Transcript Highlights:

• Veronica Bedillo, representing Navy Region Southwest on behalf of the military services in California
• Renters have to choose between securing a stable home without. upfront pet policy disclosures.
• Renters have to choose between securing a stable home without. ...of that process.
• Francisco operate and run, was grabbed right in front of his home by ICE and given a head injury and
• It directly borrows its operative language and immunities from Section 1983.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on domestic violence protections, pay equity enforcement, Jewish demographic data collection, court transparency, auto glass insurance practices, pet policy disclosure for renters, and civil rights accountability for federal officers. SB 99 would require courts and law enforcement to better recognize military protective orders in domestic violence cases; supporters from the Department of Defense and military organizations said it would close jurisdictional gaps for military families, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1237 would increase penalties for repeat noncompliance with California pay data reporting laws; supporters said stronger enforcement is needed to address persistent wage gaps, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1387 would allow Jewish identity to be reported as an ethnic category in state demographic data; supporters said better data would improve policy and anti-discrimination efforts, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary or divisive, and it passed to Privacy. SB 932 would require assignees filing civil actions to identify the original party in the case caption; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it passed to Judiciary/Appropriations on call. The committee also took up SB 98, which would regulate auto glass insurance claims by restricting assignment of benefits, requiring clearer estimates and invoices, and limiting inducements to consumers. The sponsor and NICB said the bill would curb fraud and unsafe repairs, while independent glass shops and industry groups argued it could reduce consumer choice and favor insurer-aligned networks; the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies before collecting application fees and provide refunds if nondisclosure materially affected an applicant’s decision; supporters said it would save renters time and money, while rental housing representatives objected to a provision limiting eviction based solely on failure to sign a pet addendum. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 747, the No Kings Act, would create a California cause of action allowing people to sue federal officers for constitutional violations using standards similar to Section 1983. Senator Wiener and a witness who said he was unlawfully detained by Border Patrol argued the bill is needed because federal officers currently lack comparable accountability after the Supreme Court narrowed Bivens remedies. Law enforcement groups opposed the bill, warning that the qualified immunity language is unclear, could create a separate California standard, and might expose officers and governments to retroactive litigation; members discussed possible amendments on qualified immunity and retroactivity, and the bill was moved forward with an urgency amendment while negotiations continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, these are owned and operated by the utility.
• , monitoring the operation of the system.
• Representative Connelly: Again, the company does not own and operate these.
• Representative Connelly: Plant operator. Somebody who is licensed.
• I can't speculate how they're going to operate their utility.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> addressing illegal cannabis operations addressing illegal cannabis operations that<00:39:56.160>
• So it means that there's a regional shift in interest or operational viability for hemp farming.
• interest regional shifts in interest or<01:20:46.480><c> operational</c><01:20:47.199><c> viability<
• who kind of operate in the gray.
• who kind of operate in the gray.

Bills: HB1974 , HB1853 , HB1973 , HB1574 , HB2619 , HB1966 , HB1643 , HB1671 , HB2558 , HB1854 , HB2173 , HB1575 , HB2229 , HB1535 , HB1978 , HB2508 , HB1549 , HB2187 , HB1550 , HB1977 , HB2314 , HB1871 , HB2319 , HB1591 , HB1858 , HB1898 , HB2372 , HB1765 , HB2012 , HB1706 , HB1962 , HB1963 , HB1975 , HB2009 , HB2083 , HB2224 , HB1877 , HB1959 , HB1626 , HB1665 , HB2488 , HB2456 , HB2548 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2079 , HB1985 , HB1618 , HB2486 , HB2242 , HB2045 , HB1703 , HB2236 , HB2480 , HB1976 , HB2287 , HB2288 , HB1777 , HB276 , HB1660 , HB1676 , HB1605 , HB1751 , HB1967 , HB2383 , HB2340 , HB1946 , HB2268 , HB1950 , HB2156 , HB2118 , HB1859 , HB1863 , HB1996 , HB2114 , HB2423 , HB2429 , HB2475 , HB2534 , HB2545 , HB1813 , HB1941 , HB2474 , HB2583 , HB1576 , HB1886 , HB1939 , HB2540 , HB2590 , HB2000 , HB2163 , HB2386 , HB1691 , HB1680 , HB2516 , HB1993 , HB2442 , HB1510 , HB1958 , HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:40.559><c> drivers</c><00:32:40.960><c> from</c> ...and prevent impaired drivers from operating

Bills: HB1974 , HB1853 , HB1973 , HB1574 , HB2619 , HB1966 , HB1643 , HB1671 , HB2558 , HB1854 , HB2173 , HB1575 , HB2229 , HB1535 , HB1978 , HB2508 , HB1549 , HB2187 , HB1550 , HB1977 , HB2314 , HB1871 , HB2319 , HB1591 , HB1858 , HB1898 , HB2372 , HB1765 , HB2012 , HB1706 , HB1962 , HB1963 , HB1975 , HB2009 , HB2083 , HB2224 , HB1877 , HB1959 , HB1626 , HB1665 , HB2488 , HB2456 , HB2548 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2079 , HB1985 , HB1618 , HB2486 , HB2242 , HB2045 , HB1703 , HB2236 , HB2480 , HB1976 , HB2287 , HB2288 , HB1777 , HB276 , HB1660 , HB1676 , HB1605 , HB1751 , HB1967 , HB2383 , HB2340 , HB1946 , HB2268 , HB1950 , HB2156 , HB2118 , HB1859 , HB1863 , HB1996 , HB2114 , HB2423 , HB2429 , HB2475 , HB2534 , HB2545 , HB1813 , HB1941 , HB2474 , HB2583 , HB1576 , HB1886 , HB1939 , HB2540 , HB2590 , HB2000 , HB2163 , HB2386 , HB1691 , HB1680 , HB2516 , HB1993 , HB2442 , HB1510 , HB1958 , HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> houses and 13 recovery Kentucky centers. houses and 13 recovery Kentucky centers.
• </c> and recovery Kentucky centers. and recovery Kentucky centers.
• We do provide security.
• Uh we are required to have security.
• </c> and they help help them secure and they help help them secure employment<00:10:48.320><c> and</c

Keywords: Call to Order 00:17 Department of Corrections 01:35 Community Transitional Services 06:47 Administrative Office of the Courts 23:06 Department of Criminal Justice Training/ KSP 45:49 Adjournment 59:14, 958, all

Summary: The Public Safety and Judiciary Committee met without a quorum, so approval of the January 3, January 20, and February 3 minutes was postponed. The committee then heard an update from the Department of Corrections on halfway house and Recovery Kentucky funding and operations. Deputy Commissioner Hillary Daily said DOC contracts for up to 1,752 halfway house beds and 780 Recovery Kentucky beds, with 16 halfway houses and 13 Recovery Kentucky centers statewide. She reported 6,329 admissions in fiscal year 2025, average daily populations of 1,041 in halfway houses and 494 in Recovery Kentucky, and explained that Recovery Kentucky placements are more restrictive, generally excluding violent and sex offenders, while halfway houses serve probationers, parolees, and sex offenders who need treatment. She also described programming such as MRT, parenting, adult basic education, and trauma-focused services, and said some facilities offer supervised visitation. Daily said no new funding request was included in the current budget, though DOC has sought rate increases in prior cycles. Community Transitional Services director Barbara Stum also testified in support of halfway houses as re-entry and substance abuse treatment centers. She said CTS primarily serves men coming out of prison or returning to prison who need treatment, and that halfway houses provide security, accountability, treatment, employment support, and help with home placement. Stum said the state moved substance abuse treatment into the community in 2010 to avoid sending people back to prison for treatment, and argued halfway houses are the least expensive form of incarceration. She cited daily rates of $33.61 for CTS beds and DOC figures of $37.33 to $44.33 per day, compared with higher prison and jail costs, and said reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2019. She said staffing and supplies are the main pressure points, with counselor pay below market rates, and noted two counselor vacancies. A former resident, Michael Bird, testified that CTS helped him recover and re-enter the community successfully. The committee also received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of the video arraignment/video conferencing system. AOC officials Zach Ramsey and Charles Buyers said the system is now fully implemented in all courtrooms and is used for video arraignments and other Zoom-based court proceedings. Buyers described the pandemic-era transition from older, inconsistent equipment to improvised laptop/webcam setups, then to a more integrated vendor-supported system with touchscreen controls and a judicial support specialist position for training and operation. He said 324 courtrooms are already up to the current standard, with 128 remaining on an older bundle, and that there are no technical barriers to continued use. AOC said it is seeking $3.8 million in recurring annual funding to keep the systems upgraded and current, and plans to upgrade 46 systems in fiscal year 2026 across 15 counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the regional vice president of PACE operations for Volunteers of America National Services.
• vice president of pace regional vice president of pace operations<00:10:27.320><c> for</c><00:10:27.519
• Services we have been operating National Services we have been operating pace<00:10:30.880><c> for</
• We also have the language that it would not apply to the state-operated treatment center. first thank
• </c> restraints and escorted by two security restraints and escorted by two security Personnel<00:47:

