Transcript Highlights:

• we're spending almost $290 billion on health care in California, two-thirds of our budget, I mean, imagine
• So we imagine that it’s going to be the same thing, and if it isn’t, it’s something that we can address

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several bills focused on labor standards, worker safety, and public transparency. SB 954 by Senator Blakespear would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by adding worker protections such as prevailing wage, a skilled and trained workforce, high-road employment standards, and environmental guardrails. Supporters from labor, environmental justice, and conservation groups said the bill restores promised safeguards after SB 131, while business groups argued the added requirements would undermine the exemption and discourage investment. The committee voted 5-0 to do pass and re-refer SB 954 to Appropriations, leaving the roll open for absent members. The committee then considered SB 966 by Senator Gonzalez, which would codify refinery worker participation and safety protections adopted in 2017 after the 2012 Chevron Richmond fire. Supporters, including United Steelworkers and a former refinery worker, said the bill would preserve workers’ ability to report hazards, select representatives, and stop unsafe work, preventing future disasters. The Western States Petroleum Association opposed the bill, arguing it could be preempted by federal labor law and would add regulatory uncertainty. The committee passed SB 966 3-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations, with the roll left open. Next, SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas sought to modernize private security guard training, expand de-escalation instruction, strengthen accountability, and create a clearer professional pathway for the industry. The author and many security workers testified that guards are often first responders in volatile situations and need more practical training and better standards; opponents from industry and business groups warned the bill would raise costs, worsen staffing shortages, and create implementation problems, especially around third-party training and a new wage order. The committee voted 4-1 to do pass and re-refer SB 1203 to Public Safety, with one no vote and the roll left open. The committee also heard SB 1284 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, a transparency bill requiring DHCS to publish the names of large employers with workers enrolled in Medi-Cal and the estimated taxpayer cost. Supporters said the measure would show how low wages and unaffordable coverage shift health costs to the public, while opponents argued Medi-Cal enrollment depends on many factors and that naming employers would be misleading and amount to public shaming. After discussion, the committee voted 4-2 to do pass and re-refer SB 1284 to Appropriations, leaving the roll open. The transcript then began discussion of SB 1054 by Senator Cabaldon, which would improve workforce data collection and sharing to better evaluate job-training pathways, but the excerpt cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just imagine what tenants everywhere would do when they have the tenant advocate to assure their rights
• It's no laughing matter to imagine the commander in chief who paid his way to the top.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with much of the discussion focused on housing stability and maternal mental health. On H. 1924/S. 1171, supporters including Sen. Joan Lovely, Rep. Jim O’Day, physicians, advocates, and people with lived experience urged the committee to create legal protections and treatment pathways for defendants who experienced postpartum psychosis or other perinatal mood disorders within 12 months of giving birth. Testimony emphasized that these conditions are rare but severe, often treatable, and can lead to tragic outcomes if criminalized rather than addressed through screening, expert evaluation, treatment, and, in some cases, resentencing or mitigation. Committee members asked about diagnosis years after the fact and how the Illinois law has worked; witnesses said retrospective diagnosis is possible and that the Illinois model has led to some successful resentencing petitions and broader awareness. Housing-related bills drew substantial testimony. On H. 1983/S. 1071, witnesses described “zombie” subordinate mortgages that were sold years after borrowers believed they had been resolved, then resurfaced with large balances and foreclosure threats. Supporters said the bill would require disclosures and court review to prevent unlawful servicing and foreclosure practices. On H. 1952, advocates from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, tenants, and legal services providers backed a permanent statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, citing data showing strong tenant outcomes and the importance of quality control, multilingual outreach, and full representation. On H. 1895/S. 1184, testimony supported codifying a two-tier summary process in eviction court and prohibiting defaults at the initial case-management stage. On H. 1883, a small property owner supported rent escrow as a way to protect landlords from bad-faith nonpayment while preserving tenant rights. The committee also heard testimony on bills addressing discriminatory housing covenants, tenant oversight, and homelessness. On H. 1762/S. 1080, a housing advocate supported removing void restrictive covenants from deeds, describing the Dirty Deeds Project and the lingering harm of racist language in property records. On H. 1814, tenants and advocates described harassment, retaliation, security problems, and lack of accountability in subsidized housing, arguing for an Office of the Tenant Advocate within the Attorney General’s Office. On S. 1120, multiple witnesses supported a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness, saying it would affirm the right to rest and seek shelter, reduce criminalization, and extend anti-discrimination protections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a good thing, but when this Legislature enacted the credit in 1987, it could not have imagined that
• And we would imagine that as the administration develops options, it would examine how to, um, how to

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review subcommittee heard four budget trailer bills: AB 110, AB 122, AB 125, and AB 177. AB 110 was described as a budget bill junior identifying budget-related legislation. AB 122 would extend sales tax to electronically delivered or remotely accessed prewritten software, extend and later limit business tax credits, reduce the annual LLC/LLP/LP tax for first-year businesses for three years, and impose a 100% tax on certain federal anti-weaponization fund settlements. AB 125 would renew the managed care organization (MCO) tax for three years beginning in 2027 to support Medi-Cal and targeted provider rate increases. AB 177 would require the Department of Finance to return by March 1, 2027 with options for assessing large employers for the Medi-Cal costs of employees enrolled in the program, including at least one employer-paid premium option for firms with 250 or more employees, and would appropriate $1,000 General Fund for implementation. Administration witnesses said AB 122 modernizes the tax system and helps create general fund revenue, while AB 125 is needed to preserve Medi-Cal financing and targeted rate increases under new federal constraints from H.R. 1 and to avoid a budget hole if the MCO tax expires. On AB 177, Finance said the bill is only a study and does not itself impose a tax, but would direct the administration to develop options for future consideration. Supportive members argued the package is part of a balanced approach to address the structural deficit, protect health care and other safety-net programs, and ensure large corporations pay more of their share. They also said AB 177 is a necessary step toward asking large employers to help cover public health care costs for workers who rely on Medi-Cal. Opponents, led by Vice Chair Niello and several other Republicans, argued the state does not have a revenue shortage but a spending problem, warning that the proposals would raise costs on consumers and businesses, discourage innovation, and expand taxes beyond their intended scope. They criticized AB 122 as potentially taxing labor-like services and limiting research and development credits, and said AB 125 would increase premiums for commercial enrollees and employers. On AB 177, they questioned the lack of definitions and specifics, saying the bill is too vague and could eventually burden employers, including hospitals and part-time workers, without clear standards. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the committee heard testimony and questions before public comment and later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine how that inefficiency compounds as California builds gigawatts of new capacity each year to reach
• Imagine how that inefficiency compounds as California builds gigawatts of new capacity each year to reach

Summary: The committee heard several energy-related bills, with AB 1715 drawing the most discussion. That bill would require the CPUC to create a searchable database of utility advice letters, protests, responses, and resolutions going back to 2020, and to require utilities to report state, federal, and other public financing so ratepayer savings from loans, grants, and similar funding can be tracked and passed through. The author and TURN said the bill is aimed at transparency, affordability, and preventing double recovery; committee amendments removed some language, and labor said the amendments would remove its opposition. Senators pressed on how “financial benefits” would be defined and whether the bill would require refunds to ratepayers, and the author said the CPUC would determine the details. The bill was later moved out of committee on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations. AB 1301, a CPUC/Public Utilities Code cleanup bill, was presented as a housekeeping measure to remove obsolete references, align deadlines, eliminate duplicative requirements, and extend the Energy Conservation Assistance Act sunset. The Public Advocates Office and Golden State Power Cooperatives supported it, and the committee advanced it do-pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 2463, which would require the CPUC to disclose the models and analysis used to set utility authorized return on equity, was described as a transparency measure for a process that is currently a “black box.” EDF and the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition supported the bill, while members noted the importance of understanding how utility profits are set; it also passed to Appropriations. AB 1813, on community solar and storage, generated substantial debate. The author said the bill is intended to fix a CPUC program that he argued is unworkable and inconsistent with the Legislature’s earlier direction, while supporters including San Diego Community Power, TURN, and many clean energy, labor, and local-government groups said it would make community solar viable for renters and others who cannot install rooftop solar. Opponents, including the Public Advocates Office, Southern California Edison, SDG&E, and PG&E, argued it would raise rates, create cost shifts to non-participating customers, and conflict with a recently adopted CPUC decision. The bill was moved out on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with some senators indicating support but also concern about affordability and pending amendments. AB 2111, which would require the CPUC to plan transmission using multiple demand and resource scenarios instead of a single forecast, was supported as a way to reduce bottlenecks, improve reliability, and avoid costly under-planning as electrification grows. Supporters said better scenario planning would help avoid transmission constraints that block new generation, while the committee raised questions about cost impacts and the role of current CPUC planning processes. The bill passed to Appropriations. The committee also took up AB 2266, which would consolidate related CPUC compliance reporting, require consistent reliability valuation across programs, and direct an evaluation if CAISO uses backstop procurement; supporters said it would reduce confusion and improve consistency, while opponents warned against forcing one valuation method across different resource types. AB 2266 was also moved to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2175 was taken up on consent and advanced without discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• father who was regarded They recently lost the father who was regarded in the highest esteem, you can imagine
• I'm going to read the resolution, but I just want to say this was a man, if you can imagine.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't imagine... Senator Pressly: The 21 other states have done it?
• I can't imagine that it's like this one.

Bills: SCR63 , SCR12 , HB89 , HB451 , HB595 , HB617 , HB621 , HB730 , HB1064 , HB1125 , HB221 , HCR58 , SB106 , SB206 , SB248 , SB441 , SB104 , SB122 , SB180 , SB260 , SB424 , SB476 , SCR9 , SCR30 , SB57 , SB414 , SB525 , SB35 , SB65 , SB135 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB276 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB484 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB501 , SB513 , HCR31 , HB462 , HB547 , HB613 , HB691 , HB712 , HB720 , HB723 , HB728 , HB735 , HB747 , HB759 , HB825 , HB845 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB907 , HB923 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB965 , HB1036 , HB287 , HB370 , HB515 , HB521 , HB570 , HB1200 , HB29 , HB39 , HB58 , HB67 , HB73 , HB76 , HB77 , HB82 , HB112 , HB121 , HB125 , HB132 , HB134 , HB151 , HB154 , HB155 , HB161 , HB166 , HB187 , HB191 , HB207 , HB211 , HB224 , HB238 , HB241 , HB242 , HB250 , HB260 , HB265 , HB275 , HB300 , HB320 , HB338 , HB339 , HB349 , HB379 , HB399 , HB427 , HB463 , HB464 , HB468 , HB545 , HB550 , HB551 , HB565 , HB588 , HB639 , HB725 , HB782 , HB805 , HB808 , HB834 , HB847 , HB853 , HB858 , HB861 , HB883 , HB916 , HB937 , HB977 , HB1012 , HB1027 , HB1044 , HB1054 , HB1091 , HB1117 , HB90 , HB127 , HB138 , HB150 , HB201 , HB268 , HB273 , HB285 , HB315 , HB354 , HB355 , HB360 , HB376 , HB445 , HB506 , HB606 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , HB23 , HB136 , HB17 , HB21 , HB51 , HB55 , HB74 , HB106 , HB108 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB168 , HB215 , HB226 , HB263 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1237 , HB1239 , HB36 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB677 , HB726 , HB789 , HB850 , HB956 , HB966 , SB149 , SB382

Keywords: fiscal notes, legislation, legislative auditor, state policy, conflict of interest, logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, HB89, Act 615, district attorney, assistant district attorney, retiree health insurance, group health insurance, retirement benefits, public employee benefits, Third Judicial District, Thirtieth Judicial District

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine the potential of our kids, of the families that are Latinx families now that are changing the
• Imagine if you have that funding earmarked to fund part of the Enough Act.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its final hearing of the session on H. 5187 and S. 3022, the Enough Act, which would create a grant program to support place-based, cradle-to-career anti-poverty initiatives in high-need communities. Chairs Andy Vargas and Sen. Adam Gómez opened the hearing by thanking committee members and stakeholders, and several lawmakers, including Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Rep. Antonio Cabral, described the bill as a bottom-up approach that would let local organizations, schools, and community partners direct resources where they are most needed. They emphasized that poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and chronic absenteeism are interconnected and that the bill is intended to build local “backbone” infrastructure rather than fund isolated programs. A series of educators, school leaders, and nonprofit advocates testified in support, including leaders from Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Strategies for Children, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, the New Commonwealth Fund, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. They argued that schools alone cannot overcome the effects of concentrated poverty and pointed to research showing that children arrive at school already affected by poverty-related gaps. Several witnesses described existing local efforts in Chelsea, Boston, New Bedford, Springfield, Haverhill, and Lowell, and said the Enough Act would help coordinate services, align data and goals, and strengthen community voice. Some also noted that the bill could leverage philanthropic and private investment and cited Maryland and Harlem Children’s Zone as models. The hearing also featured testimony from Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse and founder Jeffrey Canada, who said the model has shown that sustained, coordinated supports can reduce the role of luck in children’s outcomes and should be scaled in Massachusetts. Committee members asked about sustainability, funding, and how the bill would interact with existing efforts such as community schools, the Student Opportunity Act, and McKinney-Vento homelessness supports. Witnesses responded that the bill would complement those programs by creating a broader, community-led framework and that long-term sustainability would require public, philanthropic, and private support. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine the potential of our kids, of the families that are Latinx families now, that are changing the
• Imagine if you have that funding earmarked to fund part of the Enough Act.

Bills: S3022 , H5187

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

Keywords: ENOUGH Act, ENOUGH fund, anti-poverty, poverty reduction, community development, place-based grants, distressed neighborhoods, economic mobility, housing and livable communities, community schools, cradle-to-career, child poverty, intergenerational poverty, social services, workforce development, education equity, public health, behavioral health, mental health, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, so I would imagine that at least for financial assistance, FEMA will step in to assist
• So, you know, so I would imagine that at least for financial assistance, FEMA will step in to assist

Bills: HR217 , HB66 , HB204 , HB208 , HB326 , HB472 , HB483 , HB484 , HB793 , HB1051 , HB1080 , HB1087 , HB1111 , HB1215 , SB78 , SB148

Committee: House Municipal

Keywords: rent stabilization, affordable housing, cost burdened, Louisiana housing, housing policy, emergency rental protections, Alexandria, municipal ordinances, administrative adjudication, code enforcement, housing violations, building codes, zoning, nuisance ordinances, vegetation ordinances, sewerage, drainage, licensing, permits, local government

Summary: The committee met on April 29 and considered a series of local and special bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, development districts, and term limits. Early action included a motion to apply a three-minute rule. House Bill 483, concerning the Fulberg/Marini Security and Improvement District in Orleans Parish, was voluntarily deferred after discussion and no support cards. House Bill 484, which revised the New Orleans Regional Business Park board by reducing membership from 12 to 11 and giving the mayor four direct appointments with removal authority, was adopted as a substitute and reported favorably. Senate Bill 78, dealing with the Shreveport Downtown Development District, was amended to correct a legislative district reference and then reported favorably. The committee also heard announcements that several previously deferred bills would not be heard that day. Several Shreveport-related blight bills were advanced. House Bill 1051, authorizing demolition of certain dilapidated properties in Shreveport, was amended to allow the city to rely on findings from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and then reported favorably. House Bill 1080, addressing condemned commercial property in Shreveport, was also reported favorably, though the author said he would continue consulting with the city attorney before floor consideration. House Bill 66 for Alexandria expanded the city’s administrative adjudication authority to cover a broader range of ordinance violations, including building, zoning, vegetation, nuisance, sewer, drainage, licensing, and permit matters; it was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief candidate to reside within the village, also passed favorably. House Bill 793, a contentious bill concerning recorded subdivision plats and prescription, drew extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, a former appellate judge, and the McCormick family. Supporters said the bill closes a loophole exposed by recent court rulings that could let noncompliant plats become enforceable after five years without actual notice to local governments, while opponents argued the current substitute still creates uncertainty and could burden property owners; the author said the bill was prospective only and would also go to the Law Institute. Despite the debate, the committee moved the substitute favorably. Senate Bill 148, allowing municipalities to pay a modest per diem to planning and zoning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably with support from Lake Charles. The committee rejected House Bill 208, which would have let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members. The bill’s author argued the people should decide, but the St. Helena Police Jury opposed it and committee members emphasized local control; the final vote was 3 yeas to 10 nays. House Bill 1215, concerning the disposition of historical statues and monuments, was amended to bar the Office of State Parks from placing transferred monuments back in the parish from which they were removed, and then was reported favorably. House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization ordinances during a governor-declared emergency, was amended to limit such ordinances to the emergency period, tie increases to the consumer price index, and cap them at 365 days; discussion continued on whether the measure duplicated existing price-gouging laws and whether a broader study would be preferable.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you imagine that? I just had that happen with peaches in my district, right?
• determination, I don't know. ...you know, if it was that commission making that determination, I'm imagining

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think it was hard, you can imagine.
• every committee, almost on the State Assembly floor, because it’s so triggering for so many of us to imagine

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm trying to protect, given we have 12 months of history to see things that we never would have imagined
• But I also can't sit here and just imagine the moment that are we all living under a rock?

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then heard a series of election- and public-trust-related bills. Early items included AB 2592, which would move lobbyist training from legislative ethics committees to the FPPC starting in 2029 and make it available online on demand; it drew support from the FPPC and an oppose-unless-amended request to make the training public and ensure lobbyists pay fees. AB 2573 would refine California’s confidential voter registration protections for candidates and elected officials, with support from the Secretary of State and county election officials after amendments narrowed some family-member coverage. AB 2753 would bar registered sex offenders from running for or holding local or state office; it prompted extended debate about public trust, second chances, and where to draw the line, but was ultimately advanced on a 5-0 vote with one member not voting. AB 2691 similarly would expand disqualifying felony convictions to include sexual assault and human trafficking, and it also passed 5-0 after testimony from victim advocates and discussion about survivors, restorative justice, and the power dynamics involved in public office. The committee also advanced AB 2413, which would prohibit public funds from being used for large-format ads featuring elected officials, and AB 2281, which would direct the Office of Election Cybersecurity to assess replacement resources after federal cybersecurity support cuts and allow consultation with academic researchers. AB 1664 would require local election officials to notify the Secretary of State and Attorney General within one business day of warrants, subpoenas, or investigations involving election records or voting systems; supporters said it would help the state respond quickly to improper seizure of election materials, and it passed 5-0. AB 2484, concerning San Diego MTS, would let voters authorize a local sales tax initiative for transit funding and exempt it from an existing cap; it drew support from transit leaders and labor, opposition from the Realtors, and a lengthy exchange over Prop. 13, Prop. 218, and whether the measure created a special deal, before passing 6-1. The committee then heard AB 2230, which would create buffer zones around voting centers and child care facilities to keep immigration enforcement away from those locations. The author said the bill was meant to reduce fear and intimidation for voters and families, while the opposition argued it was unenforceable, lacked evidence of a problem, and would interfere with federal officers doing their jobs. Members supporting the bill cited reported ICE profiling and intimidation in California communities, while others raised jurisdictional and practical concerns. The transcript ends during this debate, with no final vote shown for AB 2230.

Transcript Highlights:

• What, I would imagine that's 100 plus, in other words, that's an overpressure of what percentage do they
• He's as down to earth as you can imagine. What you see is what you get.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 706 by Representative Riser, which would set a more detailed process for commercial saltwater disposal wells, including site-specific modeling and pressure review. Riser and industry witnesses argued the bill would provide clearer, more predictable rules for operators who have faced long delays and changing requirements, while Department of Conservation and Energy officials said they are already developing guidance and that any pressure standard must remain site-specific to avoid fracturing confining layers, protecting drinking water, and staying within EPA primacy requirements. The department emphasized that geology varies widely across Louisiana and that a fixed pressure number in statute could be unsafe in some locations. Members also discussed the fiscal note, the need for additional staff, and whether the bill would tie the department’s hands or force approvals; witnesses said the bill’s modeling requirements were conservative, but opponents warned the statutory pressure ranges could conflict with site-specific safety determinations. After a technical amendment was adopted, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a 6-6 tie. The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 4 by Representative McCormick, which would suspend Louisiana’s deer baiting ban for 18 months in areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD). McCormick and Hunter Nation representatives argued that baiting bans have not stopped CWD in other states, that deer feeders and food plots are part of hunting culture, and that Louisiana should rely on science and a more flexible approach. They cited Wisconsin as an example where CWD spread despite long-standing feed bans and said there has been no proven human transmission. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials said bait bans are one of the few tools available to reduce artificial congregation of deer and help limit disease spread, and they explained that the department is also working with a CWD task force and another proposal that would tie restrictions to a 1.5% prevalence threshold rather than an across-the-board suspension. The discussion ended with the department providing information on the impacts of both measures, but no final action on HCR 4 was recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• What, I would imagine that's 100 plus, in other words, that's an overpressure of what percentage do they
• He's as down to earth as you can imagine. What you see is what you get.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine doing everything right: submitting your forms on time, responding to every request, meeting every
• I would imagine that this population of folks in California are some of the hardest hit, most vulnerable

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a long policy agenda focused largely on student access, equity, and institutional oversight. Bills discussed included AB 2236 on common course numbering and streamlined articulation across the community colleges, CSU, and UC; AB 2422 on protections when financial aid is delayed; AB 1669 on medical and mental health leaves of absence; AB 1713 on accepting IEPs and 504 plans as proof of disability for accommodations; AB 2766 on priority housing and related supports for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness; AB 2212 on tech-facilitated sexual harassment and AI-generated intimate images; AB 2504 on a pilot to upskill creative-industry workers for AI-related changes; AB 1734 on preserving and expanding California food insecurity data collection; and AB 2771, the sunset bill for the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. The committee also took up a consent calendar of three bills earlier in the hearing. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from student groups, advocacy organizations, and system representatives, with many speakers describing personal experiences with transfer confusion, delayed aid, mental health crises, disability documentation barriers, housing instability, and online sexual harm. AB 2236 drew support from community college, CSU, UC student associations, and college-opportunity advocates, while the CSU Academic Senate registered opposition. AB 2771 drew a notable exchange over the cost and scope of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, with Vice Chair DeMaio opposing the extension on fiscal and bureaucracy grounds; the author responded that the bureau is fee-funded and that its fees had not been raised in years. AB 1734 also prompted skepticism from DeMaio about the survey’s cost, methodology, and whether the work should be competitively bid, though supporters argued the existing California Health Interview Survey infrastructure was the most efficient way to preserve critical food insecurity data after federal cuts. The committee voted to advance the measures it heard, generally on party-line or near-party-line votes, with several bills held open for additional members to add on. AB 2236, AB 2422, AB 1669, AB 1713, AB 1734, AB 2766, and AB 2212 all received do-pass recommendations and were re-referred to the appropriate policy or fiscal committees. AB 2771 was also moved forward to the Committee on Business and Professions after debate over the bureau’s reauthorization and fee structure. The hearing ended with the committee beginning consideration of AB 2504, the AI-related workforce upskilling pilot for creative industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine doing everything right, submitting your forms on time, responding to every request, meeting every
• I would imagine that this population of folks in California are some of the hardest hit, most vulnerable

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the students, if they have the ACT, GPA, WorkKeys, whatever those are, I would imagine the institutions
• But the packaging policies are done at the institution level, so I would imagine that they are vetting

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 31, 2026, and heard several bills focused largely on workforce training, student aid, and school safety. HB 325 by Rep. Brass would add successful completion of nine dual-enrollment credit hours as a third eligibility pathway for the TOPS Tech Award; after a clarifying amendment limiting the change to students graduating in the 2026-2027 school year, the bill drew broad support and was reported favorably. HB 407 by Rep. Larvadane would return the M.J. Foster Promise Program’s initial eligibility age to 21 for two years, grandfathering in current younger participants while the state addresses funding shortfalls; despite concerns about access for 18- to 20-year-olds, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill as amended on a 12-2 vote. HB 482 by Rep. Turner would loosen TOPS Tech requirements, including lowering one academic threshold, raising the age window to 25, and increasing the award amount at community and technical colleges; after an amendment expanding the affected institutions beyond LCTCS, it was reported favorably. The committee also advanced HB 283 by Rep. Newell, which strengthens penalties and school responses for assault and battery on teachers and other school employees and expands sick-leave coverage for related medical, psychological, and rehabilitation treatment. Testimony from educators and union representatives described serious incidents of violence and fear of retaliation, while a school district attorney warned about unintended consequences for rural districts, transportation, and students with disabilities; the bill was amended to include students as protected victims and then reported with amendments. HB 448 by Rep. Adams would allow scholarships for firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty, and their spouses, to be used for graduate study rather than only a bachelor’s degree; after an amendment clarifying the scholarship could be used for bachelor’s or advanced degrees, it was reported as amended. HB 319 by Rep. Beham, a cleanup measure for the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education to improve quorum and update organizational references, was reported favorably. HB 195 by Rep. Beham, which would bar public postsecondary institutions from prohibiting students from carrying self-defense chemical spray on campus, was amended to add exceptions and then reported with amendments. The committee also heard testimony on HCR 10 by Rep. Wilder, which asks the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to recognize dance and cheer as sanctioned sports; the sponsor said the resolution was prompted by a parent request and safety concerns, and an amendment was expected to broaden the measure. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly emphasized workforce development, dual enrollment, and the need to align education programs with labor-market demand, while also debating how to balance student access, funding limits, and school safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine, right? First of all, I agree with like 75% of this bill.
• And if you've ever sat by a substation and listened to one of them hum 24-7, you can imagine if it's

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues heard House Bill 3375, sponsored by Rep. Koslow, a broad eminent domain reform measure aimed at protecting landowners, especially farmers and ranchers. The bill would create protections for beginning farmers and ranchers, require 15 days’ notice before surveyors enter property, extend the response period in eminent domain cases from 10 days to 60 days, bar eminent domain for wind and solar facilities, require land restoration and maintenance after construction, increase compensation to 125% of fair market value in certain cases, add tax-liability compensation, change treatment of heritage and blight-related compensation, and allow attorney’s fees when a landowner wins a higher award than the condemning authority offered. Members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, its effect on energy development, and several drafting and implementation issues, including surveyor access, maintenance standards, and whether the bill could create conflicts with existing attorney-fee provisions. The sponsor said he was open to changes and noted that an HCS would address some drafting errors and feedback. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, a landowner/banker, and attorney Brent Hayden, who argued that landowners are often pressured into quick, low offers and should be treated as partners rather than obstacles. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency, due process, compensation, and restoration standards, and that it would not stop infrastructure development. Hayden described current eminent domain practice as giving landowners little leverage over route selection or restoration and said the bill would create needed discipline for condemning authorities. Several supporters also defended the wind-and-solar restriction as a response to the amount of land those projects can require and to concerns about using eminent domain for generation projects. Opposition came from the Missouri Energy Development Association, municipal utilities, and MoDOT. Opponents said they agreed some reforms may be reasonable but warned the bill, as written, could increase costs, delay projects, and create litigation risk that would ultimately be passed on to customers and taxpayers. MoDOT said the fiscal impact could be substantial, potentially doubling annual right-of-way spending. Utility representatives also cautioned that the bill could conflict with existing attorney-fee rules and should be aligned with compromise language from other legislation. The hearing ended without a vote or committee action, with the sponsor and witnesses indicating further negotiations and possible revisions were expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• one more thing we're going to ask teachers to do, and while it may seem simple—a moment of silence—imagine
• Imagine if I told you we could reduce traffic and congestion on the roads by effectively receiving an

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge, approved the corrected journal, and then moved through committee reports, messages from the House, and first and second readings of several bills. Among the measures introduced or advanced were appropriations bills, child custody and visitation bills, a digital identification bill, a virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention bill, and bills on public outdoor target ranges, hearing loss screening, and small claims procedure. The chamber also re-referred or held several resolutions and bills, including SCR 125 and SR 121 for printing, and later took a short recess for caucus and announcements. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1347, a transparency bill requiring more reporting from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association on federal housing and homelessness funds; supporters said it would improve oversight of subrecipients and outcomes, while opponents argued it duplicated existing HUD and IHFA reporting. The Senate also unanimously passed SB 1369, which rewrites Idaho’s civil venue statute and allows certain lawsuits to be filed either where the defendant resides or where the cause of action occurred, and SB 1358, which lets returning school administrators count prior administrative service toward the teacher career ladder if they meet performance requirements. SB 1379 passed 28-7 to raise the Project Choice vehicle registration fee by $5 to help recruit and retain Idaho State Police troopers, with supporters citing public safety and opponents warning about taxpayer burden and impacts on local law enforcement. The Senate then passed HB 635, requiring the Professional Standards Commission to report suspected criminal conduct in education cases to law enforcement; HB 532, standardizing identity requirements for DMV transactions; HB 520, standardizing hearing-notice requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act; and HB 541, expanding the definition of a child for electronic enticement offenses to cover some 16- and 17-year-olds when the offender is at least five years older. Later, the chamber passed HB 581, allowing the Legislature to formally notify the Supreme Court when it believes a court rule conflicts with statute or substantive rights, despite separation-of-powers concerns raised by one senator, and HB 599, changing distribution of digital curriculum funds to a needs-based process. The Senate also approved HB 544 on military leave, HB 642 on death benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children of fallen public safety officers and firefighters, HB 560 allowing county election workers to be drawn from the jury pool, HB 697 separating election-crime offenses into distinct code sections, HB 698 closing a loophole for out-of-state felony convictions, HB 503 transferring the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to the Department of Water Resources, and HB 676 on geothermal water applications, which began debate on Boise’s geothermal system before the transcript ended. Most final votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, with the main recorded opposition on SB 1347, SB 1379, and HB 581.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you would imagine, LDH, working closely with the secretary, and in DCFS working closely with that
• some great people, and they have some limited accounting and financial backgrounds, as you would imagine

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all