Transcript Highlights:

• Today I rise as the author of SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day.
• Again, I rise as the author of SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day in California
• President, and I want to thank the author for this great, amazing resolution.
• , where it's the top three food-producing counties in the nation.
• counties in the nation.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a series of guest introductions, including Canadian diplomatic visitors and youth soccer champions from Senator Niello’s district. The body also recognized guests connected to arts education and later heard adjournment-in-memory tributes for Caitlin “Katie” Mallet and Roxanne Miller. The President announced the Senate would enter a one-week spring recess and return on April 6, 2026. On the floor, the Senate adopted SR 89 by Senator Alvarado-Gil, recognizing March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day in California. Supporters emphasized the need for greater awareness, research inclusion, and services for people with profound autism and their families. The resolution passed by a 35-0 vote. The Senate also adopted SCR 147 by Senator Allen, proclaiming March 26 as Arts Education Month, with remarks stressing the value of arts education for creativity, engagement, and student success; it passed 37-0. The chamber then adopted SCR 141 by Senator Wahab, recognizing March 26, 2026 as Women’s Equal Pay Day. Senators discussed the gender pay gap, its impact on families, and the need for transparency and enforcement; the resolution passed 37-0. The Senate also approved AB 2156, an urgency measure to proclaim March 31 as Farm Worker Day, with extensive debate about farm workers’ historical contributions, labor conditions, and the decision to rename the day in light of recent allegations involving the prior honoree. The bill passed unanimously, 37-0, including the urgency clause. Finally, the Senate adopted the consent calendar, which included SB 968, SJR 11, SB 1005, and SB 1080, by unanimous vote. A committee announcement noted Budget Subcommittee 3 would meet upon adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I rise as the author of SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day.
• President, and I want to thank the author for this great, amazing resolution.
• County flood control.
• counties in the nation.
• it's the top three food-producing counties in the nation.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several guest introductions, including a Canadian diplomatic delegation visiting for Canada Day at the Capitol and the undefeated Under-11 San Juan Spirits soccer team. The chamber also recognized guests connected to later resolutions, including families and advocates tied to profound autism and farm worker issues, as well as arts education leaders. The Senate adopted SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day, after remarks emphasizing the need for greater awareness, research inclusion, and lifelong services for people with profound autism and their caregivers. Members also adopted SCR 147, proclaiming March 26 as Arts Education Month, with support focused on the value of arts education for creativity, engagement, and student success. Both resolutions passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber then took up AB 2156, an urgency measure renaming Cesar Chavez Day as Farm Worker Day and proclaiming March 31 as Farm Worker Day. Supporters from multiple caucuses and regions spoke about the history of farm labor, the contributions and sacrifices of farm workers, and the need to honor the broader movement and its diverse participants; some speakers also referenced recent allegations and the desire to center survivors and workers rather than one individual. The bill passed with 37 ayes and 0 noes, including the urgency clause. The Senate also adopted a consent calendar of several items without objection, then adjourned in memory of Caitlin Mardell Mallet and Roxanne Miller. The session concluded with announcements of a committee meeting and a one-week spring recess, with the next floor session scheduled for April 6, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Ben Adams, District 12, Nampa, that's Canyon County.
• I represent the city of Twin Falls and a little bit of Twin Falls County.
• It wasn't until recently in the last National Defense Authorization Act that expanded mitigation authority
• Harris, who was the author of this bill.
• I represent District 7, which is Nez Perce, Idaho, and Adams County.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You all are going to hear the Workforce Solutions Department along with Mortgage Finance Authority on
• You all are going to hear the Workforce Solutions Department along with Mortgage Finance Authority on
• Department, along with Mortgage Finance Authority on Monday talk through housing.
• it's because I came from a county that we didn't need them.
• This would likely flow directly to the county.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During the 87th legislature, I authored House Bill 536, which provided notice to a tenant about whether
• to that devastation along the Gulf Coast from Refugio all the way up through Houston and Jefferson County
• Because RESIA was permanently authorized by Congress in 2018, Texas federal funding for this program
• Indexing, as you heard from the bill author and sponsor, is a powerful tool. It does three things.
• But 92 of the 254 counties are above the 6.5% on average for that 10-year period.

Bills: HB 112 , HB199 , HB621 , HB1349 , HB2214 , HB3466 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HCR9 , HB112 , HB199 , HCR9

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• Sheriff Nicotee, Hampton County, Massachusetts.
• issues in the county.
• There's much of it is going on to be in the county, but it's written and other counties. Exactly.
• , Essex County, Middlesex County, free entry, where Department of Corrections women are eligible, yet
• , Essex County, Middlesex County, free entry, where Department of Corrections women are eligible, yet

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission on correctional consolidation and collaboration heard testimony focused on how Massachusetts uses custody levels, staffing, programming, and medical release tools, with Prisoners’ Legal Services arguing that the system is overusing expensive high-security settings and underusing step-down options. Dave Rainey said the incarcerated population has dropped substantially over the last several years, but spending and staffing have not fallen in proportion. He argued that DOC overclassifies people into medium and maximum security, relies too heavily on behavioral assessment units that function like segregation, and keeps people in restrictive settings such as Souza-Baranowski and Shattuck Hospital longer than necessary. He also said medical parole is underused and that many people with serious chronic illness or advanced age pose little public-safety risk and should be released through existing legal pathways. Sheriffs and other commission members pushed back on some of those points, emphasizing that staffing needs are driven by the acuity of the current population, that corrections is not overstaffed, and that classification decisions involve serious public-safety judgments. They also stressed that some high-cost medical placements are necessary because people remain under sentence and require care, and that furloughs and other release tools can create security risks if contraband or substance use is involved. The discussion also covered the role of county sheriffs versus DOC in reentry, with several members saying county systems tend to do more day-to-day step-down and release planning, while DOC has more difficulty moving people through lower-security settings before release. Ben Foreman of MassINC offered a more systemwide, data-focused perspective, praising the state’s transparency and arguing that Massachusetts has made major progress in reducing incarceration and increasing public safety. He said the state still has an opportunity to improve by right-sizing facilities, investing in community-based mental health treatment, and using the commission to better understand the capital and operating costs of the current system. In response to questions, he said he was aware of DOC studies on programs like furlough but had not reviewed recent ones, and he noted that total-control facilities like Souza-Baranowski have long been criticized in the research literature for poor outcomes. Nora Wassel of the Women and Incarceration Project then testified that the commission should issue an interim report and scrutinize the planned new women’s prison, which she said is not justified by current population trends or available data. She argued that women are overclassified under DOC’s own tools, that reentry beds and minimum-security placements are underused, and that the system may be failing to account for women’s distinct medical and reentry needs. The meeting ended with continued discussion of reentry, furloughs, day reporting, and whether consolidation should mean fewer facilities, better step-down pathways, or both.

Transcript Highlights:

• Different time in Jefferson County?
• </c> schools in Jefferson County. schools in Jefferson County.
• And that Jefferson County.
• </c> he starts his term in Jefferson County. he starts his term in Jefferson County.
• </c> Fayette County. Fayette County.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of the counties, the county film offices, do not necessarily charge currently for this function,
• So it may have adverse impacts in that case with the city and counties in general.
• My fear if we continue with the county portion is that if HPD or whatever other service we have cannot
• It wouldn't have been proper given the legislative authority in front of us.
• </c><01:30:13.400><c> to</c> didn't have the legislative authority to didn't have the legislative authority

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS BEEN KIND OF A COMPETITIVE COUNTY FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
• I'M ALSO A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE.
• I'M DEEPLY INVESTED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
• I WILL JUST ADDRESS A COUPLE CONCERNS BECOME AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THIS
• WE KNOW FROM COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT THERE ARE COUNTIES THAT HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING TO RIP

Transcript Highlights:

• A third change would authorize GIS as an alternative to surveys.
• :38.960><c> as</c><00:32:39.279><c> an</c> thirdly, authorization of GIS as an thirdly, authorization
• This registry shall be accessible to state and county agencies.
• This registry shall be accessible to state and county agencies.
• This registry shall be accessible to state and county agencies.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard HB 511, House Draft 1, relating to public lands. The bill would remove the requirement that a land survey be completed before public lands are set aside to a state department or agency. Testimony from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with requests for clarification. The Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the measure, arguing that surveys are costly and time-consuming and can delay transfers needed for agricultural use and land stewardship. One member of the public testified in strong opposition, arguing that eliminating surveys would weaken due process, transparency, and the state’s fiduciary duties over public lands. The chair then proposed amendments to narrow the bill’s effect. The amendments would create tiered survey requirements based on land risk: high-risk lands would still require a survey before transfer, while low-risk state agricultural lands with clear historical records could defer surveys if sufficient mapping or GIS data exists. If a survey is deferred, the recipient agency would have to complete one within five years unless exempted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The amendments would also allow GIS and related mapping tools for approximate administrative boundaries, require a centralized digital registry of public land transfers, and establish a mediation process for boundary disputes before litigation. Senator McKelvey said he had concerns about the original bill but would support it with the amendments. The committee chair recommended passage with amendments, noting the bill would also go to the Judiciary Committee. The committee adopted the recommendation by vote, with the chair and vice chair voting aye and Senator Dort voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm on different county boards where I hear about it too.
• I'm on different county boards where I hear about it too.
• That's trust fund authority for the private prisons out of the inmate welfare trust fund.
• This happened in both our district and Volusia County.
• Where I live, Alachua County and nearby Marion and Levy counties, they all have reported increases from

Summary: The committee received a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $8.2 billion for the public safety silo and includes funding for the Departments of Law Enforcement, Juvenile Justice, and Corrections, along with courts and legal affairs. The Governor’s Office highlighted recurring reductions and vacancy eliminations, while agency heads outlined their major requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert-system upgrades, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, additional staff, facility construction and maintenance, communications upgrades, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about immigration enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, capacity, mental health services, contraband, housing, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. Public testimony also urged better prison conditions and basic necessities for incarcerated people. The committee then took up and reported favorably CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would strengthen penalties and clarify that a person may not resist an officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties. An amendment conforming the bill to House language was adopted, and the bill passed with Senator Smith voting no. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported favorably CS/SB 54, which concerns use of substances affecting cognitive function and limits certain medical-record disclosures to information relevant to investigations of violent offenders; Senator Smith voted no on that measure as well. Next, the committee considered Senator Berman’s bills on domestic and dating violence. CS/SB 296 would direct a study of a secure web-based alert platform for victims, including a discreet phone-number/code system and geolocation support, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims. The bill drew emotional support testimony from survivors and advocates describing the dangers victims face when trying to leave abusive situations, and it was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, would extend public-records protections in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims; it was also reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What they talk about is the burden. of prior authorization, of claims processing, of claims denial, of
• I think Representative West is a co-author on this bill.
• In our county.
• And then, so you said you do the inspections in your county, and the county fee is 20 bucks.
• That's going to put more burden on the local counties.

Bills: HF2779 , HF1645 , HF1885 , HF1289 , HF1534 , HF2707 , HF1675 , HF3046

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• H.R. 26 says that the President cannot issue a ban on fracking unless authorized by Congress.
• And there are other areas where our authority has been stepped on and violated.
• And there are other areas where our authority has been stepped on and violated.
• In 2024, the Orange County Sheriff's Department found 2.06 million pills laced with fentanyl.
• In Los Angeles County, our reservoirs are full to overflowing.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, February 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would only pertain to the DMVs that are in Washoe County and in Clark County.
• Clark County Elections Department via public records request.
• It supports election administration at the county level, and it expands voter access.
• . counties, and it focuses on unfunded mandates through Section 6 and 26.
• It doesn't go through the county.

Bills: AB534 , AB562 , AB595 , AB597 , AB600 , SB74 , SB226 , SB422 , SB488

Committee: Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections

Keywords: election reform, voter accessibility, conditional ballots, voter registration, mechanical voting systems, election audits, voter access grants, provisional ballot, voting technology, AB562, Nevada, Secretary of State, elections, elections management system, HAVA, Help America Vote Act, automatic voter registration, AVR, election technology, state appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Without clear authority and adequate training, enforcement becomes difficult and inconsistent.
• While ultimately an officer can rely on their authority to remove an obstruction, the delay of even a
• Second, local authorities must have clear tools to hold these companies accountable.
• And I don't know, I mean, I also, having been in county government and city government, I understand
• Since then, the department has adopted three rulemakings, authorizing testing with the safety driver,

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on autonomous vehicle technology in California, focusing on safety, regulation, first responder impacts, and the state’s evolving oversight framework. The chair said the committee would hear all panels before public comment, with witnesses limited to five minutes and public commenters to one minute. The first panel featured an industry representative, a safety academic, and victims/advocates who described sharply different views of AV safety and accountability. Ariel Wolf of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that fully autonomous vehicles are distinct from driver-assist systems, said AVs are already reducing crashes and fatalities, and urged clear, uniform standards. Dr. Missy Cummings countered that remote operations and computer-vision failures show the technology still depends on human intervention and can be unsafe, especially when remote assistance is done from abroad. Robert O’Dowd and Dylan Angulo, both tied to Tesla crash cases, described fatal and serious injuries involving Autopilot/Full Self-Driving, criticized limited transparency and data access, and called for stronger disclosure, preservation of crash data, and mandatory fixes or disabling of defective software. Committee members questioned witnesses about data comparing AVs to human drivers, the role of remote operators, liability, and whether California should create clearer standards for the human element behind AV systems. Several members and witnesses discussed the need for “guardrails,” black-box-style data access, and accountability for the remaining crash risk. The hearing then shifted to first responders and road users: a San Francisco Fire Department representative described AVs blocking fire scenes, ambulances, and apparatus access during emergencies and urged a public safety manual override; a San Jose police representative said officers need clear enforcement authority, training, and reliable ways to stop or redirect AVs; a rideshare driver described near-collisions and congestion caused by robo-taxis; and a Teamsters representative opposed proposed heavy-duty AV truck rules as too reliant on manufacturer self-certification and lacking independent validation. In the final panel, DMV and CPUC officials defended California’s regulatory structure. DMV said it has regulated AVs since 2014, has issued multiple rulemakings and permit types, and is developing a fourth package that would add reporting, enforcement tools, emergency-response requirements, and rules for heavy-duty AVs. DMV said it has revoked or suspended permits when needed, including Cruise and Pony.ai actions. CPUC said its authority covers passenger service only, requires safety plans and ongoing reporting, and continues oversight after permits are issued. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> participating lakes or colas or counties participating lakes or colas or counties but<00:09:30.480
• ; Dakota County; a couple of projects; Otter Tail; Chaska; trails improvements to park facilities. ..
• ; Dakota County; a couple of projects; Otter Tail; Chaska; trails improvements to park facilities.
• </c><00:18:53.679><c> uh</c><00:18:53.799><c> Dakota</c><00:18:54.320><c> County</c> project Olstead
• County uh Dakota County project Olstead County uh Dakota County a<00:18:54.840><c> couple</c><00:18:55.039

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He was a legislative aide in the office of San Francisco City and County Supervisor Michela Alioto Pierre
• The other thing is you're a Sandoval County guy.
• Lastly, one of the things that we've done in Sandoval County to help Intel at the local level and at
• That's really not true; he's a Lee County guy. His dad, I knew it was. a force in education.
• We are constitutionally authorized to do confirmations during the interim. During the interim.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of House File 566, authored
• members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of House File 566, authored
• Louis, Lake, and Koochiching counties is significant, generating millions of dollars annually for local
• Louis, Lake, and Koochiching counties is significant, generating millions of dollars annually for local
• </c> in St Louis Lake and cucha Chen counties in St Louis Lake and cucha Chen counties is<00:03:39.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , a little bit of Sullivan County, and one beautiful town in Merrimack County, which is the beautiful
• My recollection is that a couple of the county attorneys came in.
• My recollection is that a couple of the county attorneys came in.
• um if it even if it was another County um if it was<02:42:45.160><c> another</c><02:42:45.439><c> County
• </c> was another County was another County would<02:42:47.840><c> and</c> would and would and know<02

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, Ramsey County, effective January 2, 2023, for a term expiring January 1, 2029; Bradford Deopena
• Paul, Ramsey County, effective March 26, 2025, for a term expiring January 6, 2031.
• </c><00:29:59.360><c> Paul</c><00:30:00.080><c> Ramsey</c><00:30:01.120><c> County</c> Jane Bowman St
• Paul Ramsey County Jane Bowman St.
• Paul Ramsey County Bradford Deopena St.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all