Transcript Highlights:

• today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• These programs are creating a lifeline for people in our community, and any cuts or disruptions to their
• these critical projects will result in a divestment of over $870 million of federal funding and will disrupt
• By improving eligibility and reducing paper, AB 904 will reduce disruptions for working families and

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long Daily File with several guest introductions and floor speeches. Members recognized visiting student leaders, championship football teams from Tuolumne County, Alpha Kappa Alpha members at their Capitol day, and later a descendant of Wong Kim Ark. The chamber also adopted a procedural motion allowing certain members to host guests in the rear of the chamber. Among the major policy items, AB 578 on food delivery platform refund practices passed 47-2, AB 344 on successor beer manufacturer definitions passed 61-0, AB 454 to make California’s migratory bird protections permanent passed 55-12 on the urgency clause, AB 482 updating the Table Grape Commission passed 64-1, AB 1237 to support transit access for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders passed 56-15 on the urgency clause, AB 738 on wildfire rebuild solar exemptions passed 42-2, AB 1460 on 340B pharmacy access for clinics passed 41-5, AB 750 on homeless shelter oversight passed 49-1, AB 1061 on housing in historic districts passed 41-13, AB 1523 on expanding mandatory mediation thresholds passed 65-0, and AB 316 on AI-related civil liability passed 56-0. AB 761 authorizing the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to seek a sales tax ballot measure passed 47-12. The chamber also adopted several resolutions. AJR 3 urging protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid passed 53-2 after extensive debate that included criticism of federal cuts and counterarguments focused on state Medi-Cal policy and budget decisions. ACR 65 proclaiming California Tourism Month was adopted by voice vote after coauthors were added, and ACR 62 recognizing California Nonprofits Day was also adopted by voice vote with 65 coauthors. AJR 5 affirming birthright citizenship and opposing efforts to end it passed 58-1 after a lengthy, highly partisan debate centered on the 14th Amendment and the Wong Kim Ark precedent. The session also included passage of AB 571, a CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, which was presented as a long-running bipartisan effort to create a final resting place for Orange County veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting back to order, and I ask the audience to please refrain from any language outbursts that will disrupt
• [Applause] Again, members of the public, there is disruption of our proceedings, and it's not appreciated
• 13.760> is Again, members of the public, there is Again, members of the public, there is disruption
• our<01:04:15.280> proceedings<01:04:15.839> and<01:04:16.079> it's disruption
• of our proceedings and it's disruption of our proceedings and it's not not not appreciated.<01:04:18.480

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be consequences if there is a disruption.
• We have long relied on stable and predictable income from charitable gambling, and this sudden disruption
• 16:27.680> sudden charitable gambling and this sudden charitable gambling and this sudden disruption
• threatens<00:16:29.519> our<00:16:29.759> ability<00:16:30.160> to disruption
• threatens our ability to disruption threatens our ability to serve<00:16:30.600> our<00:16:30.759

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, automation changes alone do not adequately address the risk of service disruption.
• It's extremely difficult to find and retain an IHSS provider, and even a short disruption can lead to
• And the allocation letters would allow for that and not create disruptions in paying vendors who have
• When those systems are aligned, it helps avoid disruption.
• When those systems are aligned, it helps avoid disruption and supports continuity in people’s lives.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the governor’s IHSS budget proposals and then took public testimony from the administration, LAO, county representatives, labor, consumer advocates, and an aging/disability advocacy group. The administration described IHSS as a large Medi-Cal long-term services program serving more than 900,000 recipients and proposed three changes: shifting some growth costs tied to authorized hours per case to counties, eliminating the statewide backup provider system, and aligning IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations. The administration also discussed the earlier CFCO reassessment penalty change for counties and said overdue reassessments had dropped significantly. LAO said the governor’s overall IHSS cost estimates appeared reasonable, but raised concerns about the hours-per-case cost shift, including unclear root causes for growth, limited county control over statewide averages, and uncertainty about the eventual savings. County Welfare Directors Association, SEIU, and consumer/advocacy witnesses opposed the hours cost shift, arguing counties use state tools, the proposal would pressure counties to cut services, and it could harm older adults and people with disabilities by increasing institutionalization and shifting costs elsewhere. The chair and members repeatedly questioned the rationale for the proposal, the lack of a defined baseline, and whether the current assessment tools or MOE structure should instead be revisited. On the backup provider system, the administration said the program is underused and costly to administer relative to service spending, while LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether administrative costs could be reduced instead of eliminating it. County, labor, and consumer witnesses opposed the cut, saying the system is a critical emergency safety net even if utilization is low, especially for rural areas and people with complex needs. Members also asked about data quality, county backup systems, and whether consumers know the program exists. On the Medi-Cal/IHSS alignment proposal, the administration said automation would stop General Fund-only spending when recipients lose Medi-Cal and restore IHSS automatically when Medi-Cal is regained; LAO and others noted the proposal had been rejected before and urged better notices and safeguards. Witnesses warned that automatic termination could create gaps in care and unpaid work for providers, while the department said counties already manually terminate in some cases and that automation is ready if approved. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair indicated the committee would continue with public comment and later items before a hard adjournment time.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:11:46.880> is<01:11:47.000> a<01:11:47.080> major<01:11:47.400> disruption
• <01:11:48.320> to mandatory EIS is a major disruption to mandatory EIS is a major disruption
• That's a positive, but it is quite a disruption to have so many folks travel from all over the state
• <01:30:40.520> is<01:30:40.680> quite<01:30:40.880> a<01:30:40.920> disruption
• to have so but it is quite a disruption to have so many<01:30:42.680> folks<01:30:43.440>

Bills: HF4740, HF3940

Keywords: financial assurance, feedlot permits, manure storage, environmental compliance, agriculture regulation, abandoned infrastructure, pollution control, environmental impact, animal feedlot, livestock, regulations, Minnesota Rules

Summary: The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 4740, authored by Rep. Hansen, which would require feedlots with at least 1,000 animal units to provide financial assurance for closure costs. Hansen argued the bill would shift cleanup responsibility from taxpayers to owners, citing abandoned feedlots, changing ownership structures, and the 2024 Pure Prairie Poultry bankruptcy as examples of why public funds should not be used for closures and cleanup. He also said the bill would apply to new or renewed permits and suggested a statutory definition of abandoned feedlot storage units may be needed. Farm and livestock groups testified in opposition. Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Pork Producers Association, and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation said existing MPCA and county permit rules already require closure planning and reporting, and that the bill would add unnecessary costs and barriers for family farms, beginning farmers, and expansion. They warned the financial assurance requirement could function like an animal-unit cap, encourage fragmentation or out-of-state relocation, and impose annual costs that would not improve environmental outcomes. Several testified that true abandonment is rare and that current permitting and closure processes already address it. MPCA staff said the agency has concerns with the bill, noted there is currently no formal fiscal note, and said the agency would need to ensure any appropriations cover ongoing staffing needs. MPCA officials explained that permitted feedlots already must notify the agency before closure, follow a checklist of closure requirements, and undergo follow-up inspection; they said abandonment notifications are uncommon and they are not aware of any currently permitted facilities in abandonment process. Members questioned whether the bill was needed, what form financial assurance would take, how other states handle similar requirements, and whether the proposal would unfairly burden smaller or family operations. No vote on HF 4740 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also asserts that arrests are highly disruptive to a person's life.
• The purpose of an arrest is to be disruptive enough to immediately stop and arrest the criminal activity
• to a person's highly disrup- disruptive to a person's life.<00:45:50.600> The<00:45:50.720>
• The purpose of an arrest is to be disruptive<00:45:52.880> enough<00:45:53.440> to<00:45
• :53.640> immediately<00:45:54.120> stop disruptive enough to immediately stop disruptive

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills. On SB 2530, relating to campaign contributions, the State Procurement Office suggested clarifying that contractor disclosure information be submitted within 30 days of a fully executed contract, while the Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill but asked that the restriction on contributions by officers be expanded beyond compensated officers. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action supported the measure and urged keeping the Senate language, arguing it better addresses contractor influence, while no other testifiers appeared. On SB 2970, relating to standards of conduct, the State Ethics Commission supported the bill and proposed amendments to consolidate the new language into existing Chapter 84 contract provisions and use “department head” instead of “director.” The State Procurement Office supported the measure but recommended closing a perceived loophole by limiting the covered contracts to those under $10,000. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee then heard SB 2919, which would fund one full-time Deputy Public Defender position focused on immigration-related advice under Padilla v. Kentucky. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, explaining that the position would help public defenders advise clients about immigration consequences of criminal cases, not provide immigration representation. Members asked several questions about the scope of the position and whether it could assist with citizenship; testimony clarified that it would not handle civil immigration matters. The bill was also described as creating a statewide consistent resource for the public defender system. Finally, on SB 2446, relating to the judiciary, the Intermediate Court of Appeals supported adding a seventh associate judge position but noted the court has only recently been fully staffed at six judges and has improved output through internal changes. The chair emphasized that the bill authorizes the position without funding and encouraged the judiciary to return later if appropriations are needed. The committee also began hearing SB 2730, a criminal justice reform bill on warrantless arrests and citations. OHA supported reducing unnecessary arrests but objected to making citations visible on criminal records; the Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing law enforcement flexibility, identification concerns, and possible litigation costs; and the Judiciary requested a later implementation date and suggested changes to citation-resolution language. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 2730 was still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• for daylight saving time, but my larger goal is to get rid of the time change, which needlessly disrupts
• <01:30:16.320> Um<01:30:16.480> I've<01:30:16.600> felt disrupts our schedules
• Um I've felt disrupts our schedules.
• sleep would get and their sleep would sleep would get and their sleep would get<01:30:22.480> disrupted
• for what seemed like no get disrupted for what seemed like no good<01:30:24.400> reason.

Bills: HF1234, HF3528, HF3672, HF3679, HF3680, HF1944

Keywords: payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, data transparency, Legislative Budget Office, state agencies, fiscal notes, public data, standard time, federal law, time zone

Transcript Highlights:

• approaches in schools and services that serve families improve the suspensions and expulsions and family disruptions
• approaches in schools and services that serve families improve the suspensions and expulsions and family disruptions
• approaches in schools and services that serve families improve the suspensions and expulsions and family disruptions
• > the suspensions and expulsions and the suspensions and expulsions and family<00:10:20.720> disruptions
• <00:10:21.920> Um, family disruptions. Um, family disruptions.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:07 Chair Comments 00:00:36 Approval of Minutes 00:04:01 Volunteers of America 00:04:21 Soil and Water Conservation/Energy and Environment Cabinet 00:14:52 Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy/Justice & Public Safety Cabinet 00:21:05 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:26:01 Early Childhood Advisory Council 00:45:18, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met to review how tobacco settlement dollars are being used and to press recipients for detailed information on total funding, administrative versus program spending, and measurable outcomes. The chair emphasized that the committee was not there for general program overviews, but to assess return on investment and whether each program should continue to receive tobacco settlement support. The committee approved the minutes from its December 22, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from several agencies and organizations. Volunteers of America Mid-States described its southeastern Kentucky restorative justice program, which uses an evidence-based New Zealand model for juvenile cases in nine counties. The group reported tobacco settlement funding of $516,000 in FY24 and $233,500 in FY25, representing about 17% and then about 5% of the program budget, respectively. It said the funding helped expand the program from 13 cases in 2021 to 180 youth served, and cited an independent evaluation showing recidivism of 24.5% compared with 40.4% in AOC data, along with a cost of a little under $20 per day versus detention and other placements. Some members questioned whether the program fit the tobacco settlement funding categories and suggested it might be better supported through other justice-related funding sources. The Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Conservation explained that tobacco funds support $1 million in direct aid to conservation districts and $2 million in cost-share projects for farmers, with 5% of the cost-share appropriation allowed for administration, or about $100,000 in FY26. Officials said the direct-aid line was moved into tobacco funding in 2019, reducing money available for farmer cost-share, and described a multi-year project approval and reallocation process. Senator Webb asked for a more specific breakdown of the $850,000 direct-aid amount, and the cabinet said it would provide that information. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported that in FY24 it expended just under $30 million across tobacco funds, general funds, restricted funds, and a one-time federal grant, with less than 2% used for administration. Officials said most tobacco settlement money goes to Kentucky ASAP local boards in all 120 counties, supporting prevention, treatment, and some law enforcement work. The Department of Agriculture then began its presentation, describing strategic investments, loan programs, county funding, administrative costs, and a reported return of about $2.30 for every dollar spent, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:07:29.359> behavior,<01:07:30.160> higher<01:07:30.559> motivation, disruptive
• behavior, higher motivation, disruptive behavior, higher motivation, and<01:07:31.520> improves
• Teachers face more classroom disruptions. Students struggle with focus and self-control.
• .<01:21:51.360> Students<01:21:51.760> struggle<01:21:52.080> with disruptions.
• Students struggle with disruptions.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• housing opportunities in the community relate in no way to 21 Days of Peace, a project focused on disrupting
• housing opportunities in the community relate in no way to 21 Days of Peace, a project focused on disrupting
• circumstances relating to the foreclosure actions and the proposed legislation to provide funding to disrupt
• <00:40:25.680> violence<00:40:26.160> in<00:40:26.400> North funding to disrupt
• violence in North funding to disrupt violence in North Minneapolis.<00:40:28.079> The<00:40:28.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:31:30.080> educational developmental and educational developmental and educational disruption
• . disruption. disruption.
• Disruptions to people's medication regimens are not just an inconvenience, but can cause serious symptoms
• Uh disruptions<01:44:30.880> to<01:44:31.119> people's<01:44:31.520> medication
• disruptions to people's medication disruptions to people's medication regimens<01:44:32.639> are

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's any kind of technical disruption, we will post public notice as to when we are going to reconvene
• If there's any kind of technical disruption, we will post public notice as to when we are going to reconvene
• communities these days, everything from pre-pandemic through pandemic into today and the continued disruptions
• communities these days, everything from pre-pandemic through pandemic into today and the continued disruptions
• at the same time being able to manage local residents' expectations in terms of not being totally disrupted

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Tourism met on April 1 to consider GM 510, the confirmation of Todd Aio to the board of directors of the Hawaiʻi Convention Center Authority. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from HTA representatives and numerous individuals. Supporters described Aio as a strong leader with experience in tourism, development, nonprofit work, and public service, including his time on the city council and work with Disney’s Aulani, Ward Village, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. In his remarks, Aio said he would bring legal, development, and corporate governance experience to the board. He emphasized the need for the authority to better define its role, oversee contractors, and help guide the relationship between destination management and branding/marketing contractors. He also said community engagement and cultural considerations should be central to tourism planning, and that the board should work to stabilize the agency during its transition. Members questioned him about board conflicts, the lack of a permanent HTA CEO, and how to measure the success of cultural and branding campaigns such as mālama and kuleana messaging. Aio said conflicts are inevitable when board members come from industry backgrounds, but they must separate their “work hats” from their board duties. He supported replacing the interim leadership with a permanent CEO once compensation legislation is finalized, and said success should be measured through better data, including possible exit surveys and other technology-based tools. He also said he would oppose replacing Hawaiian protocol with another cultural protocol, while supporting inclusion of other cultures alongside a Hawaiian sense of place.

Transcript Highlights:

• around health care, medical and mental health, housing, education, employment, youth justice, really disrupting
• around health care, medical and mental health, housing, education, employment, youth justice, really disrupting
• youth again housing education employment youth Justice<01:30:28.800> really<01:30:29.119> disrupting
• c><01:30:30.119> the<01:30:30.600> the<01:30:30.719> Cradle Justice really disrupting
• the the Cradle Justice really disrupting the the Cradle to<01:30:31.280> prison<01:30:31.679>

Bills: HF2148, HF2693, HF2542, HF1141, HF1770, HF1489, HF1709, HF244, HF1266, HF807, HF2619, HF1340

Keywords: affordable housing, local control, revolving loan fund, community partnerships, Minnesota housing policy, housing, locally controlled housing, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, housing infrastructure bonds, state bonds, bonding bill, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, homelessness, veterans housing, senior housing, manufactured home parks, community land trust, single-family housing, multifamily housing

Transcript Highlights:

• The second benefit is the mitigation of learning loss, as well as weather disruptions.
• <00:17:17.000> for<00:17:17.240> students<00:17:17.600> and minimizing disruptions
• for students and minimizing disruptions for students and staff<00:17:19.280> while<00:17:19.480
• the<00:18:22.919> traditional<00:18:23.480> long<00:18:23.840> summer disruptions
• the traditional long summer disruptions the traditional long summer break<00:18:24.480> can<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their aim is clear: disrupt, create chaos, and spread mistrust.
• Key city services remained disrupted for weeks.
• Their aim is clear: disrupt, create chaos, and spread mistrust.
• Key city services remained disrupted for weeks.
• remain disrupt Ed for weeks<00:45:58.160> online<00:45:58.559> payment<00:45:59.040>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to no fault of unnecessary disruption to no fault of their<00:59:26.079> own<00:59:26.559>
• still moves us in the right direction toward a child welfare system that values prevention over disruption
• and family preservation over disruption and family preservation over<01:01:40.079> unnecessary
• <01:54:58.719> And<01:54:58.880> while disrupting their services.
• And while disrupting their services.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal. Members then made several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including Appropriations, Agriculture/Water/Natural Resources, State/Civic/Military/Veterans Affairs, and Finance. The chamber also observed a moment of silence honoring the 13 victims of the Columbine High School shooting on its anniversary, with names read into the record. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 19, which celebrates Colorado’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, supports stronger trade and academic ties, supports the double-taxation agreement, and endorses Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. Supporters highlighted Colorado exports, especially beef, and the long-standing economic and democratic ties between Colorado and Taiwan. The resolution passed on a 60-yes vote with five excused. The House then moved into special orders, including House Bill 1346, which would allow the Department of the Treasury to use a third-party purchaser to sell remaining insurance premium tax credits. Supporters argued the bill would help fully place the credits and avoid a revenue shortfall, while opponents criticized it as a form of borrowing against future revenue and market gaming. After debate, House Bill 1346 passed. The chamber also began consideration of Senate Bill 40, a Prop 123 cleanup bill related to affordable home ownership and land banking. Amendments L16 and L17 passed, while amendment L18, which would have required more reporting on project costs and outcomes, failed. Debate on the bill centered on housing affordability, program flexibility, and whether the state is effectively measuring results.

Transcript Highlights:

• decisions made that will interrupt and That there are going to be decisions made that will interrupt and disrupt
• actually make the decision, because things can get missed and individuals are going to have their lives disrupted
• Disrupted inadvertently and inappropriately because of a limited set of information going into that decision-making
• And also there are limitations we can put on public participation in open meetings, screaming, disrupting

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• decisions made that will interrupt and That there are going to be decisions made that will interrupt and disrupt
• actually make the decision, because things can get missed and individuals are going to have their lives disrupted
• Disrupted inadvertently and inappropriately because of a limited set of information going into that decision-making
• And also there are limitations we can put on public participation in open meetings, screaming, disrupting

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit conduct that disrupts
• We will not accept disruptive behavior or behavior that incites or threatens violence.
• chance to take effect threatens California's economic competitiveness, stifles tech leadership, and disrupts
• chance to take effect, threatens California's economic competitiveness, stifles tech leadership, and disrupts

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard testimony on the DMV’s finalized autonomous vehicle regulations, with a focus on how the rules update California’s oversight of testing, deployment, reporting, and enforcement. DMV and CHP officials said the new framework expands data collection beyond crashes to include immobilizations, hard-braking events, system failures, and notices of noncompliance, while also creating clearer requirements for first responder interaction, remote operations, and heavy-duty AV testing and deployment. Members raised concerns about safety, emergency response delays, freeway and work-zone operations, and whether the state has enough data to compare AVs with human drivers. Witnesses from consumer and labor-related groups emphasized transparency and accountability, arguing that the prior rules were outdated and that public access to the collected data is important for regulators, researchers, and injured parties. Industry representatives said California now has the nation’s most comprehensive AV permitting and reporting system, with phased permits, mileage thresholds, and broad DMV authority to restrict or suspend operations. They supported the regulations as a path to safer, more transparent deployment, while noting that the rules stay within state operational authority and do not replace federal standards for vehicle design and performance. A second panel focused on first responder interactions and remote operations. The San Francisco Fire Department described AVs blocking emergency scenes and generating “sleeper calls” when passengers fall asleep, consuming significant fire and EMS resources. Waymo said it maintains 24/7 emergency contacts, first responder plans, geofencing protocols, and remote support that can help move vehicles or allow first responders to override them. Members asked about license requirements for remote personnel, redundancy during communication outages, and how companies handle sleeping passengers before calling 911. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• my district is about producing food that we eat and keeping the food supply secure from foreign disruptions
• agriculture employees' problems, but it's definitely a good start. food supply secure from foreign disruptions
• But I did pick up on the opposition's comments as well, talking about how this is going to disrupt existing
• Talking about how this is going to disrupt existing relationships and agreements retroactively.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit tied to agricultural overtime wages. Senator Grove argued the measure is intended to help farmworkers recover take-home pay lost after California’s agricultural overtime law reduced hours, and said the credit would apply only after overtime is paid and would not change existing overtime rules. Supporters included farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, Western Growers, and other agricultural groups, who said the bill would help workers get more hours and more pay while helping employers afford overtime. Labor groups opposed the bill, arguing it would subsidize employers with taxpayer money and undermine the principle that employers, not the public, should bear overtime costs. The bill was held in subcommittee until more members arrived. The committee then took up SB 1083, a follow-up to last year’s school employee misconduct database law. The bill would add an administrative law judge review for classified school employees before they are placed in the statewide egregious misconduct database, require notice when an employee leaves during an investigation, and extend related vetting to certain contractors and non-permanent workers. Supporters, including the California School Employees Association and the California Federation of Teachers, said the measure adds needed due process and parity with certificated employees while preserving student safety. School business officials, administrators, and other education employer groups opposed it, warning that the bill could add duplicative procedures, delay investigations, and weaken the protections created by SB 848. The committee passed SB 1083 on a 3-0 vote, with the bill sent to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1089, which would require CalPERS health plans to offer GLP-1 medications and expand access through CalRx. The author described the bill as a response to personal experience with obesity treatment costs and argued that broader access could improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The American Diabetes Association and other medical groups supported the bill, saying GLP-1s are effective tools for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes and that access is often limited by insurance coverage and cost. A pharmaceutical industry representative expressed concerns but said discussions were ongoing. The committee approved SB 1089 on a 4-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 954, which would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by narrowing the exemption and adding environmental, labor, and community protections, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce requirements, and review for projects near disadvantaged communities. Labor and environmental groups supported the bill, saying the prior exemption was too broad and could cover highly polluting activities without adequate review. Business and manufacturing groups opposed it, arguing the added restrictions would make the exemption ineffective and push projects and jobs out of California. Members debated the balance between environmental review, labor standards, and manufacturing competitiveness. The bill was passed on a 3-1 vote, with Senator Strickland voting no, and was sent to Appropriations.