Transcript Highlights:

• I ask you for a permanent office for new Americans to support the expansion and access to opportunities
• for our foreign-born workforce to really become... ...opportunities for advancement into the trades,
• We haven't had an opportunity to sort of open up the workforce development section of the statute.
• Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I’m Bethany Jarrell.
• Every student in New Mexico deserves the same opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And she knows the opportunity that good public schools bring.
• Today, I say, Of the opportunities that they did not have.
• That with opportunity, and that was true then, and it is true today.
• I saw that talent is universal even when opportunity is not.
• This is why we must have Even when opportunity is not.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, I still have not had an opportunity to hear from the governor to decide if he is willing
• to hear from have not had an opportunity to hear from the<00:05:10.560><c> governor</c><00:05:11.240
• But there will be an opportunity to kind of bring some of those priorities that might be sitting out
• for each side to bring the opportunity for each side to bring their<00:06:33.800><c> priorities</c><
• </c><00:08:13.520><c> as</c> and so this gives us the opportunity as and so this gives us the opportunity

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you so much for the opportunity.
• And thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you, Senator Rousan.
• I want to thank you again for giving us this opportunity. Thank you all.
• Petersburg, thank you again for the opportunity. And we're all open for your questions.
• Thank you for the opportunity. And I will say, I'll say one more thing. Sure.

Summary: The committee first considered and unanimously recommended confirmation of Melanie Ressler to the Florida Citrus Commission. It then took up SPB 7020, a Department of Agriculture bill to reenact an expiring public records exemption for certain aquaculture production records held by the department. The department supported the measure, and the committee adopted a motion to submit it as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Next, the committee heard SB 534, which would create a Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Senator Bernard explained that the program would target campuses with high percentages of Pell-eligible students, require a survey and SNAP-related assistance, provide at least one food pantry on participating campuses, and direct a report to the Governor and House Speaker by December 1, 2028. A supporter waived in, there was no debate, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then received a lengthy presentation from Carla Bristol and youth ambassadors from the St. Pete Youth Farm. They described the farm as a youth-led response to local food access problems after grocery store closures, and outlined programs in leadership, financial literacy, career readiness, mental wellness, composting, aquaponics, community education, and food production. Members praised the program and asked about expansion, including a culinary kitchen or food truck, partnerships with schools and colleges, and how the initiative began. Bristol said the farm is funded mainly through local redevelopment dollars and that future plans include a food truck, more youth opportunities, and a possible culinary kitchen. The committee concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The house will opportunity to vote.
• The House will opportunity to vote?
• </c> opportunities enrich students learning. opportunities enrich students learning.
• </c> waste of an opportunity to help people. waste of an opportunity to help people.
• </c><07:00:45.040><c> Representative</c> opportunity to vote. Representative opportunity to vote.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I actually have not had the opportunity. >> Okay. [laughter] Wow.
• dispersed and that we're mindful of dispersed and that we're mindful of opportunities<00:28:19.360><c
• for fraudsters to take opportunities for fraudsters to take advantage<00:28:21.919><c> potentially</
• get at those kinds of things early, and I hope we take advantage of that opportunity if there is any
• <00:31:20.799><c> over</c><00:31:21.039><c> the</c><00:31:21.279><c> years</c> opportunities over the

Bills: HF3426 , HF3428

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, land acquisition, real property, trust fund, commissioner approval, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, conservation easement, land purchase, state land, public lands, property acquisition, value assessment, tax assessed value, Metropolitan Council, Board of Water and Soil Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to make sure that we don't miss an opportunity for... ...sure that we don't miss an opportunity
• There's an opportunity cost.
• And I think that's a real missed opportunity.
• I just want to thank you for the opportunity to comment.
• Thank you for the opportunity to comment here.

Committee: House Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policy heard an overview from CARB on proposed amendments to California’s Cap-and-Invest program, which was reauthorized through 2045 by AB 1207 and SB 840. CARB said the draft rules are intended to preserve affordability, market certainty, and progress toward the state’s 2030 and 2045 climate targets. The agency described the program’s main features, including the declining emissions cap, utility and industrial allowance allocations, offset changes, the allowance price containment reserve, and new reporting and oversight requirements. CARB also said the rulemaking is on a public comment timeline, with board consideration planned for late May and an effective date targeted for September 1, 2026. Committee members focused heavily on electricity affordability, the planned shift of free allowances from natural gas utilities to electric utilities, and whether the proposal would raise rates for investor-owned and publicly owned utilities. CARB said the proposal is meant to protect ratepayers from compliance costs and that the utility allocation is based on updated data showing utilities are greener than before, but members and utility representatives argued the transition should happen faster and that the current draft could reduce expected revenues and disrupt long-term planning. Members also pressed CARB on carbon capture and sequestration, asking that the regulations clearly recognize it as a compliance pathway, and on whether the SB 905 rulemaking for carbon capture should move forward on schedule. A second major topic was industrial allocations, especially for refiners and other sectors at risk of leakage. CARB said it is keeping all industries at high leakage risk through 2030, maintaining the current cap-adjustment approach, and leaving room for additional comments and data on whether refiners need more allowances to avoid economic leakage and preserve in-state refining. Members also questioned how imported gasoline is treated, and CARB explained that transportation fuel is regulated at the rack and through the low-carbon fuel standard, while cap-and-invest covers in-state tailpipe and smokestack emissions rather than full life-cycle emissions. CARB said it is open to using additional data, including SB 253 reporting, to improve fuel carbon-intensity estimates. The panel of outside experts largely agreed that the program must balance affordability, ambition, and leakage concerns, but they differed on how much allowance value should go to utilities, industry, and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The Legislative Analyst’s Office emphasized that the Legislature should scrutinize CARB’s allocation choices now because they will be hard to change later. An IEMAC representative said the proposal appears to shift more allowance value to industry and utilities, which could reduce GGRF revenues, while EDF argued the cap could be tightened further in the near term without triggering price containment. SCAPA, representing publicly owned utilities, warned that the proposal would reduce utility allowances and could raise costs for ratepayers and undermine early decarbonization investments. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• They looked at the opportunity cost of our program.
• They concluded that the opportunity cost is about $4,700 per job.
• They noted in their study that the opportunity cost of 4.5% is $4,700.
• To the legislature for providing us that opportunity.
• Key components: It needs to have the opportunity to be a foreign trade zone.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to take the opportunity to welcome our new Vice Chair of the committee, today's Stan Ellis
• But more importantly, it brings hope to a community that urgently. needs new opportunities today.
• Yeah, just appreciate the opportunity.
• I want to first and foremost thank you for the opportunity to testify today in favor of AB 1373.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support today. Great, thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> alliance, we appreciate this opportunity alliance, we appreciate this opportunity to<00:04:01.080
• </c><00:05:09.440><c> in</c> generating professional opportunities in generating professional opportunities
• ,</c> Ramsey County has had the opportunity, Ramsey County has had the opportunity, uh,<00:31:12.160>
• </c> opportunity to present this bill. opportunity to present this bill.
• </c> recreation opportunities up there. recreation opportunities up there.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:42.720><c> to</c> allow individuals the opportunity to allow individuals the opportunity to
• </c> corridor, uh they have the opportunity corridor, uh they have the opportunity to<00:41:28.319><c
• </c><01:06:23.599><c> to</c> established there is opportunity to established there is opportunity to
• > generous</c><01:57:56.080><c> that</c> This opportunity is so generous that This opportunity is so
• Who will instead that opportunity.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 40.720><c> be</c><00:01:40.799><c> with</c> appreciate the opportunity to be with appreciate the opportunity
• </c> members. uh appreciate the opportunity members. uh appreciate the opportunity to<00:03:44.239><c
• Next, you'll see uh opportunity.
• </c> truly take advantage of the opportunity. truly take advantage of the opportunity.
• An ounce of AIS opportunities.

Bills: HF1587 , HF2293 , HF2218 , HF1208 , HF1482

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• However, there is a real opportunity before us.
• Let's embrace this opportunity to reinvigorate a vital sector of our economy.
• Not everybody gets the opportunity to become an elder.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H-3110, S-2033.
• How can we possibly not take that opportunity?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on Senate Bill 47.
• That's what I see this as: that opportunity and that gateway.
• So, Madam Chair, Senator, and experts, a household really has no opportunity.
• Thank you for the opportunity.
• something that we ought to consider and actually be a great opportunity for folks, and another job opportunity

Bills: SB47 , SB110 , SB122 , SB143 , SB168

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• It is an amazing opportunity, and I tell you, it's a treasure that doesn't happen very often.
• That would be an amazing opportunity.
• And with that, I will say thank you so much for the opportunities. Great.
• That is a phenomenal opportunity for the state of California.
• Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. My name's Sabrina Lockhart.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism held an informational hearing on the state of California tourism amid declining international visitation and broader economic and political headwinds. Visit California CEO Caroline Betetta said the industry remains a major economic driver, with 2024 visitor spending of $157 billion, 1.2 million jobs supported, and $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue, but warned that 2025 forecasts show the first post-pandemic decline in visitation, driven largely by a projected 9.2% drop in international travel. She cited concerns about the strong dollar, visa wait times, border and immigration rhetoric, and a proposed federal visa integrity fee, while emphasizing Visit California’s marketing campaigns and the importance of upcoming mega-events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. A second panel of destination leaders described local impacts and strategies. Visit Sacramento’s Mike Testa said the city has diversified beyond conventions into music festivals, sports, and food events, but noted that international apprehension is affecting events like Terra Madre Americas and that California should do more to incentivize major festivals to stay in-state. Santa Monica Travel and Tourism’s Lauren Salisbury said the city is seeing lower international visitation, especially from Canada, Australia, and Europe, and that wildfire coverage and later federal troop presence in Los Angeles hurt local sentiment and caused cancellations. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau’s Rhonda Salisbury reported steep drops in international visitation to the gateway region, ongoing concerns about wildfire, reservations, insurance costs, and park access, and praised a new federal requirement for quarterly meetings between national parks and gateway communities. San Diego Tourism Authority COO Carrie Verbeck-Cappich said tourism is the region’s second-largest sector, but 2025 is softer than 2024, with spending down despite modest visitation growth. She pointed to weaker Canadian and Asian travel, government-related meeting cancellations, and the need for more support to bid on and host major events; she also highlighted border-crossing delays, insufficient federal staffing at ports of entry, and the Tijuana River sewage crisis as major regional issues. Committee members discussed the effects of federal rhetoric, infrastructure, and cross-border conditions on tourism, and several witnesses urged continued support for Visit California, Brand USA, event incentives, and efforts to present California as welcoming and open. Public comment then opened, beginning with testimony from the California Attractions and Parks Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• Allowing them to begin driving under controlled, safe, and structured conditions offers an opportunity
• </c> Kentucky House Bill 15 is an opportunity Kentucky House Bill 15 is an opportunity to<00:04:45.360
• to further develop these opportunity to further develop these crucial<00:05:10.759><c> life</c> crucial
• </c><00:19:46.240><c> to</c><00:19:46.360><c> be</c> I appreciate the opportunity to be I appreciate
• the opportunity to be before<00:19:46.840><c> you</c><00:19:47.039><c> today</c><00:19:47.760><c> to<

Keywords: Special Guests 00:13 Roll Call 00:39 HB 15 Discussion 01:35 HB 15 Vote 14:03 HB 157 Discussion 17:28 HB 157 Vote 18:42 HB 444 Discussion 19:35 HB 444 Vote 23:12 HB 188 Discussion 25:20 HB 188 Vote 29:37, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up several bills out of order. House Bill 15, sponsored by Leader Rudy, would lower the learner’s permit age to 15 while keeping the graduated driver’s license system in place until age 17. Supporters, including a 14-year-old witness, argued it would give teens more supervised driving experience, align Kentucky with surrounding states, and help families and the workforce. Members raised questions about safety, parental supervision, and regional driver’s license office backlogs, but the bill was reported favorably with a committee substitute attached after a roll call vote. The committee then heard House Bill 444, which would conform Kentucky CDL rules to federal reporting requirements by preventing masking of violations and would lower the age for certain hazmat CDL endorsements from 21 to 18 for in-state use only, excluding school bus endorsements. The sponsor and supporters said the change would help address truck-driver shortages and support delivery of propane, agricultural products, and other hazardous materials. A question was raised about possible insurance cost increases, but the sponsor said companies would decide whether to hire younger drivers and that the bill was intended to keep trucks moving. The bill was reported favorably with expressions of opinion that it should pass. House Bill 157, a Department of Agriculture initiative creating a tag bill for commercial vehicles, was briefly presented and reported favorably with a committee substitute. House Bill 188, dealing with driveaway plates for businesses that transport vehicles for others, was also heard. The sponsor said the bill would clarify how many plates a business needs, reduce insurance exposure, and help keep a Warren County driveaway business in Kentucky rather than moving to neighboring states. After questions about how the plates work and a committee substitute changing the issuing authority language, the bill was reported favorably with expressions of opinion that it should pass. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:25.880><c> without</c> Hands-On learning opportunities without Hands-On learning opportunities
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Thank you.
• This is allowing our school boards the opportunity.
• This is allowing our school boards the opportunity.
• </c><00:37:44.680><c> to</c> that schools have the opportunity to that schools have the opportunity to

Bills: HF1124 , HF1457 , HF1803

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: school calendar, education, school year, Labor Day, state law, school construction, landfill, dump site, closed landfill, contaminated site, pollution control agency, school siting, public school, charter school, environmental health, student safety, brownfield, solid waste, waste disposal site, site contamination

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is there... and are there more opportunities throughout the year with the other...
• And are there more opportunities throughout the year with the other programs?
• Well, thank you to the committee for this opportunity to share our work.
• And thank you to all of you for the opportunity to explain more about what we're up to at HDFC.
• So I think we have a lot of opportunity here, and I really appreciate the opportunity to be here.

Summary: The committee held an outcome review hearing on AB 519, focused on streamlining California’s affordable housing finance system. State housing officials described the work group process and the resulting report, which calls for a consolidated application and coordinated review process across HCD, CalHFA, TCAC, and CDLAC, while preserving a separate direct path for projects that do not need state subsidy. They said the goal is to reduce duplication, align timelines, and get projects to construction faster, with implementation now being carried forward through the new Housing Development Finance Committee (HDFC) and related reorganization changes. Officials from HCD, CalHFA, and HDFC said the new committee launched July 1 and is developing regulations, a unified application workbook, and review procedures, with public comment and hearings planned before final adoption. They emphasized a two-track system: one for projects needing state subsidy and one for tax credits/bonds only. Members also discussed the transition period in 2027, the need to clear existing pipeline projects first, and the possibility of construction financing tools. Committee members raised concerns about transparency, stakeholder feedback, and whether additional statutory changes would be needed; staff said current authority appears sufficient. Affordable housing developers and advocates generally supported the reforms but said the work must go beyond a single application. They urged fully funding projects, simplifying post-award functions, modernizing asset management, preserving a direct path for locally funded and rehab projects, and improving geographic equity, especially for rural and farmworker housing. Several witnesses stressed that the system also needs stable funding, including general fund support and the proposed housing bond, and that the state should continue engaging stakeholders as the new process rolls out. Public comment echoed those themes and included a veteran describing the difficulty of navigating housing and VA-related systems, reinforcing the hearing’s focus on simplifying access to housing resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the business side of things, my colleague Matt can maybe speak a little bit toward that opportunity
• It is time for our... ...marginalized residents are quietly excluded from opportunities.
• Thank you for your attention and the opportunity to share my story.
• Chairman Chan, Chairman Payano, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify
• Thank you everyone for giving us the opportunity to speak. My name is Demetrius Salpoglo.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on several real estate, housing, and consumer protection bills. A major portion of the hearing focused on bills to create licensure for commercial interior designers (H.324/S.254), with supporters from the architecture and interior design fields arguing the measure would recognize a distinct profession, expand permitting authority for qualified designers, improve public safety, and remove barriers to firm ownership and public contracting. Witnesses said the proposal had been redrafted through collaboration among interior designers, architects, engineers, and building officials, and Senator Gomez said the Senate had passed the bill previously and hoped to advance it again. The committee also heard support for H.450 on solar customer protections, with solar companies backing standardized disclosures, a consumer brochure, a longer rescission period, and sales registration requirements as consumer safeguards that would not materially disrupt business operations. The committee then took testimony on H.431/S.245, a bill to end housing discrimination in the Commonwealth. Senator Gomez, fair housing advocates, and several renters described alleged discrimination against Black renters and voucher holders, citing testing data and personal experiences. They said the bill would strengthen enforcement by linking court findings to temporary license suspensions, require fair housing training, increase public reporting, and add board representation with fair housing or voucher-holder experience. A real estate appraisers representative also supported S.196, which would make appraisal licensure mandatory in Massachusetts, arguing that home valuation should be done by licensed professionals. A substantial part of the hearing addressed broker-fee and rental-timing bills, including H.335, H.336, H.374, H.224, and H.449. Supporters of the broker-fee changes argued that tenants should not be charged fees when the landlord hired the broker, while opponents warned the language could restrict tenant representation and harm small landlords, students, and the rental market. Several witnesses opposed the 90-day lease-signing window in H.336, saying it would compress the September rental cycle, worsen competition, and make it harder for students and out-of-state renters to secure housing. The chairs noted that broker fees had already been addressed in the state budget, and the hearing concluded with no votes on the bills, only the close of testimony and an announcement that the committee would not hold another hearing until later in the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a Korean American immigrant, I deeply appreciate the opportunities this nation provides.
• Let us continue to promote understanding, unity, and opportunity for all people.
• As a Korean American immigrant, I deeply appreciate the opportunities this nation provides.
• Let us continue to promote understanding, unity, and an opportunity for all people.
• Let us continue to promote understanding, unity, and opportunity for all people.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journals, and removed SB 830 from the inactive file for return to the Assembly. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments, including Clint Kellum as Director of the Cannabis Control, Jennifer Osborne as Director of Industrial Relations, and two Medical Board of California appointments, Dr. Trinidad Solis and Dr. Gerald Tolbrook. Each appointment was confirmed by roll call, with broad support and no recorded opposition. The chamber also adopted SR 97 recognizing Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting AAPI contributions to California, histories of exclusion and solidarity, and the importance of visibility and representation. The resolution passed 39-0. The Senate also recognized numerous AAPI community leaders and honorees on the floor, including Kay Buck and Mira Sorvino for anti-trafficking advocacy, and later several additional guests and community figures. Members then adopted several other resolutions by unanimous consent: SCR 168 designating Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, SCR 148 declaring GM1 gangliosidosis awareness day, SR 95 proclaiming ALS Awareness Month, SCR 156 for Stroke Awareness Month, and SR 110 recognizing Hospital Week in California. Floor remarks focused on public safety, rare disease awareness, stroke recovery and aphasia, and the role of hospitals and health care workers. The Senate also honored retiring California Professional Firefighters president Brian Rice with extensive tributes to his labor leadership, firefighter safety work, and disaster response advocacy. The meeting concluded with the remaining appointment confirmations and adjournment until May 14, 2026.