Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Senator Keith Gainer, representing the 12th District, which is the local Chelan County, parts of
• And so that's part of how we've had a very...
• I think that's an important part of the conversation.
• And so that was a really big focus for the equipment part.
• We also had a focus on youth, for the equipment part. We also had a focus on youth.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, that's only part of the story. The second part of the story is...
• And then the third part is... A couple more points.
• And that's just part of the trick: malpractice. You guys don't need me to tell you about that.
• We have to do swift water rescues as part of our normal jobs.
• There are parts of it they can take from that.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, there are many good parts about it and things I think are fiscally responsible that are things that
• Now, there are many good parts<00:00:33.280><c> about</c><00:00:33.440><c> it</c><00:00:33.680><c> and
• about it and things I think are parts about it and things I think are are<00:00:35.040><c> fiscally<
• Which parts<00:02:23.040><c> of</c><00:02:23.200><c> this</c><00:02:23.760><c> I</c><00:02:23.920><c>
• But we're in the minority and we were there to help and be part of that conversation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's just part of this process. Sure, all the time.
• We need to find a reasonable balance there, and that has to be a part of it.
• They will become part of the regional planning section of the plan. It's allowable, correct?
• It will become part of the state plan.
• And so the 80-20 split and what's included need to be part of that discussion.

Bills: HB3077 , HJR2 , HJR7 , HJR7

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: alcohol, taxation, reporting requirements, sales, distribution, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment, water fund, Texas water supply, state revenue, infrastructure, HJR 7, Texas Legislature, quorum, majority quorum, two-thirds quorum, legislative procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not part of this resolution, specifically. Mr.
• Chair, to run the first time, but economics plays a big part in that.
• Tarrant, Senator, no, but that is part of the three-legged stool, not just of our...
• But modernizing and professionalizing our legislature is a three-part endeavor.
• And all three of those elements play a part.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• of Dona Ana, Sierra, and parts of Socorro County, $1.2 billion.
• I'm proud to be part of this.
• New Mexico, for the most part, are very good corporate citizens.
• Speaker, body, I also want to share a bit about some of the less discussed parts. Mr.
• It's a remarkable story that I've been so privileged to be part of.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I'm part. Uh so then, Mr.
• </c> part of that. part of that.
• Well, members, this one is this bill now is I see good parts in this bill, and I see parts that I have
• Well, members, this one is this bill now is I see good parts in this bill, and I see parts that I have
• ><c> of</c><00:55:09.040><c> the</c> President and members, part of the President and members, part of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's an important part of health care.
• Um but important part of healthcare.
• </c> collaboratively Senator McQuade was part collaboratively Senator McQuade was part of<00:25:36.559
• </c> &gt;&gt; Yeah, it's all it's all part of that. &gt;&gt; Yeah, it's all it's all part of that.
• </c> this report was a part of that contract. this report was a part of that contract.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:36.080><c> Manchester</c> central part of the state.
• Manchester central part of the state.
• So, um, it's—I won't say it's negligible, but it's not a significant part of the program.
• So, um, it's—I won't say it's negligible, but it's not a significant part of the program.
• </c> and part of the green pro snow program. and part of the green pro snow program.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mike Gabbard, representing District 21, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaoa, and parts of Ewa.
• Mike Gabbard, representing District 21, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaoa, and parts of Ewa.
• Mike Gabbard, representing District 21, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaoa, and parts of Ewa.
• </c> incursions um the last kind of part incursions um the last kind of part because<01:32:16.520><c>
• </c> trimming contracts be uh you know part trimming contracts be uh you know part of<02:04:35.599><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was the frustrating part.
• And it was, that language was added in part because there was some ambiguity about who made decisions
• Other parts of our curriculum are, Thinking skills so that they can interpret that.
• Other parts of our curriculum are very much based on fact, and there is a fact and there's not a fact
• of our state where high temperatures are simply a part of life.

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on AB 2189, AB 2615, AB 2496, AB 1750, and AB 1644. AB 2189 would create an $800,000 grant program through the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to support a statewide parent network for special education advocacy and training. Supporters said families need stronger coordination and information to navigate special education, while an opponent argued the bill could duplicate existing family-led organizations. The bill passed 6-0 and was sent to Appropriations, held on call for add-on votes. AB 2615, a cleanup bill to AB 715 on antisemitism and instructional materials, drew the most controversy. The authors said it was intended to clarify prior commitments by removing references to professional responsibility standards, refining the “factually accurate” language, and clarifying how discriminatory materials are handled. Supporters said it would help protect students from discrimination, while many educators, civil rights groups, and other organizations opposed it unless amended, warning that the factual-accuracy language could chill teaching and be applied too broadly. The committee chair and members raised concerns about implementation but ultimately supported moving the bill forward; it passed 5-0 and was held on call. AB 2496 would streamline school accountability reporting by making the California School Dashboard the primary transparency tool, phasing out the School Accountability Report Card over time, and making mid-year LCAP reporting optional. Supporters said this would reduce duplication and administrative burden while preserving access to key data; opponents worried families could lose the simplicity and accessibility of the current SARC and that the mid-year update still serves an important purpose. The bill was approved 3-0 and held on call. AB 1750, which would extend full salary for an additional five months for school employees who exhaust sick leave due to illness or injury, was supported as a dignity and retention measure but opposed by administrators over staffing and cost concerns; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. AB 1644 would require a bell-to-bell smartphone ban in TK-8 and recommend it for high school, with exceptions for instructional and safety needs; supporters said phones are harming attention and learning, while opponents argued districts had just adopted local policies and needed more flexibility. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I think we'd love to be part of that conversation and figure out how we can do that.
• I look at this bill as like, can this be part of, of? Chair.
• Is it part of the consideration in terms of the financial impact for the IOUs and the CPUC?
• The second part of the bill refers to other proceedings.
• I did want to confirm that actually part of the study is going to be safety.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on clean energy, electrification, and grid planning. AB 1813 (Ward) would revise California’s community renewable energy program to better support community solar and storage, especially for renters and low-income customers, by tying credits to avoided costs and requiring at least 51% low-income participation. Supporters said the current CPUC program is unworkable and has stalled development; utilities raised concerns about cost shifts, CCA impacts, and the bill’s late substantive amendments. The bill was discussed but no vote was recorded in the excerpt. AB 2313 (Berman) would create a gas service line replacement alternative program allowing customers facing planned gas line replacement to instead choose electrification and receive an incentive. Supporters argued it would reduce long-term gas infrastructure costs and give customers more choice, while opponents warned it could divert money from safety-related gas replacement work, create affordability issues, and conflict with the recently approved SB 1221 pilot. Committee members pressed the author on safety, funding sources, and renter impacts; the author said the bill includes emergency replacement exemptions and is intended to lower costs for remaining ratepayers. AB 1975 (Schultz) would require the CPUC to develop a grid utilization metric and consider expanded grid management programs to better use existing distribution infrastructure and reduce the need for costly upgrades. Supporters said better utilization could save ratepayers billions and help integrate batteries and flexible load; utilities generally opposed rigid utilization targets but were open to further discussion. The committee passed AB 1975 on a 7-0 vote to Appropriations. AB 2612, on plug-in photovoltaic systems, passed 9-0 to Appropriations after supporters said it would expand access to low-cost solar and utilities requested clarification that they would participate in the standards process. AB 1849 (Pappin) would direct CARB to study the need for decarbonized gaseous fuels in hard-to-electrify sectors and for grid reliability. Supporters framed it as a technology-neutral assessment for sectors like industrial heat and backup power; opponents argued it was biased toward a preferred fuel pathway and duplicated existing state studies. After a lengthy exchange over the lack of a statutory definition for “decarbonized gaseous fuels,” the bill passed 10-0 to Appropriations. AB 2088 (Pappin) would authorize investor-owned utilities to own and operate thermal energy networks, with safeguards for safety, workforce, and ratepayers. Supporters described TENs as efficient, low-emission heating and cooling systems that can use geothermal energy or waste heat; the bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's part of the decorum, as the chairman mentioned earlier, okay?
• So part of Vote v. Louisiana Act 636...
• So part of Vote's Louisiana Act 636...
• Part of its membership are elected.
• Are we going to do away with that part of it?

