Transcript Highlights:

• Valley have been substantially reduced and fragmented due to historical land conversion and urban development
• No single entity has the jurisdiction, authority, or resources to develop and implement a broad strategy
• They impose a firm January 1, 2028 deadline for program development through a transparent public process
• SB 949 also promotes public access through trail development and ensures the sustainability of working
• . ...and asked the oil industry to begin nominating areas for offshore oil development.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several measures focused on conservation, wildlife access, and coastal protection. SB 1108 would create the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in Merced County to coordinate land, water, habitat, and wildlife corridor protection in the largest remaining wetland/grassland complex west of the Mississippi. Supporters, including the Grasslands Water District and Audubon California, emphasized the area’s importance to migratory birds, groundwater sustainability, and voluntary conservation easements; there was no opposition. The committee members generally praised the bill’s regional coordination and ecological significance. The committee also heard SB 1021, which would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create a program allowing youth with physician-certified life-threatening illnesses to participate in hunting and fishing opportunities under structured supervision. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate, tightly limited program with conservation safeguards, hunter education requirements, reporting, and a sunset. There was no opposition, and members expressed support for the bill’s intent. SB 949 would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a resource of statewide significance, with an emphasis on biodiversity, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, public access, working lands, and collaboration with tribes and private landowners. Support came from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Sempervirens Fund, and several local and conservation organizations; no opposition was heard. The committee also considered SJR 12, which urges the federal government to remove California from proposed offshore oil and gas leasing plans and calls for stronger environmental review and public engagement. Supporters cited spill risks, coastal economic harm, and prior local and state opposition to offshore drilling. All measures were approved by the committee, with the bills and resolution moving forward on recorded votes, and the consent calendar items were also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Valley have been substantially reduced and fragmented due to historical land conversion and urban development
• No single entity has the jurisdiction, authority, or resources to develop and implement a broad strategy
• They impose a firm January 1, 2028, deadline for program development through a transparent public process
• SB 949 also promotes public access through trail development and ensures the sustainability of working
• And asked the oil industry to begin nominating areas for offshore oil development.

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several conservation and wildlife-related measures. SB 1108 by Senator Caballero would create the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in the California Natural Resources Agency to coordinate protection and restoration of the Grasslands Ecological Area in Merced County. Supporters, including the Grasslands Water District, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, California Waterfowl Association, The Nature Conservancy, and others, said the area is a major wetland and wildlife corridor facing groundwater-driven land retirement and needs a coordinated, voluntary, incentive-based framework. Senator Laird noted the bill followed prior conservancy models and moved it forward. The committee later approved SB 1108 on a 7-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1021 by Senator Choi, which would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create a narrowly tailored program expanding hunting and fishing opportunities for youth with life-threatening illnesses. The author and supporters from Field of Dreams and the Angling Hunting Conservation Coalition described it as a compassionate, supervised program that would create meaningful experiences for families while maintaining hunter education and conservation safeguards. No opposition was presented, and the bill was approved 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 949 by Senator Becker would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a resource of statewide significance, with supporters from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Sempervirens Fund, Green Foothills, and others citing biodiversity, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, public access, and coordination across public and private lands. Some committee members raised questions about working lands, property rights, and fire responsibility, but the bill was moved forward and passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted SJR 12 by Senator Laird, which opposes the federal offshore oil and gas leasing plan for California waters; supporters emphasized spill risks, coastal economic impacts, and public opposition, and the resolution passed 5-1. File item 3, SB 1085, was pulled, and the remaining consent calendar items were adopted 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Valley have been substantially reduced and fragmented due to historical land conversion and urban development
• No single entity has the jurisdiction, authority, or resources to develop and implement a broad strategy
• SB 949 also promotes public access through trail development and ensures the sustainability of working
• The development of offshore oil operations and increased fossil fuel emissions acts against our efforts
• And asked the oil industry to begin nominating areas for offshore oil development.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee, the Rural Economic Development Committee, will come to order.
• The city and its developers have already committed...
• But it's just, like I said, the developer, the bridge, the money we have... ...pretty dangerous.
• But it's just, like I said, the developer, the bridge, the money we have in hand.
• Volk, we have a loan from the NAD Bank, the North American Development Bank out of Texas.

Bills: SB1272

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

Keywords: appropriation, Douglas port of entry, state funding, infrastructure, federal support, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Development... is 601. >> You're sweet. >> We're keeping hopefully. >> Yeah. Spiritual...
• education uh the opportunity to develop a<00:08:45.680><c> policy</c><00:08:46.480><c> as</c><00:08:
• It's going to be a board—the state board is going to develop a model policy. It's once weekly.
• </c><00:09:36.480><c> a</c><00:09:36.640><c> model</c> state board is going to develop a model state
• board is going to develop a model policy. policy. policy.

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite all of these differences, we unite around shared goals in higher education, workforce development
• Specifically, the department requires schools to develop an operational plan to help ensure that they're
• complete the required new officer training, which provides instruction and information on child development
• The training provides instruction and information on child development, trauma-responsive practices,
• We also recommended that the department develop written policies and procedures for its compliance process

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee of Reference first heard a sunset review of the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board. Governor’s Office staff explained that the board was created in 2016 to lower borrowing costs for qualifying schools by providing a state guarantee that improves credit ratings, but the board has no dedicated staff or budget and is now largely in a monitoring role because it has reached its statutory leverage cap. Members discussed the long maturities of the approved financings, whether rural districts might benefit from additional capacity, and why a 10-year continuation was being requested. The committee voted to recommend continuing the board for 10 years until July 1, 2036. The committee then heard a sunset review of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WICHE’s president described the interstate compact, its regional student access programs—WUE, WRGP, and PSEP—along with behavioral health fidelity reviews and cooperative purchasing savings. Testimony emphasized tuition savings for Arizona students, the return of health care graduates to Arizona, and the value of regional collaboration. The committee voted to recommend continuing WICHE for 10 years until July 1, 2036. Finally, the committee reviewed the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program performance audit. The Auditor General reported that the program has grown substantially, but many sampled schools were not fully complying with requirements such as operational plans, safety teams, training, activity logs, and reimbursement documentation. The department agreed with the finding and said it would implement the recommendations. The school safety director responded that the department has already begun tightening monitoring, training, and documentation procedures, and he answered questions about emergency plans and campus safety. No further action was taken on the audit, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• COLORADO RIVER FOR THEIR WATER SUPPLY SOME OF THE STATES ARE SO DROUGHT THAT THEY LITERALLY CANNOT DEVELOP
• THEY HAVE PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE ENTIRE MORATORIUMS ON CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT
• SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR EVERGLADES RESTORATION
• Bartleman: I HAVE A QUESTION WITH EVERYONE HERE THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
• AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS THEY ARE PERMITTING AND AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Transcript Highlights:

• make sure that we are protecting insurance consumers, the nation's insurance regulators last year developed
• When I talk to affordable housing developers, they describe rising insurance costs as an existential
• Affordable housing developers are legally required to restrict rents at affordable levels, making it
• impossible to pass on the costs of rising premiums to their tenants, like market-rate developers.
• And as many affordable housing developers are still recovering from rental arrears during the pandemic

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several bills focused on California’s insurance market, wildfire resilience, and consumer protections. AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, was heard first. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler testified in support, describing state grant programs that help homeowners harden roofs and create defensible space, with the goal of reducing losses and improving insurance affordability and availability. Supporters from the insurance industry, local government, and the Rebuild Paradise Foundation also backed the bill, and committee members emphasized the need for more incentives for mitigation. The bill passed the committee on a do pass motion and was sent to Appropriations. AB 290, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require the FAIR Plan to offer automatic payments and address non-renewal grace-period issues. The author described her own experience being forced onto the FAIR Plan and facing a large premium increase, while Consumer Federation of California called the bill common-sense consumer protection. The FAIR Plan opposed unless amended, saying it was already handling major wildfire claims and other operational demands and requested more time and changes to the non-renewal grace-period language. Members across the committee supported the bill as a needed modernization measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 1339, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would direct the Department of Insurance to study insurance availability and pricing for affordable housing providers and report policy recommendations. Supporters from affordable housing organizations said rising premiums were forcing providers to cut services, defer maintenance, and use reserves, threatening housing stability for low-income residents. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 646, by Assemblymember Wallace, also passed to Appropriations; it concerns disclosure related to motor vehicle protection products and catalytic converter theft deterrence, with support from auto dealers and industry groups. The committee also approved AB 1531 on consent. Members later added on to the record in support of the bills, and the hearing concluded without recorded opposition votes on the measures that advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS BILL ALLOWS PORTIONS OF ZONED AREAS SUCH AS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
• PROVIDES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT REQUIRE MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
• AND INCREASES THE EVACUATION TIME FROM 24 TO 26 HOURS WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE
• THE FAIR HOUSING ACT PURPOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DISCRIMINATING IN LAND-USE DECISIONS INVOLVING THE DEVELOPMENT
• THE AMENDMENT ALLOWS A PROPOSED PORTABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED AS

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in front of you today does specifies the chronic critical illness and genetic predisposition for developing
• assisted living facilities to include requirements for the identification or residents at risk for developing
• requires AHCA to include training on the identification of in response to residents at high risk of developing
• And so there will be more development of how the actual protocol and standards will be as we move forward
• The task force will develop a strategy to prevent the spread of avian Influenza H 5 n one and possibly

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What happens is this is a standard that was developed through NSF International.
• It was developed in 1970.
• We do have several different types of NSF standards that have been developed to address the concerns
• So these manufacturers have worked together to develop the different technologies.
• And Florida is a very unique state in that we develop sometimes in very high seasonal water tables.

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The committee began with a presentation from the Florida On-Site Wastewater Association on advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems. Roxanne Groover described several technologies used in Florida, including NSF-245 systems, performance-based treatment systems, in-ground nitrogen-reducing biofilters, membrane/media filters, and sequencing batch reactors. She emphasized that these systems can substantially reduce nitrogen compared with conventional septic systems, discussed permitting and maintenance requirements, and noted that some grant programs help fund upgrades in springs and other impaired-water areas. Members asked about phosphorus and PFAS treatment, funding for non-springs watersheds, incentives for new construction, and whether more data should be collected on system performance. The committee then took up CS for SB 164 on vessel ownership, derelict vessels, and anchoring/mooring rules. The bill was explained as clarifying who is responsible for derelict vessels and using vessel title as prima facie evidence of ownership. Two amendments were adopted: one requiring FWC to offer an electronic long-term anchoring permit system and clarifying that the permit does not override other anchoring limits, and a technical amendment correcting a drafting error. Public testimony included opposition from a cruiser advocacy representative who argued the bill would unfairly restrict responsible boaters and harm the marine economy, and support from another boating coalition representative who said the bill was a proactive step to address derelict vessels. The committee then passed CS/SB 164 favorably by roll call. Finally, the committee considered SB 38, which makes clarifying changes to FWC trust funds. The bill would allow investment and carryover of the administrative trust fund balance, expand use of the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund for feline disease research, monitoring, and habitat acquisition, and allow use of the Non-Game Wildlife Trust Fund for law enforcement and related coordination agreements. With no debate or opposition, the committee passed SB 38 favorably by roll call and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $36.2 MILLION IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA
• ON THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT FLORIDA COMMERCE AND MY PRESENTATION TODAY IS THAT
• THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAMS WHICH WE DO ADMINISTER THROUGH OUR
• THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY FUND IS DIFFERENT THAN THE TYPICAL CBG YOU MAY
• WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR OFFICE OF LONG-TERM RESILIENCY WHICH IS HOUSED UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:16:55.080><c> shall</c> tract that support the development shall tract that support the development
• There These are development is proposed.
• </c> a highly structured services and develop a highly structured services and develop and<01:43:19.360
• :43:21.480><c> for</c> and develop sufficient beds for for and develop sufficient beds for for folks.
• Those rules will be developed very soon.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we need to kind of slow development and maybe encourage development in other areas of our city
• </c><01:23:36.719><c> or</c><01:23:36.960><c> planning</c> have development or planning have development
• </c> that might have been developed that might have been developed prezoning.<01:24:47.840><c> House<
• ><c> maybe</c><01:25:31.199><c> encourage</c> slow development and maybe encourage slow development and
• </c> program, the housing urban development program, the housing urban development um<02:20:57.120><c

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In developing the newest, greatest form of what the tax statement could be.
• I'm the development director with CPT, Counties Providing Technology.
• Are you in any way using AI to help with the software development? We are not.
• So I don't like to be unique when it comes to software development.
• It made it, the developer made it sound like people are actually going there.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee met to begin its study of whether the content of the real estate tax statement should be revised to improve transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive from HB 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, legacy fund share, discounts for early payment, and special assessments. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statewide statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from NDACO, including auditors from McKenzie and Richland counties, described the full annual property tax timeline from budgeting through mailing final statements. They explained how counties gather budgets, calculate levies, verify taxable values, handle centrally assessed property, and prepare required notices and statements. They also said public attendance at budget hearings is generally very low, though the notices and statements generate some calls, mostly about whether attendance is required or why taxes are changing. Several members questioned the usefulness of the legislative tax relief line and the complexity of the 5% discount calculation, and county officials said the current process can be confusing and depends on manual data entry and coordination among counties, vendors, and taxing districts. The committee also discussed assessment frequency, valuation equalization, the 3% cap, and whether more frequent reassessment would reduce large jumps in taxable value. County officials said they try to use rotating reassessments and sales-ratio reviews to keep values within statutory tolerance, but staffing, training, and local market changes make the work difficult. NDACO staff estimated, based on a small county survey, that tax statement preparation and mailing costs average about 74 cents per statement, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing, and said HB 1176 added some mailing and administrative costs even if the tax statement itself did not change dramatically. Software vendors from CPT and Tyler then began presentations showing how their systems handle budgeting, valuation notices, tax statement generation, primary residence credit processing, and levy worksheets, emphasizing that many of the required calculations and reports are still manually entered or verified by county staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• In developing the newest, greatest form of what the tax statement could be.
• I'm the development director with CPT, Counties Providing Technology.
• Are you in any way using AI to help with the software development? We are not.
• So I don't like to be unique when it comes to software development.
• The developer made it sound like people are actually going there.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met to begin its study of the feasibility and desirability of revising the content of the real estate tax statement to improve property tax transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive under House Bill 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, and the Legacy Fund portion of that credit. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual tax cycle, from county budgeting and valuation notices to budget hearing notices, levy certification, cap calculations, and final tax statement mailing. They emphasized that counties and auditors do extensive coordination with taxing districts and neighboring counties, and that the process is labor-intensive and often manual. Members discussed the limited public response to budget notices and tax statements, the difficulty of explaining the legislative tax relief line, the 3% cap and valuation issues, and whether more frequent assessments or different timing would improve understanding. Several members and witnesses noted that many taxpayers only engage when they receive their final bill, and that clarity may be more important than adding more detail. NDACO also presented a rough cost survey from eight counties, estimating an average tax statement cost of about 74 cents and a statewide total near $600,000 for printing and mailing tax statements alone, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing. Witnesses noted that House Bill 1176 added other mailings and notices, increasing county workload and cost beyond the statement itself. The committee then heard from software vendors, who explained how their systems handle tax billing, budget notices, valuation notices, primary residence credit processing, and tax levy calculations, and they identified the 1600/1685 primary residence credit and discount interaction as a current programming challenge. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the agenda, committee, is RS 33155, Development Impact Fees, with Representative Alfieri.
• I'll read it out loud: A development impact fee ordinance adopted by... ...targeting courthouses and
• I'll read it out loud: A development impact fee ordinance adopted by... ...through 24, I'll read it out
• loud: A development impact fee ordinance adopted by a county that imposes a development impact fee for

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, future development or growth.
• </c><00:13:47.520><c> lead</c> consideration when we developed lead consideration when we developed lead
• I'm the deputy commissioner of economic development at DEED.
• developments, and we have appreciated developments, and we have appreciated a<01:44:33.120><c> very</
• <01:47:30.320><c> of</c> development of development of uh,<01:47:31.680><c> bus</c><01:47:31.920><c>

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They show the gift of development forward rather than regression backward.
• </c><00:04:38.919><c> forward</c> show the gift of development forward show the gift of development forward
• </c> um it instructed them to develop um it instructed them to develop recommendations<00:26:33.520><
• Development of health care workers takes time.
• We developed a cost-effective aware.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, CCRPs have effectively stalled the development of crisis continuums.
• Requiring local governments to develop a child care plan is crucial.
• It supports economic development by enabling workforce participation.
• And healthy child development.
• Economic development.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child and family services bills, with testimony from authors, county officials, advocates, and members of the public. AB 2083 would authorize a regional child care special district for Marina Valley and Paris; there was no public opposition, but a vice chair raised concerns about lack of outreach to Riverside County and possible added fees for residents. The bill was held pending quorum and later noted as enjoying a due pass recommendation, though no final roll was taken in the excerpt. AB 1579, which expands the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to allow additional CDSS-approved residential models, drew strong support from San Francisco County, Seneca Family of Agencies, and several counties and advocacy groups, who argued the current crisis residential model is financially and operationally unworkable and leaves youth in hospitals or emergency departments. The Youth Law Center and allied organizations opposed the bill, saying it departs from the original small, community-based crisis model and could lead to more institutional care. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 1628 would extend California’s safe surrender window for newborns from 72 hours to 30 days. The author and fire service supporters said the change would better reflect postpartum recovery and help prevent unsafe abandonment; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 1634, dealing with the “Kids” specialty license plate program, sought to raise plate fees and revise distribution formulas to generate more revenue for child safety and child care programs. Supporters said the update would modernize outdated 1992 pricing and expand county access, while a committee member objected that the bill would reallocate funds away from state agencies and private nonprofits; the bill was moved on a 5-0 vote with some members not voting. AB 1643 would streamline child support enrollment by having courts transmit support orders directly to child support agencies unless a custodial parent opts out. Supporters said automatic enrollment would reduce poverty and remove paperwork barriers, while opponents warned it could undermine parent choice and create problems for families with sensitive circumstances. The committee passed the bill 6-0. AB 1708 would require regions receiving HHAP homelessness funds to more meaningfully engage smaller cities; many city officials supported it as a way to include jurisdictions that are doing local homelessness work, while Los Angeles’ mayor’s office opposed it. The bill passed 5-0. AB 2395 would standardize access to the child support debt reduction program; supporters described it as a way to help low-income obligors escape uncollectible government-owed debt, while receiving parents and child support agencies warned it could reduce money owed to families and needs more work. The bill passed 4-0. The committee then began AB 1914, which would require local governments to plan for child care in general plans; supporters framed child care as essential infrastructure, while at least one member raised concerns about state mandates on local jurisdictions, and the excerpt ends before any vote.