Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:13.040><c> for</c> parents don't have transportation for parents don't have transportation
• </c> like transportation for extracurricular. like transportation for extracurricular.
• </c><00:48:34.400><c> they</c> these granting organizations and they these granting organizations and
• ><c> transport</c><00:56:22.480><c> of</c> transportation for those transport of transportation for those
• </c> foundation is granting the funds. foundation is granting the funds.

Bills: HF3490 , HF4040

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• My second concern relates to transportation planning in the Bay Area.
• SB 375's transportation planning provisions.
• Take Assembly Bill 1282 about transportation.
• The DTSC grant program is supporting more... ...program.
• 1, which was transportation infrastructure financing, Senate Bill 1, which was transportation infrastructure

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Regulatory Authority held its first hearing to examine how California’s regulatory framework affects housing production, affordability, and timelines. Chair Pacheco and Assemblymember Haney framed the discussion around the state’s housing shortage and the need to reduce costs while maintaining environmental, safety, and community protections. The first panel featured housing experts and industry representatives who argued that state regulations, code complexity, utility constraints, and agency review processes add substantial cost and delay to development. Bill Fulton described overlapping state and local land-use authorities and the tension among housing, coastal protection, climate, and wildfire goals. CBIA’s Chris Ochoa and California Apartment Association representative Bob Raymer said building codes, energy mandates, and agency processes have materially increased per-home costs, and they urged more centralized affordability analysis and greater scrutiny of regulatory impacts. The Bay Area Council’s Louis Marante called for a statewide cost target for housing and stronger timelines and accountability for state agency reviews. The second panel brought in state agencies to explain their roles. HCD said its housing element enforcement, streamlining laws, and technical assistance have helped increase production, shorten entitlement timelines, and improve compliance by local governments. CARB said SB 375 is a planning law that does not directly regulate land use, and argued that regional housing assumptions in sustainable communities strategies are not being fully implemented on the ground. The Coastal Commission said it works with local governments to balance coastal protection, sea-level-rise risk, and housing, and noted recent guidance and pilot efforts to streamline housing approvals in the coastal zone. The Energy Commission said its building energy standards are designed to be cost-effective and save consumers money over time, though they can add some design and documentation complexity. Fish and Wildlife and DTSC both emphasized early engagement and collaboration to reduce delays while protecting natural resources and public health; DTSC said it is refining vapor intrusion guidance and using brownfield grants to support redevelopment. The State Water Resources Control Board said it uses general orders and basin planning to provide predictable permitting while balancing water quality, water rights, and housing needs, and noted billions in grants and loans for water infrastructure and site remediation that can support housing affordability. In response to questions from Assemblymember Haney, several agencies described ongoing coordination across departments, including regular meetings among HCD, CARB, the Coastal Commission, and transportation agencies, as well as broader interagency efforts to reduce redundancies and identify pinch points in project delivery. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the main outcome was informational testimony and discussion of possible future reforms to improve coordination, predictability, and affordability in state regulatory processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> transportation options on their own. transportation options on their own.
• </c><01:16:00.960><c> These</c> as well as transportation. These as well as transportation.
• My name is John transportation aid.
• Our transportation costs are ...
• </c><01:36:06.159><c> transporting</c> with transportation transporting with transportation transporting

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Public Safety Committee and Senate Transportation Committee and Senate Transportation.
• Injuries is as complex as our transportation system itself.
• And oversight of the transportation industry.
• I think that was 2014, and granted, there's some reduction.
• ..grant funding to the DMV to support IID program implementation, but we have provided grant funding

Summary: The joint Senate Public Safety and Transportation hearing focused on DUI, impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, road design, and the broader traffic safety system in California. Chairs Jesse Arreguín and Dave Cortese said the purpose was to inform upcoming legislation and noted that no bills would be acted on at the hearing. They emphasized the scale of the problem, including thousands of fatal and serious injury crashes each year, and framed the discussion around a Safe System approach that combines infrastructure, enforcement, education, and technology. The first panel covered current DUI law and traffic safety research. Thomas Nozowitz of the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code outlined California’s DUI penalty structure, including escalating misdemeanor and felony penalties, license suspensions, ignition interlock devices, Watson advisories, and homicide-related offenses such as vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and Watson murder. Stephanie Doherty of the Office of Traffic Safety described statewide crash trends, the role of alcohol, drugs, and speeding in fatalities, and state efforts such as the Safe System approach, safety corridors, and grant funding for impaired-driving countermeasures. Dr. Julia Griswold of UC Berkeley SafeTREC presented research favoring systemic interventions like self-explaining roads, safer speed limits, speed safety cameras, intelligent speed assistance, ignition interlocks, sobriety checkpoints, and treatment for chronic offenders, while noting that first-time DUI offenders account for a large share of fatal crashes. Members pressed the panelists on first-offense DUI treatment, ignition interlocks, speed governors, diversion, and whether tougher sanctions or vehicle technology would better reduce recidivism. Several senators raised concerns about repeat offenders, alcohol-use disorder, and the need for earlier intervention, while others questioned the effectiveness and cost of in-car devices. The panel also discussed data gaps and the need for better reporting and coordination between courts and DMV. The second panel, with DMV Director Steve Gordon and Judge Lisa Rodriguez, explained how administrative and court processes work in parallel: DMV receives court abstracts and can impose administrative per se suspensions quickly, while courts handle criminal cases, probation, and sentencing on a slower timeline. Both witnesses said the system is complex and paper-heavy but improving, and they acknowledged the need for better integration, clearer statutes, faster reporting, and more timely license actions to keep impaired drivers off the road.

Transcript Highlights:

• , accept the grants, implement the grants, and just work on those nuances to make sure that the funding
• I use public transportation in the Bay Area. I use the BART system.
• I use public transportation in the Bay Area.
• So... ...we're depending upon other than— is that the federal grants year after year?
• This loan is critical for Bay Area transportation agencies and their operations.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard two measures: AB 107, a budget bill junior making largely technical changes to the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budget acts, and AB 117, a trailer bill authorizing a $590 million loan structure to support four Bay Area transit agencies through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission using unallocated Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds. Finance explained AB 107 included technical fixes such as extending encumbrance periods, updating federal authority, correcting fiscal language, moving $20 million for California travel promotion from Visit California to GoBiz, and adding an APA exemption for implementation of already-approved climate bond programs. AB 117 was described as a cost-neutral regional solution with a 12-year loan term, two years interest-only, and repayment secured through existing state transit funding streams, with oversight by CalSTA, CTC, and MTC to limit impacts on other projects. Members raised concerns about transparency, competitive bidding, and whether APA exemptions and no-bid or emergency processes could reduce oversight, while supporters argued the exemptions were needed to get voter-approved climate and wildfire-related funds out the door. On AB 117, senators questioned whether the loan could become a de facto bailout if a Bay Area sales tax measure fails, whether post-pandemic ridership declines and safety/fare-evasion issues are temporary or structural, and whether the loan could jeopardize TIRCP-funded capital projects such as BART Phase 2. Transit agencies and local representatives testified in support, saying ridership is recovering, the loan is critical to avoid service cuts, and the Bay Area economy depends on transit stability. The committee first passed AB 107 on a 9-4 vote and AB 117 on a 9-4 vote, then held both bills on call. After recess, absent members returned and both measures were lifted from call and passed with 11 votes each. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , accept the grants, implement the grants, and just work on those nuances to make sure that the funding
• I use public transportation in the Bay Area.
• So that will then depend on the needs of the different transportation agencies?
• Is that the federal grants? So... We're depending upon other than those?
• Is that the federal grants year after year?

Summary: The Senate Budget Committee heard two bills: AB 107, a budget bill junior making largely technical changes to the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Budget Acts, and AB 117, a trailer bill authorizing a regional transit loan package for Bay Area agencies. Department of Finance staff said AB 107 contains no new state money or new policy items, but makes adjustments such as extending encumbrance periods, updating federal authority, moving $20 million in tourism promotion funding from Visit California to GoBiz, and adding an APA exemption for certain climate bond program guidelines. AB 117 would allow CalSTA to loan up to $590 million from unallocated Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds to MTC, which would then lend to BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit; the loans would run 12 years with two years interest-only, and the state said the structure is intended to be cost-neutral and protected by repayment safeguards. Committee discussion focused heavily on transparency, oversight, and whether the transit loan could jeopardize future projects or become a de facto bailout if a Bay Area sales tax measure fails. Several senators questioned the need for the APA exemption in AB 107, arguing that emergency or existing public processes might provide better oversight, while supporters said the exemption was needed to get voter-approved climate bond funds out the door and that the language had already been agreed to in the budget process. On AB 117, senators raised concerns about declining ridership, fare evasion, safety, post-pandemic travel patterns, repayment sources, and the impact on other TIRCP projects such as BART Phase 2. Finance staff and transit representatives responded that ridership changes were driven by COVID-era shifts, labor and safety issues, and changing commute patterns, and that the loan would be secured against existing state transit assistance streams rather than general fund dollars. Public comment was largely supportive of both bills. Water, natural resources, and environmental groups backed the APA exemption in AB 107, saying it would speed implementation of Proposition 4 funding for water recycling, wildfire, coastal resilience, and related projects. Transit agencies and labor groups supported AB 117, saying the loan is needed to stabilize operations and preserve service while local revenue measures and efficiency efforts are pursued; San Francisco, Caltrain, BART, and AC Transit all testified in favor, though San Jose asked for stronger protections for previously approved TIRCP-funded projects. The committee first passed AB 107 and AB 117 on 8-4 and 9-4 votes, placed them on call, then later lifted the calls and both bills ultimately passed with 11 votes each and were sent out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant them ears to truly hear one another, even across differences.
• Grant them minds which turn toward wisdom and discernment.
• We get the grants coming into our state and those grants then can get the funding out to where they need
• Well, you could apply for a grant to maybe handle DD transportation or supplemental books or to pay for
• And then, on top of that, giving an extra $10 million in grants.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6170 , SB6176 , SB6182 , SB6335 , SB5647 , SB6047 , HB2367 , HB2606 , SB5998 , SB6005 , SB6003 , SB6129 , SB6225 , SB6228 , SB6231

Summary: The Senate met on February 23, 2026, opened with the usual roll call, pledge, prayer, and approval of the previous journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 8698 recognizing piano teachers, with several senators sharing personal remarks about their own teachers and the role of music education in families and communities. Guests from the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then moved into budget debate, considering a series of amendments to the operating budget. Several proposals focused on housing costs, local planning, utility rates, and state spending restraint. Amendment 0772, which would have created a housing-related task force and increased funding, was rejected after debate over housing affordability and regulatory costs. Amendment 0785, restoring growth management planning funding for local governments, was also rejected. Amendment 0791, directing the Department of Commerce to study the effects of climate and clean energy laws on utility costs, and Amendment 0769, related to grid capacity and clean energy investments, were both adopted. Other amendments drew sharper partisan debate. Amendment 0798, which would have reduced the Supreme Court from nine justices to five and redirected savings to public defense, failed. Amendments 0794 and 0795, seeking funding for ballot measure costs tied to initiatives, also failed. Amendment 0799, intended to redirect Pacific Tower lease savings to developmental disability services, was rejected after discussion of the building’s current public uses. Amendment 0773, capping state spending growth and tying it to median wage growth, failed on a roll call vote, while Amendment 0777, addressing concurrent use of paid family and medical leave and sick leave by state employees, also failed after extended debate. Later, Amendment 0776 on tort liability reporting was adopted, as were Amendment 0758 creating a DSHS work group on community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Amendment 0786 was introduced to reduce cash and food assistance work-related funding, with debate beginning before the transcript ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think transportation is a very bipartisan issue.
• Ricky Serna, Secretary, Department of Transportation. I appreciate, Mr.
• Review and implementation funds and low carbon transportation materials grants under the the administered
• We could look at the amount of dollars that we are generating from transportation and put them into transportation
• Two is um transportation safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of the uh possible uses for this grant of the uh possible uses for this grant and<00:14:04.880><
• funding</c><00:19:20.000><c> for</c> importantly includes grant funding for importantly includes grant
• </c><00:48:29.760><c> I'm</c> instead of a grant formula. I'm instead of a grant formula.
• ,</c> appropriate dollars for transportation, appropriate dollars for transportation, um<00:52:46.000
• </c> commissioner must prioritize grant commissioner must prioritize grant awards<00:53:17.920><c> to

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• But given the lack for the state grant.
• Section and the state grant program.
• supported,</c> state grant stable, supported, state grant stable, supported, independent.<00:20:32.720
• Um further those score fund grants Um further those score fund grants levels<01:01:48.640><c> have</c
• Paul's many cultural grants to St.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• They're not grants.
• People think, well, I get certified—grants, is there going to be a grant attached to this?
• They're not grants.
• They're not grants.
• </c> the US Department of Transportation. the US Department of Transportation.

Summary: The August 2025 interim meeting of the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity began with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, approval of the June meeting minutes, and welcoming a new member, Ivonne Smith, who noted her background in MWBE and DBE work. The chair also offered condolences to a member whose father recently passed away and explained that the committee had invited agency officials to answer questions raised at the prior meeting. The first presentation was from Singer Buchanan of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, who described the state’s equal opportunity and contract compliance office and its certification programs for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and minority/women business enterprises. He outlined outreach efforts, including partnerships with veterans’ organizations, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, UK, and transportation-related groups; explained that the programs are intended to expand market access rather than provide grants; and said the office has moved to an online application portal that has processed 227 new applications since December 2023. He reported 536 total vendors across the programs, including 29 service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and said the office is considering website testimonials to improve outreach. Members asked about staffing, application assistance, and whether the state program conflicts with federal policy; Buchanan said the office has three staff members and that the program is state-funded and, based on legal advice, should continue under Kentucky law. Tony Yusefi of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet then presented on the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. He explained the program’s legal basis under federal DOT regulations, its eligibility standards, and its purpose of creating a level playing field while helping firms grow and eventually compete without assistance. He described certification requirements, annual documentation, prompt-payment protections, commercially useful function reviews, good-faith effort requirements, and sanctions for violations. He also discussed barriers facing DBEs, including access to capital, bonding, insurance, training, and prequalification requirements, and noted that 50 firms were removed last month for noncompliance with annual documentation rules. Yusefi said the cabinet has expanded supportive services, including an online application platform, bid notifications, and a nine-class business development program; 95 DBEs are enrolled this year, and the bid-matching system reaches an average of 377 DBEs monthly.

Transcript Highlights:

• People throughout California rely on bicycles for transportation.
• So, and I think we see that in the Active Transportation Program.
• policy documents like the California Transportation Plan and the Climate Action Plan for Transportation
• Permission granted. Thank you. Permission to use a prop. Permission granted.
• Transportation is the largest source by far of that air pollution.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before you is Senate Bill 5922 relating to transportation vehicle fund transfers.
• the school district or within the realm of transportation.
• And you're recognizing that safe and reliable transportation is not optional.
• This bill restores funding for an essential program, pupil transportation safety net.
• depend on safe and reliable transportation.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills. SB 5841 would require students’ high school and beyond plans to show completion of at least one FAFSA or WASFA application, or a parent/guardian opt-out. The sponsor and supporters said it would reduce barriers to postsecondary education, improve financial aid completion, and bring more students and federal dollars into the state. School groups opposed it, warning it would add an unfunded administrative burden and create verification challenges, especially for small districts and families with undocumented students. Senators discussed data-sharing from the Washington Student Achievement Council and noted the bill’s connection to existing FAFSA outreach efforts. The committee then took testimony on SB 5922, which would let districts petition OSPI to transfer money from transportation vehicle funds to other district uses if they reduce their fleet because of enrollment declines. The sponsor said the bill would free up unused bus funds for other pressing needs. Members asked about whether districts could shift to smaller vehicles and how the funds could be used. The committee also heard SB 5858, which would move the pupil transportation safety net for special passengers into statute. Supporters from OSPI, districts, school directors, and PTA said the program is essential for transporting students with disabilities, homelessness, or foster care needs, and that current funding is far below demonstrated need. No votes were taken on these bills. Finally, the committee heard SB 5943, which would allow limited use of school impact fees for modernization and, in districts under binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight, for up to 25% of operations and maintenance. The sponsor and one superintendent argued it would help districts with aging buildings and new state mandates like safety and energy-efficiency requirements. Builders, business groups, and school coalition representatives opposed the bill, saying impact fees should remain tied to growth-related capital costs and warning it could worsen housing affordability and weaken the nexus required for impact fees. The chair closed by noting the session’s budget constraints and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> meet the demand until the new grant meet the demand until the new grant kicks<00:25:09.320><c> in
• $60,000 grant that is really a grant to $60,000 grant that is really a grant to another<00:30:14.040
• </c> roadway section of the transportation roadway section of the transportation bill<00:55:45.440><c
• </c> um transportation is in trouble. um transportation is in trouble.
• The individual grants range from a high of $525,000 to a low of $20,000 per grant, with demand always

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that have been made in transportation that have been made in transportation over<00:19:12.400><c
• </c> bridge improvement program and the grant bridge improvement program and the grant program.<00:19
• </c> revenue system for our transportation revenue system for our transportation cabinet,<00:26:02.480
• You know, that that's you transport.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Is this eligible for that the grant? &gt;&gt; Is this eligible for that the grant?

Committee: Joint Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Block Grant has funding to support the state and local transportation needs such as bridges.
• Block Grant has funding to support the state and local transportation needs such as bridges.
• Block Grant has funding to support the state and local transportation needs such as bridges.
• The Surface Transportation Block Grant has funding to support the state and local transportation needs
• The Surface Transportation Block Grant has funding to support the state and local transportation needs

Transcript Highlights:

• Reliable transportation...
• to ride public transportation to Fresno City College at no cost.
• For 40 years, the Measure C half-cent transportation sales tax has played this vital role.
• grants.
• Jim Grant, St. Paul Catholic Newman Center, very strong supporter of this bill going through.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee held an informational hearing on AB 1923 by Assembly Member Soria, which would place the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act on the November 2026 ballot as a successor to Measure C. Supporters said the measure is needed to preserve transportation funding for road repairs, transit, and matching dollars for state and federal grants, and argued that Fresno County voters should be allowed to decide after more than 32,000 petition signatures qualified the initiative. Testimony in support emphasized impacts on rural communities, students, seniors, farmworkers, caregivers, and access to medical care, with many local officials, residents, labor groups, and community organizations registering support. Opposition came from the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, which argued the bill would override local control and set a bad precedent by directing a local ballot placement contrary to the board’s action. The county also said the board did not delay intentionally, but acted at the next available meeting after signature verification, and argued that a required study was justified. California State Association of Counties registered concerns about local control but did not take a formal position. Committee discussion reflected those concerns, with one member warning about state overreach and the author responding that the board’s role is ministerial and that the bill is intended to prevent delay from pushing the measure to 2028. No vote was taken because the hearing was informational only. The chair noted the committee was hearing testimony and issues surrounding the bill, and the author closed by urging support when the measure reaches the Assembly floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:07.919><c> which</c> mitigation air quality Grant which mitigation air quality Grant which
• </c> required to access the federal grants required to access the federal grants available<00:21:17.960
• </c><00:25:19.880><c> to</c> general fund dollars uh for Grants to general fund dollars uh for Grants
• </c> uh to stretch their transportation uh to stretch their transportation dollars<00:26:09.200><c> uh
• </c> do a better job in Transportation do a better job in Transportation safety<00:29:24.919><c> and<

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• If they conform to the the granted.
• </c> transportation committee. transportation committee.
• And since MINDOT started awarding active transportation technical assistance planning grants in 2022,
• transportation technical assistance planning grants.
• </c> applying for these grants has increased. applying for these grants has increased.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> siloing of land use and transportation. siloing of land use and transportation.
• . transportation. transportation.
• ,</c> of Transportation, of Transportation, there<01:24:23.280><c> is</c><01:24:23.720><c> a</c><01:24
• </c> taken from where they live, transported taken from where they live, transported to<01:39:57.080>
• <01:39:58.840><c> where</c> to Michigan, transported to Texas where to Michigan, transported to Texas

Bills: HF3373 , HF4449 , HF3486 , HF4180 , HF4227 , HF2505

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy