Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:12.720> hemp about the issue of intoxicating hemp about the issue of intoxicating hemp
• substance, just like we have other intoxicating substances all throughout the state.
• They're all intoxicating.
• But operating under the influence is anything that makes it intoxicating, right?
• anything that makes it intoxicating anything that makes it intoxicating right<01:50:46.320> so

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Online sales of illegal cannabis and intoxicating hemp products have made it incredibly difficult for
• Online sales of illegal cannabis and intoxicating hemp products have made it incredibly difficult for
• A consumer might want to buy cannabis for pain relief but accidentally purchase an intoxicating hemp
• Most concerning of all is that intoxicating hemp is incredibly easy for minors to access.
• Access by minors is not a bug; it is a feature of the intoxicating hemp model.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on AI, immigration-related health care protections, digital financial assets, and online cannabis/hemp sales. SB 69 by Senator McNerney would create an AI-focused team within the Department of Justice to build enforcement expertise on civil rights, public safety, and legal issues tied to AI. SB 81 by Senator Arreguín would codify hospital and health facility policies limiting disclosure of patient immigration status and restricting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant. SB 97 by Senator Grayson would update and clarify California’s digital financial assets licensing law. SB 243 by Senator Padilla would impose guardrails on AI companion chatbots, including disclosures, anti-addictive design limits, self-harm protocols, and a private right of action. SB 378 by Senator Wiener would allow civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Testimony on SB 69 emphasized that California needs in-house AI enforcement expertise at the DOJ; supporters said AG offices generally lack tech-policy specialists, while members asked about the Attorney General’s role and noted the office was neutral. SB 81 drew broad support from nurses, immigrant advocates, hospitals, labor, and community groups, who argued that hospitals should remain safe places for care regardless of immigration status; there was no opposition. SB 97 was described as a technical cleanup bill with stakeholder consensus, and the main public comment focused on ensuring blockchain-based nonfinancial products are not unintentionally swept into the law. SB 243 generated the most debate. Supporters, including the mother of a Florida teen who died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, urged stronger protections for minors and vulnerable users. Opponents argued the bill’s definitions were too broad and could capture general-purpose AI systems, and raised concerns about privacy, cost, and a private right of action. Committee members largely supported the bill’s intent and discussed the need for guardrails without stifling innovation. SB 378 was supported by cannabis workers, retailers, and local government representatives who said online sales of untested intoxicating hemp and illegal cannabis are harming public health and the legal market; opponents from hemp and tech groups argued the bill could sweep in lawful hemp businesses and that definitions need refinement. The committee ultimately passed SB 69, SB 81, SB 97, SB 243, and SB 378, with SB 81 and SB 243 amended, and all five bills were sent onward to their next committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• market that went beyond what the intent of the law was and created products that were far more intoxicating
• market that went beyond what the intent of the law was and created products that were far more intoxicating
• That is not where the Hemp Roundtable wanted the law. more intoxicating.
• We want to get rid of... ...do make it intoxicating. We understand that.
• But there are wellness products out there that have low-dose THC products that are not intoxicating that

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:55:47.440> this<01:55:47.599> bill highly intoxicated drivers, this bill highly intoxicated
• deterring those same highly intoxicated deterring those same highly intoxicated people<02:13:31.520
• intox DUI are not probation eligible. intox DUI are not probation eligible.
• just feel like intoxicated is enough. just feel like intoxicated is enough.
• for driving intoxicated. for driving intoxicated. >> Oh,<02:56:49.760> right.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 2694 SD2, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to create automatic adjustment mechanisms for water carriers, including a water carrier inflationary cost index, and to waive certain requirements under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Testimony was sharply divided. The Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and several shipping, harbor, labor, and business-related supporters argued the bill would modernize regulation, reduce the need for large catch-up rate cases, and help keep rates aligned with rising costs. Young Brothers said its current rate-setting process is expensive and delayed, and that annual adjustments with guardrails such as a 5% cap and periodic full reviews would support sustainable operations and the state’s supply chain. Some supporters also said the company’s less-than-container-load service and required inter-island routes create costs that are not fully covered by current rates. Opponents, including the Consumer Advocate, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, restaurant and chamber groups, and other businesses, argued the bill would lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses and should not move forward. Several testified that shipping costs already significantly affect pricing and that automatic increases would worsen the cost of living. The Consumer Advocate said Young Brothers should focus on cost control and implementing its business plan rather than automatic rate increases. The Maui Chamber and others pointed to a recent PUC decision that imposed a two-year stay on rate increases and said the bill would undermine that protection. Some opponents urged the committee to defer to the PUC’s regulatory authority. The PUC explained that it regulates water carriers as public utilities under existing statute and said it had recently approved a temporary rate increase while imposing a two-year stayout period on further increases, with emergency relief still possible. PUC members said they were still examining whether they have authority to adopt the proposed WICI mechanism by rule and wanted legislative clarity. In response to questions, the PUC said it prefers the current two-year stayout as reflected in its order. Young Brothers also clarified that it serves less-than-container-load cargo, that some routes and services are cross-subsidized because they are not profitable, and that an independent observer is being put in place to monitor implementation of its updated business plan. The transcript ended with the committee still taking questions; no final vote or disposition on the bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• THC is intoxicating. CBD is not.
• intoxicating canabonoids non- intoxicating canabonoids um<00:31:02.880> to<00:31:03.520> 25
• shelf is not intoxicating. shelf is not intoxicating.
• And it's not even intoxicating.
• And it's not even intoxicating.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you believe they were intoxicated on the House floor?
• Do you believe they were<00:04:07.640> intoxicated<00:04:08.280> on<00:04:08.360> the
• were intoxicated on the house floor? were intoxicated on the house floor?
• carrying while intoxicated? carrying while intoxicated?
• were intoxicated during a floor debate?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 1168 authorizes the City of Rochester to issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license.
• As I said, Senate File 1168 authorizes the City of Rochester to issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor
• liquor license um this is a intoxicating liquor license um this is a special<00:01:32.759> law
• <00:02:35.720> liquor issue an onsale intoxicating liquor issue an onsale intoxicating liquor
• liquor license for the dwan intoxicating liquor license for the dwan golf<00:21:33.000> course

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you go into a bar and they see you're looking intoxicated, they will get sued.
• They have criminal liability if they serve you more alcohol when they see you're intoxicated.
• > they<00:03:51.439> will<00:03:51.640> get<00:03:51.799> sued looking intoxicated
• they will get sued looking intoxicated they will get sued they<00:03:52.439> have<00:03:52.959
• here we have the you're intoxicated here we have the Predators<00:03:58.120> coming<00:03:58.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The consequences of driving while intoxicated endanger the lives of every person on the road, and too
• I completely agree that felonies should be for intox manslaughter, intox assaults.
• And I mean, they don't need to be 0.15 to be way more intoxicated than somebody is 0.08 with.
• This does not target intox manslaughters or intox, um, uh, assaults.
• I would like to incentivize the people that feel like they're too intoxicated to pull over.

Transcript Highlights:

• CBD, even though many non-intoxicating hemp compounds are used safely and legally across the country.
• Senate Bill 5 restricts access for veterans and other Texans who rely on non-intoxicating hemp products
• Senate Bill 5 goes too far, however, by criminalizing legal and non-intoxicating hemp products.
• If Senate Bill 5 narrowly targeted intoxicating products, THC products while preserving access to safe
• , non-intoxicating alternatives, I would gladly vote for it.

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB5, SB11, SB12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, CBD is non-intoxicating, nor does it impair cognition or physical functions.
• Um, CBD is non-intoxicating, nor does it impair cognition or physical functions.
• Um, CBD is non-intoxicating, nor does it impair cognition or physical functions.
• Um, CBD is non-intoxicating, nor does it impair cognition or physical functions.
• Um, CBD is non-intoxicating, nor does it impair cognition or physical functions.

Bills: HF1545, HF2426, HF1615, HF2403

Keywords: medical cannabis, cultivation, cannabinoid products, plant canopy, Minnesota statutes, cannabis, hemp, lower-potency, edibles, regulations, licensing, local control, consumer safety, age restrictions, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation, limited long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement, health insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this, when we understood the presence of intoxicating hemp.
• These products are often marketed to children, despite being 10 times more intoxicating than traditional
• It ensures that legal intoxicating hemp products are only sold in licensed dispensaries, so it merges
• We do not make psychoactive or intoxicating products, and by broad-brushing THC beverages and our non-intoxicating
• I would 100% support this bill if exemptions were provided for non-intoxicating products.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries held its second hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including food security, cottage food entrepreneurship, hemp regulation, lobster industry support, pesticide restrictions, pollinator protections, pet cemeteries, and municipal land rights. Committee chairs outlined hearing procedures, noted that 19 bills were on the docket, and took testimony both in person and remotely, with several legislators testifying out of turn because of scheduling conflicts. Several speakers supported food access and local economic opportunity bills. Representative Howard and Senator Oliveira backed the Food Justice Frontline Program and a cottage food/food entrepreneur bill, arguing they would fund nonprofit food security organizations, create jobs, improve SNAP/HIP outreach, and reduce barriers for home-based food businesses. Eastie Farm representatives and a student testified in favor of the food justice bill, describing food insecurity in East Boston and the need for grants, youth involvement, and multilingual outreach. Sidney Travis of the Institute for Justice also supported cottage food reforms, saying current municipal permitting rules create unequal access and that cottage foods are generally safe. The committee also heard sharply divided testimony on hemp legislation. Senator Comerford supported S. 54 as a public health measure to ban synthetic THC products, restrict intoxicating hemp sales to licensed dispensaries, and fund local enforcement, while Laura Beiner, John Nathan, and Elizabeth Wendorf opposed the bill or parts of it, warning it would harm compliant hemp businesses and small farmers. Representative Arena-DeRosa testified in support of a related pollinator bill, and Adam Karachi opposed pesticide restrictions for schools while Deborah Smith supported them, arguing existing protections should be expanded to other child-centered locations. The committee also heard support for a bill to aid lobstermen affected by right whale protections, a bill to preserve private pet cemeteries, and a municipal right-of-first-refusal bill for agricultural and recreational land. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The consequences of driving while intoxicated endanger the lives of every person on the road, and too
• In fact, our beloved ex-Governor George Bush has a DUI, and he... ...talks about it, how intoxicated
• I completely agree that felonies should be for intoxicated manslaughter.
• or intoxicated assaults.
• I'd like to incentivize the people that feel like they're too intoxicated to pull over.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:37.240> cannabinoids include non intoxicating cannabinoids include non intoxicating
• products remain non intoxicating products remain non intoxicating aligning<00:09:40.560> with
• one but there are many non- intoxicating one but there are many non- intoxicating<00:15:50.560> canabo
• <00:16:52.000> canono these other um non- intoxicating canono these other um non- intoxicating
• c> non<00:17:09.839> intoxicating THC but these non intoxicating THC but these non intoxicating

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that we're also adding on here any intoxicating substance.
• I know that we're also adding on here any intoxicating substance.
• One is with the 'or any intoxicating substance' language. ...with the senator about.
• One is with the 'or any intoxicating substance' language.
• So a solution that we have that could be used as instead of 'or any intoxicating substance,' you could

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Jessica Spencer on cannabis, criminal justice, and mental health. She argued that marijuana products have become far more potent over time, that high-potency THC and hemp-derived products are widely available in Florida, and that daily or near-daily use can contribute to addiction, psychosis, and other mental health problems, especially for adolescents. She also said cannabis is linked to violent crime and suicide in some cases, urged more prevention funding in schools, stronger regulation of Delta-8 and similar products, better law enforcement and regulatory oversight, expanded treatment and diversion options, and more expungement opportunities for simple possession. Senators questioned her about potency data, testing methods, and whether she was claiming causation in violent cases; she said she was and noted she had worked on the No on 3 campaign while still favoring decriminalization of simple possession rather than full legalization. The committee then took up several bills. CS/SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” was amended and reported favorably; it makes extreme animal cruelty during a declared emergency a third-degree felony, inspired by the rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. SB 234, the Jason Rayner Act, was reported favorably after debate over its changes to self-defense language and mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer; supporters said it closes a loophole exposed in the Rayner case, while opponents raised concerns about unintended consequences and mandatory sentencing. CS/SB 138, “Trenton’s Law,” also passed after amendment; it increases penalties for repeat DUI/vehicular homicide offenders and adds language on intoxicating substances, with supporters citing the death of Trenton Stewart and opponents warning about cannabis impairment standards and first refusal penalties. SB 130, dealing with compensation for wrongful incarceration, was reported favorably. The bill removes Florida’s “clean hands” bar, extends the filing deadline from 90 days to two years, and allows exonerees with factual innocence findings to pursue compensation and civil remedies. Support came from innocence and civil liberties advocates. The committee also received a law enforcement presentation from Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Channing Taylor on impaired driving enforcement, DRE training, and crash data, emphasizing that drug impairment—especially cannabis—plays a major role in fatal crashes and that officers rely on observation and field testing because roadside chemical testing is limited.

Transcript Highlights:

• intoxicated intoxicated um<01:27:25.040> and<01:27:25.360> they'd<01:27:25.760> find
• , it might it would be being intoxicated, it might it would be a<01:28:15.920> problem.
• So we have issues with our intoxicated.
• , minor's with you, you're intoxicated, minor's with you, you're intoxicated, [clears throat]<01:
• the minor's intoxicated, [clears throat] the minor's intoxicated, you're<01:35:00.719> still<01

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• license for having cannabis or intoxicating hemp.
• This expands the definition of cannabis product to include intoxicating hemp and brings intoxicating
• hemp into the cannabis tax Intoxicating hemp and brings intoxicating hemp into the cannabis tax program
• Intoxicating hemp is integrated into the cannabis tax program.
• One, there are new inspections now that intoxicating hemp is banned.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several budget proposals from CDTFA, the Board of Equalization, and the Franchise Tax Board. The first panel focused on cannabis, hemp, flavored tobacco, and related enforcement. CDTFA requested ongoing funding to implement cannabis tax changes, enforce the new intoxicating hemp restrictions and flavored tobacco seizure authority, and continue compliance work. The department said it is targeting illicit product, protecting licensed businesses, and using referrals from the public and lawmakers to focus inspections. The LAO supported some of the proposals but urged the Legislature to treat them as part of a longer-term enforcement strategy and raised concerns about the use of General Fund support for cannabis enforcement. Public testimony on the cannabis item largely supported stronger enforcement and funding for the legal market. The committee also heard CDTFA’s request to reappropriate funds for an upgrade to the CROS tax collection system, which would improve taxpayer services, security, and software maintenance without adding new money. A separate CDTFA proposal would make all delivery network companies, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the change would reduce confusion for restaurants and improve compliance, while the LAO questioned whether the proposal functioned more like a tax increase because it would also capture service fees. Members raised affordability concerns, but the proposal was framed by the administration as a parity and compliance measure. The subcommittee then considered a governor’s proposal for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Finance argued the credit would help decarbonize aviation and support in-state production, while the LAO recommended rejection, citing cost, uncertainty about environmental benefits, possible diversion of diesel excise tax revenues from transportation programs, and concerns about consistency with voter-approved transportation funding rules. Testimony from airlines, labor unions, airports, and refinery workers strongly supported the credit, emphasizing union jobs, refinery conversions, and emissions reductions, while fuel retailers and some others warned about fiscal risk and higher fuel prices. The chair and some members expressed support for the proposal despite the funding concerns. Finally, the BOE presented an IT modernization project for state-assessed property administration, saying the current system is outdated and manual and that a new system is needed to improve accuracy, cybersecurity, and workflow efficiency, especially with a likely increase in workload from new VoIP assessments. The LAO asked for more justification for the timing, but BOE said the urgency stems from aging systems and growing workload. BOE also requested modest funding to implement SB 293 changes to intergenerational property transfers and wildfire relief guidance, which the LAO did not oppose. The Franchise Tax Board began its presentation on the final phase of its Enterprise Data to Revenue modernization effort, describing the project’s rollout across audit, collections, legal, and filing enforcement workloads and noting it is now in a warranty period.

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY ARE AN INTOXICATING PRODUCT AND MY MEMBERS HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THEY CAN HANDLE GETTING
• YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE A LANE FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS, NOT ALL HEMP PRODUCTS ARE CREATED FOR THE INTOXICATING
• EFFECT THOUGH WHILE I APPRECIATE WE ARE PUTTING A TAX ON THE INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS, MANY COMPANIES
• LIKE TO SEE AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT STOP WE CAN CLEARLY DELINEATE THE PRODUCTS CREATED FOR THAT INTOXICATION
• MARKET, YOU NEED TO ENFORCE THAT BUT MY CBD WELLNESS PRODUCTS HAVE NO INTOXICATION AND WHEN WE TALK

Transcript Highlights:

• We look at just intoxication.
• So if there's an intoxicated person in a bar, we don't ask what were. you on at that time frame.
• So if somebody is drinking alcohol mixed with CBD and they're intoxicated.
• It would be... against the law if somebody became intoxicated at the location.
• The rest are dedicated to... manslaughter, intoxicated persons, fights and breaches of peace, undercover

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• substitute used this language: the actor knows that the other person cannot consent because of intoxication
• The new committee substitute says the actor knows that the other person is intoxicated or impaired by
• substitute used this language: the actor knows that the other person cannot consent because of intoxication
• The new committee substitute says the actor knows that the other person is intoxicated or impaired by

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met and took up House Bill 3073, the Summer Willis Act, by Senator Paxton. The committee first removed the previously adopted committee substitute from consideration and adopted a new committee substitute. Senator Paxton explained that the revised language is intended to clarify the statutory definition of consent in sexual assault cases involving intoxication or impairment, changing the wording to state that the actor knows the other person is intoxicated or impaired to the extent that they are incapable of consenting. He said the change was clarifying only and did not alter the bill’s intent. No questions were raised by committee members. The chair then moved that HB 3073 do not pass but that the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and be printed. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, with Senators Flores, Parker, Hinojosa, Huffman, and Hagenbuch voting aye; Senators Miles and King were present but did not vote. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.