Transcript Highlights:

• There have to be regulations regarding PEOs.
• It's a really important Data whenever demographic data was voluntarily collected on any other demographic
• than to regulate the federal government itself.
• than to regulate the federal government itself.
• I am here today to give you all data.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 16, which would require county behavioral health directors to create clear pathways for clinicians to be authorized to initiate 5150 involuntary holds. The author and supporters argued the bill would reduce reliance on law enforcement and create more consistent crisis response standards statewide, while county behavioral health directors opposed it as an unfunded mandate that could increase law enforcement involvement and create implementation burdens. Members raised questions about county costs and funding, but the author emphasized the bill’s role in building a more clinical response system. SB 561 would require public guardians to acknowledge conservatorship referrals, make determinations within a reasonable time, and provide status updates on request. Supporters said the bill would reduce delays that leave vulnerable adults in limbo, while the opposition from public guardian representatives was removed after amendments. SB 381 drew extensive public testimony in support; it would allow California-born adoptees, and descendants of deceased adoptees, access to original birth certificates, with a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents. Supporters framed the bill as a matter of dignity, identity, and health, and there was no formal opposition on the record. The committee also discussed SB 880, which would give tenants and prospective owner-occupants notice and a first opportunity to make an offer when institutional investors sell certain homes. Supporters said it would expand homeownership opportunities and preserve neighborhood stability, while opponents warned about conflicts with federal law, bundled-sale restrictions, and impacts on build-to-rent and affordable housing projects. Members and the author discussed possible amendments to address those concerns. SB 1238 would impose a duty of care and additional transparency requirements on HOA managers and boards; supporters said it would protect homeowners from mismanagement, while the main opposition argued the duty should remain contractual and could increase litigation. Finally, SB 423 would require disclosure of emergency-service records related to private detention facilities, and SB 28 would make changes to the CARE Court process, including a statewide ombudsperson and expanded oversight; both drew support and opposition, with concerns focused on transparency, privacy, implementation, and the balance between treatment and coercion. SB 574, discussed at the end, would require disclosure and human oversight for AI use in courts and legal practice and create a complaint process for ADR providers, with the State Bar noting requested amendments related to complaint handling and confidentiality.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will get the test data that we need.
• We will get the test data that we need.
• The data centers are doing their thing.
• I mean, so just another issue in terms of the regulations.
• We have a couple of data centers that are being put out in our district.

Committee: House Environment, Energy and Technology

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not regulate imports, pricing, sourcing decisions, or blending practices.
• Thank you. ...and most, I won't repeat what she said about the federal regulations.
• As data has shown, repeat offenders continue to drive illegally.
• There's lots of data out there.
• And if we're going to do something like this, I think we need to look at the data.

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1114, data collection disclosure.
• SB 1150, Cancer Data Notification. The motion is due pass.
• SB 887, CEQA Data Centers.
• SB 1271, Midwifery Workforce Data.
• SB 1271, Midwifery Workforce Data.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met for a suspense-file hearing and voted only on measures already heard previously, with no public testimony. The chair explained that bills were taken up quickly in author order, with amended bills to be followed by addendum analyses. The committee considered a very large slate of Senate bills and two Assembly measures covering wildfire resilience, housing, insurance, energy, transportation, public safety, elections, health care, labor, environmental regulation, and various administrative and tax issues. Most measures were approved, many on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a substantial number passed on 5-2 or 5-1 party-line votes with Republicans generally voting no. Several bills were amended before passage, including changes to funding contingencies, timelines, reporting requirements, definitions, and removal of certain enforcement or private-right-of-action provisions. A few members noted concerns on specific bills, including Senator Richardson on SB 1203 (private security training), though he said he would vote for it at this stage. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on wildfire smoke, wildfire recovery, mobile home parks, insurance nonrenewals, AI transparency, data center energy issues, Medi-Cal and health coverage, criminal justice, election administration, housing, and labor/workforce standards. The committee also approved AB 46 and AB 736. No bills were held for testimony because the hearing was vote-only, and the meeting adjourned after all items on the agenda were disposed of.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one and our largest data set is from 3D Health. This is data that we paid for.
• try to access data. access data.
• As far as when data is being updated, it's different for each type of data.
• And as far as the localized data, if we are able to get data that has data kind of granular enough where
• One is our seclusion data.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also important to note that all of the data is loaded into what we call Tableau, which is a data
• This is what that data again looked like in 2021. This is what the data looked like in 2023.
• And this is the data in 2025.
• </c> But they need more data and more time. But they need more data and more time.
• Families<02:02:53.720><c> and</c><02:02:53.920><c> data</c> Families and data Families and data points

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we can talk to them about the communities in which they live as our to our regulator.
• So we have to understand first, that data like where that data point come from from a hospital to a pediatrician
• So it goes through a lot of checking along the way and and to validate the data that's been submitted
• That data.
• with sometimes over regulation allows for, you know, bottlenecks in the pipeline.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the departments of pesticide regulation and toxic substances control, For the Department of Pesticide
• Regulation and Toxic Substances Control, at DPR, the JLBC did not concur with the elimination of 15
• Some fees are set in regulations based on other factors.
• We need data on our biggest natural reservoir and how to better manage that, our snowpack.
• We need data on our biggest natural reservoir and how to better manage that, our snowpack.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The data is clear. The 170% increase. The data is clear.
• So, the data from 2024 shows the area.
• </c> acknowledged the pressure that data acknowledged the pressure that data centers<03:03:09.760><c>
• It makes sure that places like data centers cover their own costs, and if a data center opens in your
• It regulates its more than any state.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:18.920><c> personal</c> watercraft already regulates personal watercraft already regulates
• </c> concern um we have asked for some data concern um we have asked for some data we<00:52:42.480><c
• </c> watercraft that they have been regulated watercraft that they have been regulated as<01:06:05.039
• </c><04:37:56.799><c> Federal</c> four the state cannot regulate Federal four the state cannot regulate
• </c> airspace the state can only regulate airspace the state can only regulate launching<04:37:59.439

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bradbury is a smart regulator.
• So well certainly we go through a review of every regulation and as I recall in that regulation there
• It's a national security concern in terms of sensors, collecting data, and where does that data go, who
• We need. and data analytics and computer capabilities.
• What is the impact of regulation after regulation after regulation on the auto industry in terms of the

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: transportation, air traffic control, safety regulations, Boeing 737 MAX, Department of Transportation, infrastructure funding, public safety, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed several pressing issues concerning transportation, particularly focusing on the need for improved safety standards and efficient management at the Department of Transportation. Specific discussions revolved around air traffic control, with members highlighting the urgency for a significant upgrade in systems and personnel. Notably, concerns were raised regarding past practices, especially the handling of safety regulations during the Boeing 737 MAX incidents. The committee expressed a clear intent to ensure rigorous safety oversight moving forward, emphasizing that the health and safety of the public must remain the top priority in all legislative and funding decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, operators can demonstrate to regulators and communities that they have the financial means to respond
• That is why Insurance Commissioner Lara created the Safer from Wildfires Regulation, the nation's first
• Publicly accessible data and actuarial analysis can help achieve wildfire mitigation. wide scale needed
• The company reported to state regulators that four lines, including the dorm. government, Mesa-Selmar
• No acknowledgement of the dangers. keeping it up there, no regulations to demand its removal, but it

Committee: House Emergency Management

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my district, two hot spots of hydrogen sulfide have been with contemporary data since.
• This has created confusion and is also So let me. with contemporary data since.
• I am here to share recent data on hydrogen sulfide air quality exceedances, which show a serious gap
• between how air quality is monitored and regulated and what Salton Sea residents experience every day
• So we just want to watch this, make sure this doesn't have implications to. means are regulated so we

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Summary: The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality heard four bills. SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon would extend a CEQA exemption for child care facilities to those located in residential zones, with committee amendments adding guardrails excluding sites on protected lands and within 3,200 feet of oil wells or refineries. Support came from child care, local government, planning, county, and rural county groups; one environmental opposition witness raised concerns about broader CEQA issues. Members generally praised the bill as a needed correction to last year’s CEQA changes and noted its importance for child care access and community-serving facilities. SB 58 by Senator Padilla would update the state’s approach to hydrogen sulfide by strengthening monitoring and response standards based on current science and public health impacts, especially in the Tijuana River Valley and Salton Sea areas. Testimony in support emphasized serious undercounting of exposures and health harms in low-income, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant communities; air district representatives said they would review amendments, while business and industry witnesses expressed concern about late amendments and possible implications for geothermal operations. The committee discussed the bill as a statewide framework rather than a district-specific response, and the author accepted committee amendments. SB 811 by Senator Caballero would create a statutory framework for regulating metal shredding facilities, clarifying DTSC enforcement authority and incorporating prior negotiated environmental justice and fire-safety amendments. Supporters from the recycling industry and labor said the bill would reduce legal uncertainty, protect jobs, and preserve an important circular-economy sector; opponents from community, environmental, school, and local government groups argued it weakened hazardous waste protections and did not adequately address pollution and fire risks, especially in West Oakland. SB 501 by Senator Allen would expand California’s battery extended producer responsibility program to include medium-format batteries such as e-bike and outdoor equipment batteries; local governments and recycling groups supported it as a common-sense response to fire and disposal problems, while one battery recycler sought further discussion on implementation. All four bills were voted out of committee and sent to Appropriations, with SB 58, SB 299, and SB 811 passing unanimously and SB 501 passing on a 5-2 vote after additional members joined the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• and data-destruction requirements in law.
• And so we know the data that we have, plus the data from other countries.
• And so we know the data that we have, plus the data from other. years since 2007.
• And so we know the data that we have, plus the data from other countries.
• Metro's transit data outage.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that's going to help support the data that's going to help support the data and<00:29:53.279><c>
• Again, I mentioned the lag on the data, but we'll have the three-year student performance data to be
• data on your website.
• the fact that uh that data talked about the fact that uh that data still<01:12:06.159><c> needs</c><
• </c> but it still remained in the regulation. but it still remained in the regulation.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a full quorum and approved the prior minutes. Members offered introductions of guests and family members, then heard a presentation from University of Louisville President Thomas Jared Bradley, who was sworn in before testifying. He described his background and outlined U of L’s strategic priorities: student success, access and affordability, workforce development, community engagement, and research. Bradley highlighted enrollment growth, increases in first-generation and Pell-eligible students, strong transfer pathways with KCTCS, and support programs such as the Cardinal Commitment Grant, 15-to-Finish, Comeback Cards, tutoring, mentoring, and mental health services. Bradley also emphasized U of L’s statewide and regional impact through UofL Health, rural outreach, the Bullitt County rural cancer education and research center, nursing expansion, and the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. He noted major institutional distinctions, including R1 status, a new Carnegie Opportunity College and University designation, and community-engaged classification. He said the university is one of only 10 public universities nationwide with all three designations and reported record enrollment, improved retention, and strong research expenditures. He also thanked lawmakers for significant capital and operating support, including funding for the simulation center, health science center, asset preservation, and the MEP program. During questions, members praised the university’s public service role and asked about first-generation enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and post-graduation outcomes. Bradley said the university is working to improve completion by expanding academic support, early alerts, incentives for tutoring, and faculty/advisor mentoring, especially for first-generation and high-need students. He acknowledged that post-graduation employment data is difficult to collect but said the new Carnegie classification reflects positive outcomes. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and no formal actions were taken on legislation in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:19.599><c> mining</c> large data mining large data mining operations<00:50:21.680><c> that
• <00:51:18.920><c> mining</c> data mining data mining operation<00:51:21.400><c> and</c><00:51:21.880>
• </c><03:33:00.520><c> available</c> liquor laws however the data available liquor laws however the data
• </c><04:13:08.199><c> as</c> leaned a lot to relaxing regulation as leaned a lot to relaxing regulation
• </c> Industry Safety we do not over regulate Industry Safety we do not over regulate we<04:13:28.840>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session and first discussed scheduling, noting that Town Meeting Day would cancel the next Tuesday meeting, that they would meet Wednesday instead, and that remaining bills would be handled through subcommittees and a likely final executive session on the 19th to meet the deadline for committee action on the 20th. The committee then took up several bills, with repeated roll calls and votes, often placing measures on the consent calendar after committee approval. House Bill 185 on ambulance reimbursement rates was described as a perennial issue and was voted inexpedient to legislate, with members noting concerns that an any-willing-provider approach would make premium impacts hard to evaluate. House Bill 186 on cannabis legalization was retained for further work, with members saying the bill addressed stopping marijuana arrests but that the sales and implementation details still needed more development. House Bill 241 on treatment alternatives to opioids was also retained because the sponsor could not attend and the committee wanted more time to continue work. The committee then considered House Bill 302 on state treasury investments in digital assets and precious metals. The amendment narrowed the proposal, removing more complicated provisions like stable tokens and staking, lowering the authorized allocation from 10% to 5%, and limiting eligible digital assets to those with very high market capitalization; members discussed volatility, the treasurer’s discretion, and oversight through bond-rating concerns. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. Other measures moved quickly: House Bill 451 on a paint product stewardship program was amended to remove direct funding and framed as manufacturer-run enabling legislation, then passed and was placed on consent; House Bill 499 made technical corrections to insurance laws and passed unanimously; House Bill 538 on relocating Liquor Commission positions passed unanimously; House Bill 552 on children covered under the state retirement insurance plan was cleaned up to remove a student requirement and passed unanimously; and a blockchain/digital currencies bill was amended to address noise and local regulation concerns for data mining operations, with supporters emphasizing energy-use issues, municipal authority, and a separate commission studying regulation. That bill also passed and was sent to consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill seeks to align state regulations with CMS regulations, so we would just be consistent.
• The regulation would just be consistent.
• Around every state around us has the same regulations and follows CMS standards.
• It allows professional boards to regulate the use of fluoroscopy in X-ray.
• There is public insurance data pointing to this.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with two radiology-related bills focused on rural access and workforce shortages. HB 2049 would allow particle accelerators for cancer treatment in critical access hospitals and counties under 400,000 population under general supervision, with rural providers testifying that the change would let patients receive care closer to home while maintaining safety protocols. The bill passed on an 11-0 vote. HB 2050 updated outdated radiologic technologist statutes, revised school accreditation and clinical-hour standards, and allowed radiologist assistants to work under supervision rather than direct supervision; an amendment also added registered nurses to the list of professionals not needing an additional license to use diagnostic X-ray machines. Testimony centered on staffing shortages, national standards, and whether the change would preserve oversight. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 10-2, with some members citing the need for more vetting and concern about oversight of dangerous equipment. The committee then heard HB 2082, which creates a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission to award grants for phase-one pediatric cancer and rare disease trials using existing license-plate funds and other sources. Parents and patients gave emotional testimony about pediatric brain cancer diagnoses, the lack of effective treatments, and the need for Arizona to support local research; the bill passed unanimously 12-0. HB 2015 required Access to cover breastfeeding and lactation services, and an amendment made the coverage subject to CMS approval. Supporters described breastfeeding as preventive care with benefits for infants and mothers, while Access said it was neutral but appreciated the amendment’s fiscal safeguard. The bill passed 12-0 as amended. Next, HB 2177 directed Access to seek CMS waivers to restore Medicaid payments for certain services provided to American Indian and Alaska Native members by IHS and tribal facilities, including dental, diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services. The sponsor and a Sage Memorial Hospital witness said the bill would help tribal facilities draw down federal funds and keep services local; it passed 12-0 as amended. HB 2178 required state agency chief medical officers to hold an active medical or osteopathic license and passed without opposition. HB 2179 clarified statutory definitions separating air ambulance from ground ambulance regulation, with industry testimony saying it was a cleanup measure that would avoid unintended consequences; it also passed 12-0. Finally, HB 2183 created an 11-member emergency medicine study committee to examine EMS system sustainability, rural and urban capacity, workforce burnout, and uncompensated care. Firefighters, health care advocates, and an emergency nurse practitioner supported the study as a way to gather data and make recommendations; it passed 12-0. The committee then returned to HB 2072, which establishes an optional state certification for lactation care providers under ADHS, along with rulemaking, fees, discipline, and an advisory committee; the sponsor said the credential was needed so Access could reimburse the service, and the bill was introduced for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legacy data negligible footprint.
• And what we've been able to learn just from study is that, you know, regulations for data centers need
• And what we've been able to learn just from study is that, you know, regulations for data centers need
• And what we've been able to learn just from study is that, you know, regulations for data centers need
• I think about data centers.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• geolocation data data that you couldn't sell without the permission of the person whose data you're
• geolocation data data that you couldn't sell without the permission of the person whose data you're
• geolocation data data that you couldn't sell without the permission of the person whose data you're
• :15:01.280><c> you</c> we made geolocation data data that you we made geolocation data data that you
• data, sensitive data, that people's data, sensitive data, locational<00:17:33.080><c> data</c><00:17

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 19, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 122 members present, opened with prayer, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up two congratulatory resolutions: one honoring Layla Wishard of Hagerstown for winning gold with Team USA at the Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup in Australia, and another recognizing Delores Millhouse as the 2026 Maryland Mother of the Year. Both resolutions were read and adopted with applause. The House then considered a series of committee reports, primarily from the Committee on Economic Matters, and advanced multiple bills to third reading after adopting committee amendments and favorable reports. Measures included consumer contract protections in House Bill 103, workers’ compensation presumptions for hypertension in House Bill 347, broadband access and affordability in House Bill 382, housing and land-use changes in House Bills 548 and 894, data privacy in House Bill 711, franchise law changes in House Bill 730, a blockchain-based real property title pilot program in House Bill 810, bankruptcy exemptions in House Bill 1098, and telecommunications infrastructure protections in House Bill 1100. Several bills drew questions and were special ordered for further review. House Bill 711, the Data Privacy Act, prompted extended discussion about whether its geolocation provisions could affect stadium and venue security tracking; the sponsor said the bill was intended to close loopholes around cell phone and vehicle location data and would not change existing permission-based rules, but the bill was still special ordered until the next day. House Bill 894, the transit-oriented development bill, also drew questions about local government concerns and was special ordered, with the floor leader saying county and municipal groups were generally satisfied with the amendments. House Bill 1100 was also taken up after the amendments were adopted, and the title amendment process began as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• . regulator. regulator.
• We don't quite have the 2023 and 2024 data from the NIC yet, so this is based on some of the data that
• </c> don't quite have the 2023 and 2024 data don't quite have the 2023 and 2024 data from<00:24:59.360
• But just note that we don't regulate them or their business practices.
• </c> have loved to see reinsurance data have loved to see reinsurance data included<01:08:47.279><c>

Keywords: 1183, house