Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, I can sell it in the lobby if I chose to. So, this needs to be the year that we ban 7-OH.
• IN FACT I CAN SELL IT IN THE LOBBY IF I CHOSE TO.

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior Journal, and then handled several introductions and resolutions. Senator Bailey introduced Jayson Fefami, described as the Bronx-based creator of the “quarter zip” trend, and the chamber welcomed him with applause. Senator Cooney presented a privileged resolution memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim July 1, 2026, as Canada Day in New York, emphasizing the state’s economic, cultural, and border ties with Canada; the resolution was adopted. Senator Hinchey also spoke on a previously adopted resolution designating February 21-28, 2026, as National FFA Organization Week, with Senator Helming and visiting FFA students and advisers offering remarks in support of agricultural education and youth leadership. The Senate then took up the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures related to a fiscal task force, environmental conservation, urban development, education, workers’ compensation, elder law, real property, general business, state finance, insurance, tenant protection, and public health. Several bills passed unanimously, while others drew limited opposition; for example, the Environmental Conservation and Education measures had a handful of negative votes, and the real property bill drew more substantial opposition. Senator Webb explained her vote on a bill addressing college student food insecurity by exempting certain meal-share donations from sales tax, saying students should not have to choose between class and hunger. Senator Palumbo also explained his vote on the kratom labeling bill, supporting the measure while urging future action on the synthetic opioid 7-OH. The chamber also discharged several identical Assembly bills from Rules and substituted Senate versions earlier in the day, and later passed those measures on the floor. At the end of the session, the Senate completed the calendar, reported no further business, and adjourned until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is giving voice to a group that doesn't have a lobby. They don't have a lobby.

Bills: HB1220

Committee: Senate Workforce Development

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee reconvened to discuss House Bill 1119, which would create a child care advisory committee and authorize a Legislative Council program evaluation of child care services. Senator Hogan explained that the bill is intended to review child care licensing rules, child care assistance, and related laws and policies, while also giving child care providers a stronger voice in the rulemaking process. He described the proposal as a new model for legislative program evaluation and noted that leadership had been briefed and was supportive. Committee members raised concerns about the bill’s wording, scope, and structure. Senator Larson questioned the title and several sections, and multiple members suggested making the response language less directive and more collaborative, including changing “shall” to “may” in the section requiring a written response from the Department of Health and Human Services. Members also discussed limiting the advisory committee to the interim, clarifying that the evaluation would focus on child care services rather than broader early childhood programs, and adjusting language about enacted legislation to sound more neutral. The committee also discussed fiscal impact, with Hogan saying the evaluation would be done by Legislative Council staff and that any costs would likely be limited to meetings and existing DHS rulemaking activities. Members compared the proposal to other oversight models, including audit-style reviews and a possible DOGE process, and Hogan emphasized that the bill is meant to evaluate why child care issues keep recurring and why some laws are not fully implemented. No vote was taken; the committee agreed to continue refining the bill and planned to meet again the following Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• public administrator for Miami-Dade County, I went to Orlando to a conference, and I was sitting in the lobby
• I went to Orlando to a conference, and I was sitting in the lobby just reading a book after the session

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee heard and approved three bills. HB 1165 by Rep. Owen would authorize FDOT to issue a special blanket permit for mobile cranes and accessory support vehicles meeting specified size limits, allowing them to travel on and off interstates at all hours, including at night, while still following safety requirements and local travel restrictions. The sponsor and crane industry proponents said the bill would reduce congestion and improve emergency and disaster response. The bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The committee also considered CS for HB 279 by Rep. Partington, which strengthens penalties for misuse of the 911 system. The bill adds restitution requirements for emergency response costs and creates enhanced felony penalties when a false emergency report causes great bodily harm or death. Members raised concerns about juvenile prank calls and suggested awareness efforts in schools; the sponsor said those ideas could be considered separately. A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office representative supported the bill, and it passed favorably by a unanimous vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 177 by Reps. Harris and Woodson, designating a portion of I-Drive as the Harris Rosenway in honor of philanthropist and hotelier Harris Rosen. An amendment was adopted to also designate a bridge in Duval County as the Bernard Wilkes Rebaugh River Bridge in honor of longtime coach Bernard Wilkes. Members spoke in support of both honorees and their community impact. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if someone could get through that intense and short moment of an active suicidal crisis, chances
• These experienced organizers were part of the broader network of Filipino labor activism.
• We're actually going to actively, openly impede. We're going to use fear-mongering.
• He worked with the California Medical Association before founding his own lobbying firm in 1982.
• Helen was active in Sacramento's Greek community.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a heavy floor schedule with several procedural motions and unanimous-consent actions, including withdrawing AB 362 from Appropriations, moving SB 494 to the inactive file, and rescinding prior action on SB 400. Members also adopted a motion suspending the rules to withdraw AB 362 from Appropriations and place it on second reading, with the roll showing 41 ayes and 13 noes. The chamber then took up ACR 70, proclaiming September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Assembly Member Pellerin presented the resolution with a personal account of losing her husband to suicide and urged use of the 988 lifeline, safe firearm storage, and open conversations about mental health. Many members from both parties and caucuses shared personal stories and support. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, Senate amendments were concurred in, and suicide awareness pins were distributed. Members next concurred in Senate amendments to AB 977 on Native American human remains, with broad support and a 68-0 vote, and to AB 1510 on public employees, which passed 66-1. HR 65, designating October as Filipino American History Month, drew extensive remarks on Filipino American history, labor, public service, and community contributions; it was adopted by voice vote with 63 co-authors added. The Assembly also passed SB 81 and SB 98, both urgency measures aimed at protecting immigrant communities in health care facilities and schools from immigration enforcement activity, and both were sent immediately to the Senate after 54-10 and 54-8 votes, respectively. Finally, the chamber debated SJR 9 condemning immigration raids; supporters described fear and family disruption, while one Republican member argued for secure borders and criticized the bill and related policies. The transcript ends during that debate without showing a final vote on SJR 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• Writing was her first activity.
• We do have an active security guard at night.
• We do that, and the activity...
• Capability to activate the National Weather Service NOAA weather radios.
• You did lobby; you came here.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, I think that other countries are going to be actively pursuing carbon fees and carbon pricing
• </c> countries are going to to be uh actively countries are going to to be uh actively pursuing<00:10
• Why can’t organizations that are in favor of this type of activity form their own commissions, invite
• </c><00:26:33.240><c> form</c> in favor of this type of activity form in favor of this type of activity
• </c><01:13:13.600><c> is</c> I know that citizens climate Lobby is I know that citizens climate Lobby

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Put a 30-day shot clock on a lot of government activities. What do you think?
• </c><01:39:19.000><c> We</c><01:39:19.120><c> move</c> for civic engagement activities.
• We move for civic engagement activities. We move to<01:39:19.520><c> concur.
• she is serving as the executive director for three counties for MedChi and doing a little bit of lobbying
• </c> little bit of lobbying for them as well. little bit of lobbying for them as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I won't ask you what the definition of social activism means because it says it should be defined
• There is a definition of social activism, although in the language it is a little bit vague as if it
• Social activism is the act of working to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political,
• We want social activism. We just don't want our state dollars to be paying for it.
• There are a lot of great things in this bill, aside from embryology and activism.

Summary: The Pre-K Through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered four bills. CS/HB 1403, by Rep. Yeager, would allow child care facilities to participate in the school guardian program and clarify school perimeter and door security requirements. An amendment clarifying that private security companies would pay for training was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably 11-0. CS/HB 447, the Evan B. Hartzell Act by Rep. Salzman, would provide guidance for schools that choose to teach disability history and awareness during the first two weeks of October, including age-appropriate instruction by grade band. The bill received supportive testimony from advocates and was reported favorably 11-0. CS/HB 257, by Reps. Chambliss and Tramont, would expand on a prior pilot program to allow video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms serving nonverbal students and others with significant disabilities, as a safeguard against abuse and to improve accountability. The bill drew strong support from parents and disability advocates describing abuse concerns, and it was reported favorably 13-0. CS/HB 1255, by Vice Chair Trabulsy, was a broad education bill addressing teacher shortages, scholarship program screening, health and math instruction, corporal punishment policy, and restrictions on spending public funds on organizations tied to discrimination or political/social activism. A major focus of debate was the bill’s human embryologic development instruction and related video language, with supporters calling it science-based and opponents warning it could be medically inaccurate or ideological. After the sponsor said she would amend some language, including removing ABCTE-related text and clarifying the video language, the bill was reported favorably 12-1. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• community-based services ranging from personal care aides who help older adults with their daily activities
• If you were to lobby the people that are sitting next to you to make sure that the system made those
• If you were to lobby the people that are sitting next to you to make sure that the system made those
• Finally, our current state policies actively penalize those who attempt to adhere to meaningful involvement
• systems where transgender, gender-expansive older adults are not only protected on paper, but are actively

Transcript Highlights:

• And what type of activity did you see and observe?
• </c> of activity did you see and observe? of activity did you see and observe?
• </c> site visits, one you saw no activity. site visits, one you saw no activity.
• So there’s a lot of activity in that area.
• I wanted um to activity in that area.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's highly frustrating that with all of this, I lobbied hard in these last hours as this bill was
• And it's highly frustrating that with all of this, I lobbied hard in these last hours as this bill was
• And it's highly frustrating that with all of this, I lobbied hard in these last hours as this bill was
• hard in these all of this, I lobbyed hard in these last<00:27:27.919><c> hours</c><00:27:29.200><c>
• </c><02:01:09.840><c> your</c> can be more effective in lobbying your can be more effective in lobbying

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 189 active projects right now, representing almost 42,000 potential new jobs and $280 billion
• We very intentionally have been clear that we don't lobby for the events themselves.
• We want to see that move forward, and we're actively trying to identify who that could be."
• And we're actively trying to identify who that could be." "Okay.
• And then Louisiana, we met with Lobby.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Dean is highly involved in school activities and has a strong passion for the outdoors.
• His activities and hobbies include sports, politics, government, and snowboarding.
• Victor has been a longtime active member of his community.
• I met him many years ago. ...a longtime active member of his community.
• Yes, Victor is a wonderful community member, active in so many places.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't care if the apartment association is for it or against it or whatever other lobbying group.
• I don't care if the apartment association is for it or against it or whatever other lobbying group.
• I don't care if the apartment association is for it or against it or whatever other lobbying group.
• I don't care if the apartment association is for it or against it or whatever other lobbying group.
• I don't care if the apartment association is for it or against it or whatever other lobbying group.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:15:05.600><c> great</c><01:15:05.760><c> time</c><01:15:05.920><c> to</c><01:15:06.159><c> lobby
• </c> hallway, that was a great time to lobby hallway, that was a great time to lobby her<01:15:06.640
• come to her had uh young constituents come to her office<01:41:28.320><c> and</c><01:41:28.560><c> lobby
• ><c> uh</c><01:41:30.320><c> to</c><01:41:30.719><c> have</c><01:41:30.880><c> this</c> office and lobby
• her on uh to have this office and lobby her on uh to have this become<01:41:31.360><c> the</c><01:41

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I know we have a couple of questions, but can we also have some folks from lobby and NFIB come
• This clarifies some trust activity so that trusts would be eligible for that as well, as long as the
• It kind of incorporates the trust activity into the same exemption. And that's about all it does.
• We have Lori Adams with the Pelican Institute, Jim Patterson with Lobby, Will DeBose with the Louisiana

Bills: HB214 , HB217 , HB253 , HB411 , HB440 , HB514 , HB515 , HB543 , HB614 , HB620 , HB658 , HB812 , HB898 , HB961

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• California can capture outsized value by ensuring it serves as a hub for more than just startup activity
• hearing more about specific research happening, but I wanted to give you more of an overview of our activities
• I think a lot of lobbying has a lot to do with that.
• And we would contend with a lot of lobbying here if we push for legislation that pushed for any kind

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focusing on California’s alternative protein sector and the role of public institutions in expanding plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated protein options. Chair Ash Kalra opened by highlighting prior state investments in UC research centers, the importance of student engagement, and the hearing’s three panels: reducing the carbon footprint of institutional meals, addressing market challenges to scaling alternative proteins, and advancing future food research and workforce development. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan also briefly praised the committee’s work and its relevance to climate and health goals. The first panel featured Friends of the Earth, UCLA Dining, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Megan Jones described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts expand plant-based meals, reduce water and carbon footprints, and improve student satisfaction. Pete Angelese explained how UCLA Dining uses concept-driven venues, sustainable purchasing, and marketing nudges to increase plant-forward choices, while Dr. Michelle Wood outlined Los Angeles County’s 2024–2025 board motions to expand plant-based options in county food venues and programs, including joining the World Resources Institute’s Cool Food Pledge. Committee members asked about costs, procurement, and how student and consumer behavior can be influenced. The second panel addressed market barriers to scaling alternative proteins. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner emphasized that the sector faces a cost-and-scale trap, high capital needs, and financing gaps, and they recommended grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and workforce development. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat argued that the category has faced a recent downturn due to consumer skepticism, industry attacks on “fake meat,” and pricing pressures, and said the key to renewed growth is increasing demand through better taste, health, pricing, and messaging around “plant protein.” Panelists also discussed hidden subsidies and structural advantages for conventional animal agriculture, and committee members raised questions about iBank loan guarantees and supply chain challenges. The final panel highlighted UCLA’s research and training efforts. Dr. Amy Roet described the Future Food Fellows program, which trains students across disciplines in science, communication, leadership, and community-building, and supports research on scalable, safe, and nutritious alternative proteins. Corinne Smith shared her cultivated meat research and student leadership in the Alternative Proteins Project at UCLA. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and terminology strongly affect acceptance, with “plant protein” and “complementary proteins” testing better than “fake meat.” The hearing concluded with support for continued public investment, clearer messaging, and expanded education and workforce pipelines to help California remain a leader in alternative protein innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• California can capture outsized value by ensuring it serves as a hub for more than just startup activity
• hearing more about specific research happening, but I wanted to give you more of an overview of our activities
• I think a lot of lobbying has a lot to do with that.
• And we would contend with a lot of lobbying here if we push for legislation that pushed for any kind

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focused on how California can expand alternative proteins through institutional food programs, market support, and research. Chair Ash Kalra said the committee’s purpose was to inform future legislation and budget actions, noting prior state investments in UC research centers and the committee’s interest in consumer education, sustainability, and student workforce development. The first panel highlighted efforts to increase plant-based options in schools, UCLA dining, and Los Angeles County food services, with witnesses describing menu changes, technical assistance, and procurement policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving access to healthier meals. Megan Jones of Friends of the Earth described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts add plant-based meals, reduce water use and food costs, and increase student participation. Pete Angelese of UCLA Dining said the university serves more than 30,000 meals a day and has built a plant-forward dining model using alternative proteins, marketing nudges, and waste-tracking tools; he said sustainability goals raise costs but can be managed through scale and efficiency. Dr. Michelle Wood of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health outlined county board motions in 2024 and 2025 to expand plant-based food options in county venues and food assistance programs and to join the Cool Food Pledge, with early adoption in the sheriff’s jail food service. The second panel addressed barriers to scaling the industry. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner said alternative proteins face a financing gap because companies need expensive facilities before demand is proven, and they urged grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and shared pilot infrastructure. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat said the category has faced a market downturn driven by overhyped expectations, negative messaging from the meat industry, and consumer confusion, and argued for reframing the category around “plant protein” and using public procurement to build demand. Members asked about subsidies for animal agriculture, supply-chain challenges, and the state’s loan guarantee cap, with witnesses saying current support structures favor conventional meat and that California could do more to keep manufacturing in-state. The final panel focused on research and workforce development at UCLA. Dr. Amy Rohat described a state-funded Future Food Fellows program and broader UC collaboration that now includes more than 50 faculty and trainees across multiple departments, with work spanning cell biology, engineering, food safety, and consumer communication. Corinne Smith, a UCLA PhD student, discussed her cultivated meat research and student outreach through the Alternative Proteins Project. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and language strongly affect acceptance, and said terms like “plant protein” and “cultivated meat” tested better than “fake meat.” Chair Kalra closed by emphasizing that language, policy, and public education will all be important to advancing alternative protein innovation in California.

Transcript Highlights:

• And especially in the lobby where these murals are located. The House will be in order.
• And especially in the lobby where these murals are located. The House will be in order.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB1795 , HB2107 , HB2113 , HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2133 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2211 , HB2219 , HB2245 , HB2253 , HB2283 , HB2343 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB2531 , HB2574 , HB1170 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2156 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2360 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2525 , HB2605 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1710 , HB1750 , HB1903 , HB1941 , HB1974 , HB1982 , HB1983 , HB2006 , HB2034 , HB2105 , HB2179 , HB2203 , HB2215 , HB2223 , HB2239 , HB2247 , HB2297 , HB2303 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2334 , HB2338 , HB2345 , HB2348 , HB2350 , HB2353 , HB2355 , HB2363 , HB2367 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2418 , HB2420 , HB2428 , HB2441 , HB2462 , HB2464 , HB2467 , HB2495 , HB2505 , HB2534 , HB2539 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2554 , HB2557 , HB2575 , HB2577 , HB2588 , HB2594 , HB2604 , HB2636 , HB2714

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the chamber approved the previous day’s minutes. Members then caucused briefly before moving into second reading and third reading action on several bills, with the day also marking the start of the three-minute debate rule through House of Origin cutoff. The House passed House Bill 2338, which expands the low-income home weatherization program to support community-scale weatherization projects, especially for multifamily housing. It also passed House Bill 2353, raising the threshold for requiring predesign work on public projects from $10 million to $15 million, and Substitute House Bill 2363, a trailer bill allowing music therapy students to practice under supervision while exam scores are pending. Members described these as efficiency measures and consumer or workforce improvements. The chamber also approved Substitute House Bill 2525 to establish the Heritage Orchard Program and a registry at Washington State University to preserve rare and heritage apple varieties, with sponsors emphasizing the importance of Washington’s apple industry and agricultural history. Additional bills passed unanimously included Substitute House Bill 2420 on increasing small works roster thresholds, Substitute House Bill 2428 on preventing unintended lapses in life insurance by allowing third-party designees, House Bill 2604 allowing electronic signatures for transferring salvage vehicles to insurers, and Substitute House Bill 2107 making permanent a pilot requiring Labor and Industries to notify employers of identified job-site hazards within 10 days. Finally, the House adopted Amendment 1517 and passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, which updates veterinarian-client-patient relationship rules to allow telehealth between required physical visits and requires annual veterinarian oversight for certain animal production, commercial, and breeding operations. All of the listed bills received overwhelming support, with each final passage vote recorded at 94 yeas and 0 nays, except House Bill 2338, which passed 93-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• health care continue to rise, led largely by the same opponents of basic democratic freedoms and activism
• language to create those religious exemptions because it is assumed under court cases, including Hobby Lobby
• language to create those religious exemptions because it is assumed under court cases, including Humphi Lobby

Bills: SB20 , SB21 , SB166 , SB177 , SB181 , SB189 , SM6

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation