Transcript Highlights:

• It notes their assessment is a roughly $5 million per biennium drop in receipts to them as a result of
• Their assessment is a roughly $5 million per biennium drop in receipts to them as a result of reduced

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee met in executive session on several bills before fiscal cutoff. Staff briefed Substitute House Bill 2236 on the State Housing Finance Commission, House Bill 2281 on state-tribal government-to-government relations, House Bill 2514 to establish a Global War on Terror memorial on the Capitol campus, and House Bill 2551 allowing certain school districts to sell real property under specified conditions. Staff also noted an updated fiscal note for HB 2281 showing a Department of Natural Resources estimate of about a $5 million per-biennium reduction in receipts due to reduced timber sales. HB 2236 was moved out of committee with a due pass recommendation after members discussed whether it expanded the Housing Finance Commission’s authority; the vote was 10-6 with three excused. HB 2514 also passed out of committee, with members generally supporting recognition of veterans and families affected by war, though some objected to the bill’s title and framing; it passed 12-4 with three excused. HB 2551 drew more concern, with some members arguing school districts should not sell capital assets to cover operating costs and others noting local jurisdiction impacts; after additional discussion and reopening of the vote, it ultimately passed 10-8 with one excused. HB 2281 was considered with a proposed substitute and two amendments from Representative Walsh. Amendment H-203, intended to protect critical infrastructure projects, and amendment H-202, intended to preserve access related to timber and natural resource sales, were both rejected. Members supporting the bill said it was meant to protect free exercise of religion and tribal interests, while opponents raised concerns about the bill’s effects and the need for more stakeholder work. The substitute bill then passed out of committee 10-8 with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• place that we could utilize to... ...there is already a system in place that we could utilize to assess
• system or alternative septic system based on the size of the house or the work they want to do but if assess

Bills: HB2029 , HB2030 , HB2096

Committee: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Keywords: water conservation, grants, infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainability, grant fund, Arizona water law, A.R.S. 49-1332, water efficiency, water reuse, education programs, public outreach, rainwater harvesting, gray water, graywater, drought-resistant landscaping, xeriscaping, turf removal, groundwater recharge, aquifer health

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill relates to non-ad valorem special assessments against recreational vehicle parks.
• The legislation clarifies that if local government levies a special assessment against an RV park or

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the public exemption for education and assessments including additional record for custodians
• Nix: I want to make sure that we understand the reliability of the assessment and we do not underestimate

Transcript Highlights:

• It says here in the bill that on line 15, in at least one of the three most recent annual threat assessments
• adversaries means a country: A, is one that's on at least one of the three most recent annual threat assessments

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These evaluations assess agencies on metrics like student retention, graduation rates, employment outcomes
• Senate Bill 2788 is a very simple bill that adds four letters to the code: PSAT, to the list of assessments

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills and took no final votes, leaving each measure pending. The first major item, SB 1322 by Senator Hagenbuch, would create a Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for public colleges and universities using outcome-based metrics such as retention, graduation, employment, debt, and repayment. Supporters, including Kate Byerley of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argued the bill would add competition and align accreditation with Texas workforce needs; Senator Menendez questioned the need for a new bureaucracy and noted the $3.6 million fiscal note, suggesting existing reporting and oversight structures could serve the same purpose. The committee then heard SB 1998, which would establish a pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program to encourage medical students to enter pediatric subspecialties. Dr. Lauren Gamble testified in strong support, saying the program would help address shortages and improve access for children, especially in rural and underserved areas. SB 2788, authored by Senator Menendez, would add the PSAT as an accepted assessment for dual credit and Texas Success Initiative purposes; Priscilla Camacho of Alamo Colleges supported the bill, citing strong student outcomes and widespread use of the PSAT as a readiness indicator. Senator Creighton laid out SB 2076, which would remove or modify certain Capitol view corridor restrictions affecting the UT Austin Academic Medical Center project, including the planned specialty hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center expansion. He said the existing corridors are outdated and limit development. The committee also heard SB 1418, a cleanup bill replacing outdated references to ACT Plan with Pre-ACT and removing obsolete SAT subject test language. After brief testimony and no opposition on the later bills, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 1322, SB 1998, SB 2788, SB 2076, and SB 1418 pending before recessing for the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• While this bill will increase the maximum assessment cap amount that will be collected by the commission
• , AB 482 does not increase the assessment.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 9, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and a consent calendar. The committee first approved a set of unanimous consent bills, then heard and acted on several measures, generally with authors describing them as having minor or absorbable fiscal effects. Bills discussed included AB 439 on Coastal Act streamlining, AB 322 on school-based health and mental health reimbursement participation, AB 679 on state park land acquisition exemptions, AB 482 updating the California Table Grape Commission law, AB 681 increasing the Dream Loan Program cap, AB 40 clarifying emergency services include reproductive health care, AB 454 making the California Migratory Bird Protection Act permanent, AB 572 creating protections for families of people killed or seriously injured by peace officers, and AB 639 narrowing the definition of dams to avoid extra regulation for certain water operators. Testimony was largely in support of the bills. Supporters included representatives from the University of California, the California Table Grape Commission, Audubon California, Sempervirens Fund, emergency physicians, health equity groups, water districts, and several impacted family members and advocacy organizations on AB 572. AB 572 drew especially emotional testimony from family members describing police-involved deaths and the need for transparency and protection from coercive questioning. No organized opposition was raised on most of the bills heard in committee, though AB 439 drew no-votes from some Republicans, and AB 572 and other measures were framed as low-cost or cost-neutral. The committee reported the bills out on roll calls after motions and seconds, with several measures passing on B-roll calls and AB 482 passing on an A-roll call. After the hearing on presented bills, the committee also approved the suspense calendar and accepted brief public comment on bills not heard that day, including opposition to AB 339 and support for AB 335. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number 4, it incorporates the DLA 20 assessment to an evaluation for children and adolescents to ensure
• to implement and biannually review the Ali 20 to ensure providers are using the most effective assessment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have nursing facility quality assessments.
• We have nursing facility quality assessments.
• ,</c><01:47:06.639><c> and</c><01:47:06.960><c> treat</c> meet with, evaluate, assess, and treat meet
• with, evaluate, assess, and treat um<01:47:07.840><c> youth</c><01:47:08.159><c> experiencing</c><01
• If we were to be assessed a 5% fee to these dedicated accounts identified with receiving federal funds

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> needs to be assessed. needs to be assessed.
• </c> assessed there. assessed there.
• So, actually, if they're in that emergency examination, have that opportunity to have that assessment
• The goal would be that you get assessed, and then once you have this kind of history, then we use that
• I reworked it in the language I submitted to the court when assessing whether or not penalties will be

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 3123, which would treat free tuition or school-conditioned enrollment at private educational institutions as a conditional gift rather than a contractual obligation unless otherwise agreed in writing. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, and Kamehameha Schools and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools strongly backed it, saying it would protect donor intent, preserve school-ohana relationships, and help maintain tuition assistance and educational access for families. A committee member commented favorably on the unity among school organizations, and there were no objections raised before the committee moved on. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2438, which creates a civil cause of action for interference with constitutional and statutory rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion, with private and government enforcement options and protections for constitutionally protected speech. Testifiers from the Community Alliance on Prisons and a know-your-rights educator supported the measure as a civil rights protection grounded in the Hawaii Constitution. No opposition testimony was presented during the hearing, and the measure appeared to receive general support from those who testified. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 3142, which establishes offenses for dangerous and habitual dangerous intoxication and allows civil protective custody and emergency examination in lieu of arrest in certain cases. The Attorney General, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Health, and Department of Human Services supported the bill as a treatment-oriented diversion tool for people who are dangerously intoxicated and at risk to themselves or the public. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, warning it could expand police discretion, burden emergency rooms, and function as a loss of liberty without sufficient treatment resources, while committee members questioned whether the bill would simply cycle people through emergency rooms and back onto the street. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided; the chair said decision-making would occur at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The timeframes to effectuate a proper assessment of an individual's eligibility and suitability are built
• enacted in 2024, which provided the court and service providers in misdemeanor cases time to properly assess
• oversight of timeliness and appropriateness of voluntary programs, with the possibility of medical assessment
• oversight of timeliness and appropriateness of voluntary programs with the possibility of medical assessment
• oversight of timeliness and appropriateness of voluntary programs, with the possibility of medical assessment

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1239 dealing with the California Air Resources Board and the standardized regulatory impact assessment
• like for the standardized regulatory impact We would like for the standardized regulatory impact assessment
• Ensuring that these impacts are transparently and accurately assessed is critical to maintaining strong
• We commend the Regional Water Board for its work thus far in taking preliminary steps to assess site
• For its work thus far in taking preliminary steps to assess site contamination.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on environmental quality, climate planning, transparency, water affordability, plastics, recycling, and refinery transition planning. SB 1087, by Senator Cabaldon, would modernize SB 375 regional climate and transportation planning by extending planning cycles, clarifying target-setting and review processes, and reducing time and cost burdens; metropolitan planning organizations strongly supported it, while environmental groups and industry raised concerns about VMT, GHG metrics, CEQA, and implementation details. Committee members generally agreed the process is too costly and complex, but urged the author to keep the bill focused on simpler, less expensive planning and better progress reporting. The bill was moved as amended to Senate Transportation and kept on call. SB 1239, by Senator Jones, would require CARB to update its standardized regulatory impact assessment when a major regulation is materially changed; supporters framed it as a transparency and affordability measure, while the chair argued it could slow rulemaking and discourage agencies from incorporating public feedback. The bill failed on the committee vote and was kept on call. SB 1125, by Senator Menjivar, would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program, contingent on funding, to help households facing rising water bills; public water agencies, environmental justice groups, local governments, and community members from rural areas testified in support, emphasizing affordability and the lack of statewide assistance. The chair and members expressed support for the need for such a program, and the bill passed 3-1 and was kept on call. SB 1180, by Senator Allen, would establish implementation rules for the plastic pollution mitigation fund created by SB 54, including eligibility, reporting, transparency, and technical assistance for smaller organizations and tribes; environmental justice, conservation, and local government groups supported it, while producer and industry groups opposed unless amended, seeking tighter links to measurable mitigation outcomes and the covered products under SB 54. The bill passed 3-0 and was kept on call. SB 1161, by Senator Valadares, would require CARB to provide clearer, plain-language economic analysis of regulations and their impacts on households; supporters described it as a transparency and affordability measure, while some environmental groups offered respectful or qualified opposition. The chair said she could support it as amended, and the bill passed 4-0 and was kept on call. The committee also heard SB 955, by Senator Blakespear, to update California’s beverage container recycling program so major sellers participate and consumers have convenient return options; supporters said it would improve redemption access and program effectiveness, and the bill passed 5-0 and was kept on call. Finally, SB 1259, also by Senator Blakespear, would require refineries to provide earlier disclosure of cleanup liabilities and closure planning information so the state and communities can plan for refinery site remediation and reuse; the author framed it as a transparency and transition-planning measure, and testimony began in support as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It asks the California Air Resources Board, CARB, to include in an assessment of cost-of-living impacts
• It asked the California Air Resources Board, CARB, to include in an assessment of cost-of-living impacts
• An economic assessment on individual consumer goods is an incredibly granular analysis, and it's difficult
• An economic assessment on individual consumer goods is an incredibly granular analysis, and it's difficult
• The PUC will continue working with all relevant stakeholders when assessing the safety of an at-grade

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislature has already taken up this issue last year with SB 57, directing the CPUC to assess whether
• Require the CPUC to ensure that costs assigned to transmission services can be assessed separately from
• Require the CPUC to ensure that costs assigned to transmission services can be assessed separately from
• And just last year, SB 57 was signed into law, which specifically requires the PUC to assess data center
• We should allow that assessment to conclude and be delivered in early 2027 before layering on new, potentially

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, which would streamline approvals for portable plug-in solar devices while setting safety standards. The author and supporters argued the bill would help renters and homeowners with high electricity bills by allowing low-cost balcony solar systems to reduce monthly costs, and they emphasized that the devices would not feed power back to the grid. Supporters included environmental and consumer groups, solar advocates, and many members of the public. Opponents, including electrical workers, firefighters, utilities, and PG&E, raised concerns about shock, fire, overloading, and the need for California-specific building standards. After discussion, the author agreed to committee amendments and later to add compliance with the California Electrical Code in addition to the National Electrical Code; several opponents said that change would move them to neutral. The committee then voted to pass SB 868 out as amended to Senate Judiciary, with some members expressing support while reserving concerns about safety as the bill moves forward. The committee then took up SB 886, dealing with data center electricity use and ratepayer protections. The author said the bill is intended to prevent large data centers from shifting grid and infrastructure costs onto other customers, citing rapid growth in data center demand and examples from other states. Supporters, including TURN and climate groups, said the bill would require data centers to pay for their own grid impacts, pre-fund long-term clean energy resources, participate in demand response, and cover related costs. Opponents from the data center industry, tech and business groups, utilities, and some energy users argued the bill was unnecessary, could duplicate CPUC processes, and could create discriminatory rate treatment or operational problems, especially around mandatory demand response and limits on backup generation. Committee staff described amendments narrowing the bill to large data centers, clarifying tariff and cost-allocation provisions, replacing a storage requirement with a long-term zero-carbon procurement mechanism, and exempting certain public and utility facilities. Members discussed the balance between affordability, reliability, and clean energy, with the bill framed as a way to protect ratepayers while allowing data center growth.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislature has already taken up this issue last year with SB 57, directing the CPUC to assess whether
• Require the CPUC to ensure that costs assigned to transmission services can be assessed separately from
• Require the CPUC to ensure that costs assigned to transmission services can be assessed separately from
• And just last year, SB 57 was signed into law, which specifically requires the PUC to assess data center
• We should allow that assessment to conclude and be delivered in early 2027 before layering on new, potentially

Summary: The committee first heard SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, which would streamline approval for portable plug-in solar devices for homes and apartments. The author and supporters argued the bill would help renters and other Californians lower electric bills, expand access to solar, and create statewide safety standards through UL certification and the National Electrical Code. Opponents, including electrical workers, firefighters, utilities, and PG&E, raised concerns about shock, fire, backfeeding, older electrical systems, and the bill bypassing the California Electrical Code and Building Standards Commission process. After extended discussion and testimony from UL, the author agreed to add California Electrical Code language, and several opponents indicated they would move to neutral; the committee then passed the bill out as amended to the Senate Judiciary Committee on a roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 886, which would establish rules for large data centers to prevent electricity cost shifts to other ratepayers. The author and supporters said rapid data center growth could drive major grid costs and that the bill would require data centers to pay for their own infrastructure, participate in demand response, and secure new zero-carbon resources. Supporters included environmental and consumer groups, while opponents such as the Data Center Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, utilities, and business groups argued the bill was unnecessary, could duplicate CPUC proceedings, and might impose operationally risky mandates, especially around demand response and backup power. Committee staff described amendments narrowing the bill to large data centers, clarifying tariff and cost-allocation provisions, replacing behind-the-meter storage with a pre-funded long-term clean energy contract, and exempting certain public and critical facilities; the discussion continued with questions about cost responsibility, clean energy targets, and peak-load management.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislature has already taken up this issue last year with SB 57, directing the CPUC to assess whether
• Require the CPUC to ensure that costs assigned to transmission services can be assessed separately from
• Require the CPUC to ensure that costs assigned to transmission services can be assessed separately from
• And just last year, SB 57 was signed into law, which specifically requires the CPUC to assess data center
• We should allow that assessment to conclude and be delivered in early 2027 before layering on new, potentially

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• current law right now, when a minor calls in and we understand that they are a minor, we do a safety assessment
• Lee Flynn continued: We do a safety assessment to figure out what is going on, what is the person's crisis
• Lee Flynn continued: I understand how it can feel very abrupt if a person is assessed at not meeting
• I understand how it can feel very abrupt if a person is assessed at not meeting the emergency criteria
• The current statute only requires investigative or risk assessment interviews.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every time we experience a wildfire, they assess whether there were wildfire resilience projects in the
• Additionally, each project is contingent on a variety of state, federal, and local permits, assessments
• So, climate command is pretty chill in my assessment area this time around.
• I agree with the assessment that meets the LAO's sort of standard there.
• But, So I would like to focus on the board, I agree with the assessment that meets the LAO's sort of

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grants will be based upon a comprehensive needs assessment for autism spectrum disorder research and
• bonds to pay for the needed infrastructure in the developer's approved plan and to levy a special assessment
• approved plan, and to levy a developer's approved plan, and to levy a special<00:39:09.880><c> assessment
• </c><00:39:10.880><c> against</c><00:39:11.440><c> all</c> special assessment against all special assessment

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, today's hearing is an assessment of the way the state currently taxes income on foreign subsidiaries
• world-class lineup of speakers and witnesses to help us better understand the current system and assess
• which in turn results in less Subject to tax decreases, which in turn results in less tax being assessed
• higher by using water's edge due to the decreases in everywhere sales, the result is that less tax is assessed
• slide related to this is: well, is there even more information that could be used by the FTB in assessing

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. The LAO and Franchise Tax Board explained the basic mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and how water’s-edge generally excludes most foreign subsidiaries while worldwide reporting includes the full unitary group. FTB officials said water’s-edge filers are a small share of corporate filers but account for a large share of tax liability, and they described filing trends, industry mix, and the administrative steps needed to administer either system. Members and witnesses debated the policy trade-offs. Supporters of moving away from water’s-edge argued that it enables profit shifting, especially for large multinational and IP-heavy firms, and that eliminating it could raise significant revenue and improve fairness for smaller domestic businesses. They cited estimates of billions in potential revenue and said California already has the audit and reporting infrastructure to handle worldwide reporting, though some transition time would be needed. Opponents argued that worldwide reporting would tax foreign activity unrelated to California, create double taxation, increase compliance burdens and litigation, and could be difficult for foreign-based multinationals to document. They also warned that some of the revenue estimates are highly uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the risk of companies leaving California, the effect on intellectual property shifting, and whether federal or Supreme Court action could block a change. Witnesses generally said major firms would be unlikely to leave because California taxes sales rather than physical presence, but some costs could be passed on to consumers. The panel also discussed alternatives such as conforming to federal international tax rules like NCTI/GILTI and adding anti-abuse rules. No vote or bill action was taken; the hearing was informational only.