Bills: HF1937 , HF2407 , HF1678 , HF1477 , HF2040 , HF1840 , HF257

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services, long-term care, community-based services, support person, healthcare, patient rights, assisted living, community support, caregiver respite, financial eligibility, Minnesota Statutes, HF1477, residential program licensing, community residential setting, small group home, licensed capacity six or fewer, rental licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• Regional service centers provide targeted support to school districts and charter schools, particularly
• And so with regional service centers, we think we can lessen that cost, make it so that we have more
• But what we're looking to do with the regional centers is also to provide that shared services model
• I don't see any clarity in here about where these regional centers will go.
• I love this idea of the regional centers. I'm a little concerned about it.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, I don't want to with security.
• ,</c> the Wahu Safe Haven Center, the Wahu Safe Haven Center, let's<00:54:52.160><c> see,</c><00:54:52.559
• Zoom, Center for Policing Equity, Zoom, Center for Policing Equity, not<01:03:24.880><c> present,</c>
• </c><01:05:56.240><c> uh</c><01:05:56.400><c> regions</c> mentioned that the region uh regions mentioned
• that the region uh regions advisory<01:05:57.280><c> council</c><01:05:58.079><c> should</c><01:05:58.400

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 4 and began with announcements about committee protocol, including posting hearing notices and testimony earlier than required and using written HD1 drafts for more complex amendments. The chair also noted the new AV system and asked speakers to be clear because the microphones are sensitive. The committee then took up several University of Hawaiʻi-related measures, with most testimony coming from UH officials, state agencies, and advocacy groups, and no votes were taken in the portion provided. HB 1596, relating to student basic needs support at the University of Hawaiʻi, drew support from UH, the Oʻahu Youth Action Board, and an individual. UH said it stood on its written testimony and could answer questions. HB 1597, relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias research, received support from UH/JABSOM, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Hawaii Medical Association, and others; the Attorney General’s Office offered a procedural reminder about statewide concern. HB 1970, funding the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center and the Hawaii Tumor Registry, was supported by UH, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Hawaii Medical Association, and others, with testimony emphasizing the registry’s role in cancer surveillance, prevention, and federal funding. The committee also heard HB 1598, creating a Hawaii Climate Institute. UH testified in support, citing worsening drought, heat, sea level rise, and extreme weather, and said the institute would hire climate modelers and faculty across several schools. Members questioned funding, and UH said it would seek state startup money, possible green-fee support, and federal grants, noting recent federal cuts and the need for permanent positions. HB 1989, on water retention, was supported by UH as a study to slow runoff and improve aquifer recharge. HB 1951, on biosecurity, drew support from UH, DLNR, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, students, and other organizations; testimony stressed invasive species threats, the need for biocontrol research and containment capacity, and possible sites for a statewide facility. HB 1952, funding agricultural research station improvements on Kauaʻi, was supported by UH, the Farm Bureau, and others, with testimony noting aging facilities and the need to modernize stations across the islands. Finally, HB 2005, relating to language access, received UH support, with a UH representative noting that credit programs may fit best in a credit-bearing academic program and that Outreach College could be an option for noncredit programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> student and Community centered student and Community centered leadership<03:23:50.040><c> to</c>
• ><c> Security</c><03:50:24.040><c> Access</c> where Security Access where Security Access Communications
• </c> kids but those schools have security kids but those schools have security issues<03:51:00.720><c
• </c> most efficient way for saus to operate most efficient way for saus to operate in<04:00:13.479><c
• It's also very smooth to operate.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 362, which would give the Department of Education rulemaking authority over educator licensing and testing requirements, including professional education assessments. Representative Ladd argued the bill is meant to preserve New Hampshire’s higher standards for teacher preparation and to avoid lowering requirements for licensed educators, while also allowing flexibility for career and technical education (CTE) instructors who may have strong industry experience but not traditional classroom credentials. Members discussed whether the bill should preserve industry-recognized credentials and basic academic skills testing while exempting CTE teachers from content exams; DOE Director Steven Appy said an amendment would clarify that the bill applies to initial licenses, exempt CTE teachers from the content-testing requirement, and keep current administrative practice on basic skills and industry credentials in statute. The committee also noted that an executive session would be scheduled later, likely the following week, to act on the bills and amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 90, dealing with the definition of part-time teachers. Representative Ladd explained that the bill is intended to let university and community college faculty teach limited hours in high school concurrent enrollment settings, especially in subjects like math and STEM where some schools cannot find locally certified teachers with a master’s degree. He said the measure is designed to expand student access to college-level courses, not to replace fully certified teachers or reduce standards, and emphasized that the bill is limited to faculty employed or contracted by the University System of New Hampshire or the Community College System of New Hampshire, with criminal background checks and ethics/conduct rules still applying. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the discussion ended with the understanding that further action would come in executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• FORMS ACCESS MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PATIENT PORTAL, SECURE DOWNLOADS, EMAILS, USBS, US MAIL
• YOU ARE RECOGNIZED >> WHAT ARE THE OTHER WAYS >> IT COULD BE SECURE EMAIL, IT COULD BE A CD, IT COULD
• AND THEY GOT HAD BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SECURING IT.
• MEASURES SUCH AS A PLAN TO SECURE MOBILE DEVICES AND LEGAL TECH PROVIDERS.
• INSANE YOU MUST SECURE YOUR SYSTEMS AND THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO BYPASS IT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd have to check with the individual operators.
• Greg Fishman, Sacramento Regional Transit, in support. Thank you.
• , with regional mobility apps, these transfers are just not seamless.
• compares the deployment of security resources with the timing of security incidents.
• If there was, for example, a mismatch in which security personnel were made available and when security

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard six bills. AB 1837 (Gonzalez) would remove the sunset on transit agencies’ authority to use forward-facing cameras to enforce parking violations in bus lanes and at bus stops. The author and supporters from transit agencies, Streets for All, and the California Police Chiefs Association said the program improves bus reliability, safety, and access for riders, especially seniors and people with disabilities. Some members raised concerns about automated enforcement error rates and due process, but the bill was advanced on a due pass motion to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 1944 (Lee), presented by Assemblymember Arreguín, would delay implementation of declining axle-weight limits for zero-emission buses while keeping the existing final cap in place. Supporters, including the California Transit Association and several transit agencies, said heavier batteries are needed for longer-range zero-emission buses and the delay would help agencies comply with clean transit goals. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1599 (Arreguín) would require Caltrans to create a centralized statewide transit stop registry with standardized stop information. Move LA, AARP, Streets for All, and others supported the measure, saying it would improve trip planning, data consistency, and accessibility for riders; the bill also passed to Appropriations. AB 1608 (Wilson) would expand the California High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General’s authority, including hiring and contracting flexibility and a requirement to publish reports with limited confidentiality protections. The author, the Inspector General, and the First Amendment Coalition said the bill would improve oversight and transparency while protecting sensitive information; it passed to Judiciary. AB 1613 (Wilson) would create a mandatory off-highway vehicle safety and stewardship course for access to off-highway lands starting in 2029. Supporters from the off-road community said the bill was developed through stakeholder safety summits and would reduce accidents and protect public lands; it passed to Water, Parks, and Wildlife. AB 1662 (Wilson) would require DMV points for certain offenses that are dismissed through diversion programs, which supporters framed as a needed accountability measure for dangerous driving and opponents from ACLU Cal Action criticized as undermining diversion and harming low-income drivers. The bill passed to Appropriations. Final roll calls showed each bill advancing, with AB 1662 receiving the strongest support and the other measures also moving forward despite some no votes on AB 1837, AB 1944, AB 1608, and AB 1613.

Transcript Highlights:

• MedTech companies are funded differently, and they're operated differently.
• But I've been a founder and operator within MedTech for over 15 years.
• Now, my job here is as an operator not to tell you to do away with any of the patient safety.
• So the talent that we hire is really specialized, really strong talent in this region.
• So the talents that we hire really specialized, really strong talent in this region.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She attended Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center, Red Mountain, for high school, and completed her
• getting involved probably around 2016, and one of the first times I met him was when the Arizona Center
• I dropped a bill that would attempt to ensure that data centers are responsible for their own energy
• need to pay for all of the costs associated with their energy and... ...data centers need to pay for
• Police-operated ambulances frequently refused to provide aid to Black citizens.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several guest introductions, including the Doctor of the Day, students visiting the chamber, and other special guests. Members also announced committee substitutions and bill withdrawals/re-referrals, and the chamber observed a moment of respectful silence for the late Hon. George Cunningham, after unanimously adopting HCR 2060, a death resolution honoring his public service. The House then spent much of the day in Committee of the Whole on several calendars. The most contested item was HB 2758, a groundwater transportation bill, which drew extensive debate over fairness to the McMullen Valley and the need to protect water supplies for the CAP system and metro Phoenix. Multiple amendments were adopted, including changes affecting transfer limits and basin-specific water allocations. The bill ultimately received a do pass recommendation in COW by a 31-23 vote, and later passed third reading in the House 32-24 after several members explained their votes. A motion to amend the COW report to show the bill failed was defeated 23-32. The House also advanced a series of other measures with little or no opposition. In COW, HB 2049, HB 2090, HB 2092, HB 2179 as amended, HB 2228 as amended, HB 2111, HB 2114, HB 2256 as amended, HCM 2007 as amended, HR 2003, HB 2098, HB 2265 as amended, HB 2663, HB 2666 as amended, HB 2756 as amended, HB 2192 as amended, HB 2476, HB 2693 as amended, and HB 2877 as amended all received do pass recommendations, while HB 2875 was retained on the calendar. The House later passed several bills on third reading, including HB 2089, HB 2258, HB 2322, HB 2786, and HB 2825, and referred the approved measures to engrossing or to the Senate as appropriate. The session concluded with numerous personal privilege remarks, including recognition of a retiring Air Force veteran, Black History Month remarks, birthday wishes, and an announcement that Representative Chaplik plans to resign next week to focus on a congressional campaign. The House also announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• history, finishing with a 14-3 record, winning the National Football Conference West Division, and securing
• in the National Football Conference Championship game on January 25, 2026, also at Lumen Field, to secure
• to Kenneth Walker III, whose outstanding performance earned him Super Bowl MVP honors and helped secure
• But I represent the district that the training center is in, Valley Medical's Training Center, and it
• They operate under auxiliary Air Force status. And so we also have a search and rescue center.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Senate began by advancing to the Eighth Order of Business and adopted Senate Resolution 8683 honoring the Seattle Seahawks for their 2025 championship season. The resolution and floor remarks celebrated the team’s 14-3 regular season, NFC West title, playoff run, Super Bowl 60 victory, and community involvement. Senators from both parties offered supportive remarks about the team’s leadership, teamwork, and impact across Washington, and the resolution was adopted unanimously. The chamber then welcomed Seahawks representatives and former player/play-by-play announcer Steve Rable to the rostrum for recognition and photographs. The Senate then considered and passed several bills, including SB 6084 clarifying that a person may not vote more than once in the same election across states; SB 5977 requiring publication of child near-fatality reviews; SB 5985 on endometriosis awareness and research; SB 6046 placing the Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department; SB 6291 extending septic inspector training supervision from two to four years; SB 6707 directing a WSIPP study of DCYF screening tools; SB 6183 ensuring rapid coverage for HIV antiviral drugs; SB 5956 restricting harmful uses of AI, surveillance, and automated discipline in public schools; SB 5820 concerning freight rail-dependent use overlays in Clark County; SB 5936 strengthening remedies and protections for human trafficking survivors; SB 6269 modernizing the motor fuel definition to include gaseous fuels such as hydrogen; SB 6226 protecting audiologists’ clinical autonomy; SB 6025 updating fetal death gestational-age calculations to use more accurate methods; SB 6058 giving Labor and Industries discretion in wage enforcement and adopting a transparency amendment; and SB 6136 requiring publication of actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates. Most bills passed with broad support, though SB 5956 on AI in schools drew the most debate and passed 35-13. SB 5820 also drew a split vote, with supporters arguing it would restore environmental protections in Clark County and opponents warning it would undermine rail-related economic development and existing investments. SB 6084 passed 47-1, and the remaining measures passed overwhelmingly or unanimously. The Senate then recessed for caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a critical operational issue.
• We've also hosted a monthly county operations meeting series where counties have given County operations
• They're assigned to a particular number or a region. They offer resources.
• We call into call centers. We talk to staff.
• Linda Way with Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provide more engaging student center provide more engaging student center learning<00:59:17.880>
• Francis Regional Medical Center, Canterbury Parks, Shakopee Mdewakanton, the city of Shakopee, Scott
• Francis Regional Medical Center, Canterbury Parks, Shakopee Mdewakanton, the city of Shakopee, Scott
• </c> provide flexible student- centered provide flexible student- centered learning<01:16:06.960><c>
• </c> institutions apply a student centered institutions apply a student centered lens<01:24:54.760><c

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California is already ranked third in the nation for data centers in operation today, so these projects
• data center owners and operators and companies that lease large amounts of data center capacity.
• Finally, SB 887 requires data centers to fully recover grid investments if they cease operations.
• Requiring operators to repay 100% of all grid investments if operations cease creates a liability profile
• We talked at length on your last bill on data centers, and, again, for the record, data centers, in my

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, centered around a pretty dense core.
• They operate under a tax cap. Nashua operates under a tax cap.
• We operate under a tax looking at us?
• </c> Nasha operates under a tax cap. Nasha operates under a tax cap.
• I was policy director there center.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tony Anderson, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, in support.
• Tony Anderson, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, in support. I am Mary Tolner.
• CSHA supports 450 school-based health centers and wellness centers in K-12 schools in California.
• health centers.
• As you can imagine, many health centers have operated in their communities for decades.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 331 by Sen. Menjivar, which would require large-group health plans to cover hearing aids for children. The author and supporters described the bill as a long-running effort to address a developmental emergency and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families, while opponents were absent. Testimony from parents, advocates, medical experts, and organizations emphasized the importance of early access to hearing aids; committee members voiced strong support, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The committee then heard SB 608, also by Sen. Menjivar, to expand access to condoms in school-based health centers and related settings and to prevent barriers such as ID checks. Supporters, including students and school health advocates, argued the bill would improve sexual health and reduce stigma, while opponents from family and faith groups argued it would undermine parental authority and normalize early sexual activity. The bill was supported by committee members and moved forward on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Next, SB 971 by Sen. Choi proposed community-based healthy aging partnerships for older adults, with testimony from the California Senior Legislature and supporters from aging and dementia organizations. The measure was described as voluntary and focused on connection, independence, and local collaboration; there was no opposition, and the committee moved it on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 869 by Sen. Weber Pierson, which would require warning icons and statements on chain restaurant menus for beverages with very high added sugar content. Supporters framed it as a transparency and public health measure, while restaurant and beverage industry representatives opposed it unless amended, citing cost and menu-space concerns; the bill was nevertheless moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations after a roll call vote, with some members voting no and the measure placed on call. The committee also considered SB 950 by Sen. Weber Pierson, aimed at ensuring timely coverage of FDA-approved, medically necessary treatments for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on commercial plans. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association and a patient advocate, said the bill would reduce delays and barriers to care, while health plan representatives opposed it over step therapy and utilization-management concerns. Members discussed the limited treatment window and the need for early access, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. In addition, SB 490 by Sen. Umberg would set timelines for DHCS investigations of unlicensed sober living homes and allow counties to assist if the department cannot act in time; supporters from Anaheim and a patient-brokering survivor described serious abuse and oversight gaps, while county behavioral health representatives opposed the county role as an unfunded and potentially liability-creating burden. After discussion, the bill was also moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1037 by Sen. Weber Pierson on health insurance affordability and rate review, with supporters arguing it would tie premium increases more closely to affordability targets and public reporting; the transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the Sacred Pipe Resource Center, we operate using what’s called community councils.
• We try to center ourselves in the population.
• Prior to that, it was a BIA-operated school.
• We also created in the legislature an AI data center committee.
• I'm learning a lot about these data centers.

Summary: The Tribal and State Relations Committee met at Standing Rock with tribal council members, state legislators, and agency representatives to discuss state-tribal coordination and local priorities. Early discussion focused on process concerns, including the short agenda time and the need for better communication, more advance notice, and more relevant state department staff at future meetings. Tribal leaders asked for lists of state tribal liaisons and bills affecting tribes, and state members said they would follow up, share grant and deadline information, and plan another meeting in Bismarck with program experts and agency staff. A major portion of the meeting centered on health, child welfare, law enforcement, housing, infrastructure, and sovereignty issues. Tribal speakers said rural health transformation funding and other state programs often do not fit direct-service tribes or IHS-funded systems, and they raised concerns about Medicaid, ICWA, foster care delays, human service zones, housing shortages, and the placement of Native children off-reservation. They also discussed missing and murdered Indigenous people, search-and-rescue cooperation, cross-deputization, extradition and banishment ordinances, and the need for stronger law enforcement partnerships that respect tribal sovereignty. Other concerns included poor roads, water and sewer needs in Sioux County communities, census accuracy, and the impact of data centers and other development on water and health. Economic development and regulatory issues were also discussed. Standing Rock representatives raised concerns about charitable gaming and e-pull tabs, saying the machines function like Class III gaming and have harmed tribal revenue while spreading into local businesses. They also described problems with county-issued fireworks permits and state/county liquor licensing rules that they said undermine tribal authority within reservation boundaries. In response, legislators said the committee would continue to look at these issues, and one member suggested possible legislation such as limiting e-tabs near tribal lands. The committee also heard from Joseph McNeil of Sage Development Authority about a 235-megawatt wind project on tribal, allotted, and fee land; he said federal permitting delays have stalled the project and asked for state support to help move it forward. The meeting concluded with a presentation from Dave Archambo of Wojou, a nonprofit focused on land regeneration, buffalo, food sovereignty, cultural programming, and youth wellness. He described the organization’s work on buffalo processing, gardening, fishing, hunting, language, and arts programs, and framed it as a response to historical trauma and community healing. The committee then broke for lunch and planned to resume with the Wojou presentation after the recess.