Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, members.
• Let me dig into that and get back with you if that's right.
• Before is laid over Representative West. Good morning, how are you? Are you good?
• Yes, you know 'shall' means you got to. 'May' means you can if you want to.
• If you don't, you don't have to.

Bills: HB4423 , HB3342 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3887 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB2964 , HB3834

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Medicaid, immigration verification, healthcare access, federal reporting, health care providers, auditing, patient rights, claims, protection from fraud, audit process, error correction, hospice care, physician determination, healthcare standards, symptom management, health information exchange, all-payer claims database, health care transparency, health care costs

Transcript Highlights:

• You can have your own. I don't like to chew my water before I swallow it.
• Thank you for the opportunity to come before you and talk about House Bill 3467, which I support.
• Thank you. Calling on anyone in favor of the bill. Hello, Madam Chair and the committee members.
• Thank you. Calling on anyone in favor of the bill. Thank you.
• Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Local Government Committee first met in executive session and voted do pass on two House committee substitutes: House Bills 3283 and 3306 passed 11-1, and House Bills 1728, 2161, and 1830 passed 12-1. The committee then moved into public hearings. Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914, dealing with septic system regulation, was presented as a measure to replace percolation testing with soil morphology testing as the baseline standard and to address a permit fee issue. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would improve accuracy, consumer protection, and local public health administration; one witness noted the continuing-education language already exists in regulation and pointed out a minor wording change in the substitute. No opposition testified. House Bill 3467, sponsored by Representative Houseman, would allow county developmental disability boards to seek voter approval for a sales tax of up to one-half of 1% if property tax revenue is reduced or eliminated. The sponsor and multiple witnesses from county disability boards, sheltered workshops, and related associations said the bill was intended as a safeguard to preserve services, transportation, employment supports, and community-based care for people with developmental disabilities. Some members raised concerns about shifting from property tax to sales tax and the burden on low-income taxpayers, while others supported the measure as a revenue-diversification tool. No vote was taken. House Bill 312, relating to county treasurer duties and bank signature authority, drew testimony from the sponsor, county treasurers, auditors, and association representatives. Supporters said the bill clarifies that the county treasurer should have sole authority over county funds and reflects current practice, while also noting a forthcoming amendment to address what happens when a treasurer is absent. Some witnesses asked for stronger safeguards, including a bonded backup designee and clearer succession procedures, and one witness urged updating surety-bond requirements. The hearing closed with no opposition testimony and no committee action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, so you know, further public testimony, the question before you is House Bill 2056, receive a
• Can you, I didn't hear Blackman call it, even though it's not present, you need to.
• The question before you is HB 2303 to receive a do pass recommendation. Roll call, please.”
• Okay, thank you. Seeing no further public testimony, the question before you is HB 2344.
• Willoughby, you are correct: this did come before this committee...

Bills: HB2056 , HB2202 , HB2207 , HB2224 , HB2303 , HB2344 , HB2532 , HB2759 , HB2798

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to come before you today.
• Is it a phone call, an email? The governor called me. Okay. All right. Thank you very much.
• You could call Peter when you walk out of this room.
• You could have called when you were walking into this room, but you won't do it.
• Thank you very much, Ms. Cobb. Thank you very much, Ms. Cobb. Would you like to call next?

