Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation addresses three key issues: removing the arbitrary work-hours penalties, recognizing
• As my colleague noted, a thousand is an arbitrary number.
• And as my colleague noted, a thousand is an arbitrary number.
• This is not how we address this issue by doing an arbitrary ban, by giving an arbitrary amount of $1,000
• I will follow up just a little bit with my colleague from Sassoon about there being an arbitrary number

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and first dealt with a procedural dispute over four amendments to AB 1240. The Speaker ruled the amendments out of order as not germane, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on a 49-16 vote. Members then added co-authors to several consent-calendar resolutions, including measures on the National Conference of State Legislators, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Men’s Mental Health Month, before adopting the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions, including a welcome for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and took up a motion to bring AB 41 up out of file, which failed 19-48. The bulk of the meeting was floor action on a long series of bills and resolutions, many of which passed with broad bipartisan support. Measures approved included ACR 40 supporting immigrant students and FAFSA privacy; AB 917 on permanent status for certain school employees; AB 985 on anesthesia access; AB 7 and AB 42 on higher education and student services; AB 245 providing property tax relief for wildfire victims; AB 255 allowing funding for drug-free recovery housing; AB 279 updating K-12 library standards; AB 289 creating a pilot for automated speed enforcement in highway construction zones; AB 291 on an educator apprentice program; AB 327 addressing swatting; AB 340 on confidential union communications; AB 341 creating an oral health technical assistance center for people with disabilities; AB 356 on San Diego health care infrastructure; AB 410 on bot disclosure; AB 476 on copper theft enforcement; AB 477 on educator pay targets; AB 485 on stolen wages and business licensing; AB 487, the insurance committee’s technical omnibus bill; AB 573 on tobacco retail license fees; AB 598 on school mapping technology; AB 635 on mobile home law enforcement referrals; AB 651 on remote participation for incarcerated parents in dependency hearings; AB 654 on homelessness hotline assistance in Los Angeles County; AB 662 creating a South County higher education task force; AB 667 on language access in professional licensing; AB 669 limiting early denial of addiction treatment; AB 670 on naturally occurring affordable housing; AB 695 on online continuation of community college for deported students; AB 723 on disclosure for digitally altered real estate images; AB 727 placing Trevor Project information on student IDs; and AB 736, a $10 billion affordable housing bond for the June 2026 ballot, which passed on a 61-11 urgency vote after extensive debate. Debate on AB 736 was the most extensive of the day, with supporters arguing the bond would help address California’s housing crisis and give voters a chance to weigh in, while opponents criticized the state’s bond debt and past spending results. The Assembly then recessed for caucus meetings and later returned to continue the daily file, where additional measures were taken up, including AB 798 adding diapers and wipes to the emergency food bank reserve program, which passed 56-0, and AB 821 on career technical education, which was presented as bipartisan-supported as the transcript continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation that addresses three key issues, removing the arbitrary work hours penalties, recognizing
• And I'm concerned For a number of things, just the premise, an arbitrary band of over 1,000.
• As my colleague noted, that 1,000 is an arbitrary number.
• This is not how we address this issue by doing an arbitrary ban, by giving an arbitrary amount of $1,000
• I will follow up just a little bit with my colleague from Sassoon about there being an arbitrary— number

Transcript Highlights:

• Cox, relating to juvenile... ...detention. Thank you for the recognition, Mr. Speaker.
• before you a statewide bill to accomplish transferring the control and care and custody of this detention
• She preferred that instead of being referred to as a warden in the detention facility... ...to as a warden
• in the detention facility, she asked that it be referred to as superintendent of this facility.
• The commission may hire a detention superintendent, but it doesn't name... Thank you, ma'am.

Transcript Highlights:

• this, parents are told they can either voluntarily withdraw their child or they can go to the local detention
• The detention center is the local jail; it houses adults, not juveniles.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, and importantly, we address secure detention of status offenders.
• The bill prohibits the secure detention of children under 14 for status offenses.
• continued detention is necessary for public safety.
• is necessary for continued detention is necessary for public<01:08:07.520><c> safety.
• </c> the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center,<01:14:53.199

Transcript Highlights:

• As I left the detention center that day, an employee from ICE made one request: stop politicizing us.
• As I left the detention center that day, an employee from ICE made one request: stop politicizing us.
• They dress up in ICE jackets, parade through detention centers, and turn detainees into props for their
• The teen responsible, just 14 years old, was sentenced to only three years of secure detention.
• THEY WERE SENTENCED TO ONLY THREE YEARS OF SECURE DETENTION.

Bills: HB1670 , HR493 , HR492 , HR491 , HB5140 , HB4922 , HR713 , HR721 , HB2721 , HR707

Keywords: fertility, health benefits, family planning, assisted reproductive technology, employees, fertility treatment, ART, in vitro fertilization, IVF, infertility, family building, reproductive health, oocyte preservation, sperm preservation, embryo preservation, artificial insemination, gamete donation, embryo genetic testing, federal employee health benefits, FEHB

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill allows jailers, deputy jailers, and correctional officers employed by local detention centers
• <00:45:17.440><c> center,</c><00:45:18.240><c> local</c><00:45:18.560><c> correctional</c> detention
• center, local correctional detention center, local correctional facility,<00:45:19.599><c> or</c><00:
• </c><00:45:40.880><c> I</c> correctional, or detention facilities.
• I correctional, or detention facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The repudiation of Chevron deference stabilizes state law and ends this arbitrary and undemocratic scheme
• The repudiation of Chevron deference stabilizes state law and ends this arbitrary and undemocratic scheme
• The repudiation of Chevron deference stabilizes state law and ends this arbitrary and undemocratic scheme
• The repudiation of Chevron deference stabilizes state law and ends this arbitrary and undemocratic scheme
• State law and ends this arbitrary and undemocratic scheme by passage of the bill.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 90 / Senate Bill 17, a birth-related measure backed by the Kentucky Birth Coalition. Sponsors said the bill had been worked on for several years and described changes including a transfer agreement, insurance requirements, proximity to a hospital, informed consent, and accreditation/medical director standards that helped win neutral or non-opposition from the Hospital Association. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote with unanimous support. The committee then heard Senate Bill 65, presented by Senator Steve West and Representative Derrick Lewis. They said the bill would make regulations found deficient through the committee review process null and void by statute, and would bar agencies from reissuing the same or similar language for up to a year. Supporters argued this was needed to hold agencies accountable because deficiency findings alone had not led to action. After questions about specific Medicaid behavioral health regulations and concerns about legislative overreach, the bill passed the committee on a roll call vote, with some members passing or explaining reservations. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 84, with a House committee substitute. Sponsors said the substitute was intended to strengthen the bill and reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision by ending Chevron deference and requiring courts, not agencies, to interpret law. Opponents, including Audrey Ernsberger and Katherine Hargraves, argued the bill would intrude on the judiciary, violate separation of powers, and could harm public health, environmental, and workplace protections. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the bill told courts what standard to use; sponsors responded that agencies could still present persuasive arguments, but courts should not defer to them. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill then passed the committee on a roll call vote, with several members passing or expressing constitutional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are partnering with Just Detention International and Valor to conduct regular meetings for both incarcerated
• work that's been done by the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Survived and Punished, Just Detention
• We also serve as the ombudsperson for complaints related to the Sexual Abuse in Detention and Elimination

Transcript Highlights:

• PERSON MAY NOT LAWFULLY USE FORCE OR VIOLENCE TO RESIST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN ARREST OR DETENTION
• PUBLIC SAFETY AIM OF THIS BILL TO PROTECT OFFICERS IN MAKING SURE WHETHER A STOP IS VALID, WHETHER A DETENTION
• IT SAYS HE CANNOT RESIST AN UNLAWFUL OR LAWFUL DETENTION BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE BILL GOES A LITTLE FURTHER

Transcript Highlights:

• this to the people that, you know, through the process that that child went through to get into the detention
• the total number, but I'll find that out in terms of the number of children, our and the juvenile detention
• These are kids is sometimes the detention centers called the parents and the parents don't even come

Transcript Highlights:

• Be a huge hit, and it's just arbitrary.
• arbitrary why the $500,000<01:54:39.280><c> threshold.
• </c><01:54:54.000><c> And</c> a huge hit and it's just arbitrary.
• And a huge hit and it's just arbitrary.
• </c> is rather than sort of setting arbitrary is rather than sort of setting arbitrary limits<04:40:53.520

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• center without due process detention center without due process rights.<03:18:50.360><c> That</c><03
• It prohibits law enforcement officers from initiating or prolonging a stop, a detention, or arrest of
• I rise in support, Madam Speaker, with— When there's a detention. And that's what it's focused on.
• </c><03:53:47.560><c> And</c><03:53:47.640><c> that's</c> when there's a detention.
• And that's when there's a detention.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a Filipino community member who's been detained at the Northwest Detention Center for almost a year
• He's a Filipino community member who's been detained at the Northwest Detention Center for almost a year
• And he, along with countless other migrants at the detention center, including two U.S. veterans who
• Step by step, she explained the ways in which ICE's deportations, arrests, detentions, and more are violations
• Step by step, she explained the ways in which ISIS deportations, arrests, detentions, and more are violations

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on four bills. SB 5925 would expand the Attorney General’s civil investigative demand authority to investigate possible violations of the U.S. and Washington constitutions, certain labor and civil rights laws, law enforcement use-of-force issues, and jail-related statutes. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s office, Teamsters 117, and Working Washington, said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases. Opponents, including police, sheriffs, cities, counties, and retail and business groups, argued it would give the AG broad investigative power without enough threshold showing, could burden local governments and employers, and raised constitutional concerns about speech and search protections. No vote was taken. SB 5906 would codify and expand protections for non-public spaces in schools, child care facilities, health care facilities, higher education institutions, and county auditor election areas by limiting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant or court order and restricting collection of immigration-related information about students and families. Supporters said the bill would reduce fear, protect privacy, and make existing Keep Washington Working policies clearer and more durable, with testimony from immigrant rights groups, faith organizations, students, PTA, and health advocates. Some organizations, including health care and child care stakeholders, supported the goal but asked for amendments to clarify definitions, create model policies, add training and enforcement provisions, and adjust warrant/subpoena language. The committee also heard strong opposition concerns about federal immigration enforcement, but no action was taken. SB 6070 would expand missing-person tools by allowing certain digital investigative tools to be used in missing endangered person cases, creating new Abney and Purple Alerts for missing Black people and people with disabilities, and broadening the definition of missing endangered person. Supporters included prosecutors, law enforcement, tribal and disability advocates, families of missing persons, and students who argued that faster alerts and better digital tools save lives and address racial and disability disparities in missing-person responses. Testimony described delays in prior cases and the need for more urgent, targeted alerts. The committee then heard SB 6002, which would regulate automated license plate reader systems, set registration, use, retention, audit, and disclosure rules, and prohibit certain uses such as immigration enforcement and surveillance near protected locations. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create statewide guardrails for a technology already in use, and testimony was expected to continue after the excerpt ended; no vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now at 64 years old, she's stuck at a detention center, forced to wear a yellow uniform with minimal
• she's<00:51:37.440><c> stuck</c><00:51:37.599><c> at</c><00:51:37.760><c> a</c><00:51:37.920><c> detention
• </c><00:51:38.400><c> center,</c> she's stuck at a detention center, she's stuck at a detention center
• As of right now, Emily's aunt is preparing to wait at this detention facility for four long, uncertain

Summary: The House convened with 46 members present and five excused, deferred reading of the journal, and noted there were no messages from the governor or Senate communications. Members then offered several introductions recognizing guests in the gallery, including LifeSmarts awardees, DCCA and LifeSmarts program officials, former Representative Pono Chong and his children, an intern from District 39, a landback advocate, and staff from the Education Committee office. The chamber also marked the close of Education Week 2025 with applause and recognition of the visiting students and supporters. The main floor presentation was House Resolution 211, which congratulated the first- and second-place teams at the 2025 Havi LifeSmarts State Competition and the 2025 U.S. Senate Youth Program delegate. Representative Tam presented the resolution, praising the Eolani Raiders for winning first place and wishing them well at the upcoming Chicago competition. Representative Hashimoto recognized Kalanianaole High School’s second-place team, and Representative Woodson honored Wilson Chow of Maui High School for his leadership and service. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the House recessed briefly to allow members to congratulate the honorees. After recess, the House took up a large block of standing committee reports, moving reports 1406 through 1504 with a series of member notations including no votes, reservations, and a few brief explanations. Several members raised concerns about specific measures involving emergency readiness centers, immigration-related legal access, blank votes on ballot questions, electricity costs and Hawaiian Electric, and gambling. Some members spoke in support of measures while noting reservations about cost, process, or policy effects. The full package of reports was ultimately adopted by voice vote. During announcements, Representative Garcia read a statement from Representative Jean Ward announcing her resignation effective at the end of the month due to ongoing health issues, including anemia, sciatica, and pneumonia, after nearly 27 years of service. The House then adjourned by voice vote until 12:00 noon on Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as a detention officer. as a detention officer.
• It doesn't always turn out, and we don't have a juvenile detention facility in Fremont County, which
• </c> we don't have a juvenile detention we don't have a juvenile detention facility<03:51:42.560><c>
• It puts a lot of strain on the detention deputies and the detention center, and it really is not healthy
• And, as Miss Calvert mentioned, the detention location is the jail.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• super young still, but in any event, it's fascinating to me how when you look at this map and the arbitrariness
• "It's fascinating to me how when you look at this map and the arbitrariness behind it, in some areas
• It's fascinating to me how when you look at this map and arbitrariness behind it, in some areas on our
• It is literally that arbitrary. Ten miles away, so... Yes. All right. Thank you.
• Literally that arbitrary. Ten miles away, so... Yes. All right. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Judiciary A

Transcript Highlights:

• into House Bill 500 with recallable nickels to ensure that no child's education is limited by an arbitrary
• into House Bill 500 with recallable nickels to ensure that no child's education is limited by an arbitrary
• into House Bill 500 with recallable nickels to ensure that no child's education is limited by an arbitrary
• into House Bill 500 with recallable nickels to ensure that no child's education is limited by an arbitrary
• into House Bill 500 with recallable nickels to ensure that no child's education is limited by an arbitrary

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met for an information-gathering session and opened by clarifying that the subcommittee would not be voting on budget requests. Because there was no quorum at first, the committee did not take up approval amendments. The first presentation focused on a budget request to incentivize national certification for school social workers and school psychologists. Rep. Vanessa Gracal, along with Amy Oats and Leslie Gilpin, argued for a $500,000 annual appropriation to provide $2,000 salary supplements to nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists working primarily in their certification areas. They said the stipend would help recruit and retain professionals amid shortages, noted that current Kentucky certification numbers are low, and explained the rigorous certification and renewal requirements. In response to questions, they said there is currently no appropriation for this purpose in HB 500 and none they were aware of in HB 6 in 2024. The next topic was school facility funding needs, led by Rep. Bob McCool, Johnson County Superintendent Tom Cochran, Commissioner of Education Robert Fletcher, and other district representatives. They described the “gap funding” issue for school construction projects that had already started before COVID-era inflation sharply increased costs. Johnson County and Harrison County were highlighted as examples of districts that had already committed local funds, passed nickel taxes, and begun construction but now need additional state support to finish projects. Speakers emphasized that many projects were audited and approved, that the state has already funded about half of the gap, and that roughly $130 million more is being sought in HB 500 to complete the remaining work. They stressed that unfinished projects would leave districts with half-built schools and that completing them would bring long-term savings and better facilities for students. The committee then turned to testimony from KASA representatives on the impacts of HB 500 as introduced. The witnesses discussed the importance of school psychology and school social work certification, the benefits of advanced training for student services, and the need to recognize and support highly qualified staff. A member asked whether HB 500 or HB 6 included an appropriation for the certification stipend, and the witnesses answered no. The meeting also included a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting once a quorum was present, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The vehicles that are actually impacted by this bill have only collected an arbitrary amount of tickets
• and now face an outsized punishment of losing something critical... ...collected an arbitrary amount
• There is a much better way to get at that that doesn't involve putting up arbitrary roadblocks to people
• you for bringing it forward, and I want to thank you for always keeping your eye on how we remove arbitrary
• barriers for getting people out of poverty, because this is a very arbitrary barrier that keeps people

Committee: House Transportation

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on traffic safety, climate resilience, wildlife crossings, parking enforcement, and EV charging reliability. AB 605 would create a pilot program for lower-emissions cargo-handling equipment at ports using hydrogen internal combustion technology; it drew support from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, ILWU, and others, with South Coast AQMD expressing concern about possible NOx emissions and limits on future regulation. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Natural Resources. AB 1132 would require Caltrans to add community resilience indicators, including impacts on vulnerable users, to climate vulnerability assessments; supporters included Greenlining Institute and AARP, while some members raised budget concerns. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 382 would lower school-zone speed limits to 20 mph starting in 2029 and allow more flexible enforcement methods; it received broad support and passed to Appropriations. AB 902 would require wildlife crossings and connectivity considerations in transportation projects in identified connectivity areas; after committee amendments, opposition from builders and local government groups moved to neutral, and the bill passed as amended to Local Government. The committee also advanced AB 1014, which would give Caltrans more discretion to lower speed limits on state highways based on local safety conditions rather than the 85th percentile rule. Supporters said it would improve safety in rural and tribal communities, while one member asked about federal funding and NHTSA; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1022 would repeal authority to tow or immobilize vehicles solely for unpaid parking tickets, while preserving other safety-based towing authority; supporters described the practice as a harmful “poverty tow,” and opponents argued it would weaken parking enforcement, especially for out-of-state plates and booting. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024 and allow enforcement of uptime rules; EV charging industry groups opposed the retroactive approach, while supporters emphasized taxpayer accountability. It passed to Utilities and Energy. The committee also approved a consent calendar of five bills earlier in the hearing. Multiple roll calls were held open for additional votes, and the chair recessed the committee near the end of the meeting to allow the final author to arrive and complete the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So just kind of want to better understand where the arbitrary number of 91 and 46 came from, the research
• So just kind of want to better understand where the arbitrary number of 91 and 46 came from, the research
• successful, is, I think, for me, what's most important, and making sure that we're not creating arbitrary

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. For dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund proposal to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, add flexibility for regional occupational centers, support justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, and allow funds for teacher professional development, along with a reduction in required instructional minutes for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding, saying it did not address a clear implementation barrier, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Members and public commenters largely supported the expansion, with some urging additional technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee then discussed the reading difficulty screener proposal, which includes $40 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for implementation costs and statutory changes that would delay formal screening until the 91st day for kindergarten and the 46th day for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align screening with sufficient exposure to instruction; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the investment but cautioned about the timing restrictions, and several members and public witnesses argued the proposed deadlines were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the structured timeline as a way to improve accuracy and reduce misidentification. On special education, Finance presented a proposal to increase the statewide base rate to $99 per ADA through a $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund augmentation, plus COLA and a negative growth adjustment. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be achieved with less funding; CDE strongly supported the increase, citing rising enrollment and local cost pressures, and district and SELPA representatives described large local funding gaps and growing expenditures. The committee also reviewed school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance and the Office of Public School Construction describing $1.5 billion in proposed bond spending, existing balances for new construction and modernization, and the use of bond authority for natural disaster recovery, including projects related to recent fires. For the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the committee heard about the Student Teacher Stipend Program, the Golden State Teacher Grant, state operations funding for misconduct investigations and SB 848 implementation, and a $250 million proposal to extend the Teacher Residency Grant Program; CTC supported the proposals and highlighted new data systems and technical assistance, while public testimony broadly backed the investments and urged continued or additional funding for teacher recruitment, literacy screening support, and special education.