Transcript Highlights:

• <01:29:12.880><c> passed</c><01:29:13.440><c> into</c><01:29:14.159><c> the</c><01:29:14.320><c> governor
• </c><01:29:14.639><c> signed</c> body passed into the governor signed body passed into the governor signed
• Yes, I finished working in 2024 for Governor Huckabee Sanders, and she was the first state to actually
• In any case, in order that 17,000 didn't lose coverage, Governor Sununu halted the requirement.
• </c> 17,000 didn't lose coverage, Governor 17,000 didn't lose coverage, Governor Sunsunu<04:40:42.798

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I had a conversation with both the governor and the prime sponsor.
• I haven't heard back from the governor, but what this does is bridge the bill.
• office has to report to both the Senate president's office, the Speaker of the House, as well as the governor
• well as the governor well as the governor of<00:05:19.480><c> any</c><00:05:19.680><c> complaints</c>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• thank thee for those who serve in this body, the senators, the elected officials, and Lieutenant Governor
• thank thee for those who serve in this body, the senators, the elected officials, and Lieutenant Governor
• Please bless all these senators and Lieutenant Governor Rutledge and all the staff here that they can
• School District, as a member of the Arkansas Milk Stabilization Board, to which he was appointed by Governor
• Madam Lieutenant Governor, I would like to press for a recess for 10 minutes. That's okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• He worked under several governors, spanning appointments to regulatory boards, as an interim secretary
• of the Commonwealth, and in the office of the governor, to name just a few.
• The governor came out. So we adjust our revenues just a few weeks ago.
• The governor came out with some enhancements to our revenues of better than a billion dollars.
• But we also need, and maybe the governor can do this, we need to also add the co-ops to this rebate.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you stated, when the Governor originally submitted in January, provided an allocation, a suggested
• The intent is to try to seek to get a three-party agreement: Legislature and the Governor, around particularly
• that what we want to do is have that question in front of the leadership in both houses and the Governor
• I would hope that if the Legislature and the Governor decide that this piece is something that should
• quote: 'At the K-14 level, the CWPJAC is formed through an MOU between the SBE and the Board of Governors

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met in a special hearing and took up SB 638 by Senator Padilla, a workforce development bill aimed at creating a coordinating entity called the Middle Class Pipeline Project. The bill would streamline interagency education and workforce programs, improve career technical education and career pathways, and direct resources toward high-unemployment, low-income regions through changes to the CTE incentive grant program. Supporters, including the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the California Edge Coalition, National University, Long Beach City College, and United Ways of California, argued that California needs a statewide coordinating body to reduce silos, improve access to high-quality jobs, and better align education with labor market needs. Committee members focused heavily on whether the proposed entity would duplicate existing bodies such as the California Workforce Development Board and other education/workforce agencies, and whether its broad duties could be carried out with the $1.5 million budget allocation. The author said the bill is intended to move an operational coordinating entity into broader tri-party negotiations with legislative leadership and the Governor, and that the final structure and staffing would depend on those talks. Some members supported the concept but raised concerns about scope, duplication, and whether the bill should be delayed or audited; one member opposed it as too broad and underfunded. The committee ultimately voted to pass SB 638 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a courtesy vote. The roll call showed five ayes and three noes, with one member not voting, and the chair later allowed additional members to add on, including an additional aye from Assemblymember Haney. The hearing then adjourned with the chair noting that further conversations would continue on the coordinating entity and its responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's been here before. ...and recommend a list of qualified candidates to the governor for commission
• I was appointed by the governor.
• I was appointed by the governor and went through the process last fall of sending some candidates to
• the governor, whom she appointed.
• I've been appointed by the governor to serve on the CARB board.

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• role as an advisory committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the legislature and the governor
• 02:51.120><c> legislature</c><00:02:52.000><c> and</c><00:02:52.360><c> the</c><00:02:52.440><c> governor
• </c><00:02:53.320><c> And</c> to the legislature and the governor.
• And to the legislature and the governor.
• can sign these recommendations governor can sign these recommendations into<00:03:05.920><c> law.

Summary: The Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security met on April 20, 2026, with a quorum present and adopted the January 13, 2026 minutes. The chair thanked the State Patrol, sergeants-at-arms, and capital security officers for their work during the session, and noted that the committee’s earlier recommendations were reflected in Governor’s Executive Order 2602, including weapon screening at the State Capitol. The chair also said the committee’s annual report included recommendations for bonding, policy, and budget changes, and expressed hope the legislature would act on them. Department of Public Safety and State Patrol officials reported that implementation of weapon screening had gone well overall and said they were continuing to gather feedback for improvements. Colonel Bogayevich said that since the start of session, 121,598 people had been screened at the Capitol’s entrances, 548 permits were verified, and 52 prohibited items were turned away. Examples of prohibited items included knives, a camping/marshmallow skewer, and a screwdriver; no firearms were found in the Capitol building. She also said the busiest day produced a wait of about 15 to 17 minutes, and that staffing was adjusted to handle larger groups such as school tours. The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms reported that 49,277 people had come through Senate screening as of the previous Friday, including 196 concealed carry permits, and that 2,359 people had entered the West Gallery to observe Senate proceedings. He also said some Senate building access doors had been reduced to direct traffic and that an audit of key card access had begun. The House Deputy Chief Sergeant-at-Arms reported about 1,400 people had been screened for the House gallery, and noted that an NCSL visitor from Oregon would shadow House security staff to learn from Minnesota’s approach. Members from both bodies praised the professionalism of security staff and said the added trooper presence made members and the public feel safer. No members of the public signed up to testify, so the public comment period closed without testimony. The meeting adjourned after the chair reiterated that the goal of the security measures was to allow visitors, members, and public servants to participate safely.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank the Governor for the appointment and Senator Frick for carrying the nomination today
• First of all, I'd like to thank the Governor for this appointment. Mr.
• I want to thank the Governor for the appointment and Senator Bullard for his efforts with this.
• I want to thank the governor for the appointment and Senator Bullard for his efforts with this.
• He wants to thank the governor for the nomination as well.

Bills: HB2933 , HB3041 , HB3048 , HB3081 , HB3297 , HB3338 , HB3673 , HB3790 , HB3983 , HB4105 , HB4139 , HB4203 , HJR1023

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of bills and executive nominations. Among the bills, it advanced measures to update fire extinguisher industry age restrictions and application rules (HB 381), create a five-day cancellation right for homeowners after severe storm-related contracts (HB 3790), require a biennial workers’ compensation medical fee schedule update (HJR 1023), create the Oklahoma Home Services Act to standardize home service contract disclosures (HB 4139, amended to correct a wording error), cap surcharge fees and add a career tech exemption (HB 3041), create the Oklahoma Tolling and Recovery Board (HB 3297), allow expired electrical contractor licenses to be reinstated without re-examination (HB 3673), clarify who is not a security guard for licensing purposes (HB 4105), create a licensing framework for in-ground pool contractors effective November 1, 2027 (HB 3338), and streamline surplus lines insurance procedures and premium tax enforcement (HB 3048). One bill on smokeless tobacco taxation (HB 3983) drew extended debate over whether a weight-based tax would be fairer and revenue-neutral; after questions about health impacts, reporting, fraud concerns, and inflation, the bill failed to receive a second and was left in committee. HB 3041 also drew significant debate over whether it would effectively allow higher credit card surcharges, but it ultimately passed 5-4. The committee also heard numerous executive nominations, all of which were approved and sent to the full Senate. Those included Michael Stop and Michael Bauer to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, Michael Cantrell and Burrell Sears to the Oklahoma Abstractors Board, Richard Willoughby to the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, E. Keith Mitchell and Andrew Revelis to the ABLE Commission, Jackie Ward to the alarm, locksmith, and fire sprinkler industry board, Terence Shreve to the Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufacturer Board, and Adra Berry as Cabinet Secretary of Licensing and Regulation. Nominees generally described their professional backgrounds and commitment to public safety, regulation, or industry expertise, and several senators spoke in support of their service. Most nominations passed unanimously or near-unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assault weapon ban, high-capacity magazine ban. >> So I know that we're going to meet with the governor
• <00:14:33.760><c> things</c><00:14:33.920><c> that</c><00:14:34.160><c> the</c><00:14:34.320><c> governor
• </c><00:14:34.560><c> is</c> big ticket things that the governor is big ticket things that the governor
• /c><00:14:40.000><c> the</c> that we're going to meet with the that we're going to meet with the governor
• this afternoon, all four governor this afternoon, all four leaders<00:14:41.839><c> to</c><00:14:42.160

Transcript Highlights:

• And those power four level schools.
• The cap is really that's the Power Four conferences.
• </c><00:46:36.880><c> for</c> The cap is really that's the power for The cap is really that's the power
• </c><01:27:18.480><c> saying</c><01:27:18.639><c> because</c> the power four are saying because the power
• No, I totally get it, and I think the power of the coach is very, very real.

Summary: The joint House-Senate higher education briefing focused on how the University of Hawaii athletics department plans to remain competitive in the NIL era, especially as the House settlement and related changes allow new forms of athlete compensation. Chair and Senator Kim opened by framing the issue as balancing competitiveness, sustainability, compliance, and UH’s educational mission. Coaches Laura Beeman and Timmy Chang described how NIL and the transfer portal are already affecting recruiting and retention, with Beeman saying women’s basketball has lost six to 10 recruits because UH cannot yet match offers, and Chang citing examples of players being courted with large sums and the need to retain proven local and out-of-state athletes. Both emphasized that student-athletes should still prioritize education, culture, and team values, while also receiving support that helps them stay at UH. Athletic Director Matt Elliott then outlined UH’s broader strategy. He said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the highest level of the Mountain West, and strengthen the bond with the community. He described NIL as having moved from a largely unregulated period to a new phase in which institutions can directly control some NIL payments, while outside deals still must be reviewed for fair market value. Elliott said UH wants to use NIL to help athletes cover basic needs and build financial stability, while also keeping them academically on track. He noted the department is pursuing fundraising, including a “Boost the Bose” account, corporate sponsorships, and licensing deals, to support NIL opportunities. In response to questions from Senator Kim, Elliott clarified that UH’s approach involves both institution-controlled payments and outside NIL deals: internal payments can be structured at the department’s discretion within the cap, while external sponsor deals must go through NIL Go and meet market-value standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority is a 17-member Joint Powers Authority.
• Very separate from the prioritization of the Home Hardening Joint Powers Authority.
• Correct, not very separate from the prioritization of the Home Hardening Joint Powers Authority.
• Through AB 38, the legislature tasked the CWMP Joint Powers Authority with funding pilot programs or
• with both Cal Fire, specifically looking at ...to be in a joint powers authority agreement with both

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation held an oversight hearing on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation strategies. The chair opened by stressing that California has reached a tipping point, with repeated community-scale wildfire losses, rising insurance costs, and growing utility wildfire mitigation expenses. The hearing was organized around four panels: what home hardening and defensible space are, community risk reduction and coordination, evaluation of current defensible space programs and proposed investments, and the future of home hardening and the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The first panel featured IBHS, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and local wildfire mitigation advocates. IBHS described wildfire spread through embers, flames, and radiant heat, emphasizing that structure separation, removing combustible materials within the first five feet of a home, and combining multiple mitigation measures significantly reduce loss. It highlighted its Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standards, including an “essential” and “enhanced” level, and said California is ahead of other states but still needs scalable, standardized, and sustainably funded mitigation. The LAO outlined key policy questions for the Legislature, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, measurement of success, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. The chair and panelists discussed estimated costs, including roughly $15,000 for a basic retrofit and about $50,000 for more extensive ignition-resistant construction, and whether state funding should focus on the most cost-effective initial measures. The second panel focused on scaling adoption through local coordination, education, financing, and community-based programs. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption problem and said the state should not try to pay for every home, but instead target high-leverage interventions across the “customer journey,” including education, financing, trusted certification, and neighborhood network effects. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council described free home assessments, small retrofit grants, Firewise community support, and the importance of neighborhood-level action, local capacity, and cultural change. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described its locally funded model, grant program, public education efforts, and an Ember Ready program that helps residents navigate home hardening and Zone Zero compliance. The chair repeatedly emphasized the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, stronger incentives, better insurance discounts, and more use of local, utility, federal, and private funding sources. The third and fourth panels addressed Cal Fire’s defensible space inspection program, the proposed defensible space financial assistance program, and broader state investments. Cal Fire said homes lacking compliant defensible space are far more likely to be damaged or destroyed and requested ongoing funding and staffing to stabilize inspections statewide; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as GGRF or a reinstated SRA fee. Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal explained that Zone Zero sets a minimum standard, local governments cannot go below it, and grant prioritization will favor jurisdictions that submit inspections. Cal Fire also said the new defensible space financial assistance program would focus on ember-resistant zone-zero work and, in the Southern California counties covered by the legislation, would assist about 3,125 homes at an estimated $8,000 per home. In the final panel, the State Fire Marshal described California’s layered strategy of parcel-level home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, along with technical support, financial assistance, and incentives such as insurance discounts and builder marketing. The overall theme was that California must move from isolated efforts to a coordinated, science-based, and scalable statewide approach to reduce wildfire losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, this session is a powerful example of that progress.
• Today, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to talk about the power of a legacy, and in my
• Grace was a tough, smart, and determined woman, and her power to create opportunity for Charlottesville
• Power to the people, Mr. Speaker. The delegate from Buckingham, Delegate Garrett. Mr.
• It increases both short- and long-duration energy storage targets for Dominion and Appalachian Power

Transcript Highlights:

• in my 11th year as a member of this Goody County Board and the South Country Health Alliance Joint Powers
• Big corporations have the power to city.
• Big corporations have the power to uproot<00:19:01.120><c> and</c><00:19:01.360><c> rearrange</c><00:
• </c><00:19:46.720><c> over</c> corporations have even more power over corporations have even more power
• </c><00:35:36.480><c> to</c> threatened, please use your power to threatened, please use your power to

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• A message from Her Excellency, the Governor submitting the annual budget of the Commonwealth for the
• The message from Her Excellency, the Governor, was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
• The message from Her Excellency, the Governor submitting requests for making appropriations for the fiscal
• The message from Her Excellency, the Governor, will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our emergency powers bill and our resilience hub program bill.
• This is our emergency powers bill and our resilience hub program bill.
• important one I think for both of us because of the parts one and parts two in here with the emergency powers
• This is our emergency powers bill and a resiliency hub program.
• </c> language around the emergency powers. language around the emergency powers.

Bills: HB2241 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1696 , HB2021 , SB2135 , SB2466 , SB2727 , SB3082 , SB3097 , SB2861 , SCR100 , SB3096 , SB99 , SB2138 , HB2289 , HB2319 , HB1711 , HB2270 , SB3138 , SB3076 , HB1642 , HB2338 , HB2171 , HB1785 , SB2881 , HB2505 , SB2552 , HB1518 , HB1815 , SB3125 , SB3234 , SCR162 , SB2614 , SB3118 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB2158 , HB1718 , HB2207 , HB1801 , SB3229 , SB2338 , SB3069 , SB2600 , HB2300 , HB1800 , HB1960 , SB2999 , SB2060 , SB2866 , SB2239 , HB1741 , HB1713 , HB2023 , HB2417 , SB2877 , SB2598 , SB2921 , SB2645 , HB2547 , HB2275 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2339 , HB1838 , HB1509 , HB1661 , HB2271 , HB2272 , HB2344 , HB1888 , HB1707 , SB2340 , HB2474 , HB1576 , HB1853 , HB1804 , HB1854 , HB2095 , HB2050 , HB472 , SB3215 , SB2247 , SB2400 , HB1618 , HB1802 , HB1969 , HB1541 , HB2310 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2218 , HB649 , HB2104 , HB1710 , SB2802 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB1894 , HB1891 , HB1890 , SB177 , SB2101 , SB3320 , SB2487 , HB2429 , HB1870 , HB1839 , HB2583 , HB1391 , HB2094 , SB2671 , SB2673 , SB2892 , SB2057 , SB3245 , HB306 , HB2592 , SB3157 , SB3204 , SB3324 , SB2580 , SB2074 , SB411 , SB3025 , SB2934 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB3238 , SB2367 , SB2599 , SB3007 , SB2001 , SB2756 , SB3029

Transcript Highlights:

• For Anna and Debra, they were girls, children who were groomed and abused by a powerful and predatory
• Child sex abuse in another powerful institution, the Catholic Church, tore apart by Cesar Chavez.
• For Anna and Debra, they were girls, children who were groomed and abused by a powerful and predatory
• Child sex abuse in another powerful institution, the Catholic Church, tore apart ...abuse in another
• I am sick of powerful and predatory men engaging in criminal acts of sexual assault against innocent

Transcript Highlights:

• think some anthropologists would make the case that we might not be here at all if it weren't for the power
• When you do this, you realize two deliverables, which I think we all recognize the power of: one, highly
• We wouldn't be the wine capital of the country and the world without that research power.
• And we can't, we don't have the sort of the unilateral economic power to say, hey, let's just strip all
• And we wouldn't be the wine capital of the country and the world without that research power.

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on California’s wine industry held its first meeting at Napa Valley College, with opening remarks from Chair Senator Christopher Cabaldon and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry emphasizing the wine industry’s importance to California’s economy, communities, and tourism. The chair said the hearing was intended to gather information and ideas, not to take legislative action that day, and to prepare for future work on legislation, budget, and oversight. The first panel focused on research and trends, with experts from Sonoma State, UC Davis, and Terrain describing a major structural downturn: falling wine production and sales, rising costs, labor shortages, housing pressures, changing consumer habits, tariffs, and the loss of younger consumers. They argued the industry needs to shift toward new-customer acquisition, more accessible products and messaging, evidence-based business decisions, and greater investment in research, education, and innovation, including work on disease, climate stress, and health-related consumer questions. Committee members pressed the panel on whether the industry’s future depends on adaptation by existing producers or market-driven consolidation, and on how California can reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining standards. Witnesses said the state’s universities are a “superpower” but are underfunded for wine research, especially on the business and regulatory side, and they urged review of outdated rules, better data collection, and more efficient compliance systems. They also discussed trade competitiveness, especially with imports and the collapse of exports to Canada after tariffs, and raised the need for transitional support for vineyard removals and replanting. The chair and majority leader emphasized that regulations should be evaluated for effectiveness and that California should use its research capacity to improve both industry practices and regulatory implementation. A second panel included representatives from growers, the Wine Institute, and family winemakers. Michael Miller of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers described a severe grower crisis: grapes left unpicked, vineyards abandoned or removed, falling vineyard values, and a need for relief on regulatory costs, trade barriers, water policy, and vineyard removal expenses. Honor Comfort of the Wine Institute focused on consumer outreach, especially younger drinkers, and described the Share Wine Co-Lab, an open-access marketing platform with research, webinars, case studies, and office hours to help wineries better reach Gen Z and millennials. Jane Lisa Tamayo of Family Winemakers of California was present but her remarks were largely garbled in the transcript. Committee members again stressed the need for education, better messaging, and caution about simplistic policy fixes, while also noting the importance of Canada as an export market and the risks of tariffs. The final panel addressed tourism, farmworker impacts, and water regulation. Visit Napa Valley CEO Lindsay Gallagher said Napa’s tourism economy remains relatively strong but is feeling the same international headwinds as the wine sector, including reduced Canadian visitation; she said Napa is broadening its message beyond wine to cuisine, wellness, and outdoor experiences. Sonia DeLuca of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation said declining sales and rising costs are reducing hours, wages, and training opportunities for farmworkers, and urged targeted relief, removal of barriers to sales, wage-loss support, and continued bilingual workforce training. She also said Napa’s workforce-development model is ready to support technology adoption if legal changes allow more automation. Finally, State Water Board official Annalisa Kihar gave an update on the Winery General Order, explaining that it was created in 2021 to streamline and standardize wastewater permitting, with tiered requirements and exemptions for very small wineries; she said 56 wineries have enrolled and 122 are under review, and that the board is working with industry and regional agencies to improve compliance support and flexibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• ensuring respecting property rights, and ensuring that<00:06:30.479><c> government</c><00:06:30.960><c> power
• power is exercised transparently<00:06:33.199><c> and</c><00:06:33.600><c> fairly.
• And this could be read as an uneven allocation of power and constraint.
• And this could be read as an uneven allocation of power and constraint.
• </c><00:22:17.919><c> and</c> uneven allocation um of power and uneven allocation um of power and constraint

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• The power of possibility.
• The power of possibility.
• It's not the wrong that a young person may have committed, but the power of possibility within them.
• And give you some emergency power to transfer, but also do it in a way that meets young people’s needs
• Am I understanding that the request is you want emergency powers to move young people to DOC based on

Bills: SB6062

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: juvenile justice, criminal offense, minors, rehabilitation, legal provisions

Transcript Highlights:

• As you all know, DNA is a powerful tool.
• written for us, but now we are here in person to make that change as a community, as a collective power
• written for us, but now we are here in person to make that change as a community, as a collective power
• Collective power to shift it in the right direction. Thank you so much. Thank you so very much.
• Being questioned in court by someone who exerted power and control, who physically or mentally harmed

Bills: SB6087 , SB5934 , SB5520 , SB6017 , SB5890

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: children's items, donations, charitable donations, nonprofit, religious organization, public health agency, liability shield, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, car seats, child safety seats, baby formula, diapers, strollers, cribs, playpens, high chairs, used goods, donation centers, Washington RCW