Video & Transcript : 'ransomware protection' :

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 8th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • This makes sure that we can protect these trainings.
  • SB 694 is a consumer protection bill that enhances California law by protecting veterans from exploitation
  • brave men and women risk their lives to protect ours.
  • We need to protect veterans.
  • I know that they're trying to really protect our veterans.
Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously. The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 16, 2026 - 01:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • is seeking to obtain protection from abuse.
  • my children and trust that distance meant protection.
  • He could not protect his mother from his stepfather.
  • who was supposed to protect them.
  • And gives victims time, warnings, and protection.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Housing Jan 26th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill is a first step in providing vulnerable seniors with these protections, specifically the protections
  • protections for older Washingtonians.
  • Seniors are a protected class.
  • The protection of expressing our rights as senior tenants should apply for any...
  • Protective Services, and be enforced with fines as such.
Summary: The Housing Committee heard two bills and received updates on scheduling. Chair Peterson announced that HB 2266 may move from Thursday to Monday for executive action due to ongoing talks with the city, and HB 2489 will move to next week for additional amendment work. HB 1542, concerning senior independent housing, was briefly opened, then suspended so HB 2527 could be heard first; the committee later returned to HB 1542 for public testimony. The committee adjourned after closing the hearing on HB 1542, with no votes taken during this meeting. HB 1542 would establish rights for residents of senior independent housing, allow enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act, and require a Commerce report to the legislature. The staff summary described the bill as creating protections such as respectful treatment, the ability to install certain safety devices, resident meetings, and timely management responses in emergencies. Rep. Reeves said the bill responds to seniors in Federal Way who lack protections in independent living settings and noted likely amendments to extend the reporting deadline and possibly add a registry to clarify which communities are covered. Testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP supported the bill as a needed consumer-protection measure for vulnerable older adults, while other witnesses asked for broader coverage, including manufactured home communities, and LeadingAge Washington requested more stakeholder work and a technical amendment related to CCRCs. HB 2527 would regulate eventual tenant ownership programs tied to federal low-income housing tax credits. Staff explained that the bill would require developers to create reserve or escrow accounts, inform tenants and partners of their rights and responsibilities, and comply with timely transfer obligations, with enforcement by the Housing Finance Commission and possible debarment from future tax-credit participation for violations. Rep. Pollet said the bill is intended to address cases where Native families were promised eventual ownership of homes but did not receive deeds or keys after years of renting, citing an audit and describing the bill as a needed accountability tool. Supportive testimony from Indigenous rights attorney Gabe Galanda emphasized that hundreds of families, many in tribal communities, were affected. The Housing Finance Commission opposed the punitive approach, saying it had already updated policies after the audit, that the projects are complex and vary by tribal housing authority, and that the bill could undermine collaborative work and potentially misdirect penalties away from the actual responsible parties. Committee members pressed the commission on accountability, ownership structures, escrow obligations, and the status of remaining households, and the exchange highlighted disagreement over whether the bill’s enforcement provisions are appropriate.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Apr 16th, 2025

Banking and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • We are asking for basic protections.
  • That's a serious concern about consumer protection.
  • Um, and so I am aware of an amendment that does add that consumer protection.
  • So on the consumer protection side, you know, we keep mentioning consumer protection.
  • I asked that question because when you file a consumer protection When you file a consumer protection
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Social media platform requirements related to minors 3/17/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • :04:31.840><c> products</c> consumer protections around products consumer protections around products
  • If age instead protect our youth.
  • </c><00:20:16.080><c> For</c> services to protect young users. For services to protect young users.
  • </c><00:29:42.480><c> children,</c> that I heard are protecting children, that I heard are protecting
  • </c><00:32:33.840><c> kids</c> opportunity right now to protect kids opportunity right now to protect
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:04:31.360><c> by</c> people if you make them a protected by people if you make them a protected
  • 354A that this would be a new protected class.
  • 354A that this would be a new protected class.
  • </c><00:10:34.240><c> three,</c><00:10:34.480><c> the</c> this protection three, the this protection
  • </c> take into account any of these protected take into account any of these protected classes,<00:11
Summary: The subcommittee on SB 170 opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then worked through the bill section by section, focusing first on a housing-related provision that would prohibit municipalities from requiring occupants to be related by blood or marriage. The chair proposed adding “school enrollment status” as a protected class to prevent towns from limiting where students may live, especially in Durham. Members debated whether that phrase was too vague and whether “educational status,” “enrollment status,” or “school enrollment status” was the best wording. Public testimony raised concerns that adding a new protected class could have broader implications under the state’s anti-discrimination law and could also affect municipal zoning authority, while supporters argued the bill was aimed at preventing local rules that restrict student housing and group living arrangements. The subcommittee did not take a final vote on that language during the discussion. The committee then turned to land-use and subdivision provisions. The Department of Environmental Services testified that its test-pit and related land-development rules are already protective of groundwater and surface water, and that municipalities sometimes impose stricter setbacks or other requirements locally. Builders and housing advocates argued that more stringent local requirements for test pits, well siting, and related approvals add time and cost and can impede housing development, while some municipal concerns were raised about aquifer and wellhead protection overlay districts and local groundwater safeguards. Public testimony also supported making state standards uniform across municipalities, though one speaker noted that local and state review processes can differ and that the bill could simplify approvals. The subcommittee also discussed a road-length provision, with one member supporting limits on municipal caps that could impede development and another suggesting a possible water-and-sewer-capacity qualifier. Additional sections were explained as allowing utilities and infrastructure to be placed in subdivision open spaces or perimeter buffers, and requiring municipalities to act quickly on plan changes after initial review. The chair indicated support for several of the sections as drafted, and the discussion ended with the committee moving through the remaining provisions without recorded final votes in the transcript.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-03 (12:30PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So in addition to the people who are already protected under Chapter 119, this amendment protects the
  • protected because we are all subject to potential fraud.
  • So my question is, who are we protecting it from?
  • We've also voted to protect the Everglades, to protect the environment, and land conservation.
  • Stop putting up these hurdles and protect the people.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Walton County Deputy Will May, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report for April 3, 2025 was adopted, and CS/HB 947 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, mostly reviser and technical measures, with several companion Senate bills substituted and passed: SB 36 (Florida statutes adoption act), SB 42 (general reviser’s bill), SB 40 (deleting inoperative statutory provisions), and SB 38 (renaming references from the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to the Division of Criminal Investigations). All of those passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The House also passed HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders, requiring clerks to electronically send certain petitions, notices, summonses, and orders within six hours, including Baker Act, Marchman Act, and risk protection order documents. Members discussed whether judges needed to direct transmission and whether there were fail-safes if clerks did not comply. HB 615, on electronic delivery of notices between landlords and tenants, was amended to strengthen tenant protections and passed 108-0. HB 655 establishing a regulatory framework for pet insurance, HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements, and HB 1145 on workforce education also passed, with HB 1145 receiving 100 yeas and 4 nays. HB 649, removing the paper supervised protocol for certified registered nurse anesthetists, passed 77-30 after structured debate. A major portion of the meeting focused on CS/HB 1205, which would significantly revise Florida’s citizen initiative process. The bill adds a $1 million bond requirement after 25% of required signatures are collected, requires petition handlers to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, imposes background checks and training for paid circulators, shortens petition turn-in deadlines to 10 days, increases penalties, adds signature revocation notices, and creates additional criminal penalties and enforcement provisions. Supporters argued the changes were needed to address fraud and protect petition integrity; opponents said the bill would burden First Amendment activity and make citizen-led amendments much harder to qualify. Numerous amendments were offered, including proposals to remove sensitive personal information from petition forms, soften deadlines and penalties, change validation thresholds, and alter the estimating conference process; most failed, though one amendment clarifying who pays for background checks was adopted. The transcript ends during continued debate on an amendment to strike most of the bill and prohibit public funds from being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Policy - 02/25/26

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> reinstate those protections. reinstate those protections.
  • </c><01:29:34.480><c> Protect</c> protect us from having to ask.
  • Protect protect us from having to ask.
  • </c> our undocumented students are protected. our undocumented students are protected.
  • Students deserve safe protection.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> making sure that we're protecting those. making sure that we're protecting those.
  • Members, this bill protects the people that protect us.
  • </c> to protecting our communities every day. to protecting our communities every day.
  • Protection Act, and HIPPA.
  • </c> a fallacy of enhanced protection. a fallacy of enhanced protection.
Bills: HF1567 , HF2809 , HF3380
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Emerging Issues Jan 12th, 2026

Emerging Issues

Transcript Highlights:
  • How do you imagine this will increase protections?
  • students or protect, you know, what could we do?
  • That is a matter of protecting a foreign state.
  • This bill protects these rights.
  • Next in opposition. protecting Jewish students.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 20th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , and they are protected.
  • It's a small but necessary consumer protection bill.
  • The Tijuana River Valley, so that workers are appropriately protected.
  • That will be protected as a result of measure ER passing.
  • Opposition to SB 1164, which goes far beyond protecting voting rights.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a floor introduction welcoming Berkeley Mayor Adina Ishi. The body then moved through a series of third-reading bills, with most measures presented as responses to current policy concerns and several placed on call before roll votes were completed. Early measures included SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1112 increasing penalties for towing industry notice violations, SB 877 requiring insurers to disclose claim materials and revisions, SB 1046 directing Cal/OSHA to develop protections for workers exposed to transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley, and SB 1091 creating a community anti-displacement and preservation housing program. These bills generally drew support and passed, with SB 1091 ultimately passing 34-2 after a call vote. The floor also considered SB 951 on AI-related layoffs and worker notice, SB 1030 repealing the “man in the house” rule in CalWORKs, SB 1218 tying vehicle registration renewal to payment of illegal dumping fines, SB 1013 tightening privacy and oversight rules for automated license plate readers, SB 1116 making technical changes to the Starter Home Revitalization Act, SB 1201 protecting veterans from food-assistance cuts, and SB 1164 strengthening state voting-rights protections. Debate on SB 1013 featured sharp disagreement over whether the bill’s 30-day retention limit and audit requirements were necessary guardrails or would hinder law enforcement investigations. SB 1164 also drew opposition over concerns about litigation and expanded Attorney General oversight, but supporters argued California should codify voting-rights protections amid federal uncertainty. Most of these measures passed, with SB 1013 and SB 1164 receiving notable no votes. A major portion of the session focused on AB 1768, an urgency measure authorizing Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties to place local sales-tax measures before voters to help offset federal funding cuts to health care and safety-net services. Supporters framed it as a local-control measure needed to backfill losses from federal disinvestment and protect Medi-Cal, CalFresh, hospitals, clinics, and county services; opponents argued it would worsen affordability, expand regressive taxation, and bypass normal committee review. After extensive debate, the urgency measure received the required votes and passed. The Senate also adopted SCR 171 designating May 20 as California Nonprofits Day by unanimous roll call. The session ended with committee announcements, including budget subcommittee meetings, and a notice that the Senate would recess and reconvene later in the week.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Mar 17th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • So it's our duty to do everything we can to actually protect those lives. We have the tools.
  • to ensure that no individual is excluded from health care coverage or services based on a protected
  • to ensure that no individual is excluded from health care coverage or services based on a protected
  • And California has long led the nation in protecting vulnerable communities.
  • So there are protections in place that help with these situations.
Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on March 17 and first approved a consent calendar of several bills, then heard AB 1540 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, which would restore the 988 “Press 3” LGBTQ youth crisis line. Supporters, including suicide prevention advocates, behavioral health groups, and local governments, argued the service is a vital, identity-affirming suicide prevention tool for LGBTQ youth. Opponents, including detransitioners and conservative advocacy groups, argued it would steer vulnerable youth toward organizations they viewed as harmful. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended motion to the Communications and Conveyance Committee, with several no votes; the bill was later held on call and then advanced. The committee next heard AB 1671 by Assemblymember Tangipa, creating a Rural Medical Provider Grant Program to help providers serving rural communities with operational costs, equipment, workforce needs, and related expenses. Supporters said the bill would help retain providers and improve access in areas where patients travel long distances for care; committee members also discussed telehealth as an important rural access tool. The bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 1876 by Assemblymember Addis, the Fair Care for All Act, which would codify federal health care nondiscrimination protections into California law, including protections related to race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, and gender identity. Supporters said the bill is needed because federal protections are vulnerable to rollback and because patients, especially transgender and intersex Californians, face coverage denials and care disruptions. Opponents argued the bill would force coverage of gender-affirming care and raised concerns about detransitioning. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass motion to Judiciary, with some no votes, and later held it on call before it advanced. Finally, the committee heard AB 1629 by Assemblymember Haney, which would require dental plans to honor assignment-of-benefits requests and improve reporting on network adequacy. Supporters said the bill would reduce upfront costs for patients and improve transparency, while opponents, including Delta Dental and dental plan groups, warned it could weaken networks and increase out-of-pocket costs. After discussion about network participation and patient access, the committee passed the bill on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. The committee then completed the remaining votes, including the consent items, and adjourned.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Feb 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am

State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Cities unanimously support voting rights and the need to protect them.
  • The Washington Voting Rights Act enacted in 2018 was to protect us from discrepancies.
  • However, this bill does not help cities protect voting rights.
  • The League protects every American's right The League protects every American's right to vote.
  • I've never heard of that happening, but this would provide no protection.
Bills: HB1759 , HB2632 , HB2574 , HB2235 , SGA9267
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Education Feb 17th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • It conducts its own investigation, and it also protects confidentiality of the employee.
  • schools, protecting our teachers, and protecting our school districts when it comes to abuse allegations
  • There are still those privacy protections in place.
  • And... ...getting some protections in there for these teachers.
  • And the more we can do to protect one of the long-lasting..."
Summary: The Senate Education Committee considered a long agenda of education-related bills, with most measures receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Early actions included passage of SB 843, which allows certain rural schools with low average daily membership to hire teachers related to board members in the second degree, and SB 1733, which requires schools to report child sexual abuse allegations to law enforcement within 24 hours before conducting their own investigation. The committee also advanced SB 1476, a Commissioners of the Land Office cleanup bill that makes land exchange approvals permissive, updates terminology, and expands permanent school fund investment options to include private equity and private credit; members questioned CLO staff about appraisals, notices, ethics, and audits before voting it out 11-0. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 1237, the Teacher Bill of Rights, which would codify various teacher protections involving religious expression, discipline, planning time, workplace safety, and due process. Senators raised extensive questions about religious symbols, prayer, Bible use, classroom discipline, and whether some provisions were already in law; the author said the bill was intended to protect teachers and improve recruitment and retention. Despite concerns that some language was vague or duplicative, the bill passed 7-4. The committee also passed SB 1410 to codify the Ag in the Classroom program after deleting a section that would have increased a license plate fee, and SB 1894, which would remove the five-year cap on professional development hours for certain teacher training, though the title was struck for further work. Later, the committee approved SB 1272 to raise the income cap for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant, SB 1204 to provide three days of bereavement leave for education employees after the loss of a spouse or child, including miscarriage, and SB 1721 to extend the sunset of the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education. It also passed SB 1725 on higher-education expressive activity and free speech training, SB 1735 giving CareerTech sole authority over its accreditation, SB 1337 establishing paid paternity leave for education employees, SB 1339 codifying funding for the 2023 teacher pay raise for off-formula districts, SB 1461 extending the OETA sunset to 2031, and SB 1975 centralizing notice of AP testing locations. Several bills drew brief discussion about fiscal impact, local control, and retention benefits, and the committee adjourned after noting one agenda item had been laid over.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Children and Families Feb 10th, 2026

Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:
  • Republicans and Democrats alike agree that children deserve protection.
  • She asked what can be done to protect individuals.
  • It takes all of us to protect our kids.
  • Missouri protects our children in many ways.
  • And so how, what is our, what is the state's protection, um, What is the state's protection against an
Summary: The Committee on Children and Families heard public testimony on House Bills 1839, 2921, and 3015, all aimed at requiring age verification for access to online pornography. The sponsors argued the bills are needed to protect children from early exposure, exploitation, sextortion, and related harms, and said the measures mirror laws in other states and recent Texas litigation. Supporters, including the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners, child advocacy groups, the Missouri Catholic Conference, and the Attorney General’s office, testified that pornography contributes to child sexual abuse risk, addiction, and unhealthy sexual development. Committee members asked about privacy protections, enforcement, penalties, and whether third-party verification or website-based verification would be used; the Attorney General’s office said identifying information should not be retained and that enforcement would occur through court action. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded with the bills remaining under consideration, with a committee substitute to follow for one portion of the legislation. The committee then heard House Bill 2610, which would use the state legal expense fund to cover claims and judgments involving foster care, case management, and residential service providers under contract with the state. Representative Murphy and supporters said the private insurance market for these providers has become unstable and unaffordable, with some agencies facing large premium increases, repeated denials, or inability to find coverage at all. Testimony from the Missouri Coalition for Children, Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, Family Forward, and the Attorney General’s office described the issue as a market failure that could force providers to close and disrupt services for foster children. The Attorney General’s office explained how legal expense fund coverage would work, noted that it can cover negligence and intentional acts for covered entities, and said the bill would shift risk to the state in the absence of adequate private insurance. No opposition was offered. Finally, Representative Terry briefly presented House Bill 24, describing it as the same as Representative Dolan’s grandparents’ bill and emphasizing that grandparents should have first consideration for custody if a child’s parents are unable to care for them. No testimony was offered on the bill. The committee then moved into executive session and voted do pass on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1696, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2505 and 24, and House Bill 1772, each by unanimous 14-0 votes. The meeting then adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/29/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • She has protected the people of rural Arizona with action to protect their right to have water flow in
  • Now, she was protecting dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
  • Now, she was protecting dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
  • That's who you all are protecting.
  • SWAT team members. with armed criminals inside to protect us.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • It protects the investigation.
  • It protects confidential witnesses and confidential informants, and it also protects the lives of police
  • It protects the investigation.
  • It protects the investigation.
  • </c><00:20:05.919><c> your</c> the need to protect your the need to protect your investigation<00:20:
Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government considered three bills. House Bill 321, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson and supported by the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Realtor Association, was amended by committee substitute and adopted unanimously. As amended, it extends training deadlines for planning commission and board of adjustment members and adds required training on how planning and zoning policies affect housing supply and accessibility. The committee substitute also limits appeals of final board of adjustment actions to persons or entities claiming injury who own real estate in the same zone as the affected property. The bill passed 8-0, and a title amendment was adopted. House Bill 340, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton with support from law enforcement and federal security representatives, would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 to require criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records for federal suitability or fitness background checks and allow a $25 fee for records requests reimbursed by the federal government. It also conforms juvenile records law to the new process. The committee approved the bill 9-0 with no opposition. House Bill 520, sponsored by Rep. Chris Fugate and backed by the Kentucky Sheriff's Association, Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, and Kentucky League of Cities, generated the most debate. The bill and committee substitute would exempt certain open police investigation records from disclosure under the Open Records Act when an agency says release could harm an investigation or reveal informants or witnesses. Several senators raised concerns that the “could” standard was too broad and could weaken transparency, while supporters argued it was needed to protect ongoing investigations, witnesses, and officers. The committee initially failed the bill 6-4, then after additional vote changes and discussion, reconsidered it and advanced the amended bill with favorable expression 6-4 to the floor.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Mar 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • walls in approving the storm protection plans.
  • So our storm protection plan is a year-round effort.
  • A large part of that is due to the storm protection program.
  • So storm protection plan. What is it was a mean for us?
  • Our storm protection plan.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Legacy Finance Committee 2/25/26

Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:10:20.399><c> protected.
  • protected.
  • Um again, these small protect protected.
  • protected land.
  • </c> protect and fee without pilt and protect protect and fee without pilt and protect and<01:07:37.440
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 15th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • So that's kind of the safe harbor that you're trying to protect, that?
  • SB 522 only preserves the just cause for eviction protections in the case.
  • of the Tenant Protection Act retain those protections when rebuilt.
  • And the other way around, we have to protect consumers.
  • This bill establishes simple, essential protections.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.