Transcript Highlights:

• So we've established it within our system.
• local investigations are complete, which can take a long time.
• In terms of the, in terms of our grant programs or in terms of our...
• And in terms of our follow-up, then what we do is based on those changes and regulations.
• For statewide leadership for California's adult and juvenile justice systems.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Deborah Garns, Davis Rabbit, Cindy Silva, Vincent Wells, and Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, all by 5-0 votes. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, each by unanimous 5-0 votes. The committee then heard testimony on the appointment of Trista Gonzalez as Director of the Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Gonzalez described her 33-year career in tax administration, emphasized taxpayer service, efficient collection, and support for small businesses, and answered questions about lithium extraction tax registration, online sales tax enforcement under Wayfair and AB 147, and CDTFA’s work with illicit cigarette, tobacco, and cannabis activity. Members praised her responsiveness to legislators and constituents, and public commenters from Ryan LLC and the California Society of Enrolled Agents supported her confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to send her nomination to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, on his confirmation. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention facility inspections, grant administration, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audits, implementation of SB 519, access to local agency records, standards for detention facilities, and conditions in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board is using inspections, technical assistance, and public reporting to improve compliance and transparency, and that additional trailer bill language clarified access to records. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. The committee approved his nomination 5-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may know, our emergency rooms are a very important part of our health care system.
• And here again, I'm addressing some health care issues.
• And so just think about that as we move forward in terms of the policy.
• And so just think about that as we move forward in terms of the policy.
• How long are we going to wait for that, right?

Bills: S0032 , S0068 , S0210 , S0246 , S0340 , S0418 , S0428 , S0606 , S0628 , S1028 , S1734

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported a series of bills favorably, covering health care, public safety, insurance, coastal resilience, juvenile justice, drowning prevention, transportation designations, and beach management. Senator Harrell presented CS/SB 68, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, designated pediatric readiness personnel, and participation in a national readiness assessment; it passed. Harrell also presented CS/SB 340, requiring nursing students to complete two hours of human trafficking identification training before licensure; it also passed. Senator Sharif’s CS/SB 32 and SB 210, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and the related public records bill, were both reported favorably. Senator Garcia’s CS/CS/SB 302 on nature-based coastal resiliency, Senator Jones’s SB 418 on law enforcement interaction with individuals with autism and the Blue Envelope Program, and Senator Martin’s CS/SB 1734 updating juvenile probation and detention officer definitions and related cost-share language were also approved. The committee then took up several drowning-prevention measures. CS/SB 606 by Senator Smith would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials and direct the Department of Health to create standardized materials; an amendment removed a records-retention requirement, and the bill passed. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand the state swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; it received strong support from advocates, including a young swim instructor and autism advocates, and passed. The committee also approved CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and a First Responders’ Resiliency Foundation plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance and clearinghouse procedures to prioritize admitted carriers and prohibit public funds for the clearinghouse; that bill drew discussion about market competition, Citizens’ exposure, and potential impacts on policyholders. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 628, designating a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor the sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, and CS/SB 636 on beach management, which would create a proactive pathway for coastal communities to obtain erosion-related designations and align with federal programs. Beach industry testimony supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about perpetual easements and funding shortfalls. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:47:58.240><c> Um,</c> it for very long. Um, it for very long.
• </c> &gt;&gt; But otherwise it's a great system. &gt;&gt; But otherwise it's a great system.
• </c> &gt;&gt; in terms of how we administer? &gt;&gt; in terms of how we administer?
• Or, uh, and sort of stay on the system as long as they can get away with."
• 22:44.480><c> can</c> stay on the system as long as they can stay on the system as long as they can get

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• , long interconnection wait times.
• So what we're talking about here is not cookie-cutter residential solar systems.
• So what we're talking about here is not cookie-cutter residential solar systems.
• Phillips is not just a Caltrans tenant in his own term. This issue to me. Ms.
• And I do appreciate Caltrans being here and responding, but I think this is long overdue.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because it initially lacked a quorum, heard a status update from State Auditor Grant Parks, and reviewed several new audit requests. Parks reported that 10 previously requested audits were underway, with most expected to be released in spring/summer and one pesticide audit still pending; he also noted ongoing litigation with Huntington Beach over a 2024 audit. He said the office had grown to just over 200 employees and could start about five new JALAC audits between April and July. The committee also noted that one Prop. 28 request was being held and one PUC-related request was moved off consent to the regular calendar. Senator Cervantes presented an audit request on California fusion centers, arguing they operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and store sensitive information without adequate transparency or safeguards. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and ACLU California Action, said fusion centers function as secretive intelligence-sharing hubs that can produce inaccurate or biased reports and may undermine privacy and civil liberties. Parks said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, unauthorized disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while warning of likely access and public-disclosure limitations. The request drew sharp opposition from Assembly Member DeMaio, who called it a politicized “witch hunt,” but public comment included support from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Senator Allen then presented an audit of the Public Utilities Commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. He and witnesses said utilities have repeatedly missed deadlines, causing long delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, and other customers; CPUC staff responded that the commission adopted timelines and compliance benchmarks in 2020, publishes quarterly data, and is already pursuing the issue through workshops and an open proceeding. Parks said the audit would assess CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and reasons for utility noncompliance. Public comment was mixed, with solar advocates supporting the request and PG&E objecting on process grounds and arguing the commission’s ongoing proceeding should address the issue. Senator Perez, with Senator Fong, requested an audit of Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 corridor property sales and affordable housing program. They described tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing and eligibility information, and possible failures to inform residents of purchase rights; Caltrans said it is working to complete sales and has already closed 59 properties since fiscal year 2024-25. Parks said the audit would examine compliance with the Roberti Act, pricing, appraisals, communications, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior recommendations. Finally, Senator Umberg requested an audit of the Orange County Board of Education, citing transparency, litigation spending, charter authorization, procurement, and whistleblower concerns; after quorum was established, Parks said the audit would review Brown Act and Public Records Act compliance, public resource use, contracting, litigation costs, charter oversight, and retaliation complaints.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we go into the system.
• largely be taken care of by the<03:22:01.359><c> market</c><03:22:01.760><c> system</c><03:22:02.399
• Uh, a healthc care provider. wording. Uh, a healthc care provider.
• . care. care.
• There's no statistically valid evidence of long-term benefit of any transgender procedures, but there

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's been around for a long time.
• long long period of been around for a long long period of time<00:02:52.480><c> hosts</c><00:02:53.200
• </c><00:03:08.519><c> time</c><00:03:09.120><c> in</c> around for a long time in around for a long time
• temporal term.
• </c><01:20:37.719><c> as</c> until we get started on how long as until we get started on how long as

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> compensation and um but school systems compensation and um but school systems can<00:36:28.320><
• But if a if a school system that's it.
• Um they can systems that give 30 days.
• </c> through our very leaky bucket system. through our very leaky bucket system.
• </c> for for so long of your your busy day. for for so long of your your busy day.

Committee: Senate State & Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1630 modernizes Florida's aging and long-term care statutes, streamlines service delivery, and strengthens
• With regard to long-term care streamlining, it allows DOEA-authorized and certified staff to complete
• long-term care eligibility screenings used by aging and disability resource centers.
• memory care unit.
• in an ALF without that ALF obtaining a memory care services license.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and considered a large agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, limited public testimony, and roll-call votes. Early actions included CSSB 1062 creating Florida Speech and Debate Week and the Florida Debate Initiative with a recurring $2.4 million appropriation, and CS for SB 196 establishing the Uterine Fibroid Research Database. The committee also approved the companion public-records bill, CS for SB 864, to keep sensitive fibroid database information confidential. Other health and public-safety measures reported favorably included CS for SB 432, which was amended to address xylazine and restrict recreational nitrous oxide sales by tobacco-permit retailers; CS for SB 646, narrowing drug-paraphernalia testing equipment exemptions to fentanyl, its analogs, and xylazine; and CS for SB 1684 and CS for SB 1686, creating and exempting records for a Parkinson’s Disease Registry at the University of South Florida. The committee also advanced several workforce, regulatory, and local-governance bills. SB 1112 on the Florida Labor Pool Act passed with testimony emphasizing removal of placement fees, annual labor-pool registration, and stronger enforcement to help workers, including returning citizens. CS for SB 524 updated Department of Law Enforcement duties and medical examiner procedures; CS for SB 530 revised lottery operations and security rules; CS for SB 676 expanded animal-cruelty penalties and the public abuser database; CS for SB 1180 created a recall framework for community development district supervisors and updated CDD rules; and CS for SB 800 increased penalties for unlicensed engineering practice after removing a student-loan assistance provision to align with the House version. CS for SB 1404 created a memory-care specialty license for assisted living facilities, with amendments extending rulemaking deadlines and clarifying advertising and resident-choice provisions. SB 1072 created an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s office, and CS for SB 1630 modernized aging and disability services, guardianship oversight, and dementia-related policy. Two memorialization bills generated the most extended debate and public comment. SB 194 would designate October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, and SB 174 would name a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Both drew strong support from some speakers who framed them as recognition of civic engagement and free expression, and strong opposition from others who criticized Kirk’s rhetoric and argued the state should instead honor broader civic values or other figures. A late-file amendment to SB 194 that would have converted it into a general day of remembrance for victims of political violence was withdrawn. Despite the controversy, both bills were reported favorably. The committee adjourned after members requested to be recorded on various bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of total transfers, on line 71, you'll see transfers out.
• Remember, we didn't break this system.
• Without this, our system risks missing out.
• We know that rural health care is essential.
• care disparities.

Bills: HF2312

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• other long-term metrics for success.
• other long-term metrics for success.
• long-term metrics for success.
• long-term metrics for success.
• Uh system to to take care of itself.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It hasn't been too long ago on the St.
• If your dog does something, you'll take care of it.
• If your dog does something, you'll take care of it.
• The thing that isn't defined is the term dangerous.
• In terms of the portions just...

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• like and what we're doing in terms of resources.
• I'll be brief to make a point; I don't want to make a long answer.
• I'm not asking for an answer because you'll give me a long response.
• And the thing is, we don't care who works them, but, you know, time is of the essence.
• It's a term that I'm sure you've heard, and pardon me for the colorfulness of the term, but I think it

Bills: SB36 , SB2202 , SB 36

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:07.400><c> of</c><00:19:07.600><c> that</c><00:19:08.200><c> mpal</c> care of that mpal care of
• Scanland mentioned... agreeable to in terms of like that 15 agreeable to in terms of like that 15 days
• We love our machines in terms of speed and accuracy.
• We love our machines in terms of speed and accuracy.
• </c><00:34:47.440><c> and</c> sanctity of the election system and sanctity of the election system and

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• fee, re-entering the program must remain enrolled through at least September 1, 2023. 2031, ensuring long-term
• TRS has been very careful about that.
• We have worked with TRS and agreed with them that that care is warranted.
• benefits under the provisions of the Retiree Health Care Plan as provided in the Fund statute.
• Currently, statute requires Texas Public Retirement Systems.

Bills: HB3014 , HB3109 , HB3126 , HB3474 , HB3594

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• But unfortunately, if the system.
• It creates substantial and long-term financial risk.
• It creates substantial<01:21:33.520><c> and</c><01:21:33.760><c> long-term</c><01:21:34.400><c> financial
• </c> substantial and long-term financial substantial and long-term financial risk.<01:21:35.920><c> Raising
• Requiring a public vote every four years creates funding instability, and public facilities require long-term

Bills: HB0068 , HB0062 , HB0127 , HB0109

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're not talking about the philosophical question of long-term what are we going to do.
• And I've heard you say that, and that's more of a long-term question, because if we're talking right
• In order to meet our long-term goals, we know we need to be able to build between 6,000 and 7,000 megawatts
• In order to meet our long-term goals, we know we need to be able to build between 6,000 and 7,000 megawatts
• We try to be really, really careful in terms of disclosing details of particular oversight or investigative

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a large amount of our staff provides direct care.
• But our goal, obviously, is to prevent youth from getting further into the system, right?
• any sort of further involvement into the system.
• We've pushed this for a long, long time, and finally we have all this interest.
• And so for a long time, you know, many in industry and in the governor's office...

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s funding sources, staffing, recent expenditure patterns, and several FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget requests, including substance use disorder treatment, youth assessment center funding, replacement items, IT upgrades, and a clinician services transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, public works projects, vehicle replacements, and staffing. Director Ashley Dowell said the department’s census has declined due to strong county partnerships, prevention and diversion efforts, and youth assessment centers, and she explained that a staffing analysis found the agency understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies converted to direct care roles. She also described the holdback impacts as coming from contract reductions, internal efficiencies, travel and training cuts, and substance use disorder funding adjustments. The committee adjourned after the department discussion. The committee then reviewed the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources budget. Peterson described the office’s mostly federal funding, small staff, dedicated funds, prior energy resilience appropriations, and FY 2027 requests for personnel realignment, Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear (ION) support, and home energy rebates. Administrator Callie Younger said the office is focused on energy resilience, permitting coordination, hydropower relicensing, geothermal and mining projects, and a growing nuclear policy portfolio. She highlighted the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for information to industry, and work on a federal request related to a nuclear lifecycle campus. Members asked about nuclear development, spent fuel, modular reactors, permitting efficiency, and whether the office might merge with the Office of Species Conservation. Younger said the office is exploring a merger because of overlapping permitting functions and could reduce positions and save some general funds, while also improving its ability to handle nuclear and mining work. The chair closed by noting the committee’s alignment with several governor’s office recommendations and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• May your spirits be at one, that you may long together dwell in unity and conquered.
• Macy's daughter was also in the car and she recovered after 99 days in intensive care, and the family
• and the family was physically, care and the family was physically, mentally,<00:11:54.880><c> and</c
• I guess I will just simply close by saying, members, it's long overdue and I would ask for your vote
• They cared about this.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to be careful that we don't create instability moving forward.
• issues and the commitment to bringing forth a committee sub on this issue to hopefully give us some long-term
• I think in the short term, ...time increase property value.
• Without local oversight, neighboring landowners lose their voice entirely while bearing long-term consequences
• Without local oversight, neighboring landowners lose their voice entirely while bearing long-term consequences

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The committee first took up House Committee Substitute for House Bills 21, 22, and 1626, which would combine the bills and add a clawback/refund provision for construction work in progress in base rates if costs were imprudently incurred or a project is not placed in service in a reasonable time. Supporters argued Missouri should remove its CWIP ban to stay competitive with neighboring states and attract utility investment, while opponents warned about unknown costs and timelines for ratepayers. The substitute was adopted, and the committee voted the combined bill do pass by 12 ayes and 7 noes. The committee then considered House Bill 2711, as amended by a substitute, dealing with broadband-related property tax treatment. The sponsor explained the substitute narrowed the bill to new installations, added a seven-year sunset, and aimed to clarify assessment issues. Supporters said the measure would help expand broadband infrastructure and improve service in underserved areas, while opponents argued the tax break should not apply to upgrades within existing service territories and questioned whether the bill truly expanded access. The committee adopted the substitute and voted the bill do pass by 12 ayes and 7 noes. The remainder of the hearing focused on House Bill 2762, a broad solar/wind/water measure. The sponsor described provisions setting a $2,500 per megawatt tax on solar nameplate capacity, creating more uniform assessment rules, establishing setbacks for solar facilities, limiting eminent domain use, and including smaller sections on water district dissolution and wind turbine lighting. Testimony was mixed: solar developers, Clean Grid Alliance, Renew Missouri, and Missouri Farm Bureau supported clearer rules, grandfathering, and setbacks they viewed as reasonable, while landowners and local residents raised concerns about property rights, transparency, runoff, glare, noise, and the impact of large solar projects on neighboring farms and homes. No final action on HB 2762 was taken in the portion provided, but the chair said a committee substitute would be developed to address the solar issues more comprehensively.