would preserve charitable fundraising for Super Bowls 60 and 61 and would not alter other raffle rules. CalNonprofits raised concerns about fairness, gambling expansion, and the special treatment of pro sports raffles, while members discussed how charities receive funds and the program’s audit process. AB 831 by Assemblymember Valencia would prohibit online sweepstakes using dual-currency models that allow cash payouts, while leaving non-cash social sweepstakes untouched. Supporters, including several tribes, the Sports Betting Alliance, the California Chamber of Commerce, and other stakeholders, argued the bill closes a loophole, protects consumers, and preserves tribal gaming sovereignty; opponents, including the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance and numerous tribal members and representatives, argued it would eliminate a legal industry, harm smaller and less advantaged tribes, and was advanced without sufficient consultation. After extensive debate about consumer protection, tribal equity, and online gaming regulation, all three bills were approved, and the committee adjourned at 9:55 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every time we try to enforce our building code on these structures, the billboard companies threaten
• Any city, county, or state agency for new structural work on existing billboards statewide.
• Currently, the city of Santa Cruz proper, which has a very similar population to the city of Watsonville
• The city of Watsonville, by contrast, which has a similar population, holds six licenses.
• I'm the city manager for the City of Watsonville, and I am here today in strong support of AB 2731.

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm government affairs manager for the city of Kent. I'm here to testify in support of SB 6343.
• For the record, my name is Troy Linnell, the mayor of the city of Algona.
• In a small city like Algona, many residents are working families.
• In a small city like Algona, many residents are working families and seniors on fixed income.
• Additionally, a city or county may enter into a interlocal agreement with one or more, counties, cities

Bills: SB6114 , SB6244

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: excise tax, definitions, tax law, taxation, fixtures, affixed, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a question about the cities in 45,000 people. Longview is the largest city in Cowlitz County.
• Specifically, to say Longview, the city of Longview, to some extent you want your cities to grow.
• Now, there are other cities that are going to approach that category.
• There are other cities, Walla Walla and others, that could grow into this.
• Now you're competing against those at 45,000 to hundreds of thousands per city.

Bills: SB5420

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

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