Transcript Highlights:

• , just to add, when I started in this business, you had to claw, fight, and search for growers to supply
• The bill also protects the integrity of the supply chain by prohibiting non-resident brewers from acting
• as the primary American source of supply for the brand unless they meet certain conditions.
• This ensures brand authenticity. and a clear, accountable supply chain for Texas distributors.
• HB 4463 also confirms that a non-resident brewer, acting as the primary American source of supply, is

Bills: HB223

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got fees on the municipal side, other costs, labor shortages, tariffs and supply chain issues,
• Other costs, labor shortages, tariffs and supply chain issues, and also the cost of ownership.
• Supply has really been outstripping demand for apartments since 2022, but we've seen incredible demand
• probably going to see a lull in apartment development in 2027 and probably 2028 while that excess supply
• Again, just like apartments, we're going to work through the excess supply in the industrial market,

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee met for its January session to review Arizona revenue and economic conditions ahead of the budget process. JLBC staff presented the January baseline, noting projected positive cash balances through FY 2029 and about $577 million to $578 million in discretionary capacity, but also highlighting major unfunded items not included in the baseline, including federal tax conformity costs, ongoing one-time spending for state employee health insurance and school facility repairs, and administrative costs tied to H.R. 1. Staff also reviewed revenue trends by category, saying FY26 general fund revenues were running above forecast overall, with strength in retail, restaurants and bars, and individual income tax payments, while contracting and utility-related collections were weaker or flat. They also compared JLBC and executive revenue assumptions and discussed the executive’s proposed revenue changes, including border reimbursement assumptions, sports betting tax changes, data center-related tax and fee proposals, and other non-general fund measures. A major topic was income tax conformity with recent federal tax law changes. Staff explained that current Department of Revenue forms assume “straight conformity,” but the governor’s proposal and vetoed SB 1106 do not fully match those forms, creating possible amendment and timing issues for taxpayers and the department if the legislature adopts a different policy. Members also discussed the difficulty of forecasting revenues amid volatile monthly collections and uncertainty over how much of the current revenue strength will persist in the second half of the fiscal year. Danny Court of Elliott Pollack gave a broader national and state economic outlook, arguing that the U.S. has avoided recession despite several warning indicators, largely because of AI and data center investment, while employment growth has softened and inflation remains above the Fed’s target. He said Arizona remains relatively resilient, with strong population and job pipelines, but faces housing affordability constraints, slowing employment growth, and a more concentrated population forecast in the Phoenix area. Panelists generally agreed that Arizona remains in better shape than many states, though they cautioned that job growth is slowing, population estimates may be revised, and budget and revenue forecasts should be treated carefully given uncertainty in the data. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• , so our farmers have to compete with the lower prices in supermarkets that are set by the global supply
• chain.
• chain.
• The consumer should expect the builder to supply a minimum of four inches of an approved soil.
• , feeding 1 million pounds of Would require food from high up in the ocean food chain.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture opened its first hearing by outlining procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony options, and the plan to hear 27 bills in docket order. The committee then took testimony on H.11/S.53, a resolve promoting equity in agriculture, with advocates from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Southeastern Mass Agricultural Partnership, and urban farming organizations describing racial and economic disparities in farming, lack of data on BIPOC farmers, barriers to land and capital, and the need for a commission to collect information and recommend policy changes. Committee members asked questions about the importance of data collection and future policy development, and the bill was repeatedly urged to be reported favorably out of committee. Testimony also supported H.118, which would create a special commission to examine the strengths and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s emergency food network. The Amherst Survival Center described serving 1.6 million meals last year and explained that food pantries are now functioning as essential parts of the state’s food system while relying heavily on donations, volunteers, and unstable funding. Members discussed the need for a more holistic look at food security infrastructure. The committee then heard H.119/S.60 on climate change impacts on farms and fisheries, with regional planners and farm advocates describing flood damage, rising costs, canceled federal climate-smart funding, and the need for direct state support for adaptation, resilience, and infrastructure improvements. The committee also heard testimony on H.125/H.142/S.65, a healthy soils bill, from landscape professionals who said construction sites often leave poor or stripped soil and that the bill would require better post-construction soil standards to support healthier landscapes and reduce long-term maintenance and environmental problems. Finally, the committee took extensive testimony on H.127, which would prohibit aquaculture of octopus for human consumption. Supporters, including legislators, scientists, veterinarians, students, and animal welfare advocates, argued octopus are highly intelligent and sentient, cannot be farmed humanely, and that octopus aquaculture would create environmental harms such as waste runoff, pressure on wild fish stocks, and ecosystem disruption. No votes were taken during the hearing; the bills were heard and testimony was received.

Transcript Highlights:

• would like to note that due to external forces, many of those international— we are seeing severe supply
• chain disruptions that impact our ability to procure basic equipment and supplies at any sort of reasonable
• would like to note that due to external forces, many of those international, we are seeing severe supply
• chain disruptions that impact our ability to procure, supply chain disruptions that impact our ability
• But to get to your point, there's not enough to supply employees for all the courts.

Transcript Highlights:

• chain.
• Something we heard was that it may not be feasible to support a nuclear supply chain without a bigger
• where especially recently large tech companies will be building their own generation capacity to supply
• But I was struck in visiting, spending time in France, the number of nuclear reactors supplying most
• we remind you that we are still paying off units 1 and 3 of the ill-fated Washington Public Power Supply

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5821, which would direct the Department of Commerce, if funded by gifts or grants, to develop a nuclear power strategic framework and integrate it into the state energy strategy. Supporters, including Sen. Braun, Energy Northwest, public power representatives, and several pro-nuclear advocates, said Washington needs to keep advanced nuclear on the table to address rising electricity demand, reliability concerns, and clean energy goals. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill gives nuclear special treatment, lacks sufficient guardrails on waste, safety, cost, and public process, and was rushed without adequate tribal consultation. Several tribal testifiers said the bill should require early, meaningful government-to-government consultation and stronger protections for treaty rights and cultural resources. The committee then held a work session on a Washington State Institute for Public Policy report reviewing state policies supporting small modular reactors. Staff and researchers explained that the report surveyed 79 policies in 35 states and found most states are still in preliminary planning stages, with policies focused on feasibility studies, siting, workforce development, permitting, financial support, and market integration. Members asked about water use, waste, footprint, and whether the report covered fusion; the researchers said it was limited to fission and that water needs vary by reactor design. Some senators noted the need to consider lifecycle impacts and compare nuclear with other energy technologies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6010, which would change FSEC tribal consultation procedures by exempting most government-to-government consultations from the Open Public Meetings Act when there is no deliberation or commitments, requiring all FSEC members to participate in consultation, and giving tribes a chance to review and correct the consultation summary before it goes to the governor. Tribal witnesses and environmental groups supported the bill as a way to improve confidentiality and meaningful consultation, while the Association of Washington Business opposed it, saying it could add delays and suggesting timelines. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6004, which would update contracting statutes so public entities can contract for renewable or non-emitting generation capability under CETA definitions; utilities supported the update as a modernization, while consumer and environmental opponents warned it could shift financial risk to ratepayers, especially for nuclear projects. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just recently, Coal Chain Technologies, a packaging company based in Franklin, announced it was moving
• Tariffs could bring global supply chain challenges, which creates new opportunities for domestic production
• these companies will generate good-paying jobs, invest in our local communities, and strengthen our supply
• chains, creating a ripple effect of economic growth that will more than compensate for the initial tax
• chains, creating a ripple effect of economic growth that will more than compensate for the initial tax

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• chain. ...proactive in passing that bill.
• consistently and reinforce prohibitions on the sale of intoxicating products outside the cannabis supply
• chain.
• chain, even when creative leadership remains based in our state.
• California's child care system is severely underfunded, with demand far exceeding supply.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• We also opened another logistics center for supply chain reliability and just to streamline our manufacturing
• We benefit from Washington's century-old aerospace supply chain, and our employees come from a cross-professional
• We partner with the company called Norco, that also supplies oxygen to rural farms and hospitals in Grant
• aerospace, companies like ours could reinvest significantly more into all the vendors that make up our supply
• chain.

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:

• chain vulnerability or infiltration.
• chain infiltrations.
• chain vulnerability or infiltration.
• chain infiltrations.
• And then, of course, the older, potentially the older facilities have vulnerabilities with supply chain

Summary: The committee met at Minot State to continue its study of artificial intelligence, with a focus on child safety, sexual exploitation, chatbot risks, and education policy. Members first approved the minutes and then received a Legislative Council overview of AI-related harms to children, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, extortion, and chatbot companion risks. The memo reviewed North Dakota and federal law, recent state enactments, First Amendment limits, and examples from other states, including Connecticut’s AI companion safeguards and federal efforts such as the Take It Down Act. Members discussed whether North Dakota’s existing 2025 laws on minors and harmful material are strong enough in light of recent court decisions, and Legislative Council indicated it would provide additional comparison material before the next meeting. Superintendent Levi Bachmeier then presented on AI in education, arguing that schools need guardrails but should not ban AI outright. He said AI should be treated as a tool that can support instruction, teacher efficiency, and digital literacy, while warning against passive use, academic integrity problems, and overreliance on machines. He suggested embedding AI and digital literacy across subjects rather than creating a standalone class, and said schools should provide basic instruction when students receive one-to-one devices. Members asked about parent concerns, local control, higher education partnerships, and how to balance access with safety; Bachmeier emphasized a “threading the needle” approach and said the department would likely seek more guidance on digital literacy and cybersecurity. Special Agent Hellseth of BCI followed with testimony on AI and child exploitation. He said AI is already being used in North Dakota to create explicit images from innocent photos, impersonate children and adults, and facilitate grooming, harassment, and extortion. He described several cases involving AI-generated sexual images and said victims often suffer lasting trauma even when the images are fake. Hellseth explained that investigators use AI tools themselves to process large volumes of data and identify synthetic images, but that the workload is growing and victim services need expansion. He urged stronger accountability for companies, more resources for law enforcement and victim support, and continued training and public education. Members asked about cyber tip volume, staffing, false accusations, and corporate reporting obligations; Hellseth said every tip is reviewed, the unit is small but expanding, and current federal reporting laws are not proactive enough. Representative Porter suggested combining the Legislative Council memo and Bachmeier’s recommendations into a comprehensive bill draft for the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's constraining our manufacturing capacity and supply chain to get that equipment on time when
• I think longer term you can question that as far as the supply chain.
• "Oh, sounds like the supply chain one.
• Yeah, on the supply chain one, and I'm not as well informed as maybe I should be on some of this with
• the supply chain, but again we are challenged with these lead times.

Bills: HF3296 , HF3802

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• others trying to go in, and then other pieces of it where there's other debt being secured and the chain
• supply and so forth for the mega- Being secured in the chain supply and so forth through the megacenters
• This is its own standalone self-generated power supply of a very significant size.
• chain.
• Because we have a comparative advantage in the supply chain, being close to I-25, I-40, and rail, they

Transcript Highlights:

• We are 106, or more, thousand housing units under supplied, and money is not the way forward.
• and money is not the way supplied and money is not the way forward.<00:06:52.560><c> What</c><00:06:
• <00:24:50.720><c> to</c><00:24:51.039><c> the</c> chained to the chained to the counter.<00:24:53.840
• And the simple answer to that is we don't have enough supply.
• So the bill in front of us today supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is aligned with the state's clean energy goals and will supply local businesses, including HECO,
• that oil and then the oil transported to the refinery, so we're helping to create jobs along the supply
• chain.
• </c><00:11:52.600><c> local</c> energy goals and will supply local energy goals and will supply local
• </c> along the supply chain and then the along the supply chain and then the byproduct<00:13:20.320><

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on HB 976, a measure related to incentives for renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Supporters said the bill would help close the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels, strengthen Hawaii’s energy security, support climate goals, and encourage local economic development. Testifiers from Pono Pacific, PAR Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Pacific Biodiesel, Aloha Carbon, and others described ongoing or planned projects, local feedstock development, and potential benefits for agriculture, waste diversion, and emissions reductions. Several testifiers also discussed proposed amendments. The Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition said it wanted to remove the import tax credit, eliminate the aggregate cap increase to avoid additional state funding, and revise local-production language to rely on a carbon-intensity threshold rather than location-based preferences. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised technical concerns about the bill’s administration, including prorating credits if the cap is exceeded and the feasibility of a 30-day filing window. Some supporters urged keeping solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, as eligible feedstock, while Energy Justice Network opposed that approach and also urged removing GMO-related language and waste-based feedstocks because of environmental and toxic emissions concerns. Opposition testimony focused on the bill’s cost and feasibility. Energy Justice Network and Ted Metros argued the measure could become a large subsidy for a refinery and questioned whether Hawaii has enough land and water to produce meaningful quantities of biofuel locally. Metros also criticized the refundable credit structure and said the state should not bear the cost for what he described as a benefit largely tied to tourism and imported fuel. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair later noted the committee had received 13 testimonies in support, 18 in opposition, and seven comments, and then invited further discussion on cost allocation and lowering caps to broaden participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state’s electricity supply to 100% carbon-free by 2045. That’s from our current law.
• chain.
• And so the program covers fuel supplies as far upstream as possible.
• So typically that's at the refinery level or where the fuel supply is brought into the state.
• We're also concerned about general supply chain and market and consumer impacts.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. House Bill 2272 would update state park inspection language for ski lifts and related equipment to better match current equipment and federal standards; the sponsor and State Parks said it was a simple modernization bill, and there was no opposition. House Bill 2245 would expand Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to port districts that distribute electricity, utilities with a single customer, and certain affected market customers such as data centers; supporters said it closes loopholes and applies clean-energy rules more fairly, while ports, business groups, and some utilities warned of unintended consequences, added reporting burdens, and impacts on cogeneration and rural economic development. Ecology and Commerce supported the goal but raised concerns about allowance allocation, fiscal impacts, and possible double counting, and WAPUDA asked that existing single-customer PUDs be grandfathered. House Bill 2215 would lower Climate Commitment Act thresholds for gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, and propane suppliers and extend coverage to some purchasers; supporters said it would prevent entities from gaming the system and cover significant emissions now below the threshold, while Ecology, fuel distributors, propane suppliers, grocers, and business groups warned of compliance costs, supply-chain impacts, possible linkage issues, and the need to preserve existing reporting authority for natural gas. Ecology estimated about 50 additional covered entities could be brought in, and several opponents argued the bill would sweep in small family-owned businesses not intended to be regulated. House Bill 2090 would direct Commerce to develop a nuclear strategic framework for inclusion in the state energy strategy, contingent on outside funding. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill is only a planning measure to ensure Washington considers advanced nuclear as a firm, low-carbon, small-footprint resource amid rising demand, grid constraints, and land-use concerns; supporters included Energy Northwest, local governments, labor/environmental Democrats, and pro-nuclear groups. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and several environmental advocates, said the bill gives nuclear special treatment, relies on private funding that could bias the study, and risks advancing projects at Hanford without early, meaningful tribal consultation. Tribes requested explicit consultation, independent and publicly funded analysis, and attention to treaty rights and historic nuclear impacts. Testimony also sharply divided over cost, waste, and land use, with supporters emphasizing reliability and footprint and opponents citing high costs, unresolved waste disposal, and the immaturity of small modular reactors. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3334 creates a limited retail on-supply and alcohol act, which allows on-premise licensees
• to purchase... ...limited retail on-supply and alcohol act, which allows on-premise licensees to purchase
• I will say since that act has come out, there have been strained supply chains, especially in rural parts

Bills: HB3334 , HB4248 , HB4454 , HB3851

Committee: House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

Summary: The Tobacco, Alcohol, and Controlled Substances committee met with a quorum and considered several bills related to alcohol distribution and hemp/THC products. House Bill 3334, presented by Rep. Hays, would create a limited retail on-supply alcohol act allowing on-premise licensees to buy alcohol beverages from off-premise licensees. Supporters said it could help rural businesses facing strained supply chains and delayed deliveries after alcohol market changes; the committee voted to pass the bill. The committee then heard House Bill 4248, which would add protections to keep children from ingesting alcoholic drinks containing hemp with THC-like effects. Members discussed whether the bill might be amended further, but the author said the goal was to protect kids and preserve the bill’s current structure. The committee voted to pass HB 4248. House Bill 4450, presented by Rep. Newton, would regulate THC gummies and liquids by requiring serving-size labeling, limiting servings to 10 milligrams of THC each, and prohibiting child-attractive shapes such as animals, cartoons, or human forms. Members raised concerns about vague language like “reasonable resemblance” and about color restrictions, and the author said he was willing to work on those provisions. The committee voted to pass the bill. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 3851, which Rep. Marti said concerns the process for selling and distributing private label products and clarifies the ABLE Commission’s interpretation of current law. An amendment deleting Sections 1 and 3 was adopted without objection, and the committee then voted to pass the bill as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it was the last meeting of the year and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• designed to partner with the Healey administration's new Shield initiative to strengthen the domestic supply
• chains that keep Massachusetts defense manufacturers competitive for federal contracts.
• come from food scientists and agricultural technologists throughout the state building solutions to supply
• chain resilience and sustainable production.

Summary: The House adopted a resolution congratulating Fire Chief Timothy Clancy on his retirement from the Whitman Fire Department after suspending the rules. It also concurred with a Senate petition authorizing MassDOT to take easements over certain land in Woburn and Burlington, and then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures on culverts and dams, alcohol licenses in Milford, Salem, and Bridgewater, and firefighter civil service eligibility in Arlington. The chamber then took up several bills on second reading and third reading, including a Norton land parcel bill, a Watertown property tax classification bill for fiscal year 2027 and subsequent years, and a transportation bond bill. In each case, the House suspended Rule 7A, adopted the Ways and Means amendments, and ordered the bills to a third reading or passed them to be engrossed. The transportation bond bill was substituted for a broader bonds bill and advanced as amended. The main debate centered on House 5562, the economic development bond bill. Representative Viola described it as a $425.1 million package supporting applied AI and quantum, defense, robotics, ag tech, downtown revitalization, housing, higher education bridge funding, and business climate changes such as lower LLC fees, a CPA licensing pathway, nurse licensing changes, film tax credit adjustments, internship incentives, and food truck inspection reforms. Representative Haggerty and Representative Kazner spoke in support, emphasizing housing production, site plan review, land use board training, commercial conversion, faith-based housing, and local control. The House adopted Consolidated Amendment A by roll call 142-5, with a second consolidated amendment then made available; the bill remained under consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• designed to partner with the Healey administration's new Shield initiative to strengthen the domestic supply
• chains that keep Massachusetts defense manufacturers competitive for federal contracts.
• come from food scientists and agricultural technologists throughout the state building solutions to supply
• chain resilience and sustainable production.

Transcript Highlights:

• And trying to link those even to, you know, supply chains and things like that, I think is very, very
• ... you know, supply chains and things like that, I think is very important and we'll be able to do a

Committee: All ALC-GAME & FISH/STATE POLICE

Transcript Highlights:

• We've heard and will continue to hear that it's not feasible to track AI training data, but this is a supply
• chain issue and California knows supply chains.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection heard three bills. AB 412, the AI Copyright Transparency Act, would require generative AI developers to let copyright holders know whether their works were used in training. The author said the bill was narrowed by amendments to remove prescriptive technical language and focus on transparency rather than compensation or training restrictions. Supporters included voice actors, artists, labor groups, and technical experts who argued creators need a way to know if their work was used. Opponents, including business and tech groups, argued the bill was premature given unsettled copyright law and raised concerns about technical feasibility, scale, and ownership identification. After discussion, the committee passed AB 412 on a 6-2 vote and sent it to Judiciary. AB 2448 would require electronic health record vendors to enable technical safeguards so providers can better segregate sensitive reproductive and gender-affirming care information. The author and supporters, including Planned Parenthood, the Attorney General’s office, medical groups, and privacy advocates, said the bill builds on existing California privacy law and helps protect patients from misuse of sensitive health data. There was no opposition testimony. The committee passed AB 2448 on a 7-1 vote and sent it to Health. AB 2561 would prohibit changes to consumers’ preferred privacy settings without their consent, aiming to prevent apps and software from resetting privacy choices after updates. The author said the bill would reduce the burden on users and strengthen privacy protections. CalChamber and TechNet said they had moved from opposition to support after amendments were taken. The committee passed AB 2561 unanimously, 8-0, and adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've heard and will continue to hear that it's not feasible to track AI training data, but this is a supply
• chain issue, and California knows supply chains.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection