Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, a non-compete covenant agreement is a written or oral agreement...
• Under the bill, non-compete covenants are void and unenforceable regardless of when they were entered
• Crandall's concerns, but specifically from a financial institution's perspective and the smaller financial
• Crandall's concerns, but specifically from a financial institution's perspective and the smaller financial
• But in the short run, especially the smaller financial institutions, we have a vulnerability here.

Bills: HB1526 , HB1069 , HB1347 , HB2091 , HB2264

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: liquor license, snack bar, state regulations, alcohol sales, business licensing, collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation

Transcript Highlights:

• That doesn't make any sense in anybody's financial world.
• And that is not a financially, it's like me going to try to buy somebody's house.
• Covenant House provides a full continuum of care and support, and we believe that the young people in
• I think we've done great work in California, but currently at Covenant House California, 32% of young
• The housing, I love Covenant Houses. Your guys' commercials are awesome.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• It also voids a non-compete if the employee's earnings from the person seeking to enforce the covenant
• into the covenant.
• The court ruling prevented me from working for many months, and this caused financial burden due to my
• The lawsuit has caused significant emotional and financial strain to defend myself.
• The lawsuit has caused significant emotional and financial strain, consumed an extraordinary amount of

Bills: SB5437 , SB6152 , SB6058 , SB5944 , SB6039 , SB6117

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: noncompete, noncompetition agreement, restrictive covenant, nonsolicitation, employment contract, worker mobility, labor law, wage suppression, trade secrets, confidentiality agreement, franchise, independent contractor, employee mobility, economic growth, entrepreneurship, job mobility, restraint of trade, customer solicitation, post-employment restrictions, FTC noncompete rule

Transcript Highlights:

• We need repair from racial covenants.
• We need repair from racial covenants.
• The affordability covenants will run out in 30 years at a minimum.
• The affordability covenants will run out in 30 years at a minimum.
• counseling programs this and financial counseling programs this bill<00:41:47.400><c> will</c><00:41

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• signed by the association that contains information regarding the common interest community, such as financial
• resale certificate must contain the most current reserve study for the association, the most recent financial
• list of requirements that a local government entity may impose as a condition for loans, grants, financial
• Local governments also identify an indeterminate workload increase for county auditors to record covenants
• H S4603.1 offered by Senator Bateman, which clarifies that the covenant recorded at the time of transfer

Bills: SB6015 , SB6069 , SB6096 , SB6200 , SB6201 , SB6214 , SB6237 , SGA9280 , SGA9281

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: residential building, construction permits, housing development, planning efficiency, state regulations, affordable housing, homelessness, homeless shelter, emergency shelter, emergency housing, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, low-income housing, very low-income, extremely low-income, housing crisis, land use, zoning, local preemption

Transcript Highlights:

• and also uh you may withdraw<00:42:47.960><c> from</c><00:42:48.200><c> the</c><00:42:48.400><c> Covenant
• uh by July withdraw from the Covenant uh by July 1st<00:42:51.400><c> 2026</c><00:42:52.400><c> without
• This funding is crucial to the band's financial stability.
• commitments to the band just Financial commitments to the band just as<00:47:14.040><c> the</c><00:47
• </c><00:48:19.680><c> on</c> land owners 8 20 and 50e uh covenants on land owners 8 20 and 50e uh covenants

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• put it candidly, we're quite disappointed with this bill and very concerned about the potential financial
• bill and very concerned on the with this bill and very concerned on the potential<00:02:56.599><c> financial
• /c><00:02:57.640><c> implications</c><00:02:58.640><c> it</c><00:02:58.840><c> may</c> potential financial
• implications it may potential financial implications it may have<00:02:59.319><c> on</c><00:02:59.440
• So again, you know, you're absolutely right, Senator, the amount of financial impact on other ratepayers

Committee: Senate Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The joint hearing focused primarily on Senate Bill 1409, which would cap county user fees charged to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the measure, arguing it would reduce monthly housing-related costs for lower-income beneficiaries and help make homesteading more affordable. Several testifiers, including the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and some individuals, also submitted comments or support. County and city water and sewer agencies, including the County of Kauai Department of Water, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and the City and County Department of Environmental Services, strongly opposed the bill, saying it would shift substantial costs to other ratepayers, create lost revenue, and could force fee increases for everyone else. They also raised concerns about the bill’s cap structure and potential misuse, while noting their systems are funded by user fees rather than taxes. During committee discussion, Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials estimated about 4,500 DHHL customers on Oʻahu and projected lost revenue of roughly $30 million to $36 million over five years, with larger cumulative impacts over time; they said any waiver would be absorbed by other customers. The County of Hawaiʻi representative estimated nearly 2,000 DHHL customers on the Big Island and about $2.4 million in annual lost revenue. DHHL responded that it is pursuing revenue-generating projects on unused lands, but members questioned whether the department should do more to generate its own revenue and suggested looking at other affordability mechanisms, including market rent on commercial properties or a similar cap on other beneficiary fees. After hearing the testimony and discussion, the committee chair announced the recommendation to defer SB 1409 indefinitely, and the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs agreed with that decision. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 1408, a housekeeping measure. DHHL testified in support, saying the bill was part of an effort to lower housing costs through a modular manufacturing approach. DHHL described plans to use an unused hangar at Kalaeloa for a potential modular housing manufacturing plant, including discussions with the University of Hawaiʻi and a Denver-based company, and said it was also exploring a pilot project with Habitat for Humanity on Maui. No vote or final action on SB 1408 was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city seeks to transfer a public-purpose covenant from the city's Imperial Highway property to an
• the property's contamination history, it has been difficult to develop the land while holding the covenant
• AB 1338 offers a solution that would allow the city to transfer the covenant to an adjacent property
• In 2016, Caltrans transferred this property to Linwood with a public-purpose covenant attached.
• Moving the covenant to an adjoining city-owned parcel allows us to preserve public purpose while freeing

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a long agenda of transportation-related measures, with testimony focused on housing, safety, environmental access, and fuel affordability. Several bills dealt with Caltrans surplus or former freeway properties in the Los Angeles area: AB 1338 would let the City of Linwood transfer a public-purpose covenant to another parcel to enable 55 units of affordable housing; AB 1594 would remove a net-equity repayment requirement for Ronald McDonald House’s purchase of former SR 710 properties in Pasadena; and AB 2329 would create a more transparent process for tenants and cities to facilitate sales of former SR 710 homes, with support from South Pasadena and Pasadena officials and tenants. AB 2679 addressed safety and access around Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay corridor by allowing Caltrans and local Tahoe agencies to manage parking and improve pedestrian, transit, and public access infrastructure. The committee also heard several public safety bills aimed at impaired driving. AB 1685 would increase DMV points for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from two to three, and AB 1687 would extend the license revocation period for a third DUI conviction from three years to eight years, with an interlock option after four years. Both measures drew strong support from law enforcement, MADD, and victims’ families, including emotional testimony about repeat offenders and drunk-driving fatalities. AB 1613 would require an off-highway vehicle safety and stewardship course before access to off-highway lands beginning in 2029, with supporters describing it as an education-first response to rising OHV injuries and fatalities. Other bills focused on transportation efficiency and affordability. AB 2046 would allow EPA-approved E85 conversion kits in California, which supporters said would give drivers a cheaper, lower-carbon fuel option and improve fuel resiliency. AB 2168 would revise the Active Transportation Program to better prioritize transit-connected biking and walking projects and add stronger accountability for grantees that do not spend funds on time. AB 2263 would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to reserve some affordable housing units for its employees, and supporters said it would help workers live closer to their jobs and reduce long commutes. The committee reported no opposition on most measures, and after quorum was established it approved the bills, sending them onward mostly to the Committee on Appropriations, with AB 2679 sent to Natural Resources and Water. Several votes were unanimous, while AB 1613 and AB 2168 drew some no votes but still advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• It protects the consumer from potential financial disaster, which is really why I am so honored to bring
• them on that because the bill is not related to what they're concerned about, which is called a covenant
• These crimes include financial exploitation, And consumers in Washington.
• These crimes include financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, identity theft, and money laundering
• The bill also recognizes the reality of modern fraud, and it allows for the addition of financial and

Bills: SB5831 , SB6031 , SB6178 , SB5928 , SB5919

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime prevention, penalties, SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured

Transcript Highlights:

• there, but not in my protected covenant or manufactured town or my town houses.
• I'm not so sure why they covenants.
• </c><01:04:59.760><c> or</c> but not not in my protected covenant or but not not in my protected covenant
• </c><01:43:52.719><c> Low-income</c> a robust financial toolkit.
• Low-income a robust financial toolkit.

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on HB 1065, a housing bill that would clarify when multifamily and mixed-use housing may be allowed on commercially zoned land, define infrastructure standards, and preserve municipal discretion over where such development can occur. Prime sponsor Representative David Priest said the bill is intended to help address the housing shortage by using already developed commercial areas without overriding local planning. The New Hampshire Municipal Association, through Brody Dees, said it supports the bill and views it as a priority, but noted it is still discussing related language with stakeholders and wants clearer definitions for multifamily development, infrastructure, and adaptive reuse while preserving local control over commercial land use. Testimony was mixed. Ivy Van, a certified planner, opposed the bill because she said the infrastructure language is too restrictive and could exclude properties served by private utilities or septic systems. Chris Freeman, a housing provider, was generally supportive but recommended technical changes, arguing the infrastructure definition may be too broad and that the adaptive reuse language could unintentionally block useful building modifications. He said the bill should be clarified so it does not discourage reuse projects. The committee then moved to discussion of an accessory dwelling unit bill, with Representative Turkot describing changes that would shift some ADU approvals from a matter of right to conditional use or special exception, allow municipalities more control over attached versus detached units, set parking standards tied to single-family dwellings, and adjust size limits. He argued the bill would restore local discretion and prevent ADUs from becoming primarily rental units. Representative Reed pushed back, saying detached ADUs can help meet housing needs and provide opportunities for small landlords, while other members questioned how the bill would affect existing detached structures and breezeways. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair also noted a recess and time limits for later testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it would be like an encumbrance, a covenant? Yes. Yeah. Okay. Okay, thank you very much.
• You had said in your testimony now that you do have covenants currently.
• What are the covenants that you have?
• And so those covenants, Those that were already in place preceding this act, and so those covenants would
• And no one restrictive covenant in those contracts is identical to the next. Okay. Thank you.

Summary: The Washington State Senate Committee on Business, Trade, and Economic Development waived the five-day notice rule to consider Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2274 and Engrossed House Bill 2294. The committee first heard HB 2274, which would modify the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by requiring false or misleading subject lines to be knowingly false or misleading, and reducing statutory damages from $500 to $100 or actual damages, whichever is greater. Representative Springer and retail witnesses described the bill as a compromise reached with consumer lawyers, retailers, and the Attorney General’s office, intended to address a surge in lawsuits after a recent Supreme Court ruling while preserving consumer protections. Consumer advocates testified that they supported the compromise as a temporary step, while one consumer-side attorney objected to the bill’s text-message damages change, arguing it was unrelated to the email issue and could weaken existing protections. The committee held the public hearing open and did not take final action on the bill during the meeting. The committee then heard HB 2294, which prohibits private agreements that restrict real property from being used as a grocery store or pharmacy, declaring such negative use restrictions against public policy and unenforceable after the bill’s effective date, with exceptions for preexisting agreements and limited relocation scenarios. Representative Farivar said the bill was prompted by grocery and pharmacy closures and aimed to prevent property covenants from blocking replacement stores in underserved communities. Supporters from the Washington Food Industry Association and Northwest Grocery Retail Association said the bill would help independent grocers and communities, though the retail association asked for further language refinement for retail-center situations and noted the bill preserves some limited protections for existing investments. The committee took public testimony but did not vote on HB 2294 during the hearing. In executive session, staff briefed Substitute House Bill 2428, which requires insurers issuing individual life insurance policies to send lapse notices to policyholders and designated third parties. The committee then adopted a due pass recommendation and sent the bill to the Rules Committee. The motion passed by voice vote, with the bill passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• and rural areas of opportunity and authorizes their inclusion and agency agreements to distribute financial
• What happens in the case if somebody doesn't have the financial ability to go to the courts?
• You have possible financial concerns about where the money's gone from an association, you know, can
• He still has not paid that Lane and covenants state that if you the association under 9 days light, if
• When homeowners point out violations of our covenants bylaws or Florida statutes, nothing changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the issues of food access and food security, specifically a bill that would prevent restrictive covenants
• And as Katie mentioned, there's already a bill moving through the House that looks at restrictive covenants
• This is a financial prudence measure for the system.
• And while trying to recover and keep their families afloat, the financial strain is real and severe.
• Higher costs, longer claims, families pushed to the brink of financial ruin, when timely treatment could

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove the current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the workers’ compensation presumption that certain heart problems in firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of fallen firefighters testified in support, describing delayed claims and arguing the bill would spare grieving families from lengthy appeals. Opponents including counties, self-insurers, cities, and L&I’s research staff said the current qualifiers are based on science, warned the change would greatly expand claims and costs, and noted a 2023 advisory committee did not recommend the change. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement rangers. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid less than comparable law enforcement, leading to staffing shortages and turnover. The bill was presented as a fairness and retention measure. Testimony on Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery store closures in food deserts, was split: supporters from Tacoma, labor, and local government said a six-month notice requirement would help communities respond to closures like the Fred Meyer shutdown in South Tacoma, while grocers and industry groups argued the bill was too prescriptive, would add legal risk, and would not solve underlying crime and business pressures. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt tribes from the state WARN-style notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted in layoff notices confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification and privacy fix, and no opposition was heard. The committee then took testimony on Senate Bill 5927, which would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3%; employers and self-insurers supported it as a way to address volatility and long-term liabilities, while labor, injured-worker advocates, and others opposed it as an across-the-board benefit cut that would erode wage replacement. L&I explained it has been studying possible COLA changes but did not bring forward its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would restrict adulterated or harmful kratom products, require labeling, set a 21+ sales age, and allow local regulation; supporters backed the age limit and bans on concentrated 7-OH, while some industry witnesses opposed the private right of action and local patchwork rules. The committee adjourned after public testimony; no final votes or executive action were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh as most forms of state financial aid.
• It was financial aid program.
• </c> financial need. financial need.
• </c> now enrolled will not have the financial now enrolled will not have the financial resources<01:11
• </c><01:17:05.679><c> aid,</c> State system director for financial aid, State system director for financial

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So it would be like an encumbrance, a covenant? Yes, yeah. Okay, okay. Thank you very much.
• You had said in your testimony now that you do have covenants currently.
• What are the covenants that you have?
• And so those covenants Those that were already in place preceding this act, and so those covenants would
• Sometimes we have restrictive covenants to protect the interest.

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• client and intended user of the appraisal report specified in the report, and if the client is a financial
• Historically, practices like redlining and racial covenants have unfairly excluded certain communities
• Historically, practices like redlining and racial covenants have unfairly excluded certain communities
• Historically, practices like redlining and racial covenants have unfairly Historically, practices like
• redlining and racial covenants have unfairly excluded certain communities from housing opportunities

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee heard public hearings on several bills related to real estate, self-storage, and consumer disclosures. House Bill 2477 would shorten the time to bring claims against appraisers arising from appraisal reports to two years from discovery or five years from signing, except fraud claims, and would limit liability to specified clients and intended users. The sponsor and appraiser witnesses said the bill would reduce long-tail liability, lower insurance and recordkeeping burdens, and help attract new appraisers; no opposition testimony was heard in the excerpt. House Bill 2512 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to exclusive groups unless the property is also publicly marketed. Supporters, including Washington Realtors, Zillow, Habitat for Humanity, Windermere, and others, said it would promote transparency, competition, and fair housing; opponents argued it could limit homeowner privacy and autonomy, and the Attorney General’s office said the Washington Law Against Discrimination already covers discrimination concerns and objected to placing enforcement in that statute. House Bill 2240 would modernize self-storage rental agreements by allowing electronic execution, deeming continued use after notice as acceptance, and setting notice and disposal rules after termination or nonrenewal; storage industry witnesses supported the bill as clarifying safety and notice procedures, while an advocacy witness opposed it as harmful to unhoused people and others who rely on storage units. House Bill 2465 would require a water recreation safety guide for short-term rentals with pools or similar facilities; the sponsor and hospitality industry supported it as a low-cost safety measure, while cities raised implementation concerns and asked for an amendment on where the guide would be posted. House Bill 2501 would update a seller disclosure notice to reflect the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency’s shift from a no-cost insurance program to a loan-and-grant remediation program, and it drew support as a technical correction. House Bill 2624 would exempt public entities, tribes, and nonprofit land conservancies from the 2025 “solicited real estate transactions” appraisal and notice requirements; conservation groups and the Department of Natural Resources supported it as necessary to preserve land acquisition and grant funding, and the sponsor described it as a cleanup bill. The committee then moved into executive session and took action on two liquor-related bills. House Bill 2536, allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or beer/wine restaurant license at one location, was moved out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a 14-1 vote. House Bill 2476, modifying the spirits, beer, and wine theater license, was amended via a proposed substitute that restored the 120-seat-per-screen limit except for theaters admitting only patrons 21 and older; the substitute was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 13-2 vote. Members discussed the balance between business flexibility and concerns about alcohol access in family settings and recovery communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• That doesn't make any sense in anybody's financial world.
• And that is not a financially, it's like me going to try to buy somebody's house.
• Covenant House provides a full continuum of care and support, and we believe that the young people in
• The housing—I love Covenant Houses. Your guys' commercials are awesome.
• Financial assistance or in-kind services.

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related measures, beginning with SB 222 by Senator Wiener, the Heat Pump Access Act. The bill would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, allow virtual contractor participation during inspections, and limit HOA barriers to installation. Supporters, including Spur, a contractor, and several clean-energy and environmental groups, said the measure would lower costs, reduce pollution, and speed replacements. The League of California Cities opposed the bill over the permit fee cap and concerns about virtual inspections, while committee members raised questions about HOA authority, electrical panel upgrades, and whether the bill could create unintended costs for local governments. SB 222 was approved 10-0 and sent to Local Government. The committee then considered SB 677, a follow-up to SB 79. The author announced the bill had been narrowed to two items: mobile home exemption language and a future SB 79 cleanup bill in the next session, with the larger set of implementation issues to be handled separately. Local governments and counties said the reduced bill still needed clearer definitions and more implementation guidance, while several housing and transit advocates supported the narrowing and the decision to revisit the broader cleanup later. After the amendments were accepted, SB 677 passed 10-1 and was sent to Local Government. The main debate centered on SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the 2026 ballot. Supporters, including the California Housing Consortium, labor, housing nonprofits, local governments, and many advocacy groups, argued that the state’s existing housing bond funds were exhausted, that thousands of shovel-ready projects were waiting for financing, and that the bond would leverage federal tax credits and private capital to produce and preserve affordable homes. Opponents and skeptics focused on state debt levels, the cost of housing production, and whether another bond was the right approach, with Habitat for Humanity asking for a dedicated CalHome allocation. Committee members discussed debt capacity, affordability, homeownership, and the need to keep funding flowing to existing programs. SB 417 passed 8-1 to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 492, a youth housing and youth center bond proposal, which the author said was intended to be folded into the larger housing bond package; testimony from Covenant House California emphasized the need to house transition-age youth and prevent long-term homelessness. No vote on SB 492 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• like organizational documents, articles of incorporation, bylaws, rules, and the declaration of covenants
• residential real property of up to four units and the purchase transaction is financed through the Covenant
• That volume underscores the continued financial pressure facing Washington households and the importance
• It begins much earlier when homeowners face financial pressure and quietly escalates towards foreclosure
• That means rising costs, financial shocks, and insufficient structural safeguards.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on two housing-related bills. Senate Bill 6054 would prohibit common interest communities, including HOAs and condominiums, from banning fire-hardened building materials that meet health and safety standards, while still allowing reasonable rules on design, placement, and appearance. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help homeowners reduce wildfire risk without forcing any resident to make changes, and staff explained that it would apply retroactively to conflicting governing documents. Testimony was generally supportive, including from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Washington State Community Associations Institute, and HOA United, though the American Wood Council asked for narrower definitions so wood products could still qualify under other standards. Senate Bill 5938 would revise the $80 foreclosure prevention fee created last session. Staff said the bill expands exemptions to include reverse mortgages for borrowers age 60 and older, chattel loans and retail installment contracts for dwellings secured as personal property, and limits duplicate charges in certain state-supported homeownership programs. It also removes the option to pay the fee from borrower cash at closing, allows financing through loan proceeds, clarifies disclosure and Commerce’s rulemaking authority, and directs Commerce and the Housing Finance Commission to study creating a state homeowner assistance fund by July 1, 2027. The sponsor and supporters said the changes would stabilize foreclosure prevention funding, prevent multiple charges on the same transaction, and help homeowners stay in their homes. Testimony on SB 5938 was strongly supportive from the Washington Homeownership Resource Center, the Washington Build Back Black Alliance, HOA United, and the Northwest Justice Project, with speakers emphasizing foreclosure prevention, housing stability, and the need for assistance for seniors, first-time buyers, and HOA homeowners. At the end of the hearing, the chair announced that the committee would likely take executive action on the bills early the next week and asked members to submit amendments by the stated deadlines.

Transcript Highlights:

• It brings it in line with the other restrictive covenants, employment covenants, non-competes, no poaches
• ,<00:03:33.120><c> employment</c><00:03:33.519><c> covenants,</c> covenants, employment covenants, covenants
• , employment covenants, non-competses,<00:03:34.799><c> no</c><00:03:35.120><c> poaches</c><00:03:35.519
• </c> and like their restrictive covenant and like their restrictive covenant cousins<00:09:06.320><c>
• > this</c> correlation financially between this correlation financially between this bill<01:36:44.480

Bills: HF3889 , HF2567 , HF3878

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And so how are we putting forth bills that help to ease that and provide more financial security to our
• AB 2236, Chen, digital financial asset fees: hold in committee.
• AB 85, Petrie-Norris, restrictive covenants: do pass out on a B roll call.
• AB 1050, Schultz, restrictive covenants: do pass with Republicans not voting.
• AB 1050, Schultz, restrictive covenants: do pass with Republicans not voting.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.