Transcript Highlights:

• California already mandates notices about the legal age for purchasing tobacco products, but nothing
• But when those agreements are structured without clear guardrails, development.
• But when those agreements are structured without clear guardrails, they can end up doing the opposite
• It does not eliminate tax-sharing agreements or local control.
• put forward, these local tax-sharing agreements do have some beneficial use, no doubt.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public health, wildfire recovery, local government finance, transportation, and rural health care. SB 1124 by Senator Archuleta would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco retail locations. The author and a physician witness argued the bill would raise awareness of a highly underused screening that can save lives, while retailers and fuel/convenience groups raised implementation concerns about signage size, notice, and penalties. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a 4-0 vote after the committee later took up the on-call item. SB 1352 by Senator Valadao and Senator Allen would clarify that wildfire victims can rebuild homes up to 110% of the original size without triggering reassessment, so long as the property was destroyed in a governor-declared disaster. Supporters, including the L.A. County Assessor, the California Assessors Association, Realtors, and taxpayers groups, said the bill would reduce uncertainty and help families rebuild without higher property taxes. It passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. SB 1343, presented by Senator Allen on behalf of Senator Dodd, would provide a $4,000 income tax credit for sales tax paid on furniture and appliances purchased to furnish a primary residence after a disaster; it drew one opposition witness from the California Teachers Association but otherwise had no public opposition and passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 1172 by Senator Hurtado would place caps and transparency requirements on consultant compensation in local tax-sharing agreements, responding to cases in Shafter and Dinuba where revenue was allegedly diverted to consultants. Local government and business groups supported the measure as a guardrail, while some members expressed concern about Sacramento limiting local control; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1408 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to place a countywide sales tax measure of up to 1% on the ballot to continue transportation funding; transit agencies and local officials supported it, while taxpayer groups opposed it, and it passed 4-1. SB 1404 by Senator Stern would restore a fee on property owners in state responsibility areas to fund Cal Fire wildfire prevention and suppression, with supporters arguing the fee would broaden funding and opponents calling it an unfair tax on rural and wildfire-prone residents; it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1102 by Senator Dodd would create a $2,000 tax credit for frontline nurses working in rural hospitals; supporters said it would help recruit and retain nurses in underserved areas, and the bill passed 5-0 as amended to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• California already mandates notices about the legal age for purchasing tobacco products, but nothing
• But when those agreements are structured without clear guardrails, development.
• But when those agreements are structured without clear guardrails, they can end up doing the opposite
• It does not eliminate tax-sharing agreements or local control.
• put forward, these local tax sharing agreements do have some beneficial use, no doubt.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> purchasing at Kentucky State University. purchasing at Kentucky State University.
• Uh, how much Narcan is actually purchased, or is Narcan purchased with this?
• 19.760><c> is</c><01:24:20.000><c> Narcan</c> actually purchased or is Narcan actually purchased or is
• And and if it purchased u with this?
• or use those to make food purchases or use those funds<01:41:46.320><c> to</c><01:41:46.639><c> purchase

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 10 meeting, and then approved a large agenda of contracts and related items, with the total agenda amount stated as $359,638,393.88. Most items were approved without objection, but two contracts were pulled for discussion: attorney general panel counsel contingency fee contracts and a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission personal services contract. For the attorney general’s office, Chris Lewis explained that the contracts were panel counsel contingency fee agreements, with 14 qualified awards from 16 applicants. He said the contracts were contingency-based, so no money would be paid unless cases were successful, and that the fee structure worked out to roughly 5% under the statutory waterfall. Senators asked about the size of the contracts, whether the terms were uniform, why no Kentucky firms were among the awardees, and how the public should understand the large dollar figures. Lewis said one Kentucky firm applied but was disqualified for a late submission, other Kentucky firms had inquired but did not apply, and local firms could still work with national firms on cases. The committee then approved the contracts. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission contract drew more extensive questioning. Commission representatives said they had previously had a contract disapproved because the proper process was not followed, so they used an RFI process posted on the state and commission websites for at least three weeks. They received one applicant, a Kentucky firm, and set the rate at $125 per hour. Members questioned whether the commission was acting beyond its ethics mission, whether staff were helping draft complaints against legislators, and whether the commission was taking on a prosecutorial or human-resources role. The commission said its role is limited to enforcing the legislative code of ethics, providing advisory guidance, and following the formal complaint process; it does not pursue matters outside that code. Members also raised concerns about the earlier procurement misstep and the commission’s credibility, and the commission apologized, said it had corrected the process, and pledged to comply going forward. The committee then approved the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stacia Dawson, our purchasing director.
• I made the indication that, you know, we are purchasers.
• I understand that the purchasing for the state performed by O.A.... ...purchasing for the state performed
• So the purchasing department, central purchasing department, was what Hana was saying on 242.”
• own purchasing.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• We have about 180 parcels we need to purchase to go to construction for this corridor.
• We support a full repeal, and we support the agreement with the Senate version of the bill.
• We support a full repeal, and we support the agreement with the Senate version of the bill.
• I think they ought to live up to the agreement that was made and stick with it rather than trying to
• I think they ought to live up to the agreement that was made and stick with it rather than trying to

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on two major corridor projects before moving to public hearing and executive session. In the Yakima area, WSDOT, Yakima County, and Ecology described the Interstate 82/east-west connector work as a coordinated effort to add capacity, improve interchanges, and address the Boise Cascade mill site contamination that sits in the project footprint. County and Ecology witnesses said the county is ready to remove wood waste and contaminated material, but the project is stalled pending a draft work plan and a de minimis consent decree; several senators pressed for faster action and clearer direction from Ecology. The committee then heard an update on the SR 3 Belfair freight corridor, where WSDOT said environmental review is complete and the next major step is an access hearing this summer, followed by right-of-way acquisition and construction likely in late 2027 or early 2028. Local and tribal partners emphasized the project’s importance for freight mobility, housing growth, emergency access, and regional economic development. The public hearing was on engrossed substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources bill that largely tracks provisions from prior legislation but also adds or changes several tax and account provisions. Staff explained that the bill clarifies fuel tax and peer-to-peer tax distributions, treats trade-in value differently for recreational vessel and luxury vehicle taxes, provides a six-month motor home exemption and penalty waiver for the luxury vehicle tax, allows lease payments to be made over time, exempts tribal members and nonresidents, creates a Preserve Washington account, changes some transfer timing, and repeals the luxury aircraft tax. Testimony was mixed: aviation groups supported repealing the luxury aircraft tax; trucking and some citizens opposed fuel tax and diesel tax increases; Sound Transit, transit advocates, labor, and ferry interests asked for amendments such as 75-year bonding authority, mobile driver’s licenses, ferry funding, and bike education funding. Alaska Airlines and Delta also supported adding mobile ID language. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills, including SHB 1823, SHB 2114, E2SHB 2251, SHB 2323, SHB 2410, EHB 2588, 2SHB 1923, and HB 2495, all with due pass recommendations after adopting amendments where applicable. The committee adopted a striking amendment to E2SHB 2251 adjusting Climate Commitment Act account distributions and a striking amendment to EHB 2588 limiting the ferry district changes to Whatcom County and removing the voter-approval tax provision. It also adopted an amendment to 2SHB 1923 that added further conditions for passenger-only ferry districts, including whale-protection and fare-related provisions. Senator King voted no on E2SHB 2251, objecting that the bill reduced the transportation share of Climate Commitment Act revenues. The chair announced one more executive action meeting would be held Wednesday morning, with amendment requests due the prior day.

Transcript Highlights:

• that is purchased or can be accessed is not really helping from a health perspective.
• But it also hurts food banks that are purchasing food at an unprecedented rate.
• We do purchase locally.
• We represented about 30% of the local market share for food purchase.
• When we focus on what we're going to be purchasing, we focus heavily on a.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Finance, makes appropriations for the implementation of certain collective bargaining agreements
• It includes three divisions: Medicaid, health care purchasing and compliance, and consumer health, and
• Health care purchasing and compliance, and consumer health, and consolidates functions from multiple
• on Ways and Means, makes appropriations to the Department of Corrections for the replacement and purchase
• appropriations to the Nevada Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety for the purchase

Transcript Highlights:

• an agreement reached between the landowners.
• Well, first of all, gentlemen, the company doesn't purchase acres, they lease them.
• Most of the investor-owned projects purchase the land that they build on.
• The investor owns generally have a tendency to purchase their property. Okay.
• Would it apply then to whoever purchases that from the LLC, or? From the LLC or what?

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• So we felt general was supervision was a better half and within the collaborative management agreement
• Well, the collaborative management agreement and require limits on the dental therapist.
• And then they can be even further limited by the collaborative management agreement with the dentist.
• And it also includes the purchase history so we can look at who will purchase block of N and this information
• And now right now we only know the balances of flowers, the patient's purchased, but not the percent

Transcript Highlights:

• We have about 180 parcels we need to purchase to go to construction for this corridor.
• Paused purchases of new aircraft, put hangar leases on hold, and delayed airport expansion projects.
• We support a full repeal, and we support the agreement with the Senate version of the bill.
• We support a full repeal, and we support the agreement with the Senate version of the bill.
• I think they ought to live up to the agreement that was made and stick with it rather than trying to

Bills: HB2495

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So home equity sharing agreements are also known as home equity investments or home equity agreements
• The reality is that there are not that many HISA agreements.
• You are in agreement in that? I’m sorry? You are in agreement in that?
• You are in agreement in that? I'm sorry? You are an agreement in that?
• We've just announced an agreement with JetBlue.

Summary: The committee first held a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks, with the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Council describing how virtual currency kiosks operate, where they are located in Washington, and the rapid growth in transaction volume. DFI said the machines are being used heavily in scams, especially against older and vulnerable consumers, and cited FBI fraud data showing substantial losses. DFI outlined possible consumer protections in pending legislation, including stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane City Council described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and requiring removal of existing ones, citing local scam reports and the difficulty of recovering funds once they are sent through crypto wallets. Committee members asked about how the machines are used, whether the hardware itself is vulnerable, and whether stronger warnings or screening requirements could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs/HESAs, following a legislative report. The report’s author said these products provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but can be difficult for consumers to understand and can produce highly variable settlement costs. The report found the market has grown quickly in Washington, that many consumers using the products had financial hardship, and that many did not fully understand how settlement amounts were calculated. DFI said it views the products as mortgage-like and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures. Industry representatives said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based, support access to home equity for people who may not qualify for traditional loans, and said they are working with DFI on standardized disclosures, counseling, and annual settlement estimates. Senators raised concerns about consumer understanding, cost caps, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages under state law. In the final work session, the committee heard an overview of Washington’s space economy from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major investments in Washington facilities, manufacturing, testing, and workforce training, and described the state as a hub for aerospace and satellite activity. They emphasized job creation, supply-chain spending, and education partnerships, including technician certification and apprenticeship-style programs. Several speakers urged the legislature to expand tax incentives to include space companies, support grants and workforce programs, and consider a state space commission or similar long-term coordination effort. The committee thanked the presenters and noted time constraints before ending the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The district was able to purchase them outright. The state grant right now came in two forms.
• All of the Article 4s are definitions listed in the 1990 Fort Hall Settlement Agreement.
• This helps clarify the difference between an application and an approved rental agreement.
• The next change is an application and an approved rental agreement.
• The next change is within subsection 40-03, content of approved agreements.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Jurisdiction to work out protocols for handling these cases by agreement, and those local agreements
• If there's not an agreement, does out.
• </c> there is not an agreement there is not an agreement um<01:09:53.520><c> within</c><01:09:53.920>
• Um, but you know, there's no agreement.
• In fact, I'm agreement among the judges.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• in when they're making bulk purchases as well to get a better pricing advantage, still working through
• Savings and efficiency in previous years, I've come and talked to you about our group purchasing and
• Then, as I talked about, the Medicare Value-based purchasing total performance score.
• The OSU Medical Authority endorsed the affiliation agreement with Saint Francis for Level One Trauma
• For detail work, what happened was we had a purchase order number and another purchase order number that

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• something near a you know near purchase something near a you know near a<00:33:57.200><c> highway</c
• We do have an agreement, though, for five years that we're not going to impose anything on Merrimack
• We do have an agreement, though, for five years that we're not going to impose anything on Merrimack
• We do have an agreement, though, for five years that we're not going to impose anything on Merrimack
• </c><00:40:02.839><c> which</c> londondary and that's an agreement which londondary and that's an agreement

Summary: The committee met in executive session on several House bills and first took up HB 181, which would have made the state responsible for maintaining Opticon systems for fire and emergency on state roads. Members noted that a system already exists and that towns are generally responsible for maintenance once they choose a system, so the committee voted ITL/OTL-style recommendation by a unanimous 18-0 roll call and discussed placing it on the consent calendar. The committee then considered HB 7113, concerning mile markers along Route 112/Kancamagus Highway. Supporters argued the markers would improve safety and help locate stranded motorists in a rural area with poor cell service, while another member noted the bill’s language should be clarified to refer specifically to the Kancamagus and to DOT’s usual 0.2-mile spacing. The committee voted 18-0 to recommend OTP with a fiscal note, and because it was a money bill it would not go on the consent calendar. HB 300, directing DOT to seek proposals on the Conway Branch rail line and creating a rail study committee, was recommended ITL after members said the issue had already been studied and the corridor had already been designated for rail trail; that vote was unanimous and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. HB 375, allowing municipalities to designate sections of state and local highways for all-terrain vehicles, was also recommended ITL. Members said there is already a process for towns to authorize such use and expressed concern about a blanket approach and possible local conflicts; the motion passed unanimously and was sent to the consent calendar. HB 578, relating to a sound barrier along the F.E. Everett Turnpike, drew more discussion: some members said the project should go through the 10-year plan and environmental review process, while others cited local impacts and the need for some barrier or privacy protection. The committee ultimately voted 16-2 to recommend ITL, and it was not placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee took up HB 561, concerning transfer of state-owned real property to municipalities. Members voted to retain the bill, with supporters saying they wanted more information, including a site visit to Merrimack’s Continental Boulevard and further discussion of how state roads are handled in other towns. The retain motion passed unanimously 18-0, and members noted that retained bills do not go on a calendar. The chair then announced the committee’s next full meeting would be on February 24 at 10:30 a.m., with a briefing on the capital budget process and a meeting with the Secretary of the Treasury.

Transcript Highlights:

• A unit owner is not liable to the purchaser for any erroneous...
• A unit owner is not liable to the purchaser for any erroneous. The certificate within six months.
• A unit owner is not liable to the purchaser for any erroneous information provided by the association
• We've been able to come to some really great agreement through the language.
• All right. ...leaves in the portion that we had agreement on. Thank you, Senator.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee met on cutoff day and first considered two gubernatorial appointments to the Housing Finance Commission. Aaron T. McGrath and Ann T. Malone each testified about their housing finance and affordable housing backgrounds, their prior commission or sector experience, and their interest in improving housing affordability and equity. Senators asked brief questions and offered supportive comments, and both appointments were heard without objection. The committee then heard and later acted on a series of housing-related bills. ESHB 1500 would expand resale certificate requirements for common interest communities by adding reserve studies, audits, and governing documents, limiting certain fees, allowing rush service fees, and creating enforcement rights; testimony was split between Realtors, who supported the consumer-protection goals but sought clarifications and more time for rescission, and HOA/management representatives, who warned against limiting third-party processing tools and sought more flexibility. EHB 1501 would require associations to answer certified written inquiries from owners within 30 days, subject to reasonable association rules; the sponsor framed it as a basic right to a response, while HOA representatives supported the intent but asked for clearer limits and coordination with existing law. EHB 1345 would allow detached ADUs outside urban growth areas under detailed guardrails; builders, Realtors, counties, and housing advocates supported it as a rural housing tool, and the committee heard that it had been the product of years of negotiation. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It approved a metering requirement for water use in SB 5470 on detached ADUs outside UGAs, narrowed SB 5729 to permit-review provisions, adopted a substitute for SB 6015 on permit-ready factory-built housing plans, and moved forward SB 6069 on transitional, supportive, and emergency housing with zoning and local process changes. It also advanced SB 1686 on deferred utility connection fees, SB 6200 on portable cooling devices for renters and mobile home occupants after rejecting an amendment to remove window units, SB 6201 creating tax exemptions for social housing agencies, SB 6214 establishing land bank authorities, and SB 6237 requiring flood-risk disclosures in rental housing. The committee then returned to public testimony on ESHB 1500, EHB 1501, and EHB 1345, hearing additional support and concerns, and adjourned after thanking staff for their work on cutoff day.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a full-on purchase.
• That's how Azure works versus G5, which is a straight-out purchase. Thank you. Great.
• And I think the other thing you mentioned is purchasing redundant tools.
• And I think the other thing you mentioned is purchasing redundant tools.
• We purchase a tool, things changed, and now we have to maybe revisit it in the future. And I agree.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity and the Committee on Emergency Management held a joint informational hearing on maximizing the value of state cybersecurity investments, with a focus on whether California is fully using the security features already included in vendor contracts. The first panel included Microsoft, Zscaler, and Palo Alto Networks, whose representatives described the products and services they provide to the state, including endpoint protection, data loss prevention, zero-trust access, attack surface management, incident response, and AI-enabled security tools. They generally said utilization is strong in some areas but that underuse can occur because of limited staff, lack of awareness, overlapping tools, audit-driven purchases, and the difficulty of keeping up with rapidly changing threats and products. They also emphasized the need for training, leadership buy-in, and coordination among IT, procurement, budget, and mission staff. Members pressed the vendors on risks such as ransomware, data loss, IoT and operational technology vulnerabilities, major events like the World Cup and Olympics, and the role of AI in both attacks and defense. The vendors said AI is already changing both sides of cybersecurity, speeding attacks but also helping defenders triage alerts and improve response times. They also discussed workforce shortages and the challenge of retaining trained staff in state government. One public commenter argued that restrictive software licensing can worsen cybersecurity by locking customers into vendors and limiting flexibility, integration, and modernization. The second panel featured the Department of Technology, Cal OES/CalSIC, and the California Military Department. CDT said its audits, maturity metrics, independent security assessments, continuous monitoring, advisory services, and vulnerability disclosure program are helping improve statewide security, and that departments are making progress but still vary in maturity. Cal OES and CalSIC described training, advisories, cyber advisory services, and statewide exercises like Cyber Dawn, while the Military Department said its assessment teams have seen significant score improvements over time. Officials said underutilization is not always due to lack of awareness; sometimes features are intentionally disabled to reduce attack surface or because tools overlap. The hearing also covered federal funding concerns, including the reduction of MS-ISAC support and the final year of the state and local cybersecurity grant program, and the meeting adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this is purchases from other industries for supplies and things like that.
• But as a utility, we offer low-income customers $4,000 for purchases of EVs.
• You, as a community member, who would like to purchase this, whether it's because you want to be more
• I'd like to purchase community solar.
• The credits that I've purchased, though, are based on the energy that El Paso Electric is getting to

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• file a financing statement only if the debtor authorizes the filing in a signed record, security agreement
• But there's no underlying legitimate security interest or agreement between the two.
• interest against the person that doesn't necessarily reflect a contract, underlying contract or agreement
• But there's no underlying legitimate security interest or agreement between the two.
• interest against the person that doesn't necessarily reflect a contract, underlying contract or agreement

Bills: HB2640 , HB2161 , HB2304 , HB2445 , HB2590 , HB2412

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: Uniform Commercial Code, business filings, legal filings, commercial transactions, UCC compliance, attorney general, legal authority, state powers, judiciary, civil rights, condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, probate, estate administration, inheritance, heir finder, heir locator

Transcript Highlights:

• We are all in agreement with that.
• We just want the governors to be involved in agreements when a unit comes in. Okay.
• As a real estate broker, and that's been my life for many, many years, I've seen firsthand how purchasing
• For veterans, raising a family, homeownership is more than just a purchase or an investment.
• And we also owe it, after their service to this country, to give them the opportunity to purchase a home

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs