Transcript Highlights:

• This bill supports responsible energy development while maintaining strong environmental oversight.
• Geothermal development offers not only a path to job. job creation in engineering, construction, and
• The draft was developed without a full board vote despite the fact that its implications are massive
• Through my years of advocacy at the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, LEAP, I developed expertise in
• Pay for the permit, so the water board develops the permit, but permittees pay into a waste discharge

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our second concern here is that while we are aware of some pilot projects to develop similar tools in
• And earned skills-based certificates that match their level of knowledge developed in a professional
• This proposal is $50 million one-time for the development of the Career Passport tool, which is then
• The one-time component is associated with developing the pathways for which to embed credit for prior
• , to develop the approach, to look at the approach.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing focused on California Community College budget proposals. Chair Alvarez opened by emphasizing the system’s role in access, transfer, workforce training, and serving more than 2 million students, while also noting persistent challenges in enrollment, persistence, transfer, and graduation. Public commenters and system representatives broadly supported COLA, enrollment growth funding, deferred maintenance, student support block grants, and additional flexibility for districts facing uncertainty. The first major panel covered the student-centered funding formula, COLA, and enrollment growth. The Department of Finance said the Governor proposes a 2.43% COLA ($230.4 million) and 0.5% enrollment growth funding ($30.4 million). The LAO said the COLA was reasonable and recommended funding at least the proposed growth amount, citing uneven enrollment recovery and regional differences. The Chancellor’s Office supported both proposals and asked for additional changes, including using the greater of current-year or three-year average for apportionments and lifting the 10% local enrollment cap, arguing these would better fund growing districts. Members questioned how the formula works, whether SCFF is improving outcomes, and how much additional funding would be needed under different growth scenarios. The committee then reviewed categorical program COLAs, Rising Scholars, career education proposals, IT proposals, and student housing. The Governor proposed a 2.43% COLA for selected categorical programs ($31.9 million). For Rising Scholars, the Governor proposed $30 million ongoing and removal of the cap on participating colleges; the LAO urged waiting for outcome data before doubling funding, while the Chancellor’s Office said the program is serving more students and supports equity for justice-impacted students. On career education, the Governor proposed $50 million for credit for prior learning and $50 million for a career passport; the LAO supported more reporting on credit for prior learning but recommended rejecting the career passport as too undefined, while the Chancellor’s Office supported both. On technology, the Governor proposed $162.5 million for a common cloud data platform and $168 million for a common ERP system; the LAO said both were premature or lacked sufficient planning and recommended rejection, while the Chancellor’s Office argued they would improve real-time data, security, and systemwide efficiency. The committee also heard an update on student housing: the administration said the 2024 shift to a lease-revenue bond model remains in progress for 13 approved projects, with 11 still active, and members asked about withdrawn projects and possible use of any returned funds. No votes were taken, and several items were held open for further discussion and May Revision updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sabadosa also filed an amendment for a midwifery workforce development fund to help diversify the midwifery
• filed by Senator Lovely, which unfortunately was not adopted, to support the midwifery workforce development
• fund, and there was Adopted to support the midwifery workforce development fund.
• filed by Senator Lovely, which unfortunately was not adopted to support the member free workforce development
• fund and there was adopted to support the member free workforce development fund.

Summary: The commission reviewed the House and Senate budget outcomes for maternal and perinatal health-related amendments as the budget moved into conference committee. On the House side, amendments for community-based perinatal mental health grants, implementation of maternal health law, the Tuff Center for Maternal Health Advancement, private insurance coverage for midwifery care, a midwifery workforce development fund, and birthing center grants were not adopted. On the Senate side, several items were adopted, including funding for the Mass Now menstrual equity program, a $1 million earmark for the Neighborhood Birth Center, and Senator Rausch’s out-of-state resident reproductive health training pilot, while other proposals such as the midwifery workforce fund, a health education trust fund, and the Tuff Center request were not accepted. Members discussed whether the commission should send a letter to the conference committee. Several speakers supported doing so, but emphasized that the commission’s core mission is perinatal and postpartum mental health and that the budget wins, while important, did not explicitly fund PMAD or perinatal mental health priorities. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter highlighting the broader maternal health wins while also urging continued investment in perinatal and postpartum supports. The meeting also covered commission vacancies, including a vacant House minority seat, several governor-appointed seats, an open Senate co-chair appointment, and other commissioner slots. Members suggested possible future appointees or organizational representatives, including people connected to the Children’s Trust, addiction-affected families, and midwifery. The meeting ended with brief updates on upcoming minutes, future presenters, and the end of the legislative session, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 442 is a focused economic development bill for Calcasieu Parish.
• And so a lot of older private developments, you know, 039 by Representative Desotel.
• And so a lot of older private developments, you know, That's used.
• of a development being created, needed upgrading, right?
• There has been a number of companies buying the developments.

Summary: Yes. This appears to be a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, based on the roll call, the committee chair’s remarks, and the committee’s consideration of bills and resolutions with tax and fiscal implications. The committee first announced that SB 436 by Senator Cloud was deferred. It then heard SB 442 by Senator Stein, which would provide a local sales and use tax exemption in Calcasieu Parish for repairs, upgrades, and overhauls on certain aircraft at qualifying facilities such as Chennault. The bill was presented as an economic development measure to keep aviation maintenance work and jobs in Southwest Louisiana. After testimony from Citadel Completions representatives describing the company’s operations, local partnerships, and job creation, the committee voted to report SB 442 favorably without objection. The committee next took up HR 118 by Representative Wright, which would create a legislative subcommittee to study a possible state income tax credit for certain water utility customers facing high rates tied to water system upgrades and brown-water issues in parts of the Florida parishes and elsewhere. Members questioned the fiscal impact, eligibility, duration, and whether the proposal would simply subsidize private utility rates or address a broader regulatory problem. Wright emphasized that the resolution was only for study and would gather testimony and numbers before any credit was considered. The resolution was reported favorably without objection. Finally, HB 1039 by Representative Deshotel was called but no presenter was present, so the committee held the bill in committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to receive certain tax revenues derived from hotel and convention center projects, to Economic Development
• Senate Bill 1074 by Zaffirini, relating to the amendment of an existing comprehensive development agreement
• Senate Bill 1110 by Eckhardt, relating to an exemption from certain zoning requirements for developments
• programs in this state, to Economic Development. operator to transportation.
• programs in this state to economic development.

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to the Economic Development Department for the Technology Innovation Prize.
• So on that reduced utility cost, is that to the developer when they're developing?
• So it's costing the developer less to develop the utility lines, but the homeowner is going to pay more
• Amanda Joey, Line 115, the Geothermal Projects Development Fund?
• Amanda, Joey, line 115, the Geothermal Projects Development Fund?

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Shouldn't we be holding every buyer, every developer, and every For new property development.
• Addisleston brains are still developing. The frontal lobe actually may not fully develop to.
• Adolescents' brains are still developing. The frontal lobe actually may not fully develop until 25.
• cortex, the development...
• cortex, the development... ...and women, too, I suppose, is their prefrontal cortex, the development

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then adopted the special order report for the day. The chamber took up House Bill 167 on former phosphate mining lands. Sponsor Rep. McClure said the bill removes strict liability for previously mined phosphate lands if a Department of Health study is completed at the owner’s request and the former mining status is recorded publicly. Opponents, led by Rep. Cross and others, argued the bill relies too heavily on buyer-beware principles and does not adequately notify future buyers or renters. The bill passed 87-24 after debate. Members then considered House Bill 145 on suits against the government. Rep. McFarland said it updates Florida’s sovereign immunity caps, raising them to $500,000 per person and $1 million per incident, with a later automatic increase, while preserving the liability shield and improving access to compensation for people harmed by government negligence. The bill also aligns the statute of limitations with private claims and allows entities to settle above the cap. After brief debate, the House passed the bill 104-7. The House next debated CS/HB 289 on wrongful death for an unborn child, which would expand Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow claims involving unborn children and their parents. The bill prompted extensive questioning and debate about damages, definitions, medical care, surrogacy, and whether the measure could affect abortion access or expose doctors, friends, family members, and surrogates to lawsuits. Multiple amendments sought to carve out protections for mothers, health care providers, abortion care, perinatal professionals, surrogates, and victims of rape, incest, or human trafficking, but each was defeated. The final vote on the bill itself was 33-78, so the motion failed and the bill did not advance.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> should start thinking about developing should start thinking about developing one. one. one.
• And in 2025, you also created a new local public housing development program.
• So just give you a development costs.
• The port development Next slide.
• </c> million to the port development million to the port development assistance<01:21:35.920><c> program

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:15:43.759><c> not</c> no offshore wind to develop we're not no offshore wind to develop we're not
• </c> would so somebody could still develop would so somebody could still develop wouldn't<00:16:03.000
• and deployment of offshore wind. responsible development of offshore wind responsible development of
• </c> goes through research and development goes through research and development and<01:01:17.280><c>
• </c> stop offshore wind from being developed stop offshore wind from being developed in<02:26:10.279>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> but in our neighboring states to develop but in our neighboring states to develop the<00:31:52.559
• </c> developed it we did not develop developed it we did not develop participant<01:09:56.719><c> benefits
• </c> that means we're not developing that means we're not developing renewable<01:42:30.119><c> energy
• </c> used to support other people developing used to support other people developing renewable<01:45:
• </c> of offshore wind industry development of offshore wind industry development energy energy energy

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The city relied on bad information and committed millions in future tax revenues to the developers.
• Can we put any new housing developments or retail outlets or parks there?
• There is a whole range of forecasts that are developed for different purposes.
• And we've really seen a robust April and May for resource development.
• How do you see that developing over the next couple of years?

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The subtext being that if you don't give this tax break, we'll sell to developers and you'll use it to
• The entire, all three members of the Select Board ran on pro-development, pro-growth campaigns, and we
• We can't force the country club to develop its property, but we can ask them to pay their fair share
• I took the more complex route and achieved my goal of protecting my farm from development.
• The economic pressures on residential and commercial development are tremendous right now.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was underway while the audit was being developed. Yes. Yes. This is done since, yes. Yes.
• So this plan has been under development for years.
• And as they develop their own plan, they're going to have the same challenge that we are.
• And through the development of the resupply... Compliance for SBX-1-2.
• in California are the same developers in the rest of the West.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their capacity, sort of a one-time capacity development grant so that they can participate in CalAIM
• EPA and the Office of Research and Development.
• EPA and the Office of Research and Development.
• You don't actually develop any of the regulations related to the science you produce, do you?
• But really trying to sort of develop the skills of the scientists to be able to communicate is, again

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee established quorum and first approved several non-appearing gubernatorial appointees and procedural items on unanimous 5-0 votes, including Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board, references of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgements. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access and equity, continuing CalAIM and behavioral health transformation, and drawing on personal experience with family members needing care. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, eligibility redeterminations, fraud oversight, provider reimbursement, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the impact of federal changes; Sadwith said the department is working on expedited payments, monitoring distressed hospitals, county technical assistance, and strategies to reduce disenrollments and improve program integrity. Public commenters from county, hospital, and care organizations supported his confirmation, and the committee advanced his nomination to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee next considered Chris Thayer, PhD, for Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, scientifically rigorous health assessments and supporting tools such as Prop 65, CalEnviroScreen, and risk communication. Senators pressed him on the use of models versus real-world data, fenceline monitoring, PFAS, wildfire health impacts, and whether OEHHA’s work adequately reflects lived experience and local conditions. Thayer responded that the office often must rely on the best available evidence, including animal, human, and alternative methods, while continuing to improve communication and community engagement; he also discussed EnviroScreen updates, Prop 65 warning reforms, and research gaps. Public testimony in support highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role and the importance of biomonitoring and PFAS work. The committee approved Thayer’s nomination to the full Senate on a 3-1 vote, with Senator Grove voting no and Senator Jones not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• their capacity, sort of one-time capacity development grant so that they can participate in CalAIM.
• EPA and the Office of Research and Development.
• You don't actually develop any of the regulations related to the science you produce, do you?
• But really trying to sort of develop the skills of the scientists to be able to communicate is, again
• But really trying to sort of develop the skills of the scientists do be able to communicate is, again

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointees and routine committee actions. Members approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, three not-required-to-appear appointments: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. The committee also approved references of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, each by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access for 14 million Californians, navigating federal changes, and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, Medi-Cal redeterminations, work requirements, provider reimbursement, fraud oversight, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the effectiveness of CalAIM and community supports. Public commenters from county, hospital, and provider groups largely supported the nomination, citing his experience and collaborative approach. The committee voted 5-0 to send his appointment to the full Senate. The committee also considered Chris Thayer’s appointment as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, science-based health assessments, improving risk communication, and supporting tools such as CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 guidance. Senators raised concerns about reliance on models versus real-world data, PFAS, environmental justice, wildfire and battery-fire impacts, and whether CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 are working as intended. Public testimony from environmental and health organizations supported the nomination and highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role. The committee approved Thayer’s appointment 3-1, with one senator not voting, and forwarded it to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• What would it be that would make a developer have to appeal...
• What would it be that would make a developer have to appeal on a permit?
• Sometimes it's not the developer that's appealing the permit, right?
• As an economic development organization, we support development and job growth, but we strive to do so
• There is no perfectly developed rate that anyone pays.

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on three bills. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with unanimous agreement of the parties, to use alternative board compositions for appeals, including a single member or other qualified environmental adjudicators, so long as one member is a Washington-licensed attorney and the panel has environmental law expertise. The bill sponsor and supporters from business and conservation groups said it was a narrow, consensus-based change intended to improve efficiency and predictability. ELUHO’s director supported the concept but flagged technical issues in the bill language about attorney and Growth Management Hearings Board member qualifications. HB 2416 would provide no-cost allowances under the Climate Commitment Act to Spokane’s waste-to-energy facility, which is not currently covered until the second compliance period. Supporters, including Spokane officials, labor, and local partners, said the facility protects a sole-source aquifer, provides waste disposal and electricity for about 13,000 homes, and faces large compliance costs that could raise rates and threaten jobs. Opponents from environmental groups and Ecology argued the bill would give the facility preferential treatment, subsidize most of its emissions through 2050, and fail to ensure real emissions reductions; AWB raised concern about market impacts if new allowances are added. No vote was taken. HB 2373 would require electric utilities to offer monthly bill discount programs with tiered income levels, expanded outreach and enrollment, and updated reporting on low-income energy assistance. The sponsor said the bill is meant to make assistance more consistent and accessible statewide, while utilities and rural co-ops warned it could create unfunded mandates and significant rate increases for non-low-income customers, especially in smaller systems. Supporters from community action agencies, Commerce, and some utilities said monthly assistance is needed because energy burdens are rising and current programs are patchwork, though several urged pairing the bill with state funding or amendments. The committee heard extensive testimony but took no final action on any of the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Almost 300,000 acre-feet for near-term development in the next three to five years.
• They help identify policy issues and priorities for us for developing water supply, and currently have
• development, sort of a revolving fund.
• We call it the burcolator after the scientists that developed it.
• Numerous other farms have been sold, often to big money with future development.

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a former renewable energy developer, I know financial planning is a great challenge.
• We must continue to develop in-state.
• However, as this new era begins, developers face a real risk of over-assessment.
• It brings property tax consistency to all 58 counties, and it gives developers the certainty they need
• Developers need the certainty they need to continue building the power which California needs for grid

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• telecommunication provider that is in violation from receiving any state, local, or federal monies to develop
• And we need to develop a network where we're all sharing best practices.
• And we have a network that really develops workforce across the state.
• And that is what Lunisand has developed. We have a technology called georadiotomography.
• We have a partnership with Blue Origin really to develop this capability. Thank you.

Bills: SB1046

Committee: House Science & Technology

Keywords: telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the legislation directs the State Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security
• strategy, in terms of food access, agricultural viability, and supply chain resilience, will also develop
• In order to develop the strategy, WSDA must convene a variety of agencies, experts, and impacted individuals
• It requires WSDA to develop this strategy by recommending measures to make food affordable and reduce
• It directs the WSDA to develop this comprehensive strategy.

Bills: HB2104 , HB2554 , HB2619

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, tribal rights, fishing rights, salmon management, state-tribal agreements, natural resources, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact, 904, all