Transcript Highlights:

• When you go on your airlines and you buy a ticket, we all fly up and back, for those of us living in
• Southern California, there's a portion of your ticket that's paying for the National Transportation Safety
• Your ticket that's paying for the National Transportation Safety Board to make sure that you're safe

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard two bills. AB 796 by Assembly Member Lowenthal proposed a California Social Media Accountability Act that would impose a recovery fee on social media platforms’ advertising revenue and direct the proceeds to a Social Media Safety Trust Fund for education, mental health care, research, and social services related to youth harms from social media. The author and supporters, including a Long Beach Unified School District administrator and a pediatric emergency physician, argued that social media is contributing to youth mental health crises, cyberbullying, self-harm, and related school and health system costs, and that platforms should help pay for mitigation. Opponents, including taxpayer, business, and industry groups, argued the fee would raise costs for businesses and consumers, especially small businesses that rely on targeted digital ads, and warned of likely legal challenges under federal law, including the Internet Tax Freedom Act. Committee members discussed the bill’s legal distinctions from Maryland’s digital advertising tax, the potential pass-through of costs to advertisers, and whether the proposal would meaningfully address youth harms. Several members expressed support for the bill’s goal and concern about social media’s effects on children, while others raised questions about how the revenue would be allocated and whether the tax burden would fall on small businesses. After testimony and debate, AB 796 was held in committee and referred to the suspense file. The committee also took up AB 1265 by Assembly Member Haney, which was already on the suspense file. The chair recommended an aye vote on the bill as amended, with a clarification to reporting requirements, and the committee approved it 5-0, sending it to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you go on your airlines and you buy a ticket, we all fly up and back from those of us living in
• Southern California, there's a portion of your ticket that's paying for the National Transportation Safety
• Your ticket is paying for the National Transportation Safety Board to make sure that you're safe while

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And all the person had to do was pay a $5 traffic ticket.
• making the comments that it was too broad and could lead to drivers in Florida being pulled over ticketed
• specific instances where the governor had concerns where we wanna make sure people are going to be ticketed

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, Senators, just a reminder that I do have some tickets left over for the girls' basketball games
• Again, Senators, just a reminder that I do have some tickets left over, left for the girls' basketball

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The prayer highlighted George and Martha Washington as a model of devotion and public service. The journal from the prior meeting was read and approved as corrected. In committee reports, several bills were advanced: Senate Bills 1329 and 1330 were printed and referred to committee; House Bill 512 was reported do pass from Commerce and Human Resources; Senate Bill 1285 was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment; Senate Bills 1294, 1314, and 1316 were reported do pass from Health and Welfare; and Senate Bill 1297 was reported do pass from State Affairs. The Senate also received House Bill 620 from the House, and enrolled House Bills 514 and 515 were noted as already signed by the President and to be returned to the House. During first reading, the Senate introduced Senate Bills 1331 through 1335, covering appropriations reductions and fund transfers, virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention, the governor’s authority over active duty combat service of the organized militia, and revisions to state-supported medical student provisions. These bills were referred to Judiciary and Rules for printing. On second reading, House Bills 526, 531, and 624; Senate Bill 1288; House Bill 518; and Senate Bill 1257 were advanced to the third reading calendar. The Senate then moved to miscellaneous business, heard an announcement about remaining girls’ basketball tickets, and adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We may also raffle off tickets to, you know, may also raffle off tickets to get people with sledgehammers

Bills: HB207 , SB269 , SB279 , SB291 , SB266

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: cybersecurity, Office of Information Technology, data management, telecommunications, state government, emergency management, public awareness, promotional materials, education, state funding, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures

Transcript Highlights:

• So, now we're going to put on a surcharge of 2 cents a kilowatt hour, and you're going to have to pay
• Utilities will say, "Well, we had an under-collection, we're going to have to put on some type of a surcharge
• some</c><01:03:17.160><c> type</c><01:03:17.320><c> of</c><01:03:17.440><c> a</c><01:03:17.480><c> surcharge
• </c><01:03:18.120><c> going</c> put on some type of a surcharge going put on some type of a surcharge

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you say that these tickets are handwritten? What hard to read? They're writing or... >> Okay.
• And then you have to physically pull up every ticket, transcribe it into your computer, whatever.
• Did you say that these tickets<01:28:31.760><c> are</c><01:28:32.000><c> handwritten?
• What hard to tickets are handwritten? What hard to read?
• This data shall be made pay a ticket.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard House Bill 2095, which would provide supplemental appropriations for the Judiciary for the 2025-2027 biennium. Judiciary Administrative Director Brandon Kimura testified in strong support and outlined a request for about $6.4 million in supplemental operating funds, plus four permanent full-time position conversions. He grouped the request into security, services to court users, and staffing needs, including $3.25 million for supplemental armed private security at judiciary facilities statewide, nearly $200,000 for cybersecurity staffing and support, restoration of funding for substance use treatment purchase-of-service contracts, restoration of funding for the Office of Public Guardian on Kauaʻi, salary commission funding, a Kona court operations position, and two Court-Appointed Special Advocates positions converted from temporary to permanent. He also described five capital improvement requests totaling $55.4 million, led by $30 million for construction of a new South Kohala courthouse, $1.2 million each for air conditioning upgrades in Hilo and Kauaʻi, $15 million for elevator upgrades at Kahumanu Hale, and $8 million in lump-sum bond funds for emerging projects. Several organizations testified in support, including Parents and Children Together and the True Cost Coalition. Supporters emphasized the importance of the purchase-of-service funding for domestic violence and substance use treatment services and said the restoration would return funding to pre-COVID levels and help providers maintain capacity. Kimura explained that the Judiciary often shifts funds among contracts during the year to avoid service interruptions, but that the reduced funding has caused delays and operational problems for providers and probationers. Members asked detailed questions about the capital projects and operating requests. Representative Shimizu asked for more information on the lump-sum bond funds and the elevator project, and Kimura explained that the Kahumanu Hale request covers four remaining elevator shafts after earlier funding addressed the first five elevators. Representative Cochran asked about the absence of Maui County projects, and Kimura said the Judiciary is still planning for its older Maui facilities with DAGS. Chair Tarnas questioned the need for armed private guards and discussed whether court security should be prioritized within the Department of Law Enforcement; Kimura said the Judiciary needs additional personnel now and has not asked DLE to deprioritize other missions, though the chair suggested further coordination between the agencies. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ticket if it's clearly visible. ticket if it's clearly visible.
• And I still think for someone ticket.
• </c><01:03:52.319><c> So,</c> ultimately written a ticket for it.
• So, ultimately written a ticket for it.
• </c><01:19:01.920><c> accessible</c> chief admitted that ticketing accessible chief admitted that ticketing

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing began with SB 12, which would let certain veterans who already qualify for a disabled veteran license plate use that VA disability determination to obtain a walking disability placard without having to undergo a second physical or submit additional proof. Senator Waters, the prime sponsor, said the bill was prompted by a constituent and would reduce redundant paperwork. Melinda Sims of United Spinal and Leo Pacquin of the State Veterans Advisory Committee both supported the bill, saying veterans already go through an extensive VA certification process and should not have to repeat it for the state. A DMV representative said the department had no known objection and explained that the change would let the placard travel with the veteran in another vehicle. The hearing on SB 12 was then closed. The committee then took up SB 40, which would allow safe boater education certificates to be completed and tested online, rather than requiring an in-person final exam. Representative Coker and Senator Tim Lang described the bill as a cleanup measure to make a COVID-era online process permanent and said it would improve convenience and keep more revenue in New Hampshire. Tom Praol, representing the vendor, said the state lost significant revenue when the online option ended and argued that online proctoring can verify identity and prevent cheating. The New Hampshire Marine Trades Association supported the bill, saying it would help boaters learn New Hampshire-specific laws and keep dollars in-state. The Department of Safety Marine Patrol was neutral: Captain Tim Dunlvy said the current system includes classroom and online coursework followed by an in-person proctored final exam, and he raised concerns about safety, exam integrity, and lower scores in computer-only testing, while noting New Hampshire’s strong boating safety record. Committee members asked about reciprocity, proctoring methods, costs, and crash data, but no vote was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most fans already pay sales tax on tickets and concessions, but our current tax code exempts purchases
• of suite licenses, premium season ticket packages, and many of the amenities included in those packages
• To buy the season tickets. It's not the tickets themselves.
• To buy the season tickets. It's not the tickets themselves.
• The way we allocate these funds associated with ticket purchases go directly to a scholarship seating

Bills: HF4234 , HF3697 , HF1183 , HF4738

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, tax refund, Minnesota Statutes, time limit, claims, tax overpayment, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• "There's a lease agreement and they sell the tickets, but there is a sharing in terms of sponsorships
• Does that include the ticket or not? >> That includes the ticket.
• </c> Does that include the ticket or not? Does that include the ticket or not?
• &gt;&gt; That<01:10:34.560><c> includes</c><01:10:34.800><c> the</c><01:10:34.960><c> ticket.
• </c> &gt;&gt; That includes the ticket. &gt;&gt; That includes the ticket.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first received several information items, including University of Kentucky reports on medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts’ planned bond issues, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues. Members then heard and approved an appropriation increase for a federally funded University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. The project will construct a terminal building and is tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school; members asked about the public funding, the role of EKU, and possible aviation expansion, and the item was approved by roll call. The committee next approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for an 85,000-square-foot facility at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead for $6.4 million. UK said the property, formerly the Rowan County Board of Education site, is directly across from UK St. Clair and will be used for multiple purposes; members questioned the quarterly payment structure and why the county preferred not to receive the full amount upfront, but the item was approved. The committee then heard three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Fish and Wildlife pump project at Ballard Wildlife Management Area and two Lake Barkley State Resort Park repair projects. Finance staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies after bids came in close to available funding, and the committee approved the action items. Janice Thomas then presented four pool projects requiring no action: HVAC upgrades at the Future Farmers of America Leadership Training Center in Hardinsburg, geothermal and HVAC work at the Kentucky School for the Blind, a Brady Hall HVAC project at the Kentucky School for the Blind, and a renovation of Shanti Hall at Kentucky State University for the School of Engineering Technology. Members asked no substantive questions on those items. Finally, Natalie Broner presented a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the rent, the lack of other bids, and whether another county location might be preferable; CHFS said it maintains county-seat offices statewide and that the Wayne County site would replace an existing office. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing services with renovation costs largely absorbed by the lessor. Both lease items were presented for action after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Here in Hawaii, we had a golden ticket.
• </c><01:05:04.760><c> golden</c><01:05:05.160><c> ticket</c><01:05:05.480><c> we</c><01:05:05.599><c>
• had</c><01:05:05.839><c> CBS</c><01:05:06.400><c> a</c> Golden Ticket golden ticket we had CBS a Golden
• Ticket golden ticket we had CBS a major<01:05:06.880><c> Studio</c><01:05:07.359><c> here</c><01:05:
• We had a golden ticket in our hand, you know. The last show CBS had here was NCIS Hawaii.

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• You bring it in, you show your local police department, they tear up the ticket. Yeah.
• So, if they get the tickets they write.
• And as far as I know, he's never gotten another ticket. And he was 16 at that time.
• Part of his I don't know whether ticket.
• </c> know, he's never gotten another ticket. know, he's never gotten another ticket.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the way, this law is written right now, the police will have no other option but to give you that ticket
• but to give will have no other option but to give you<00:04:31.120><c> that</c><00:04:31.440><c> ticket
• </c><00:04:32.639><c> for</c><00:04:32.960><c> eight</c><00:04:33.280><c> points</c> you that ticket
• for eight points you that ticket for eight points for<00:04:35.680><c> doubling</c><00:04:36.080><c>
• 10 11 months prior a a speeding ticket 10 11 months prior to<00:04:42.960><c> that</c><00:04:43.680>

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under this bill, they would be able to vote the federal election ticket, so 'never resided' is a term
• The purpose being that if this person votes a local ticket in Piedmont, that one vote could sway the
• election... ...person votes a local ticket in Piedmont, that one vote could sway the election when that
• And that overseas state and federal voter gives them the opportunity to vote the federal and state ticket
• , as opposed to a never-resided person who could only vote the federal ticket.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The DMV oftentimes sends warning letters if they have a history of getting speeding tickets.
• Law enforcement is also still trying to figure out how to properly give them a ticket.
• Law enforcement is also still trying to figure out how to properly give them a ticket, how to cite them
• back to the Highway Patrol to reimburse for whatever it might have been, unless it was a free bus ticket
• that was provided. ...unless it was a free bus ticket that was provided, because then it was free.

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:

• This individual has also had seven speeding tickets, and when I say speeding tickets, it's excessive
• /c> individual has also had had seven individual has also had had seven speeding<00:20:43.240><c> tickets
• > when</c><00:20:43.840><c> I</c><00:20:43.960><c> say</c><00:20:44.080><c> speeding</c> speeding tickets
• and when I say speeding speeding tickets and when I say speeding tickets<00:20:44.799><c> it's</c><00
• speeding it's tickets it's excessive speeding it's it's<00:20:46.520><c> going</c><00:20:46.760><c>

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• there, but these receive a portion of what would otherwise be the revenue of sales tax on lottery tickets
• c><00:26:28.320><c> tax</c><00:26:28.480><c> on</c><00:26:28.640><c> lottery</c><00:26:29.159><c> tickets
• </c> revenue of sales tax on lottery tickets revenue of sales tax on lottery tickets and<00:26:30.399
• The in-lieu of tax receipts for the lottery tickets go to the various programs that I already mentioned
• um go to the various the lottery tickets um go to the various programs<00:29:19.320><c> that</c><00:

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a one-mill per kilowatt surcharge on all nuclear electricity generated that was in place to pay
• This is a one-mill per kilowatt surcharge on all nuclear electricity generated that was in place to pay

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill removes the scheduled expiration date of July 1, 2026, on a $3 surcharge imposed on specified
• The surcharge annually provides approximately $4 million in revenues to support the administrative functions

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill extends the surcharge supporting the deaf and disabled telecommunications program at the CPUC
• The surcharge expired on January 1, 2025.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the final three-party budget agreement and related trailer bills, with the Department of Finance outlining the major budget bill and omnibus measures. Finance described a package built around balancing the state budget amid economic uncertainty, preserving core health and safety-net programs, and making significant ongoing reductions in some state programs. The budget bill included major items such as shifting $1 billion from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for Cal Fire, funding universal transitional kindergarten, deferring some UC and CSU funding, supporting foster care and homelessness programs, providing Proposition 36 implementation funding, and achieving Medi-Cal savings through changes to benefits and eligibility. The committee also heard that votes on the budget bills were expected later in the week and the following Monday. Finance then walked through the trailer bills, including health, human services, early learning, education, resources, energy, transportation, labor, housing, tax, public safety, courts, general government, cannabis, and energy-related measures. Notable provisions included a Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for certain adults, new premiums and benefit changes for some immigrants, child care COLA changes, education funding for literacy, teacher support, universal meals, and community college student support, as well as resource and climate measures affecting Cal Fire staffing and energy permitting. The housing trailer bill drew the most discussion, with provisions on CEQA streamlining, a vehicle miles traveled mitigation banking program, a renters’ credit trigger, and a six-year moratorium on new residential building standards. Members also discussed a film tax credit expansion, cannabis enforcement funding, a tribal police pilot program, and changes to tax policy, including military retirement income exclusions and wildfire settlement payment exclusions. Committee members largely praised the staff and the budget process, but several raised concerns and asked detailed questions, especially about the housing trailer bill’s new wage standards, tribal consultation provisions, and possible effects on prevailing wage protections. Finance explained that the housing language was intended to set wage floors for market-rate projects receiving CEQA streamlining, with different county-based tiers and a notwithstanding clause preserving existing prevailing wage laws. Members also questioned the size and timing of funding for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Clean Cars for All, Proposition 36, and the film tax credit expansion. Other members highlighted support for public safety, veterans’ tax relief, child care providers, housing production, and higher education, while some expressed concern that the budget’s policy changes were being negotiated too quickly or without enough stakeholder input.