Transcript Highlights:

• Preventing purchasers from using a gift card.
• And so you're limiting an adult's ability to purchase goods using a prepaid gift card.
• there is a name attached, so a gift card there's not, Madam Chair.
• Can still use the gift card for anything else sold on these online sellers.
• And we have a lot of protections around gift cards here in California.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the main discussion focused on AB 1705, AB 1898, AB 2076, and AB 2564. AB 1705 would require pornographic websites and uploaders to certify consent and age before sexually explicit content is posted, including AI-generated nude images, and would allow civil actions by nonconsenting individuals or minors depicted in the material. Supporters, including child advocacy, women’s groups, district attorneys, and university women’s organizations, said it would help combat nonconsensual sexual imagery and revenge pornography; there was no opposition testimony, and the bill drew favorable comments from members. AB 1898 would require employers to give workers advance notice before using AI-powered tools to surveil or manage employees, including disclosure of the purpose, data collected, decisions affected, and general locations of use. Labor groups and privacy advocates supported the measure as a transparency and worker-protection bill, while business and industry groups opposed it, arguing the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements could expose proprietary or security-sensitive information, and the private right of action could lead to litigation and overbroad compliance burdens. Members raised cybersecurity and scope concerns, and the author said the bill had already been narrowed and would continue to be refined, but the committee ultimately took a roll call and advanced the bill on a vote, leaving it on call for absent members. AB 2076 would add nitrous oxide to the list of products subject to online age verification under the Parents’ Accountability and Child Protection Act and increase penalties for large sellers that fail to comply. The author and supporters, including a parent, a deputy district attorney, narcotics officers, Children Now, labor, and the Children’s Advocacy Institute, described rising youth access, health harms, and online sales loopholes. Some opposition groups said they appreciated the amendments but remained concerned about other provisions. Members questioned the bill’s gift-card restrictions and whether they would unnecessarily limit adult purchasing choices; the author and committee staff explained the restriction was aimed at anonymous purchases of the most dangerous items. The bill passed on a 7-0 vote and was left on call for absent members. AB 2564 would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” or using personal data to set individualized prices, while preserving certain transparent discounts and loyalty programs. The author and supporters from Consumer Reports, TechEquity, labor, and privacy groups argued the bill would prevent discriminatory pricing and protect consumers from opaque data-driven price manipulation. Retail, chamber, and industry opponents said the bill was too broad, could chill legitimate discounts and promotions, created compliance and litigation risks, and contained vague definitions. Members discussed the balance between consumer protection and business concerns, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on AB 2564.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> enrichment scholarships for gifted enrichment scholarships for gifted students<03:24:03.080><c>
• On the first page, you will see the definition of, quote unquote, gifted students in Roman S. gifted
• gifted gifted students<03:28:23.760><c> um</c><03:28:23.960><c> they</c><03:28:24.160><c> would</c><
• They might not be gifted in woodworking. They might not be gifted in art.
• , and every child does have gifts.

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which clarifies that dual and concurrent enrollment courses may not exceed four credits. Members said the bill came from the community college system and was intended to preserve the program’s high school-to-college pathway. An amendment changing the effective date to passage was adopted 18-0, and the committee then voted 18-0 to recommend OTPA on the bill as amended, with the bill placed on the consent calendar. The committee then retained HB 295 and HB 366, both related to school building aid, after members said the issues were complex and needed more work. Both motions to retain passed 18-0, leaving the bills in committee without reports. The chair also said HB 354 would not be taken up that day because of possible changes from the Department of Education and others. HB 494, funding the math learning communities program, was then amended to flat-fund the program rather than increase it, with members citing budget uncertainty. The amendment passed unanimously, and the committee then voted 18-0 for OTPA on the bill as amended, placing it on consent. Finally, HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid, drew debate over whether charter schools should be treated differently from traditional public schools. The committee voted 10-8 for inexpedient to legislate, sending the bill to the regular calendar; Representative Damon was assigned the minority report and Representative Popovic the majority report. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program, where members discussed flat-funding the program at $2.5 million per year and the potential impact on course availability, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Um, says the problem is this: with gift cards, people get a $100 gift card, $150, whatever, just
• Gift cards are so often used...
• </c><00:16:12.720><c> card,</c> gift cards, people get a $100 gift card, gift cards, people get a $100
• gift card, 150,<00:16:13.920><c> whatever,</c><00:16:14.800><c> just</c><00:16:15.680><c> slapping</
• card working financial &gt;&gt; and and gift card working financial services<00:16:56.240><c> gift</

Bills: HB358 , SB92 , SB194 , SB230 , HB358 , SB92 , SB194 , SB230

Committee: House Ethics and Campaign Finance

Keywords: juvenile justice, detention, age of majority, jurisdiction, child welfare, K-12 education, wireless communication devices, digital safety, social media education, classroom distraction, agriculture authority, eminent domain, property rights, tax exemption, agriculture center, SNAP, nutrition assistance, benefits theft, state reimbursement, food security

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate, give you a gift if that's okay.
• Dick, we have a gift for you as well.
• If have a special gift for you as well.
• Marty, uh, we have a gift for you as well. Marty, uh, we have a gift for you as well.
• It's in my I have a gift for you.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> enrichment scholarships for gifted enrichment scholarships for gifted students<03:24:03.080><c>
• </c><03:26:41.239><c> um</c><03:26:42.040><c> uh</c> were twice gifted um uh were twice gifted um uh
• opinion gifted students um um in your opinion gifted students um um from<03:36:43.680><c> the</c><03
• And they might not be gifted in woodworking. They might not be gifted in art.
• , and every child does have gifts.

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• any other company that would fall under this not to have to destroy thousands of dollars worth of gift
• cards because of that. ...to destroy thousands of dollars worth of gift cards because of that change
• technical revision of SB 22, which went into effect in April this year and increased California's gift
• So SB 1078 creates a narrow temporary safe harbor, allowing businesses to use gift certificates that
• Consumers retain the full right to redeem gift cards with a balance under $15.

Bills: SB1078

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: Santa Cruz, taxation, transactions and use tax, local government, public services, voter approval

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard one bill, SB 1078 by Senator Laird. The bill would create a temporary safe harbor allowing businesses to continue using preprinted gift cards with outdated cash-redemption disclosures for a limited period, so long as consumers are clearly informed of their current right to redeem cards with balances under $15 for cash. Senator Laird said the measure was intended to prevent businesses from having to destroy large inventories of otherwise usable cards after the recent change in redemption threshold. Support testimony came from Chris Reyes of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, who said the boardwalk had about a million preprinted cards that would otherwise become obsolete, representing roughly $250,000 in cost. He emphasized that the bill would not weaken consumer protections or redemption rights and would simply allow a transition period. Sabrina DeMaio Lockhart, representing the California Attractions and Parks Association and the California Travel Association, also voiced support. There was no registered opposition. After some delay while waiting for a quorum, the committee took up the bill and members voiced general support, including a comment that the measure would help smaller businesses. The committee voted do pass, and SB 1078 received enough votes to pass out of committee, with the roll left open briefly for absent members before the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the money go towards gifted that the money go towards gifted education<01:13:46.719><c> instruction.
• </c> uh gifted student funding and gifted uh gifted student funding and gifted student<01:27:07.920><
• And this gifted funding is different. And this gifted funding is crucial.
• And so what this is doing is stating that the gifted money is to go to the gifted children.
• </c> gifted programs. gifted programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• , land managers, and government agencies such as the Department of Lands, Fish and Game, and the Endowment

Transcript Highlights:

• It shows we also did very well relative to our policy endowment.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• IS IN THE STRIKE ALL BUT ARE WE STILL ELIMINATING THE SPECIFIC GRANT PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT THE ENDOWMENTS

Transcript Highlights:

• The California Endowment estimates that the plan saves the state's General Fund about $1 million annually

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on March 25, 2025, with Chair Mia Bonta presiding and initially operating as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The committee heard several health-related bills, including AB 73 on creating a Black Mental Health Navigator certification, AB 499 on lowering the state reimbursement trigger for the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, AB 843 on aligning California health insurance language-access rules with federal standards, AB 257 on a specialty care network using telehealth and virtual services for Medi-Cal and underserved communities, AB 64 on allowing diacritical marks on vital records, AB 315 on the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, and AB 40 on clarifying that emergency services include reproductive health services such as abortion. Testimony generally emphasized disparities in access, culturally competent care, language access, rural provider shortages, and the importance of preserving or expanding programs that help vulnerable populations. Supporters included authors, state and local health organizations, advocacy groups, and affected individuals. AB 73 was backed as a way to address stigma, mistrust, and culturally competent mental health access for Black Californians. AB 499 was described as helping keep a self-insured farmworker health plan operational while maintaining a low-cost, labor-management model. AB 843 was supported as a way to prevent children and families from having to translate sensitive medical and insurance information and to protect limited-English-proficient Californians. AB 257 drew support as a demonstration project to improve specialty care access through California-based clinicians and virtual care, with examples of reduced wait times and costs. AB 64 received emotional testimony from the author, a child and his family, and others about the importance of accurately recording names with accents and other marks. AB 315 was presented as a cost-neutral or cost-saving way to expand home- and community-based care for medically fragile people, with strong support from disability, health, and provider groups. AB 40 drew support from reproductive health and medical organizations, while one opposition witness argued it could conflict with emergency care standards and overburden emergency departments. The committee took roll-call votes and advanced AB 499, AB 73, AB 843, AB 257, AB 64, AB 315, and AB 40 to Appropriations, with AB 40 receiving some no votes. The committee also adopted its 2025-26 rules and approved a consent calendar that included AB 225, AB 304, AB 403, AB 688, and AB 951. Several measures were initially placed on call and later lifted and recorded as passing out of committee before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number two, Permanent Endowment Fund for Rural Community Healthcare Investment Program from Fund

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• statement that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
• truths</c> that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
• They are endowed by their Creator with certain... Gentlemen will suspend.
• But the gift that we've been given is that sacred charge to strive for a more perfect union, to look
• </c> But<04:34:55.279><c> the</c><04:34:55.520><c> gift</c><04:34:55.760><c> that</c><04:34:56.000><c

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, we do not receive or qualify for donations, grants, endowments, or subsidies.
• Thank you for your time, and I'm happy to answer any questions. grants, endowments, or subsidies.
• We pay grants, endowments, or subsidies.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• 42.320><c> of</c> advisory task force the distribution of advisory task force the distribution of endowment
• 43.399><c> earnings</c><00:10:44.000><c> task</c><00:10:44.480><c> force</c><00:10:45.480><c> the</c> endowment
• fund earnings task force the endowment fund earnings task force the Emergency<00:10:46.200><c> Medical

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> new wolves would be paid for by gifts, new wolves would be paid for by gifts, grants,<00:07:18.320
• ,</c><00:09:53.400><c> grants,</c><00:09:53.800><c> and</c> should be coming from gifts, grants, and
• should be coming from gifts, grants, and donations,<00:09:54.720><c> and</c><00:09:55.000><c> I</c><00
• ,</c> source, especially not that of gifts, source, especially not that of gifts, grants,<00:22:00.440
• ,</c> to give this funding through gifts, to give this funding through gifts, grants,<00:50:21.160><c

Transcript Highlights:

• By placing uh gift card fraud<00:04:14.960><c> within</c><00:04:15.320><c> gift</c><00:04:15.520><c>
• gift cards back on the shelf.
• When the teacher went to purchase the supplies with the gift card, the funds were wiped and the gift
• </c> of operation for the gift card altering. of operation for the gift card altering.
• </c> zero balance on the gift card. zero balance on the gift card.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The financial disclosure is to make sure there is no question of where the judge has received gifts and
• Not that we don't have the transparency piece, but it is the opportunity for some of these gifts to be
• The judiciary is already not allowed to accept gifts from people who have matters pending before us.
• But as far as accepting... ...gifts, there's a difference.
• de minimis value is improper to accept from somebody who's got a case, but bribery or accepting a gift

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:

• the next 10 years as Gifted and Talented Week. of over 490,000 gifted and talented students in the state
• But my memory's a little. better, although I am not gifted nor talented.
• Are you. a gifted and talented, were you a gifted and talented student? That was answered.
• gifted and talented person? Yes, I was. But you're not about to ask questions.
• This is for gifted and talented people.

Bills: HJR5 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HB2143 , HCR64 , HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not about perks, not about gifts.
• </c> gift ban anyway. gift ban anyway. Thank<00:43:07.200><c> you.</c> Thank you. Thank you.
• So, I think it's important to have some limitation on the value of gift.
• </c> some you know carve out to the gift some you know carve out to the gift because<00:56:35.119><c>
• Now, we spent some time trying to gift.

Bills: HF1667 , HF2526 , HF68

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations