Transcript Highlights:

• It opened the hearing on Senate Bill 5947, and if we might have a briefing, please, Greg.
• Everyone's primary concern in life is to be alive tomorrow. Health care must be prioritized.
• Everyone's primary concern in life is to be alive tomorrow.
• Making health care a right opens the possibility for people to thrive.
• That should be the job of the primary care provider.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held a public hearing on six bills, with the chair repeatedly emphasizing one-minute testimony limits because of the large number of sign-ins. The committee first heard SB 6292, which would create a joint legislative-executive committee on health care financing to study strategies for improving statewide access and coverage and report in 2027. Supporters, including the Health Care Authority, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, community health centers, carriers, and provider groups, said the bill could help the state respond to affordability and system sustainability challenges and coordinate policy work across branches of government. The committee then heard SB 6258, which would create a non-disciplinary pathway for voluntarily relinquishing certain Washington Medical Commission licenses. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would provide a humane exit option for physicians and other licensees who are medically disabled or otherwise leaving practice, without forcing them into a disciplinary process. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, and the hearing closed with 17 people signed in pro and 2 con. The committee also heard SB 6182, establishing an abortion savings program funded by a new assessment on health carriers. Supporters argued it would recapture funds originally set aside for abortion care under the ACA and protect access amid federal changes, while opponents raised concerns about hidden taxes, lack of opt-out, and the impact on premiums and conscience rights. The hearing drew very large public interest, with 245 signed in pro and 1,775 con. The committee next took testimony on SB 5947, which would establish the Washington Health Care Board and prepare a state universal health care plan contingent on federal authorization and funding. Supporters from labor, health care, tribal, and universal coverage advocacy groups said the bill would position Washington to act quickly if federal waivers become available and argued that health care should be treated as a human right; opponents warned about costs, vagueness, and government overreach. The hearing then moved to SJR 8206, a proposed constitutional amendment declaring access to affordable health care a fundamental right. Supporters framed it as an aspirational commitment and a necessary step toward universal coverage, while opponents argued the language was vague, legally risky, and could create costly obligations. Finally, the committee heard SB 5823, which would require hospitals to employ or provide access to patient advocates to help patients navigate bills, records, and appointments. Hospital and patient coalition witnesses supported the goal but asked for amendments to clarify staffing, exemptions, and scope; the hearing closed with 20 signed in pro, 792 con, and 3 other. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we will move to any primary witnesses in opposition.
• We'll move on now to any primary witnesses in opposition.
• We'll move on now to any primary witnesses in opposition.
• Is there any primary opposition in the room? Any opposed?
• Now we will hear from primary opposition, if there is any.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. AB 1825 by Krell would clarify California’s offenders with mental health disorders program by tightening the standard for determining “substantial danger of physical harm,” improving exit planning, and expanding Medi-Cal access for people released after a successful challenge. Supporters, including psychiatrists, prosecutors, and medical groups, said the bill would close gaps in care and protect public safety; county behavioral health directors and Disability Rights California registered concerns. AB 1696 by Stephanie would state that nurse midwives do not need physician supervision when providing care within their existing scope, including EMTALA-related evaluation in labor and delivery settings. Nurse midwives and nursing groups supported the bill, while emergency physicians opposed it unless amended, arguing emergency department screening should remain under physician supervision; the author said she would keep working on the issue. AB 1949 by Lee would make acupuncture a separate Medi-Cal benefit and allow up to 24 visits per year. The author and supporters from acupuncture, health access, and integrative medicine groups said the current monthly cap is too restrictive and that acupuncture is an effective, cost-saving alternative for pain management and other conditions. There was no opposition. AB 2330 by Patterson would create a distinct regulatory category for cold spas, with standards for construction, operation, and disinfection. Fitness and wellness groups supported the bill, environmental health administrators had no formal position but thanked the author for amendments, and a committee member raised concerns about local officials interpreting the bill to require separate enclosures from saunas; the author said she would continue working on the language. AB 2000 by Aguirre-Curry would limit mid-year changes to prescription drug formularies and add notice, exceptions, reporting, and enforcement provisions. Family physicians, chronic care advocates, nurses, pharmacists, and patient groups supported the bill, citing non-medical switching and treatment disruptions; health plans and insurers opposed it, warning of higher costs, reduced flexibility, and premium increases. AB 1929 by Ortega would require health plans to disclose investments, including in private prisons and immigrant detention centers. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure tied to patient premiums and public values, while opponents argued the bill was duplicative, burdensome, and potentially harmful to investment confidentiality. AB 2746 by Schiavo would classify medical credit card debt as medical debt so it would not appear on credit reports. Consumer advocates and legal aid groups supported the bill, describing abusive marketing and housing harms; banks, debt collectors, and industry groups opposed it as unworkable and privacy-invasive. The committee took roll on AB 2746 and passed it on a due pass motion to Banking and Finance, with several members voting aye and a few no votes recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Opening session.
• Just open dialogue.
• The state of Delaware is one of 16 states that still do not have an open or semi-open primary.
• Open... So the open-cycle power generation would include natural gas.
• Open dialogue granted.

Summary: The House met on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for two deceased community members. Members also adopted Consent Calendar 29, which included House Concurrent Resolutions 153, 154, and 156, and passed House Concurrent Resolution 157 directing the State Lottery to report on iLottery options to support traditional lottery retailers, as amended to set a February 15, 2027 reporting deadline. The chamber then considered several bills on agriculture, telecommunications, health, fire service standards, corrections, elections, and education. Among the measures passed were Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program, Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecom carriers, Senate Bill 339 clarifying advance health care directives, Senate Bill 235 extending manufactured home rent increase rules, Senate Bill 325 updating firefighter/EMS background check and membership standards, Senate Bill 309 discharging incarceration-related balances, Senate Bill 324 on constable-related handgun purchase exemptions, Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication access, and Senate Bill 293 creating a licensure pathway for summer camp providers in the Purchase of Care program. The House also passed Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry regardless of race or gender while explicitly preserving religious freedom. The bill drew extended debate, with supporters framing it as a safeguard against future rollbacks of marriage equality and opponents raising concerns about constitutionalizing an issue already in statute; several members explained changed votes and personal reflections before the final roll call, which passed 28-12. House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after amendment, despite some opposition over party-system effects. Two measures were tabled or amended after debate: Senate Bill 233 on removing snow and ice from vehicles was initially tabled to consider a truck-driver exemption amendment, then the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 19 on studying health care costs was tabled briefly pending legal clarification. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a three-year pilot program for AI and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, data privacy, and teacher oversight. The transcript ends as House Bill 478 is being read in, but no final action on that bill appears in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hearing room is open for attendance.
• Do you have any primary witnesses in support?
• Do you have any primary witnesses in support?
• Okay, any primary witnesses in opposition?
• And if you're a primary witness, you're welcome... ...position, and if you're a primary witness, you're

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any primary witnesses in opposition?
• Senator Grove, you may open when you are ready. You have one primary witness, I understand.
• Are there any primary witnesses in opposition?
• Do we have any primary witnesses in opposition?
• We'll leave the roll open for other members to add on.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will allow primary witnesses here in the room today to speak for two minutes each, with two primary
• We will allow primary witnesses here in the room today to speak for two minutes each, with two primary
• Primary witnesses in support must Thank you.
• We'll leave it open for the additional vote. Thank you. Wallace, aye.
• We'll leave it open for the additional vote. Thank you again.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then a follow-up question on the telehealth for like primary care appointments.
• Question on telehealth for primary care appointments.
• When you usually go into primary care in person, they do height, weight, blood pressure, ear and eye
• As the world started to open up and our office opened up to seeing clients in person again, we continued
• As the world started to open up, in our office opened up to seeing clients in person again, we continue

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, we are going to begin this morning a bit out of the order of the agenda and open the hearing
• It opened the hearing on Senate Bill 5947, and if we might have a briefing, please, Greg.
• Everyone's primary concern in life is to be alive tomorrow. Health care must be prioritized.
• Everyone's primary concern in life is to be alive tomorrow.
• That should be the job of the primary care provider.

Bills: SB6258 , SB6182 , SB5947 , SJR8206 , SB5823 , SB6292

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database, National Practitioner Data Bank, license renewal, license reinstatement, medical board, professional discipline, credential surrender, healthcare regulation, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund

Transcript Highlights:

• So the door might have been open while she held you up.
• All it's doing is bringing back the presidential primary in March.
• This is not exclusively a Republican primary. This is an open primary.
• This is not exclusively a Republican primary.
• This is an open, we're talking about primary for any entity that wants to put up a candidate.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Four years later, Paola officially joined her mother to help her open their second location.
• SB 46-4 by Campbell ruling the operation of near-public or private primary, secondary schools, or retail
• the candidate's ineligibility on the basis of filing an application for the place of the general primary
• rates for the committee on rate of means SB 1033 by Hughes ruling the withdrawal of candidate runoff primary

Bills: HB630 , HB420 , HB767 , HB1708 , HB2842 , HB1404 , HB2457 , HB140 , HB333 , HB227 , HB913 , HB201 , HB2198 , HB 109 , HB2763 , HB519 , HB 1261 , HB 1135 , HB1318 , HB2358 , HB2415 , HB2765 , HB2735 , HB3307 , HB1373 , HB694 , HB 1242 , HB272 , HB1437 , HB1888 , HCR78 , HCR12 , HCR128 , HR7 , HR11 , HR37 , HR69 , HR83 , HR89 , HR100 , HR123 , HR129 , HR137 , HR254 , HR258 , HR289 , HR293 , HR318 , HR324 , HR350 , HR368 , HR370 , HR372 , HR379 , HR406 , HR407 , HR432 , HR445 , HR471 , HR504 , HR506 , HR507 , HR528 , HR567 , HR572 , HR591 , HR592 , HR593 , HR603 , HR614 , HR621 , HR673 , HR684 , HR685 , HR687 , HR700 , HR701 , HR711 , HR712 , HR754 , HR757 , HR758 , HR760 , HR764 , HR765 , HR766 , HR767 , HR768 , HR769 , HR770 , HR771 , HR772 , HR774 , HR776 , HR777 , HR778 , HR779 , HR780 , HR783 , HR784 , HR784 , HR6 , HR6 , HR17 , HR17 , HR18 , HR18 , HR49 , HR49 , HR170 , HR170 , HR236 , HR236 , HR247 , HR275 , HR355 , HR356 , HR364 , HR672 , HR690 , HR690 , HR755 , HR755 , HR756 , HR756 , HR759 , HR759 , HR762 , HR762 , HR763 , HR763 , HR781 , HR781 , HR785 , HR785 , SB2 , SB260 , SB569 , HB2 , HB2000 , HB213 , HB222 , HB645 , HB1458 , HB 1022 , HB141 , HB643 , HB3093 , HB1700 , HB 117

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 420, Texas Water Code, special district, water district, board meetings, meeting location, teleconference, videoconference, remote meeting, public hearing, tax rate hearing, special districts, Cedar Creek Reservoir, county boundary, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• support and two primary witnesses in opposition on each bill.
• Each primary witness will have two minutes to speak.
• And do we have any primary witnesses in opposition to SB 46?
• Do we have another primary witness in support?
• We'll keep that open for absent members. Senator Umberg, how long do you want to keep that open?

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several bills. SB 479 by Senator Arreguín would allow Berkeley, Long Beach, and Pasadena, as local health jurisdictions, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across departments; supporters said it would improve coordination and services for unsheltered residents, and the bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. SB 46 by Senator Umberg would direct the Secretary of State to keep constitutionally ineligible presidential candidates off the California ballot, including anyone who has already served two terms; supporters argued it was a constitutional enforcement measure, while Senator Niello questioned whether it was needed, and it passed 6-1 to Appropriations. SB 99 by Senator Blakespear would improve coordination between military and civilian systems by requiring courts and law enforcement to account for military protective orders and notify military authorities of possible violations; the Department of Defense supported it, while the ACLU raised due process concerns, and it passed 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 719 by Senator Cabaldon would extend the sunset on state reporting about high-risk automated decision systems from 2029 to 2032, and it passed 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 300 by Senator Padilla would strengthen California’s new AI chatbot law by requiring operators to prevent minors from being exposed to sexually explicit material; supporters said the existing law was insufficient, while industry groups warned against expanding a brand-new regime before it had been tested, and it passed 9-0 to Appropriations. SB 381 by Senator Wahab would allow adult adoptees, and descendants of adoptees, to obtain original birth certificates and create a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents; supporters described health, identity, and dignity concerns, while some members raised privacy concerns, and it passed 13-0 to the Senate Health Committee. SB 33 by Senator Cortese would eliminate the sunset on the public works contractor claim-resolution process, with supporters saying it reduces litigation and speeds payment, and it passed 10-0 to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's open for 30 days.
• It's open for 30 days.
• But when I talk about the ecosystem, we’re really opening it up.
• And it also kind of opens up this question about whose role is it?
• One thing I should have led with is that the primary uses for the... ...list.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will open the roll for co-authors. Members, this is for co-authors.
• Who provide preventative and primary care.
• I want to say thank you to our primary care providers and ask that the roll be open for co-authors and
• Hoover, do you wish for the first roll to be open for co-authors?
• All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co-authors.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have any opening remarks from committee members? No remarks.
• The most, the primary group of admissions are...
• I think that opened in about 2005.
• We're the primary implementers of the county impacts.
• Prop. 36 is a false justification for keeping prisons open.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also develop benchmarks for primary care because when we spend more on primary and early intervention
• So we developed a definition for primary care.
• So we have one open now for fellowship training. We’ll have one open next year.
• We'll hold issue 18 open, move on to issue 19.
• So those investigations are still open.

Summary: The hearing began with testimony from Let California Kids Hear and supporters urging action on pediatric hearing aid coverage. Advocates said California has repeatedly failed to enact a workable solution over the past eight years and argued that children need early access to sound to support development. The proposal discussed would limit the coverage mandate to the large-group market, which advocates said would cover roughly 70% to 80% of affected children and avoid the exchange-related cost issue that contributed to prior vetoes. Supporters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s health groups, backed the proposal, and the chair expressed sympathy and support while noting hope for a federal solution for exchange plans. The Department of Finance then gave opening remarks about the state’s structural deficit and the need to balance new investments against projected out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with a broad overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone initiatives, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, hospital seismic compliance, workforce programs, and the diaper access initiative. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, which HCAI said had reverted funds. The committee also discussed a proposed transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate to HCAI, new reporting on long-term care staffing and health coverage waiting periods, and a Behavioral Health Services Act workforce proposal that would use BHSA funds to support training, stipends, and technical assistance while offsetting $100 million in General Fund spending; members and LAO questioned the offset and asked for more detail, and the item was held open. HCAI also presented the Rural Health Transformation Program, explaining that California received $233.6 million in federal funds for the first year and had to revise its proposal so that $35 million in provider payments would be tied to specific transformative activities rather than general financial relief. The program will fund rural care model redesign, workforce development, and technology/infrastructure improvements, with grants to be rolled out on a tight timeline and subject to CMS approval. Members asked about the size of California’s award, the use of funds for maternity care, labor and delivery access, dialysis, tribal set-asides, and the role of a technical assistance contractor. The department said the program will use supply-and-demand workforce modeling to target funding and that all funds must be obligated by October 30. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined its budget and two major bill-related proposals: SB 41 on PBM reform and SB 306 on prior authorization transparency. DMHC said SB 41 would require PBM licensure, ban spread pricing, require rebate pass-through, and regulate pharmacy network practices, while SB 306 would require reporting on prior authorization and create a list of services exempt from prior authorization. DMHC requested additional positions and funding to implement both measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to open the hearing on Senate Bill 6226.
• I'd like to now move to the second bill on our agenda today and open the hearing on Senate Bill 6305.
• I'd like to move to the next hearing on our agenda and open the hearing on Senate Bill 5924.
• Federal policy shifts, a worsening workforce for primary care, and a severe shortage for primary care
• We know that they have a primary care provider.

Bills: SB6226 , SB6305 , SB5924 , SB5990 , SB5185 , SB5845 , SB6071 , SB6258

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: SB 6226, Washington, audiology, audiologist, hearing aid specialist, speech-language pathologist, telehealth, teleaudiology, clinical autonomy, clinical judgment, in-person care, remote care, Board of Hearing and Speech, hearing instruments, hearing aids, dispensing hearing aids, standards of care, professional licensure, health professions regulation, patient-centered care

Transcript Highlights:

• You must be open for early voting for a week before a primary.
• You must be open for early voting for a week before a primary.
• The primary reason is that they didn't fill out a municipal census and return it.
• The primary... Of them having had consideration of that.
• I'm the Director of Primary Care and a family medicine physician in Lynn Community Health Center.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on a wide range of voting-access and election-administration bills. The largest portion of testimony focused on same-day voter registration (H. 834/S. 505), with support from Rep. Gentile, Boston and Chelsea officials, civic groups, and election administrators from Maine and Vermont. Supporters argued that same-day registration would help eligible voters who move frequently, miss deadlines, or face administrative errors, and would reduce rejected provisional ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Vermont elections director Sean Sheehan testified that same-day registration has worked in their states without major administrative problems and has helped increase turnout. A Boston-based panel also described high rejection rates for provisional ballots and the burden of registration cutoffs on renters, students, immigrants, and low-income voters. A second major topic was restoration of voting rights for incarcerated people, including S. 524 and related House bills. The committee heard extensive virtual testimony from incarcerated individuals at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley, who said voting should be restored as part of rehabilitation, civic engagement, and reintegration. They described disenfranchisement as dehumanizing and argued that voting would help maintain family and community ties, reduce recidivism, and give incarcerated people a voice on laws affecting prisons and reentry. Rep. Erica Uyterhoeven also testified in support, saying the bill would restore municipal voting rights for incarcerated residents and align with broader efforts to expand political participation. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting election administration and access, including a proposal to reduce or eliminate mandated early in-person voting in primaries and shorten the general-election early voting period, with supporters from the town clerks’ community arguing that low usage, staffing burdens, and costs justify the change. Opponents warned that reducing in-person early voting could hurt voters who do not use mail ballots and could disproportionately affect communities of color. Other bills discussed included decoupling the municipal census from voter registration, requiring periodic accessibility inspections of polling places, and a Somerville home-rule petition on non-citizen municipal voting and another on lowering the voting age in municipal elections. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even as coverage declines, our doors stay open.
• Reducing reimbursement for primary care providers that deliver nearly 50% of all Medi-Cal primary care
• We'll hold that item open.
• Hold the item open, move on to issue number seven.
• Can I hold the item open? Go on to issue 8.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extended briefing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on Medi-Cal and CalFresh, followed by testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and county officials. DHCS described major Medi-Cal changes in H.R. 1, including work/community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, reduced federal matching for some emergency services, narrower immigrant eligibility, reduced retroactive coverage, and limits on provider taxes and directed payments. CDSS outlined CalFresh changes, especially the expanded able-bodied adults without dependents time limit, reduced exemptions and waivers, and the new federal-state-county administrative cost split. Both departments emphasized implementation plans, automation, outreach, and county coordination, while acknowledging significant expected coverage losses and administrative burden. The LAO and an independent policy expert discussed how H.R. 1 could increase demand on county indigent care systems and public hospitals as people lose Medi-Cal. They reviewed the history of county indigent care, 1991 realignment, and AB 85, explaining that counties already rely on a patchwork of funding and that current realignment revenues are often used for public health rather than indigent care. They warned that counties may face large increases in uninsured residents, with wide variation in how counties respond, and raised concerns about equity, financing, and whether a more standardized state-county program should be created. Committee members pressed witnesses on county funding, exemptions, homelessness, older adults, undocumented residents, and the effect of administrative burden versus true ineligibility. County representatives from Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Tulare, and San Bernardino described the expected local impacts and asked for additional state support. They said H.R. 1 would drive major losses in Medi-Cal and CalFresh enrollment, increase uncompensated care, strain eligibility staff, and worsen homelessness and food insecurity. Several counties urged the Legislature to fund eligibility workers, preserve enrollment, and consider a CalFresh match waiver; Santa Clara and San Bernardino also cited local tax measures and staffing reductions already underway. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not open to everyone.
• It's not open to everyone.
• We'll leave it open for other members to vote. Okay. Okay, the roll's been left open.
• We'll leave it open for additional votes. Roll call is open and we're going to continue.
• We'll leave the roll open. The roll's been open.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact met on July 11, 2025, and heard six measures focused on small business contracting, ports and trade, local economic development, clean energy transition, tariff impacts, and infrastructure finance. SB 70 would raise the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act contract cap from $250,000 to $350,000 and index it to inflation; supporters said it would reflect current economic conditions, while opponents argued it could reduce transparency, favor larger firms, and strain small businesses’ ability to carry inventory and wait for payment. The bill was approved 7-0 to Appropriations. AJR 14 urged federal agencies to consider the effects of tariff policy on California ports, with testimony emphasizing impacts on cargo volumes, jobs, supply chains, and infrastructure needs; it passed 7-0. SB 781 would require cities and counties to adopt small business utilization plans and strengthen the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program; chambers of commerce and committee members supported it as a way to expand procurement opportunities and technical assistance, and it passed 7-0 to Local Government. SB 227 would extend and expand the Green Empowerment Zone in Contra Costa County, add environmental justice representatives, and extend authorization to 2040; it passed 7-0 to the floor. SB 263 would direct the California Transportation Agency to study the statewide impacts of tariffs, with supporters from the ports, retail, and trucking sectors arguing that better data is needed to guide budgeting and policy responses; it passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 769 would create the Golden State Infrastructure Fund to finance major infrastructure projects through a revolving public-private investment model; supporters said it would help address long-term infrastructure needs and prepare for major events, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations after opposition was withdrawn. All measures were reported out of committee, and the meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will take up to two primary witnesses in support and up to two primary witnesses in opposition for
• How about primary opposition? No one. How about primary opposition? No opposition at all either.
• Is there any primary opposition to this measure? No opposition.
• Anybody in opposition, primary opposition at all? See no one.
• He said he was open to that. He being Mr. Haney. Okay.

Summary: The committee heard eight bills, mostly on local government, housing, and public agency contracting. AB 1658 would make permanent higher change-order authority for Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties on large construction projects; supporters said it would reduce delays and save money on major projects, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 2263 would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to develop employee-preference affordable housing; supporters said it would help with workforce retention and long commutes, and it also passed 6-0. AB 2134 would require city councils to allow parental leave without forcing members to seek public approval or risk losing their seats; supporters described the bill as necessary to protect new parents in local office, and it passed 6-0. AB 2188 would raise Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s contracting authority to $250,000, with supporters citing administrative savings and faster project delivery; after committee amendments, it passed 6-0. AB 2033 would let general law cities use job order contracting for repair and maintenance work, with safeguards against employee displacement; supporters called it an efficiency tool, while AFSCME opposed it over workforce impacts, and it passed 8-0 after amendments. AB 1768 would authorize Los Angeles County and Contra Costa County to ask voters to approve a temporary transactions and use tax to help offset major federal health care cuts and preserve clinics and public health services. Supporters from community clinics, Planned Parenthood, labor groups, counties, and health organizations said the measure would let voters decide how to respond to funding losses; opponents, including CalTax and some cities, raised affordability and tax-burden concerns. Members also discussed equity concerns within Los Angeles County and the importance of local control. The bill was moved out on a 5-2 vote and left on call. AB 2415 would allow the city of Folsom to shift housing obligations away from its historic district and toward other transit-oriented sites; supporters said it would preserve the historic district while still meeting housing goals, and it passed 10-0. AB 2741, heard at the end of the meeting, would give cities a grace period to fix housing elements that were certified by HCD but later found noncompliant by a court, especially where cities relied on overlay zones. Supporters from the League of California Cities, Redondo Beach, and real estate groups said cities acted in good faith and should not be immediately subjected to builder’s remedy; opponents from California YIMBY and legal aid groups argued the bill would weaken housing accountability and reward noncompliance. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 2741, before a final vote is recorded.