Transcript Highlights:

• Those moments were not easy, but they reminded us of something essential: we know how to lead in uncertain
• We know how to lead in uncertain times. We know how to confront the unimaginable.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and briefly closed out the 2025 legislative session by adopting a concurrent resolution on adjournment. The chamber then reopened for the 2026 session with a quorum present, a prayer by Bishop Mark O’Connell, and opening remarks from the Lieutenant Governor, Minority Leader Rob Ortt, and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The remarks focused on the responsibilities of the new session, the need to listen to constituents, and broad priorities such as affordability, public safety, rights protections, and working across party lines. Governor Kathy Hochul’s message requesting the Senate’s presence for the 2026 State of the State address was read and filed. In their remarks, Ortt emphasized affordability, keeping more money in New Yorkers’ pockets, energy choices, and public safety, while Stewart-Cousins highlighted rising costs for housing, groceries, utilities, health care, and child care, along with defending voting rights, equal rights, and immigrant communities. Both leaders said their conferences were prepared to work with each other and with the Governor. The Senate then adopted two organizational resolutions: one appointing Senators Bynoe and Chan to inform the Governor that the Senate was organized and ready to proceed, and another appointing Senators Ryan and Wildcat to inform the Assembly that the Senate was assembled and ready to proceed. No substantive legislation was debated, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, January 12, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assemblymember Stephanie will lead us. in the pledge. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• And so as we lead to Thursday and our beautiful holiday, what a great week to show democracy and show

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that we may be trying to regulate, and we probably maybe should differentiate, for example, like a lead
• acid battery that comes out versus... ...a lead acid battery that comes out versus a lithium-ion battery

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard SB 615 by Senator Allen, which would create a Department of Toxic Substances Control program for end-of-life electric vehicle battery management. The bill is intended to promote reuse, repurposing, recycling, tracking, and responsible handling of EV batteries, with producer responsibility and certification of recyclers as key features. Supporters, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, California State Association of Counties, automakers, recyclers, and environmental groups, said the measure would help prevent hazardous waste problems, reduce illegal dumping, and prepare for a coming wave of battery retirements. Opponents, including Tesla, Rivian, the California Chamber of Commerce, and others, raised concerns about liability, burdens on smaller entities, and the bill’s structure, while some groups supported it if amended. Committee members discussed the current low recycling rate for EV batteries, the difference between reuse, repurpose, and recycling, and whether the bill appropriately places responsibility on producers rather than consumers. The author said the bill builds on prior work and stakeholder input and is designed to create a workable system without overburdening DTSC. After quorum was established, the committee voted SB 615 out on a 5-1 vote, with one member voting no. The committee also took up a consent calendar containing SB 39, SB 454, SB 724, and SCR 3, and those measures were approved. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• certificate of the clerk in addition to Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration, it can lead
• Been presented to the applicant, then it should be granted, leading to a final lawsuit.

Bills: SB302 , SB1335 , SB1734 , SB1760 , SB1975 , SB2127

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Summary: The committee heard several probate, family law, judicial, property, and contract-related bills. Senate Bill 1335, relating to decedents’ estates, would remove outdated references to a clerk’s certificate, allow courts to remove personal representatives on their own motion with notice by qualified delivery method, and add independent administrators to provisions that referenced only independent executors; an estate-planning attorney testified in support, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1760, concerning guardianship transfer fees and procedures, was described as setting a $45 filing fee for transferred guardianship cases and clarifying completion and dismissal procedures; it received no testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 2127 would shorten the eligibility period for retired judges to serve as visiting judges from eight years to six, restrict practice in their assigned region for two years, and require conflict-related certification; it also was left pending without testimony. Senate Bill 302 would shift the cost of a traveling probate judge to the requesting estate or parties rather than the county; one witness registered in favor, no one testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then considered a committee substitute for Senate Bill 252, which would clarify the parental presumption in conservatorship cases, require non-parents seeking relief against a parent to file an affidavit showing significant impairment to the child if relief is denied, require courts to state specific findings when overcoming the presumption, confirm the clear-and-convincing standard, and clarify that agreed prior orders do not defeat the presumption. The substitute was explained as consensus language from a work group, public testimony was reopened, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1734, on deed fraud, would create a streamlined ex parte process for property owners to have fraudulent deeds declared void, modeled on the fraudulent lien statute; county clerk and title association representatives testified that it would provide a low-cost self-help remedy for a growing problem, and the bill was left pending subject to the chair. Senate Bill 1975 would prevent Texas contractors from being forced to litigate disputes in foreign jurisdictions and require disputes to be handled in the county where the project is located; it was presented as a repeat of a previously vetoed bill and was left pending. Finally, the committee took up a substitute for Senate Bill 1940, concerning transfer-on-death style beneficiary designations for manufactured homes. The substitute would allow one or more beneficiaries instead of only one, transfer the interest to surviving designated beneficiaries who survive by 120 hours, extend the application period for transfer to 365 days, void the designation if not timely filed, and require mailing by certified or registered mail with return receipt requested. The substitute was adopted without objection. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sickler, you can take the lead on that. Yeah, Mr. Chairman, you should have the amendment.
• Senator Dwyer, you’ll take the lead. Yes. Mr.

Bills: SB2271 , HB1216

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: adult residential facilities, care services, Medicaid, payment rates, elderly care, health services, North Dakota, prescription drugs, drug affordability, copay assistance, copayment accumulator, deductible accumulator, out-of-pocket maximum, health insurance, health benefit plan, self-insured health plan, self-funded plan, third-party payment, manufacturer assistance, patient assistance program

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 1216, dealing with prescription drug expense co-pay accumulators in health plans, was presented by Rep. Karen Carl’s, who explained it would prevent insurers from refusing to count third-party assistance toward deductibles for patients using high-cost, non-generic drugs. An amendment was offered to clarify effective dates, including a delayed January 1, 2026 start for PERS coverage. PERS testified that the amendment would align with its calendar-year benefit structure and likely reduce the fiscal note. The amendment was adopted 16-0, and the bill was set aside for further discussion later. House Bill 1199, creating a criminal justice data-sharing system and missing persons/missing Indigenous people task force, was introduced with a committee amendment changing the Attorney General reference to the Attorney General or designee. The committee noted the bill includes a $250,000 general fund appropriation for ongoing costs. The amendment passed 16-0, and the amended bill received a do pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with one no vote from Senator Magrum. House Bill 1531, appropriating $75,000 for an irrigation expansion study by the Agriculture Commissioner, was supported as a way to update older economic-impact studies on irrigation and assess opportunities for expansion. Members discussed its relationship to broader study pauses and the history of irrigation development in the state, including Garrison Diversion and remaining authorized acres. The bill passed 16-0. The committee then discussed scheduling for the coming week, noting a heavy bill load and plans for daily morning meetings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• reasons I'll explain, and it does create reasons I'll explain, and it does create situations that will lead
• regulations that govern permitting... and regulations that govern permitting that are complex, and that leads

Bills: SB42 , HB323

Committee: House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Keywords: abandoned roads, land ownership, government regulations, property rights, transportation, electric utility, oversize vehicles, transport permits, state highway system, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• REPRESENTATIVE LAMARCA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD?
• IS NOT HAVING A CITY ACCOUNTANT WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNTIMELY FINANCIAL FILINGS. >> YOUR ANSWER LEADS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker: The chair recognizes the Honorable Stan Kitzman of Waller County to lead us in the pledges of
• Members, Brownsville leads in innovation, space exploration, cross-border trade with an amazing focus

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Litfield, would you lead us?
• and these questions are very lead and these questions are very leading<01:46:56.920><c> and</c><01:46
• We were saying the questions were leading, which I think is a different set of circumstances.
• We were saying the questions were leading, which I think is a different set of circumstances.
• We were saying the questions were leading, which I think is a different set of circumstances.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, this could lead to conflicts with APS and PSFA contractual requirements Certain on-call contract
• So there's a huge lead time in terms of. Between designing and configuring what you need.
• So there's a huge lead time in terms of. Between designing and configuring what you need.
• utility is going to bring in a transformer, for example, transformers are nine to sometimes 15-month lead
• I will pass it are nine to sometimes 15-month lead times to come in.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cutter, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?
• Senator Cutter, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Excused.
• Senator Cutter, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?
• Senator Cutter, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Good morning.
• </c> your committee of the whole baggs lead your committee of the whole baggs lead to<01:12:26.880><c

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their experience to lead you in the right direction.
• He started off in the maintenance department and within 90 days he was promoted to a lead supervisor
• Nothing's guaranteed, but we know which way kind of leads in certain directions.
• But I also lead the roundtable at Angola State Prison, where we sit with 16 men that the secretary of
• But I also lead the roundtable at Angola State Prison, where we sit with 16 men that the secretary of

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee held an oversight discussion on Louisiana’s reentry landscape, with Chair Villio emphasizing that the hearing was informational only and that no bills were being considered. Department of Public Safety and Corrections officials outlined the state’s reentry mission and current programming in state facilities, local jails, regional reentry centers, and STEP facilities. They described services including literacy and GED preparation, career and technical education, industry certifications, postsecondary partnerships, mental health and substance abuse treatment, victim impact and trauma programming, and pre-release assistance such as state IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, Medicaid, SNAP, and driver’s licenses. Officials also discussed a new data-sharing MOU with DCFS for child support matters and a planned “return portal” with Louisiana Works to connect incarcerated people to jobs and training aligned with labor market needs. A major focus was the reentry court program at Angola for men and at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Assistant Secretary DeLouche and Assistant Warden Easley explained that the program is limited to nine judicial districts, requires judge and district attorney consent, and includes a two-year institutional phase followed by three years of intensive supervised probation. Participants must earn a HiSET if needed, complete multiple certifications and life-skills programs, and then petition for resentencing; officials said the program’s current recidivism rate is under 14 percent. They also highlighted specialized offerings such as vocational mentoring, a Braille transcription and repair program, and family-focused events like a father-daughter dance. Testimony from employers and local officials was broadly supportive. Eric Lane described hiring formerly incarcerated workers through the parole project and said the program solved problems he had seen with halfway-house placements by helping people secure housing, IDs, and licenses before release. Sheriff Kevin Cobb said sheriffs are active partners, with 51 of 64 parishes offering some form of programming and more than 75 percent of local facilities providing services; he stressed that local jail programming has grown over time and that data collection is improving. Members repeatedly asked for more data on recidivism, employment outcomes, and what programs are available by parish, and several praised the department and sheriffs for the work already being done. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• give each secretary and their staff the ability to devote their time to a narrower policy focus, leading
• that unit is still in another state agency, the Housing and Community Development Agency, which you lead
• time... ...or maybe even at best an 11-month lead time is going to be meaningfully different than a
• 12-month lead time.
• And will lead to, in the short term... ...state's commitment to their success and will lead to, in the

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an informational presentation on the May Revision’s proposed reorganization of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into separate housing-focused and consumer/business-focused entities. Administration officials said the split would improve oversight, streamline decision-making, and create a dedicated California Housing and Homelessness Agency with a new housing development and finance committee. The Department of Finance said funding was needed in 2025-26 to begin implementation, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal without prejudice because the Little Hoover Commission review was still pending and the plan would require ongoing General Fund costs. Members raised concerns about the timing, the lack of alignment with the budget process, and whether the reorganization would improve accountability for homelessness spending; several public witnesses supported the concept but stressed it could not substitute for new housing and homelessness dollars. The committee then took up the Department of Veterans Affairs. CalVet requested funding for phase three of its electronic health care record project and a trailer bill to preserve authority for federal background checks, but the May Revision withdrew requests for deferred maintenance and additional administrative support. The LAO noted deferred maintenance can prevent larger future costs, and the chair criticized the withdrawal of less than $1 million for veterans’ homes as short-sighted given existing repair needs. No vote was taken. Next, the Department of Housing and Community Development presented its budget. HCD said the May Revision provides no new affordable housing or homelessness funding, but does retain existing rounds of funding and proposes a $31.7 million reversion from undersubscribed housing programs. Members from both parties expressed concern about zeroing out ongoing housing and homelessness investments, especially for LIHTC, the Multifamily Housing Program, and HAP. HCD also defended its homelessness accountability and compliance work, saying the unit includes about 30 program staff and six attorneys, with three additional attorneys requested mainly to handle public records and litigation workload. Public commenters largely opposed the lack of new funding and urged continued support for housing and homelessness programs, while some supported the reorganization and accountability efforts. Finally, the committee heard Go-Biz proposals. The administration requested authority to increase funding for a federal trade program match if needed, plus reappropriations for administrative funds tied to the Containerized Ports Interoperability Grant Program, zero-emission vehicle operations, and the Women’s Business Center Enhancement Program. It also proposed withdrawing the Cal Competes grant request and reverting remaining funds from the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The LAO said Cal Competes is generally effective but could be cut as a budget solution, while warning that the performing arts fund was close to awards and should be considered carefully. Members objected to pulling back committed funds for performing arts organizations and questioned why the state would withdraw support after applications had already been submitted.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Green Burial Council, one of the leading advocates for the green burial movement, confirm this on
• </c> Burial Council, one of the leading Burial Council, one of the leading advocates<00:20:33.200><c>
• 21:15.120><c> and</c> grown to become the standardbearer and grown to become the standardbearer and lead
• 15.880><c> steward</c><00:21:16.880><c> of</c><00:21:17.120><c> the</c><00:21:17.360><c> growing</c> lead
• steward of the growing lead steward of the growing environmental,<00:21:19.280><c> social,</c><00:21

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• times that testimony on measures should not be provided to the public in advance because it would lead
• But we do not lead alone, but with the guidance of something greater than ourselves.
• alone</c><00:58:57.400><c> but</c><00:58:57.520><c> with</c><00:58:57.680><c> the</c> but we do not lead
• alone but with the but we do not lead alone but with the guidance<00:58:58.319><c> of</c><00:58:58.520
• The majority here have taken on the challenge of leading and revising the House rules with the addition

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call with 48 members present and three excused, deferred reading of the journal, and received Senate communications noting adoption of House Concurrent Resolutions Nos. 1 and 2. The chamber also recognized several visiting groups and guests, including Congresswoman Jill Tuda, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii participants and students, Okinawan visitors, Farrington High School students, James Campbell High School students, and Waiau High School students, many of whom were introduced in connection with Chamber Week activities and educational presentations. The main business was unfinished business on House Resolutions 6 and 7, which adopted the House rules for the 33rd Legislature, including rules for the Committee on Standards of Conduct. Members generally supported the rules package as a transparency and modernization update, citing earlier public access to testimony, a public list of Speaker appointees, changes to conference committee eligibility, telework for staff, social media guidance, and a public list of bills introduced by request. Several members raised reservations or opposition, focusing on concerns about staff involvement in approving written remarks, budget information timing, the Vice Speaker’s role, social media/free speech issues, and whether some changes reduced public access or conflicted with constitutional open-meeting requirements. No vote on the rules package is recorded in the excerpt. The debate ended with multiple members yielding time and the discussion continuing on the merits of the proposed rule changes, especially the balance between transparency, internal House procedure, and public participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're actually there learning, which leads to quality educators.
• You're actually there learning, which leads to quality educators.
• You're actually there learning, which leads to quality educators.
• You're actually there learning, which leads to quality educators.
• You're actually there learning, which leads to quality educators.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But private equity's focus on short-term revenue generation and investor profit can also lead them to
• investor<00:01:51.520><c> profit</c><00:01:52.399><c> can</c><00:01:52.799><c> also</c><00:01:53.520><c> lead
• </c><00:01:53.920><c> them</c><00:01:54.159><c> to</c> investor profit can also lead them to investor
• profit can also lead them to strip<00:01:54.880><c> those</c><00:01:55.119><c> acquired</c><00:01:55.680
• </c><01:06:07.200><c> their</c> the right leader to lead their the right leader to lead their organization

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Member Ramos will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Without both proactive forethought and ongoing monitoring, biased outcomes can go undetected, leading
• capture higher-risk tools that directly impact patient care and leaves the Attorney General as the lead
• Despite being home to the world's leading technology and innovation economy, California ranks 43rd in
• Despite being home to the world's leading technology and innovation economy, California ranks 43rd in

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• define the prerequisite courses needed for students to successfully transfer into their programs, leading
• But these varying requirements can lead to great confusion.
• We are proud to be California's leading destination for California Community College transfer students
• We are proud to be California's leading destination for California Community College Transfer students
• Thank you for all your work and continuing to lead on this issue and for your voice here today.

Summary: The committee held an oversight hearing on a state audit examining California’s community college transfer process and whether streamlining it could improve access to bachelor’s degrees. Opening remarks from legislators emphasized that California’s transfer system is central to equity and workforce development, but that only about one in five transfer-intending community college students complete a transfer within four years. Members highlighted disparities by race, region, campus, and major, and pointed to confusion created by differing requirements across the UC, CSU, and community college systems, including limits and inconsistencies in the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), TAG, and major-specific prerequisites. State Auditor’s staff said the audit found that while UC and CSU systemwide enroll more transfer students than the Master Plan target, individual campuses and high-demand STEM programs often do not. The audit identified barriers including unclear and varying course requirements, limited counseling and education plans, insufficient counselor staffing at some campuses, and weak equity plans. It also found that many students never even apply because they do not accumulate enough units or cannot navigate the process. The auditor described examples where transfer students with strong preparation were denied at selective campuses and noted that articulation alignment across systems remains limited. Representatives from UC, CSU, and the Community Colleges responded that transfer remains a top priority and described ongoing reforms. UC cited a new public dashboard, data-sharing agreements, new transfer pathways, and an ADT pilot at UCLA, while saying campus-level capacity and program differences limit how much can be standardized from the system office. CSU said it admits more than 90% of eligible transfer applicants, is expanding transfer planning tools and direct outreach, and is implementing SB 640’s Transfer Success Pathway Program. Community Colleges said transfer reform must focus on clearer credit mobility, more consistent articulation, and broader ADT adoption. Members pressed the systems on inconsistent major requirements, the need for better coordination, and whether campuses are fully prioritizing transfer students; no votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• define the prerequisite courses needed for students to successfully transfer into their programs, leading
• But these varying requirements can lead to great confusion.
• We are proud to be California's leading destination for California Community College transfer students
• We are proud to be California's leading destination for California Community College Transfer students
• Thank you for all your work and continuing to lead on this issue and for your voice here today.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Keywords: 987, senate, all