Transcript Highlights:

• the governor needs to be able to declare an emergency if there's a terrible tragedy, a tornado, a nuclear
• From electrical grids to water treatment to nuclear plants, imagine the impact on Minnesotans in the
• These actors attacked nuclear plants in the UK, India, and there was a failed attack here on US soil.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we drop the ball on the criminal side, there's no deterrent.
• When they stopped doing criminal investigations, the deterrent stopped, and what happens is they get
• And if we drop the ball on the criminal side, there's no deterrent.
• When they stopped doing criminal investigations, the deterrent stopped.
• And if we drop the ball on the criminal side, there's no deterrent.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of California tried to prioritize deterrence over rehabilitation. for dealing with their youth
• Using deterrence as a primary means for addressing the issue didn't work in California, Louisiana, or
• There will be strong collaboration with law enforcement to support the deterrence and promote community
• sooner they have to deal with it and be held accountable for it, that's... ...serves as a better deterrent
• It doesn't reduce delinquent behavior; it's not a deterrent.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It installs new preventative measures that will act as a real deterrent from these types of horrific
• is no evidence to indicate that our current laws and sentencing structure fail to offer as much deterrence
• that an additional six months of incarceration would either enhance community safety or serve as a deterrent
• So I feel this bill is no deterrent, but what could be solutions: allowing us as workers to defend ourselves
• And so current law does not provide adequate deterrence against these types of threats that these workers

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills, beginning with SB 701 by Senator Wahab, which would create a state-law tool to address a serious criminal offense that supporters said local prosecutors currently cannot punish effectively. Support came from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, the California Police Chiefs Association, League of California Cities, and the California State Sheriffs’ Association. The ACLU and others opposed the bill as unnecessary duplication of existing law, though some opponents said they may move to neutral after amendments. Because quorum was not yet established, the bill was held open without a vote at that time. The committee then heard SB 834 by Senator Dodd, a technical cleanup bill on automatic record clearance. The author and sponsor said it would fix implementation problems in existing record-clearing laws by preventing outdated “pending” charges from blocking relief, requiring local court records to match DOJ updates, and creating a way for people to obtain written proof of relief. Support was broad and no opposition was registered. The chair recommended an aye vote, and the bill was held open until later action. Senator Rubio presented SB 248, requiring DOJ to send new gun purchasers educational materials during the waiting period about safe storage, suicide prevention, domestic violence resources, and gun violence restraining orders. Supporters said the bill is a common-sense education measure; one opponent argued the information is already provided at gun stores and in manuals. After quorum was established, the committee voted the bill out on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with one member not voting and the measure placed on call. The committee also took up SB 19, another Senator Rubio bill, to create a new crime for credible threats against schools and places of worship even when no specific individual is named. Supporters, including law enforcement and Jewish community organizations, said current law leaves a dangerous gap and that the bill would help address swatting, bomb threats, and generalized threats. Opponents, including the ACLU and youth justice advocates, warned it would expand the school-to-prison pipeline and criminalize students. After extensive debate, the committee approved the bill on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with the measure also held on call. Later, SB 759 by Senator Archuleta, which would require court hearings after repeated post-release supervision violations or new offenses, passed on a due-pass vote despite opposition from public defenders and justice advocates who said it would reduce discretion and increase incarceration. Finally, SB 6 by Senator Ashby, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance, passed after supporters argued it would curb diversion and save lives, while opponents said criminalization would not reduce overdose deaths and would hinder research; the committee chair and several members emphasized the need for tools to address the drug supply while also expanding treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, current law has limited deterrent effect on employers' use of traps.
• You've caused the delay, as the chair said, that penalty should absolutely be—there should be a deterrent
• There should be a deterrent to acting that way.
• You've caused the delay, as the chair said, that penalty should absolutely be—there should be a deterrent
• There should be a deterrent to acting that way.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1521, the Judiciary Committee’s civil law omnibus measure. The bill makes a number of minor, mostly clarifying changes, including repealing obsolete Government Code provisions, allowing juvenile courts to hear petitions to establish records of birth, death, or marriage, requiring notice of probate petitions to the Department of Child Support Services, and correcting typos in existing law. It had no opposition and was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, though it was later placed on call pending additional votes. Members then heard AB 57, which would reserve at least 10% of California’s Home Purchase Assistance Program funds for descendants of formerly enslaved people. The author and supporters framed it as a reparative, race-neutral-by-lineage effort to address historic housing discrimination and the racial wealth gap, while opponents argued it was an unconstitutional racial proxy and should instead be based on individual injury. The bill drew strong support and opposition testimony, was amended, and was approved on a do-pass as amended vote to Appropriations, then placed on call. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, was heard next. The bill would expand and standardize caregiving and guardianship tools for families facing immigration-related separation, including broader use of caregiver authorization affidavits, recognition of non-relative extended family caregivers, and a new short-term guardianship process that preserves parental rights. Supporters said it would reduce trauma and help children remain with trusted caregivers; there was no opposition testimony. The committee approved it on a do-pass to Human Services vote and placed it on call. The committee also heard AB 392, which would address non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit media by requiring uploader consent certifications, faster takedown procedures, and civil remedies against uploaders and hosting sites. A survivor testified in support, and members discussed implementation details and possible amendments; the bill was moved on a do-pass as amended basis to Appropriations and placed on call. AB 692, which would prohibit employer “stay-or-pay” debt agreements that require workers to repay training or other costs if they leave or are terminated, also advanced despite opposition from business and industry groups concerned about impacts on signing bonuses and voluntary training programs. It was sent to Appropriations on a do-pass as amended vote and placed on call, along with AB 1234, a wage-claim enforcement bill aimed at reducing Labor Commissioner delays and adding consequences for employers who fail to participate in the process. The committee also heard AB 394, which expands protections for transit workers and allows transit agencies to seek restraining orders against violent riders; it received broad support, some concern about system-wide bans, and was discussed with amendments that preserved judicial discretion.

Transcript Highlights:

• heard repeatedly and rightfully about the National Institute of Justice's extensive research on deterrence
• They wrote a report entitled "Five Things About Deterrence," wherein it found that increasing the severity
• However, I think that we as policymakers think about other things other than just deterrence.
• do want to say in all seriousness with respect to the opposition, your point is well taken about deterrence
• and the data that really shows the correlation or lack thereof between longer sentences and deterrence

Summary: The committee heard AB 82, which would expand privacy and safety protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care. The author and supporters said the bill is needed because of rising harassment, doxing, and threats, and because sensitive health data could be used by hostile actors; opponents argued it would create constitutional problems, enable abuse of safe-at-home protections, and improperly shield providers and records from scrutiny. Public testimony was heavily divided, with many advocates in support and many privacy, civil liberties, and anti-trafficking or sex-based policy groups in opposition. The bill was moved on a due pass recommendation and remained on call. The committee then heard AB 331, which would clarify that county election certification is a ministerial duty, prohibit misleading ballot return envelopes, and require voter information guides to be delivered to jails in an acceptable format. The Department of Justice and several good-government groups supported the measure, the Secretary of State had no position after amendments, and a committee member noted ongoing concerns but supported it after the changes. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1178 followed, proposing to protect undercover peace officers’ names, images, and likenesses in public records while preserving disclosure of sustained misconduct records. Law enforcement and public safety groups supported the bill as a needed safety measure, while journalists, transparency advocates, and civil liberties groups opposed it, saying existing law already protects officers and the new language could lead to overbroad withholding. After discussion about the scope of undercover status and the need for judicial discretion, the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar. Later, AB 981 was heard, creating a five-county pilot program requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for certain reckless driving convictions. Supporters, including traffic safety advocates and crash victims, said the bill could reduce repeat speeding and save lives; opponents raised concerns about cost, installer oversight, liability for automakers, and the breadth of the pilot. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 22, which would repeal Proposition 57 and restrict release of sexually violent predators and certain sex offenders, drew strong opposition from youth justice, public defender, and civil liberties groups who said it would be unconstitutional and harmful; the chair recommended no, no motion was made, and the bill was held. Finally, AB 897, a squatter-removal bill, was presented with the author arguing it would protect property owners through a faster due-process process; the transcript cuts off during early support testimony and does not show a final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forty percent of energy afloat was coming from renewables, including nuclear, because we had nuclear-powered
• Forty percent of energy afloat was coming from renewables, including nuclear, because they had nuclear-powered
• Forty percent of energy afloat was coming from renewables, including nuclear, because we had nuclear-powered
• ><00:42:54.240><c> we</c><00:42:54.480><c> had</c> of including nuclear because we had of including nuclear
• Um I've considered nuclear a renewable.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• These laws are why it's so difficult to do business in California, and it's becoming such a deterrent
• These laws are why it's so difficult to do business in California, and it's becoming such a deterrent
• Increased penalties will serve as a meaningful deterrent against noncompliance and generate additional
• Increased penalties will serve as a meaningful deterrent against noncompliance and generate additional

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a deterrent or a process in which we are trying to encourage, by some degree of force, those
• </c><00:41:51.640><c> This</c><00:41:51.880><c> is</c><00:41:52.120><c> a</c><00:41:52.240><c> deterrent
• This is a deterrent or a on the website.
• This is a deterrent or a a<00:41:53.720><c> process</c><00:41:54.280><c> in</c><00:41:54.440><c> which

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• there being like how would I know that that was a police officer and if this is supposed to be a deterrent
• officer and if this is supposed to<00:16:39.279><c> be</c><00:16:39.440><c> a</c><00:16:39.600><c> deterrent
• 40.560><c> idea</c><00:16:40.800><c> of</c><00:16:41.040><c> this</c><00:16:41.360><c> is</c> to be a deterrent
• if the idea of this is to be a deterrent if the idea of this is to<00:16:41.920><c> deter</c><00:16:

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The gentleman from the ACLU said that citations work as a deterrent.
• citations work from the ACLU said that citations work as<00:25:01.039><c> a</c><00:25:01.440><c> deterrent
• 02.640><c> find</c><00:25:02.919><c> that</c><00:25:03.080><c> to</c><00:25:03.200><c> be</c> as a deterrent
• do you find that to be as a deterrent do you find that to be the<00:25:03.520><c> case</c><00:25:04.240

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard testimony on several public safety and criminal justice measures. HB 433 HD1 would appropriate funds for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services; DCR Director Tommy Johnson said the department supports the bill’s intent but noted the same $4 million request is in the governor’s executive budget, and the Correctional System Oversight Commission, Public Defender, ACLU, OHA, Chamber of Commerce, and other groups testified in support. Members asked whether the funding was already in the governor’s budget, and Johnson confirmed it was requested there for the next two fiscal years. HB 1045 would make emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and the Department of Law Enforcement, DAGS, Budget and Finance, and the Judiciary testified in support, with DLE saying the amounts match what Budget and Finance will present. HB 1296 would require timely notice and reporting to the Legislature when the governor transfers money to the major disaster fund; Budget and Finance and the Governor’s office offered comments, and no opposition was noted. HB 1002 would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify inspection authority; DCR and the commission supported it, with the commission saying a longer term would help the coordinator do the job effectively and allow inspections without notice. HB 596 would clarify what events qualify as disasters and emergencies for emergency management purposes. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency opposed the bill, while maritime and Grassroot Institute representatives supported it. Members asked whether the bill’s 21-day limit should be extended to 30 days, and HEMA said it opposed any change that would limit the governor’s flexibility in the response phase. The committee also heard HB 1128 HD1, which would set factors for warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations and require officers to record the justification. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU, and some reform advocates supported it as a check on police discretion and a way to encourage citations, while the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, prosecutors, DLE, county police chiefs, SHOPO, and others opposed it as too restrictive and likely to create litigation and court delays. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fusion energy could eventually provide clean, dependable power without the long-lived nuclear waste associated
• with traditional nuclear generation.
• County schools and communities who have the responsibility of hosting California's only operating nuclear
• California's only operating nuclear power plant, and your fortitude and understanding of how to champion

Transcript Highlights:

• segue into this statement, such as the 2025, 2026... ...such as the 2025, 2026 strikes on Iranian nuclear
• half of my question, again, I'll read since it was a minute ago. 2025 to 2026 strikes on Iranian nuclear
• And their job right now is protecting the missiles that will shoot down the nuclear weapons that get
• And their job right now is protecting the missiles that will shoot down the nuclear weapons that get

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2494 will entirely remove all power plants, both thermal, which includes coal, natural gas, and nuclear
• environmental compatibility, and so this would... ...compatibility, and so this would primarily affect nuclear
• What we've heard discussed is that this might mostly apply to gas and coal and even to nuclear SMRs,
• What we've heard discussed is that this might mostly apply to gas and coal and even to nuclear SMRs,

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard an informational presentation on transportation fuel supply in Arizona from Gordon Shemp of Nemecu Analytics. He described Arizona’s dependence on pipeline deliveries, limited terminal inventories, and the resulting vulnerability to outages and price spikes. He also discussed recent refinery closures in California, increased imports from overseas, and a proposed Kinder Morgan project that could add east-to-west capacity into Phoenix. Committee members asked about fuel formulations and how many fuel types move through the system; Shemp said the project would not change destination fuel specifications and that multiple fuel products already move through the pipelines. The committee then took up House Bill 2758, which would allow groundwater transport from the McMullen Valley basin to an initial AMA and related uses, with provisions for eligible entities, transportation fees, and water improvement programs. Supporters, including Stan Barnes, Jim Downing, and Barry Arons, argued the bill follows the 1991 transfer-basin framework, provides needed water augmentation for urban Arizona, and includes local benefits and guardrails. Opponents, including La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, Devonna Sater, and Ed Curry, said the bill would worsen groundwater decline, subsidence, and well failures in Salome and Wenden and favored rural communities being used to solve urban water shortages. The committee approved HB 2758 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also considered HB 2078, which clarifies that certain aggregate mining reclamation notice requirements apply only to new reclamation plans and new aggregate operations, not existing mines. The sponsor said the bill fixes confusion from prior legislation, and the committee passed it 5-0. HB 2031, extending the deadline for applying for a certificate of grandfathered right in the Wilcox AMA from 15 to 27 months, also passed after some members argued the extension was needed for affected applicants while others said it would delay needed protections. HB 2102, allowing county improvement districts in certain basins to use eminent domain for a well and standpipe site and to operate domestic water delivery systems, and HB 2103, allowing gifts and fee revenues to support water hauling and local water improvement programs, both passed 4-3 despite opposition that they were only partial fixes. Later, HB 2117, which increases the annual distribution cap for conservation district education centers and shifts Environmental Special Plate Fund disbursements to the Natural Resource Conservation Board, passed 5-2 after supporters called it a technical cleanup and one member objected to changing the administering entity. HB 2261, revising agricultural property tax valuation terminology and requiring income-based valuation for agricultural real property, passed 4-3 after assessors and county representatives warned it would remove agricultural improvements from the tax rolls and shift costs to homeowners, while farm groups said it would clarify and stabilize agricultural taxation. Finally, HB 2262, transferring the Resource Analysis Division from the State Land Department to the Arizona Geological Survey and changing related geospatial advisory duties, was presented with State Land Department concerns that the bill left several duties and funding questions unclear; the transcript ends before any final action on HB 2262.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we instead switch to diverse energy, firm energy, and nuclear power, we can reduce the cost of
• switch to diverse energy, firm energy, switch to diverse energy, firm energy, and<00:31:39.279><c> nuclear
• 40.240><c> we</c><00:31:40.399><c> can</c><00:31:40.559><c> reduce</c><00:31:40.799><c> the</c> and nuclear
• power, we can reduce the and nuclear power, we can reduce the cost<00:31:41.360><c> electricity.

Bills: HB1952 , HB1951 , HB1929 , HB2497 , HB2208 , HB2572 , HB1953 , HB2551 , HB2549 , HB1737 , HB1628 , HB1769 , HB2493 , HB2264 , HB1997 , HB2168 , HB2427 , HB1805 , HB2180 , HB2184 , HB2219 , HB2469 , HB2233 , HB2519 , HB2141 , HB1904 , HB2201 , HB2410 , HB2007 , HB2385 , HB2444 , HB2349 , HB2235 , HB1872 , HB2416 , HB2291 , HB2292 , HB2263 , HB2359 , HB2455 , HB1509 , HB1514 , HB1515 , HB1648 , HB2164 , HB2323 , HB1825 , HB2172 , HB1888 , HB2005 , HB2387 , HB2358 , HB2119 , HB2276 , HB2472 , HB1714 , HB2325 , HB1541 , HB1960 , HB2140 , HB2315 , HB2367 , HB2388 , HB1696 , HB2333 , HB2138 , HB2332 , HB2283 , HB2059 , HB2057 , HB2589 , HB2417 , HB2337 , HB1588 , HB2217 , HB2020 , HB1915 , HB1742 , HB2026 , HB1965 , HB1546 , HB2360 , HB1563 , HB1749 , HB2614 , HB1511 , HB1753 , HB1849 , HB1641 , HB2161 , HB2194 , HB1721 , HB2284 , HB2188 , HB1897 , HB1880 , HB1573 , HB1876 , HB20 , HB2137

Transcript Highlights:

• One is now graduated from Missouri S&T, summa cum laude, in nuclear engineering, and works at the Callaway
• Nuclear Plant.
• One is now graduated from Missouri, S&T, summa camaraderie in nuclear engineering, and works at the Calaway
• Nuclear Plan.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...and tackle the world's greatest engineering challenges, such as the practical application of nuclear
• I gave a very good example, I think, in my opening remarks on nuclear... nuclear propulsion.
• appreciate it and appreciate the opportunity to visit with you. was so pleased to hear you talk about nuclear

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: state policy, governance, legislative processes, public concerns, policy improvement

Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without additional statewide deterrents or funding for continuing enforcement or law enforcement, these
• Without additional statewide deterrents or funding for continuing enforcement or law enforcement, these
• this bill to make sure that we came up with something that works and that is going to be a real deterrent
• this bill to make sure that we came up with something that works and that is going to be a real deterrent
• Time and again, studies show that longer sentences do not mean greater deterrence.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I think as a matter of policy, um, we support this bill because of the deterrence effect of... the eel
• </c><01:32:50.400><c> effect</c><01:32:50.639><c> of</c> Because of the deterrence effect of increased
• Fair, and that's why this is not our bill, but we're supportive of deterrence measures generally.
• No, I'm just disappointed that we're jumping to imprisonment as a deterrent to something.
• to something it's just it's deterrent to something it's just it's it's<02:28:14.560><c> um</c><02:28

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 13, 2025, and first announced that SB 1456 would be deferred to the end of the agenda and ultimately worked on later, with the chair indicating the bill would be deferred and revisited in a future measure. The committee then heard SB 841 on marine life conservation districts. DLNR supported the bill, saying it would fund carrying capacity studies to inform rules and policies. Testimony noted a pilot study already underway at the Puka Marine Life Conservation District and another nearing completion at the old Kona Airport MLCD. Members discussed costs, with DLNR estimating about $300,000 per year for one user-experience study, potentially more for ecological analysis, and also discussed possible funding from the Mālama Kai special fund. DLNR said it had no objection to consulting current operators and other users, and explained the program would be a new, ongoing adaptive-management tool. The committee next heard SB 411 on capital improvement projects at small boat harbors. DLNR supported the intent, saying the bill would help expedite use of special funds for CIP work, while the Department of Budget and Finance opposed it, arguing the draft could conflict with constitutional limits on appropriations. Public testimony from an industry representative supported the bill and urged more collaboration with commercial operators, while committee discussion focused on whether DLNR could already use special funds for repairs, how much engineering and bidding work is required before projects go out to bid, and whether the current process creates bottlenecks when bids exceed initial estimates. DLNR said it can do some repairs and maintenance within existing authority and funding ceilings, but that the bill as drafted could be too broad. The committee also heard SB 5 on historic preservation, where DLNR supported the measure and NAOP Hawaii opposed it, saying the bill’s broader definition could expand the scope beyond the stated goal of narrowing reviews and reducing backlog. The committee then took up SB 1462 on the state historic preservation income tax credit. The Department of Taxation said the revenue estimate assumes the cap would be reached each year the credit is available, and DLNR supported the bill. SHPD said the prior credit had sunset, outreach had previously been done in targeted communities such as Chinatown, and owners of eligible historic properties are notified during review. Finally, the committee heard SB 268 on island burial councils. DLNR supported the bill, and OHA strongly supported it, saying the councils have struggled with quorum and expertise and that the measure would restore the original intent of having lineal descendants and cultural practitioners as decision makers, while still allowing landowners and developers to testify and participate. OHA also said it would help provide technical support and urged continued involvement from SHPD and the Attorney General’s office.

Bills: HB2240 , HB2255

Keywords: law enforcement, police, officer safety, officer wellness, violent attacks, ambush attacks, assaults on police, anti-police violence, public safety, Department of Justice, Attorney General, FBI, National Institute of Justice, Uniform Crime Reporting, UCR, NIBRS, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Data Collection, LEOKA, bulletproof vests, Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership