Transcript Highlights:

• That day, Union Station was no longer a place where people passed through.
• Obtaining a monthly pass can be somewhat cumbersome, and it's a deterrent for some employees.
• So this eliminates a lot of the cumbersome process of getting the pass, using that on a daily basis.
• So this eliminates a lot of the cumbersome process of getting the pass, using that on a daily basis.
• unfortunately, a measure to increase sales tax for transportation in the city of Sacramento just failed

Summary: The Select Committee on Downtown Recovery held an informational hearing on the future of public transit and its role in downtown recovery. Chair Haney framed the discussion around how downtowns have changed since the pandemic and how transit, walkability, housing, and street design can support more 24/7 activity. The hearing included three panels: transit agency representatives, street design and curb management experts, and housing/transit development advocates. Transit agency witnesses from BART, LA Metro, and Sacramento Regional Transit described post-pandemic ridership shifts, with more weekend, evening, and event-based travel and less reliance on traditional weekday commute patterns. BART highlighted downtown San Francisco’s dependence on transit, its event service, safety investments, and transit-oriented development pipeline, while asking the state to protect transit funding and honor SB 125 and greenhouse gas reduction fund commitments. LA Metro emphasized special event service, especially around the World Cup and Union Station activations, as a way to make transit a destination and improve customer experience. Sacramento Regional Transit reported bus ridership recovery above pre-pandemic levels, light rail lagging behind, new vehicles and stations, stronger security measures, and concerns about future funding cuts affecting student fares, capital projects, and service levels. The second panel focused on making downtown streets more walkable and transit-friendly. Jeff Speck argued that walkability depends on places being useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting, and urged cities to restripe streets, reduce lane widths, add bike protection, improve crossings, and redesign one-way streets. Mark Vuksevich of Streets for All said downtowns are statewide economic assets and called for frequent transit, bus priority, modern curb management, parking pricing tied to availability, and parking benefits districts that reinvest revenue locally. He also said the state should provide model enabling legislation and more flexibility for local experimentation. The final panel focused on housing near transit. California YIMBY’s Aaron Eckhouse supported AB 2074, which would encourage large-scale housing in transit-rich downtowns, and argued for more financing tools, condo reform, and building code changes to reduce costs. Transbay Joint Powers Authority Executive Director Adam Van Water described the Transbay Transit Center and surrounding district as a case study in transit-oriented downtown growth, with millions of square feet of development, thousands of residents, and a major portal project still awaiting funding and pre-construction work. Members discussed office-to-housing conversions, the need to repurpose underused office stock, and the importance of state funding and policy support for transit, housing, and downtown revitalization.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to take a moment to pass it over to Assemblymember Jessica Caloza if you'd like to say any
• When you walk anywhere in the city of Glendale, roughly one in three people you pass probably traces
• Strengthening our community means investing in lasting institutions, not simply passing resolutions.
• mention that Glennie, Strengthening our community means investing in lasting institutions, not simply passing
• consequences for who gets credit, who can grow and expand their businesses, who they can hire, and who fails

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to take a moment to pass it over to Assemblymember Jessica Caloza if you'd like to say any
• When you walk anywhere in the city of Glendale, roughly one in three people you pass probably traces
• Strengthening our community means investing in lasting institutions, not simply passing resolutions.
• Strengthening our community means investing in lasting institutions, not simply passing resolutions.
• consequences for who gets credit, who can grow and expand their businesses, who they can hire, and who fails

Summary: The inaugural meeting of the Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange focused on strengthening California-Armenia ties through trade, investment, education, culture, and diplomacy. Chair Harabedian and Assemblymember Caloza opened by emphasizing the importance of the Armenian-American community in California and the committee’s goal of expanding opportunities for business, job creation, cultural preservation, and academic exchange. The Republic of Armenia’s ambassador and the Armenian Consul General both described Armenia as a growing strategic partner for California, highlighting recent peace and connectivity developments, Armenia’s diversification strategy, and the role of the Armenian diaspora in linking the two places. The first panel featured Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Go-Biz trade specialist Trisha Utterback. Kounalakis reviewed the 2019 California-Armenia framework agreement and the opening of the California trade and services desk in Yerevan, noting growth in academic ties and California’s support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Utterback outlined Go-Biz’s trade and investment programs and reported that California-Armenia two-way trade has more than doubled since 2019, with exports rising sharply; she cited examples of California companies expanding into Armenia and Armenian businesses seeking California opportunities. Members asked about future priorities, and panelists pointed to tech, clean energy, agriculture, and continued outreach through trade and investment programs. A second panel centered on Glendale’s role as a gateway for the partnership. Mayor Ara Najarian described Glendale’s large Armenian-American population, the Armenian American Museum, sister-city relationships, and the city’s role in cultural and economic diplomacy, while also raising concerns about Artsakh, displaced Armenians, detainees, and discrimination against Armenian Americans. Vahe Kozoyan of ServiceTitan shared his company’s growth from a Glendale startup to a global firm with major operations in Armenia, and Armina Galstian of SmartGate VC and Hero House Glendale described a California-Armenia innovation corridor supporting startups, AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and neuroscience. Committee members discussed how the state can further support the partnership through investment, delegation visits, education, innovation hubs, and ensuring Armenian-owned businesses are not excluded from supplier diversity and anti-discrimination protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• governor did a great job in trying to patch together some of these hospitals that would have otherwise failed
• We passed the law last January, and it's not about 14 months ago, and we said no more.
• away if you have a heart attack in any of these communities, residents, visitors, or anyone just passing
• really would like to focus my comments in two areas of why I think it is important for this bill to be passed
• victim of what this hospital was created to be by Stewart and not look in the eyes of the people passing

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on H. 3599, a bill concerning access to historic Indian lands and easements for landlocked tribal parcels in Massachusetts. Witnesses, including members of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Herring Pond communities, said the bill would restore access to family lands that have long been treated as landlocked and had been denied easements by necessity in prior court rulings. They described heavy tax burdens, prior litigation, and support from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, with conditional support from the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe pending language changes. Committee members asked about the tax assessments and the status of tribal support, and the chair said the committee would follow up on possible amendments. The committee then took up S. 2922, which would authorize an underground easement at Magazine Beach in Cambridge for the Greater Cambridge Energy Project. Eversource representatives said the easement is needed for a transmission line connecting the Brighton and Kendall Square substations, supporting grid reliability and the Commonwealth’s clean energy transition. They said DCR would receive fair market value and replacement land in Wendell to satisfy Article 97 requirements. No objections were raised, and the panel’s testimony concluded without a vote recorded in the transcript. Most of the hearing focused on H. 5047, which would authorize the Commonwealth to take the Norwood Hospital site by eminent domain so the hospital can be restored. Sponsors, local officials, hospital task force members, EMS and fire representatives, a chamber of commerce leader, and a former hospital administrator all argued that the 2020 flood and Steward’s bankruptcy left the region without adequate care, causing longer ambulance transports, emergency room boarding, staffing strain, and economic losses. They said the site remains a partially completed shell, that the state should be able to acquire it and bring in a nonprofit operator, and that the taking would not require state funding because an operator would pay the acquisition costs. Committee members from both chambers expressed support and asked about costs, timing, infrastructure, and whether a nonprofit operator is being pursued. The chair took the bill under advisement after extensive testimony; no vote was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• How does us passing this bill help your business plan going forward?
• We would urge the committee to pass SB 5971.
• It'll be difficult for me to come because I feel like I failed you, and I don't really want to eat your
• business owners, the new fee increases are above and beyond anything that a company can absorb or be passed
• Before our farm products reach their end consumer, they pass through a minimum of three companies.

Bills: SB5816 , SB5971

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, green fertilizer, low-carbon, sustainability, incentive program, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we pass major bills, we usually follow that up with some kind of secondary bill the following year
• And that is not a new thing.<00:27:29.600><c> When</c><00:27:29.760><c> we</c><00:27:30.000><c> pass<
• When we pass major bills, we thing.
• When we pass major bills, we usually<00:27:31.840><c> follow</c><00:27:32.240><c> that</c><00:27:32.400
• The following bills having failed to meet crossover and been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so just to get started a little bit with the background about the federal VRA, when it was passed
• So in 1968, three years after the federal Voting Rights Act was passed, the Yakima County Auditor was
• I think you referenced that there were three Latino candidates that failed to reach the adequate votes
• I’ll pass it on to Vicki Frausto. Thank you, Maria. Thank you for having us.
• painting a calavera or a picture frame so that they can put the picture of their loved one who's passed

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:

• And I'd like staff to please introduce, I failed to ask you to introduce yourselves.
• So, is there, if we had a magic wand that said the bill is going to pass this year?
• Since we probably won't get attacks passed again, maybe we can take another approach by really upping
• texted Larry Lehman and congratulated the Chairman of Health, Jeff Steinborn, and many others who passed
• Not that we're going to get our bills passed because we haven't been great at that, but we are passionate

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• For this panel, we are asking the LAO to provide an overview of Proposition 1, passed by the voters in
• When the legislation was passed initially with BCHF and also with Proposition 1, there were some flexibilities
• I failed to introduce myself earlier, so I apologize for that.
• I will provide, as requested, a brief overview and status update of CYBHI and then pass over to my colleague
• I'll now pass to Deputy Director Boylan. Good afternoon.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and representatives, senators, let's continue making Minnesota the best state for workers by passing
• Chair and representatives, senators, let's continue making Minnesota the best state for workers by passing
• Once you get settled in, please identify yourself and proceed. for workers by passing house file 107
• for workers by passing house file 107 thank<00:06:44.360><c> you</c><00:06:44.840><c> thank</c><00:06
• are teachers or laborers or working in my industry of health care, it is a sign that employers are failing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I have some materials for each of you that's being passed out right now to Give you a little background
• was only involved in criminal and juvenile delinquency matters, but Last session, legislation was passed
• direct authority over them, but I do have monitoring and inspection, certification of their office. and pass-through
• We would pass that on along to the OIG on that.
• And people saw my cousin as a drug dealer, and I saw a kid who was failed by everybody.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this was to pass um in order to comply. this was to pass um in order to comply.
• Please vote ought to pass. Thank you.
• Please vote ought to pass. children. Please vote ought to pass. Thank<02:09:06.159><c> you.
• </c><02:15:38.000><c> And</c> vote ought to pass on this bill. And vote ought to pass on this bill.
• </c> seen how easily that safeguards can fail seen how easily that safeguards can fail when<02:20:46.720

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on</c><00:07:38.960><c> to</c><00:07:39.120><c> the</c> passes supposedly it passes on to the passes
• </c><00:26:05.200><c> this</c> in the right direction that passing this in the right direction that passing
• So, a couple years ago, we did pass, or you guys passed, a new prior authorization bill, SB 561, that
• years ago, we did pass or you guys<00:53:06.400><c> passed</c><00:53:07.280><c> a</c><00:53:07.520><
• And if the carrier fails been 72 hours.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please pass this bill.
• </c> meals bill that we passed last year? meals bill that we passed last year?
• Mahalo for the to pass HB1925.
• </c> committee to pass this measure. committee to pass this measure.
• </c> recommendation to pass with amendments. recommendation to pass with amendments.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint Education and Higher Education committees met on February 10, 2026, first hearing HB 1676, which would create an AI and education task force, require documentation from AI vendors before procurement or use, and appropriate funds. The Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, and University of Hawaii all supported the bill’s intent and described existing AI literacy efforts, teacher training, guidance for students and staff, and privacy/monitoring safeguards. DOE said it had already convened an AI task force, produced a report, trained over 10,000 educators, and embedded AI into computer science and broader curricular guidance. Members questioned DOE about student privacy, harmful content monitoring, personal devices, cell phone policy, teacher training, and whether AI literacy should extend beyond computer science into all subjects and across rural schools. After discussion, the chair announced HB 1676 would be deferred to Friday, February 13, and that a HD1 draft would be prepared. The chair said the committee would revisit the task force composition and procurement standards, with possible elimination of the procurement section, and circulate the revised draft before the next hearing. The committee then recessed and later reconvened for HB 1811, a student loan repayment program for educators. Testimony from the Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, HSTA, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus was generally supportive, with HSTA and the Teacher Standards Board emphasizing teacher recruitment and retention, student loan burden, and the need to address the teacher shortage. In decision-making on HB 1811, the committees adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The main amendment collapsed the repayment structure into a single disbursement of up to $25,000 after five years of service, with technical/non-substantive changes and a corrected effective date. Both the Education and Higher Education committees voted unanimously in favor. Later in the meeting, the Education Committee began hearing HB 1561 on student meals, which drew broad support from the Public Charter School Commission, Department of Health, HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and many individuals. Appleseed requested amendments to ensure charter schools are treated the same as other public schools if eligibility expands and to address reimbursement issues for schools already participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision; members discussed those concerns but no action was taken in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then moved on to HB 779, on expanding student meal coverage, where DOE supported the intent but said it could not support the bill in its current form because of fiscal constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you all to please pass this today.
• </c><00:26:57.240><c> this</c> I urge you all to please pass this I urge you all to please pass this
• license</c> passing a business license passing a business license separating<00:42:22.240><c> us</c><
• </c><00:47:02.200><c> Um,</c> anything is passed here. Thank you. Um, anything is passed here.
• </c> 1131 as amended be recommended to pass 1131 as amended be recommended to pass and<01:06:33.760><

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's lots of models that work well in business and lots that fail.
• a few years back, as Senator Rush's chief of staff, I worked with most of the committee members to pass
• As Senator Rush's chief of staff, I worked with most of the committee members to pass three major veterans

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the Massachusetts sea scallop fishery, especially the economic importance of the industry, federal scallop management, and two policy questions: reopening the Northern Edge area on Georges Bank and allowing permit stacking/permit consolidation. Chairing senators emphasized their interest in hearing both sides, their frustration with federal bureaucracy, and their view that the issue should be guided by science while protecting the long-term resource and local communities. Dr. Kate O’Keefe of the New England Fishery Management Council and Kevin Stokesbury of UMass Dartmouth described the Magnuson-Stevens framework, annual catch limits, rotational area management, and the role of industry-funded surveys and the research set-aside program. They said scallops remain the most lucrative council-managed commercial fishery on the East Coast, but recent changes include more small scallops, lower biomass in some areas, higher natural mortality, and shifting abundance toward Georges Bank. On the Northern Edge, they explained that the council previously considered opening the area through a framework/joint action with habitat management, but discontinued the action in 2024 because of conflicting objectives involving scallop yield, habitat protection, and other species. They said the issue could be revisited through future council priority-setting. Representatives of the Sustainable Scalloping Fund argued that the fishery needs modernization to remain economically viable. They supported reopening the Northern Edge and strongly backed permit stacking, saying it would allow two permits on one vessel while keeping ownership caps in place, reducing costs, improving safety, and helping family-owned fleets avoid financial distress and outside investment. Port of New Bedford representative John Regan stressed the port’s central role in the state economy, the need to protect working waterfront infrastructure, and the importance of any permit changes preserving local ownership and participation. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members asked that the witnesses keep the committee informed as the council and federal agencies consider next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• And yeah, so I'm going to pass it over to Pam. She's going to thank you as... ...over to Pam.
• appear in the eyes, as I think it has over the last year, that the... ...that the state has kind of failed
• The rule is implementing what was passed in what was known as the big beautiful bill, OB3, and now, as

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee opened by approving the May 15 minutes and then recognized Pam Ellis for her long service with the Legislative Budget Assistant’s office and upcoming retirement. The committee adopted the consent calendar with two items removed for separate consideration, then approved transfers for the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Environmental Services after questions about court benefit costs and dam project funding. The Department of Health and Human Services also received approval for a general fund transfer item. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Youth Development Center settlement fund. New administrator Jared Boyle, joined by the Attorney General, described the fund’s remaining caseload, the payment matrix, and the need for additional funding to begin hearings in August. Members raised concerns about administrative costs, attorneys’ fees, payday loans, structured settlements, and the long-term fiscal impact on the state. Boyle requested $55 million, but the committee ultimately approved a reduced appropriation of $20 million, with members noting the possibility of returning for more funding later depending on revenues and the October revenue review. The Department of Corrections then received approval for a smaller shortfall transfer and a larger overtime-related transfer, with officials citing a 52% corrections officer vacancy rate, ongoing recruitment, academy classes, and efforts to use civilian staff in some non-security roles. A late item from the Veterans Home was also approved to cover overtime, holiday pay, and indirect cost shortfalls within its existing budget. The committee then heard an informational presentation on implementation of Senate Bill 134 and the new federal Medicaid work-requirement rule. DHHS said it plans to submit a state plan amendment, seek approval for hardship exceptions, start with one eligibility check cycle, and use existing federal grant funding to make system changes. Finally, the committee received a performance audit of the Doorway opioid treatment program, which found weak written procedures, incomplete data use, reimbursement delays, and problems with the Governor’s Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention. Members discussed follow-up reporting, and the next Fiscal Committee meeting was scheduled for August 21 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the four, three of these are related to legislative proposals that have passed in the last session
• maintain these evidence-based vaccine policies, and appreciate the partnership with the Legislature to pass
• And when they're not, we fail to protect the health of our communities.

Summary: The Assembly Subcommittee on Health heard an overview of the California Department of Public Health budget, including a $5.1 billion department budget and 19 non-IT budget change proposals spanning environmental health, healthcare quality, infectious disease, healthy communities, health statistics, preparedness, and laboratory sciences. CDPH also presented estimates for WIC and the Genetic Disease Screening Program, both of which were described as relatively stable, with WIC food costs rising mainly due to inflation and participation holding near 1 million monthly participants. Members and public commenters raised support for several proposals, including funding for the California Reducing Disparities Project, AB 1264 implementation on school food standards, childhood lead poisoning prevention, the hospital bed capacity registry, sickle cell care networks, and WIC protections amid federal policy changes and shutdown-related uncertainty. Dr. Erica Pond then presented the 2026 State of Public Health report, highlighting major gains such as record-low mortality rates, all-time high life expectancy, and the first decline in overdose deaths in 14 years, while warning about persistent disparities in maternal and infant outcomes, rising severe maternal morbidity, and worsening mental and behavioral health trends, especially among younger adults. She emphasized racial and geographic inequities, the role of social drivers like poverty and education, and the importance of prevention investments through the Behavioral Health Services Act. Members discussed the need for upstream public health spending, environmental health preparedness, and how to translate data into action, while public comment largely focused on sustaining community-based prevention and equity programs. In a separate update on federal actions and public health partnerships, Dr. Pond and CDPH staff described California’s response to federal funding threats, vaccine policy changes, and measles outbreaks. They outlined new collaborations such as the West Coast Health Alliance, the Governor’s Public Health Alliance, the WHO outbreak network, and the FACT Coalition, along with CDPH’s process for reviewing and updating immunization and preventive service recommendations under AB 144. Members questioned the rise in measles and declining vaccination coverage, and CDPH said it is using trusted messengers and tailored outreach while continuing to evaluate federal recommendations. The committee then heard an ADAP estimate showing lower projected budget authority needs due to reduced caseload and one-time funding expiring, followed by public support for using ADAP rebate funds to expand HIV prevention, PrEP, testing, and disease intervention staffing. The final issue focused on public health information technology systems, including Sapphire, CalReady, CalConnect, CARE, MyTurn, MyCAVAC, and the digital vaccine record. CDPH explained how these systems support disease reporting, contact tracing, immunization tracking, vaccine ordering, and outbreak response, while the Department of Finance said only Sapphire and CalReady are funded in the Governor’s budget and the rest are under review because of the state’s budget deficit and declining utilization. Local health department representatives strongly opposed losing the systems, arguing that lower usage reflects post-pandemic conditions and that the tools save staff time, improve outbreak response, and prevent a return to manual spreadsheets and phone calls. Members echoed concern that cutting the systems would undermine public health capacity and waste prior state investment, and urged the administration to present a funding plan that matches its stated commitment to public health.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, on the local side, right, on some of these big projects, they need... to pass ordinances.
• The law you passed recently makes... That easier, but it doesn't eliminate it altogether.
• Because when we pass the ETA...
• I see that when we introduced and passed House Bill 96, we had a particular intent.
• ETA passed in 2019.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will pass ATF scrutiny. will pass ATF scrutiny.
• The bill is passed. &gt;&gt; The eyes have it. The bill is passed.
• The bill is passed. Without are 185. The bill is passed.
• We went from in the successful to pass more and more successful to pass more and more programs<02:58:
• <c> uh</c><03:25:59.359><c> the</c> of these two members passing uh the of these two members passing

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all