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public access, transparency, and campaign finance. HB 648, as amended, would allow early childhood providers and parents of children under five to participate virtually in certain boards and commissions when in-person attendance is not feasible; supporters said it would help short-staffed providers and busy parents, while an opponent argued participation is different from observation. The bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 615 would require certain public bodies with taxing, rulemaking, or fee-setting authority to broadcast meetings live and keep an online archive; supporters emphasized low-cost technology and broader access, while local government representatives warned of unfunded mandates, confusion over which bodies are covered, and concerns about archiving and platform dependence. The committee adopted amendments clarifying the recording/broadcast language and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 627, a similar live-streaming bill by Rep. Knox, was voluntarily deferred in favor of HB 615. The committee also considered HB 996, which would allow campaign funds to be used for clothing required for holding office and related cleaning/maintenance. The author said the bill was meant to offset required professional attire costs for legislators with modest salaries, but members raised concerns about public perception, possible abuse, and whether a cap should be added. The bill was voluntarily deferred so the author could work with members on a cap and narrower language. HB 540, dealing with disclosures for certain digital political communications and influencer-style campaign advertising, was discussed as a way to require disclosure when third parties are paid from campaign funds to promote or attack candidates online; members sought clarification that it would apply to paid campaign content rather than ordinary self-posted material. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up HB 270, which would allow qualified incarcerated voters who have not been convicted of a felony to vote absentee by mail if they are first-time mail registrants and cannot vote in person. The author said the bill was intended to resolve a conflict between existing voting statutes and preserve already-existing voting rights for pretrial detainees and others not convicted of felonies. Supporters said incarcerated voters are highly verifiable and the bill would reduce confusion, while opponents raised concerns about administration. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to involuntarily defer the bill by a recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Candidates already in statute aren't part of the recount. They are not part of the recount.
• Candidates already in statute aren't part of the recount. They are not part of the recount.
• c> not</c><00:54:42.079><c> part</c> &gt;&gt; they are not part &gt;&gt; they are not part &gt;&gt; they
• So then who becomes part of the recount board?
• So then who becomes part of the recount board? Additional question.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People in this committee are new to the committee and were not part of the interim process as well, too
• So it was a part-time job for our person who has the authority to request monies from the DFA.
• Chairman, yes, if it was—if it met one of the intimate-part definitions.
• So when you say the intimate part, does that include the buttocks? Yes.
• Oh, that's that part. Okay. Yeah, again, so that is an expansion.

Bills: HB99 , HJR5 , HM39 , HB206 , HB213 , SB41 , SB153 , SB165 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up a lengthy informational presentation on the Patient Compensation Fund (PCF) and New Mexico medical malpractice insurance. Teresa Hassey, a plaintiffs’ attorney, described the PCF’s origin in the 1976 Medical Malpractice Act, its role as a state-backed excess coverage system, and her view that it was mismanaged when hospital participation expanded without individualized risk assessments. She argued that hospitals underpaid surcharges, that the fund was depleted by claims, and that the 2021 amendments and later legislative infusions were meant to shore up deficits and phase hospitals out. Superintendent of Insurance Alice Kane and LFC analyst Julia Rodriguez presented a different perspective, emphasizing recent general fund infusions, current surcharge collections, the use of actuarial reviews, and the PCF’s budget and settlement activity. Kane said the market is highly concentrated, New Mexico’s malpractice costs and defense expenses are high, and the fund still provides lower-cost coverage than the open market, while also noting ongoing issues with future medical claims, TPA transition, and investment management. Committee members questioned the presenters at length about why New Mexico malpractice premiums are so high, whether defense costs were being conflated with claim payouts, how the PCF works with primary coverage and excess coverage, and whether hospitals were properly assessed when they entered the fund. Several senators raised concerns about punitive damages, corporate practice of medicine, and whether the state’s legal environment is driving doctors away. Others challenged the data comparisons, noting differences between one-year figures and multi-year averages, and asked why New Mexico’s costs remain far above neighboring states. Kane and Hassey disagreed on the causes, with Kane pointing to high claims and defense costs over time and Hassey arguing that hospital participation and punitive-damage exposure distorted the market. The chair concluded the discussion by saying the committee had not exhausted the topic and that he still wanted a clear path to reducing doctors’ insurance costs. After a break, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 41. Senator Charlie introduced the bill, which would eliminate the statute of limitations for the most serious sexual crimes in New Mexico. He argued that trauma, coercion, fear, and delayed disclosure often prevent survivors from reporting promptly, and said the law should reflect that reality. The bill was presented as a response to survivor testimony heard in a prior hearing, and the sponsor framed it as part of a broader effort to modernize the justice system for sexual violence cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we can go down to the description part.
• That's rhetorical on my part.
• Okay, and this lingo is part of the problem here.
• This is where the context part comes in.
• For the folks who weren't part of our previous discussion, Medicaid, as part of its program, if we are

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please come be a part of this great government.
• </c> people that's the biggest egregious part people that's the biggest egregious part of<00:28:57.679
• That's the part I wish we could do better.
• And I think part of how I vote learn?
• That's the part I wish we could do it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It wasn't part of our audit.
• Lee, I was a part of knowing about your appointment... ...was a part of knowing about your appointment
• That's part A of the question.
• And then B, kind of having a non-negotiable when it comes... ...that's part A of the question.
• Part of my responsibility at headquarters was to monitor staffing levels.

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm part of AFSCME, and we're here to support this being policy.
• The other part of what departments are doing is... ...to accommodate four days.
• I work at District 3, but District 3 is part of Caltrans North Region.
• I love that part of it.
• The $767 million is not part of what is prescribed to close the $12 billion deficit.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an informational update on the state’s generative AI implementation and related oversight. Administration officials said several proof-of-concept projects have moved into minimum viable product phases, including work at CDTFA and Caltrans, and that CDPH has a May Revision request for up to $8 million to scale up its healthcare facilities inspections project. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the administration to publish a report on lessons learned from each POC and recommended limiting the new generative AI approval process to a pilot through the first two rounds of projects, with continued monthly meetings and stronger legislative oversight. Members pressed for more transparency and questioned why the CDPH request was not included in January; the administration said the cost estimate was not available then and that only one project is seeking additional resources beyond existing departmental budgets. The committee then reviewed a proposed $400 million loan from the Labor and Workforce Development Fund to the General Fund. Finance and the Labor Agency said the fund has grown because civil penalty revenues have risen sharply, and the loan would be repaid in 2029-30 with provisional language allowing earlier repayment if needed. The LAO agreed the fund could support the loan but warned that recent PAGA reforms may reduce future revenues. Public commenters, including labor and community groups, argued the money should instead support labor-law enforcement and outreach programs such as CWOP, and urged rejection of the loan. Members also heard a Department of Industrial Relations request for $19.1 million for phase two of Public Works Information Technology System Enhancements, which officials said will support labor-law enforcement and apprenticeship registration. The department said the project was delayed because a prior procurement did not result in a contract award and that completion is now expected in October 2026. The committee then took up an EDD Next reappropriation technical adjustment to extend UI fund spending authority through June 30, 2026; the LAO said the request was fine but again raised concerns about oversight of the larger modernization effort, which EDD said now totals more than $660 million and is expected to continue through 2029. Finally, the committee discussed DGS’s request for new parking facilities near the May Lee Building and a trailer bill shifting statewide telework policy language from DGS to CalHR while also expanding NDI eligibility for certain CEA employees. The LAO said the telework trailer bill should likely go through the policy committee process instead of budget, and union and employee witnesses strongly opposed it, arguing it would undermine bargaining rights and could be used to narrow telework. In a separate item on the governor’s return-to-office order, administration officials said departments are being directed to move to a four-day in-office expectation starting July 1, 2025, but they had no statewide cost estimate yet because departments are still assessing vacancies, exemptions, and space needs. Members criticized the lack of analysis and said the state should have clearer numbers before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what House Bill 4806 does in large part.
• This is what I believe is the most damaging part of the bill.
• It is part of mental or emotional pain or anguish.
• It sounds like a big part of the conversation is common law as is.
• Ted, one part of the testimony was to shine the light on...

Bills: HB4806

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all