Transcript Highlights:

• It is a ticketed event. So in your envelope are tickets.
• I hope everybody comes, but if you're not planning on going, please, uh, if you can bring those tickets
• It is a ticketed event. So in your envelope are tickets.
• There's uh some folks might like to attend that because it's a ticket event. >> I'm just picking them
• </c> &gt;&gt; because it's a ticket event. &gt;&gt; because it's a ticket event.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 2 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be a speeding ticket. Okay. No, no. Follow up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, um, Mr.
• ticket, or the enhanced speeding ticket.
• That officer would have the opportunity to write a work zone speed ticket.
• If you get a 99 miles an hour ticket, you know that it was worse than that.
• And so you can get a ticket for going less.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We raised our ticket prices as far as we could. We raised our drink prices as far as we could.
• So I'm proud of what we do, and even with all of our events and all of our ticket sales, between the
• And the majority of our ticket buyers, over 60% of our ticket buyers, come from beyond a 50-mile radius
• So I'm very grateful that you're looking at secondary ticketing and how they do business.
• were in Ohio, I probably wouldn't have bought those tickets.

Summary: The Select Committee on Downtown Recovery held a hearing titled “Revitalizing California’s Downtowns Through the Nightlife Economy,” focused on how nightlife, arts, entertainment, and late-night transportation can support downtown recovery after the pandemic. Chair Matt Haney framed nightlife as a major economic and cultural sector and said the committee hopes to produce policy, budget, and legislative proposals, building on last year’s downtown recovery bills. The hearing included three panels: nightlife policy experts and a venue owner; representatives from entertainment, tourism, and rideshare; and remote witnesses from London, Philadelphia, and New York discussing how other cities manage 24-hour economies. Witnesses on the first panel emphasized that nightlife is an ecosystem that includes workers, venues, transportation, and public safety. Michael Fishman described the growth of night managers and argued that zoning, licensing, and land costs can either support or choke off creative venues; he also said extending hours can reduce congestion and unsafe spillover if done in a regulated way. Ben Van Houten highlighted San Francisco’s entertainment zones, hospitality zone liquor licenses, Type 90 music venue licenses, and other local reforms, while urging more state coordination and possible tax and licensing changes. Darcy Drolinger of Oasis said independent venues are operating on thin margins, have faced repeated near-closures, and need tools such as extended alcohol service hours to remain viable and preserve community and LGBTQ+ cultural spaces. The second panel focused on tourism, major events, and transportation. Another Planet Entertainment’s Mary Condi said festivals and venues like Outside Lands, the Castro Theatre, and the Fox and Greek theaters draw large numbers of visitors, support hotels and restaurants, and require close coordination with city agencies; she also raised concerns about unexpected possessory interest tax bills and the burden of secondary ticketing and cannabis taxes. Amelia Zamani of Cal Travel said travel and tourism remain a major economic engine and argued that nightlife is central to attracting international visitors, conventions, and major events, especially if California wants to compete with cities that allow later alcohol service. Lyft’s Nicholas Johnson said late-night rides serve workers as well as patrons, reduce DUI risk, and are essential for safe access to downtowns and event venues. In the final panel, officials from London and Philadelphia described their nighttime governance models. London witnesses said the city created a 24-hour city strategy, a night czar, and a nightlife commission, and found that nightlife supports economic activity, workforce retention, and safer, more diverse districts when paired with flexible licensing and better transit. Philadelphia’s Rahim Manning said his city treats the nighttime economy as a major industry, with a $26.2 billion annual impact, and stressed that it includes manufacturing, logistics, health care, transportation, food service, arts, and sports—not just bars and clubs. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with committee members asking questions about extended hours, transportation, family-friendly programming, cannabis activation, ticketing, and how California can better support a safe and competitive nighttime economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth, the B&O surcharge on businesses with gross income exceeding $250 million is expired one year
• largest businesses receive a half-billion-dollar tax break with the early sunset setting of the B&O surcharge

Summary: House Finance held a public hearing on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6346, a proposal to impose a 9.9% tax beginning in 2028 on Washington taxable income over $1 million for individuals, with related rules for residents, nonresidents, pass-through entities, estimated payments, penalties, credits, and revenue distribution. Staff explained that the bill would also fund several tax changes, including an expanded Working Families Tax Credit, sales tax exemptions for grooming and hygiene products, higher small business B&O credits, an early end to the B&O surcharge on very large businesses, and repeal of most retail services sales tax changes from last session. The fiscal note projected about $2.53 billion in additional state revenue in FY 2029 and $3.21 billion in FY 2030, with local revenue losses and significant Department of Revenue implementation costs. The chair also announced concerns about apparent fraud and duplicate records in the public sign-in system and set testimony rules limiting questions and shortening testimony time as the hearing progressed. The prime sponsor, Senator Jamie Peterson, said the bill was intended to make Washington’s tax system less regressive and to raise revenue for schools, health care, higher education, and other public needs while reducing the burden on lower- and middle-income residents. Supporters from labor, education, health care, child care, housing, poverty-reduction, and social service organizations argued that the bill would help fund essential services, expand the Working Families Tax Credit, and improve fairness by asking the wealthiest households to contribute more. Several individual supporters, including business owners and workers, said they were willing to pay more and described the need for better-funded schools, health care, child care, and public defense. Opponents, including former Attorney General Rob McKenna, business groups, construction and real estate representatives, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as an unconstitutional income tax, would be unstable and likely expanded over time, and would harm small businesses organized as pass-through entities. They said the bill would reduce investment, discourage entrepreneurship, and could drive businesses and high earners out of Washington. Some local government representatives supported the public defense funding but asked for more dedicated revenue and protection against local revenue losses from the bill’s sales tax exemptions. No committee vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• either the 1.75% or 2.1% B&O service rate, and then possibly the 1.5% specified financial institution surcharge
• This surcharge applies to banks and other financial institutions with worldwide income exceeding $1 billion

Summary: The committee first heard a briefing on the proposed Senate capital budget, Substitute Senate Bill 6003, which would spend about $723 million total using debt-limit bonds, Climate Commitment Act funds, and other cash resources. Staff described major investments in housing and homelessness, human services, local infrastructure, flood response, water conservation and clean energy, K-12 school modernization and seismic work, and higher education projects. Members then took public testimony from a wide range of advocates and project sponsors, most of whom urged the Senate to preserve or increase funding for specific projects in the final budget, including affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, child care facilities, food banks, behavioral health and substance use treatment centers, tribal courthouse relocation, school modernization, community colleges, university projects, floodplain restoration, community forests, and local civic or cultural facilities. Several witnesses also asked the Senate to match or approach House funding levels on items such as the Housing Trust Fund, permanent supportive housing, the Community Forest Program, Floodplains by Design, and CCA-supported clean energy and water projects. The chair noted that amendments to the capital budget were due the next day at noon. The committee then received a briefing on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which would restructure Climate Commitment Act accounts by repealing three existing accounts and replacing them with two new accounts: a CCA operating account and a CCA capital account. Staff explained that the bill would preserve most existing uses while changing revenue distribution formulas, capping Ecology administrative costs, expanding allowable uses for EV-related costs, housing, and carbon capture/sequestration, and changing reporting and tribal consultation provisions. The bill also shifts some reporting from annual to biannual and modifies the thresholds for tribal-supported and overburdened-community investments. The fiscal note was described as relatively small, with the main impact being the revised revenue allocation structure. Public testimony on the CCA bill was mixed. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, said the restructuring better aligns spending with the intent of the CCA and could improve investments for tribes and overburdened communities. Critics, including the Washington Policy Center, argued the bill still lacks strong requirements to ensure CCA spending is effective and objected to reducing the frequency of the state’s climate-spending report. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In short, this bill simply reinstates the existing 911 surcharge on prepaid cell phone plans to fund
• Historically, that has been a surcharge that has applied to all wireless phones.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Red tape, uncertainty from complex and expanding mandates, and tax increases, such as the B&O surcharge
• increases, such as the B&O search I'm sorry. and expanding mandates and tax increases such as the B&O surcharge

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• First off, the bill extends the funding and surcharge authority of two existing programs: the Deaf and
• The DDTP program is funded through a flat-rate surcharge on telephone bills.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 470, which would change California’s carrier-of-last-resort rules and allow a phased transition away from copper landlines in areas deemed well served by alternative phone options. The author and AT&T argued the bill would protect consumers, preserve 911 access, require public notice and CPUC review, and direct investment toward modern fiber and emergency communications. Supporters included a wide range of business, civic, tribal, and community groups, while opponents from TURN, rural counties, labor, digital equity organizations, and local governments warned the bill could let AT&T shed service obligations too quickly, weaken protections for rural and underserved households, and harm workers. After extensive member discussion about CPUC authority, rural carveouts, labor impacts, and reinvestment, AB 470 was passed do pass as amended to Appropriations, with one no vote and one not voting, and the roll left open. The committee then took up AB 1532, a committee omnibus bill extending funding and surcharge authority for the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program and the TNC Access for All program, while also adding CPUC accountability provisions. Chair Boerner Horvath explained the bill would not raise consumer costs and would require the CPUC to appear at hearings when requested and adopt rules for commissioner attendance. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill was moved do pass and re-refer to Utilities and Energy, though the roll was left open because it had not yet reached the threshold for immediate transmission. Finally, the committee heard AB 353, the Affordable Home Internet Act of 2025, which would establish an affordability floor for home broadband for low-income Californians after the expiration of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. Supporters said broadband costs remain too high and that families, students, and vulnerable communities need a state solution now; opponents from the wireless industry and rural county representatives argued the bill would amount to an artificial price mandate and could complicate existing rural broadband buildouts. Members generally supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on small ISPs and rural areas, and the bill was moved forward with a motion and second while discussion continued about possible exemptions and amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It just keeps racking up tickets. I think the court...
• Say, look, I mean, a ticket to ticket, well, not really.
• They get a ticket.
• So they have the original ticket with the date.
• Clarify that if a police department has certain tickets already, like they just ordered a thousand tickets

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates safer roads and fewer tickets for uninsured driving, reduces the burden on police, the court
• It creates safer roads and fewer tickets for uninsured driving, reduces the burden on police, the court
• Bill<00:02:56.599><c> to</c><00:02:56.720><c> a</c><00:02:56.840><c> parking</c><00:02:57.200><c> ticket
• </c><00:02:57.640><c> can</c><00:02:57.879><c> completely</c> Bill to a parking ticket can completely
• Bill to a parking ticket can completely derail<00:02:59.000><c> someone's</c><00:02:59.519><c> life<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you want me to talk about the surcharge first?
• And I think the folks from ENA are as well, because I heard from them the idea on the surcharge charge
• And I think the folks from ENA are as well, because I heard from them the idea on the surcharge charge
• I heard from them the idea on the surcharge charge, which would come in our big batch of fee changes,
• He said we had the possibility of paying for it through the surcharge charge, and that would be very

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up a House Bill 2 amendment to remove a bail-related section that had already passed in another bill and was now considered duplicative. Members discussed the earlier change to how bail commissioners are reimbursed, concerns that the Judiciary was losing money collecting the fees, and whether the magistrate-related language would still be needed. They noted the bill had already crossed over to the Senate, that the section was obsolete, and that any remaining issue about magistrates’ five-year terms might need to be raised with the Criminal Justice Committee. Amendment 997H, deleting section one, was moved, seconded, and adopted unanimously. The committee then reviewed a package of HB 1 position transfers involving the Department of Environmental Services, Fish and Game, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Staff explained that several positions were being shuffled to correct position numbers and align permitting functions, including one Fish and Game position moving back to Fish and Game, one DEES position remaining funded after ARPA money ends, and adjustments to hours for permitting and environmental services positions. Members discussed whether the Fish and Game position had been intended to be temporary, but ultimately agreed to accept the first four Environmental Services items and the last two Natural and Cultural Resources items as a package; that motion passed unanimously. They then also accepted sections 2 through 8 of HB 1 with the related amendments and footnote language. The committee next turned to dredge-and-fill fee changes in section 11, where one member objected to a 50% fee increase for seasonal docks, arguing it could discourage permitted work and might apply to repairs that only require notification. Staff said the increase was intended to help cover the cost of additional positions in future biennia, but members decided to hold that section for more information, including how many seasonal dock repair fees are actually collected. Finally, the committee began discussing HB 215 and a proposed tipping-fee/surcharge structure to make a solid waste accounting unit self-funded, with members saying the fee could offset about $2.9 million in general fund costs and support the grant program, but no final action was taken on that item in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• after speaking with folks this morning, I do think it's possible to remove about 50% from the 911 surcharge
• understanding is that a fair analysis between federal requirements of, you know, diversions of 911 surcharge
• It's not just here in New Hampshire that people divert funds from 911 surcharge charges. department will
• This was House Bill 2, page 72, section 179, relative to the increase of the maximum ticket price from

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first revisited HB 781, the cell phone bill, after previously retaining it. On reconsideration, members moved to OTP the bill, and it passed unanimously. The committee then moved into the budget tracking packet and adopted an amendment to HB 2 to add the same cell phone policy language, also unanimously, and separately reduced HB 1 by $1 million to match the policy change. Members noted the cell phone language had already been stripped of grant funding language in the House version and that the policy and funding pieces were being aligned across the budget bills. The committee then took up a Department of Education technical amendment to HB 2 on charter school grants, which made timing and administrative changes without altering grant amounts, and adopted it unanimously. Members also discussed but held other education-related items, including adequacy grants, pending broader decisions on overall education funding. Another HB 2 item concerning E-911/state police radio communications prompted a longer discussion about whether E-911 surcharge funds were being used for purposes that should instead be general-funded. After debate over whether to leave the current practice in place or split the funding 50/50 between E-911 and general funds, the committee adopted a joint HB 1/HB 2 change to shift the funding source to a 50/50 split and delete the HB 2 language authorizing the prior use; the motion passed 7-0. The committee also discussed but did not act on several lottery-related provisions, including the video lottery terminal amendment, the increase in maximum ticket price from $30 to $50, and related tax split changes, with members planning to hear from the Lottery Commission on Monday. The meeting ended with the committee beginning review of new amendments in the tracking packet, including a Department of Education request related to Public School Infrastructure Commission grant administration, but no action was taken on that item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're going to make up the difference by issuing more tickets? Yes, sir, exactly.
• But the reason is that the deputies don't want to write any tickets. I take my second back.
• Tickets, because I take my second back. Hold on, now let me get through, okay?
• Anything, we'll get more volume on the ticket for the tag.
• Today, if they write a ticket, they... If they write a ticket, they get zero.

Bills: HB134 , SB217 , SB180 , HB157 , HB92 , HB335

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: vehicle registration, disability access, fines, law enforcement, public accommodation, bond financing, municipal bonds, county debt, local government debt, debt service schedule, bond disclosure, public finance, bond underwriter, county commission, city council, refunding bonds, swap agreements, interest rate swaps, derivatives, fiscal transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill seeks to prevent syndicates from buying lottery tickets. So here's what's happening.
• They're buying in excess of $5,000 worth of tickets and capitalizing on that.
• They're buying in excess of $5,000 worth of tickets and capitalizing on that.
• So that's why they publish the number of tickets available. Thank you, gentlemen.
• So that's why they publish the number of tickets available. Thank you, gentlemen.

Summary: The House convened with 65 members present, approved the journal, and received Senate Bill 1221, which was referred to the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including House Bills 502, 512, 494, 531, and 542, while House Bill 570 was re-referred to Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The House also introduced a number of new bills and resolutions, including measures on justifiable homicide, copyright/piracy repeals, court-rule review, LLC formation, short-term rentals, unauthorized workers, inspection requirements, the FAST Act, rangeland improvement, virtual education, income tax changes, the parental choice tax credit, indigent eligibility, patient immigration status, and a constitutional amendment on state-owned land. House Concurrent Resolution 26 supporting wildlife crossings was filed for printing. On the floor, House Concurrent Resolution 24 honoring the firefighters and engineer affected by the Coeur d'Alene brush fire incident passed 68-0, and House Bill 515 on school notification procedures for serious bullying incidents passed 68-0 after debate over whether it should also apply to private schools. House Bill 511, which would raise the cap on fire protection charges in the wildland-urban interface, passed 46-22. House Joint Memorial 9, urging Congress to reaffirm FLPMA for federal land exchanges, passed 69-0. House Bill 518, authorizing the Attorney General to take on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions when requested by local law enforcement, passed 68-0 with support from members who said it would strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. The House then returned House Bill 522 to committee due to a clerical error after the sponsor described it as a drone-restriction bill aimed at prison security. House Joint Memorial 10, supporting the use of natural sugar in school meal programs and aligning with the MAHA movement, passed by voice vote. House Bill 504, aimed at stopping lottery syndicates from bulk-buying tickets, passed 62-6. Announcements followed on legislative receptions, an ICAC presentation, Disability Advocacy Day, a Medicaid listening session, and committee meetings, and the House adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The current $70 prize limit and $2 tickets were established more than 30 years ago and have never been
• /c><00:01:18.720><c> $2</c> The current $70 prize limit and $2 The current $70 prize limit and $2 tickets
• >> Yeah, so we have some tickets to pass out. Oh, they're already passed out. Awesome. Great. Okay.
• We'll just spin a couple more times without doing more tickets. So also number seven wins.
• Normally, we would pass out tickets each round, but we're trying to save a little bit of time.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a press event and advocacy push for HF 4090 and SF 4515, bills that would modernize Minnesota’s charitable meat raffle rules. Speakers, including Amanda Jackson of Allied Charities, Rep. Jim Nash, Sen. Judy Seeberger, and Sen. Zach Duckworth, argued that the current ticket and prize limits are decades old and no longer reflect inflation or current meat prices. They said raising the ticket cap to $5 and the prize limit to $200 would help charitable organizations keep raffles attractive and financially viable without expanding gambling overall. Testimony from representatives of the American Legion and a youth wrestling club emphasized that meat raffles help fund veterans’ programs, youth sports, scholarships, travel costs, and other local needs. Speakers also said the events support bars, restaurants, and local meat markets, and that the money stays in the community. Several lawmakers described the proposal as bipartisan and noncontroversial, while also criticizing efforts to tie it to other legislative disputes. One speaker said the Senate had just taken a procedural step to bring the bill directly to the floor, and another said the conference committee report had failed but could still be revived. The event concluded with a mock meat raffle demonstration and a call for a clean vote on the legislation. No formal committee vote on the bill was taken during the transcript, but the speakers said the measure remained alive procedurally and positioned for further action in the Senate and House.

Transcript Highlights:

• will be able to use their event admission tickets as the same-day event ticket anywhere on the L.A.
• Integrating a transit pass with your ticket to a World Cup or NCAA final game will make it easier for
• Major events at our stadiums have created traffic nightmares and pulling major event tickets... raised
• Major events at our stadiums have created traffic nightmares and pulling major event tickets.
• Integrating transit into the purchase of a ticket to a World Cup game will address security protocols

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several transportation and climate-related bills. AB 954 would create a Caltrans pilot program for bike highways in two metropolitan areas and require a report to the Legislature; supporters said it would expand protected regional bike networks and help climate and equity goals, while some members objected that it would divert gas-tax-funded transportation dollars away from road repairs and rural needs. The bill passed on a 7-3 vote, with the roll held open for later additions. AB 289 would authorize automated speed enforcement in active highway construction zones to protect workers. The author and labor and contractor witnesses described repeated work-zone crashes and fatalities and argued the cameras would supplement, not replace, CHP enforcement. Some members raised concerns about civil penalties and enforcement policy, but the bill advanced on a 9-? initial vote and later was approved 15-1 after the roll was completed. AB 674 would update the Clean Cars for All program to prioritize pre-2004 high-polluting vehicles in disadvantaged and low-income communities and improve reporting and incentive rules. Supporters said older vehicles produce a disproportionate share of emissions and that the program has already retired thousands of cars; the committee approved the bill unanimously on the floor vote and sent it to the Committee on Natural Resources. AB 1237 would let LA Metro and VTA add a $5 fee to primary ticket sales for 2026 FIFA World Cup and NCAA championship events to fund transit service, with ticket holders able to use transit on event day. Supporters said the fee would help manage congestion and security needs, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association argued it was an unconstitutional tax requiring voter approval. The bill passed and was re-referred to the Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism. AB 891 would create a Caltrans quick-build pilot for temporary safety improvements on state highways for pedestrians and bicyclists; supporters emphasized rapid, low-cost safety fixes, while opponents said the program could divert gas-tax funds and was not appropriate for rural areas. It passed 11-4 and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also approved a six-bill consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> would allow a lesser included um ticket would allow a lesser included um ticket amount<00:21:02.679
• Please support SB 151, and we... flash their card the ticket gets flash their card the ticket gets dismissed
• Under the existing law, they could be ticketed for the offense. Right now it’s $250.
• Under the existing law, they could be ticketed for the offense. Right now it’s $250.
• </c> to have them towed or at least ticketed to have them towed or at least ticketed he<01:09:00.199>

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The biggest one is a carve-out for large companies in the form of ending the B&O surcharge a year early

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate and House Republican leaders used the media availability to focus on affordability and to criticize the Democratic majority’s newly released income tax proposal. Leaders John Braun and Drew Stokesbary argued the plan would raise costs, harm small and medium-sized businesses, and fail to deliver meaningful tax relief elsewhere. They said the bill’s marriage penalty, lack of loss carryforward, and treatment of pass-through entities were especially problematic, and they warned it could eventually expand beyond high earners. They also cited other pending measures they said would increase costs, including taxes or fees affecting insurance, tires, clothing, social media, cigarettes, and solid waste. A major portion of the discussion centered on Republican-hosted listening sessions on the initiatives, which they said were intended to provide balanced public testimony after Democrats declined to advance hearings. House Republicans said they invited speakers both for and against the initiatives, including a wide range of opponents, and emphasized that the sessions were meant to show the public a fair debate. They also discussed several policy bills they oppose, including housing and homelessness measures they said would limit local control near schools and parks, and a bill creating a regulatory framework for automated license plate readers, which they said still raises concerns for cities and law enforcement despite some improvements. In response to questions, Republicans said they support funding for public defense but believe it should be handled within existing budget priorities rather than through an income tax. They also said they are watching bills on government fraud oversight, SNAP restrictions on unhealthy foods, and public safety, including measures related to sexually violent predators and child safety. Throughout the event, leaders repeatedly framed their agenda as protecting affordability and public safety while opposing what they described as tax increases and regulations that would make life more expensive in Washington.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because Lifeline is funded through surcharges on all California phone lines and uses no state dollars

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee met to adopt its 2025-2026 rules and hear three bills. The committee first adopted the rules on a roll call vote, then heard AB 1303 by Assemblymember Valencia, which would clarify that a Social Security number is not required to apply for California Lifeline and would restrict sharing subscriber information with immigration enforcement absent a court warrant or subpoena. Supporters said the bill would help vulnerable Californians, including undocumented residents, domestic violence survivors, unhoused people, and identity theft victims, access essential communications services; there was no opposition. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was re-referred to Judiciary. The committee next heard AB 1271 by Assemblymember Bonta, which would require broadband providers to report pricing and speed-performance data to the Department of Consumer Affairs and make the information publicly available, with privacy protections and a standardized reporting template. Supporters argued the bill would improve transparency and help consumers, local governments, and the state understand what broadband service Californians are actually receiving; testimony highlighted disparities in speed and pricing in low-income communities. The bill was amended in committee and passed on a due pass as amended motion to the Committee on Business and Professions. Finally, the committee heard AB 693 by the chair, Assemblymember Boerner, which would consolidate broadband and digital equity functions into a new Department of Broadband and Digital Equity and create an 11-member commission with decision-making authority. Supporters said the current split between agencies creates delays and coordination problems, while members discussed governance, geographic representation, and whether the proposal would require follow-up constitutional or statutory changes. The bill passed 9-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. Afterward, the committee added AB 1303 and AB 1271 as later add-ons, both of which were also reported out, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• IT WHERE WE CAN GET TO IT AND EVEN IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE TOWED AND YOU JUST GET A TICKET
• WHERE THEY PUT THE TICKETS ON THE CAR?
• FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE TOWED AND YOU JUST GET A TICKET WHERE THEY PUT THE TICKETS ON THE CAR?
• SO I HAVE TO DEPEND UPON THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS WALKING THROUGH PARKING LOT TO HAND ME MY TICKET OR
• I DO AGREE WITH THE INTENTION AND YOU ARE RIGHT, YES, WE SHOULD NOT BE GETTING TICKETED AND TOWED FOR

Committee: House Commerce Committee