Transcript Highlights:

• Some have come to Southern California, but it decimated the number of horses available for Northern California
• Some have come to Southern California, but it decimated the number of horses available for Northern California
• in fair racing in Northern California is the direct result.
• And serve California, all of California, not just San Anita.
• My daughters have given us to remark on some landmark in California or some interesting fact about California

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And the California Public Banking Act requires regulatory approval.
• That's our California regulatory agency as well as...
• So this would expand the existing California infrastructure and development bank.
• This would expand the existing California Infrastructure and Development Bank.
• And I'm so pleased with the presentation by California, the steps they are taking.

Bills: SB5754

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: public bank, state bank, finance, banking regulations, economic development, state investment

Transcript Highlights:

• coincidentally, there is still a NOAA report through 2023 in the NOAA library for projects they're doing in California
• California is now, coincidentally, breeding aluminum-resistant bees as a result.
• and firefighter testified that our trees are drying out, and these chemicals appear to be causing forest

Committee: House Environment, Energy and Technology

Transcript Highlights:

• California that is still used to this day.
• California that is still used to this day.
• I'm back a few slides, but you referenced the California Senate Bill 2243 requiring AI companions to
• And it's also what we use for financial applications and random forests and predictions.
• And it's also what we use for financial applications and random forests and predictions.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> chagrin of my California folks. chagrin of my California folks.
• I'm also from California. >> [laughter] I want to share with you that the occupation of ICE does not
• I'm also from from<00:30:41.480><c> California.</c> from California. from California.
• /c> over there from the north, Chisago over there from the north, Chisago Lakes,<00:42:09.360><c> Forest
• </c><00:42:09.800><c> Lakes,</c> Lakes, Forest Lakes, Lakes, Forest Lakes, Brooklyn<00:42:11.440><c>

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Departments of Energy and Agriculture, the California Air Resources Board, and academic institutions
• ranging from the University of Illinois, Harvard, MIT, and the University of California, Davis.
• </c> University of California, Davis. University of California, Davis.
• , Riverside, showed that E15 California, Riverside, showed that E15 reduced<01:25:15.480><c> carbon</
• We are at the peak of these trees being removed from the urban forest, and we cannot get rid of this

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• That would not help the key issue of California affordability of housing, so...
• The key issue of California affordability of housing.
• Marcus Detweiler with the California Special Districts Association, CSDA.
• Construction in California.
• of Rural County Representatives of California.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear a long agenda of local government, housing, labor, and transparency bills. The committee first adopted the consent calendar for SB 1187 and SB 1388, then heard SB 983, which would authorize the Port of San Diego to use job order contracting for repairs and repetitive maintenance work. Supporters said the bill would speed emergency and small repairs and reduce costs, while opponents raised concerns about construction definitions and project labor agreement language. The bill was ultimately moved forward on a 2-2 vote after discussion of amendments and labor negotiations, and later the committee’s final roll call showed it passing out on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard SB 1256, aimed at limiting duplicative litigation over a San Diego County housing project, and SB 992, which would make permanent and expand a small special-district audit flexibility by raising the revenue threshold from $150,000 to $250,000. SB 1256 drew support from the author and project counsel, who argued the project had already been litigated and was delaying needed housing, while opponents said the bill would interfere with wildfire and subdivision-map review. SB 992 had support from county auditors and special districts, with no opposition, and was approved 5-0. SB 1115, addressing governance failures at the Tulare County Public Cemetery District by allowing county supervisors to remove an individual trustee for cause, also passed unanimously after testimony describing serious dysfunction and opposition from the California Special Districts Association. The committee then took up SB 1193, which would impose transparency and approval requirements on Alameda County discretionary funding to nonprofits and other entities. The author and supporters described the bill as a response to grand jury findings and alleged conflicts of interest, while Alameda County argued its current process is already transparent and that the bill would add burdens and could harm services. After amendments and discussion, the bill passed 5-0. SB 1383, a density bonus law bill clarifying that local labor standards cannot be waived through density bonus concessions, was supported by labor groups and moved forward despite no opposition, with the final roll call showing it passing out 5-1. SB 1361, intended to prevent local governments from undermining transit projects because of SB 79 density concerns, also passed after support from L.A. Metro and labor and no formal opposition, with the final vote recorded as 5-2. The committee later resumed to hear SB 1272, the CASH Act, which would limit certain sanctions on homeowners for prior unpermitted work by previous owners; the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full testimony and vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• My house and Aloha house look like a forest. Everything... ...you would be proud.
• My house and Aloha house look like a forest. Everything is growing.
• Similarly, in California, just last year, That would be allowed.
• Similarly, in California, just last year, a group of high school students laid down with their bodies
• We saw one in California. And under this bill, they could do that without penalty.

Transcript Highlights:

• high-tax state, the provision primarily benefits individual taxpayers in high-tax states such as California
• He said the provision primarily benefits individual taxpayers in high-tax states like California, New
• Other states regionally that have an R&D tax credit are California, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.
• Just briefly, I think some of the testimony on this bill has missed the forest for the trees.
• I think some of the testimony on this bill has missed the forest of the trees.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a forester and a forest entomologist with the Division of Forests and Lands, and I did work with
• I'm a forester and a Forest and Lands.
• c> lands</c> forest management, and forest lands forest management, and forest lands within<00:54:58.960
• </c> visitors, and forest industry. visitors, and forest industry.
• </c> and pathogens damaging their forests. and pathogens damaging their forests.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• So in my second year there, we had a student move into the district from California.
• Because you have the national wilderness, you have the national forest and stuff.
• And you go up in the national forest and you're in the middle of nowhere.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and first went into executive session on House Bill 2774, the Jeff Knight bill concerning gas-powered leaf blowers. An amendment was adopted to exempt the city of Clayton, Missouri, allowing it to ban gas-powered leaf blowers if it chooses. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass by 12 yeas and 0 nays. The committee next took up House Bill 2176 by Representative Perkins and voted it do pass by 8 yeas and 4 nays. After that, the committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1730, sponsored by Representative Koslow, which would treat Missouri-made firearm suppressors that remain in-state as outside federal Commerce Clause oversight. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would protect hearing, reduce federal burdens, and not increase crime; members raised concerns about concealment and public safety, but no opposition testimony was offered and the hearing closed. The final public hearing was on House Bill 2504 by Representative Elliott, which would expand who may be designated as school protection officers to include additional school personnel, such as classified staff, if they volunteer, complete required training, and are approved through local school board and state processes. Supporters, including a school superintendent, security trainer, law enforcement officer, and public advocate, said the bill would improve response times in rural districts that cannot afford school resource officers and emphasized the extensive training and vetting already required. Opponents or skeptical members questioned whether adding more armed personnel in schools was the right response to school violence, but no formal opposition testimony was presented before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in my second year there, we had a student move into the district from California.
• Because you have the national, you have the wilderness, you have the national forest and stuff.
• And you go up in the national forest and you're in the middle of nowhere.

Committee: House General Laws

Transcript Highlights:

• Within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, $43.4 million for the Florida Forest Service
• Not just relying on traditional conventional methods, but hopefully permacultural, organic food foresting
• District Court for the Northern District of California ruled on behalf of the Fluoride Action Network

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard a presentation on its 2025-2026 budget recommendations and adopted the proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The chair highlighted major funding items including more than $1.2 billion for water quality and Everglades work, citrus recovery, food bank and pantry grants, wastewater and drinking water loans, beach restoration, flood and sea level rise projects, rural land protection, disaster loans, state facilities repairs, SLERS, accounting system replacement, and continued funding for My Safe Florida Home. Staff were authorized to make technical adjustments, and members were told final proviso project lists would be printed later in the week. The committee then considered several bills and reported them favorably, including SB 796 on DEP general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems to help local governments address failing septic-related water quality problems; SB 1162 expanding boating improvement and water access facilities programs; SB 466 implementing the Florida Museum of Black History task force’s selection of West Augustine as the museum site; SB 178 creating a FAMU agronomic study on viable crops for land taken out of production; CS/SB 678 allowing pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; and CS/SB 736 updating the Brownfields program, with a technical amendment adopted. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with speakers from affected industries, local governments, and advocacy groups. The committee also took up CS/CS/SB 700, the comprehensive Florida Farm Bill, which included technical agency changes and major policy provisions such as restrictions on additives to public water supplies, labeling requirements for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, drone-related protections for farmland, disaster recovery loan updates, an honest services registry for charities, FFA scholarship and school infrastructure provisions, and a mechanism for state purchase of former solar-converted agricultural land. The water-additive provisions drew extensive debate and testimony from supporters and opponents, including dental professionals, public health advocates, and groups arguing for medical freedom and local control. Despite the controversy and a no vote from Senator Arrington, the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1226 creating a regulatory framework for pet insurance was also reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after members recorded additional votes on several bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am DNR's Washington State forester.
• I'm also the deputy that oversees wildfire response, forest resilience, and community resilience.
• I'm also the deputy that oversees Wyoming Fire Response Forest Resilience and Community Resilience.
• And then forest management, we're able to do that in partnership.
• We've seen California go all in with their managed aquifer recharge, where they're flooding huge areas

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met for a work session and first heard an economic and revenue forecast update from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The forecast described moderate U.S. growth, elevated near-term inflation, weak Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and slower housing permit activity. Revenues were revised up about $105 million for the current biennium and down about $185 million for the next biennium, with uncertainty tied largely to tariffs, federal policy, and the recent federal shutdown. Members asked about the outlook for February, income inequality, and housing affordability; the presenter said the forecast does not measure income distribution and that housing permit data does not directly address affordability. The committee then received a caseload forecast update. Most forecasts were unchanged or nearly unchanged, but several programs moved: Washington College Grant caseloads rose, TANF and Working Connections changed due to immigration-related assumptions and updated policy timing, and long-term care caseloads increased. The largest change was in Medicaid low-income adults, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce caseloads significantly through narrower non-citizen eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. Members raised concerns about downstream effects such as uncompensated care and higher premiums, and the presenter noted some effects could be delayed depending on federal implementation guidance. A wildfire funding and 2025 fire season update followed. Staff explained the state’s base wildfire suppression funding and estimated a supplemental need of about $139 million in state funds. DNR reported a busy fire year with lower snowpack, drought, more than 1,100 DNR jurisdictional fires, about 76,000 acres burned, 31 aircraft used, 690 DNR firefighters, and 350 out-of-state resources brought in; the agency said its suppression effectiveness improved to 94.1% of fires kept under 10 acres. Questions focused on National Guard use, aircraft counts, and the higher number of residences lost in complex fires. The committee then heard a budget preview showing the near general fund outlook worsening to about a $4.3 billion ending balance by fiscal year 2029 after maintenance-level costs, while noting that policy items such as wildfire costs and liability account decisions were not yet built in. The final major topic was the state’s tort liability and self-insurance account, where the Risk Manager reported a sharp rise in indemnity costs, from $223 million in fiscal year 2023 to nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2025, driven largely by DCYF claims, especially sex abuse cases. Defense costs also rose as the Attorney General’s Office relied more on special assistant attorneys general to handle volume. Members asked about older claims, comparisons with other states, insurance coverage, and whether costs might decline if the AG’s office hires more attorneys. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust about statewide water shortages, declining snowpack, drought, overappropriated basins, and the need for more storage, recharge, conservation, and enforcement. Tribal witnesses emphasized water sovereignty, salmon habitat, and the need for tribes to be involved early in legislation, while Ecology described major projects in the Odessa and Yakima basins and the challenges of climate change and legal constraints. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise as the chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and a member of the California Legislative
• I rise on behalf of the California Latino Caucus and as a proud member of the California Legislative
• AB 439 makes two small changes to the California Coastal Act.
• Welcome to the California Assembly. Thank you. Thank you.
• They married and moved to California in 1965.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled several procedural motions, including suspending rules to allow committee hearings and guest access, re-referring bills, and removing one bill from the consent calendar. The chamber also observed Holocaust Remembrance Day with a lengthy ceremony and remarks from many members across caucuses, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust, combating antisemitism and other forms of hate, and supporting survivors and descendants. ACR 59, the California Holocaust Memorial Day resolution, was adopted by voice vote after 76 coauthors were added. After the ceremony, the Assembly took up the daily file. AB 390, which strengthens California’s “slow down, move over” highway safety law, passed 64-0. AB 439, making small changes to the Coastal Act and reporting requirements, passed 44-11 after debate over Coastal Commission oversight. The body also approved a rules waiver to allow the Education Committee to meet on AB 1468. Later, AB 50, allowing Medi-Cal enrollees to access over-the-counter contraceptives without a prescription, passed 67-0 urgency and 67-0 overall; AB 55, streamlining alternative birth center licensing, passed 68-0; AB 596, protecting workers’ right to wear masks or respirators unless there is a direct safety hazard, passed 53-8; AB 631, requiring animal shelters to post intake and outcome data, passed 60-0; and AB 792, allowing consolidated negotiations for court interpreter contracts, passed 52-1. The Assembly also passed AB 867, banning cat declawing, by 68-0 after bipartisan support; AB 1089, expanding local permitting authority for Western Joshua Tree projects, by 16-0; and AB 1154, clarifying ADU rules, by 63-1. SCR 57, proclaiming Dolores Huerta Day, was adopted 66-0. The second-day consent calendar was then adopted 71-0. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory remarks for Mary Hammer, a longtime San Lorenzo Valley community leader and environmental advocate, followed by recognition of her family and friends in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• nation right now that have already lowered the voting age, including nine in Maryland, three in California
• know, I moved out of my lovely house in East Bridgewater, and now I'm living in this apartment on Forest

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The House Committee on Election Laws, chaired by Dan Hunt and co-chaired by Senator Keenan, held a hearing on 27 bills with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker. The main policy theme was expanding youth participation in elections. Senator O'Connor testified in support of Senate Bill 526 and House Bill 854, which would allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they turn 18 before the general election. Lawan Allen of Vote 16 USA also supported bills to lower the voting age, arguing that youth voting becomes habitual, can increase turnout more broadly, and is already in place in several cities and states. Robin Chen, the lead petitioner for S. 508 and H. 814, gave extended testimony in favor of children's right to vote, saying children are affected by government decisions and should have a voice. Representative Sousa raised concerns about misinformation and the vulnerability of younger voters, but Chen responded that misinformation affects adults too and pointed to historical civil rights activism by children. Several local election-law measures were also discussed. Cynthia Hogan, Brockton’s elections director, supported a bill requiring candidates for local office to have lived in the city for a year, saying people have sometimes used business addresses or other questionable claims of residency to run for office. Representative Suzy testified in favor of H. 872, a Pembroke home-rule petition to reduce the signature threshold for a recall petition from 20% to 10% of registered voters, describing the change as a response to low-turnout local elections and not aimed at any current official. Representative Gallagher supported two Bridgewater home-rule petitions: one establishing a recall process for elected officials and another creating term limits for town councilors, both of which had been approved by the town council and would still require voter ratification in Bridgewater if adopted by the legislature. The hearing concluded without any bill votes or committee actions beyond accepting testimony. The chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted until action is taken on the bills, and the committee adjourned after no further witnesses came forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your assistance we created Forest your assistance we created Forest classifications<01:24:18.520
• state Forest determining the number<01:24:26.199><c> of</c><01:24:26.320><c> Forest</c><01:24:26.719
• forests which Forest should should those forests which Forest should should uh<01:24:31.120><c> be</
• Forest Service, the U.S.
• </c> with the Minnesota DNR the US Forest with the Minnesota DNR the US Forest Service<01:26:43.719><

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Thread Up, a California-domiciled company and a member of the California Retail Association, has authorized
• AB 405 will increase costs for California consumers.
• Protect affordability for California families. Thank you.
• , and many other California organizations and individuals.
• Black Health Network, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, the Sierra Club, California Black Women

Summary: The committee heard several environmental and consumer-safety bills. AB 405, the Fashion Act, would require fashion companies to disclose and manage toxic chemicals in their supply chains; supporters said it would reduce worker and consumer exposure and align with existing industry frameworks, while retailers and business groups argued it would duplicate existing laws and raise costs. After questions about DTSC workload, international standards, and affordability, the bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Natural Resources and held on call with three votes. AB 762 would ban the sale and distribution of disposable vape devices; supporters emphasized battery-fire risks, recycling contamination, and waste impacts, while cannabis and convenience-store interests warned it would push consumers to illicit markets and harm legal businesses. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Business and Professions with three votes and was held on call. The committee also adopted the consent calendar with six votes. AB 794 would direct California to keep in place the federal PFAS drinking-water standard if federal protections are weakened, with supporters citing health risks and the need for certainty, and water agencies opposing the emergency-rulemaking authority and potential costs. Members debated whether the bill was too broad and whether federal funds would cover implementation; the bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations with four votes and was held open. AB 1148, the Safer Food Packaging Act, would restrict certain chemicals in food packaging; supporters cited cancer and reproductive-health concerns, while chemical, beverage, and manufacturing groups argued the bill should go through existing regulatory processes and that some chemicals lacked feasible alternatives. The author said she would remove antimony trioxide later in the process after hearing opposition concerns; the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Judiciary with four votes and was held open. Finally, AB 1338 would allow local air districts to recover costs for implementing fence-line air monitoring at metal shredding facilities, building on prior legislation and local air district efforts in AB 617 communities. The author said the bill would preserve local control and improve efficiency, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District testified in support. The transcript ends as the district witness begins testimony, with no vote yet taken on AB 1338.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see up in the Front Range of Colorado, you can see in Southern California, both in the Imperial
• You can see up in the Front Range of Colorado, you can see in Southern California, both in the Imperial
• And my fourth and final question is, is California I... ...is California, I think seriously we need to
• California is on our side this time.
• California has been a good partner. Would I like California to do more than the 440,000 acre-feet?

Bills: HB2042 , HB2052 , HB2055 , HB2056 , HB2094 , HB2098 , HB2185 , HB2328 , HB2758 , HB2798

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: solar radiation management, environment, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, public health, complaint process, Attorney General, groundwater management, water conservation, irrigation, water supply, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, brackish water, groundwater, water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to come up and look at the forest just for a second and look at watercraft stations across
• I don't have slides from California, but I'm going to tell you right now...
• California discovered golden mussels about two years ago, and they've spent two years sitting on the
• Idaho uses more acre-feet of irrigation water than any other state in the country except California.
• Idaho uses more acre feet of irrigation water than any other state in the country except California.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment