Transcript Highlights:

• Other patrons at that bar witnessed the incident, word of mouth started, and the rest is history for
• When I first started trying to sell to schools about five or six years ago, Alper Shane: When I first
• We started working with the Tahoe Food Hub in 2013.
• But the strength of our entire agriculture sector starts with just one seed.
• But the strength of our entire agriculture sector starts with just one seed.

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met and heard a full agenda of bills, beginning with AB 1674, which would create a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program and require grocery-store capacity to be preserved or mitigated in certain housing developments. The author and local residents from Sunnyvale testified in support, describing the loss of neighborhood grocery stores and the impact on seniors and low-income families. Business and building groups opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add costs and create housing barriers, especially in Section 3. The committee discussed rural and urban food-access differences, and the bill passed the committee 5-0 and was re-referred to Housing and Community Development, with members noting continued work on amendments. The committee then approved several consent items and heard AB 2264, which would allow district agricultural associations to use fairgrounds property for affordable housing by extending lease terms from 55 to 99 years. Supporters said it would unlock underused public land without displacing neighborhoods, and the bill passed to Housing and Community Development. AB 269, the “Fair Act,” would provide a targeted sales and use tax exemption to spur development projects on fairgrounds; it drew broad support from members and fair association testimony and passed to Revenue and Taxation. AB 2143, which would prohibit online marketplaces from accepting payment for noxious weeds shipped into California, received strong support from academic and agricultural witnesses and passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee also heard AB 1731, creating the California Healthy Food Procurement Fund and an approved-vendor program to connect schools with California farmers. School nutrition, farm, and food-policy advocates supported the bill as a way to reduce procurement barriers and expand local food in school meals; it passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1848 would raise seed-law fees to fund inspection and enforcement of California’s seed regulations; the California Seed Association supported the increase, and the bill passed to Appropriations. The meeting concluded with roll calls on absent members and adjournment at 2:53 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Quietly gives us a fresh vision.
• I hope you have a fresh new vision as you head into this new biennium.
• fresh vision. fresh vision.
• /c><00:04:13.439><c> new</c><00:04:13.680><c> vision</c><00:04:14.319><c> as</c> I hope you have a fresh
• new vision as I hope you have a fresh new vision as you<00:04:14.799><c> head</c><00:04:14.959><c> into

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the patriotism patriotism start to brew. the patriotism patriotism start to brew.
• They are more than 20% of the world's fresh water and must be protected.
• They are more than 20% of the world's fresh water and must be protected.
• I want to starts with accurate data.
• <04:42:45.440><c> deliver</c> what Congress started and deliver what Congress started and deliver resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• shelf, our drive-up service, and home delivery, Open Cupboard meets people where they are, ensuring fresh
• access to fresh and healthy food without cost or barriers.
• Our markets are centered on fresh food items that are highly sought after and best when they reach the
• Our markets are open six days a week without appointment or geographic restrictions, making fresh food
• eggs or, you know, go to the very fresh eggs or, you know, go to the<00:10:22.480><c> back</c><00:10

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:41:25.560><c> marking</c> whatever um so but let's start marking whatever um so but let's start
• They still get requests every day and every week. first started this a year ago and we first started
• </c> uh so is it the case that if you start uh so is it the case that if you start out<04:08:30.479><
• of last year uh I started uh I basically<04:30:24.920><c> started</c> basically started basically started
• when you start expanding on that.

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you remember when the program started, it started with an off cycle.
• We started my first year.
• I'll start, actually, we'll start with an NDI on page two.
• I'll start, actually, we'll start with an NDI on page two.
• We will start with House Bill 3.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• So maybe we can start with your House offer two and maybe we can get through at least maybe the first
• want Representative Davids, Representative Gomez to go through those again for us so that they are fresh
• So maybe we can start with your House offer two and maybe we can get through at least maybe the first
• So um maybe we can start with uh cities.
• </c><00:19:52.240><c> in</c><00:19:52.480><c> our</c> for us so that they are fresh in our for us so

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are going to start with our minutes approval, though, for February 5, 2026. Madam Chairman.
• ahead and state your name for the record and just give us an update from the time that you first started
• Always a great start. Oh, perfect. Nice. I got a little flag. I don't... a replica.
• We are, our major trading partners are Canada and Mexico, but we also ship a lot of fresh and processed
• If you look at Idaho Foods, they've started making their little packages of mashed potatoes that now

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• June is officially the month recognized as National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, and I want to highlight
• two fresh fruits that are grown.
• I want to highlight two fresh fruits that are grown in my district.
• I'll start with berries, which are blueberries and blackberries, fruits that are in peak season currently
• And so I think you started with Speaker Doris Allen a long time ago.

Committee: House Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to invite Representative Hussein to come to the testifier table, please, and start with your
• My journey started with a dream, inspired by my parents who sold fruits and vegetables at the Minneapolis
• We provide fresh fruit and vegetables and also support local farmers in creating jobs between my two
• </c><00:08:08.039><c> fruit</c><00:08:08.360><c> and</c> um we provide uh fresh fruit and um we provide
• uh fresh fruit and vegetable<00:08:09.720><c> uh</c><00:08:09.879><c> and</c><00:08:10.039><c> also<

Transcript Highlights:

• And all long journeys start with one step.
• We don't want the fund to start shrinking.
• What we have is the Piedmont Academic Team.
• I'm starting to think, Mr.
• Let's start with expansion.

Bills: SB1177 , HB3705 , SB1942 , SB2026 , SB1533 , SB1327 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2159

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, received an invocation focused on grief and remembrance, and heard several special presentations recognizing a brave child, visiting groups, and multiple student-athlete teams and school groups in the galleries. The chamber also introduced the Doctor of the Day and Nurse of the Day. The main business was consideration of the Joint Committee report on Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriations bill, presented by Chairman Caldwell-Trey. Most of the floor time was spent on extended questions about the budget’s major features. Caldwell-Trey explained the bill as a largely flat or modestly increased budget that includes a $200 million transfer to a new sovereign wealth fund, $225 million in set-asides, a $12.5 million “dream accounts” program for newborns, and funding tied to teacher pay, education, workforce, public safety, agriculture, and health agencies. Members questioned the use of one-time funds for recurring expenses, the reduction in state contributions to the OPRS pension system, Medicaid assumptions, emergency management funding, veterans’ services, child care, school counselors, and the lack of funding for some requested items such as National Board Certified Teacher stipends and veterans’ facility maintenance. Caldwell-Trey defended the budget as transparent, early, and designed to preserve cash reserves while supporting core services. No final vote on the appropriations report is reflected in the transcript excerpt. The House also heard explanations that the limits bills would be run later in committee, and that the budget negotiations were still ongoing with the Senate and governor on some related items. The session ended with the queue closed after the budget questioning, and the transcript cuts off during additional remarks from Representative Timmons.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we have one agenda item that starts at 9:30.
• Um, I started my law journey at my dad's law office.
• ><c> in</c> started my first term in started my first term in 2020,<01:22:02.880><c> and</c><01:22:03.679
• I'm sorry, started stopped taking on some cases, but that's what I'm familiar with.
• I'm sorry, started stopped taking on some cases, but that's what I'm familiar with.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Governor’s Message 767, the nomination of Kanoi AD Jackson to serve as circuit court judge for the Third Circuit. The chair announced that the committee would not vote on the governor’s message or two judge nominations until Tuesday, April 15, but planned to vote that day on two Defender Council items. Testimony on Jackson’s nomination was limited to two minutes per speaker, and the hearing was conducted partly by Zoom. Supporters emphasized Jackson’s qualifications, work ethic, judicial temperament, and community ties. Testifiers included the West Hawaii Bar Association, family members, a retired teacher, retired Judge Robert Kim, and the Hawaii State Bar Association. The West Hawaii Bar Association said Jackson received high marks from its review process and that the Third Circuit needed a permanent judge for stability. Judge Kim and others praised her preparation, intelligence, humility, and experience as a prosecutor and litigator. Jackson also spoke in her own behalf, acknowledging that her background is primarily criminal rather than civil, but saying she is committed to learning the civil docket and serving the community if confirmed. Members questioned the Hawaii State Bar Association about the basis for its support, including how many members responded and whether concerns were raised about Jackson’s lack of civil experience. HSBA said it uses a confidential review process, receives both positive and negative comments, and does not track votes or percentages, but its board voted to support her. Judge Kim responded that judges can learn new areas of law, that civil dockets can be managed with benchbooks and help from other judges, and that Jackson’s trial experience would serve her well. No vote was taken on Jackson’s nomination during this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• They said, 'You had to start all over.' Those didn't count.
• Let's start from, let's use. And paste. So let's say it wasn't.
• We gotta start being real here in California, people.
• I'd like to start by accepting the committee amendments.
• I'll start a little light.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a full agenda of bills, first adopting a consent calendar of 11 measures without individual presentations. The committee then took up AB 1412, which would require California schools to implement or adopt a transferred special education student’s IEP within 30 days for out-of-state transfers and to coordinate more quickly on records. The author and military-family witnesses said the bill would reduce delays for highly mobile students, especially military children; a school administrators group opposed it. The bill received initial support from committee members and was moved on call. The committee also reconsidered AB 281, which would require notice to parents when outside consultants provide sex education instruction; the author accepted amendments removing a copy-right provision, but the bill remained on call after a split vote. The committee heard AB 1005, which would create a statewide drowning-prevention education and swim-lesson voucher framework for underserved communities. The author and supporters described drowning as a preventable public health and equity issue, while the bill was clarified as developing a plan rather than immediately launching a voucher program. It was voted out on a 3-0 roll with the measure placed on call. AB 908, as amended, would add compliance monitoring for existing requirements that schools use LGBTQ-inclusive instructional materials and curriculum under the FAIR Act. Supporters said the bill would improve implementation and student safety; opponents raised concerns about privacy, girls’ sports, and school burdens. The committee approved the bill 5-2 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 1401, which would affirm parents’ access to school records, including unofficial records unless exempt by law. The author argued that parents need clearer access to information held by schools and vendors, while school officials and teachers’ union representatives warned the bill was too vague and could sweep in personal notes, journals, and other sensitive material. The bill failed on a 2-3 vote and was placed on call. Finally, AB 727 would require student ID cards to include the Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQ youth; supporters framed it as a suicide-prevention measure, while opponents argued it conflicted with parental rights and religious beliefs. Committee discussion focused on whether 988 already provides similar access and whether the Trevor Project is an appropriate resource to print on IDs; the hearing continued with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• I came here to protect a child from human trafficking, where he was considered fresh meat.
• And that's what they start seeing in the lab. Chemically altered.
• And that's what they start seeing in the lab. So that would be a friendly amendment.
• Let me start just with trying to understand how you envision this.
• So as a co-sponsor with many other sponsors and this having started in the Senate, I would like to think

Bills: HB195 , HB279 , SB30 , HB234 , HB292 , SB100 , SB23 , SB221 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll next hear from Miss Aikten from Fresh Energy. Miss Aikten, welcome to the committee.
• I'm here today representing Fresh Energy.
• Fresh Energy recommends that the gas utility infrastructure cost rider be sunset.
• </c><00:18:56.720><c> Energy</c> Uh, for these reasons, Fresh Energy Uh, for these reasons, Fresh Energy
• Conversation started. With that, Senate File 3954 is laid over.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• We wouldn't be recessing, starting, because we don't have a quorum yet.
• Well, we're not going to recess because we have to start. Okay.
• In light of the Senate, it started at 2 o'clock, and the city.
• Of the Senate, it's started at 2 o'clock, and the Senate is in session right now.
• Food banks can also plan their collections and giveaways around regular fresh donations.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met after several delays while waiting for the Senate to finish its floor session, and the chair announced the committee would begin once a quorum was established. The committee then heard a series of tax-related bills, with most measures being held for suspense except SB 87, which was voted out. The chair also welcomed newly appointed committee member Assembly Member Juan Carrillo. SB 359 would clarify that county-run transit systems qualify for existing sales and use tax exemptions on transit fuels such as diesel and compressed natural gas. Senator Nilo and Placer County testified that the bill would correct an inequity affecting counties operating their own transit services, especially rural counties, and would not create a new state revenue loss because the tax had not been consistently collected. Support came from the California Transit Association and the California State Association of Counties; the bill was sent to suspense. SB 603 would allow county boards of supervisors in disaster-affected counties to extend by up to three years the five-year deadline for transferring a property tax base-year value to replacement property. The author and supporters, including the California Assessors Association and the California Association of Realtors, said the measure would give local governments flexibility to address post-disaster rebuilding delays. SB 293 would extend the deadline for filing intergenerational property transfer claims from six months to three years for disaster-impacted homeowners, with testimony focused on helping families in Altadena and preserving generational homes after the Eaton Fire; the committee discussed possible refinements and the bill was held in suspense. SB 353 would extend the farm-to-food-bank tax credit through 2032, with support emphasizing food security, waste reduction, and the program’s documented results; it too was sent to suspense. SB 723 would raise the threshold for property tax exemptions on low-value properties, with the author arguing it would reduce administrative costs and ease burdens on small businesses, and the committee asked for technical work before the bill was held in suspense. SB 785 would create a $5,000 tax credit for durable medical equipment used by children with complex medical conditions, with supporters saying it could prevent hospitalizations and help families keep medically fragile children at home; it was also sent to suspense. SB 87, which would extend the sales tax exemption for volunteer fire department fundraising activities for five more years, passed the committee on a 5-0 vote and was sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> also um if they have seen academic also um if they have seen academic Improvement<01:43:34.480><
• </c><04:16:30.920><c> to</c> turnover and then kind of it starts to turnover and then kind of it starts
• </c><04:38:08.879><c> with</c> we might and we'll start with we might and we'll start with representative
• We chose to move to the school district because she wanted a fresh start.
• We chose to move to the school district because she wanted a fresh start.

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:32.599><c> water</c> seeps under the island but fresh water seeps under the island but fresh
• </c> seeps through that landfill it'll start seeps through that landfill it'll start to<00:55:35.920>
• But the first thing that we'll be starting—so actually, we will start several things simultaneously—but
• </c> a contractor available who can um start a contractor available who can um start that<01:25:37.920
• </c> is coming first that would get started is coming first that would get started first<01:25:44.040

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Department of Environmental Services officials outlined the solid waste system, including curbside collection, convenience centers, transfer stations, H-POWER, and the existing landfill, and explained that H-POWER reduces the volume of waste going to the landfill by about 90%. They reviewed the siting history, including the 2019 Land Use Commission deadline, the 2020 enactment of Act 73 with landfill setback and conservation-district restrictions, and the 2021-2022 landfill advisory committee that evaluated six sites but recommended none because they were within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. The city said it ultimately selected a site in central Oahu, on agricultural land near Wahiawa and the Dole Plantation, as the best legally permissible option and described it as requiring about 150 acres, with 90 acres for the landfill itself. City officials also described the proposed landfill design and safeguards, emphasizing a modern sanitary landfill with double liners, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring. They said the ash from H-POWER is dry and that leachate would be pumped to a wastewater treatment plant. They stated the site is away from residences and groundwater wells, accessible by highway, and can be permitted under state and federal rules, though they acknowledged that a full environmental review, public hearings, and multiple permits would still be required. When asked whether the new landfill could be operating before the 2028 closure date, the city said it did not yet know and that an extension of Waimanalo Gulch might be needed if the new site is not ready in time. The Board of Water Supply strongly opposed the city’s decision to site a landfill above Oahu’s freshwater resources. Its representative said the agency’s mission is to protect safe, dependable water for the future and that it had disapproved all six previously proposed sites because they were located over freshwater aquifers. In response to questions from legislators, the Board said it could not guarantee the liner system would remain impermeable forever and warned that leachate can contain hazardous chemicals, including so-called forever chemicals. The Board characterized the proposal as a long-term risk to the island’s drinking water supply and compared the decision to past infrastructure choices that later proved problematic. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's go ahead and get started. And Nick, go ahead and let us know about the board.
• I mean, from the inside out and then educated in that manner, so the answer is yes: fresh eyes, fresh
• I mean, from the inside out and then educated in that manner, so the answer is yes: fresh eyes, fresh
• I was appointed to this board when it first started.
• All right, let's start with Carolyn. Welcome to the committee. Good morning, Mr.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It also ensures that high-quality food, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts, reaches Californians
• implementation of HR1, which caused hundreds of thousands of Californians to lose food assistance starting
• implementation of HR1, which caused hundreds of thousands of Californians to lose food assistance starting
• You may start when ready. My notes up. All right. Good morning, Chair and members.
• So, starting all over: file item number six, SB 1436, with the motion due pass to the Appropriations

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met as a subcommittee, then later established a quorum and heard several tax-related bills. Chair Gibson reviewed committee procedures, including the suspense file for bills with revenue impacts over $150,000. SB 881 by Sen. McNerney would extend the farmer-to-food-bank tax credit through 2032 and the emergency food for families voluntary tax contribution through 2033; supporters from food banks, agricultural groups, local governments, and climate organizations said it would reduce food waste and help address food insecurity, with no opposition on the record. The bill was moved to suspense. SB 1406 by Sen. McNerney would target the so-called Montana tax loophole used to avoid California vehicle taxes and fees; supporters said it would recover up to $20 million annually and improve enforcement, while an opposition group warned the shell-company language could affect legitimate small businesses and passive owners. That bill was also sent to suspense. SB 1349 by Sen. Gonzalez would direct the Legislative Analyst’s Office to review major state tax expenditures and evaluate whether they are meeting their intended goals. Supporters, including the California Teachers Association, tax reform advocates, school employees, and local governments, argued that California’s roughly $94 billion in annual tax expenditures need more accountability, especially given the state’s budget pressures. The committee approved SB 1349 on a due-pass-as-amended motion to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also approved two consent items, SB 1436 and SB 1437, on a due-pass motion. Later, SB 1249 by Sen. Richardson proposed a $3,000 tax deduction for seniors ages 86 to 90 through 2032, with supporters from LeadingAge California saying it would help older adults cope with rising costs; the bill was referred to suspense. SB 1151 by Sen. Cervantes would codify infant formula as a food product for sales tax exemption purposes; the author and supporters said it would protect families from uncertainty and preserve tax relief for an essential product. Members discussed the high cost of formula, and the bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations. The committee then completed its business and adjourned.