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• If you just so happen to answer one of those calls and you call it back, the number is not in service
• But like I had mentioned earlier, you know, you can't trace these calls because you call them back.
• Earlier, you know, you can't trace these calls because you call them back and then the number's disconnected
• Baker, would you call the roll? Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.
• Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you, members. I bring before you House Bill 1049.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 14 with a quorum and heard several recommitted public-records and government-transparency bills, along with one local audit bill and one campaign-solicitation bill. HB 55 by Rep. Villio would prohibit intentional public disclosure of juror identifying information and create a public records exception; after adopting technical amendments, the committee reported it favorably as amended. HB 608 by Rep. Chassion would make documents tied to intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing programs confidential; supporters said it protects student-athletes and institutional competitiveness, while the Louisiana Press Association argued it would shield public money and reduce transparency. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote of 9-3. HB 1045 by Rep. LaCombe would raise the audit threshold for certain local auditees in a limited parish-specific application, with an amendment tying annual audits to entities in Pointe Coupee Parish above a revised revenue level and indexing the threshold to CPI. Committee members and local-government groups said the change would reduce unnecessary audit costs for small water and special districts while preserving oversight; it was reported favorably as amended. HB 1035 by Rep. Beham would add penalties for exploitative campaign fundraising aimed at elderly people; supporters described scam-like tactics and recurring withdrawals, while some members questioned how it would be enforced and whether existing fraud laws already covered the conduct. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably by a 7-5 vote. HB 1049 by Rep. Owen would tighten open-meetings requirements by improving notice posting, minutes, and training expectations for those presiding over public bodies. Supporters said it would help volunteers and small boards comply with the law, while the Police Jury Association raised cost and staffing concerns for thousands of local entities; the bill was reported favorably. HB 1177 by Rep. Zerang would create a public-records exemption for personal information related to hunting and fishing lottery licenses, prompted by concerns that lottery winners could be harassed by animal-rights activists; it was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, two other bills were deferred at the sponsors’ request, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative Kraft, thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Thank you. Thank you, Miss Canet.
• Thank you for this opportunity to testify before the committee today.
• Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would also like to request a roll call. The roll call will be taken.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• Can you just dig in a little bit on that? Because I served on a city council.
• So you have before you in the Assembly, it's been put out by this committee, Senate Bill 716.
• It's before you again this year.
• to testify before you again.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee held an informational hearing on the state of broadband affordability in California. Chair Tasha Berner said the committee was examining how broadband prices, access, and affordability are affecting households, especially after the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and amid concerns about federal resistance to state broadband regulation. She noted the committee’s continued interest in policy options for 2026 and referenced prior legislation, including AB 353, that would have required affordable home internet as a condition of doing business in California. Industry witnesses from U.S. Telecom and CTIA argued that broadband and wireless prices have generally fallen in real terms even as inflation and other household costs have risen, citing competition, infrastructure investment, and faster speeds as the main drivers. They said California’s higher costs are tied to permitting delays, taxes, copper theft, and legacy obligations such as COLR requirements, and they urged the Legislature to preserve market incentives, reduce fees and regulatory burdens, and support infrastructure deployment. They also discussed fixed wireless access, federal BEAD funding, and Universal Service Fund reform, arguing that more entities benefiting from networks, including tech platforms, should contribute to support programs. Consumer and public-interest witnesses presented a different view, saying California still has a serious affordability and adoption problem, especially for low-income households. Sunny McPhee of the California Emerging Technology Fund said broadband adoption has improved dramatically over time, but about 500,000 households remain offline or underconnected and many low-income households still pay above the FCC affordability benchmark. Ernesto Falcon of the CPUC Public Advocates Office said California’s market is losing its competitive edge, with prices higher than in other states and meaningful price pressure coming mainly from fiber competition at the gigabit tier. He said roughly 4.8 million Californians are limited to one gigabit option and estimated that more competition could save consumers more than $1 billion annually. Both witnesses emphasized the need for stronger transparency, targeted subsidies, and a permanent affordability solution, including extending and refining the CPUC broadband Lifeline pilot and advancing SB 716. Public commenters, including representatives from cable providers, nonprofits, and digital equity organizations, largely supported SB 716 and a permanent broadband affordability program. Several urged the committee to remove a cap on the Lifeline program, expand the CPUC pilot, and invest in digital navigators, outreach, and enrollment assistance. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, after the chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters for their testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you can look at it. You can see how many cases we take. It's called cert.
• And you can look at it, you can see how many cases we take. It's called cert.
• Many of you heard me speak on this topic before.
• Many of you heard me speak on this topic before.
• Many of you heard me speak on this topic before.

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill draft you have before you today, as the chairman mentioned, has kind of arisen out of the previous
• Could you say, hey, it's now 30 days before—did you move into the district, and how would that play out
• So what you have before you is just really a layout of statistics on what turnover looks like in other
• And so you need to do one before you would potentially need to move on to the other.
• you pick up that phone, Before you pick up that phone and call your favorite LC staff, before you fire

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand before you vehemently opposed to the amendment.
• Thank you. Tamara, please call the roll and announce the vote on PCS for CS for HB 1221.
• Shof, I appreciate you taking my call.
• Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hey, Rep. Shof, I appreciate you taking my call.
• Anytime you fire your police department and hire armed guards, I guess you would call it, because they

Summary: The State Affairs Committee met with a quorum present and took up several measures. It first considered HJR 1215, an ad valorem tax exemption for farmers and agricultural lands. The committee adopted an amendment making technical changes and removing a requirement that implementing language be set by general law. Several agricultural and business groups supported the measure, and it was reported favorably by a vote of 22-4. The committee then heard CS for CS for HB 1169, a bill revising water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and business practices, including restrictions on lobbyist expenditures and additional budget disclosures. An amendment removing the statutory section on management review teams was adopted after debate over whether those teams were still useful. The bill was reported favorably 19-8-7. Members then debated PCS for CS for HB 1221, which would redirect local option tourist development tax revenues toward property tax relief and give counties more control over certain local taxes. County, tourism, beach preservation, and hospitality groups opposed the bill, warning it would weaken tourism marketing, beach renourishment, and local services, while supporters argued it would provide property tax relief and accountability. The bill passed 14-12. Finally, the committee considered HB 4079, which would dissolve the town of White Springs. The sponsor and supporters described years of mismanagement, intimidation, and illegal conduct, while opponents argued dissolution was an extreme step and pointed to the ongoing election and other remedies. After extensive public testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 19-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll? Chairman McFarland, here.
• Can you answer the question? Where were we before you took your position?
• Can you answer the question? Where were we before you took your position?
• For the nutria program, we have a—what do you call that?
• The nutria program, we have a—what do you call that? They give you the bounty. A bounty program.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you walk us through some of those? Not too many phone calls surrounding this specific topic.
• Thank you. I can... Uh, I'll just say I was call you sir Nick.
• you actually dig into face of it when you actually dig into the<00:53:07.760><c> facts</c><00:53:08.120
• </c><01:47:49.160><c> to</c><01:47:49.240><c> that</c> that before we, you know, get to that that before
• I'll call this meeting adjourned. Thank you, everybody, for showing up.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Gaming

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Richardson, would you like to do so? All right, the bill is moved. Please call the roll.
• Thank you. The bill's out. We'll keep it on call. Are we... do we have everyone, or are we...
• Thank you. The bill's out. We'll keep it on call. Are we... do we have everyone?
• We'll place that on call. Thank you, Senator, for your time and efforts.
• brought before you.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1315 by Senator Cabaldon, the “Drive My Car Act,” which was described as a forward-looking bill aimed at ensuring that owners of vehicles with advanced autonomous or software-driven features retain the right to drive their own cars. Cabaldon explained that, after discussions with stakeholders, the bill would likely be redirected out of the insurance space and into transportation to address concerns about mandatory software updates disabling human driving. Members broadly praised the concept as a timely response to emerging technology, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Transportation Committee, with members voting aye and the bill held on call until all votes were recorded. The committee then took up SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, presented by the Insurance Commissioner and supported by the committee chair. The bill was framed as a comprehensive response to wildfire disaster claims problems, especially after the Los Angeles-area fires, and would require more accurate replacement-cost estimates, stronger optional extended replacement-cost coverage, improved building code upgrade coverage, faster claim payments, clearer adjuster communication, pre-disaster emergency response plans, and stronger penalties and restitution for unfair claims handling. Supporters, including United Policyholders, California Environmental Voters, the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, AARP California, and consumer advocates, said the bill would help survivors avoid underinsurance, delays, and repeated trauma in the claims process. Opposition came from several insurance and industry groups, including APCIA, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies, the Civil Justice Association of California, and the California Building Industry Association. They argued the bill remained too broad, would raise premiums, reduce flexibility, and could worsen availability in an already fragile market, especially because of mandatory coverage expansions and faster payout requirements. Committee members questioned both sides extensively about cost, optional versus mandatory provisions, contents coverage, ALE limits, building code upgrades, and rate-setting timelines. The committee ultimately passed SB 876 as amended to the Judiciary Committee on a due pass motion, with one no vote from Vice Chair Niello and the remaining recorded members voting aye; the bill was held open briefly to add a missing vote before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to wait for projects to be obligated before you could start the project or you won't get reimbursed
• So as is... ...a representative sitting on that side, you know what it's like when you're getting called
• When you call FEMA, they say the State of Florida is holding it up.
• I had it before, but not in Florida. You work very hard for it.
• If you call us, we can get on the phone.

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess I'd just like to say thank you before we get into the report here.
• You know, a 40-page report—I've seen 140-page reports that I take weeks to dig through.
• Thank you before we get into the report here.
• were carrying it out before you decided to take a different approach.
• ><c> you</c><01:19:35.960><c> decided</c><01:19:36.360><c> to</c> carrying it out before you decided

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate you. Thank you very much. We'll next call up Senator Laird, who's here.
• I think Senator Stern has borrowed a line from the utilities: call the PUC before you take.
• Call the... has borrowed a line from the utilities. Call the PUC before you take. That's all it is.
• Thank you. Thank you. All right. Secretary, please call the roll.
• Thank you. Okay. Let's call the roll.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• A minimum requirements for cultural resources review before you raise those exemption levels.
• Can I ask you a question actually before you move on?
• There's also a possibility if you haven't done maybe some of the engineering before you turn in the full
• There's also a possibility if you haven't done maybe some of the engineering before you turn in the full
• If you haven't done maybe some of the engineering before you turn in the full application, you get into

Summary: The Local Government Committee met in work session and heard a series of presentations on SEPA, permitting reforms, and building code implementation. Department of Ecology staff gave an overview of the State Environmental Policy Act, explaining its role in state and local decision-making, common exemptions, planned actions, and recent housing-related statutory changes such as transit-oriented development exemptions and SEPA appeals protections for certain local ordinances. Committee members asked about repeated SEPA reviews, cultural and historic resource review, and how SEPA relates to NEPA; Ecology responded that repeated reviews usually occur when proposals change and that programmatic EISs can help front-load analysis. Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections described how recent SEPA exemptions reduced residential review volume and supported more housing permits, and said the city is considering raising thresholds further. The State Building Code Council provided an update on code adoption timelines and legislative tasks tied to the 2024 codes, including single-stair housing, multiplex housing, dwelling unit size, and temporary emergency shelter standards. Council staff said the content of the codes is largely set, but administrative timelines have been delayed, prompting a motion to postpone final adoption while pursuing ways to preserve the planned implementation schedule. Members asked about the timing of code changes and the impact on housing costs, and staff said the legislative topics remain on track for inclusion in the 2024 code package. Committee staff then reviewed recent permitting legislation, including SB 5290’s permit decision deadlines and fee-refund provisions, later bills limiting pre-application meetings and clarifying that building permits are excluded from those timelines, and project-specific changes affecting middle housing, ADUs, lot splits, passive house projects, self-certification, transit-oriented development, and parking requirements. Commerce’s Dave Anderson reported on SB 5290 implementation, including guidance on permit fees, studies on staffing and statewide permitting systems, grants to local governments, and the first annual performance report, which showed mixed results and highlighted the importance of digital tools, clear checklists, staff training, and coordination across departments. Local officials from Issaquah and Kitsap County described their own process improvements, including code updates, optional pre-application meetings, new staffing, reporting systems, and a phased “Two by Six” review model in Kitsap, while also noting challenges from staffing shortages, agency coordination, and the burden of implementing multiple new mandates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• Call it, Is the chemical component of botanical, natural kratom. Call it what you want.
• Call it what you will. Like I said, the research has revealed opioid...
• , whatever you guys want to call it, you know?
• I appear before you today to provide... Ms.

Summary: The Kratom Working Group met to hear public testimony and expert presentations on whether North Dakota should prohibit or regulate kratom and 7-OH products. Early testimony split sharply between speakers who described natural kratom as a helpful, lower-risk alternative for chronic pain, opioid withdrawal, PTSD, and recovery, and speakers who urged prohibition because of dependence, overdose risk, and the growth of concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online. Several witnesses, including consumers and shop owners, argued that banning kratom would push people to more dangerous drugs or unregulated internet sources, while public health and medical witnesses said the marketplace is confusing and inadequately controlled. A number of witnesses, including representatives of the North Dakota Public Health Association, the state crime lab, and addiction-treatment and pediatric clinicians, emphasized risks from adulterated or concentrated products, lack of labeling and age restrictions, contamination concerns, and harms to adolescents, pregnant patients, and newborns. The crime lab described recent cases involving mitragynine, 7-OH, and pseudoindoxyl, and said products purchased in a smoke shop were inaccurately labeled. A Sanford pediatric hospitalist testified that kratom exposure in pregnancy can cause severe neonatal withdrawal and that adolescents are using the product. By contrast, American Kratom Association representatives and other advocates argued that natural leaf kratom should be distinguished from synthetic 7-OH, that deaths usually involve other substances, and that a regulatory framework with testing, labeling, age limits, and product registration would better protect consumers than a blanket ban. No formal bill was debated or voted on in this transcript. The working group heard testimony, asked questions, and took no final action before breaking for lunch and later resuming with additional presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Before we go on, we have some very important people here today.
• Thank you, Mr. Chair. And before we go to the wrap-up from Chair Gomez, I think I saw D.C. come in.
• </c><00:42:24.680><c> on</c> you chair Davis I request a roll call on you chair Davis I request a roll
• Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for the witnesses before we go to the author? Questions for Mr.
• Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for the witnesses before we go to the author? Questions for Mr.

Bills: HF4 , HF173

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Secretary, will you call the roll? Senator Womack. Here. Senator Cloud. Here.
• If you need to take a call, please step outside the committee room.
• I think you know how to go. We'll be digging through it all days. No way. Thank you.
• A set of amendments before you.
• A set of amendments before you. A set of amendments before you.

Bills: HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB383 , HB983 , HB1126 , HCR3

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: bond authorization, capital improvement, general obligation bonds, financial management, state treasury, revenue sharing, fund distribution, homestead exemption, state funding, local government