Transcript Highlights:

• so that you can take care of that trail to the best of your ability before you have to do major reconstruction
• c><00:38:27.760><c> major</c> ability before you have to do major ability before you have to do major
• </c> &gt;&gt; Thank you. Thank you very much. &gt;&gt; Thank you. Thank you very much.
• Uh, or if you go to if you scan your QR code, you can go to that.
• Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:40:54.320><c> you.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, director. Appreciate you.
• I think Before we can begin preparing for ultimately it going away, but if you know, HR two this year
• You know, briefly digging into the agency challenges in the slide deck that you prepared for us, can
• But before we venture down this road, knowing it was a needed service You know, we did a cost analysis
• You're, you know, you're talking 9 months before the next fiscal year begins.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bill before you today is one that I find incredibly important.
• And the bill before you today is one that I find incredibly important.
• Turning to the bill before you, House Bill 2329 does two things.
• We'll go ahead and call up Greg Hannan. Can you come on up to the dais?
• I just wanted to let you know that, as you've heard before, declawing is not—it’s a misnomer.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several health-related bills. House Bill 1904 would prohibit cat declawing except for therapeutic purposes, with staff explaining definitions, fines, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The prime sponsor and animal welfare advocates described declawing as cruel and linked it to pain and behavior problems, while the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association supported the substance of the bill but asked to remove the added reporting and disciplinary provisions as redundant and burdensome. House Bill 2211 would provide guidance for medically tailored meals under existing Medicaid-related nutrition supports, including standards for Washington-based nonprofit providers where possible, menu review, and nutrition requirements. The sponsor said it would clarify implementation without expanding the program, and supporters from meal providers, food distributors, and local farms said it would improve health outcomes, keep dollars local, and support Washington jobs and agriculture. House Bill 2329 would allow licensed midwives to delegate certain tasks to medical assistants and to supervise medical assistants, with the sponsor and birth center operators saying it would fix an omission in current law and help rural and under-resourced birth centers operate more efficiently. Supporters said it would improve staffing and financial stability, while the sponsor indicated the lactation consultant language would likely be removed because those consultants are not regulated by the Department of Health. The committee then returned to House Bill 1904 for additional testimony from humane organizations, veterinarians, shelter leaders, and local officials, all supporting a ban on declawing and emphasizing animal pain, shelter impacts, and available alternatives. House Bill 2247 would expand and clarify veterinary telehealth and veterinarian-client-patient relationship rules, allowing a VCPR to be established in certain telehealth circumstances and setting guardrails for consent, practice standards, and when in-person exams are still required. Supporters from shelters, animal welfare groups, mobile clinics, and veterinarians said telehealth would improve access in rural and underserved areas, reduce shelter intake, and help animals receive care sooner; the veterinary association supported the bill with amendments to clarify recordkeeping and access-to-care findings. House Bill 2339 would update nursing license terminology and processes for advanced registered nurse practitioners, including title changes, controlled substance rules for CRNAs, transcript submission, and interim permits. Nursing board and ARNP representatives supported the technical updates, while the hospital association and medical association raised concerns about title language for clinical nurse specialists and the deletion of a reference to the medical profession. Finally, House Bill 2106 would require health carriers to give 90 days’ notice of significant mid-contract payer modifications and provide the actual modification language, with the sponsor and hospital and provider representatives saying insurers are increasingly making unilateral changes that affect payment, services, and patient access. UW Medicine and a rural hospital district described examples where insurers changed imaging or preventive service coverage mid-contract, causing financial losses and forcing difficult choices about network participation. Carriers were noted as opposing the bill, while providers and facilities argued it would improve transparency and prevent one-sided contract changes that disrupt care.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHAT YOU SHOULD SEE HERE I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION ON THE SLIDE'S PERFORMANCE IN THE 2425 SCHOOL
• SEE ON THE SCREEN BEFORE YOU. >> Chair Rizo: WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BEFORE MR.
• WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, PLEASE CALL UP A MEMBER YOU WISH. >> I'D LIKE TO INVITE LINDSAY BROWN FROM THE
• YOU.
• >> Chair Rizo: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Mr. Copa: THANK YOU. THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE ANTONE.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Madam Secretary, will you call the roll? Senator Servantes, excuse, Senator Charley.
• So that devastation has caused us to come before you to ask for this bill.
• I'm sorry, we don't go outside the experts that have been called. Yeah, thank you.
• I mean, when you see House Bill 63 come before you, you'll have this list of projects, and, you know,
• I’m calling on you, Senator O’Malley. Okay, thank you. I move. I move. I do pass.

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Summary: The Senate Conservation Committee first took up Senate Memorial 3, presented by Senator O’Malley on behalf of Senator Bergman and a group of Rio Doso High School students and Wild Friends. The memorial asks state agencies to participate in a no-cost workshop on insect identification, ecology, monitoring, and management, and to help educate the public about insects. Students, conservation specialists, and an entomologist testified that insects are essential to pollination, ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity, while also noting declining insect populations and the need for more public understanding. Some senators raised concerns about the memorial’s wording, including whether it should be broadened from insects to arthropods and whether the Department of Agriculture, rather than Game and Fish, should be involved. The committee discussed timing and implementation, and the sponsor agreed to work on amendments. The memorial passed on a due pass motion by a vote of 8-0, with one excused. The committee then heard Senate Bill 154, which would require wildfire-related homeowners coverage to include flood damage caused by post-fire conditions for a five-year period. Senator Duhigg and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance argued the bill responds to the Ruidoso fires and subsequent flooding, noting that many homes were destroyed by mudslides and that flood insurance is often unavailable or inadequate. Supporters, including Ruidoso officials, affected residents, and attorneys, said the bill would help homeowners recover from cascading wildfire and flood losses. Opponents from the insurance industry and business groups warned the bill would be an outlier, could significantly raise premiums, and might reduce availability of homeowners insurance statewide. Committee members questioned how the mandate would work, whether it should be optional, and how costs would be allocated. The bill passed on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee briefly heard Senate Bill 187, which appropriates $202,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Water Project Fund for future water projects authorized by the legislature. The Finance Authority said the funding would help address a gap between available money and the 113 recommended projects, totaling about $522 million, including water conservation, flood prevention, storage, wastewater, and watershed projects. Members asked for more detail on the locations and types of projects, and the Finance Authority said it would provide the list from the companion authorization bill. The committee then moved the bill forward on a do pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity.
• Because it is, you know, I formerly served on a regional water quality control board before I was in
• So I just want to note that I've met with all of you many times before, and I will continue to do that
• Thank you. Lizzie, thank you. And before we turn to Sonia, maybe... ...here in Napa Valley.
• Thank you. Lizzie, thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who's calling me? Oh, Senator Housley. I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Thank you, Mr. President, and I roll call requested, please.
• Do you want the roll call, or are you willing to withdraw the roll call? You have to withdraw it.
• Senator Murphy, thank you, Mr. President. First, I'd request a roll call. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Senator Murphy, thank you, Mr. President. First, I'd request a roll call. Thank you, Mr. President.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• If I might, I'm going to start my comments by thanking you for calling this kind of what I would call
• My comments by thanking you for calling this kind of what I would call a level-setting hearing for some
• You can't do that if the proposals are in different proceedings before the commission.
• These ideas that I brought before you today are CLEE's ideas.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, reliability, and wildfire-related costs. The chair framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while keeping bills affordable and the system reliable, and noted the hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and Public Advocates Office. Professor Severin Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining the split between deregulated generation and regulated transmission/distribution, the basics of cost-of-service regulation, and the role of return on equity. He argued that high allowed returns can encourage capital-intensive spending and that many public policy costs now embedded in rates would be better funded through the state budget, while warning that price caps or performance-based regulation are not silver bullets. CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds described the commission’s role as economic regulator of investor-owned utilities and said affordability is being addressed through rate case scrutiny, reasonableness reviews, and legislative direction. She said wildfire mitigation and insurance costs have been major drivers of rate increases, but some wildfire-related costs are time-limited and will roll off rates over time. She also highlighted progress on clean energy procurement, battery storage growth, and integrated resource planning to meet climate goals while maintaining reliability. Reynolds said the CPUC is reviewing utility spending, disallowing imprudent costs where appropriate, and litigating at FERC to challenge transmission costs. Members pressed both witnesses on several issues, including whether rates are being inflated by legislative mandates and balancing accounts, whether utility returns are too high, and whether the state should shift more public-policy costs off electric bills and into the General Fund. Senators also raised concerns about load growth from data centers and ports, gas-system stranded assets as electrification advances, and whether the CPUC is over-regulating or discouraging innovation. Reynolds said the CPUC is working with the Energy Commission, CAISO, and the Air Resources Board on a holistic planning process, and pointed to tools such as interconnection reforms and demand flexibility. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up requests for reports and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• If I might, I'm going to start my comments by thanking you for calling this kind of what I would call
• My comments by thanking you for calling this kind of what I would call a level-setting hearing for some
• You can't do that if the proposals are in different proceedings before the commission.
• These ideas that I brought before you today are CLEE's ideas.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds. Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget. Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we get to the bill, however, there is a DE4 amendment and an amendment to the DE4. you.
• </c> I thought you did. I think you moved. I thought you did. I think you moved.
• </c><00:20:15.440><c> you,</c><00:20:16.000><c> and</c> bipartisan bill that is before you, and bipartisan
• bill that is before you, and we<00:20:16.559><c> look</c><00:20:16.720><c> forward</c><00:20:16.960>
• So, thank you. Thank you. Uh any water. So, thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HF2431 , HF2438 , HF2783 , HF1943

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I expect you to get... ...you before the floor. Yeah, and Mr. Chair, and that's... I expected that.
• Chair and members of the committee, my name is Carrie Lenny Albuquerque, and I stand before you as a
• human being and a high school student, exactly in that order. ...and I stand before you as a human being
• Thank you. Any questions? Thank you. I'm gonna wise. Thank you. I called everyone's name, so.
• I called her name already. It's in the back one. Behind you. My name is Gail Graves.

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee heard several bills. HB 2416 would appropriate $20 million for Department of Public Safety border support, including equipment, law enforcement positions, and grants to local governments for border-related enforcement and detention costs. Supporters, including the Arizona Sheriffs Association, said the funds are fully used each year and are largely spent on drug interdiction, especially against fentanyl and methamphetamine. Opponents argued the bill’s immigration-enforcement language was too broad and that the money should instead go to health care, education, food assistance, or prevention programs. The committee approved HB 2416 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard HB 2806, which would require county recorders, ADOT, and AHCCCS to use the federal SAVE system and report citizenship-verification results to JLBC and the Auditor General. The ACLU of Arizona opposed the bill, saying SAVE is not designed to determine voter eligibility, could wrongly flag eligible citizens, and would likely lead to litigation and confusion. Several members questioned the need for the bill, noting existing citizenship requirements and current use of SAVE in some agencies, while others supported it as a way to ensure only citizens access voting and benefits. HB 2806 passed 4-3. HB 2663, a technical cleanup bill updating military leave language for state and local employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves, drew little opposition and passed unanimously. HB 2759 would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Veterans Services for a grant program with Yavapai County educational institutions to help veterans with emergency housing, equipment, professional development, and other shortfalls tied to delayed GI Bill payments. Testimony supported expanding help for veterans, but some members raised concerns that the bill was limited to Yavapai County and included private institutions; the sponsor and witnesses said it could serve as a pilot and potentially expand statewide. The committee approved HB 2759 on a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to make a quick closing comment you want to make a quick closing comment before, before, before
• > you</c><00:44:58.000><c> said</c> call it that and and you like you said call it that and and you like
• Uh, so I'm here today to urge you to oppose the legislation before you.
• Uh oppose the legislation before you.
• You called them games. You called them tricks.

Bills: HF2400 , HF1724 , HF3437 , HF4333 , HF2874 , HF4052

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't turn a penalty for being found guilty of a misdemeanor into a civil fine just because you call
• You may go through trying to get wait staff and go through 10 before you find somebody shows up.
• You were speaking. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Did you hear what I said before? No. Could you repeat that?
• We need this back before 2 p.m. tomorrow, and I'll leave it up to you when you meet.
• If you do, other than being an independent, if you didn't file for a political party before that June

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at the top line, there's a blue line called dealer tank wagon.
• If you look at the top line, there's a blue line called dealer tank wagon.
• Thank you. A full context before we implement regulatory tools.
• The last thing I want to say before I turn this... Can I ask you quickly?
• I'll say, you know... I'll say, you know, we've presented this before.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing on managing the transportation fuels transition, fuel pricing, and supply reliability. Chair Allen opened by discussing prior legislation, including SB 1322 and special session measures, that expanded reporting to the California Energy Commission (CEC) and gave the state tools to study gasoline costs, refinery margins, inventories, and potential supply disruptions. He framed the hearing around refinery closures, rising imports, global conflict affecting crude markets, and the need to balance affordability, reliability, and the state’s long-term clean-fuels transition. CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda, CDTFA Chief Deputy Director Gentian Droboniku, and DPMO Director Ty Miller presented data showing California’s growing dependence on imported crude and refined products, declining in-state refining capacity, and stable-to-tight inventories that are being supported by higher imports. They said the new transparency laws have improved understanding of the market and pointed to the proposed Gateway Pipeline, marine imports, and distribution constraints as important supply issues. CDTFA and DPMO emphasized that retail margins, especially for branded gasoline, have widened significantly, with large price gaps between branded stations and hypermarts/unbranded stations, and that some of the recent price increases were tied to the Iran conflict while earlier spikes were more consistent with localized market behavior and possible price gouging. DPMO also said it is investigating high-priced branded stations, monitoring algorithmic pricing under AB 325, and continuing to analyze diesel spot-market transparency. The CEC and CARB also discussed the Transportation Fuels Transition Plan and the SB 237 assessment, describing them as efforts to plan for a managed decline in fossil fuel demand while protecting workers, communities, and consumers. They said California’s climate goals remain centered on an 85% greenhouse gas reduction by 2045, with continued use of liquid fuels expected but with lower-carbon alternatives, more efficient vehicles, and alternative fuels playing a larger role. Committee members focused heavily on workforce impacts, the need for concrete transition planning, and whether the agencies could provide a clearer picture of what California’s fuel system will look like under the state’s long-term goals. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am what you call a recovering finance guy because I've spent most of my career in financial analysis
• I am what you call a recovering finance guy because I've spent most of my career in financial analysis
• You have a two-page document before you summarizing our subcommittee budget and some major program areas
• Chairman, I think you got to fly in the last F-15, at least a two-seater F-15, before we have no more
• And, you know, our team is very proud of what they do. And our industry always answers the call.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill that's before you today addresses the subject that I've talked about so far, and that's in the
• And that, you should have a handout, a flyer called Higher Education Funding Network, which is an excellent
• The bill that's before you today addresses the subject that I've talked about so far, and that's in the
• And that, you should have a handout, a flyer called Higher Education Funding Network, which is a handout
• There's probably, and you didn't even mention what's normally called performance funding.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• If I might, I'm going to start my comments by thanking you for calling this kind of what I would call
• Senator Stern, I know before you jump off, Professor, because Professor Borenstein needs to go, I know
• You can't do that if the proposals are in different proceedings before the commission.
• These ideas that I brought before you today are CLEE's ideas.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• Thank you for calling this really important hearing today.
• I think transparently I'll have to dig into that and get back to you.
• I'll have to dig into that and get back to you. Second, thank you for that.

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:

• Regardless of how you participate, you must be recognized by the chair before speaking.
• Please only turn on your microphone when the chair calls upon you to speak and turn off your microphone
• When the chair calls upon you to testify, remote testifiers will be promoted to panelists to give their
• House Bill 2185 is what you all often call a good little bill.
• Vice Chair Cortes, would you like to call them up? Mr.

Bills: HB2185 , HB2200 , HB2230 , HB2319

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: homelessness, youth programs, advisory committee, prevention, protection, developmental disabilities, residential settings, data access, safety, stability, community oversight, residential services, regulation, service providers, monitoring, HB 2319, residential habilitation center, state school renaming, Rainier School, Firecrest School

Transcript Highlights:

• Regardless of how you participate, you must be recognized by the chair before speaking.
• Please only turn on your microphone when the chair calls upon you to speak and turn off your microphone
• When the chair calls upon you to testify, remote testifiers will be promoted to panelists to give their
• House Bill 2185 is what you all often call a good little bill.
• I think we have a few testifiers, and Vice Chair Cortez, would you like to call them up? Mr.

Summary: The Early Learning and Human Services Committee opened its 2026 session with member and staff introductions, then took up four bills. HB 2185 would expand the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee to include more members with lived experience of homelessness or involvement in public systems, broaden youth representation up to age 25, and allow members who turn 25 to finish their terms. The prime sponsor and testifiers from homeless youth advocacy organizations supported the bill, saying it would improve representation and the quality of advice to the Office of Homeless Youth. The hearing on HB 2185 was then closed. The committee next heard HB 2319, which renames Washington’s residential habilitation centers by removing the word “school” from their titles and updating related statutory references. The sponsor said the change is meant to reflect current services and reduce confusion, and advocates from The Arc of Washington, Disability Rights Washington, and self-advocates supported the bill as a needed terminology update that would better describe the facilities and avoid misleading the public. No opposition was heard. HB 2230 would limit DSHS to one annual routine review in specified subject areas for community residential service providers and require more document-sharing across divisions to reduce duplicate oversight. The sponsor and provider witnesses said the bill is intended to cut redundant audits and site visits so staff can spend more time on client care, while still preserving investigations and required oversight. HB 2200 would direct JLARC to review safety and stability outcomes across developmental disability residential settings and require a public dashboard comparing data such as 911 calls, ER boarding, placement terminations, and staff retention. The sponsor and several witnesses supported greater transparency, while provider representatives raised concerns about raw data being misleading without per-client or percentage-based context and about possible fiscal impacts. The committee did not take final votes on the bills in the transcript and adjourned after public hearings and caucus time were announced.