Transcript Highlights:

• So, the Iran conflict—did that cause the closure of the Benicia refinery, the Phillips 66 refineries,
• Anya Lala, on behalf of the California Coalition for Rural Housing, the Sacramento Housing Alliance,
• It would cut programs such as Fresno bus routes, zero-emission buses, and affordable housing in the region

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the Iran conflict, did that cause the closure of the Benicia refinery, the Valero 66 refineries
• morning, Anya Lala on behalf of the California Coalition for Rural Housing, the Sacramento Housing Alliance
• support one of the worst air quality regions in the state, and it would cut programs such as Fresno bus routes

Summary: The joint hearing focused on CARB’s proposed April amendments to California’s cap-and-invest regulations, adopted under AB 1207 and SB 840. Committee members repeatedly framed the issue as a balance between climate ambition, affordability, leakage prevention, and the Legislature’s budget priorities. Several senators argued the proposal would weaken the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), reduce funding for transit, affordable housing, drinking water, wildfire prevention, and other programs, and potentially undermine the Legislature’s intent in last year’s reauthorization. Others emphasized that the program’s core purpose is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that any changes should preserve the cap’s integrity and the state’s climate targets. CARB Chair Lauren Sanchez said the amendments were designed to implement legislative direction while responding to public comment and economic uncertainty. She described four main changes: increasing electric bill credits, expanding the manufacturing decarbonization incentive (MDI) to $4 billion, adding about $800 million in additional compliance support for industry, and removing post-2030 allowance allocations from the current rulemaking. CARB said the proposal would still maintain declining caps aligned with 2030 and 2045 targets, provide near-term affordability relief, and support businesses and jobs while reducing emissions. In response to questions, CARB said the MDI has guardrails, is limited to emissions-reducing projects, and would require reporting and repayment if projects do not materialize. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the amendments are significant and could affect several legislative priorities. LAO highlighted that the MDI would add allowances above the cap, creating uncertainty about environmental ambition and 2030 compliance, while also shifting more allowances to industry and fewer to the GGRF. LAO said the proposal could significantly reduce GGRF revenues and noted that, if revenues fall to CARB’s estimated level, some tiered programs could go unfunded. The Department of Finance explained that GGRF revenue estimates are updated three times a year and are difficult to predict because they depend on auction outcomes and market conditions. Senators pressed both agencies on whether the proposal would raise consumer costs, whether industry savings would be passed through, and whether the Legislature should receive updated revenue estimates before voting on the budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've heard some announcements, one involving Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66, bringing more capacity
• And then you see Phillips 66, Rodeo, which is Northern California.
• Two more recently, Phillips 66 Wilmington, and now Valero Benicia, which has stopped receiving crude
• member ...zoning commissioner, La Paz County Industrial Development Authority board member, Water Alliance

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:

• family, the Santana family, a family of military veterans: Eddie Sr., age 69; Ileana, his wife, age 66
• family, the Santana family, a family of military veterans: Eddie Sr., age 69; Ileana, his wife, age 66
• family, the Santana family, a family of military veterans: Eddie Sr., age 69; Ileana, his wife, age 66
• family, the Santana family, a family of military veterans: Eddie Sr., age 69; Ileana, his wife, age 66
• EDDIE SR., AGE 69, ILEANA, HIS WIFE, AGE 66, CAMILLE, HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, THEIR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, AGE

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's one route we take: you do one-time funding with pilot programs, and you have these regular
• Certainly, there have been instances where we've created programs through a lot of different routes that
• So that's one route we take: you do one-time funding with pilot programs, and you have these regular
• Certainly, there have been instances where we've created programs through a lot of different routes that
• My name is Yamila Perez-Aragone with Community Alliance Family Farmers, your CAF representing more than

Summary: The meeting began with a lengthy opening discussion with Secretary Karen Ross of the Department of Food and Agriculture, who reviewed the department’s proposed budget, emphasized California agriculture’s record output, and highlighted major priorities including climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, local food systems, farm-to-school, food hubs, invasive pest prevention, bird flu response, and food safety. She also warned about federal budget cuts, especially at USDA and FDA, and discussed market access challenges abroad, rising input costs, labor shortages, and the need for automation and workforce training. Members raised questions about the future of Farm to School, the California Nutrition Incentive Program/Market Match, local food procurement, and how to better connect farmers to schools, food banks, and food hubs; Ross said the department had strong evidence the program benefits small farms and Title I schools and noted continued interest in building out local food infrastructure. The committee then took up item one on eliminating vacant positions at the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Food and Agriculture. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that the Governor proposed eliminating 6,000 vacant positions statewide, with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee previously rejecting 650 of them, including 174 in these three departments. LAO and Finance said the vacancies represented a source of budget flexibility, but warned that eliminating them could create program impacts; LAO recommended retaining the special-funded positions at Fish and Wildlife and Food and Agriculture, while weighing the General Fund positions against other priorities. Finance argued the reductions were part of a broader budget-resiliency exercise and that departments could reclassify or shift vacancies to higher priorities. Members focused heavily on the practical impacts of the cuts. Assemblymember Petrie-Norris argued that Fish and Wildlife staffing shortages were already slowing permits needed for housing, clean energy, water, and transportation projects, and questioned the value of saving relatively small amounts of money. Fish and Wildlife officials said the department had prioritized mission-critical work and could still meet permitting obligations, but acknowledged limited-term staffing constraints. State Parks said the proposed ranger and maintenance cuts would not have immediate effects but could slow maintenance and eventually worsen deferred maintenance. Food and Agriculture said some of the eliminated positions supported early pest detection and eradication, but that the department believed it could still meet its mandate and reclassify positions if needed. The chair and several members signaled concern about the Fish and Wildlife and Parks cuts, while also noting the broader need for budget reductions. The committee then moved to item six, hearing an overview from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Staff described the office’s role in CEQA implementation and said the budget requests were baseline funding to maintain existing functions, including IT services and administrative/legislative support, rather than new programs. The chair asked the presenters to move quickly through background material so the committee could get to questions, and the item began with no votes taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the Public Education Department, we're proud to be working with over 66 school food authorities
• For example a couple of years ago, we started maintaining a route between El Paso, Las Cruces, Silver
• Part of this is because we operate this distribution route between Las Cruces and Albuquerque as well
• And on that route itself, when we offer these distribution services. These are not.
• Potentially routes that exist that might be potential backhauling routes and different partnerships to

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Jessica Gott, on behalf of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, in support.
• Jessica Gott, on behalf of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Support.
• also to understand what might be some barriers as well as opportunities for going further down that route
• also to understand what might be some barriers as well as opportunities for going further down that route

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, health care, and workforce bills. Measures discussed included AB 957, which would prohibit tobacco sales in licensed pharmacies; AB 447, which would allow patients to take home certain unopened medications started in emergency rooms; AB 427, joining the Social Work Licensure Compact; AB 667, allowing interpreters for certain licensing exams; AB 742, prioritizing descendants of slaves in licensing review; AB 873, changing infection-control training timing for dental assistants; AB 360, requiring a report on menopause education for physicians; and AB 1175, modernizing CPA licensure requirements and mobility. Testimony generally emphasized public health, access to care, workforce shortages, language access, and economic opportunity, while opposition or concerns focused on implementation, worker protections, compact authority, and constitutional issues in AB 742. Several bills drew broad support from sponsors, professional associations, and advocacy groups. AB 957 was backed by cancer and pharmacy advocates and pharmacists who said pharmacies should not sell tobacco; AB 447 was supported by emergency medicine and hospital representatives as a way to reduce waste and help patients leave with needed medication; AB 427 drew support from social work and mental health groups but concerns from AFSCME about standards and displacement; AB 667 was supported by immigrant-rights and community groups, with questions about whether translated exams would be preferable to interpreters; AB 360 received extensive support from women’s health advocates and medical groups, and opposition from CMA and ACOG was removed after amendments; and AB 1175 was supported by the Board of Accountancy and CPA groups as a way to expand the pipeline and improve mobility. The committee took votes after quorum was established. AB 360, AB 427, AB 447, AB 667, AB 873, AB 1175, and AB 742 were all approved and sent to their next committees, with AB 742 going to Judiciary and AB 1175 to Appropriations. AB 957 was initially held on call, then later passed after additional votes were recorded. The consent calendar bills AB 375, AB 1107, and AB 1496 were also approved. Most measures passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with some members not voting on certain items during the roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Water and Wastewater Alliance. Recently, we have used GRO funds to support water operator training.
• You also heard about the Water and Wastewater Alliance.
• The third one is en route, very close, and the fourth one is going to be. online.
• Alliance, which is a coast-to-coast network.
• The first is the alignment subcommittee, which identifies the best routes for the Rio Grande.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• which was formerly named Resolve New England, and I'm one of the co-founders of the Endometriosis Alliance
• I am kind of a rare person in this story because, and I should also say I work with the Dignity Alliance
• Research conducted by Reproductive Equity Now and EMC Research found that 66% of Massachusetts residents
• A recent poll found that 66% of Massachusetts voters support removing restrictions after 24 weeks.
• I'm a Lexington resident and a co-founder of the Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts, along with

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures and time limits, then heard testimony on House 2499, a bill to create a public awareness campaign on menopause and related midlife health issues. Supporters, including a nurse, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and other advocates, said menopause is widely misunderstood by patients and providers, leading to delayed care, unnecessary suffering, workplace impacts, and inequities in women’s health. Several speakers shared personal experiences with symptoms being dismissed or misdiagnosed and urged the committee to advance the bill. The committee then took testimony on a package of endometriosis bills, including House 2527 and Senate 1564, calling for a task force and broader awareness efforts. Patients, a physician, and advocates described long diagnostic delays, severe pain, infertility, medical gaslighting, and limited access to specialists and effective treatment. They argued for more research, provider education, and a coordinated state strategy, and several asked for favorable reports. The chair also noted the hearing was running behind and extended time to allow more testimony. Later, the committee heard Senate 1579, which would eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass requirements for abortion access for minors under 16. Planned Parenthood representatives, physicians, legal advocates, and students argued the current law creates unnecessary delays and harms vulnerable youth, especially those in unsafe homes or foster care, while supporters said minors can already consent to other reproductive health care. A pro-life witness opposed the bill and emphasized parental involvement and support services. The committee also heard House 2403 and Senate 1560, which would create a Human Service Transportation Consumer Advisory Board; disability advocates and riders described past safety problems and current service gaps, and supported the board as a low-cost way to improve accountability, rider input, and reliability. No votes or final actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I too took the scenic route to get here, but I did find it. So it's not a surprise.
• So parents have to drive out over those bridges to drop their kids off at certain bus routes.
• It will serve Standing Rock and Crown Point and many chapters along Navajo Route 9.
• So, I'm a member of the Oral Health Alliance, and I'm the oldest daughter of Magdalene.
• I'm a member of the Oral Health Alliance. So, we reported it, and then the next.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It passed the House with a vote of 66 to 27, and the bill does not have a Senate companion.
• It passed the House with a vote of 66 to 27, and the bill does not have a Senate companion.
• My name is Caitlin Ryan, and I'm the executive director for the Cannabis Alliance.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 would create a wage recovery program within L&I to advance part of unpaid wages to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship, funded by civil penalties, while also increasing and restructuring wage theft penalties and complaint prioritization. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, labor advocates, and employer representatives from the work group, said it would help workers get paid faster and was a consensus proposal; questions focused on how the current complaint process works and whether general fund money would be needed. Engrossed House Bill 1941, as amended, would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with the striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters said cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes for interstate commerce and warned against consolidation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand the spirits, beer, and wine theater license from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add stronger alcohol-control measures when minors are present; theater operators and LCB supported the change, and committee questions focused on youth access and enforcement. House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass in addition to beer; the sponsor said it simply modernizes the license, and LCB noted a likely fee alignment issue and a small revenue impact. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155 would void non-compete agreements and expand related notice and non-solicitation rules, with testimony split between labor and worker advocates supporting broader worker mobility and business and health care groups seeking narrower exemptions for executives, physicians, and financial institutions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to accept microchip implants, with no testimony offered. Substitute House Bill 2405 would create a three-year pilot for earlier PTSD treatment coverage in workers’ compensation for eligible occupational disease claims, with L&I supporting it as a way to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The committee also took public testimony on these bills, with strong pro and con positions noted on the wage recovery, cannabis cooperative, and non-compete measures. In executive action, the committee adopted a striking amendment and passed House Bill 1069, narrowing it to Department of Corrections employees and making supplemental retirement bargaining mandatory, despite concerns from one member about the change. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on House Bill 1347 concerning cannabis testing labs, then passed it to Rules; passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701 on liquor licensees sharing property; passed House Bill 291 on employee information for public employers to Ways and Means; passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229 updating engineer registration provisions; passed House Bill 2264 on unemployment eligibility for workers in employer-initiated layoffs; passed Substitute House Bill 2472 adding enforcement for sprinkler contractors and fitters; and passed Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid family and medical leave premium allocation. A striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 creating a child care workforce standards board was not adopted, and the bill then passed to Rules. The committee also announced it would hold House Bill 1066 for later action and planned to return the next day for its final executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I checked this morning, we were already up to 75 suits against 66 different retailers.
• When I checked this morning, we were already up to 75 suits against 66, different retailers.
• I'm the president and CEO of the e-commerce Innovation Alliance, which represents over 15,000 online

Bills: HB2229 , HB2274 , HB2294 , HB1269 , HB1078

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: professional engineers, registration act, licensing, engineering practice, state regulations, email regulation, commercial communications, consumer protection, data privacy, electronic mail, consumer access, real property, food security, medicine access, restriction, pawnbroker, fees, interest rates, financial regulation, pet insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Association of Psychiatrists, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
• We'll pass and retain on items 64 through 66.
• Ayes 66, noes 0, the measure passes. File item 77, AB 446 by Assemblymember Ward.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The peer network is made up of 66 TVC certified peer service coordinators. who are embedded in local
• But, uh, you know, we have those 66 peer service coordinators.
• Hospital 1819, uh, the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant Program is an invaluable program that

Bills: HB101

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: voter approval, local tax, disaster declaration, tax rate increases, community funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> withhold are about 66% of the people. withhold are about 66% of the people.
• Olson from the Brain Injury Alliance, I'm going to go to Kathy Messerly first.
• Olson from the Brain Injury Alliance, I'm going to go to Kathy Messerly first.
• Olson from the Brain Injury Alliance.
• I'm the public policy coordinator for the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Sean Bothwell on behalf of California Coastkeeper Alliance.
• Scott Sadler on behalf of the Community Alliance of Family Farmers.
• Scott Sadler on behalf of the Community Alliance of Family Farmers.
• Scott Sadler, on behalf of the Community Alliance of Family Farmers, ...
• Scott Sadler, on behalf of the Community Alliance of Family Farmers.

Summary: The committee heard several water, wildlife, conservation, and local government bills. AB 362, by Assembly Member Ramos, would add tribal water uses as a statewide beneficial use and strengthen tribal consultation in water planning; tribal representatives and conservation groups supported it as a long-overdue correction, while water agencies, business groups, and agricultural interests raised concerns about CEQA, regulatory uncertainty, and impacts on existing water planning. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, with some members noting ongoing stakeholder discussions and one abstention. AB 1089, by Assembly Member Carrillo, would expand local permitting authority under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act to include commercial and industrial projects. The author and the City of Adelanto argued it would speed housing and economic development in the high desert while preserving the overall conservation framework, but environmental groups opposed it as premature and potentially weakening protections for Joshua trees. The committee approved the bill on a due pass motion to Appropriations. AB 1024, by Assembly Member Harabedian, would require a regional black bear mitigation plan for the San Gabriel Valley and related areas; Sierra Madre officials described rising bear intrusions and the need for state help, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 846, by Assembly Member Connolly, would streamline permitting for local wildfire preparedness and vegetation management projects in local responsibility areas by creating a faster review process at Fish and Wildlife and improving mapping coordination with Cal Fire. Local government, fire service, and agricultural witnesses supported the bill as a common-sense wildfire prevention measure, and it passed to Natural Resources with no opposition. AB 263, by Assembly Member Rogers, would extend emergency minimum-flow regulations for the Scott and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are adopted; supporters said it protects salmon recovery, tribal subsistence, and the fishing economy during a transition period, while opponents argued it bypasses normal regulatory process and harms farmers. The committee approved it on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, with one abstention and two no votes. AB 1044, by Assembly Member Bains, would create a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency for undistricted lands after other local agencies split off; the bill passed to Local Government. AB 1426, by Assembly Member Arambula, began testimony on creating a Diablo Range Conservation Program to fund habitat protection and restoration across the range.

Transcript Highlights:

• Great, I'm here on behalf of the Drug Policy Alliance, echoing the concerns of the committee and reverting
• As such, the Drug Policy Alliance requests that the $8.4 million be returned to COFRE. Thank you.
• Currently, we have over 66 no-cost mental health partners because we can't do this alone as a school
• My name is Elle Grant, and I'm here on behalf of the California Alliance of Services, representing 165
• The number of children and youth members receiving ECM grew by an average of 66% per quarter during the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair now calls Ashley Myers of the Texas Association of Water Companies, Adam Foster of the Alliance
• I'm the, uh, executive director of Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, uh, or what we like to call
• Texas is number one in the country in agricultural losses due to disaster and 66% with $3.4 billion in
• losses last year in agriculture due to natural disaster, and 66% of that was because of drought and
• Uh, another thing that we're supporting along with the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and some

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• the chair now calls Ashley Myers of the Texas Association of Water Companies, Adam Foster of the Alliance
• Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, or what we like to call as TAG, prior to my stint at TAG, I
• Texas is number one in the country in agricultural law. due to disaster and 66% with $3.4 billion in
• losses last year. culture did to natural disaster and 66% of that was because of drought and heat. of
• Something that we're supporting, along with the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and some others

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are also, on the other end of enforcement, groups like the Attorney General's Alliance, who coordinate
• So the main findings were that there are a lot of pesticides that aren't on our required list of 66 pesticides
• I'm the executive director of the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance.
• I'm the executive director of the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the Department of Cannabis Control’s report on the condition and health of California’s cannabis industry. Department staff reviewed the evolution of state cannabis law, the creation of the current regulatory framework, licensing and compliance efforts, and enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. The department said the licensed market has grown in production and retail units sold, while active licenses and retail sales value have declined, and that the illicit market remains a major competitive factor. The department also highlighted consumer education efforts, product testing and recalls, and coordination through the state enforcement task force and other agencies. The department’s economist said the data show continued growth in licensed production and a rising share of consumption through the licensed market, but falling wholesale and retail prices have reduced overall industry value. He identified major headwinds as taxes and fees, illicit-market competition, local prohibitions that limit retail access, regulatory costs, and broader business pressures, while noting opportunities in product innovation and possible hemp-market changes. Committee members pressed the department on enforcement, public health concerns, equity ownership and employment, delays in grant administration, pesticide testing, and whether the legal market is truly viable for small businesses and farmers. Several members argued that stronger enforcement and lower costs are needed, while one member raised concerns about cannabis-related health harms and said the hearing focused too narrowly on supply-side issues. Public commenters from industry groups and advocacy organizations largely echoed concerns about high taxes, regulatory burdens, limited retail access, and the size of the illicit market. Many urged the Legislature not to let the excise tax rise from 15% to 19% and called for tax relief, compliance reform, more enforcement, and broader retail access. Some speakers said the report was too optimistic and did not reflect business failures, debt, and closures, while others emphasized the need to protect small farmers, address wildfire insurance, and support equity businesses. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.