Transcript Highlights:

• The second layer is a legislative working group made up of eight legislators across the body, evenly
• Uh, legislators have created ourselves.
• ><c> the</c><00:02:45.200><c> ball</c> This legislation will start the ball This legislation will start
• </c> The second layer is a legislative The second layer is a legislative working<00:05:15.840><c> group
• Modernizing our systems and efficiently.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not trying to get rid of efficient.
• </c><00:10:30.079><c> and</c> effect effectively, efficiently and effect effectively, efficiently and
• He added that this would not be conceding legislative authority.
• </c> conceding um your legislative authority. conceding um your legislative authority.
• So how do you address that type of scenario with this legislation?"

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:36.199><c> legislation</c><00:05:36.960><c> pending</c><00:05:37.720><c> to</c> have legisl
• legislation pending to have legisl legislation pending to include<00:05:38.280><c> nuclear</c><00:05
• </c> supervisor of our Energy Efficiency supervisor of our Energy Efficiency programs<01:04:22.680><c
• </c><01:24:07.440><c> improvements</c> Energy Efficiency improvements Energy Efficiency improvements
• </c><05:35:17.040><c> legislative</c><05:35:17.638><c> budget</c> LBA um legislative budget LBA um legislative

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• That's because of increased fuel efficiency.
• Between fiscal year 2024 and 2030, that's because of increased fuel efficiency on the state's vehicle
• Thank you, Senator Gonzalez, for bringing this legislation forward. Good morning, Mr.
• But we're not willing to talk about efficiencies in order not to have to take out the debt.
• Okay, now I'm looking at this document, the Senate Bill 2 bonding legislation.

Summary: The committee first heard TRIP’s annual New Mexico transportation report from Carolyn Boniface Kelly, which described deteriorating roads and bridges, congestion, safety concerns, and a large transportation funding gap. The report said more than half of major roads statewide are in poor or mediocre condition, over 170 bridges are rated poor, congestion costs drivers significant time and money, and traffic crashes and road conditions impose billions in annual costs. Members broadly agreed the report underscored the need for more stable transportation funding, with several noting the state’s recurring underinvestment and the safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2, a transportation bonding and revenue package. Senator Gonzales and Governor’s office and NMDOT representatives said the bill would authorize about $1.5 billion in additional bond debt for ready-to-go highway projects, while also increasing certain motor vehicle excise, registration, weight-distance, and EV-related fees to help support debt service and transportation funding. Supporters, including contractors, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, the Department of Finance and Administration, and transportation officials, argued the bill would improve safety, economic development, project delivery, and funding stability, and help preserve federal dollars. Opponents, including the Rio Grande Foundation and some committee members, objected to the tax and fee increases, argued the state should use existing surpluses or other funds instead, and raised concerns about impacts on families, businesses, and local governments. Committee members questioned how projects would be selected, how the new fees were calculated, how EV surcharges would work, and whether local government distributions would be affected. NMDOT said the projects would be reported to the legislature annually, selected using crash data, asset management, and project readiness, but bond approval would remain with the State Transportation Commission. After debate, Representative Romero moved do pass on SB 2 as amended, Representative Hochman-Vigil seconded, and the committee approved the bill 7-2, with Representatives Brown and Dow voting no and several members expressing reservations despite supporting the need for transportation investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to measure timelines and efficiency to measure timelines and efficiency because<00:19:01.280><c>
• Section 2, permitting efficiency, uh, this section deals with permitting efficiency key items.
• Section 2, permitting efficiency, uh, this section deals with permitting efficiency key items.
• Section 2, permitting efficiency, uh, this section deals with permitting efficiency key items.
• </c> don't know that there is a legislator don't know that there is a legislator that<00:37:15.200><c

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the honor of representing the 33rd Legislative District in South King County.
• by these federal appliance efficiency regulations.
• And I think of transmission as energy efficiency.
• This legislation is modeled on the language in Title 70A RCW, the legislation that governs environmental
• This legislation is a first step in ensuring that will happen. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on three bills. SB 5652 would require the University of Washington, Commerce, the King County Department of Public Health, and the Port of Seattle to study and mitigate aviation-related air quality and noise impacts around Sea-Tac, create a work group and grant program, address failed noise insulation “port packages,” and require a state auditor review. The sponsor and supporters from affected cities and community groups described serious health and quality-of-life harms from airport noise and pollution, while the Port of Seattle, Washington Public Ports Association, and AWB opposed the bill, arguing it would impose new mandates, raise cost and governance concerns, and interfere with airport operations. Testimony on the bill was reopened after other business and then closed; no vote was taken. SB 6124 would direct Commerce to study an appliance affordability index that would consider repairability, maintenance, recyclability, performance life, and related factors. The sponsor said the bill is meant to help consumers compare lifetime costs and repair options, drawing on family experience with durable appliances. Consumer and environmental advocates supported the idea as a way to improve transparency and encourage repairable products, while industry groups opposed a state-specific index, warning it would create a patchwork of standards and compliance burdens. The hearing closed after testimony, with no action reported. SB 5466 would create a Washington Electric Transmission Authority, give it powers to support transmission development and, in some cases, acquire property and own or sell transmission projects, and provide a SEPA categorical exemption for certain transmission upgrades with tribal and resource-protection conditions. Supporters from clean energy, labor, utilities, and state agencies said the bill is needed to expand grid capacity, improve reliability, speed clean energy interconnection, and create jobs, though many asked for bonding or financing authority and refinements to the exemption language. Some utilities and business groups supported parts of the bill but opposed state ownership or said the authority should focus more on permitting and coordination; others raised concerns about ratepayer risk and duplication. The hearing closed after extensive testimony, with no vote announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next five recommendations involve legislative assistance.
• So this particular Auditor General report had two very clear legislative recommendations.
• Can you describe any legislative fixes concerning other issues with the Auditor General report?
• I mean, I think that's kind of critical that's done as efficiently as possible.
• So how we automate this and make this more efficient is something we continue to explore.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met as a Joint Health and Human Services Committee of Reference to hear sunset reviews and performance audit findings for several health-related boards. The first action taken was on the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. The Auditor General reported that while the board met some licensing deadlines, it had significant problems enforcing controlled substances prescription monitoring program (CSPMP) requirements, timely investigating complaints, and documenting fee analyses and other compliance items. The board director said the agency had implemented some recommendations, was seeking legislative help on CSPMP enforcement and data issues, and described staffing and vendor challenges. A public member testified that the board was generally efficient but that statutory gaps limited its effectiveness. The committee then voted 13-0, with six not voting, to continue the Board of Pharmacy for six years until July 1, 2032, with statutory changes to improve its operations. The committee next reviewed the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The Auditor General found the board timely processed licenses but continued to resolve too many complaints late, with a large and growing backlog of open cases, and identified additional issues in oversight, accounting, public records, and conflict-of-interest practices. The executive director said the board had been under-resourced as nursing volume and complaints increased, requested 28 additional investigative positions, and described efforts to triage cases and improve tracking. The Arizona Nurses Association supported the board’s role and said it was working on a bill, House Bill 2408, to improve accountability, prioritization, and fairness in the disciplinary process. A nurse attorney testified that changes to complaint notice, the scope of investigations, and triage could shorten delays. The committee approved continuation of the Board of Nursing for four years until July 1, 2030, by a 14-0 vote with five not voting. The committee then heard the sunset review for the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners. The Auditor General reported that the board generally met licensing timelines but had documentation problems verifying fingerprint clearance cards or criminal history checks, and it failed to act promptly on a renewal application involving serious sex-trafficking-related charges. The board said it had accepted all recommendations, had implemented most of them, had moved to a new licensing platform, and had hired help to address rulemaking delays. Members asked about fingerprint verification and the handling of the serious criminal charges. The committee voted 16-0 to continue the board for four years until July 1, 2030, with statutory changes to improve its performance. Finally, the committee began the review of the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. The Auditor General found the board had met some licensing and enforcement requirements but lacked adequate executive oversight, accountability, and tracking systems, and it had very high complaint-resolution delays. The report also criticized the board’s incentive pay structure, which paid all staff based on measures unrelated to complaint timeliness. The new executive director said the board had created formal investigative timelines, improved reporting, sought additional support staff, and was updating IT and incentive metrics; she also explained that the board is a shared agency with the Medical Board. The transcript ends during this presentation, before any vote on the physician assistant board is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:26.320><c> is</c><00:05:26.560><c> an</c> energy efficiency a priority is an energy efficiency
• It's energy efficiency. And so I'm going to talk a lot about energy efficiency.
• It's energy efficiency. And so I'm going to talk a lot about energy efficiency.
• </c><00:17:46.080><c> programs</c> widespread energy efficiency programs widespread energy efficiency
• </c> um that we rely on for efficient um that we rely on for efficient furnaces,<00:18:12.640><c> for

Transcript Highlights:

• If this is a legislative directive, we want information given to Legislative Management, it should come
• from Legislative Council and not from OMB.
• to meet that requirement, that really wouldn't be efficient.
• I'm John Bjornson from the Legislative Council.
• Of legislation.

Summary: The task force approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, striking language about contracting with a security vendor. Members then reviewed a draft bill on concessions procurement (LC 27.0161), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, update language for vending and merchandising machines, and clarify where concession proceeds are deposited. OMB explained the bill and said it was open to further changes, including language to address artificial fragmentation, clarify which government entities are covered, and possibly set contract-length limits. Members raised questions about whether the bill would apply to school districts, park districts, airports, and other political subdivisions, and about whether concession agreements could direct proceeds to nonprofits or other secondary recipients; OMB said the statute is intended to require proceeds to go to the government entity’s operating fund or general fund. OMB also reported on other survey suggestions. It said a proposed general authority for agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is best limited to high-volume agencies. On legal notices, OMB said it had made progress with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernizing online notices, improving ADA compliance, and discussing rate and definition changes. On click-through agreements, OMB and the Attorney General’s office concluded no statutory change was needed after revising internal guidance; the $20,000 threshold was described as a practical cutoff for adhesive, nonnegotiable software terms. OMB also said issues raised by the Center for Distance Education on alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures had been resolved through policy clarification. The University System gave a brief update on its collaboration with OMB and said it was continuing to review concessions, surplus property, and capital project statutes with all institutions involved. The task force then discussed a draft bill on requirements for new or expanded spending, intended to require agencies to identify program purpose, needs, alternatives, success measures, and budget details, and to report on outcomes over time. Members and staff debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how much should be real-time versus periodic, and whether the bill should include full implementation costs for pilot programs. Legislative Council staff said the new program evaluation division is still being built out, that staffing remains limited, and that the office plans to continue working with OMB and the executive branch to refine the proposal before the next meeting. No final action was taken on the draft bills beyond directing further work and follow-up for the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> that are covered in other legislation, that are covered in other legislation, but<00:06:56.319>
• </c><00:09:06.640><c> air</c> system with a highly efficient air system with a highly efficient air source
• ,</c><00:09:38.160><c> especially</c> finding these efficiencies, especially finding these efficiencies
• </c> weatherization and energy efficiency weatherization and energy efficiency based<00:16:32.639><c>
• They efficiency measure that they can.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what we need to really look at is: what is our role as legislators?
• We're told that energy you don't use is some of the most efficient energy you can save.
• It's the one you never use—it's energy efficiency.
• Energy efficiency initiatives actually came out of the oil crisis about 50 years ago.
• More energy efficiency is absolutely necessary.

Transcript Highlights:

• The intended outcome is increased efficiencies.
• Chas Alamo with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• And then the last one is the efficiencies, which the agenda does a good job of laying out the efficiencies
• And then the last one is the efficiencies, which the agenda does a good job of laying out the efficiencies
• If you can give a summary. a good job of laying out the efficiencies.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we all know what happened in June of 2025 when our own Minnesota state legislator, Speaker Emeritus
• They show up in all sorts of different ways from phone calls to drones outside of legislators' homes.
• They show up in all sorts of different ways from phone calls to drones outside of legislators' homes.
• There was no clear command in who's in charge of the safety of legislators.
• It's more efficient in my mind. That's what this is for.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know if I put in the legislation; I don't recall if I put that.
• So we have to find better ways to get our efficiency there.
• Efficiency there. And you find that in the internal areas.
• What we want is real efficiencies and not a buddy system.
• And human nature is to get frustrated when they see efficiencies.

Bills: SB1415 , SB1714 , SB1962 , SB26 , SB172

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Summary: The Committee on Retirement and Government Resources heard several bills dealing with state employment, purchasing, and retirement policy. Senate Bill 1415, by Senator Brooks, would prohibit nondisclosure agreements when a state employee resigns or is terminated, with exceptions for statutorily protected confidentiality such as physician or attorney privilege. Members questioned how the bill would interact with whistleblower protections and sensitive information, but the bill passed 6-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1714, by Senator Jett, which would expand an existing state employee suggestion/incentive program to encourage agencies to identify cost savings and efficiencies, require agencies to review recommendations in good faith, and report back on accepted or rejected ideas. Members raised concerns about open meetings, employee notification, written documentation of suggestions, and possible disputes over the value of savings. The author agreed to work on amendments, the title was struck, and the bill passed as amended 5-2. Senate Bill 1962, by Senator Bullard, would move certain purchasing exemptions out of statute and into the administrative rules process so exemptions must be periodically renewed and justified. Supporters said this would reduce personality-driven exemptions and improve oversight, while concerns were raised about ongoing needs and emergency situations. The bill passed unanimously 7-0. The committee also passed Senate Bill 26, which would allow retired teachers to return to work after a 90-day break with a salary set by local districts and a 3% contribution back to the retirement system, and Senate Bill 172, which would tie cost-of-living adjustments for pension systems to funding benchmarks and a rolling average, rather than legislative discretion; both bills passed, with SB 26 passing 7-0 and SB 172 passing 6-1. The chair noted the committee expected at least one more meeting and hoped to finish the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is critical legislation. And we're here in strong support of AB 1621.
• This is critical legislation needed to improve the efficiency, fairness, and accountability of the post-entitlement
• That makes legislative action more, not less, important.
• intent. ...further judicial review with the legislative intent, the legislative intent being clarified
• Thank you for such an efficient meeting, Mr. Chair. How are we going to...

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulatory affairs and government efficiency. SB 1195: appropriation, legal assistance.
• Regulatory affairs and government efficiency. SCM 1004: Clean Air Act DPA powers.
• Regulatory affairs and government efficiency. SB 1165: insurance cost hearing best exams.
• Regulatory affairs and government efficiency. SB 2027: prior authorized gold card exams.
• Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency will meet at 10 a.m. in Hearing Room 1.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established attendance, approved the prior journal, and welcomed several guests, including the Doctor of the Day, a student shadowing a senator, representatives from Republic Services, and visitors from Copper Valley Energy. Senators also announced administrative deadlines, including extensions for opening Senate folders and for Senate bill introduction preparation, with the bill introduction deadline set for February 2. The main floor business was the reading and reference of a large number of Senate bills and resolutions across many subject areas, including education, government, appropriations, natural resources, health and human services, finance, judiciary and elections, and military affairs and border security. The calendar also included second-reading placement for another large group of bills covering topics such as firearms, behavioral health, family courts, insurance, water, taxation, public safety, and elections. No substantive debate or votes on the merits of the measures occurred during this portion beyond the procedural reading and referral of the bills. Standing committee reports were accepted without being read, and committee announcements were made for upcoming meetings of Government, Health and Human Services, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, Education, Judiciary and Elections, and Public Safety. The Senate then adjourned on motion until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This ability to lower fees is set to expire at the end of this legislative session.
• Legislative review book.
• That word efficiency is all throughout the executive order. ...was because of efficiency.
• We have each year brought forward draft legislation to merge boards.
• It is for efficiency.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• More and more legislators can barely afford to live in their districts.
• There has been a lot of funding efficiencies happening.
• The last suggestion is to administer our funds more efficiently.
• And now, you know, it was a More efficiently.
• And then, finally, we've talked a lot about efficiency.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Housing Finance and Affordability held its first hearing of 2025 to examine California’s housing finance system, with opening remarks emphasizing the state’s severe housing shortage, high costs, and the need for practical recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. Co-chairs described the committee as an educational and problem-solving forum focused on financing housing production, first-time homeownership, mixed-income developments, and affordability across the income spectrum. Witnesses from state agencies and the development sector were invited to explain how housing is financed and where the system is breaking down. Panelists from the California Housing Partnership, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the Tax Credit Allocation Committee/State Treasurer’s Office, CalHFA, and Related outlined the “capital stack” used to finance affordable housing, stressing that projects typically rely on multiple public and private sources, including federal and state low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, state subsidies, local funds, and rental income. Speakers noted that affordable housing rents generally cannot support full project costs without public subsidy, and that recent federal changes—especially the expansion of the 4% and 9% tax credit programs and the reduction of the bond financing threshold for 4% credits—should allow California to finance substantially more units. CalHFA also described its homeownership programs, including My Home, Dream For All, and disaster-related mortgage assistance, as well as its multifamily lending and bond issuance programs. Several witnesses and committee members emphasized that the system remains too complex, too slow, and underfunded. They pointed to the need for more state funding, a housing bond, a permanent funding source, and better coordination among agencies, while also citing recent streamlining efforts such as AB 434’s SuperNOFA, AB 519’s one-stop-shop working group, and the planned California Housing and Homeless Agency reorganization. Members raised concerns about equity, access, missing-middle housing, gender and racial disparities, and whether current programs adequately serve extremely low-income households and those at risk of homelessness. No formal votes or actions were taken during the hearing; the discussion ended with committee members and witnesses agreeing that both funding and administrative reform are needed to increase production and improve affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in 2024, we passed legislation requiring the Public Service Commission to prepare a study on the
• efficiencies in the construction?
• This process is a to be more streamlined and efficient with the effort completing within 2 years.
• And could the 2 more efficient processes to build some of these generating sources more efficiently.
• But Texas, just this session did pass a piece of legislation HB 14.

Transcript Highlights:

• AI, and especially around how state governments can utilize AI to deliver better outcomes more efficiently
• And I want to make sure that we balance employment versus efficiency to the taxpayer, because they're
• So I was speaking to a group of state legislators a couple of months ago, and someone said, 'What if
• And so closing those gaps, that’s the best place from a state legislation perspective, to be able to
• And I think it's important to know that some of the phrasing in this legislation is pretty vague.

Bills: HB2452 , HB2592

Committees: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation , House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Keywords: comprehensive plans, county governance, data centers, zoning, state regulations, land use, energy production, infrastructure, environmental impact, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens