Transcript Highlights:

• We should not be waiving proposals around the normal process.
• And there are measures on the ballot in Contra Costa County and Los Angeles County right now, which is
• I'm not here to rise in support of the ballot measure, but simply the ability of the people of these
• California must continue to uphold fair and equal access to the ballot box.
• Through misleading ballot titles and summaries for decades.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a floor introduction welcoming Berkeley Mayor Adina Ishi. The body then moved through a series of third-reading bills, with most measures presented as responses to current policy concerns and several placed on call before roll votes were completed. Early measures included SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1112 increasing penalties for towing industry notice violations, SB 877 requiring insurers to disclose claim materials and revisions, SB 1046 directing Cal/OSHA to develop protections for workers exposed to transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley, and SB 1091 creating a community anti-displacement and preservation housing program. These bills generally drew support and passed, with SB 1091 ultimately passing 34-2 after a call vote. The floor also considered SB 951 on AI-related layoffs and worker notice, SB 1030 repealing the “man in the house” rule in CalWORKs, SB 1218 tying vehicle registration renewal to payment of illegal dumping fines, SB 1013 tightening privacy and oversight rules for automated license plate readers, SB 1116 making technical changes to the Starter Home Revitalization Act, SB 1201 protecting veterans from food-assistance cuts, and SB 1164 strengthening state voting-rights protections. Debate on SB 1013 featured sharp disagreement over whether the bill’s 30-day retention limit and audit requirements were necessary guardrails or would hinder law enforcement investigations. SB 1164 also drew opposition over concerns about litigation and expanded Attorney General oversight, but supporters argued California should codify voting-rights protections amid federal uncertainty. Most of these measures passed, with SB 1013 and SB 1164 receiving notable no votes. A major portion of the session focused on AB 1768, an urgency measure authorizing Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties to place local sales-tax measures before voters to help offset federal funding cuts to health care and safety-net services. Supporters framed it as a local-control measure needed to backfill losses from federal disinvestment and protect Medi-Cal, CalFresh, hospitals, clinics, and county services; opponents argued it would worsen affordability, expand regressive taxation, and bypass normal committee review. After extensive debate, the urgency measure received the required votes and passed. The Senate also adopted SCR 171 designating May 20 as California Nonprofits Day by unanimous roll call. The session ended with committee announcements, including budget subcommittee meetings, and a notice that the Senate would recess and reconvene later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• We should not be waiving proposals around the normal process.
• And there are measures on the ballot in Contra Costa County and Los Angeles County right now, which is
• I'm not here to rise in support of the ballot measure, but simply the ability of the people of these
• California must continue to uphold fair and equal access to the ballot box.
• titles and summaries. through misleading ballot titles and summaries for decades.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from Congress that we then, as states, can ratify, proposing a balanced budget.
• The last time that it was proposed by our congressional delegation was in 2023.
• The last time that it was proposed by our congressional delegation was in 2023.
• It adds real verification before the ballot is issued.
• the issuance of a ballot.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to change the rules on how the ballot title is formulated.
• I made some comments earlier about the proposed income tax.
• I made some comments earlier about the proposed income tax.
• Yeah, I've yet to hear of a tax proposal that I think Republicans would support.
• There's been a lot of taxes proposed. You mentioned the cigarette tax.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate and House Republican leaders held a joint media availability focused on affordability, budget concerns, and opposition to several Democratic tax proposals. John Braun and Drew Stokesbary said Washingtonians are still struggling with the cost of food, gas, housing, child care, and health care, and argued Democrats are not advancing bills that would ease those pressures. They criticized a draft income tax proposal they said would function as a small business tax, especially because it would disallow loss carryforwards and could discourage investment in housing and other capital-intensive sectors. They also objected to a proposed tire fee and a bill they said would prevent tire sellers from telling customers about the tax. The Republicans said they planned to raise budget and tax concerns in an upcoming meeting with Governor Ferguson, and Stokesbary said he had introduced a budget-savings bill to consolidate University of Washington investment management with the State Investment Board. They also discussed a bill to make it harder to qualify citizen initiatives, calling it anti-democratic, and said they want stronger oversight and legal reforms related to DCYF and state liability in child welfare cases. Braun and Stokesbary said they were open to discussing tort reform and a civil claims process, but emphasized the underlying problem is state failure in protecting children. On health care, they said they were still reviewing a bill to eliminate interest on medical debt and a separate 340B drug-pricing proposal, warning both could have unintended effects on hospitals, patients, and drug innovation. They also said they support the idea of protecting children online and in schools, but want any social media, AI chatbot, or cell phone-related bills written carefully to avoid First Amendment problems and unintended consequences. On public safety, they expressed concern about a bill restricting police retention of automatic license plate reader data, arguing law enforcement needs such tools to solve crimes. No votes were taken, and the event ended with the Republicans reiterating their opposition to tax increases and their focus on affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does the substitute deal with the ballot language? Not the ballot language.
• The clerks don’t actually choose the ballot names.
• I’ve seen ballot language that talks about a waiver.
• So you aren't voting on something that is an A in one ballot and a B on somebody else's ballot.
• And then we mail out ballots.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this language to Title 67 in this legislation in Chapter 66, is to allow churches to get involved in ballot
• They would have to report every one of their donors, whether that person gave for the purpose of the ballot
• They would have to report every one of their donors, whether that person gave for the purpose of the ballot
• And you came with data and information to back up your proposal.
• And you came with data and information to back up your proposal. And so really appreciate it.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> current legislation, proposed current legislation, proposed legislation<00:53:01.280><c> that</c
• </c><01:27:01.600><c> Um</c> this proposed warrant article? Um this proposed warrant article?
• So, they absolutely had the power to change the ballot for us, the outcome of that ballot article for
• So, they absolutely had the power to change the ballot for us, the outcome of that ballot article for
• </c> outcome of that ballot article for us. outcome of that ballot article for us.

Committee: House Education Funding

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had read in one of the bills, I proposed a 150-foot setback.
• will fulfill that requirement that was put, I guess, into statute from that ballot measure?
• And they need to pay their fair share, not a cut rate down to the 12% that's been proposed.
• And they need to pay the fair share, not a cut rate down to the 12% that's been proposed.
• That's just unfair. fair share, not a cut rate down to the 12% that's been proposed.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Utilities Committee resumed hearing on House Bills 2402 and 2816, which address utility-scale solar development. The chair asked witnesses to keep comments to informational purposes, and testimony focused on setbacks, taxation, land conversion caps, county authority, decommissioning, and impacts on neighboring landowners and rural communities. Several witnesses said they supported solar in limited settings such as rooftops or industrial sites, but opposed or wanted changes to the bills’ treatment of agricultural land, especially the proposed 4% cap on cropland conversion and the 500-foot setback from homes. Testimony from landowners and farm groups emphasized concerns about property rights, viewshed impacts, fire risk, drainage and floodplain issues, and the loss of agricultural tax base and local economic activity. They argued the proposed $2,500 per megawatt tax was too low and suggested higher rates, with some recommending $6,000 per megawatt or more, along with decommissioning requirements and stronger county-level protections. A Renew Missouri representative supported much of the bill but preferred a smaller setback and raised constitutional concerns about changing solar land from agricultural to commercial assessment. Other witnesses, including a county commissioner, described local regulations already in place in some counties and asked for clearer statewide standards. Industry and utility representatives said the legislation was generally workable but needed further discussion on setbacks and property tax treatment. Clean Grid Alliance and related witnesses argued that tax comparisons with other states should account for total tax burden, not just nameplate taxes, and said higher taxes would raise electricity costs for consumers. Ameren Missouri said it was acceptable with most provisions, but cautioned against overly aggressive real-property assessments and noted its current and planned solar buildout. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee adjourned after taking testimony on both bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re proposing calendaring five bills for the supplemental calendar for Thursday, March 13, 2025: House
• Community Grants project when they were campaigning on this, and the last time when it was on the ballot
• She said people talked about the Community Grants project while campaigning and when it was on the ballot
• She said people talked about the Community Grants project while campaigning and when it was on the ballot
• and get these a a very pretty proposal and get these State<00:09:28.120><c> funds</c><00:09:28.560><

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Jones of North Reading and other members of the House move to amend the order in proposed Joint Rule
• following proposed rule: Proposed Rule 35A.
• This proposal is not just...
• Now, let's remember, getting a question on the ballot is not an easy thing.
• And further amend the order and proposed Rule 17A.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first took up House Bill 58, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The chamber adopted a further amendment offered by Rep. Michael Witts of Boston, then concurred with the Senate as amended after a roll call vote of 128-23. The House then moved to the orders of the day and considered the proposed permanent joint rules for the 2025-2026 session (House No. 2026 / Senate No. 18), with Rep. Moran of Brighton presenting the package as a set of transparency and process reforms, including joint committee procedures, a 60-day reporting deadline, public posting of summaries and testimony, and revised formal session timing. A series of minority amendments offered largely by Rep. Jones of North Reading and others were debated and repeatedly rejected, including proposals to require roll call votes for post-July 31 formal business, require two weeks’ notice for such sessions, publish State Auditor audits on the legislative website, require SJC advisory opinions on constitutional disputes, extend poll windows to two hours, require advance notice of electronic polls, and lengthen amendment filing deadlines. Supporters argued these changes would improve transparency, accountability, and member access; opponents said they would slow the legislative process and reduce flexibility. Most of these amendments failed on roll call votes by margins of 128-23 or similar, while a technical amendment from Rep. Galvin was adopted. The House then adopted the joint rules package by roll call, 128-23. The chamber also adopted the House rules package for the 2025-2026 session (House No. 2024) after debate led by Rep. Galvin of Canton, who emphasized modernization, online transparency, in-person participation, and an outside audit and EEO officer. Additional minority amendments on committee reporting, timing of formal business, and poll procedures were debated and defeated, while one technical amendment was adopted. The House later returned to the issue of legislative audits, rejecting an amendment to require House audits by the State Auditor after a lengthy debate over Question 1, separation of powers, and the scope of the auditor’s authority. The session ended with a memorial tribute to former Rep. Carol Doherty and an order to adjourn until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the major difference is the grazing rotation proposed by Senator Westrom and also the battle already
• the uh grazing major difference is the uh grazing rotation rotation rotation uh<00:18:45.600><c> proposed
• um</c><00:18:48.160><c> Senator</c><00:18:48.559><c> Westertorm</c><00:18:49.919><c> and</c> uh proposed
• by um Senator Westertorm and uh proposed by um Senator Westertorm and also<00:18:51.600><c> uh</c><00
• 00:24:46.159><c> want</c><00:24:46.240><c> to</c> ...I want to bring back to us the result of the ballot

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> official ballot. official ballot. Further<04:21:47.120><c> comments?</c> Further comments?
• onto the official ballot. When um the onto the official ballot.
• </c> meeting is also on the official ballot. meeting is also on the official ballot.
• </c> government is done by official ballot. government is done by official ballot.
• </c> on the ballot, it's a negative question. on the ballot, it's a negative question.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026, to act on a series of bills. Early in the meeting, members agreed that they could consult the online submission summaries rather than have changing submission counts read aloud. The committee then took up House Bill 1386, which would have allowed citizens in a municipality to vote to require a financial audit of a local school district. Members opposing the bill argued that school districts already have audit authority and reporting requirements under existing law, and that the proposal was unnecessary and potentially burdensome. The committee voted 17-0 to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate, placing it on the consent calendar. The committee next considered House Bill 1181FN on public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals. Members who opposed the bill said newspaper publication provides independent third-party verification and archival value, and that removing that requirement would weaken public notice. The committee voted 17-0 ITL and sent the bill to the consent calendar. It also voted 17-0 ITL on House Bill 1327, concerning the definition of commercially zoned land, largely because the sponsor was absent and members said they could not do due diligence without hearing from the sponsor. The committee then acted on House Bill 1473FN, concerning the use of agricultural fairground property, and House Bill 1147, concerning the use of capital reserve funds. In both cases, members cited the sponsor’s absence and the need for more information as reasons to recommend inexpedient to legislate; both votes were 17-0 and both bills were placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 1220, which would have allowed municipal governing bodies to review and approve school budgets, was also recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after members raised concerns about local control, legal conflicts between separate entities, and technical drafting problems. The committee recommended ought to pass on House Bill 118, which raises the amount of money municipal treasurers may hold before depositing it in the bank, with supporters saying the higher threshold would reduce unnecessary trips to the bank and improve efficiency. It also recommended ought to pass on House Bill 1151, a housekeeping bill correcting statutory references related to conservation commission appropriations, and it approved House Bill 1309 as amended after adopting Amendment 2026-0411H to clarify town meeting warrant language. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1385, prohibiting negative property tax rates in certain municipalities, and recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after testimony indicated the practice at issue had already ended and that a blanket prohibition could create problems for municipalities with excess revenues. The committee also began work on House Bill 1369, relating to posting warrants for special town meetings, and discussed an amendment to preserve newspaper notice while also allowing website posting where available.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is not the first ballot question ever filed.
• Fourth, a word on the ballot questions.
• A word on the ballot questions now.
• We'll know the outcome of the ballot question in November.
• Oh, last, my friendly proposal.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate and House Ways and Means chairs opened the FY 2027 consensus revenue hearing by emphasizing the need for a balanced, fiscally responsible budget amid federal funding cuts, health care cost pressures, and uncertainty around the federal tax law changes referred to as OB3. They also noted the state’s current revenue performance is slightly above benchmark and paid tribute to the late Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorkowitz echoed the call for caution, saying Massachusetts has protected core services while building reserves and that the FY27 budget process begins with a careful revenue estimate. Department of Revenue Commissioner Jeff Snyder, along with DOR staff, presented FY26 and FY27 tax forecasts and identified major drivers and risks: OB3’s negative impact on state revenue, surtax collections, labor market conditions, capital gains, and corporate/business excise taxes. DOR estimated OB3 would reduce FY26 revenue by about $664 million and FY27 by about $282 million, while surtax and capital gains were expected to remain strong in FY26 but soften in FY27. Members questioned the outlook for surtax, capital gains, and the potential fiscal effect of a ballot question reducing the income tax rate from 5% to 4%; DOR said that proposal could cost roughly $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion annually, with a smaller but still significant impact in FY27 because of phase-in timing. Treasurer Deb Goldberg testified next on the stabilization fund, lottery, PRIM, unclaimed property, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. She reported the rainy day fund at about $8.1 billion, said the lottery was on track for $1.5 billion in FY26 net profit and projected $1.25 billion in FY27, and highlighted that iLottery is expected to launch in summer 2026 with revenue beginning in FY27 and dedicated to child care initiatives. She also described strong PRIM performance and record unclaimed property returns, while members asked about the child care use of iLottery revenue, multilingual outreach, and the economic impact of expanded liquor licensing. Mass Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate and Tufts’ Evan Horowitz then offered differing revenue outlooks and policy warnings. Howgate projected modest growth, cautioned against overusing reserves for ongoing obligations, and urged caution on federal tax conformity changes and health care spending pressures. Horowitz projected higher FY26 and FY27 revenues than other witnesses, warned that the surtax and capital gains make the tax system more volatile, and said a 4% income tax ballot question could reduce FY27 revenues by roughly $800 million to $1 billion. He also flagged the rent control ballot question as a potential risk to municipal finance and suggested the state consider giving a permanent home to the independent revenue model used by Alan Clayton-Matthews.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does the substitute deal with the ballot language?
• I've seen ballot language that talks about a waiver.
• So you aren't voting on something that is an A in one ballot and a B on somebody else's ballot.
• On Representative Fowler's bill about the ballot language.
• Well, no, the original bill, I'm talking about the ballot language.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor's proposal...
• Were there discussions happening last year about this potential proposal, and why was it not proposed
• “I think this proposal came forward.
• And so this proposal, by default, in terms of what it proposes for the future state superintendent, is
• So overall, I believe that with this proposal, Overall, I believe that with this proposal, it may be

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It shouldn't take weeks to count ballots.
• We're making sure there's an actual voter where this ballot is going to go.
• That is a method by which 80% of Arizonans cast their ballots and make their voice heard.
• It is a method by which 80% of Arizonans cast their ballots and make their voice heard.
• mail-in ballot went on Election Day, and they don't want somebody else's ballot in their mailbox.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1780 by BC relating to postage for early voting ballots voted by mail referred to the committee on
• HB 1854 by Cole relating to the deadline of an early voting ballot board determined whether or not to
• accept voter ballots refer to the Committee on Elections.
• HB 1856 by Cole relating to the method of returning a ballot to be voted by mail for the Committee on
• HJR 114 by Cook proposing a constitutional amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• He proposed voting on the first one, or the third one, and then proceeding from there.
• , especially this year, to allow printing on both sides because this upcoming ballot was going to be
• It's just asking the Secretary of State to put something on the ballot there in November.
• , especially this year, to allow printing on both sides because this upcoming ballot was going to be
• was the time to be asking counties to add multiple pages to their ballot.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But you also have a chance to cure your ballot or correct your signature or sign your ballot.
• In ballot education, we help people to understand the mechanics of their ballot because the ballot is
• In ballot education, we help people to understand the mechanics of their ballot because the ballot is
• Submit it to the red ballot box. You have churches and employers harvesting ballots.
• ballots.

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very proud to bring this to the ballot. Mr.
• I'm deeply concerned also adding yet another resolution to the ballot, another long ballot, two pages
• Another long ballot, two pages, four full pages, most likely.
• So I hope the principle that I've tried to espouse in this proposal and other proposals is we really
• This postcard to Congress proposes to weaken the EPA.

Keywords: 1182, all